Pendle Timeline

1507 - Cattle farms no longer leased to tenants on an informal basis, fixed rents and entry fines introduced

Since 1507 - Rent increase of 39%

1527 - Population of 100 tenants at Pendle Forest

1589 - Altham elected MP for Bramber

1594 - John Nutter’s brother allegedly betwitched by Chattox after threatening to evict her and Redfearnes, died after, father also died insisting he had been bewitched

1594 - Edmund Hartley accused after 2 children he looked after became sick

Turn of 17th century - Puritan attempts to clamp down on drunkenness and reduce strength of beer sold at alehouses around Pendle forest

1601 - Demdike and Chattox fall out over theft of clothing and grain from Alizon Device worth 20 shillings

1605 - Gunpowder plot, Altham knighted by James

1606 - Chattox well into 70s, still carding wool for wife of James Robinson, Altham Baron of the Exchequer

1607 - Lawyers for Duchy questioned copyholders’ estates validity, hoped to gain money for crown from copyholders

1608 - Copyholders petition duchy, limited resources to pay more fees

1608 - Publicaton of Perkins’ Discourse of the Damned Art of Witches, promoted pact with devil, supported Daemonologie, read by Nowell

1609 - Copyholders expected to pay 12 years rent to confirm rights and privileges, many forced to sell or morgage parts of land

1610 - Bromley made sergant at law, baron of exchequer, knighted

1612 - Pendle Trials

Early April 1612 - Nowell found villagers willing to testify, recieved full confession from old women, could deal with matter locally, decided to detain women until August, 4 in custody at Lancaster Jail, awaiting trial in August Assizes

April 10 1612 - Meeting at Malkin Tower, investigation resumed when news reached Nowell

April 27 1612 - Nowell sought help of Nicholas Bannister, another magistrate, and examined Elizabeth, James and Jennet Device

May 1612 - 11 imprisoned

July 27 1612 - Altham sends Jennet Preston to execution on Jennet’s evidence

August 16 1612 - Judges arrive for Assize court

August 18-19 1612 - Trial at Lancaster begins

1613 - Wonderful Discoverie published, Bromley checked + corrected manuscript before

1622 - Constable charged with absence from church

1626 - Richard Moore charged with claiming God did more harm than good

1650 - Population of 1,620 tenants at Pendle Forest

1692 - Wonderful Discoverie used in Salem