THE SCENE: Judging from the rundown of witchy powers provided herein, it really doesn’t seem like witches are something that anyone should have worried about.
THE TEXT: The picture above, in which a woman is seen pouring out the contents of a cauldron, shows that all witches use this kind of utensil, where they can boil down juices, herbs, reptiles, and entrails, and with such poisonous fare entice idle persons to follow their wishes; and, in accordance with the bubbling of the pot, they stimulate the speed of ships or riders or runners. What is more, they stick a horse’s head on a pole, raise it up with its mouth gaping and teeth bared, and place it opposite a camp of soldiers to arouse their fear; furthermore they add incantations, to that a complete army appears to be drawn up in line of battle, bent on the immediate destruction of their enemy. But then, as for the power witches have to darken the moon’s beams, raise tempests, uproot trees and plants, and enfeeble cattle and horses, I let these matters alone, well known as they are to everyone who closely investigates these pointless activities.
– A Description of the Northern Peoples, Olaus Magnus, 16th Century AD
