Decline of magic - IMPACT

Question 1

What was the impact of the Boy of Burton Case (1597)

Answer 1

1. Darrell’s reputation lent the case significance - a well-known exorcist was proved to have been committing fraudulent practices → scepticism of exorcism.
2. The exposure of Darling’s lie was also evidence of the unreliability of witness testimonies → questions around using children as witnesses/ reliability of evidence
3. The case did provoke change within the church - a canon was drawn up in 1604 forbidding the practice of exorcism without a licence - although not evidence of scepticism, it is more likely the Church was protecting its reputation.
4. A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel (1599) made knowledge of the case more widespread and led to the pamphlet war - a theological debate which centred around the power of the Devil and the reliability of exorcisms.

Negative:
1.The Boy of Burton case did not lead to an overall disbelief in witchcraft, the case was viewed more as a one-off discovery of fraudulence
→ 1604 Act, which actually showed an increase in the legal severity of witchcraft.

2.The key debate over the case was more about the validity of exorcism, rather than of witchcraft - as can be seen in the pamphlet war