The setting for this illustration that dates to around 1880 is the environs of London, England. Members of a religious group known as Puritans are preparing to leave England for the New World - they will become more commonly known as the Pilgrims, and the Mayflower will be one of their boats. Witchcraft and the condemnation of those thought to be witches are rife. Here a crowd gather about an old woman whom they have accused of being a witch. They then throw her in the pond. Dunking in water was a common practice at the time to test if a person was a witch - if the person floated, the person w
The setting for this illustration that dates to around 1880 is the environs of London, England. Members of a religious group known as Puritans are preparing to leave England for the New World - they will become more commonly known as the Pilgrims, and the Mayflower will be one of their boats. Witchcraft and the condemnation of those thought to be witches are rife. Here a crowd gather about an old woman whom they have accused of being a witch. They then throw her in the pond. Dunking in water was a common practice at the time to test if a person was a witch - if the person floated, the person was a witch; if the person sank, the person was not and the people would attempt to rescue him/her.
Size: 3299px × 5460px
Photo credit: © Ivy Close Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1600s, 17th, century, dunking, early, england, fathers, harrassing, pilgrim, pilgrims, puritanical, puritans, trial, witch, witchcraft, witches, withcraft
