Reasons why it ended.

Question 1

What were the reasons why it ended?

Answer 1

1. The growing cost.
2. Re-establishment of traditional authority.
3. Hopkins death.
4. The role of John Gaule.
5. The end of the civil war.

Question 2

Why was the growing cost so impactful as a cause of decline in the witch hunt?

Answer 2

1. Imprisonment was a vast expense. It cost about 3p per day for each prisoner.
2. In Bury St Edmunds they charged £130 for their services.
3. Burning cost 3x more than hanging.
4. The cost of keeping and prosecuting witches became too high to warrant a further investigation.
5. Feeding prisoners.

Question 3

Why was the re-establishment of traditional authority so impactful as a cause of decline in the witch hunt?

Answer 3

1. Royalist gentry were able to return to their estates.
2. No longer a need for men like Hopkins and Stearne.
3. Assizes were able to travel.
4. By late summer more and more witches were acquitted.

Question 4

Why was Hopkins death so impactful as a cause of decline in the witch hunt?

Answer 4

1. It meant that the witch hunt could no longer take place to the same extent.
2. When he died in 1647, the hunt also dies down which shows his significance.

Question 5

Why was the role of John Gaule so impactful as a cause of decline in the witch hunt?

Answer 5

1. He warned the people in his area about their wrongdoings.
2. He visited an accused witch and believed that the hunters were not doing noble work.
3. He criticised their work. For example, Hopkins used methods such as walking for several days and night which impacted the false confessions.
4. His publication ‘ Select cases of conscience touching Witches and witchcrafts in 1646.

Question 6

Why was the end of the civil war so impactful?

Answer 6

1. It alleviate suffering to an extent.

2. It led to the establishment of traditional authority.