A few witch trial facts: 20 people were executed in Salem. An estimate of 200,000 were tortured, burnt, or hanged in Western Europe. The last witch trial in Ireland took place in Islandmagee in 1710-11. pic.twitter.com/NSQAF2lJ8r
— Ash Clarke (@AislinnClarke) July 27, 2020
Um.
Meanwhile…
Mathew Hopkins was 22 ish when he set himself up as Witchfinder General. To find ‘Devil’s marks’ – a painless mark left on a witch by the devil, he poked women with a spike. They would feel no pain because his blade would retract into a spring-loaded handle ‘proving’ their guilt. pic.twitter.com/qQD1MNevGU
— Ash Clarke (@AislinnClarke) July 27, 2020
He had a point.
Pause.
I’ll get my cape.