leude, malitious, and hurtfull
On 4th June, at their last meeting before the Summer break, members of the Henley Archaeological and Historical Group enjoyed a presentation by Professor Helen Parish of the University of Reading on ‘The Windsor Witches’ – described at the time as ‘leude, malitious, and hurtfull’.
The main source of information we have about these witches is a very rare book, published in 1579, describing the deeds of Elizabeth Stile, and her associates Mother Dutton, Mother Devell and Mother Margaret. These people were accused of bringing about the deaths of a number of people, including Master Galis, a former mayor of Windsor. Mother Dutton was said to have caused victims to suffer in body and mind through the use of wax images, and to have been able to read peoples’ minds. They were all accused of keeping familiars (evil spirits in the form of animals), which they fed food mixed with the witches’ own blood (pictured).
The women were all tried, found guilty and hanged.
At the time, witches were believed to be predominantly female, although these in Windsor had a male associate, Father Rosimund, who was described as being able to transform himself into the shape and likeness of any beast.