Ebook: Essex Witches

Cover; Title Page; Contents; Introduction; One England after the Tudors; Two What is Witchcraft?; Three Witches or Cunning Folk; Four Familiars and Witches' Marks; Five Potions and Remedies, Spells and Incantations; Six The Acts upon Witchcraft; Seven The Assizes; Eight Mathew Hopkins -- The Witch-finder General; Nine Confession and Torture; Ten The Accused; Eleven Witches and Halloween; Twelve Dispelling the Myth; Glossary; Credits; Bibliography; Copyright.;Medieval folk had long suspected that the Devil was carrying out his work on earth with the help of his minions. In 1484 Pope Innocent VIII declared this to be true, which resulted in witch-hunts across Europe which lasted for nearly 200 years. In 1645, England (notably Essex) was in the grip of witch fever. Between 1560 and 1680 in Essex alone 317 women and 23 men were tried for witchcraft, and over 100 were hanged. Essex Witches recounts many of the local common folk who were tried in the courts for their beliefs and practice in herbal remedies and potions, and for causing, often by their fa.