Maleficium - evil acts against people, farm animals or crops using supernatural powers or interferring with nature
Malleus Maleficarum - published by two German dominicon friars and acted as a guidebook for witch-hunters, setting out the precise steps needed to secure a conviction
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Witchcraft and the Reformation
Led to suspicion between Catholics and Protestants, causing accusations from both sides
Protestant reformation took hold with the rule of Henry VIII
Belief in the devil and witchcraft was central to protestant faith
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Witches and Familiars
Familiar - supernatural creatures associated with witches as representatives of the devil
Often took form as animals
Devil's Mark - was used to feed or suckle blood from the witch and could be a mole or scar etc
Often associated with cunning-folk
Could appear to them when alone urging them to make a pact with the devil
Could be given by someone else
Given with the promise of being made rich or revenge taken on enemies
Could cause harm to others of property
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Witchcraft and the Law
1542 Witchcraft Act - passed under Henry VIII. Made the conjuring of spirits, witchcraft and sorcery in order to find treasure, cause harm to a person or their goods or to discover what had happened to stolen goods, a capital offence
1563 Witchcraft Act - Passed under Elizabeth I. More severe as it made it a crime to invoke evil spirits for any purpose, whether maleficium was involved or not. Death penalty only used in the result of death of a person.
1604 Witchcraft Act - Passed under James I. Death penalty retained for killing a person and reintroduced for a second offence in lesser kinds of magic, like destruction of livestock. Made an offence to consult with or feed any evil spirit.
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Identifying witches
People who were physcially deformed, stood out or were socially awkward were common targets
Older women normally associated
Witch could be scrated to break a spell by drawing blood
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