The English Exorcist: John Darrell and the Shaping of Early Modern English Protestant Demonology

John Darrell was a symbol of Puritan spirituality and the subject of fierce ecclesiastical persecution in 1598. The High Commission of John Darrell became a flashpoint for theological and demonological debate, leading to spiritual reform in the English Church. This book is the first study to provide an in-depth scholarly treatment of Darrell's exorcism ministry and his demonology, establishing an intellectual biography and sketching out the full compelling story of the Darrell Controversy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In 1598, the esteemed English clergyman John Darrell found himself standing before the High Commission at Lambeth Palace, facing allegations of fraud and counterfeiting. The ecclesiastical authorities claimed that he had delved into the dark arts of counterfeiting demonic possession for a decade, posing as a miracle worker. His rise to prominence, thanks to his dramatic and successful role as an exorcist in the late sixteenth century, made him a symbol of Puritan spirituality and a target of fierce ecclesiastical persecution. The High Commission of John Darrell became a focal point for theological and demonological discourse, serving as a catalyst for spiritual reform within the early seventeenth-century English Church.

Scholars have long held a negative view of John Darrell, perceiving him through a historiographical lens that this book seeks to challenge. The English Exorcist stands as the first comprehensive scholarly exploration of Darrell's exorcism ministry and his demonology. It sheds new light on the corpus of theological treatises that emerged from the Darrell Controversy, thereby illuminating the profound influence of Darrell's exorcism ministry on early modern Reformed English Protestant demonology. The book establishes an intellectual biography of this enigmatic figure and paints a vivid portrait of the entire captivating story of the Darrell Controversy.

Weight: 478g
Dimension: 154 x 233 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367528249