page_title: Witchcraft in early modern Britain
section_title: Belief in Witchcraft
hierarchical_section_title: Witchcraft in early modern Britain / Belief in Witchcraft
caption_attribution_description: English: An image of a witch and her familiar spirits taken from a publication that dealt with the witch trials of Elizabeth Stile, Mother Dutten, Mother Devell and Mother Margaret in Windsor, 1579.
context_page_description: Witch trials and witch related accusations were at a high during the early modern period in Britain, a time that spanned from the beginning of the 16ᵗʰ century to the end of the 18ᵗʰ century.
  Witchcraft in this article refers to any magical or supernatural practices made by mankind. Prior to it being made a capital offence in 1542. it was often seen as a healing art, performed by people referred to as the cunning folk, whereas it was later believed to be Satanic in origin and thus sparked a series of laws being passed and trials being conducted.
context_section_description: The belief in magic and magical practices has been documented in Britain all the way back until antiquity – the belief that people could have influence over or make predictions about the natural world did not arise only in the 16ᵗʰ century.
caption: A witch and her familiar
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