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This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) was an appealing character who was a member of the Anglican clergy. As an English antiquarian, hagiographer, novelist, and diverse scholar, he is remembered particularly as a writer of hymns, the best-known being "Onward, Christian Soldiers." Baring-Gould was also well-known for his works on folklore and myth. One of his most lastingly admired works is "Curious Myths of the Middle Ages", a collection of 24 of the most universally held superstitions of the Medieval era. This volume reveals his knowledge and research when dealing with various accounts from the beliefs of the Middle Ages, as well as presents his research into the history and possible inspirations for the myths. Among these familiar tales are: "The Wandering Jew", a story of a Jewish shoemaker who is doomed to wander Earth until the Second Coming; "William Tell", a Swiss hero who shot an apple off his son's head; "The Fortunate Isles", also known as "Atlantis", posits the existence of a magical land in the west where paradise awaits, and many more distinguished stories.

I well remember having it impressed upon me by a Devonshire nurse, as a little child, that all Cornishmen were born with tails; and it was long before I could overcome the prejudice thus early implanted in my breast against my Cornubian neighbors. I looked upon those who dwelt across the Tamar as “uncanny,” as being scarcely to be classed with Christian people, and certainly not to be freely associated with by tailless Devonians. I think my eyes were first opened to the fact that I had been deceived by a worthy bookseller of L——, with whom I had contracted a warm friendship, he having at sundry times contributed pictures to my scrapbook. I remember one day resolving to broach the delicate subject with my tailed friend, whom I liked, notwithstanding his caudal appendage.

Curious Myths of the Middle AgesSabine Baring Gould, english anglican priest, hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar (1834-1924)This ebook presents «Curious Myths of the Middle Ages», from Sabine Baring Gould. A dynamic table of contents enables to jump directly to the chapter selected.Table of Contents- About This Book- The Wandering Jew- Prestor John- The Divining Rod- The Seven Sleepers Of Ephesus- William Tell- The Dog Gellert- Tailed Men- Antichrist And Pope Joan- The Man In The Moon- The Crafty Hare- The Mountain Of Venus- S Patrick's Purgatory- The Terrestrial Paradise- Sgeorge- Sursula And The Eleven Thousand Virgins- The Legend Of The Cross- 22. Adv. Marcion. Iii. 22: "est Enim Littera, Græcorum Thau, Nostra Autem Τ, Species Crucis Quam Portendebant Futuram In Frontibus Nostris Apud Veram Et Catholicam Hierusalem."- Schamir- The Piper Of Hameln- Bishop Hatto- Melusina- The Fortunate Isles- Swan Maidens- The Knight Of The Swan- The Sangreal- Theophilus- Appendix A. The Wandering Jew- Appendix B. Mountain Of Venus- Appendix C.pre Christian Crosses

Curious Myths of the Middle Ages by S. Baring-Gould. The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, 28 January 1834 – 2 January 1924, of Lew Trenchard in Devon, England, was an Anglican priest, hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist, folk song collector and eclectic scholar. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. His family home, the manor house of Lew Trenchard, near Okehampton, Devon, has been preserved as he had it rebuilt and is now a hotel. One of his most enduringly popular works was Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, first published in two parts during 1866 and 1868, and republished in many other editions since then. "Each of the book's chapters deals with a particular medieval superstition and its variants and antecedents," writes critic Steven J. Mariconda. H. P. Lovecraft termed it "that curious body of medieval lore which the late Mr. Baring-Gould so effectively assembled in book form." Includes: The Wandering Jew, Prester John, The Divining Rod, The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, William Tell, The Dog Gellert, Tailed Men, Antichrist and Pope Joan, The Man in the Moon, The Mountain of Venus, Fatality of Numbers and The Terrestrial Paradise.

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WHO, that has looked on Gustave Doré’s marvellous illustrations to this wild legend, can forget the impression they made upon his imagination? I do not refer to the first illustration as striking, where the Jewish shoemaker is refusing to suffer the cross-laden Savior to rest a moment on his door-step, and is receiving with scornful lip the judgment to wander restless till the Second Coming of that same Redeemer. But I refer rather to the second, which represents the Jew, after the lapse of ages, bowed beneath the burden of the curse, worn with unrelieved toil, wearied with ceaseless travelling, trudging onward at the last lights of evening, when a rayless night of unabating rain is creeping on, along a sloppy path between dripping bushes; and suddenly he comes over against a wayside crucifix, on which the white glare of departing daylight falls, to throw it into ghastly relief against the pitch-black rain-clouds. For a moment we see the working of the miserable shoemaker’s mind. We feel that he is recalling the tragedy of the first Good Friday, and his head hangs heavier on his breast, as he recalls the part he had taken in that awful catastrophe.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.