Witchcraft Essays
How far do you agree that the publication of Thomas Ady’s A Candle in the Dark, 1656, was
the most important development in changing attitudes towards witchcraft in the years c1580-
c1780?
Changing attitudes: decline in beliefs, reshaping ideas, defining things a new way or
discrediting old beliefs as wrong
Argument 1: Thomas Revision of Scot’s First to use the Bible Argues that witches
Ady, A Candle in the work, states people in his literature, did not have familiars
Dark, 1656 was had forgotten its critical of the fact and this was not in
important importance and its Daemonologie, 1597 the bible - changing
value - change does not use the attitudes - discredits it
attitudes - bible - reschapes as wrong
acknowledges need ideas in the way to
for it approach things
Argument 2: Sir George John Holt, educated, John Powell in the
Sceptical judges Mackenzie: Lord went to oxford but did Wenham case, got
chief judge, not get a degree, 12 her a pardon
renowned, Laws and cases, all acquittals,
customs in matters even planned to put
criminal, 1678, Murdoch’s accusers
melancholia - change on trial - change
in beliefs, reshapes attitudes, reshaped
ideas - represents ideas, discredited old
Maevia, change in beliefs - C.Hole, he
attitudes, decline in was significant
beliefs
Argument 3: Boy of Burton case, Jane Wenham, 1712,
Fraudulent cases and 1596-97, prompted a she was let go,
their influence pamphlet war - draw clearly changing
attention to the lies, beliefs - judges were
also drew attention to less willing to take in
the validity of ridiculous evidence,
exorcisms - change meant that there was
beliefs - reshaping a decline in
ideas executions too
How far do you agree that the publication of Thomas Ady’s A Candle in the Dark, 1656, was
the most important development in changing attitudes towards witchcraft in the years c1580-
c1780?
Changing attitudes: decline in beliefs, reshaping ideas, defining things a new way or
discrediting old beliefs as wrong
Argument 1: Thomas Revision of Scot’s First to use the Bible Argues that witches
Ady, A Candle in the work, states people in his literature, did not have familiars
Dark, 1656 was had forgotten its critical of the fact and this was not in
important importance and its Daemonologie, 1597 the bible - changing
value - change does not use the attitudes - discredits it
attitudes - bible - reschapes as wrong
acknowledges need ideas in the way to
for it approach things
Argument 2: Sir George John Holt, educated, John Powell in the
Sceptical judges Mackenzie: Lord went to oxford but did Wenham case, got
chief judge, not get a degree, 12 her a pardon
renowned, Laws and cases, all acquittals,
customs in matters even planned to put
criminal, 1678, Murdoch’s accusers
melancholia - change on trial - change
in beliefs, reshapes attitudes, reshaped
ideas - represents ideas, discredited old
Maevia, change in beliefs - C.Hole, he
attitudes, decline in was significant
beliefs
Argument 3: Boy of Burton case, Jane Wenham, 1712,
Fraudulent cases and 1596-97, prompted a she was let go,
their influence pamphlet war - draw clearly changing
attention to the lies, beliefs - judges were
also drew attention to less willing to take in
the validity of ridiculous evidence,
exorcisms - change meant that there was
beliefs - reshaping a decline in
ideas executions too
