Pendle (Lancashire) Flashcards
give a brief over view as to why the Pendle witch craze was so significant.
*feuds between rival families
*questionable evidence was used (children)
*evidence that pacts with the devil were used in all the cases
explain the social and economic causes for the Pendle witch craze.
pendle was a place which entered mainly on the production of oats and cloth, as farming was unpredictable.
cattle- cows were seen as expensive creatures therefore bewitching a cow was seen as a main form of witchcraft
inflation- a new duke brought in entry fines and rose rent.
rivalry families within pendle
explain the religious causes for Pendle witchcraze
London saw Lancaster as a ignorant corner of the earth, where catholisism could be easily fostered.
the protestant reformation caused great tensions as their was may anti catholic protestants
white magic was common, eg healing the sick
suggest the importance of the 1604 witchcraft statue
acted as a catalyst, quickly legalising witchcraft and allowing it to become a capital offence
this was a promotional device used by James.
explain the initial act of witchcraft which caused the snowball effect within Pendle
Alison Device was reported to have bewitched John Law after he refused to give her pins after she was begging.
John Laws son, Abraham, reported this case to the local magistrate, Roger Nowell.
Explain how family rivalry may have caused accusations of witchcraft?
Old Chattox and Old Demidike, the to leaders of the most influential families within Pendle fell out.
they both hated each other
there spite could be said to cause accusations to be batted about.
explain the role of Roger Nowell in the witch hunt.
Abraham Law had told local magistrate of the bewitchment his father had undergone.
Additionally it was said Roger was influenced by many witch writings, such as daemonolgie.
Alison Device was tortured, giving a full scale confession. As well as confessing, she robbed in both Old Demdike, Old chattox and Alison Redferne for being part of it too
They were all taken for questioning, again giving full confession
explain the event of Malkin Tower
A meeting of around 20 peasants was founded by Roger Nowell and other local magnistrates with the help of James and Jennet Device.
It was discovered that they were creating clay dolls and performing witchcraft
Questionable evidence was used, as children witnessed were allowed.
explain how those involved were charged.
All but one pleaded not guilty, so a jury was called in.
Chattox, Elizabeth and James device all found guilty
Anne redferne was found not guilty, but them additional evidence was founded against her meaning she was then found guilty
in most of the trials the child given evidence was used
explain the influence of Thomas Potts account of the Lancashire trials.
Potts was a clerk, who was told by administers to give a detailed account of the events which occurred at Lancashire.
this was highly biased as the judges over saw it before it was published.
