Sceptical publications

Question 1

What was the name of Reginald Scot’s publication and when was it published?

Answer 1

‘The discoverie of witchcraft’ 1584

Question 2

What was Reginald’s Scot’s view of the existence of witches?

Answer 2

Believed in the possibility of witches but disapproved of hunts and far fetched accusations.

Question 3

How did Scot believe that witches harmed people?

Answer 3

Through natural means e.g. poison.

Question 4

How did Scot think witchcraft linked to religion?

Answer 4

He believed that there were no biblical foundations of witchcraft and that the catholic church were the main reason for the cruelty.

Question 5

What did Scot think of women who confessed to witchcraft?

Answer 5

He thought that they were suffering from melancholia.

Question 6

Who influenced Scot?

Answer 6

Johann Weyer.

Question 7

What trials influenced Scot?

Answer 7

Chelmsford trials which he saw as far-fetched, especially those involving children.

Question 8

What was the significance of Scot’s book?

Answer 8

Was one of the first sceptical publications and the first English work. Was widely read later in the period. Reprinted several times. Influenced later sceptics, use of Bible in his arguments gave a lot of weight.

Question 9

What are the limitations of Scot’s work?

Answer 9

There had already been other European works. He had to self publish his book due to it being too controversial. Demonologie was written in response to it. He believed in magic on some level. Book burning took place.

Question 10

What was the name of Harsnett’s book and when was it released?

Answer 10

Discovery of the fraudulent practices of John Darrel. 1599

Question 11

What were the key ideas of Harsnett’s book?

Answer 11

Exorcisms did not work as they were not scientific. Practice of misleading people through magic can be traced back to ancient times. Exorcism can only be done by God so people claiming to be exorcists are heretics.

Question 12

What case was Harsnett’s book linked to?

Answer 12

The Boy Of Burton case.

Question 13

What was the significance of Harsnett’s book?

Answer 13

Caused the pamphlet war which was discourse in print over witchcraft.

Question 14

How is Harsnett’s book limited?

Answer 14

Scepticism was still a minority opinion. only had a short-term impact. Darrell replied to the criticisms.

Question 15

What is the name of Thomas Ady’s book and when was it published?

Answer 15

A Candle in the Dark 1656

Question 16

What was Ady’s sole source?

Answer 16

The Bible.

Question 17

What did Ady say witches were?

Answer 17

Herbalists.

Question 18

What group was Ady critical of?

Answer 18

Physicians who diagnosed witchcraft.

Question 19

What influenced Ady?

Answer 19

Growing scepticism of witchfinders. The abuse of the swimming test. The apostasy of the latter times which agreed possession could be attributed to mental illness. The bible.

Question 20

What was the significance of a candle in the dark?

Answer 20

Rev George Burroughs quoted the book while on trial in Salem. Knowledge of the book had reached the colonies. Critiqued deamonologie. Critical of Matthew Hopkins. Influenced decline of the 1660s.

Question 21

What were the limitations to Ady’s work?

Answer 21

Despite the use of his book as reference Borroughs was executed. People said he was just repeating Reginald Scot.

Question 22

What was the name of John Webster’s book and when was it published?

Answer 22

The displaying of supposed witchcraft. 1677

Question 23

What ideas did Webster say should be rejected?

Answer 23

Beliefs not founded on the teachings of the Bible.

Question 24

What was Webster’s view of witches?

Answer 24

They did exist but did not have supernatural powers. Carried out evil acts with their own power and had no help from the Devil.

Question 25

What did Webster attribute harm done by witches to?

Answer 25

Natural poisons- all accusations could be attributed to natural causes.

Question 26

What cases was Webster’s book linked to?

Answer 26

The Demon Drummer case in which he was rebuffing Joseph Glanvill’s work . Claimed that the Pendle Swindle was a fraud. Said that the case of Roland Jenks was based on supernatural powers.

Question 27

What was the significance of Webster’s book?

Answer 27

His work was well received and he engaged in public intellectual debate. He was taken seriously by many members of the royal society. Received approval of his book by the royal society.

Question 28

What were the limitations of Webster’s work?

Answer 28

The origins of his work could be found in the work of Weyer and Scot. Decline of witch craze could be more attributed to decline of the power of the Clergy over people’s lives in Protestant countries.

Question 29

What is the title and date of Balthasar Bekker’s book?

Answer 29

The Enchanted World. 1691.

Question 30

What was Bekker’s view of the devil?

Answer 30

That he was forever trapped in hell so could not make it to earth to influence people on earth.

Question 31

What did Bekker believe about every witchcraft case?

Answer 31

That there was always some deception or irregularity.

Question 32

Why did Bekker think that people who believed in the devil were heretics?

Answer 32

Because they had belief in two gods.

Question 33

What was the significance of Bekker’s book?

Answer 33

Was a very influential publication that sold thousands and was translated into other languages. Had a large influence in the Netherlands.

Question 34

What did Bekker use as his primary source if evidence?

Answer 34

The Bible which he approached in an unbiased way.

Question 35

What were the limitations of Bekker’s book?

Answer 35

He was merely building on the arguments of his predecessors. It coincides with change in scientific approach was not his actual ideas. German towns burned the book.

Question 36

What hunts had a large influence on Reginald Scot and Samuel Harsnett?

Answer 36

The Chelmsford hunts which were known for being fraudulent.

Question 37

Who did both Scot and Harsnett blame for the hunts?

Answer 37

The catholic church, Harsnett was deeply anti-catholic.

Question 38

What did Ady say that the Bible’s account of witchcraft was?

Answer 38

That witches were false prophets or idolaters and that for these reasons many Catholics priests were guilt of practicing witchcraft.

Question 39

Who did Ady say the real witches were?

Answer 39

Anyone who led people down an ungodly path.

Question 40

Who did Ady say were criminals?

Answer 40

Idolators and witch hunters.

Question 41

How many copies of the enchanted world sold in 2 months?

Answer 41

4,000