Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/293

 familiars, in the shape of cats, bears, apes, &c., to enter and dance antic dances, whilst she played on the gridiron and tongs. This done, taking Mother Cuthbert aside, she demanded how she liked the cheer and sport? She answered, very well; but desired to know where she was and her company? Mother Crady then told her that she was Witch of Penmure [Penmaenmawr], a great mountain in Wales, and the rest were her countrywomen of the same faculty; and being desirous to have her of the fraternity [sisterhood?] she had contrived this way to entertain her, to show that she might always live jocund and merry. Mother Cuthbert, overcome with persuasions, consented, when immediately they anointed her breast with a certain ointment, then, speaking a charm or two, they gave her the rest to use upon occasion, and also in another box a little thing like a mole, that was to be her imp. So, all mounting upon a coal-staff, away they flew and she with them; but they left her at the door of her own house, and kept still on their way with the wind.

A Lancashire witch enchants the Mayor of the town, who had caused her to be whipped; with the circumstances attending.

being thus entered into the society of witches, by the force of her ointment, and counsel of her imp, who could speak when he pleased, and turn himself into divers shapes, finding the power she had, began to play many pranks.

Sometime before this, the Mayor of Lancaster had caused Mother Cuthbert to be whipped, for breaking his pales to make her a fire in the cold winter, which