Matthew Hopkins ► Matthew Hopkins is more commonly known as “The Witch- Finder General”. ► Throughout his reign of terror , Hopkins acquired a feared and evil reputation as a ‘finger man’ (informer), paid by local authorities to commit perjury. ► In just 14 months, Hopkins was responsible for the condemnations and executions of some 320 alleged witches, more than all the other witch- hunters during the 160-year peak of the country’s witchcraft hysteria.

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

► Hopkins was commissioned by Parliament to seek out and sentence those he thought guilty of witchcraft and rewarded a handsome sum of 20 shillings per witch. ► Hopkins elevated his killings to an art form by examining his victims to obtain ‘proof’ that someone was actually a ‘witch’. Witch Hunts

Tools of Torture ► His means of extracting a confession included torture which shed no blood. One of his methods was sleep deprivation ► Also used was a “witch pricker, a sharp evil- looking instrument ► Pricking was excruciatingly painful involved needles and bodkins to pierce the skin looking for insensitive spots that didn’t bleed. ► If any were found they would then be interpreted as a mark of the Devil

Witches’ Helpers ► He was convinced witches had what he termed ‘familiars’ who were sent to do hellish work. ► Familiars were minor demons or imps that took the shape of an animal and were given to witches by the devil or other witches to help them accomplish their wicked goals. ► Familiars were said to be kept alive by sucking blood from a witch’s finger or wart.

Torture Victims

Unusual Punishment ► Hopkins and his assistants, John Stearne and Mary Philips, would strip a suspect and dress her in a loose shift. She would be forced to sit on a stool in the middle of a room – sometimes for days and nights. ► At all times the suspect was watched to see if the familiar crawled out to feed on the suspect. To make sure she did not fall asleep the ‘witch’ was periodically walked.

Sleep Deprivation Tormentum insomniae ► Torture by sleeplessness was allowable perhaps because it did not seem to be a real torture. ► In one instance, John Lowe, 70-year-old vicar of Brandeston, was "swum in the moat," kept awake for three days and nights, and then forced to walk without rest until his feet were blistered. ► Denied benefit of clergy, Lowe recited his own burial service on the way to the gallows

Drowning ► Hopkins also stripped his suspects naked and tied them up – right thumb to left big toe and vice versa. He then threw them into a stream. ► If they drowned they were declared innocent – if they stayed afloat they would be found guilty and sentenced to death.

No Way Out ► Confessing or being guilty of witchcraft usually resulted in a death sentence, either by drowning, hanging or being burned at the stake. ► In 1647 Hopkins was forced to take one of his own tests. He was bound and thrown into a river, floated and was sentenced to death.

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