What Is The Divells Speech To The Witch

1231 Words3 Pages

This primary source is Matthew Hopkins’ The Discovery of Witches, published in 1647. Hopkins’ witch-hunting tactics were recommended in national and international law books. It should be noted that Hopkins’ book had such a large impact that it was used as a guideline in America to hunt witches too. Following the Lancaster Witch Trial, 1634, it was enforced that there now had to be material proof of being a witch. Hopkins’, known national policy focused on whether the accused had made a pledge to the Devil, rather than if they had been suspect of acts of sorcery. This is shown through Hopkins’ ‘Sidenote: The Divells speech to the Witches’ after querie 13; “…and the witch aggravates her damnation by her familiarity and consent to the Devill”. This reinforces the new emerging norm that European belief was focused around the perception of the ‘diabolical pact’ held between the witch and the Devil. Similarly, The Discovery of Witches drew inspiration from King James’ I, with …show more content…

Through establishing a tie between witchcraft and Catholicism, it was thought that the population would veer towards the “godlier religion”. It is through this that Maxwell-Stuart argues, that King James I published Daemonologie to destroy Catholicism rather than present himself as an authority on the topic of sorcery. However, the aim of this piece of work was to guide the early modern reader in an intellectual discourse about the supernatural and the reality of witches; it was not a direct attack on Catholicism as Maxwell-Stuart assumed. It looked to sway the minds of scholars across Europe, through piecing together political and religious ideals under the umbrella of science. Due to the printing press becoming more popular, Daemonologie entered the publishing world, alongside political, religious and newly forming scientific

Open Document