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.

Outlines

00:00

🧙‍♀️ Witchcraft Accusations in 16th and 17th Century Scotland

During the 16th and 17th centuries in Scotland, around 4,000 people, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft. The accusations stemmed not from money but from ideas, with stereotypes about women playing a large role in these events. Many women were targeted for holding 'wrong' ideas or being seen as defiant. The story of Lilius A.D., the only confirmed burial of an accused witch in Scotland, reveals how these accusations led to tragic outcomes. In 1704, Lilius was accused of witchcraft by a local woman, Gene Bisset, after a night of heavy drinking. This accusation snowballed into a full-blown Church court trial based on almost no evidence. Lilius was tortured, interrogated, and eventually confessed to a long history of witchcraft. To ensure she could not return after death, her body was buried with extreme precautions, as the belief was that Satan could reanimate those who served him.

05:02

💀 Religious and Societal Role of Witchcraft Accusations

Witchcraft accusations in Scotland were often a religious and ideological issue. The Church, under pressure to maintain order during the Reformation, treated witchcraft as a religious crime. Women, seen as morally weaker, were more vulnerable to accusations, and these stereotypes fueled disproportionate violence against them. Women who did not conform to societal expectations of being quiet, nurturing, or submissive were often seen as likely to engage in demonic pacts. The accusations often involved ideas of a sexual relationship with the devil, further demonizing women who were perceived as stepping outside traditional gender roles. This fear and moral panic about women's power and independence drove many witchcraft trials, supported by religious and political authorities aiming to assert control over society.

Keywords

💡Witchcraft

Witchcraft refers to the practice of magical skills, spells, and abilities often associated with malevolent purposes. In the video, it serves as the central accusation made against individuals, particularly women, during the 16th and 17th centuries in Scotland. Accusations of witchcraft were fueled by superstition, fear, and societal beliefs about women’s roles, as demonstrated in the case of Lilius A.D.

💡Lilius A.D.

Lilius A.D. is the only confirmed burial site of an accused witch in Scotland, located in Toryburn. Her story illustrates the tragic consequences of village squabbles and superstition, as she was accused of witchcraft based on little evidence and tortured until she confessed. Her burial in an intertidal zone reflects the belief that she posed a spiritual and physical danger even in death.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes refer to oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a group of people. In the video, stereotypes about women—such as their supposed inherent disobedience (related to the biblical story of Adam and Eve) and their desire for power—contributed to the disproportionate accusations of witchcraft against women. These stereotypes fueled a moral panic that unfairly targeted women who did not conform to societal expectations.

💡Interrogation and Torture

Interrogation and torture were methods used by authorities to extract confessions from accused witches. Lilius A.D. was interrogated six times and maltreated over a four-week period until she confessed to witchcraft. Torture was a common practice used to force false confessions in witch trials, reflecting the brutal legal procedures of the time.

💡Church Court

The Church Court was a religious tribunal that oversaw the trial of accused witches. These courts operated based on religious laws and beliefs, often with little or no physical evidence. In Lilius A.D.'s case, the local church court convened to examine the witchcraft accusation, reflecting the significant role religion played in these trials.

💡Demonic Pact

A demonic pact refers to the supposed agreement between a witch and the Devil, where the witch renounces God and receives power in return. In the video, it is highlighted that accused women were often interrogated about when they made such a pact. The fear of witches making deals with the Devil was a central element in the persecution of alleged witches during the time.

💡Mass Hysteria

Mass hysteria describes a collective panic or fear that spreads through a community, often leading to irrational behavior or decisions. In the video, the witch trials are portrayed as a result of mass hysteria, where fear of witches and the Devil led to widespread accusations, torture, and executions of innocent people.

💡Reformation

The Reformation was a religious movement in Europe that aimed to reform the practices of the Catholic Church. In Scotland, this period saw heightened pressure on the church to 'clean up' society, leading to a focus on eradicating ungodliness, including witchcraft. The religious context of the Reformation intensified the persecution of suspected witches.

💡Village Squabble

A village squabble refers to a local dispute or argument that escalates into something much larger. In the case of Lilius A.D., a simple dispute involving an illness after a night of drinking spiraled into a witchcraft accusation. This illustrates how personal grievances could easily turn into life-threatening charges during the witch trials.

💡Burial in the Intertidal Zone

Burial in the intertidal zone, the area between the high and low tide marks, was a method used to ensure that a suspected witch’s body could not return to life. Lilius A.D. was buried in such a place as it was believed to be a spiritual and physical barrier, preventing her from coming back to terrorize the community. This burial practice reflects the extreme fear and superstitions surrounding witchcraft at the time.

Highlights

In 16th and 17th century Scotland, approximately 4,000 people were accused of witchcraft, with the majority being women.

Accusations of witchcraft in Scotland were not driven by money, but by ideas and societal beliefs.

Lilius A.D. was buried in the only confirmed witch burial site in Scotland, located in Toryburn, Fife.

The case of Lilius A.D. in 1704 stemmed from a village dispute after a local woman, Jean Bisset, accused her of causing illness through witchcraft.

Despite almost no evidence, Lilius A.D. was accused, imprisoned, and maltreated, leading her to confess to witchcraft under duress.

Lilius A.D. was treated as a spiritual danger, with her body buried under a stone to prevent her from rising again, as it was believed Satan could reanimate his followers.

Scotland’s rate of executions for witchcraft was five times the European average, with 85% of those accused being women.

Women were particularly vulnerable to witchcraft accusations due to stereotypes portraying them as more susceptible to demonic influence.

Theological beliefs about women as the 'weaker link,' based on the story of Adam and Eve, contributed to their disproportionate accusation as witches.

Stereotypes of women being ambitious or stepping out of traditional roles were used to justify accusations of witchcraft.

Accusations of witchcraft often involved claims of a sexual relationship between the accused and the devil.

The broader context for the witch trials was the Reformation, during which the church sought to 'clean up' society.

Witchcraft accusations were seen as ideological crimes, with religious authorities seeking to eliminate those with 'wrong ideas.'

Lilius A.D. was never convicted of witchcraft, as she died before trial, possibly due to injuries sustained during torture.

Her burial site, located between the low and high tide marks, reflects the community's fear and desire to ensure she could not return from the dead.

Transcripts

in the 16th and 17th century Scotland

roughly 4 000 people were accused of

Witchcraft of these the vast majority

were women it's not about money it's

about ideas and it's about having the

wrong ideas and then you have all these

stereotypes about fought I said that

woman this is it this is what we're

looking for essentially what happened

here is an illegal killing and they want

to clean up the mess behind them so it

doesn't come back to bite them

[Music]

as you cross the fourth Bridges to the

north of Edinburgh you enter the kingdom

of five it's here on the muddy foreshore

at Tory burn that the only confirmed

burial site of an accused witch in

Scotland can be found

that of lilius A.D

essentially what we're looking at is the

outcome of a tragic story which unfolded

in this Village in the summer of 1704

it's the end product of essentially a

village squabble and the story

transpired that after a night of revelry

and drinking this local women Gene

Bisset woke up the next day feeling

terrible she had a headache she was

shaking she was ill and so on and rather

than ascribing this to a day and a

half's worth of drinking she accused

local women Lilia Sadie of using

witchcraft to make her unwell

that accusation getting out of hand

Church Court being convened to examine

the case the individual accused on the

basis of almost no evidence whatsoever

facing these trumped-up charges is taken

into custody over a period of four weeks

she's maltreated interrogated six times

and over that period She confesses to a

lengthy career as a witch

to the local church minister at the time

her body was considered spiritual toxic

waste and potential health hazard and

that's why they've gone out to the

intertidal zone Thugger pit they've

locked her in a box and they plonked

this big heavy Stone on top of her all

measures to absolutely ensure that she

could never rise from the grave again

and come back to terrorize The Living

Community for the minister the problem

was simple she was an agent of Seton and

it was universally believed at the time

that Satan had the powers to reanimate

those who died in his service

the rate of executions here in Scotland

was five times the European average

and of the accused 85 percent were a

woman

so why were women more vulnerable to

accusations of witchcraft

I'd love to put revolts around

stereotypes and you know theologians

think of women in terms of Adam and Eve

and in this the weakest link she's the

one who disobeys God yet everyone kicked

out of Eden so the only dear is that you

know well women they're the people who

are likely to disobey God we're likely

to listen to the devil we likely within

all this demonic pact sounds like a

really good idea and then there were all

these stereotypes around women which

that you know women will power they

shouldn't have they're not capable of

handling art but they want it they're

terribly ambitious and then you have all

these stereotypes about Forks who said

that woman a good woman is quiet a good

woman is Demir or a good woman is caring

and nurturing whereas if you have a bad

woman and she's always causing florals

and she's not being very caring and

that's exactly the kind of women when

the devil turns up and says hello do you

want to have sex with me do you want to

make a demonic pack with me I'll give

you all this power to have revenge on

your name

oh she'll take it they imagine the

relationship between the witch and the

devil as a sexual relationship when they

find a female witchcraft suspect you

know this person looks as if she might

be a witch they will ask about you know

when did you renounce your baptism when

did you make a pack with the devil but

they will also very quickly move to and

when did you have sex with the devil so

you

stereotyping of women is probably what

leads to women being disproportionately

accused and arrested as witches it's a

kind of moral panel thing a woman who's

seen as being inadverted commas apathy

not in her place taking things which are

seen as being for men she becomes

subject and absolutely disproportionate

storm of hate and we see that today

the broader context at the time was that

during the Reformation the church was

under intense pressure to clean up

Society the global context is the sort

of Village witchcraft the idea that

people harm their neighbors by Magic the

European context is the elite idea of

the Demonic which the witch who is in

League with the Devil

the 1500s and 1600s are a time of steep

formation the emerging States want to

claim that they are the correct

Authority you should obey us and that

God is on our side and so they have a

duty to stamp out ungodliness so

religion played a huge role in the

accusation of witches oh yeah this is a

religious crime this is if you like an

ideological crime and it's not about

money it's about ideas and it's about

having the wrong ideas

and you have to think

yourself into the mind of someone who

fears their neighbor's Vengeance you

know if a man curses somebody yeah it's

just words but a woman curses someone

those words might have power

as for lilius Odie that we still know

her story today shows how she will now

be remembered

an unfortunate victim of mass hysteria

and torture

that she was never convicted of

witchcraft

she died before she came to trial

did she die because of injuries

inflicted under torture we'll probably

never know but by burying her between

the low tide Mark and the high tide Mark

that is a really Edge place you know

it's not one thing it's not the other

thing

dropping her into a crack

foreign