author
Matthew Hopkins
d. 1647
Remembered as England’s notorious self-styled "Witchfinder General," he became one of the most feared figures of the witch-hunting panic during the English Civil War. His short career left a grim mark on East Anglia and on the history of persecution.
1 Audiobook
The Discovery of Witches
by Matthew Hopkins
About the author
Little is known for certain about his early life, but Matthew Hopkins appears in the historical record in the 1640s, when fear, political upheaval, and civil war helped fuel a surge of witchcraft accusations in eastern England. Working mainly in East Anglia, he claimed the title of "Witchfinder General," even though it was not officially granted by Parliament.
Alongside his associate John Stearne, he helped drive a wave of investigations and trials that led to many executions. His activities became infamous for aggressive methods of interrogation and for turning suspicion into a profitable trade, charging communities for identifying supposed witches.
Hopkins died on August 12, 1647, probably in Essex, while still a young man. Even though his career lasted only a few years, his name has endured as a symbol of fear, cruelty, and the dangers of mass accusation.