Early 17th century England was a time steeped in religious fervour and deep-seated superstitions, the fear of witchcraft permeated society. It was a period when unexplained misfortunes and tragedies were often attributed to malevolent forces, leading to witch hunts that claimed the lives of many innocent people. Among these tragic stories is that of the Fowler sisters of Bakewell, accused of witchcraft in a case that exemplifies the era’s fear and paranoia.

England in the early 1600s was a nation in transition. The Protestant Reformation had reshaped religious life, leading to widespread anxieties about heresy and the potential for spiritual corruption. Superstitions thrived in rural areas, where life was harsh and unpredictable. In this environment, the belief in witches, women (and sometimes men) who were thought to have made pacts with the devil to wield harmful magic, became a convenient explanation for everything from crop failures to sudden illnesses.

Witch trials were not uncommon, and they were fuelled by a combination of religious zeal, fear of the unknown, and sometimes personal vendettas. The legal framework for these trials had been solidified by the Witchcraft Act of 1604, which made witchcraft a capital offense. This law gave legal backing to what were often community-driven accusations, turning suspicion into deadly consequence.

Mary and Pippa Fowler were sisters living in Bakewell, Derbyshire, in the early 1600s. The Fowlers came from a humble background and worked as servants in the household of the wealthy and influential Manners family, the Earls of Rutland. Their mother, Jane Fowler, was also employed by the family. The Fowlers were considered outsiders and were often viewed with suspicion, a sentiment not uncommon towards lower-class women who seemed to live on the margins of society.

The sisters’ mother, Jane, was known to be a contentious figure, prone to quarrels and possibly involved in some form of folk magic, which was common in rural England. She was known for her sharp tongue and alleged dealings in herbs and potions, a reputation that only fuelled the suspicions of witchcraft.

The trouble began when members of the Manners family fell ill. The family’s young heir, Henry Manners, died unexpectedly in 1613, followed by the mysterious illness of his brother, Francis Manners. These events were devastating to the Manners family, who were desperate for an explanation. In the superstitious climate of the time, it wasn’t long before the Fowlers were accused of witchcraft.

The accusations were based on a mix of superstition, coincidence, and likely personal grudges. It was common for misfortunes within wealthy families to be blamed on those of lower status, especially if they had any connection to the occult, however tenuous. The Fowlers were easy targets, being lower-class women living on the fringes of society, with a mother already suspected of dabbling in the supernatural.

Under pressure and likely terrified, the sisters eventually confessed to practicing witchcraft, a confession likely extracted under duress or through leading questions by authorities eager to have someone to blame. They were accused of using their powers to cause the deaths and illnesses in the Manners family, with the aid of their mother. In a time when a mere accusation could lead to a death sentence, the sisters had little chance of defending themselves.

The trial of the Folwer sisters took place in 1619. It was a spectacle, as witch trials often were, drawing the attention of the local community and beyond. The case against them was built on their confessions and the testimony of those who believed in their guilt, including members of the Manners household. The evidence presented was flimsy by modern standards, consisting mainly of hearsay, superstitions, and the sisters’ own confessions, which were likely coerced.

Despite this lack of concrete evidence, the atmosphere of fear and the weight of the accusations were enough to seal their fate. Mary and Pippa Fowler were found guilty of witchcraft and sentenced to death. They were hanged at Lincoln, a common punishment for those convicted of witchcraft during this period.

Their mother, Jane Fowler, who had also been accused, did not live to see the trial’s conclusion. She died in custody under mysterious circumstances, with some reports suggesting she may have taken her own life or died of natural causes, further deepening the dark aura surrounding the case.

The story of the Fowler sisters is a harrowing reminder of the dangers posed by ignorance, fear, and superstition. The accusations against them were likely motivated by a combination of social inequality, personal vendettas, and the desperate need for an explanation for the tragedies that had befallen the Manners family. In an age where science and medicine were in their infancy, the supernatural was often the first, and only, answer people sought.

The case of the Fowler sisters is one of many that occurred during this dark chapter in English history. The witch hunts, which saw thousands of people, mostly women, executed across Europe, were a tragic consequence of the fears and uncertainties of the time. The executions were carried out under the belief that eradicating witches was necessary to protect society, but in reality, they only served to highlight the vulnerability of the most marginalized members of society.

Today, the Fowler sisters are remembered as victims of a society that allowed fear and superstition to override justice and humanity. Their story is a sombre reflection on the dangers of scapegoating and the importance of scepticism and critical thinking in the face of fear.

The story of the Fowler sisters must be understood within the broader context of the witch hunts that swept across Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries. In England, the most intense period of witch trials occurred from the late 16th to the early 17th century, coinciding with political and religious upheavals that created an environment ripe for such persecutions.

The Witchcraft Act of 1604, passed under the reign of James I, played a significant role in fuelling the witch hunts in England. James I himself was deeply concerned with witchcraft, even writing a book on the subject titled Daemonologie in 1597. His obsession with the supernatural influenced the legal and social frameworks of the time, leading to an increase in witch trials.

The trial and execution of the Fowler sisters were part of this larger pattern of persecution. While the details of their case are not as well-documented as some others, the basic facts have been preserved in court records and contemporary accounts, providing a glimpse into the tragic consequences of the era’s witch hunts.

For further reading, interested readers may refer to works such as “Witchcraft in Tudor and Stuart England” by Alan Macfarlane and “The Lancashire Witches: Histories and Stories” by Robert Poole, which offer detailed examinations of the social and legal contexts of witch trials in England. Additionally, court records and local histories of Derbyshire provide more specific insights into the lives and fates of the Fowler sisters.

The tale of Mary and Pippa Fowler is a poignant chapter in the history of English witch trials, a reminder of the human cost of fear and the importance of safeguarding justice against the tides of superstition.

It’s also not true.

The story of the Fowler sisters as presented above contains a mix of accurate historical context and fictional elements and illustrates how folkloric or urban myth tales are propagated and cultivated.

Facts:

Period and Context:

Witchcraft Accusations: The fear of witchcraft was indeed prevalent in early 17th century England. The Witchcraft Act of 1604, under King James I, made witchcraft a capital offense and fuelled many witch trials during this period.

James I’s Influence: James I was indeed obsessed with witchcraft and wrote Daemonologie in 1597. His influence certainly contributed to the atmosphere of fear and suspicion surrounding witchcraft in England.

Accusation and Trial:

Death of the Manners Children: The Manners family did suffer the deaths of two of their children, Henry and Francis, in the early 1600s. Their deaths were later attributed to witchcraft by the Flower family.

Confessions and Execution: Joan Flower and her daughters were accused of witchcraft. Joan died before the trial under mysterious circumstances, reportedly choking on bread, which was seen as an indication of her guilt. Margery and Philippa were indeed executed for witchcraft.

Fictional/Uncertain Elements:

The Fowler Family: Didn’t exist but were based on a real family. The Flower family, including the mother Joan Flower and her daughters Margery and Philippa, were real people who lived in the early 1600s. Service to the Manners Family: The Flowers were employed by the Manners family, the Earls of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, not Derbyshire (Although the Manners family also have a seat at Haddon Hall near Bakewell)

Bakewell Connection:

Geographical Inaccuracy: The story as described takes place in Bakewell, Derbyshire. However, the Flower sisters were actually from Belvoir, near Grantham in Leicestershire. There is no direct connection to Bakewell for the Flower family other than Haddon Hall also belonging to the Manners family.

Specific Details of the Trial:

Trial Records: While it’s true that witch trials often included coerced confessions, specific details about the trial proceedings of the Flower sisters are sparse. The trial was not as well-documented as some other witchcraft cases of the time, so some elements in the narrative (like the spectacle of the trial) might be inferred or dramatized rather than based on concrete records.

Historical Significance:

Lack of Detailed Contemporary Accounts: The Flowers’ case, while significant, did not leave behind as detailed a record as some other witch trials, meaning that much of the story, particularly the motives behind the accusations and the exact nature of the sisters’ confessions, is subject to speculation.

These little details make it very easy to manipulate the story and place it in a completely different setting.

Summary:

The Fowler sisters’ story is rooted in historical fact, but some details have been embellished or altered in the retelling. The primary factual errors concern the geographic location (the story should be set in Leicestershire, not Derbyshire) and the level of documentation (which is less detailed than the narrative suggests). The overall historical context of witchcraft, the influence of King James I, and the tragic fate of the Flower sisters however remains accurate within the larger framework of early 17th-century England.

And this, my friends, is how folklore is created. You’re welcome 🙂