The concept of witchcraft has existed since the tenth century. ... She issued the Witchcraft Act of 1563, which ordered that death by hanging only be administered when witchcraft was practiced with the intent to murder. ... This statute demanded more severe penalties for witchcraft. ... In 1763, all the Witchcraft Acts were repealed. ... In concentrating on Macbeth, a character from Scottish history, Shakespeare honored his king's Scottish ancestry. ...

• Word Count: 1948
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

King James 1st was also very interested in witches and witchcraft and he even wrote a book about it. ... The play "Macbeth" reflects many Elizabethan beliefs about witches and witchcraft. ... When returning from Denmark after his marriage, King James first came in contact with witchcraft. ... The Danes on the ship convinced him that the bad weather was caused by witchcraft. ... His fascination in witchcraft lead him to write a book about it called, "Daemonologie," explaining how witches can cause death by burning a person's picture, and can raise storms at sea or on land. ...

• Word Count: 3254
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

He later wrote a book on witchcraft and how to punish witches. ... This small infamous group that would go down in history was made up of his cousin, Thomas Winter, his friend, John Wright, Percy, and the notorious Guy Fawkes, who is still burned in effigy yearly. ... Modern sources suggest the picture Shakespeare paints of Scotland in 1044 is based on rumors and the little they knew of the it in 1606, and due to new findings we have a better understanding of this history. ...

• Word Count: 1823
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Considering that King James was a descendant from Banquo and Fleance Shakespeare altered history and instead of making Banquo a murderer who helps Macbeth, in Shakespeare's version he is murdered because he fights against the traitor, and is therefore innocent. ... In addition, Shakespeare also knew that James I was extremely interested in witchcraft. ...

• Word Count: 2531
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School