Magic as a Political Crime in Medieval and Early Modern England: A History of Sorcery and Treason PDF
Preview Magic as a Political Crime in Medieval and Early Modern England: A History of Sorcery and Treason
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 A full CIP record for this book is available from the British U brary A full CIP record is available from the Library of Congress Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: available
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