The Pendle Witch TrialsThe Pendle Witches lived during the reigns of Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) and
James 1 (1603 - 1625). Ten "Witches" were executed at Gallows Hill, Lancaster on 20th August, 1612 for having betwitched to death, "By devilish practices and hellish means," sixteen inhabitants of the Forest of Pendle. |
From the evidence that remains, it seems to have begun almost casually on 13th
March 1612, when Elizabeth (Bessie) Whittle, herself accused of
theft, made accusations of witchcraft against Elizabeth Southern (known as
Demdyke), and a frightened Alizon Device, her granddaughter,
gave four instances of her grandmother's evil
practices.
The next instance for concern happened when a pedlar, named John Law of Halifax, had a seizure, and linked this to Alizon's curse on him. The seizure happened on 18th March, and Alizon then made tearful confessions, and revengeful charges of witchcraft against Anne Whittle, (known as Chattox). This concluded on 2nd April when
Demdyke, Chattox, Alizon Device and Anne Redfearn were committed for trial at
the next Lancaster Assize.
At Malkin Tower on Good Friday, 6th April, several friends and relatives came together to talk of what had happened and decide what was best done. This was noted by the
authorities.
On 27th April, Roger Nowell, magistrate and witch hunter, trapped all those who had been present at Malkin Tower. He considered this to be a "Witches Coven!"
The final act was carried through at Lancaster, where the "Witches" were taunted with
their evil practices rather than being solidly proven guilty, and only hours
after their sentencing, they were hung on the scaffold.
It is 400 years since the Pendle Witch Trials, and the evidence is no clearer today. What is certain is that the trials took place during an era of superstition, when belief in witchcraft was widespread and when suspicion became rumour, then without further adieu, became
indisputable fact and such characters as Demdyke and Chattox who were cunning,
cruel and poverty stricken were regarded as witches.
It is highly likely (though not proven) that the old women may have traded on their reputations to extort a living from their frightened neighbours. It may be possible too that they made images and recited charms and thus enhanced their notoriety.
To ascribe local deaths and injuries to them was natural amongst their superstitious neighbours, but in the present day, no prosecuting counsel would dream of bringing before a court, such a tissue of lies, rumours, uncorroborated statements and contradictory evidence.
What is known to be true can be summed up:
- Demdyke quarrelled with Richard Baldwin
- Chattox quarrelled with Robert Nutter
- Chattox was jealous of Anne Nutter's friendship with Demdyke's grand-daughter
- Friends and relatives gathered at Malkin Tower on Good Friday
- There were several local deaths, injuries and losses
As a result fifteen local people were sent for trial for witchcraft, three were acquitted, one died in prison, one punished in the pillory followed by imprisonment, and ten were executed.
March 1612, when Elizabeth (Bessie) Whittle, herself accused of
theft, made accusations of witchcraft against Elizabeth Southern (known as
Demdyke), and a frightened Alizon Device, her granddaughter,
gave four instances of her grandmother's evil
practices.
The next instance for concern happened when a pedlar, named John Law of Halifax, had a seizure, and linked this to Alizon's curse on him. The seizure happened on 18th March, and Alizon then made tearful confessions, and revengeful charges of witchcraft against Anne Whittle, (known as Chattox). This concluded on 2nd April when
Demdyke, Chattox, Alizon Device and Anne Redfearn were committed for trial at
the next Lancaster Assize.
At Malkin Tower on Good Friday, 6th April, several friends and relatives came together to talk of what had happened and decide what was best done. This was noted by the
authorities.
On 27th April, Roger Nowell, magistrate and witch hunter, trapped all those who had been present at Malkin Tower. He considered this to be a "Witches Coven!"
The final act was carried through at Lancaster, where the "Witches" were taunted with
their evil practices rather than being solidly proven guilty, and only hours
after their sentencing, they were hung on the scaffold.
It is 400 years since the Pendle Witch Trials, and the evidence is no clearer today. What is certain is that the trials took place during an era of superstition, when belief in witchcraft was widespread and when suspicion became rumour, then without further adieu, became
indisputable fact and such characters as Demdyke and Chattox who were cunning,
cruel and poverty stricken were regarded as witches.
It is highly likely (though not proven) that the old women may have traded on their reputations to extort a living from their frightened neighbours. It may be possible too that they made images and recited charms and thus enhanced their notoriety.
To ascribe local deaths and injuries to them was natural amongst their superstitious neighbours, but in the present day, no prosecuting counsel would dream of bringing before a court, such a tissue of lies, rumours, uncorroborated statements and contradictory evidence.
What is known to be true can be summed up:
- Demdyke quarrelled with Richard Baldwin
- Chattox quarrelled with Robert Nutter
- Chattox was jealous of Anne Nutter's friendship with Demdyke's grand-daughter
- Friends and relatives gathered at Malkin Tower on Good Friday
- There were several local deaths, injuries and losses
As a result fifteen local people were sent for trial for witchcraft, three were acquitted, one died in prison, one punished in the pillory followed by imprisonment, and ten were executed.