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Matthew Hopkins, English witch hunter
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Matthew Hopkins, English witch hunter
Matthew Hopkins (died 1647), English Witch Finder General, with two women accused of being witches. The women are giving the names of their imps, or evil spirits. Hopkins was appointed in 1644 and was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of suspected witches in eastern England. Supposedly a well-educated man, he searched his victims for " witches marks" and tested their ability to float in water when bound, a sure sign of guilt. The majority of suspects drowned or were hanged. In 1647 he was forced to undergo his own test and, on floating in water when bound, he was hanged. Engraving published in 1647
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Media ID 6413961
© SCIENCE, INDUSTRY & BUSINESS LIBRARY/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
17th Century Engraved Engraving Evil General Names Portraits Spirit Spirits Superstition Surname H Witch Women 1647 Accused Finder Hopkins Imps Matthew Naming Seventeeth Superstitious Witches Witchfinder
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures Matthew Hopkins, the infamous English Witch Finder General, alongside two women accused of being witches. In this engraving from 1647, Hopkins is depicted as a well-educated man who believed in the existence of evil spirits or imps. He gained notoriety for his ruthless pursuit and persecution of suspected witches in eastern England during the mid-17th century. Hopkins employed various methods to identify witches, including searching their bodies for "witches marks" and subjecting them to a test where they were bound and thrown into water to determine their guilt. Tragically, most suspects either drowned or met their fate at the gallows under his reign. However, justice eventually caught up with Hopkins when he was forced to undergo his own test. Bound and cast into water, he floated – an apparent sign of guilt according to superstition – leading to his subsequent hanging. This historical illustration serves as a chilling reminder of the superstitious beliefs that prevailed during this dark period in British history. It sheds light on the extreme measures taken by witchfinders like Hopkins and highlights the immense suffering endured by those accused of witchcraft. The engraved artwork provides us with a glimpse into an era characterized by fear and paranoia surrounding witchcraft accusations. It stands as a testament to both human credulity and resilience against such unjust practices that have since been consigned to history's darkest chapters.
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