I would say that the pressure isn't building up suffieciently/quick enough in the can (round black ball on top of master cylinder). The lights only go out once pressure is established. Hence the hard pedal, the ABS wasn't working. If you was to disconnect the wiring from the same area, you would expience the same hard pedal.

Failing that, the Escort is prone to damp getting on th fuses inside Left boot side panel where they are housed, clean them all up. That had me baffled for about a year.

good luck