The basis of many charges was often vengeance from a local feud or chance if a witch finder was at work.
In continental Europe basis was not important, confession was the prime importance and proof was not something that the courts bothered much with.
There were many traditional bases for charges of witchcraft.
APPEARANCE: the preconceived idea of what a witch looked like was female, elderly, unattractive, solitary, and strange. In Europe however it was not unusual for young females to be targeted for accusation, especially if they were from wealthy families.
FARMILIARS: An elderly woman living alone would most likely have kept a pet of some sort, only adding more likely hood of being charged with witchcraft. Part of the witchcraft lore was that witches were to keep farmiliars. Supposed demons or imps were assigned to witches by the devil to assist them with their witchcraft, taking the form of domestic animals, cats, dogs, etc. Owning several cats was unwise. Even a cat passing by your house could have seen you charged.
PROPHECIES and FORTUNE TELLING: Being able to foretell futures and predict prophecies was seen as super natural and as such probably a gift from the devil.
CAUSING DEATH, INJURY OR DAMAGE: The accused person did not have to be anywhere near the victim when a death occurred. Any one how had a particular reason for disliking someone who had just died or was killed as at risk or charge of witchcraft. Often the basis of charge was that someone had killed or caused injury or illness in farm stock. Crop failures were also conveniently blamed on witchcraft.
STORM RAISING: Often the theory of storm raising was difficult to disprove, and it was common to assume that an alleged witch was guilty until proven otherwise. If a person was living by the sea and a storm wrecked or damaged a ship, the person was readily accused of storm raising.
FLYING ON A BROOMSTICK: This is the traditional form of transport for any witch� apparently. The standard confession would contain an admission of flying by broomstick.
DEVILS PACT: The accused would also often be forced to admit that they had entered into a pact with the devil. This is traditionally written in blood taken from the witch and is a standard part of the confession. Instigators of the Inquisition in continental England were keen on pacts with the devil as they were anxious to see witchcraft viewed as a form of heresy. So many people under the influence of signing pacts gave credence to belief that such a thing actually existed. The reasons for signing the pact were: in return for signing the pact and declaring allegiance the devil would help them in any way with their pursuit of magic, or signing a pact giving the devil their souls in exchange for unbridled pleasure, wealth, power etc.
SABBAT ATTENDANCE: Having witches confess to attending a sabbat that was held in a remote location and characterized by feasting, drinking, dancing, often in the nude, uninhibited, indiscriminate sexual encounters, worshipping the devil, illustrated to the court how lacking witches were in morality.
