Pendle witches

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1612, ten people were hanged at Lancaster Castle for the murder by Some of the accused made their confessions quite voluntarily, without any threat of torture. Alizon Device gave her first damning account of witchcraft quite voluntarily and seems to have genuinely believed in her own guilt and that of her family. A brief extract from her confession: (The word 'examinate' here refers to the one being examined, i.e. Alizon Device).

"The said alizon device sayth, that about two years ago, her grandmother, (called elizabeth southerns, alias old demdike) did sundry times in going or walking together as they went begging persuade and advise this examinate to let a devil or a familiar appear to her; and that she, this examinate would let him suck at some part of her; and she might have and do what she would. And so not long after these perswasions, this examinate being walking towards the rough-lee, in a close of one john robinsons, there appeared unto her a thing like unto a blacke dogge: speaking unto her, this examinate, and desiring her to give him her soule, and he would give her power to do any thing she would: whereupon this examinate being therewithall inticed, and setting her downe; the said blacke-dogge did with his mouth (as this examinate then thought) sucke at her breast, a little below her paps, which place did remaine blew halfe a yeare next after: which said blacke-dogge did not appeare to this examinate, until the eighteenth day of march last:
"At which time this examinate met with a pedler on the high-way, called colne-field, neere unto colne: and this examinate demanded of the said pedler to buy some pinnes of him; but the said pedler sturdily answered this examinate that he would not loose his packe; and so this examinate parting with him: presently there appeared to this examinate the blackedogge, which appeared unto her as before: which black dogge spake unto this examinate in English, saying; what wouldst thou have me to do unto yonder man? To whom this examinate said, what canst thou do at him? And the dogge answered againe, I can lame him: whereupon this examinat answered, and said to the said black dogge, lame him: and before the pedler was gone fortie roddes further, he fell downe lame: and this examinate then went after the said pedler, and in a house about the distance aforesaid, he was lying lame: and so this examinate went begging in trawden forrest that day, and came home at night: and about five dayes next after, the said black-dogge did appeare to this examinate, as she was going a begging, in a cloase neere the new-church in pendle, and spake againe to her, saying; stay and speake with me, but this examinate would not: sithence which time this examinate never saw him."

Some of the suspected witches protested their innocence to the end; some were acquitted when evidence against them was found to have been fabricated.

Questions are still being raised by these well-recorded tragic events in Lancashire all those years ago. Certain component parts of the witches confessions appear suspiciously similar to what a psychiatrist would now recognise as being symptoms of a psychotic illness, possibly schizophrenia with its associated delusions and hallucinations.

It has also been suggested that the alleged witches were innocent dupes, sacrificed by ambitious, powerful Lancastrian political figures in order to impress and curry favor Several local corporate bodies and businesses use a 'flying witch' logo to link themselves to the area, somewhat to the distaste of some local people who claim the area could be identified by other event and groups. Pendle College at Lancaster University also has as its logo a witch on a broom wearing the college scarf.

Until fairly recently, it was possible to give great offence by calling an East Lancashire local 'Chattox' or 'Demdike'. Similarly, the word 'Nutter' allegedly entered the English language via its connection with witchcraft and associated behaviour.

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