What is witchcraft?

Witchcraft is the art of bringing magical power to bear, or at least trying to do so. This magical power can be used in both harmful and beneficial effects. Witches were said to be responsible for all types of misfortune, and they were tried and condemned to death for their evil ways.

The Belief about witches:

In Europe, people believed about witches, they were part of everyday life for most people

Context of the Witch Hunts:

As recently as the 14th century, society took a very tolerant attitude toward witchcraft. However, thanks to the changing religious and social climates, society turned a hard eye to witchcraft and began using it as an excuse for many unexplained negative occurrences. During the early and medieval era, up to the Renaissance period

Powers of the Witches:

Witches were said to have great mysterious powers which they could use to harm or help others. The Wise Women or Cunning Folk also known as the White Witches were seen as helpful members of the medieval communities. The White witches were the good witches and they would use their powers to cure illnesses, help recover lost property and help fight the evil powers of the Black witches. Black witches were they type of witches that were persecuted during the middle ages. They were seen as those beings who practised the secret arts of Medieval witchcraft in order to cause physical or practical harm to others. Witches could easily cast spells by overlooking their victim, this was a very common method of harming a person and it was believed to work. The black witches used a number of methods to harm their victims or cast spells on them and some include: Black Fast: witches took revenge by going on a fast and it was believed that the victim slowly wasted away Technical Aids: witches would often steal a piece of their victims personal property to work their spells. In 1612, Anne Chattox admitted digging up corpses in a Lancashire church yard to use for her magical charms. Sympathetic or image magic: a doll made out of wax or clay was dressed with the clothing from the intended victim, strands of hair or nail clippings were even added. The doll was then named and pierced with nails or thorns and it was believed whatever happened to the image happened to the victim, for example a nail driven in the head meant the victim would go mad.

Witches were believed to have supernatural powers and were blamed for interfering with farm life and also accused of harming animals. Witches were also had the power to call storms, sudden mists or violent rain. If old women whistled they were taken as witches trying to call up great winds. Witches were also believed to have the powers of causing lightening or causing houses, towns or farms to burn down. The most feared power of the witches was their ability to cause illness. Many human sicknesses like sudden aches and pains, fevers and swellings, fits and wasting diseases were said to be caused by witches.

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Identification Techniques:
Usually if a person was accused of being witch then he/she was taken to court for trial. The trial was actually a way to make them confess rather than give them a chance to prove that they were innocent. Ways to identify a witch included: Prayers: If a person made a mistake saying a prayer she was a witch Weigh against stack of Bibles: If the suspect is heavier or lighter than the stack of bibles then she was clearly of witchcraft. Hot Iron: the accused hold onto a hot iron until their flesh burned, if the mark disappeared within two weeks the person was a witch House Search: the accuseds house was searched if any small animals or herbs were found than he accused was a witch

Witches often had to undergo ordeals that were to provide additional evidence of guilt. Some ordeals included: Swimming: The accused woman was thrown into the water with her hands tied behind her back, if she floated she was found guilty, if she sank she was innocent. The Devils Mark: A mark on the accused persons body was interpreted as proof that the accused was a witch.

Torture was used to identify a witch because the Church believed that if a person was close to dying then they would not lie. Also torturing accused witches drove out the Devil and allowed the person to tell the truth. Torture would include: Breaking or crushing bones Pulling out fingernails Whipping Stretching limbs Tying witched to metal chairs and lighting fires underneath them to heat the metal Tied in uncomfortable positions for 24 hours or without food or water

Anyone who managed to survive these tortures was believed to have the Devils help and was likely to be condemned straight away.

Role of the Church:

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Christianity became, in time, the dominant religion of Europe. Yet much of the ancient worlds pagan traditions, including magic making, lingered on and thrived through the ordinary people. Convinced that such leftover beliefs were inspired by the devil, and determined to stamp them out, the Church launched a merciless and brutal attack on every hint of witchcraft and wizards through Europe. This persecution lasted from the 15th century to the 18th century. Hundreds and thousands of innocent people suffered torture and execution, often of false charges and faked evidence.

Punishments:
Witches were most likely to be persecuted, sentenced to death if they confessed to witchcraft. For those who were accused of witchcraft but did not confess would be tortured to confess. There were two types of torture: 1) Distension e.g. strappado 2) Instruments of Compression e.g. leg screws

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