"
As might be expected, witchcraft so increased in consequence of these
denunciations, that, "in the course of fifty years following the passing
of this act, besides a great number of single indictments and
executions, fifteen were brought to trial at Lancaster in 1612, and
twelve condemned; in 1622, six were tried at York; 1634, seventeen
condemned at Lancaster; 1644, sixteen were executed at Yarmouth; 1645,
fifteen condemned at Chelmsford, and hanged; in the same and following
year, about forty at Bury in Suffolk; twenty more in the county, and
many in Huntingdon; and (according to the estimate of Ady) some
thousands were burned in Scotland."
Popular hatred rendered the existence of a reputed witch so miserable,
that persons bearing that stigma often courted death in despair,
confessing to crimes which they had never committed, for the purpose of
ridding themselves of persecution.
"One of the latest convictions was that of Amy Duny and Rose Cullender,
before Sir Matthew Hale at Bury, in 1664. They were executed, and died
maintaining their innocence." Their execution was a foul blot upon his
name, as it is scarcely to be doubted but that they were the victims of
imposture.
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