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Samenvatting

One problem in the investigation of Dutch witchcraft in the 1500s & 1600s is the narrow historical focus on judicial data. Examination of civil suit records, Reformed Church archives, & reports & pamphlets by Jesuits shows little mention of the devil's pact as the basis for an accusation of witchcraft. Rather, suits were entered on the basis of curses resulting in the illness of a child or animal. On the other hand, many people willingly admitted having made a pact with the devil, though this rarely included the power to harm other humans by magic. Most women entering such pacts claimed to have had sex with the devil & were completely submitted to his will, while men ordinarily drew up written contracts with neatly delineated obligations. Thus, sorcery & devil worship remained separate concepts in the worldview of nonelite groups. 45 References. Modified HA