Abstract

Broadsheets like this one circulated throughout the early modern period as religious changes, social disruption, and political upheaval increased anxieties about satanic forces, unruly women, and spiritual corruption. They appealed to a wide range of people and communicated both the urgency of fears about witches and the attraction stories about witches held for a broad range of society. While some broadsheets drew from particular witchcraft trials and others drew on theological works on demonology, this one lists the crimes of the witches and their powers. It also depicts common themes in such broadsheets, including unruly female sexuality and nudity and the ability to do what no one in early modern Europe could do: fly.

Believes about Witchcraft: “Hear a dreadful tale” (c. 1600)

Source

Hear a new terrible adventure

of the unearthly monsters:

In the diocese of Trier, and other places,

many of them have been captured,

which, according to God's command,

have been judged to be dead.

What you can now see and read here

is their own confession:

a) Some on broomsticks in the air

Flying over high mountains and deep crevices.

b) That is their king, great and mighty,

And riding on a golden carriage.

c) This is their dance: a poisoned toad

Lies on top of the column.

d) Because this one does not want to dance

Many other witches come

And whip her with rods,

A dead horse rides takes her to the gathering place.

e) These are characters of various kinds

associated with magic.

Between the cats there is a dead hand

On which some candles are burning.

f) They quickly conjur a thunderstorm ,

The house is on fire, and it hails inside.

g) This is where they come to drink and their musician

Sits on a tree above:

The rich drink from gulden mugs,

The poor drink from cow's feet.

h) This one here is learning, she is shorn below,

And the billy goat stands and waits for her.

When witches die a natural death

This is where they are burned.

In this cauldron stands a basin

In it are put all kinds of materials,

associated with magic.

k) The scribe is recording freely,

how many flew out of the chimney.

l) A gathering has taken place in front of this house

of the deceased sorceress,

and now they want to go to the dancing place,

and their king is with them.

m) A doctor studying the black arts.

n) These, not for nothing,

are sitting on these dead horses,

learning the sorcerers' arts.

This one standing here hurting badly

is being burned under the arms.

o) The offices of treasurer and secretary

are happily carried out by the toad and the cat.

p) The billy goat quickly consults the book

which instructs him

where to take this person.

q) And sitting in this circle there is

a soothsayer and augur,

and explorer of magical herbs.

There is much more devilish mischief,

not half of which I can print here.

Let each one consider God's wrath,

And give up Satan's mischief

So that he will not suffer in eternal fire.

Source: Broadsheet, c. 1600. Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel 31.8 Aug. 2°, fol. 398, http://diglib.hab.de/drucke/31-8-aug-2f-398r/start.htm?image=00001

HAB Wolfenbüttel