Produced by Clare Boothby, Jon King and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. [Illustration: NICHOLAS ASSHETON AND THE THREE DOLL WANGOS LEAVING HOGHTON HALL.] 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 INTRODUCTION. The Last Abbot of Whalley. CHAPTER I.--THE BEACON ON PENDLE HILL.