Folk-lore and legends: English

Whitehaven by Ann Dunn, Mark

oor man and a day-labourer, yet he was a very stout man, and able to perform two days' work instead of one. He having one son and no more children in the world, he called him by his own name, Thomas

r his living, but all his delight was to be in the chimney-corner, and he would eat as much at one time as would serve four or five men. He was in height, when he was but ten years of age, about e

being but a poor woman) to desire a bottle of straw for herself and her son Thomas. The farmer, bei

and fetch me a bottle of str

he woul

, Tom, go," s

rt-rope. She, being willing to please him, because she would ha

he farmer's house, the master was in the

for a bottl

ter, "take as much

rope and began to make

ll for it, for he made his bottle, and when he had finished it, there was s

thou. Thou canst not

, and made no more of it than we would do of a hund

in the chimney-corner. Every one would be hiring him for work. They seeing him to have so much strength told

e him to go to the wood, for he had a tree to bring home, and he would content him. Tom went with him, and took with him four men besides; b

takes it up and sets it on on

e, "see what

is true,"

e wood, they met the woodman. Tom asked him

man. "Take one that

on his shoulder, and goes home with it as fast as the cart and the six ho

to be merry and very tractable, and would run or jump; took great delight to b

little to see the sport, and at last goes to them that were throwing the hammer. Standing a little to see their manlike sport, at last

ed poor Tom. "You'll throw it

out five or six furlongs off, and he flung it into that. When he had d

them they were gone. Some he would throw over his head, some he would lay down slyly and how he pleased. He would not like to strike at their heels, but flung them two or three yards from him, ready to

carry his beer to the Marsh and to Wisbeach, hearing of Tom, went to hire him, but Tom seemed coy, and would not be his man until his mother and friends persuaded him, and his master entreated him. He likewise promised him that he should have a new suit of clothes and everything answerable from top to toe, bes

ery tractable, and to look well after his business, made him his head man to go into the Marsh to carry beer by himself, for he nee

sbeach, and not saying anything to his master or to any of his fellow-servants, he was resolved to make the nearest way to the wood or lose his life, to win the horse or lose the saddle, to kill or be killed, if he met with the giant. And with t

n, as though he would have s

ng my gates open at your pleasure? How dare you presume to do this? Are you so careless of your life? I will make thee an example for all rogues under the sun. Dost

de him

for you shall not find

if thou comest to fight with such a one as I a

d T

ll make you understand y

should call him a traitorly rogue, and with that he ran into his cave to

nt went for his club, Tom bethought himself of two very good weapons, for he makes no more ado but takes his cart and turns it upside down, takes out the axle-tree, and a wheel for his shield and buckler,

ice with these weapons. I have here a twig that will

ectly saw there was no way except one, which was to kill or be killed. So the giant made at Tom with such a vehement force that he made Tom's w

re you drunk with my

Tom plied his work so well, and laid such huge blows on the giant that sweat and blood together ran down his face, and, being fat and f

did not teach me that wit.

thought it was best to make hay while the sun did shine, for he laid on so f

r in a most lamentable manner, and prayed him not to take away his life an

till he laid him for dead. When he had done, he cut off his head, and went into h

verjoyed at the news that he would not believe him till he had seen; and, getting up the next day, he and his master went to see if he spoke the truth or not, together with most of the town of Lynn. When they came

e giant, and well was he that could run or go to see the giant and his cave. Then a

cave and built him a fine house where the cave stood, and in the ground that the giant kept by force and strength, some of which he gave to th

nger as much as they did the giant before. Tom kept men and maid servants, and lived most bravely. He made a park to keep deer in. Near to his house he built a church and gave it the name

id use the means to do it, for he kept a pack of hounds and men to hunt with him, and who but Tom then? So he took suc

, took it such a kick, that they never found their ball more. They could see it fly, but whither none could tell. They all wondered at it, and began to quarrel with Tom, but some of them got nothing by it, for Tom get

ing passengers that way, and none could escape them, for they robbed all they met, both rich and poor. They thought when they met with Tom he would be a good prize for t

Tom, "shall

y, sirrah,

ive me better words for it,

to parley, but we come for money, and money

Is it so? Then ge

Tom, supposing there was money in it, fought with a great deal of more courage than before, till at last he killed two of the four, and the other two he wounded very sore so that they cried out for quarter. With much ado he gave them their lives, but took all their money, which was about two hu

d a great dog to carry his leather bag and tools of work. Tom asked the tinker from whence he came, and whither he was going, fo

l make you know, before

none durst make me an answer. I think they be all cowards in this country, except it be a man who

ight be master in your mouth. I am

glad we have met so happily together

Tom, "you d

the tinker, "I

"Will you give me l

ng him that will fight a m

two giants, they laid one at the other. The tinker had on a leathern coat, and at every blow Tom gave the tinker his coat cracked again, y

where are yo

de, which made Tom's neck crack again. Tom flung down the weapon, and yielded the tinker to be the best man, and took him home to his house, where I shall leav