Overview

'The fables of witchcraft have taken so fast hold and deepe root in the heart of man, that few or none can indure with patience the hand and correction of God.' Reginald Scot, whose words these are, published his remarkable book The Discoverie of Witchcraft in 1584. England's first major work of demonology, witchcraft and the occult, the book was unashamedly sceptical. It is said that so outraged was King James VI of Scotland by the disbelieving nature of Scot's work that, on James' accession to the English throne in 1603, he ordered every copy to be destroyed. Yet for all the anger directed at Scot, and his scorn for Stuart orthodoxy about wiches, the paradox was that his detailed account of sorcery helped strengthen the hold of European demonologies in England while also inspiring the distinctively English tradition of secular magic and conjuring. Scot's influence was considerable. Shakespeare drew on The Discoverie of Witchcraft for his depiction of the witches in Macbeth. So too did fellow-playwright Thomas Middleton in his tragi-comedy The Witch. Recognising Scot's central importance in the history of ideas, Philip Almond places his subject in the febrile context of his age, examines the chief themes of his work and shows why his writings became a sourcebook for aspiring magicians and conjurors for several hundred years. England's First Demonologist makes a notable contribution to a fascinating but unjustly neglected topic in the study of Early Modern England and European intellectual history.

Full Product Details

Author:   Philip C. Almond
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Imprint:   I.B. Tauris
Dimensions:   Width: 13.80cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.280kg
ISBN:  

9781780769639

ISBN 10:   1780769636
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   17 September 2014
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Chapter One: 'The Discoverie of Witchcraft' The Book Noblesse Oblige Motivations and Methods The Bible, the Book, and the Books Chapter Two: Witchcraft Apocalypse Soon A Witch in Brenchley Evil and Providence The Witches of Windsor The Witches of St. Osyths Witches, Deluding and Deluded Mad and Melancholic Imaginings Chapter Three: Demonology Demonological Foundations The Demonic Pact On Sabbatical Travels Animal Transformations Sex and the Devil Chapter Four: Magic Poisons and Potions Pythonists and Ventriloquists The Pythonist of Endor Miracles, Oracles, and Apparitions Reading the Stars Divining and Dreaming Guessing Upon Uncertain Toys Of Enchanters, Priests, and Physicians Magic, Angelic and Demonic Chapter Five: Philosophy and Religion Natural Magic Secular Enchantments 'Of the Art of Alchumystrie' A Devilish and Spiritual Discourse The Secret Sadducee? Carnal and Spiritual Men The Spiritual Demonologist Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

'This is the first full-length study of what to most people is the most famous and influential book about witchcraft to emerge from early modern England; and it significantly advances our knowledge of both text and author.' Ronald Hutton, Professor of History, University of Bristol 'Philip C. Almond is to be thanked for providing the in-depth study of Reginald Scot's Discoverie which was very much needed. His book will be essential reading for all those with a serious interest in the history of witchcraft in England.' James Sharpe, Professor of Early Modern History, University of York

'This is the first full-length study of what to most people is the most famous and influential book about witchcraft to emerge from early modern England; and it significantly advances our knowledge of both text and author.' - Ronald Hutton, Professor of History, University of Bristol 'Philip C. Almond is to be thanked for providing the in-depth study of Reginald Scot's Discoverie which was very much needed. His book will be essential reading for all those with a serious interest in the history of witchcraft in England.' - James Sharpe, Professor of Early Modern History, University of York

Author Information

Philip C Almond is Professor Emeritus of Religion at the University of Queensland, and is internationally respected for his work on religion and the history of ideas, especially during the English Enlightenment. His eight previous books include Heaven and Hell in Enlightenment England, Adam and Eve in Seventeenth Century Thought, Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England and The Witches of Warboys (I.B.Tauris, 2008).

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