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How many accused were women?
around 80%
How many faced trial between 1645-47, and how many were ultimately killed?
700, 300-400
When did Hopkins first become concerned about witches?
1644, when he was kept awake by what he claimed were meetings of witches near his house
When did Hopkins and Stearne first present their accusations to a local magistrate?
March 1645, to magistrate Harbottle Grimston
Who was the first woman to be accused in Manningtree?
Elizabeth Clark
one leg - long-suspected witch
found 3 teats
watched overnight
named Rebecca West
What did Rebecca West do?
Admitted to suckling imps, turned witness for the crown and gained immunity from prosecution, was published in a pamphlet (name is a line and a half long)
In the July trials at Chelmsford how many witches were found guilty?
20, incl. Elizabeth Clark
How many were examined in Suffolk?
120
John Lowes?
Royalist clergyman who antagonised his parishioners
Defended a previous accused witch, claimed she was as much or a witch as he was - ppl took this for a confession
subjected to swimming test
confessed
How many women were tried at the 1645 Norfolk assizes?
40
How many women were tried at Huntingdonshire in 1646?
8
A key setback in Hopkins and Stearne’s business?
The presence of John Gaule, who objected to their actions in his community
Hopkins, spring of 1647?
Attended the Norfolk assizes and was subjected to hostile questioning about his activities by officials who had become suspicious
When was ‘The Discovery of Witches’ published?
May 1647
Geographical pattern for their investigations?
There is no clear geographical pattern and it appears they simply follow the money that was available to them in communities that already harboured resentment and suspicion.
How many accused in Suffolk were men?
around 20%, however most were already linked to a female accused witch
What was Hopkins particularly interested in?
Finding evidence of sexual activity with the Devil, and the suckling of imps - actions more likely to be associated with women.
Margaret Baytes and Good Smith included in their confessions that they fed imps from teats
What % of accused witches were charged with harming or killing children?
20%
Example of a witch accused of killing family?
Susanna Stegold found guilty of killing her husband (go girl!) due to an unhappy marriage, which almost certainly involved domestic violence against her.
Literacy figures among those involved?
It is likely that around 94% of victims were illiterate, and so were many of the searchers - suggesting they were neighbours, witnesses are more likely to be literate
How did Hopkins and Stearne make money?
the parishes paid both men
parishes also paid search-women and watchers
Witchfinder’s methods?
isolate the subject
inspect for witches mark
sleep deprivation, intimidation and physical violence, walking
(possibly) swimming test
Evidence of physical violence from Hopkins?
A woman from Wattisham said she received forehead injuries when an imp hurled her out of her chair, she was possibly hallucinating due to sleep deprivation
Why did the swimming test have an air of legitimacy?
Was approved by James in ‘Daemonologie’ (1597)
Hopkins’ upbringing?
father was a Puritan minister in Suffolk, raising his children in the image of godliness
Why was Hopkins the ‘ideal’ person to investigate witchcraft in Manningtree specifically?
He was an outsider and could make ‘neutral’ judgements on suspected witches
What type of official backing did the pair have?
In such dangerous times, they most likely had letters of safe passage from a high power
Why is it likely that Hopkins gained so much influence?
Right place at the right time, young man, a Puritan w/ an enthusiasm for tackling evil who presented himself as a savior in a time of economic and political crisis.
Stearne?
Puritan
First to gain a warrant from Manningtree magistrates
passionate about witch-hunting - wanted to use swimming test on Elizabeth Clark
Possible reasons for the craze?
Poor weather and inflation combined with the civil war left people wanting a scapegoat
breakdown of traditional authority
What helped the craze become as widespread as it did and why?
The breakdown of the traditional legal system
because the assizes were closed (due to war) it meant non-professionals could wield atypical amounts of power over trials
What suggests that Hopkins’ personal role was great?
John Gaule singled him out for blame
Note
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