The Discovery of Witches

This shocking 1647 document is the autobiographical defense of Matthew Hopkins, the infamous 'Witchfinder General' who terrorized eastern England during the English Civil War era. Written to justify his methods against mounting criticism, Hopkins details his systematic hunt for witches across Suffolk, Essex, and Norfolk, recounting specific cases where he identified 'witches' through physical examinations for mysterious marks and teats, extracted confessions through sleep-deprivation and other forms of torture, and presided over executions. The text reveals the terrifying logic of a man who genuinely believed he was protecting society from Satan's servants, while exposing the mechanism by which fear, prejudice, and pseudo-scientific folklore combined to condemn hundreds to death. Today, this pamphlet serves as an invaluable primary source for understanding the psychology of witch persecution, the social anxieties of mid-17th century England, and the terrible things ordinary people are capable of when armed with certainty and authority. It is not a comfortable read, but it is an essential one for anyone seeking to understand how mass hysteria and state power have repeatedly joined forces throughout history.