Thomas Ady

Thomas Ady (fl. 17th century) was an English physician and humanist about whom little is known other than that he was the author of three sceptical books on witchcraft and witch-hunting. His first and most well know work, "Candle in the Dark: Or, A Treatise Concerning the Nature of Witches & Witchcraft", was used unsuccessfully by George Burroughs in his defense during the Salem witch trials. [George Knowles, " [http://www.controverscial.com/Thomas%20Ady.htm Thomas Ady] ," accessed 7 January, 2007.] Ady's second book, published in 1661, was "A Perfect Discovery of Witches"; his third, published in 1676, was "The Doctrine of Devils".

Ady's "Candle in the Dark" contains the first record of the nursery rhyme "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John". [ " [http://www.rhymes.org.uk/a58-matthew-mark-luke-and-john.htm Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Nursery Rhyme Lyrics, Origins and History] " accessed 7 January, 2007.]

ee also

* European witchcraft
* Christian views on witchcraft
* "Malleus Maleficarum"

References

External links

* [http://historical.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/witch/docviewer?did=002 "Candle in the Dark"] , [http://historical.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/witch/docviewer?did=115 "A Perfect Discovery of Witches"] and [http://historical.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/witch/docviewer?did=003 "The Doctrine of Devils"] – full text of Ady's books.
* [http://www.controverscial.com/Thomas%20Ady.htm Biography] by George Knowles.
* [http://illusionata.com/mpt/view.php?id=192&type=articles Reaction to "The Discovery of Witchcraft"] by Stephen Forrester.
* [http://www.bartleby.com/217/1617.html The Advent of Modern Thought in Popular Literature] from "The Cambridge History of English and American Literature".
* [http://forums.randi.org/archive/index.php/t-53480.html Discussion] on the JREF forum.