With the reign of England's first recognised Queen, Elizabeth I, we find a kingdom riven by sectarian violence and uncertainty. Today's episode gives a brief overview of her rule, and covers the various plots against the monarch and her advisers. We also return to the life of John Dee, the court magician who had been tried for treason during the reign of Mary, as well as hearing the adventures of various preachers and witch-hunting magistrates.

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This episode primarily makes use of the following texts:

Witchcraft Statute ‘against Conjurations, Enchantments, and Witchcrafts, 1563

The Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584Gifford, George, A Dialogue Concerning Witches and Witchcrafts, 1593Ankerloo, Bengt and Clark, Stuart (eds.) Witchcraft and Magic in Europe: The Period of the Witch Trials, Philadelphia, 2002Deacon, Richard, Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General, London, 1976Sharpe, James, Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in England 1550-1750, London, 1996The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 

For a full bibliography, please see the website.

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