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The Influence of the Reformation and Counter Reformation Upon Key Texts in the Literature of Witchcraft

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The Influence of the Reformation and Counter Reformation Upon Key Texts in the Literature of Witchcraft University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Department of History The Influence of the Reformation and Counter Reformation upon Key Texts in the Literature of Witchcraft A Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Lisa Jacqueline Watson May 1997 NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 097 50879 6 Abstract Acknowledgements Abbreviations I Introduction 1.1 "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" 1 1.2 The study 3 1.3 The Pre-Reformation Authors: Champier, Martin of Arles, Ponzinibio and Ciruelo 7 1.4 The Counter Reformation Authors: Remi, Boguet and Guazzo 10 1.5 The Protestant Authors: Daneau, Hemmingsen, Scot, Gifford and James 14 1.6 The Influence of the Literature upon Witch Beliefs and Persecution 19 2 Divine and Demonic Power 2.1 The Origin of Demons 2.1.1 Divine Power and Evil 24 2.1.2 The Development of Satan and Personified Evil 25 2.1.3 The Power of the Devil and Demons 27 2.2 The Early Church 2.2.1 Patristic Beliefs in Divine Power 30 2.2.2 Patristic Beliefs in Personified Evil 31 2.2.3 Patristic Beliefs on the Nature and Power of the Devil and Demons 32 2.3 The Scholastics 2.3.1 Scholastic Beliefs in Divine Power 36 2.3.2 Scholastic Beliefs on the Nature and Power of the Devil and Demons 38 2.4 Pre-Reformation Views 2.4.1 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in Divine Power 40 2.4.2 Pre-Reformation Beliefs on the Nature and Power of the Devil and Demons 42 2.5 Counter Reformation Views 2.5.1 Counter Reformation Beliefs in Divine Power 47 2.5.2 Counter Reformation Beliefs on the Nature and Power of the Devil and Demons 49 2.6 Protestant Views 2.6.1 Protestant Beliefs in Divine Power 52 2.6.2 Protestant Beliefs on the Nature and Power of the Devil and Demons 54 2.7 Conclusion 61 The Use of Magic 3 Manifestations of Divine and Demonic Power 3.1 Introduction. 64 3.2 Early Beliefs in Manifestations of Demonic Power 65 3.2.1 Biblical Beliefs in Manifestations of Demonic Power 65 3.2.2 Patristic Beliefs in Manifestations of Demonic Power 66 3.2.3 Scholastic Beliefs in Manifestations of Demonic Power 68 3.3 Early Belief in Manifestations of Divine Power 71 3.3.1 Biblical Beliefs in Manifestations of Divine Power 71 3.3.2 Patristic Beliefs in Manifestations of Divine Power 73 3.3.3 Scholastic Beliefs in Manifestations of Divine Power 74 3.4 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in Manifestations of Demonic Power 75 3.4.1 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in Metamorphosis -.7 3.4.2 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in Maleficium 79 3.5 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in Manifestations of Divine Power 81 3.5.1 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in Possession and Exorcism 83 3.6 Counter Reformation Beliefs in Manifestations of Demonic Power 84 3.6.1 Counter Reformation Beliefs in Metamorphosis 88 3.6.2 Counter Reformation Beliefs in Maleficium 91 3.7 Counter Reformation Beliefs in Manifestations of Divine Power 96 3.7.1 Counter Reformation Beliefs in Possession and Exorcism 96 3.8 Protestant Beliefs in Manifestations of Demonic Power 99 3.8.1 Protestant Beliefs in Metamorphosis 1 01 3.8.2 Protestant Beliefs in Maleficium 104 3.9 Protestant Beliefs in Manifestations of Divine Power 111 3.9.1 Protestant Beliefs in Possession and Exorcism 113 3.10 Conclusion 116 4 Cunning Folk and Superstition 4.1 Introduction. 118 4.1.1 Legal Views 120 4.1.2 The Popularity of Cunning Folk 122 4.2 The Early Church and Scholastics 125 4.2.1 Early Church and Scholastic Views on the Natural Efficacy of Cures 127 4.2.2 Early Church and Scholastic Views on the Popularity of Cunning Folk 128 4.2.3 Early Church and Scholastic Views on Amulets, Charms and Talismans 129 4.2.4 Early Church and Scholastic Views on Authorised Rites and Rituals 130 4.3 The Pre-Reformation Writers 133 4.3.1 Pre-Reformation Views on the Natural Efficacy of Cures 133 4.3.2 Pre-Reformation Views on Healing by Superstition and Cunning Folk 135 4.3.3 Pre-Reformation Views on Amulets, Charms and Talismans 137 4.3.4 Pre-Reformation Views on Authorised Rites and Rituals 139 4.3.5 Pre-Reformation Scepticism 14 2 4.4 Counter Reformation Catholics 143 4.4.1 Counter Reformation Views on the Sacred and Profane 145 4.4.2 Counter Reformation Views on Healing by Superstition and Cunning Folk 147 4.4.3 Counter Reformation Views on Amulets, Charms and Talismans 151 4.4.4 Counter Reformation Views on Authorised Rites and Rituals 152 4.4.5 Counter Reformation Scepticism 153 4.5 Protestant Views 155 4.5.1 Protestant Views on the Popularity of Cunning Folk 155 4.5.2 Protestant Views on the Origins of Superstition 158 4.5.3 Protestant Views on Catholic Rites and Rituals 162 4.5.4 Protestant Views on the Importance of Faith 163 4.6 Conclusion 164 5 Magic 5.1 Introduction. 167 5.1.1 Types of Magic 168 5.1.2 Magic and Witchcraft. 170 5.2 Early Church and Scholastic Views 172 5.2.1 Early Church and Scholastic Views on Natural Magic 175 5.2.2 Early Church and Scholastic Views on Astrology 176 5.2.3 Early Church and Scholastic Views on Demonic Magic 178 5.2.4 Early Church and Scholastic Views on the Diabolic Pact 181 5.3 Pre-Reformation Views 183 5.3.1 Pre-Reformation Views on Natural Magic 183 5.3.2 Pre-Reformation Views on Astrology 185 5.3.3 Pre-Reformation Views on Demonic Magic 187 5.3.4 Pre-Reformation Views on the Diabolic Pact 187 5.4 Counter Reformation Views 190 5.4.1 Counter Reformation Views on Natural Magic 190 5.4.2 Counter Reformation Views on Astrology and Demonic Magic 191 5.4.3 Counter Reformation Views on the Diabolic Pact 193 5.5 Protestant Views 195 5.5.1 Protestant Views on Natural Magic 195 5.5.2 Protestant Views on Astrology 197 5.5.3 Protestant Views on Demonic Magic 198 5.5.4 Protestant Views on The Diabolic Pact 200 5.6 Conclusion 202 Sensational Aspects of Witchcraft 6 Witches' Flight 6.1 Witches' Flight 205 6.1.1 Prehistory of Human Flight 206 6.1.2 Biblical Examples of Human Flight 206 6.1.3 Belief in Night Flying Spirits 207 6.2 Patristic and Scholastic Opinions 209 6.2.1 The 'Canon Episcopi ` 209 6.2.2 The Debate Over the 'Canon Episcopi' 210 6.2.3 Denial of the 'Canon Episcopi' 212 6.3 Pre-Reformation Opinions 214 6.3.1 The Debate Over the 'Canon Episcopi' 215 6.3.2 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in the Illusion of Witches' Flight 216 6.3.3 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in the Reality of Witches' Flight 219 6.3.4 Pre-Reformation Images of Witches' Flight 219 6.4 Counter Reformation Opinions 221 6.4.1 The Debate over the 'Canon Episcopi' 221 6.4.2 Counter Reformation Beliefs in the Illusion of Witches' Flight 222 6.4.3 Counter Reformation Beliefs in the Reality of Witches' Flight 224 6.4.4 Counter Reformation Images of Witches' Flight 227 6.5 Protestant Opinions 228 6.5.1 The Debate Over the 'Canon Episcopi' 229 6.5.2 Protestant Beliefs in the Illusion of Witches' Flight 229 6.5.3 Protestant Beliefs in the Reality of Witches' Flight 232 6.5.4 Renaissance Images of Witches' Flight 235 6.6 Conclusion 236 7 The Witches' Sabbat 7.1 Introduction. 240 7.1.1 Possible Origins of Sabbat Beliefs 242 7.1.2 The Possibility of a Real Sabbat 244 7.1.3 Early Modern European Fertility Cults 245 7.1.4 Night Spirits, Fairies and Ladies of the House 247 7.2 Patristic and Scholastic Beliefs 249 7.2.1 Patristic and Scholastic Beliefs in a Real Sabbat 249 7.2.2 Patristic and Scholastic Beliefs in the Sabbat as Illusion 251 7.3 Pre-Reformation Beliefs 253 7.3.1 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in a Real Sabbat 253 7.3.2 Pre-Reformation Beliefs in the Sabbat as Illusion 256 7.4 Counter Reformation Beliefs 259 7.4.1 Counter Reformation Beliefs in a Real Sabbat 26I 7.4.2 The Elements of the Sabbat: Feasting, Drinking, Dancing and the Orgy 262 7.4.3 The Osculum Infame, Homage to the Devil and Demonic Cruelty 267 7.4.4 Counter Reformation Beliefs in the Sabbat as Illusion 271 7.5 Protestant Beliefs 274 7.5.1 Protestant Beliefs in a Real Sabbat 275 7.5.2 The Elements of the Sabbat: Feasting, Drinking, Dancing and the Orgy 276 7.5.3 The Osculum Infarne and Homage to the Devil 278 7.5.4 Protestant Beliefs in the Sabbat as Illusion • 279 7.6 Conclusion 281 8 Conclusion 286 Bibliography 292 Abstract This study has examined the way in which the Reformation and Counter Reformation influenced key texts in the literature of witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. Certain authors' work has been examined in detail: Pedro Ciruelo, Martin of Arles, Symphorien Champier, Gianfrancesco Ponzinibio, Nicolas Remi, Henri Boguet, Francesco Maria Guazzo, Niels Hemmingsen, Lambert Daneau, George Gifford, James VI and Reginald Scot. These writers include both those who were extremely sceptical, and also those who were very credulous about the abilities of witches. These are not the only demonologists referred to, however, as each work is put into context.
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