Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General

Dark Histories

Ben Cutmore

History

4.8 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2018

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

we dig up the life and times of Matthew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General. A man that, in just 2 years, was responsible for around 60% of all witch trials in England spanning 3 centuries. He hailed from a Puritan, East Anglian background, an area of England that would later see heavy emigration to America and a people that would carry their beliefs into the Salem Witch Trials. For extended show notes, including maps, links and scripts, head over to darkhistories.com Support the show by using our link when you sign up to Audible: http://audibletrial.com/darkhistories or visit our Patreon for bonus episodes and Early Access: https://www.patreon.com/darkhistories Connect with us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/darkhistoriespodcast Or find us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/darkhistories & Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dark_histories/ Or you can contact us directly via email at [email protected] Music was recorded by me © 2017 Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi guys before we start the show I just want to throw out a couple of ways that you can
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0:28.9	the show access to our discord and access to all my research notes.
0:33.6	All those links will be in the show notes or over at the support page at darkhistries.
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0:38.5	And if times are tight and you're a bit hard up and I think we can all appreciate that,
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0:44.7	sharing it around on social media with your family, friends and all those other good people.
0:50.0	All right, let's crack on with the show. Cheers.
0:56.0	In the 1600s, there were many ways to make a living.
1:00.0	Job titles were as diverse as today.
1:02.8	Agricultural professions thrived in the rural areas.
1:06.4	Skilled craftsmen were plenty with every town and hamlet boasting blacksmiths,
1:10.8	gunsmiths, tailors and weavers.
1:14.2	At the top end of society, clerks, lawyers, wig makers and doctors paraded themselves
1:19.4	boldly through the cobbled streets. Matthew Hopkins chose a slightly different path.
1:26.0	Bstowing upon himself the job title of Witchfinder General,
1:30.0	his was a short career spanning just two years, however what it lacked in longevity it made up for in results.
	...

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