Treasonous Witchcraft

Part of the award-winning Graphic History Series, Treasonous Witchcraft offers a compelling, research-driven account of the 1441 prosecutions of Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester, and her associates for sorcery, heresy, witchcraft, and treason-an episode that captivated contemporaries and continues to illuminate key aspects of medieval society. Designed for classroom use, the volume provides instructors with a clear, engaging resource that helps students understand medieval magic, the regulation of supernatural practices, and the workings of both ecclesiastical and common-law courts. Its chronological structure makes a complex series of events accessible while preserving the nuance of the primary sources. The graphic history centers on four figures whose intertwined stories allow students to explore major historical subfields. Eleanor Cobham's case reveals how gender, status, and political instability shaped chroniclers' interpretations of women's ambition and misconduct. Her penitential walks through London and lifelong imprisonment offer concrete examples of how social rank influenced punishment. Roger Bolingbroke, her clerk and a noted astrologer, enables students to examine necromancy as a practiced form of medieval magic. His public humiliation at Paul's Cross and subsequent treason trial before King's Bench illustrate the differences between medieval and modern justice, including active judicial questioning, rapid proceedings, and the role of oaths. Thomas Southwell, Bolingbroke's fellow cleric, and Margery Jourdemayne, the “witch of Eye,” broaden students' understanding of the diversity of magical practitioners. Southwell's participation in necromantic rituals and his death in the Tower highlight the risks faced by clerical magicians. Jourdemayne's work as a “cunning woman”-providing charms and herbal remedies-demonstrates the everyday uses of common magic. Her execution as a relapsed heretic underscores how ecclesiastical courts functioned through inquisitorial methods and how prior offenses shaped sentencing. The graphic format brings these episodes to life through striking visual tableaus drawn directly from the sources: necromantic rituals performed in London churches, Eleanor's public penance, Bolingbroke's humiliation, and the executions of Jourdemayne and Bolingbroke. These scenes help students grasp practices-such as drawing ritual circles or using wax figures-that medieval people believed were effective. The visual clarity supports learners who benefit from multimodal materials, including students who struggle with dense prose. For instructors, the volume serves multiple pedagogical needs. It supplements traditional textbooks, increases student engagement, and supports discussion of medieval magic, gender norms, political disorder under Henry VI, and the development of witchcraft prosecutions. The work is well suited for courses in Western Civilization, world history, English history, legal history, and classes focused on graphic histories as historical interpretation. Because the narrative encompasses both ecclesiastical and secular trials, it provides a compact, accessible entry point into medieval judicial culture. The accompanying historical context section deepens student understanding of chronicles, the history of magic, the evolution of witchcraft, the reign of Henry VI, medieval legal systems, and gender norms. A rich collection of primary sources provides students with the opportunity to construct their own interpretations of the past. A “making of” section demonstrates how dialogue and visuals were constructed from primary sources, offering instructors a valuable teaching tool for courses on historical methods of graphic history. Backmatter materials-including a timeline, discussion questions, and a topic-organized bibliography-further support classroom use and student research.