THE FAMOUS HISTORY OF THE LANCASHIRE

WITCHES,

CONTAINING the manner of their becoming such; their enchantments, spells, revels, merry pranks, raising of storms and tempests, riding on winds, &c. The entertainments and frolics which have happened among them; with the loves and humours of Roger and Dorothy. Also, a Treatise of witches in general, conducive to mirth and recreation. The like never before published.

CHAPTER I.

The Lancashire Witch's Tentation, and of the Devil's appearing to her in sundry shapes and giving her money.

LANCASHIRE is a famous and noted place, abounding with rivers, hills, woods, pastures, and pleasant towns, many of which are of great antiquity. It has also been famous for witches, and the strange pranks they played. Therefore, since the name of Lancashire witches has been so frequent in the mouths of old and young, and many imperfect stories have been rumoured abroad, it would doubtless tend to the satisfaction of the reader to give some account of them in their merry sports and pastimes.

Some time since lived one Mother Cuthbert, in a little hovel at the bottom of a hill, called Wood and Mountain Hill [Pendle], in Lancashire. This woman had two lusty daughters, who both carded and spun for their living, yet were very poor, which made them often repine at and lament their want. One day as Mother Cuthbert was sauntering about the hill-side, picking the wool off the bushes, out started a thing like a rabbit, which ran about two or three times and then changed into a hound, and

afterwards into a man, which made the old beldame to tremble, yet she had no power to run away. So putting a purse of money in her hand, and charging her to be there the next day, he immediately vanished away, and old Mother Cuthbert returned home, being somewhat disturbed between jealousy and fear.

CHAPTER II.

Strange and wonderful apparitions; how one witch had power to make another; and other strange things.

THE old woman opened not her purse until she came home, and then found in it ten angels; so, calling to her daughters, she told them what had happened. The wenches rejoiced that the treasure of the house had increased, that they might stuff themselves with beef and pudding which they had long been strangers to; and advised their mother to go again as he had ordered, and so she did. The first thing she saw was a tree rising out of the ground which moved towards her, and, to her surprise, multiplied into a very thick wood round her, so that she was afraid of losing herself, when on a sudden she saw a house, and heard the sound of musick. This appeared most strange; however, she took courage and went towards it, when she found a great many women all dancing and revelling; and the house appeared like a stately palace, and the tables were furnished with a great variety of delicacies. The dance being ended, she was desired to sit at the table with the rest, but she scrupled it at first, till at length, being hungry, she fell roundly After dinner the matron which received her, by striking the floor with her wand, caused divers of the

to.

familiars, in the shape of cats, bears, apes, &c., to enter and dance antic dances, whilst she played on the gridiron and tongs. This done, taking Mother Cuthbert aside, she demanded how she liked the cheer and sport? She answered, very well; but desired to know where she was and her company? Mother Crady then told her that she was Witch of Penmure [Penmaenmawr], a great mountain in Wales, and the rest were her countrywomen of the same faculty; and being desirous to have her of the fraternity [sisterhood?] she had contrived this way to entertain her, to show that she might always live jocund and merry. Mother Cuthbert, overcome with persuasions, consented, when immediately they anointed her breast with a certain ointment, then, speaking a charm or two, they gave her the rest to use upon occasion, and also in another box a little thing like a mole, that was to be her imp. So, all mounting upon a coal-staff, away they flew and she with them; but they left her at the door of her own house, and kept still on their way with the wind.

CHAPTER III.

A Lancashire witch enchants the Mayor of the town, who had caused her to be whipped; with the circumstances attending.

MOTHER CUTHEBRT being thus entered into the society of witches, by the force of her ointment, and counsel of her imp, who could speak when he pleased, and turn himself into divers shapes, finding the power she had, began to play many pranks.

Sometime before this, the Mayor of Lancaster had caused Mother Cuthbert to be whipped, for breaking his pales to make her a fire in the cold winter, which

she resented much; and now, knowing her power to revenge it, she trudges thither, where she found him. carousing with many friends. She took an opportunity to slip a letter into his hands, and retired unknown, which he had no sooner perused, but telling his company he must run a race, he immediately went into the next room, and stripped himself stark naked, then taking a hand whip, he ran into the street, lashing his sides and back, crying "There he goes! I win! I win!" Whilst the people followed, calling him to stay, thinking he was distracted, yet he ran on to the further end of the town, lashing himself till he was bloody. At which time, coming to his wits, he was in the greatest consternation, swearing the devil had put this trick upon him; for all the time he imagined he had been on horseback, and was riding a race, not feeling the lashes he gave himself till he had completed his number, and filled the measure of the witch's resentment.

CHAPTER IV.

The old woman's two daughters become witches, and one of them, in the shape of a mare, is revenged upon her false sweetheart and rival.

MOTHER CUTHBERT, growing more and more perfect in her art, resolved to bring in her daughters for a snack and thereupon communicates to them all that had befallen her. They were content to be ruled by the mother, and she anointed them, and used the best means she was able to make them perfect in their new trade.

Their names were Margery and Cicely. The first was courted by Roger Clodpate, a plain, downright country fellow; but he was wheedled from her by Dorothy, a

gentleman's dairymaid not far distant. This vexed Margery, and made her resolved to be revenged for it; so one day as they went abroad in the fields about courtship, she, by casting up dust in the air and other enchantments, raised up a mighty storm of rain, which so swelled the ditches that they overflowed in their way and stopped them; but as they began to think of going back, Margery immediately transformed herself into the shape of a black mare, and came gently towards them; when Roger, glad of the opportunity, first mounted his sweetheart, and then got up himself. But they were no sooner in the middle of the water than she threw them heels overhead, and ran away laughing, soon recovering her shape; while Roger and Dorothy were in a piteous case, and forced to trudge home, like drowned rats, with the story of their unfortunate disaster.

CHAPTER V.

A witch rescues a man, who was going to gaol, and plagues the bailiffs, by leading them a dance over hedge and ditch.

A POOR man, being arrested by a cruel creditor for debt, and he not being able to pay it, they were carrying him to Lancaster Gaol, when Mother Cuthbert met them, and desired to know the matter. The officers answered her very surlily, pushing her aside, which, raising her choler, she said, "But you shall let him go before we do part." And they said he should not. Whereupon she bade the poor man stop his ears close; and then she drew out a pipe which had been given her by the Witch of Penmure, and then set piping, and led them through hedges and thorns, over ditches, banks, and poles, some