Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750 - 2 The…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 33: The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750 - 2 The Lancashire witches of 1604–13: The trial 1612: the Judges Bromley and Altham; the conduct and outcomes of the trial; impact of Thomas Potts's account.
The 1612 Lancashire trial at Lancaster Assizes was presided over by Judges Bromley and Altham.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The 1612 Lancashire trial at Lancaster Assizes was presided over by Judges Bromley and Altham. The conduct of the trial was shaped by the judges' willingness to accept unusual evidence, such as the testimony of nine-year-old Jennet Device, and the absence of defence counsel. Outcomes included convictions and executions, notably of the Device family, while some accused were acquitted. Thomas Potts, the clerk of the court, published 'The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches' in 1613. This account, commissioned by Bromley, shaped later perceptions by presenting the trial as a legitimate discovery of witchcraft, influencing how the Lancashire witches were remembered and how evidence was interpreted in subsequent cases.
What earns the marks
- Identify Judges Bromley and Altham as the presiding judges at the 1612 Lancaster Assizes and explain their roles in conducting the trial.
- Describe the conduct of the trial, including the nature of evidence used (e.g., child testimony from Jennet Device, confessions, witch marks) and the lack of defence counsel.
- Outline the outcomes: convictions and executions (e.g., the Device family) and acquittals, and the social impact on the local community.
- Explain the impact of Thomas Potts's account: how 'The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches' was commissioned, its purpose, and its role in shaping later interpretations of the trial.
- Analyse how Potts's account may have influenced subsequent witch trials and the broader historiography of the Lancashire witches.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming all accused were executed.
Put it right: Some were acquitted or reprieved, showing outcomes varied.
Treating Potts's account as a neutral record.
Put it right: It was commissioned by Judge Bromley and presented a prosecution perspective, so it must be used critically.
Confusing the 1612 trial with the 1634 trial involving Edmund Robinson.
Put it right: The 1612 trial is distinct and involved different judges and accused.
Exam tips
- When discussing the trial, refer to specific evidence and the roles of Bromley and Altham to show depth.
- Use Potts's account as a source but evaluate its reliability and purpose, linking to the impact on historical memory.
- Compare the conduct of the 1612 trial with other witch trials to highlight continuities and changes.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 33: The witch craze in Britain, Europe and North America, c1580–c1750 - 2 The Lancashire witches of 1604–13: The trial 1612: the Judges Bromley and Altham; the conduct and outcomes of the trial; impact of Thomas Potts's account. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What role did Judges Altham and Bromley play in the 1612 trial of the Lancashire witches?
Listen
The 1612 Lancashire trial at Lancaster Assizes was presided over by Judges Bromley and Altham. The conduct of the trial was shaped by the judges' willingness to accept unusual evidence, such as the testimony of nine-year-old Jennet Device, and the absence of defence counsel. Outcomes included convictions and executions, notably of the Device family, while some accused were acquitted. Thomas Potts, the clerk of the court, published 'The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches' in 1613. This account, commissioned by Bromley, shaped later perceptions by presenting the trial as a legitimate discovery of witchcraft, influencing how the Lancashire witches were remembered and how evidence was interpreted in subsequent cases. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify Judges Bromley and Altham as the presiding judges at the 1612 Lancaster Assizes and explain their roles in conducting the trial. Describe the conduct of the trial, including the nature of evidence used (e.g., child testimony from Jennet Device, confessions, witch marks) and the lack of defence counsel. Outline the outcomes: convictions and executions (e.g., the Device family) and acquittals, and the social impact on the local community. Explain the impact of Thomas Potts's account: how 'The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches' was commissioned, its purpose, and its role in shaping later interpretations of the trial. A common slip: Assuming all accused were executed. Instead, some were acquitted or reprieved, showing outcomes varied. Exam tip: When discussing the trial, refer to specific evidence and the roles of Bromley and Altham to show depth.
Key words
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Judges Bromley and Altham
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Thomas Potts's account
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Outcomes of the trial
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Conduct of the trial
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See every definition
- Judges Bromley and Altham
- The two judges who presided over the 1612 Lancashire trial at Lancaster Assizes and were willing to accept unusual evidence.
- Thomas Potts's account
- The clerk of the court published 'The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches' in 1613, commissioned by Bromley, presenting the trial as a legitimate discovery of witchcraft.
- Outcomes of the trial
- Convictions and executions, notably of the Device family, while some accused were acquitted.
- Conduct of the trial
- Shaped by the judges' willingness to accept unusual evidence, such as the testimony of nine-year-old Jennet Device, and the absence of defence counsel.
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