the re-enactor issue 17 pdf

The Re-Enactor Issue 17, May 2010

The Battle of Nations

Readership 792 136 Groups listed

123 Traders Listed

103 Events Listed

Greetings all

Welcome to issue 17

A huge thank you to everyone that

contributes to this ezine, it would not

still be going if it wasn’t for your

input. If anyone has anything they

would like to let the rest of the re-

enactment world know about then

please do get in contact with me.

A new book competition this month

with a difference as it’s not about re-

enactment.

Still a few weeks to go to win 1 of

the 3 CD’s up for grabs in the

latest competition as well as a

I am still after more groups,

traders and events so please pass

on any details. I also want more

readers so start spreading the

word!

Contact:

[email protected]

http://thereenactor.webs.com

Thank you to all those that are supporting this

magazine, without your support I could not

continue to produce the magazine. Please do

keep sending me your articles, stories, pictures

and details.

Features This Month

1: Battle of Nations

2: Competitions

3: Author: John Fitch V

4: Grand National contest of The Old West

5: Vedan Kolod-Group Profile

6: The Battle of Mortimer‟s Cross (Invite)

7: Military and Flying Machines Show

8: Conversion of Britain by Tavia Minnich

9: Event Listings

10: Bewl Water Event

… 4 countries,

4 national teams,

4 armies

and only one battle…

BATTLE OF THE NATIONS!

The first international medieval historical reenactment festival “Battle of the Nations” will

take place in the spring 2010 and will become the largest such event not only for Ukraine, but

also for Europe, with nothing remotely like it, anywhere else in the world.

You may not be interested in history. You may not like realistic battle scenes or be keen on

weapons. Even if you are not a big fan of sport championships, the historical reenactment of

the Middle Ages cannot leave you indifferent. “Battle of the Nations” is for you!

The concept of “Battle of the Nations” differs from everything which was earlier – there is

nothing remotely similar to this event. In the ancient Khotyn fortress of Western Ukraine,

behind centuries-old walls, the reality of those harsh times will be clear. You will see massed

full-contact battles between national teams of fighter, and the best of the best will be defined.

They will create a new history. A history of the new victories and heroic deeds!

The Ukraine, Russia, Poland and Belorussia national teams were formed out of the most

professional and experienced fighters. These men practice medieval full-contact fights and

will gather in the medieval castle of the X-XVIII cent. More than 50 medieval historical

reenactment clubs will be conducted, and the teams will challenge each other in fierce battles,

plunging themselves, and you, into the times of armor, courage and heroes. At Khotyn

fortress, memories of bygone days will live again – real martial encampments, customs and

everyday life of the Middle Ages, authentic medieval arms and armor made by modern

armorers, historical costumes and so on. Real victories and defeats, not just staged battles,

no scripts and no theatre sketches! Full contact – sparks of steel, crackle of shields and

glittering swords – your adrenaline will explode!

The atmosphere of the struggle, spirit of the Middle Ages and action on the battleground will

leave no one indifferent. There will be various cultural-sport activities, original master classes

in medieval arms and armor manufacturing, medieval soldiering training, courses in medieval

dancing, archery, competitions and concerts, as well as fire-shows and theatre performances.

The festival activities are intended to arouse a lively interest in medieval martial art and to

revive interest and excitement in a unique and new kind of sport.

See how the air sparkles with tension when armies clash on the battlefield. Feel the energy of

medieval battles! Get participated in the new world sport which is being born about your

ears!

www.battleofthenations.com.ua

http://www.battleofthenations.com.ua/

Competition One

I have 3 CD‟s to give away in this brand new competition, 3 lucky winners will each receive

one of the CD‟s.

To be in with a chance of winning one of the 3 CD‟s just answer this simple Question:

The Groups name is Vedan Kolod: What is the English Translation?

Send me an email with your answer and your full postal address to the usual email address.

The competition will run until May 15th

2010

The competition is free to enter, no purchase required and I will post the CD‟S out to

wherever you live in the world!

Competition Two

A brand new competition this month, it‟s a chance to win a book by John Vitch V!

“Turning Back The Clock”

See the next page for some more information about the author and the book in question.

Just send me an email telling me that you would like to be entered into the competition, it‟s

as simple as that!

John has the book sat upon his desk and he will gladly sign or dedicate the book to the lucky

winner. The competition will run until June 15th

2010

I would like to extend my gratitudeto John Vith V and Vedan Kolod for their support of

this ezine and the offer of the book and CD’s.

Web site: www.johnfitchv.com

Fitchburg author rights a terrible sporting wrong in time travel novel

Just picture it for a second: Babe Ruth was never traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New

York Yankees, and the 1919 World Series wasn‟t thrown by the Chicago White Sox. Then, in

a bit of irony, Ruth is swapped for Shoeless Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver.

Could it have happened?

That‟s the gist of Fitchburg, Massachusetts author John Fitch V‟s newest novel, Turning

Back The Clock, released in October 2009. Fitch has chosen the print-on-demand imprint

CreateSpace, a division of Amazon.com, as the publisher.

The alternative history novel is originally set in October 2003, just after the Red Sox lose the

American League Championship Series to the Yankees. But protagonist Greg Patterson, as he

goes to sleep on that dreaded night, has a vision of going through time and changing the

fortunes of Red Sox Nation. As he begins his research the next day, he finds that two of the

greatest scandals in the history of baseball – the Sale of Babe Ruth and the Black Sox

Scandal – could be linked together.

Greg and his friend, Brandon Roy, then embark on a time traveling journey that must be kept

secret: No one must know what they are trying to do, for if they fail the mission, the status

quo – the Yankees continuing to dominate the Red Sox – would continue.

Turning Back The Clock has a little bit of everything for every reader – sports and adventure

for the guys, a little love story for the girls – and is a must have for any Red Sox fan that

wanted the team to prevail before 2004.

You want some fun facts about Turning Back The Clock? Well, here you go.

Fitch wrote the first draft of TBTC during a five-week period between the first week of

December 2006 and the first week of January 2007. He averaged about 5,000 words per day

on the project.

His final word count for the first draft checked in at about 102,000 words; he ended up

cutting about 1,000 words total, or about 2-3 pages in Microsoft Word.

At 307 pages, TBTC is Fitch‟s longest novel to date, not counting the 586-page compilation

he released in 2008.

While writing the bulk of the scenes involving the 1919 World Series, Fitch watched the

movie Eight Men Out repeatedly in order to be as accurate as possible. In the end, he deleted

portions of text that included dialogue from the movie.

In addition, he found a web site dedicated to Crosley Field, home of the Cincinnati Reds

during the 1919 World Series, which gave him plenty of material to work with. Incidentally,

http://www.johnfitchv.com/

the manager of the Reds that year was a man named Pat Moran, who was born and raised in

Fitchburg, Mass. – ironically the same city where Fitch was born and raised.

The present day portion of the novel was based on Fitch‟s hometown of Fitchburg. The

prologue was set in Slattery‟s Front Room, where Fitch watched Game Seven of the 2003

American League Championship Series. Depot Square in the heart of the city is also

mentioned, as well as Leominster Hospital in neighboring Leominster, Mass.

When he was researching the novel, Fitch spent several hours trying to figure out how the old

telephone exchange system with switchboards worked, calling many different phone

companies to see if they had information on the subject, or if they could point him in the right

direction. He was finally able to find information through the Massachusetts Historical

Society. The telephone exchange system was in use in the early 20th

century; it still is in the

minds of those who know the old Big Band hit “PEnnsylvania 6-5000” by the Glenn Miller

Band.

Grand National Competition of the “Old West”…. Gold

Strike Hotel & Gambling Hall

Jean Nevada. No. 1 Main Street, Jean, Nevada 89019

Hold this date, April 30th, May 1st and 2nd, 2010. Get your Stage tickets, gather up the wagons, pull

out the buckboard, hop the old Union Pacific, saddle up your horse. Head‟em up move‟em out. Find

out how the real Las Vegas was started.... Long before the flashing lights, the Marquees, and the big

name draws. That‟s right The Reenactment Guild of America and Gold Strike Hotel & Gambling Hall

want to offer you a big HOWDEEEEEEE.... and welcome you …..to the first Southwest gathering of

the “Old West“, Jean Nevada Style. Sponsored by the California, Nevada and National Reenactment

Guild of America.

This event holds the promise that the streets of Old Jean , Nevada will have you stepping back to the

years of days passed. Gunfighters, Chuck Wagons, Native Americans….Teepees‟ and all. Living

History Encampments, Mountain Men, the Yankees and Johnny Reb, Florence Nightingale, along

with the Southern Belles, Gold Panning, Black Smithing. Music pouring out of the old saloon,

Gunfighters looking to boast of being the fastest draw with Fast Draw Competitions, along with Wild

West Shows and Buffalo Bill, Medicine Men and traveling Mercantile vendors, selling the wares of

period clothing, and tonics to heal your woes. Dance Hall Girls, sporting girls, proper ladies, school

marms, your mail order brides, cowpokes, wranglers, working cowboys, Indians, Buffalo Soldiers and

the folks that made up the old west, the likes you haven‟t seen gathered in a old west working town,

especially in this part of the southwest.

Real Gold Panning and Historical Displays:

The Monty Laird Memorial Saloon Shootout For A Championship Belt Buckle and awards:

Wagon Camps:

Mountainman Camps:

Cowboy Camps:

Civil War Camps:

Working Gattling Gun Display:

Beard and Moustache Contest:

Sunday 1880's Fashon Show: And So Much More, Bring The Whole Family To The Greatest

Living History Event Ever Heald in the State of Nevada.

Along with the colorful old west sitting that pulls you back to the simpler ways of life, we will offer

you the story of the very beginning of the Las Vegas Era. How it really began, who the founding

fathers were and how it all came about all along the "Mormon Trail", how the Union Pacific became

involved, the land deals, the pioneers who encountered all the hardships of the old west and how they

survived this harsh, rugged country and built a life and new beginnings the way of the Wild, Wild

West.

Living history and period correctness will play a big part of this venue and we ask that you will

become part of our event and we do encourage you to partake in the activities, dress the part of an old

west character, walk in their footsteps, step back in time and along with this hands on experience, the

Reenactment Guild of America and the Gold Strike Hotel & Gambling Hall will present the 2010

Grand National Competition of the “Old West”. Not only in this competition you may win bragging

rights, but you also stand to walk away with some carpetbags full of money.

Gunfight Competition

1st Place $1500.00, 2nd Place $900.00 and 3rd Place $500.00 Along with a very intriguing , unusual

Remembrance of the occasion. Entry fee $75.00. This is a two day event, you will need two skits and

a tie breaker for this competition.

Living History Competition

lst Place $400.00, 2nd Place $200.00 and 3rd Place, $100.00. Entry fee $15.00.

Encampment Competition

1st Place $800.00, 2nd Place $300.00 and 3rd Place, $200.00. Entry fee $20.00. Non competition

encampment is free.

Costume Contest Period Correct Attire

Lawdog, Gunfighter, Townsman, Townswoman, Working Cowboy, Sporting Lady/Madame, Children

Under 18 Male and Female, Specialty. And a (New Category) 50‟s Cowboy/Cowgirl Hollywood

Style. This category you need to do your homework, strictly based upon how the Saturday Matinee

Stars dressed. Entry Fee $5.00 . Break down of categories and description will be posted on website.

Vendors Fees for Event

3 Day Event, Set up on Thursday. Fee $125.00

Dry camping will be provided on premises

Accommodations

Gold Strike Hotel and Gambling Hall wishes to welcome all reenactors to this gathering and will offer

reduced room rates for your stay while attending this event Reservations are Still available. The Gold

Strike will be hosting this event in their Casino right along side the Old West gathering. The activities

don‟t stop when the sun sets in the West. Their doors will be open and activities will continue indoors

at the Gold Strike Gambling Hall.

Watch for the old west movie stars, you just might be surprised who will be walking the streets of the

old west with You.

Viva Las Vegas only 20 minutes down the road

Contacts for Event: Lester P. Larceny 760 252-3693 e-mail

[email protected] Ambassador of Good Will

MollybDam e-mail

[email protected] California State Director

rgamerica.org website for RGA - Watch for the posting of: Applications, Entry Forms, Vendor Forms.

Informational items regarding event. www.rgamerica.org/gn.htm

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.rgamerica.org/gn.htm

SLAVIC ETHNO-BAND

“VEDAN KOLOD”

«Vedan Kolod! Your music is really full of Slavonic spirit, respect of tradition and Slavonic

culture. When a man is listening your music on the forest clearing even in the deep

melancholy, your music cheering up and rising spirit like a musical anaesthetic. When a man

is traveling along in the forest and in his ears plays your musical magic, he has a feeling like

he is back to the ancient times, times of ancestries and he‟s walking on paths, where

ancestries walked and lived. All the nature and the world which is dead now born again with

your music. Slava for you!» – Dmitrii Pochinski (Poland)

Slavic ethno-band Vedan Kolod (meaning „Prophetic tree‟) was created in 2005 in Siberia, Russia,

by Tatyana Naryshkina. Already in July of 2005 Vedan Kolod won the prize as the best Russian

folk band in the International World Music Festival Ustuu-Huree.

“Vedan Kolod” in it‟s creative work gives clear root in an ancient tradition and based on the

last investigations and analysis of archaeologists and folklore specialists, music of ancient

and pagan Russia before Christian‟s coming. “Vedan Kolod” shows the culture of original

Russian traditions and songs in author‟s acoustic working. During the time of its existence,

“Vedan Kolod” had revived numerous almost forgotten Russian Folk instruments – gusli,

okarina, Slavonic drums, Scythian horn, sharkuncy and other, - restored and reconstructed by

musical Master Valerii Naryshkin.

All this ancient kinds of instruments are used actually in a program of band, as a low throat

style of singing which is existed in native for Siberian musicians Siberia. All songs played

without any electronic processing just live sound. Slavonic ethno-band "Vedan Kolod" has

in its repertoire tradition folk songs, author‟s songs, stylized as folklore with real historical

and legend material.

Members:

Tatyana Naryshkina – group leader. Main vocal, plays flutes, Slavonic drums, ocarina,

fuyara, vargan and others.

Valerii Naryshkin – musical instrument maker, on vocals, two kinds of gusli, Scythian horn,

ocarina, Slavonic drums, vargan, zhaleika, Slav bagpipe, fuyara, gudok and others

Daryana Antipova – Art-manager, on vocal, Slavonic big and small drums, fuyara, sharkuncy

Polina Lisitsa – Slavonic small drum, vocal, lozhki, sharkuncy, flutes, vargan.

Album "Tribes" (2005) "The dance of the wood spirits" (2007) Wolf's path" (2008)

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGljcy5saXZlam91cm5hbC5jb20vYWx0eW5rZWwvcGljLzAwMGUycWF0Lw==

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGljcy5saXZlam91cm5hbC5jb20vYWx0eW5rZWwvcGljLzAwMGUzczZwLw==

http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGljcy5saXZlam91cm5hbC5jb20vYWx0eW5rZWwvcGljLzAwMGU0c2t3Lw==

The Battle of Mortimer‟s Cross C1461

September 18th & 19th 2010

The Wharf Field, Main A49, Leominster, Herefordshire, UK

An annual recreation of this Wars of The Roses Battle, between the houses of York and

Lancaster.

The Battle of Mortimer‟s Cross was originally fought on February 2nd

1461 in Herefordshire

between the forces of the 18 year old Edward, Earl of March and Owen Tudor.

Owen Tudor had been on route to join the rest of the Lancastrian army when he was stopped

by Edward at Mortimer‟s Cross.

Come and join us:

Battle Re-Enactment including archery in large arena

Living history encampment

Medieval traders

Beer tent

Food stalls

Entertainment including medieval dancing and a barber surgeon!

All authentic groups are welcome, traders too! (reasonable pitch fees)

Check out the website for more details

Separate plastic camp site, water on site, toilets, wood for fires

www.mortimerscross.co.uk

http://www.mortimerscross.co.uk/

Tavia Minnich

Conversion of Britain

The Pagan religion contributed many elements to the Christian religions after the

conversion of Great Britain. The churches used traditions of the Pagans to blend them into

Christianity. During the next generations, the old religion that was converted became

something that society condemned. The fear of witchcraft and other pagan beliefs started a

massive panic, the Witch Craze. The persecution of Pagans would have not existed if

Christianity remembered the origins of many of the Pagan traditions and beliefs taken during

the conversion process.

Churches and political leaders gave stigmas that have remained since the conversion

in many churches. Christian leaders and political leaders made remarks on the supposed

devil worship of the witches, and governments also played a big role later on in history with

the Witch Craze.i The writing of Hugh Trevor-Roper gives a great explanation of things that

must be done by historians to write on the subject of witchcraft. Hugh Trevor-Roper wrote

about the persecution in his essay “The European Witch-craze of the Sixteenth and

Seventeenth Centuries.” The article discusses the history of persecution with institutional and

cultural environment attributes.ii Historians are looking at the inter-community relations and

the social values of the time. They believe that earlier historians let their own opinions

change the writings and not look at social and psychological beliefs of witchcraft. The

changes in scholarly thought have found new interpretations to the evaluation of documents

and relevancy of topics to history.iii

Europe consisted of many religions with different beliefs

and traditions.

Paganism involves many types of groups and practices. This paper will draw heavily into

just one pagan religion, witchcraft. The term “witch” has many definitions and beliefs. In

early modern Europe, a witch was an ancient sorcerer. In Germany, sorcerer and witch were

called “Zauber” and “Hexe.” In French areas the witches were given the name “sorcier,” that

derives from the Latin term “maleficus.” The village magicians that existed in the Medieval

Ages sold love potions and charms. They practiced primarily “magic” for good and not evil.

The townspeople believed in their magic that gave them “demonic” help (27). The

townspeople would have physical and psychological effects from the “medication” given to

them. The magician then became accused as being harmful and poisoning the recipient (27).

The belief in magic did exist in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and was seen as a

cure to ailments. However, the practices and customs of the old religions have no evidence

before Christianity. William Chaney stated this in his article with the following: “Although

no Anglo-Saxon work gives us full information on pre-Christian religion in England, almost

no poem from before the Norman Conquest, no matter how Christian its theme, is not steeped

in it, and the evidences for pagan survivals and their integration into the new faith go beyond

even the literary sources.” iv

The stories are only legends and superstitions not all are proven

factual. v

The converters were often instructed to use Pagan temples and sacred things for Christian

churches and beliefs. This was first told by the Pope Gregory the Great to Augustine. Later

is found said to Abbot Mellitus. Abbot Mellitus was told to convert the Pagan temples of

England into churches and to take those sacred animals to be used in Christian festivals.

(197)The proof of these symbols can be taken from the history found in modern day witch

craft books, such as Creating Circles and Ceremonies by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and

Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart. The book describes the Sabbats, of ancient traditions, that

have been marked as Christian. This includes the Yule tree converted to the Christmas tree.

The bunny and colored egg from the Sabbat Ostara converted to be known in Christianity as

symbols on Easter Sunday.vi

The traditions merged together are found in William Chaney‟s

article:

“The culture of the tribes and the old religion which helped form it in their turn shaped

Christianity, which was assimilated to them, is in its principle surprising to no historian of

the Conversion Period.” (199)

Symbolism and traditions were converted over into Christianity without recognition from

religious leaders for the old religions. The conversion of England was not a violent time and

only some issues happened with those chief-kings against conversion.vii

The conversion reached to political decisions for one religion in their realm. Kent King

Eadbald converted back to the old religion after the passing of his father. In 640, King

Eadbald‟s song received the throne and had the realms idols destroyed. (198) In East Saxon,

three King sons gave the people the right to practice any religion freely. The people did not

convert after the death of all three Kings. (198) The king has the belief of freedom of religion

found in the medieval ages that changed. The conversion of Anglo-Saxon England was

extensive due to the stages of progress, and different town values. Also not all were taught

the same things and the towns did not believe Christianity was the only desired belief. Then,

one might ask how so many towns of different origins have similar stories. viii

The Christian version of God and Christ has similar stories with pagan legends. The version

of Thor in the Pagan religion of Norse has similarities with Christian God, found in research

from Chaney:

„In the case of Thunor or Thor the Thunderer, we may well ask if an Anglo-Saxon warrior

would react as we do to a land-grant of King Edward the Elder in A.D. 901, which opens, "In

the name of the High Thunderer, Creator of the world," or a generation earlier (A.D. 872) to

the phrase, "by the abundant grace of God and the gratuitous gift of him who thunders and

rules."‟(204)

Chaney gave examples of pagan stories with a Christ-like figure in two stories of the Pre-

Viking Norse god, Baldur, and Othinn in Norse Woden master. Both have a tree symbolism

much like Christ‟s cross. Baldur‟s depiction is of darts thrown on him, when he was on a

marvelous tree, and a cosmic tragedy occurred calling the event “bleeding god.” (207)

Othinn is believed in stories that he hung on a World-Tree to fast. Othinn made magic runes,

while people were throwing runes at him, much like some beliefs with Christ with herbs on

the cross and people throwing spears. (202) There is a similarities between stories that have

no affiliations to each other.

The Catholics has elements of the pagan religion in the faith from the conversion process.

Catholics were often told of being close to witchcraft, such as for their use of rituals. Such is

the case with a Witch Craze accuser, Alex Sanders I, hitting his wife, Maxine, and saying that

“a Catholic is the closest thing to the craft.”ix

Catholics are known for their charms of good

health and their view of Christ as alike with witchcraft. Catholics believe in the relationship

with good and evil, similar with white and black magic. Luther believed that Germany was

filled with devils and demons. Protestants were insecure and their idea of sin was unlike that

of Catholicism. These two religious groups have continued claims to each other centuries

after the Reformation (73). The accusations led to many deaths of innocent people that had

stigmas placed on them.

The fear of witches led to the famous Witch Craze that hit majority of Europe. The

conversion process of England was subject to fears and stigmas. Many writings were made

to put witches in to a bad stigma. One example of these writings was by Reginald Scot and

later discussed by Robert West. In 1584, Reginald Scot wrote The Discoverie of Witchcraft

which was an in-depth research on the practice of witchcraft to justify evidence found in the

Witch Craze in sixteenth century England.x His writing discussed cases in Europe of trials of

witches. He wrote all the details on those cases of accusations and practices. The book

contains occult literature that was available to Shakespeare and other writers to use at their

discretion.xi

Reginald Scot influenced other historians to look at writings with discretion against biased

reactions. Robert West wrote about Scot‟s writing for his use of study. West agreed with

Scot‟s uses of both the background of witchcraft and the trials to form a distinction between

witchcraft and the magician. He researched the craze of witch-hunts instead of English

witchcraft found in Norman Cohn‟s Europe’s Inner Demons.xii

Scot discussed not only cases,

but tried to get into witches‟ covens to gain proof to the claims. He did not let his own

thoughts of science change his views on his data. Scot found in his research a point to the

trials which is that witches only having spiritual functions and not physical ways of

operating, such as flying on a broom. Scot believes in the trials that often both the accusers

and the accused were mean-spirited people and subject to laws. xiii

He did not sympathize

with either of the parties in that respect. He uses data on happenings in his society and ties in

what drove people to persecute witches. Scot is an historian in the way he found historical

evidence to tie into his research.

Witches became the scapegoats of society. Women were considered to be the weaker sex and

more vulnerable to witchcraft. There were only a few men who were thought of as witches.

Most of the accused were low classes in societies. During the witch trials only a few were

sentenced to death. A statistical study from Essex County in England showed that only 23 of

the 291 accused witches were male. In Louis XIII reign, a formula was devised by Michelet

that “for one Sorcerer, ten thousand Sorceresses”.xiv

They were accused by woman and

charged with sorcery and hurting animals.xv

The stereotype was that witches were more

frequently women.

Female witches fit many of the stereotypes given to them. The usual stereotype was some

containing these characteristics: female, old, poor, and odd in nature. These were common

stereotypes found mostly in towns. These people were hardly ever a real witch, and no

documents could prove them as such.xvi

In the Lancaster Witch Trials of 1612 and 1634,

accusers brought for evidence that these accused witches had the ability to heal the sick. The

accused were asked to cure sick animals and if something went wrong with the animal, the

accused were committed as witches.xvii

Negative attitudes on un-traditional women were

found in the English witch trials. These woman accusers were acting as a good wife or

mother that persecuted those who did not follow proper family life. The accusations often

followed all-female gatherings in which woman feared the health of their children and food

from a given woman.xviii

The accused fit a person that people could fear and call a scapegoat

for their troubles.

The medieval ages brought different classes into stereotypes of witches. Fashions could call

point for someone being a witch. The second aspect in aristocratic witches was the fashions

of magic in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Among these fashions were

learned astrology and special amulets. The nature, fashions, and attitudes of witchcraft were

often seen on wealthy women. The people believed that aristocratic witches would use magic

to take control. The amulets were thought to contain poison. The amulets today are known

for containing herbs for healing, such as ginger for headaches. (81) The class system was a

key role in the later Witch Craze.

Society believed an aristocratic female witch had the ability to persuade other to do acts by

the use of her status. One of these is that the witch herself did not practice witchcraft, but

professionals in the village were used to fill out the act or give her the tools to commit the

spell. These spells were used to do harm. The acts were done by a team of magicians that

were servants hired to perform evil. In the conviction, the servants were guilty and punished

along with the aristocratic witch.xix

Moral evil was a reason to prosecute aristocratic witches. This is found when Anna Bathory

was accused by Prince Brethlen as a “killer demon whore” of incest with her brother and

killing her son (81). The act of incest and killing was religiously immoral. Her cousin,

Elisabeth Bathory, was tried in 1609 to 1611 for accusations of torturing and killing hundreds

of servants, as well as doing witchcraft. She was found guilty, spent her life in prison, and

lost her properties. In 1637, the same accusations were placed on another aristocrat, named

Anna Rozina Listius, in Hungary (81).

As is seen in the previous documents, witches were scapegoats to the problems of the society.

They were accused of doing harmful acts against a person or their property, making men or

animals unfertile, and atmosphere changes.xx

People were easily convinced of this by

anyone of power (29). Folklore made fantasies and encouraged people to view females as

witches. Jones points out that “The combination for torture and threat of the witches and pre-

Christian and non-Christian folk myths gave the demonology complex of the late Middle

Ages” (27). Church officials believed that these witches would turn anyone evil too. The

government officials believed that those blamed should be tried.

Decrees and laws were given to the public by both churches and governments. The first one

was Pope Innocent VIII‟s Papal Bull of 1484.xxi

It warned the public of the danger of witches

and changed the views on the accused. The bull was that witches did exist and needed to be

extinguished from the population. The bull gave the citizens the right to use what force

needed to end witchcraft. This led to the burnings. This was one of the first manuals on how

to accuse and trial witches was called the Malleus Maleficarun by Dominicans Kramer and

Sprenger written in 1486.xxii

The documents made society fear the witches and anything

uncommon.

The image of the witches had changed by the sixteenth century into a mythical creature of

demon characteristics. Some of these characteristics included: night-flying, the Sabbat, the

Black Mass, and orgies (29). The religions of society based people on how many were

persecuted and why. The religions created church documents given to the people to be

obeyed. Society listened to the church and would act on the stigmas given out. Unfamiliar

ones caused for speculation. (79) Religion in medieval society was important to every citizen

and the conflicts between them were undeniable leading to government involvement.

The government and state of the British Isles had to do with the public fear. Brian Levack‟s

State-building and Witch hunting in the Early Modern Europe explains how the public

believes that the victims of the witch trials are reactions from the modern state. There are

four strands of this argument: judicial and administrative centralization, judicial power,

society that is transformed into a godly community, and the relationship between the church

and state. The administrative power, being central to the monarch power, is the attack that

insisted the state to develop by the trials of those scapegoats in society. The power of the

judicial branch was to commit tortures on men with physical force and was legal in the court

of the law. The tortures helped to bring about a confession from those accused. Rural

society was made to change by hierarchy of officials, being branched out from the king, to

give society parish priests and local judges. This was a form of acculturation that witchcraft

prosecution was one part of. Church and state was found separate from the judging in the

trials. The state gained control over the church. The prosecution of the witches was mainly

the government‟s power; therefore, the crime of witchcraft was more capable of being

condemned by the state.xxiii

The four strands, discussed by Levack, are the prime elements

of the powers that conducted the witch trials.

Witch trials went through most countries of Europe, but Scotland found a high percentage of

the trials. Scotland had a major witch hunt of Europe estimated as much as twelve times as

high as in England, but not as high as Germany. Scotland was going through changes in the

power of the central government during the sixteenth and seventh century. Scottish

monarchy reached imperial status, even before England, in the fifteenth century. The trials

had elements with aspects of Roman law and used inquisitional procedures in their judging.

These types of trials were not only for the witch hunts. The change of government gave a

relationship between church and state in prosecuting the witches. King James VI of Scotland

was an absolutist and wrote a decree to prosecute witches. His effort brought together the

subject witchcraft and political agenda. The Scottish Witchcraft Statute of 1563 was a law to

prosecute witches and was sent forth condemning witchcraft. Scotland witch trials were long

and cruel in their judgment. Scotland was a growing country that had used power found

abroad to prosecute in such cases as the witch trials (58). Other Britain towns had witch trials

that were documented.

In Lancashire or Pendle, the trials were so famous that the literatures of the trials were

dispersed to the public. Writings centuries later are important for the continuation of research

and thought about the Witch Craze. Texts were written about the 1612 trials that include The

Lancashire Witches by Harrison Ainsworth in 1849, and Mist over Pendle by Robert Neill in

1951. The most famous primary book for Lancashire was the 1613 writing of Thomas Potts‟

The wonderful discover of witches in the country of Lancashire.xxiv

The first trial was that of

Alizon Device. She was accused of making John Law ill. John Law was a peddler and

refused to sell or give Device any pins. He then suffered a stroke and accused Alizon Device.

The trial went on to include members of her family that confessed to being witches. The

accused committed to taking part in the act to Law and his son. A few weeks later on April

4th

, Alizon, her grandmother, and two women from another family were sent to trial for being

a witch. Alizon‟s grandmother, Old Demdike, confessed to the court of having a pact with

the devil made twenty years prior. Alizon admitted to making a pact as well. Later, the final

two witches confessed (62). The trials are long and contained family members in majority of

the recorded cases.

The aftermath of witch trials can be seen in the Pendle and Lancashire trials. In 1634, many

years after the Pendle trials ended the rest of Device‟s family and friends were interrogated

for being witches. It was believed that Old Demdike‟s house was a place of worship. These

people who worshipped for called the Pendle‟s forest citizens. The Pendle‟s forest citizens

had arguments with each other that led to witchcraft accusations. During these times, the

village was unable to make economic ends meet and the witches were seen as a scapegoat for

the worries and troubles. They were financial motives that had people being paid off to erase

the accusations laid on by another (63). The accusations were made from placing blame and

the conditions of the town, leading to the trials that occurred. The fear of the unknown drove

the witch trials to become widespread in Europe and America. The fear is an aspect that

could have been resolved if remembering the conversion and legends of paganism.

The legends of Pagan gods and goddess are turned into superstition throughout time since the

conversion. Those are found previously with Thor and Othinn being seen as Christian

figures. The Pagan symbols and traditions are proven by Pope Gregory‟s words of

converting using the old religion in Christianity. The political reactions of fear and

condemning set the stage for the witch trials. The stereotypes of witches were found in these

trials, which went on to include upper class accused. In conclusion, the conversion was a

time that Paganism was converted and had the traditions borrowed without recognition by

Christian religious officials. Therefore, the witch trials would not have existed if fear was not

instilled by Christian leaders of the forgotten Pagan influences onto Christianity. Jones, W.R. Abracadabra-Sorcery and Witchcraft in European History. The History Teacher. Vol5:1. (1971): p 26-36. Jstor Database. (Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pa. October 19, 2008); available from http://links.jstor.org/ Trevor-Roper, Hugh. The European Witch-craze of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Jones, 26

Chaney, William. Paganism to Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. The Harvard Theological Review. Vol 53: 3 (July 1960), 197-217. Jstor. (Kutztown University, Kutztown Pa. October 8, 2008); http://www.jstor.org/stable/1508400/ Chaney, William. Paganism to Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. The Harvard Theological Review. Vol 53: 3 (July 1960), 197-217. Jstor. (Kutztown University, Kutztown Pa. October 8, 2008); http://www.jstor.org/stable/1508400/ Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon and Morning Glory. Creating Circles and Ceremonies. New Jersey: The Carreer Press, 2006. Chaney, 198. Yorke, Barbara. The Conversion of Britain:600-800. London:Pearson, 2006.

Nugent, Donald. The Renaissance and of Witchcraft. Church History. Vol 40: 1. (1971): p 69-78. Jstor Database. (Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pa. October 19, 2008); available from http://links.jstor.org Scot, Reginald. The Discoverie of Witchcraft. Dover Publications: [c. 1584] 1989.

Traister, Barbara, ed. West Robert H. Reginald Scot and Renaissance Writings on Witchcraft. Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol 37:4. (1986): p543-544. Jstor Database. (Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pa. October 19, 2008); available from http://links.jstor.org Cohn, Norman. Europe’s Inner Demons. London: Chatto of Sussex Univ. Press, 1975. Traister, 543. Nugent, 73. Wiesner, Merry. Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007), 6 and 52. Ibid, 6. Swain, J.T. “The Lancashire Witch Trials of 1612 and 1634.” In Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. Merry Wiesner (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007), 62-73. Wiesner, 6. Jones, 81. Jones, 27. Pope Innocent VIII. Papal Bull of 1484-Summis desiderantes affectibus. Italy: 1484. Kramer, Heinrich, and Jacob Sprenger. Malleus Maleficarun. Germany: 1486. Levack, Brian. “State-building and witch hunting in Early Modern Europe.” In Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. Merry Wiesner (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007), 62-73. Swain, 62.

Events Listing

May 2010

1st & 2

nd Gettysburg of the West, Santa Fe, New Mexico(El Rancho de las Golondrinas L/H Museum)

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110232392324260&n=

1st

- 3rd

The Knights of Royal England at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, UK

www.knightsroyal.co.uk

1st – 3

rd Cosmeston Battle weekend, Cosmeston Medieval Village, nr Cardiff, Wales

www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/

1st & 2

nd Margam Park South Wales, Multi-Period Event

www.webster.uk.net

2nd

& 3rd

Henry Morgan‟s Buccaneers, Caldicot Castle, Monmouthshire, Wales.


8th

Fete Historique au Chateau de Fleville, Nancy (54) France

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108525185847338

8th

& 9th

Two day Costume and Textile Fair, Rodber Suite at Northamapton Saints Rugby Club, UK

Contact for information: [email protected] or [email protected]

8th

& 9th

Snailwell Medieval Festival, Snailwell, Uk, CB8 7LX

www.yayevents.co.uk

15th

Conferenza Accademia Studi Cavallereschi e Medeivali (Maggio) Italy

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110475325645177 15

th & 16

th Bunker Bash 2010, Living History & Military vehicle show, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA

http://www.facebook.com/l/e0e21;www.bunkerbash.co.uk

20th

& 21st Open Day Cambs Assoc for local history & Cambs community Archives


st – 24

th KMM: Copenhagen Medieval Market

For Information: http://www.kmm.dk/default.asp?pid=49

22nd

& 23rd

Hawkwoods Feast & Faire, Yarra Valley Archery park, Launching Place, Victoria, Aus.

For information contact: [email protected] (Michelle Barraclough-White Company)

22nd

& 23rd

The Boughton Bash, Boughton, Northamptonshire, NN2, UK

Dark age/early medieval re-enactment. Tourney & Living History

Contact: [email protected] or Tel: 01604 464615

23rd

Fetes Historiques et Tradionelles de la Pentecote, Wissembourg (67), France


29th

30th

Traquair House, Innerleithen, Scotland

Medieval entertainment, traders and a tournament before King James IV (1491)

http://www.traquair.co.uk/medieval.html Contact: [email protected]

30th

& 31st The Knights of Royal England at Hedlingham Castle, Essex, UK

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110232392324260&n

http://www.knightsroyal.co.uk/

http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/

http://www.webster.uk.net/





http://www.yayevents.co.uk/


http://www.facebook.com/l/e0e21;www.bunkerbash.co.uk


http://www.kmm.dk/default.asp?pid=49




http://www.traquair.co.uk/medieval.html



29th

– 4th

June. 2010 Pirate Festival at Lulworth Castle, Wareham, Dorset, UK

http://pikeandshot.com

29th

– 31st Ealdfaeder at West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, Suffolk, UK

For information contact: [email protected]

29th

– 31st The MSS are re-enacting part of The Battle of Barnet (1471) on the original battle site!

For information: http://www.medieval-seige-society.co.uk

June 2010

1st -6

th The Knights of Royal England at Leeds Castle, Kent, UK


4th

– 7th

Pencampwr 2010, Wandi, Western Australia


5th

& 6th

Ealdfaeder at Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK


5th

& 6th

De Quaeye Werelt anno 1477, Sterckshof, Deurne, Antwerp, Belgium

http://www.facebook.com/l/79d80;www.delegendevzw.be/

5th

& 6th

The MSS at Weald Country Park, Essex, UK


5th

& 6th Templecombe Medieval fayre, Templecombe, Dorset, UK

11th

An evening of Egyptian Music and Dance, Chester, UK


12th

& 13th

The Knights of Royal England at Royal Gunpowder Mills, Essex, UK


12th

& 13th

Tournoi de Joute a pied de Provins 2010, France


th & 13

th Fifth Annula Battle of Mace‟s Hole, Colorado, USA


th & 13

th Animations et Ateliers Medievaux, France


12th

& 13th

Les 27 Medievales de Provins 2010, Provins(77), France


12th

– 14th

Guild Combat Weekend Invitation, 5 Schofield Rd, Wyee, New South Wales, Australia

For Information: http://www.swordguild.com/pdf/Guild-invite_to-June-2010.pdf

18th

– 20th

The Knights of Royal England at Cardiff Castle, Wales


19th

& 20th

Tatton Park, UK

Contact: [email protected]

25th

, 26th

& 27th

Chatteris Historic Festival, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, UK



http://pikeandshot.com/


http://www.medieval-seige-society.co.uk/




http://www.facebook.com/l/79d80;www.delegendevzw.be/








http://www.swordguild.com/pdf/Guild-invite_to-June-2010.pdf




26th

Animations et Ateliers Medievaux, Ferrette (88), France


th & 27

th The Knights of Royal England at Ruthin Castle, Wales


26th

& 27th

The Winslowshire Festival, Winslowshire animal sanctuary, 37 Eddy St, Norton, MA, USA See more details and RSVP on RenaissancePerformers:

http://renaissanceperformers.ning.com/events/event/show?id=2212446%3AEvent%3A5017&xgi=5SBQFRLZc2bLIZ&xg_source=msg_invite_event

July 2010

2nd

– 4th

ISCAR Medieval, Valladolid, Spain

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105599409474637&n= 3

rd & 4

th The Knights of Royal England at Linlithgow Palace nr Edinburgh, Scotland


3rd

& 4th

Chetwynd Medieval Fair. Commemorating an actual historical market and Chetwynd, Shropshire

in1318. The current location is at Shropshire Lavender

http://www.shropshirelavender.co.uk

3rd

& 4th

Dorset Medieval Festival, Winterbourne Came, Dorchester, Dorset, UK

http://www.dorsetmedievalfestival.co.uk/ 3

rd & 4

th Fete et marcher medieval, Chateau d‟helecine, Belgium


9th

– 11th

Tournoi de Franche-Comte 2010, Moncley (Besancon-25), France


10th

& 11th

The Knights of Royal England at Linlithgow Palace nr Edinburgh, Scotland


10th

& 11th

Abbey Medieval Tournament, Caboolture, Australia


th & 11

th Tewkesbury Medieval Festival, Tewkesbury, UK

www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/

10th

& 11th

Romans Live, Ribchester Roman Re-Enactments, Ribchester, uk


th – 18

th Viking Market in Gudvangen

http://www.facebook.com/gudvangen

15th

– 17th

The Battle Tradionaly of Grunwald (1410-2010) at Grunwald, Poland


17th

& 18th

MSS at Royal Gunpowder Mills, UK


17th

& 18th

The Knights of Royal England at Hever Castle, Kent, UK


17th

& 18th

Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire, UK







http://www.shropshirelavender.co.uk/

http://www.dorsetmedievalfestival.co.uk/





http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/


http://www.facebook.com/gudvangen




Multi-Period event

17th

& 18th

Ealdfaeder at Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK


23rd

– 24th

The Knights of Royal Engalnd at Hever Castle, Kent, UK


24th

& 25th

Berkeley Castle Skirmish, Gloucestershire, UK

www.berkeley-castle.com/reenactments.php

24th

& 25th

Coracles & Castles, Cilgerran Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales


24th

& 25th

The Battle of Azincourt, France

www.azincourt-alliance.org.uk

24th

& 25th

MSS at Appuldurcombe House, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, UK


31st & 1

st The Knights of Royal England at Hever Castle, Kent, UK


31st & 1

st The Tournament of Walraversijde, Oostende, Belgium


31st & 1

st Ealdfaeder at Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK


August 2010

6th

– 8th

The Knights of Royal England at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, UK


7th

& 8th

Midlands History Festival at Stratford Armouries, Stratford, UK

http://www.stratfordarmouries.co.uk

7th

& 8th

Feathers & Flights, Cilgerran Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales


7th

& 8th

De fer et de feu, Rebecq, Belgium


7th

& 8th

Military & Flying Machines Show, Daymns Hall Aerodrome, Upminster, Essex


14th

Belton House National Trust WW2 RAF event, Lincolnshire, UK


th – 15

th The Knights of Royal England at Hever Castle, Kent, uk


14th

& 15th

Spetchley Park-Multi-period event, Worcester, UK

www.lhiw.org.uk

14th

& 15th

Lincoln Castle, Lincoln, UK




http://www.berkeley-castle.com/reenactments.php


http://www.azincourt-alliance.org.uk/






http://www.stratfordarmouries.co.uk/






http://www.lhiw.org.uk/


14th

& 15th

Aarschot 1489 – editie 2010, Domein Elzenhof


14th

& 15th

Ealdfaeder at Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK


14th

& 15th

Barnas Viking Festival, Trondenes/Harstad

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=445461745236&n_=

14th

& 15th

MSS at Bodium Castle, Sussex, UK


21st & 22

nd Scotlands Festival of History, The Royal Borough of Lanark, UK

http://www.scotlandsfestivalofhistory.co.uk

21st & 22

nd The Knights of Royal England at Hever Castle, Kent, UK


22nd

Fete Medievale De L‟Alpe D‟Huez, France


25th

– 29th

Invitational European Championship Horsens 2010, Denmark


th & 28

th The Knights of Royal England at Hever Castle, Kent, UK


28th

– 30th

Herstmonceaux Medieval Festival, Herstmonceaux Castle, East Sussex, UK

28th

– 30th

Military Odyssy, Kent Show Ground, Detling, Kent, UK.

http://www.military-odyssey.com/

28th

– 30th

Medieval Spectacular at Pensthorpe Park, Fakenham, Norfolk

http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk

29th

& 30th

The Knights of Royal England at Hedingham Castle, Essex, UK


28th

– 29th

September 10 Jahre mim IG Mensch im Mittelalter e.V (63165 Mulheim am Main)


28th

– 30th

The 6th

Medieval Spectacular Festival, Pensthorpe, Norfolk, UK


September 2010

4th

& 5th

Campaign of La Boissiere-Ecole 1815

The village of La Boissiere-Ecole situated 17km west of Rambouillet near Paris

5th

The Knights of Royal England at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, UK


11th

& 12th

Early Medieval Alliance (EMA) event at Caldicot Castle, Wales, UK

11th

& 12th

MSS at Battle of Edgecote & Tournament Spectacular, Chipping Warden, Banbury, UK


11th

& 12th

Caldicot 2010, Caldicot Castle, Wales, UK




http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=445461745236&n_


http://www.scotlandsfestivalofhistory.co.uk/





http://www.military-odyssey.com/

http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/







18

th & 19

th The Battle of Mortimer‟s Cross (C1461) Main A49 1 Mile North of Leominster, Herefordshire, UK

For information: http://www.mortimerscross.co.uk

18th

& 19th

The Knights of Royal England at Leeds Castle, Kent, UK


25th

& 26th

The 17th

International Napoleonic Fair 2010

www.internationalnapoleonicfair.co.uk

October

16th

& 17th

The Norfolk Living History Fayre, Mannington Hall, Norfolk, UK


17th

MSS Autumn Clout Shoot, Bodium Castle, Sussex, UK


29th

-31st The Living History Fair, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, UK

http://www.livinghistoryfairs.com/

30th

& 31st Medieval Fair & Market, Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire, UK

Contact: [email protected]

November

27th

& 28th

Ludlow Castle Medieval Christmas fair, Ludlow, Shropshire, UK

Craft fair, medieval traders, combat, have a go archery

http://www.ludlowcastle.com/

December

12th

MSS Christmas Clout Shoot at Bodium Castle, Sussex, UK


http://www.mortimerscross.co.uk/


http://www.internationalnapoleonicfair.co.uk/



http://www.livinghistoryfairs.com/


http://www.ludlowcastle.com/


Step back in time 600 years for the ultimate Medieval experience at Bewl Water! Where entertainment & education blend seamlessly into one. Located just 10 miles from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Bewl Water offers tranquil green meadows as well as a stunningly beautiful Lakeside surroundings. On the weekend of August 14th & 15th, 2010, Bewl Water will be transformed into a slice of 15th Century England with the full panoply of medieval life on display. Don't miss challenging Medieval combat in glittering steel armour on foot in a Fight Arena - cheer on your favorite warrior and boo the villains. Fighters wearing Gothic, Milanese and various examples of 15th Century cuirass will be knocking Seven Bells out of one another with a variety of weapons including Medieval Poleaxes, Flails (ball on chains), Flambards - 4ft long swords - bills, glaives and spears The ground will also be thumping and thundering with the beat of 14 medieval warhorses as the armoured Jousters do their best to unseat one another in an afternoon of competition and rivalry. Enjoy the Have-A-Go Archery and take in the sights, sounds and smells of Medieval Living History, cookery, crafts and woodwork. This is an opportunity to Meet The Ancestors - real-live Medieval folk in fully accurate Medieval costumes who can answer all your questions about Life in the Past. There will be coin-minting displays where you can punch out your Medieval pewter coins - plus a chance to poke through the contents of a replica Medieval Toilet - complete with rats and archaeological finds! As you wander through the Medieval Encampment Village don't miss the opportunity to try on some of the vast range of replica body armour we have on display, heft the weapons, look at what they can do - you will be closely supervised so you cannot use them on anybody. You can even spend your modern money shopping at stalls belonging to Historic Traders - 15-20 of the UK's top artisan-traders and dealers in re-enactment artefacts will be here. Beer, food and refreshments will be freely available onsite. Showers & full camping facilities - both authentic and plastic available to all participating re-enators. FIrewood SUPPLIED. Come for the day or stay for the weekend - it's up to you! Altogether you and your family can enjoy a BEWLiful day!

Free entry to participating re-enactors. Please arrange this by emailing: [email protected]


the re-enactor issue 17 pdf

Documents