The Devil and Demonism in Early Modern England (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History)

Nathan Johnstone looks at the ways in which beliefs about the nature of the Devil and his power in human affairs changed as a consequence of the impact of the Reformation. Departing from the established focus on demonology as a component of witchcraft, he examines a wide range of religious and political milieux, such as practical divinity, Puritan godliness, anti-popery, polemic and propaganda, and popular culture. The concept of the Devil that emerges not only had a profound impact on the beliefs and practices of committed Protestants, but influenced the political debates of the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I, as well as popular culture, Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 11 The English Reformation and the Protestant Devil......Page 13 The historiography of the Devil......Page 20 The Devil and ‘the persecuting society’: witches, Puritanism and despair......Page 24 2 The synagogue of Satan: anti-Catholicism, false doctrine and the construction of contrariety......Page 39 The Devil as fact: the Protestant perception of diabolic power......Page 40 The Devil’s church: the construction of contrariety......Page 53 3 Temptation: the Protestant dynamic of diabolic agency and the resurgence of clerical mediation......Page 72 Liturgy, theology and conduct literature......Page 74 Resisting Satan: prayer and dialogue......Page 95 The Protestant ministry and the mediation of resistance......Page 107 4 Satan and the godly in early modern England......Page 119 The context of demonism and models of temptation......Page 120 Cyclical affliction and spiritual progression: the experience and rationalisation of temptation......Page 130 Diabolic affliction and godly community......Page 147 5 Incarnate devils: crime narratives, demonisation and audience empathy......Page 154 Reporting Satan’s agency: crime and the pulp press......Page 156 Components of the Devil’s kingdom......Page 162 Devilish humans and audience empathy......Page 165 Temptation and the physical devil......Page 182 6 ‘What concord hath Christ with Belial?’: de facto satanism and the temptation of the body politic, 1570–1640......Page 187 The Elizabethan religious controversies and the concept of de facto satanism......Page 189 The divine monarch and the Devil: Elizabeth I, James I and Catholic treachery......Page 196 The divine Charles and the Devil: diabolic subversion and the language of political opposition......Page 208 7 ‘Grand Pluto’s Progress through Great Britaine’: the Civil War and the zenith of satanic politics......Page 225 ‘Sworne Sword-men of the devill’: diabolic service in parliamentary propaganda......Page 229 ‘Hell’s Black Parliament’: demonism, rebellion and diabolic government in royalist propaganda......Page 248 8 ‘The Devil’s Alpha and Omega’: temptation at the cutting edge of faith in the Civil War and the Interregnum......Page 262 The synagogue of Satan revisited: the Devil turned Independent......Page 265 The interpretation of sectarianism in the 1650s......Page 277 Conclusion......Page 298 Primary sources......Page 306 Secondary sources......Page 326 Index......Page 338 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Series-title 4 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Acknowledgements 11 1 Introduction 13 The English Reformation and the Protestant Devil 13 The historiography of the Devil 20 The Devil and ‘the persecuting society’: witches, Puritanism and despair 24 2 The synagogue of Satan: anti-Catholicism, false doctrine and the construction of contrariety 39 The Devil as fact: the Protestant perception of diabolic power 40 The Devil’s church: the construction of contrariety 53 3 Temptation: the Protestant dynamic of diabolic agency and the resurgence of clerical mediation 72 Liturgy, theology and conduct literature 74 Resisting Satan: prayer and dialogue 95 The Protestant ministry and the mediation of resistance 107 4 Satan and the godly in early modern England 119 The context of demonism and models of temptation 120 Cyclical affliction and spiritual progression: the experience and rationalisation of temptation 130 Diabolic affliction and godly community 147 5 Incarnate devils: crime narratives, demonisation and audience empathy 154 Reporting Satan’s agency: crime and the pulp press 156 Components of the Devil’s kingdom 162 Devilish humans and audience empathy 165 Temptation and the physical devil 182 6 ‘What concord hath Christ with Belial?’: de facto satanism and the temptation of the body politic, 1570–1640 187 The Elizabethan religious controversies and the concept of de facto satanism 189 The divine monarch and the Devil: Elizabeth I, James I and Catholic treachery 196 The divine Charles and the Devil: diabolic subversion and the language of political opposition 208 7 ‘Grand Pluto’s Progress through Great Britaine’: the Civil War and the zenith of satanic politics 225 ‘Sworne Sword-men of the devill’: diabolic service in parliamentary propaganda 229 ‘Hell’s Black Parliament’: demonism, rebellion and diabolic government in royalist propaganda 248 8 ‘The Devil’s Alpha and Omega’: temptation at the cutting edge of faith in the Civil War and the Interregnum 262 The synagogue of Satan revisited: the Devil turned Independent 265 The interpretation of sectarianism in the 1650s 277 Conclusion 298 Bibliography 306 Primary sources 306 Secondary sources 326 Index 338 This Original Book Examines The Concept Of The Devil In English Culture Between The Reformation And The End Of The English Civil War. Nathan Johnstone Looks At The Ways In Which Beliefs About The Nature Of The Devil And His Power In Human Affairs Changed As A Consequence Of The Reformation And Its Impact On Religious, Literary And Political Culture. He Moves Away From The Established Focus On Demonology As A Component Of The Belief In Witchcraft And Examines A Wide Range Of Religious And Political Milieux, Such As Practical Divinity, The Interiority Of Puritan Godliness, Anti-popery, Polemic And Propaganda, And Popular Culture. The Concept Of The Devil Which Emerged From The Reformation Had A Profound Impact On The Beliefs And Practices Of Committed Protestants, But It Also Influenced Both The Political Debates Of The Reigns Of Elizabeth I, James I And Charles I, And Popular Culture More Widely.--jacket. The Synagogue Of Satan : Anti-catholicism, False Doctrine And The Construction Of Contrariety -- Temptation : The Protestant Dynamic Of Diabolic Agency And The Resurgence Of Clerical Mediation -- Satan And The Godly In Early Modern England -- Incarnate Devils : Crime Narratives, Demonisation And Audience Empathy -- 'what Concord Hath Christ With Belial?' : De Facto Satanism And The Temptation Of The Body Politic, 1570-1640 -- 'grand Plato's Progress Through Great Britaine' : The Civil War And The Zenith Of Satanic Politics -- 'the Devil's Alpha And Omega' : Temptation At The Cutting Edge Of Faith In The Civil War And The Interregnum. Nathan Johnstone. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 294-325) And Index. "This original book examines the concept of the Devil in English culture between the Reformation and the end of the English Civil War. Nathan Johnstone looks at the ways in which beliefs about the nature of the Devil and his power in human affairs changed as a consequence of the Reformation and at its impact on religious, literary and political culture. He moves away from the established focus on demonology as a component of the belief in witchcraft and examines a wide range of religious and political milieux, such as practical divinity, the interiority of Puritan godliness, anti-popery, polemic and propaganda, and popular culture. The concept of the Devil which emerged from the Reformation had a profound impact on the beliefs and practices of committed Protestants, but it also influenced both the political debates of the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I, and popular culture more widely."--BOOK JACKET Nathan Johnstone examines the concept of the Devil in English culture between the Reformation and the English Civil War. The author looks at the ways in which beliefs about the nature of the Devil changed as a consequence of the Reformation, and its impact on religious, literary and political culture. Baudelaire's famous comment - that the Devil's best trick was to convince mankind that he did not exist - was written in the hindsight of the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment that were believed to have rendered Satan a rather unworthy hangover from a more primitive age.