HIS 315K Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Spectral Evidence, Half-Way Covenant, Control Order
Document Summary
Great taboo was sex, but aggression was greater. In witch trials, individuals who were aggressive were put on trial. Witch trials take place at end of 2nd generation. Most information we have are the trials. Maleficium - evil deed, what it takes to be accused. In order to get convicted of maleficium. Confession from the witch - gotten by torture. If no confession from the witch, 2 witnesses of the witch performing act of maleficium, and they are bonded. In europe, torture was way to get evidence or a confession. Very small % of people actually made it to a trial, many were accused though. Magical evidence - spectral evidence, what witnesses needed to see - act of supernatural. Torture wasn"t emphasized in salem, some things were different though. Witnesses had to bond, so no liability if they were false. England was going through skepticism of evidence. By time of salem, torture was outlawed in england.
