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.

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,

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;

And there he saw the Jew's daughter
At the window looking out.

"Throw down the ba', ye Jew's daughter, Throw down the ba' to me!"

"Never a bit," says the Jew's daughter, "Till up to me come ye."

"How will I come up? How can I come up?

How can I come to thee?

For as ye did to my auld father,

The same ye'll do to me."

She's gane till her father's garden,

And pu'd an apple, red and green; 'Twas a' to wyle him, sweet Sir Hugh,

And to entice him in.

She's led him in through ae dark door,

And sae has she thro' nine;

She's laid him on a dressing table,

And stickit him like a swine.

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25

And first came out the thick, thick blood,

And syne came out the thin;

And syne came out the bonny heart's blood; There was nae mair within.

She's row'd him in a cake o' lead,

Bade him lie still and sleep;

She's thrown him in Our Lady's draw well, Was fifty fathom deep.

When bells were rung, and mass was sung, And a' the bairns came hame,

When every lady gat hame her son,

The Lady Maisry gat nane.

She's ta'en her mantle her about,

Her coffer by the hand;

And she's gane out to seek her son,
And wander'd o'er the land.

She's doen her to the Jew's castell,
Where a' were fast asleep;

"Gin ye be there, my sweet Sir Hugh,
I pray you to me speak."

She's doen her to the Jew's garden,

Thought he had been gathering fruit; "Gin ye be there, my sweet Sir Hugh, I pray you to me speak."

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40

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50

She near'd Our Lady's deep draw-well,
Was fifty fathom deep;

"Whare'er ye be, my sweet Sir Hugh,

I pray you to me speak."

"Gae hame, gae hame, my mither dear;
Prepare my winding sheet;

And, at the back o' merry Lincoln,
The morn I will you meet."

Now Lady Maisry is gane hame;
Made him a winding sheet;
And, at the back o' merry Lincoln,
The dead corpse did her meet.

And a' the bells o' merry Lincoln,

Without men's hands were rung; And a' the books o' merry Lincoln,

Were read without man's tongue; And ne'er was such a burial

Sin Adam's days begun.

SIR HUGH.

From Herd's Scottish Songs, i. 157.

A' the boys of merry Linkim
War playing at the ba',

An

up

it stands him sweet Sir Hugh, The flower among them a'.

He keppit the ba' than wi' his foot,
And catcht it wi' his knee,
And even in at the Jew's window,
He gart the bonny ba' flee.

"Cast out the ba' to me, fair maid,

Cast out the ba' to me."

"Ah never a bit of it," she says,

"Till ye come up to me.

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"Come up, sweet Hugh, come up, dear Hugh,

Come up and get the ba';

"I winna come, I

mayna come,

Without my bonny boys a'."

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