17th-century sleuths in the dock for witchcraft and wizardry

In early 17th-century Exeter, England, a unique paradox emerged: magicians known as "cunning folk" or "service magicians" who used mystical abilities to locate lost or stolen items were pursued by the law, despite the rarity of such prosecutions elsewhere in the country. These enigmatic individuals, who sometimes dabbled in strictly prohibited magic, were often left unchecked across England, yet Exeter proved to be an exception.

Professor Mark Stoyle of the University of Southampton, who studied Exeter's witchcraft records from 1558 to 1666, revealed that this city exhibited a particularly strong aversion to those who practiced what he terms "service magic." Ignatius Jurdain, a Puritan magistrate of unbending religious zeal, epitomized the city's strong anti-magical stance.

In one instance, Jurdain pursued Christabel Robyns, a woman accused of using magic to locate missing silver spoons and a pewter jug. Thanks to intervention from the highest legal authority in England, Robyns ultimately avoided prosecution.

Other intriguing cases from Exeter's court records include John Blachett, a shoemaker accused of using magic to locate a lost hood in 1666. Blachett's employer, Peter Pitts, reported the case to local authorities, but the jury ultimately acquitted Blachett. Another bizarre case involved Anne King, a weaver's wife, who was imprisoned for attempting to find a lost purse using a sieve and names she believed belonged to the thieves.

Although Anne was eventually arrested for witchcraft, she was eventually released or likely received a warning. These accounts demonstrate the deeply rooted fear and suspicion of witchcraft in Exeter during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with local authorities employing all means necessary to combat what they perceived as a growing threat.