[MR] BBC: Secret History of Witches Video

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the BBC Ideas and Open University are offering a brief video on
witchcraft persecutions in England. The material is applicable to the 16th
century, though all of the cited examples of witchcraft cases are from the
17th century when witch hunting reached its tragic peak. The Video is
presented as a live lecture, illustrated by period woodcuts and scenes
using live actors. It is quite thought provoking.

The video is found at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/the-secret-history-of-witches/p0brm60q

More on witchcraft in England is found on Wikipedia at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_in_early_modern_Britain . It
should be noted that charges of witchcraft were sometimes made at high
levels during the 16th century, particularly in alleged plots against kings
(which were also treason). One of the charges against Anne Boleyn was
witchcraft.

King James VI & I promoted witch hunts and WROTE the 1597 handbook
DAEMONOLOGIE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_trials_in_early_modern_Scotland .

The video mentions Matthew Hopkins, aka the self-styled "Witchfinder
General". Hopkins was responsible for much of the English witchcraft
hysteria in the MID-17th century. His story is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Hopkins .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆