Historic book of town's witch trials to be displayed

A 300-year-old rare book that details events said to have inspired the infamous Salem Witch Trials will go on display.

The book, from 1716, was purchased by two charities for Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, from a rare book seller.

It recounts the 1662 trial of Rose Cullender and Amy Denny, who were from Lowestoft and accused of being witches.

Daniel Clarke, heritage officer at the museum, said the book would be part of an exhibition later this month.

Mr Clarke explained not much was known of Cullender or Denny other than they were widows.

"It was quite tricky for women in the 17th Century, because if you weren't married or had a job you were in quite a precarious state," he said.

"They were your two routes to safety."

They were both accused of bewitching local children during various incidents and were tried at court in Bury St Edmunds.

"It is terrifying to think that these poor women that were probably already on the periphery of society were accused of something that was very unusual."

Renowned judges including Sir Matthew Hale found them guilty and they were sentenced to death and later executed.

"The Hale's trials are considered to have inspired the Salem Witch Trials," Mr Clarke continued.

"There has been some confusion over which ones actually did, but some have suggested it is actually this one, of the couple that we've got really good documents attached to."

The Salem trials took place in Massachusetts in the US and saw 20 witches convicted, while some 150 more men and women were accused between 1692 and 1693.

The book of Cullender and Denny's trial is called A Tryal of Witches, At the Assizes Held at Bury St Edmunds for the County of Suffolk, and was published 54 years after the trial itself.

Mr Clarke said the book was "fascinating" as it was also published the same year of the last witch execution of Mary Hicks in Huntingdon, in modern day Cambridgeshire, along with her nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth.

"Whether it was being published because it was such a part of the public discourse at the time is really interesting," he added.

Bury Society and Friends of Moyse's Hall Museum bought it for £3,000.

Mr Clarke said the museum believed the book still had its original binding and it looked "brand new".

It will go on display as part of the Superstition: Strange Wonders and Curiosities exhibition at the museum, from 15 February to 6 April.

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