Discovery of the Beldam Witch Trials

Book excerpt: Of the one hundred witches that were apprehended on charges of witchcraft in Essex during the year 1645, this book provides details on the capture, examinations and execution of the 30 primary witches. Within these pages include the judicial discovery, confessions, investigative procedure, and the evidence used to convict these witches to the sentance of death. The principle witch at the center of these trials was Anne West, known by the circle of witches as 'Old Beldam'. Presented here is the judicial Discovery of the Beldam Witch Trials. Included in this text are works of witch-finders Matthew Hopkins and John Sterne, 'The Discovery of Witches' and 'The Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-Craft'. These were the key figures during the Witch hunt, leading the discovery of an estimated 200 suspected witches in just two years.