How were witches punished in the 16th and 17th centuries?

Answer 1

Some were burned, some were hanged and some were tortured. It all depended on where abouts in the world you were! defiantly know Lot were burned but when they were deciding if a person was a witch they would tie them t a chair and place in water if they floated they were a witch and hanged if they drowned well they drowned. i know of one witch in a place called great waltham who is related to the actress Emma Watson (Hermione Granger Harry Potter) is related to this witch. this witch was excommunicated from the Church of England so i think she got of lightly. hope this all helps.

Answer 2

Witches perform all types of spells and ritual. Of course not the kind you may see in Harry Potter or any other kind of fantasy film or read in fictional books. However, there are millions of spells in regards to the betterment of one's life and the world. However, there are some witches that do perform various kinds of curses and hexes usually to try to spoil someone's life (a lot of times out of selfishness and revenge, and these are rarely if ever successful).

Witches also have different ways to perform spells. Some use candle magic, and others use herbal solutions. Solitary rituals to large group rituals. Praying to their select Gods to performing "sex magic". It really depends on the witch's belief system as well as the person performing the spell. Paganism is kind of a "build your own religion" philosophy most of the time.

Answer 3

There is no written record of the spells used by medieval witches other than those recorded by the inquisitioners. Therefor there is no way we can be sure. Most likely they practiced the usual healing and sympathetic magics, but we will never really know for sure.

Answer 4

witches never used magic they just were good at healing and poisoning they were never able to do magic.