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by Philip Kellingley (Author)
The Essex Witch Trials of 1645 is a new, edited, printing of 'A true and exact Relation Of the severall Informations, Examinations, and Confessions of the late Witches, arraigned and executed in the County of Essex. Who were arraigned and condemned at the late Sessions, holden at Chelmesford before the Right Honorable Robert, Earle of Warwicke, and severall of his Majesties Justices of Peace, the 29 of July, 1645. Wherein the severall murthers, and devillish Witchcrafts, committed on the bodies of men, women, and children, and divers cattell, are fully discovered.' It is an important historical document, containing testimony from Matthew Hopkins (the self-styled 'Witchfinder General') and his accomplice John Sterne. It was used, indirectly, as a reference by John Hale who was present at and wrote an account of the witch trials at Salem, Massachusetts some 50 years later. This volume is the first in a series of reprintings of original documents relating to witch trials in order to make them accessible to academics, students and the wider public.
