WITCHES: GROWING SCEPTICISM - CASE STUDIES

Alledged witch, Alice Gooderidge, responsible for bewitching Thomas Darling & making him ill

Both the symptons and celebrated exorcism (by John Darrel, warned of false accusations ten years prior) were later proven false.

This added to great scepticism towars w.craft and those who could 'cure' it.

Key sceptic figure: Samuel Harnsnett issued the pamphlet 'A Discovery of the Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel' in 1599, and 'A declaration of Egregious Popish Imposters' in 1603, blaming the typical English scapegoat of the age: The Catholic Church 

King Charles I took a personal interest // Edmund would of known about the Pendle Witchtrials 

Edmund Robinson claimed he saw Frances Dickinson turn into a greyhound & brought him into a witch gathering  ---- he brought up w.craft to prevent punishment for not looking after his father's cattle.

 Robinson identified 25 witnesses - 17 found guilty - BUT a report was sent to Privy council regarding doubts. Bishop of Chester, Henry Bridgeman found it wasn't magic and Edmund and his father interrogated in London. 

Margaret Johnson did confess

Edmund later confessed it was fiction - said his dad forced him to get revenge on Dickinson over a cow dispute ...

He would later go on to be a witch finder!

John Mompesson, landowner and JP, intervened with a case of a drumming ex-soldier, William Drury.

• Drury was fraudulently attempting to raise aims (money/food for the poor) - demanded money from a constable - who then became suspicious.
•  Drury was arrested by Mompesson, and his drum confiscated to the Mompesson household.
• The family heard the thumping of the drum, scratching and dog painting sounds as well as objects thrown etc.
• Representitive of King Charles II was sent to investigate. Drury confessed to a fellow inmate he bewitched Mompesson.
• Joseph Glanville (who wanted and attempted to persuade the Royal Society that science could prove witches existence) claimed he heard noises when he visited after hearing about the trial.
• Drury was guilty of stealing, deported but escaped (created a storm), then acquited in Salisbury.

Scepticism with Granville's Account:

Preacher and doctor, John Webster claimed that the case was fraudulent, that Mompesson was responsible for the noises. Balthasar Bekker inspired Beaumont that it was the servants!

KEY IMPORTANCE OF THE CASE: it's been revisited througout the decades, approached with a critical eye and suspicion of Mompesson.

THE LAST FORMAL W.TRIAL IN ENGLAND 

• she had a long rep as a witch: "Wise Women of Walkern"
• a Dissenter (member of a non-estab church outside of C of E)
• very poor (stole straw and turnips) and 70 y/o

Accused of bewitching a farm labourer who refused her straw - Wenham reported him for his accusations ; he was fined 1 shilling - not enough to get justice - his daughter and l.stock fell ill.

Another case led to her acquital, bewitching 16y/o Anne Thorne, her servant employers Godfrey Gardiner suspected w.c and saw Wenham's figure // judge, Sir Powell was sceptical of evidence (eg Ointment) Remarked how there was no law against flying! // Jury found her guilty, Powell secured a royal pardon.

The case took place duringa time where it was rare to get w.c convictions - ANSWER LIES IN LOCAL CONTEXT, eg she was a dissenter+ POWELL WAS AN OUTSIDER, approached case in a rational & objective way - witnesses had a personal grudge against Wenham.

• 1694: witch 'Mother Munnings' accused of causing death by w.c. - Holt refused to accept changes that related to the events 17yrs prior AND dismissed spectral evidence alledged by a drunken man...
• 1695: Cornwall: Holt freed Mary Goy who 'possessed a local girl' 

The Case of Sarah Murdoch 

Most famous case: acquited a suspected witch & was met with fierce op from neighbours. Holt was prepared to put the main accuser on trial for fraudulent claims 

SHOWS SERIOUS SCEPTICISM; influenced by changing intellectual climate e.g. Webster and Beaumont  // BUT STILL WIDESPREAD BELIEF IN W.C

Impact of Holt 

Short Term: spared innocent people and made clear it was a criminal offence to make false accusations 

Long Term: still big beleif in w.c // Holt failed to pass his beliefs to his successor, Matthew Hale

• Alice Molland of Exeter: murdering 3 people in 1682, hanged in '84 
• Final execution in Scotland, burning of Janet Hornet, 1727

The final trials ended: +1,5000 executed for witchcraft in UK

1736: gov repeal the 1604 Witchcraft Act - a number of scottish clergy protested 

A new act passed, aimed at punishing fraudulent cases - max punishment, 1 year imprisonment