17th century views on witchcraft.
Many people thought it was easy to spot a witch; King James’s book
also identified ways in witches could be spotted.
An old woman that lived on her own,
she had a pet usually a cat, a bird or
a toad and sometimes a mark on her
skin
Some people believed that witches
fed their pets on blood, and captured
young children to boil in pots and eat.
The Devil’s influence
-Witches were servants of the devil
-The communicate with the dead
-The devil provides them with guidance
-Witches have all made a pact with the devil.
• How to spot a witch
1) They are mostly old women.
2) They have pets that follow
them around, mostly black cats.
3) they make models.
4) They hold unusual
ceremonies.
5) They are deformed in some
way - basically they were
disabled but the people then
didn't know that since they
didn't have much knowledge.
6) They lived alone
7) They have no shadow
8) They talk to themselves all
the time
9) Can’t say the lords prayer
with no mistake
10) Their hair can not be cut
Hanging of a witch
Salem Witch Trial - America
A common belief about how to identify a witch; a witch would float in water,
and a ‘normal woman’ would sink (and ultimately drown). A lose/lose
situation.
The Witchcraft Acts.
1542 – serious crime to use witchcraft for
any unlawful purpose
1563 – serious crime to invoke evil spirits
and to practise magic if someone is killed
1604 – serious crime to ‘consult with,
entertain, employ, feed or reward any
evil or wicked spirit.
- Magic becomes a crime that is punished
by death.
The Witchcraft Acts
Between 1560- 1701 there were 785 so
called ‘witch contracts’ between accused
witches and the government.
474 of the accused were found guilty;
22% were hanged
10% were pilloried (like the stocks)
10% other fates (pregnant/delayed/not
known)