Pendle Witch hunt

When was the hunt

1604-1613

How many people were found guilty at the trial

11 - old chattox had died before

Who were the families involved

The device family

The Referne family

Rc: who succeeded Elizabeth in 1603

King James 6 of Scotland

He became king James I of England

Rc: how would The gunpower plot have impacted Religious tension in England

The gunpowder plot was a catholic attempt to kill the king

* it would have heightend animosity between Protestants and catholics

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Rc: How did religion vary across England

Protestantism was the main religion of England but there remained strong catholic support in the north

* Being further from London it was difficult to manage

Rc: what did courts need in trial as evidence

Tangible proof of maleficium such as death or injury

Rc: what did the 1604 witchcraft act declare

Conjuring spirits was now a capital offence, the most damaging aspect of witchcraft was the pact with the devil.

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The trial of witches transferred to ordinary courts from church courts

Rc: what impact does this have on trials.

Now that tangible evidence is no longer needed, more people could be accessed and executed

How would the economy of Pendle be described

It was mainly a pastoral economy (sheep and cattle) with limited arable farming

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There was also a strong cloth industry (70% owned tools for this)

Why were the residents at constant risk of eviction in the 16th and 17th centuries

Rent increased by 39% and inflation grew

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Enclosure took land away from tenants and sold/rented it out to other people

How did the population of Pendle change

It increased all over the country' by the 1500's the population had grown to half of pre-black death levels

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In Pendle , there were 24 in 1443, by 1650 it had increased to around 1620

How did the relationship between the Duchy of Lancaster and the copyholders change

They were expected to pay a lump sum of 12 years rent to confirm their rights

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Many could not afford and either evicted or increased rent for their tenants

How did London View Lancashire in terms of religion

An ignorant corner where Catholicism was still active, Lancashire historically had looked after recusant catholics

Why had Whalley abbey been a valuable resource for Pendle

It provided cloth, grain and money for the local residents

What impact did the dissolution of Whalley Abbey have on Pendle and the surrounding area

* It took away a valuable source of income and support
* Without catholic influence, a group of puritan ministers had more and more influence
* The new parish had a population of 10,000 people and they couldn't be cared for properly

What happened on 18th March 1612

John law, a pedlar was travelling with his wares when Alison device asked him for some pins - John law refused

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Alison muttered a curse and he presumably suffered a stroke and encountered her familiar (a black dog)

How did Alison device respond

She believed she was a witch and confessed to using a curse and a familiar

What was the family rivalry between Alison device's family and Anne Redferne's family

Old Demdike-Alison's grandmother

Old chattox - Anne's grandmother

Accused each other of stealing and theft, particularly grain and a cap

Alison's father nad promised to pay grain yearly but this ended when n died - the accusations returned

Who was Roger Nowell

An experienced jp and local land owner, he had been High sheriff of Lancashire and had strong connections with profile Protestants

What was Nowell’s involvement

He led investigation into Alison device it is unclear whether he went in knowing he was going to convict

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He was familiar with the pact with the devil from the work of William Perkins

What did Alison device confess after an interrogation with Nowell

She accused old chattox of murder through witchcraft along with other examples of magic

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Accused Old demdike of being a witch

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Old chattox, old demdike and Anne redferne are taken in for questioning

What did Old Demdike confess to?

* Inability to evoke the name of Jesus
* Having a familair named Tinn, and suckling him
* Making an effigy of a person to bewitch them

What did Nowell potentially do to Old Demdike

Torture her

What were Old Demdikes accusations

Old Chattox and Ann made figures out of clay - Tibb told her these were effigies of Christopher Nutter, Robert Nutter and Marie Nutter

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Christopher Nutter had accused Old Chattox on his deathbed in 1595

Alison was searched by Nowell for something, what was it

the devils mark

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her mother Elizabeth was also serched, she admitted to having on for 40 years but was released

what does Nowell investigate

A sabbt at a graveyard in Newchurch- Elizabeth, James and Jennet Device are questioned, Jennet becomes the star witness at 9 years old

what does Jennet State

that at least 20 witches were present at the meeting at her house and that James had stolen a sheep to be eaten

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James also revealed more names and named the meeting “Great Assembly and Feast”

What were the objecttives of the meeting

* to free the women imprisioned at Lancashire castle by blowing it up
* to perform a ritual to name Alison Devices spirit
* to provide protection to Jenet Preston, a women identified as a witch

what happened after thr evidence from Jennet and James

11 people were imprisoned, including the original suspects

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Old Demdike dies shortly arriving at the castle - Old Chattox then tries to lay more blame on her

Who were the judges at the trial

* Sir James Altham, one of the most senior Judges in England, strongly protestant
* Sir Edward bromley - another senior judge, Highly trusted by the King
* Both wanted the kings favour, Bromley had just been knoghted and wanted to be closer to London

When did the trial take place

18th-19th August in Lancaster

All but one pleaded not guilty How

How were the judges percived

As being rational and wise men but they were prepared to accept dubious evidence probably aquired under torture

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James Altham had recenlty sent an innpcent woman to the gallows in Yorkshire based on the evidence of Jennet

Who acted as prosecutor

Roger Nowell, all JP’s and witnesses involved had to be present at the trial

Name: Old Chattox

Evidence:

* Previous accusations from Old Demdike
* Personal confession in court Eliza

Name: Elizabeth Device

Evidence:

* Witness statement from her daughter Jennet Device Name

Name: James Device

Evidence:

* Witness statement from his sister Jennet Device

Name: Anne Redferne

Evidence:

* Previous accusations from Old Demdike
* Old Chattox, pleaded for her to be saved

Name: Alice Nutter

Evidence:

* Selected in a line up by Jennet Device
* Witness statement from Jennet Device

Name: Katherine Hewitt

Evidence:

* Witness statement from James Device
* Selected in a line up by Jennet Device

Name: John and Jane Bulcock

Evidence:

* Identified by Jennet Device, despite not knowing them previously

Name: Alison Device

Evidence:

* Her own confession and pleas for forgiveness

Name: Margaret Pearson

Evidence:

* Witness statement from Old Chattox

What did Thomas Potts write

The wonderful Discoverie of Witches in the countie of Lancaster

the production of Potts account

* Potts was clerk of the court which gave him unique insight
* he was ordered to write it by the two judges so an account could go public
* Potts was told which evidence to use closely monitored while writing

What was Potts background

* brought up in the home of Thoman Knyvet, very strong protestant who appreheded Guy Fawkes
* had wanted to be a lawyer but didn’t go to university
* a well reguarded civil servant

The objectives of Wonderful Discoverie

* Provided an account that justified the trials
* protected the reputation of Potts. Bromley and Altham to advance their carrers

can we trust the books account

* can’t say it’s totally unreliable because Potts had motive/ judges were involved
* he was a well informed observers who sat through the trials, checked by Bromley
* large number had atteneded, the trials weren’t a secret
* written in the immediate aftermath