The Lancaster Witches (Pendle) - textbook

Question 1

When were the trials?

Answer 1

1604-1613

Question 2

When did the trials/accusations actually take place?

Answer 2

March-August 1612

Question 3

What was Pendle’s economy like?

Answer 3

It was a pastoral, prosperous economy

pastoral -> look after cows, sheep etc

Question 4

How much did the rent increase by in the 16th Century?

Answer 4

39%

Question 5

What was the population of Pendle in 1563?

Answer 5

580 (rising to 1,620 in 1650)

Question 6

How did the English reformation affect Pendle?

Answer 6

It did not suffer as much as other communities

Question 7

How many people did Pendle’s parish cover?

Answer 7

10,000

Question 8

How was Lancashire viewed by the authorities?

Answer 8

As an ignorant corner of England where Catholicism could be easily fostered

Question 9

What was the effect of the local abbey closing in Pendle?

Answer 9

It made land prices go up, people could no longer rely on it for resources

Question 10

Did people still believe in helpful magic (in Pendle)?

Answer 10

Yes - records show that in nearly 100 cases, magic seems to have blurred boundaries between witchcraft and work of village healers

Question 11

What was the impact of the 1604 act?

Answer 11

It introduced the idea of the diabolical pact

Question 12

Who made the first accusation made in the trials?

Who was the accused?

Answer 12

It was made by John Law, against Alison Device.

Question 13

What happened to Law in the encounter with Device?

Answer 13

Law refused the sale of some pins to Device, who then muttered a curse. Law then collapsed in great pain (presumably from a stroke).

Question 14

Did Alison Device need lots of questioning to confess?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

What did Device say about the encounter?

Answer 15

That she was visited by her familiar during the encounter

Question 16

How did family rivalry affect the witch trials?

Answer 16

Senior members of the two families hated each other, which led to them accusing each other

Question 17

When were witchcraft claims first levelled against Old Chattox

Answer 17

In 1595

Question 18

What was Roger Nowell’s background?

Answer 18

He was a local magistrate who had been High Sheriff of Lancashire

Question 19

Who did Nowell investigate first?

Answer 19

Alizon Device

Question 20

What did Device tell Nowell about the encounter with Law?

Answer 20

That she had a conversation with a black dog that put the curse against Law

Question 21

What else did Device say to Nowell?

Answer 21

That she had been talking to her grandmother about getting a familiar whilst they were begging together

Question 22

What evidence was there against Old Demdike?

Answer 22

• She had been called in to see to a cow, which subsequently died
• When Alizon took some milk back to the house, it had got turned into butter
• Demdike had been called to see a farmer’s daughter, who then died

Question 23

What is Alizon Device’s reasoning behind her grandmother and Old Chattox?

Answer 23

As they were both witches

Question 24

What did Alizon Device say Old Chattox had done?

Answer 24

• Chattox was guilty of murder through witchcraft
• Chattox killed a child, the father of whom she did not get on with
• Another died after accusing Chattox of bewitching one of his cattle

Question 25

How many people were allegedly at the meeting in Malkin Tower?

Answer 25

20

Question 26

What was James’ role in the meeting?

Answer 26

He was to get the animal that they would sacrifice and then eat at the feast afterwards

Question 27

How old was Jennet Device at the time?

Answer 27

9

Question 28

Who did Jennet name as being at the meeting?

Answer 28

Elizabeth Device
James Device
Alice Nutter
Christopher Howgate
11 more

Question 29

What was the outcome of the trial?

Answer 29

11 people died, 10 women and 1 man.

Question 30

Were assize courts fair?

Answer 30

Although on the surface, the assize courts were fair, the defendants were not allowed to prepare a defence for themselves.

Question 31

Were the judges motivated for the right reasons?

Answer 31

No - they both wanted to please the King and would therefore find witches guilty.

Altham had been previously accused of sending an innocent woman to be killed.

Question 32

Is Potts’ work, The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster, reliable?

Answer 32

No. Potts is selective in the details he includes, in order to protect his, and the judges’, reputations.