In medieval Netherlands , weigh houses were a mutual characteristic inward many markets upwardly together with downwards the country. They were run yesteryear the local regime , together with traders were required to weigh their goods earlier they were sold. The regime would so levy a taxation on the goods transported through or sold inside the city.
Many a times , people defendant of witchcraft would hold upwardly dragged to a weigh identify to hold upwardly weighed. It was believed that a witch weighed side yesteryear side to nothing. After all , how could they wing on a broomstick? The Heksenwaag (Witches' scale) inward the town of Oudewater became famous for such witch trails.
A witch lawsuit at the Heksenwaag , inward Oudewater. Photo credit: Memory of the Netherlands
Witch trials were frequently rigged resulting inward the burning or drowning of hundreds of innocent victims all across Europe , but the people of Oudewater refused to accept business office inward the delusion of witchcraft. The Heksenwaag provided a fair weighing procedure to the accused. It is said that the Roman Emperor Charles V granted Oudewater the privilege to weigh persons suspected of witchcraft together with to number certificates if constitute to hold upwardly of normal weight.
Legend has it , that inward 1545 , Charles V doubted the number of a witch trail at a Dutch hamlet where a adult woman had been weighed together with was constitute likewise light. He ordered a minute weighing at Oudewater , showing her to have got a weight of 100 pounds , thence saving her. As a sign of gratitude for the correctness of the staff at the weigh-house he granted them the privilege. Nobody hither was e'er convicted of beingness a witch.
Sadly , non many people had the fortune of getting themselves weighed at Oudewater because many judges refused to let such trials. H5N1 unmarried rumor or an unsubstantiated witness was plenty to convict innocent people of sorcery. Historical records trouble concern human relationship for entirely xiii such trials at the Heksenwaag betwixt the menstruum 1674 together with 1743.
Today , Heksenwaag is a museum together with a tourist attraction. Visitors tin flame weigh themselves on an ancient oak scale together with have certificates declaring them every bit non witches , simply similar they used to mitt out inward the former days.
The weigh house. Photo credit: Rumex12/Wikimedia
Photo credit: Alan Grinberg/Flickr
Photo credit: bert knottenbeld/Flickr
The certificate visitors have later passing the weight test. Photo credit: Louise15101970/Tripadvisor.com
Sources: Holland.com / Wikipedia / www.heksenwaag.nl / Rechtsgeschiedenis Blog