THE LEGENDARY LORE OF THE HOLY WELLS OF ENGLAND: INCLUDING Rivers, Lakes, Fountains, and Springs. COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED BY CURIOUS ORIGINAL WOODCUTS. BY ROBERT CHARLES HOPE, F.S.A., F.R.S.L., PETERHOUSE, CAMBRIDGE; LINCOLN'S INN; MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, " LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1893. PREFACE. T HIS collection of traditionary lore connected with the Holy first systematic attempt made. It has been said there is no book in any language which treats of Holy Wells, except in a most fragmentary and discursive manner. It is hoped, therefore, that this may prove the foundation of an exhaustive work, at some future date, by a more competent hand. The subject is almost inexhaustible, and, at the same time, a most interesting one. There is probably no superstition of bygone days that has held the minds of men more tenaciously than that of well-worship in its broadest sense, "a worship simple and more dignified than a senseless crouching before idols." An honest endeavour has been made to render the work as accurate as possible, and to give the source of each account, where such could be ascertained. That sins of omission and of commission may herein be found it is not denied, but they are, it is hoped, few and far between. No attempt has been made at scientific classification or arrangement other than the placing of the wells under their respective counties. Until those of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland have been collected, such a course would seem premature. Should this work be favourably received, it is proposed to issue at no distant date similar collections of the Holy Wells, etc., in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The writer will be very grateful for any traditions or superstitions connected therewith, also any photographs or sketches illustrating the same for use and incorporation in the collections. A portion of the legends appeared from time to time in the pages of the Antiquary; these have been revised and largely GR 690 H5 |