The Lancashire Witches 1604-13

How was the Pendle economy categorised in the 17th century?

Pastoral economy with limited arable farming and cloth industry

What percentage of houses in Pendle had tools for cloth production?

70%

What was the price of cattle in pendle?

£3

Why did the economic situation in Pendle get worse for people in the 16th century?

- fixed rents and entry fines were introduced causing rents to increase by 39%
- increased enclosure reduced available common land
- Dissolution of the monasteries led to the closure of Whalley Abbey and left the poor without relief

What was the population in Pendle in 1527 compared to 1650?

400 compared with 1,620

When where copyholder's rights threatened by the Duke of Lancaster?

1607

Why were the copyholders facing economic ruin by 1609?

They had to pay a lump sum of 12 years' rent to confirm their rights. This caused many to sell or mortgage their land.

How much more were the rents of subtenants compared to the rents of the copyholders?

25 times higher

Why were many of the suspected witches placed in a vulnerable economic situation?

They were renting short lease sub-tenancies (less than 1 year) or illegally renting small holdings with no contracts.

When were 2 catholic found to be secretly living in the House of Henry Standen?

1611

What was the impact of the decreasing power of the Catholic church in Pendle?

Puritan clergy and gentry were able to gain power and influence e.g. Puritan minister were credited with ending the possession in Lancashire in 1600

What were the attitudes to magic in Pendle?

Many believed in white magic as well as maleficium. Ideas about a pact with the Devil were new.

What were the attitudes to witchcraft in England before 1604?

- Members of local community required to make accusations (rather than clergy or inquisitors)
- Majority of accusations were centred around harm done to crops/livestock
- Courts required tangible evidence of maleficium e.g. injury
- Suspects treated in a similar way to other criminals

When was the Witchcraft Act?

1604

Which elements of witchcraft legislation were reformed by the 1604 Act?

- Conjuring of spirits was made a capital offence
- Introduced continental ideas that Witchcraft originated from a pact with the Devil

When was the initial encounter between Alizon Device and John Law that sparked the witch hunt?

March 1612

How did the case of Alizon Device and John Law result in a widespread witch hunt?

John Law's son (Abraham Law) reported Alizon to local magistrate Roger Nowell who began to further investigate the case

Why was there a family rivalry between Old Demdike and Old Chattox?

- Anne Redferne was accused of stealing grain ans clothing from Alizon Device worth 20 shillings
- The two families were competing economically as local wise women/cunning folk