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    ENGLISH FAIRY AND OTHER FOLK TALES - 74 illustrated children's stories from Old England
    ENGLISH FAIRY AND OTHER FOLK TALES - 74 illustrated children's stories from Old England
    ENGLISH FAIRY AND OTHER FOLK TALES - 74 illustrated children's stories from Old England
    Ebook345 pages5 hours

    ENGLISH FAIRY AND OTHER FOLK TALES - 74 illustrated children's stories from Old England

    By Anon E. Mouse and Compiled & Retold by Edwin Hartland

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    About this ebook

    Herein you will find 74 illustrated children’s stories from Old England. This is a collection of fairy tales, folk tales and other stories categorised into Ghosts, Goblins, Fairies, Historical and Legends, Nursery Tales, Giants, and Witchcraft. Tales include, The Haunted House, The Witch And The Toad, The Fairy Thieves, The Fairy Funeral, Jack And The Bean-Stalk, The Legend Of The Sons Of The Conqueror, The Blinded Giant, The Demon Tregeagle, The Haunted Widower, Spectre-Dogs, The Wise Fools Of Gotham, and many, many more.

    These tales serve to justify the title of “Merrie England”, a title which in older days was given to England, indicating the nation’s capacity for fun and humour among the English. The story of Tom Tit Tot, which opens the collection, is unequalled among all other folk-tales, for its combined sense of humour and dramatic power.

    So take some time out and travel back to a period before television, or even radio for that matter, when families would gather around a crackling and spitting hearth and granddad or grandma  or an uncle or aunt would delight and captivate their audience with stories passed on to them from their mothers, fathers and grandparents.
    =======
    Edwin Sidney Hartland (1848 – 1927) compiled and authored of works on folklore. His works include anthologies of tales, and theories on anthropology and mythology with an ethnological perspective
    =======
    KEYWORDS: fairy tales, folklore, myths, legends, children’s stories, children’s stories, bygone era, fairydom, fairy land, classic stories, children’s bedtime stories, fables, English Fairy Tales, English Folk Tales, enchanting, castle, fair maids, love, youth, flowers, fate, ungrateful, gold, fairies, spring, summer, illustrated, illustrations, Jack, Giant-Killer, Princess, Canterbury, Colchester, Mr. Fox, Tom Tit Tot, Jack, Bean-Stalk, Historical, Local, Saint Kenelm, Wild Edric, Lady Godiva, Sons Of The Conqueror, Becket's Parents, Fause Fable, Lord Lathom, Whittington, Cat, Pedlar, Swaffham, Lambton Worm, Bomere Pool, Giants, Wrekin, wreakin, Blinded Giant, Worcestershire, Midwife, Adventure, Cherry, Zennor, Funeral, Piskies, Cellar, Edwin, Sir Topaz, Serving, Damsels, Tulip Bed, Fisherman, Piskies, Colman Grey, King, Queen, prince, Midridge, Green Children, Banquet, Horn, Fair, Caldron, Cauld Lad, Hilton, Hylton, Thieves, Boggart, Ainsel, Rollright Stones, Goblins, Dando, Dogs, Demon Tregeagle, Parson, Clerk, Outwit, Bogie, Hunted Hare, Well, St. Ludgvan, Hedley Kow, Witchcraft, Lord, Pengerswick, Witch, Toad, Hare, Hand Of Glory, Betty Chidley, Bag, Flour, Kentsham, Bell, Ghosts, Bishop, Clergyman, Haunted House, Ghost-Laying, Roaring Bull, Bagbury,  White Lady, Blenkinsopp, Haunted, Widower, Rosewarne, Lady, Lantern, Spectre, Dogs, Billy B, Drolls, Wise Fools, Gotham, Three Wishes, Miller, Professor, Examination, Stupid, Mistaken, Cries, Three Sillies, Mr. Vinegar, Lazy Jack, Tom Thumb
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAbela Publishing
    Release dateMar 15, 2018
    ISBN9788827583951
    ENGLISH FAIRY AND OTHER FOLK TALES - 74 illustrated children's stories from Old England

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      Book preview

      ENGLISH FAIRY AND OTHER FOLK TALES - 74 illustrated children's stories from Old England - Anon E. Mouse

      English Fairy and Other Folk Tales

      Selected and Edited, with an Introduction by

      Edwin Sidney Hartland

      Illustrations by

      C E Brock

      London:

      Originally Published by:

      Walter Scott, London

      [1890]

      Resurrected by:

      Abela Publishing, London

      [2015]

      ENGLISH FAIRY AND OTHER FOLK TALES

      Typographical arrangement of this edition

      © Abela Publishing 2018

      This book may not be reproduced in its current format in any manner in any media, or transmitted by any means whatsoever, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, or mechanical ( including photocopy, file or video recording, internet web sites, blogs, wikis, or any other information storage and retrieval system) except as permitted by law without the prior written permission of the publisher.

      Abela Publishing,

      London

      United Kingdom

      2018

      ISBN-13: 978-X-XXXXXX-XX-X

      email:

      [email protected]

      Website

      Abela Publishing

      Acknowledgements

      Edwin Sidney Hartland

      1848 – 1927

      Edwin Sidney Hartland was an author of works on folklore. His works include anthologies of tales, and theories on anthropology and mythology with an ethnological perspective

      Contents

      Acknowledgements

      Contents

      Jack The Giant-Killer

      The Princess Of Canterbury

      The Princess Of Colchester

      Mr. Fox

      Tom Tit Tot.

      Jack And The Bean-Stalk

      Historical And Local

      The Story Of Saint Kenelm

      Wild Edric

      Lady Godiva

      The Legend Of The Sons Of The Conqueror

      The Legend Of Becket's Parents

      The Fause Fable Of The Lord Lathom

      Whittington And His Cat

      The Pedlar Of Swaffham

      The Lambton Worm

      Bomere Pool

      Giants

      The Origin Of The Wrekin

      The Blinded Giant

      Fairies

      Worcestershire Fairies

      The Fairy's Midwife

      The Adventure Of Cherry Of Zennor

      The Fairy Funeral

      The Piskies In The Cellar

      Edwin And Sir Topaz

      The Two Serving Damsels

      The Tulip Bed

      The Fisherman And The Piskies

      A Fairy Caught

      Colman Grey

      The King Of The Cats

      A Myth Of Midridge

      The Green Children

      The Fairy Banquet

      The Fairy Horn

      The Fairy Fair

      The Fairies' Caldron

      The Cauld Lad Of Hilton

      The Fairy Thieves

      The Boggart

      Ainsel

      Legend Of The Rollright Stones

      Goblins.

      Dando And His Dogs.

      The Demon Tregeagle

      The Parson And Clerk

      Outwitting The Bogie

      The Hunted Hare

      The Well Of St. Ludgvan

      The Hedley Kow

      Witchcraft

      The Lord Of Pengerswick

      The Witch And The Toad

      Witch And Hare

      The Hand Of Glory

      Betty Chidley The Witch

      The Bag Of Flour

      Kentsham Bell

      Ghosts

      A Bishop's Ghost

      A Clergyman's Ghost

      The Haunted House

      Ghost-Laying Stories

      The Roaring Bull O' Bagbury

      The White Lady Of Blenkinsopp

      The Haunted Widower

      The Ghost Of Rosewarne

      The Lady With The Lantern

      Spectre-Dogs

      Billy B----'S Adventure

      Drolls

      The Wise Fools Of Gotham

      The Three Wishes

      The Miller At The Professor's Examination

      Stupid's Mistaken Cries

      The Three Sillies

      Mr. Vinegar

      Lazy Jack

      The History Of Tom Thumb

      Jack The Giant-Killer

      1

      He Beheld With Terror A Huge Giant, Dragging Along A Fair Lady And A Knight

      IN the reign of King Arthur, there lived in the county of Cornwall, near the Land's End of England, a wealthy farmer who had one only son called Jack. He was brisk and of a ready lively wit, so that whatever he could not perform by force and strength he completed by ingenious wit and policy. Never was any person heard of that could worst him, and he very often even baffled the learned by his sharp and ready invention.

      *

      In those days the Mount of Cornwall was kept by a huge and monstrous giant of eighteen feet in height, and about three yards in compass, of a fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the neighbouring towns and villages. He lived in a cave in the midst of the Mount, and would not suffer any one else to live near him. His food was other men's cattle, which often became his prey, for whensoever he wanted food he would wade over to the main-land, where he would furnish himself with whatever came in his way. The good folk, at his approach, forsook their habitations, while he seized on their cattle, making nothing of carrying half-a-dozen oxen on his back at a time; and as for their sheep and hogs, he would tie them round his waist like a bunch of bandoliers. This course he had followed for many years, so that all Cornwall was impoverished by his depredations.

      One day Jack, happening to be present at the town hall when the magistrates were sitting in council about the giant, asked what reward would be given to the person who destroyed him. The giant's treasure, they said, was the recompense. Quoth Jack, Then let me undertake it.

      So he furnished himself with a horn, shovel, and pickaxe, and went over to the Mount in the beginning of a dark winter's evening, when he fell to work, and before morning had dug a pit twenty-two feet deep, and nearly as broad, covering it over with long sticks and straw. Then strewing a little mould upon it, it appeared like plain ground. This completed, Jack placed himself on the contrary side of the pit, fartherest from the giant's lodging, and, just at the break of day, he put the horn to his mouth, and blew, Tantivy, Tantivy. This unexpected noise aroused the giant, who rushed from his cave, crying: You incorrigible villain, are you come here to disturb my rest? You shall pay dearly for this. Satisfaction I will have, and this it shall be, I will take you whole and broil you for breakfast, which he had no sooner uttered, than tumbling into the pit, he made the very foundations of the Mount to shake. Oh, giant, quoth Jack, where are you now? Oh faith, you are gotten now into Lob's Pound, where I will surely plague you for your threatening words: what do you think now of broiling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack? Thus having tantalised the giant for a while, he gave him a most weighty knock with his pickaxe on the very crown of his head, and killed him on the spot.

      This done, Jack filled up the pit with earth, and went to search the cave, which he found contained much treasure. When the magistrates heard of this, they made a declaration he should henceforth be termed Jack the Giant-Killer, and presented him with a sword and an embroidered belt, on which were written these words in letters of gold--

      "Here's the right valiant Cornish man,

      Who slew the giant Cormelian."

      The news of Jack's victory soon spread over all the West of England, so that another giant, named Blunderbore, hearing of it, vowed to be revenged on the little hero, if ever it was his fortune to light on him. This giant was the lord of an enchanted castle situated in the midst of a lonesome wood. Now Jack, about four months afterwards, walking near this wood in his journey to Wales, being weary, seated himself near a pleasant fountain and fell fast asleep. While he was enjoying his repose, the giant, coming for water, there discovered him, and knew him to be the far-famed Jack, by the lines written on the belt. Without ado, he took Jack on his shoulders and carried him towards his enchanted castle. Now, as they passed through a thicket, the rustling of the boughs awakened Jack, who was strangely surprised to find himself in the clutches of the giant. His terror was not yet begun, for on entering the castle, he saw the ground strewed with human bones, the giant telling him his own would ere long increase them. After this the giant locked poor Jack in an immense chamber, leaving him there while he went to fetch another giant living in the same wood to share in Jack's destruction. While he was gone, dreadful shrieks and lamentations affrighted Jack, especially a voice which continually cried--

      "Do what you can to get away,

      Or you'll become the giant's prey;

      He's gone to fetch his brother, who

      Will kill, likewise devour you too."

      This dreadful noise had almost distracted Jack, who, going to the window, beheld afar off the two giants coming towards the castle. Now, quoth Jack to himself, my death or my deliverance is at hand. Now, there were strong cords in a corner of the room in which Jack was, and two of these he took, and made a strong noose at the end; and while the giants were unlocking the iron gate of the castle he threw the ropes over each of their heads. Then drawing the other ends across a beam, and pulling with all his might, he throttled them. Then, seeing they were black in the face, and sliding down the rope, he came to their heads, when they could not defend themselves, and drawing his sword, slew them both. Then, taking the giant's keys, and unlocking the rooms, he found three fair ladies tied by the hair of their heads, almost starved to death. Sweet ladies, quoth Jack, I have destroyed this monster and his brutish brother, and obtained your liberties. This said, he presented them with the keys, and so proceeded on his journey to Wales. Having but little money, Jack found it well to make the best of his way by travelling as fast as he could, but losing his road, he was benighted, and could not get a place of entertainment until, coming into a narrow valley, he found a large house, and by reason of his present needs took courage to knock at the gate. But what was his surprise when there came forth a monstrous giant with two heads; yet he did not appear so fiery as the others were, for he was a Welsh giant, and what he did was by private and secret malice under the false show of friendship. Jack, having told his condition to the giant, was shown into a bedroom, where, in the dead of night, he heard his host in another apartment muttering these words--

      "Though here you lodge with me this night,

      You shall not see the morning light:

      My club shall dash your brains outright!"

      Say'st thou so, quoth Jack; that is like one of your Welsh tricks, yet I hope to be cunning enough for you. Then, getting out of bed, he laid a billet in the bed in his stead, and hid himself in a corner of the room. At the dead time of the night in came the Welsh giant, who struck several heavy blows on the bed with his club, thinking he had broken every bone in Jack's skin. The next morning Jack, laughing in his sleeve, gave him hearty thanks for his night's lodging. How have you rested? quoth the giant; did you not feel anything in the night? No, quoth Jack, nothing but a rat, which gave me two or three slaps with her tail With that, greatly wondering, the giant led Jack to breakfast, bringing him a bowl containing four gallons of hasty pudding. Being loath to let the giant think it too much for him, Jack put a large leather bag under his loose coat, in such a way that he could convey the pudding into it without its being perceived. Then, telling the giant he would show him a trick, taking a knife, Jack ripped open the bag, and out came all the hasty pudding. Whereupon, saying, Odds splutters, hur can do that trick hurself, the monster took the knife, and ripping open his belly, fell down dead.

      Now, it fell in these days that King Arthur's only son requested his father to furnish him with a large sum of money, in order that he might go and seek his fortune in the principality of Wales, where lived a beautiful lady possessed with seven evil spirits. The king did his best to persuade his son from it, but in vain; so at last granted the request, and the prince set out with two horses, one loaded with money, the other for himself to ride upon. Now, after several days' travel, he came to a market-town in Wales, where he beheld a vast concourse of people gathered together. The prince demanded the reason of it, and was told that they had arrested a corpse for several large sums of money which the deceased owed when he died. The prince replied that it was a pity creditors should be so cruel, and said, Go bury the dead, and let his creditors come to my lodging, and there their debts shall be discharged. They accordingly came, but in such great numbers that before night he had almost left himself moneyless.

      Now Jack the Giant-Killer, coming that way, was so taken with the generosity of the prince, that he desired to be his servant. This being agreed upon, the next morning they set forward on their journey together, when, as they were riding out of the town, an old woman called after the prince, saying, He has owed me twopence these seven years; pray pay me as well as the rest, Putting his hand to his pocket, the prince gave the woman all he had left, so that after their day's refreshment, which cost what small spell Jack had by him, they were without a penny between them. When the sun began to grow low, the king's son said, Jack, since we have no money, where can we lodge this night? But Jack replied, Master, we'll do well enough for I have an uncle lives within two miles of this place; he is a huge and monstrous giant with three heads; he'll fight five hundred men in armour, and make them to fly before him. Alas! quoth the prince, what shall we do there? He'll certainly chop us up at a mouthful. Nay, we are scarce enough to fill one of his hollow teeth! It is no matter for that, quoth Jack; I myself will go before and prepare the way for you; therefore tarry and wait till I return. Jack then rode away full speed, and coming to the gate of the castle, he knocked so loud that he made the neighbouring hills resound. The giant roared out at this like thunder, Who's there? He was answered, None but your poor Cousin Jack. Quoth he, What news with my poor Cousin Jack? He replied, Dear uncle, heavy news, God wot! Prithee, quoth the giant, what heavy news can come to me? I am a giant with three heads, and besides thou knowest I can fight five hundred men in armour, and make them fly like chaff before the wind. Oh, but, quoth Jack, here's the king's son a-coming with a thousand men in armour to kill you and destroy all that you have! Oh, Cousin Jack, said the giant, 'this is heavy news indeed! I will immediately run and hide myself and thou shalt lock, bolt, and bar me in, and keep the keys until the prince is gone. Having secured the giant, Jack fetched his master, when they made themselves heartily merry whilst the poor giant laid trembling in a vault under the ground.

      Early in the morning Jack furnished his master with a fresh supply of gold and silver, and then sent him three miles forward on his journey, at which time the prince was pretty well out of the smell of the giant. Jack then returned, and let the giant out of the vault, who asked what he should give him for keeping the castle from destruction. Why, quoth Jack, I desire nothing but the old coat and cap, together with the old rusty sword and slippers which are at your bed's head. Quoth the giant, Thou shalt have them; and pray keep them for my sake, for they are things of excellent use. The coat will keep you invisible, the cap will furnish you with knowledge, the sword cuts asunder whatever you strike, and the shoes are of extraordinary swiftness, These may be serviceable to you, therefore take them with all my heart. Taking them, Jack thanked his uncle, and then having overtaken his master, they quickly arrived at the house of the lady the prince sought, who, finding the prince to be a suitor, prepared a splendid banquet for him. After the repast was concluded, she wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, saying, You must show me that handkerchief to-morrow morning, or else you will lose your head. With that she put it in her bosom. The prince went to bed in great sorrow, but Jack's cap of knowledge instructed him how it was to be obtained. In the middle of the night she called upon her familiar spirit to carry her to Lucifer. But Jack put on his coat of darkness and his shoes of swiftness, and was there as soon as her. When she entered the place of the evil one, she gave the handkerchief to old Lucifer, who laid it upon a shelf, whence Jack took it and brought. it to his master, who showed it to the lady the next day, and so saved his life. On that day, she saluted the prince, telling him he must show her the lips to-morrow morning that she kissed last night, or lose his head. Ah, he replied, if you kiss none but mine, I will That is neither here nor there, said she; if you do not, death's your portion! At midnight she went as before, and was angry with old Lucifer for letting the handkerchief go. But now, quoth she I will be too hard for the king's son, for I will kiss thee, and he is to show me thy lips. Which she did, and Jack, who was standing by, cut off the devil's head and brought it under his invisible coat to his master, who the next morning pulled it out by the horns before the lady. Thus broke, the enchantment and the evil spirit left her, and she appeared in all her beauty. They were married the next morning, and soon after went to the court of King Arthur, where Jack, for his many great exploits, was made one of the Knights of the Round Table.

      Having been successful in all his undertakings, Jack resolved not to remain idle, but to perform what services he could for the honour of his king and country, and besought King Arthur to fit him out with a horse and money to enable him to travel in search of strange and new adventures. For, said he, there are many giants yet living in the remotest part of Wales, to the unspeakable damage of your majesty's liege subjects; wherefore, may it please you to encourage me, I do not doubt but in a short time to cut them off root and branch, and so rid all the realm of those giants and monsters of nature. When the king had heard this noble request, he furnished Jack with all necessaries, and Jack started on his pursuit, taking with him the cap of knowledge, sword of sharpness, shoes of swiftness, and invisible coat, the better to complete the dangerous enterprises which now lay before him.

      Jack travelled over vast hills and wonderful mountains, and on the third day came to a large wood, which he had no sooner entered than he heard dreadful shrieks and cries. Casting his eyes round, he beheld with terror a huge giant dragging along a fair lady and a knight by the hair of their heads, with as much ease as if they had been a pair of gloves. At this sight Tack shed tears of pitv. and then. alighting from his horse, he put on his invisible coat, and taking with him his sword of sharpness, at length with a swinging stroke cut off both the giant's legs below the knee, so that his fall made the trees to tremble. At this the courteous knight and his fair lady, after returning Jack their hearty thanks, invited him home, there to refresh his strength after the frightful encounter, and receive some ample reward for his good services. But Jack vowed he would not rest until he had found out the giant's den. The knight, hearing this, was very sorrowful, and replied, Noble stranger, it is too much to run a second risk; this monster lived in a den under yonder mountain, with a brother more fierce and fiery than himself. Therefore, if you should go thither, and perish in the attempt, it would be a heartbreaking to me and my lady. Let me persuade you to go with us, and desist from any further pursuit. Nay, quoth Jack, were there twenty, not one should escape my fury. But when I have finished my task, I will come and pay my respects to you.

      Jack had not ridden more than a mile and a half; when the cave mentioned by the knight appeared to view, near the entrance of which be beheld the giant sitting upon a block of timber, with a knotted iron club by his side, waiting, as he supposed, for his brother's return with his barbarous prey. His goggle eyes were like flames of fire, his countenance grim and ugly, and his cheeks like a couple of large flitches of bacon, while the bristles of his beard resembled rods of iron wire, and the locks that hung down upon his brawny shoulders were like curled snakes or hissing adders. Jack alighted from his horse, and, putting on the coat of darkness, approached near the giant, and said softly, Oh! are you there? It will not be long ere I shall take you fast by the beard. The giant all this while could not see him, on account of his invisible coat, so that Jack, coming up close to the monster, struck a blow with his sword at his bead, but, missing his aim, he cut off the nose instead. At this, the giant roared like claps of thunder, and began to lay

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