North Berwick Flashcards
(36 cards)
In what ways did the System of Government affect Berwick?
Less complex governmental system meant:
- Officials allowed to pursue witch hunts without interference
- Trials dominated and directed by paranoid neighbours
Under what Circumstances was Torture used in North Berwick?
Supposed to only be used with the consent of the privy council
- Weak royals (lack of central control) meant it was often allowed by judges
- James approved of the torture
What was the Religious State of Berwick?
Anti-Catholic due to calvinist protestant reformation
What was needed for Guilt to be Determined
Simple majority not unanimous decision
Other contextual facts
Appeal of the devil higher due to people being relatively poorer
Children of accused witches treated the same
Highest % execution bar luxembourg
What was the State of Witchunts in 16th Century Scotland?
Majority happened in the south where more contact with Britain was had
Judges sent around the country
At first number of accused was low but majorly picked up in 1590-91
How did the North Berwick Trials Begin?
Begun with the confession of Gilly Duncan who reported having unnatural healing abilities
- Begun healing sick or elderly but some neighbours blamed supernatural forces
- Not a typical witch
- Maidservant for David Seaton & after failing to answer she was tortured and stated her cures had been the work of the devil after a witch mark was found
- Sent to prison and began to name other witches
What was the Kirk?
The scottish calvinist church
How did the Kirk Oppose James?
Conflict over divine right of kings
- Believed they should have power over the monarchy
- Monarchy believed they were placed there by God
What was Calvinism and How did it Interact with Witchcraft?
Calvinists believed in a personal covenant between a person and God
- They believed witchcraft inverted this relationship making it one between man and devil
- Diabolical view of witchcraft
How was James’ Upbringing Tumultous?
- Father murdered when James was 8 months old
- Mother (Mary Queen of Scots (Catholic)) married suspected murderer
- Uprising against Mary led to her abdication and she fled to England
- Mary executed by her cousin Elizabeth I for plotting to overthrow her
What Religious Upbringing did James have?
- Concern for mothers catholicism countered by calvinist tutors
- Inherited a country struggling to define its religious identity
- Discovered catholic plot led by Gordon (influential catholic nobleman) and Spain for an invasion of Scotland in 1589
How did James use the Witch Trials to his Advantage?
- Used outcome of the trials to project his own political power
- Present himself as a Godly figure and to protect himself from the Kirk
How else did James involve himself in Politics?
- Newes from scotland spread word to england
- Use divine right of kings to assert his claim to the throne ( Wanted to protect himself politicaly and the witch trials aided this)
Who was the Earl of Bothwell?
- Cousin of James (Perceived as a political rival)
- Accused by Agnes Sampson (though she didn’t know him)
- Possible claim to throne if James died without heir
- Trial led to being stripped of titles & land
How did Feuds drive Trials?
- Bothwell’s initial improvement shows James asserting power against him
- Bothwell’s assertion of his power against James’ person (confrontation at Holywood) changed the dynamic
- Bothwell’s attempt to overthrow the King using forced withdrawl of pardon
What was the Establishment of Commission by the Privy Council?
Commission allowed for the pursuit of witches in the courts
- The had been many petitions from various parts of Scotland asking to have witch trials, general commission would approve all those requests
What arguments are there in favour of witchcraft expanding for General Commission?
Possible to argue that this meant trials increased rapidly but there were only 6 comissions, used to end some trials but didnt result in strong central control of witch hunts
What was the Kirk-State Commission?
Set up a joint body from the kirk and government to tour the country and address social and religous issues
- Measure was passed in response to kirk pressure and made witch hunts far more accesible
How did the National Witch Hunt (1592-97) Expand with the help of the Kirk-State Commission
Crown and kirk found common ground in suppressing witchcraft
- Inside every church was an anonymous box where a person could submit a slip with the name of a person accused and details of their crimes
- Led to 100s accused a situation of fear and suspicion
What did the Aitken Scandal do?
Prompted a change of policy with Privy Council attempting to reassert central control
- More scrutiny on requests
- Use more commissions to make outcomes less prejudicial
How did Relations between the Kirk and James break down?
James felt they hadn’t done enough to deal with witchcraft and the church had an interest in James’ failure
- 1585-92 saw relative peace between the two but relations broke down
- Led to the sides in open conflict circa 1596 with James’ unwillingness to take action on catholics and the kirk’s non belief in the divine right, believing they should have control
How Could lack of Central Control be seen in Trials?
Though hunts took place under royal commission trials were often carried out by local officials with no instruction given by the central government
- Also difficult for government to maintain control far from Edinburgh
How did Bothwell contribute to the Lack of Central Control?
Bothwell’s role as a threat continued so long as there was limited central control as James was without an heir
