Lisbeth Nypan
Encyclopedia
Lisbeth Nypan (née Pedersdotter) (c. 1610 – September 1670) was an alleged Norwegian witch. She and Anne Pedersdotter
were the best-known victims of the charge in Norway.
Lisbet was married to the farmer Ole Nypan (ca. 1602–1670) and had three children. From the 1640s, Lisbet was a cunning woman often employed as a healer and a magician. The fact that she charged people for curing sickness, led to the rumor that she made people ill to earn money. Her husband, Ole Nypan often reminded people to whom he was married during conflicts he had, which fed the rumors.
In 1670, the couple sued other people for slander, but the case was turned against them during the trial, and they were investigated in Trondheim
. Lisbeth said that she did not cause sickness, only cure it, and that they were subjected to slander. But the court believed that her power to heal came from Satan
. The Christian
priests tried to convince the couple to confess, but they claimed innocence even after torture, without showing any remorse, which was seen as contempt for the court. The court claimed that the Devil
helped them to endure torture, and judged guilty 5 September 1670. Lisbet was seen as more guilty than Ole, and she was sentenced to be burned alive at the stake, while Ole was to be decapitated.
Anne Pedersdotter
Anne Pedersdotter was an alleged Norwegian witch. Her case was one of the most documented of the many witch trials in Norway in the 16th and 17th centuries...
were the best-known victims of the charge in Norway.
Lisbet was married to the farmer Ole Nypan (ca. 1602–1670) and had three children. From the 1640s, Lisbet was a cunning woman often employed as a healer and a magician. The fact that she charged people for curing sickness, led to the rumor that she made people ill to earn money. Her husband, Ole Nypan often reminded people to whom he was married during conflicts he had, which fed the rumors.
In 1670, the couple sued other people for slander, but the case was turned against them during the trial, and they were investigated in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. Lisbeth said that she did not cause sickness, only cure it, and that they were subjected to slander. But the court believed that her power to heal came from Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
. The Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
priests tried to convince the couple to confess, but they claimed innocence even after torture, without showing any remorse, which was seen as contempt for the court. The court claimed that the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
helped them to endure torture, and judged guilty 5 September 1670. Lisbet was seen as more guilty than Ole, and she was sentenced to be burned alive at the stake, while Ole was to be decapitated.