Cantrips and carlins : magic, medicine and society in the presbyteries of Haddington and Stirling, 1603-88
This thesis is an examination of the belief and practice of popular magic, specifically related to charmers, in the presbyteries of Haddington and Stirling between the years 1603 and 1688. It is the first study of either locality which concentrates on identifying the difference between charmers and witches, and considers the practice of the former in the broader context of seventeenth-century attitudes towards health and disease of both orthodox medical practitioners and the wider population. The thesis examines charmers and their healing practice in reference to theories of power, popular and elite culture, the church and gender, and reveals new information about seventeenth-century society. The principles and practice of charmers are then compared to orthodox medicine and popular magic, and the recorded healing treatments and rituals have been examined and analysed in close detail. A comparative analysis has been made of the two localities which assesses and contrasts patterns of witchcraft and charming accusation on a parish level. By using evidence contained in kirk records, supplemented by secular court material, it has been shown that all levels of society identified differences between the practice
Miller, Joyce H. M.
Healing Scotland Folklore 17th century ; Magic Scotland History 17th century ; Scotland Religious life and customs ; Witchcraft Scotland History 17th century ; Parishes Stirling (Scotland ; District) ; Parishes Haddington, Scotland
Cantrips and carlins : magic, medicine and society in the presbyteries of Haddington and Stirling, 1603-88. This thesis is an examination of the belief and practice of popular magic, specifically related to charmers, in the presbyteries of Haddington and Stirling between the years 1603 and 1688. It is the first study of either locality which concentrates on identifying the difference between charmers and witches, and considers the practice of the former in the broader context of seventeenth-century attitudes towards health and disease of both orthodox medical practitioners and the wider population. The thesis examines charmers and their healing practice in reference to theories of power, popular and elite culture, the church and gender, and reveals new information about seventeenth-century society. The principles and practice of charmers are then compared to orthodox medicine and popular magic, and the recorded healing treatments and rituals have been examined and analysed in close detail. A comparative analysis has been made of the two localities which assesses and contrasts patterns of witchcraft and charming accusation on a parish level. By using evidence contained in kirk records, supplemented by secular court material, it has been shown that all levels of society identified differences between the practice
magic medicine society presbytery examination belief_practice popular magic specifically related presbytery first study either locality concentrate identify difference witch considers practice former broad_context seventeenth_century attitude_towards health disease orthodox medical_practitioner wider population examines heal practice reference theory power popular elite culture church gender reveal new_information seventeenth_century society principle_practice compare orthodox medicine popular magic record heal treatment ritual examine analyse close detail comparative_analysis make locality assess contrast pattern witchcraft accusation parish level use evidence contain kirk records supplement secular court material show level society identify difference practice