Potts's Discovery of Witches: In the County of Lancaster, Brand New, Free shi... $23.89 . There is reason to believe that this was the noted Matthew Hopkins, Witch Finder General to the associated counties, who had frequently been mentioned by various writers. Until around 1440 witchcraft-related prosecutions in Europe centered on maleficium, the concept of using supernatural powers specifically to harm others. up to 20 shillings for each. All rights reserved. I was always told by my Grandfather that the so called Fitch manuscript was really only part of several diaries compiled by W.S Fitch of Ipswich and that the item in the notes and queries was only partially correct. They also relied upon villagers to identify witches in the first place, long… Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. This was made all the easier, when using an instrument that was spring loaded, as Stearne was said to have used. “The Discoverer never travelled far for it, but in March 1644 he had some seven or eight of that horrible sect of Witches living in the Towne where he lived, a Towne in Essex called Maningtree, with divers other adjacent Witches of other towns, who every six weeks in the night (being alwayes on the Friday night) had their meeting close by his house and had their severall solemne sacrifices there offered to the Devill, … The "Witch-Finder General". Still, there is no mention of what he did … A stylish serial killer with a swagger. The people were not only concerned with how the country was to be governed, pitting Royalists against parliamentarians, but also how their religion was to be controlled. This was a mood that would sharply change as the wars raged and society broke down in the hamlets and towns around England however, and the Pendle trials would plant violent seeds that would help lay the groundwork for what was to become the most brutal series of witch trials in European history, all of which would be headed by just one man, aided by an amended Witchcraft Act that very much played to his carefully crafted MO, Matthew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General. Enquiry:Why was Matthew Hopkins able to become so successful? You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. The other was Sir Thomas Bowes. Throughout European history, superstitious fear had long held a grasp over societies and culture, often when traditional structures broke down in times of strife. 20 shillings are 1 pound. One of the most remarkable episodes to come out of the European witch craze was the panic that gripped East Anglia, England from 1645-1647. Discovery of Witches : Contemporary Account, 1647, Paperback by Hopkins, Matt... $9.48. He was present at many of the interrogations of the accused, some of which involved brutal tortures, and became convinced that not only was their witchcraft genuine, but that they had tried to kill him by sinking his ship on his return with his new bride from Denmark. When James became king of England upon the death of Elizabeth I in 1603 he was shocked to discover that many of his subjects were more sceptical than he was about the power of witches. They used the broomstick to fly to witches meetings called asabbat. Naturally, they were in most cases simple blemishes of the skin, scars, liver spots, warts or any number of skin ailments, however as long as they were out of place, they would be deemed as evidence enough. All Rights Reserved. It was rumoured that Matthew Hopkins had ‘The Devils Book’, a directory of all the witches in England. In 1735, the witchcraft act was replaced by a further amendment which instead charged witchcraft as a form of con-artistry, and labeled offenders as practicing the pretense of witchcraft rather than witchcraft proper. Stearne had discovered a small sect of witches in Manningtree, where Hopkins was residing. Agricultural professions thrived in the rural areas, skilled craftsman were plenty with every town and hamlet boasting blacksmiths, gunsmiths, tailors and weavers. He died on the 27th August, 1647, in his home in manningtree, Essex to Tuberculosis, aged at most 27 years old. 5) Hopkins use to cut women accused of being witches to see if they bled why did he do this? He caused the suffering and death of many. [6] Matthew Hopkins, The Discovery of Witches (London, 1647), 2--cited hereafter as "Hopkins." This book consists of Matthew Hopkins, the notorious ‘witch-hunter’ being questioned by a 17th century courtroom of Judges. Purchase this issue for $36.00 USD. XLVII. In reality however, he was something much worse. Explain how the Catholic Church helped to start the European witch craze. Eight years later, in 1612, the pendle witches, 9 women and 2 men were held to trial under accusations of murder by witchcraft, witchcraft to cause harm to animals, witchcraft to cause sickness, cannibalism and child murder. Hopkins is a man of mystery - barely any documentation exists to prove that he was ever born, or even died. Still, unconcerned with this, the crew maintained their high rate of accusations until the 27th of August, 1645, the date of the Bury St. Edmunds trials. Matthew Hopkins was many things: a tavern owner, a former lawyer, a dedicated Puritan. In the same space of time that he killed around 20 men, Hopkins sent an estimated 200 women to the gallows. Witches killed children and used their fat to make up magic potions. A keen marketer, hangings were often dispersed throughout the region, often under the guise of a certain hamlet being home to either an accuser or an animal familiar. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving us a review over in itunes or your app of choice. The accused would also be starved and berated for the duration, accused of all manner of witchcraft and sorcery. 17th century was deeply patriarchal and misogynistic so it was easy for men to blame women for problems and accuse them of witchery as an easy way to practice their prejudices. It was rumoured that Matthew Hopkins had ‘The Devils Book’, a directory of all the witches in England. As the dark nights drew in, Hopkins and Stearne arrived in Ipswich. The Fitch manuscript also made it clear that Hopkins received some of his education in Holland and that it was from the low countries that he obtained the idea of becoming a witch hunter.”. In total more people were hanged by his hand than in the entire 100 years previous. Matthew Hopkins: The Witchfinder General. The Historical Significance of Matthew Hopkins: England’s “Witchfinder General” By Shana Hay. The act of 1604 might seem like only a slight change, however, by broadening the criteria for a successful conviction in this way, a witch no longer had to be caught, and more importantly proven, to be causing harm to another with sorcery. They also relied upon villagers to identify witches in the first place, long… Title: The Discovery of Witches. He hailed from a Puritan, East Anglian background, an area of England that would later see heavy emigration to America and a people that would carry their beliefs into the Salem Witch Trials. However, no further investigation was carried out. In the will of one Daniel Wyles, dated 1619 is the following entry: “James hopkins, preacher of the word of God at Great Wenham and to his wife, leaving 6s 8d each to their children, James, Thomas and John when able to read a chapter in the new testament, to buy a bible.”, From this we know that Matthew was not born by 1619, suggesting he would have been born in the following several years with most sources attributing his birth no later than 1620. From 1645-7 two witch finders, Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, swept through East Anglia discovering and trying suspected witches. Matthew Hopkins was the best known witch finder in England. I'm not sure where the number originated, but I assume it counts every tangential death, and many that couldn't be counted as witches by any standard. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. The impact of religious change in the 17th century The Stuart period. The self appointed "Witch-Finder General" lived at Manningtree in Essex and in the two year period from 1645 to 1647 set out to eradicate witchcraft in East Anglia with great zeal. Obviously, this book is not intended to be entertaining, but is simply a transcript of an interrogation by judges of Hopkins, with these notes being taken down by Hopkins himself. Discovery of Witches : Contemporary Account, 1647, Paperback by Hopkins, Matt... $9.48. My Grandfather was a member of the Fitch family and he used to say that the phrase quoted in Notes and Queries was misleading. In the 1600s there were many ways to make a living. For … option. Many people blamed any misfortune on witches. There are sites throughout East Anglia, but Jeremy and I are most familiar with those in Norwich as this is where we lived for many years. up to 20 shillings for each. This point is telling in itself and when paired with the often outcast and downtrodden nature of the vast majority of the accused, it becomes apparent that personal grudges and puritanical beliefs were a driving force behind many accusations. It really helps us out. Wherever they went, fear and apprehension followed and the accusations rolled in. Stearne was equally as puritanical as Hopkins, though as his elder, better read and more learned in the local folklore of witches and demonic influence. King James then went on to write “Demanlogie” in 1597, detailing extensively procedures and justifications for persecuting witchcraft from a Christian perspective. This is further backed by his first known job as a Clerk for a shipping company, where the language and knowledge gained from Europe would certainly have helped greatly. On the fourth night of such treatment, Elizabeth Clarke finally gave in, admitting guilt to communion with no less than five animal familiars, a white kitten by the name of Holt, a fat spaniel with no legs named Jarmara, a black rabbit named Sack and Sugar, Newes the Polecat and Vinegar Tom, a greyhound with the head of an Ox. They reimagined a common practice from past trials named “swimming” and had the accused tied from thumb to their opposite big toe, they then tied a rope around their waist and with one man on one side of a body of water and a second on another, they “swam” the victim by dunking them in the water, those that sank were innocent and those that floated were accused of casting aside their baptism and so now, as they had repelled the lord, the water too repelled them, outing them as a witch. Matthew Hopkins – On the Discovery of Witches – Matthew Hopkins published pamphlet regarding criticisms he received for his witch hunting. Matthew Hopkins was aged between 22 and 25 years old and he had a plan. In this book, he questioned the existence of Imps and animal familiars, made distinctions between the good workings of a magician and the spells of a witch and scathingly, took Hopkins treatment of those accused to task. Fitch of Ipswich refers to Matthew Hopkins as: Whilst this manuscript has never been found, in 1974, during his research efforts for his book “Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder general” published in 1976, Richard Deacon put out an appeal for information regarding Hopkins early life. Gender was an important factor in determining if you survived a meeting with Matthew Hopkins. Royalist figures, such as Prince Rupert of the Rhine, who had gained notoriety through rumour and hearsay for their warring ruthlessness were charicutured into demonic forces and as the imagery persisted, so to the superstitions grew. 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