Witches!
Even though it seems very silly, the people of the 17th century believed in witches. The Puritans were to blame because they were very sensitive to "evil". Women were the most suspicious of being witches mostly because the Puritans believed that it was women who was responsible for original sin because they could not resist temptation as well as men. The people suspected were widows, outcasts, socials misfits, and people who were experienced in medical plants and treatments for illness. Even people were skeptical about women who told fortunes and made love potions.
These witches were usually tortured and sent to death. Sentences would include pins, drowned, hanged, burned, and crushed to death. Witch-hunters became well known and profited a lot of money. The most famous hunter was Matthew Hopkins who sentenced many innocent people to death but was soon discovered a fraud.
The only reason as to why witch hunting was never stopped was because of Chief justices who doubted the existence of witches were scared that if they stopped the madness, that people would rebel and spread mobs.
These witches were usually tortured and sent to death. Sentences would include pins, drowned, hanged, burned, and crushed to death. Witch-hunters became well known and profited a lot of money. The most famous hunter was Matthew Hopkins who sentenced many innocent people to death but was soon discovered a fraud.
The only reason as to why witch hunting was never stopped was because of Chief justices who doubted the existence of witches were scared that if they stopped the madness, that people would rebel and spread mobs.