Yorkshire Legends and Traditions. By the Rev. Thomas Parkin- non,
Second Second Serios. (Elliot Stook.)—Mr. Parkinson does not always distinguish he accurately as lie might between history and the "legends and traditions" which he makes his special subject. 'The story of Caractacus is history ; the story of Henry VI. in Craven, where the King is said to have discovered a spring, and to have had a bath constructed to receive its water, till called "( King Henry's Well," is legend. And he makes up his volume with some things which might easily be found elsewhere. The ballad of "The Nute Browne Mayde " is scarcely "too little known." Next to Chevy Chaco," it is as great a favourite as any. But there is much interesting matter in the book, as, e.g., "Legends and Traditions concerning Robin Hood and his Mon." Curious, too, but, to revert to our criticism, neither a " tradition " nor a "legend," is "The Story of Witchcraft in Yorkshire in the year 1021," It is sober history, wild as are the fancies on which it was built. The most curious thing about this story is, that it is told, and that with an air of complete belief, by a man of Unusual intelligence and culture, Thomas Fairfax, the translator of Tasso.
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