This edition had all images removed.

Title: The Discovery of Witches

Note: Reading ease score: 53.5 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Credits: E-text prepared by Feòrag NicBhrìde, Andrea Ball, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

Summary: "The Discovery of Witches" by Matthew Hopkins is a historical account written in the mid-17th century, during a time when the witch trials were prevalent in England. The book serves as a justification for Hopkins' controversial methods in identifying witches, which he argued were both necessary and effective for the sake of public safety. It primarily focuses on the practice and beliefs surrounding witchcraft, particularly examining the role of confessions and the techniques used to detect witches. In this text, Hopkins responds to numerous queries about his witch-finding practices, defending his actions against accusations of cruelty and incompetence. He discusses his experiences in identifying witches, including the use of physical examinations to find marks of witchcraft, such as "teats" on the body. Throughout the book, he recounts specific cases, detailing how suspected witches were discovered and examined, their confessions, and the common rationalizations for their actions. The work highlights the tumultuous nature of witch hunts and sheds light on the societal fears and misconceptions regarding witchcraft during this period. Hopkins seeks to validate his methods while discrediting challenges to his authority, ultimately portraying himself as a protector of the community against malign forces. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Author: Hopkins, Matthew, -1647

EBook No.: 14015

Published: Nov 10, 2004

Downloads: 681

Language: English

Subject: Witchcraft -- England

LoCC: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Psychology, Philosophy, Psychoanalysis

Category: Text

Rights: Public domain in the USA.

This edition has images.

Title: The Discovery of Witches

Note: Reading ease score: 53.5 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Credits: E-text prepared by Feòrag NicBhrìde, Andrea Ball, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

Summary: "The Discovery of Witches" by Matthew Hopkins is a historical account written in the mid-17th century, during a time when the witch trials were prevalent in England. The book serves as a justification for Hopkins' controversial methods in identifying witches, which he argued were both necessary and effective for the sake of public safety. It primarily focuses on the practice and beliefs surrounding witchcraft, particularly examining the role of confessions and the techniques used to detect witches. In this text, Hopkins responds to numerous queries about his witch-finding practices, defending his actions against accusations of cruelty and incompetence. He discusses his experiences in identifying witches, including the use of physical examinations to find marks of witchcraft, such as "teats" on the body. Throughout the book, he recounts specific cases, detailing how suspected witches were discovered and examined, their confessions, and the common rationalizations for their actions. The work highlights the tumultuous nature of witch hunts and sheds light on the societal fears and misconceptions regarding witchcraft during this period. Hopkins seeks to validate his methods while discrediting challenges to his authority, ultimately portraying himself as a protector of the community against malign forces. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Author: Hopkins, Matthew, -1647

EBook No.: 14015

Published: Nov 10, 2004

Downloads: 681

Language: English

Subject: Witchcraft -- England

LoCC: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Psychology, Philosophy, Psychoanalysis

Category: Text

Rights: Public domain in the USA.