Introduction In early modern Europe, witchcraft was one of the most prosecuted crimes of the time. While it is unknown whether these individuals actually performed magic or sorcery, the belief in these supernatural abilities has existed for centuries. However, these supernatural ideologies became highly criminalized between the 14th and 19th centuries due to four foundational concepts – legal, intellectual, social, and religious– that promoted the persecution of witches in these societies. The legal foundations for the criminalization of witchcraft required acceptance by those in authority, integration into common law, and the establishment of a systematic method for prosecuting such cases. The widely accepted core concepts associated with…show more content… While unconscious, the individuals involved in her trial would apply the social, religious, legal, and intellectual concepts linked to witchcraft in the prosecution of Temple Anneke as a witch. In this trial, the social preconditions are evident through the accusations against Temple Anneke as they portrayed her as conforming to the prevailing stereotype, stemmed from a time of heightened anxiety, and used her as a scapegoat for their personal and social problems. While healing is commonly associated with sorcery, Temple Anneke is honest about her profession stating that “... she helped people with balms and... she helped people in this way, not only while her husband was alive, but after he died... and learned such from her herbal books...” and from watching her mother. In this statement, she highlights that not only has she been a healer for many years, but that she also learned through legitimate sources. However, because she had malafama, community members would blame her for their misfortunes, despite her having helped them in the…show more content… However, Roleff's claim is likely because he felt guilty for not paying well enough for her assistance, as she stated he paid less than what he initially promised, and believed it was an act of revenge. Despite Temple Anneke assisting her community, it is likely that community members felt guilty for not supporting her enough and used her as a scapegoat for their misfortunes. The accusations against Temple Anneke stem from her engagement in superstitious practices, which are deemed criminal, and her absence from church, both of which align with religious preconditions. Christoff Meinick’s accusation, obtained through torture, portrays Temple Anneke as a superstitious woman. He recounted her offering a superstitious method, stating that “[s]he pulled out half a loaf of bread and a dried apple, several very small roods, godlessly ordered him to sew these [roots] into his clothes to keep them warm all the time, to wear them on his body” to help him attract
