CHAPTER XIV.

" ONE GRAVE."

Notwithstanding the sad occurrences above de-
tailed, James remained for two more days the guest of
Sir Richard Hoghton, enjoying his princely hospitality,
hunting in the park, carousing in the great hall, and
witnessing all kinds of sports.

Nothing, indeed, was left to remind him of the sad
events that had occurred. The prisoners were taken
that night to Lancaster Castle, and Master Potts accom-
panied the escort to be ready for the assizes. The
three judges proceeded thither at the end of the
week. The attendance of Roger Nowell, Nicholas, and
Sir Ralph Assheton, was also required as witnesses at
the trial of the witches.

Sir Richard Assheton and Dorothy had returned as
already stated, to Middleton, and though the intelli-
gence of the death of Richard and Alizon was commu-
nicated to them with infinite caution, the shock to
both was very great, especially to Dorothy, who was
long — very long, in recovering from it.

VOL. III. 2 A

354 THE LANCASHIPwE WITCHES.

Nicholas's vivacity of temperament made him feel
the loss of his cousin at first very keenly, but it soon
wore off. He vowed amendment and reformation on
the model of John Bruen, whose life offered so striking
a contrast to his own, that it has very properly been
placed in opposition by a reverend moralist, but I re-
gret to say that he did not carry out his praiseworthy
intentions. He was apt to make a joke of John Bruen,
instead of imitating his example. He professed to
devote himself to his excellent wife — but his old habits
would break out; and, I am sorry to say he was
often to be found in the ale-house, and was just as
fond of horse-racing, cock-fighting, hunting, fishing,
and all other sports, as ever. Occasionally, he occu-
pied a leisure or a rainy day with a Journal,* parts
of which have been preserved, but he set down in it
few of the terrible events here related, probably because
they were of too painful a nature to be recorded. He
died in 1625 — at the early age of thirty-five.

But to go back. A few days after the tragical events
at Hoghton Tower, the whole village of Whalley was
astir. But it was no festive occasion — no merry-making
that called forth the inhabitants, for grief sat upon
every countenance. The day, too, was gloomy. The
feathered summits of Whalley Nab were wreathed

* Published by the Chetham Society, and admirably edited,
with notes, exhibiting an extraordinary amount of research and
information, by the Rev. F. R. Raines, M.A., F.S.A., of Milnrow
Parsonage, near Rochdale.

THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES. 355

in mist, and a fine rain descended in the valley.
The Calder looked dull and discoloured as it flowed
past the walls of the ancient abbey. The church
bell tolled mournfully, and a large concourse was
gathered in the churchyard. Not far from one of
the three crosses of Paulinus, which stood nearest
the church porch, a grave had been digged, and
almost every one looked into it. The grave, it was
said, was intended to hold two coffins. Soon after
this, a train of mourners issued from the ancient abbey
gateway, and sure enough there were two coffins on
the shoulders of the bearers. They were met at the
gate by Doctor Ormerod, who was so deeply affected,
as scarcely to be able to perform the needful offices for
the dead. The principal mourners were Sir Richard
Assheton, of Middleton, Sir Ralph Assheton, and Ni-
cholas. Amid the tears and sobs of all the bystanders,
the bodies of Richard and Alizon were committed to
the earth — laid together in one grave.

Thus was their latest wish fulfilled. Flowers grew
upon the turf that covered them, and there was the
earliest primrose seen, and the latest violet. Many a
fond youth and trusting maiden have visited their lowly
tomb, and many a tear, fresh from the heart, has
dropped upon the sod covering the ill-fated lovers.

356 THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES.