Context: Witches and the Law Flashcards
Were persecutions always popular?
No, persecutions were rare in Europe before 1550.
When were the 3 English witchcraft acts that made it an offence?
1542 (repealed 1547)
1563 (repealed 1604)
1604 (repealed 1736)
What was the 1542 witchcraft act?
The conjuring of spirits, witchcraft, or sorcery to find treasure or cause harm became a capital offence.
Witchcraft, here, was associated with hostile acts against the community, not a devilish pact.
What made the 1563 act different to 1542?
It was more severe in making it a crime to invoke any spirits regardless of whether maleficium was involved.
But it was more lenient as the death penalty was reserved for when witchcraft resulted in a death.
How was 1604 harsher than 1563?
It reintroduced the death penalty for second-offence lesser kinds of magic (destroying livestock or attempted murder).
Also an offence to consult or feed an evil spirit.
When were the English Acts most often used?
Carried out by assize circuits and usually used in relation to accusations of damage to neighbours and their goods.
