Folklore as an Historical Science | Page 9

big; but considering that it might
tend to his further profit to dig deeper in the same place where he found
that he fell again to work and discover'd such a pot as was intimated by

the inscription full of old coins: notwithstanding all which he so
conceal'd his wealth that the neighbours took no notice of it."[12]
Blomefield thought it "somewhat surprising to find such considerable
persons as Sir William Dugdale and Sir Roger Twysden to patronise or
credit such a monkish legend and tradition savouring so much of the
cloister, and that the townsmen and neighbourhood should also believe
it," but I think we shall have reason to congratulate ourselves that so
good a folk-tale was preserved for us of this age.
The next and, it appears, an independent version, is given in the Diary
of Abraham de la Pryme, under the date November 10th, 1699:--
"Constant tradition says that there lived in former times, in Soffham
(Swaffham), alias Sopham, in Norfolk, a certain pedlar, who dreamed
that if he went to London bridge, and stood there, he should hear very
joyfull newse, which he at first sleighted, but afterwards, his dream
being dubled and trebled upon him, he resolv'd to try the issue of it, and
accordingly went to London, and stood on the bridge there two or three
days, looking about him, but heard nothing that might yield him any
comfort. At last it happen'd that a shopkeeper there, hard by, haveing
noted his fruitless standing, seeing that he neither sold any wares nor
asked any almes, went to him and most earnestly begged to know what
he wanted there, or what his business was; to which the pedlar honestly
answer'd, that he had dream'd that if he came to London and stood there
upon the bridg, he should hear good newse; at which the shopkeeper
laught heartily, asking him if he was such a fool as to take a journey on
such a silly errand, adding, 'I'll tell thee, country fellow, last night I
dream'd that I was at Sopham, in Norfolk, a place utterly unknown to
me, where methought behind a pedlar's house in a certain orchard, and
under a great oak tree, if I digged I should find a vast treasure! Now
think you,' says he, 'that I am such a fool to take such a long jorney
upon me upon the instigation of a silly dream? No, no, I'm wiser.
Therefore, good fellow, learn witt of me, and get you home, and mind
your business.' The pedlar, observeing his words, what he had sayd he
had dream'd and knowing they concenterd in him, glad of such joyfull
newse went speedily home, and digged and found a prodigious great

treasure, with which he grew exceeding rich, and Soffham church being
for the most part fal'n down he set on workmen and reedifyd it most
sumptuously, at his own charges; and to this day there is his statue
therein, cut in stone, with his pack at his back, and his dogg at his heels;
and his memory is also preserved by the same form or picture in most
of the old glass windows, taverns, and ale-houses of that town unto this
day."[13]
Now this version from Abraham de la Pryme was certainly obtained
from local sources, and it shows the general popularity of the legend,
together with the faithfulness of the traditional version.[14] But other
evidence of the traditional force of the story is to be found. Observing
that De la Pryme's Diary was not printed until 1870, though certainly
the MS. had been lent to antiquaries, it is curious that the following
almost identical account is told in the St. James's Chronicle of
November 28th, 1786:--[15]
"A Pedlar who lived many Years ago at Swaffham, in Norfolk, dreamt,
that if he came up to London, and stood upon the Bridge, he should
hear very joyful News; which he at first slighted, but afterwards his
Dream being doubled and trebled unto him, he resolved to try the Issue
of it; and accordingly to London he came, and stood on the Bridge for
two or three Days, but heard nothing which might give him Comfort
that the Profits of his Journey would be equal to his Pains. At last it so
happened, that a Shopkeeper there, having noted his fruitless standing,
seeing that he neither sold any Wares, or asked any Alms, went to him,
and enquired his Business; to which the Pedlar made Answer, that
being a Countryman, he had dreamt a Dream, that if he came up to
London, he should hear good News: 'And art thou (said the Shopkeeper)
such a Fool, to take a Journey on such a foolish Errand? Why I tell thee
this--last Night I dreamt, that I was at Swaffham,