Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Request a Monarch's pardon for those who were hanged for Witchcraft in 1612
Closed
2,809 signatures
What the petition asks
We call on the Government to request a Monarch's pardon for the 10 innocent people convicted and hanged for Witchcraft at the Lancashire Witch Trials of 1612. This was was a political and religious persecution, a pardon is long overdue & should be granted.
The trial itself changed legal precedent by using a child of only 9 to convict members of her own family; it concluded with no defence testimony or sound evidence & involved the use of coercion and torture. We seek justice.
“This case is important in 2021 as it teaches us that if we identify members of a community, however marginal, as some kind of ‘other’, that it’s going to lead to other miscarriages of justice.” – Robert Poole, Professor of History at the University of Central Lancashire.
“This case is important in 2021 as it teaches us that if we identify members of a community, however marginal, as some kind of ‘other’, that it’s going to lead to other miscarriages of justice.” – Robert Poole, Professor of History at the University of Central Lancashire.
Timeline
| 7 Oct 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 7 Apr 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
2,809
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
7 Oct 2021
Closed
7 Apr 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.