'Villanies both by land and water': The Witch Detector, 'Dr.' John Cotta.
When James IV of Scotland came to the English throne in 1603, he had already written several treatises of particular interest to his new subjects, most notably Daemonologie (1597). Shakespeare, with his “Scottish Play,” was not the only early modern English writer impacted by the monarch’s obsession. From 1597 to James I’s death in 1625, at least eight pamphlets argue that witchcraft is a widespread, female transgression resulting from the sinner’s secret (often sexual) communion with the Devil and detail the detection, apprehension, and execution of women accused of witchcraft. Most, like the anonymous tract quoted in my title, also explain how the average Englishman/woman can detect this wickedness in a seemingly moral woman.
Particularly intriguing (and disturbing) are the two treatises written by John Cotta (a so-called “Doctor of Physicke”), entitled “The triall of witch-craft shewing the true and right methode of the discouery: with a confutation of erroneous wayes” printed in 1616 and “The infallible true and assured witch: or, The second edition, of The tryall of witch-craft…” in 1624. Cotta grimly describes his vast experience and the “witch detective” skills he has gleaned, which he passes on to his readers so they can actively seek out and destroy suspected witchcraft in their own communities. And while Monty Python’s Holy Grail depiction of a witch trial seems ridiculously overdone, Cotta’s writings actually do suggest various trials by both fire and water. In almost all of his recommended detection methods, the accused woman would be killed, witch or not, a fact that did not seem to bother either Cotta or his large number of readers.
While our modern sensibilities might tempt us to laugh at Cotta’s writings, we should realize that as popular as his texts were, there were either women throughout Britain that were subjected to his suggested trials, a sobering reminder of the power of provoked mass hysteria, or there were a large number of people entertained by that possibility.
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