A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718

A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718 is a book by Wallace Notestein, first published in 1911. This scholarly work offers a comprehensive analysis of the witchcraft trials and persecutions that occurred in England during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

Notestein examines the social, cultural, and political factors that contributed to the rise of witchcraft accusations and the subsequent legal proceedings against suspected witches. Beginning with the reign of Elizabeth I in 1558, the book traces the evolution of witchcraft beliefs and practices in England, from widespread fear of demonic possession to the development of the witchcraft stereotype as a malevolent old woman consorting with the devil.

The work provides valuable insight into the complex interplay between religion, superstition, and the legal system during a transformative period in English history.