Magic as Technological Dominion: John Dee’s Hydragogy and the Draining of the Fens in Ben Jonson’s The Devil is an Ass

Abstract This paper explores the ambiguous role of magic in controversy over draining fens, last bastion wilderness seventeenth-century England. In what now looks like an early form environmentalist resistance to destruction these wetlands, opponents drainage accused undertakers invoking diabolical aid their audacious efforts tamper with God’s creation. Evidence this mentality can be found both William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Ben Jonson’s Devil is Ass . Via a close reading comedy, navigates confluence magic, technology, “projection” ideological debate surrounding fens. Just as traditional Vice figures (Iniquity Pug) find themselves out-devilled by Jacobean Londoners, play dramatizes appropriation displacement residual poetics enchantment emergent discourses economics applied engineering. A tendency equate hydro-engineering technology may have been encouraged John Dee’s involvement project. Drawing on unpublished manuscript Ashmole collection at Bodleian Library, seeks uncover extent impact drainage. Advocates drainage, however, not only denied any supernatural but also counterattacked accusing credulity magical thinking. They characterized native fen-dwellers superstitious heathens cast scathing eye local folklore depicting fens demon-haunted wasteland. pro-drainage documents, proposed fenlands becomes tantamount exorcism, purging rural backwaters paganism witchcraft. Wetlands management will conducted through engineering rather than incantations. little known ballad, “The Powte’s Complaint” (c. 1619) revives animistic tropes protest fen’s destruction. explain why tactic was doomed fail poem has forgotten. As credibility eroded mid-seventeenth century, instead sought stir up public resentment against foreignness Dutch under-takers supposed collusion forces. own projection that impossible con (like alchemy) would prove inaccurate. Nevertheless, stands one most ecologically-engaged texts canon modern English drama.