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Started by: Fox Sent: 23/01/2001 00:42 1 Replies
In 1697, 24 people in Renfrewshire area of Scotland were arrested as "witches" on the accusations of an 11 year old girl.She accused them of bewitchin her and causing fits that we would probably diagnose as epilepsy nowadays.
For some bizarre reason the most prominent men in the surrounding parishes took it seriously enough to convict 7 out of the 24.
One of the 7 comitted suicide it would appear,although Satan was supposed to have claimed him is how the rantings of the local Renfrew folk went @ the time.They havent changed much:)

The other 6 ,4 women and 2 men were strangled on the gallows and then burnt in a peat fire.Not very nice.Good news forty years later was that it was now illegal to accuse someone of bewitchment.
I would like to discuss what on earth could have been going on in reality and how 17 people managed to avoid execution.I do not begrudge them it,on the contrary but it seems unusual for so many to escape from such a situation in those days.I have done some fairly deep research into it and it appears that the "common" people were actually having doubts about the "poor wretches" as they seem to have been called.One of the Churches even held a solemn fast to attempt to cleanse the town of the awful deed.
Many writers have called for a "Virtual retrial" to admonish the poor souls who suffered and perhaps place a plaque in their memory.It was a a very serious affair and the last of its kind in the UK.
BB
Fox

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From: Akasha Sent: 23/01/2001 12:19 1 of 1
ive got a book at home that has the history af all the big witch trials so ill have a look for you/. its written by a once b0orn who doesnt believe that anyone executed as a witch actually was a witch (then he talks about pow wows and spititual healers, like duh there are your witches honey) any how he has the history down so its worth a look.
this also rings bellsn as it seems a lot like the salem witch trials. this is one where there were no real witches, in fact most of the accused were devout christias, just a s;lave with a few stories of voodoo scaring the shit out of a couple of kids. after salem they did admit the mistake and as far as i remember all those found guilty were aquitted.
i will put up a message when i have done my homework

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kash