Case file · Witch trials
The Samlesbury witches
At the Lancaster assizes of August 1612, the same session that tried the Pendle witches, three Samlesbury women were accused by 14-year-old Grace Sowerbutts of witchcraft and cannibalism. They were acquitted.
1612 CE · 53.77, -2.62 · status: official
The account
The judge found that Grace had been coached by a Catholic priest, Christopher Southworth, to accuse the women, who had become Protestants.
The sceptical view
A rare case where the court exposed a false accusation.