The play was inspired by the real-life story of Elizabeth Sawyer, who had been executed for witchcraft on 19 April 1621, and draws heavily on a pamphlet by Henry Goodcole, The wonderful discovery of Elizabeth Sawyer, Witch (1621). While Goodcole's pamphlet claims to portray the devilish truth of Sawyer as questioned in prison, the Sawyer of the play is treated more sympathetically.
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