Witchcraft

• Why did people believe witchcraft existed

  • People lacked scientific understanding and could not explain bad events e.g. poor harvest, illness  
  • The church taught that the devil existed and  could influence day to day life  
  • In times of chaos e.g. English Civil War it was believed that the devil would take advantage and influence events more frequently
• Witchcraft


  Gaining supernatural powers by making a deal with the devil
• Witches with supernatural powers

  • They were believed to use these powers to cause illness, poor harvest and disaster
• Witches


  • They were said to have familiars, demons in human form who would help them communicate with the devil
• Women were most likely to be targeted for witchcraft, although some men were accused
• Those with disabilities, who were anti-social or had birth marks may be targeted for witchcraft accusations
• Witch finders


  1. They would help track down witches

  2. This may involve tests such as the water test

  3. If the accused individual floated they were declared guilty (rejected by water)

  4. If they started to drown they were seen as innocent (accepted as pure by water)
• Punishment for witchcraft included execution by hanging or burning
• what did james I believe about witchcraft

  • Raised with a strong belief in witchcraft ( Protestant)  
  • In 1589 when James went to collect his bride from Denmark this ship almost sank. James believed this had been caused by a witch. This event took place after James had insulted the wife of an administrator in Holland. A protestant demonologist was consulted and he convinced James this was the work of witches. Soon after witch hunts started in Scotland  
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• what did james believe about witchcraft (continued)

  • In 1605 Catholic conspirators tried to kill James I. James claimed these Catholics had links to witchcraft. In 1606 witch marks were found in Knole House in Kent where James I had stayed. These aimed to protect him from witchcraft  
  • James wrote a book called Demologie. This detailed how to spot a witch e.g. making a mistake when reciting the lord’s prayer!