Of course, you've heard about how easy it was in the Middle Ages to go to the stake for witchcraft. Very often, this did not require performing any magical deeds at all. There were a lot of "signs" by which you could be recognized as a witch or a sorcerer. Here are some of them.
Belonging to the female sex
Women were considered more sinful than men, and therefore they had to worship the devil more often. Therefore, the risk of being accused of witchcraft was much higher for them.
Old age
All elderly women were believed to be potential witches. Older people sometimes tend to behave inappropriately. If the old woman looked at the child and he soon fell ill, the child's mother knew perfectly well who was to blame … Therefore, many old women were put on trial for witchcraft and executed only because of their advanced age.
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Too young
Children under pressure from adults could easily confess to acts that they did not commit. So, four-year-old Dorothy Goode was sent to prison with her mother, a "witch." The girl confessed everything that was attributed to her. Dorothy's mother was hanged in 1692, but the child was still released after nine months in prison. However, the baby lost her mind forever.
Poverty and vagrancy
Often, witchcraft activities were attributed to the homeless and beggars. Those who did not have their own home, wandered, begged for alms, were not trusted, because they could come into contact with people in order to harm them. Therefore, they were often arrested for witchcraft.
Wealth
Rich and wealthy people were always envied, so the neighbors could say anything about such a person. But again, women, especially lonely ones, got the most. It was believed that it was difficult for a woman to live without the support of a man, and if some person did not have a husband, father, brothers or sons, and at the same time did not live in poverty, she aroused suspicion. People began to believe that she obtains her wealth with the help of black magic. And for the accusation only a pretext was needed …
Having girlfriends
If women gathered together, without men, it always looked suspicious, because there was a possibility that the girlfriends were performing devil worship rites. It was even more dangerous to quarrel with your friends, since they could come up with something about you that would inevitably lead to accusations of witchcraft. However, it was enough for a man to cross the road for someone to start hanging all the dogs on him. But this happened less often.
Midwife profession
Midwives usually understood medicinal herbs and many other things that were contrary to Christian beliefs, therefore, although everyone resorted to their services, they were feared and shunned. And at the first opportunity - for example, if the birth was unsuccessful and the child died or remained crippled, they were accused of collusion with the devil.
Having extramarital affairs
In the era of Puritanism, extramarital affairs for women were completely prohibited. Moreover, even rape could not serve as an excuse for "fornication." And if a woman gave birth to a child from someone unknown, then they believed that the baby was from the devil. Thus, in 1651, the unmarried Alice Lake of Dorchester was declared a witch because "she was a harlot and gave birth to a child." Under torture, the unfortunate woman finally confessed that Satan himself was her lover, and the child from him … She was sentenced to be hanged.
The presence or absence of children
If there were too many children in the family, there was a lot of confusion, especially if there was an infertile couple living in the neighborhood. It was believed that with the help of witchcraft, witches can steal happiness from other people. But if someone was sterile or could not give birth to more than one child, this also aroused suspicion, since in those days it was believed that a devil's curse rests on such families.
Out-of-bounds behavior
If a woman was "weird", behaved too impudently or stubbornly, this could also be a reason for accusation of witchcraft. It was believed that it was the devil who pushed for such behavior. And have not at all times been called evil and rude women witches?
Various bodily defects
Noticeable birthmarks or the presence of a third nipple were all interpreted as a "devil's mark." According to legend, through such a mark, various animals, for example, dogs, cats or snakes, were sucked to the witch, who drank her blood and helped her in witchcraft. The same was true, for example, of lame men, since lameness was considered a property of the devil.
Spoiled dairy products
If spoiled butter or milk was found in the hostess's cellar, she could also easily be considered a witch. The fact is that the rituals of black magic allegedly could lead to souring of these products.
Divination or clairvoyance
As you know, the Bible forbids "sorcery". Therefore, any attempt to predict fate deserved punishment and death. For example, a Negro maidservant Tituba from the notorious city of Salem suffered only because she invited young girls to name their future husbands. Of course, she was reported, and she became one of the participants in the commemoration process over the Salem witches.
Violation of any biblical rules and laws
If a person did not do what the Bible prescribed, then he could be accused of witchcraft. The reason for this could be, for example, non-observance of the Sabbath (on this day, one could neither kindle a fire, nor trade, nor travel); sowing more than one type of seeds in the field; touching a pork carcass; wearing more than one type of fabric; cutting hair in a circle or braiding it in a braid … At least that's what Puritanism said.
Curious how many of these rules have you broken in your life? And what would become of you if you lived in the Puritan era?
Margarita Troitsyna