Witchcraft and Devil Lore in the Channel Islands

This volume brings together the original court records of Guernsey’s Royal Court, rendered into clear English and framed by a concise historical introduction. Through these transcribed testimonies you hear the voices of those accused of sorcery, the officials who prosecuted them, and the community caught in the grip of fear during the late‑16th and early‑17th centuries. The editor’s careful notes illuminate the language of the original documents, making the often‑obscure legal jargon accessible to modern ears.

The book also offers a striking overview of the scale of the witch‑hunt on the Channel Islands: dozens of men and women faced trial, many suffering execution, exile, or brutal corporal punishment. By placing these cases within the broader European wave of superstition, the work reveals how local customs, personal vendettas, and genuine belief in the devil intertwined to produce a dark chapter of island history. Listeners gain both a factual account and a deeper understanding of the social forces that fueled these tragic accusations.