DECLINE CAUSES - Sceptical Publications Flashcards
Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft
When was Discoverie of Witchcraft published?
1584
Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584
Scot was an English ______ thinker, _____ of ________. He was _______ by ________’s work ‘_____________’ published ___ years _____.
a) rational
b) critical
c) witchcraft
d) Johan Weyer
e) ‘On the Illusion of Demons’
f) 21
g) earlier
Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584
Scot = _________ whether there was any ______ ____/________ for __________.
a) questioned
b) biblical basis/foundation
c) witch-hunting
Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584
What evidence does Scot use?
2
Philosophy & rational thinking to say what witches confessed to was impossible.
There’s no biblical evidence.
Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599
Background/influence of Harsnett:
___ on ______ that investigated ______ (______).
Strong ________.
________ to an _________ in _______.
a) sat, council, Darrel (Boy of B)
b) protestant
c) chaplain, Anglican Bishop, London
Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599
Harsnett = highly ______ of _______ & ______ of _______ that led to its use.
Almost _____ ________ completely - felt there was _______ explanations for ‘_____________’.
a) critical, exorcisms, reliability, evidence
b) denies witchcraft, natural, ‘magical phenomenon’
Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599
What evidence does Harsnett use?
Nothing concrete - uses his interpretation and perspective of religious practices.
Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599
What was the pamphlet war?
Immediate impact of Harsnett’s work, prompting wider discussion about witchcraft and possession.
Thomas Ady’s ‘Candle in the Dark’ (1656)
Background/influence of Ady:
_______ at the _______ of ___________ occuring.
Respected _____ from _____ & _____ with events in ________.
a) appalled, number, wrongful executions
b) doctor, essex, familiar, East Anglia
Thomas Ady’s Candle in the Dark 1656
Ady’s = _______ have no ________ & things _________ with ______ aren’t _______ in the ______.
______ of ______ who ______ to understand ______ & ______ them on _______.
a) witch hunts, biblical basis, associated, witches, evident, Bible
b) critical, physicians, failed, illness, blame, witchcraft
Thomas Ady’s Candle in the Dark 1656
What evidence does Ady use?
Only the Bible (refers to Scot as direct influence) - the same used by witchfinders to justify persecutions.
John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft 1677
Background/influence of Webster = ______ of _______ and ________ who ________ witchcraft as ______.
Influenced by _____.
Worked as a ______ before _______ as a ________.
a) critical, Glanvill, Casaubon, defended, genuine
b) Ady
c) doctor, preaching, nonconformist
John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft 1677
Webster’s = ______ with ____ that _____ not in the _____ should be ________.
______ existed but couldn’t command ____________ and had no ________ from _______.
a) agreed, Ady, beliefs, Bible, rejected
b) witches, supernatural powers, assistance, the Devil
John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft 1677
What evidence does Webster use?
Visited places were wrongful trials had been held like Edmund Robinson from the Pendle Swindle.
Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World
When was The Enchanted World published?
1691
John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft
When was Supposed Witchcraft published?
1677
Thomas Ady’s Candle in the Dark
When was Candle in the Dark published?
1656
Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel
When was the Practices of John Darrel published?
1599
Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World 1691
Summarise the background and influence of Bekker.
3
Dutch clergyman, who wrote about philosophy, theology and witchcraft.
Influenced by Calvinist tradition and later became a minister.
Heavily influenced by Scot and Ady.
Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World 1691
Summarise Bekker’s argument.
2
Witchcraft didn’t exist.
Unless the Devil has a body, it would be impossible for him to possess and influence people on Earth - he is permanently in hell.
Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World 1691
What evidence does Bekker use?
The Bible as the main source but approached it rationally & unbiased.
Shows awareness that there was lots about nature & rational thinking he didn’t know.
Briefly explain how sceptical publications impacted decline in witchcraft belief. (2)
Inspired thinkers & theologians to look for different explanations of unnatural phenomena.
Weakened people’s faith & belief in biblical justification of witchunts & witchcraft.
Reginald Scot ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’ (1584) - how did it change witchcraft belief?
(threatened, first)
What is the significance of the impact?
(defensive, prominent)
People felt threatened - James I burnt all copies of his books & wrote Daemonologie in response.
Seen as 1st major English sceptic work & influenced sceptics - Ady & Bekker didn’t go beyond his ideas.
SIGNIFICANCE:
Reveals the strength of idea - people internally repressed witchcraft suspicions but used it as a scapegoat for problems so were defensive when people were openly sceptic.
Resonated - helped his argument remain prominent for decades.
Reginald Scot ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’ (1584) - how DIDN’T it change witchcraft belief?
(ferocious)
What is the significance of the impact?
(attention)
Preceded most ferocious hunting period in England - 1604 Act was most severe yet + North Berwick, Pendle & East Anglia hunts.
SIGNIFICANCE
Changed limited number of people’s way of thinking - didn’t gain enough attention to influence a large number of regular people immediately.
