Children, Adolescents, and English Witchcraft

• Main Author: Martin, Lisa A.
• Other Authors: Golden, Richard M.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2005
• Subjects: Witchcraft > England.; Children > England.; Teenagers > England.; child; witchcraft; England; witch hunt; adolescent; children; possession; bewitchment
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4952/

One area of history that historians have ignored is that of children and their relationship to witchcraft and the witch trials. This thesis begins with a survey of historical done on the general theme of childhood, and moves on to review secondary literature about children and the continental witch trials. The thesis also reviews demonological theory relating to children and the roles children played in the minds of continental and English demonologists. Children played various roles: murder victims, victims of dedication to Satan, child-witches, witnesses for the prosecution, victims of bewitchment or possession, and victims of seduction into witchcraft. The final section of the thesis deals with children and English witchcraft. In England children tended to play the same roles as described by the demonologists.