FOLK LORE.
Suffolk Legend.
—In the little village of Acton, Suffolk, a legend was current not many years ago, that on certain occasions, which, by the way, were never accurately defined, the park gates were wont to fly open at midnight "withouten hands," and a carriage drawn by four spectral horses, and accompanied by headless grooms and outriders, proceeded with great rapidity from the park to a spot called "the nursery corner." What became of the ghostly cortège at this spot, I have never been able to learn; but though the sight has not been seen by any of the present inhabitants, yet some of them have heard the noise of the head-long race. The "Corner," tradition says, is the spot where a very bloody engagement took place in olden time, when the Romans were governors of England. A few coins have I believe been found, but nothing else confirmatory of the tale. Does history in any way support the story of the battle? Whilst writing on this subject, I may as well note, that near this haunted corner is a pool called Wimbell Pond, in which tradition says an iron chest of money is concealed: if any daring person ventures to approach the pond, and throw a stone into the water, it will ring against the chest and a small white figure has been heard to cry in accents of distress, "That's mine!"
I send you these legends as I have heard them from the lips of my nurse, a native of the village.
W. SPARROW SIMPSON, B.A.
Theodoric, Legend of.
—May we not consider the Saxon legend quoted by Mr. Kemble in his Saxons in England, foot-note on page 423., vol. i., as something like a parallel to "Old Booty" and Mr. Gresham, mentioned in Vol. iii., p. 93. of "N. & Q.?" or is it possible to have been the origin of both?
The legend is, that an anchoret in Lipari told some sailors that at a particular time he had seen King Theodoric ungirt, barefoot and bound, led between St. John, pope and martyr, and St. Finian, and by them hurled into the burning crater of the neighbouring island volcano. That on the sailors' return to Italy they discovered, by comparison of dates, that Theodoric died on the day on which the anchoret noticed his punishment by the hands of his victims.
THOMAS LAWRENCE.
Ashby de la Zouch.