The Pendle Witches could be pardoned 400 years after their executions

A petition has been launched to officially pardon the infamous Pendle Hill witches 400 years after they were hanged at Gallows Hill.

The 1612 trial of the Pendle witches is perhaps one of the most notorious witch trails of the 17th century; twelve people were accused of witchcraft and were held in custody in Lancaster Castle – one person went on to die in custody as a result of the heinous conditions, while the eleven others went to trial, with ten eventually being hanged for their so-called ‘crimes’.

A nine year old girl called Jennet Device was made to give evidence for the Pendle witches’ trial, something that was allowed under the system from King James; all normal rules of evidence could be suspended for witch trials, someone so young would not have been able to supply key evidence normally.

Hulton Archive

The trial took place at a time when witchcraft was widely believed and feared across England, mostly with thanks to King James I, whose famous fascination with witches led him to write a book that instructed readers to condemn and prosecute both supporters and practitioners of witchcraft.

And under the King’s ruling, even the most futile of actions and behaviours were seen as evidence of witchcraft, such as not attending Church or taking communion. Unexplained deaths in communities, illnesses, injuries to pets or livestock, deviancies, small acts of petty crimes and even healing were also believed to be a direct result of witchcraft, with unmarried and homeless women often facing the blame.

Robert Poole, a Professor of History at the University of Central Lancashire, told ITV Granada Reports: “They [witches] were poor people, mostly women, on the margin of their communities… They made a living by begging and casting spells on their neighbours behalf, but when things went wrong those neighbours turned on them and gave evidence against them.”

historicuk.com

And now, over 400 years on from the Pendle witches’ executions, a petition has been launched to officially pardon those who were hanged, slamming the event as a ‘political and religious persecution’, noting that a pardon is ‘long overdue and should be granted’.

The petition’s description reads: “The trial itself changed legal precedent by using a child of only 9 to convict members of her own family; it concluded with no defence testimony or sound evidence and involved the use of coercion and torture. We seek justice.”

The petition, which has gained over 800 signatures so far, also quotes Professor Poole, saying: “This case is important in 2021 as it teaches us that if we identify members of a community, however marginal, as some kind of ‘other’, that it’s going to lead to other miscarriages of justice.”

Tom Oates / Wikimedia Commons

Today, there are a number of thriving communities of self-proclaimed witches and pagans, all of whom live peacefully in numerous locations across the UK.

Self-proclaimed witch Semra Haksever spoke to ITV Granada about the future for witch communities, saying it is never too late to build a better future for witches far and wide. She said: “Having a memory of what happened to these people is very important because it’s going to change the narrative.

“The narrative has always been that witches are some old woman, painted in a green face and hooked nose who is hexing people and doing bad spells. When generally witches are just working in a very positive way with all the energy that surrounds us.”

To sign the Pendle Witches petition yourself, click here.