Fraudulent Cases

Question 1

1597

The Boy of Burton

Answer 1

• Alice Goodridge accused of causing hallucinations by Thomas Darling - Confirmed by doctor
• John Darrell brought to exorcise Darling
• Darling confesses the case is fraudulent in the trial
• Darling & Darrell imprisoned for 1 year

Question 2

How did the Boy of Burton change WC belief?

Answer 2

• Darrell’s reputation lent the case significance - well known exorcist found to be fraudulent
• Exposure of Darlin’s lie - evidence for unreliability of witness testimony (esp. child witnesses)
• Provoked change in the church - canon drawn up in 1604 banning unlicensed exorcisms
• A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel (1599) - started the pamphlet war

Question 3

How did the Boy of Burton not change WC belief?

Answer 3

• Did not lead to disbelief in WC - one-off discovery of fraudulence
• 1604 WC Act showed increase in legal severity
• Key debate over the case was the validity of exorcism - not WC

Question 4

1634

The Pendle Swindle

Answer 4

• Edmund Robinson accuses Jennet Device of being in a Sabbat
• Hunt organised, 17 more accused
• Magistrate sceptical, refers case to London
• Evidence questioned (use of sleep deprivation) - Robinson admits to fraud

Question 5

How did the Pendle Swindle change WC belief?

Answer 5

• Involvement of Privy Council & King Charles shows relevance among elite - influenced King’s scepticism
• Evidence based approach (questioning, surgeons) shows more sceptical approach developing
• Proved accusations can be motivated by external reasons
• John Webster met Robinson and was inspired to write an influential sceptical publication

Question 6

How did the Pendle Swindle not change WC belief?

Answer 6

• Little change - no justice for the accused, many held in custody for years
• No significant publications on this case at the time
• Robinson went on to become a professional witch hunter - case didn’t impact credibility
• Importance and influence of witch hunters would still rise before it declined

Question 7

1662

The Demon Drummer of Tedworth

Answer 7

• Drury used drum to raise money for poor - accused of using it to cast spells, supported by investigation
• Drury reported for theft - distrubances stop immediately
• Escapes when the ship he was on was in a storm

Question 8

How did the Demon Drummer change WC belief?

Answer 8

• Case was continually revisited through 17th C as arument for scepticism
• Publications and Royal Society elevated notoriety & scepticism
• Provoked debate on reality of supernatural forces in the Intelligentsia
• Logical, empirical approach taken towards case

Question 9

How did the Demon Drummer not change WC belief?

Answer 9

• Overall consensus at the time was that supernatural forces were to blame

Question 10

1712

Jane Wenham

Answer 10

• Wise woman - reputation for being a witch
• Falsely accused of bewitching someone, but compensation wasn’t enough
• Allegedly cast a curse - 16 people support different accusations
• Judge is sceptical and recommends she be found innocent - jury believes she’s guilty

Question 11

How did Jane Wenham change WC belief?

Answer 11

• Presiding judge ridiculed most of the evidence - created clash between law and popular belief
• Despite guilty verdict by jury, judge released her - law embraces reason despite mob hysteria
• Led to sceptical book by Francis Hutchinson in 1718, ‘An Historical Essay Concerning Witchcraft’
• Last guilty verdict on a witchcraft charge in England

Question 11

How did Jane Wenham not change WC belief?

Answer 11

• WC prosecutions already in decline since 1660
• Jury still convicted Wenham - small rural communities not yet sceptical
• Several writers after 1712 still wrote in support of belief in WC