good ol' witch hunters

[2close2theflame]

im doing stuff for pike/shot/zombie and witch hunter general and am curious is there any known regiments or "societies" that have historical fact outside of or similar to the spanish inquisition? preferably something english. im thinking of something like BPRD (bureau of paranormal research and defense, for those not familiar with the hellboy mythos) in the 17th century if i have to create my own. i havent done my own research yet, which im starting this evening after work. if i cant find anything historic i guess ill have a blast creating my own regiment! i always have to give fluff to my home brews. simply put im going for a regiment led by a witch hunter and his retinue. thanks for any input historical or otherwise!

[2close2theflame]

i was just thinking maybe english prefered may be to specific? i just really want something different than the spanish inquisition for the most part.

[shadegate]

This article looks like it may prove useful to you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cambridgesh ... 998465.stm

[carvel2]

Anyone fancy a visit to Pendle?...we is famous we is!

[2close2theflame]

thx shadegate

[grant]

James (the king that is) wrote a nice book on Demonology. He also wrote a counter-blaste to tobacco.

I have his Demonology book- its a fun read.

[clivethecelt]

As at Salem, it was very much a case of local level hysteria - usually against women - following James I's witchcraft act in 1604. There were a couple of notorious witchhunters, notably Matthew Hopkins (the Witchfinder General) and John Sterne (Witch-pricker), and their followers and supporters. You might have a look at:
http://www.witchtrials.co.uk/matthew.html
Carvel mentions the Lancashire witches; again, it was pair of local JPs who started the ball rolling, but the clerk of the court at Lancaster, Thomas Potts, who jumped onto the bandwagon started by James. See:
http://www.pendlewitches.co.uk/lancashire-witches/
Although they weren't actually a regiment or cadre, there were many "cunning men" (and women) in Britain who were often ignored in the witchhunts (witches - bad; cunning folk - "useful"), and you could posit a "network" of goode folke as a basis for your campaign ... here's a link to Wikipedia to start off with:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunning_folk_in_Britain

[2close2theflame]

yeah i think i have the daemonology book to, its like a hundred or so pages, ill have to dig that out and see if its that one, was really fun, i have an enlish version of malleus maleficarum to, another interesting read

[2close2theflame]

thanks for the info guys!, ive decided im just going to take stuff from here and there to create a fictional reg. seems easier that way and the nit pickers cant try and say "hey they didnt do this or have that!" lol

[2close2theflame]

YAY! finally got my P&S rulebook, now to figure out how to se up the army so its usuable crossways! i know noone gives a hoot, lol i just had to express my joy!