Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/307

 THREE LIVES OF SAINTS: THEIR BEARING ON FOLKLORE.

BY P. J. HEATHER.

When the student of Folklore reads from the folklore point of view a book dating from a period much earlier than the present, there are two lines upon which he can proceed. He can find out what light it throws (i) upon the Folklore of the early period, or (2) upon present-day Folklore.

Before we can begin an investigation as to the Folklore of the early period, we must clear away one very great obstacle that hinders our approach.

Folklore is the learning of the Folk in contrast with Scientific knowledge. We must then be able to define the Science of that day before we can pronounce any belief to be unscientific. Happily we have a description of much of the Natural Science of that day in the Early South English Legendary} sufiixed to the life of St. Michael.

This opens in rather a startling fashion, with a reference to the battle between St. Michael and the Dragon.

Men sing on Michaelmas day — In holy church also

Of one battle that St. Michael : with a dragon should do.

For ten orders of Angels : there were created then

And the tenth order fell down : into pyne and woe :

And yet there be orders Nine : and therefore man is wrought.

To fulfil the tenth order : that was out of heaven brought.

^ Published by the Early English Text Society.