Henry Holland (priest) facts for kids

Henry Holland (born in 1556, died in 1603) was an English priest. He was part of the Church of England, which is the main Christian church in England. He is best known for his writings about witchcraft, a topic that was very important during his time.

The Life of Henry Holland

Henry Holland went to Magdalene College, Cambridge, a famous university. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), in 1580. That same year, on November 21, he became a vicar (a type of priest) in a place called Orwell, Cambridgeshire.

In 1583, he continued his studies and earned a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree from Cambridge. Later, in 1594, he became the vicar of St Bride's Church in the City of London. This church was an important one. He served there until his death, which happened before February 13, 1604.

Henry Holland's Writings

Henry Holland wrote several books. His most famous work is A Treatise against Witchcraft, published in 1590.

A Treatise against Witchcraft

This book shared ideas from a Calvinist point of view. Calvinism was a branch of Protestant Christianity. Holland's book argued against folk magic, which were traditional beliefs and practices. He also disagreed with the ideas in another book called Discoverie of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot. Scot's book was more doubtful about the existence of witches.

Holland's Treatise also included ideas from other thinkers of his time. These included Jean Bodin, Lambert Daneau, and Niels Hemmingsen.

Other Important Books

Henry Holland wrote other books too. These include:

• Spirituall Preseruatiues against the Pestilence: This book was published in 1593 and again in 1603. It offered spiritual advice, especially during times of sickness like the plague.
• Aphorisms of Christian Religion: Published in 1596, this book was a shorter version of a famous work by John Calvin. It explained Christian beliefs in simple sentences.
• Christian exercise of Fasting, Private and Publick: Also from 1596, this book discussed the practice of fasting. It also included thoughts on the first two chapters of the biblical Book of Job.

Holland also helped to prepare other authors' works for publication. He edited the lectures of Robert Rollok from Edinburgh in 1603. He also edited the works of Richard Greenham, which were published in 1599.