This course explores the magical world in which pre-modern English people lived. From malevolent witches feared by kings and peasants alike, to the cunning folk who sold magical cures for a fee, England was filled with people dabbling in the supernatural. Through themes including gender, law, community, and literature, we will consider how people understood magic in their daily lives, and the impact it had on society.

The course will draw on both traditional historical sources such as trial records, and literary sources like the plays of Shakespeare and Thomas Heywood. By the end of the course, students will have a rounded knowledge of the 'magical universe' in which pre-modern peoples lived, and a contextualised understanding of the rise of the European witch trials.