James I
James I (1566–1625) king of Scotland and England who strengthened anti-witch laws in 1604. James’ own beliefs about witchcraft reflected the popular views of the…
Category: Historical Persons related to Witchcraft
Innocent VIII, Pope
Innocent VIII, Pope (1432–1492; r. 1484–1492) Giovanni Batista Cibo, elected pope in 1484, issued what has been termed one of the most important documents in…
Mather, Increase
Increase Mather (1639–1723) Illustrious Puritan minister and intellectual who viewed witchcraft and supernatural happenings as evidence of God’s growing displeasure with New England. While his…
Lancre, Pierre de
Pierre deLancre (1550?–1631?) Infamous French witch-trial judge who terrorized the Basque region, sent an estimated 600 persons to their deaths at the stake and compiled…
Hopkins, Matthew
Hopkins, Matthew (?–1647?) England’s most notorious professional witch-hunter, who brought about the condemnations and executions of at least 230 alleged witches, more than all other…
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was a native of Salem, Massachusetts, and one of the great masters of American fiction, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote one of his best-known…
James VI and I
James VI and I (1566–1625) King of both Scotland (as James VI) and England (as James I) and a persecutor of witches, whom he believed…
Scot, Reginald
Reginald Scot (ca. 1538–1599) was an English writer who was one of the few outspoken critics of witch hunts. Reginald Scot was openly derisive of…
Doctor John
Doctor John (19th century) Famous American witch DOCTOR, Doctor John (also called Bayou John and Jean Montaigne) was a free black man who owned slaves…
Abano, Peter of
Peter of Abano (1250–1316) was an Italian physician condemned by the Inquisition for his alleged infernal knowledge and magical practices. Peter of Abano wrote on…