North Berwick

Question 1

How was witchcraft seen legally in Scotland before the hunt?

Answer 1

1563: Scottish Witchcraft Law
→ made the use of witchcraft illegal
→ allowed for commissions to be set up to investigate
→ established the crime of witchcraft at a national level

Question 2

What was King James VI’s childhood?

Answer 2

Mother: Mary Queen of Scots
Raised by a regent
James is well educated and taught about Calvinism (extreme Protestantism)

Question 3

What happens with James and Denmark?

Answer 3

• James married Anne of Denmark, a protestant Princess (1589)
• Attempts to sail to Scotland 3 times but each time storms prevent it

Question 4

How does King James become influenced by witchcraft?

Answer 4

• Suggested by Earl of Bothwell that James go over himself
• While there he met with Niels Hemmingsen and other Calvinists with strong beliefs in witchcraft

Question 5

Who was Calvinism founded by?

Answer 5

• John Calvin (C16th), part of the wider growth of denominations following the European Reformation
• Believe that Scripture comes directly from God, therefore it must be followed

Question 6

What are the beliefs of Calvinism?

Answer 6

• To earn a place in heaven each individual must take responsibility for their actions, there isn’t an eternal supply of forgiveness
• Satan and its demons are real, the Bible teaches that they are massively influential

Question 7

How does Calvinism link to witch hunts in Scotland?

Answer 7

• Bessie Dunlop → accused in 1576, conversing with the Devil who invited her to become Catholic.
• Calvinist accusations = hidden Catholicism

Question 8

What is the timeline of the witch hunt?

Answer 8

October 1589- James goes to Denmark
May 1590- Anne and James return to Scotland
July 1590- 12 witches executed in Denmark
Nov. 1590- Gilly Duncan accused and interrogated
Dec. 1590- Agnes Sampson + John Fian tortured by King James
April 1591- James’ cousin, the Earl of Bothwell arrested for witchcraft.

Question 9

What was Malleus Maleficarum, Heinrich Kramer (1487)
‘Hammer of Witches’?

Answer 9

A handbook for inquisitors and judges of witch trials
→ Outlined the nature of accusations
→ How a trial should be carried out
→ Justification for why witches were women

Question 10

What effect did Malleus Maleficarum have on Scottish society?

Answer 10

“Encouraged the rapid growth of pre-existing ideas, and transformed them into a widespread paranoia”

Question 11

Why did Malleus Maleficarum have such a big impact?

Answer 11

→ used a Papal declaration as the introduction, gave it a perceived weight
→ used scripture to support assertions (Exodus 22:18)

Question 12

What factors caused fear to be created?

Answer 12

• Instability
• Lack of Understanding
• Hardship
• Threat of Harm

Question 13

What were the causes for a decrease in rationality?

Answer 13

Events that affect people’s day to day lives cause these feelings
→ people look for alternative explanations for why something is happening
→ leads to people acting differently to how they would do normally group actions

Question 14

How do the 12 witches executed in Denmark influence James?

Answer 14

Danish courtiers arrive in Scotland and share the news: strengthens James’ burgeoning belief

Question 15

What happens when Gilly Duncan is arrested?

Answer 15

Agnes Sampson mentioned by Duncan in her confession, accused of being part of causing the storms. This catches the attention of James and he becomes involved in torture and interrogation.

Question 16

Why was Agnes Sampson important?

Answer 16

Due to her role in society Sampson was aware of many upper-class members of society, and these are listed in her confession as being part of her coven.

Question 17

How was the religious and political nature of Scotland important for the hunt?

Answer 17

Established a tradition for witch hunting + exacerbated fears already present.

Question 18

What were the religious aspects of Scotland of the time?

Answer 18

• Religious upheaval under King James → the 1584 Black Acts increased his control over the Kirk (Church)
• Strong anti-Catholic feeling in society heightened well established traditions

Question 19

What were the political aspects of Scotland at the time?

Answer 19

• Less complex system of government than England (much more land as well)
• Very few local officials that enforced the law → allowed local judges to practice without interference (includes use of torture)
• 1563 Witchcraft Act → Commissions of judges could be set up to investigate

Question 20

How do the political/religious aspects of Scotland relate to the hunt?

Answer 20

→ The Witchcraft Act gives Seaton permission to investigate Duncan when he is suspicious
→ Seaton isn’t stopped from using torture despite not having permission → Duncan confesses and accuses more people.

Question 21

What did Scottish society allow for?

Answer 21

created the environment for a hunt + allowed for fear to grow easily.

Question 22

What parts of Scottish society reflected women?

Answer 22

• Women were seen as ‘lesser’ than men = patriarchal society
  Women focussed on ‘the domestic’ (reproduction + healing)
• Quarrels were a normal aspect of society, and usually linked to an aspect of women’s work (work → misfortune → quarrel → misfortune → witch)

Question 23

What were views on marriage in Scottish society?

Answer 23

• Marriage was a vital aspect of social rituals and relationships
• Regular marriage = promises made in public, followed by sex
• Irregular marriage = promises made in secret, followed by sex (diabolic pact)

Question 24

How does Scottish society relate to the hunts?

Answer 24

→ Duncan begins to heal people in her community and misses days off work
→ neighbours suspicious about nature of healing, items go missing, Seaton grows suspicious
→ now believe Duncan and Seaton were having an affair →irregular marriage that broke down