by Liz Baalham | Dec 28, 2025 | Rattlesden, Victim Stories
On his return journey to Lawshall, Stearne revisited Rattlesden, where suspicion had settled on a boy of about eight or nine (name unknown), who had previously been questioned at Rougham near Bury. He had reportedly accepted the service of an imp, not understanding...
by Liz Baalham | Dec 28, 2025 | Rattlesden, Victim Stories
A woman known as Old Mother Orvis, a local matriarch, was accused by a woman named Bedford who claimed that Orvis had sent her a spirit called Meribell, who promised power and prosperity and then left her with four imps.
by Liz Baalham | Dec 28, 2025 | Creeting St Mary, Victim Stories
Nicholas Hempstead was pressed by Stearne until he confessed to sending his own imps to kill a horse and to attack men in his regiment. Both were named as witches. Stearne claimed that Hempstead had used witchcraft to destroy horses intended for the parliamentary army...
by Liz Baalham | Dec 28, 2025 | Creeting St Mary
Anne Hammer of Creeting St Mary confessed to Stearne that she had been visited by two imps, which she later sent to kill a child belonging to one Master Campe. She also admitted to having ‘lain with the Devil’.
by Liz Baalham | Dec 28, 2025 | Bramford, Victim Stories
A man named Payne was interrogated by John Stearne over eight days before finally admitting that the Devil had come to him while he was ploughing, and that he had given up his soul.
