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| Historic book of Suffolk witch trials to be put in museum display | |
| (2 days later) | |
| The 300-year-old book of witch trials held in Bury St Edmunds will go on display later this month | The 300-year-old book of witch trials held in Bury St Edmunds will go on display later this month |
| A 300-year-old rare book that details events said to have inspired the infamous Salem Witch Trials will go on display. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Daniel Clarke, heritage officer at the museum, said the book would be part of an exhibition later this month. |
| Following the exhibition, the museum will move the book into its crime and punishment gallery, where it will remain on display | Following the exhibition, the museum will move the book into its crime and punishment gallery, where it will remain on display |
| Mr Clarke explained not much was known of Cullender or Denny other than they were widows. | 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. | "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 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. | 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." | "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." |
| Daniel Clarke said the team was working on another large witches exhibition for 2026 | Daniel Clarke said the team was working on another large witches exhibition for 2026 |
| Renowned judges including Sir Matthew Hale found them guilty and they were sentenced to death and later executed. | 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. | "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." | "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 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 museum team believe the book still has its original binding from the 1700s | The museum team believe the book still has its original binding from the 1700s |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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". | 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. | It will go on display as part of the Superstition: Strange Wonders and Curiosities exhibition at the museum, from 15 February to 6 April. |
| Councillor Ian Ship, chair of the Friends of Moyse's Hall Museum Dianne Hind and secretary and vice chair of Bury Society, Terry O'Donoghue, expressed their delight with the purchase | Councillor Ian Ship, chair of the Friends of Moyse's Hall Museum Dianne Hind and secretary and vice chair of Bury Society, Terry O'Donoghue, expressed their delight with the purchase |
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