Impact of Sceptical Publications (T1)

Question 1

When was Reginald Scot’s ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’?

Answer 1

1584

Question 2

Who wrote ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’?

Answer 2

Reginald Scot

Question 3

What was Reginald Scots opinion on witchcraft?

Answer 3

English rationalist criticism of witchcraft

Question 4

What was ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’ inspired by?

Answer 4

Johann Weyer’s (Dutch) book ‘On the illusion of Demons’

Question 5

What did Johann Weyer’s book argue?

Answer 5

Majority of witches suffered from melancholia (severe depression) and those guilty could not cause harm as they were tools of the devil

Question 6

What did Reginald Scot argue?

Answer 6

There was no biblical basis for witch-hunts

Question 7

What was King James opinion on Reginald Scots book?

Answer 7

Ordered all copies to be burnt

Question 8

What was the impact of Reginald Scots book?

Answer 8

Had limited impact

Question 9

What was Reginald Scot the first person to do?

Answer 9

First author to show scepticism, planted the seed

Question 10

How influential was ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’?

Answer 10

His arguments were powerful however not being heard and took until 1651, after many publications to be popular

Question 11

Who did Reginald Scot inspire?

Answer 11

Later sceptics like Ady and Bekker

Question 12

When was Samuel Harsnett ‘A discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel?

Answer 12

1599

Question 13

Who wrote ‘A discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel?

Answer 13

Samuel Harsnett

Question 14

What was The Pamphlet War?

Answer 14

• Harsnett talked about John Darrell’s fraudulent case
• Darrel responded with a book about Harsnett
• John Deacon and John Walker challenged Darrell
• Darrell responded with book about John Darrell and John Deacon

Question 15

What book did Darrell write in response to Harsnett?

Answer 15

‘A detection of the sinful, shaming, lying and ridiculous discourse of Samuel Harsnett’

Question 16

Who were John Deacon and John Walker?

Answer 16

• Two ministers with puritan sympathies who questioned whether exorcism was even possible
• Challenged John Darrell

Question 17

What book did John Deacon and John Walker write?

Answer 17

‘Dialogical discourses of spirits and devils’ (1601)

Question 18

What happened to John Darrell after being accused?

Answer 18

Many still supported him, Joseph Hall (Bishop of Exeter) wrote that Darrell did perform exorcisms

Question 19

What effect did factional fighting in within Christianity have on the Darrell Harsnett conflict?

Answer 19

• Harsnett was a church of England conformist and shows anti-Catholic views, exorcism is an act
• Darrell is a Puritan, circles prayers and fasting were accepted forms of exorcism

Question 20

What impact did Samuel Harsnett book have for reducing witchcraft?

Answer 20

• Led to discussion and debate (via pamphlet war)

- Idea that possessions can be faked

Question 21

What idea was the pamphlet war focused on?

Answer 21

Centred on exorcism, didn’t seem to challenge witchcraft

Question 22

Who wrote ‘A candle in the dark’?

Answer 22

Thomas Ady in 1656

Question 23

Why did Ady write ‘A candle in the dark’?

Answer 23

Was appalled at number of wrongful executions, said no biblical basis

Question 24

What did Ady attack in his book?

Answer 24

Daemonologie

Question 25

What did Ady do by talking about the bible?

Answer 25

Undermined the legitimacy of the hunts as bible was used to justify the hunts

Question 26

What were the limitations of Adys book?

Answer 26

- Didn't put forward any new radical views from Scots work - Failed to outright question existence of witches -

Question 27

What was Adys opinion on witches?

Answer 27

Ady thought they did not possess supernatural power

Question 28

Why was Adys opinion significant?

Answer 28

- Suggest women accused of maleficium under 1604 were innocent thereby undermining the law - Reflected materialism

Question 29

What was maleficium?

Answer 29

Use of harmful magic

Question 30

What influence did Ady have on judges?

Answer 30

His criticisms of tactics of witch hunters influenced judges who adopted higher standards for evidence

Question 31

Who wrote 'The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft'?

Answer 31

John Webster 1677

Question 32

Who did Webster agree with?

Answer 32

Adys work

Question 33

What was Webster's 'The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft' a rebuff of'?

Answer 33

Written as a rebuff to Joseph Glanvill and Meric Casaubon

Question 34

What were Webster's beliefs about witches?

Answer 34

Witches did exist but didn't have supernatural powers

Question 35

What case was Webster critical about?

Answer 35

Demon Drummer case, saying Mompesson was responsible for strange occurances?

Question 36

What happened when Webster tried to speak to Robinson (Pendle Swindle case)?

Answer 36

Ushered away by Robinson's father and uncle

Question 37

What 3 cases did Webster comment on?

Answer 37

Demon Drummer case Pendle Swinder case Roland Jenks case

Question 38

What was Webster's thoughts on the Roland Jenks case?

Answer 38

Jenks was a bookseller imprisoned for selling Catholic literature When on trail said to have uttered a curse and within days hundreds of people died Webster suggested Jenks poisoned people saying deaths could be natural causes

Question 39

What was limited about Webster's work?

Answer 39

Not radical and did not challenge a belief in witches, published at a time there was already a decline in witches

Question 40

What positive impact did Webster's book have ?

Answer 40

- Arguing witches did exist but had no supernatural powers dismissed maleficium

Question 41

What influence did Webster have on people?

Answer 41

- Response his work garnered showed he influenced others | - Supported Royal society, influenced most intelligent

Question 42

Why did Webster need the Royal Society?

Answer 42

He was a nonconformist so needed them to publish his ideas

Question 43

Who wrote 'The Enchanted World'?

Answer 43

Balthasar Bekker 1691

Question 44

Who was Balthasar Bekker inspired by?

Answer 44

Reginald Scot

Question 45

What did Balthasar Bekkers use as his primary source?

Answer 45

Used the bible like Ady

Question 46

What was Balthasar Bekkers opinion on witchcraft cases?

Answer 46

Normally result of natural cause, no magic involved

Question 47

What was Balthasar Bekkers thought on the Devil?

Answer 47

Devil trapped in hell, cannot influence earth

Question 48

What were limited impacts of Balthasar Bekkers 'The Enchanted World'

Answer 48

- Witchcraft was already on the decline | - Argued that advancements at this point were due to science

Question 49

What did Trevor Roper say about Balthasar Bekkers impact?

Answer 49

His influence was 'largely a myth' as was in Dutch language so didn't have as much affect in Britain

Question 50

What did Gottlieb Soldan state about Balthasar Bekkers?

Answer 50

that he struck the heart of the witch-craze by destroying belief in the Devil

Question 51

What did Balthasar Bekkers challenge about the Devil?

Answer 51

Challenged the idea that the Devil can form pacts or give them supernatural power

Question 52

How many copies of 'The Enchanted World were sold'?

Answer 52

4000 in first 2 months in Holland

Question 53

What happened to Bekkers job?

Answer 53

Lost his job as a Calvinist, put on trial which suggest he was a threat to the church

Question 54

What did Bekker receive?

Answer 54

Many pamphlets criticising him for causing a decline in witchcraft, suggesting his work cut through society