of mortality. Did a cow go mad, or was a horse unaccountably afflicted
with the staggers, the same solution was always at hand to clear
negligence and save the trouble of inquiry; and so far from modestly
disclaiming these atrocities, the only struggle on the parts of
Mothers Demdike and Chattox would be which should first appropriate
them. And in all this it must not be forgotten that their own
credulity was at least as great as the credulity of their neighbours,
and that each had the power in question was so much an admitted point,
that she had long ceased, in all probability, to entertain any doubts
on the subject. With this general conviction on one hand, and a
sincere persuasion on the other, it would be surprising if, in the
course of a few years, the scandalous chronicle of Pendle had not
accumulated a _corpus delicti_ against them, which only required that
"_one of his Majesties Justices in these parts, a very religious
honest gentleman, painful in the service of his country_," should work
the materials into shape, and make "the gruel thick and slab."

[Footnote 32: The Archdeacon of Manchester suggests that this is
merely a corruption of Chadwick or Chadwicks, and not, as explained in
the Note, p. 19, from her chattering as she went along.]

[Footnote 33: These bickerings were no doubt exasperated by the
robbery committed upon old Demdike and Alizon Device, which is
detailed in the examinations, some of the _opima spolia_ abstracted on
which occasion she detected on the person of old Chattox's daughter.]

[Footnote 34: Of an aghendole of meal. Since writing the Note, p. 23,
I am indebted to Miss Clegg, of Hallfoot, near Clitheroe, for
information as to the exact quantity contained in an aghendole, which
is eight pounds. This measure, she informs me, is still in use in