Magic as a Political Crime in Medieval and Early Modern England: A History of Sorcery and Treason

by Francis Young

Treason and magic were first linked together during the reign of Edward II. Theories of occult conspiracy then regularly led to major political scandals, such as the trial of Eleanor Cobham Duchess of Gloucester in 1441. While accusations of magical treason against high-ranking figures were indeed a staple of late medieval English power politics, they acquired new significance at the Reformation when the 'superstition' embodied by magic came to be associated with proscribed Catholic belief. Francis Young here offers the first concerted historical analysis of allegations of the use of magic either to harm or kill the monarch, or else manipulate the course of political events in England, between the fourteenth century and the dawn of the Enlightenment. His book addresses a subject usually either passed over or elided with witchcraft: a quite different historical phenomenon. He argues that while charges of treasonable magic certainly were used to destroy reputations or to ensure the convictions of undesirables, magic was also perceived as a genuine threat by English governments into the Civil War era and beyond.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2020

Reviews

[W Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it! Very interesting.

[Alper Yılmaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An indispensable resource on both the history of magic and the history of political crime in England and early modern Europe. Such a shame that a book as focused yet comprehensive as this on this subject only came out within the last 5 years; Francis Young's service to both academics and enthusiasts of history, magic and political crime is immeasurable.

[KT · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book on a woefully underrepresented topic. Whether you're interested in magic during the Renaissance or how class, power, gender, and the supernatural collide, Young's book provides a wealth of information in a dense and compact package. Decidedly not a casual study though.

I've posted a more extensive review here.