Unexpected Essex

Episode 7: Confessions and Cunning Folk – The Truth Behind the St Osyth Witches

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Unexpected Essex

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Summary

This October, join your host Eri Berry for a three-part deep-dive into the truth behind the Essex witch trials. In this second part, we’ll search for the truth surrounding the controversial work of magistrate Brian Darcy and the fourteen women he investigated for witchcraft in the village of St Osyth and beyond. CONTENT WARNING: Contains discussions of infant death and child mortality within historical contexts – this episode may not be suitable for all listeners.

Time Stamps

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:29 St Osyth context

00:04:26 The first accuser

00:12:31 The second accuser

00:14:24 Brian Darcy

00:18:53 The accusations spread

00:20:23 The aftermath

00:22:20 Thanks for listening

00:23:18 Credits

Key Names and Places:

St Osyth, Essex, Brian Darcy, Ursley Kempe, Elizabeth Bennett, Ales Newman, Ales Hunt, Margery Sammon, Clacton

Sources:

  • Durrant, Jonathan. “Witch-Hunting Magistrate? Brian Darcy and the St Osyth Witchcraft Cases of 1582.” The English Historical Review, Vol. 136, No. 578 (2021). Oxford University Press.
  • Gibson, Marion. The Witches of St Osyth. Stroud: The History Press, 2012.
  • Darcy, Brian. A True and Just Recorde, of the Information, Examination and Confession of All the Witches (1582).

DISCLAIMER:

While I do my best to bring you accurate, well-researched content, I’m only human! If you spot a mistake, have a correction, or want to share additional context, please feel free to reach out via email at unexpectedessex@gmail.com.

Image:Attribution:Modified?
Bridge End Gardens Saffron Walden.jpg“Meeting up with Ola, Lisa, and Rex in Saffron Walden” by Tim Regan, CC BY 2.0No
Chelmsford Cathedral.jpg“Chelmsford Cathedral” by fourthandfifteen, CC BY 2.0No
Southend Pier With Greenery.jpg“Southend Pier.” by Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0No
Colchester Castle.jpg“Colchester Castle” by William Marnoch, CC BY 2.0No
Mersea Island Beach Huts.jpg“Pretty pastel beach huts” by Jerry Clack, CC BY 2.0No
Hobbs Cross Harlow.jpg“Hobbs Cross, Harlow” by Sludge G, CC BY-SA 2.0No
Finchingfield.jpg“Finchingfield” by Brian Snelson, CC BY 2.0No
Harlow Riverboats Sunset.jpg“Harlow” by Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 2.0No
St Peter on the Wall.jpg“Chapel of St Peter on the Wall” by Tom Bastin, CC BY 2.0No
Swans River Stour.jpg“River Stour” by Jason Boldero, CC BY 2.0No
Thaxted Guildhall and Church.jpg“Thaxted guildhall” by Marco Chiesa, CC BY 2.0No
Hedingham Castle.jpg“Hedingham Castle – Norman Keep in England” by Steve Knight, CC BY 2.0No
Hatfield Forest Lake.jpg“Hatfield Forest Lake” by Jason Boldero, CC BY 2.0No
Elizabeth IAfter Levina Teerlinc, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Book of common prayerThe Booke of Common Prayer (1596), printed by the deputies of Christopher Barker. Public domain, digitized by the Internet Archive.No edits
ChurchUser:Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
St Osyth See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Map showing where it isMap Data: Google, AirbusData SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOVexcel Imaging US, Inc.No edits
LivestockPhoto by Yasin Fotohi: https://www.pexels.com/photo/portrait-of-white-cow-20204870/No edits
CheesePhoto by Dalila Dalprat : https://www.pexels.com/photo/smoked-cheese-on-wooden-counter-top-9494774/No edits
Fruit treesPhoto by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz : https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-and-yellow-apple-fruit-12003423/No edits
Bees Photo by Ion Ceban @ionelceban: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-and-black-bees-on-brown-and-black-textile-3194327/No edits
Grim weatherPhoto by Paul G: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-grayscale-of-trees-under-a-cloudy-sky-13504327/No edits
MosquitosPhoto by Simon Reza: https://www.pexels.com/photo/mosquito-on-green-leaf-11794242/No edits
Augustinian canonsAnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Darcy coat of armsRs-nourse, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
HandsPhoto by Luis Quintero: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-person-s-open-hands-2258248/No edits
Cunning womanEthan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Grave stonePhoto by Brett Jordan: https://www.pexels.com/photo/stone-cross-gravestone-in-overgrown-cemetery-37326823/No edits
Rheumatoid arthritis Photo by Magda Ehlers: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-black-and-white-photo-of-a-knee-27376664/No edits
ErgotismT.O. Heusinger, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Rye bread Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Jean Bodin’s work on demonologyJean Bodin, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Jean BodinFrançois Stuerhelt, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Matthew HopkinsSee page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
Witch mark search?T. H. Matteson, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
PamphletSee page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsNo edits
QuillPhoto by seymasungr: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-wooden-calligraphy-pen-on-paper-29253144/No edits
Manningtree“Manningtree Creek and old Maltings” by Steve Knight, CC BY 4.0No edits
Mistley “Mistley Towers , English Heritage property, Essex” by Steve Knight, CC BY 2.0No edits

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