Reading witchcraft: stories of early English witches

Introduction. The witch, the pedlar and the pedlar's son. Rereading witchcraft: which stories and why do we need to reread them?

Pt. I. Records. 1. Ghost-writers

dialogue, interrogation and the production of the records of witchcraft. Questions. Answers: pre-scripted or imaginative, resistance or confession? Writers: clerks and pamphleteers. A case study of The Apprehension and confession of three notorious Witches. 2. Witchcraft trials and a methodology for reading them. Preparing for trial. Indictment. Arraignment and plea. Reporting evidence

documents and oral testimony. Reporting evidence

vivid accounts. Verdict and sentence. Reporting evidence

a case study of The Witches of Northamptonshire and a related manuscript. London and Middlesex

Goodcole. Conclusions