In the early 17th century, when superstition and fear of witchcraft held a firm grip on society, the village of Belvoir, nestled in the serene heart of Leicestershire, became the backdrop for a haunting chapter in English history – the story of the Witches of Belvoir. This tale revolves around a mother and her two daughters, Joan, Margaret, and Philippa Flower, accused of witchcraft and their alleged involvement in the tragic deaths of two young heirs to the Rutland family.
The Flowers, known for their skills in herbal healing, were local residents who had fallen on hard times. In need of employment, they accepted positions as servants with the 6th Earl and Countess ofRutland at Belvoir Castle, particularly when additional staff were required for an impending visit by King James I.
The Flowers, however, failed to gain the favour of the other staff and were soon marred by accusations of theft and misdemeanours. All three women were eventually dismissed from their service, with only Joan receiving a modest severance consisting of “40 shillings, a bolster (pillow), and a mattress of wool.”
The events took a sinister turn after the Flowers’ departure. The Earl and Countess of Rutland, along with their children, fell ill, suffering from symptoms that included vomiting and convulsions. Tragically, their eldest son and heir, Henry, Baron de Ros, succumbed to the mysterious illness and was laid to rest in September 1613. The younger children, Francis and Katherine, experienced similar ailments, and Francis passed away on March 7, 1620. The deaths of these two boys left the Earl without a male heir, and the Earldom eventually passed to his brother upon the Earl’s own demise in 1632.
Five years after the Flowers were dismissed from Belvoir Castle, and following the death of the second son, Francis, the Rutlands’ had them arrested before Christmas of 1618. The women underwent examinations in February 1619, conducted by prominent figures, including the Earl of Rutland, Hon. Robert Bertie, Lord Willoughby de Eresby, Sir George Manners, Sir William Pelham, Sir Henry Hastings, and clergyman Samuel Fleming.
The trial took a sinister turn when Joan Flower, who had initially proclaimed her innocence, died suddenly on the way to the prison at Lincoln. She requested bread as a substitute for the Eucharist (the body of Christ), arguing that something blessed could not be consumed by a witch, and choked after the first bite.
In Lincoln, Margaret accused her mother of witchcraft, while Philippa admitted to practicing witchcraft on behalf of all three. The sisters eventually confessed to entering into communion with familiar spirits that aided them in their schemes. Their mother’s familiar was a cat named Rutterkin. They admitted to using the glove of Lord Henry, which they had stolen and given to their mother. She dipped it in boiling water, stroked it along Rutterkin’s back, and pricked it. Along with some incantations, this act was believed to have caused Henry to fall gravely ill and ultimately led to his death. The women had also used feathers from the quilt of the Rutland’s bed and a pair of gloves to cast spells to prevent the Earl and Countess from having more children by boiling them in water mixed with blood.
Margaret and Philippa were tried before the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Henry Hobart, and Baron of the Exchequer, Edward Bromley, and both were found guilty. Margaret was hanged at Lincoln Castle on March 11, 1619. Philippa mysteriously escaped before her execution.