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Witchcraft and Magic in England, c. 1400–1920

The National Archives (UK)

Collection: Witchcraft and Magic in England, c. 1400–1920 Volumes The National Archives (UK)

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The majority of the content sourced from TNA concerns the legal aspects and ramifications of witchcraft, notably its criminalisation during the mid-sixteenth century and the subsequent persecution of individuals perceived to be witches within the English legal system. Sources that date from the nineteenth century concern individuals who were convicted of vagrancy for “offences” such as fortune telling or spiritualism.

The collection features content from 36 TNA series. Navy Board records date from 1675 (ADM 106). The Assizes records cover the period 1564–1684 (ASSI 16, ASSI 35, ASSI 44, and ASSI 45). Court of Chancery records cover the period 1407–1617 (C 1, C 2, C 3, and C 65). Exchequer records date from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries (E 163). Documents sourced from the Court of King's Bench date from 1440 (KB 27 and KB 9). Metropolitan Police records date from 1910 (MEPO 2). Special Collection records date from 1426 (SC 8).

The State Papers in this collection cover the period 1581–1758 (SP 9, SP 12, SP 14, SP 16, SP 18, SP 29, SP 35, SP 36, SP 46, SP 52, and SP 116). Court of Star Chamber records cover the period 1509–1624 (STAC, STAC 5, and STAC 8). Copyright Office records date from 1895 (COPY 1). Home Office records cover the period 1799–1931 (HO 17, HO 18, HO 45, HO 47, and HO 144). Privy Council records date from 1634 (PC 2). The diaries of the First Earl of Shaftesbury that are featured were written between 1645 and 1660. Also featured is an astrological almanac that was written by William Lilly. This was published in 1671 (PRO 30/24).

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