'Watchfinders' were long on the public payroll. Undoubtedly, torture of one sort or another was used, until the victim was in a state to confess to anything, although later, they usually withdrew their confession and professed their innocence. Four persons were tried at Worcester for witchcraft in 1649, and all found guilty and executed, two confessing their crimes, but Rebecca West and Rose Holybred 'died obdurate'.
