But the attitude in history towards witchcraft has been overwhelmingly negative, and often used as a means of persecuting women in society. Accusations of witchcraft were particularly widespread in the 17th century. Back in 1621, the three daughters of a famous English scholar called Edward Fairfax became ill and his youngest daughter, Anne, died. The two surviving sisters then accused some local women of practising witchcraft and causing Anne’s death. The women were taken to trial at the local assizes (old English county courts). Fairfax wrote a manuscript, setting out his case for the
...more
