History of witch trials

In 1324, a French bishop, Richard Ledrede, who was working in Ireland, accused Alice Kyteler, of performing witchcraft. Obtaining evidence by having his men whip one of her servants, Petronilla de Meath (who was subsequently burnt at Kilkenny at the instance of Richard, Bishop of Ossory), he claimed that she had met with a group … Read more

Execution of witches

The measures employed against alleged witches were some of the worst ever to be legally sanctioned in the Western world. The sentence generally was death (as Exodus 22:18 states, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live”). There were other sentences, the most common to be chained for years to the oars of a ship, … Read more

The Salem Witch Trial

Salem was divided into a prosperous town second only to Boston and a farming village. The two bickered again and again. The villagers, in turn, were split into factions that fiercely debated whether to seek ecclesiastical and political independence from the town. To understand the events of the Salem witch trials, it is necessary to … Read more

The Affair of the Poisons

The Affair of the Poisons (L’affaire des poisons) was a major murder scandal in France during the reign of King Louis XIV. During it, a number of prominent members of the aristocracy were implicated and sentenced on charges of poisoning and witchcraft. The scandal reached into the inner circle of the king. The furor began … Read more

Louviers

The possessions at Louviers (Normandy, France) took place at the Louviers Convent in 1647. Sister Madeleine Bavent, who was eighteen years old at the time, was the initial possession victim whose testimony started the investigation. Supposedly, Father Mathurin Picard (nunnery director) and Father Thomas Boulle (vicar at Louviers) had taken the nuns to secret sabbats … Read more

Loudun

In 1634, a respected priest, Father Urbain Grandier was suddenly accused of the crime of sorcery, evil spells, and the possession visited upon some Ursuline nuns of the town of Loudun in France. Father Grandier was a tall, handsome and seductive man and many nuns were secretly enamored with him. Accusations against Father Grandier began … Read more

Witches Brew

The Witches Brew is a potion (from Latin potio “drink”) or a liquid that contains medicine, poison, or something that is supposed to have magic powers. Potion derives from the Latin word potus which referred to a drink or drinking. The term philtre is also used, often specifically for a love potion, a potion that … Read more

Hand of Glory

The Hand of Glory is probably the most powerful tool made out of a man’s corpse. With such a candle, witches and sorcerers could cast a spell over the inhabitants or any home, rendering them insensible and motionless. The potential for burglary is obvious. The following ritual must be observe to acquire a fully-effective one … Read more