The reign of Elizabeth I, Queen of England during the late 1500s, marked an intellectual era of the Renaissance. Unfortunately, it also marked an era of increased persecution of witches, a pursuit with the support of the queen who is said to have been to be pious - always listening carefully to the clergy and the departure of their bad advice. Perhaps she too was worried about her own safety.
His mother, Anne Boleyn was accused of being a witch. Being the daughter of a witch in those days can easily be misconstrued by rivals as hereditary, which undoubtedly would result in the loss of the throne and even loss of life.
Practiced magic during the reign of Queen refers to Elizabethan Witchcraft, ironically appearing to offer credit for its existence when it was actually part responsible for his disappearance near.
As noted above, the Elizabethan era saw a revival in terms of beliefs in the supernatural. One imagines that the enlightened intellectual mind of late 1500, the world looks very different from the views expressed by the likes of Pope Innocent VIII in the 1000's. Although at first the look of a contradiction in terms, the dynamics of the sudden availability of information (or disinformation if desired) caused by the implementation of the printing by Johannes Gutenberg around 1456, explains this phenomenon.
Plenty of books were printed - mostly Bibles or Books containing religious themes. Unfortunately, these themes reinforced belief in the supernatural and protagonists of the authors were mostly Christian - advocates of the theory of witchcraft (and by witches definition) was bad and that they were consorts of the devil himself. Most of these so-called experts agreed that the British Isles were invaded by witches and that the scourge had to be resolved without delay.
This led to an increase of witch hunts and concomitantly to an increase in executions. The fact that printing also allowed the publication of books on astrology, alchemy and magic, rather than worsen an already burning issue. In 1562, Elizabeth I approved the Elizabethan Witchcraft Act against spells, incantations and sorcery. " The law was certainly milder than those in Italy and Spain. No combined events of heresy with witchcraft. It also offered punishment by hanging, not burning and disallowed the torture of suspects.
But who were the Witches so hated and feared? This is her story summary. Once upon a time, before you start burning, witches were considered "wise" by all. They were midwives, healers, counselors and those working the magic when magic was needed in someone's life. Allows conversations with deceased loved ones and looked to the future for those who need a light in his way.
They were honored and highly regarded. Traditionally, oral tradition, witchcraft is passed from mother to daughter, or apprentice witch - generation after generation. The Burning Times all but destroyed this tradition. The Art of the Wise had to resort to stealth to survive and after nearly 500 years of Burning Times, Elizabethan Witches were on the subway.
About the Author:
Rose Ariadne has been practicing ancient forms of Witchcraft for over 25 years. Get more info aboutElizabethan witchcraft here:http://www.askroseariadne.com/editorials/elizabethan-witchcraft-era-of-persecution.html
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