The Witchcraze: Key Events and Concepts (c1580-1750)

Maleficium

"evil deed" - by 1580 this was understood as an act of witchcraft designed to harm

Sacrament

a ceremony carried out to attain spiritual grace, e.g Holy Communion

Devil's mark

mark on the body of someone who had entered a covenant with the Devil

Cunning-Folk

general carried out good deeds - folk-healers etc

Assize circuit

courts that travelled in six circuits around the country, hearing serious cases

Justice of the Peace

a public official appointed to administer the law at a local level

Privy Council

private council of the Monarch

Vagrant

beggar or someone who would wander looking for work. By 17th Century it was someone who could work but chose not to - could be punished by whipping etc

Royal Society

founded in 1660 in order to promote the advancement of science and rational thought

Dissenter

a member of the non-established church outside the Church of England

Melancholia

depression or sorrowfulness

Idolater

someone who worships false idols

Nonconformist

a Protestant who does not conform to the established practices of the Church of England

Calvinist

follower of John Calvin - Protestant Reformation. Very strict

Heretic

someone who disagrees with the teachings of the Church

Homocentric

belief that all rotations in the universe are centred on Earth

Natural Philosophy

the study of the natural world.

Empiricism

the belief that knowledge can only come from experience - seek out evidence to formulate theories

Polymath

a person of wide knowledge and learning who specialises in a number of different subjects

Convention Parliament

parliament assembled without the authority of the monarch

Alchemist

someone who tries to transform common substances and liquids into gold or potions used to cure disease

Inductive reasoning

reasoning based on evidence

Deductive reasoning

when a conclusion is made based on something already known or assumed.

Kirk

Scottish church

Lutheran

Follower of Protestant reformer Martin Luther - oldest protestant denomination

Borgmaster

Principal magistrate of a Danish town

Coven

An assembly or group of witches - often believed to consist of 13 people

Boots

Screws for the legs which would gradually be tightened, crushing bones

Kiss of Shame

An initiation among witches where they are expected to kiss the Devil's buttocks

Divine Right of Kings

The notion that kings are appointed by God

Royal favourite

A close advisor given significant power and influence by a monarch

Copyholder

Someone who worked on the land of a lord

Subtenant

Someone who rented land from a copyholder - very poor

Enclosure

The process of fencing off common land

Duchy of Lancaster

Territory controlled by the Duke of Lancaster

Recusant

A person who remains loyal to the Catholic faith

Dependant Chapelry

A district served by a chapel, rather than a larger parish church

Lancashire Quarter Sessions

A local court that met four times a year in order to try serious cases

Pedlar

Travelling salesman

Witches' sabbat

Secret meeting of witches

Baron of the Exchequar

One of the most senior judges in England

Holy Roman Empire

Complex central European territories that existed from 962 to 1806 under the overall authority of an emperor

Counter-Reformation

A reform movement within the Catholic Church to oppose the Protestant Reformation

Jesuit

Member of the Catholic religious order the Society of Jesus

Habsburgs

German Royal family - split into Austrian and Spanish lines in 1551

Reserve currency

Strong currency held in reserve by central banks or treasuries as part of their foreign exchange reserves

Holfrat

High-ranking advisor to the Holy Roman Emperor (similar to the Privy Council in England)

Imperial Chamber Court

Highest judicial court in the Holy Roman Empire

Diet of Regensburg

A meeting of the senior leaders of the Holy Roman Empire, held between July and November 1630

New Model Army

Parliamentary army - disciplined and well-trained

Eastern Association

A military organisation comprising the seven county militias of Eastern England formed during the English Civil War

Ergot

Fungal disease that particularly affects rye

Seed-corn

Good quality corn set aside for planting the following year

Poor rates

A local tax levied at parish level in order to finance the support of the poor

High Church

A tradition within the Church of England that emphasised ritual, authority of bishops, sacraments and much continuity with the Catholic Church

Star Chamber

Court of law based at the Palace of Westminster

Popish Plot

A conspiracy to replace the Protestant authorities with Catholics

Theocracy

A system of government in which God is held to be supreme ruler and clergy are involved in the day-to-day running of the state

Voodoo

A religion of West African origin practised in the Caribbean - multiple gods, ancestor worship and magic

Malleus Maleficarum

Written by two German Dominican friars in 1486, it enforced a belief that witches held a covenant with the Devil and became a guidebook for hunting witches.

The Devil's Mark

Searching a witch's body for a mark where the witch would feed their familiar and suckle blood.

The Swimming Test

Potential witches would be tied and thrown in water three times. If they floated, they were a witch as water rejected witchcraft.

Three Acts of Parliament

Legislation that made witchcraft an offence in England.

1542 Act

Henry VIII made conjuring spirits, witchcraft, and sorcery a crime to find treasure, cause harm, or discover stolen goods.

1563 Act

Elizabeth I's law made any involvement with evil spirits a crime, with the death penalty for the death of a significant animal or person.

1604 Act

James I's law imposed the death penalty for lesser crimes related to witchcraft, allowing prosecution with less evidence.

1735 Witchcraft Act

Legislation that made it illegal to claim someone was a witch or had magical powers.

Reformation

The movement where Protestants broke free from the Catholic Church, gaining more power.

Counter-Reformation

The Catholic Church's efforts to regain power lost to Protestantism.

North Berwick Witch Trials

A series of witch trials in Scotland from 1590 to 1597, marked by political and religious tensions.

Scotland's Government

Less complex than England, allowing witch-hunts to occur without interference.

Torture in Scotland

Could only be used with the consent of the privy council, but local judges often allowed it due to a weak monarchy.

Witch's Get

Children of accused witches who suffered the same reputation in a patriarchal society.

James VI

King of Scotland involved in the North Berwick witch trials, personally interrogating witches.

James VI's Childhood

Marked by political crisis and a highly charged religious environment, influencing his views on witchcraft.

James VI's Paranoia

His fear of treason and threats to his life contributed to the witch hunts.

Denmark's Influence

Witch hunting ideas from Denmark transferred to Scotland around 1590.

Anna Koldings

Confessed to causing storms and attempting to kill the King and Queen with her coven.

Martin Luther

Pinned his '95 Theses' in 1517, criticizing the Catholic Church and sparking the Reformation.

Protestants

Rebels against the Catholic Church following Martin Luther's criticisms.

Henry VIII

Broke away from Catholicism to establish a Protestant Church in England.

Elizabeth I

Established the Church of England, solidifying Protestantism in England.

Calvinist Lines

Stricter interpretation of Protestantism followed during Scotland's Reformation.

Faeries and Folk Magic

Deeply held beliefs in Scotland, often used for helpful purposes.

Political Crisis

James VI's childhood was influenced by the abdication and execution of his mother, Mary Queen of Scots.

Gilly Duncan

Her confession started the persecutions.

Healing abilities

Rumoured abilities that led to accusations of witchcraft.

David Seaton

Local deputy-bailiff who accused Gilly Duncan of stealing.

Thumb-screws

Torture device used on Gilly Duncan.

Witches mark

A mark found on Gilly Duncan's neck leading to her imprisonment.

Witch hunt

A process that continues when witches are named during confessions.

Agnes Sampson

Accused of healing the sick and calling on the Devil for assistance.

Sailing across the sea in a sieve

One of the accusations against Agnes Sampson.

Kiss of Shame

One of the crimes attributed to John Fian.

Francis Stewart

5th Earl of Bothwell, implicated in plots against King James.

Coven

Group of witches, believed to be led by Agnes Sampson.

Predicting the future

One of the crimes John Fian was accused of.

Burning down a house

A crime attributed to John Fian.

Magic candles

Used by John Fian to turn night into day.

Bothwell's trial

Held to clear Francis Stewart of witchcraft accusations.