History - Crime and Punishment - Early Modern - Matthew Hopkins and the witch-hunt of 1645-47

1500-1700:

Matthew Hopkins and the witch hunt:

1645: The witchfinder general

• Matthew Hopkins (an unsuccessful lawer at 25) and his assistant John Stearne started searching East Anglia for witches
• Hopkis found 36 'witches' against whom he collected evidence and they were charged with using harmful magic against neighbours or livestock. The majority were old, poor and the most vulnerable in society.
• He exhausted them by keeping them always standing and moving which was effective on the elderly and due to this…