John Stearne (c. 1610 – 1670) was an associate of the self-styled Witchfinder General Matthew HopkinsEnglish witch-hunter who claimed to hold the office of Witchfinder General, although that title was never bestowed by Parliament., who was active during the English Civil War of 1642–1651.^[1] He and Hopkins are believed to have been responsible for the conviction and execution of 300 witches between 1644 and 1646,^[2] about 60 per cent of the fewer than 500 executions for witchcraft in England, in only 14 months.^[3]

Little is known of Stearne’s early life, other than that he was brought up in rural Suffolk, and was a Puritan. In 1645 he received a warrant from the Manningtree magistrates Sir Harbottle Grimstone and Sir Thomas Bowes to search suspected witches, and Hopkins volunteered to assist him.^[4]

As a result of Stearne’s accusations, a trial was held in Chelmsford in July 1645 for twenty-nine people accused of witchcraft and sorcery. Four of them died in prison before their trial,^[5] and fifteen or sixteen were subsequently hanged. Nine who had been convicted of conjuring spirits were reprieved.^[6][7]

Matthew Hopkins died in 1647,^[8] and the following year Stearne published his A Confirmation and Discovery of Witchcraft.