Dietrich Flade (?–1589). Probably the highest-ranking victim of any witch-hunt in European history, Flade was a prominent citizen of Trier, an archbishopric and also at that time an independent electoral principality of
Newton, Florence (ca. mid-17th century) One of the most important witch trials of Ireland was that of Florence Newton, the “Witch of Youghal,” who was tried at the Cork assizes in 1661. Newton was accused of bewitching a young girl,
Inquisition The Catholic Church’s persecution of heretics, lasting several centuries and spreading throughout Europe and even into the New World. The primary objective of the Inquisition was to eliminate religious threats to
Mora Witches (1669) Witch hunts in Mora, in central Sweden, in which 85 people were executed for allegedly seducing some 300 children and spiriting them away to satanic Sabbats. Like the Salem
RebeccaLemp (d. 1590) was one of 32 women convicted of witchcraft and burned in a witch hunt in Nordlingen, Swabia, Germany. The case of Rebecca Lemp is notable for the records of
Lancaster (also Lancashire) Witches Two notable witch trials of England took place in the Pendle Forest area of Lancaster County, in 1612 and 1633. The 1612 trials are noted for the records
Ann Hibbins (d. 1656) was a prominent Boston woman convicted of witchcraft and executed. Her chief crime as a witch seemed to have been a bad temper, which was disliked by her
Hertford Witches (d. 1606) Two women executed for crimes committed by witchcraft in royston, England. Joan Harrison and her daughter were widely believed to practice malevolent spells and bewitchment, including deaths. At
Zugarramurdi Witches As part of their efforts to stem public hysteria over witches and sorcerers (see sorcery), Spanish inquisitors conducted mass trials of accused witches in the Basque village of Zugarramurdi from
JaneHawkins (17th century) Massachusetts midwife and healer expelled on suspicions of witchcraft in the delivery of a deformed, stillborn fetus. The witchcraft accusations were mixed with a religious controversy affecting Jane Hawkins
BernardoGruber (17th century) German trader accused of sorcery by Pueblo Indians in northern New Mexico. Bernardo Gruber was imprisoned. He escaped but died a strange death. In 1668, Gruber arrived in New
Rebecca Greensmith (17th century) Hartford, Connecticut, woman accused of witchcraft, who confessed and was executed. Rebecca Greensmith and her third husband, Nathaniel, lived next door to Ann Cole. The couple were reasonably
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