Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/76

 of some spells and incantations that were practised against him. The Rev. William Stewart, in his "Memorials of Hale, 1848," says that "the cottage is now inhabited by Mr Thomas Johnson, and is situated near the south-west corner of the Parsonage Green. A descendant of his family, Charles Chadwick, was living in 1804, and was more than six feet high. Some descendants of Charles Chadwick are now living of the name of Blundell, very similar in bulk to the 'Chylde,' but only of common size as to height." Another writer states, what is well known in the neighbourhood, that—"There exists a cavity in the sands near Hale, in Lancashire, where tradition asserts that, on one occasion the famous 'Chylde' fell asleep, and on awaking found all his clothes had burst; and so much had he grown during this short nap, that he doubted his own identity. On his way homewards, he was attacked by a furious bull; but so strong had he become, that he caught it by the horns and threw it to an immense distance. The bull did not approve of such tossing, and, consequently, suffered him to proceed without further molestation." A still more extravagant tradition relates that "he was so strong in one of his illnesses that his friends had to chain him in bed. When he recovered, two of the chains were given away; one was sent to Chester in order to keep the Dee Mills from floating down the river; the second was sent to Boston to prevent the Stump from being blown into the sea; and the third was lent in order to chain down his infernal majesty, who had been captured when suffering from an internal complaint! On another occasion, some robbers attempted to break into his mother's house; and had removed a window for that purpose; but, on being confronted by the "Chylde," they