The Witch Trials of Britain
This week, I’m kicking off a short series on the witch trials. This topic is pretty close to my heart. It’s hard to believe that an entire way of life was persecuted. It was deemed as evil just because it wasn’t understood. Some people were put to death for their ‘evil practices’, while some were locked up and declared insane.
I have a lot of my own opinions on the matter, but I’ll save the majority of them ‘til this series is completed.
I’m gonna start this series by looking into the Pendle Witch Trials, which took place here, in England. Honestly, looking deeper than ever into this whole subject has been quite emotional. So, I’m inviting you all to join me on this journey. (I can’t ride the emotional rollercoaster alone, can I?!)
The Beginning
The witch trials of Britain took place between the 15th and 18th centuries. It was during the English Civil War and Puritan era of the mid-1600s when they reached their peak. Although the trials occurred nationwide, but they were mainly concentrated in the southeast of England. Between 1450 and 1750, over 4,000 individuals were accused of witchcraft in the UK. It’s estimated that around 3,000 were put to death for the crimes of witchcraft across England and Scotland. 90% of these victims were women.
As far as I can tell, Wales and Ireland didn’t have more than a couple of dozen cases between them. Their cultures were quite different to that of the rest of the UK. The supernatural wasn’t demonized. Their practices were quite Pagan, by all accounts and those old ways are still practiced today.
The first proper law to condemn witchcraft was introduced by King Henry VIII, in 1542. It was repealed about 5 years later. In 1562, Queen Elizabeth I passed a new law to make witchcraft and official crime. This led to many false accusations. People were tortured into confessing and then punished for their supposed crimes.
It was under King James I of England/James VI off Scotland that the trials started in large numbers. He became King of Scotland in 1567 after his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate. He encouraged trials of witchcraft. When he succeeded to the English throne, in 1603, he very quickly made changes to the English Witchcraft Act. This stirred up much fear across the entire country. It was reported that the King even oversaw the torture of some suspected witches himself.
Accusations of witchcraft began to increase. The public became scared and panicked. This in turn caused more accusation to fly around. It was mainly older and poor women who were accused. You had even more chance of having the finger pointed at you if you owned a cat. They were considered to be the most common ‘familiar’ of witches and having one could have gotten you arrested or even executed! Terror gripped the nation and gave rise to a new profession.
Witch-hunters
These were supposedly experts on seeking out witches. Matthew Hopkins was the most famous of all these so-called ‘Witch-hunters’. He was so good at his job that he became known as the ‘Witchfinder General’. Towns across the country paid him hefty sums of money to find witches and bring them to justice. He was ruthless and relentless. In just one single day, he ordered 19 people to be hanged in Chelmsford for the crime of witchcraft. His process for finding witches was to look for what he called a ‘Devil’s Mark’. This could be a mole, birthmark or even a flea bite! He claimed these to be a sure sign that the accused was a witch. To further prove the person’s guilt, he would use the ‘Pricking Test’.
Pricking was a very common way to supposedly identify a witch. After finding a ‘Witches Mark’ or ‘Devil’s Mark’, a needle (also known as a pricker) would be used to repeatedly prick the skin. Those subjected to this would become crippled with fear and pain. They would often make a false confession to end their torture. If an area on the body was hit that didn’t result in pain or bleeding, a witch had been found. Hopkins, as well as many others, resorted to deception to get the outcome they wanted. They used a fake prickers with retractable ends or blunted points. The fake tool wouldn’t cause any pain or bleeding. Witch-hunters were trusted people and due to growing fear and suspicions, they were rarely questioned by the public or courts.
In 1647, Hopkins wrote a book, titled: ‘The Discovery of Witches’. In this, he outlines his witch-hunting methods. These were recommended practices in law books as well. The year following its publication, America saw the rise of witch trials in New England. Hopkin’s methods were used during this time, especially during the Salem Witch Trials. (I’ll be writing about the US trials next week.)
The Trials
The most famous witch trial in British history is the ‘Trial of the Pendle Witches’. It all started when Alizon Device tried to purchase or beg some pins from a pedlar named John Law. When he refused, she’s said to have cursed him. He soon became ill, but most historians believe he suffered a stroke not long after his meeting with Alizon. It’s said that Alizon feared her powers of the craft so much that she confessed of her own accord.
For many years before the mass hysteria about witchcraft, the Device family had been well known for practicing magic. Alizon’s grandmother, known as Demdike, was well known to be a witch. However, the term ‘witch’ wasn’t necessarily associated with evil during those previous years. It was often used to refer to healers and wisewomen. These women were often greatly respected by the locals, as they helped keep them in good health. Some were even looked upon as mothers to their community and others would go to them for all sorts of advice.
After her confession and revelation of her family’s history as witches, Alizon, her brother James and her mother Elizabeth were hauled in front of a judge. Their family was not a loving one. James told the judge that his sister had confessed to bewitching a local child. There’s no indication that Elizabeth tried to defend her children in any way, but did accuse her mother, Demdike, of having a ‘Witches Mark’. (I can feel the love between them!)
Alizon went on to accuse Anne Whittle and her daughter Anne Redferne of witchcraft. Anne Whittle (also known as Chattox) was the matriarch of a rival Pendle family, who were also known for their use of the craft. Whether Alizon believed them to be witches or just seized the opportunity to get some form of revenge is unknown. She accused Chattox of killing 5 men, including her father, John Device. Demdike and Chattox were both blind and in their 80s but confessed to selling their souls to the Devil. Anne Redferne refuse to confess to anything, even when her own mother told the judge that she made clay figures, which she would use for magical purposes. Anne, Chattox, Demdike and Alizon were all sent to Lancaster Castle to await trial.
After Elizabeth Device arranged a meeting at Malkin Tower and her son, James, stole a sheep to feed those who attended, 8 more people were arrested and locked up in the Castle. Those were:
- Elizabeth Device
- James Device
- Alice Nutter
- Katherine Hewitt
- John Bulcock
- Jane Bulcock
- Alice Grey
- Jannet Preston
Jannet was sent to York for her trial, as she lived over the border in the county of Yorkshire. She had previously been accused of killing a child with magic but was found not guilty. With her earlier case brought back into question, she was charged with murder by witchcraft and hanged on July 29th, 1612.
The Pendle Witch Trials took place on August 18th and 19th. All of the accused were denied any witnesses to help their defence. (No surprise there!) What is surprising, was the key witness who sealed the fates of 10 people. It was Jannet Device, Elizabeth’s youngest daughter. She was just 9 years old and someone that young would never usually have been used as a witness. But, in a book written my King James I: Daemonologie, it stated that it was ok to bend the rules when bringing witches to justice.
On August 20th, 1612, ten people were convicted of witchcraft. They were all hanged at Gallows Hill in Lancaster. Their names:
- Anne Whittle (Chattox)
- Anne Redferne
- Elizabeth Device
- Alice Nutter
- Alizon Device
- James Device
- Katherine Hewitt
- Jane Bulcock
- John Bulcock
- Isobel Robey
Demdike died in prison before the trial, but if she had lived to see it through, she would probably have been the 11th victim of the trials.
In 1736, Parliament passed an act repealing the laws against witchcraft. However, those who claimed to have magical powers could be fines or imprisoned. In 1824, the Vagrancy act was passed. This stated that fortune-telling, astrology and Spiritualism had become punishable offences. There are currently no laws regarding witchcraft in the UK that I can find.
Thanks for starting this journey with me. It saddens me that so many people have forgotten the tragedies of the past, or just see them as tourist attractions. These were real people with real lives. Not just the Pendle Witches, but all the others who were put to death for no reason or for believing in something different. It’s awful.
Next week, I’ll be looking across the pond to America. Their most famous witch trials are, of course, the Salem Witch Trial.
Love and light to you all, my darlings.
Blessed be xxx