65 
Worsthorn. The will is dated 1857, and not only proves the 
connecting link of intermarriages, but brings down the genea- 
logical history of the Spensers and their connection with the 
local families, to at least a century later than does Dr. Grosart. 
He had also seen an appraisement of inventory of the goods and 
chattels of John Ingham, an ancestor of the Smith’s, of Hurst- 
wood, and who was a party to the signature of a deed dated 
1633, between Richard Tattersall (one of the speaker’s 
ancestors), and William Sagar, of Catlow. The inventory also 
included a quantity of old oak furniture which was still in the 
possession of Miss Smith. These facts served to prove that this 
John Ingham was almost a contemporary of Spenser, and taking 
everything into consideration, he thought the evidence of this 
Smith was very valuable, and placed the matter almost beyond 
doubt. He had also evidence to submit which he had received 
from Mr. Lawrence Halstead (77 years of age), who says he re- 
members as well as though it were only yesterday, how his father, 
who was born 125 years ago, related to him the story handed 
down to him by his father (who was born in the early part of the 
18th century), of Spenser, the poet, living at Hurstwood, and 
which particularised the event more than he could tell. His 
father was educated at the Burnley Grammar School, and took a 
pride in treasuring up these old relics of bygone days. Then the 
fact that Edmund Spenser, as a lad at Merchant Taylors school, 
received several gratuities from Robert Nowell at the hands of 
the trustees, Dean Nowell and John Towneley, and a similar 
gratuity was accorded one of the speaker’s ancestors, John 
Tattersall, and to hundreds of other persons in North-East 
Lancashire. They might fairly assume that Edmund Spenser's 
sojourn in the North was at Hurstwood, and regarding the 
corroborative proof .and the coincidence of the traditionary 
evidence coming through so many different channels, from 
persons who could have no possible interest to mislead, whose 
ancestors had been settled in the neighbourhood for so many 
generations, they were at all events most remarkable links in the 
chain of evidence. 
Alderman Greenwood opened the discussion, and corroborated 
by his special knowledge of Pendle Forest some observations by 
Mr. Wilkinson with regard to witchcraft. There was an old man 
and woman, whom they as boys were always taught to avoid, 
because the persons were supposed to bewitch people. When 
some of his grandfather’s cattle died, he recollected that his 
grandfather went to Burnley to consult some men. On returning 
he whitewashed the shippon, so that he got some good advice 
from somebody. 
_ Mr. Walter Southern said that as a juryman on the evidence 
adduced by Mr. Wilkinson he must acquit Spenser of ever 
