Henri Estienne (Henricus Stephanus, 1528–1598) recounts a case of deception in a French village circa 16th century. A parish priest placed lit candles on the backs of écrevisses (crawfish) in a cemetery at night to create the illusion of wandering lights. Villagers attributed the lights to souls in purgatory and sought prayers until the following … Read more
Agnès Sampson was associated with witchcraft trials during the reign of King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England). She was accused of sorcery and involvement in supposed conspiracies, including attempts to influence royal affairs through magical means. Historical records indicate she was interrogated and subjected to trial, reflecting broader European anxieties about … Read more
Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) was an English courtier and explorer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He is noted for expeditions to the Americas, where he documented various observations. One account attributed to him referenced encountering gigantic tribes and individuals with singular physical traits, though these claims lacked credible verification. He was involved in colonization … Read more
Munster, a city in Germany, experienced a tumultuous period from 1531 to 1535 under Anabaptist rule. Contemporary accounts describe numerous ominous events preceding this period, including celestial phenomena like the appearance of three suns pierced by luminous swords, three moons, and stars seemingly stabbed by small swords in the clouds. Other reported occurrences include a … Read more
Mohra is a village in Sweden known for its historical association with witchcraft. In 1559, during the early period of the Protestant Reformation, seventy witches were arrested in Mohra, accused of seducing three hundred children. This event reflects the social tensions and anxieties surrounding witchcraft beliefs during a time of religious and cultural upheaval in … Read more
Nicole Laghernhard was a woman from the Labourd region of France who claimed to have witnessed a witches’ Sabbath in 1590. Her account, which includes fantastical elements like people with goat’s feet and individuals flying through the air, reflects the folklore and beliefs surrounding witchcraft in that era. Related Posts:Mythological Anatomy: The Hidden Vocabulary of … Read more
Paulus Grillandus (Paolo Grillandi), a Castilian author, published De maleficiis (On Witchcraft) in Lyon in 1555. He also authored treatises on sorcery, lamias, torture, and other related subjects, published in Lyon in 1536. In one of his works, he recounts the story of a lawyer afflicted by a powerful curse that no medical intervention could … Read more
Gilles Germar (Germar in French) was a notorious criminal from Lyon, France, arrested in Dole during the French Wars of Religion. He confessed, without coercion, to multiple acts of murder and cannibalism. Germar admitted that, while disguised as a werewolf (loup-garou), he strangled a young girl in the woods near Dole and consumed parts of … Read more
Devaux, a sorcerer from the sixteenth century, was known for a distinctive mark on his back shaped like a black dog. This mark exhibited supernatural properties; when a pin was inserted into it, Devaux felt no pain. However, when someone attempted to drive a needle into the mark, he would express significant discomfort, despite not … Read more
Pierre Delancre was a renowned demonographer born in Bordeaux in the sixteenth century. He was tasked with overseeing the trials of numerous individuals accused of sorcery. In his work, Delancre remained steadfast in his conviction of the abominations associated with the Sabbat and sorcerers. He died in Paris around 1630. Delancre authored two sought-after works … Read more