'One may be an Imp as well as another': The Familiar Spirit in Early Modern English Witchcraft Pamphlets

The familiar spirit was a phenomenon unique to early modern English witchcraft that, while appearing often in witchcraft narratives, has been the subject of little analysis. Appearing often as an animal, offering services in exchange for the witch’s soul, and forming a unique relationship with the witch, the familiar spirit often appears in the narratives supplied by trial participants as described in pamphlet material. This thesis aims to analyse the appearance of the familiar in English pamphlet material in the early modern period, showing trends in the details provided over time.