Folklore as an Historical Science | Page 8

your judgment to believe or refuse."[10]
I shall of course not be able to undertake either of these tasks. I shall
attempt, however, to indicate their scope and importance; and as a
preliminary to the consideration of the definite departments into which
the subject falls, it is advisable, I think, to test the relationship of
tradition to history by means of one or two illustrations. It may be that
the illustrations I shall give are not accepted by all students, that some
better illustration is forthcoming by further research. This is one of the
drawbacks from which tradition suffers, and must suffer, until our
studies are much further advanced than they are at present. But I am
glad to accept this possibility of error as part of the case for the study of
tradition, because the error of one student cannot be held to disqualify
the whole subject. It only amounts to saying that the particular fact
which seems to me to be discoverable in the examples dealt with has to
be surrendered in favour of another particular fact. My conclusions may
be dismissed, but that which is not dismissible is the discoverable fact,
and it is only when the true fact is discovered in each traditional item
that previous inferences may be neglected or ignored and inquiry
cease.[11]
I
The evidence of historic events which enter into tradition relates
principally to the earliest periods, but much of it relates to periods well
within the domain of history and yet reveals facts which history has
either hopelessly neglected or misinterpreted. We shall find that these
facts, though frequently relating to minor events, often have reference
to matters of the highest national importance, and perhaps nowhere
more definitely is this the case than in the legends connected with
particular localities. Of one such tradition I will state what a somewhat
detailed examination tells in this direction. It will, I think, serve as a
good example of the kind of research that is required in each case, and
it will illustrate in a rather special manner the value of these traditions
to history.
The locus of the legend centres round London Bridge. The earliest
written version of this legend is quoted from the MSS. of Sir Roger

Twysden, who obtained it from "Sir William Dugdale, of Blyth Hall, in
Warwickshire, in a letter dated 29th January, 1652-3." Sir William says
of it that "it was the tradition of the inhabitants as it was told me there,"
and Sir Roger Twysden adds of it that: "I have since learnt from others
to be most true." This, therefore, is a very respectable origin for the
legend, and I will transcribe it from Sir William Dugdale's letter which
begins "the story of the Pedlar of Swaffham-market is in substance
this":--
"That dreaming one night if he went to London he should certainly
meet with a man on London Bridge which would tell him good news he
was so perplext in his mind that till he set upon his journey he could
have no rest; to London therefore he hasts and walk'd upon the Bridge
for some hours where being espyed by a shopkeeper and asked what he
wanted he answered you may well ask me that question for truly (quoth
he) I am come hither upon a very vain errand and so told the story of
his dream which occasioned the journey. Whereupon the shopkeeper
reply'd alas good friend should I have heeded dreams I might have
proved myself as very a fool as thou hast, for 'tis not long since that I
dreamt that at a place called Swaffham Market in Norfolk dwells one
John Chapman a pedlar who hath a tree in his backside under which is
buried a pot of money. Now therefore if I should have made a journey
thither to day for such hidden treasure judge you whether I should not
have been counted a fool. To whom the pedlar cunningly said yes
verily I will therefore return home and follow my business not heeding
such dreams hence forward. But when he came home being satisfied
that his dream was fulfilled he took occasion to dig in that place and
accordingly found a large pot of money which he prudently conceal'd
putting the pot amongst the rest of his brass. After a time it happen'd
that one who came to his house and beholding the pot observed an
inscription upon it which being in Latin he interpreted it that under that
there was an other twice as good. Of this inscription the Pedlar was
before ignorant or at least minded it not but when he heard the meaning
of it he said 'tis very true in the shop where I bought this pot stood
another under it which was twice as