Pendle Witch Trials

What was England like?

What was England like?

There was a fear after the gunpowder plot, and instability due to the change in monarchy. Catholicism was synonymous with being dangerous

What was Lancashire like?

Described as the ‘dark corner of the land’, reputation of disobedience, far away from central power (london).

Who were the main people in the Pendle case?

Old Demdike: mother to Elizabeth Device, grandma to James, Alizon and Jennet (the latter of which had a different father). OId Chattox: mother to Ann Chattox. OC was an opposing cunning woman to OD

What sparked the Pendle trials?

Alizon cursed a peddler who ignored her begging and he collapsed- she was convinced it was her fault and confessed. It was reported to Roger Nowell, an ambitious magistrate keen to push reformation and please the King. He interrogated Alizon (torture was illegal) and she confessed, naming Chattox as well (bewitching people, making clay figures).

How did Alizon’s confession and accusation accelerate the trials?

OC then accused OD, and on April 2nd Nowell made his first arrests- Ann C, OC, Alizon and OD.

What happened on Good Friday 1612?

Elizabeth throws an event, and James steals and kills a sheep. Nowell interpreted this as a witch meeting, and accused those attending of conspiring to blow up Lancashire castle, kill the jailer and free their family. Jennet was the only one not rounded up.

Who was implicated in the conspiracy (unusual)

Alice Nutter (not typical, strongly catholic despite reformation)

What did James VI allow that was highly unusual?

The use of children as witnesses in cases of high treason- and witchcraft was considered treason against the law and God.

What book was written about the trials?

‘Wonderfully discoverie of Witches in the Countrie of Lancashire’ by Thomas Potts. Court records, though not all correct.

When did the Pendle trails begin, and what happened?

18th August 1612. Elizabeth Device’s physical deformity, did not help her case, and Jennet denounced her mother as a witch. Elizabeth’s familiar, a dog, was used to help identify her as a witch too. Jennet named those who were present at Malkin tower on Good Friday, and picks out others from a lineup.

What did James Device do at the trial?

Also denounced his mother, yet Jennet named him as witch. She recited incantations/spells that she has heard- sounding like garbled Catholic prayer (threat that Catholicism poses).

What were the Pendle trails rooted in?

James VI’s ‘Daemonologie’, used as a guide.

How many people were hung as a result of the trial?

10 people, and OD had died whilst in prison.

What was the socioeconomic context of the Pendle Trials?

Suggestion that witchcraft accusations were encouraged by the increased social stratification of the village society and development of rural capitalism. The guilt for not helping the poor was transferred into accusations, with the slightly richer accusing the slightly poorer. There were limited ways to make money.

What changes occurred in the pastoral/farming structure?

• There was a change in land ownership (more private, enclosure).

• Reliance on pastoral farming led to accusations centred around damaging/harming of livestock.

• There was limited crop farming, dependent on cattle and particularly sheep (produces casual, low paid jobs e.g. carding wool)

What effect did inflation have?

• There was a more formal leasing of cattle farms

• Rent increased by 39%, general prices, fines and prices of food increased.

• There was a questioning of the validity of copyholder’s (labourers on the Lord’s land with certain privileges) estate by the duchy of Lancaster, and an expectation to pay 12 years of rent to retain privileges.

Who were the Jesuits and how were they seen?

Seen as:

• posing the most danger

• a Roman Catholic order attempting to carry out the counter reformation.

They represented:

• a threat to stability,

• aiming to undermine the infrastructure and monarchy.

Why did the reformation leave people feeling unprotected?

• The Protestant clergy banned recourse to counter magic, prohibiting forms of magical relief.

• The importance of guardian angels was played down as well as the power of saints.

• Even faith was not a protection- if the Devil (the reality of whom was stressed) didn’t fear Christ, he wouldn’t fear faith.

How did people seek to protect themselves?

Cunning folk still made extensive use of catholic formulae

What was the church in Pendle like, and what effect did the dissolution of the monasteries have?

It was a dependent chapelry of the Parish of Walley (covered 180 square miles and 10,000 people). The population couldn’t be managed effectively, allowing the continuation of Catholicism and fostering superstition. Whalley Abbey closed and charity help for the poor was removed

Puritanism

• Extreme branch of Protestantism

• seen as troublesome.

• Puritan clergy can wield more influence,

• using the threat of witchcraft to promote their religion.

1542 Witchcraft Act

It established witchcraft as a crime that could be punished by death, and also defined what constituted witchcraft. Conjuring spirits and practising witchcraft to gain wealth, harm, or behave badly towards Christianity.

1563 Witchcraft Act

It made causing anyone to be “killed or destroyed” by use of witchcraft punishable by death. Milder penalties were applied for harming and this leniency contrasted with attitudes of theologians.

1604 Witchcraft Act

This act was even stricter, with it being a felony if someone was harmed OR killed and even lesser magic could result in a year of prison-but ig they were found guilty angain, it was death. Real focus on the demonic and evil nature of witchcraft