The accused witches lived in Lancashire . At the end of the 16th century , the government thought this county was a wild and lawless area , `` fabled for its theft , violence and sexual laxity , where the church was honored without much understanding of its doctrines by the common people '' . The accused witches lived in Lancashire , an English county which , at the end of the 16th century , was regarded by the authorities as a wild and lawless region , `` fabled for its theft , violence and sexual laxity , where the church was honored without much understanding of its doctrines by the common people '' .