Chapter IX.
The Humours of Roger and Doll, with the manner how they were served by a Lancashire Witch.
Roger and Dorothy being got in a merry humour, one day meeting with Margery, began to swear at her, and called her "Leaden Heels," but she passed by as if she minded it not. They had not far to go before there was a stile to go over;—but when they was on the top, they could not get down on either side, fancying there was ponds of water round about them, till some travellers came by, who, finding them thus mounted on the wooden horse in a strange posture, made them dismount. However, not satisfied, she watched their motions, and found them in a barn that stood by the road, where the cows used to be driven in to be milked. There, being seated upon the straw, toying together, and wondering at what had happened, ... Margery, who stood there invisible, sprinkled Roger with a certain dust, which changed his very countenance, making it appear to his mistress like an ass's head; which so frighted her, that she gave a lusty spring, and throwing him quite down, she got up, running, and crying out, "The devil! the devil!" This so terrified Roger, that he followed, crying out, "What ails you, my dear?—what ails you?" In this manner, to the laughter of a great number of people, they ran until they were so tired, they were forced to lie down, being no longer able to hold out. Thus, at this time, her revenge was satisfied.
