This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 edition. Excerpt: ... TRADITIONS, SUPERSTITIONS, AND FOLK-LORE, CHAPTER I. THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF LANCASHIRE AND THE NEIGHBOURING COUNTIES, AND REMAINS OF THEIR MYTHOLOGY AND LOCAL NOMENCLATURE. And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Bermons in stones, and good in every thing. Shakspere. On several occasions, when discussing obscure questions of early topography or ancient nomenclature, although readily acknowledging the value of all facts in connection with genuine etymological science, I have recommended great caution in the use of this powerful but somewhat capricious archaeological ally. I yet retain a strong impression that this caution is still a necessary condition of truly scientific historical or antiquarian research. Consequently, several of the presumed etymologies in the present work are advanced with diffidence, and with a thorough conviction that some of them may prove to be illusive. The suggestion of a probability, however, is a very different thing to dogmatic assertion in such matters, a practice which cannot be too much condemned. It is not very many years since the writer of the article "Language," in Knight's Cyclopaedia, felt it his duty, in introducing the subject, to use the following strong expressions: --"That division of grammar which is called etymology has been disgraced by such peurile trifling, and has been pursued with such an utter disregard to anything like scientific principles, as to create in the minds of many persons a suspicion against everything presented to their notice under the name of etymology. Such persons B have viewed etymology as nothing else than a dexterous play upon words, and have looked upon etymologists as little better than indifferent punsters....