The Lancashire Witches: A Romance of Pendle Forest

a wake was held at Whalley, to which all the neighbouring country folk resorted, and indeed many of the gentry as well, for in the good old times, when England was still merry England, a wake had attr

-yard shafts, and trenchant weapons, won the day at Flodden? And were they not true sons of their fathers? And then, I speak it with yet great

uritanism throughout the kingdom, had openly expressed himself in favour of honest recreation after evening prayers and upon holidays; and, furthermore, had declared that he liked well the spirit of his good subjects in Lancashire, and would not see them punished for indulging in lawful exercises, but that ere long he would pay them a visit in one of his progresses, and judge for himself, and if he found all things as they had been represented to him, he would grant them still further licence. Meanwhile, this expression of the royal opinion removed every restriction, and old sports and pastime

y fond of all kinds of pastime, and the women had their full share of the beauty indigenous to the soil. Besides, it was a secluded spot, in the heart of a wild mountainous region, and though occa

always an object of attraction to those residing near it; but when on the May-day in question, there was not only to be a wake, but a May-pole set on the green, and a rush-bearing with morris-dancers besides, together with Whitsun-ale at the abbey, crowds flocked to Whalley from Wiswall, Cold Coates, and Clithero, from Ribchester and Blackburn,

they went forth, fashioned the branches into green bowers within the churchyard, or round about the May-pole set up on the green, and decorated them afterwards with garlands and crowns of flowers. This morning ceremonial ought to have been performed without wetting the feet: but though some pains were taken in the matter, few could achieve the difficult task, except those carried over the dewy grass by their lusty swains. On t

xercise, so an hour before noon the rustics one and all sat down to dinner, the strangers being entertained by their friends, and if they had no friends, throwing themselves upon the general hospitality. The alehouses were reserved for tippling at a later hour, for it was then customary for both gentleman and commoner, male as well as female, as will be more fully sh

rown, while her dark and luxuriant hair, covered behind with a scarlet coif, embroidered with gold; and tied with yellow, white, and crimson ribands, but otherwise wholly unconfirmed, swept down almost to the ground. Slight and fragile, her figure was of such just proportion that every movement and gesture had an indescribable charm. The most courtly dame might have envied her fine and taper fingers, and fancied she could improve them by protecting them against the sun, or by rendering them snowy white with paste or cosmetic, but this was questionable; nothing certainly could improve the small foot and finely-turned ankle, so well displayed in the red hose and smart little yellow buskin, fringed with gold. A stomacher of scarlet cloth, braided with yellow lace in cross bars, confined her slender waist. Her robe was of carnation-coloured silk, with w

pretensions to beauty themselves, in nowise to be compared with her, were at the m

r features were sharp and cunning, indeed almost malignant, and there was a singular and unpleasant look about the eyes, which were not placed evenly in the head. Altogether she had a strange old-fashioned look, and from her habitual bitterness of speech, as well as from her vindictive character, which, young as she was, had been displayed, with some effect, on more th

May

say" she observed, spitefully, "but to my mind other Suky

he damsels referred to; "there is na a lass i'

nx, Jennet," cried Nancy Holt; "yo

ey be jealous, ey, thou saucy jade! Whon ey grow older ey'st may

which Nancy seemed disposed to indulge-"so you will, my pretty little sister," she added, kiss

hly, "and when ey'm dead an' gone, an' laid i' t' cowld ch

Jennet, love," said Alizon, "and I am

bserved Susan Worseley; "fo we knoa that ailmen

. Boh ey'st grow tall i' time, an get straight-eigh straighter than yo, Suky, wi' your broad back an shor

le good-fo'-nothin piece o'

e whot ye do to offend me, lass," she added, shaking her thin fingers, armed with talon-li

colour, and slightly trembling, she turned away from the child, who, noticing the

, she will never harm any one; and do not heed what little Jennet says, for she is not aware

eat them, or to think

ed Alizon, taking her hand. "Do not be cross an

ing; "let her cry on. It'll do her good, an teach

obbed Susan, "boh yo're so wrythen an m

replied the little girl; "boh let it be a lesson t

se ye," replied Sus

utch-handled stick. In age she might be between forty and fifty, but she looked much older, and her features were not at all prepossessing from a hooked nose and chin, while their sinister effect was increased by a formation of the eyes similar to that in Jennet, only more strongly noticeable

our brother Jem has just run up to say that t' rush-cart has set ou

eady for them," replied Ali

aying her; "fine fitthers may fine brids-ey warrant me now yo'n

e festival; nothing more," replied Alizon. "Oh, if I

" demanded Elizabe

nd house to live in," replied Alizon; "much gra

n," replied Elizabeth, relaxing her

, if ye were a queen?" asked li

indulge every one of your whims and wis

content her," observ

rejoined Jennet, who, if she loved few people, loved her mother least

ther; "theaw desarves nowt boh whot theaw

fo yurself if yo war a great

about myself," replie

lied little Jennet, knowingly; "she'd mar

imed Alizon, bl

ye knoa ye would, Alizon, Look at her f

h, rapping her knuckles with her stick, "and be

ly vindictive look, but she neit

lithe jingling of bells was heard, accompa

ndow, which, being left partly open, admitted the scent of the woodbine and eglantine by which

ire, so that he could not move without producing a jingling sound, Jack Roby looked wonderful indeed; and was constantly dancing about, and dealing a blow with his bauble. Next came Will Scarlet, Stukely, and Little John, all proper men and tall, attired in Lincoln green, like Robin Hood, and similarly equipped. Like him, too, they were all foresters of Bowland, owning service to the bow-bearer, Mr. Parker of Browsholme hall; and the representative of Little John, who was six feet and a half high, and stout in proportion, was Lawrence Blackrod, Mr. Parker's head keeper. After the foresters came Tom the Piper, a wandering minstrel, habited for the occasion in a blue doublet, with sleeves of the same colour, turned up with yellow, red hose, and brown buskins, red bonnet, and green surcoat lined with yellow. Beside the piper was another minstrel, similarly attired, and provided with a tabor. Lastly came one of the main features of the pageant, and which, together with the Fool, contributed most materially to the amusement of the spectators. This was the Hobby-horse. The hue of this, spirited charger was a pinkish white, and his housings were of crimson cloth hanging to the ground, so as to conceal the rider's real legs, though a pair of sham ones dangled at the side. His bit was of gold, and his bridle red morocco leather, while his rider was very sumptuously arrayed in a purple mantle, bordered with gold, with a rich cap of the same regal hue on his head, encircled with gold, and having a red feather stuck in it. The hobby-horse had a plume of nodding feathers on his head, and careered from side to side, now rearing in front, now kicking behind, now prancing, now gently ambling, and in short indul

sides and top were decorated with flowers and ribands, and there were eaves in front and at the back, and on the space within them, which was covered with white paper, were strings of gaudy flowers, embedded in moss, amongst which were suspended all the ornaments and finery that could be collected for the occasion: to wit, flagons of silver, spoons, ladles, chains, watches, and bracelets, so as to make a brave and resplendent show. The wonder was how articles of so much value would be

all ages, accompanied the m

een of May to join the pageant, and that it only awaited her presence to proceed to the green. Having delivered this speech in as good set phrase as he could command, and being the parish clerk and schoolmaster to boot, Sampson Harrop by name, he was somewhat more polish

ad been possible; but the usher led her forward, and Robin Hood and the foresters having bent the knee before her, the hobby-horse began to curvet anew among the spectators, and tread on their toes, the fool to rap their knuckles with his bauble, the pip