A Detection of Damnable Driftes
Sixteenth-century pamphlet describing prominent Chelmsford witchcraft trials against Elizabeth Francis and others
English, Pamphlet, Witchcraft
Witchcraft
English, Pamphlet, Witchcraft
The examination and confession of certaine Wytches at Chensforde
First pamphlet describing witchcraft trials in England; it covers the testimony of witches at Chelmsford Assizes in 1566.
Witchcraft
Liber Poenitentialis
Set of 7th-century ecclesiastical laws applied to women – and only women – perfoming acts such as divination, raising storms, or murder by the use of magic.
Witchcraft
Witch-Finding
Methods used to identify witches, once believed to provide sufficient evidence to achieve a conviction in a court of law.
Witchcraft
Summis desiderantes affectibus
Papal bull regarding witchcraft issued by Pope Innocent VIII on 5 December 1484.
Witchcraft
Seely wights
Fairy-like creatures at the centre of a shamanistic Scottish cult that existed in the 16th century. Members claimed to be able to enter into a trance which allowed them to fly out at night on swallows, and join with the seely wights.
Witchcraft
Osculum infame
Ritual of a witch paying homage to the Devil by kissing his genitals, anus or feet.
Pamphlet, Scottish, Witchcraft
Newes from Scotland
1591 pamphlet describing the North Berwick witch trials in Scotland, detailing the confessions given by the accused witches before King James VI.
Witchcraft
Maleficium
Act of sorcery, historically usually performed by a witch, intended to cause harm or injury.
Witchcraft
Witch’s broomstick
Broomsticks smeared with flying ointment were supposed to give witches the power of flight.
