The frenzy of witch‑hunting that swept across Europe in the late 16th century didn’t spare the British Isles. King James VI of Scotland – later James I of England – even penned Daemonologie, a treatise that painted witchcraft as high treason against God, giving jurors carte blanche to extract confessions by any means necessary. [1] In the chaos, ordinary disputes, personal grudges, and outright nonsense could land a woman on the gallows. Below are the ten most ridiculous reasons that led to the conviction of ten women, each a cautionary tale of how far fear can stretch logic.
Why 10 Women Convicted Became Legends of Folklore
1 Backwards Writing
The witch‑hunt in Wales was comparatively sparse – only five executions for sorcery are recorded – but the first of those, Gwen Ferch Ellis in 1594, still stands out for its sheer absurdity. Gwen was a respected healer who, like many folk practitioners, wrote charms to aid those who sought her help. Trouble began when she inscribed a poem backwards and slipped it into the parlor of a local gentry family. The reversed verses were interpreted as a malevolent spell aimed at the household, and neighbours, perhaps jealous of her abilities, turned against her.
When the case went to trial, the prosecution argued that the backward script demonstrated an intention to cause harm. Gwen maintained her innocence, insisting the charm was meant for good. Yet the court, already predisposed to view any unconventional practice with suspicion, found her guilty. She was sentenced to death and hanged, her story lingering as a reminder that even a simple reversal of letters could be twisted into evidence of witchcraft.
2 Too Brave To Be A Mere Woman
Janet Forsyth earned a reputation in Orkney for predicting the weather, a talent that should have made her a local celebrity. In 1627, however, her foresight became a curse. She warned her lover, Benjamin Garrioch, not to set sail, but he ignored her pleas and was lost at sea with his crew in a sudden fog. The tragedy was blamed on Janet’s alleged witchcraft, and she was ostracised by the community.
Years later, a ship wrecked off the coast of Westray. While the villagers lingered on the beach, hoping to loot the stranded cargo, Janet organised a rescue. She commandeered a small boat, braving the storm alone to guide the vessel to safety in Pierowall Bay. Her heroic act shocked the locals, who could not reconcile such bravery with the image of a witch. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death for sorcery. Legend says the prison cell was empty on the day of her execution – her lover, thought dead, supposedly returned from naval service just in time to free her.
3 Convicted By Roof Tile
In 1586, Faversham, Kent, witnessed a trial that hinged on a humble roofing tile. Sarah Cooke’s infant daughter, Jane, fell seriously ill, and the grieving mother was told to fetch a tile from the roof of the woman she suspected of causing the sickness. The tile was to be thrown into a fire; if it “sparkled and flew around the cradle,” the accused would be deemed guilty. Sarah took a tile from her neighbour, Joan Cason, and the ritual appeared to confirm Joan’s culpability.
Shortly after, Joan visited Sarah to inquire about her child’s health. Within hours, Jane died after a brief, terrifying encounter with Joan. The jury, attempting leniency, acquitted Sarah of murder but convicted her of conjuring spirits. A lawyer objected, and despite the lesser charge, Joan was hanged three days later. The case underscores how everyday objects could become instruments of deadly superstition.
4 Unable To Recite Lord’s Prayer
Jane Wenham, known as the Witch of Walkern, holds the grim distinction of being the last woman executed for witchcraft in England in 1712. Her trial revolved around a seemingly simple test: reciting the Lord’s Prayer. When questioned, Jane stumbled over the phrases “forgive us our trespasses” and “lead us not into temptation.” This failure was seized upon as proof of her diabolical pact.
Accusers also pricked her head with a pin, expecting blood; instead, a watery fluid emerged, which they declared a sign of witchcraft. Despite growing scepticism among the judiciary – Judge John Powell argued there was no law against flying – the jury still found her guilty. Powell, however, delayed the death sentence, and some historians believe Queen Anne eventually granted a pardon, sparing Jane a grim fate.
5 Vicious Kiss
In a chilly Cork night, Florence Newton begged for a morsel of bread at the home of John Pyne. After being turned away by the maid, Mary Longdon, Florence later confronted Mary, hurling a pail of laundry and delivering a forceful kiss while proclaiming, “Mary, I pray thee, let thee and I be friends; for I bear thee no ill will.”
Following the encounter, Mary suffered terrifying fits: she convulsed, vomited needles, pins, horse‑nails, wool, and straw. Florence was hauled before a court on witchcraft charges. One of the prescribed tests forced her to recite the Lord’s Prayer, a task she struggled with. The jailer, Davy Jones, helped her learn the prayer, and in gratitude she kissed his hand. Weeks later, Davy died, and the community blamed the fatal kiss. Though records of Florence’s ultimate sentence are lost, the episode illustrates how a single, bizarre gesture could seal a witchcraft conviction.
6 Familiars
Belvoir Castle’s staff in 1690 became entangled in a classic tale of familiars. Joan Flower and her daughters, Margaret and Philippa, were employed at the estate until Margaret was dismissed for theft. Soon after, the Earl’s eldest son, Henry, fell gravely ill and died. The grieving aristocracy blamed the women, suspecting they consorted with a demonic black cat named Rutterkin.
When Joan refused to confess, she demanded bread and butter be brought to the jail. “If I am innocent, I shall choke on it,” she declared. After taking a bite, she collapsed and died instantly, a dramatic end that forced her daughters to confess to witchcraft and the familiar’s involvement. All three were hanged. The case serves as a stark reminder that owning a pet could be construed as a pact with the devil.
7 Witchfinder General
In the mid‑17th century, the town of Kings Lynn bore witness to a macabre memorial: a heart carved above a window at 17 Tuesday Market Place, said to be the beating heart of Margaret Read as she was burned for witchcraft. The heart allegedly leapt from her chest, splashed into the River Ouse, and sank amid the tumultuous waters.
Decades later, Matthew Hopkins—dubbed the Witchfinder General—was paid £20 (a fortune when the average laborer earned two pence a day) to root out witches in East Anglia. His methods were brutal: victims were subjected to sleep deprivation and a “witch’s bridle” that forced them to endure excruciating pain. He also used a retractable three‑inch needle to test nipples, claiming immunity indicated devil‑feeding. Despite the dubious science, Hopkins secured numerous convictions, including that of Margaret Read, cementing his notorious legacy.
8 A Child’s Testimony
In 1612, the Pendle witch trials in Lancashire hinged on the testimony of a single child, Jennet Device. Living with her mother Elizabeth, grandmother Demike, sister Alizon, and brother James, Jennet found herself thrust into a courtroom where her family stood accused. Demike, a one‑eyed woman, was already unpopular, and Alizon’s alleged curse on a pedlar added fuel to the fire.
When the proceedings began, Jennet’s mother shouted at her, driving the girl to tears. Unperturbed, Jennet demanded her mother be removed, then climbed onto the witness table and calmly declared, “My mother is a witch, and I know it to be true. I have seen her spirit in the likeness of a brown dog, which she called Ball.” The court, convinced by the child’s solemn testimony, convicted the entire Device family and several neighbours of causing death by witchcraft. All were hanged the following day on Gallows Hill.
9 Witches Bridle
Agnes Sampson, a respected healer and midwife, found herself ensnared in the North Berwick witch hunts of 1592. King James VI’s return voyage with his Danish bride was plagued by violent storms, which the court blamed on witchcraft. Agnes, among roughly 70 accused, was subjected to the infamous “witch’s bridle”: a metal device with four prongs forced into her mouth, tethered to a wall‑mounted brace.
Enduring relentless pain and sleep deprivation, Agnes eventually confessed to conspiring with the devil to wreck the royal fleet. She was strangled and her body burned, a grim example of how brutal torture could manufacture guilt.
10 Guilty By Floating
Our list concludes in the tiny Bedfordshire village of Milton, 1613. Two horses pulling a cart of corn were startled by a black sow that spun wildly on the road, causing the animals to bolt. After calming the beasts, the same chaos recurred on the return journey. The sow later entered the home of Mother and Mary Sutton, sparking gossip that reached landowner Enger.
Enger’s seven‑year‑old son, enraged, hurled stones at Mary, calling her a witch. When the boy subsequently died, Enger blamed the Sutton women and devised a “swimming test.” First, Mary was dunked in a dam, sinking only slightly. Unsatisfied, they bound her thumbs to opposite big toes and forced her to swim again. She spun in the water as if caught in a whirlpool, then floated effortlessly—interpreted as proof of witchcraft. The court declared her guilty, and both Mother and Mary were hanged on 7 April 1613.