Chap-books of the eighteenth century . s made from the ballad, the original ofwhich was printed for John Wright in 1630; the second andthird parts were written about 1700. Like most of its class, itseems to have had a northern origin. The German Daumer-ling, or little Thumb, was, like Tom, swallowed by a cow; andthere is a Danish book which treats of Svend Tomling, a manno bigger than a thumb, who would be married to a womanthree ells and three quarters long. But tradition has it thatTom died at Lincoln, which was one of the five Danish townsof England, and there was a little blue flagstone in
Chap-books of the eighteenth century . s made from the ballad, the original ofwhich was printed for John Wright in 1630; the second andthird parts were written about 1700. Like most of its class, itseems to have had a northern origin. The German Daumer-ling, or little Thumb, was, like Tom, swallowed by a cow; andthere is a Danish book which treats of Svend Tomling, a manno bigger than a thumb, who would be married to a womanthree ells and three quarters long. But tradition has it thatTom died at Lincoln, which was one of the five Danish townsof England, and there was a little blue flagstone in the cathe-dral, said to be his tombstone, which got lost, or at least neverreplaced, during some repairs early in this century. The firstmention of him is in Scots Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584,where he is classed with the puckle, hobgobblin, Tom Timi-bler boneles, and such other bugs, or bugbears. The Famous History of TOM THUMB Wherein is declared, f^ts JHarbellxius ^cts xif JHanj^oxitr Full of Wonder and Merrlment Part the Printed and sold in Aldermary Church Yard, London. 2o8 Chap-Books of the Eighteenth Century. In Arthurs court Tom Thumb did liveA man of mickle might,Who was the best of the table round,And eke a worthy Knight. In stature but an inch in height,Or quarter of a think you that this valiant knightWas proved a valiant man. His father was a ploughman plain,His mother milked the Cow,And yet the way to get a sonThis couple knew not how.— Until the time the good old manTo learned Merlin there to him in deep secret manner shews, How in his heart hed wish to haveA child in time to be his heir, though it might beNo bigger than his Thumb. Of this old Merlin then he his wish should have ;And so a son of stature smallThis charmer to him gave. It is needless to say that this marvellous being was underspecial fairy protection. Tom Thumb, the which the Fairy QueenDid give him to his with her train of go
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectchapboo, bookyear1882
