Case study: witchcraft and the law c1500-c1700

What were witches believed to have done to gain their powers?

A Made a pact with the Devil.

What powers were witches believed to have?

The ability to make people ill or die.

What was a witch’s ‘familiar’?

A demon in animal form, such as a cat or dog, that helped the witch.

What did the 1542 Witchcraft Act introduce?

It made witchcraft a capital offence under Henry VIII.

How were witches viewed by the late 1600s?

Seen more as foolish tricksters than dangerous criminals.

How did the 1735 Witchcraft Act change punishments?

Witchcraft became punishable by fines and imprisonment, not death.

What economic issues increased witchcraft accusations?

Falling wages and rising unemployment caused tension in communities.

Why did people fear vagabonds during this period?

Economic hardship made the poor and homeless seem threatening.

How did Protestantism affect witchcraft beliefs?

Protestants wanted to “cleanse” society of old Catholic superstitions and suspected witches.

What role did King James I play in spreading witchcraft fears?

He was an enthusiastic witch hunter who promoted witch hunts.

What was the name of James I’s book about witchcraft?

Demonologie.

When was Demonologie first published?

1597.

What did James claim witches tried to do to him?

Drown him and his wife during a sea voyage.

Why did James become more suspicious after 1605?

The Gunpowder Plot increased his fear of conspiracies, including witches.

How did the English Civil War increase witchcraft accusations?

The chaos and fear made people turn to superstition.

What percentage of witchcraft accusations were against women?

About 90%.

What kinds of women were often accused?

Wise women, widows, or unmarried women.

Why were many women targeted?

They didn’t fit expectations of being married or obedient.

Who was Matthew Hopkins?

A self-proclaimed “Witchfinder General” active in Essex and East Anglia.

When did Hopkins start his witch hunts?

Around 1645.

What was Hopkins’ previous profession?

A lawyer.

What methods did Hopkins use to get confessions?

Starvation and sleep deprivation.

What physical signs did Hopkins look for?

A “witch’s teat” — a mole or mark used to feed a familiar.

Why did accusations keep spreading under Hopkins?

Confessed witches were forced to name others.

How many investigations did Hopkins and his team conduct?

Around 300.

How many witches were executed because of Hopkins’ hunts?

About 112, mostly by hanging.

How many people were executed for witchcraft between 1542–1736?

Around 1,000.

What was the most common method of execution?

Hanging.

When did Matthew Hopkins die?

1647.

What effect did Hopkins’ death have on witch trials?

 His influence ended, and witch hunts declined.

What new movement encouraged a more scientific approach to life?

The Enlightenment.

When was the Royal Society founded?

1660.

What did the Royal Society promote?

Scientific methods and evidence-based thinking.

How did Enlightenment ideas affect courts?

They demanded higher standards of evidence.

When was the last recorded witch execution in England?

1716.