Is your cat the devil in disguise? Probably not, although they may act like it sometimes! But once upon a time, they would have been accused of luring you into witchcraft.
In Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries witch hunting became an obsession and supposed ‘witches’ were put on trial, and some were even sentenced to death.
Being an animal lover was considered a sure sign that someone was practicing witchcraft. Friendliness towards cats, rabbits or dogs could lead to accusations of witchcraft, as these animals, known as familiars, were suspected of working for the devil.
One of those accused of witchcraft and seen with familiars was Elizabeth Clarke, a poor, disabled woman from Essex.
Join Helen and historian Dr Romany Reagan as they uncover Elizabeth’s story and the strange tale of the witches’ familiars.
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Production:
Host: Helen Antrobus
Producers: Rosie Toy and Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Dr Romany Reagan
Discover More:
Find out more about witchcraft:
https://essexwitchmuseum.co.uk
Uncover folklore, legends, myths and lost histories from the British Isles with Dr Romany Reagan:
https://blackthornandstone.com
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at
[email protected]
UK