Eradicating the Devil's Minions: Anabaptists and Witches in Reformation Europe, 1525-1600

Abstract

It is perhaps surprising, given the popular status of witchcraft studies, that the relationship between witches and Anabaptists has remained largely unexplored, when we consider some of the structural and ideological similarities between the types of crimes attributed to both groups. Gary K. Waite's new book addresses the connections between the judicial treatment of Anabaptist heretics and individuals accused of witchcraft in the sixteenth century, and argues that the harsh persecution of Anabaptism laid the groundwork for the vicious witch-hunts, by giving credence to widespread claims that the agents of the Devil were omnipresent, and encouraging the authorities to become accustomed to persecuting the Devil's minions. Nocturnal, secret gatherings, pacts with the Devil, perversion of the sacraments and magical offences were features of both Anabaptist and witchcraft prosecutions, and Waite argues that the demonising rhetoric which was deployed against Anabaptists meant that, as heresy trials came to an end, the transition to prosecuting witches as diabolical servants was relatively straightforward. Although the two groups were kept distinct in the minds of the authorities, fears intersected to create the image of a widespread demonic threat.