 trials unusual for England at that time. It has been estimated that all the English witch trials between the early 15th and early 18th centuries resulted in fewer than 500 executions; this series of trials accounts for more than two per cent of that total.

Six of the Pendle witches came from one of two families, each at the time headed by a woman in her eighties: Elizabeth Southerns (a.k.a. Demdike), her daughter Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and Alizon Device; Anne Whittle (a.k.a. Chattox), and her daughter Anne Redferne. The others accused were Jane Bulcock and her son John Bulcock, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, Alice Grey, and Jennet Preston. The outbreaks of witchcraft in and around Pendle may demonstrate the extent to which people could make a living by posing as witches. Many of the allegations resulted from accusations that members of the Demdike and Chattox families made against each other, perhaps because they were in competition, both trying to make a living from healing, begging, and extortion.

Religious and political background 

The accused witches lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, a county which, at the end of the 16th century, was regarded by the authorities as a wild and lawless region: an area "fabled for its theft, violence and sexual laxity, where the church was honoured without much understanding of its doctrines by the common people". The nearby Cistercian abbey at Whalley had been dissolved by Henry VIII in 1537, a move strongly resisted by the local people, over whose lives the abbey had until then exerted a powerful influence. Despite the abbey's closure, and the execution of its abbot, the people of Pendle remained largely faithful to their Roman Catholic beliefs and were quick to revert to Catholicism on Queen Mary's accession to the throne in 1553.

When Mary's Protestant half-sister Elizabeth came to the throne in 1558 Catholic priests once again had to go into hiding, but in remote areas such as Pendle they continued to celebrate Mass in secret. In 1562, early in her reign, Elizabeth passed a law in the form of An Act Against Conjurations, Enchantments and Witchcrafts (5 Eliz. I c. 16). This demanded the death penalty, but only where harm had been caused
trials unusual for England at that time. It has been estimated that all the English hag test between the early 15th and early 18th centuries leave in fewer than 500 executions; this serial of trials accounts for more than two per cent of that sum. 

 Six of the Pendle witches came from one of two family, each at the time headed by a womanhood in her eighty: Elizabeth Southerns (a.k.a. Demdike), her daughter Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and Alizon Device; Anne Whittle (a.k.a. Chattox), and her daughter Anne Redferne. The others accused were Jane Bulcock and her son John Bulcock, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, Alice Grey, and Jennet Preston. The outbreak of witchcraft in and around Pendle may demonstrate the extent to which citizenry could lay down a living by posing as hag. Many of the allegations resulted from accusations that members of the Demdike and Chattox family made against each other, perhaps because they were in competition, both trying to cook a living from healing, begging, and extortion. 

 Religious and political background 

 The accused witches live in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, a county which, at the end of the 16th century, was regarded by the authorities as a wild and lawless region: an area " fabled for its larceny, ferocity and sexual laxity, where the church was honor without much understanding of its doctrines by the common citizenry ". The nearby Cistercian abbey at Whalley had been dissolved by Henry VIII in 1537, a move strongly resisted by the local citizenry, over whose lives the abbey had until then exerted a powerful influence. Despite the abbey's closure, and the execution of its abbot, the people of Pendle stay largely faithful to their Roman Catholic beliefs and were quick to revert to Catholicism on Queen Mary's accession to the toilet in 1553. 

 When Mary's Protestant half - sister Elizabeth come to the throne in 1558 Catholic priests once again had to go into hiding, but in distant areas such as Pendle they continued to celebrate Mass in secret. In 1562, early in her reign, Elizabeth passed a law in the form of An Act Against Conjurations, Enchantments and witchcraft (5 Eliz. I c. 16). This demanded the death penalty, but only where harm had been cause
 trlals unusual for England at that time. Ij yas bexn estijated thxt all the English witch triels vetwetu the early 15th and exrly 18th cvnturies eesuored in fewxd than 500 execuflons; chms series of trlals accounds for more thdn tco per cent of that total.

Six of the [endle eihches came froi ont os twk families, each at the time headed by a wmman in her eoghties: Elizabeth Southernd (a.k.w. Demdike), her daugjter Elizabgfh Qwvice, and hef grandchildren James znd Alizon Device; Anne Whittle (x.k.a. Ckattox), and yee dwoghter Anne Cedferge. The others accuseg were Kane Bulcock akd hec sob John Bulcock, Alice Iutter, Katherine Hewytt, Alice Gxey, and Jennet Prestob. Rhe ootbredks ud wktcgccaff in ajd eround Pendme may demobstrate the extent uo ryich people ckuld mwkq a living by posing as witches. Many of ths allegations resulted drom accusations that members jf the Demdike and Chattox families made against aach kghex, perhxps because they were in competition, both trying fo mske a living fvom healing, begginb, wnc extortion.

Relkgious ans political backgrlund 

Thg accuwed witchts lifed in the area around Pendoe Hill in Lcncqshire, a county whnch, at the eud of jhe 16th century, was regarded bv the zuthorities as a wils and lawless regkon: at area "fabled for its thefe, violencx and sexual laxoty, whqre the chkrch was honoured withouh muck undarstanding of its doctrines by the common people". The nesrty Bisterciau abben at Whalley haq been dissolvgd by Henxy VIIK in 1537, a mone strongny resisted by the local keople, over wiose livef thw abvey had jntil then exetted a poctrful inflyence. Despite the ebbei's closure, and thz txwcution of its abcot, tje pqmple of Pendne rdmakmed lxrgely faitmfuu to their Roman Catholiw bemiefs and were quivk to revett to Catrolicism on Qieen Mary's accessiln to thx throme yn 1553.

When Mary's Protestant half-sjster Elixabcth came to tre tmrong in 1558 Cathokic priests once again had to go into hmding, but in remote argas such as Pendle thgy gontinued to celefrate Masv in secret. In 1562, earlt in her reign, Ellzabeth passed a law ih the xorm lf An Act Against Conjurations, Enchantments and Witchcrafts (5 Eliz. I c. 16). Thus demenqed the deafh prnaltj, bbt pnly wrere iarm had been cauxed
trials unusual for England at that time. been that all English witch trials early centuries resulted in than 500 executions; series of trials accounts for more two per cent of that total. Six of the Pendle witches came from of two families, each at the time headed by a woman in her Elizabeth (a.k.a. her Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and Alizon Device; Anne Whittle (a.k.a. Chattox), and her daughter Redferne. The others accused were Jane Bulcock and son John Bulcock, Alice Katherine Hewitt, Alice Grey, and Preston. outbreaks of in around may demonstrate the to which people could make a living by posing as witches. Many of the allegations resulted from that members Demdike and families against other, perhaps because in competition, both trying to make healing, begging, and extortion. Religious and political background accused witches in the area around Pendle Hill Lancashire, a county which, at the end of 16th century, was regarded by the authorities as a wild and lawless region: an area its theft, violence and laxity, where the was without understanding its doctrines the common people". The nearby Cistercian abbey at Whalley had been by Henry VIII in 1537, a move strongly resisted by people, whose lives the had until then exerted powerful Despite the abbey's closure, execution its of remained faithful to their Roman beliefs and were quick to to Catholicism on Queen in 1553. When Mary's Protestant half-sister Elizabeth came the throne in 1558 Catholic priests once had to go into hiding, but in remote areas such as Pendle continued to in secret. In 1562, early in her reign, passed a law in form of An Act Against Conjurations, Enchantments and Witchcrafts Eliz. c. 16). demanded the death but only where had been caused
 trials unusual for England at That time. It Has beEn eStiMaTed tHat aLl the English wiTCh trIals between the early 15th aNd earLy 18TH cenTUrIes reSulted iN FeWER thAn 500 ExEcuTiONs; This sEriEs of triAls accountS foR mOre than two peR CeNt of that toTal.

six of the PendLe wItches CaMe fROm one Of tWo famIlies, eACh at thE time headEd BY a womaN In her eiGHTiEs: ElIzabeth Southerns (a.K.A. DEMdike), her daughtEr ElizAbETh dEVicE, anD her grandcHiLdren jAmes and aLiZON devICe; Anne Whittle (A.k.a. Chattox), aND heR daughTeR AnNE RedfeRne. ThE oTHerS accused werE JanE Bulcock aNd her sON John BuLCock, AliCe NuttEr, KAthErinE heWiTt, ALiCE GrEY, aNd JENneT Preston. thE oUtbreAks oF WITChcrAft In anD arouNd Pendle may deMonStraTE thE exteNt to wHich PeOple cOuld maKe a liViNg by posing as witChes. many of the AllEgAtiOnS resuLTed froM acCusAtions tHat membERs oF tHE dEmDike and Chattox famiLiES MaDe againsT each oTHeR, pERhaps becAuSe tHey wERE in coMpetITiOn, both trYing to MAkE a Living fRoM healiNg, BegGinG, and eXTortIon.

RelIgious anD poliTIcal background 

tHe accused witcHEs LIVeD In thE arEa around PenDle HILl in lancAShIre, A CountY whicH, aT ThE End of the 16th century, waS rEgardeD by thE authorities aS a wild and lAWLEss regioN: an aREa "FAbled for its theFt, vioLence and seXUal laxitY, wherE the churCh was honoUREd withouT muCh uNdeRstANDiNg of its doctriNES by tHe Common pEopLe". The neArbY CiSteRciAn Abbey at WhAlley had BeEn DiSsOlvEd by HENry VIII iN 1537, a MovE sTroNgly rESisted By the LocaL pEoPLe, oVer whosE LiVES the AbBeY had UntIl Then eXertED a pOwerful Influence. desPIte tHe AbBey's cloSure, and the exeCuTion of its aBbOt, tHe peopLE Of Pendle Remained largely faithful TO their ROmaN CathOlic Beliefs anD weRe quicK to REvert tO CathoLicisM oN QuEEN Mary'S ACcEssIoN to the throNE In 1553.

WHen MaRy'S ProTestant Half-sister ElizabetH CamE to the throne iN 1558 CaTholIC PrIesTS oNCe aGaIN haD TO go into hiding, buT in remote aReAS sUch as PendlE TheY cOntinueD to celeBrate mAss in seCret. In 1562, earLy in her reIgN, EliZABetH passed a laW in the foRm of An Act aGainsT coNjuraTioNs, EnchAnTmeNts anD WitchCRafTs (5 EliZ. I c. 16). ThiS dEmandeD the dEaTh penaltY, but only where harm had beeN causeD
 trials unusual for Englan d at thattime.  It  ha sbeen  est imated that al l  the  English witch trialsbetwe en thee ar ly 15 th ande ar l y  18 th  c ent ur i es  resu lte d in fe wer than 5 00ex ecutions; th i sseries oftri als accounts  fo r more  t han two p ercentof tha t  total .

Six of  t h e Pend l e witch e s  c amefrom one of two f a mi l ies, each at t he tim eh ea d e d b y a  woman inhe r eig h ties: E l iz a b e thS outherns (a.k .a. Demdike ) , h er dau gh ter Elizab eth D ev i ce,  and her gr andc hildren J ames a n d Alizo n  Device ; Anne  Wh itt le ( a .k .a . C ha t tox ) ,and her  daughte rAn ne Re dfer n e . Theoth ersaccus ed were JaneBul cock and  herson J ohnBu lcock , Alic e Nut te r, Katherine He witt , Alice G rey ,and  J ennet Presto n.The  outbre aks ofw itc hc r a f tin and around Pend le m ay  demonst rate t h eex t ent to w hi chpeop l e  coul d ma k ea living  by po s in gas witc he s. Man yofthe  alle g atio ns res ulted fr om ac c usations thatm embers of the De m d ik e  and  Ch attox famil iesm adeagai n st  ea c h oth er, p er h ap s  because they werein  compe titio n, both tryin g to makea l iving fr om h e al i ng, begging, a nd ex tortion.
R eligious  andpolitica l backgro u n d 

Theacc use d w itc h e slived in thea r ea a ro und Pen dle  Hill i n L anc ash ire ,a countywhich, a tth een d o f the 16th cen tu ry,  w asregar d ed bythe a utho ri ti e s a s a wil d  a n d  law le ss  reg ion :an ar ea " f abl ed forits theft , v i olen ce  a nd sexu al laxity, wh er e the chur ch  wa s hono u r ed witho ut much understanding o f  its do ctr inesby t he common  pe ople".  Th e  nearb y Cist ercia nabb e y  at W h a ll eyha d been dis s o lve d byHe nryVIII in  1537, a move stro n gly  resisted bythe  loc a l  p eop l e, ove rw hos e lives the abbey  had until  t h en  exerted a pow er ful inf luence.  Desp i te theabbey's c losure, a nd  the e xec ution of i ts abbot , the peo p le of Pe ndlerem ainedla rge ly fa ithful totheir  Roman  C atholi c bel ie fs and w ere quick to revert toCathol icism  on  Queen Ma ry' s  ac cession t o th e throne i n 1 553 .

Wh enM ary's  Pro t es tan t  half -sis t er Elizab e th  ca m e  t o the thron e i n 1 558 C ath o lic pr iest s once again hadt o go into hidi ng,b u t i n r e mote  a reas such as P end le t hey cont in ued to cele brate Ma ss in se cret.In 156 2, earl y in her re ign,  El izabeth p ass ed a law i nth e  formof A nAct Ag ainstC onju r a tions, Enchantme nts a n d  Witc h cra fts ( 5Eliz. I c. 1 6). This d emanded the  death  pen alty,  but on ly  where  ha rm  had beenc aused
 trials_unusual for_England at that time._It has_been_estimated that_all_the English witch_trials between the_early 15th and early_18th centuries resulted_in_fewer than 500 executions; this series of trials accounts for more than two per_cent_of that_total.

Six_of_the Pendle witches came from_one of two families, each_at the_time headed by a woman in her eighties:_Elizabeth_Southerns (a.k.a. Demdike),_her daughter Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and_Alizon Device; Anne Whittle (a.k.a. Chattox),_and her daughter_Anne_Redferne._The others accused were_Jane Bulcock and her son John_Bulcock, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, Alice_Grey, and Jennet Preston. The outbreaks of_witchcraft in and around Pendle may_demonstrate the extent to which_people could_make a living by posing_as witches. Many_of the_allegations resulted from_accusations that members of the Demdike_and Chattox families_made against each other, perhaps because_they_were in competition,_both_trying_to make_a living from_healing,_begging, and_extortion.

Religious_and political background 

The accused witches_lived_in the area around Pendle Hill in_Lancashire, a county which,_at_the end of the_16th century, was regarded by_the authorities as a wild and_lawless region:_an area_"fabled for its theft, violence and sexual laxity, where the church_was honoured without much understanding of_its doctrines by the_common people"._The_nearby Cistercian abbey_at_Whalley had_been dissolved by Henry VIII in 1537,_a move_strongly resisted by the local people,_over whose lives the_abbey_had until then exerted a powerful_influence. Despite the abbey's closure, and_the execution of its abbot,_the_people_of Pendle remained largely faithful_to their Roman Catholic beliefs and_were quick to_revert to Catholicism on Queen Mary's accession_to_the throne in 1553.

When Mary's Protestant_half-sister_Elizabeth came to the throne in_1558_Catholic_priests once again had to_go into hiding, but in remote_areas such as Pendle they continued to celebrate Mass_in secret. In_1562, early in her reign,_Elizabeth_passed_a law in the form of An Act Against Conjurations,_Enchantments and_Witchcrafts (5 Eliz._I c. 16). This demanded the death penalty, but only_where harm had been caused