A history of witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718 / by Wallace Notestein.

  • Notestein, Wallace, 1878-1969.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A history of witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718 / by Wallace Notestein. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    29/464
    Chapter VIII of 33 Henry VIII states its purpose clearly: “ Where,” reads the preamble, “ dyvers and sundrie persones unlawfully have devised and practised Invocacions and conjuracions of Sprites, pretendyng by suche meanes to understande and get Knowlege for their owne lucre in what place treasure of golde and Sil- ver shulde or mought be founde or had . . . and also have used and occupied wichecraftes, inchauntmentes and sorceries to the distruccion of their neighbours per- sones and goodes.” A description was given of the methods practised, and it was enacted that the use of any invocation or conjuration of spirits, witchcrafts, enchantments, or sorceries should be considered felony “ It will be observed that the law made no graduation of offences. Everything was listed as felony. No later piece of legislation on the subject was so sweeping in its severity. fecte knowlege wherof bee requisite bothe grete lernyng and ripe ex- perience ys daily . . . exercised by a grete multitude of ignoraunt persones . . . soofarfurth that common Artificers as Smythes Wevers and Women boldely and custumably take upon theim grete curis and thyngys of great difficultie In the which they partely use socery and which crafte [jzc] partely applie such medicyne unto the disease as be verey noyous,” it was required that every candidate to practice medicine should be examined by the bishop of the diocese (in London by either the bishop or the Dean of St. Paul’s). ” Stephen, History of Criminal Law, II, 431, says of this act: “ Hutch- inson suggests that this act, which was passed two years after the act of the Six Articles, was intended as a ‘ hank upon the reformers,’ that the part of it to which importance was attached was the pulling down of crosses, which, it seems, was supposed to be practised in connection with magic. Hutchinson adds that the act was never put into execution either against witches or reformers. The act was certainly passed during that period of Henry’s reign when he was inclining in the Roman Cath- olic direction.” The part of the act to which Hutchinson refers reads as follows: “ And for execucion of their saide falce devyses and practises have made or caused to be made dyvers Images and pictures of men, women, childrene, Angelles or develles, beastes or fowles, . . . and gyving faithe and credit to suche fantasticall practises have dygged up and pulled downe an infinite nombre of Crosses within this Realme.”