A couple of years ago there was an article on Witchcraft in 'BBC History' magazine which said that the numbers of witches killed in late mediaeval Europe is smaller than most people think. I think the article said that the number was about 50,000 in about 300 years (still 50,000 too many, of course).
Continental Europe was a lot worse than England where only a few hundred - maximum 500 - witches were killed in over 200 years. Only in a handful of cases were the witches burnt. Scotland probably saw about 2,000 killings (considering its population was only a tenth of England's this is a high number). A lot more were burnt there as well.
A lot of people were accused of witchcraft, said the article, but the vast majority were acquitted or merely fined or jailed. Of the cases in England the writer found that almost 90% of accused people were acquitted and only about 3% were executed (usually hung). Europe as a whole saw a lower acquittal rate and higher percentage of executions than in England.
Continental Europe was a lot worse than England where only a few hundred - maximum 500 - witches were killed in over 200 years. Only in a handful of cases were the witches burnt. Scotland probably saw about 2,000 killings (considering its population was only a tenth of England's this is a high number). A lot more were burnt there as well.
A lot of people were accused of witchcraft, said the article, but the vast majority were acquitted or merely fined or jailed. Of the cases in England the writer found that almost 90% of accused people were acquitted and only about 3% were executed (usually hung). Europe as a whole saw a lower acquittal rate and higher percentage of executions than in England.
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