Witches usually acquired their supernatural powers through a pact with the Devil.
They were able to fly at great distance and cast powerful spells, leading their victims to sickness, if not death.
Witches were helped in their evil purposed by spirits disguised as animals that they called familiars.
In reality, most of the women that were called witch and condemned to death were lonesome elderly women that usually have a secret knowledge of nature, especially herbal lore. Such practices were jealoused and criticized by the Church that turn them into scapegoats and servants of the Devil.