Conclusion: Nature of Persecutions, Reasons for Decline

Question 1

Nature of Persecutions:

Process

Answer 1

The Charge of Witchcraft:

• Most trials began with an accusation of Maleficia in a village or town
• Peasants usually tried to deal with it before going to court by: scratching the Witch and drawing blood to nullify spell or trying to counter spell with White magic
• Cost of litigation meant cases weren’t immediately brought to court
• Magistrates required a number of witnesses to support the accusation

Large-Scale Hunts:

• Relatively rare phenomenon, worst hunts occurred in places where there was judicial autonomy
• In areas where Demonic concept never took hold, e.g. Iceland and Finland, there were no large-scale hunts

Involvement of Children:

• Children sometimes used as witnesses
• Children sometime accused e.g. quarter of 160 executed in Würzburg were juveniles

Question 2

Nature of Persecutions:

Southern Germany

Answer 2

Overview:

• Judicial Autonomy within some of 2,000 small states led to large-scale hunts
• Mass panics in South-Western states
• Over 20,000 executions in total

Explanations for Mass Panic:

• Judicial Autonomy in many SW states
• Religious Zeal of Catholic Prince-Bishops, demonstrated their piety
• Climatic problems led to scapegoating of Witches
• Possible that Rulers scapegoated Witches to deflect criticism and appease popular pressure for hunts
• 30yrs War led to increase in turmoil and fear, destabilised local communities

Question 3

Nature of Persecutions:

Britain and North America

Answer 3

England:

• Around 500 executed, estimated half of those happened in East Anglia
• Legal System often seen as reason for less hunts e.g. ban on torture and use of jury
• Most serious hunt was Matthew Hopkins hunt in East Anglia, occurred when traditional legal system broke down due to Civil War in 1640s

Scotland:

• James VI strong believer of Witchcraft, promoted hunts
• North Berwick Trials: James VI believed political enemies using Witchcraft against him, approved royal commissions to hunt down Witches
• James’ book Daemonologie and other pamphlets created mass panic and fear, Calvinists also introduced belief that Witchcraft was a threat

Salem:

• Salem only large-scale hunt in New England
• 150 arrests but only 19 executions, people who confessed were often spared
• Hysteria may have occurred because of remoteness from Central Government- London 3,000 miles away
• Mass fear and hysteria about threat of Witches led to more accusations

Question 4

Reasons for Decline in Witch-Hunting

Answer 4

Intellectual Scepticism:

• Scientific Revolution: Challenged traditional ideas about Universe and reality of Witchcraft
• However, these ideas didn’t become mainstream in Elite culture until after Witch-craze

Political Scepticism:

• Many Secular Authorities thought hunts were counter-productive because they brought panic and disorder
• By 18th century ruling elites were sceptical of Witchcraft accusations and were determined to control popular passions

Religious Scepticism:

• By late 17th, early 18th century many leading Theologians were sceptical of Witchcraft
• Thought that God operated through natural forces and that sin was not the work of the Devil

Legal Scepticism:

• Parlement of Paris saw that all cases were automatically appealed from French Provinces as early as 1624, in 1640 they forbade prosecution of Witchcraft cases altogether
• By 1700, forced confessions were frequently dismissed in courts around Europe, voluntary ones deemed to be mental illness