This October, join your host Eri Berry for a three-part deep-dive into the truth behind the Essex witch trials. In this first part, we’ll uncover the wider historical context to better understand how we ended up with anti-witchcraft legislation in the first place, as well as identifying likely candidates for the first women executed under these questionable pieces of statute.

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Time Stamps:

00:00:00 – Intro

00:00:21 – Context for the episode

00:01:57 – The Origins of Magic

00:06:38 – The Early Modern Era and how Henry VIII caused religious chaos…

00:10:04 – The Religious Pendulum begins to swing…

00:13:46 – Elizabeth I takes the throne

00:14:53 – Essex begins its witch trials

00:22:37 – Next time, and thank you!

00:23:15 – Credits

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Key Names and Places

Essex, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Mary I, Elizabeth I, Lady Jane Grey, Great Waltham, Chelmsford, Hatfield Peverel.

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Sources

Books & Academic Works

• Purkiss, Diane. The Witch in History: Early Modern and Twentieth‑Century Representations. Routledge.
• Levin, Carole; Bertolet, Anna Riehl; Carney, Jo Eldridge. A Biographical Encyclopedia of Early Modern Englishwomen: Exemplary Lives and Memorable Acts, 1500–1650. Taylor & Francis, 2016.
• Journal of Ecclesiastical History. “Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Henry VIII.” Cambridge University Press. (Explores Tudor religious law and shifting theological authority.)

Historical Context & Witchcraft Resources

• Thames & Hudson. “A Brief Introduction to the History of Witchcraft.”
• Historic UK. “Aristotle, Witchcraft and Witch Hunts.”
• National Archives (UK). Early Modern Witch Trials: Accusation and Trial.
• Wikipedia. History of Magic.
• Wikipedia. Witchcraft Acts (1542, 1563, 1604).

Tudor Religion, Politics & Royal Upheaval

• H for History. “The True Queen.”
• The Anne Boleyn Files. “Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.”
• History Is Now Magazine. “Divorce: Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon.”
• Literary Encyclopedia. Entry on Pope Julius II’s dispensation (LitEncyc).

Theology & Intellectual Background

• Thomas Aquinas — Views on Magic & Witchcraft. (General topic reference: Summa Theologica, sections on superstition, divination, and demonic influence.)

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Image Attribution

Title	Attribution:	Edited?
October	“Essex Walk” by Jason Boldero, CC BY 2.0	No
Pumpkin	Photo by Şüheda Yassıkaya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pumpkin-in-among-autumn-leaves-18967729/	No
Witch Woodcut	Geschichte Österreichs, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Pamphlet	Arthur Johnson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
String board	Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-gray-long-sleeve-suit-holding-a-pen-8369520/	No
Essex map	John Norden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Tea and biscuits	Photo by Yanuar Putut Widjanarko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/chocolate-biscuits-beside-chocolate-coffee-2171643/	No
Smartphones	Photo by Andrey Matveev: https://www.pexels.com/photo/five-smartphones-on-a-gray-background-24181865/	No
internet	Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-using-macbook-pro-on-table-3585001/	No
Cat video	Video by Walid: https://www.pexels.com/video/close-up-on-cat-drinking-milk-10403988/	No
The past	“Saint Botolph’s priory” by Jerzy Kociatkiewicz, CC BY-SA 2.0	No
Brain	Video by deconjpa: https://www.pexels.com/video/a-brain-with-a-pink-glow-in-the-dark-background-18388881/	No
Ancient Egypt	Ricardo Liberato, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Ramses II	Dominik Knippel, de:Niedernberg, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Cosmos	Video by Borys Zaitsev: https://www.pexels.com/video/milky-way-on-space-12336972/	No
Ancient Greece	Photo by Kevin Lee: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-parthenon-in-greece-5961718/	Cropped
Ancient Rome	Photo by Görkem Özdemir: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-colosseum-rome-italy-15562413/	Cropped
Ancient Mesopotamia	Photo by JP Nunes: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ancient-mesopotamian-relief-with-mythological-figure-29144648/	Cropped
Magic	Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wood-light-nature-creative-7978032/	No
Medieval	Photo by Rino Adamo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gothic-ruins-with-scenic-arched-window-view-38771669/	No
Charlemagne	Theodoro Matteini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Thomas Aquinas	Carlo Crivelli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Augustine of Hippo	Attributed to Gerard Seghers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Demon woodcarving	José Sanchez, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Necromancy	engraved by Ames of Bristol (according to Fincham, Artists and engravers of British and American book plates, 1897), original drawing by Sibly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Medieval clergy	Mario Finotti, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Wood carving devil pact	See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Books	Photo by Antonio Mena: https://www.pexels.com/photo/vintage-leather-bound-books-on-wooden-desk-33352856/	No
Witchcraft	Unknown artistUnknown artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Early modern England	Ridiculopathy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Henry VIII	Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Catherine of Aragon	National Portrait Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Arthur	Royal Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Henry VII	Attributed to Meynnart Wewyck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Pope Julius II	Raphael and workshop, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Anne Boleyn	National Portrait Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Bible	Joshua Keller, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Pope Clement VII	Sebastiano del Piombo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)	Titian, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Henry book condemning Protestant faith	See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
King crown	Daniël Mijtens, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Pope hat	Sebastiano del Piombo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Latin	Photo by Pierre-Yves Noyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/open-bible-with-wooden-rosary-on-table-40097664/	No
Local catholic shrines	Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Edward	Attributed to William Scrots (active 1537-1553) [1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
English liturgy	Church of England, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Wall murals	Evelyn Simak CC BY-SA 2.0/ St Catherine’s church – St George (mural)	No
Statues	Basher Eyre / Statue of Saint George within St Nicolas, Guildford / CC BY-SA 2.0	Cropped
Latin	Photo by Pierre-Yves Noyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/open-bible-with-wooden-rosary-on-table-40097664/	No
Mary I	Hans Eworth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Latin	Photo by Pierre-Yves Noyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/open-bible-with-wooden-rosary-on-table-40097664/	No
Altars	Bill Nicholls / Altar in the church / CC BY-SA 2.0	Cropped
Pope	Circle of Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
English Bibles	Church of England, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Elizabeth I	Unidentified painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Latin	Photo by Pierre-Yves Noyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/open-bible-with-wooden-rosary-on-table-40097664/	No
English bibles	Church of England, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Henry VIII	Hans Holbein the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Church courts	David Hawgood / St Botolph’s Church, Colchester / CC BY-SA 2.0	No
Edward VI	Workshop of Master John, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Another of Edward VI	Follower of Hans Holbein the Younger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Mary I	Hans Eworth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Lady Jane Grey	Unidentified painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Tower of London	Bob Collowan, CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons	No
Mary I	Hans Eworth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Mary Queen of Scots	Unidentified painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Protestant martyrs	uncredited, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Elizabeth I	Unidentified painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Elizabeth I	Unidentified painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Mary Queen of Scots	Unidentified painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Prison	Photo by Michael Solo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/rustic-medieval-window-with-natural-light-39135506/	No
Pillory	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pillory_(PSF).png Public Domain	No
Agnes Waterhouse pamphlet	The examination and confession of certain witches at Chelmsford / communicated and prefaced by Hermann Beigel, M.D. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/gjj3xp9m	No
Hatfield Peverel	“Hatfield Peverel Real Photo Postcard sent to Mrs Gardiner at Ongar in 1926” by Mark Crombie, Public Domain Mark	No
Great Waltham	Peter Stack / St Mary and St Lawrence church, Great Waltham, Essex / CC BY-SA 2.0	No
Cunning folk	Midnightblueowl at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
witches	William Holbrook Beard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Witch Ceremony	See page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No
Church court	David Hawgood / St Botolph’s Church, Colchester / CC BY-SA 2.0	No
Grave stone	Photo by Brett Jordan: https://www.pexels.com/photo/monochrome-cross-gravestone-in-overgrown-churchyard-37326821/	No
Pigs	Photo by Wei86 Travel : https://www.pexels.com/photo/piglets-at-farm-27167732/	Cropped
Cows	Photo by Enrique: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cow-standing-on-a-hillside-pasture-17968140/	Cropped
Geese	Photo by Charlie Bird: https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-of-ducks-on-farm-5694718/	Cropped
Black cat	Photo by Ty Nguyễn: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-portrait-of-a-black-cat-in-profile-32119894/	No
Black dog	Photo by Optical Chemist: https://www.pexels.com/photo/portrait-of-a-black-dog-in-natural-setting-31870304/	No
Prison	Photo by Michael Solo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/rustic-medieval-window-with-natural-light-39135506/	Cropped
pillory	https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pillory_(PSF).png Public Domain	Cropped
St Osyth	The Priory, St Osyth, Essex by Peter Stack, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons	No