-27%

Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 (With a New Preface) — Witchcraft Wicca

Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 (With a New Preface) — photo 1

Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 (With a New Preface) — photo 2

Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 (With a New Preface) — photo 3

📖 Have you read this book?

Your review can inspire others to read it

🌙 Witchcraft & Wicca −27%

Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 (With a New Preface)

Name: Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 (With a New Preface)
Price: 36.95 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9780870237539

✍️ Rosen, Barbara

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$36.95 ~~$51.00~~ Save $14.05 (27%)

Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual L VI, Eliphas

-23%

★★★★★

4.6

L VI, Eliphas

Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual L VI, Eliphas

$39.00 $51.00

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft

-20%

★★★★★

4.8

Hutton, Ronald

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft

$22.99 $29.00

The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present

★★★★★

4.8

Hutton, Ronald

The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present

$18.00

★★★★★

4.9

Levack, Brian P

The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe

$76.99

Witchcraft and Magic in Sixteenth- And Seventeenth-Century Europe (2001) Scarre, Geoffrey

-34%

★★★★★

4.6

Geoffrey Scarre, John Callow

Witchcraft and Magic in Sixteenth- And Seventeenth-Century Europe (2001) Scarre, Geoffrey

$36.95 $56.00

England's First Demonologist: Reginald Scot and 'The Discoverie of Witchcraft'

-40%

★★★★★

4.6

Almond, Philip C

England's First Demonologist: Reginald Scot and 'The Discoverie of Witchcraft'

$36.95 $62.00

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Barbara Rosen's "Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618" compiles a crucial collection of primary documents concerning witchcraft in late 16th and early 17th century England. It offers direct insights into how witchcraft was perceived, prosecuted, and punished during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Rosen's introductory analysis elucidates the societal factors, scientific misunderstandings, and religious doctrines that fueled these beliefs. The book also distinguishes between English and Continental magical practices, detailing the legal frameworks applied to accused individuals like witches, cunning folk, and conjurers. This volume makes historical texts accessible while preserving scholarly integrity.

🌙

Witchcraft & Wicca

Praise for this book

“The superb introduction . . . [is] a statement which, besides other attributes, carefully establishes the distinction between witchcraft in England and on the Continent. Each pamphlet's text is preceded by explanatory editorial notes; and the book includes a selected bibliography, a very helpful simple glossary, and separate indexes to 'familiars, ' persons, and places.”

— Library Journal

“An essential volume of Elizabethan texts for all libraries, for all literary and history students, and indeed for all curious readers.”

— Modern Language Review

🏛 University of Massachusetts Press 📅 1991 📖 424 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780870237539

Fun Fact

Rosen's compilation is an indispensable resource, offering unfiltered access to the raw materials of Elizabethan and Jacobean witchcraft. It excels in presenting the lived experience of this fraught period, making complex historical beliefs tangible. While those seeking a singular, overarching narrative might find its documentary nature less cohesive, it's unparalleled for anyone craving direct engagement with primary sources. This volume holds a vital place in any serious collection on early modern magic and social history.

📝 Description: Witchcraft in England, 1558-1618 (With a New Preface)

Anyone interested in manifestations of witchcraft in Elizabethan and Jacobean England will find this book an invaluable source. Barbara Rosen has gathered and edited a rare collection of documents--pamphlets, reports, trial accounts, and other material--that describes the experience, interpretation, and punishment of witchcraft in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. In her introduction, Rosen explores the full range of practices and beliefs associated with witchcraft and situates these phenomena in historical context. She explains how ignorance of science and medicine combined with social circumstance and religious ideology to shape popular perceptions and superstitions. Distinguishing between English and Continental forms of witchcraft, she also examines the legal definitions, disciplines, and punishments applied to wizards, witches, wise women, and conjurers in the Elizabethan age. The pamphlets and other original texts have been modernized in certain respects to make them more accessible to general readers. But the book retains its value for scholars: omissions are detailed in the notes and additions marked; obsolete words and grammar are explained in the glossary. Originally published in England in 1970 under the title Witchcraft, this book appears now for the first time in paperback and includes a new preface by the editor.

📑 What's inside

Preface to the Paperback EditionList of IllustrationsAcknowledgments
1. Introduction2. Early Days3. Law Tricks4. Thick-Coming Fancies5. Changing Times: The Tricksters6. Possession7. Deaths and Sentences8. Jacobean Style
Select BibliographyGlossaryIndex of FamiliarsIndex of PersonsIndex of Places

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Rosen’s compilation is a vital resource for understanding the specific legal and social mechanics of witchcraft accusations in England between 1558 and 1618. The inclusion of primary documents alongside analytical introduction makes it indispensable for serious study. However, readers seeking sensationalist ghost stories or fictionalized narratives should look elsewhere; this is a rigorous historical work grounded in archival evidence. It may also feel dense to those unfamiliar with early modern legal terminology or the specific nuances of English common law versus Continental witch-hunting practices. The book does not offer easy answers or moral simplifications, requiring patience and an interest in socio-legal history rather than supernatural intrigue.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Scholars and history enthusiasts will find immense value in this volume for its careful curation of primary documents that reveal the raw reality of Elizabethan and Jacobean witchcraft accusations. Barbara Rosen provides essential context, helping readers navigate the complex interplay between religious doctrine, scientific misunderstanding, and legal frameworks that defined the era. By distinguishing between the practices of witches, cunning folk, and conjurers, the book offers a nuanced view of societal fears and prosecutions. It is ideal for those seeking to understand the specific English experience of witchcraft, separate from Continental trends, while maintaining scholarly integrity without sacrificing accessibility. This text empowers readers to engage directly with historical voices and legal records, fostering a deeper comprehension of how these beliefs were perceived, prosecuted, and punished during this pivotal period in English history.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the dark corners of English history, the societal impact of superstition, or the legal evolution surrounding alleged magical practices, this book is essential. It offers a direct portal to understanding the fear and fervor surrounding witchcraft in a pivotal era.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Rosen’s compilation is a vital resource for understanding the specific legal and social mechanics of witchcraft accusations in England between 1558 and 1618. The inclusion of primary documents alongside analytical introduction makes it indispensable for serious study. However, readers seeking sensationalist ghost stories or fictionalized narratives should look elsewhere; this is a rigorous historical work grounded in archival evidence. It may also feel dense to those unfamiliar with early modern legal terminology or the specific nuances of English common law versus Continental witch-hunting practices. The book does not offer easy answers or moral simplifications, requiring patience and an interest in socio-legal history rather than supernatural intrigue.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely. While aspects have been made accessible for general readers, the book meticulously details any textual alterations or omissions in its notes, ensuring its continued value for scholars and researchers of early modern history and witchcraft studies.

While its primary focus is Elizabethan and Jacobean England, the introduction thoughtfully distinguishes English forms of witchcraft from their Continental counterparts, offering a comparative perspective without delving deeply into non-English cases.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Historical Witchcraft Perceptions

Delve into how people understood and interpreted witchcraft during the Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. Explore the complex interplay of societal anxieties, medical ignorance, and prevailing religious thought that shaped beliefs about magic and its practitioners, providing context for the collected historical accounts.

Legal & Social Ramifications

Examine the judicial processes, punishments, and social ostracism faced by those accused of witchcraft. This section highlights the distinct legal definitions and disciplinary measures applied to "wizards," "witches," and "wise women" within the English legal system, contrasting them with broader European practices.

Primary Source Immersion

Experience the raw narratives directly through a curated selection of original documents. This collection includes pamphlets, court records, and various reports, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the accusations, testimonies, and outcomes of witchcraft trials, modernized for readability while retaining historical accuracy.

📜 Historical context

This work significantly contributes to the study of early modern European witchcraft, particularly within the distinct English tradition. It stands alongside foundational texts that analyze the legal and cultural responses to perceived magical threats during a period of intense religious and social upheaval, offering a vital documentary counterpoint to theoretical studies.

📚 Glossary

Jacobean Era
Cunning Folk
Pamphlets

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do the primary accounts in this collection challenge or confirm your preconceived notions about witchcraft in historical England?
Consider the role of fear and community dynamics in the accusations documented. How might similar social pressures manifest in contemporary society?
Reflect on the legal processes described. What parallels or stark differences do you observe with modern justice systems, particularly regarding evidence and testimony?