HEDY MAG ISSUE 1

to the gallows). Now eight more people stood accused:
Device, James Device, Katherine Hewitt, John
Bulcock, Jane Bulcock, Alice Gray, Jennet Preston
from Yorkshire, and Alice Nutter, whose statue we
encountered above. Not only were they accused of
witchcraft in general, but crucially of a conspiracy
to try and blow up Lancaster Castle by magic. They
too were now awaiting trial in Lancaster Castle gaol.
The trial itself was not short of tragedy: blind, confused
and frail Elizabeth Southerns died at Lancaster
Castle, cheating her persecutors of the chance to
see her hang. Many of the accused, especially those
implied in the improbable meeting at Malkin Tower,
desperately pleaded their innocence, but to no avail.
Nine-year-old Jennet Device calmly asked for her
mother to be removed from the courtroom, so that
she could give her witness statement, condemning
her family to the gallows, without being interrupted
by her mother’s desperate sobs. In the end only
Alice Gray was found not guilty. Jennet Preston
was hung at Knavesmire (at the site of York Race
Course), Yorkshire on 27th July 1612. Alizon Device,
Elizabeth Device, James Device, Anne Whittle,
Anne Redferne, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt,
John Bulcock and Jane Bulcock were hung at Gallows
Hill, Lancaster on August 20th 1612. There
is still dispute amongst historians today as to what
really happened at Pendle Forest in 1612. The most
likely scenario is a mixture of mass hysteria and a
family feud gone bad, leading to the destruction of
THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES: A CHRONICLE OF SORCERY AND DEATH ON PENDLE HILL BY PHILIP C ALMOND
Readable and profound analysis of the trials, even though his conclusion about the Malkin Tower meeting is a bit daring.
Very useful chronology.
THE WONDERFUL DISCOVERY OF WITCHES IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER: MODERNISED AND INTRODUCED BY ROBERT
POOLE BY THOMAS POTTS
If you like your history dry and factual and with every little bit of of known info available, our man Robert’s collection of
essays is your thing. Plus, he modernised and republished the original witch trial pamphlet. Hero!
18
HEDY