March 08, 2009

Chapter 41 (Angel Falling Softly)

Mathew [sic] Hopkins (1620-1647) was the most famous witchhunter during the English Civil War between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists. Puritan supporters of the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, were known as "Roundheads." The term "witch pricker" refers to literally poking suspected witches with needles to see if they bled or not. Hopkins also employed the "floating witch" test popularly derided in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

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