Pendle swindle

Date and significance:

1634
- same place as Pendle trials in 1612
- starts to show high status doubts and scepticism within institutions, but belief still widespread

story overview

• Edmund Robinson claimed that while out in the forest he saw 2 dogs, one turned into local woman Frances Dickinson, and teh other into an unknown boy

• Claimed the boy turned into a horse, and teh woman forced him to ride with her to a house, where he found a gathering a witches (Sabbath)

• 3 months later (unsually long) local magistrated Richard Shuttleworth and John Starkie informed
  -Edmund helped them identify 25 “witches” wheo were taken to Lancaster for trial
  -23 found guilty
  

How can the sceptisim of high level officials be seen?

• report of the trial immediatley sent to Privy Council in London
  - Althought they had followed teh law, finding those guilty based on evidence, they had doubts on the written and spoken testimony

• Bishop of Chester sent to investigate

• HIGH STATUS SCEPTICISM
  - doubting within legal framework, starting to question things
  - still shows belief among general public

Investigation and discovering fraud

• Bishop Henry Bridgeman concluded Edmund’s motivations were not rooted in magic → him and his father sent to london to be interrogated, along with 4 of the accused women.

• Women examined for Devils mark
  - Later questioned by King Charles himself

• Despite lack of evidence, Margaret Johnson confessed to witchcraft, telling how she sold her soul to the devil
  - her stories didn’t match Edmund Robinsons

• When interrogated alone, Edmund confessed to lying, saying he was pressured by his father who wanted revenge against Frances Dickinson over payment of a cow

What does the investigation suggest about decline?

• Sceptisim at high levels and within legal institutions
  - Local magistrates and judges as well as national level

• still a belief win witchcraft, especially among general population, but certainly builds doubt.