In 1612, James I had been on the throne for nine years. James was a strong believer in witchcraft, and while the instances of witchcraft trials were not especially high during his reign, there was certainly the opportunity for young magistrates to try and make their name by taking accusations of witchcraft seriously and prosecuting them publically.
In Pendle at that time were two families - the Demdikes and the Chattoxes - each of which were ruled by old matriarchs who both had reputations locally for being witches. It seems that they did nothing to contradict these
reputations and in fact used them to gain work as healers or to make money with threats. The two families were also at each other’s throats over an old debt, and considered each other rivals.
In March 1612, Alizon Device, the grand-daughter of Elizabeth Southerns (better known locally as Old Demdike), cursed a pedlar who refused to give her some pins. The pedlar collapsed by the side of the road and Alizon was convinced that she was the cause, immediately confessing to him and asking for forgiveness, which he gave.
His son later heard about this and brought the event to the attention of the local authorities, claiming that when the pedlar refused Alizon's begging, a large dog appeared, and then the pedlar fell to the ground and became paralyzed.
She was brought before the local magistrate, Roger Nowell, who does seem to have genuinely believed in magic and witchcraft. Surprisingly, she immediately confessed to the crime, although Nowell used no means of torture, "tests" or persuasion. As well as fully confessing to the crime, Alizon implicated her grandmother and Anne Whittle (known as Chattox) by recounting tales of how they had caused harm to neighbours and livestock in the area.
In early April, Old Demdike, Chattox and Chattox's daughter Anne Redfearn were also interrogated about their alleged witchcraft. Demdike immediately confessed to her evil deeds, and claimed that the devil had sucked her blood and driven her mad. All four of the accused were sent to Lancaster Gaol until trial.
Shortly afterwards, it was reported to the authorities that there had been a gathering at Malkin Tower, the home of Old Demdike, on Good Friday. This was believed by the courts to have taken the form of a witch’s sabbat, a midnight meeting for the witches. Bones and clay images were found at Malkin Tower and submitted as evidence of witchcraft.
On questioning, the youngest member of the Device family, Jennet, then aged 9, confirmed the story of the witch’s sabbat and claimed that during the meeting, plans were made to attack Lancaster gaol, murder the gaoler, and free the accused prisoners. James Device, Elizabeth Device, Alice Nutter, James Bulcock, Jane Bulcock, Margaret Pearson, Katherine Hewitt and Isobel Robey were all identified by Jennet as being present at the meeting and were also sent to Lancaster to await trial. James Device later confessed to all the charges.
An old woman of ill health, Old Demdike died in gaol during the summer while awaiting trial. The trial itself did not take place until August 1612, but when it did, Jennet Device, despite her age, was the star witness. Anne Whittle (Chattox), Alizon Device, Elizabeth Device, James Device, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, John Bulcock, Jane Bulcock, and Isobel Robey were all tried and found guilty of the preliminary charges. Anne Redfearn was found guilty on a further charge. They were all sentenced to be hanged. Margaret Pearson was found guilty of a minor offence and escaped the death sentence, instead being sentenced to punishment in the stocks (devices used in the medieval times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation).
On August 20th, the ten were hanged at Lancaster gaol. There is no record of what happened to their bodies.
In an ironic twist, after condemning her entire family as witches at the 1612 trial, Jennet Device was herself to be arrested several years later on charges of witchcraft, and despite the charges being dismissed due to new laws which stated that witchcraft was just superstition, she is believed by most historians to have died in gaol.
Pendle’s growing pagan community and the tale of the witches dominates local tourism industry with jam, preserves, beer and all manner of goods bearing their name. Many of the places referred to in the tale still exist such as Lancaster gaol, Newchurch, Barley and Roughlee Though the location of Malkin Tower has been lost in history. There are rumours that Alice Nutter was the mistress of Roughlee Hall, and that one of the witches is buried in the graveyard at Newchurch under a stone bearing a skull and crossbones. The church tower itself supports what is known as the ‘Eye of God’ which provided additional protection from the evil that once afflicted these parts.
Many of the villages in pendel have retained many of their original buildings and walking or driving around the hill still brings history to life .On Halloween many people make a midnight pilgrimage to Pendle Hill. Today the Pendle area is popular with visitors whose imaginations have been captured by the 398 year old drama.
Bibliography
http://www.pendlewitches.co.uk/ (accessed 9/12/10)
(accessed 9/12/10)
http://www.pendlewitchexperience.com/ (accessed 9/12/10)
W.Bennet. (1993) The Pendle Witches, Lancashire County Books