with a tremendous hiss. Brandimarte, with much reluctance, fulfils the bizarre conditions of the adventure; and the monster is instantly changed into a beautiful Fairy, who loads her deliverer with benefits. For the satisfaction of those, who may wish to compare the tale of the Italian poet with that of Kempion, a part of the original of Boiardo is given below. *

There is a ballad, somewhat resembling Kempion, called the Laidley Worm of Spindleston-heuch, which is very popular upon the borders; but, having been often published, it was thought unnecessary to insert it in this collection. The most common version was either entirely composed, or re-written, by the Reverend Mr Lamb, of Norham.

A similar tradition is, by Heywood and Delrio, said to have existed at Basil. A tailor, in an adventurous mood, chose to descend into an obscure cavern, in the vicinity of the city. After many windings, he came to an iron door, through which he passed into a splendid chamber. Here he found, seated upon a stately throne, a lady, whose countenance was surprisingly beautiful, but whose shape terminated in a dragon's train, which warped around the chair on which she was placed. Before her stood a brazen chest, trebly barred and bolted; at each end of which lay couched a huge black ban-dog, who rose up, as if to tear the intruder in pieces. But the lady appeased them; and, opening the chest, displayed an immense treasure, out of which she bestowed upon the visitor some small

"Come? non vedi, che i denti degrigna,
Che pajon fatti a posta a spiccar' nasi,
E fammi un certo viso de matrigna,"
Disse il Guerrier, " ch'io me spavento quassi."
" Anzi t' invita con faccia benigna;"
Disse la Donna, "e molti altri rimasi
Per vilta sono a questa sepolture:
Or la t' accosta, e non aver paura."

Il cavalier s' accosta, ma di passo,
Che troppo grato quel baciar non gli era,
Verso la serpe chinandosi basso,
Gli parvo tanto orrenda, e tanto fera,
Che venne in viso freddo, com' un sasso;
E disse "si fortuna vuol' ch'io pera,

Fia tanto un altra volta, quanto addeso
Ma cagion dar non me ne voglio io stesso."

:

pieces of money, informing him, that she was enchanted by her step-dame, but should recover her natural shape, on being kissed thrice by a mortal. The tailor assayed to fulfil the conditions of the adventure; but her face assumed such an altered, wild, and grim expression, that his courage failed, and he was fain to fly from the place. A kinsman of his, some years after, penetrated into the cavern, with the purpose of repairing a desperate fortune. But, finding nothing but dead men's bones, he ran mad, and died. Sir John Mandeville tells a similar story of a Grecian island.

There are numerous traditions, upon the borders, concerning huge and destructive snakes, and also of a poisonous reptile called a man-keeper; although the common adder, and blind worm, are the only reptiles of that genus now known to haunt our wilds. Whether it be possible, that, at an early period, before the country was drained, and cleared of wood, serpents of a larger size may have existed, is a question which the editor leaves to the naturalist. But, not to mention the fabulous dragon, slain in Northumberland by Sir Bevis, the fame still survives of many a preux chevalier, supposed to have distinguished himself by similar atchievements.

The manor of Sockburne, in the bishopric of Durham, anciently the seat of the family of Conyers, or Cogniers, is held of the bishop by the service of presenting, or showing to him, upon his first entrance into his diocese, an an

Punto il Guerrier de questi agre parole,
Torna de nuovo ver la sepoltura,
Tinsegli in rose il color de viole,

In vergogna mutata la paura :

Pur stando ancor' fra due, vuole, e non vuole,

Un pensier lo spaventa, un l'assicura

Al fin tra l'animoso, e'l disperato,

A lei s'accosta, ed halle un bacio dato.

Un ghiaccio proprio gli parse a toccare

La bocca, che parea prima di foco :
La serpe se commincia a tramutare
E diventa donzella a poco a poco:
Febosilla costei si fa chiamare,
Un fata, che fece quel bel loco,
E quel giardino, e quella sepoltura,
Ove gran tempo e stato in pena dura, &c.

tique sword, or faulchion. The origin of this peculiar service is thus stated in Beckwith's edition of Blount's Ancient Tenures, p. 200.

"Sir Edward Blackett (the proprietor of the manor) " now represents the person of Sir John Conyers, who, as "tradition says, in the fields of Sockburne, slew, with this "faulchion, a monstrous creature, a dragon, a worm, or "flying serpent, that devoured men, women, and chil"dren. The then owner of Sockburne, as a reward for " his bravery, gave him the manor, with its appurtenances, "to hold for ever, on condition that he meets the lord "bishop of Durham, with this faulchion, on his first en"trance into his diocese, after his election to that see.

"And, in confirmation of this tradition, there is paint"ed, in a window of Sockburne church, the faulchion we "just now spoke of: and it is also cut in marble, upon the "tomb of the great ancestor of the Conyers', together "with a dog, and the monstrous worm, or serpent, lying "at his feet, of his own killing, of which the history of "the family gives the above account.

"When the bishop first comes into his diocese, he "crosses the river Tees, either at the ford at Nesham, "or Croft-bridge, where the counties of York and Dur"ham divide; at one of which places Sir Edward Blackett, " either in person, or by his representative, if the bishop "comes by Nesham, rides into the middle of the river "Tees, with the ancient faulchion drawn in his hand, or

upon the middle of Croft-bridge; and then presents the