Pascual de Andagoya, Conquistador Witch-Finder of Alava

Pascual de Andagoya (1495-1548) was both an explorer and a witch-finder. While exploring the region of Darien, he claimed to have discovered many witches and sorcerers among the native population. These evil-doers caused much harm to both elderly people and to animals "at the Devil's command." They also used ointments given them by the Devil himself.

In his accounts, Andagoya says,

When questions were asked about the form in which the Devil appeared to them, it was discovered that he took the shape of a beautiful child in order not to frighten these simple-minded people but to win their confidence. Whenever the witches caused harm to others, the Devil went with them and entered the houses of those they wished to hurt in their company. It was also revealed that a witch, who was in a certain town one night with many other women, was seen the very same hour in a room a league-and-a-half distant from that place, where other servants of her Master were gathered (Baroja 122-123).

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Pascual de Andagoya, Conquistador Witch-Finder of Alava copyrighted 1996-1998 to Shantell Powell.