English literature -- England -- Lancashire; Legends -- England -- Lancashire
In a room called the Green Chamber, it is said that George Marsh, the
subject of the following history, was examined before Sir Roger Barton.
In a passage near the door of the dining-room is a cavity, in a flag,
bearing some resemblance to the print of a man's foot, which is supposed
to be the place where the holy martyr stamped, to confirm his testimony,
and which is shown to this day as a memorial of his good confession.
The stone was once removed for a frolic by two or three young men who
lived in the house. Taking advantage of their parents' absence, they
cast it into the glen behind the hall. That same night, on retiring to
rest, the inhabitants were disturbed by many strange and hideous noises.
Much alarm and inquiry being excited, the offenders confessed, and the
stone was restored to its place with great reverence and solemnity.
Some fragments that were broken off upon its removal were carefully
replaced; after which, according to common report, the noises ceased.
Another story current in _the_ neighbourhood is as follows:--
About the latter end of the year 1732, one Saturday night, a stranger
sleeping alone in the Green Chamber was much terrified by an apparition.
He stated that about ten o'clock, as he was preparing for bed, there
appeared a person before him dressed like a minister, in a white robe
and bands, with a book in his hand. The stranger getting into bed, saw
it stand by his bedside for a short time. It then slowly retired out of
the door, as if going down-stairs, and he saw it no more. This person
invariably persisted in the same story; and the owner of the estate
immediately ordered divine service at the chapel on a Sunday, which had
long been discontinued.
The vaults seem to have been strongly walled and fortified, and were
most probably used as burying places, many bones having been found when
digging. There is a tradition that King Egbert founded this place, and
kept his court here; but no corresponding trace of it occurs in history:
and we may suppose, from the order of his conquests, that his residence
would be in the more southern parts of the kingdom.
The situation is secluded, and well calculated for concealment,
favouring the general opinion that it was the retreat of the famous
pirate, Sir Andrew Barton, whose exploits and defeat are so beautifully
told in the old ballad of that name in Percy's Reliques. It is
surprising that so little should be known of this great and bold man,
whose conduct had nearly occasioned a war between England and Scotland,
and whose death, it is supposed, was one of the grievances which led to
the battle of Flodden.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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