"A witch or a hag is she which being deluded by a league made with the devil through his persuasion, inspiration or juggling, thinketh she can design what manner or evil things soever, either by thought or imprecation, as to shake the air with lightnings and thunder, to cause hail and tempests, to remove green corn or trees to another place, to be carried of her familiar (which hath taken upon him the deceitful shape of a goat, swine, or calf, etc.) into some mountain far distant, in a wonderful short space of time, and sometime to fly upon a staff or fork, or some other instrument, and to show a thousand such monstrous mockeries." (William West, 16th Century English Lawyer)
The Salem witch trials have long fascinated Americans. Beginning in May 1692, the community of Salem, Massachusetts was engrossed in a series of witchcraft accusations, trails and executions. During the course of the year, more than a dozen persons claimed to be afflicted by spells of black magic and......
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