For many years, the dreaded witch trials have left their unmistakable mark on the country and its courts. But towards the end of the 17th century, scepticism towards the power of sorcery and the Devil is taking root. Paradoxically, it’s an eager witch hunter who is helping this new development along in Denmark.
In 1685, the squire Jørgen Arenfeldt, who is often involved in trial proceedings, begins his own personal crusade against witches and sorcerers on Djursland. He gets a number of people condemned at the court in Viborg, and several of them receive death sentences.
The young Anne Sørensdatter is also accused of witchcraft. During the interrogation, she admits to getting her special powers by boiling a white snake and eating it. But people grow uneasy when she informs against 15 other persons who are not all members of her own lowly class but also include respectable citizens and even the mayor of Aarhus. These well-connected people won’t stand for these allegations and take the matter to the high court – where King Christian the Fifth himself must deal with the accusations.
Arenfeldt’s unfounded charges and illegal, heavy-handed investigation methods end up costing him several fines, and he is eventually banned from hunting witches.
Later on, the law governing witch trials is changed so that all such cases must be tried at the high court before anyone can be executed. After this, the number of witch trials falls sharply.