paring to fall, with her leaden weight upon his breast. In an instant, he leapt towards her, seized her with both his hands by the hair, and held her with convulsive strength. At the same moment, he vociferated to his mother, who slept in an adjoining room," Mother, I have caught the hag,-bring me a light." The mother, in certain faith, flew down stairs for a candle.

Meanwhile, the contest continued with furious violence between the son and hag, who dragged him out of bed; and the struggle was then continued on the floor, with unabated rage, The candle was now kindled; but on the very first glimmer of its rays on the stair-case, the hag, with a supernatural force, tore herself from his grasp, and vanished like lightning from his eager eyes. He was found by his mother standing on the floor of the chamber, almost breathless with the efforts he had used, and with both his hands full of hair,

On hearing the story, I eagerly inquired for the locks of hair. He replied, without the slightest surprise or embarrassment: "Ay!I was much to blame for not keeping the hair: for that would have identified her person beyond dispute. But in the hurry of my feelings,

I let it drop on the floor; and she took especial care I should never see it more. But I so overhauled her, on this occasion, that she returned no more to torment me. It is curious, (said he,) that while I had her in my grasp, and was struggling with her, tho' I felt convinced who she must be, yet her breath, and the whole of her person, appeared to me like those of a blooming young woman."

The person to whom this very singular incident happened is still alive. I have heard the substance of the story, more than once, from his own mouth, and can therefore vouch for the truth of the effect, whatever we may think of the cause.

On the different Languages of the Inhabitants of Britain, Chap. 59, fol. 54.

As it is knowen how many manner people ben in this island, there ben also many languages. Netheless, Welchmen and Scots that ben not medled' with other nations, keep nigh yet their first language and speech; but yet the Scots that were sometime confederate and dwelled with Picts, draw somewhat after their speech. But the Flemmings that dwell in the west side of Wales,

I mixed.

have left their strange speech, and speaken like the Saxons. Also Englishmen, tho' they had fro the beginning three manner speeches, southern, northern, and middle speech, in the middle of the land, as they come of three manner people of Germania, netheless, by commixyon' and medling first with Danes, and afterwards with Normans, in many things the country language is appayreds. For some use strarge wlaffynge, chythring, harrying, and grysbytinge. This appairing of the language cometh of two things; one is by cause that children that goon to school, learn to speak first English, and then ben compelled to construe their lessons in French; and that have ben used syn the Normans came into England. Also gentlemen's children ben learned and taught from their youth to speak French; and uplandish men will counterfeit and liken themselves unto gentlemen, and aren besy to speak French for to be more set by. Wherefore it is said by a common proverb, “ Jack would be a gentleman, if he could speak French."

Trevisa proceeds:

This manner was much used before the great death; but syth it is some deal changed: for Sir John Cornwall, a master of grammar, changed the teaching in grammar school, and construction of French into English; and other schoolmasters use

1 commixture. 2 mingling. 3 impaired. 4 impairing. 5 go. 6 since. 7 are busy.

the same way now, in the year of our Lord 1365, the 9th year of king Richard II. and leave all French in schools, and use all construction in English; wherein they have advantage one way, that is, that they learn to sooner their grammar; and in other, disadvantage: for now they learn no French, ne con none; which is hurt to them that shall pass the sea. And also gentlemen have much left to teach their children to speak French.

Ranulph. It seemeth a great wonder that Englishmen have so great diversity in their own language in sound and in speaking of it, which is all in one island. And the language of Normandy is comen out of another land, and hath one manner sound among all men that speaketh it in England: for a man of Kent, southern, western, and northern men, speaken French all like in sound and speech; but they cannot speak their English so.

3

Trevisa. Netheless, there is as many divers manners of French in the royalme of France, as is divers English in the royalme of England.

R. Also of the foresaid tongue, which is departeda in three, is great wonder: for men of the east with men of the west, accorden better in sounding of their speech, than men of the north with men of the south. Therefore it is, that men of Mercii, that ben of middle

1 for the sooner.

2 know. 3 realm. 4 divided.

England, as it were partners with the ends, understanden better the side languages, northern and southern, than northern and southern understandeth either other,

W. All the languages of the Northumbres, and especially at York, is so sharp slytting, frotynge and unshape, that we southern men may unneth understanden that language. I suppose the cause be, that they be nigh to the aliens that speak strangely. And also by cause that the kings of England abide and dwell more in the south country, than in the north country. The cause why they abide more in the south country than in the north country, is by cause there is better corn land, moo1 people, moo noble cities, and moo profitable havens in the south country than in the north.

Of the Manners of this (the Welch) nation. Chap. 60.

For the manners and the doing of Welchmen and of Scots ben tofore somewhat declared; now I purpose to tell and declare the manners and the conditions of the medlyd people of England. But the Flemmings that ben in the west side of Wales ben now turned as they were English, because they