스코틀랜드 교회파(Kirk Party) 정권과 1649-50년 마녀사냥

초록

The witch-trials under the Kirk party regime in 1649-50 was one of the most intensive witch-hunts in Scottish history. The Kirk party of 1649-50 was heavily influenced by the kirk. Their primary task was to uphold the covenants they had made in both the National Covenant in 1638 and the Solemn League and Covenant in 1643, and to expel from society those perceived to threaten or violate these covenants. This was about creating a godly society as pursued since the reformation in 1560, and addressing pressing difficulties at hand. Witches and witchcraft were seen as adversaries to creating a godly society, as well as adversaries to the covenants. The perception that witches entered a pact with the devil made witchcraft an even more abhorrent crime. This demonic pact was an extreme mockery of the covenant with God. During the witch hunts of 1649-50, the kirk actively intervened. The general assembly of the kirk influenced legislations in Parliament, while local church courts, such as presbyteries and synods, monopolized the crucial initial stages of the witch hunts, effectively determining the outcome of the commission granted by the parliament.

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