The Strange-But-True Story Of Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General
English history is littered with fascinating figures, but few of them are more intriguing than Matthew Hopkins. Struggling to place the name? Well, you might know him better as the Witchfinder General. This guy was a real-life bogeyman in the mid-17th century, terrorizing parts of the country in his search to convict alleged practitioners of witchcraft. While Hopkins’ exploits only spanned a couple of years, the grisly results have earned him a place in the darkest corners of England’s history books.
An unshakeable fear of witchcraft
During the mid-17th century, there was an undeniable fear running through England that witches and dark magic actually existed. It was everywhere. But why were people so afraid? What stoked the fires of national uneasiness? Or rather, who?
It’s long been suspected that King James I was responsible for lighting the first match. When he was alive, the monarch couldn’t shake the feeling that witchcraft plagued his lands. So, in an attempt to highlight the issue, he decided to write a book about it.
Demonologie
The 1597 text was titled Daemonologie, and it detailed why James was so sure that witches were running amok around the country. In addition to that, he motivated folks to weed them out, as well as offering an outline of how “witch trials” should be performed.
Given the King’s lofty position, the people of England took his words to heart, kickstarting a relentless wave of suspicion and distrust. How could you live in peace with that kind of fear hanging over your head?
The Witchcraft Act
But while James’ book might’ve been the catalyst for the widespread public fear, it wasn’t the first time that witches had come under the spotlight in England. Some 55 years before then, the Witchcraft Act had been passed.
Quite simply, it meant that you’d be breaking the law by engaging in any kind of magic. All in all, it was a crazy period in the country’s history. And unfortunately, it opened the door to something far more horrific in the 1640s.
The impact of the civil war
At that stage, England was entering one of its most tumultuous spells. Yep, the nation was plunged into a civil war in 1642 as Parliament and loyal followers of the monarchy battled for control. The struggle led to the execution of King Charles I, which subsequently threw public life into disarray.
People were understandably fearful of what the future might’ve held for them. And the continued paranoia over witches didn’t help. Keeping all that in mind, let’s jump ahead to 1644.