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The Lancashire Witches

by William Harrison AINSWORTH (1805 - 1882)

Book 1 Ch. 8 - The Revelation

The Lancashire Witches is a highly fictionalised account of the activities of the notorious witches Demdike, Chattox and Alice Nutter who, together with others terrorised the district of Lancashire around Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland during the early seventeenth century. The witches named in the book were real enough, if not as witches then as people. Ainsworth, in his story brings in the dissolution of Whalley Abbey and the historic families of Assheton, Braddyll and Nowell and takes us through to the final trial and execution at Lancaster Castle in 1612. (Summary by Andy Minter)

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Listen next episodes of The Lancashire Witches:
Book 1 Ch. 9 - The Two Portraits In The Banqueting-Hall Part 2 , Book 1 Ch. 10 - The Nocturnal Meeting , Book 1 Ch. 9 - The Two Portraits In The Banqueting-Hall Part 1 , Book 2 Ch. 1 - Flint , Book 2 Ch. 10 - Roger Nowell And His Double , Book 2 Ch. 11 - Mother Demdike , Book 2 Ch. 12 - The Mysteries Of Malkin Tower , Book 2 Ch. 13 - The Two Familiars , Book 2 Ch. 14 - How Rough Lee Was Again Besieged , Book 2 Ch. 15 - The Phantom Monk , Book 2 Ch. 16 - One O'clock! , Book 2 Ch. 17 - How The Beacon Fire Was Extinguished , Book 2 Ch. 2 - Read Hall , Book 2 Ch. 3 - The Boggart's Glen , Book 2 Ch. 4 - The Reeve Of The Forest , Book 2 Ch. 5 - Bess's O' Th' Booth , Book 2 Ch. 6 - The Temptation , Book 2 Ch. 7 - The Perambulation Of The Boundaries , Book 2 Ch. 8 - Rough Lee , Book 2 Ch. 9 - How Rough Lee Was Defended By Nicholas , Book 3 Ch. 1 - Downham Manor-House , Book 3 Ch. 10 - Evening Entertainments , Book 3 Ch. 11 - Fatality , Book 3 Ch. 12 - The Last Hour , Book 3 Ch. 13 - The Masque Of Death , Book 3 Ch. 14 - "One Grave" , Book 3 Ch. 15 - Lancaster Castle , Book 3 Ch. 2 - The Penitent's Retreat , Book 3 Ch. 3 - Middleton Hall , Book 3 Ch. 4 - The Gorge Of Cliviger , Book 3 Ch. 5 - The End Of Malkin Tower , Book 3 Ch. 6 - Hoghton Tower , Book 3 Ch. 7 - The Royal Declaration Concerning Lawful Sports On The Sunday , Book 3 Ch. 8 - How King James Hunted The Hart And The Wild-Boar In Hoghton Park , Book 3 Ch. 9 - The Banquet