Between 1618 and 1622, a number of local courts organised large-scale witch-hunts. Four hundred victims, most of them women from humble backgrounds, were hanged. The accusations included conspiring with the devil, ruining crops and bewitching or killing people and animals. In the trials, which in many instances included torture, the women had no legal protection. Witch-hunting occurred throughout most of western Europe during the 17th century. In Catalonia, the Inquisition and much of the Church hierarchy were against the trials.