Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England: Contemporary Texts and their Cultural ContextsThis book is exclusively devoted to demonic possession and exorcism in early modern England. It offers modernized versions of the most significant early modern texts on nine cases of demonic possession from the period 1570 to 1650, the key period in English history for demonic possession. The nine stories were all written by eyewitnesses or were derived from eyewitness reports. They involve matters of life and death, sin and sanctity, guilt and innocence, of crimes which could not be committed and punishments which could not be deserved. The nine critical introductions which accompany the stories address the different strategic intentions of those who wrote them. The modernized texts and critical introductions are placed within the context of a wide-ranging general Introduction to demonic possession in England across the period 1550 to 1700. |
Contents
1 | |
Chapter 1 Disfigured by the Devil The story of Alexander Nyndge | 43 |
Chapter 2 Two possessed maidens in London The story of Agnes Briggs and Rachel Pinder | 58 |
Chapter 3 The witches of Warboys The story of the Throckmorton children | 71 |
Chapter 4 The boy of Burton The story of Thomas Darling | 150 |
Chapter 5 A household possessed The story of the Lancashire seven | 192 |
Chapter 6 The counterfeit demoniac The story of William Sommers | 240 |
Other editions - View all
Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England: Contemporary Texts ... Philip C. Almond No preview available - 2007 |
Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England: Contemporary Texts ... Philip C. Almond No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
accused Agnes Samuel Anon answered asked began belly bewitched blessed body Boy of Bilson Bradwell called cast cause child comfort confess continued counterfeit daughter deliverance demoniacs demonic possession Devil dispossession divers Doctor Dorington Dorothy Swinow Edward Elizabeth Elizabeth Throckmorton examinant exorcism exorcists eyes Father fearful fell fits Gilbert Pickering God’s hand Harsnett hear heard heart Hildersham holy hour Jane John Darrell John Dee Lady Cromwell Lancashire legs Lord maid manner marvellously Mary Glover Master Darrell Master Doctor Master Pickering Master Throckmorton mercy Mistress Joan Mother Samuel mouth never night Nottingham Nyndge o’clock old woman pray prayer and fasting preacher present Priest Robert Throckmorton Samuel Harsnett Satan scratch Scripture sister soul speak speeches spoke strange suddenly swelling tell thereof things Thomas Darling thought told torments trance troubled truth uttered voice William Perry William Sommers witch witchcraft words