The Pendle witch trials were a series of hearings held in 1612 in Lancashire, England, where twelve people from the area were accused of witchcraft. The trials were part of a larger wave of witch hunts in Europe during this period, fueled by fears of witchcraft and superstition. The most notable case involved Elizabeth Southerns, known as "Old Demdike," and her family, who were accused of causing harm through witchcraft. Ultimately, ten of the accused were found guilty, and two were acquitted, highlighting the intense social and legal pressures surrounding witchcraft accusations at the time.