FOLK–LORE AND LEGENDS _ENGLISH_ FOLK–LORE AND LEGENDS ENGLISH [Illustration: DECORATION] W. W. GIBBINGS 18 BURY ST., LONDON, W.C. 1890 INTRODUCTORY NOTE. The old English Folklore Tales are fast dying out. The simplicity of character necessary for the retaining of old memories and beliefs is being lost, more rapidly in England, perhaps, than in any other part of the world. Our folk are giving up the old myths for new ones. Before remorseless “progress,” and the struggle for existence, the poetry of life is being quickly blotted out. In editing this volume I have endeavoured to select some of the best specimens of our Folklore. With regard to the nursery tales, I have taken pains to give them as they are in the earliest editions I could find. I must say, however, that, while I have taken every care to alter only as much as was absolutely necessary in these tales, some excision and slight alteration has at times been required. C. J. T. CONTENTS. PAGE A Dissertation on Fairies, 1 Nelly the Knocker, 39 The Three Fools, 42 Some Merry Tales of the Wise Men of Gotham, 46 The Tulip Fairies, 54 The History of Jack and the Giants, 57 The Fairies’ Cup, 84 The White Lady, 86 A Pleasant and Delightful History of Thomas Hickathrift, 89 The Spectre Coach, 117 The Baker’s Daughter, 123 The Fairy Children, 126 The History of Jack and the Beanstalk, 129 Johnny Reed’s Cat, 150 Lame Molly, 156 The Brown man of the Moors, 159 How the Cobbler cheated the Devil, 161 The Tavistock Witch, 165 The Worm of Lambton, 168 The Old Woman and the Crooked Sixpence, 174 The Yorkshire Boggart, 177 The Duergar, 181 The Barn Elves, 185 Legends of King Arthur, 187 Silky, 192 A DISSERTATION ON FAIRIES. BY JOSEPH RITSON, ESQ. The earliest mention of Fairies is made by Homer, if, that is, his English translator has, in this instance, done him justice:—