I have only to add that the jolly Black Bear has been restored to his

predominance over bowl and bottle in the village of Cumnor.

Note 2. Ch. XIII.--LEGEND OF WAYLAND SMITH.

The great defeat given by Alfred to the Danish invaders is said by Mr.

Gough to have taken place near Ashdown, in Berkshire. "The burial

place of Baereg, the Danish chief, who was slain in this fight, is

distinguished by a parcel of stones, less than a mile from the hill, set

on edge, enclosing a piece of ground somewhat raised. On the east side

of the southern extremity stand three squarish flat stones, of about

four or five feet over either way, supporting a fourth, and now called

by the vulgar WAYLAND SMITH, from an idle tradition about an invisible

smith replacing lost horse-shoes there."--GOUGH'S edition of CAMDEN'S

BRITANNIA, vol.i., p. 221.

The popular belief still retains memory of this wild legend, which,

connected as it is with the site of a Danish sepulchre, may have arisen

from some legend concerning the northern Duergar, who resided in the

rocks, and were cunning workers in steel and iron. It was believed that

Wayland Smith's fee was sixpence, and that, unlike other workmen, he was

offended if more was offered. Of late his offices have been again called

to memory; but fiction has in this, as in other cases, taken the liberty

to pillage the stores of oral tradition. This monument must be very

ancient, for it has been kindly pointed out to me that it is referred to

in an ancient Saxon charter as a landmark. The monument has been of late

cleared out, and made considerably more conspicuous.

Note 3. Ch. XIV.--LEICESTER AND SUSSEX.

Naunton gives us numerous and curious particulars of the jealous

struggle which took place between Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex, and the

rising favourite Leicester. The former, when on his deathbed, predicted

to his followers that after his death the gipsy (so he called Leicester,

from his dark complexion) would prove too many for them.

Note 4. Ch. XIV.--SIR WALTER RALEIGH.

Among the attendants and adherents of Sussex, we have ventured to

introduce the celebrated Raleigh, in the dawn of his court favour.

In Aubrey's Correspondence there are some curious particulars of Sir

Walter Raleigh. "He was a tall, handsome, bold man; but his naeve was

that he was damnably proud. Old Sir Robert Harley of Brampton Brian

Castle, who knew him, would say it was a great question who was the

proudest, Sir Walter or Sir Thomas Overbury; but the difference that

was, was judged in Sir Thomas's side. In the great parlour at Downton,

at Mr. Raleigh's, is a good piece, an original of Sir Walter, in a white

satin doublet, all embroidered with rich pearls, and a mighty rich chain

of great pearls about his neck. The old servants have told me that

the real pearls were near as big as the painted ones. He had a

most remarkable aspect, an exceeding high forehead, long-faced, and

sour-eyelidded. A rebus is added to this purpose:-




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