Research - The history of witchcraft

It is said that we people are afraid of things that we are not familiar with. That was over the centuries, where people were terrified by the things they do not fathom with. In a time full of church's doctrines and their domination all over the world, where everything that was not pleased by them was eliminated through death such as using "evil magic" witches.

Because of the misunderstandings and the fear were created highly profitable professions - the witch hunters. This fear and obsessions connected to the witches have been around for ages with accompanied a long history.     

In 1664 a man named Matthew Hopkins claimed that six witches tried to kill him, after this accident he becomes the most determined witch hunter whose life goal was to get rid of all of the witches. Because of his actions, almost 300 people in three years (1664 -67) were accused of being a witch and executed. 

He travelled between bigger cities in England such as Essex, Suffolk or Huntingdon to show his service and get off the witches from these lands. All of these actions were paid (twenty shillings by the town this time this amount of money were ten times bigger than the average salary by day) by mostly local magistrates. Hopkins quickly turned his missions in well- paid career, and have a lot of followers. His action was supported directly by King James I who has lots of fears till childhood (both real and imagined) about conspiracies against his life. He also wrote a book Demonology that was supposed to help identify the witches and catch them as much as they can.

Based on this book Hopkins developed his own way to identify a witch which among his two assistant followed. These witches were tortured with their own special methods -  pricking a nipple if the person does not feel the prick they are a witch. Their job also involved cutting the arm of the accused with a knife, needle or pin and if she not bleed she was a witch. However, having a very good life in wealth earned from unmasking the witches, they did not want to lose it, as a result of their test they often used pop-up or blunt blades to identify the witches. 

Needles used to prick suspected witches and so determine their guilt

Hopkins favourite method of torture was the "swimming test" - a simple and effective test that involved binding the arms and legs of the accused to a chair before throwing them into the village lake or pond. If the person sank and drowned, then she is innocent and received into heaven but if they floated above the water they were definitely a witch.

It is said that in 1667 Hopkins was accused of being a witch and did not pass his own tests - "swimming test" but more likely is that he died because of some illness such as tuberculosis or any other illness. In the year of his death, he published a book that is named "The discovery of the witches". 

Another witch hunter that I want to mention is an unnamed Scottish man called "The bellman". He worked for the magistrates in Newcastle around 1650 his action were named Newcastle trials. He claimed that he can identify a wich by her appearance. When he arrived he said to villagers "bring in any complaint against any woman for a witch, they should be sent for and tried by the person appointed". His testing accused were similar to these Hopkins'  - he used skin pricking methods if they bleed they are innocent if they, not the verdict is clear - they are a witch. Because of his actions were executed almost 120 women. Ironically The bellman was heng because of being accused of being a witch. 

Witches and magic were associated with the devil where women by kissing Satan second face - was on the devil's buttocks and become a witch and possessed supernatural powers. Being accused of witchcraft was automatic to the measurable end.  Most or I should say all the people after suffering so much not human torture they prefer falsely confess just to end up this agony what sometimes leads to other people being tortured and executed. 

Guazzo (1608) The kiss of shame

In 1487 was published a book, that was created by two professors - Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Springer titled Malleus Maleficarum known also as The Hammer of the Witches.

 Kramer and Springer (1484) Malleus Maleficarum

It was like a bible for the witch hunters there were described how legally identify and accuse a suspected witch. There were written things that a witch normally do such as shape-shifting, having sex with the devils etc. Based on this book tortures were an acceptable way for a witch confession. This book was signed by Pope Innocent VII. But this information may be false because some documents show that this pope abdicated three years before publishing this book in 1484.

Pope Innocent VII

It is said that between 1484 and 1750 were executed almost 100 000 in western Europe. People could be sentenced to death because of almost everything. Accused somebody of being a witch was very simple, pointing a finger at that person whose you blame for misfortunes or someone who question your beliefs and values. If someone was trouble for you then you have to say that that person is a witch. Based on the witnesses confessions it can be said that people have a really vivid imagination and what is funny and terrifying at the same time, they actually believe in all of it. 

Gertrude Svens (Sweden,1667) after a little fight and winning with a boy, she was accused of being a witch. This village boy (who lost a fight with her) witness that he saw her casting spells and how she was walking on the water. After days of interrogation, she confesses that she was learnt magic from her neighbour - Maret Jonsdotter and she confessed that Maret after covered her in the salve they both sat on the caw and fly away to the black sabbath where they worshipped the Devil. She also said that she receives a hidden warning from the white angel about the plague that will destroy the whole community if she did not confess and get rid of the evil from the village. After all of this story, 30 people were arrested included Maret Jonsdotter she also has a birthmark on her finger that was considered as a devil's mark. What is really sad even her siblings turned away from her and gave evidence against her. This is the best example of how big an impact a community has on the people and how fear can change a man.

References:

History (2017) History of the Witches (Online) https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-witches [01.05.2021]

History (2011) Salem Witch trials (Online) https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials [01.05.2021]

English Heritage (-) A journey into witchcraft beliefs (Online) https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/journey-into-witchcraft-beliefs/ [01.05.2021]

Ellen Castelow (-) Witches in Britain (Online) https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Witches-in-Britain/ [01.05.2021]

Zane Whitener (2019) The burning times/history of the witches part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMbGf1HGaSg [01.05.2021]

Francesco Guazzo (1608) The kiss of shame https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osculum_infame#/media/File:CompendiumMaleficarumEngraving15.jpg [02.05.2021]

Pope Innocent VII https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innocenty_VIII#/media/Plik:Innocent_VIII_1492.JPG  [02.05.2021]

 Kramer and Springer (1484) Malleus Maleficarum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malleus_Maleficarum#/media/File:Malleus_maleficarum,_K%C3%B6ln_1520,_Titelseite.jpg [02.05.2021]