Soon afterwards Emily is informed by Edward that her father and eight of her brothers are on the point of breaking out into open rebellion against the Sovereign of England and that it is necessary for him to join them, although doing so goes against his convictions, as he is loyal to Queen Elizabeth. Nothing that Emily can do or say dissuades him from his decision, and she parts from him in great grief.
At first the rebels succeed in their projects, but presently their attacks fail and they are forced to retreat. A rumour reaches Emily that all the Nortons have been captured and condemned to death and that the rebellion is over.
In the hope of saving her father and brothers, Emily sets out, accompanied by Blanche, to sue Queen Elizabeth for pardon on behalf of her relatives. On the long and perilous journey to Court, Blanche again acts as her adviser, and gives her almost human help in moments of difficulty, and so charmed is the Queen by the beauty of the suppliant and her intelligent animal comrade, that she sends Lord Leicester post-haste to York with a reprieve for the Nortons.
Unfortunately the messenger arrives too late to save any member of the family except the youngest son, Edward, Emily's favourite, and thus the beautiful human doe is instrumental in saving him, at least, from the scaffold.
[64] Webster, Dr. John, "The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft," 1677, pp. 347-9.
[65] Glanvill, Joseph, "Sadducismus Triumphatus," 1726, p. 326.
[66] Extracted from the Wodrow MS., as printed in "An Historical Account of the Belief in Witchcraft in Scotland," by C. K. Sharpe, 1884, pp. 180-94.
[67] Sharpe, C. K., "An Historical Account of the Belief in Witchcraft in Scotland," 1884, p. 98.
[69] Scott, Reginald, "The Discovery of Witchcraft," 1886, pp. 75-6.
[70] "The Metamorphosis or Golden Ass of Apuleius," 1822, pp. 7-8.
[71] Gelin, H., "Legendes de Sorcellerie," 1898.
[72] "Anecdotes of the Aristocracy," 1849, pp. 152-81.
From witch stories it is only a short step to stories about witches' familiars, for nearly all sorcerers are gifted with the power of sending out a spirit or second soul to do the work of the evil one. A distinction has therefore to be made between the witch in animal form and the external soul of the witch sent forth in the shape of an animal while she retains her human appearance.