Overview

This broadly chronological collection charts the change in attitudes to witchcraft during the period 1560-1736, which culminates in the educated debate on the reality of witchcraft and the gradual decline in belief in witches and association phenomena, leading to the repeal of the English witchcraft statute. The religious and political tensions brought about by the Civil War and Restoration are evident within these texts. During this time there were many instances of witch persecutions, and well over 100 works were written on the subject. Events like the only mass witch trial to take place in England, instigated by an obscure gentleman called Matthew Hopkins in East Anglia, sparked the publication of a number of tracts by supporters of witch hunts and by the sceptics. These volumes also include early demonological works, trial pamphlets and final debates.

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9781851967353

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Reviews

'without a doubt one of the most important publications on witchcraft trials and beliefs in recent years' Journal of American Folklore 'Libraries that cannot afford large microfilm collections-and those include most college and university libraries in this country and Britain-can now serve the interests of their readers (students and professors alike) with hard copies of some of the most important works relating to the history of witchcraft in England.' Albion 'Anyone lucky enough to have access to a library that invests in this collection will find it an excellent introduction to the riches both of the publications generated by English witchcraft and of the current scholarship on the subject.' History 'The six volumes are nicely bound; each contains an excellent introductory essay to the documents as a whole, and individual commentaries provide context for each selected text ... even undergraduates will have little difficulty mining the jewels in this collection [and] for any serious research institution English Witchcraft 1560-1736 is a must-have.' Sixteenth Century Journal

'without a doubt one of the most important publications on witchcraft trials and beliefs in recent years' Journal of American Folklore 'Anyone lucky enough to have access to a library that invests in this collection will find it an excellent introduction to the riches both of the publications generated by English witchcraft and of the current scholarship on the subject.' History 'The six volumes are nicely bound; each contains an excellent introductory essay to the documents as a whole, and individual commentaries provide context for each selected text ... even undergraduates will have little difficulty mining the jewels in this collection [and] for any serious research institution English Witchcraft 1560-1736 is a must-have.' Sixteenth Century Journal

Author Information

James Sharpe is at the University of York Richard Golden is at the University of North Texas Peter Elmer is at the Open University Malcolm Gaskill is at Churchill College, Cambridge University Marion Gibson is at Truro College, Exeter University

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