1597 Hunt Flashcards
1
Q
Causes of the 1597 Hunt
A
- General commission
- Lack of central control
- James VI and Daemonologie
2
Q
Overview of 1597 Hunt
A
- Margaret Aitken arrested April 1597, taken around Scotland to identify other witches
- Hunt went as far north as Fife and Perthshire
- Over by October, over 400 accused of WC
- Not officially documented because of lack of central involvement
3
Q
Scotland - Context
A
- Hunt came at time of poor harvest
- Widespread plague and disease
- Judicial procedures and central control weak
4
Q
The General Commission
A
- 5 judges given permission to torture at will
- Commissions then given to nobles and magistrates
- Made trials and convictions more likely
5
Q
Reasons for weak central control in Scotland
A
- James unwilling to deal with Catholics
- Difficult to maintain control from Edinburgh to highlands and islands
6
Q
Why was Daemonologie written?
A
- Response to Reginald Scot’s sceptical work
- To clarify James’ stance on Witchcraft
7
Q
Daemonologie: Ideas about magic and witchcraft
A
- Devil is extremely powerful and dangerous
- Witches closely associated with the Devil
- God limited magical powers
8
Q
Daemonologie: Information about hunts
A
- Very important to search for Devil’s Marks
- Swimming test an effective identification method
- Women are more likely to be witches - more vulnerable to be led astray
9
Q
Impact of Daemonologie
A
- Published several times
- Distributed across Europe
- James seen as expert
- Inspired witch-hunting fervour
10
Q
James’ impact on witch hunts
A
- Politicised them - treason and WC linked
- Some argue witch hunting responsibility was given to the Church in 1592 - limiting James’ influence
11
Q
James’ involvement in the 1597 trials
A
- Continued wanting to personally interrogate witches
- Took active interest
12
Q
Reasons for end of 1597 hunts
A
- Some trials led to false accusations and miscarriages of justice
- Some commissions started to be withdrawn
