Dead Time

Alice Nutter was up early. She had dressed and was ready to leave when she saw them from the window. She was in no doubt. They had come for her.

She left her precious things in their secret place and went downstairs to open the door herself. She would not hide like a coward. Let them come for her. She would leave of her own free will. She would not be taken.

At Read Hall Roger Nowell had blazed up the fire. The room was warm and bright. He bowed. She curtsied. He asked her to sit down. Potts came in, his eyes like spears. He asked her if she had read the King’s book Daemonology.

Alice replied that she had. She added that she had no great opinion of it.

‘Then I will ask you to pay attention as follows,’ said Potts, reading from his own copy.

‘The two degrees of persons which chiefly practise Witchcraft are such: as are in great miserie or poverty, for such the Devil allures to follow him, by promising great riches, and worldly commoditie: Others, though riche, yet burne in a desperate desire of Power or Revenge. But to attempt a woman in this sort, the Devil had small means . . . How she was drawn to fall to this wicked course, I know not, but she is now come to receive her trial for her vile and damnable practices.’

‘There is no evidence against me,’ said Alice.

Roger Nowell lifted his hand and Constable Hargreaves brought in James and Elizabeth Device. Neither had slept.

They were asked to identify Alice as coming to Malkin Tower on Good Friday. They were asked to say her business there, and Elizabeth agreed that Alice Nutter had always been a friend to her mother, Old Demdike.

‘She is more powerful even than her!’ shouted Jem.

‘I am not a witch,’ said Alice. ‘I have nothing else to say.’

‘What do you say to this?’ said Roger Nowell.

Constable Hargreaves brought in the poppet. Elizabeth Device looked pale. ‘I didn’t make no poppet,’ she shouted.

‘It is a crude likeness to myself,’ said Roger Nowell. ‘And yesterday I was struck with disease and agony.’

‘Bring in the herbalist from Whalley,’ said Potts.

Alice’s friend came into the hall. Roger Nowell had her stand before him. ‘Did you not say yesterday that my ague was no ordinary illness but witchcraft?’

The herbalist nodded. She did not look at Alice.

‘Then what do you say of this doll found at Mistress Nutter’s house? Her servant brought it here.’

Potts took the doll and examined it. ‘This is witchcraft. Alice Nutter, did you fashion this doll?’

‘I did not.’

‘Then how is it that it came to be in the study of your house?’

Alice could not answer; she could not incriminate her friend the herbalist.

‘The doll has a scalp of human hair. I do not know how you robbed the graves,’ said Potts.

James Device shouted out: ‘I robbed them! She bewitched me to the form of a hare and I escaped Malkin Tower, and robbed the graves at Newchurch in Pendle and brought her teeth and the rest. She bewitched me. Let me go free like the spider said.’

‘The spider?’ asked Potts. ‘Is that your Familiar?’

‘You all said if I testified against Alice Nutter I should go free.’

‘So that is it,’ said Alice. ‘Bribery and intimidation – but all legal because the Law is doing it.’

Potts stood up. ‘Alice Nutter. You are accused of witchcraft. You will stand trial at the Lancaster Assizes.’

Roger Nowell stood up. ‘Clear the room.’

Alice Nutter sat still. They left one by one, and Potts too, until only Alice and Roger Nowell remained. It was not yet five o’clock in the morning.

‘So you have me,’ said Alice. ‘I do not know why.’

Roger Nowell smiled. ‘I have you, but I could let you go.’

‘What is the price of my freedom?’

‘Christopher Southworth.’

‘He is not at my house. You searched it.’

‘But you know where he is, don’t you?’

‘I do not know where he is.’

‘Your groom tells me you lent him a horse yesterday.’

‘Jem Device says I turned him into a hare. Do you believe that too?’

Roger Nowell was silent for a moment. Then he said, ‘Sir John Southworth is my friend. I take no pleasure in this. My own situation is threatened. Do you not see that? Christopher Southworth came to Lancashire and he came to you. You imagine I do not have my spies? You hid him six years ago when he fled London after the Plot – yes, I know you did so, and it is true I turned a blind eye. They caught him when he left you for the coast of Wales. He would not confess who it was who had hidden him. He did not give your name.’

Alice felt the tears in her eyes as she thought of his tortured body. Roger Nowell noticed them and he came towards her.

‘It does not surprise me that he loves you.’ He put his arms out to her. She neither yielded nor resisted. He said softly, ‘You think your servants cannot be bought like every other servant?’

Alice looked at him. ‘Did you have Jane Southworth arrested?’

Roger Nowell shook his head. ‘Potts.’ There was a pause. ‘I had reason to believe that Christopher Southworth was returning to Lancashire. I did not know why. Frankly, I thought he had gone mad. Then Potts came with his witchery popery popery witchery. I am caught in this trap every bit as much as you are. There has to be a sacrifice – don’t you understand that?’

And in her mind she was in the house at Vauxhall and Elizabeth was saying, ‘She is the One.’

Still Alice did not speak. Roger Nowell stood back, took a bag from his pocket, and drew out the heavy silver crucifix. He swung it from side to side like a pendulum; like an omen of time. ‘This was found in your bed.’

‘A witch with a crucifix. Am I accused of the Black Mass or the High Mass?’

Roger Nowell kissed her forehead. He felt her body resist him. ‘Potts makes no distinction and neither does our Scottish King. Whatever you are, you are facing death.’

‘I am not afraid.’

Roger Nowell drew back from her. ‘I am going to give you a chance. Go home. Think carefully. Run away and I will hunt you down. Return at dusk and tell me where to look for Christopher Southworth – that is all – and you will be in your own bed tonight. Refuse, and I will send you to Lancaster Castle.’