Roger Nowell (Edexcel A-Level History): Revision Notes
Roger Nowell
Who was Roger Nowell?
Roger Nowell was the local magistrate (Justice of the Peace) who played the central role in investigating and compiling the case against the Lancashire witches in 1612. His investigations led to one of the most significant witch trials in English history.
Nowell's background and position
By 1612, Nowell was 62 years old and brought considerable experience to his role. He served as an experienced JP (Justice of the Peace) and was also a local landowner who had previously held the position of High Sheriff of Lancashire. This gave him significant authority and social standing in the region.
His religious and family connections
Nowell came from a family with strong Protestant connections, which may have influenced his approach to the witch investigations:
Nowell's Influential Family Network:
- His grandfather's half-brother was Alexander Nowell, who served as Dean of St Paul's Cathedral throughout Queen Elizabeth I's reign
- His second cousin was John Wolton, Bishop of Exeter
- Through marriage, he was related to Nicholas Starkie, who led a family that experienced demonic possession in Lancashire during the mid-1590s
These connections suggest Nowell moved in influential Protestant circles and would have been familiar with contemporary views on witchcraft and the Devil.
Nowell's knowledge of witchcraft
Although we cannot be certain about Nowell's exact knowledge or attitudes towards witchcraft, historians have speculated that he was likely familiar with important witchcraft literature of the period:
- William Perkins' Discourse of the Damned Art of Witches (1608) – This work promoted the idea that witchcraft consisted of making a pact with the Devil
- King James I's Daemonologie – The king's own treatise on witchcraft and demonology
It remains unclear whether Nowell was determined from the start to investigate witches, or whether he became convinced to take action as more witnesses came forward and accusations accumulated.
The investigation begins: Alizon Device's confession
How the investigation started
The investigation began in earnest when Abraham Law contacted Nowell. Abraham was the son of John Law, who had allegedly been bewitched and lamed by Alizon Device. Abraham had been called to Colne by a letter around 21 March 1612 to attend to his injured father.
After Abraham accused Alizon Device of bewitching his father, Nowell interrogated her, and she confessed to having lamed John Law.
Interrogation methods
17th-Century Interrogation Techniques
We do not know precisely what methods Nowell used to interrogate Alizon, but it is highly likely he employed the usual 17th-century interrogation techniques recommended for suspected witches:
- Sleep deprivation – keeping the accused awake for extended periods
- Pricking – searching for the Devil's mark by pricking the skin
- Watching – constant observation to prevent the accused from meeting with their familiar
These methods would have been particularly difficult for the elderly, infirm accused women.
Alizon's confession about John Law
Under interrogation, Alizon described in detail what had occurred when she encountered John Law. She explained that she had a conversation with a black dog (her familiar spirit), which triggered the curse that injured Law. This confession gave Nowell enough evidence to charge her, but Alizon did not stop there.
Alizon's initiation into witchcraft
Alizon elaborated on her story, explaining how she had been initiated into witchcraft by her grandmother, Old Demdike (Elizabeth Sowtherns). According to Alizon:
- Old Demdike had tried to persuade her to take a familiar one day when they were out begging together
- Following a common pattern in witchcraft confessions, Alizon claimed she was promised that the familiar would give her anything she desired
- In exchange, she had to allow the familiar to suckle from her body
- The black dog first approached her about two years before the incident with John Law
Examples of Old Demdike's witchcraft
Alizon provided Nowell with three specific examples of her grandmother's witchcraft:
Example 1: John Nutter's Cow
- A local farmer named John Nutter asked Old Demdike to heal his sick cow, as she had a reputation as a folk-healer
- Because Demdike was blind, Alizon led her from the house, and her younger sister Jennet helped her return
- The next morning, Alizon heard that the cow had died
- She concluded that her grandmother had bewitched the animal rather than healing it
Example 2: The Mysterious Butter
- Alizon brought some milk she had acquired through begging into the house
- Old Demdike was lying in bed at the time
- When Alizon returned half an hour later, there was a quarter pound of butter in the milk
- This occurred despite the fact that Demdike had not left her bed
- This suggested supernatural activity
Example 3: Richard Baldwin's Daughter
- There was a feud between Demdike and a local farmer named Richard Baldwin
- Alizon explained that Demdike asked for help leaving the house one night
- The next morning, Baldwin's daughter became ill
- The daughter died after about a year
- Alizon admitted she had heard her grandmother cursing Baldwin
Accusations against Old Chattox
Alizon then turned her attention to the rivalry between her grandmother and Anne Whittle (known as Old Chattox). She claimed both were witches, but that Chattox had committed particularly serious crimes:
Murder of Anne Nutter
- Chattox cursed Alizon and her friend Anne Nutter for apparently laughing at her
- Three weeks later, Anne Nutter died
- Alizon believed this was the result of Chattox's magic
John Moore of Higham
- There was a rivalry between Chattox and gentleman John Moore
- Moore accused Chattox of turning his ale sour
- Chattox made threats against him
- Moore's son became ill and died
- Alizon witnessed Chattox holding a clay image (effigy) of a child, who she assumed represented Moore's son
Hugh Moore of Pendle
- Hugh Moore died after accusing Chattox of bewitching his cattle
John Nutter's Cow (Again)
- Elizabeth (Chattox's daughter) requested milk from John Nutter for her mother
- Chattox began using the milk to recite a charm
- Nutter's son kicked over the container of milk when he saw this
- The next day, one of John Nutter's cows became ill and died
Searching for the Devil's mark
After this extensive questioning, Alizon was searched for the Devil's mark – a physical mark on the body believed to show where the Devil had touched a person or where a familiar sucked blood.
Interestingly, her mother Elizabeth Device was also searched and admitted to having a mark on her left side that had been present for 40 years. Despite this admission, Elizabeth was allowed to go free for unknown reasons, along with her son James.
Further arrests and confessions
Expansion of the investigation
Although only Alizon Device was detained initially, three days later Nowell called in Old Demdike, Old Chattox, and Anne Redferne (Chattox's daughter) for questioning.
Nowell also found several neighbours prepared to testify against the women. He examined all of them on 2 April 1612 at the village of Fence, which was close to where the women lived. Nowell probably chose this location because the women's physical infirmities prevented them from travelling far.
Old Demdike's confession
According to Thomas Potts' account, Potts provided detailed information about Demdike's interrogation and confession. Her confession contained many typical features of 17th-century witchcraft confessions:
Meeting with the Devil
- About 20 years earlier, while returning from begging, she met a spirit or Devil near a stone pit in Gouldshey, in Pendle Forest
- The spirit appeared as a boy wearing a coat that was half black and half brown
- He told her that if she gave him her soul, she could have anything she wanted
- When she asked his name, he said it was Tibb
- Hoping for the promised rewards, Demdike agreed to give her soul to the spirit
The Familiar Tibb
- For the next five or six years, the spirit appeared at various times during daylight
- Each time, Tibb asked what she wanted, but she replied she needed nothing yet
- At the end of six years, on a Sabbath morning, while she had a small child on her knee and was dozing, the spirit appeared as a brown dog
- The dog forced itself onto her knee to get blood from under her left arm
- She was wearing only her smock (undergarment) at the time
- When she woke, she said "Jesus save my Child" but could not say "Jesus save herself"
- After this, the brown dog vanished, and she was "almost stark mad" for eight weeks
The Inability to Invoke Jesus' Name
Demdike's reference to being unable to say "Jesus save herself" echoes common stories of witches being unable to recite the Lord's Prayer or invoke Christ's protection. This inability was seen as evidence of being in the Devil's power.
Making Effigies to Bewitch People
Demdike described the method of killing someone through witchcraft. This involved making a clay effigy (picture) shaped like the person they wanted to harm:
- The effigy had to be dried thoroughly
- To make someone ill in a particular body part, they would prick that part of the effigy with a thorn or pin
- To make part of the body waste away, they would burn that part of the effigy
- To kill the person completely, they would burn the entire effigy
The context of Demdike's confession
Old Demdike's confession, like those of other suspected witches, may have been made under torture or threats. Several factors might explain why she confessed:
- She already had a local reputation as a witch, which may have made her believe she genuinely was one
- Nowell may have convinced her that animals she encountered in daily life were actually the Devil in disguise
- The interrogation methods (sleep deprivation, watching, etc.) would have been physically and psychologically exhausting for an elderly, infirm woman
- She may have hoped that confessing would bring some mercy or relief
Demdike accuses Chattox
After her own confession, Demdike turned her attention to her old rival, Old Chattox. She described seeing Chattox and her daughter Anne sitting outside making clay figures.
Her familiar Tibb, now in the shape of a cat, told her these were effigies of:
- Christopher Nutter
- Robert Nutter
- Robert Nutter's wife, Marie
Tibb suggested that Demdike could help the other women make the effigies, but when she refused, Tibb pushed her into a ditch. This detail shows the continued conflict between the two witch families.
Old Chattox's confession
After Demdike's interrogation, it was Chattox's turn. According to Potts, she confessed voluntarily, though this claim should be treated with caution.
Making a Pact with the Devil
- About 15 years earlier, a man had pestered her, wanting her to give him her soul
- Eventually she consented
- She was promised that from that moment she would want for nothing
- She would be able to take revenge on anyone who had wronged her
- She was told to call her spirit 'Fancie'
- When she did not call on her spirit for some time, it became restless and began encouraging her to harm people
Witness testimonies
Nowell took statements from several witnesses on 2 April 1612:
Margaret Crook
- She was Robert Nutter's sister
- She spoke about her brother's quarrel with Anne Redferne
- She confirmed his belief that Anne Redferne had bewitched him
John Nutter
- He described events from 18 years previously
- He claimed his father had been killed by witchcraft
James Robinson
- He was probably a servant of the Nutters
- He testified that Old Chattox and Anne Redferne were well-known witches
- Unusually, Robinson had actually hired Chattox to card wool (prepare wool fibres) at his house six years earlier
- While working there, Chattox accidentally soured some casks of drink
- She claimed to have a charm that could reverse what she had done
Anne Redferne remains silent
From Potts' account, it appears that Anne Redferne said nothing during her examination. However, she was now implicated by both confessions and witness statements, which was enough to hold her for trial.
Nowell's decision
Committing the accused to trial
As a JP, Nowell had the authority to decide whether to deal with the cases himself or send the women to a higher court for trial. Because the charges were so serious – involving multiple deaths and years of alleged witchcraft – he decided to keep the women detained until he could send them to the Lancaster assizes in August 1612.
The assizes were periodic courts held by judges travelling on circuit, dealing with serious criminal cases. Lancaster Castle served as the prison and courthouse.
The four women committed
Four women were now being prepared to be sent to Lancaster Castle to await trial:
- Alizon Device
- Anne Redferne (daughter of Old Chattox)
- Old Demdike (Elizabeth Sowtherns)
- Old Chattox (Anne Whittle)
The investigation continues
This could easily have ended Nowell's investigations. However, a week later, a meeting was held at Malkin Tower (the home of Old Demdike) that would result in many more suspected witches being brought under suspicion. Nowell's investigation was far from over.
Key Points to Remember:
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Roger Nowell was the experienced 62-year-old JP who led the investigation into the Lancashire witches, bringing his authority as a magistrate and former High Sheriff to the case.
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Nowell had strong Protestant connections through his family, including relatives who were Dean of St Paul's Cathedral and Bishop of Exeter, which likely influenced his views on witchcraft and the Devil.
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The investigation began when Alizon Device confessed to bewitching John Law, but she then went much further, implicating both her grandmother (Old Demdike) and the rival witch Old Chattox in numerous crimes.
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Typical interrogation methods were likely used, including sleep deprivation, pricking, and watching, which would have been particularly difficult for the elderly, infirm accused women.
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The confessions followed common witchcraft patterns, including pacts with the Devil, familiar spirits (like Tibb and Fancie), making clay effigies to harm people, inability to invoke Jesus' name, and the suckling of familiars.
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Nowell committed four women to trial at Lancaster assizes (Alizon Device, Anne Redferne, Old Demdike, and Old Chattox), but the investigation was set to expand further after a meeting at Malkin Tower.