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find, in opening these tumuli, the traces of depredations 
committed upon them in former times in the belief, 
which prevailed generally, that vast treasures were con- 
cealed beneath them ; but fortunately they were protected 
also by another article of the superstitious creed, the belief 
that these treasures were placed under the charge of 
fearful dragons, or of still more powerful fairies or demons, 
who were sure to take vengeance upon any one who attempted 
to rob them. The treasure-hunters, therefore, who went 
to work in earnest, sought the assistance of magical incanta- 
tions, which were not always easily obtained. The tumulus of 
Willey-hou, which is one of the most celebrated in this part 
of England, was the subject of a legend of very remote 
date. 
One of our most valuable historians of the twelfth century 
was born at Bridlington, in the first year of the reign of 
King Stephen, (A.D. 1136), and afterwards becoming a 
Canon of Newburgh, in the same county, is commonly known 
by the name of William of Newburgh. He seems to have 
been fond of the legends and popular antiquities of his native 
place, and he tells us that he had often remarked the tumulus 
to which the following legend belongs, which he has 
taken the trouble to hand down to us. There can be no 
doubt that it is the barrow of Willey-hou. He describes it 
as standing about half a mile from a village, of which he 
has omitted to tell us the name, but which was, no doubt,* 
Wold-Newton ; it was near " those celebrated waters, which 
are commonly called Fipse, and spring from the earth in a 
copious stream, not continually, but at intervals, after 
intervals of years." This stream was no doubt the Gypsies 
already mentioned. 
One day, a rustic of the village just mentioned, went to 
visit one of his friends in a neighbouring village, (no doubt 
North Burton), the road to which lay near our tumulus, a 
