Abstract
In the premodern worldview, matter was not necessarily thought a fixed, lifeless element. Taking this view as a starting point, this chapter deals with how different kinds of objects were considered as charged with magical power. Witches were thought able to imbue everyday objects with power, transforming them into magical tools with which to do harm or to promote their interests. Such magical objects mentioned in the court records include charm bags, copper horses, horns, a weather-pipe, and dancing milk pails. The reason for putting enchantments on objects could vary. In some cases, it was considered a demonstration of the witch’s remarkable ability, but in most circumstances, it was thought that enchanted objects were used to evil ends in maleficium. All the enchanted objects designed to do harm had one thing in common: they were hidden and thus were intended to do their evil in secret.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
Zachrisson 2017, 263–71 et passim.
- 3.
Rannsakningarna, 9–14 July 1668, 53–4; VaLA, GHA 13 July 1669, fol. 149.
- 4.
Rannsakningarna, 61–2; VaLA, GHA 21 Sept. 1669, fols. 167–8.
- 5.
Rannsakningarna, 19 Aug. 1669, 100.
- 6.
Rannsakningarna, 228; RA, Kommissorialrätt 23 June 1671, fols. 13–14.
- 7.
Rannsakningarna, 228; RA, Kommissorialrätt 23 June 1671, fols. 13–14.
- 8.
Rannsakningarna, 228–9; RA, Kommissorialrätt 23 June 1671, fol. 14.
- 9.
Rannsakningarna, 8 July 1671, 255.
- 10.
- 11.
Rannsakningarna, 9 July 1669, 35–6.
- 12.
Rannsakningarna, 35; VaLA, GHA 9 July 1669, fols. 18–19.
- 13.
VaLA, GHA DATE fols. 37–8; Rannsakningarna, 37 differs slightly.
- 14.
VaLA, GHA, DATE fol. 39; Rannsakningarna, 38.
- 15.
VaLA, GHA, DATE fol. 39; Rannsakningarna, 38.
- 16.
Rannsakningarna, 155.
- 17.
Rannsakningarna, 9 July 1669, 36.
- 18.
Rannsakningarna, 177.
- 19.
Rannsakningarna, 177; RA, Kommissorialrätt 6 July 1670, fol. 94.
- 20.
Rannsakningarna, 193; RA, Kommissorialrätt 7 July 1671, fol. 83/5.
- 21.
Rannsakningarna, 7 Jan. 1671, 193–4; Rannsakningarna, 32–3; VaLA, GHA 8 July 1669, fol. 15.
- 22.
Rannsakningarna, 155.
- 23.
Linderholm 1918, 94; for Svenungsson’s reasoning, see Rannsakningar, 33.
- 24.
Johansen 1991, 78.
- 25.
Rannsakningarna, 185; RA, Kommissorialrätt 29 Nov. 1670, fols. 43–4.
- 26.
Sörlin 1993, 137.
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Malmstedt, G. (2021). Charged Matter. In: Premodern Beliefs and Witch Trials in a Swedish Province, 1669-1672. Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76120-2_9
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