The Witch Hunter's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page B

He means to make York his own, as he always has. He will use the law to rid York of its sinners, whether whores or witches, and once he’s done so he will turn it against his enemies. If a few old women are hanged along the way, so be it; you are right to be afraid.”
    “The danger is imminent, and we cannot wait to act,” George said. “They say that Suffolk has hanged hundreds of witches. If Joseph were to make himself a Witch Finder…” We fell silent at the prospect of Joseph presiding over scores of hangings.
    “Give me a writ to question Hester Jackson,” I said at last.
    “What? Why?” George asked. “What good will that do? She is to be hanged.”
    “If Rebecca and Joseph are scheming to see her executed, there must be a reason, and she may know what it is. If I speak to her, I might be able to discover their next move.” In truth, I was not convinced that such a strategy would work—Joseph and Rebecca were far too careful to tip their hand to a woman such as Hester Jackson—but it could do no harm.
    George nodded. “She is to be hanged on Friday, so you will have to go tomorrow. I will send a letter to the Castle’s Warden ensuring that you are allowed to see her. Will your deputy accompany you?”
    “If I am going as a spy, there is nobody I would rather have at my side,” I replied. George did not know of Martha’s past as a cutpurse and burglar, but the truth was that when our work drew us across the border between the lawful and the criminal, I was her deputy.
    After that, I steered the evening’s conversation onto subjects more comfortable than witchcraft and executions, and we had a pleasant time of it. When I arrived at my home, I acquainted Martha with the task that lay before us. As I expected she warmed to the challenge, but she recognized that we could not enter the fray without some danger to ourselves.
    “Mr. Hodgson and Mrs. Hooke will know that we’ve visited Hester Jackson,” she said, “and they’ll not be pleased.”
    I nodded in agreement. Rebecca was as smart as she was malevolent, and I knew that if she saw the opportunity to destroy me she would take it, particularly if she thought I was opposing her plans to regain her power within the city.
    “Once the battle has been joined we shall have to act quickly,” I replied. “For we will surely hazard all.”
    *   *   *
    Martha and I rose early the next morning and made our way to the Castle. Clouds hung low overhead and the wind still tore at our cloaks, but the rain had stopped and I gave thanks for that. The Special Assizes would be in session two more days, so even at that hour, a steady stream of people joined us in our journey. When I looked toward the Thursday Market I could see workmen assembling the three-legged mare for the hangings that would begin the next day. I imagined that Hester would be among the first to die.
    As we neared the edge of the city, the stone keep known as Lord Clifford’s Tower came into view, standing watch over the city as it had for centuries. We passed around the Tower and approached the drawbridge. Like many visitors, Martha had been disappointed the first time she saw the Castle, for it was hardly worthy of the name. No lord would deign to live there, for it was little more than a wall surrounding a courtyard, with towers at the corners. During the siege of 1644, it had been at the heart of the King’s defenses, but now it served only as the city’s prison.
    Our progress slowed as the crowd squeezed through the narrow gate into the Castle yard. “Let us see Samuel first,” I suggested. Martha nodded, and we crossed to the small tower where Samuel Short lived and worked as one of the Castle’s jailors. When I rapped on the tower door, a small window opened and Tree’s face appeared. He grinned when he saw us, and let us in.
    “Lady Bridget,” Tree cried as we entered, and Samuel bade us sit. I had met Samuel when a friend of mine had been taken for murder and imprisoned