... clarified in order to understand why the population of Europe still held them. There was a huge range of different beliefs that can all be classified as belief in magic. These beliefs affected most people daily, whether it was following what would today be called a superstition such as carrying a charm to ward off evil spirits or trying to find a magical cure for an illness. Beliefs in magic ranged from that of witchcraft, to ritual healing and fairies and there were beliefs held about the value of different days in the year. It is also known that curses were widely used throughout the population of Europe, in particular amongst radical protestant sects such as the Ranters and Muggletonians who used 'God's solemn curse' upon their enemies1. It is important to note that it would be wrong to dismiss the behaviour of people in the early modern period ...

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