Persecution Of Witches Flashcards
Some people saw magic as useful. Give three purposes people believed it could be used for
People might use magic to try to find out the sex of an unborn child, cure an illness or recover stolen goods
What were the name of people who were thought to have inherited magic powers?
‘cunning folk’ or ‘wise women’
What did people rely on to cure illnesses?
People relied on their specialist knowledge of herbs and spells to cure illnesses
Why did people believe that supernatural powers could be dangerous?
People believed that a witch’s curse could make someone ill or could damage their property
A law was passed in 1563 that made witchcraft a criminal offence. What happened to those who were accused of being witches?
- An accused person could be brought to court and if they were found guilty of using witchcraft to damage property or to harm someone they could be imprisoned.
- If they were found guilty of using witchcraft to kill someone they could be hanged.
Why were women with small animals often accused of being a witch?
Small animals were known as ‘familiars’ and were believed to be used to commit evil acts of witchcraft
When did accusations of witchcraft peak?
During the 1580s
Name an example of one of the women who were accused of witchcraft
Ursula Kemp was accused by her neighbour, Grace. She had previously helped to cure her son but when Grace turned down Kemp’s help, after she fell ill, Grace stated that Kemp was angry. When Grace’s newborn daughter died, after falling out of her cradle, she accused Ursula of putting a curse on her child. Ursula’s own son said that he had seen her performing spells and Ursula was hanged.
Why did neighbours often accuse each other of witchcraft?
Poverty was a big issue and people were less willing to help poorer neighbours, which led to tensions in villages. Accusations often followed disputes between two neighbours. Generally one neighbour asked for help, and the other refused. When the neighbour who refused fell ill, they believed that they had been cursed by their neighbour, who was seeking revenge.
