Man, people were totally witch crazy back in the day, burning every suspected witch they could find at the stake, and they probably didn't take too kindly to magicians neither.
On the other hand, as long as magicians didn't go around doing stupid card tricks or making people disappear they could have easily pickpocketed and sleight of handed their way to wealth and power, since nobody would have seen it coming!
(Comic via Amazing Super Powers)
-Via Geeks Are Sexy