Thanks for speaking on this topic. The word "Braucherei" out of the Pennsylvania Dutch language IS very difficult to pronounce, which is one of the reasons the misnomer "powwow" stuck to describe our practice. You actually did pretty good with your first pronunciation of "BROW-ker--EYE." And you did pretty well with your pronunciation of Urglaawe, too. That one is particularly tough... it is "OR-glawaw-VA." I will have to check out that first book. I often talk about the motivations behind the witch trials. It is many layered. My favorite book is "The Shaman of Oberstdorf. " it goes back to a small alps village if Oberstdorf and the actual translated recorded account of the trial of a shepherd and many women in his village as a result. I highly recommend it for you.
I laughed out loud at your undertone about gunpowder laying around the house. Buy, your reaction not only puts into context the time these were written, it also gives us opportunity to bring those "ingredients" into a modern context.
There are SO many odd ingredients of things "vitriol" aka sulfuric acid but I've only heard in reference to internet trolls (vitriolic swill) that were common in homes back then. "heart of a mole." What?! I'm sure some of my family in WY have more of these ingredients than I do.
