John Stearne’s Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft

John Stearne’s Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft PDF Author: Scott Eaton
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000079430
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 217

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Book Description
Between 1645-7, John Stearne led the most significant outbreak of witch-hunting in England. As accusations of witchcraft spread across East Anglia, Stearne and Matthew Hopkins were enlisted by villagers to identify and eradicate witches. After the trials finally subsided in 1648, Stearne wrote his only publication, A confirmation and discovery of witchcraft, but it had a limited readership. Consequently, Stearne and his work fell into obscurity until the 1800s, and were greatly overshadowed by Hopkins and his text. This book is the first study which analyses Stearne’s publication and contextualises his ideas within early modern intellectual cultures of religion, demonology, gender, science, and print in order to better understand the witch-finder’s beliefs and motives. The book argues that Stearne was a key player in the trials, that he was not a mainstream ‘puritan’, and that his witch-finding availed from contemporary science. It traces A confirmation’s reception history from 1648 to modern day and argues that the lack of research focusing on Stearne has resulted in misrepresentations of the witch-finder in the historiography of witchcraft. This book redresses the imbalance and seeks to provide an alternative reading of the East Anglian witch-hunt and of England’s premier witch-hunter, John Stearne.

John Stearne’s Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft

John Stearne’s Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft PDF Author: Scott Eaton
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000079430
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 217

Get Book

Book Description
Between 1645-7, John Stearne led the most significant outbreak of witch-hunting in England. As accusations of witchcraft spread across East Anglia, Stearne and Matthew Hopkins were enlisted by villagers to identify and eradicate witches. After the trials finally subsided in 1648, Stearne wrote his only publication, A confirmation and discovery of witchcraft, but it had a limited readership. Consequently, Stearne and his work fell into obscurity until the 1800s, and were greatly overshadowed by Hopkins and his text. This book is the first study which analyses Stearne’s publication and contextualises his ideas within early modern intellectual cultures of religion, demonology, gender, science, and print in order to better understand the witch-finder’s beliefs and motives. The book argues that Stearne was a key player in the trials, that he was not a mainstream ‘puritan’, and that his witch-finding availed from contemporary science. It traces A confirmation’s reception history from 1648 to modern day and argues that the lack of research focusing on Stearne has resulted in misrepresentations of the witch-finder in the historiography of witchcraft. This book redresses the imbalance and seeks to provide an alternative reading of the East Anglian witch-hunt and of England’s premier witch-hunter, John Stearne.

A Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft

A Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft PDF Author: John Stearne
Publisher: Rota at the University of Exeter
ISBN:
Category : Witchcraft
Languages : en
Pages : 88

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Book Description


A Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-Craft

A Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-Craft PDF Author: John STEARNE
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 71

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Book Description
This book was written by John Stearne (Sterne) and is his sole publication. He was closely associated with Witch-Finder General Matthew Hopkins and participated in an intense campaign between 1645 and 1647. oh of whom were professionals and not indifferent to profit and notoriety. Stearne was labelled a puritan and the book pays close attention to biblical texts.

A Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-craft

A Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-craft PDF Author: John Stearne
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Witchcraft
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description


A confirmation and discovery of witchcraft

A confirmation and discovery of witchcraft PDF Author: John Stearne
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Witchcraft
Languages : en
Pages : 67

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Book Description


The Discovery of Witches and Witchcraft

The Discovery of Witches and Witchcraft PDF Author: Matthew Hopkins
Publisher: Puckrel Publishing
ISBN: 0955635012
Category : Witchcraft
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
Scholarly reprint of the writings of the Witchfinder General and his accomplice.

A Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-craft Containing These Severall Particulars; that There are Witches Called Bad Witches, and Witches Untruely Called Good Or White Witches, and what Manner of People They Be, and how They May Bee Knowne, with Many Particulars Thereunto Tending. Together with the Confessions of Many of Those Executed Since May 1645, in the Severall Counties Hereafter Mentioned. As Also Some Objections Answered...

A Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-craft Containing These Severall Particulars; that There are Witches Called Bad Witches, and Witches Untruely Called Good Or White Witches, and what Manner of People They Be, and how They May Bee Knowne, with Many Particulars Thereunto Tending. Together with the Confessions of Many of Those Executed Since May 1645, in the Severall Counties Hereafter Mentioned. As Also Some Objections Answered... PDF Author: John Stearne
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Discovery of the Beldam Witch Trials

Discovery of the Beldam Witch Trials PDF Author: Matthew Hopkins
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781548284299
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 238

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Book Description
Of the one hundred witches that were apprehended on charges of witchcraft in Essex during the year 1645, this book provides details on the capture, examinations and execution of the 30 primary witches. Within these pages include the judicial discovery, confessions, investigative procedure, and the evidence used to convict these witches to the sentance of death. The principle witch at the center of these trials was Anne West, known by the circle of witches as 'Old Beldam'. Presented here is the judicial Discovery of the Beldam Witch Trials. Included in this text are works of witch-finders Matthew Hopkins and John Sterne, 'The Discovery of Witches' and 'The Confirmation and Discovery of Witch-Craft'. These were the key figures during the Witch hunt, leading the discovery of an estimated 200 suspected witches in just two years.

Witchcraft in the British Isles and New England

Witchcraft in the British Isles and New England PDF Author: Brian P. Levack
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136538836
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 563

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Book Description
Witchcraft and magical beliefs have captivated historians and artists for millennia, and stimulated an extraordinary amount of research among scholars in a wide range of disciplines. This new collection, from the editor of the highly acclaimed 1992 set, Articles on Witchcraft, Magic, and Demonology, extends the earlier volumes by bringing together the most important articles of the past twenty years and covering the profound changes in scholarly perspective over the past two decades. Featuring thematically organized papers from a broad spectrum of publications, the volumes in this set encompass the key issues and approaches to witchcraft research in fields such as gender studies, anthropology, sociology, literature, history, psychology, and law. This new collection provides students and researchers with an invaluable resource, comprising the most important and influential discussions on this topic. A useful introductory essay written by the editor precedes each volume.

Witchcraft, the Devil, and Emotions in Early Modern England

Witchcraft, the Devil, and Emotions in Early Modern England PDF Author: Charlotte-Rose Millar
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1134769814
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 230

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Book Description
This book represents the first systematic study of the role of the Devil in English witchcraft pamphlets for the entire period of state-sanctioned witchcraft prosecutions (1563-1735). It provides a rereading of English witchcraft, one which moves away from an older historiography which underplays the role of the Devil in English witchcraft and instead highlights the crucial role that the Devil, often in the form of a familiar spirit, took in English witchcraft belief. One of the key ways in which this book explores the role of the Devil is through emotions. Stories of witches were made up of a complex web of emotionally implicated accusers, victims, witnesses, and supposed perpetrators. They reveal a range of emotional experiences that do not just stem from malefic witchcraft but also, and primarily, from a witch’s links with the Devil. This book, then, has two main objectives. First, to suggest that English witchcraft pamphlets challenge our understanding of English witchcraft as a predominantly non-diabolical crime, and second, to highlight how witchcraft narratives emphasized emotions as the primary motivation for witchcraft acts and accusations.