Krzysztof Opaliński was a magnate intellectual, whose involvement in the witchcraft persecution was multifaceted. He is a figure to whom I shall return in further posts, as I describe the letters between he and his brother concerning a witchcraft case in one of his estates. However, in his Satyry, ‘Satires’, the noble heavily criticized the state…
From time to time, not just around Hallowe’en, I’m asked to speak at events or give a talk on witchcraft. Thanks to Piers Alexander and Anna at The Pigeon Hole, I found myself transported back to the 17th century recently, complete with sword fight, Huguenot weavers and a rollocking good reading. The party had been thrown to…
Someone at the British Museum did a great job in publicizing this exhibition last year (2014). Or maybe it was just that everyone who knew me thought fit to mention it. Either way, it was on my radar for quite some time before I dragged myself off to see it, despite my deep envy…
Zofia of Lękno and Barbara of Radom were tried in 1580 and the records give a surprisingly full account of their lives prior to the case. Zofia had lived in Poznań for ten years, producing beer. However it was recorded that she had lived in disorder, lost two children and begun travelling around markets after the death of…
This case begins with her second session of torture. She recanted all that she had said previously, claiming that she was scared. On 19th October 1643 she underwent torture once more. She was asked where she had learnt witchcraft and she denied that she knew anything how to harm barrels. A snake was found with her…
“My mother led in the bridegroom, it was Thursday night, and the cocks were already crowing, when we got married. Mrs Siedlarka took a silk rope and gold wedding rings. Then she joined us together. There were six wax candles burning. Siedlarka said to me, do you take this man, and I said nothing and…
One of my earliest – and happiest memories – is being read to by my grandmother. I curled into her lap as she accomplished the miraculous feat of wrapping her arms around me and holding the book at the same time. Since then I have associated being read to with being hugged. My favourite…
Witchcraft in Poland 