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Updated: May 7, 2025
"Remove her instantly to the Abbey, Sparshot," he cried, "and let her be kept in safe custody till Sir Ralph has time to examine her. Will that content you, masters?" "Neaw neaw," responded several rough voices; "swim her! swim her!" "Quite right, my worthy friends, quite right," said Potts. "Primo, let us make sure she is a witch secundo, let us take her to the Abbey."
We are busy just now engaged in binding the witch, as you see. Both keys are safely in my pocket, and I will send you one of them when we start for the river, good Master Richard. We lawyers are not to be overreached you see ha! ha!" "You shall repent this conduct when I do get out," cried Richard, furiously. "Sparshot, I command you to bring the key instantly."
"Sparshot," vociferated Nowell, "enter those gates, and arrest the lady in the King's name." The beadle looked irresolute. He did not like the task. "The gates are fastened," cried Mistress Nutter. "Force them open, then," roared Nowell, dismounting and shaking them furiously. "Bring me a heavy stone. By heaven I I will not be baulked of my prey."
But she shall not escape us. Keep an eye upon her, while I see if Simon Sparshot, the beadle, be within the churchyard, and if so he shall take her into custody, and lock her in the cage." With this, he ran towards the throng, shouting lustily for the beadle.
Meanwhile, a gate having been taken from its hinges by Sparshot and the reeve, the poor pedlar, who groaned deeply during the operation, was placed upon it by the men, and borne towards the village, followed by the others, leading their horses.
"Ey should ha' said 'westerly' i' stead o' 'yeasterly," cried Jem, "boh yo puzzle a mon so wi' your lawyerly questins, that he dusna knoa his reet hond fro' his laft." "Yeigh, yeigh, we aw meant to say 'yeasterly," added the hinds. "You have sworn the contrary," cried Nowell. "Secure him," he added to the grooms and Sparshot, "and do not let him go till we have completed the survey.
After this barbarous test, the crowd, confirmed by it in their notions of Nan's guiltiness, hurried on, their numbers increasing as they proceeded along the main street of the village leading towards the river; all the villagers left at home rushing forth on hearing a witch was about to be swum, and when they came within a bow-shot of the stream, Sparshot called to Baggiley to lay hold of Nance, while he himself, accompanied by several of the crowd, ran over the bridge, the part he had to enact requiring him to be on the other side of the water.
The two grooms were belabouring each other lustily; and Master Potts was exercising his hunting-whip on the broad shoulders of Sparshot, who in return was making him acquainted with the taste of a stout ash-plant. Assailed in the same manner as the squire, and naturally attributing the attack to their nearest neighbours, they waited for no explanation, but fell upon each other.
"Yeigh, theere be one ot t'other soide," replied Sparshot, "boh it be locked, ey reckon, an maybe hoo'n getten out that way." "Quick, quick, and let's see," cried Potts; "justice must not be thwarted in this shameful manner."
"And mine, also," added Nowell; "and I here charge Mistress Nutter with sorcery and witchcraft, and on my return I will immediately issue a warrant for her arrest. Sparshot, I command you to attach the person of James Device, for aiding and abetting her in her foul practices." "I will help you to take charge of him," said the reeve, riding forward.
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