Fairy Tales, Now First Collected/Tale 27
TALE XXVII.
THE PORRIDGE-POT.
In the vestry of Frensham church in Surrey, on the north side of the chancel, is an extraordinary great kettle or caldron, which the inhabitants say, by tradition, was brought hither by the fairies, time out of mind, from Borough-hill, about a mile hence. To this place if any one went to borrow a yoke of oxen, money, &c. he might have it for a year or longer, so he kept his word to return it. There is a cave, where some have fancied to hear music. On this Boroughhill (in the same parish) is a great stone lying along, of the length of about six feet. They went to this stone, and knocked at it, and declared what they would borrow, and when they would repay, and a voice would answer, when they should come, and that they should find what they desired to borrow at that stone. This caldron, with the trivet, was borrowed here after the manner aforesaid, but not returned according to promise; and, though the caldron was afterward carried to the stone, it could not be received, and ever since that time, no borrowing there.[1]