The Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells of England
'? '/-'#'•'/ ' ^7 f CX*->C5CS- '^ OF CP^ 59§70^ l-SSi"-.". -,, 3 ,.. -SJi f, THE LEGENDARY LORE OF THE HOL Y WELLS OF ENGLAND. : THE LEGENDARY LORE ' t\Q OF THE ~ 1 T\ I Holy Wells of England: INCLUDING IRfpers, Xaftes, ^fountains, ant) Springs. COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED BY CURIOUS ORIGINAL WOODCUTS. ROBERT CHARLES HOPE, F.S.A., F.R.S.L., PETERHOUSE, CAMBRIDGE; LINCOLN'S INN; MEMBER,OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, AUTHOR OF "a GLOSSARY OF DIALECTAL PLACE-NOMENCLATURE," " AN INVENTORY OF THE CHURCH PLATE IN RUTLAND," "ENGLISH GOLDSMITHS," " THE LEPER IN ENGLAND AND ENGLISH LAZAR-HOUSES ;" EDITOR OF BARNABE GOOGE'S " POPISH KINGDOME." LONDON ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1893. PREFACE, THIS collection of traditionary lore connected with the Holy Wells, Rivers, Springs, and Lakes of England is the first systematic attempt made. It has been said there is no book in any language which treats of Holy Wells, except in a most fragmentary and discursive manner. It is hoped, therefore, that this may prove the foundation of an exhaustive work, at some future date, by a more competent hand. The subject is almost inexhaustible, and, at the same time, a most interesting one. There is probably no superstition of bygone days that has held the minds of men more tenaciously than that of well-worship in its broadest sense, "a worship simple and more dignified than a senseless crouching before idols." An honest endeavour has been made to render the work as accurate as possible, and to give the source of each account, where such could be ascertained.
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