EXTINCT FORESTS OF LANCASHIRE. 161 



The originators of the most notorious witch-trials in the 

 Forest of Pendle were a man named Robinson, a wood- 

 cutter, and his son, both of whom seem to have been 

 scoundrels of the very deepest dye. Robinson's story was, 

 that he was on his way to Burnley to pay some money 

 early one morning; it was dark, and the road was very- 

 bad, and the traveller was very tired and weary. A ter- 

 rible storm came on, thunder, lightning, and rain ; and 

 Robinson, on looking up at a crag that overlooked the 

 road he was travelling, saw, or thought he saw, by the 

 glare of the lightning, the most terrible witch in Pendle. 

 He trembled all over, and presently felt something rub- 

 bing his legs. This he found to be a tremendous black 

 cat with eyes darting flames. This cat spoke to him in 

 good English, and said, ' You cursed my mistress two days 

 ago ; she will meet you again at Malkin tower ;' the mis- 

 tress doubtless being the terrible witch who sat on the 

 crag looking on. The witch and the cat then set off for 

 the forest. 



"The story told by the son was much longer, more full 

 of details and romance, and with a great deal more of 

 the horrible. On the night before the father went on his 

 journey young Robinson went into the forest to gather 

 some berries. He had not been engaged in this pursuit 

 long, when two beautiful greyhounds came up with collars 

 of gold. He thought this a good opportunity to have 

 a hunt ; and a hare being started, he tried to urge the 

 hounds to follow, but in vain. The dogs would not stir. 

 He then struck them to urge them on ; whereupon one 

 was suddenly transformed into Moll Dickenson, a reputed 

 witch in the neighbourhood, and the other into a little 

 boy. Young Robinson tried 'to run, but the touch of the 

 witch fixed him to the earth. She offered him some 

 money to hold his tongue ; but he refused it with the 

 strongest feelings of superstitious horror. Immediately on 

 his refusal, Moll took a string and flung it over the boy, 

 who immediately became a white horse, and Robinson 

 soon felt himself seated on the horse in front of the witch, 



M 



