2.3 the trial of 1612

Question 1

Judges Bromley and Altham: the death of Old Demdike

When did Demdike die? How did Chattox’s story change after this?

death, blamed Demdike, heard confession

Answer 1

• Demdike survived the journey to lancaster castle but died shortl afterwards. It was assumed she died before 19th May, as this was when Chattox was interrogated and there is no mention of Demdike
• Chattox then changed her story and blamed Demdike for her conversation at Malkin Tower
• Plus, she said she heard Demdike confess to several murders.

Question 2

Judges Bromley and Altham: the judges

how many men and women did Rodger Nowell arrest?

Answer 2

11

Question 3

Judges Bromley and Altham: the judges

other suspects: Who was detained by Nicholas Bannister? who else came?

Answer 3

• a woman from Padiham was detained by Nicholas Bannister, the magistrate who assisted Nowell in his interrogation of the Device family
• Another 5 women and 2 men came from Samlesbury, and one from St Helens.
• Potts named these as Jennet Bierly, Ellen Bierly, Jane Southworth, John Ramsden, Elizabeth Astley, Isabel Sidegraves and Lawrence Haye.

Question 4

Judges Bromley and Altham: the judges

What was the Judge’s regime? how many times would lancaster be visited? When did the Judges arrive?

Answer 4

• the Judges traveled across the country to hear cases for centuries
• Lancaster would have been visited 3-4 times per year
• on 16 August the judges arrived

Question 5

Judges Bromley and Altham: the judges

background of Sir James Altham: what was his career? what about his father? where was he educated?

Answer 5

• he was from an established gentry family
• his father had been sheriff of both London and Essex
• he was educated at Trinity College Cambridge
• he was elected as MP for Bramber in 1589
• knighted by James I in 1605
• appointed Baron of the Exchequer in 1606
• may have consulted Daemonologie during the trial due to his rise in status under James I

Question 6

Judges Bromley and Altham: the judges

what was the job of Altham and Bromley? what does this imply?

Answer 6

• assize judges alongside their work in London
• they would have wanted to gain the kings favour

Question 6

Judges Bromley and Altham: the judges

background of Sir Edward Bromley: where did he come from? what was his career?

Answer 6

• shropshire gentry family
• rose to Baron of the Exchequer.
• his father was a high profile lawyer, so he recieved legal training for free.
• He was an MP for Bridgnorth, and King James gave him the role of mediator with the House of Lords over proposals between a union between England and Scotland

Question 7

the conduct of the trial: the structure of the trial

when was it held

Answer 7

18-19 august 1612

Question 8

the conduct of the trial: the structure of the trial

background for the trial? what were the defendants not allowed? what were the grounds for evidence?

Answer 8

• all but one pleaded ‘not guilty’
• defendants weren’t allowed to prepare a defence, it is likely they didn’t know what they were charged with until it was read out in court
• Both judges were trusted, but they accepted questionable evidence.

Eg. Altham had only just been accused of sending an innocent woman for torture at the York assize on the evidence of Jenet Device

Question 9

the conduct of the trial: the structure of the trial

Who acted as prosecutor?

Answer 9

Rodger Nowell

Question 10

the conduct of the trial: Old Chattox

what was she charged with?

Answer 10

• the murder of robert nutter 18 years earlier, despite Alizon claiming she was responsible for this and the others.

Question 11

the conduct of the trial: Old Chattox

what was read out?

Demdike on Redferne

Answer 11

Her statement, and Demdike’s statement that suggested she and Anne Redferne had been seen with clay images of the people they intended to bewitch

Question 12

the conduct of the trial: Old Chattox

How did Chattox react to her trial? what was the outcome?

Answer 12

• she attempted to divert attention towards Demdike, but this was hopeless
• she acknowledged the evidence wsa true, and asked for mercy for her daughter, Anne Redferne.

Question 13

the conduct of the trial: Elizabeth Device

how does potts present her?

Answer 13

• extremely ugly and confrontational, in contrast to the shyness of Chattox, she was kicking and screaming before her trial started

Question 14

the conduct of the trial: Elizabeth Device (demdike’s daughter)

what was elizabeth device charged with

Answer 14

• the murder of John and James Barley, and Henry Mitton
• Jenet implicated her after she was taken out the courtroom for swearing at her

Question 15

the conduct of the trial: Elizabeth Device (demdike’s daughter)

what did Jenet say about her mother? How did James back her up? What did Elizabeth say once being allowed back into the courtroom?

Answer 15

• Jenet said she had been a witch for 3-4 years, and her familiar, ball, had spoken to her
• James blamed her for the Malkin Tower meeting
• Elizabeth then denied this and spoke against her children

Question 16

the conduct of the trial: James Device (Elizabeth’s daughter)

How did Jenet implicate her brother?

Answer 16

• Jenet implicated him on the murders
• She also explained James’ familiar, Dandie, had appeared at Malkin Tower as a black dog

Question 16

the conduct of the trial: James Device (Elizabeth’s daughter)

what was he charged with? what was his state?

murders, AT + JD, and JH + BH

Answer 16

• the murder of Anne Towneley and John Duckworth.
• Anne Towneley’s husband gave evidence against him
• Further, the murders of John Hargreaves and Blaze Hargreaves, though he did not admit to these.
• he was unable to speak or stand, and was severely ill at the time of the trial.

Question 17

the conduct of the trial: James Device (Elizabeth’s daughter)

How did the Judge’s find the Device’s and Old Chattox?

Answer 17

• guilty.

Question 18

the conduct of the trial: Anne Redferne (grandaughter to Chattox)

What was Anne Redferne charged with? How did Chattox try to defend her?

Answer 18

• 18 August for her role in Robert Nutter’s death, though the evidence was so weak this was unsuccessful
• On Wednesday, she was charged with murdering Christopher Nutter
• Chattox begged for the courts to spare Anne, stating she made the clay figures alone, but this didn’t work

Question 19

the conduct of the trial: Alice Nutter

what was unusual about Alice Nutter?

Answer 19

she was relatively high status
- Potts explained the Devil could seduce wealthier women with promises of revenge.

Question 20

the conduct of the trial: Alice Nutter

what was Alice Nutter charged with?

Answer 20

• murder of Henry Mitton, with Demdike and Elizabeth Device
• statements by Elizabeth, James, and Jeney agreed she was at the Malkin Tower meeting

Question 21

the conduct of the trial: Alice Nutter

how was she chosen for trial? What do historians find hard to answer?

Answer 21

• Judge Bromley organised an identity parade
• Jenet Device was expected to pick out witches from a lineup including other prisoners and random women
• she identified Alice Nutter, who refused to confess, but was found guilty
• It is difficult to explain how she made it all the way to the gallows without her wealthy associates or influential family intervening.

Question 22

the conduct of the trial: Katherine Hewitt

what was she accused of? how was she identified?

outcome?

Answer 22

• being present at the Malkin Tower meeting
• she was charged with the murder of a child at Colne
• James referenced Hewitt and Alice Gray’s confession at Malkin Tower to the murder.
• Elizabeth Device’s statement also implicated her, along with an identity parade.
• she was found guilty.

Question 23

# the conduct of the trial: John and Jane Bulcock what were they accused of?

Answer 23

bewitching Jennet to go mad - she identified both in an identity parade lineup - found guilty

Question 24

# the conduct of the trial: Alizon Device What happened at the trial of Alizon Device? Who's appearance prompted her confession?

Answer 24

- upon seeing John Law, Alizon repeated her original confession - he was asked to give evidence, and presented a similar account of the events of **18 March** - Alizon asked for forgiveness, and stated she would be able to return to health if Demdike was still alive - found guilty.

Question 25

# the conduct of the trial: Margaret Pearson What was she accused of? who testified against her?

Answer 25

- killing a horse belonging to a Mr Dodgson - Chattox testified that she had seen her familiar in the shape of a cloven-footed man, and Pearson told her in a shared cel that she killed the horse by climbing into its stable and sitting on it until it died

Question 26

# the conduct of the trial: Margaret Pearson how was Pearson found by the judges?

Answer 26

- guilty - sentenced to 4 days of public humilation in the pillory this lenient sentence reflects the doubt surrounding a woman who had been tried twice, (this was her third time on trial)

Question 27

# the conduct of the trial: The Samlesbury witches Who were they? what were they accused of? why was the case thrown out?

Answer 27

- entirely disconnected from Pendle but significantly recorded by Potts. - Jennet Bierley, Ellen Bierley, and Jane Southworth - they had all been accused by a 14 year old girl of witchcraft - it was thrown out because the girl Grace Sowerbutts, was exposed by Bromley as unreliable and under the influence of a catholic priest.

Question 28

# the conduct of the trial: The Samlesbury witches final witch brought to trial?

Answer 28

- Isobel Roby, completely disconnected from Pendle - by the end of the proceedings all those who had been found guilty were brought back into court, and were to be hung.

Question 29

# the impact of Thomas Potts account: the production of Potts' account how/why wsa it produced? what was the role of the presiding judges?

Answer 29

- he was a clerk of the court, so had a unique insight into the trial - he wrote it first hand - Bromley and Altham ordered him to write a public account - it was completed **16 November 1612** (3 months after the trials) - Judge Bromley also corrected and checked it before it was published.

Question 30

# the impact of Thomas Potts account: Potts' background how did he grow up? what was his career?

Answer 30

- in the home of Thomas Knyvet, who he dedicated his account to - he had been credited with apprehending Guy Fawkes in **1605** - He didn't go to university, and made a career in law out of reach - he appears to have become a well-regarded civil servant.

Question 31

# the impact of Thomas Potts account: the impact of his work what were the texts 2 fulfiled objectives? | justification, reputation.

Answer 31

- provided an account that justified the trials and could be read as a true version of events that had a scholarly air to it - protected the reputations of Potts, Bromley and Altham, could enable them to advance their careers.

Question 32

# the impact of Thomas Potts account: the impact of his work how was Potts selective about what he included? how does he present witness statements?

Answer 32

- he edited the speeches of Bromley and Altham to improve them, and didn't include any buildup of the trials and legal processes involved in bringing the cases to court - he presents witness statements as if they were spoken in court to add to the drama - his work is very much an overview, not a word-for-word transcript.