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Authors: Sam Thomas
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most of you know, we are here at the request of Mr. Joseph Hodgson,” Greenbury announced. “So without further delay I will turn the meeting over to him.”
When Joseph began to speak, I leaned forward hoping to catch a view of him. I caught my breath when I saw Mark Preston’s familiar and entirely unwelcome face. He stood against the far wall, facing us, and when I glanced down at his ruined hand a shiver ran through me. While Joseph and Rebecca were the architects of the scheme to rid York of its witches, it would be a mistake to forget about so dangerous a man as Preston, and I vowed not to do so.
Joseph sat with his back to us, but in my mind I could see the hard lines of his face and his cold, clear eyes. When he’d left to fight in the wars, he’d been a kind young man, a bit aloof perhaps, but not a bad sort at all. He’d returned from Cromwell’s side soaked in blood and well schooled in the ruthlessness necessary to succeed in politics. When Edward died, Joseph stepped into his place without a moment’s hesitation, and he made it his business to purge the city of sin—and of his enemies.
Joseph’s chair scraped back as he stood to speak. “It is no secret that York has suffered, and continues to suffer at God’s hands,” he said. “Summer heat has turned to the iron cold of winter, and many in the city know not where to turn for relief. The answer, of course, is that they should turn to the Lord, but too many have not seen this simple truth, and even to this day they wallow in their sin.” Joseph continued in this vein for some time, and had I not known who was speaking, I would have thought it was a godly minister preaching to his flock. Joseph dropped his voice to a whisper, drawing in his listeners, and then shouted about God’s law or God’s glory, overwhelming the Council with the power of his voice and the sheer force of his will.
“Good and learned ministers of the gospel have shown us that the End of Days is upon us,” Joseph continued. “Soon, very soon, the Risen Christ will do battle with the fallen Antichrist, and all men will have to choose whether they are among God’s people or Satan’s. Even now, the battle is joined, as the hanging of the witch Hester Jackson has shown.” At this Martha and I stood a little straighter. This was why we’d come.
“In years past, learned men have amply proved that witches—these handmaidens of the devil himself—never work alone. In this, witches are like the rats that so often suckle from their hideous teats. If one rat is found in the kitchen, there must be more within the walls. And if one witch is in the city, there must be more within its walls.” I could hear members of the Council murmuring in agreement with Joseph’s logic.
“Although it is unusual, I should like now to bring an expert on witches and their evil ways before the Council.” Martha and I looked at each other in alarm. “I am sure you all know Mrs. Rebecca Hooke,” Joseph continued. “She was born and bred in the city, and worked for many years as a midwife. Indeed, the wives of more than a few Councilmen benefitted from her care. Mrs. Hooke examined Hester Jackson and found the Witch’s Mark on her body. And she knows far more about witches and witchcraft than any one of us.”
When none on the Council objected, the clerk called for Rebecca Hooke. Confidence and cruelty echoed through the hall each time her heel struck the rough wood floor. I could not resist peering over the edge of the balcony to watch Rebecca’s performance. She stood at the head of the table and looked around the room. Once she was sure that she had the attention of every Alderman she began to speak.
Chapter 6
“Gentlemen,” Rebecca Hooke said, “no good man would deny that Satan is active in the world, more now than at any time since Jesus Christ walked the earth. We hear daily of witches acting on behalf of the King to destroy godly religion and hasten the fall of all men
When Joseph began to speak, I leaned forward hoping to catch a view of him. I caught my breath when I saw Mark Preston’s familiar and entirely unwelcome face. He stood against the far wall, facing us, and when I glanced down at his ruined hand a shiver ran through me. While Joseph and Rebecca were the architects of the scheme to rid York of its witches, it would be a mistake to forget about so dangerous a man as Preston, and I vowed not to do so.
Joseph sat with his back to us, but in my mind I could see the hard lines of his face and his cold, clear eyes. When he’d left to fight in the wars, he’d been a kind young man, a bit aloof perhaps, but not a bad sort at all. He’d returned from Cromwell’s side soaked in blood and well schooled in the ruthlessness necessary to succeed in politics. When Edward died, Joseph stepped into his place without a moment’s hesitation, and he made it his business to purge the city of sin—and of his enemies.
Joseph’s chair scraped back as he stood to speak. “It is no secret that York has suffered, and continues to suffer at God’s hands,” he said. “Summer heat has turned to the iron cold of winter, and many in the city know not where to turn for relief. The answer, of course, is that they should turn to the Lord, but too many have not seen this simple truth, and even to this day they wallow in their sin.” Joseph continued in this vein for some time, and had I not known who was speaking, I would have thought it was a godly minister preaching to his flock. Joseph dropped his voice to a whisper, drawing in his listeners, and then shouted about God’s law or God’s glory, overwhelming the Council with the power of his voice and the sheer force of his will.
“Good and learned ministers of the gospel have shown us that the End of Days is upon us,” Joseph continued. “Soon, very soon, the Risen Christ will do battle with the fallen Antichrist, and all men will have to choose whether they are among God’s people or Satan’s. Even now, the battle is joined, as the hanging of the witch Hester Jackson has shown.” At this Martha and I stood a little straighter. This was why we’d come.
“In years past, learned men have amply proved that witches—these handmaidens of the devil himself—never work alone. In this, witches are like the rats that so often suckle from their hideous teats. If one rat is found in the kitchen, there must be more within the walls. And if one witch is in the city, there must be more within its walls.” I could hear members of the Council murmuring in agreement with Joseph’s logic.
“Although it is unusual, I should like now to bring an expert on witches and their evil ways before the Council.” Martha and I looked at each other in alarm. “I am sure you all know Mrs. Rebecca Hooke,” Joseph continued. “She was born and bred in the city, and worked for many years as a midwife. Indeed, the wives of more than a few Councilmen benefitted from her care. Mrs. Hooke examined Hester Jackson and found the Witch’s Mark on her body. And she knows far more about witches and witchcraft than any one of us.”
When none on the Council objected, the clerk called for Rebecca Hooke. Confidence and cruelty echoed through the hall each time her heel struck the rough wood floor. I could not resist peering over the edge of the balcony to watch Rebecca’s performance. She stood at the head of the table and looked around the room. Once she was sure that she had the attention of every Alderman she began to speak.
Chapter 6
“Gentlemen,” Rebecca Hooke said, “no good man would deny that Satan is active in the world, more now than at any time since Jesus Christ walked the earth. We hear daily of witches acting on behalf of the King to destroy godly religion and hasten the fall of all men
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