In 1612 in Milton Ernest, a village five miles north of Bedford, two women, a mother and daughter are accused and tried by their village for witchcraft. Their story is written up in a propaganda pamphlet the following year, and their case is used in a 1627 legal guide for witchcraft cases. Yet even those who are familiar with the dark tales of England's witch trials often have not heard of their story. The 1612 Northampton witch trial is often credited as the first documented evidence of ducking being used in such trials. But Mary Sutton was ducked at least a month or two before Northampton.

It's a sad story, but an important one. It's a story that has been misreported from it's very start. In this episode Nat Doig, pieces together the events, looking beyond the propaganda and tries to make sense of a senseless attack on these two women. 

The episode stars Owen Staton in the roles of Cornelius Harbird, and John Inger. Owen has his own podcast Time Between Time Storytelling which you can listen to here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/time-between-times-storytelling-with-owen-staton/id1573244734

The beautiful Ladies Sutton theme was composed especially for this episode by Tess Savigear and performed by Tess on piano and Charlotte Pascoe on oboe. 

Check out the show blog for further information and show notes at weirdinthewade.blog

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Weird in the Wade is researched, written, presented and produced by Nat Doig

Theme music and Ladies Sutton theme composed by Tess Savigear, oboe by Charlotte Pascoe

All additional sound effects and music from Epidemic Sound