Depth Study 2 – Pendle, Lancashire, 1604-13

Question 1

who was jennet device?

Answer 1

nine year old child witness that gave evidence in the 1612 trial which led to the execution of 10 bpeople including her entire family

Question 2

what was the political context of pendle?

Answer 2

before 1604 the courts required tangiable proof of malificarum such as death or injury. however this changed after the 1604 statute as tangible evidence was no longer needed and more people were accused and executed as a result

Question 3

what sort of economy did pendle have

Answer 3

Pendle was a pastoral economy mainly limited to arable farming. cattle were also important to the economy and could reach up to £3 in markets.

Question 4

how much did the rent increase in 1507

Answer 4

rent increased 39% and inflation grew. this alongside enclosure meant that there was a constant risk of eviction.

Question 5

religious context

Answer 5

Reveals prejudices because witches were persecuted for practising prayers and spells because they were catholic
Religious strife helped engender witchcraft accusations’, Contributed to the feeling of fear and uncertainty present in society as a result of social divisions and tensions
Catholicism portrayed as the anti-Christ and something that threatened the Protestant Church, associated with witchcraft as also seen as anti-Protestant practice

Question 6

explain how roger nowell was responsible for instigating the hunt

Answer 6

Unquestionably roger Nowell was responsible for encouraging the spread of the witch hunt by instigating the initial hunt.
Alison admitted to harming John Law with a curse, he then used the 1604 Witchcraft Act to investigate further, when Alison Device accused others

Question 7

How did London view Lancashire in terms of religion?

Answer 7

An ‘ignorant corner’ where Catholicism was still active, Lancashire historically had looked after Recusant Catholics

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Whalley Abbey dissolved in 1536, had provided resources for local residents. in turn this took away a valuable source of income and support
a new parish was created that now had a population of 10,000 people who couldn’t be cared for effectively

Welfare support limited when Whalley Abbey closed down, contributed to economic hardship in the area

Question 9

What was the family rivalry between Alison Device’s and Anne Redferne family?

Answer 9

Old Demdike - Alison’s grandmother
Old Chattox- Anne’s grandmother
Accused each other of stealing and theft, particularly grain and a cap

Question 10

What was Nowell’s involvement?

Answer 10

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

He was familiar with the Pact with the Devil from the work of William Perkins

Question 11

Alison was searched by Nowell for something- what was it?

Answer 11

the devils mark

Question 12

• The significance of the new witchcraft statute of 1604.

Answer 12

Created an underlying hostile feeling - courts needed Tangible proof of Maleficium such as death or injury in a trial as evidence. However, as a result of the 1604 act, because tangible evidence is no longer needed, more people could be accused and executed

Question 13

• Alizon Device and John Law.

Answer 13

Culminates in an immediate change - Alison Device confessed after an interrogation with Nowell. witch hunt begins after alizon confesses & Encourages a wider range of people to get involved in hunting.

She accused Old Chattox of murder through witchcraft along with other examples of magic, Accused Old Demdike of being a witch and Old Chattox, Old Demdike and Anne Redferne are taken in for questioning

Question 14

How did the economic challenges create further social divisions in Pendle?

Answer 14

Economic challenges established a class divide and as a result, a group of people who could be held responsible

Contributed to the feeling of fear and uncertainty present in society as a result of social divisions and tensions. moreover, Other areas of England experienced the same economic struggles, and hunts of this size didn’t take place

Question 15

how could roger nowels religious upbringing motivate his interrogation

Answer 15

He was familiar with the Pact with the Devil from the work of William Perkins so it is possible that Nowell was driven by his Puritan upbringing.
Reveals the depth of religious division in society and how it could be seen as a personal motivator

Question 16

why was the Social Context necessary for escalating the hunt

Answer 16

There needed to be a feeling of fear and clear social divisions and tensions present in society for the initial confession and accusation to create the rapid escalation of accusations that were seen

Question 17

what other contexts widened the extent of social rivalry

Answer 17

Social divisions widened from the economic pressures placed on Copyholders and their subtenants, religious divisions.
The rivalry soon leads to accusations and slander on both sides – its arguable that the rivalry stems from competition in a limited market, making a living by healing and begging

Question 18

introduction and establishment of criteria

Answer 18

For the purposes here, the start of the Pendle Witch Hunt will include any confessions and accusations that were made before the events at Malkin Tower on Good Friday 1612. The most significant cause of the hunt, will be judged against whether it created or exacerbated feelings of fear in society, enabled witch hunting to take place or resulted in the first confession or accusations. It will be clear that the social divisions within society made Pendle vulnerable to a hunt, but Roger Nowell’s investigation triggered the hunt itself.

Question 19

impact of the judges

Answer 19

Altham and Bromley are not responsible for causing the hunt or increasing its spread BUT they did rely on spectral evidence from a 9 year old child, in similar trials Assize Court judges questioned this type of evidence, suggesting they are accountable for the outcome of the trial and the executions of 11 women.

Question 20

why did altham and Bromley accept spectral evidence from a child

Answer 20

Both were concerned with getting the King’s favour. Nowell, Altham and Bromley were all strongly Protestant and wanted to please the King by removing Catholic influences from the North