230 PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 



family — the Holland's. It also boasts a dragon legend, 

 which is thus detailed : — 



"The story is about a Thomas Venables, son of that Sir Gilbert Venablcs, who was 

 cousin-german to King William the Conqueror. In the time of this Thomas Venables, 

 says the old chronicle — " Yt chauuced a terrible dragon to remayne and make his abode 

 in the lordeshippe of Moston, in the sayde counlye of Chester, wheare he devoured all 

 suche p'sons as he laid hold on, which ye said Thomas Venables heringe tell of, con- 

 sideringe the pytyfull and dayly dystruction of the people, w'tliowte recov'ie, who in 

 followinge th' example of the Valiante Romaines, etc., etc., dyd in his awne p'son 

 valiantlie and courragiouslie set on the said dragon, where firste he shotte him' throwe with 

 an arrowe, and afterward with other weapons manfuUie slew him, at which instant tyme 

 the sayd dragon was devouringe of a childe.'* 



Wherewith the author compares the quaint " Legend 

 of Wantley," published in the Percy Reliques : — 



" This dragon had two furious wings. 



Each one upon each shoulder. 

 With a sting in his tayl, as big as a flayl. 



Which made him bolder and bolder. 

 He had long claws, and in his jaws 



Four-and-forty teeth of iron. 

 With a hide as tough as any but). 



Which did him round environ. 



Have you not heard of the Trojan horse — 



Held seventy men inside ; 

 This dragon was not quite so big. 



But very near betide ; 

 Devoured he poor children three 



That could not with him gra]iplc. 

 And at one sup he eat them up. 



As one would eat an apple." 



To explain the Knutsford dragon legend, the author 

 gives a tale about a child, a minor, in danger from his 

 guardian, who wished to seize the estate. But the dragon 

 legend is too widely spread for such an explanation. It 

 is related in regard to the parish of Deerhurst.f It is 



* 'Knutsford: Its Traditions and History,' by Henry Green, 1869. p. 90. 

 + E. S. Hartland, 'Folklore of Gloucestershire,' 1892, p. 23. 



