A Defence Of Witchcraft Belief A Sixteenth-century Response To Reginald Scot’s Discoverie Of Witchcraft

This is the first published edition of a fascinating manuscript on witchcraft in the collection of the british library, written by an unknown sixteenth-century scholar.Responding to a pre-publication draft of reginald scot’s sceptical discoverie of witchcraft 1584 , the treatise represents the most detailed defence of witchcraft belief to be written in the early modern period in england.It highlights in detail the scriptural and theological justifications for a belief in witches, covering ground that may well have been considered too sensitive for print publications and presenting learned arguments not found in any other contemporary english work.Consequently, it offers a unique insight into elite witchcraft belief dating from the very beginning of the english witchcraft debate.This edition, which includes a comprehensive analytical introduction, presents the treatise with modernised spelling and relevant excerpts from scot’s book. -- .

This is the first published edition of a fascinating manuscript on witchcraft in the collection of the british library, written by an unknown sixteenth-century scholar.Responding