156 – Persecutions picture
- Physical description:
- Black and white reproduction of a 16th century woodcut of a suspected witch in a ducking stool.
- Museum classification:
- Persecution
- Information:
A suspect was strapped in a chair and lowered into a river or pond. Floating was proof of witchcraft, sinking of innocence. 'Innocent' suspects often drowned during this 'trial by water'. Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'For a witch to suffer the water test of the ducking stool she did at least stand a chance of living, but there are recorded cases when the townsfolk's hate against a certain person was so great that they just lowered the stool into the water and left it there, to be raised later - much later.'
- Resource:
- Picture
- Materials:
- Paper
- Copyright ownership:
- Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.
A suspect was strapped in a chair and lowered into a river or pond. Floating was proof of witchcraft, sinking of innocence. 'Innocent' suspects often drowned during this 'trial by water'. Original text by Cecil Williamson: 'For a witch to suffer the water test of the ducking stool she did at least stand a chance of living, but there are recorded cases when the townsfolk's hate against a certain person was so great that they just lowered the stool into the water and left it there, to be raised later - much later.'