Boy of Burton

Time period

1596-97

Thomas Darling

14 at time of case, and would have fits around Alice Gooderidge. When the witch died, the fits did not, and so he was exorcised by John Darrel

Alice Gooderidge

Typical suspect, a widowed older woman with a previous reputation. She dies in prison after confession due to sleep deprivation

William Somers

One of Darrel’s accomplices who had accused Alice Freeman of bewitching him. He later confesses to Archbishop of York the fraudulent scheme

Samuel Harsnett

A discovery of the fraudulent practices of John Darrel 1599

canon

by the bishop of Bancroft in 1604. Exorcisms need a license.

why is this case not successful in creating skepticism?

• the canon enforces belief

• many major hunts happen after this: east anglia and pendle

• Witchcraft act of 1604

• the illiterate majority wont know about this local case

why does this case increas skepta?

• shows that symptoms can be faked

• not all witchfinders can be trusted

• bishop of Bancroft’s canon of 1604

• shows that confessions arent always truthful

• Samuel Harsnett’s 1599