Sceptical publications

Question 1

Year - Publication The Descoverie of Witchcraft - Reginald Scot

Answer 1

1584

Questioned whether there was any biblical basis/ foundation for witch hunting

Question 2

Year - The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel

Answer 2

1599

By Samuel Harsnett

Question 3

When did Thomas Ady write ‘A candle in the Dark’?

Answer 3

1656

Question 4

When was the displaying of supposed Witchcraft written?

Answer 4

1677

By John Webster

Question 5

When was The Enchanted World written?

Answer 5

1691

Balthasar Bekker

Question 6

When did John Locke publish Essay Concerning Human Understanding?

Answer 6

1690

Question 7

What Book did Reginald Scot publish?

Answer 7

1584

the Discoverie of Witchcraft

Question 8

What book did Samuel Harsnett publish?

Answer 8

• The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel*
• 1599*

Question 9

What book did Thomas Ady write?

Answer 9

A candle in the Dark

Question 10

What did John Webster write?

Answer 10

The displaying of supposed witchcraft

1677

Question 11

What did Balthasar Bekker write?

Answer 11

1691 - The enchanted world

Question 12

What did John Locke publish?

Answer 12

An essay concerning human understanding

1690

Question 13

What did ‘The Fraudulent Practice of John Darrel’ argue?

Answer 13

• Phamplet Rejecting all witchcraft.
• Deeply suspicious about the Boy of Burton case (Present at the examination of Darrell and George More)
• Darrel was a fraudulent exocist. (Witness testimony, discredit Somer’s fit)
• Criticized the Catholic Church and how they use rituals to solve problems

By Samuel Harnett in 1599

Question 14

What was included in Thomas Ady’s ‘ A Candle in the Dark 1656’?

Answer 14

• Witness events of trial in Bury St Edmunds
• Doctor was critical of physicians failing to understand disease that they were quick to blame on witchcraft.
• Influenced by Joseph Mede - possession attributed to mental illness
• References Scots ‘Discovery of witchcraft’
• Witches do exist - but definition should be changed. Believed no supernatural but someone leding others to ungodly actions like idolatry.
• Bible only source - rebuttle of witchfinders.
• Critical of James I’s book ‘Daemonologie - it didn’t refer to scripture.
• Swimming test is too easily manipulated and refers to Hopkins use of sleep deprivation.
• Exposes how some magic tricks work (Critical of magician Hocus Pocus)

Question 15

What was written about in the displaying of supposed Witchcraft?

Answer 15

1677 - John Webster

• Reinforced Ady’s suggestion that the Bible failed to mention witchcraft
• Argued witches existed but are not in control of the supernatural - promoted rational/ materialistic thinking

Question 16

What is Balthasar Bekkers ‘The Enchanted World’ about 1691?

Answer 16

• Influenced by Reginald Scot
• Used bible in an unbiased and rational way rather than rumours and stories
• Said all cases contained deception or irregularity
• State it is impossible for the devil to posses and influence as he has no body and is forever trapped in hell.
• Hopeful science and nature understanding would evolve and explain supernatural events.

Question 17

What did Reginald Scot question?

Answer 17

The Discovery of Witchcraft published - 1584

• Questioned the biblical basis/foundation for witch-hunting.
• Influenced by Johann Weyer’s belief that the majority of supposed witches was due to melancholia (depression or sorrowfulness)
• The belief that nature controlled events on Earth, not God.
• So controversial he self-published
• Discounted magic tricks disguised as supernatural
• King James 1 Ordered all copies to be burnt.

Question 18

What did John Webster’s publication argue?

Answer 18

• Doctor and preacher - studying chemistry and medicine at Gresham College.
• A similar argument to Thomas Ady - beliefs not found in the Bible should be ignored
• Aimed to rebuff Joseph Glanvill + case of Demon Drummer of Tedworth and against Pendle Swindle.
• Argued witches exist but not supernatural. - evil acts but not with devil help.
• Cited trial of Jenks, a Catholic author - accused of curse killing hundreds inc. jury and 2 judges.
• Promoted rational/materialistic thinking and blamed poison/ smells.
• Seth Ward and John Wilkins criticised - overall popular with Royal Society

Question 19

What did John Locke’s ‘Essay Concerning Human Understanding’ argue 1690?

Answer 19

• Influenced by Reginald Scot
• Used bible in unbiased and rational way rather than rumours and stories
• Said all cases contained deception or irregularity
• State it is impossible for devil to posses and influence as he has no body and is forever trapped in hell.
• Hopeful science and nature understanding would evolve and explain supernatural events.

1. Humans are born without knowledge.
2. He focussed on language and the importance of words.
3. Questioned whether knowledge could ever be trusted.

• Empiricism is everything and that there should be no room for the supernatural.
• Spirits have no “primary qualities”, their existence is simply based on personal perception.

Question 20

Why was Reginald Scot sceptical of witchcraft?

Answer 20

• As a ‘Family of Love’ Religion - believes in the ‘supernatural unknown’ - Undiscovered elements of nature contains mysteries that explain unknown phenomena
• Influenced by Johann Weyer - melancholia (depression)
• Witchcraft was not compatible with Canon Episcopi a medieval religious text said witches were a deception
• Dubious foundations affirmed through the use of child witnesses.

Question 21

What was the impact of the pamphlet war?

Answer 21

• Started as a result of Samuel Harsnett
• Darrell responded with ‘A detection of that sinful, shaming, lying and ridiculous discours of Samuel Harsnett’ 1600
• Puritan Ministers John Deacon and John Walker argued the Devil was unable to possess people.
• Darrell responded in ‘The replie of John Darrell to the answere of John Deacon and John Walker’ 1602