Key Terms Flashcards
Define Maleficium
“Evil deed”
By 1580 this was understood as an act of witchcraft designed to harm
Define Sacrament
A ceremony carried out to attain spiritual grace e.g. Holy Communion
Define Devil’s mark
Mark on the body of someone who has entered a covenant with the Devil
Define Cunning folk
Generally carried out good deeds - folk healers etc
Define Assize circuit
Courts that travelled in 6 circuits around the country, hearing serious cases
Define Privy council
Private council of the monarch
Define Vagrant
Beggar or someone who would wander looking for work
By C.17th it was someone who could work but chose not to - could be punished by whipping etc
Define Royal Society
Founded in 1660 in order to promote the advancement of science & rational thought
Define Dissenter
A member of the non-established church outside of the Church of England
Define Melancholia
Depression/sorrowfulness
Define Idolater
Someone who worships false idols
Define Nonconformist
A Protestant who does not conform to the established practices of the Church of England
Define Calvinist
Follower of John Calvin - Protestant reformation
Very strict
Define Heretic
Someone who disagrees with the teaching of the church
Define Homocentric
Belief that all rotations in the universe are centred on earth
Define Natural philosophy
The study of the natural world
Define Empiricism
Belief that knowledge can only come from experience- seek out evidence to formulate theories
Define Polymath
A person of wide knowledge & learning who specialises in a no. different subjects
Define Convention parliament
Parliament assembled without the authority of the monarch
Define Alchemist
Someone who tries to transform common substances & liquids into gold or potions to cure disease
Define Inductive reasoning
Reasoning based on evidence
Define Deductive reasoning
When a conclusion is made based on something already known/assumed
Define Kirk
Scottish church
Define Lutheran
Follower of Protestant reformer Martin Luther
Oldest Protestant denomination
Define Borgmaster
Principal magistrate of a Danish town
Define Coven
An assembly/group of witches - often believed to consist of 13 people
Define Boots
Screws for the legs which would gradually be tightened, crushing bones
Define the Kiss of shame
An initiation among witches where they are expected to kiss the Devil’s buttocks
Define the Divine right of King’s
The notion that King’s are appointed by god
Define the Royal favourite
A close advisor given significant power & influence by a monarch
Define Copyholder
Someone who worked on the land of a lord
Define Subtenant
Someone who rented land from a copyholder - very poor
Define Enclosure
The process of fencing off common land
Define the Duchy of Lancaster
Territory controlled by the Duchy of Lancaster
Define Recusant
A person who remains loyal to the Catholic faith
Define the Dependant chapelry
A district served by a chapel, rather than the large parish church
Define the Lancashire court sessions
A local court that met four times a year in order to try serious cases
Define a Pedlar
Travelling salesman
Define a Witches sabbat
Secret meeting of witches
Define the Baron of the Exchequer
One of the most senior judges in England
Define the Holy Roman Empire
Complex Central European territories that existed from 962 to 1806 under overall authority of an emperor
Define the Counter-Reformation
A reform movement within the Catholic Church to oppose the Protestant Reformation
Define Jesuit
Member of the Catholic religious order the society of Jesus
Who were the Hasbergs
German royal family
Split into Austrian & Spanish lines in 1551
Define Reserve currency
Strong currency held in reserve by central banks or treasuries as part of foreign exchange reserves
Define Holfrat
High-ranking advisor to the Holy Roman Emperor
Similar to Privy Council in England
Define the Imperial Chamber Court
Highest judicial court in the Holy Roman Empire
Define the Diet of Rebgensburg
A meeting of the senior leaders of the Holy Roman Empire, held between July & November 1630
Define the New Model Army
Parliamentary army - disciplined and well trained
Define the Eastern Association
A military organisation comprising of the seven country militias of Eastern England formed during the English Civil war
Define Ergot
A fungal disease that partially affects rye
Define Seed-corn
Good quality corn set aside for planting the following year
Define Poor rates
A local tax levied at parish level in order to finance the support of the poor
Define the High church
A tradition within the Church of England that emphasised ritual, authority of bishops, sacraments & much continuity with the Catholic Church
Define the Star chamber
Court of law based at the Palace of Westminster
Define the Popish Plot
A conspiracy to replace the Protestant authorities with Catholics
Define Theocracy
A system of government in which God is held to be supreme ruler & clergy are involved in the day-to-day running of the state
Define Voodoo
A religion of West African origin practiced in the Caribbean- multiple gods, ancestor worship & magic
