十五世紀末期歐洲興起巫者獵殺運動，至十六世紀中葉到十七世紀中葉達到高峰，在英格蘭的主要巫者審判地區當中，唯獨蘭開夏郡位於英格蘭的西北部，其餘皆位在英格蘭東南方；其次，1613年法庭書記湯瑪斯．伯特（Thomas Potts）所出版的《有關蘭開夏郡女巫的驚人探索》（The Wonderful Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster）詳細記載了1612年蘭開夏郡潘得森林（Pendle Forest）的巫術審判，之後，此書成為英格蘭巫術審判的教科書。再者，1612年蘭開夏郡一連所發生的二十起巫術審判更是同年英格蘭巫術審判案件之冠，並且與之後1633年蘭開夏郡牽涉三十餘人的巫術審判有著相當的關係，因此，若對1612年蘭開夏郡潘得森林巫術審判有一番瞭解與認識對於提供瞭解認識英格蘭地區的巫者審判有一定的幫助。本文擬從湯瑪斯．伯特所記載的審判記錄中來窺探這一個審判的過程及結果，並輔以相關的研究觀看當時的社會環境。

In late fifteen century, witch-hunting craze started in Europe. From the middle of sixteen century to seventeen century it reached the high peak. In England, the main region of witch trials were located mainly in southeaster region, with Lancashire as the only location in the northwester part. Yet scholars of witch-trials studies were interested by cases in Lancashire for two reasons. Firstly, the clerk of the court, Thomas Potts published The Wonderful Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster that detailed the witch trial in the Lancashire of the Pendle Forest in 1612. Later, this book became the textbook of the England witch trial. Secondly, the Lancashire took place twenty cases of witch trial in 1612, it was the most important case in the England at the same year, and it also concerned more than thirty people in the consequent witch trial in 1633. Therefore, to explore the witch trial of Lancashire of the Pendle Forest in 1612, meant to have a better understanding of the witch trial of England. In this paper, I meant to analysis Thomas Potts's book in order to discover the process and results of these witch trials, hoping to contribute some new aspects upon the study of the relation between the witch trial and society.