The Trial of Tempel Anneke

"Consisting of direct translations of the trial testimony, The Trial of Tempel Anneke portrays a large and varied cast of characters including, trades people, farmers, local nobility, village drunkards, and Tempel Anneke herself. Tempel Anneke was in several ways typical of those accused of witchcraft, yet from the testimony she emerges as a complex and controversial figure. She was literate and owned a few books and herbals; she prided herself on her medical and pharmaceutical knowledge and until the final stages of the trial when her confession was extracted under torture, she was sharp, assertive, and even witty in her responses to questioning. This English translation offers direct archival insight into the workings of 17th century law, contemporary understandings of justice, perceptions of natural and magical causes, and above all, the social history of the period." "While other witchcraft materials exist, this is the only text available in English that allows students to follow a witchcraft trial from beginning to end. This narrative is perfectly suited to being read as a complete document. The additions of introduction, appendices, glossary, and index provide readers with important background information so that they can engage directly with the material."--Jacket.