Chapter I: Front Matter

THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES. A Romance of Pendle Forest.

By William Harrison Ainsworth, Esq.

_Sir Jeffery_.--Is there a justice in Lancashire has so much
skill in witches as I have? Nay, I'll speak a proud word; you
shall turn me loose against any Witch-finder in Europe. I'd
make an ass of Hopkins if he were alive.--SHADWELL.

Third Edition.

Illustrated by John Gilbert.

London: George Routledge & Co., Farringdon Street. 1854.

To James Crossley, Esq., (of Manchester,)

President of the Chetham Society, And the Learned Editor Of "The Discoverie of Witches in the County of Lancaster,"--

The groundwork of the following pages,-- This Romance, undertaken at his suggestion, is inscribed by his old, and sincerely attached friend, The Author.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

The Last Abbot of Whalley.

I. THE BEACON ON PENDLE HILL
II. THE ERUPTION
III. WHALLEY ABBEY
IV. THE MALEDICTION
V. THE MIDNIGHT MASS
VI. TETER ET FORTIS CARCER
VII. THE ABBEY MILL
VIII. THE EXECUTIONER
IX. WISWALL HALL
X. THE HOLEHOUSES

BOOK THE FIRST.

Alizon Device.

I. THE MAY QUEEN
II. THE BLACK CAT AND THE WHITE DOVE
III. THE ASSHETONS
IV. ALICE NUTTER
V. MOTHER CHATTOX
VI. THE ORDEAL BY SWIMMING
VII. THE RUINED CONVENTUAL CHURCH
VIII. THE REVELATION
IX. THE TWO PORTRAITS IN THE BANQUETING-HALL
X. THE NOCTURNAL MEETING

BOOK THE SECOND.

Pendle Forest.

I. FLINT
II. READ HALL
III. THE BOGGART'S GLEN
IV. THE REEVE OF THE FOREST
V. BESS'S O' TH' BOOTH
VI. THE TEMPTATION
VII. THE PERAMBULATION OF THE BOUNDARIES
VIII. ROUGH LEE
IX. HOW ROUGH LEE WAS DEFENDED BY NICHOLAS
X. ROGER NOWELL AND HIS DOUBLE
XI. MOTHER DEMDIKE
XII. THE MYSTERIES OF MALKIN TOWER
XIII. THE TWO FAMILIARS
XIV. HOW ROUGH LEE WAS AGAIN BESIEGED
XV. THE PHANTOM MONK
XVI. ONE O'CLOCK!
XVII. HOW THE BEACON FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED

BOOK THE THIRD.

Hoghton Tower.

I. DOWNHAM MANOR-HOUSE
II. THE PENITENT'S RETREAT
III. MIDDLETON HALL
IV. THE GORGE OF CLIVIGER
V. THE END OF MALKIN TOWER
VI. HOGHTON TOWER
VII. THE ROYAL DECLARATION CONCERNING LAWFUL SPORTS ON THE SUNDAY
VIII. HOW KING JAMES HUNTED THE HART AND THE WILD-BOAR IN HOGHTON
PARK
IX. THE BANQUET
X. EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS
XI. FATALITY
XII. THE LAST HOUR
XIII. THE MASQUE OF DEATH
XIV. "ONE GRAVE"
XV. LANCASTER CASTLE