The Witches of Belvoir

Joan Flower and her daughters Margaret and Philippa were servants of the Earl and Countess of Rutland at Belvoir, and fell out with their employers. They confessed to keeping familiar spirits and to stealing a glove of the young heir, Lord Ross, which the mother stroked on her cat, dipped in hot water and pricked, after which he sickened and died. Joan fell dead on the way to trial after wishing bread and butter might choke her if she were guilty, and on 11 March 1619 the two daughters were put to death at Lincoln.