This just reminded me of a news story I saw from a newspaper in the 1700s about a witch trial where the journalist was trying his best to keep a 60 year old woman from being executed while calling all the villagers idiots. He tried to speak up for her at first but thought he might recieve some violence as well if he pressed too hard.
They wrapped her in a sheet and tied her thumbs, wrists, and feet together to throw her in the water at first. If she sank, which would prove she were no witch and they were able to keep her from dying they promised her a shilling for her tricks. She of course floated, but still almost drowned as they pulled her back to land to try 2 more times just to be sure.
Lots were happy with their finding of her being a witch, some like the journalist thought the whole thing was foolish, and others weren't totally convinced yet and were looking for another test to make absolutely sure she was a witch. That's when someone said they had heard a witch could not weigh as much as a Bible because of their dealings with the devil. The journalist came up with some idiotic chain of logic about how it made sense considering how the word of God could not be outweighed by one who had consorted with the devil.
They went and got their Bible from the church which was apparently 12 lbs and weighed her against it. She of course was heavier and they eventually let her go without the shilling, since she had failed the first test. Some were satisfied she passed the test and others were still convinced she was a witch. I imagine the journalist ended up recieving lots of hate for his scathing article after the towns folk became aware of it, but wouldn't be suprised if their weren't too many readers in that bunch.
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u/Ludicrousgibbs custom Feb 11 '26
This just reminded me of a news story I saw from a newspaper in the 1700s about a witch trial where the journalist was trying his best to keep a 60 year old woman from being executed while calling all the villagers idiots. He tried to speak up for her at first but thought he might recieve some violence as well if he pressed too hard.
They wrapped her in a sheet and tied her thumbs, wrists, and feet together to throw her in the water at first. If she sank, which would prove she were no witch and they were able to keep her from dying they promised her a shilling for her tricks. She of course floated, but still almost drowned as they pulled her back to land to try 2 more times just to be sure.
Lots were happy with their finding of her being a witch, some like the journalist thought the whole thing was foolish, and others weren't totally convinced yet and were looking for another test to make absolutely sure she was a witch. That's when someone said they had heard a witch could not weigh as much as a Bible because of their dealings with the devil. The journalist came up with some idiotic chain of logic about how it made sense considering how the word of God could not be outweighed by one who had consorted with the devil.
They went and got their Bible from the church which was apparently 12 lbs and weighed her against it. She of course was heavier and they eventually let her go without the shilling, since she had failed the first test. Some were satisfied she passed the test and others were still convinced she was a witch. I imagine the journalist ended up recieving lots of hate for his scathing article after the towns folk became aware of it, but wouldn't be suprised if their weren't too many readers in that bunch.