"Puritanism-fueled mass hysteria, and deception–which resulted in 19 wrongful executions, each one hanged, burned, or drowned for some ill-fated finger-pointing. The imagery evoked is just as barbaric and painful as the means by which these accused “witches” were tried and ultimately “proven” guilty. (In actuality, most of the “afflicted” were just suffering from some mental illness medical science hadn’t quite caught up to at the time, “evil” being amongst the worst know epidemics.)" Ryan Thomas (July 27, 2012)
The 11 tests used to ascertain witchcraft
Kat Nielsen
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1. Witch Cake"In this voodoo-inspired test, the ingredients of said this cake were rye meal ... and urine from the girls said to be afflicted by the witch's evil incantations. The test had dogs eat this cake, after which the alleged witch would scream in pain- for in the process of cursing, invisible particles of herself would show up in urine. The cake would be a voodoo doll of herself. This superstition came from the Cartesian “Doctrine of Effluvia."
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(May 5, 2011)
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2. SPECTRAL EVIDENCE "This type of evidence is based on claims by accusers for seeing the individual accused of witchcraft in dreams or visions doing the Devil’s bidding. ...This form of evidence was somehow enough to convict several accused during the time it was deemed plausible. (When it was later thrown out, the conviction rate declined severely and hastened the trials’ conclusion. )"
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Brian P. Levack (2006)
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4. Witch's teats"The test was that this teat would be pricked with a needle, and if the recipient didn’t bleed or feel it, then surely there was a witch in our midst. Often times, however, needles would be purposefully blunted so it would be easier to demonstrate just how “cold and unfeeling” this teat really is."
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Joseph E. Baker (19 October, 2004)
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6. Lord’s Prayer Test"This was a literal test of faith. The accused would be made to recite the “Lord’s Prayer” without error – this included any stumbling, stammering, or outright spasming. As elocution is a painstaking art, it seems that any average human would slip up, but under “God’s eyes” (as well as whoever else sees themselves fit to judge) mistakes are unacceptable."
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Tom Phillips (August 5, 2012)
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7. Touch Test"This test is all about the performance. If an afflicted person – throwing fits and the like – suddenly becomes calm after the accused places their hand on him/her, then the toucher is most certainly a witch. This is said to be because all the “venom” and assorted evil toxins (stemming from the witch’s eye) that originally addled the afflicted soul have returned to their evil host."
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Ryan Thomas (July 27, 2012)
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9. Swim Test "There was no favorable result in this test; essentially the alleged witch would be bound at the hands and feet – with heavy rocked attached – and thrown into a body of water. If the body floated to the surface, that was proof that the accused was indeed a witch. If she sank to the bottom – and inevitably drowned – she was innocent. ...about 100% of them drowned, with apathetic standers-by shrugging it off, thinking ‘Oh well. Now we know.”
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The Salem Witch Trials were always unfair, going against the accused people by using tests that didn't prove anything and evidence that was always false.
Ed. Peggy Saari (2000)
A woman uses witchcraft while being tried at court. (This image is how most people picture a witch in trial.) |
Jess Blumberg (October 23, 2007)
Two women were forced to go to court and it seems that they are being further accused by those who are pointing at them. |
I. Lee (1998)
An accused woman, surrounded by her accusers, begs to be set free. |