06.04.03

Schismatical Impostures

Posted in Books at 11:34 am by

Talking of Catholicism, I have quite a book title ringing in my head at the moment - Samuel Harsnett’s A declaration of egregious popish impostures.

The book, published in 1603, tackles alleged cases where roguish Catholic agitators pretend possession by devils in order to frighten the populace back to the Roman church. It seems clear that Shakespeare used Harsnett’s list of pretend devils for the Tom O’Bedlam scene in King Lear.

Me, I’m still trying to think of another book with egregious in the title. The Egregious Julie Burchill, perhaps?

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