1542 English parliament makes witchcraft a capital crime, the legal code carries over to the new world colonies. About mid century, infanticide began to come to the notice of the courts. Along with this development, witchcraft is increasingly seen as a secular crime rather than an ecclesiastical or spiritual mistake. 1556 French Parlement issues edict that every expectant mother must register her pregnancy and have witness at the birth. A stillbirth or dead infant could lead to murder charges and execution of the mother.
Women begin to be accused of witchcraft and sexual crimes.
For the first time women have legal standing as the accused. 1563 Scottish courts declare witchcraft a secular crime. The English witch hunts begin in earnest, over 1,000 are put to death. Where the sex of the dead is known, over 90 percent are women. Most virulent witch persecutions coincide with redistribution of property and wealth from working peasantry to wealthy.