fair proportions, with an early mention of a Count Puck, by Bede, at South Cave, near Hull.

CHAP. VI. pp. 271-232. Investigation on the genuineness of the idols found at Prillwitz, in Mecklenburg, and particularly of the figure on the title-page, with Berstuck, a title, engraven in Runic characters on it: with the history and controversy as well as the literature it has given rise to important to substantiate and receive corroboration from the other facts and figures given in the work. The name of KRIVE, also on it, in Runes, is very remarkable, as the well-known designation of the high-priest of Heathen Prussia, according to the rhyming Chronicle of Jaroschin, and curiously coincides with the KOIFI of Bede for Northumberland, all but in the probable mistake of a copyist in a single letter. Another proof is, the letters on the hoof of the figure giving it the character of an amulet, or possibly passing to the Palladium, like an inscription on the hoof of a fatidical bronze equestrian statue at Constantinople, as described by Codinus-confirmations of the general sanctity of hoofs, subsequently transferred to the horse-shoe, still so frequent in all countries. The curious similarity of the Prilwitz idols with the Mexican deities at Palenque, Copan, &c., in their general appearance.

In conclusion, I have ventured to say, that to the question which Shakespeare addresses to Puck, through one of the fairies, as to his nature and

malicious freaks, the affirmative answer will be found fully applicable to this Mecklenburg figure :—

FAIRY.

Either I mistake your shape or making quite,
Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite,
Call'd Robin Goodfellow: are you not he?
That fright the maidens of the villagery:
Skim milk, and sometimes labour in the quern,
And bootless make the breathless housewife's churn;
And sometimes make the drink to bear no barm,
Mislead night wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those thus Hobgoblin call you, and sweet Puck;
You do their work, and they shall have good luck.
ARE YOU NOT HE?

I have undertaken, in this Second Volume, to offer additional proof to the above, from further considerations of our own vernacular, as well as continental superstitions, which I shall now proceed to perform. An Appendix will contain, as supplementary to these Volumes, considerations from the Language, Phrases, Plots of Plays, allusions to matters totally foreign to the native country of our great bard, that he must have passed a long time abroad to gain such intimate and personal knowledge of words and things so different from those at home, amongst which his resuscitation of Puck out of Robin Goodfellow, and the practices he attributes to the sprightly. sportive elf, will be a prominent feature.

CHAPTER VII.

Though Shakespeare asks, “What's in a name?"
As if cognomens all were much the same;
There's really a very great scope in it.

A name?—if the party had a voice,

What mortal would be a Bugg by choice?

T. HOOD's Rhymes for the Times,
New Monthly Mag., 1840.

Ir would be, therefore, almost certain, from the different examples already given, that "some burthen he beareth" (see the ancient ballad, vol. I. p. 230) is necessary to the compilation of genuine figures of a Puck. Independently, however, of the Thorn-bush, more especially mentioned at p. 226, this back burthen has frequently other forms, and it may have depended upon the taste of the designer, or a gradual departure from the more orthodox idea, how the load was varied. In the Greenwich bronze it is a Cupid, vide frontispiece, vol. I. in the Asellus, a kid, see vol. I. p. 239; which name, as before explained, curiously still retains the double signification of this animal and a fagot. A still more curious instance, however, occurs, of some historical value, in the neighbouring kingdom of France, and a remarkable illustration

EXPLANATION OF FRONTISPIECE.

11

of the Backberend, Häckelberend of Grimm (see vol. I. p. 72), and the Germans. When party and faction ran high against Henry III. of France, accusations were rife against him of sorcery and magic. Of these a suspicion at that period was sufficient to blast the character of the most exalted. In a pamphlet entitled Les Sorcelleries de Henri de Valois et les Oblations qu'il faisait au Diable dans les Bois de Vincennes (Didier Millot, 1589), we find the figures of the frontispiece to this Second Volume, which I owe to the kindness of a young French antiquary, of great industry and judgment, Mons. Léopold de Lisle, F.S.A., and member of many other learned bodies.

It was stated to have been part of a magical apparatus of the monarch, and drew forth from the priests opposed to him their most choice invectives:*

* A specimen of these diatribes may be found in the Journal des Choses memorables advenes durant toutes Regne de Henry III. (1621, p. 251.) "Le Mecredy pour des cendres Leucestre dit en son sermon qu'il ne prescheroit point, Evangile ce Caresme pour ce qu'elle estoit commune et que chacun le scavoit ; mais qu'il la vie gestes et faicts abominables de ce perfide tyrann Henry de Valois contre lequel disgorger une infinité des vilainies et injures disant qu'il invoquoit les diables. Et pour le faire ainsi croire le sot peuple tiroit de sa manche un des chandeliers du Roy que les vingt-seize avoient desrobé aux Capuchins auquel il y avait des Satyres engravés comme il y en a eu beaucoup des chandeliers lesquels il affirmoit etre les demons du Roi que ce miserable tyran disoit-il au peuple adoroit pour ses Dieux et s'en servoit en ses enchantemenos." So that it would appear the figures were only graven on the candlesticks, according to this ecclesiastic.

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ACCUSATION OF SORCERY.

"On a trouvé dernièrement au bois de Vincennes deux Satyres de la hauteur de quatre pieds. Ils étaient au devant d'une croix d'or au milieu de laquelle y avait enchassé du bois de la vraie croix de notre Seigneur Jesus Christ. Les politiques disent que c'etaient des chandeliers. Ce que fait croire le contraire c'est que dans les vases il n'y avait pas d'aiguille qui passât pour y mettre un cierge ou une petite chandelle: joint qu'ils tournaient le deriere a la ditte vraie croix et que deux anges ou deux simples chandeliers y eussent été plus decens que ces satyres estimés par les paiens entre les deux des forêts ou l'oú tient que les mauvais esprits se trouvent plutôt qu'en autres lieux, les monstres diaboliques ont été vus par messieurs de la ville."

Whether this and similar accusations* ended at last in instigating the Dominican Monk, Clement,

* How much party spirit and the credulity of the age was inclined to listen to the most absurd and improbable belief of magical arts, especially against members of the House of Valois opposed to the Ligne and the Guises, the following extract from a serious English publication, entitled The Secret History of France for the last Century (London: A. Bell, 1714), may be given as a specimen. It is directed against Catharine de Medici, the mother, as will be seen, of the Henry III. of the text. There is, however, no doubt of her addiction to astrology, the characteristic of her age, as her residence at Chaumont sur Loire still witnesses. (Millin Voy. sur Midi, iv. 780.)

"In the first Civil War, when the Prince of Condé was, in all appearance, likely to prevail, and Catharine was thought to be very near the end of her regency during the young king's minority, she was known to have been, for two days together, retired to her closet, without admitting her menial servants to her presence. Some few days after, having called for Monsieur de Mesme, one of the long robe, and always firm to her interest, she delivered him a steel box fast locked, to whom she said, giving him the key, 'That in respect she knew not what might come to be her fortune amidst those intestine broils that then shook France, she had thought fit to inclose a thing of great value within