Question: Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland, (1578–1632) was an English nobleman, in what year, did three women, the "Witches of Belvoir", were accused of witchcraft, for having allegedly caused the deaths of his two young sons?

Context paragraphs:
Violet Manners, Duchess of Rutland: Marion Margaret Violet Manners, Duchess of Rutland ("née" Lindsay; 7 March 1856 – 22 December 1937) was a British artist and noblewoman.  A granddaughter of the 24th Earl of Crawford, she married Henry Manners in 1882.  She was styled as the Marchioness of Granby from 1888 to 1906, when Manners succeeded as Duke of Rutland.  She had five children, including the 9th Duke of Rutland and the socialite Lady Diana Cooper.

Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham: Katherine Manners, Duchess of Buckingham, Marchioness of Antrim, 19th Baroness de Ros of Helmsley (died 1649) was the daughter and heir of Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland.  She was known as the richest woman in Britain, apart from royalty.  She married George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, the favourite, and possibly lover, of King James I of England; and secondly, she married the Irish peer Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim.

Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland: Roger Manners, 5th Earl of Rutland (6 October 1576 – 26 June 1612) was the eldest surviving son of John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland and his wife, Elizabeth "nee" Charleton (d. 1595).  He travelled across Europe, took part in military campaigns led by the Earl of Essex, and was a participant of Essex's rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I.  He was favoured by James I, and honoured by his contemporaries as a man of great intelligence and talent.  He enjoyed the friendship of some of the most prominent writers and artists of the Elizabethan age and Jacobean age.  In 1603 he led an Embassy to Denmark, homeland of James' Queen Anne of Denmark.

Witches of Belvoir: The Belvoir Witches were three women, a mother and her two daughters, accused of witchcraft in England around 1618.  The mother, Joan Flower, died on the way to her trial, and the two daughters, Margaret and Philippa, were supposed to be hung in Lincoln.  It is said that Phillipa drugged the guards and managed to escape and making her way to Kent where she died after having 3 children.

Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland: Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland, KG (1578–1632) was an English nobleman.  Despite a brief imprisonment for his involvement in the Essex Rebellion of 1601, he became prominent at the court of James I.  He lived at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire.  In 1618 three women, the "Witches of Belvoir", were accused of witchcraft for having allegedly caused the deaths of his two young sons.

Belvoir Gardens: Belvoir Gardens was designed and landscaped by Elizabeth Howard, 5th Duchess of Rutland, who was married to John Manners, the 5th Duke of Rutland.  It was created in 1799, the year Belvoir Castle was built.  There are many unusual features to the gardens, for example the natural amphitheatre which faces the estate was formed by the moraines of glaciers and a 'root house' or summer house which survives to this day.  These natural amphitheatres are now embedded with fresh water springs to ensure blooming plants throughout the year.

John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland: John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland KG PC (21 October 1696 – 29 May 1779) was an English nobleman, the eldest son of John Manners, 2nd Duke of Rutland and Catherine Russell.  Styled Marquess of Granby from 1711, he succeeded to the title in 1721, cutting short a brief career in the House of Commons, where he had represented Rutland as a Whig.

Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland: Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland, 12th Baron de Ros of Helmsley (c. 1492 – 20 September 1543), KG, of Belvoir Castle, Rutland, was created Earl of Rutland by King Henry VIII in 1525.

John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland: John Manners, 4th Earl of Rutland (c. 1559 – 24 February 1588) was the son of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland, and Lady Margaret Neville, daughter of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland.

John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland: John Manners, 1st Duke of Rutland and 9th Earl of Rutland (29 May 1638 in Boughton – 10 January 1711 in Belvoir Castle) was a British MP, and Whig politician.

Supporting paragraphs: Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland Witches of Belvoir
Answer: 1618