A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Wallace Notestein's definitive history chronicles English witchcraft trials from 1558 to 1718, examining the social, cultural, and political forces that fueled persecution. This scholarly work corrects historical misinformation by analyzing pamphlets, court records, and contemporary literature to reveal how belief in witchcraft permeated every level of Stuart society.

Summary up to 500 words

Originally a Yale dissertation, Wallace Notestein's *A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718* offers a comprehensive chronological survey of English witchcraft belief, tracing its evolution from the reign of Elizabeth I through the decline under the Stuarts. Notestein argues that while early accusations often targeted disreputable community members as a means of social cleansing, later trials were increasingly driven by personal hatreds and individual malice. The narrative details a significant shift from impersonal community fear to targeted accusations, highlighting key figures such as the infamous witch-finder Matthew Hopkins and the literary debates between defenders like Joseph Glanvill and skeptics like Zachary Taylor. The text explores the transition from reliance on physical ordeals, such as water trials and the search for the Devil's marks, to sophisticated philosophical arguments regarding the reality of supernatural phenomena. By synthesizing diverse sources including diaries, newspapers, state papers, and local court records, Notestein exposes the 'large concretions of misinformation' that had surrounded the subject. He notes that few aspects of sixteenth and seventeenth-century life were unaffected by this belief, which concerned everyone from royal councillors to country peasants. The book covers the intense literary war over witchcraft between 1660 and 1688, where the controversy shifted from skirmishes over specific ordeals to a fundamental battle over the reality of spirits and demons. Joseph Glanvill emerged as the ablest advocate for the superstition, arguing that positive evidence of witchcraft outweighed negative arguments, though his authenticated cases often failed under careful criticism. Conversely, skeptics like Zachary Taylor and Francis Hutchinson utilized reason and logic to dismantle the belief. The narrative concludes with the publication of Hutchinson's 1718 essay, which delivered a fatal blow to the superstition. Throughout, Notestein emphasizes that understanding witchcraft is essential to grasping the fears, hopes, and social conditions of the era, noting that by the close of the 1680s, accounts of witchcraft became exceedingly rare as the courts grew more reluctant to prosecute and public opinion turned decisively against the belief.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/wallace-notestein_history-of-witchcraft-in-england.epub

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Categories

• History
• Witchcraft