Who is being accused of witchcraft? Margaret Johnson, Mary Spencer, and Frances Dickenson 

What is the context of your chosen document? In other words, looking at the document and the transcript, summarize what is going on. 

• The Bishop of Chester is describing the 3 women accused of witchcraft. 

• This document was written on 15 June, 1634 in Lancaster, England 

• Margaret is described in detail as a 60 year old widow who has been practicing witchcraft for the last 6 years and has placed vexations on her neighbours. 

• They document also reveals to have these interesting interactions with a man in black clothing 

• Margaret says she would never hurt any man or woman with witchcraft. However, she had a neighbour who mysteriously died

• It is noted that she often went to church until her soul met the devil. Since then she has not gone to church

How does your chosen document connect back to any concept we learned in class about witchcraft? (hint: you are not allowed to say witchcraft)

• The document reveals the misogyny found in witch hunts and trials. For example, the Bishop and many others in her community accuse Margaret of witchcraft. However, with her age, being widowed, and her odd interactions with others, she is likely marginalized in her community. During that time, often women who did not fit the societal standards could have been accused of witchcraft. 

Who is being accused: Joan Guppie

Context: Joan Guppie was accused of witchcraft by her own neighbours, who took it upon themselves to enact violence on her as a punishment.

Class connection: This seems to be an example of collective panic and hysteria as townspeople have joined together to enact a punishment on a suspected "witch." The document discusses the "revenge and malice" that was inflicted upon Guppie as a result of her neighbours panicking (jumping to extreme conclusions and panic like we discussed in class).

Who was accused?

• Richard Jackson accused Jennet and George Bennett

What is the context?

• Richard accused George of throwing a rock at home and hearing Jennet utter something, which he believes to be a spell. Richard then states that this caused his wife to lose her hearing and his child to be taken with fits.

• Additional accusations include hearing music and dancing at night and them trespassing his property.

How does it connect to our lesson?

• Highlights how neighbours will turn on each other and blame each other as the reason for their misfortune without solid evidence -> collective hysteria and unfounded accusations

• Also the use of witchcraft to perpetuate power dynamics -> accused those who were disliked or possibly outcasted by the community such as women or people that were sick

• A woman named Agnes Samson is confessing to being a witch. She reports that after the death of her husband, the devil came to her. She was impoverished and needed to care for her children so she renounced Christ and agreed to worship him since he promised her riches.

How does the chosen document connect back to class?

• This document illustrates the connection between Christianity and witchcraft, as discussed on the slide titled "Malleus Maleficarum". Samson argues that she renounced Christ, suggesting that being a witch is the antithesis of being Christian.

Who is being accused:

Agnes Samon

Context of the document:

Agnes' confession to being a witch. She says that the devil visited her after her husband's death, and because she was worried about how to support her and her kids, pledged allegiance to him over Christ. She was burned following the confession. The document was written 29 January, 1590.

How does it connect to course concepts:

She was punished for renouncing Christ, which is connected to the idea of religious domination, hegemony we discussed in class

Joan Guppie

What is the context?

This document is a complaint from 1605 protesting the mob violence against Joan Guppie by her neighbours who suspected her of being a witch.

How does this connect to what we learned in class?

This document reflects the mass hysteria often involved in accusations of witchcraft. Similarly, the misogyny which was common in many moral panics surrounding witchcraft is a factor in the case of Joan Guppie