Matthew HopkinsMatthew Hopkins► Matthew Hopkins is more Matthew Hopkins is more

commonly known as “The Witch-commonly known as “The Witch-Finder General”. Finder General”.

► Throughout his reign of terror Throughout his reign of terror 1645-1646, Hopkins acquired a 1645-1646, Hopkins acquired a feared and evil reputation as feared and evil reputation as a ‘finger man’ (informer), a ‘finger man’ (informer), paid by local authorities to paid by local authorities to commit perjury. commit perjury.

► In just 14 months, Hopkins was In just 14 months, Hopkins was responsible for the responsible for the condemnations and executions condemnations and executions of some 320 alleged witches, of some 320 alleged witches, more than all the other witch-more than all the other witch-hunters during the 160-year hunters during the 160-year peak of the country’s peak of the country’s witchcraft hysteria.witchcraft hysteria.

Paid JobPaid Job►His reign of terror His reign of terror began in 1644 when he began in 1644 when he was employed by towns to was employed by towns to seek out and destroy seek out and destroy women believed to be women believed to be witches.witches.

► Hopkins was commissioned by Hopkins was commissioned by Parliament to seek out and Parliament to seek out and sentence those he thought sentence those he thought guilty of witchcraft and guilty of witchcraft and rewarded a handsome sum of rewarded a handsome sum of 20 shillings per witch.20 shillings per witch.

► Hopkins elevated his Hopkins elevated his killings to an art form by killings to an art form by examining his victims to examining his victims to obtain ‘proof’ that someone obtain ‘proof’ that someone was actually a ‘witch’.was actually a ‘witch’.

Witch HuntsWitch Hunts

Tools of TortureTools of Torture► His means of extracting a His means of extracting a confession included torture confession included torture which shed no blood. One of which shed no blood. One of his methods was sleep his methods was sleep deprivationdeprivation

► Also used was a “witch Also used was a “witch pricker, a sharp evil-pricker, a sharp evil-looking instrumentlooking instrument

► Pricking was excruciatingly Pricking was excruciatingly painful involved needles and painful involved needles and bodkins to pierce the skin bodkins to pierce the skin looking for insensitive looking for insensitive spots that didn’t bleed. spots that didn’t bleed.

► If any were found they would If any were found they would then be interpreted as a then be interpreted as a mark of the Devilmark of the Devil

Witches’ HelpersWitches’ Helpers► He was convinced witches He was convinced witches

had what he termed had what he termed ‘familiars’ who were sent ‘familiars’ who were sent to do hellish work. to do hellish work.

► Familiars were minor Familiars were minor demons or imps that took demons or imps that took the shape of an animal and the shape of an animal and were given to witches by were given to witches by the devil or other witches the devil or other witches to help them accomplish to help them accomplish their wicked goals.their wicked goals.

► Familiars were said to be Familiars were said to be kept alive by sucking kept alive by sucking blood from a witch’s blood from a witch’s finger or wart.finger or wart.

Torture VictimsTorture Victims

                

                

                    

Unusual PunishmentUnusual Punishment► Hopkins and his Hopkins and his assistants, John Stearne assistants, John Stearne and Mary Philips, would and Mary Philips, would strip a suspect and strip a suspect and dress her in a loose dress her in a loose shift. She would be shift. She would be forced to sit on a stool forced to sit on a stool in the middle of a room in the middle of a room – sometimes for days and – sometimes for days and nights.nights.

► At all times the suspect At all times the suspect was watched to see if was watched to see if the familiar crawled out the familiar crawled out to feed on the suspect. to feed on the suspect. To make sure she did not To make sure she did not fall asleep the ‘witch’ fall asleep the ‘witch’ was periodically walked.was periodically walked.

Sleep DeprivationSleep Deprivation

Tormentum insomniaeTormentum insomniae ► Torture by sleeplessness Torture by sleeplessness was allowable perhaps was allowable perhaps because it did not seem to because it did not seem to be a real torture. be a real torture.

► In one instance, John In one instance, John Lowe, 70-year-old vicar of Lowe, 70-year-old vicar of Brandeston, was "swum in Brandeston, was "swum in the moat," kept awake for the moat," kept awake for three days and nights, and three days and nights, and then forced to walk then forced to walk without rest until his without rest until his feet were blistered. feet were blistered.

► Denied benefit of clergy, Denied benefit of clergy, Lowe recited his own Lowe recited his own burial service on the way burial service on the way to the gallowsto the gallows

DrowningDrowning► Hopkins also Hopkins also stripped his stripped his suspects naked and suspects naked and tied them up – tied them up – right thumb to right thumb to left big toe and left big toe and vice versa. He vice versa. He then threw them then threw them into a stream.into a stream.

► If they drowned If they drowned they were declared they were declared innocent – if they innocent – if they stayed afloat they stayed afloat they would be found would be found guilty and guilty and sentenced to sentenced to death.death.

No Way OutNo Way Out► Confessing or being Confessing or being guilty of witchcraft guilty of witchcraft usually resulted in a usually resulted in a death sentence, either by death sentence, either by drowning, hanging or drowning, hanging or being burned at the being burned at the stake.stake.

► In 1647 Hopkins was In 1647 Hopkins was forced to take one of his forced to take one of his own tests. He was bound own tests. He was bound and thrown into a river, and thrown into a river, floated and was sentenced floated and was sentenced to death.to death.

When Did It End?When Did It End?

► The last execution for The last execution for witchcraft was in 1682, witchcraft was in 1682, the last trial in 1712 the last trial in 1712 and the law was repealed and the law was repealed in 1736. People had moved in 1736. People had moved on due to the new on due to the new rational way of thinking rational way of thinking called the called the EnlightenmentEnlightenment, , encouraged by new encouraged by new discoveries in science. discoveries in science. Living standards also Living standards also improved, reducing improved, reducing tensions in rural areas.tensions in rural areas.