Letters on demonology and witchcraft. Addressed to J. G. Lockhart, Esq / by Sir Walter Scott, Bart.
- Walter Scott
- Date:
- 1831
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Letters on demonology and witchcraft. Addressed to J. G. Lockhart, Esq / by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![chai’acter. The verses are curious as well as pictu- resque, and may go some length to establish the existence of doubts concerning- the general belief in fairies among- the well instructed in the time of Edward III. The fairies of whom the bard of Woodstock talks, are, it will be observed, the ancient Celtic breed, and he seems to refer for the authorities of his tale to Bretagne, or Armorica, a g-enuine Celtic colony. “ In old time of the King Artour, Of whicii that Bretons sj)eken great honour, All was this land fulfilled of faerie; The Elf (nieen, with her joly company, ])anc(‘d full oft in many a grene mead. This was the old ojtinion, as I rede— I speake of many hundred years ago, But now can no man see no elves mo. I’or now the great charity and jn-ayers Of limitoiirs,* and other holy freres, 'I'hat searchen every land and every stream. As thick as motes in the sunne-heam. Blessing halls, chambers, kitchenes, and boures. Cities and biirghes, castles high and towers, Thropes and barnes, sheep-pens and dairies. This maketh that there ben no fairies. For there as wont to walken was an elf, Thei-e walketh now thelimitour himself, In under nichtes and in morwenings. And saith his matins and his holy things. As he goeth in his limitation. Women may now go safely tip and doun; In every bush, and under every tree. There is no other incubus than he. And he ne will don them no dishonour.”f - * Friars limited to beg within a certain district, t Wife of Rath’s Talc.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22029667_0197.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
