Throughout history, folks have come up with some truly odd ways to keep witches and other malevolent forces at arm’s length. From stashing footwear in rafters to hanging enchanted stones above doors, the imagination knew no bounds when it came to warding off witchcraft.

Odd Ways to Ward Off Witchcraft

1 Hag Stones

Hag stones—also called holey stones or Odin stones—feature natural holes that were believed to trap evil. For centuries, especially in Dorset, England, people hung them above house doors, attached them to keychains, or placed them on beds to keep witches and demons from siphoning strength while sleepers rested. On farms, the stones protected stable doors and were even tied around a horse’s neck to stop witches from stealing the animal for their sabbats.

2 Holy Water

In medieval times, holy water was the go‑to weapon against the devil and his minions, who were thought to be allergic to its sanctity. Villagers sprinkled it around homes, on crops, and over livestock to drive away malevolent spirits. When a beast was suspected of being cursed by a witch, holy water was even poured down its throat. During storms, people rushed to the church for extra drops, believing the water could shield them from lightning and witch‑borne mischief.

3 Spoken And Written Charms

Charms—both spoken and inscribed—were thought to shatter a witch’s spell. Verbal formulas might include reciting five Our Fathers, five Ave Marias, and a Creed, as prescribed by a 17th‑century Nottingham sorcerer. Written charms appeared on paper, parchment, or wood, often folded into triangles. German settlers in Pennsylvania carried such amulets on their persons, sometimes embedding Bible verses, while others hung them in barns or homes for extra protection.

4 Witch Marks

Witch marks were protective symbols etched into walls, floors, or church interiors. Designs ranged from simple compasses and pentacles to intricate mazes called “demon traps,” intended to confuse wandering spirits. In 17th‑century Kent, workers carved Vs and Ws under floorboards at Knole House, invoking the Virgin Mary’s protection ahead of a visit from King James I, a notorious witch‑hunt enthusiast.

5 Rowan Trees

Across the British Isles, the rowan was prized for its anti‑witch qualities. Each berry bears a tiny five‑pointed star, echoing the protective pentagram, while its red hue was thought to repel enchantments. People planted rowans near homes, fashioned twig crosses for personal safety, and bound them with red thread to carry in pockets or stitch into coat linings. On the Isle of Man, rowan twigs were fashioned into May Eve crosses for both people and cattle.

6 Guard Cats

Some households literally bricked cats into walls, arranging the felines in hunting poses as a deterrent against supernatural pests. While the primary aim was to catch vermin, the presence of a cat was also believed to scare away a witch’s familiar—often imagined as an animal companion. Other protective items included hidden figurines in rafters or a lock of human hair tucked into the attic.

7 Witch Balls

Witch balls are brightly colored glass spheres designed to snare malevolent forces. In medieval England they were crudely formed; by the Victorian era they became more refined, using higher‑quality glass. Hung in windows, the dazzling hues were thought to lure witches inside, where they became trapped. In New England, some witch balls were filled with holy water for added spiritual protection.

8 Witches’ Stones Or Witches’ Seats

In old Guernsey cottages, stone blocks jutting from chimneys originally served to keep rain out. Over time, folklore turned them into “witches’ seats.” Legend held that weary witches returning from their sabbaths would perch on these ledges on Friday nights. Without a seat, a disgruntled witch might slip down the chimney, wreaking havoc or even taking up permanent residence.

9 Witches’ Bottles

Witches’ bottles—sometimes called spell bottles—were ceramic or glass containers packed with hair, nails, bent pins, urine, and other curious items. Popular in the late 16th and 17th centuries across England and America, the belief was that the urine represented the witch’s bladder, while the pins would irritate the witch so intensely that she’d lift the spell she’d cast. Owners typically buried the bottles or placed them in windows to keep the malevolence at bay.

10 Elf Arrow Amulets

Scottish peasants once believed that elf arrows—flint arrowheads that fell from clouds—were weapons wielded by fairies, elves, and witches to harm cattle and humans. When a person came into possession of such an arrow, it could be turned into a talisman against witchcraft and the evil eye, even serving as a cure for afflicted livestock. To keep the arrows from being reclaimed by witches, owners kept them away from sunlight.

11 Concealed Shoes

From the 13th century onward, people deliberately tucked shoes into the structural nooks of homes—among roof rafters, beneath floorboards, and within walls. The practice supposedly trapped the devil (originating from a tale of a priest imprisoning the devil in a boot) and shielded occupants from witches and other spirits. Critics argue many of the found shoes were simply lost, but the consistent placement alongside odd items like dried cats or horse skulls suggests a purposeful, magical intent that persisted well into the early 20th century.

Welcome to our countdown of the top 10 bizarre happenings that prove magic still lurks in the corners of contemporary life. From African villages promising invincibility to political leaders tangled in shamanic cults, each tale is a wild mix of belief, desperation, and tragedy. Grab a seat as we journey through the most startling modern‑day witchcraft stories ever recorded.

10 Not‑So‑Bulletproof Spell

Witch doctors continue to ply their trade across many African nations, and they can earn a comfortable living from it. In 2001, a band of roughly fifteen men from the Ghanaian village of Lambu approached a local witch doctor, demanding a spell that would render them impervious to enemy gunfire. The practitioner instructed them to smother their entire bodies in a special herbal paste each day for a fortnight, insisting the concoction would turn their skin into an impenetrable shield.

To test the claim, one of the men, Aleobiga Aberima, volunteered as a live‑fire target. A companion fired a rifle at him, and the bullet struck true – Aleobiga collapsed dead. Outraged that the promised invincibility failed, the villagers turned on the witch doctor, beating him nearly to death before the village elder intervened and dispersed the melee.

9 South Korean Shaman Cult

In 2016, massive protests swarmed the streets of South Korea demanding the impeachment of President Park Geun‑Hye. By 2017 she found herself behind bars, convicted of bribery and corruption. The roots of this political drama trace back to her youth. As the daughter of former President Park Chung‑Hee, she grew up in the opulent Blue House, only to lose both parents to assassination in her twenties.

Enter Choi Tae‑Min, a close aide to her late father, who took the orphaned Park under his wing and ushered her into the political arena. Choi founded the Church of Eternal Life, a cult blending Buddhist and Christian doctrines with claims of shamanic power. He persuaded Park that he could commune with the spirit of her deceased mother, and by the time she assumed the presidency, his influence over her resembled that of Rasputin over the Russian Romanovs.

After Choi Tae‑Min’s death, his daughter Choi Soon‑Sil inherited the cult’s leadership and continued the relationship. Park funneled confidential information and millions of dollars to the Choi family’s nonprofit, which was later revealed to have been siphoned for personal enrichment. In exchange, the cult supplied her with “magical” amulets and counsel supposedly sourced from spirits, a factor that significantly contributed to her political downfall.

8 Steam Exorcism

In 2016, a 45‑year‑old villager from a remote Chinese hamlet named Yan Yingmao was desperate to heal his ailing wife. After consulting local witch doctors, he learned that the reason her condition would not improve was that she was possessed by malevolent demons.

The practitioners explained that the only effective exorcism method involved immersing her in a cloud of hot steam. They filled a large metal barrel with several gallons of water, ignited a fire beneath it, and allowed the water to boil, sending thick steam upward. Yan’s wife was then placed inside a wooden barrel that was hoisted over the boiling pot, effectively surrounding her with scalding vapor as if she were in a makeshift sauna.

After a period inside the steamy enclosure, Yan’s wife began to scream. The witch doctors declared the screams a positive sign, indicating that the demons were departing her body. However, when Yan demanded the ritual stop, the woman’s skin had turned blackened, her face swollen and purple. She succumbed to the injuries shortly thereafter, and the witch doctors vanished, never to be seen again.

7 Massive Spell Against Donald Trump

When Donald J. Trump won the U.S. presidency, roughly half of the nation expressed deep dissatisfaction. With limited avenues to reverse the election outcome, a segment of modern witches and Wiccans turned to the occult for assistance. In February 2017, a Facebook event was organized to gather participants in New York City for a collective spell aimed at curbing Trump’s perceived harmful actions.

Those unable to attend the New York gathering performed the ritual privately at home, employing candles, crystals, and tarot cards. The spell’s wording read: “Bind Donald J. Trump, so that his malignant works may fail utterly.” Practitioners emphasized that the intention was not to curse the individual personally, but to prevent him from causing further damage. While skeptics dismissed the effort as fanciful, certain right‑wing Christian groups labeled it a “spiritual war.”

6 Curse On A Footballer

Shortly before the 2014 World Cup, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a tendinitis injury during a match against Greece, sidelining him from the tournament. Ghanaian witch doctor Nana Kwaku Bonsam claimed responsibility, asserting that he had placed a curse on the footballer from thousands of miles away.

Bonsam explained that to enact the spell, he had to track down and sacrifice four stray dogs, invoking an evil spirit he named Kahwiri Kapam. This spirit allegedly possessed Ronaldo’s legs, rendering conventional medical treatment ineffective. Bonsam never clarified why Ronaldo was singled out, but suggested his motive was to eliminate high‑profile athletes to improve Ghana’s chances of World Cup glory.

5 Kenyan Politicians And Witch Doctors

In 2003, Kenyan politician James Mutiso secured an electoral victory, only to discover that rival factions had hired witch doctors to lay curses upon him. Shortly after his win, Mutiso’s car crashed and plunged into a river, taking both him and his personal “healer” – a witch doctor who accompanied him – to a watery grave. Investigators recovered objects from the wreckage indicating the healer’s involvement in spell‑casting, suggesting a focus on offensive magic rather than protective rituals.

Fast forward to 2016, a coalition of Christian pastors in Nairobi publicly exposed a network of politicians employing witch doctors to secure electoral success. Although the pastors claimed to know the identities of these occult practitioners, they struggled to produce concrete evidence for law enforcement. The coalition convened in a church, praying that divine power would outweigh the dark arts allegedly being used in the political arena.

4 Deadly Magic Football Riots

In 2008, a fierce football match unfolded in the Democratic Republic of Congo between local clubs Nyuki and Socozaki. As Nyuki appeared destined to lose, their goalkeeper resorted to African fetishism – a form of witchcraft involving magical objects and incantations – to cast a spell on the opposing team.

While in Western societies a wand‑wave would provoke chuckles, in the Congo the belief in genuine magical influence is profound. The spell was perceived as a direct threat to the health and safety of Socozaki’s players, prompting the entire team to charge the goalkeeper. A chaotic brawl erupted as Nyuki players rushed to defend their teammate.

Police intervened with tear gas, eventually separating the combatants. The violent clash resulted in eleven fatalities among the footballers and left many more injured, underscoring the deadly potential when sport and sorcery collide.

3 Illness Spread By Witch Doctors

In 2016, 34‑year‑old Chhem Yin fled his own village in Cambodia’s Pursat province after villagers, convinced he was a witch doctor, vowed to kill him. Their fear stemmed from accusations that Yin was deliberately spreading disease, a claim that had already resulted in several deaths.

Yin maintained his innocence, insisting he never practiced any form of sorcery. Nonetheless, a vigilante took matters into his own hands, tracking down Yin and shooting him with an AK‑47. The same individual also hunted down other alleged witch doctors, beheading one and stabbing another, before disappearing.

This incident is not isolated; in recent years, remote Cambodian communities have increasingly resorted to violent reprisals against those they suspect of wielding “magic,” even when those individuals are simply using traditional herbal remedies to heal their neighbors.

2 Chinese Spirit Masters Seeing The Future

Seventy‑four‑year‑old Zhao Fucheng laments that rapid urbanization across China is draining the lifeblood from his centuries‑old shamanic practice. As millions of youths abandon rural villages for city jobs each year, witch doctors like Zhao find their client base dwindling.

Labeling himself a “spirit master,” Zhao employs an ancient lunar calendar scroll to correlate birth dates with celestial patterns, offering predictions and guidance to those who seek his counsel. He also blends traditional Chinese medicine rituals into his services, calling upon spirits when ailments persist.

Zhao worries that the exodus of younger generations will leave no apprentices to inherit his craft. Even his own son refuses to learn shamanism, dismissing the existence of ghosts. Zhao predicts that within the next three decades, the number of practicing shamans in China will sharply decline, a forecast he believes will likely materialize.

1 The Magic Death Notes

In 2008, a mysterious notebook surfaced in a Kenyan village schoolyard, listing names that the anonymous author claimed belonged to known witches. Police seized the notebook, prompting a town meeting where villagers prepared to hunt down anyone whose name appeared, despite lacking concrete evidence of wrongdoing.

Before the mob could act, an elderly woman rose and declared, “I am a witch.” A few others followed suit, confessing the same. Though the villagers were incensed, the presence of police prevented a lynching, and the self‑identified witches were placed under protective custody.

According to Dr. Solomon Monyenye of the University of Nairobi, elderly women are frequent targets of witch hunts. The women’s voluntary claims likely stemmed from a desperate strategy to secure police protection, recognizing that custody offered the only chance of survival amid the community’s blood‑thirsty fervor.

Witchcraft and magic have always hovered on the edge of mystery and danger. Throughout human history, anyone displaying uncanny abilities has either been celebrated as a holy figure or condemned as a demonic force. In this roundup of 10 famous people accused of witchcraft, we dig into the legends, the accusations, and the dramatic outcomes.

10 famous people Accused Of Witchcraft

10 Anne Boleyn

Few individuals have reshaped British history as dramatically as Anne Boleyn. When Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon failed to produce a male heir, the king convinced himself that divine forces had cursed him for wedlock with his brother’s widow.

Henry, already straying from his vows and siring illegitimate offspring, believed a new queen could finally grant him a prince. Anne Boleyn stepped into that role, urging Henry to sever ties with Rome and proclaim himself head of the Church of England. This bold move birthed Protestant England and saw the dissolution of monasteries.

Anne’s ascent seemed flawless—until she delivered a daughter followed by a stillborn son. Henry, once again feeling cursed, accused Anne of seducing him through “sortilege,” a term for sorcery and witchcraft.

Her adversaries quickly added fuel to the fire, alleging witch‑marks such as extra moles and even a sixth finger. Though never formally charged with witchcraft, the rumors tarnished her reputation and paved the way to her tragic execution by the sword.

9 Joan Of Arc

Joan of Arc accomplished extraordinary feats in a shockingly brief lifespan—so extraordinary that some found it unsettling.

Before turning nineteen, she swapped peasant garb for armor, rallying troops to lift the siege of Orléans. She claimed to hear voices from saints and archangels, guidance she said influenced kings and nobles.

To her English foes, she was an embodiment of evil. One chronicler described her as “a disciple and limb of the Fiend…that used false enchantment and sorcery.” Captured by the Burgundians and handed to the English, she faced heresy charges, with her supernatural claims twisted into proof of witchcraft.

The English painted her visions as demonic, her uncanny ability to recognize strangers as a gift from Satan, and her battlefield predictions as devilish foreknowledge. Convicted of heresy, she was imprisoned—a necessary step before execution, since only those condemned twice could be put to death. Her choice to wear men’s clothing while incarcerated sealed her fate, leading to a fiery death at the stake.

8 The Clintons

Something about Bill and Hillary Clinton seems to ignite witch‑madness among detractors. A multi‑part website series alleges the couple’s ties to dark forces: Bill allegedly wielded Haitian voodoo to secure his election, while Hillary was branded the Whore of Babylon, and together they supposedly performed bizarre rituals for nefarious ends.

One might assume such claims belong to the fringe, yet at the 2016 Republican convention, a participant shouted that Hillary was an Illuminati member and a witch. A photo of her playfully trying on a pointed witch’s hat was seized as “proof” of satanic affiliation.

Another sartorial slip involved a bird‑shaped brooch, interpreted by some as symbolizing allegiance to the New World Order or loyalty to the Antichrist. When Hillary spoke of “conversations” with historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi, she meant internal dialogues, but some literal‑minded voices took it as actual spirit communication, further fueling witchcraft accusations.

7 Backwards Masked Music

Backmasking is a recording technique that embeds a hidden message only audible when a track is played in reverse. While often used for playful Easter eggs—Weird Al famously slipped in a tongue‑in‑cheek line—some listeners have spent endless hours hunting for satanic whispers.

One claim asserted that Styx’s song “Snowblind” contained the reversed mantra “Satan moves through our voices.” Though Styx dismissed the allegation as absurd, the controversy grew so intense that Arkansas passed legislation requiring records with backmasking to be clearly labeled for buyers.

Fans hunting for demonic content in Soundgarden’s “665” and “667” were disappointed; the hidden track turned out to be a whimsical backmasked tribute to Santa, not a diabolical chant.

6 The British Royal Family

Beyond modern reptilian conspiracy theories, an older legend links the British monarchy to demons and witches. The Counts of Anjou, a powerful French noble house, were famed for their battlefield prowess, prompting whispers about the source of their uncanny success and fiery tempers.

Rumor had it that an early Count of Anjou wed a mysterious woman who habitually avoided church. One day, when forced to attend the consecration of the Host, she dramatically tore away her cloak, levitated, and vanished through a window—an act that cemented her reputation as a demonic figure.

Their union birthed the Plantagenet line. Richard I, known as the Lionheart, allegedly joked, “We come from the Devil, and we’ll end by going to the Devil!” Whether a drop of demon blood still courses through the veins of today’s Windsors remains a tantalizing mystery.

5 Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II, canonized as a saint, is celebrated for his role in toppling Communism and for his spiritual leadership. Yet his legacy is not without controversy; some point to the Church’s sex scandals of his later years and even label him the Antichrist.

During his 1988 address to the European Parliament, outspoken Protestant Ian Paisley interrupted, declaring, “I refuse you as Christ’s enemy and Antichrist with all your false doctrine.” While Paisley’s outburst was largely symbolic, certain observers have scoured John Paul II’s life for occult signs, from the solar eclipse coinciding with his birth to alleged mystical elements surrounding his funeral rites.

These interpretations, however fringe, illustrate how powerful figures can become canvases for witchcraft narratives, especially when their actions intersect with moments of intense societal change.

4 Christine O’Donnell

It’s rare for a politician to launch a campaign with the proclamation, “I’m not a witch.” Yet that’s exactly what Virginia’s 2010 Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell did after a 1999 appearance on Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect.”

During the interview, she admitted, “I dabbled into witchcraft—I never joined a coven… I hung around people who were doing these things… One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar, and I didn’t know it… We went to a movie and then had a little midnight picnic on a satanic altar.”

Maher later apologized for turning her remarks into a joke, but the damage lingered. In today’s hyper‑polarized climate, it seems a politician can weather many scandals—except an on‑air confession of witchcraft.

3 Stevie Nicks

Since the 1970s, Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks has been linked to witchcraft lore. Her hit “Rhiannon,” inspired by a Welsh witch‑goddess, sparked endless speculation about her true nature.

The song’s lyrics—“Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night… Takes to the sky like a bird in flight”—were interpreted by some as a witch soaring on a broom. Nicks herself explained that she encountered the name “Rhiannon” in an airport book and spun a tale of a free‑spirited woman, but fans latched onto her flowing black gowns as visual proof of witchcraft.

After years of denial, Nicks embraced the mystique in 2014, appearing as a fictionalized white witch on “American Horror Story,” solidifying her place in pop‑culture’s witch canon.

2 Pope Sylvester II

A little knowledge can be dangerous, but too much can earn you witchcraft accusations. Legend holds that Pope Sylvester II was not only a brilliant scholar but also a supernatural prodigy.

Stories claim he bargained his soul to the Devil for hidden wisdom, earning the moniker “the best necromancer in France, whose demons obeyed his every command day and night.” His most famed magical artifact was a “brazen head” that answered any yes‑or‑no question with perfect accuracy.

According to lore, Sylvester journeyed to Muslim‑controlled Spain to study, stealing a tome of magical spells from a philosopher and learning to sell his soul for power. In reality, his advanced education likely sparked suspicion among contemporaries wary of non‑Christian scholarship.

1 Beyonce

Climbing to the summit of the music world demands talent, luck, and—some claim—a dash of witchcraft. In 2018, former drummer Kimberly Thompson sued Beyoncé, alleging “extreme witchcraft” that included sexual molestation spells and a cursed kitten.

Thompson’s filing sought a restraining order, asserting that Beyoncé’s alleged sorcery caused job loss, home theft, the murder of her pet kitten, enchanted lovers, and broken relationships. She even claimed Beyoncé could inhabit others’ bodies to spy on her sexual activities.

The court denied the restraining order, either because no one appeared to press the case or because Beyoncé’s alleged magical influence prevailed.

The frenzy of witch‑hunting that swept across Europe in the late 16th century didn’t spare the British Isles. King James VI of Scotland – later James I of England – even penned Daemonologie, a treatise that painted witchcraft as high treason against God, giving jurors carte blanche to extract confessions by any means necessary. ^[1] In the chaos, ordinary disputes, personal grudges, and outright nonsense could land a woman on the gallows. Below are the ten most ridiculous reasons that led to the conviction of ten women, each a cautionary tale of how far fear can stretch logic.

Why 10 Women Convicted Became Legends of Folklore

1 Backwards Writing

The witch‑hunt in Wales was comparatively sparse – only five executions for sorcery are recorded – but the first of those, Gwen Ferch Ellis in 1594, still stands out for its sheer absurdity. Gwen was a respected healer who, like many folk practitioners, wrote charms to aid those who sought her help. Trouble began when she inscribed a poem backwards and slipped it into the parlor of a local gentry family. The reversed verses were interpreted as a malevolent spell aimed at the household, and neighbours, perhaps jealous of her abilities, turned against her.

When the case went to trial, the prosecution argued that the backward script demonstrated an intention to cause harm. Gwen maintained her innocence, insisting the charm was meant for good. Yet the court, already predisposed to view any unconventional practice with suspicion, found her guilty. She was sentenced to death and hanged, her story lingering as a reminder that even a simple reversal of letters could be twisted into evidence of witchcraft.

2 Too Brave To Be A Mere Woman

Janet Forsyth earned a reputation in Orkney for predicting the weather, a talent that should have made her a local celebrity. In 1627, however, her foresight became a curse. She warned her lover, Benjamin Garrioch, not to set sail, but he ignored her pleas and was lost at sea with his crew in a sudden fog. The tragedy was blamed on Janet’s alleged witchcraft, and she was ostracised by the community.

Years later, a ship wrecked off the coast of Westray. While the villagers lingered on the beach, hoping to loot the stranded cargo, Janet organised a rescue. She commandeered a small boat, braving the storm alone to guide the vessel to safety in Pierowall Bay. Her heroic act shocked the locals, who could not reconcile such bravery with the image of a witch. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death for sorcery. Legend says the prison cell was empty on the day of her execution – her lover, thought dead, supposedly returned from naval service just in time to free her.

3 Convicted By Roof Tile

In 1586, Faversham, Kent, witnessed a trial that hinged on a humble roofing tile. Sarah Cooke’s infant daughter, Jane, fell seriously ill, and the grieving mother was told to fetch a tile from the roof of the woman she suspected of causing the sickness. The tile was to be thrown into a fire; if it “sparkled and flew around the cradle,” the accused would be deemed guilty. Sarah took a tile from her neighbour, Joan Cason, and the ritual appeared to confirm Joan’s culpability.

Shortly after, Joan visited Sarah to inquire about her child’s health. Within hours, Jane died after a brief, terrifying encounter with Joan. The jury, attempting leniency, acquitted Sarah of murder but convicted her of conjuring spirits. A lawyer objected, and despite the lesser charge, Joan was hanged three days later. The case underscores how everyday objects could become instruments of deadly superstition.

4 Unable To Recite Lord’s Prayer

Jane Wenham, known as the Witch of Walkern, holds the grim distinction of being the last woman executed for witchcraft in England in 1712. Her trial revolved around a seemingly simple test: reciting the Lord’s Prayer. When questioned, Jane stumbled over the phrases “forgive us our trespasses” and “lead us not into temptation.” This failure was seized upon as proof of her diabolical pact.

Accusers also pricked her head with a pin, expecting blood; instead, a watery fluid emerged, which they declared a sign of witchcraft. Despite growing scepticism among the judiciary – Judge John Powell argued there was no law against flying – the jury still found her guilty. Powell, however, delayed the death sentence, and some historians believe Queen Anne eventually granted a pardon, sparing Jane a grim fate.

5 Vicious Kiss

In a chilly Cork night, Florence Newton begged for a morsel of bread at the home of John Pyne. After being turned away by the maid, Mary Longdon, Florence later confronted Mary, hurling a pail of laundry and delivering a forceful kiss while proclaiming, “Mary, I pray thee, let thee and I be friends; for I bear thee no ill will.”

Following the encounter, Mary suffered terrifying fits: she convulsed, vomited needles, pins, horse‑nails, wool, and straw. Florence was hauled before a court on witchcraft charges. One of the prescribed tests forced her to recite the Lord’s Prayer, a task she struggled with. The jailer, Davy Jones, helped her learn the prayer, and in gratitude she kissed his hand. Weeks later, Davy died, and the community blamed the fatal kiss. Though records of Florence’s ultimate sentence are lost, the episode illustrates how a single, bizarre gesture could seal a witchcraft conviction.

6 Familiars

Belvoir Castle’s staff in 1690 became entangled in a classic tale of familiars. Joan Flower and her daughters, Margaret and Philippa, were employed at the estate until Margaret was dismissed for theft. Soon after, the Earl’s eldest son, Henry, fell gravely ill and died. The grieving aristocracy blamed the women, suspecting they consorted with a demonic black cat named Rutterkin.

When Joan refused to confess, she demanded bread and butter be brought to the jail. “If I am innocent, I shall choke on it,” she declared. After taking a bite, she collapsed and died instantly, a dramatic end that forced her daughters to confess to witchcraft and the familiar’s involvement. All three were hanged. The case serves as a stark reminder that owning a pet could be construed as a pact with the devil.

7 Witchfinder General

In the mid‑17th century, the town of Kings Lynn bore witness to a macabre memorial: a heart carved above a window at 17 Tuesday Market Place, said to be the beating heart of Margaret Read as she was burned for witchcraft. The heart allegedly leapt from her chest, splashed into the River Ouse, and sank amid the tumultuous waters.

Decades later, Matthew Hopkins—dubbed the Witchfinder General—was paid £20 (a fortune when the average laborer earned two pence a day) to root out witches in East Anglia. His methods were brutal: victims were subjected to sleep deprivation and a “witch’s bridle” that forced them to endure excruciating pain. He also used a retractable three‑inch needle to test nipples, claiming immunity indicated devil‑feeding. Despite the dubious science, Hopkins secured numerous convictions, including that of Margaret Read, cementing his notorious legacy.

8 A Child’s Testimony

In 1612, the Pendle witch trials in Lancashire hinged on the testimony of a single child, Jennet Device. Living with her mother Elizabeth, grandmother Demike, sister Alizon, and brother James, Jennet found herself thrust into a courtroom where her family stood accused. Demike, a one‑eyed woman, was already unpopular, and Alizon’s alleged curse on a pedlar added fuel to the fire.

When the proceedings began, Jennet’s mother shouted at her, driving the girl to tears. Unperturbed, Jennet demanded her mother be removed, then climbed onto the witness table and calmly declared, “My mother is a witch, and I know it to be true. I have seen her spirit in the likeness of a brown dog, which she called Ball.” The court, convinced by the child’s solemn testimony, convicted the entire Device family and several neighbours of causing death by witchcraft. All were hanged the following day on Gallows Hill.

9 Witches Bridle

Agnes Sampson, a respected healer and midwife, found herself ensnared in the North Berwick witch hunts of 1592. King James VI’s return voyage with his Danish bride was plagued by violent storms, which the court blamed on witchcraft. Agnes, among roughly 70 accused, was subjected to the infamous “witch’s bridle”: a metal device with four prongs forced into her mouth, tethered to a wall‑mounted brace.

Enduring relentless pain and sleep deprivation, Agnes eventually confessed to conspiring with the devil to wreck the royal fleet. She was strangled and her body burned, a grim example of how brutal torture could manufacture guilt.

10 Guilty By Floating

Our list concludes in the tiny Bedfordshire village of Milton, 1613. Two horses pulling a cart of corn were startled by a black sow that spun wildly on the road, causing the animals to bolt. After calming the beasts, the same chaos recurred on the return journey. The sow later entered the home of Mother and Mary Sutton, sparking gossip that reached landowner Enger.

Enger’s seven‑year‑old son, enraged, hurled stones at Mary, calling her a witch. When the boy subsequently died, Enger blamed the Sutton women and devised a “swimming test.” First, Mary was dunked in a dam, sinking only slightly. Unsatisfied, they bound her thumbs to opposite big toes and forced her to swim again. She spun in the water as if caught in a whirlpool, then floated effortlessly—interpreted as proof of witchcraft. The court declared her guilty, and both Mother and Mary were hanged on 7 April 1613.

When societies crumble under drought, disease, or religious strife, scapegoats often emerge. In most historic witch hunts, women—especially the elderly, poor, or socially ostracized—bore the brunt of suspicion. While men occasionally faced accusations, the overwhelming majority of the condemned were female. Yet nothing short of a scandal could land a woman before a judge. How did seemingly ordinary circumstances become damning evidence? Below are ten truly outrageous reasons that sent women to the gallows.

10 Being Too Sick to Get Out of Bed and Go to Church

In modern times, staying home when ill is a civic duty; in 17th‑century Massachusetts, the Puritans demanded relentless church attendance. Sarah Osburn, a 49‑year‑old Salem resident, had already sparked controversy by marrying a much younger indentured servant and claiming her late husband’s estate, contrary to his will. When the afflicted girls Abigail Williams and Betty Parris alleged that Osburn had attacked them, her past scandals offered little defense. Moreover, villagers noted she had missed church services for three years.

Osburn, bedridden by chronic illness, told magistrates that a “lying spirit” had urged her to avoid church. She insisted she defied the spirit and kept attending until her health failed. The officials remained unconvinced, imprisoning her pending trial. The filthy, rat‑infested Salem jail proved fatal for the frail woman; after nine weeks she died before any verdict could be rendered.

9 Featuring in Someone’s Nightmare

The final and deadliest wave of Scottish witch trials erupted in 1661 in Lothian. Beatrix Leslie, an elderly midwife from Dalkeith, was a prime target—her argumentative nature and use of folk remedies made her suspect. After two girls she cared for died, the couple she had served claimed they suffered terrifying nightmares in which Leslie attacked and devoured them.

Thirty years later, when Salem’s courts debated the admissibility of spectral evidence, Scottish precedent was cited. Victims often described a specter—a phantom version of the accused or an animal they had become—tormenting them in dreams. Leslie’s alleged nightmare victims provided sufficient cause for witch‑finder John Kindcaid to examine her. He pricked her for the devil’s mark and forced her to touch the corpses of the girls, claiming the bodies bled at her touch. Under duress, Leslie confessed to meeting the devil twice and agreeing to serve him, and was executed in September 1661.

8 Having a Cat Named Satan

In 1566 Chelmsford, England, a seemingly trivial pet name sealed a woman’s fate. Elizabeth Francis, an elderly pauper with a tarnished reputation, faced three trials for witchcraft. She confessed that her grandmother had given her a cat that spoke, demanding drops of her blood. The cat allegedly helped her poison livestock, humans, and even provided instructions for an abortion after a lover impregnated her.

When the lover fell ill and died after Francis used the potion, the cat was blamed for the murder. Although a clerical error reduced her sentence to a year in prison instead of death, her sister Agnes Waterhouse was not so fortunate. Waterhouse, tried alongside Francis, was accused of gifting the cat—named Satan—to her sister, thereby inheriting its magical abilities. She faced charges of killing her husband and spreading sickness. While Waterhouse denied using the cat for murder, she admitted instructing Satan to maim neighbors’ barn animals. Her 18‑year‑old daughter Joan testified against her, claiming she had heard her mother invoke the devil through the cat and had tried, unsuccessfully, to exorcise the animal. This testimony secured Waterhouse’s place in history as England’s first woman executed for witchcraft.

7 Healing a Sick Child

Anna Goldi, often cited as Europe’s last person executed for witchcraft, endured a life of hardship. Born into poverty, she was twice impregnated by men who never married her, and lost one infant. Accused of killing the child, she endured public humiliation in the pillory. In 1780, she entered the service of Johann Tschudi, a wealthy physician in Glarus, Switzerland.

When Tschudi’s children began finding pins in their food, Goldi was dismissed on suspicion of harming them. Within a week, his young daughter fell violently ill—Tschudi later claimed the child was vomiting pins. Goldi was summoned back to prove her innocence, as local custom dictated that only the one who caused a child’s illness could heal it. Under threat of torture, she tended the girl, and the child’s health miraculously improved. Ironically, this recovery convinced Tschudi that Goldi had indeed poisoned the child initially. She was arrested, tortured, and eventually confessed to a pact with the devil to harm the girl as revenge for previous mistreatment. Goldi was beheaded in 1782. Rumors suggested a secret affair between Goldi and Tschudi, and the physician allegedly fabricated charges to protect his reputation.

6 Being Identified as a Witch by a Child

Children, with their belief in fairies and Santa, were often enlisted as witnesses in witch trials. While the Salem girls are the most famous, many other cases relied on youthful testimony. In 1670s Sweden, a single witch panic resulted in several hundred executions. Seventy‑one of these took place in the parish of Torsaker, each victim identified by children.

The hunt, spanning 1674‑75, was orchestrated by Laurentius Hornaeus, a ruthless priest who instructed two young boys to linger outside church services and point out witches entering the congregation. He taught them that witches bore a distinctive mark on their foreheads, visible only to children. The boys complied, leading to numerous arrests. Hornaeus employed threats and torture to extract further accusations, with children claiming witches kidnapped them for devilish rites. The ensuing mass trial culminated in the execution of one‑fifth of the parish’s female population.

5 Being in an Abusive Marriage

Bridget Bishop of Salem was notorious for her fiery disputes—not only with neighbors but also with her own husband, Thomas Oliver, her second of three spouses. Oliver was widely regarded as abusive, and Bishop frequently retaliated. Their public quarrels attracted attention, and after a heated argument on a Sabbath day, both were ordered to either pay a hefty fine or stand in the pillory for a day.

Oliver’s adult daughter covered his fine, while Bishop endured the pillory, publicly branding her reputation. When Oliver later fell ill and died, Bishop inherited his estate, leaving his children from a previous marriage destitute. Suspecting sorcery, the step‑children accused Bishop of bewitching Oliver to claim his wealth. Although she was initially found not guilty, the accusation tarnished her standing, leading to her conviction and execution as the first victim of the Salem trials.

4 Losing a Loved One to a Natural Disaster

On Christmas Eve 1617, a violent storm devastated the Norwegian fishing village of Vardo, drowning all the men who were out at sea. The surviving women, left to care for their families, faced suspicion from authorities already wary of the remote community. The harsh climate, with endless mist and snow, fueled rumors that the nearby mountains concealed an entrance to hell.

The area, inhabited by the Indigenous Sami—non‑Christian folk who practiced magic—was quickly targeted. Scottish naval captain John Cunningham was appointed Governor of Finnmark, establishing his base at Vardohus to launch a witch hunt. Under interrogation and torture, resident Mari Jogensdatter confessed that she and other women had summoned the storm as revenge for personal disputes. Several women corroborated her story, claiming they had attended a witches’ sabbath, drank wine, and consorted with the devil. They identified wealthy neighbor Kirsti Sorensdatter as the coven leader.

Both Sorensdatter and Jogensdatter were burned at the stake, igniting Norway’s first major witch hunt. Eventually, ninety more women from Vardo were executed, and the village endured two subsequent hunts that claimed hundreds of lives.

3 Having Argumentative Male Relatives

Rebecca Nurse, a 71‑year‑old respected Salem resident, seemed an unlikely target. Both she and her husband were esteemed community members. However, their move from Salem Towne to Salem Village placed them in a land‑ownership dispute with the affluent Putnam family. Thomas Putnam and his brothers claimed rights to land that Rebecca’s brother Jacob Towne was receiving.

When Putnam’s daughter Ann claimed affliction by a witch, Putnam leveraged the accusation to target the Towne family. Nurse was among those accused. Though the initial trial found her not guilty, the afflicted girls’ hysteria forced the jury to reconsider, ultimately convicting her and sentencing her to death. Several other women from prominent families, including Nurse’s sister Mary, were also executed.

2 Having Veins in Your Eye

Margaret Aitken, dubbed the Great Witch of Balwearie, turned the witch‑hunt on its head. Arrested for witchcraft in 1597, she confessed and claimed she could identify any witch by examining the pattern of veins in a person’s eye. This method promised a quicker alternative to the traditional search for the devil’s mark, which required full‑body inspection and painful pricking.

James VI enthusiastically backed her, organizing a national tour where Aitken examined suspected witches across Scotland. Those she labeled as witches were arrested and tortured into confession. Historians speculate she fabricated this ability to buy time or avoid execution, using the authorities’ desperation to her advantage. After months of sending hundreds of women to their deaths, Aitken’s fraud was exposed, and she was executed.

1 Having a Parent Who Was a Witch—Even if You Were a Child

The final Vardo witch trials of 1661‑62 hinged on accusations against children of previously executed witches. Sisters Ingeborg (12) and Karen Iversdatter (8) were detained at Vardohus in December 1662, their mother having been burned months earlier. Alongside them, twelve‑year‑old Maren Olsdotter, who had lost both her mother and aunt to witch trials, was held in the infamous “witches’ hole.”

Desperate for release, the girls gave vivid confessions: they claimed they could transform into cats, attend a witches’ sabbath, and drink wine with Satan. Maren even described touring hell with an evil spirit. Though too young for execution, their testimonies implicated numerous adult women, leading to further trials and burnings.

When two accused witches presented witnesses asserting the girls had been threatened with torture, the children were labeled liars. Maren, who had offered the most fantastical accounts, was sent to a workhouse, while the other girls were freed.

These ten bizarre allegations illustrate how everyday actions, personal misfortunes, and even innocent childhood fantasies could be twisted into damning evidence, sealing the fates of countless women throughout history.