Always Has Been: Chapter 1: The 1645 Witch Trial Prank of England

In 1645, an amusing incident occurred in an English village, highlighting the era's superstitions. Villagers accused an elderly woman of witchcraft, blaming her for mysterious cattle deaths. To test her, the community conducted a "witch float" test, where she was floated on a pond. Amidst the chaos, many villagers fell in, creating a humorous scene of screams, splashes, and confusion. Although the woman floated, implying guilt by their logic, the spectacle led some to doubt the trial's validity.