Witch trials: The women accused of being 'agents of Satan' - BBC News

Summary

In 16th and 17th century Scotland, thousands were accused of witchcraft, predominantly women. The script focuses on the tragic story of Lilius Adie, a woman falsely accused of witchcraft after a village quarrel. Tortured into confessing, she died before trial and was buried in an isolated area to prevent her 'resurrection.' The script explores the societal, religious, and gender stereotypes that fueled witch trials, highlighting how fear, mass hysteria, and religious pressure disproportionately targeted women, painting them as agents of the devil.

Takeaways

• 🔮 In 16th and 17th century Scotland, around 4,000 people were accused of witchcraft, with the majority being women.
• 💡 The accusations of witchcraft were not about money but about ideas and having the 'wrong' ideas.
• 👩‍🦰 Women were disproportionately accused due to stereotypes, with 85% of the accused being women.
• 🏞️ The only confirmed burial site of an accused witch in Scotland is at Toryburn, where Lilius A.D. was buried.
• 😨 Lilius A.D. was accused of witchcraft after a woman named Jean Bisset claimed that Lilius had made her unwell following a night of heavy drinking.
• 🕵️‍♀️ Lilius A.D. was interrogated and tortured over a period of four weeks, during which she confessed to witchcraft despite little to no evidence.
• 🧱 Lilius A.D.'s body was buried under a heavy stone in a box to ensure she couldn't rise from the grave, as people believed Satan could reanimate witches.
• 👿 Stereotypes about women, such as their perceived ambition and lack of self-control, contributed to accusations of witchcraft.
• 📜 During the Reformation, the church aimed to clean up society by stamping out ungodliness, with religion playing a central role in witchcraft accusations.
• 🕯️ Despite her tragic death, Lilius A.D. was never convicted of witchcraft, as she died before her trial, possibly due to injuries inflicted during torture.

Q & A

What was the approximate number of people accused of witchcraft in Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries?

Approximately 4,000 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Why were women disproportionately accused of witchcraft in Scotland during this time?

Women were disproportionately accused of witchcraft due to stereotypes that portrayed women as morally weaker, more susceptible to the devil’s influence, and driven by ambition or disobedience, which made them vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft.

Who was Lilius A.D., and what is significant about her burial site?

Lilius A.D. was a woman accused of witchcraft in the village of Torryburn, Scotland, in 1704. Her burial site is significant as it is the only confirmed burial of an accused witch in Scotland, where her body was treated as 'spiritual toxic waste' and buried in a way to prevent her from rising again.

What triggered the accusation against Lilius A.D. in 1704?

Lilius A.D. was accused of witchcraft after a local woman, Jean Bisset, became ill following a night of heavy drinking and, instead of attributing her condition to alcohol, blamed Lilius for bewitching her.

How was Lilius A.D. treated during her imprisonment and interrogation?

During her imprisonment, Lilius A.D. was interrogated six times over a four-week period, during which she was maltreated and ultimately confessed to a long career as a witch.

Why did church authorities believe Lilius A.D.'s body posed a threat after death?

Church authorities believed Lilius A.D.'s body was a threat because they thought she was an agent of Satan, and it was widely believed that Satan could reanimate the bodies of those who served him.

Why did accusations of witchcraft often include references to women having sex with the devil?

Accusations of witchcraft often included references to women having sex with the devil because the stereotype of witches involved a pact with Satan that was imagined as a sexual relationship, reinforcing the notion of women’s susceptibility to the devil’s influence.

How did religious and societal pressures during the Reformation contribute to witchcraft accusations?

During the Reformation, there was intense pressure to 'clean up' society, and the emerging states claimed they had a duty to stamp out ungodliness. This religious context made witchcraft accusations an ideological crime linked to religious purity.

What was the broader European context of witchcraft during the 1500s and 1600s?

The broader European context of witchcraft during the 1500s and 1600s involved a belief in the 'demonic witch,' a person in league with the devil, alongside local village-level beliefs that people could harm their neighbors through magic.

What remains uncertain about the death of Lilius A.D. before her trial?

It remains uncertain whether Lilius A.D. died from injuries inflicted under torture, as she died before her trial could take place, and the exact cause of her death is unknown.