Impact of Sceptical Publications (T1) Flashcards
When was Reginald Scot’s ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’?
1584
Who wrote ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’?
Reginald Scot
What was Reginald Scots opinion on witchcraft?
English rationalist criticism of witchcraft
What was ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’ inspired by?
Johann Weyer’s (Dutch) book ‘On the illusion of Demons’
What did Johann Weyer’s book argue?
Majority of witches suffered from melancholia (severe depression) and those guilty could not cause harm as they were tools of the devil
What did Reginald Scot argue?
There was no biblical basis for witch-hunts
What was King James opinion on Reginald Scots book?
Ordered all copies to be burnt
What was the impact of Reginald Scots book?
Had limited impact
What was Reginald Scot the first person to do?
First author to show scepticism, planted the seed
How influential was ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’?
His arguments were powerful however not being heard and took until 1651, after many publications to be popular
Who did Reginald Scot inspire?
Later sceptics like Ady and Bekker
When was Samuel Harsnett ‘A discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel?
1599
Who wrote ‘A discovery of the Fraudulent Practises of John Darrel?
Samuel Harsnett
What was The Pamphlet War?
- 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
What book did Darrell write in response to Harsnett?
‘A detection of the sinful, shaming, lying and ridiculous discourse of Samuel Harsnett’
Who were John Deacon and John Walker?
- Two ministers with puritan sympathies who questioned whether exorcism was even possible
- Challenged John Darrell
What book did John Deacon and John Walker write?
‘Dialogical discourses of spirits and devils’ (1601)
What happened to John Darrell after being accused?
Many still supported him, Joseph Hall (Bishop of Exeter) wrote that Darrell did perform exorcisms
What effect did factional fighting in within Christianity have on the Darrell Harsnett conflict?
- 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
What impact did Samuel Harsnett book have for reducing witchcraft?
- Led to discussion and debate (via pamphlet war)
- Idea that possessions can be faked
What idea was the pamphlet war focused on?
Centred on exorcism, didn’t seem to challenge witchcraft
Who wrote ‘A candle in the dark’?
Thomas Ady in 1656
Why did Ady write ‘A candle in the dark’?
Was appalled at number of wrongful executions, said no biblical basis
What did Ady attack in his book?
Daemonologie
What did Ady do by talking about the bible?
Undermined the legitimacy of the hunts as bible was used to justify the hunts
What were the limitations of Adys book?
- Didn’t put forward any new radical views from Scots work
- ## Failed to outright question existence of witches
What was Adys opinion on witches?
Ady thought they did not possess supernatural power
Why was Adys opinion significant?
- Suggest women accused of maleficium under 1604 were innocent thereby undermining the law
- Reflected materialism
What was maleficium?
Use of harmful magic
What influence did Ady have on judges?
His criticisms of tactics of witch hunters influenced judges who adopted higher standards for evidence
Who wrote ‘The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft’?
John Webster 1677
Who did Webster agree with?
Adys work
What was Webster’s ‘The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft’ a rebuff of’?
Written as a rebuff to Joseph Glanvill and Meric Casaubon
What were Webster’s beliefs about witches?
Witches did exist but didn’t have supernatural powers
What case was Webster critical about?
Demon Drummer case, saying Mompesson was responsible for strange occurances?
What happened when Webster tried to speak to Robinson (Pendle Swindle case)?
Ushered away by Robinson’s father and uncle
What 3 cases did Webster comment on?
Demon Drummer case
Pendle Swinder case
Roland Jenks case
What was Webster’s thoughts on the Roland Jenks case?
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
What was limited about Webster’s work?
Not radical and did not challenge a belief in witches, published at a time there was already a decline in witches
What positive impact did Webster’s book have ?
- Arguing witches did exist but had no supernatural powers dismissed maleficium
What influence did Webster have on people?
- Response his work garnered showed he influenced others
- Supported Royal society, influenced most intelligent
Why did Webster need the Royal Society?
He was a nonconformist so needed them to publish his ideas
Who wrote ‘The Enchanted World’?
Balthasar Bekker 1691
Who was Balthasar Bekker inspired by?
Reginald Scot
What did Balthasar Bekkers use as his primary source?
Used the bible like Ady
What was Balthasar Bekkers opinion on witchcraft cases?
Normally result of natural cause, no magic involved
What was Balthasar Bekkers thought on the Devil?
Devil trapped in hell, cannot influence earth
What were limited impacts of Balthasar Bekkers ‘The Enchanted World’
- Witchcraft was already on the decline
- Argued that advancements at this point were due to science
What did Trevor Roper say about Balthasar Bekkers impact?
His influence was ‘largely a myth’ as was in Dutch language so didn’t have as much affect in Britain
What did Gottlieb Soldan state about Balthasar Bekkers?
that he struck the heart of the witch-craze by destroying belief in the Devil
What did Balthasar Bekkers challenge about the Devil?
Challenged the idea that the Devil can form pacts or give them supernatural power
How many copies of ‘The Enchanted World were sold’?
4000 in first 2 months in Holland
What happened to Bekkers job?
Lost his job as a Calvinist, put on trial which suggest he was a threat to the church
What did Bekker receive?
Many pamphlets criticising him for causing a decline in witchcraft, suggesting his work cut through society
