The Lancashire Witches: A Romance of Pendle Forest
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About This Book
Ainsworth's last masterpiece, The Lancashire Witches proved a best-seller in its day and influenced many contemporary authors. The Lancashire Witches begins in the 16th century, in Lancashire, England. When a Cistercian monk, Borlace Alvetham, is falsely accused of witchcraft and condemned to death by his rival, Brother Paslew, he sells his soul to Satan and escapes. Years later, granted the powers of a warlock, he returns in the guise of Nicholas Demdike to witness Paslew's execution for treason. Dying, Paslew curses Demdike's offspring -- who become the titular 'Lancashire Witches.' The rest...
Chapters (82)
- THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES.
- A Romance of Pendle Forest.
- William Harrison Ainsworth, Esq.
- 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
- BOOK THE FIRST.
- Alizon Device
- BOOK THE SECOND.
- Pendle Forest
- BOOK THE THIRD.
- Hoghton Tower
- ILLUSTRATIONS.
- INTRODUCTION.
- The Last Abbot of Whalley.
- CHAPTER I.—THE BEACON ON PENDLE HILL.
- CHAPTER II.—THE ERUPTION.
- CHAPTER III.—WHALLEY ABBEY.
- CHAPTER IV.—THE MALEDICTION.
- CHAPTER V.—THE MIDNIGHT MASS.
- CHAPTER VI.—TETER ET FORTIS CARCER.
- CHAPTER VII.—THE ABBEY MILL.
- CHAPTER VIII.—THE EXECUTIONER.
- CHAPTER IX.—WISWALL HALL.
- CHAPTER X.—THE HOLEHOUSES.
- END OF THE INTRODUCTION.
- BOOK THE FIRST.
- Alizon Device.
- CHAPTER I.—THE MAY QUEEN.
- CHAPTER II.—THE BLACK CAT AND THE WHITE DOVE.
- CHAPTER III.—THE ASSHETONS.
- CHAPTER IV.—ALICE NUTTER.
- CHAPTER V.—MOTHER CHATTOX.
- CHAPTER VI.—THE ORDEAL BY SWIMMING.
- CHAPTER VII.—THE RUINED CONVENTUAL CHURCH.
- CHAPTER VIII.—THE REVELATION.
- CHAPTER IX.—THE TWO PORTRAITS IN THE BANQUETING-HALL.
- CHAPTER X.—THE NOCTURNAL MEETING.
- END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
- BOOK THE SECOND.
- Pendle Forest.
- CHAPTER I.—FLINT.
- CHAPTER II.—READ HALL.
- CHAPTER III.—THE BOGGART'S GLEN.
- CHAPTER IV.—THE REEVE OF THE FOREST.
- CHAPTER V.—BESS'S O' TH' BOOTH.
- CHAPTER VI.—THE TEMPTATION.
- The Legend of Malkin Tower.
- CHAPTER VII.—THE PERAMBULATION OF THE BOUNDARIES.
- CHAPTER VIII—ROUGH LEE.
- CHAPTER IX.—HOW ROUGH LEE WAS DEFENDED BY NICHOLAS.
- CHAPTER X.—ROGER NOWELL AND HIS DOUBLE.
- CHAPTER XI.—MOTHER DEMDIKE.
- CHAPTER XII.—THE MYSTERIES OF MALKIN TOWER.
- CHAPTER XIII.—THE TWO FAMILIARS.
- CHAPTER XIV.—HOW ROUGH LEE WAS AGAIN BESIEGED.
- CHAPTER XV.—THE PHANTOM MONK.
- CHAPTER XVI.—ONE O'CLOCK!
- CHAPTER XVII.—HOW THE BEACON FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED.
- END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
- BOOK THE THIRD.
- Hoghton Tower
- CHAPTER I.—DOWNHAM MANOR-HOUSE.
- CHAPTER II.—THE PENITENT'S RETREAT.
- CHAPTER III.—MIDDLETON HALL.
- CHAPTER IV.—THE GORGE OF CLIVIGER.
- CHAPTER V.—THE END OF MALKIN TOWER.
- CHAPTER VI.—HOGHTON TOWER
- CHAPTER VII.—THE ROYAL DECLARATION CONCERNING LAWFUL SPORTS ON THE SUNDAY.
- CHAPTER VIII—HOW KING JAMES HUNTED THE HART AND THE WILD-BOAR IN HOGHTON PARK.
- CHAPTER IX.—THE BANQUET.
- CHAPTER X.—EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS.
- CHAPTER XI.—FATALITY.
- CHAPTER XII.—THE LAST HOUR.
- CHAPTER XIII.—THE MASQUE OF DEATH.
- CHAPTER XIV.—"ONE GRAVE."
- CHAPTER XV.—LANCASTER CASTLE.
- THE END.
- FOOTNOTES
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