Gwen ferch Ellis
In 1594, Gwen ferch Ellis became the first person in Wales to be hanged as a witch. However, her real crime seems to have been overstepping the social boundary. Forty-two-year-old Gwen lived in Bettws, Denbighshire. Three times married and twice widowed, she was a weaver by trade. However, on the side, she also did a little healing. Gwen’s enterprise was a harmless one. She provided remedies in the form of herbs or charms for both people and farm animals. In return, she accepted nothing but food and wool for her loom. Up until 1594, no one had a bad word to say about Gwen’s activities. However, in 1594, upper-class Thomas Mostyn claimed Gwen had left a curse in his house, Gloddaith. Gwen was associated with a Jane Conway of Marle Hall in Conwy, with whom Mostyn was at odds. He claimed that one night while he was away, Gwen had stayed in his house and had taken the opportunity to plant the curse at Conway’s behest as a form of vengeance.
Up until 1594, no one had a bad word to say about Gwen’s activities. However, in 1594, upper-class Thomas Mostyn claimed Gwen had left a curse in his house, Gloddaith. Gwen was associated with a Jane Conway of Marle Hall in Conwy, with whom Mostyn was at odds. He claimed that one night while he was away, Gwen had stayed in his house and taken the opportunity to plant the curse at Conway’s behest as a form of vengeance.
Gwen denied leaving any charm at Goddaith although she did admit to healing people and using charms. She even recited some to convince her interrogators of their harmless nature. “In the name of God the father, the son and the holy spirit of God,” began one. It continued: “And the Three Marys and the three consecrated altars, And the blessed son of grace, And by the stones and by the herbs, To which the son of grace bestowed their virtue, In order that they should defend thee, the sinner who suffered adversity, As Christ defended.”
Predictably, this blatant blend of Catholicism and older beliefs did little to save Gwen. In October 1594, she was sent to trial. Mysteriously, the poem that started the affair never materialized as evidence against her. However, various neighbors did, suddenly coming forward with previously unspoken complaints of Gwen’s malice. One told how Gwen had driven her son mad and caused his death. Despite the evaporation of the original charge, this was enough to have Gwen found guilty and hanged.
It seems, however, that Gwen’s real crime was not witchcraft but illicit knowledge. For Mostyn appears to have had an illicit affair with Jane Conway- and Gwen knew of it. The disappearance of the charm suggests Mostyn fabricated it- thus ensuring Gwen never revealed his secret.
By the seventeenth century, the witch craze had spread further north, to Scandinavia.