Pendle Swindle 1634

Edmund Robinson

• Claimed he was approached by two greyhounds and claimed one turned into Francis Dickinson, the wife of a local man he knew

• The woman forced him to ride with her to a gathering of witches

How long until the magistrates were informed?

• 3 months - an unusually long break

Who were the magistrates?

• Richard Shuttleworth and John Starkie

Where were the magistrates lead?

• To a number of churches, where Robinson identified 25 witches

What happened to the accused?

• They were taken to Lancaster for trial, where 17 were found guilty

Who confessed?

• Margaret Johnson claimed she met with other witches, though this did not match Robinson’s description

Who questioned the accused?

• King Charles I

Where was a report of the trial sent to?

• Immediately to the Privy Council in London

Who was sent to investigate?

• The Bishop of Chester

Who was sent to London to be questioned?

• Robinson and his father

• 4 of the accused

What was Robinson known as after the trials?

• A local witchfinder - he would visit churches to identify witches

• His father gained enough money to buy 2 cows

What happened during the investigation?

• Robinson was separated from his father and admitted his story was fictitious

• He states his father forced him, motivated by a desire for revenge against Francis Dickinson with whom he was involved in a dispute over payment for a cow