Staging Witchcraft Before the Law - Skepticism, Performance As Proof, Law As Magic in Early Modern Witch

Early modern witch-hunting faced skepticism and evidentiary barriers, making it difficult to convict witches. Judges and accusers used performance staging to overcome these barriers. This Element examines two cases to illustrate ways evidentiary staging can signify in law. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Sommario

1. Introduction; 2. Performance as proof of the 'Hidden Crime'; 3. Doing battle with Satan in a Louviers Courthouse: devil versus law in the trial of Françoise Fontaine (1591); 4. Staging possession in the trial of John Samuel: Witchcraft at the Huntington Assizes (1593); 5. Conclusion: Law as magic; References.

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Julie Stone Peters, Julie Stone (Columbia University Peters, Peters Julie Stone
• Editore: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Copertina rigida
• Pubblicazione: 01.12.2024
• EAN: 9781009469708
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0946970-8
• Pagine: 78
• Serie: Elements in Magic
• Categorie: Saggistica > Filosofia, religione > Religione: tematiche generali, opere di consultazione; Scienze umane, arte, musica > Arte > Teatro, balletto; RELIGION / General, Witchcraft, Magic, spells and alchemy, Magic, spells & alchemy, Conjuring & Magic, Conjuring and magic