legal development of witch hunts- england

Question 1

what were common law courts

Answer 1

courts which were in Westminster, where the crown (monarch) appointed royal judges in three of these courts

Question 2

what would happen twice a year

Answer 2

judges would visit and preside over six local circuit courts

Question 3

why did this result in England having a low conviction and execution rate

Answer 3

> representatives of central government would visit local courts
strict prohibition of torture

Question 4

what were exceptions to this controlled system

Answer 4

• the English Civil War (1642-1651) where justices did not supervise the conduct of witchcraft killings.
• witch finders such as Matthew Hopkins succeeded in using forms of torture.