say MM. Depping and Michel, "as we see from the Iliad, was the type of skilful artists. He forged metals, he fashioned the most precious works, he constructed arms and armour; he was a deity; mythology relates his cunning tricks. Moreover he was lame, maimed like Weland." A very ancient story of the Greek Vulcan is essentially identical with the Berkshire one of Wayland and his smithy. It is taken from the voyage of Pytheas, who lived in the 4th century B.C., probably in the time of Alexander the Great. Vulcan, according to this story, had his chief abode and workshop in the Lipari Isles; and whoever, it was said, deposited a piece of unwrought iron at a certain spot, with the money for the labour, on coming the following day, received for it a sword or whatever else he desired.1 Though perhaps the most important, Weland is not the only supernatural or unearthly being by whom sepulchral cairns or chambers have been tenanted, by mediæval, or perhaps even more primitive, superstition. "Hob Hurst's House," in Derbyshire, is a barrow of curious form, described by the late Mr. Bateman; 2 and "Obtrush Roque" is a cairn, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, surrounded by two circles of stones and containing a central cist.3 Both derive their name from Hob-thrust, i.e. Hob o' the Hurst, a spirit supposed to haunt woods, and doubtless a descendant and representative of some old pagan divinity of the groves. Not only was the Yorkshire cairn reputed to be haunted by the goblin, but by his troublesome visits an honest farmer of Farndale was nearly 1 This curious passage, from the lost work of the famous Greek voyager of Massilia, is preserved by the Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, lib. iv., v. 761, It is not given by Depping, and was first quoted in English, in illustration of the Berkshire legend, by Price, ubi supra. 2 "Ten Year's Diggings," 1861, p. 87; where are figures of the mound and of the stone cist in its interior, which was uncovered by Mr. Bateman. Phillips's "Rivers, Mountains, &c., of Yorkshire," p. 210. See also "Gent. Mag.," December, 1861, p. 662. Keightley, "Fairy Mythology," 1828, vol. i., p. 223. Thorpe's "Northern Mythology," 1851, vol. ii., p. 161. The word ruck (pronounced rook) is in familiar use in the Dales district, and signifies a pile or heap; e.g. a ruck of turf, a ruck of stones. driven from his habitation. When his chattels were already in the cart, he was accosted in good Yorkshire, by a neighbour, with "I see you 're flitting." The reply came from Hob, out of the deep upright churn, "Aye, aye Georgie, we're flutting ye see." Upon which the farmer, concluding that change of abode would not quit him of the demon, turned his horse's head homeward.1 As Professor Phillips observes, "this story is in substance the same as that narrated on the Scottish Border, and in Scandinavia ; and may serve to show for how long a period and with what conformity, even to the play on the vowel, some traditions may be preserved in secluded districts." It is only necessary to add that the story of Wayland and his Smithy shows the importance, in connexion with the history of the ancient pagan belief of our country, of collecting and putting on record all local traditions-wherever found and however idle they may appear-before the progress of modern education and enlightenment shall have entirely eradicated them. Such legends belong to those "antiquities or remnants of history" to which Lord Bacon alludes, when he encourages "industrious persons, out of monuments, names, traditions, fragments of stories, and the like, to save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time." 1 Tennyson has adapted this story, in his poem of "Walking to the Mail." Erratum. Page 225, 5 lines from the bottom. for "1672," read “1692.” 334 Donations to the Museum and Library. The Council feel great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of the following Donations presented to the Society :— By M. BOUCHEr de Perthes, President of the Imperial Society of Emulation of Abbeville :-Memoirs of the Society 1857 to 1860, 1 thick vol., 8vo. Abbeville, 1861. By the ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS :-Papers read before the Institute during the Session 1861-3, 4to. List of Members, &c., 4to. The essentials of a healthy dwelling, and the extension of its benefits to the labouring population, by Henry Roberts, F.R.I.B.A., &c., 1862, Pamphlet 8vo. By HENRY HARROD, Esq., F.S.A., &c., Marlborough:-Gleanings among the Castles and Convents of Norfolk, by the Donor, vol. 8vo., Norwich, 1857. By LLEWELLYN JEWITT, Esq., F.S.A., &c., Derby :-The "Reliquary," No. vii., Derby, 1862, 8vo. By Mr. W. COVE KEMM, Amesbury:-Stone Celt found imbedded in the wall of a house at Amesbury. By Dr. THURNAM, F.S.A., Derizes :— "Examination of a Chambered Long Barrow at West Kennet, Wilts," by the Donor, (from the Archæologia, vol. Xxxviii,) 1860, 4to. By the Rev. W. C. LUKIS, F.S.A, Wath Rectory, Ripon :-A large collection of Rubbings from Monumental Brasses, including many examples from the Churches of Wiltshire. A most interesting series of objects from barrows in the neighbourhood of Collingbourne, investigated by Mr. Lukis, amongst which are two perfect specimens of Ancient British Urns, and an almost unique hammer head. Two cases of butterflies and moths. By WILLIAM LONG, Esq., M.A., Lansdown Place, Bath :-A handsomely framed portrait of Dr. Stukeley, engraved by J. Smith in 1721, from a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller. By C. ROACH SMITH, Esq., F.S.A., Strood, Kent :-" Illustrations of Roman London," by the Donor, London, 1859, 4to. Printed for the Subscribers, and not published. By J. YONGE AKERMAN, Esq., F.S.A., Abingdon ::-"Notes on the origin and history of the Bayonet," by the Donor, (from the Archæologia, vol. xxxviii.,) 1861, 4to. END OF VOL. VII. H. BULL, Printer and Publisher, Devizes. |