Key vocab

Question 1

Maleficium

Answer 1

“Evil deed”- by 1580 this was understood to be an act of witchcraft designed to harm

Question 2

Sacrament

Answer 2

Ceremony carried out to attain spiritual grace, e.g Holy Communion

Question 3

Devil’s Mark

Answer 3

Mark on body of someone who’d entered covenant w/Devil

Question 4

Cunning-Folk

Answer 4

Generally carried out good deeds – folk-healers etc

Question 5

Assize Circuit

Answer 5

Courts that travelled in six circuits around the country, hearing serious cases

Question 6

Justice of the Peace

Answer 6

Public official appointed to administer the law at a local level

Question 7

Privy Council

Answer 7

Private council of the Monarch

Question 8

Vagrant

Answer 8

Beggar or someone who’d wander looking for work. By 17th Century it was someone who could work but chose not to – could be punished by whipping etc

Question 9

Dissenter

Answer 9

Member of the non-established church outside the Church of England

Question 10

Idolater

Answer 10

Someone who worships false idols

Question 11

Nonconformist

Answer 11

Protestant who doesn’t conform to the established practices of the Church of England

Question 12

Calvinist

Answer 12

Follower of John Calvin- Protestant Reformation. Very strict

Question 13

Heretic

Answer 13

Someone who disagrees with the teachings of the Church