Witchcraft grew out of the pre-Christian pagan beliefs and popular common superstitions of the Middle Ages. Its beliefs included strange rituals, magic charms, love potions, demons, and spirits. Although witchcraft was illegal in the Middle Ages, the laws against it were not strictly enforced. Further, the village priests often tolerated some of the beliefs, or at least pretended to ignore them. To the ordinary villager who believed that spirits populated the world, the priests could often offer no better explanations of how the world worked. The priests were not the only people to whom the villagers turned in times of trouble. They also looked to a so-called "wise" or "cunning" man or woman. This person, usually fairly old, was thought to have a special understanding of the way that the world operated. Often, these elders had a knowledge of medicinal herbs gained from a lifetime of experience, or local based upon local folklore. These "wise folk" were often called "good witches". However, if their relationships with their neighbors turned sour, "wise folk" might be accused of being "bad witches". In many cases, the person accused of witchcraft would be an elderly widow. Perhaps too weak to work, with no husband or family to support her, she would be the most defenseless person in the community and an easy target for attack.

Outrageous accusations were made; a person might be accused of flying on a broomstick, sticking pins into dolls, or dancing with the devil in the woods at night. When the majority of people believed an accusation, the accused would be unable to convince a mob that the accusations were untrue.

Witchcraft was considered a crime punishable by execution, and normal rules of evidence and legal safeguards were regularly violated. Since it was done in God's name, torture was considered a proper tool to uncover witches. People accused of witchcraft were often considered guilty until they could prove their innocence, and many tests were devised to detect the guilty. In the water test, the accused would be thrown into a body of water. If the accused floated - as most did - it was taken as a sign of guilt and the person would be executed. If the person sank, he or she was considered innocent and hopefully rescued before they drowned. Thumb screws and boiling water were used to obtain confessions of guilt, and few persons could withstand such torture. Many confessed to witchcraft in order to be executed quickly and put an end to the torture. These confessions became proof of the existence of witchcraft. Convicted witches were often burned at the stake. In England, witches were usually hanged. In rare cases, the convicted might be spared death. Instead, a priest might perform a ceremony of exorcism to drive out the demon that was supposed to have taken over the witch's body.

"Witch Hunting" signaled that the normal harmony and cooperation of community life had broken down. No person was really safe during witch scares and witch hunts. Frequently, levelheaded people would let their emotions get the better of their common sense. Convictions would be obtained by weak and circumstantial evidence, and many well-meaning people were afraid to speak out and call attention to themselves in fear of being the next person accused of witchcraft. An enormous outburst of witch hunting broke out in Europe in the mid 1500's and lasted more than a century. Once started, it was virtually impossible to stop. Religious leaders were ready to attack witches because they were rivals for their own position as advisers in times of troubles. Political leaders were eager to use the law courts to prosecute witches and thus strengthen the power of the state.

(Compiled from World History People and Nations, Anatole Mazour and John Peoples, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990. and "Witchcraft in America" Bob Tonra, Educational Filmstrips, 1976.)