_Tom Thumb_, as has been previously mentioned, most probably was transmitted to England by the early Norsemen. _The Tale of Tom Thumb_, as told by Jacobs, was taken from the chap-book version in _Halliwell_. The first mention of Tom is in Scot's _Discoverie of Witchcraft_, in 1584. Tradition says that Tom died at Lincoln, which was one of the five Danish towns of England. A little blue flagstone in the cathedral, said to be his tombstone, was lost and has never been replaced during recent repairs early in the nineteenth century. _Tom Thumb_ was first written in prose by Richard Johnson, in 1621. In Ashton's _Chap-Books of the Eighteenth Century_ we have a facsimile of the chap-book, _The Famous History of Tom Thumb_. The tale is in three parts. The first part, which is much superior to the rest of the tale, was taken from a copy printed for John Wright, in 1630. The second and third parts were written about 1700. The first part closes with the death of Tom from knightly feats. He was buried in great pomp, but the fairies carried him to Fairy Land. The first part closed with a promise of the second:-- The Fairy Queen, she lov'd him so As you shall understand, That once again she let him go Down to the Fairy Land. The very time that he return'd Unto the court again, It was as we are well inform'd In good King Arthur's reign. When in the presence of the King, He many wonders wrought, Recited in the Second Part Which now is to be bought In Bow Church Yard, where is sold Diverting Histories many; And pleasant tales as e'er was told For purchase of One Penny. The second part opens with Tom's return to Fairy Land. His second death is caused by a combat with a cat. Again he is taken to Fairy Land. In the third part the Fairy Queen sends Tom to earth in King Thunston's reign. His final death occurred from the bite of a spider. _The Life and Adventures of Tom Thumb_ appeared in the _Tabart Collection of Fairy Tales_, noted before, and a version entirely in verse was included in _Halliwell_. A monograph on _Tom Thumb_ was written by M. Gaston Paris. _Little Thumb_ as it appeared in _Perrault_ and in _Basile_, was a tale similar to the German _Hansel and Grethel_. _Thumbling_, and _Thumbling as Journeyman_ are German variants. Andersen's _Thumbelina_ is a feminine counterpart to _Tom Thumb_, and in Laboulaye's _Poucinet_ we have a tale of the successful younger brother, similarly diminutive.