The Positive Aspects of Witchcraft

The word witch could include those who practiced any kind of magic, either good or bad. But the church tended to see all witchcraft as evil and that shaped how people saw witches over time. Some people were so concerned about conjuring demons with their words they wouldn't even utter the word devil. This dual aspect of witchcraft is reflected in a major law against the practice which was adopted in 1563 early in Elizabeth's reign. It didn't prohibit all witchcraft, it only prohibited witchcraft that caused death or other harm.