The Pendle Witch Child (2011)

In 2011, the documentary series The Pendle Witch Child delved into the haunting tale of the Pendle Witches, a dark chapter in British history that unfolded some four hundred years ago. Poet Simon Armitage led the exploration, peeling back the layers of legend to reveal the truths hidden within.

At the heart of this chilling saga stood Jennet Device, a beggar-girl hailing from Pendle in Lancashire. Her life took a harrowing turn when she became the star witness in the 1612 witch trial that ensnared her own mother, brother, sister, and numerous neighbors. Jennet’s chilling testimony sealed their fate, leading to their execution by hanging.

But this was no ordinary trial. Jennet’s words echoed far beyond Lancashire, leaving an indelible mark on history. Lawyers, politicians, clerics, and even the King himself were captivated by her presence in the witness box. Her testimony set a dark precedent for child witnesses in witch trials, stretching as far as America.

In a twist that defied imagination, 22 years later, Jennet found herself on trial once again—this time accused of being a witch by a 10-year-old boy. Her own words nearly became her undoing. The documentary unraveled the enigma of Jennet’s psyche, exploring how an illegitimate and illiterate child could wield such lethal power.

Historians Malcolm Gaskill, Diane Purkiss, and Ronald Hutton joined Armitage in this quest. Together, they sought to understand the forces that drove Jennet to speak out, condemning everyone she knew. How did the courts admit her evidence, allowing her example to shape the acceptance of child testimony in witch trials?

While the events unfolded centuries ago, their resonance persists today. We grapple with similar questions: when to believe our children, how the legal system should handle child witnesses, and the delicate balance between fear and justice. In times of crisis, the specter of evil can lead us down treacherous paths, threatening the very values we hold dear.