English Society in the Seventeenth Century Chapter 2: The Fight for Democracy and the English War

Upper Class The King and Royal family; King’s advisors; Nobles; High Church officials such as bishops The King and Royal family; King’s advisors; Nobles; High Church officials such as bishops The original Upper Class looked down on the “New Upper Class”. The original Upper Class looked down on the “New Upper Class”. Lived in fine homes filled with valuable possessions including China (Asia), and wood furniture (Africa) Lived in fine homes filled with valuable possessions including China (Asia), and wood furniture (Africa)

Middle Class Merchants, manufacturers, landowners, professionals, and military officers. Merchants, manufacturers, landowners, professionals, and military officers. New wealth ~ English Entrepreneurs, merchants, manufacturers, and landholders found opportunities to increase their wealth and change their class. New wealth ~ English Entrepreneurs, merchants, manufacturers, and landholders found opportunities to increase their wealth and change their class. Skilled workers could make good money and live quite comfortably, specifically if they belonged to a cooperative organization. Skilled workers could make good money and live quite comfortably, specifically if they belonged to a cooperative organization.

Lower Class Thousands of ordinary workers. Thousands of ordinary workers. –Those in agriculture –Living in the country These people worked long hours for very little pay (ten pennies a day for men; a few pennies a day for women). These people worked long hours for very little pay (ten pennies a day for men; a few pennies a day for women). Living quarters were small, cramped, with a whole family living in one room. Living quarters were small, cramped, with a whole family living in one room. Many more people lived in dire poverty with no opportunities to improve. Many more people lived in dire poverty with no opportunities to improve. –Widows would lose their husbands income and have to rely solely on their own income to feed an entire family.

The Role of Religion

Witch Trials What makes someone a witch? What makes someone a witch? What makes someone a witch? What makes someone a witch? –Social Misfit: women who did not marry –Single women who lived alone Had a pet Had a pet –Healers: women who used old healing methods to heal the sick as they had done for hundreds of years. –Women who told fortunes or made “love potions”.

Matthew Hopkins ‘Witchfinder General’, Matthew Hopkins, a bloodthirsty man was responsible for the deaths of more than 300 women - according to an old legend. ‘Witchfinder General’, Matthew Hopkins, a bloodthirsty man was responsible for the deaths of more than 300 women - according to an old legend. His reign of terror began in 1644 when he was employed by towns to seek out and destroy women believed to be witches. 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 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’. Hopkins elevated his killings to an art form by examining his victims to obtain ‘proof’ that someone was actually a ‘witch’. – He shed no blood in extracting his confessions. – One of his methods was sleep deprivation. – He was convinced witches had what he termed ‘familiars’ who often took the form of everyday creatures and were said to suckle on the blood of the witch by way of an extra nipple hidden on their body. So 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. So 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. 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. This watching and walking often lasted many days and nights until the suspect’s feet were bloody and sore. A large number of women confessed after a few days and nights of this treatment. This watching and walking often lasted many days and nights until the suspect’s feet were bloody and sore. A large number of women confessed after a few days and nights of this treatment. – 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. This test was called being ‘ducked’ This test was called being ‘ducked’

An accused witch going through the judgment trial, where she is dunked in water to prove her guilt of practicing witchcraft.

Confessing or being guilty of witchcraft usually resulted in a death sentence, either by drowning, hanging or being burned at the stake. 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. 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.