Witches were supposedly heavier than ordinary people due to the presence of evil inside them, so they were subjected to water ordeals. If they sank, they were considered innocent as the water accepted them, and they were pulled out unharmed. If they floated, they were considered witches as they were rejected by the holy water, and were deemed to be in collusion with the devil.
Pricking and Witch Marks:
Supposedly, the devil left a 'Devil's Mark' on witches through which he sucked their blood at night. During witch trials, accused individuals were pricked with a sharp object to find such marks on their bodies. If a person exhibited no signs of pain or blood at the spot where the needle was inserted, it was often viewed as evidence of witchcraft as the mark was believed to be a source of the witch's power and rendered them insensitive to pain.
Tests of Physical Appearance:
Certain visual attributes, like having a squint, red hair, or a birthmark, were sometimes interpreted as signs of being a witch. These features were considered unusual and associated with the forces of evil, leading to accusations and scrutiny.
Animal Trials:
Involving animals, especially dogs, to discover witches. During trials, an animal like a dog might be brought to the accused person. If it showed signs of aggression, fear, or avoided proximity, this could be seen as a sign of the person being a witch. This idea was based on the belief that animals had an intrinsic ability to sense the evil presence in witches.
It's important to note that these tests were often flawed, biased, and lacking scientific basis, and many innocent individuals were unfairly convicted and often faced brutal punishments during the witch trials of the seventeenth century.