In medieval times many people believed that unexpected events such as a cow dying were the result of witches. Criminal action began in 1521 when the Pope Leo X issued a papal bull enabling a religious court to order the execution of people convicted of witchcraft. This began a major campaign throughout Europe which to some extent was inflamed by the church.
In England King Henry VII passed the first Witchcraft Act in 1542. This brought him some problems with some allegations being made that his wife Anne Boleyn was a witch as she had 6 fingers and a mole on her neck. These deformities were considered one of the marks of a witch. In 1547 the Witchcraft Act was repealed by King Edward VI but on the accession of Queen Elizabeth another Witchcraft Act was passed in 1562.
In 1604 James I passed a statute which contained his statement that witches were loathe to confess without torture. The notorious Matthew Hopkins 'The Witch-finder General' was born during this period and from 1644 launched his witch finding campaign in Essex and Suffolk, partly based on a book written by James I on the subject.
Between 1560 and 1675 some 750 persons were tried for witchcraft offences in Essex. Below are the names of local people who were put on trial.
1576
‘Mother’ Persorne from Navestock
1579
Tomas Longe from Lambourne
1579
Alice Nokes from Lambourne
Bewitched Elizabeth Barsett whereof she died instantly. Found guilty.
1584
‘Goodwife’ Joyce from Stanford Rivers
1586
Anne Joyce from Stanford Rivers
1599
Parnella Abbott from Greensted
1600
Petronella Abbott from Greensted
1616
John Godfrie from Lambourne
Indicted for murder by witchcraft of John White. Found not guilty.
1616
Sarah Godfrie from Lambourne
Bewitched 3 horses and a pig. Found not guilty.
1647
Jane Lavender and Francis Lavender from Navestock
1666
Anne Betts from Stapleford Tawney
Being a person of ill-fame, on 25 Jan., on the pretence of telling the fortune of Mary Prescott, fraudulently obtained from her 2 silk scarves worth 20s and 8s in money.
Result unknown.