Cotton Mather Curious Cases & Amusing Actions at Law

Description:

Curious Cases & Amusing Actions at Law is a captivating collection of real legal cases and historical trial accounts from the 17th century, drawn from the records of the Birmingham Court of Requests and infamous witchcraft trials, including the Salem trials in colonial America.

This unique volume is divided into two engaging parts:

???? Part I – Curious Cases in the Court of Requests:

A lively collection of over 40 short, entertaining, and often humorous civil cases involving everyday disputes—between husbands and wives, servants and masters, neighbors, and landlords. The cases reflect not only the legal customs and wit of the time, but also the peculiarities of human behavior under the scrutiny of the law.

???? Part II – Trials of Witches:

Reproduces accounts from the Salem witch trials of 1692, based on the writings of Cotton and Increase Mather, and the 1664 Bury St Edmunds witch trial presided over by Sir Matthew Hale. These chilling narratives capture the religious zeal, legal reasoning, and societal fears that fueled one of history’s most infamous judicial episodes.