7- Jacquetta Woodville- The Witch of Eye

'There was a Beldame called the wytch of Ey,

Old mother Madge her neyghbours did hir name

Which wrought wonders in countryes by heresaye

Both feendes and fayries her charmyng would obay

And dead corpsis from grave she could uprere

Such an inchauntresse, as that tyme had no peere.'

On 27th October 1441, the citizens of medieval England witnessed the burning of a witch - a fairly common sight in that era. People flocked to the square at Smithfield where a huge stake was erected and logs were being piled on in preparation for the immolation. Men, women and children alike waited in macabre anticipation to witness the punishment and thereafter collect any relics, if any, of the so-called witch who was in the centre of a widely publicised trial. The witch in question? Margery Jourdemayne.

In my previous post, you may recall that Margery was one of the person instrumental in the downfall of Eleanor Cobham, the erstwhile Duchess of Gloucester. So, who was she? 

Unfortunately, very little is known of her early life. We do know that she married William Jourdemayne who came from a family of prosperous yeomen. She was a part of an elite clique - that of renowned clerics and courtiers - quite an unusual thing for the wife of a cowherd.

During the course of Eleanor's trial in 1441, it was revealed that Margery, along with six other witches, was held at Windsor Castle for some months in the year 1432 on the charges of witchcraft and was released on the condition that she would lead a simple and inconsequential life hereafter.

However, it was not fated to be. Her name cropped up again when Eleanor named her during her trial nearly 10 years later after her imprisonment at Windsor. The Duchess admitted to meeting Margery to procure potions to help her bear the Duke's child and heir.

Margery was sentenced to be burnt at stake, a common punishment for the women condemned as witches whereas Eleanor escaped the death penalty due to her royal connections. 

Now, where does our protagonist, Jacquetta, feature in this, you may wonder. In the English royal court after her husband's death, Jacquetta may have crossed paths with Margery maybe before or during the trial. We would never know......

However, the charges of witchcraft will rear its ugly head again and we will then find a familiar face in the mire.....