witches
In this book Christina first begins by telling about the three types of witchcraft that are usually referred to. In primitive societies there were two types white witchcraft or the craft of healing and black witchcraft or maleficium. But historians of the sixteenth century had to add a third type which only existed from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century and it has no contemporary equivalent. It was evolved from by the catholic church, it involved a new thing, the idea of a demonic pact. The witch became a witch by virtue "of a personal arrangement with the Devil who appeared to his potential recruit in some physical form. At this meeting, in return for renunciation of baptism, services on earth and the soul of the witch at death, the Devil promised material advantages and magical powers." (pg 3) At first the thought of witches and witchcraft was just a side note in society, it was there but no one really bothered with it, it was sometimes used when a person was on trial to further their guilt. It became more greatly used with James VI, from time to time he would use it as a way to get his way in different court proceedings and he was one of the principle agents in keeping them alive. He showed particular ze
In her next chapter Larner discusses the specifics of witchcraft in Scotland. At any rate, in 1597 he revoked the standing commissions against witchcraft. Commissions were set up to hunt out witches, and naturally they found them. He was very interested in cases having to do with Bothwell (someone he suspected of wanting his thrown). It was rumored that Bothwell and many of his friends were conspiring with witches. This in its turn encouraged already existing village belief, and allowed villagers and townsmen complete license in their accusations. But although he temporarily halted the number of prosecutions the with doctrine had by this time taken an almost complete hold of the clergy, gentry and legal profession of Scotland. He credits witches with the power to harm or kill by incantations over wax images which they melt over fire and says that they can raise storms over the air. "Prosecutions for witchcraft in Scotland began relatively late, that is to say after they had been well established in many areas of Europe and England. al in cases that had to do with people he suspected of treason. At first treason dominated sorcery but in the aftermath when the immediate fear of treason died down and Bothwell fled the country, witchcraft became the main focus. " (pg 17) In 1603 James left Scotland for England and with that ensured that the persecution of witchcraft in Scotland would continue, because after that he made no attempt to interfere in Scottish prosecutions. When the rumors of treasonable sorcery started he was receptive rather than skeptical. By the time he got to England he had lost his intense interest in witchcraft.
Common topics in this essay:
James VI,
,
Scotland England,
Scotland Prosecutions,
Europe England,
demonic pact,
witchcraft scotland,
idea demonic pact,
idea demonic,
|
Acceptance Essays
