The Lancashire Witches

The witches of Pendle

Perhaps the most famous witch band of them all, in England,

The Lancashire Witches.

I have read Harrison Ainsworth's novel about them.

In 1612, in Pendle Forest.

Mostly from two families, originally, 

As they say, the house became divided, and it ended up being two

enemy groups of witches opposed to each other.

Both groups were brought to trial.

Elisabeth Southerns known as Old Demdike

encountered a 'devil' near a stone-pit in the forest, 

and it demanded her soul. This spirit was named Tibb.

She agreed, and it granted her wishes, often in the form 

of a dog or a cat, hence its name presumably.

 Sounds like it was a witch's familiar.

She initiated her son, Christopher Howgate,

 and daughter Elisabeth Device, and her children.

She then persuaded Anne Whittle, aka Chattox, 

to give her soul to a spirit, 

and then this band terrorised the neighbourhood.

However, one night there was a break in at the Device's house, and 

goods were stolen. Alison Device, 

one of Elisabeth Device's children, saw Ann Redfearn,

Old Chattox's married daughter, wearing linen and a coif stolen

 from them, and the feud began.

John Device the husband, was so afraid of Anne Chattox

that he paid her blackmail, against her magics,

so she must have grown more powerful than his mother-in law.

You have to assume that her spirit assistant was a real demon,

and consequently more powerful than Tibb was.

.....to be continued......