C1500–c1700: Crime and punishment in early modern England - 3 Case studies…

The idea

Matthew Hopkins, the self-styled 'Witchfinder General', exploited the chaos of the English Civil War to lead intense witch-hunts across East Anglia between 1645 and 1647. The intensity of these hunts was driven by several factors: the breakdown of traditional legal authority during the war, deep-seated religious divisions, economic hardship, and Hopkins' own financial greed, as he charged towns for his services. He used sleep deprivation to extract confessions and the 'swim test' as a water ordeal to determine guilt. The punishment for those convicted of witchcraft was severe; in England, this typically meant execution by hanging, rather than burning, as witchcraft was treated as a felony against the state. Over 100 people, mostly vulnerable women, were executed during this brief but intense period.

What earns the marks

• Identify Matthew Hopkins as the 'Witchfinder General' who led the East Anglian witch-hunts between 1645 and 1647.
• Explain the reasons for the intensity of the hunts, including the disruption of the English Civil War, economic crisis, and religious tensions.
• Describe the methods used by Hopkins, distinguishing between sleep deprivation to secure confessions and the 'swim test' to determine guilt.
• State that the punishment for convicted witches in England was hanging, as it was a felony, not burning.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Stating that convicted witches in England were burned at the stake.

  Put it right: They were hanged, as witchcraft was a felony, whereas burning was used in Scotland and Europe for heresy.

• Confusing the purpose of the 'swim test'.

  Put it right: It was an ordeal to determine guilt (if they floated, they were guilty), not a method of extracting a confession like sleep deprivation.

• Ignoring the context of the Civil War.

  Put it right: The breakdown of assize courts and local authority during the Civil War was a primary reason for the intensity of the hunts.

Exam tips

• Link the actions of Matthew Hopkins directly to the broader context of the English Civil War to explain why local authorities allowed him such power.
• Use specific examples of his methods, like the 'swim test' and sleep deprivation, to demonstrate how he manipulated the legal process.