Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-273) and index.

List of tables, maps and illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- PART I -- Chapter One : Witch-hunting in Eichstltt -- The background -- Witch-hunting in Eichstatt, 1590-1616 -- Witch-hunting in Eichstatt, 1617-1631 -- The pattern of witch-hunting in Eichsttt -- Chapter Two : The witches -- The authorities and the gender of the witch -- The interrogatory and the course of the witch interrogations -- Denunciations -- Denunciations -- the role of the interrogators -- Denunciations -- the role of the witch-suspect -- The social status of the witch -- Conclusion -- PART II -- Chapter Three : Friends and enemies -- Methodology -- The witch and her denouncers -- Barbara Haubner and her denouncers -- Michael Hochenschildt and his denouncers -- Margretha Geiger and her denouncers -- Walburga Knab -- Christoph Lauterer -- Conclusion -- Chapter Four : Food and drink -- Food and drink -- Feasting -- Chapter Five : Sex -- Diabolical seduction -- Same-sex sexual relations -- Fornication and adultery -- Prostitution -- Bestiality and incest -- Conclusion -- Chapter Six : Health -- Healing -- Midwives -- Conclusion -- Chapter Seven : The abuse of authority -- The investigation -- Georg Mayr's visit -- Maria Mayr's infidelity -- The warders' abuses -- Fear -- Conclusion -- Witchcraft -- Gender and society -- Appendix 1 The interrogatory of 1617 -- Appendix 2 Occupations of suspected witches or their households -- Bibliography.

"Recent witchcraft historiography, particularly where it concerns the gender of the witch-suspect, has been dominated by theories of social conflict in which ordinary people colluded in the persecution of the witch sect. The reconstruction of the Eichstatt persecutions (1590-1631) in this book shows that many witchcraft episodes were imposed exclusively 'from above' as part of a programme of Catholic reform. The high proportion of female suspects in these cases resulted from the persecutors' demonology and their interrogation procedures. The confession narratives forced from the suspects reveal a socially integrated, if gendered, community rather than one in crisis. The book is a reminder that an overemphasis on one interpretation cannot adequately account for the many contexts in which witchcraft episodes occurred."--Jacket.