Sceptical Publications - Attitudes to Witchcraft

Context

• Part of a radical protestant sect - the family of love
• Witch-trials at Chelmsford, 1582, 14 arrests and 2 executions

Main Argument

• Supposed witched were suffering from melancholia or delusions
• Those guilty of causing harm were mere tools of the Devil - and those who did harm did so through natural means (poison)
• Catholic Church's sacraments were magic tricks to heighten fear of witches
• Undiscovered elements of nature could explain unknown phenomena
• Ultimately believed in witches but too often blaimed on witches with little/no evidence

Significance

• First major work of English sceptism
• James I ordered all copies to be burnt and published Daemonologie as a responce.
• Re-published/became popular in 1651

Main Arguement

• The practice of misleading people through magic is nothing new - back to ancient times
• Catholic Priests perform miracles too easily
• Prayer and Exorcism to cast out devils are Catholic tricks - only God can so they're frauds!
• Darrell made William Sommers fake his possession. Harsnett = present at the examination of Darrell and George More.

Significance

• His book started an important debate about the nature of witchcraft
• Started "pamphlet war" - Darrell responded with publication in 1600
• Two ministers (Deacon and Walker) questioned if possession was within the Devil's power & demanded proof from Darrell of exorcism (1601)
• Darrell responded to minsters (1602)
• But, Harsnett was still minority opinion - Bishop of Exeter and Norwich supported Darrell.
• He was also deeply religous (conflicting religous views -CoE so hated CC but Catholic sympathies, Darrell= Puriran)

Main Arguement

• The actions of witchfinders and suspicions about witched cannot be found written in Bible
• Wrote as too many wrongful executions as a result of accusations and ridiculous to think ordinary animals = witches familiars
• Magician - false prophets or idolaters = Catholic priests guilty of witchcraft.
• Critises Daemonolgie as no scripture referanced
• Critcal of swimming test and of watching
• Cathoics were first to kill for religion = unchristian! 

Significance

• The only source Ady uses is the bible - the same as the witchfinders.
• Crucially believed witches existed BUT the definition of a witch in bible isn't what witchfinders use. Witch = no superpowers, but led people to ungodly path - idolaters or through practices associated with CC.
• Minister in Salem who was executed quoted this in his defence.
• Steep decrease in witch trails and ^ in sceptism after 1660 = clear influence of Ady's work.

Main Arguement

• Similar to Ady & written in responce to publications that claimed witch-hunts were legit.
• Witches= existed, but no superpower, evil acts, but through own power and no help from Devil
• Critical of Demon Drummer & comments on Pendle Swindle - went to see Edmund but father and uncle wouldn't let them talk + congregation was disturbed by boy's presence.

Significance

• Relatively well recieved, and he engaged in public intellectual debates through pamphlets and books.
• Scientific method taken seriously by Royal Society
• Methoical apporach and thoroughh use of evidence- some first hand- set him apart.
• Historian Hugh Trevor-Roper argues the origins of this work lay in Scot's publications and that the intellecutal debate had not progressed since then
• Instead witchcraze declined as the power of the clergy over people's lives decreased in protetant countries - not a coincindence where CC or radical Purtians where influencial, witch craze lasted longer.

Main Argument

• Bible suggests Devil is in hell for ever and cannot operate on Earth
• Devil = instrument of God's and those who believe the Devil has power is a heretic
• Witches should not be blaimed for events that could be attributed to nature & he believed there was much unknown and so science would one day explain supernatural events

Significance-2

• Undoubtly influenced by Scot, and historians call it the most influential critical work on witchcraft beliefs in the 17th century.
• Witchcraft = impossible
• Used Bible as primary source and tried an unbias approach
• Bekker's work coincided with changes already happening from the new scientic approaches
• End of c17 = crucial! advancements meant now could explain some of the mysterious events
• 2 months- 4000 copies sold
• Limited in England but worried German witch hunters - German towns banned it