Once upon a time in a small village called Inkwell, there lived a young imaginative boy named Harry Pattern. Harry was known for his creativity and love for storytelling. He would spend hours daydreaming and bringing his stories to life through his drawings. One day, Harry stumbled upon an old dusty bookstore in his village. As he entered the store, he was captivated by the vast collection of books that lined the shelves. The store owner, Mr.
The Dress
In one extract witches are accused of cursing men with impotence upon their marriage by knitting so manie knottes upon a poynt, 2 a lace that attached a man s hose to his doublet whilst casting a spell. Now I say inspired because over the centuries, the iconic buckle shoe had gone through many changes, each time re-emerging more cartoonish each time.
The store owner, Mr. Reed, noticed Harry's genuine interest and approached him. Seeing the young boy's passion for stories, Mr.
Fashioning Witchcraft
Francesca Scantlebury considers the relationship between witchcraft and clothing throughout history.
By Francesca Scantlebury
The infamous witch trials of early modern Europe saw tens of thousands of victims convicted and executed for the crimes of suspected witchcraft and sorcery. With the mass hysteria and angst about witchcraft spanning over multiple centuries and countries, it is no surprise that the cataclysmic events of the era still fascinate many to this day.
From the recently closed exhibition Spellbound: Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft at the Ashmolean museum, to the current touring exhibition Waking the Witch curated by Legion Projects, surviving objects related to witches continue to provide a popular attraction for museum goers and occult history lovers. Yet, one area of witchcraft which has so far received little attention, clothing. Crystal balls and grimoires are two kinds of objects which are often displayed within exhibitions and are used to show the ‘tools’ of alleged witches, but garments are typically missing from the story.
In spite of this absence though, many of our traditional ideas of witch’s clothing come from the early modern era, including the pointy hats and black robes worn by the Hogwarts students of Harry Potter. Through pamphlets, woodcut illustrations, and treatises against witchcraft, many stereotypes and myths were spread about witches and their attire, but in reality, those accused of witchcraft were probably dressed no differently to their neighbours. In an era of extreme paranoia, it would even have been considered especially foolish to dress in a manner particularly associated with witchcraft.
Through investigating beliefs on witches and their connection to clothing though in the period, a look at distinctive ongoing prejudices could also help establish why certain parts of the population were more likely to be accused of witchcraft. Although both men and women could be suspected of performing magic, up to 85% in England alone of those accused were women (1). A long-lasting bias in particular was one against female textile workers who were associated with ‘weaving’ and ‘spinning’ spells. Perpetuating this connection were publications such as James I’s famous treatise against witchcraft, Daemonologie, which specifically associated women spinners and knitters with sorcery. In one extract witches are accused of cursing men with impotence upon their marriage by ‘knitting so manie knottes upon a poynt,’ (2) (a lace that attached a man’s hose to his doublet) whilst casting a spell.
Alongside such myths and stereotypes spread about witches, clothes also played a part in securing confessions during trials and after executions. In one such trial in Holland in 1586, the accused was made to put on new clothes that had been sprinkled with holy water amongst other methods to extract a confession of witchcraft. Through doing so, the suspect not only was considered more likely to plead guilty to her supposed crimes, but the removal of her own clothes was also thought to take magic out of her possession. Clothing was believed to be a way in which witches could hide their spells successfully, and through forms of educations and entertainment, this opinion became further widespread across Europe. In William Shakespeare’s popular play, The Tempest for example, the principal character Prospero uses his cloak as the source of his magic, deliberately taking his garment off when deciding to give up his power.
After executions, there are also many cases of clothes being burned after their wearer’s death. As clothing was not always the cheapest commodity, to go to the lengths of burning them suggests they would forever be ‘tainted’ by their relationship to the witch that wore them and believed to possess harmful magic and spells. Though belief in witchcraft may no longer be prevalent today, it is easy to see how attitudes and actions such as this have shaped our views concerning witches’ attire and have been passed down through the centuries into our collective consciousness today.
References
1. Anne Llewellyn Barstow, Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts (San Francisco: Pandora, 1993), p. 23.
2. Donald Tyson, The Demonology of King James I: Includes the Original Text of Daemonologie and News from Scotland. (Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 2011), p. 74.
Bibliography/ Further Reading
1. Barstow, Anne Llewellyn, Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts. San Francisco: Pandora, 1993.
2. De Waart, Hans. “Witchcraft and Wealth: The Case of the Netherlands.” In The Oxford Handbook of Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe and Colonial America, edited by Brian P. Levack, 232 - 249. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
3. Jones, Ann Rosalind, and Peter Stallybrass. Renaissance Clothing and the Materials of Memory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
4. Krause, Virginia. Witchcraft, Demonology, and Confession in Early Modern France. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015.
5. Tyson, Donald, The Demonology of King James I: Includes the Original Text of Daemonologie and News from Scotland. Llewellyn Publications: Minnesota, 2011.
Suspected witches kneeling before King James I, Daemonologie, 1597
Witches dressed in their stereotypical attire, woodcut, 1720, Wellcome Library.
These wouldn’t have been outerwear for wealthier women, but would have been under the bodice. A lower class woman would not have had such fancy stays. Instead, she would have worn a reed or leather pair of stays over a chemise and skirt.
Reed decided to reveal a secret to Harry. He handed him a peculiar-looking pen and whispered, "Harry, this is a magic pen. Whatever you draw with it comes to life." Harry could not believe his ears, but the excitement in his eyes was undeniable. From that moment on, Harry's imagination knew no bounds. He started drawing magnificent creatures, enchanted landscapes, and extraordinary characters. With each stroke of the pen, his creations would materialize before his very eyes. The stories he had once imagined were now real and vibrant. Harry's newfound ability caught the attention of his friends and fellow villagers. They were awestruck by his talent and the fantastical world he had created. They were eager to be a part of his stories and see their dreams come true as well. Together, Harry and his friends embarked on countless adventures, exploring new worlds and unraveling mysteries. They defeated fearsome dragons, traversed treacherous terrains, and solved puzzling riddles. Harry's magic pen had become a portal to endless possibilities. As time passed, the village of Inkwell became a hub for imagination and creativity. Harry and his friends' stories had inspired other young artists to follow their dreams and believe in the power of their own creations. The village transformed into a bustling community of storytellers and artists, all thanks to Harry Pattern and his magical pen. However, like all good tales, Harry's journey had its share of challenges. He learned about the responsibility that came with his gift. The magic pen had the power to create, but it also had the power to destroy. Harry used his talents wisely, always mindful of the consequences his creations could have. In the end, Harry Pattern became a symbol of hope and inspiration not only in Inkwell but also far beyond its borders. His stories and art touched the hearts of people everywhere and reminded them of the incredible magic that resides in the power of imagination. And so, the story of Harry Pattern and the magic pen continues to be shared from generation to generation, reminding us all that a simple stroke of a pen can bring dreams to life and create a world where anything is possible..
Reviews for "Uncovering Mysteries: On the Trail of Harry Patttern and the Magic Pen"
1. Lisa - 1/5 stars - I found "Harry Pattern and the Magic Pen" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was predictable and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style felt amateurish and the dialogue was forced. Overall, I thought the book was a waste of time and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read.
2. John - 2/5 stars - While the concept of "Harry Pattern and the Magic Pen" seemed intriguing, the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was slow and it took too long for the story to develop. The world-building was underwhelming and lacked depth. Additionally, the protagonist was unrelatable and made questionable decisions throughout the book. I was hoping for a thrilling adventure, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Harry Pattern and the Magic Pen", but it failed to meet my expectations. The writing was subpar and the descriptions were weak, making it difficult to visualize the story. The plot felt disjointed and lacked coherence. Additionally, the dialogue was stilted and unrealistic. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.
4. Michael - 3/5 stars - "Harry Pattern and the Magic Pen" had an interesting premise, but it fell short in terms of character development. The main characters felt underdeveloped and their motivations were unclear. The pacing also felt uneven, with slow sections that dragged on. While there were moments of creativity, the overall execution of the story was lacking. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy light fantasy reads, but it is not a standout book in the genre.
5. Emily - 2/5 stars - I found "Harry Pattern and the Magic Pen" to be quite underwhelming. The plot lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other fantasy books I've read. The writing style was simplistic and lacked depth. The characters were forgettable and lacked complexity. Overall, I regret spending my time on this book and would not recommend it to others.