Witchcraft in early modern Wales facts for kids

Unlike neighboring England and Scotland, there were few witchcraft (Welsh: dewiniaeth) accusations and trials in Wales during the 1500s to mid-1700s. Most people accused were found not guilty. Only five people were executed in Wales for witchcraft during this time.

What Was Witchcraft Like in Wales?

In olden times, many people in Wales believed in witchcraft. Superstitious ideas and rituals were part of daily life. However, compared to England, Scotland, and other parts of Europe, Wales had far fewer accusations, trials, and executions.

During this period, there were only 37 witchcraft cases in Wales. In England, about 500 people were executed for witchcraft in the same time. Most cases in Wales were dropped or the accused were found innocent. Punishments were often less harsh than in other places.

Historian Richard Suggett says that English writings from that time claimed different kinds of magic were used in Wales. Some magic was thought to be harmful, while other magic was seen as helpful. At first, witchcraft was not always seen as bad. But later, during the Middle Ages, beliefs changed. Witchcraft became linked to the devil, and all forms of it were made illegal.

Laws About Witchcraft

The Acts of Union from 1536 to 1543 made Wales part of English rule. But in witchcraft cases, Wales did not have harsh punishments or executions like England. Welsh cases went to criminal Courts of Great Sessions, not church courts. This shows that Wales still followed its older Welsh laws, not just English law.

Old Welsh law focused on making things right for the victim. It was less about punishing the accused. This helped keep peace in the community.

English Witchcraft Laws

In 1542, under Henry VIII, a law called the Witchcraft Act of 1541 was passed. This law said witchcraft was a crime that could be punished by death. But it was later removed under Edward VI.

In 1563, under Elizabeth I, the Witchcraft Act of 1563 brought back the 1541 law. But the death penalty was only used if witchcraft caused harm.

In 1604, under James I, the 1563 Act was removed. A new law, the 1604 Act, had different punishments for different witchcraft crimes. If someone was found guilty the first time, they could be jailed and put in a pillory. A second offense could mean death. After 1563 and 1604, church courts no longer handled witch trials. This job went to the regular courts.

In 1735, under George II, it became a crime to say someone else was practicing witchcraft or had magic powers. This 1735 Act ended all older witchcraft laws. It also stopped the hunt for witches and executions for witchcraft. The worst punishment after this was one year in prison.

Witchcraft Trials and Cases

<mapframe latitude="52.736292" longitude="-3.911133" zoom="6" width="236" height="197" align="right"> { "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [ { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -3.3368616155348723, 53.17543101966099 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -4.273180303280243, 53.140065739696595 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -4.094390830141492, 53.263359361026005 ] } }, { "type": "Feature", "properties": {}, "geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [ -3.343882305489388, 53.32230258406598 ] } } ] }

</mapframe> Between the 1500s and 1700s, there were only 37 witchcraft cases in Wales. This is a very small number. In comparison, Western Europe had 200,000 executions for witchcraft from the mid-1400s to the mid-1700s.

Out of the 37 people accused in Wales, only 8 were found guilty. Only 5 of these received a death sentence. The rest were most likely found not guilty. According to Welsh Historian Kelsea Rees, all these cases happened in northern Wales. Many witchcraft cases were very close to the northern part of the border between England and Wales.

People Executed for Witchcraft

In 1594, in Llandyrnog, a 42-year-old woman named Gwen ferch Ellis was the first person executed as a witch in Wales. She was known for healing people. But she was accused of turning to evil. The accusations were based on a charm found written backward. This was thought to be proof of bewitching. She was sentenced to death after her trial.

In 1622, in Caernarfon, three siblings were found guilty and executed. Their names were Lowri ferch Evan, Agnes ferch Evan, and Rhydderch ap Evan. They were accused after the death of Margaret Hughes, a local gentry's wife, and the "bewitchment" of their daughter, Mary. Margaret was already sick. Mary's "bewitchment" was likely symptoms of a stroke. Her left arm and feet were weak, and she lost her voice.

In 1655, in Beaumaris, Wales, Margaret ferch Richard was accused of witchcraft. She was a widow in her mid-to-late 40s. People thought she was a charmer. She was also believed to have caused the death of another woman, Gwen Meredith, who was sick before she died. Margaret was found guilty under the 1604 Witchcraft Act and sentenced to death by hanging.

People Found Not Guilty

In 1655, another trial took place in Llanasa, Flintshire, Wales. Dorothy Griffith was accused of bewitching a traveling sailor, William Griffith. William claimed he saw Dorothy with lights around her. He said she led him to an ale house. He also claimed he looked at the sea and saw it on fire. He became scared and fell into a trance, but then recovered.

Dorothy was held for 7 weeks. But she was able to get signatures from other local people. They said they had no reason to believe Dorothy was involved in witchcraft. It was rumored that the two families had problems. William was also known to be ill. Dorothy appeared at trial, but the case was likely dropped. She was never sentenced. Dorothy Griffith's case is one of 32 cases where people were found not guilty.

Old Beliefs About Witchcraft

Blessings were a way to protect oneself or others from evil. They were a normal part of daily life in the early modern period. People believed that good or bad things could happen based on whether someone received a blessing. If someone did something society thought was wrong, they would seek a blessing to avoid punishment.

A curse, however, was often used to bring bad luck to someone's family or property. Formal cursing involved calling on God to harm the wrongdoer. People often did this on their knees, with arms stretched to Heaven. If someone was cursed, it was common to ask the person who cast the curse to remove it. People who cursed others were often thought to be using witchcraft.