before the Bishop of Mayence, who directed certain priests to sprinkle the fields with holy water and salt; but the spirit cared as little for these things as the imps whom we have previously mentioned. Why do the priests and Roman Catholics continue to pin their faith to these unavailing receipts? At last, they betook themselves to prayer and exorcism, on which the spirit ceased his mischievous pranks, and was never again seen nor heard of in those parts. Dr. Bräuner tells us that it was all the fault of the foolish people themselves that he ever did any mischief at all; for if they had not originally consulted him, he would have had no power; whence we perceive that we ought to be just as cautious what spirits we admit to our intimacy, as we ought to be with reference to human friendships.

CHAPTER XX.

"Therefore, go with me;

I'll give thee fairies to attend on thee;

And they shall fetch thee jewels from the deep,

Peas' blossom! cobweb! moth and mustard seed!

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

OF GOBLINS AND HOBGOBLINS.

We are informed by the author that there are various stories afloat amongst the common people respecting these hobgoblins; but that not one in a hundred knows how dangerous it is to their souls to have these goblins in

their service. As, however, the creatures perform a good deal of household work, and demand no wages, that is earthly ones, people are too ready to entertain them.

Wierus in his 1st book, chap. 22nd, § 5, of his work entitled de Præstig. Dæmonium, informs us that hobgoblins are a species of spirits, which frequent houses, stables, &c., especially of those people who lead a godless life. Here they wander about, performing household duties; appear when they are summoned; go down the stairs; open the doors; stir the fire; draw water; lay the table; and perform every sort of household duties; but this is not a universal rule, but holds good only with those wicked landlords, who constrain them to perform these services, as well as to watch their cattle, never considering what infinite damage they are doing their own souls the while.

Georgius Agricola in his work de Animant. Subterran., or Subterraneous Spirits, tells us that there are two kinds of hobgoblins; one of which shew themselves visibly to mankind, either whilst performing a part of their daily work, or whilst tending the cattle; these are termed by the Germans Kutel, or Gutel, because they do good to mankind, and behave in

a friendly manner to them; the others are called Trulen, which assume the male or female sex, and were wont to enter into the service of the ancient Sclavonian nations, such as the Swedes and others.

This is that kind which the Russians, in their language, call Coltri; and Melitenius informs us that they live upon all kinds of food. They conceal themselves under the piles of wood, and in secret places of the house. They steal wheat out of the neighbours' barns, and support themselves in this manner. The way to secure their services is for the master of the house to mix the dung of horses, cows, sheep, or goats, at night in a pail of milk, and this precious mixture must then be drank by every one of the family, on which the hobgobling will appear and is thereby fast bound to the service.

Agricola tells us that the second description of goblins are generally called mountain dwarfs, as they appear in mines, clad as men, and performing their work with many anticks; but our present business lies with the house goblins, and here we will give the story of one who was repeatedly seen in the bishopric of Hildesheim, but was most generally to be found in the Bishop's palace. Why the Right

Reverend Father should hold such intimate communion with the Devil, it is not our intention to enquire; we leave the matter to be sifted by the R. C. Bishops of the present day, if they can go into court with clean hands themselves.

Our author terms him a wicked spirit, who was long seen in those parts by different people, and was clothed as the countrymen usually were, but always wore a felt hat, we suppose by way of distinction; whence he was called by the boors Hutgen, or in Saxon, Hedekin, which means "the chap with a hat." He appears after all to have been an indifferently good Devil, as the world goes, for, barring a few extraordinary feats which he performed, none of which were half as bad as Popish miracles, he was very conversible, and always kept a civil tongue, except when any one put his back up by scoffing at him, when he would immediately fly at him, and never leave him until he had obtained ample satisfaction.

When Burgkard, Count of Ruca, was murdered by Count Herman of Winsenberg, the latter lost his dominions in this manner :-The above-mentioned spirit went in the middle of the night to his master, Bernard, the Bishop of Hildesheim, and roused him up, saying,