Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England
Demonic Possession and Exorcism in Early Modern England
This book is exclusively devoted to demonic possession and exorcism in early modern England. It offers modernized versions of the most significant early modern texts on nine cases of demonic possession from the period 1570 to 1650, the key period in English history for demonic possession. The nine stories were all written by eyewitnesses or were derived from eyewitness reports. They involve matters of life and death, sin and sanctity, guilt and innocence, of crimes which could not be committed and punishments which could not be deserved. The nine critical introductions which accompany the stories address the different strategic intentions of those who wrote them. The modernized texts and critical introductions are placed within the context of a wide-ranging general Introduction to demonic possession in England across the period 1550 to 1700.
- Modernized readable versions of the nine most important cases of demonic possession in early modern England
- Critical introductions to each of the nine modernized texts
- Author specializes in religious thought in the period 1500–1700 and this is his fourth book for the Press
Product details
August 2007Paperback
9780521037129
416 pages
229 × 153 × 26 mm
0.627kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1. Disfigured by the Devil: the story of Alexander Nyndge
- 2. Two possessed maidens in London: the story of Agnes Briggs and Rachel Pinder
- 3. The witches of Warboys: the story of the Throckmorton Children
- 4. The boy of Burton: the story of Thomas Darling
- 5. A household possessed: the story of the Lancashire seven
- 6. The counterfeit demoniac: the story of William Sommers
- 7. The puritan martyr: the story of Mary Glover
- 8. The boy of Bilson: the story of William Perry
- 9. A pious daughter: the story of Margaret Muschamp
- References
- Index.
