Witchcraft

Question 1

Why was witchcraft punished severely?

Answer 1

1. Later C16th economic problems like falling wages. Death of livestock was blamed on witchcraft
2. Fear of the poor and vagrants-rich accuse the poor
3. After Henry VIII, witchcraft was not only a religious crime but against the state

Question 2

Laws against witchcraft:

Answer 2

1. Henry VIII-1542-Witchcraft Act, punishable by death
2. 1563-Elizabeth I, Act against conjurations, enchantments and witchcraft-tried in common court
3. James I-1604-Witchcraft and Conjuration act- death penalty given to anyone summoning evil spirits.

Question 3

James I’s Demonologie:

Answer 3

1. Published in 1597
2. The book was about the nature of Hell and called the witches the ‘detestable slaves of the devil’
3. Included instructions on how to carry out witch trials
4. New edition in 1603 describing how witches had tried to drown him and his wife
5. His ideas had influence on others

Question 4

Social Upheaval:

Answer 4

1. English Civil War
2. Began in 1642-49
3. Most families were divided and had to take sides
4. Economic and political chaos of the war created a in which people were more attracted to superstitious ideas

Question 5

Who was Matthew Hopkins?

Answer 5

1645, former Essex lawyer and self proclaimed Witchfinder General

Question 6

How did Hopkins get women to confess to being witches?

Answer 6

1. Starvation
2. Sleep deprivation
3. Mole
   4.Having a familiar
4. Sink or swim. Sink innocent used by communities NOT Hopkins

Question 7

Punishments for witchcraft:

Answer 7

1. 1000 people executed between 1542-1736- mainly hanging
2. Hopkins and assistant John Stearne led to 300 investigated and 112 executed by hanging

Question 8

Reasons for the decline of witchcraft:

Answer 8

1. Hopkins died of TB in 1647, calm the hysteria he stirred up
2. The enlightenment period in the second 1/2 of the C17th. Royal Society in 1660 brought together thinkers
3. Move towards reason and rationality