For fear did flee

For they took him to be

Some strange, outlandish hedgehog.

To see this fight, all people there
Got upon trees and houses;

On churches some, and chimneys some,

But they put on their trowses;

Not to spoil their hose.

As soon as he rose,

To make him strong and mighty,

He drank by the tale,

Six pots of ale,

And a quart of aqua-vitæ.

It is not strength that always wins,
For wit doth strength excel;

Which made our cunning champion
Creep down into a well;
Where he did think,

This dragon would drink ;
And so he did in truth;
And as he stoop't low

He rose up and cryed, bo!

And hit him in the mouth.

Oh! quoth the Dragon; pox take you! come out

Thou that disturb'st me at my drink;

And then he turned and spit at him

Good lack! how he did stink,

Beshrew thy soul,

Thy body is foul,

Thy dung smells not like balsame;

Thou son of a witch,

Thou stink'st so sore,

Sure thy dyet is unwholesome.

Our politick knight, on the other side,

Crept out upon the brink,

And gave the Dragon such a doust,

He knew not what to think;

By cock, quoth he,!

Your word, quoth the Dragon, I don't understand,

Then to 't they fell at all;

Like two wild bears, so fierce, I may

Compare great things with small.

Two dayes and a night

With this Dragon did fight

Our champion on the ground;

Tho' their strength it was great,
Yet their skill it was neat,

They never had one wound.

At length the hard ground began for to quake,
The Dragon gave him such a knock;

Which made him to reel,
And straightway he thought
To lift him high as a rock,
And thence let him fall;

But More of More Hall,

Like a valiant son of Mars,

As he came like a lout,

So he turned him about,

And hit him a kick on the back.

Oh! quoth the Dragon with a sigh,

And turn'd six times together;

Sobbing and tearing, cursing and swearing,

Out of his throat of leather.

Oh! thou rascall,

More of More Hall,

Would I had seen you never ;

With the thing at thy foot,

Thou has prick't my gut,

Oh! I am quite undone for ever!

Murder! murder! the Dragon cryed,

Alack! alack! for grief;

Had you but miss't that place you would
Have done me no mischief.

Then his head he shak't,

Trembled and quaik't,

And down he layed, and cried;

First on one knee,

Then on back tumbled he,

So groaned, kick't, burst, and dyed.

OSBALDESTON HALL.

THE origin of this ancient structure dates from Saxon times. It was evidently the home of Oswald; for this is merely another form of the name, and ton designates the homestead on his estate. This family does not appear to have been dispossessed by the Normans, the county was then perhaps too wild and uncultivated to be attractive to the conquerors; and hence we find Eilfi of Osbaldeston, a Saxon, living in the twelfth century, who had a son whose name appears in documents about 1245. The property continued in the family without interruption until 1701, when it passed into collateral lines on the death of Thomas, son of Edward Osbaldeston, the last male heir of his race. During the Tudor and early. Stuart sovereigns the Osbaldestons formed one of the most distinguished families in the county; several of its members received the honour of knighthood, and one of them was connected by marriage with the Earls of Derby. They founded a Chantry in the parish church of Blackburn, and until recently a brass plate in the family chapel contained the figure of a man in armour, underneath which was the following inscription-"Here lyeth the bodye

of Sir Edward Osbaldeston; a charitable, courteous, and valiant knight, qui obiit A.D. 1636, æt. 63."

ton.

The Hall at Osbaldeston is now in a dilapidated condition. From what remains it is evident that the house formerly consisted of two wings, and a large central portion set further back. On three sides it was protected by a moat, while the fourth side was swept by the river Ribble. Several ranges of transomed and mullioned windows attest the grandeur and magnificence of the place when finished by Sir Edward during the reign of the first Stuart. The large drawing-room is nearly entire, and over the fireplace are some elaborate carvings, containing the family arms with their numerous quarterings, and the initials of John, Edward, Margaret, and Maud OsbaldesExcessive subdivisions of the estates, consequent upon large families, led to the decline of the house, until at last the remnant was disposed of for a trifling consideration. There is one room in the old Hall whose walls are smeared with several red marks, which tradition states can never be obliterated. They have some resemblance to blood, and are considered to have been caused when one of the family was brutally murdered. It is said that there was once a great family gathering at Osbaldeston Hall, at which every member of the family was present. The feast was ended, and the liquor was flowing freely round when family differences began to be discussed. These ended in anger and recriminations, until at length two of the company challenged each other to mortal combat. Friends interfered and the quarrel seemed to be allayed, but soon after the two accidentally met in this room, and Thomas Osbaldeston drew his sword and murdered his brother-in-law without resistance. For this crime he was deemed a felon, and forfeited his

lands. Ever since that time the room has been haunted. Tradition says that the ghost of the murdered man continues to visit the scene of the conflict, and during the silent hours of night it may be seen passing from the room with uplifted hands, and with the appearance of blood streaming from a wound in the breast.

MELLOR HALL, OR ABBOT HOUSE.

MELLOR Hall, or Abbot House, is an ancient structure of the early Tudor period. It formerly possessed an antique porch and pointed gables, but these have long since disappeared. The internal walls and partitions. were formed of "raddle and daub," held together by upright and cross beams which reached from wall to wall. The upper rooms were reached by a spiral stone staircase, and the floor of that over the hall was formed of yellow clay spread on "raddles" at least a foot thick. A portion of the south-west angle of this room had been partitioned off, and was known by the name of the "Priest's room." This was probably the hiding-place for one of the missionary priests when the Hall was occupied by a junior branch of the Southworths of Samlesbury. Tradition states that the last owner of that name wasted all his property, and was ultimately compelled to beg for bread. A large flat stone was formerly pointed out upon which the old man used to sit while he chanted in tremulous tones

"When I was young and in my prime,.
All these fields down here were mine;
But now I'm old, and grown so poor,
I'm forced to beg from door to door."