1.2 The Impact of notable sceptic publications, c.1580-1750

Question 1

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

prior to The Discoverie of Witchcraft, John Samon case: what was the timeline?

Answer 1

• 1561, 1570, 1572: accused and acquitted
• 1587: convicted for using witchcraft for killing a cow

Question 2

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

1582 hunt: who was it driven by? what were the numbers? how did it influene Scot?

Answer 2

• driven by JP Brian Darcy, 14 arrests and 2 executions
• Scot disapproved of the terrible effects of the hunts

Question 3

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

what were his main claims? what were they often blamed for? which cases did he doubt? what did he think about women who thought they were witches? what did he think about witches who harmed animals?

Answer 3

he had to self-publish his book due to the controversy
- witches were often blamed for disturbances which had no evidenec
- doubted far fetched cases such as cannibalism
- women who thought they were witches could have been suffering from delusions or depression
- witches who harmed animals did so through natural means such as poison

Question 4

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

what does he write significantly about? what does he blame for the cruelty of treatment towards witches?

Answer 4

• discounting magic tricks by fraudulent individuals
• blames the inquisition of the catholic church for the cruelty of treatment towards witches

Question 5

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

What was the effect the book had? how was James VI involved?

Answer 5

• did more harm than good
• James VI ordered all copies to be burnt, then wrote Daemonologie 1957
• he denounced Scot as unchristian

Question 6

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

Why was Scot sceptical about witchcraft? which belief was he devoted to?

Answer 6

• he was devoted to a ‘supernatural unknown’ - a belief that undiscovered elements of nature contained many mysteries that could explain unkown phenomena
• Eg. it was accepted healing could be done at a distance, or by stones/plants

Question 7

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

What did Scot believe in terms of the Canon Episcopi? what did it acknowledge?

Answer 7

• he argued a belief in witchcraft was incompatible with the Canon Episcopi, a medieval text informing religous law in Europe.
• the text acknowledged witchcraft wasn’t real, and witchcraft cases were cases of deception

Question 8

Scot’s The Discovierie of Witchcraft

background context for Scot’s publication?

chelmsford trials

Answer 8

• he lived on a family estate in Kent
• most social interaction would have been with his tenants, who would have believed in witchcraft
• when children were being used as witnesses in Chelmsford, his view of most trials helped on very dubious foundations were affirmed

Question 9

Harsnett’s A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practices of John Darrell

Harsnett’s career

1599

Answer 9

• present at the examination of Darrell and George More
• born in essex in 1561 from a humble family, and gained a degree from Cambridge
• became a minister in 1583 then returned to study divinity at Cambridge
• Archbishop of York in 1629
• when he was involved in the case of Darrell he was a chaplain to Richard Bancroft, Bishop of London.

Question 10

Impact of A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel

main argument surrounding misleading people with magic? how does he criticise the catholic church?

Answer 10

• Harsnett makes it clear misleading people with magic has existed since ancient times.
• he also criticses the catholic church, stating priests can claim to carry out miracles very easily

Question 11

Impact of A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel

What does Harsnett argue about catholics performing tricks and miracles?

Answer 11

• catholics do so
• such as those carried out by holy water, making the signf of the cross to bless, along with communiom. They believe rituals like this can solve any problems

Question 12

Impact of A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel

how does he criticise exorcism?

Answer 12

• only God can do so
• casting out Devils is a scam

Question 13

Impact of A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel

how does Harsnett criticise Darrell through his interrogation of him? What does he claim about Darrell and Somers?

Answer 13

• he claims Darrell immediately doubted the reliability of some witnesses, which is something guilty men do
• he also said Darrell was able to convince people WIlliam Somers was possessed, and claims Darrell is actually immoral

Question 14

Impact of A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel

third section of his work: what did Darrell encourage Somers to do? what does harsnett claim about Somers fits?

Answer 14

• Darrell encouraged Somers to revoke his confession
• harsnett claims the fits experienced by Somers were misinterpreted

Question 15

Impact of A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel

fourth section: what does Harsnett discount?

languages and Somers fits

Answer 15

• discredits Somers fits. There was nothing supernatural about them
• Darrell lied about Somers being fluent in languages during his fits
• Somers fell into a fit in front of Harsnett and was asked questions in Greek, but laughed in response.

Question 16

Impact of A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel

fifth section: the boy of burton. What did Darrell instruct Darling to do? how does he discredit Katherine Wrights confession? what about her apparitions? why did she exaggerate her symptoms?

Answer 16

• Darrell instructed Darling to act possessed, and he confessed
• Katherine Wrights confesseion was ultimately that she was beaten by her father-in-law for many years, making her weak and liable to hallucinations. Her apparitions were fictitious, and she exaggerated her symptoms to avoid further beatings.

Question 17

the pamphlet war

how did Darrell respond to Harsnett? what was his work called?

Answer 17

A detection of that sinful, shaming, lying, and ridiculous discours of Samuel Harsnett 1600

Question 18

the pamphlet war

John Deacon and John Walker: who were they? what was their work and argument

Answer 18

• ministers with puritan sympathies
• the Devil could not possess people and only God could. God would not allow new bodies to be created to do the Devils work.
• Dialogical Discourses of Spirits and Divels 1601

Question 19

the pamphlet war

how did Darrell respond to Deacon and Walker?

Answer 19

• The Replie of John Darrell to the answere of John Deacon and John Walker 1602.
• he repeated he witnesed of all the posessions he claimed to

Question 20

the pamphlet war

how was the pamphlet war significant? what did it question?

Answer 20

• lucrative practises of Darrell
• but also demonic posession add its ‘cures’ in general

Question 21

the pamphlet war

Darrells support: who wrote to him?

Answer 21

• Joseph Hall (who became Bishop of Exeter and Norwich) wrote Darrell was honourable and his critics were jealous

Question 22

the pamphlet war

Harsnetts own religous beliefs?

Answer 22

• difficult to ascertain, but he was accused as a young minister of having catholic sympathies
• 1596 supported Peter Baro, a professor at Cambridge with Arminian tendancies
• Darrell was a puritan

Question 23

the pamphlet war

which of Harsnett’s works clearly signifies his criticism of Darrell?

Answer 23

• A Declaration of Egregious Popish impostures 1603
• sole blame for witchcraft accusations on the church

Question 24

the pamphlet war

darrell and harsnett different religous beliefs?

Answer 24

• darrell was a puritan
• harsnett was a church of england conformist

Question 25

# Ady's *A Candle in the Dark* **1956**: Thomas Ady's career where did he live? what was his job? which trials did he witness?

Answer 25

- lived most of his life in Essex - renowned doctor - witnessed trials in Bury St Edmunds

Question 26

# Ady's *A Candle in the Dark* **1596**: Thomas Ady's career works that were sceptical of witch hunts in the early 17th century

Answer 26

- *A Candle in the Dark* **1596** - *A Perfect DIscovery of Witches*

Question 27

# Ady's *A Candle in the Dark* **1956**: Thomas Ady's career *A Perfect Discovery*: who did he criticise?

Answer 27

- physicans who failed to understand the causes of disease and blamed witchcraft

Question 28

# Ady's *A Candle in the Dark* **1956**: Thomas Ady's career final work title

Answer 28

*The Doctrine of the Devils, Proved to be the grand Apostasy of these later Times* **1676**

Question 29

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** how was the one source it used extremely powerful?

Answer 29

- only source is the bible, which was the same source used by the witch hunters - Ady sets out the idea that the actions of the witch hunters cannot be justified anywehre in written form in the bible

Question 30

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** why was he compelled to write it?

Answer 30

- too many wrongful convictions - idea of familiars was ridiculous

Question 31

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** influence?

Answer 31

Scots *The Discoverie of Witchcraft*

Question 32

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** 1st section: who is a witch according to the bible?

Answer 32

- astrologers, jugglers, users of charms and psychics - if witches are people who encourage idolatry, then catholic priests are guilty of witchcraft

Question 33

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** second section: what does Ady write about the initial scriptures? what does he point out about Catholic? who does he criticise? what did they claim about torture?

Answer 33

- the original scriptures have been misinterpreted to justify witch hunts - the catholics were the first to kill for religion and this is unchristian - Ady criticises Hyperius (theologian) along with Hemingus (theoligan) and Jean Bodin (philosopher). The latter 2 claimed torture was acceptable because rumours about witches were almost always true.

Question 34

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** 3rd section: How does he criticise the Kings work? what does he claim about its author? What was his main critique about it?

Answer 34

- criticises *Daemonologie*, claiming it was actually written by a close ally of James, Bishiop James Montague. - there is no scripture referenced in *Daemonologie*

Question 35

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** how does he criticise torture?

Answer 35

- the swim test can easily be manipulated along with sleep deprivation

Question 36

# the signifiance of *A Candle in the Dark* **1656** How does he criticse magicians? Which work does he do this in?

Answer 36

- criticises that magicians could convince people they were performing miracles through deception and planting assistants in the crowds - *Hocus Pocus Junior **1634***

Question 37

# Significance of Adys beliefs what did he belive about witches?

Answer 37

- they did exist, but the definition in the bible didnt resemble the 17th century definition - a witch was only a person, not supernatural, who led someone away from God - the real criminals were the witch hunters

Question 38

# Significance of Adys beliefs Britain decline in witch hunts

Answer 38

- there was a steep decline in trials and increased scepticism after **1660** which as certainly influenced by Ady

Question 39

# Significance of Adys beliefs Reverend George Burroghs quoting the text?

Answer 39

- he quoted the work in defence during the Salem trials in **1692** but it failed to make an impact in America.

Question 40

# John Websters career what was John Websters text?

Answer 40

- *The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft*

Question 41

# John Webster's career **1634** he became..? (kidwick church) + where did he study?

Answer 41

- the curate of Kidwick church - studied chemistry and medicine at Gresham College - became interested in the scientific method

Question 42

# John Webster's career Webster's role during the civil war + parliamentarian army

Answer 42

- acted as chaplain and surgeon in the parliamentarian army - **1648** he had left the church of England nad become a nonconformist - after the war he preached at Yorkshire churches about the importance of university education and astrology

Question 43

# John Webster's career **1658** government did what?

Answer 43

seized his books - because his religous views didnt conform to those og the government - he gave up preaching for medicine

Question 44

# Webster's publication of *The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft* when was it published?

Answer 44

**1677**

Question 45

# Webster's publication of *The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft* who did he agree with? what opinon? who did he criticise particularly?

Answer 45

- agreed with Ady - that beliefs that arent founded in the bible should be rejected - particularly crfiticised **Glanvill** who claimed the Demon Drummer of Tedworth Case was genuine - adn **Meric Casaubon** who wrote in defnee of the dominant view that witchcraft was genuine.

Question 46

# Webster's evidence beliefs about witchcraft?

Answer 46

- witches did exist but they were not able to command supernatural powers and did not have assistance from the devil - but, they were still evil.

Question 47

# Webster's evidence Websters comments on the Demon Drummer case

Answer 47

- mompesson was responsible.

Question 48

# Webster's evidence Websters involvement in the Pendle Swindle of **1634**

Answer 48

- Edmund Robinson was told by his father to brng charges against the accused witches - Webster met with Robinson earlier in his career and saw the doubt first hand - Webster went to meet with him a 2nd time at his house, and his uncle and father refused to allow Webster access to the boy - Webster saw him a 3rd time in public and was able to speak to him and ask him if the story was true, but he was taken away by the 2 men.

Question 49

# Balthasar Bekker's career what was his work?

Answer 49

*The Enchanted World **1661***

Question 50

# Balthasar Bekker's career what was Bekker's philosophy? when did he become a minister?

Answer 50

- he was a Dutch Cartesian rationalist: a follower of Rene Descartes who employed logical analysis in his philosophy - he was deeply influenced by this religous tdaition - became a minister in **1657**

Question 51

# Balthasar Bekker's career **1668** publication

Answer 51

*De Philosophia Cartesiana* (On cartesian Philosophy) - argued natural events cannot be explained by the Bible

Question 52

# the significance of *The Enchanted World* differnece to scot in terms of influence from the Bible/

Answer 52

- he used the Bible as evidence, like Scot - but Bekker used the Bible for his reasoning in believing witchcraft was impossible diffeed from him. - he used the bible as evidenced, but with an unbiased and uninfluenced approach.

Question 53

# the significance of *The Enchanted World* what does Bekker state is common in every case of witchcraft?

Answer 53

- there was some sort of deception

Question 54

# the significance of *The Enchanted World* What did Bekker argue about the influence of the Devil in witchcraft cases?

Answer 54

- unless the Devil has a body, it would be impossible for him to posess and influence people on Earth - rational interptetation suggests the Devil cannot interact with Earth sine he is in hell - he argued if the Devil was an instrumentn of God, and has no power of his own, people who believed the Devil has power are hertics, because they are practicing a blelief in 2 Gods.

Question 55

# the significance of *The Enchanted World* Like Scot, Bekker believed what? ## Footnote -

Answer 55

- there was a lot unknown about nature - science would eventually develop and explain these apparent supernatural events.

Question 56

# significance of Bekkers work: the views of historians lack of influence: beliefs of historians

Answer 56

- Hugh Trevor Roper believes Bekkers arguments were nothing that hadn't been put forward already - Keith Thomas claims by the end of the 17th century scinece meant intellectuals believed they would soon be able to explain mysterious events through natural causes

Question 57

# significance of Bekkers work: the views of historians lots of influence: believesof historians

Answer 57

- Robin Atfield claims Bekker was very inflkuential. Within the first 2 months of *The Enchanted WOrld* being published in Holland, 4000 copies were sold. It was soon translated into lots of differnet langauges

Question 58

# conclusion was the witchcraze over after **1736**?

Answer 58

- not within the public - **1751** John and Ruth Osborne case was not isolated - **1825**: Isaac Stebbings of Suffolk endurd the swim test multiple times until the local clergy intervened. - **1768** founder of the protestant methodist church (John weasely) wrote that to disbelieve in witches was to disbelieve in the teachings of the Bible.