Witches of Belvoir

The Witches of Belvoir were Joan Flower and her daughters Margaret and Philippa, from Bottesford, accused of causing the deaths of two young sons of Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle. The Flower women had worked for the earl and been dismissed; they were accused of working a fatal curse using stolen grave-soil and a stolen glove. Joan Flower died in Lincoln gaol in 1618 — allegedly choking on bread-and-butter after calling down divine punishment on herself if guilty. Margaret and Philippa were hanged in 1619. A pamphlet published that year spread the story widely; the dead boys are commemorated by effigies in St Mary's Church, Bottesford, which bear an inscription referencing 'wicked practise and sorcerye'.