The Lancashire Witches: A Romance of Pendle Forest

le the raw cold sensibly affected the frame. All astir were filled with gloom and despondency, and secretly breathed a wish that, the tragical business of the day were ended. The va

at statue of Saint Gregory de Northbury over the porch seemed bowed down with grief. The grotesquely carved heads on the spouts grinned horribly at the abbot's destroyers, and spouted forth cascades of water, as if with the intent of drowning them. So deluging and incessant were the showers, that it seemed, indeed, as if the abbey would be floo

addest sight of all was on the hill, already described, called the Holehouses. Here two other lesser gibbets had been erected during the night, one on either hand of the loftier instrument of justice, and the carpenters were yet employed in finishing their work, having been delayed by the badness of the weather. Half drowned by the torrents that fell upon them, the poor fellows were protected from interference with their disagreeable occupation by half a dozen well-mounted and well-armed troopers, and by as many halberdiers; and this company, completely exposed to the weather, suffered severely from wet and cold. The rain beat against the gallows, ran down its tall naked

ry fuel by the drowsy henchman. The viands on the board provoked not the appetite, and the men emptied their cups of ale, yawned and stretched their arms, as if they would fain sleep an hour or two longer. The sense of discomfort, was heightened by

and his attendants, considering the state of the weather, and that it yet wanted full two hours to the time appointed for the execution, did not think it needful to disturb him. Braddyll and Assheton, however, were up and ready; but, despite their firmness of nerve, they yielded like the rest to the depressing influence of the weather, and began to have some misgivings as to their own share in t

plete prostration of spirit. All the resolution which Father Haydocke had displayed in his interview with the Earl of Derby, failed him now, and he yielded to the agonies of despair. Fat

eight seemed taken from his breast, and he had no longer any dread of death. Rather he looked to the speedy termination of existence with hopeful pleasure. He prepared himself as decently as the means afforded him permitted for his last appearance before the world, but refused all refreshme

cried Paslew. "I hop

etten leef to visit ye fo a minute only, so ey mun be brie

ied Paslew. "I un

h be feart whon ye see me next; an comfort yoursel that whoteve

tepped quickly backwards, and striking his foot against the

t the dismal state of the weather. While he was addressing some remarks on this subject, and on its interference with the tragical exhibition about to take place, an officer entere

s evident uneasiness of manner. "Nothing hath happened to the prisoners

to them, my lord," sa

upted the earl. "O

ster and his two aids have

evice to delay the execution till some new attempt at rescue can be made. But it sha

o the office, and hold it opprobrious, especially

done," replied the earl. "See th

Hal o' Nabs s

b, my lord, an' t' hong t' abbut

uth appearance; "but thou seem'st a stout fellow, and one not likely to flinch, and may discharge th

icing at the success of his scheme. But his countenance fel

as some mischievous design in making the request. So far from bearing enmity

his a new trick? Bring the fellow

ng his chance lost, he mingled with the lookers-on, who covered

e quickly, sir," cried the e

ble, my lord," replied Demdike "I am

xclaimed

undertake the office myself rather than delay or risk should occur. What this man's aim was, who hath just offered himself, I partly guess, but it hath failed; and if your lordship w

eadiness to set out for Wiswall Hall. The rain may have ceased by that time, but no weather must stay you.

ith the officer, the earl sat down w