Witch’s Flight is a motif in European folklore describing witches traveling to the sabbath on supernatural mounts, such as goats, black sheep, or demons. For other excursions, witches are commonly said to ride on broomsticks. This imagery appears in legal records, trial accounts, and popular iconography from the Middle Ages onward, reflecting anxieties about witchcraft … Read more
Transport of witches describes the supernatural movement of witches to sabbaths, either through flight or, in France, by riding a goat. Accounts from early modern witch trials often feature witches abducting children and traveling great distances with the aid of animal familiars, reflecting deep-seated fears and fantastical beliefs about witchcraft. Related Posts:Mythological Anatomy: The Hidden … Read more
Jeanne Tailletroux was tried for witchcraft at Montmorillon (Poitou) in 1599. Married to Pierre Bonnevault, she confessed to attending the Witches’ Sabbath for twenty-five years under her husband’s coercion, describing the Devil as a black-clad man who commanded her to dance, demanded part of her robe and a live chicken. Witnesses testified she used harmful … Read more
Jeanne Tailletroux was tried for witchcraft at Montmorillon (Poitou) in 1599. Married to Pierre Bonnevault, she confessed to attending the Witches’ Sabbath for twenty-five years under her husband’s coercion, describing the Devil as a black-clad man who commanded her to dance, demanded part of her robe and a live chicken. Witnesses testified she used harmful … Read more
Nécato was a witch from Andaye, France, accused of attending the Sabbath with others despite being imprisoned. This suggests that, like many accused witches, she was believed to participate in spirit form. Pierre de Lancre, the witch-hunting judge, described Nécato as monstrously ugly, with a satyr-like beard, wild cat eyes, and a hoarse voice. Her … Read more
Marie Martin was a woman from Neufville-le-Roi, Picardy, France, accused of witchcraft in the 16th century. She was arrested for allegedly causing the deaths of both animals and humans through sorcery or, more specifically, malefice (a term denoting harmful magic). A passing magician identified her as a witch, leading to her arrest and examination for … Read more
The Devil’s Mark refers to a physical mark or blemish believed to be placed on witches by the Devil during their initiation into witchcraft. This mark, often depicted as a small crescent, claw mark, or a pair of horns, was thought to be insensitive to pain. Witch hunters would search for these marks on the … Read more
Layra was the name of an affliction attributed to witchcraft in early modern European belief. It was said to be induced by consuming bewitched food, such as an apple, and caused an uncontrollable urge to bark like a dog. Pierre de Lancre, in his writings on witchcraft, documented cases of this affliction. Witches were also … Read more
In the context of witchcraft accusations, the inability to cry was often seen as evidence of guilt. Pierre de Lancre, a French judge known for his involvement in the Basque witch trials, noted this belief. He cited Jean Bodin, a French jurist and demonologist, who considered the inability to weep a strong indication of witchcraft. … Read more