THE LANCASHIRE FALSE WITNESS One of the curious "witch trials" in the medieval history of Great Britain can be considered the trial of the so-called "Lancashire witches", which took place in 1612. Initially, 19 people were put on trial, accused of "murders, villainous and diabolical conspiracies." The main trump card of the prosecution was the testimony of the children of one of the accused - 20-year-old James and 9-year-old Janet Devices. They testified not only against other defendants but also against their own mother and 11-year-old sister Alison. It is noteworthy that the young Janet eventually accused her brother James of being a dangerous sorcerer, and he was executed along with the rest of the accused. 22 years later, another "witch trial" took place in Lancashire. This time, the accusers involved a 9-year-old boy in false testimony. He pointed to 30 women, among whom was the same Janet Device, who in 1612 sent her mother, sister and brother to the noose