Discourse upon Devils and Spirits, chap. xi.
"The Rabbins and, namely, Rabbi Abraham, writing upon the second of
Genesis, do say that God made the fairies, bugs, Incubus, Robin Goodfellow,
and other familiar or domestic spirits and devils on the Friday; and being
prevented with the evening of the Sabbath, finished them not, but left them
unperfect; and that therefore, that ever since they use to fly the holiness
of the Sabbath, seeking dark holes in mountains and woods, wherein they
hide themselves till the end of the Sabbath, and then come abroad to
trouble and molest men."
Discourse, &c., chap. xxi.
"_Virunculi terrei_ are such as was Robin Goodfellow, that would supply the
office of servants--specially of maids: as to make a fire in the morning,
sweep the house, grind mustard and malt, draw water, &c.; these also rumble
in houses, draw latches, go up and down stairs, &c.... There go as many
tales upon this Hudgin[3] in some parts of Germany, as there did in England
of Robin Goodfellow."
* * * * *
STRANGE FARLIES
Strange farlies[1] fathers told
Of fiends and hags of hell;
And how that Circes, when she would,
Could skill of sorcery well;
And how old thin-faced wives,
That roasted crabs by night,
Did tell of monsters in their lives
That now prove shadows light;
And told what Merlin spoke
Of world and times to come;
But all that fire doth make no smoke,
For in mine ear doth hum
Another kind of bee,
That sounds a tune most strange,
A trembling noise of words to me
That makes my countenance change.
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