Killing the Witches: The Horror of Salem, Massachusetts

Content Warning: This section features depictions of death.

In 1591, Dame Euphame MacCalzean, or Dame Effie, awaited her execution as a witch in Edinburgh, Scotland. King James VI was dedicated to purging the kingdom of witches, and there were rumors that he would attend the execution, a source of public interest and entertainment, in person. Dame Effie was a figure of widespread rumor after allegedly trying to poison her husband, the brother of a court magistrate who then ordered another young woman tortured until she revealed Effie to be a witch. King James VI inherited Effie’s sizable land holdings as her own children lack legal standing.

Upon Castle Hill in Edinburgh, Dame Effie prepared to die. Most witches were strangled before the executioner lights the flames, but Effie was burned: “the crowd [cheers] as she struggles against her binds. […] The smell of scorched flesh overwhelms the aroma of woodsmoke. Parents put protective hands on the shoulders of their children. Still, few turn away. […] this is what happens when you associate with the Devil” (6). The crowd dispersed, satisfied.

In 1620, the Mayflower prepared for a journey across the Atlantic Ocean, with 102 passengers and 30 crew. Some traveled for religious freedom: