“Witchcraft involved power, and one way of understanding it at the level of the local community is to see it as a way in which the relatively powerless were thought to be able to gain access to power.” (Sharpe, Page 70)

This idea that witchcraft has to do with power relations is an interesting as Sharpe suggests that  there is power for both women performing witchcraft and also for the usually higher class people accusing them. I think it is important to address the role of agency specifically within a socioeconomic lens when discussing the history of witchcraft. As mentioned by Sharpe, many historians have trouble discussing witchcraft without bringing in their own biases. However, when you think of poor old women with few options, it becomes more understandable why someone would be willing to try Witchcraft to gain more power over their lives.

“After she had washed the poor women’s feet she deliberately traced a very large and well-defined  cross and kissed it to the sorrows of many persons who witnessed it… but to the joy of others.”

This quote written by Guzman de Siva in 1565 included on page 35 in Levine’s book describes Elizabeth’s Maundy ceremony on Holy Thursday. This quote is significant as it depicts Elizabeth I performing a deliberate religious action before the public despite the anger she knows it will bring from her court. This shows that religion did play an important role in Elizabeth I reign and that she did consider her actions within the context of Christianity as well as politically.

“Later, however, the king’s justice ruled that if Jews came to the abbot’s great court of pleas to claim debts from their debtors, they could for this purpose be given two days’ and two nights’ lodging in the town, and on the third day they should leave in freedom.”

These lines come after the description of the abbot removing all Jewish people from the town on the grounds that the whole land was under Saint Edmunds, and thus all who live in it should be followers of him. I found this passage interesting because it highlights the way that the Jewish community exist outside of the rigid social structure. They do not fall directly under any one lord as they are seen as outsiders and foreigners and oppressed because of this idea.

“He’ll spill the blood of ever soldier in the fort unless you act quickly and send the naked women out to meet him.”

This quote describes a moment in The Tain in which Cu Chulainn is in a rage and begins to kill all of the soldiers in the fort under Conchobor. He then orders women to be brought out who show their breast to Cu Chulainn and throw water on him until he calms down. This struck me as an interesting quote in terms of sexuality as this occurred when Cu Chulainn is only seven years old. This outrageous tale adds a layer of hyper-masculinity to our hero as even at seven, he has the complete sexuality of a fully grown adult.