The Testimonies of Child Witnesses in Swedish Witchcraft Cases, 1668–1676

Authors

• Sari Katajala-Peltomaa Tampereen yliopisto
• Ville Vuolanto Tampereen yliopisto

Abstract

Child witnesses played a very important role in the Swedish witchcraft cases on 1660s and 1670s. This article analyses how they developed their testimonies/stories in the interplay with the members of the court and with other children. The judicial process, hearings and opinions of the adults had an impact on the children’s stories. However, they were not strong enough to dispel the children’s own interpretations in which they mixed freely different kinds of cultural elements and images.