In Shakespeare's day those accused of witchcraft, or being a witch, were generally old, poor and single women, widows or 'wise women'. In 1542 Parliament passed the Witchcraft Act which defined ...

William Shakespeare, “Macbeth” “A witch never gets caught. Don’t forget that she has magic in her fingers and devilry dancing in her blood.” — Roald Dahl, “The Witches” “I be the ...

It is at this time that the idea of witches riding around on broomsticks (a common household implement in Elizabethan England) becomes popular. There are lots of ways to test for a witch.