The future Duchess of Buckingham was the only child of the Earl of Rutland, by his first wife, Frances, the widow of Sir William Bevile, of Kilkhampton, Cornwall;[271] and, during the lifetime of her mother, she was regarded as the sole heiress of all the wealth of her father. Upon the death of the first Countess of Rutland, the Earl married again, his second lady being the daughter of the Earl of Thanet, and the widow of Sir Henry Hungerford. Two sons were the offspring of this union, but before the courtship of Buckingham, death removed them from being obstacles to Lady Katherine’s prosperity. They died in their infancy, from the effects, as it was believed in those credulous days, of wicked practices and sorcery.[272] It was this celebrated case which is said to have convinced King James, before sceptical on the subject, of the existence of witchcraft, of the real agency of the power of darkness.[273] The instruments of the foul fiend were three women in the service of the Earl of Rutland, Joan Flower, and her two daughters, who were stated to have entered into a formal contract with the devil, and to have become “devils incarnate themselves.” Being dismissed from Belvoir Castle, on account of bad conduct, they made use of all the enchantments, spells, and charms that the black art comprised. Footnote 271: Which afterwards came to the Granvilles, hence the name of Bevile Granville. Footnote 272: This lady is said to have died in consequence of some medicine given her by Sir W. Ralegh;—a slanderous accusation. Footnote 273: Granger, from Howell. Art. Rutland. Henry Lord Roos, the eldest born of the house of Rutland, sank under the effects of these demoniacal influences, or rather, probably, from childish terrors, in 1613.[274] Footnote 274: State Papers, vol. cxii., No. 104. The Lady Katherine did not escape their machinations, having, with her brother Francis, been tortured by Flower and her accomplices.[275] Five years after the supposed exercise of their witchcraft, these wretched women were apprehended, and upon being rigidly examined by Lord Willoughby d’Eresby, Sir George Manners, and others, were committed to Lincoln gaol. Joan died on her way to prison, whilst wishing the bread and butter which she was eating, might choke her if she were guilty. The two daughters were tried, confessed their guilt, and were executed at Lincoln. Footnote 275: Even King James, it is said, was not exempt from the designs of the wicked. In the State Paper Office is the following entry:—“A man named Peacock, a schoolmaster, to be committed to the Tower and tortured, ‘for practising sorcery on the King, to infatuate him in Sir Thomas Lake’s business.’”