HSTEU305                                        WEEK 7
DISCUSSION OF WITCH TRIAL DOCUMENTS

Documents:
  1) Xerox packet & on line link to   Trial of midwife Walpurga Hausman (Germany)
            Also look at link to German interrogation questions:
  2) Kors and Peters, W/C in Europe: Chelmsford witches, #46, pp. 302-308
            Johannes Junius (Bamberg, Germany), #53, pp. 348-353
            Suzanne Gaudry (Cambresis, Spanish Netherlands) #57, pp. 359-367

This week's section will be spent in analysis and discussion of specific trial
documents listed above, all of which are possible candidates for papers drawing on
primary documents.  See list below for secondary sources that can provide some
background for each of these trials.     

Trial documents can be analyzed in various ways; for purposes of section and papers,
these approaches two are particularly useful:

1) Factual/literal/historical reading of trial records:
Reconstruct events leading to trial: what happened before trial,
how did accusation come about, what happens after person is arrested? 
Use small bits of information in the trial records as evidence, clues.

2) Social/cultural/symbolic reading: 
what images of witch, devil, familiars etc are invoked in trial? 
what is the social context of the accused witch's life? 
is she accused by neighbors, relatives, strangers? 
can you identify the accused witch's social role (e.g. beggar, healer, midwife etc.)? 
what social purposes might be served by this trial?

Analyses of trial records should begin with a close reading of the trial itself,
including specific details.  Note however that the bizarre nature of much testimony means
not all details will be susceptible of ready interpretation. 

Papers drawing on trial documents should place a specific trial in its historical context
(see below) and show how it reflects local traditions, beliefs, legal procedures, etc. 
You should examine specific charges brought, the way in which initial accusation came
before the court, the kind of court trying the case (if secular jurisdiction:
is it a local or higher appeals court?; if Catholic church court: Inquisition or episcopal court?
Most trials in Protestant countries (also France) occur in secular courts, but there are some
related cases tried in the Calvinist consistories of Scotland, & Lutheran church courts in Germany). 
Note also the kinds of questions put to defendant & to witnesses, form of judicial procedure
used the types of evidence accepted by the court, standards of proof in use, outcome of the case.

To place trials in their context, you need some secondary sources.  What follows is a list of
trials and relevant sources for context. A recent new Encyclopedia of Witchcraft (2006). edited
by Richard Golden is availalbe in Suzzallo Reference Section BF1566 .E56 2006 v.1 -4 for
Library Use Only (LUO) Use the articles on England or German as background; also

 England: on reserve, or ask Prof. O'Neil for copy
          Wallace Notestein, History of Witchcraft in Engl. 1588-1718, see index
         Keith Thomas, Religion and Decline of Magic, Chap. 14-17, pp. 436-583
         James Sharpe, Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in England
         Barbara Rosen (ed), Witchcraft Confessions & Accusations
                  includes more extensive selections from Chelmsford trials

  Low Countries: Suzanne Gaudry:
    (Cambresis trial location: border area between France & Spanish Netherlands)
    Robert Muchembled, "The Witches of Cambresis, "
    in James Obelkevich, (ed) Religion & the People, 800-1700 (l979) pp 221-276”
       (link will be posted “Articles for Papers”)