Edmund Robinson's witchcraft deposition.

Pendle hill

 

The Pendle Forest witches caused a stir throughout the kingdom, as they were summoned to London, where they were exhibited for large sums of money at the Fleet prison, and public plays were even performed about them. Now that the original examinations have come into the author's possession, it is requested that the reader, after the words on page 277, line 4, "[and had encouragement by the adjoining Magistrates]", will peruse the following depositions, namely:

The Examination of Edmund Robinson Son of Edmund Robinson of Pendle-Forest eleven years of age, taken at Padham [Padiham] before Richard Shutleworth and John Starkey Esquires, two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace within the County of Lancaster, the 10th day of February, 1633.

Who upon oath informed, being examined concerning the great meeting of the witches of Pendle, said that upon All Saints-day last past, he this Informer being with one Henry Parker a near door neighbour to him in Wheatley lane, desired the said Parker to give him leave to gather some bulloes [boughs, branches from a tree] which he did; In gathering whereof he saw two Greyhounds, viz. a black and a brown one came running over the next field towards him, he verily thinking the one of them to be Mr. Nutter’s, and the other to be Mr. Robinson’s, the said Gentlemen then having such like. And said, the said Greyhounds came to him and fawned on him, they having about their necks either of them a collar, unto each of which was tied a string: which collars (as this Informer affirmed) did shine like gold. And he thinking that some either of Mr. Nutters or Mr. Robinsons Family should have followed them; yet seeing nobody to follow them, he took the same greyhounds thinking to course with them. And presently a hare did rise very near before him. At the sight whereof he cried, loo, loo, loo: but the dogs would not run. Whereupon he being very angry took them, and with the strings that were about their collars, tied them to a little bush at the next hedge, and with a switch that he had in his hand he beat them. And instead of the black greyhound one Dickinson’s wife stood up, a Neighbour whom this Informer knew. And instead of the brown one a little boy, whom this informer knew not. At which sight this Informer being afraid, endeavoured to run away but being stayed by the Woman by Dickinson’s wife, she put her hand into her pocket, and pulled forth a piece of silver much like to a fair shilling, and offered to give him it to hold his tongue and not to tell which he refused, saying, nay thou art a witch. Whereupon she put her hand into her pocket again, and pulled out a thing like unto a bridle that jingled, which she put on the little boy’s head: which said boy stood up in the likeness of a white horse, and in the brown greyhound’s stead. Then immediately Dickinson’s Wife took this informer before her upon the said horse and carried him to a new house called Hoarstones being about a quarter of a mile off. Whither when they were come, there were divers persons about the door, and he saw divers others riding on horses of several colours towards the said house, who tied their horses to a hedge near to the said house. Which persons went into the said house, to the number of threescore or thereabouts, as this Informer thought, where they had a fire, and meat roasting in the said house, whereof a young woman (whom this informer knew not) gave him flesh and bread upon a trencher and drink in a glass, which after the first taste he refused and would have no more, but said, it was naught.

Hoarstones between Padiham and Wheatley lane

 

And presently after, seeing divers of the said company going into a barn near adjoining, he followed after them, and there he saw six of them kneeling, and pulling all six of them six several ropes, which were fastened or tied to the top of the barn. Presently after which pulling, there came into this informers sight flesh smoking, butter in lumps, and milk as it were flying from the said ropes. All which fell into basins which were placed under the said ropes. And after that these six had done, there came other six which did so likewise. And during all the time of their several pulling they made such ugly faces as scared this informer, so that he was glad to run out and steal homewards: who immediately finding they wanted one that was in their company, some of them ran after him near to a place in a highway called Boggard-hole, where he this informer met two horsemen. At the sight whereof the said persons left following of him. But the foremost of those persons that followed him, he knew to be one Loind's wife: which said wife together with one Dickinson’s wife, and one Jennet Davies he hath seen since at several times in a croft or close adjoining to his father’s house, which put him in great fear. And further this informer said, upon Thursday after New-years day last past, he saw the said Loind's Wife sitting upon a cross piece of wood being within the chimney of his father’s dwelling house: and he calling to her, said come down thou Loynd's Wife. And immediately the said Loynd's wife went up out of his sight. And further this informer said, that after he was come from the company aforesaid to his father’s house, being towards evening, his father asked him go and fetch home two cows to seal. And in the way in a field called the Ellers, he chanced to happen upon a boy, who began to quarrel with him, and they fought together, till the Informer had his ears and face made up very bloody by fighting, and looking down he saw the boy had a cloven foot. At which sight he being greatly frightened, came away from him to seek the cows. And in the way he saw a light like to a lantern towards which he made haste, supposing it to be carried by some of Mr. Robinsons people; but when he came to the place, he only found a woman standing

on a bridge, whom when he saw he knew her to be Loind's wife, and knowing her he turned back again: and immediately he met with the aforesaid boy, from whom he offered to run, which boy gave him a blow on the back that made him to cry, and further this informer saith, that when he was in the barn, he saw three women take six pictures from off the beam, in which pictures were many thorns or such like things sticked in them, and that Loynd's wife took one of the pictures down but the other two women that took down the rest he knew not. And being further asked what persons were at the aforesaid meeting, he nominated these persons following, viz. Dickensons wife, Henry Priestley’s wife, and his lad, Alice Hargreene widow, Jane Davies, William Davies, and the Wife of Henry Fackes, and her sons John and Miles, the Wife of Denneries, James Hargreene of Marsdead, Loynd's wife, one James his wife, Saunders his wife, and Saunders himself sicut credit, one Laurence his wife, one Saunder Pyn's wife of Barraford; one Holgate and his wife of Leonards of the west close.

Edmund Robinson of Pendle Father of the aforesaid Edmund Robinson Mason informed,

That upon All-Saints day last he sent his son the aforesaid informer to fetch home two cows to seal, and said that his son staying longer than he thought he should have done, he went to seek him, and in seeking of him heard him cry pitifully, and found him so affrighted and distracted, that he neither knew his father, nor did know where he was, and so continued very near a quarter of an hour before he came to himself. And he told this informer his father all the particular passages that are before declared in the said Robinson his Sons information.
Richard Shutleworth;
John Starkey.
FINIS.

Background

The Pendle witch trials were a series of trials that took place in Lancashire, England, in 1612. The trials were the most famous witch trials in English history, and they resulted in the execution of 10 people.

The trials began when a 9-year-old girl named Jennet Device accused her mother, Elizabeth Device, and her grandmother, Anne Whittle (also known as Old Demdike), of witchcraft. Jennet claimed that her mother and grandmother had bewitched her to make her sick, and she also accused them of killing several people.

Jennet's accusations led to the arrest of several other people, including her father, John Device, her sister, Alison Device, and her aunt, Mary Chattox. The accused were all tortured, and many of them confessed to witchcraft.

In August 1612, 11 people were put on trial for witchcraft at Lancaster Assizes. Ten of the accused were found guilty and executed. The only person who was acquitted was Alizon Device, Jennet's sister.

The Pendle witch trials were a major event in English history, and they helped to fuel the fear of witchcraft that was prevalent in the early 17th century. The trials also had a lasting impact on the village of Pendle, which became known as "the witch country."

Here are some of the key figures involved in the Pendle witch trials:

• Jennet Device: The 9-year-old girl whose accusations of witchcraft led to the trials.
• Elizabeth Device: Jennet's mother, who was one of the first people to be arrested.
• Anne Whittle (Old Demdike): Jennet's grandmother, who was also accused of witchcraft.
• John Device: Jennet's father, who was arrested but not convicted.
• Alison Device: Jennet's sister, who was also arrested and convicted.
• Mary Chattox: Jennet's aunt, who was one of the most prominent witches in the trials.

 
Wheatley Lane has links with the Pendle Witches. In 1633, Edmund Robinson of Wheatley Lane reported that he had been taken by a witch to a barn at Hoarstones where he had seen 40 witches engaged in various devilish activities. He subsequently identified 19 witches and they were sent to trial in 1634, including Jenet Davies, a witness at the 1612 trial, and the daughter-in-law of Alice Nutter (one of the previous Pendle Witches). However, the judge deferred sentence and sent seven of them to London for further examination; only three survived the ordeal. After an enquiry all 19 were acquitted and Robinson later admitted that the story was a fabrication.

Read more about the Pendle witches here.