The Lancashire Witches: A Romance of Pendle Forest

of the mountain. One looked over the castled heights of Clithero; the woody eminences of Bowland; the bleak ridges of Thornley; the b

swept on in swifter and clearer current, to wash the base of Whalley Abbey. But the watcher's survey did not stop here. Noting the sharp spire of Burnley Church, relieved against the rounded masses of timber co

Of towns, only Clithero, Colne, and Burnley-the latter little more than a village-were in view. In the valleys there were a few hamlets and scattered cottages, and on the uplands an occasional "booth," as the hut of the herdsman was termed; but of more important mansions there were only six, as Merley, Twi

by the terrible forest-laws, then in full force: and the hardier huntsman might follow the wolf to his lair in the mountains; might spear the boar in the oaken glades, or the otter on the river's brink; might unearth the badger or the fox, or smite the fierce cat-a-mountain with a quarrel from his bow. A nobler victim sometimes, also, awaited him in the shape o

Jesus-the badge of the Pilgrimage of Grace. Between them, on the verge of the mountain, was planted a great banner, displaying a silver cross, the chalice, and the Host, together with an ecclesiastical figure, but wearing a helmet instead of a mitre, and holding a sword in place of a crosi

from the shoulder by a silken cord; and a silver plate engraved with the three luces, the ensign of the Abbot of Whalley, hung by a chain from his neck. A hunting knife was in his girdle, and an eagle's plume in his cap, and he leaned upon the but-end of a crossbow, regarding three persons who stood together by a peat fire, on the sheltered side of the beacon. Two of these were elderly men, in the white gowns and scapularies of Cistertian monks

ar range of stones, with openings to admit air, and having the centre filled with fagots, and other quickly

e of Grace, and numbered among its adherents all who had not embraced the new doctrines in Yorkshire and Lancashire. That such an outbreak should occur on the suppression of the monasteries, was not marvellous. The desecration and spoliation of so many sacred structures-the destruction of shrines and images long regarded with veneration-the ejection of so many ecclesiastics, renowned for hospitality and revered for piety and learning-the violence and rapacity of the commissioners appointed by the Vicar-General Cromwell to carry out these severe measures-all these outrages were regarded by the people with abhorrence

and girded on the sword and the breastplate for the redress of their grievances and the maintenance of their rights. Amongst these were the Abbots of Jervaux, Furness, Fountains, Rivaulx, and Salley, and, lastly, the Abbot of Wh

nded by the Earl of Cumberland; and battle was offered to the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Shrewsbury, who headed the king's forces at Doncaster. B

beacons were reared upon the mountains, and their fires were to be ta

in consequence, the whole hilly ranges around were clearly di

Norfolk have accepted our conditions? Impossible. The last messenger from our camp at Scawsby Lees brought word that the duke's sole term

ose named, lord abbot?"

th a bitter smile. "Next came William Trafford, Abbot of Salley. Next Adam Sudbury,

claimed the monk. "Wa

d that of William Haydocke, also

ered the other monk. "But thes

ament and courts of justice at York; the restoration of the Princess Mary to the succession; the Pope to his jurisdiction; and our brethren to their houses. But such conditions will never be granted. With my consent no armisti

h has drawn upon you the full force of the king's

d shoon. And is not my title equally well chosen? Is not the Church smitten with poverty? Have not ten thousand of our brethren been driven from their homes to beg or to starve? Have not the houseless poor, whom we fed at our gates, and lodged within our wards

abbot," replied

, and Rich, have wisely ordained that no infant shall be baptised without tribute to the king; that no man who owns not above twenty pounds a year shall consume wheaten bread, or eat the flesh of fowl o

jest," observed

whose title they themselves have created. But wherefore comes not the signal? Can aught have gone wrong? I will not think it. The whole

is said, hath sworn never to make terms with us. Tidings were brought to the abbey th

Edward the Third for nothing; and that our brethren can fight as well as their predecessors fought in the time of Abbot Holden, when they took tithe by force from S

event the army from fording the stream," observed Father Haydo

ur deliverer. It has been prophesied that a 'worm with one eye' shall work the redemption of t

r Eastgate, "that the Pilgrims of

come an Aske

chief of t

e northern

abbot, seeing that the m

of the rhymes may please you, lo

ll judge," said Paslew. Thu

sit at a s

rior, ha

there shall b

added to the ditty by Nicholas Demdike. I hea

Worston?" cried the abbot;

," replie

attentively to their discourse, and who now stepped forward; "boh dunna yo thi

terwards perform a pilgrimage to the shrine of our Lady of Gilsland. Bess Demdike is an approved and notorious witch, and hath been seen by credible witnesses attending a devil's sabbath on this very hill-Heaven shield us

ort abbut," replied Ashbead, "and B

he Levitical law. If she be convicted she shall die the death. That she is comely I admit; but it is the comeliness of a child of sin.

," replied Ashbead; "boh ey knoas fu' weel that t'eawtcumbling felly robt me ot pr

man is he?" in

ke a stanniel. Boh for running, rostling, an' throwing t' stoan, he'n no match i' this keawntry. Ey'n triet him at aw three gams, so ey con spea

ed the abbot. "You say you know n

bead. "He awnsurs wi' a gibe, or a thwack o' his staff. Whon ey last seet h

of making him spea

t and sullen enough, yet when he doth talk it is not like one of the hinds with whom he consorts, bu

used," said the abbo

Lort Harry, ey see him stonding be yon moss poo' o' top

ing near a little pool on the summit of the

aydocke. "And see, the wizard hath a black hound

orester; "it's a Saint Hubert, an' a rareun fo' fox or badgert. Odd

juncture," said the abbot; "yet I wish to conf

er Haydocke. And as he spoke

sit at a so

rior, ha

there shall b

ther Eastgate; "but list, he has m

e rich, yet

d Earl of

oldier, ri

hang'd at hi

laughter fol

is mocking us," cried the abbot; "s

m were not truly taken, or he meant not to hit the mark, it is certain that Demdike remained untouched. The repute

"Take good heed thou producest this scurril knave before me, when these troublous times are

en spoke aloud some words, which the superstitious beholders construed into an incantation, and after tracing the circle once again, and casting some tufts of dry heather, which he plucked from an

e," cried the abbot to the f

ved like a sway-bed beneath his feet, and he thought-to use his own phraseology-would "brast." The abbot then commanded him to go down to the orchard below, and if he cou

uneasiness, and was proposing to send one of the herdsmen in search of him, when his attention was sudden

ried Paslew, joyfully. "Kin

plunged it into the peat fire, while hi

e of Cliviger-another on Ightenhill-another on Boulsworth Hill-and the last on the neighbouring h

o, on Longridge and Ribchester, on the woody eminences of Bowland, on Wolf Crag, and on fell and scar all the way to Lancaster. It seemed the work of enchantment, so suddenly and so strangely did the fires shoot forth. As the beacon flame increased, it lighted up the whole of the extensive table-land on the summit of Pendle Hill; and a long lurid streak fell on the darkling moss-pool near which the wizard had stood. But when it attain

hall ride fleetly on, and despatch two hundred archers to Huddersfield and Wakefield. The abbots of Salley and Jervaux, with the Pr

harsh, imperio

nd, seen by the beacon light, his savage features, blazing eyes, tall gaunt frame, and fantastic garb, made him look like someth

" he said; "hear me speak before you set o

thou wicked churl," cried the abbot. "W

he sent a bolt after me at your bi

o time to waste on thee. Farewell, fathers. High mass will be said in the convent ch

Demdike, planting his staff so suddenly into the ground before t

at mean you?" cried

ou," repli

purring his steed, "or I will tra

all hear me. I tell you, you will never go forth on this expedition. I tell you that, ere to-morrow, Whalley Abbey will have p

not, however, repress some feelings of misgiving at

tell you," replied Demdike. And he led the abbo

rd abbot," he then said.

ght-ay, thirty, and every fire thou seest will summon a hundred men, at the least, to ar

t they will not own the Earl

own, then?" demanded

ike. "He is on his way thither wi

ut thou triflest with me, fellow. Thou canst know not

hee, proud abbot, that this grand scheme of thine and of thy fellows,

d the abbot, striking him on the hand with

and miserable enough. Abbot of Whalley thou art no longer. Thy possessions will be taken from thee, and if thou returnest thy life

d the abbot, gnashing his teeth. "I reproach myself that I have l

arp bit against the charger's mouth, and backed him quickly to the very edge of the hill, the sides of which

-side to certain death," pursued Demdike. "But I have no such wish.

wrath and alarm. "Thou seekest in vain to terrify me into com

aughed sc

was at an end. The beacon fires on Boulsworth Hill and on the Grange of Cliviger are extinguished; that on Padiham Heights is expi

the abbot, in increasing terr

y, I tell you," r

night or on the morrow. The abbots of Jervaux and Salley will strive to capitulate, but in vain. The Pilgrimage of Grace is ended. The stake for which thou playe

me," cried the abbot, his hair bristling on his he

. Remove thy ban from my wife, and baptise her infant daughter, and I am content. I would not ask thee

ghter of Satan. I will not sell my soul to the powers of darkn

nto thine hands, and revenge thee upon them? Even now there are a party of armed men waiting a

demanded the a

sheton, who shall divide Whalley Abbey between

e them!" cri

nsent," rejoined Dem

at the interview, though they did not dare to interrupt it, advanced towards their superior, and looked earnestly and inquiringly at him, but he remained silent; whi

with some uneasiness, as Demdike led his h

e anon," repl

magic circle," cried Paslew in alarm. "I know it fro

g. "Remain on this firm ground. Nay, be not alarmed; you are in

nd the two men-at-arms, and the herdsmen, arranged themselves beside him, while Fath

he hill with great rapidity. They came up a deep dry channel, apparently worn in the hill-side by some former torrent, and which led directly to the spot where Demdike a

fe," said the wizard to Paslew;