The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-11-11
SELECTED TALES.
The Witch of ROseberry Topping
OR, THE HAUNTED RING.
Il Legend OF the Worth OF England.

II Legend OF the North OF England.
Who, that has not seen, but has heard OF
Rossbery Topping !-the pride of England
familiar as household words to a wide and veal
thy distret-a subject of enquiry and wonder
unto all who have for the first lime looked up
on its isolated and lonely msgnifcence, IFS si-
gantic cone like TO some Eastern pyramid, now
liz up glowing suddenly as 4 huge furnace, now
black and bare, its narrow peak shooting alb
rupty into The sky, the very image Of solitude
and desolatioD. No wonder that its neig ghbor-
hood is the deposit Of many Of those gretesque
and fearful legends, arising out of and connect
ed with, the most ancient of our superstltions
and that the almost universally exploded bsliefin
supernatural agency, witches, fays, and all their
subsidiary marvels, should still lingcr in these
comparatively untravelled recesses, unques.
toned and undeaied. The great bulk Of the
inhabitants would probably as soon doubt
their own existence. as the truth and actual oc
cuuence Of these wild and fauciful vagaries.-
Many such legends are told round the lowing
inso AT the winter hearth. when all but indoor
occupations have ceased, and fancy, deli. .hing
in what it cannot comprehend, gives full scope
and admission 10 the horrible aud the navel.
ious.
One Of these legends will be the subject Of
our present attempt TO give form aud consisteny
TO the fleeing relics of the past illustrating
character and modes of belief that are nigh
passed away but not tho less interesting TO all
who love to linger on the childhood rather than
the maturer era of our existence.
About the year of grace 1910, the country
was nightly disturbed and perplexed by the
wonderful prophecies and denuncatons Of a
witch, who had chosen Roseberry Topping as
! the scene of these notable Vaccinations. Un-
like the rest Of her tribe, she was never seen, IA,
least by any of her votaries. Hundreds of all
ranks, and from all quarters locked TO her
shrine. pilgrimage to the Roseberry witch
was undertaken with as much ardour as ever
prompted Catholic devotee TO the shrine Of his
iavorite saint. Many Of these prophecies are
still on record, and fully credited among the
peasantry OF the district. 1t is said that on one
occasion nobleman in the neighbsrlood sent
his henchman in disguise, to learn the fate Of
his first-born. The answer was, the child would
be drowned on certain day aud hour, unless
it was prevented. Early on tha, day, the boy
and his nurse were sent 10 the very summit Of
Roseberry Topping. with strict injunc,ions TO
remain beyond the hour appointed. The mai
den laid him to sleep on green plot near the
summit, whilst she went aside TO pluck wild
flowers for the babe. On her return she found
spring of water had gushcd forth, bubbllng
close to where tho child lay, aud which, dam
ming up, had formed pool sufficiently deep to
cover him and to verify the prediction
One Giles Skelon, the miller by Ay,on
Grange along with his companion would needs
consult the oracle ou some love affair. Always
valiant in his cups, he swore he would unkennel
the witch; and, on his requesting to see her, a
voice whispered him, Canst thou keep So
cret -, Ay, that can ], good dame lie an
swered AN If thee'l show thy bonny face, III
promise thee sack o'barley meal an fitch
afore bagging time Tomorrow
Come hither,' said the witch; and Giles
drew closer towards the dark hole whence the
reponses seemed to issue; but suddenly he
rushed forth, gasplns and foamIng at the month
like unto one stricken aud dcmented.
Thou wilt keep a secret now, said his tor
mentor, and Giles never spake again But it
would be a thriflless, an idle task, to chronicle
all that is told, and which is still extant on this
subject. Moreover, might, in some measure,
weaken the interest thre~a around the incident
~; =. L.,
In the year I54l, banquet and merry max
ing at Shelton Castle, drew thIther most Of the
Yorkshire gentry, both Ear and near Sir John
Neville had invited numerous and distinguished
guests, with full privilege to bring whomever
they chose; SO that this stately edlfce, large
enough 10 accommodate prineely retinue, was
cramnod with visitors, and the festiVtis, Kept
up for three days with uudiminished hospitsli-
y. II were endless task to desriJe the mag
nihcence, the luxuries that were displayed-tbe
array aud garniturs Of the mul,itudes there as
seubled-their names and titles-the brave
knights who titled at a mock tournament, and
they who won the warriors guerdou--all was
brave, aud was lovely, and many heart was lost
and won, ere that stately festival was ended.
/ would give the bes, feather in my cap for
one stray glance from those eyes thai are bent
down SO delnurely yondsr What lucky EEL
low is DE Wilton to draw such a partner
II was the last nigh, Of the feast. and he who
spoke was Hurber DE Burgh. gallant knight,
envous it nigh, seem, Of his friends good for
tune; sod in good soOib, the dame he coveted
vas exceedingly conely to behold. Her hair
VAS intensely black, not frzied 10 the usual
style at tha, period. but long. heavy ringlei'
hung 10 gr,s, proigsion around her peck, white