The Pendle Curse
Catherine Cavendish
Four hundred years ago, ten convicted witches were hanged on Gallows Hill. Now they are back…for vengeance.Laura Phillips’s grief at her husband’s sudden death shows no sign of passing. Even sleep brings her no peace. She experiences vivid, disturbing dreams of a dark, brooding hill,and a man—somehow out of time—who seems to know her. She discovers that the place she has dreamed about exists. Pendle Hill. And she knows she must go there.But as soon as she arrives, the dream becomes a nightmare. She is caught up in a webof witchcraft and evil…and a curse that will not die.
Hey everyone! Today I have an awesome guest post from author Catherine Cavendish! If you are into spooky and witches, you will love The Pendle Curse. I'm in the middle of reading it now, and should have a review for you later this week!
The
Belvoir Castle Witches
My new novel – The Pendle Curse –
has some of its roots in a true story. In August 1612, ten men and women were
convicted, in Lancaster, England, of crimes related to witchcraft and
subsequently hanged on Gallows Hill. They became known to history as the Pendle
Witches.
But
they were not alone.
At
Belvoir Castle, near Grantham, in Lincolnshire, in the early part of the 17th
century, the Earl and Countess of Rutland employed a mother – Joan Flower - and
her two daughters, Philippa and Margaret. All three were known to be well
versed in the art of herbal remedies. The Rutlands were in urgent need of extra
domestic help as a visit from King James I was expected. The Flower family
didn’t last long there though. They were dismissed amid rumours of theft and
other misdemeanours.
Almost
immediately after the women left, the Earl and Countess fell ill of vomiting
and convulsions. Then their children suffered similarly. Their heir – Henry –
died a few weeks later and was buried on 26th September 1613.
Francis also fell ill but, thankfully, their daughter, Katherine, recovered.
By
1616, the thirst for purging witches had reached fever pitch, and nine women
were hanged in Leicestershire for crimes committed involving the Black Arts.
They had been accused of bewitching a young boy who subsequently died. These
witches owned animals, known as ‘familiars’, said to assist them in their
devil’s work, casting spells and other mischief. The Flower women also
possessed a cat – called Rutterkin – who was to play a significant role in
subsequent events.
The
Rutlands’ second son, Francis, died and, in 1618, a full five years after Henry
had passed away, the Flower women were arrested on charges relating to
witchcraft in connection with his death. All protested their innocence, but
were taken away to be ‘examined’. Following this, they were sent to Lincoln
Gaol, where they were due to be incarcerated until their trial. On the way
there, Joan Flower, who did not attend church, requested a piece of bread, in
lieu of Eucharist. She said it would prove her innocence, as surely no true
witch would be able to eat something so pure and holy. She took a bite, choked
on it and died.
Needless
to say, the women undoubtedly suffered horrific torture. That era was notorious
for the creativity employed in extracting confessions from people. A visit to
any crime museum will reveal implements such as the boot (which crushed feet
and ankles), the scold’s bridle (complete with spikes to pierce the victim’s
mouth), needles to pierce nails and pincers to pull those same nails out. Food
and sleep deprivation and beatings with chains added to the sadistic and
horrific menu.
Margaret
Flower eventually accused her - now deceased - mother of witchcraft. Philippa
admitted she was a witch – and accused her mother and Margaret. The sisters
both confessed to consorting with ‘familiar spirits’ to assist them in their
schemes. And this is where their
mother’s cat – Rutterkin- came in. The sisters said they stole the glove of
Henry, the Rutlands’ heir and gave it to Joan. She dipped it in boiling water,
stroked it along Rutterkin’s back and chanted incantations which caused the boy
to fall ill. To ensure the Earl and Countess couldn’t have any more children
and, therefore, remained without an heir, the women had cast a spell, using
feathers from the Earl’s bed and a pair of gloves which they boiled and then
mixed with blood.
The
two sisters also accused others of being witches. Anne Baker, Joan Willimot and
Ellen Greene were arrested, ‘examined’ and then, unsurprisingly, ‘confessed’ to
practicing witchcraft.
Margaret
and Philippa Flower were tried and found guilty. They were hanged in Lincoln
Castle on 11th March 1619.
The
Earl and Countess remained convinced - to their dying days - that their eldest
son had been killed by witchcraft. On their monument, as part of the
inscription, are these words:
There has been recent speculation that Joan Flower and her daughters
were framed by none other than the infamous George Villiers, 1st Duke
of Buckingham and favourite of King James I. The story goes that Villiers had
designs on the Rutlands’ daughter, Katherine. He planned to marry her and -
with both her brothers dead - inherit the title. He achieved his ambition to
marry the girl on 16th May 1620, much to her father’s disapproval.
Fortunately this unpleasant and arrogant man did not achieve his
ultimate ambition. He did not become the next Earl of Rutland. He died in 1628,
four years before his father in law. At least some justice prevailed in this
sorry saga!
Excerpt
His spirit soared within him and flew up into the storm-clad sky as
blackness descended and the rain became a tempest.
He flew. Lost in a maelstrom of swirling mists. Somewhere a baby cried
until its sobs became distorted, tortured roars. Beyond, a black void loomed.
He saw Alizon’s spirit just ahead and tried to call out to her, but his voice
couldn’t reach her.
Beside him, another spirit cried out. His mother. He flinched at her
screams before they were drowned in the mass—that terrible parody of some
hideous child.
The blackness metamorphosed. An amorphous shape formed as his eyes
struggled to see with their new vision—the gift of death. Small baby limbs
flailed towards him. Eyes of fire flashed as a toothless mouth opened.
Screeching, roaring and demanding to be fed. Demanding its mother.
His spirit reached out for his
lover. Tried to pull her back. “Alizon!”
She turned anguished eyes to him. “It calls to me.”
He recognized it instantly. The blazing fire. The devil child. That
cursed infant had come for them.
Again he reached out with arms that no longer felt connected to him, but
he was powerless to stop Alizon being swept away, deep into the abomination’s
maw.
“No!” His cry reverberated around him—a wail of anguish in a sea of
torment.
Then…silence. Only he remained, drifting in swirling gray mists of time.
“I will find you, sweet Alizon. One day I will find you. And I will find
the one who betrayed us.”
From somewhere, he heard an echo…
Catherine Cavendish - Cat to her friends - lives with her husband in a haunted 18th century building in North Wales. Fortunately for all concerned, the ghost is friendly and contents herself (she's definitely female) with switching on lights, and attempting to discover how the TV and washing machine work (it's a long story!).Following a varied career in sales, advertising and career guidance, Cat is now the full time author of a number of paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror novels, novellas and short stories. She is the 2013 joint winner of the Samhain Gothic Horror Anthology Competition, with Linden Manor, which features in the anthology What Waits In The Shadows. The Pendle Curse is her latest novel for Samhain; her first – Saving Grace Devine – was published in 2014.Her daily walks have so far provided the inspiration for two short stories and a novella. As she says, “It’s amazing what you see down by the river, as it flows through a sleepy rural community.” Those with delicate constitutions are advised not to ask!
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