The response of authority to WC and its impact on society Flashcards
(7 cards)
How did Hopkins and Stearne obtain confessions from the accused ?
Isolation in small cells - in hope they would lose mental power and confess
Sleep Deprivation - kept awake for days being asked questions (e.g Elizabeth Clarkes confession came after several nights of no sleep )
Cutting the accused - if they didnt bleed then they were a witch - also looking for the devils mark on them
Test ability to recite the lords prayer - if they faultered the authorities would assume guilt
What was the consequence of these methods used by hopkins and Stearne ?
Chelmsford trial - 19 hung
Suffolk trials - 18 deaths
Aldeburgh - 7 hung
What was the opposition to the trials ?
The determined efforts of H+S made authorities uneasy e.g 1645 Parlement voiced concern over the n.o witches in Suffolk
Parliamentary newspapers raised concern over H+S
Parliament made a pardon for 9 people convicted of little evidence
People questioned wether H+S were witches themselves due to how bad their activities were
At a local level , how did people oppose the trials ?
Parish of Great stoughton claimed H+S were no better than catholic inquisitors who sent many to their deaths
How did Hopkins and Stearne respond to the opposition ?
They made Pamphlets :
Hopkins - ‘the discovery of witches’ discussing findings and methods and the meaning of the witches mark
Stearne-‘ confirmation and discovery of witchcraft’ in which he noted that he was an agent in finding out or discovering
What did they both claim in their responses ?
That they visited areas where local authority had invited them
What can we conclude about the EA witch hunts ?
Between 1645-1647 250-300 people were tried in trials by Hopkins and Stearne - mostly on the basis of mallificarum due to the methods they used and people wanting to escape the pain
