author
Matthew Hopkins
d. 1647
A self-styled "Witchfinder General," he became one of the most notorious figures of England’s 17th-century witch hunts. His short, brutal career in East Anglia left a dark mark on the history of fear, superstition, and civil war.
1 Audiobook
The Discovery of Witches
by Matthew Hopkins
About the author
Little is known for certain about his early life, but Matthew Hopkins emerged in the 1640s during the turmoil of the English Civil War. He was active mainly in East Anglia and claimed the title of "Witchfinder General," even though it was not an official office granted by Parliament.
Hopkins became infamous for helping drive a wave of witch accusations, using harsh interrogations and dubious tests to identify supposed witches. Working with associates such as John Stearne, he was linked to many prosecutions and executions in a short span of time, making him one of the most feared witch-hunters in English history.
He died on August 12, 1647, while still a young man. Even centuries later, his name remains tied to one of the bleakest chapters in England’s history, and he is often remembered less as a mystery than as a warning about panic, cruelty, and the abuse of power.