English Fairy Tales | Page 2

Bells
The old woman and her pig
Headpiece--How Jack went out to seek his Fortune
They both met together upon Nottingham bridge
"A vengeance on her!" said they. "We did not make our hedge high enough"

He took out the cheeses and rolled them down the hill
And they left the eel to drown
The hare ran on along the country way
A courtier came riding by, and he did ask what they were seeking
Headpiece--Lawkamercyme
A funny-looking old gentleman engaged her and took her home
White-faced simminy has got a spark of hot cockalorum on its tail

[Illustration: Headpiece--St. George of Merrie England]

ST. GEORGE OF MERRIE ENGLAND
In the darksome depths of a thick forest lived Kalyb the fell enchantress. Terrible were
her deeds, and few there were who had the hardihood to sound the brazen trumpet which
hung over the iron gate that barred the way to the Abode of Witchcraft. Terrible were the
deeds of Kalyb; but above all things she delighted in carrying off innocent new-born
babes, and putting them to death.
And this, doubtless, she meant to be the fate of the infant son of the Earl of Coventry,
who long long years ago was Lord High Steward of England. Certain it is that the babe's
father being absent, and his mother dying at his birth, the wicked Kalyb, with spells and
charms, managed to steal the child from his careless nurses.
But the babe was marked from the first for doughty deeds; for on his breast was pictured
the living image of a dragon, on his right hand was a blood-red cross, and on his left leg
showed the golden garter.
And these signs so affected Kalyb, the fell enchantress, that she stayed her hand; and the
child growing daily in beauty and stature, he became to her as the apple of her eye. Now,
when twice seven years had passed the boy began to thirst for honourable adventures,
though the wicked enchantress wished to keep him as her own.
But he, seeking glory, utterly disdained so wicked a creature; thus she sought to bribe
him. And one day, taking him by the hand, she led him to a brazen castle and showed him
six brave knights, prisoners therein. Then said she:
"Lo! These be the six champions of Christendom. Thou shalt be the seventh and thy
name shall be St. George of Merrie England if thou wilt stay with me."
But he would not.

Then she led him into a magnificent stable where stood seven of the most beautiful steeds
ever seen. "Six of these," said she, "belong to the six Champions. The seventh and the
best, the swiftest and the most powerful in the world, whose name is Bayard, will I
bestow on thee, if thou wilt stay with me."
But he would not.
Then she took him to the armoury, and with her own hand buckled on a corselet of purest
steel, and laced on a helmet inlaid with gold. Then, taking a mighty falchion, she gave it
into his hand, and said: "This armour which none can pierce, this sword called Ascalon,
which will hew in sunder all it touches, are thine; surely now thou wilt stop with me?"
But he would not.
Then she bribed him with her own magic wand, thus giving him power over all things in
that enchanted land, saying:
"Surely now wilt thou remain here?"
But he, taking the wand, struck with it a mighty rock that stood by; and lo! it opened, and
laid in view a wide cave garnished by the bodies of a vast number of innocent new-born
infants whom the wicked enchantress had murdered.
Thus, using her power, he bade the sorceress lead the way into the place of horror, and
when she had entered, he raised the magic wand yet again, and smote the rock; and lo! it
closed for ever, and the sorceress was left to bellow forth her lamentable complaints to
senseless stones.
Thus was St. George freed from the enchanted land, and taking with him the six other
champions of Christendom on their steeds, he mounted Bayard and rode to the city of
Coventry.
Here for nine months they abode, exercising themselves in all feats of arms. So when
spring returned they set forth, as knights errant, to seek for foreign adventure.
And for thirty days and thirty nights they rode on, until, at the beginning of a new month,
they came to a great wide plain. Now in the centre of this plain, where seven several
ways met, there stood a great brazen pillar, and here, with high heart and courage, they
bade each other farewell, and each took a separate road.
Hence, St. George, on his charger Bayard, rode till he reached the seashore