Witchcraft - England

Question 1

Nature of English Witch Trials

Answer 1

• sporadic
• endemic
• high acquittal rate

Question 2

Witch accusation trends in England (1560-1660)

Answer 2

rose 1560 - peaked 1580 - fell 1630s - rose again 40s-50s
- triggered by Treason Plots
- Civil War

Question 3

Literature around English Witch hunts

Answer 3

• 140 published (post trial published) - moralised
• Reginald Scot - Discoverie of witches = Calvinist sceptic
• Clergy debate (Anglican) with Puritan theologians

Question 4

Theme = Religion Summary

Answer 4

R Scot – Calv. sceptic
Clergy Treatises vs Pur. Theo. discourse
Less emphasis on Devils Pact – more focus on Malef.
Want Godly Commonwealth
Ref. = removal of superstition
1560-1612 – 232 dead Essex – fear of witches grow

Question 5

Theme = War

Answer 5

1642 = CW
P vs C = EA = P / Pur. Hotspot
Fear invasion
No hierarchy – temp JP in Manningtree / Chelms (EoW) 1645
Poverty / tax for war / food shortages

Question 6

Theme = Leadership

Answer 6

1542 / 1563 / 1604 ACTS
Liz. Fear of treason – hanging in Chelms 1566.
James I – D / Gunter Case SC – fraud
Assize = 6c / 1/3 judges from West.
EoW – 15 ex. 1 day
S/MH – Grimston/ 150 S
£8 services – I tax

Question 7

Theme = Gender

Answer 7

Society fringe / hierarchy
Puritan ideology
Clarke – cantankerous – 2nd class citizen
Device 1612
Rebecca West (Chelms) 1645
16 death – Suffolk – 2 men

Question 8

Theme = Socioeconomic

Answer 8

EA = not 10m away from Cunning folk
10k+ parishes
1530-1630 = 2.5m – 5m
Less jobs – wealth ineq.
Gentry – olig – tradesmen – peasants
Persecution of vagrants / beggars
Mini-ice age 1590s-1680