starter activity

What do you think is happening in this picture. Read the account of events and compare your version. Was Mother Sutton a witch? Why were women often suspected of witchcraft in the Early Modern era?

Why did people Why did people believe in believe in witches?witches?

TBAT explain at least 5 TBAT explain at least 5 reasons why the witch-reasons why the witch-hunting craze started in hunting craze started in

England in the sixteenth & England in the sixteenth & seventeenth centuriesseventeenth centuries

… … identify characteristics of identify characteristics of witchcraftwitchcraft

Learning objectives

Key words: persecuted ‘swimming’ familiar

Plenary

Your taskYour task

Read Wilkes, p.58-9 & Cumming, Read Wilkes, p.58-9 & Cumming, p.102-3 and note down 5 reasons p.102-3 and note down 5 reasons why witchcraft increases in this why witchcraft increases in this period.period.

Which ‘factor’ best explains the Which ‘factor’ best explains the rise of the witch-hunting crazerise of the witch-hunting craze

Reasons for witch-Reasons for witch-hunting crazehunting craze

ReligionReligion – extreme religious views e.g. – extreme religious views e.g. Puritanism saw witchcraft as an Puritanism saw witchcraft as an explanation for illness & the unknownexplanation for illness & the unknown

GovernmentsGovernments – news laws, e.g. 1542 – news laws, e.g. 1542 Witchcraft Law & interest by leaders, Witchcraft Law & interest by leaders, e.g. James I wrote ‘Daemonologie’e.g. James I wrote ‘Daemonologie’

AttitudesAttitudes – tensions caused by – tensions caused by Reformation & Civil War led to score Reformation & Civil War led to score settling in communitiessettling in communities

Reasons for witch-Reasons for witch-hunting crazehunting craze

PovertyPoverty – economic hardship caused – economic hardship caused tensions leading to people being made tensions leading to people being made scapegoatsscapegoats

EducationEducation – lack of scientific – lack of scientific understanding of natural world, e.g. understanding of natural world, e.g. natural disasters blamed on witchcraftnatural disasters blamed on witchcraft

Financial gain Financial gain – witch finders paid for – witch finders paid for uncovering witchcraft; authors & uncovering witchcraft; authors & printers sold pamphlets & booksprinters sold pamphlets & books

Your taskYour task

Read about the real-Read about the real-life witch finder, life witch finder, Matthew Hopkins in Matthew Hopkins in Wilkes p.60 & Wilkes p.60 & Dawson p.80. Make Dawson p.80. Make a list of ways in which a list of ways in which Hopkins detected if Hopkins detected if people were witches.people were witches.

Why did people Why did people confess?confess?

Signs of witchcraftSigns of witchcraft ‘‘Familiars’ or imps – e.g. animals present when Familiars’ or imps – e.g. animals present when

witchcraft occurredwitchcraft occurred Devil’s marks – e.g. scars, boils or spotsDevil’s marks – e.g. scars, boils or spots Failing the swimming test – guilty if floatedFailing the swimming test – guilty if floated Third nipple or teat on victim’s bodyThird nipple or teat on victim’s body Making images of victims, e.g. puppets or picturesMaking images of victims, e.g. puppets or pictures Refusal to attend churchRefusal to attend church Inability to recite prayers or sections from the BibleInability to recite prayers or sections from the Bible Often elderly or ‘outsiders’Often elderly or ‘outsiders’ Uses an alias, e.g. a nicknameUses an alias, e.g. a nickname Mumbling spells or cursesMumbling spells or curses

Watch this trailer for a 1968 British horror movie about Matthew Hopkins. What does it teach us about witch hunters and witchcraft?

How useful really is a film like this for finding out about the witch-hunting craze in sixteenth and seventeenth century England?

Group taskGroup task Work in groups of 5. One of you is a Work in groups of 5. One of you is a

local magistrate. The others are witch local magistrate. The others are witch finders describing potential cases of finders describing potential cases of witchcraft you have uncovered. Listen witchcraft you have uncovered. Listen to the statements from each witch to the statements from each witch finder – based on real cases and decide finder – based on real cases and decide which is the most convincing case of which is the most convincing case of witchcraft. The winning witch finder witchcraft. The winning witch finder should be given a fruition for their should be given a fruition for their work.work.

HomeworkHomework

Matthew Hopkins is coming to Matthew Hopkins is coming to Folkestone. Produce a poster Folkestone. Produce a poster advertising his services. Include the advertising his services. Include the following:following: Information on his backgroundInformation on his background Cases of witchcraft he has successfully Cases of witchcraft he has successfully

uncovereduncovered Methods of detectionMethods of detection

Write a radio advert for Witch FMWrite a radio advert for Witch FM

Why did people Why did people believe in believe in witches?witches?

TBAT explain at least 5 TBAT explain at least 5 reasons why the witch-reasons why the witch-hunting craze started in hunting craze started in

England in the sixteenth & England in the sixteenth & seventeenth centuriesseventeenth centuries

… … identify characteristics of identify characteristics of witchcraftwitchcraft

Learning objectives

Key words: persecuted ‘swimming’ familiar

Plenary