The exquisite tale which Chaucer has put into the mouth of the Prioress exhibits nearly the same incidents as the following ballad. The legend of Hugh of Lincoln was widely famous. Michel has published an Anglo-Norman ballad, (_Hugo de Lincolnia_,) on the subject, which appears to be almost contemporary with the event recorded by Matthew Paris, and is certainly of the times of Henry III. The versions of the English ballad are quite numerous. We give here those of Percy, Herd, and Jamieson, and two others in the Appendix. Besides these, fragments have been printed in Sir Egerton Brydges's _Restituta_, i. 381, Halliwell's _Ballads and Poems respecting Hugh of Lincoln_, (1849,) and in _Notes and Queries_, vol. viii. 614, ix. 320, xii. 496. The most complete of all the versions is to be found in the new edition of the _Musical Museum_, vol. iv. p. 500; but that copy is evidently made up from others previously published. See, for a collection of most of the poetry, and of much curious information on the imputed cruelties of the Jews, Michel's _Hugues de Lincoln_, and Hume's _Sir Hugh of Lincoln_. The whole subject is critically examined in the _London Athenæum_ for Dec. 15, 1849. "The text of the following edition has been given _verbatim_, as the editor took it down from Mrs. Brown's recitation; and in it two circumstances are preserved, which are neither to be found in any of the former editions, nor in any of the chronicles in which the transaction is recorded; but which are perfectly in the character of those times, and tend to enhance the miracles to which the discovery is attributed. The first of these is, that, in order that the whole of this infamous sacrifice might be of a piece, and every possible outrage shown to Christianity, the Jews threw the child's body into a well dedicated to the Virgin Mary; and tradition says, that it was 'through the might of Our Ladie,' that the dead body was permitted to speak, and to reveal the horrid story to the disconsolate mother. The other is, the voluntary ringing of the bells, &c., at his funeral. The sound of consecrated bells was supposed to have a powerful effect in driving away evil spirits, appeasing storms, &c., and they were believed to be inspired with sentiments and perceptions which were often manifested in a very miraculous manner." JAMIESON'S _Popular Ballads_, i. 139-156. Four and twenty bonny boys Were playing at the ba'; And by it came him, sweet Sir Hugh, And he play'd o'er them a'. He kick'd the ba' with his right foot, 5 And catch'd it wi' his knee; And throuch-and-thro' the Jew's window, He gar'd the bonny ba' flee. He's doen him to the Jew's castell, And walk'd it round about; 10 And there he saw the Jew's daughter At the window looking out.