Statistics for English Witch Trials

Assize Circuits: royal judges travel around country in
              "circuit courts" (five circuits for England)

1563-1736 Home Assize Circuit: closest to London
                     513    persons accused of w/c
                     200+          "      convicted on some charges
                     109            "       hanged

Extrapolating to 5 Assize Circuts: minimum estimates
         estimates of 500+ executions out of
                             1,000 convictions
         acquittal rate (including non-death penalty convictions)
                         about 60% (quite high compared to continent)

Chronology: trials begin during Elizabeth's reign
                      peak in early 17th C under James I (1603-1620)
                      1604 new W/C statute more executions

1640-1660 English Civil War as context for
                    1645-1647 campaign of "Witchfinder General"
                    Matthew Hopkins: about 200 executions