pt such a coil in the
country.... They [our mothers' maids] have so fraid us with bull-beggars,
spirits, witches, urchins, elves, hags, fairies, satyrs, pans, fauns,
sylens, Kit with the canstick[2], tritons, centaurs, dwarfs, giants, imps,
calkers, conjurors, nymphs, changelings, Incubus, Robin Goodfellow, the
spoorn, the mare, the man in the oak, the hell-wain, the fire-drake, the
puckle, Tom Thumb, hobgoblin, Tom tumbler, boneless, and other such beings,
that we are afraid of our own shadows."

Book XIII, chap. xix. [To set an horse's or an ass's head on a man's neck
and shoulders.] (See p. 30.)

The words used in such case are uncertain, and to be recited at the
pleasure of the witch or cozener. But at the conclusion of this, cut off
the head of a horse or an ass (before they be dead, otherwise the virtue or
strength thereof will be the less effectual), and make an earthen vessel of
fit capacity to contain the same, and let it be filled with the oil and fat
thereof, cover it close, and daub it over with loam; let it boil over a
soft fire three days continually, that the flesh boiled may run into oil,
so as the bare bones may be seen; beat the hair into powder, and mingle the
same with the oil; and anoint the heads of the standers by, and they shall
seem to have horses' or asses' heads.

Discourse upon Devils and Spirits, chap. xi.

"The Rabbins and, namely, Rabbi Abraham, writing upon the second of
Genesis, do say that God made the fairies, bugs, Incubus, Robin Goodfellow,
and other familiar or domestic spirits and devils on the Friday; and being
prevented with the evening of the Sabbath, finished them not, but left them
unperfect; and that therefore, that ever since they use to fly the holiness
of the Sabbath, seeking dark holes in mountains and woods, wherein they
hide themselves till the end of the Sabbath, and then come abroad to
trouble and molest men."

Discourse, &c., chap. xxi.

"_Virunculi terrei_ are such as was Robin Goodfellow, that would supply the
office of servants--specially of maids: as to make a fire in the morning,
sweep the house, grind mustard and malt, draw water, &c.; these also rumble
in houses, draw latches, go up and down stairs, &c.... There go as many
tales upon this Hudgin[3] in some parts of Germany, as there did in England
of Robin Goodfellow."

* * * * *

STRANGE FARLIES

Strange farlies[1] fathers told
Of fiends and hags of hell;
A