Accused Witches: The Salem Witch Trials

During the time of the Salem Witch Trials, accused witches were forced to complete at least one of seven tests. The first test was named "the swimming test". During this test, accused witches had to strip of all their clothes except their undergarments before they were thrown into a body of water. People believed that guilty witches would float, while the people that sunk were innocent. Ropes were tied around the accused persons waist, but drownings did still occur. ("7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests")
The second test was referred to as "the prayer test". In 1692, it was thought that real witches were unable to read out loud, so accused witches were forced to read sections of the Bible. People were proved to be working for the Devil if they

had any errors or words that were skipped over. ,"During the Salem Witch Trials, the accused sorcerer George Burroughs flawlessly recited the prayer from the gallows just before his execution. The performance was dismissed as a devil's trick, and the hanging proceeded as planned." (Evan Andrews) Accused witches that were forced to complete this test really had no way of winning. ("7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests")
For the "touch test" it was believed that the victims of witchcraft would have a special reaction if they came in physical contact with the witch who performed witchcraft on them. To perform this test, the accused witch was asked to come in physical contact with the possessed person. If the victim had no reaction, the witch was considered innocent, but of the fit or spell became undone, the suspect was guilty. ("7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests")
The fourth test was accomplished by baking a "witch cake". A "witch cake" was a mixture of the victim's urine, rye, and ashes baked into a cake. This disgusting mixture was then fed to a dog. After eating the cake, the dog was supposed to reveal the name of the guilt witch. The people of Salem relied on cakes and dogs to help them find witches. ("7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests")
The marks on a persons body were also used to discover witches. It was believed that Satan marked the witches he made pacts with, so accused witches had to be examined for any mark. The "Devil's Mark" was supposed to be completely numb to any form of pain. Almost every witch examined was proven guilty because scars, sores, birthmarks, and moles were all considered a "devil's marking". Some people of Salem would even try to cut off or burn their blemishes. These marks could also be mistaken for a witch's mark. Anybody with any type of mark on their body was proven guilty using this test. ("7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests")
The "picking and scratching test" was the sixth test out of these seven unusual tests. This test went along with the fifth test. Examiners used needles to prick and stab at an accused witches skin. This stabbing went on until the examiner found a spot that wouldn't bleed, this spot was then considered a "witches marking". Eventually, this test became performed by professional "prickers", who were actually con artists that identified fake witch's marks. ("7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests")
For the seventh test, known as "incantations", the accused witch had to ask the Devil to allow the victim to come out of their trance. Then, after the words were said the victim was observed for any signs of change. If a change to the victim was found, the witch was supposedly able to communicate with the Devil. ("7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests")