Magic as a Political Crime in Medieval and Early Modern England: A History of Sorcery and Treason

347 Pages·2017·29.127 MB·English

by  Francis Young

FRANCIS YOUNG
MAGIC AS
A POLITICAL
CRIME
IN MEDIEVAL AND
EARLY MODERN ENGLAND
A History of Sorcery and Treason
Francis Young is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and
gained a PhD In history from the University of Cambridge. He is
the author and editor of seven previous books. These include
English Catholics and the Supernatural, 7553-7^29 (2013), The
Cages of Hengrave and Suffolk Catholicism, 1640-1767 (2015), The
Abbey of Bury St Edmunds: History, Legacy and Disco)/ery (2016)
and A History of Exorcism in Catholic Christianity (2016). He
broadcasts regularly for the BBC on historical topics and is cen­
trally Involved In efforts to locate the coffin of St Edmund, Mar­
tyred Monarch of the East Angles. His new book, Edmund: In
Search of England's Lost King, will be published by I.B.Tauris in
2018.
*The study of magic In medieval and early modern England has
been dominated by its having been located within the study of
witchcraft, to the detriment of Its study outside the history of
witchcraft accusations. Legal histories of treason have similarly
marginalised the role of magic. This has led to the virtual Ignor­
ing of the relationship between elite magic's significant role In
political crime and in accusations of treason against its practi­
tioners. The first book devoted to the study of magic and polit­
ical crime, Francis Young's new volume substantially redresses
this situation. Taking us on a fascinating journey through the ter­
rain of treasonous magic, it illuminates how, from the fourteenth
to the seventeenth century, treasonous activities against both the
monarch and the government were often driven by magical prac­
tices - whether by means of astrological calculations, the stab­
bing or melting of effigies or occult knowledge of poisons. It
makes an original and significant addition both to modern stud­
ies of the European magical tradition and to the political history
of medieval and early modern England, while serving too as a
salutary reminder that that history cannot be fully understood
without recognition of the intimate relation between the magical
and the monarchical.*
— Philip C. Almond, Emeritus Professor of Religion,
University of Queensland
‘While most histories of medieval and early modern magic have
focused either on the theories and practices of magic, or on its
troubled relationship with religious authority, Francis Young's
impressively argued and richly documented study offers a new
area of Investigation: the close links between moments of polit­
ical instability, fears of sedition and treason and accusations of
harmful magic. Young's book will be warmly welcomed by all
those who work on the social and cultural histo^ of European
magic and the history of Ideas.'
— Stephen Clucas, Reader in Early Modern Intellectual History,
BIrkbeck, University of London
‘Francis Young's new book is an accessible and wide-ranging
narrative history of a fascinating subject: magical treason, its
methods, practitioners and - supposedly - Its “victims”. Atmo­
spheric and engaging, It Is notably well written.'
— Marion Gibson, Professor of Renaissance and Magical
Literatures,
University of Exeter
‘This volume makes an important contribution to the field and is
a welcome counterbalance to the literature on witchcraft, which
tends to view the history of magic simply as a road leading to the
witch trials. It brings together the scattered literature on trea­
sonous magic and convincingly demonstrates that magical
threats interwoven with courtly politics and political intrigue were
key elements in the shifting approaches to magic in early modern
England.'
— Frank Klaassen, Associate Professor of History, University of
Saskatchewan, author of The Tran^>rmations of Magic: tllicit
Learned
Magic in the Later Middle Ages and Renaissance
MAGIC AS A
POLITICAL CRIME
IN MEDIEVAL AND
EARLY MODERN
ENGLAND
A History of Sorcery and Treason
Francis Young
I.n.TAU RIS

For Rachel
Published In 2018 by
I.B.Tauris & Co. Ltd
London · New York
www.lbtaurls.com
Copyright © 2018 Francis Young
The right of Francis Young to be identified as the author of this
work
has been asserted by the author in accordance with the Сору'
right.
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved- Except for brief quotations In a review, this
book,
or any part thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in or intro­
duced
into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means.
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without
the prior written permission ofthe publisher.
References to websites were correct at the time of writing.
International Library of Historical Studies 107
ISBN: 978 1 78831 021 5
elSBN: 978 ι 78672 291 ι
ePDF: 97^ ι 7^673 29“ΐ ο
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brary
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Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: available