Witch Krafting with Kat

  Letter about Elizabeth Tibbots. (Catalogue ref: SP 29/317 f.116) Elizabeth Tibbots (also spelled Tibbetts) was an 18-year-old girl from Stoneleigh, near Coventry, who became the center of a witchcraft mystery in 1672. A contemporary observer suspected her of being a witch or being bewitched after she began suffering violent seizures and vomiting inedible objects like knives and pebbles. In this letter the account of a woman who has been observed acting incredibly strangely is reported. The author suspects that she has either been bewitched, or is a witch herself. He is certain of what he has seen and that the Devil must be behind her bizarre behaviour, 2 November, 1672. Transcript (a) All our wonder hereabouts is employed at the strange condition of a maid near us, one Elizabeth Tibbots of about 18 years of age living with her uncle, one Thomas Crofts, at a place called Hust in the parish of Stoneleigh, about two miles hence. Which maid, for about this 3 weeks past has been taken...

  Joan Guppie: Certificate. (Catalogue ref: E 163/17/5 Accusations of witchcraft often stemmed from the grey area between using perceived supernatural powers for good, or for harm. Jane (or Joan) Guppie was a healer or wise woman in Dorset who was accused by a neighbour, Judith Gibbs, of bewitching her and making her ill. The initial court case was launched by Jane herself, complaining that Judith and her friends had attacked her. Judith and her confederates responded that they had merely been attempting to ‘prick’ Jane – to draw a few drops of her blood to cure Judith of her illness. This certificate was drawn up by other members of the community, testifying that Jane was not a witch, and that ‘she hath done good to many people as well in curing of diverse people of wounds and such like things’. One can clearly see the signatures and seals used by Jane’s neighbours to record their support. The neighbours of a suspected witch were not always hostile towards them. This document (whi...

  Confession of Agnes Samson. (Catalogue ref: SP 52/47 f. 14i) Sourced from The National Archive.  https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ In the course of a witchcraft trial the accused could give a confession (sometimes given freely, sometimes forced) which would be used as evidence against them. Agnes Samsone was burned for witchcraft, and this source contains parts of her confession. 29 January, 1590. Transcript Page One, From Top into line 8 of main text: Certain notes of Agnes Samsone her confession 27 January 1590 whereupon she was convicted by an Assize [legal court] & burned in Edinburgh, 28 day for a witch Imprimis [Firstly] the said Agnes confesses that after the death of her hus- band the devil appeared unto her in the night till she was [?] and pensive [thinking] for the sustentation [keeping]of her and her bairns [babies] bidding her be of good cheer and leave of that care for her children, promising that if she would serve him she nor they should lack nothing. ...

  ‘The Wee Fairy Folk have come to London Town. Have you seen their home in the old, old oak in Kensington Gardens?’ Figurines depicting elves, fairies, goblins, witches and forest animals have been restored to a central London park. The statuettes, located in the Elfin Oak in Kensington Gardens, have been renewed for future generations to enjoy as part of a conservation project jointly funded by the Royal Parks charity and the Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. For full article please press link below https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ Standing in a bustling corner of Kensington Gardens is something quite extraordinary. At first glance it looks like a timeworn tree, but a closer inspection reveals a magical twist. Around its trunk dance a colourful cast of fairytale characters.   Known as the Elfin Oak, this whimsical sculpture has delighted generations of visitors. Its story is a surprising one that brings together an array of unlikely characters, from famou...

Petition for Thomas Harvey. (Catalogue ref: SP 18/183 f. 107) Welcome to another Witchy Wednesday, this week article is a real document petitioning for Thomas Harvey who was accused of Witchcraft. It was not just women who were accused of witchcraft. In this source, Henry Alcocke petitioned on the behalf of Thomas Harvey, who was accused of being a witch and then found innocent but was still in prison. 20 October, 1650. Thomas Harvey was a 17th-century mercer (fabric dealer) from Oakham, Rutland, England, who was arrested and tried for "suspicion of witchcraft and wicked practices with the devil". Although acquitted by a jury, he was held in prison due to the presiding judge's command. The majority of people accused of witchcraft in the early modern period were women. However, men could be accused too. In this petition to the Privy Council (a group of advisors at the heart of government), Henry Alcocke pleads for the release of Thomas Harvey, a mercer (dealer in fabrics) ...

  A man rides a gigantic white serpent in a river, watched by a woman in an orange shawl. Gouache painting by an Indian artist, ca. 1850(?). Date: 1850 Licence:  Public Domain Mark Welcome to another Witchy Wednesday! This week I thought it would be nice to share with you some more fabulous images I have sourced from the Welcome Collection. The Welcome Collection is a fantastic place to do historical research both in person and online.  https://wellcomecollection.org/ All of these images are of different depictions of strange and fascinating creatures across many countries, time periods. Most are in the public domain due to their age. I have put the licence details on each one.  Kali trampling Shiva. Chromolithograph by R. Varma. Raja Ravi Varma Licence: Public Domain Mark Vishnu lying on a serpent, with Lakshmi massaging his feet and Brahma in heaven. Chromolithograph. Licence: Public Domain Mark A serpent. Woodcut after C. Gessner. Conrad GessnerDate: 1613 Lic...