Witchcraft

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             One of the leading factors that started the witch-hunts was the church's influence. In the 13th century when the church held much of its power, it began to paint women as servants of the devil. At this time the "White/Black- belief of witches was held, and it took the Church quite a while to sway the public to their way of thinking. They slowly destroyed the "white- witches' reputation, and those people that once respected them, now hunted them. The church that had previously denied the existence of witchcraft, but were forced to change their way of thinking as its belief was growing somewhat. Naturally they had to stop it before it started; nothing could let to interfere with the church. To help themselves along the church began their "Women are the weaker vessel- campaign. .
             With a series of sermons and word of mouth, they church began pressing the point that women should feel guilty simply because they are women. The happenings of later on are enough to make any historian laugh. It was now considered heresy to NOT believe in witchcraft! This and the proclamation that to let a witch live is a crime against God. People began getting accused and thrown into dungeons. Among some of the favorite .
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             tortures were hot irons, the rack, and a bed of nails. Perhaps the lowest point during the first witch-craze was the mistreatment of condemned witch's children. The children were held accountable as witches at the ages of 9 and 10 years old. They were tortured and often used to give a testimony against their mother. Besides from actually forced testimony, there are a series of ways to identify a witch.
             1. Balance Scales: Taking giant balancing scales and weighing the accused against a set of weights or often times a bible. If the accused weighed more than the weights or bible, they were indeed a witch.
             2. Familiars: Owning a pet would make you more likely to become accused of witchcraft. Such pets (or demons in animal shape) were used to do what the "witch- commanded and aid her in any way.