It was Mary I who got rid of the Witchcraft Laws. At least she had common sense. It was the oh so lovely and glorious Elizabeth I who reintroduced them in 1563. When we blame James I for being totally obsessed with witchcraft we do so without thinking about context. He had gone to Denmark where all of the loonies in Europe had gathered and those interested in new ideas. Unfortunately this all got mixed up and whilst he was there there was some kinda plot to get rid of him, his wife and those at the Court in Prague and Denmark. An attempt to bring Anna home went wrong, high winds and some stupid ship wright said he bewitched the boats. More likely he made an error making them. James saw a grand conspiracy in Berwick and in the Scots and Danish Court. Anyway to cut a long story short 200 men and women were killed in the trials that followed and a fully convinced James came home bride in tow. He wrote Demonology as a way to discern between true and fake witches. It was used for more than that. In the end James actually became a cynical person and changed his mind on witchcraft, something most people are not aware off. The belief existed long before Henry 8th, it is just that the Reformation brought more people into the belief that the wicked were under the table. Folk magic had been tolerated but now it was seen as something sinister. Elizabeth I seems to have been a hypocrite since she consulted Dr John Lee who thought he could translate the language of angels. His friend spent time with the looney toons in Prague and Denmark and he went around the bend. Even famous astronomers gathered there but they became infected by this speaking to angels. No wonder people remained wary of them.
The 1542 Witchcraft Act was repealed by Edward VI. Mary didn’t reinstate it nor bring in any legislation against witchcraft. My understanding of it is that this was because Mary I’s focus was on restoring Roman Catholicism. The Elizabethan Act and later the inclusion of a section pertaining to witchcraft in the Act regarding speaking against the Queen are really interesting. The penalties aren’t as severe as they were under Henry VIII’s 1542 Act but by broadening the behaviours that could be constituted as witchcraft the result was an increase in accusations and convictions. I also found James VI and I’s involvement in some of the interrogations really fascinating. His questioning of Anne Gunter for example which ultimately led to Anne and Brian Gunter being found guilty of making false accusations of witchcraft. It is such a complex and fascinating topic.
This brings back memories. I did my Masters thesis on Tudor and Stuart legislation which focussed on the witch's use of an 'imp', which might be an animal or even an insect, to undertake evil deeds for them. This was mid 90s, pre internet, and I am in Australia. I do remember the Tudor legislation and accusations of witches using bees to carry out the devil's wishes. Accused witches in Stuart times were body searched for 'witches marks' which were believed to be supernumary nipples for feeding their 'imps'.
Hi Stephanie, sounds like a fascinating topic for your Masters. I am also in Australia and studied witchcraft as one of my recent Masters topics. A very complex topic. I would have loved to delve into it in more depth.
It was Mary I who got rid of the Witchcraft Laws. At least she had common sense. It was the oh so lovely and glorious Elizabeth I who reintroduced them in 1563. When we blame James I for being totally obsessed with witchcraft we do so without thinking about context. He had gone to Denmark where all of the loonies in Europe had gathered and those interested in new ideas. Unfortunately this all got mixed up and whilst he was there there was some kinda plot to get rid of him, his wife and those at the Court in Prague and Denmark. An attempt to bring Anna home went wrong, high winds and some stupid ship wright said he bewitched the boats. More likely he made an error making them. James saw a grand conspiracy in Berwick and in the Scots and Danish Court. Anyway to cut a long story short 200 men and women were killed in the trials that followed and a fully convinced James came home bride in tow. He wrote Demonology as a way to discern between true and fake witches. It was used for more than that. In the end James actually became a cynical person and changed his mind on witchcraft, something most people are not aware off. The belief existed long before Henry 8th, it is just that the Reformation brought more people into the belief that the wicked were under the table. Folk magic had been tolerated but now it was seen as something sinister. Elizabeth I seems to have been a hypocrite since she consulted Dr John Lee who thought he could translate the language of angels. His friend spent time with the looney toons in Prague and Denmark and he went around the bend. Even famous astronomers gathered there but they became infected by this speaking to angels. No wonder people remained wary of them.
The 1542 Witchcraft Act was repealed by Edward VI. Mary didn’t reinstate it nor bring in any legislation against witchcraft. My understanding of it is that this was because Mary I’s focus was on restoring Roman Catholicism. The Elizabethan Act and later the inclusion of a section pertaining to witchcraft in the Act regarding speaking against the Queen are really interesting. The penalties aren’t as severe as they were under Henry VIII’s 1542 Act but by broadening the behaviours that could be constituted as witchcraft the result was an increase in accusations and convictions. I also found James VI and I’s involvement in some of the interrogations really fascinating. His questioning of Anne Gunter for example which ultimately led to Anne and Brian Gunter being found guilty of making false accusations of witchcraft. It is such a complex and fascinating topic.
This brings back memories. I did my Masters thesis on Tudor and Stuart legislation which focussed on the witch's use of an 'imp', which might be an animal or even an insect, to undertake evil deeds for them. This was mid 90s, pre internet, and I am in Australia. I do remember the Tudor legislation and accusations of witches using bees to carry out the devil's wishes. Accused witches in Stuart times were body searched for 'witches marks' which were believed to be supernumary nipples for feeding their 'imps'.
Hi Stephanie, sounds like a fascinating topic for your Masters. I am also in Australia and studied witchcraft as one of my recent Masters topics. A very complex topic. I would have loved to delve into it in more depth.
My Supervisor for my thesis was Geoff Quaiff. I was at UNE Armidale
That is wonderful Stephanie. I am also studying through UNE :)