Endnotes

  1. The “telling-houses” on the moor are rude cots where the shepherds meet to “tell” their sheep at the end of the pasturing season. ↩

  2. The cock-tailed beetle has earned this name in the West of England. ↩

  3. This vile deed was done, beyond all doubt. ↩

  4. Lest John Fry seem to underrate the erudition of Devonshire magistrates, I venture to offer copy of a letter from a Justice of the Peace to his bookseller, circa 1810 AD, now in my possession:⁠—

    Sur.

    plez to zen me the aks relatting to A-gustus-paks.15

    —⁠Ed. of Lorna Doone ↩

  5. The truth of this story is well established by first-rate tradition. ↩

  6. If John Ridd lived until the year 1740 (as so strong a man was bound to do), he must have seen almost a harder frost; and perhaps it put an end to him; for then he would be some fourscore years old. But tradition makes him “keep yatt,” as he says, up to fivescore years. —⁠Ed. Lorna Doone ↩

  7. The frost of 1625. ↩

  8. The reason is very simple, as all nature’s reasons are; though the subject has not yet been investigated thoroughly. In some trees the vascular tissue is more open on the upper side, in others on the under side, of the spreading branches; according to the form of growth, and habit of the sap. Hence in very severe cold, when the vessels (comparatively empty) are constricted, some have more power of contraction on the upper side, and some upon the under. —⁠Ed. Lorna Doone ↩

  9. There are said to be no loach now in the Lynn. This proves that John Ridd caught them all. ↩

  10. “A maid with an elbow sharp, or knee,
    Hath cross words two, out of every three.”

    ↩

  11. The following story is strictly true; and true it is that the country-people rose, to a man, at this dastard cruelty, and did what the Government failed to do. —⁠Ed. Lorna Doone ↩

  12. Always pronounced “Badgery.” ↩

  13. Not our parson Bowden, nor any more a friend of his. Our Parson Bowden never had naught whatever to do with it; and never smoked a pipe with Parson Powell after it. —⁠J. R. ↩

  14. A far more terrible clutch than this is handed down, to weaker ages, of the great John Ridd. —⁠Ed. ↩

  15. Emphasized thus in original. ↩