class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">Frontispiece

  Page Roman Coins, Bricks, and Tiles from Melandra 9 Inscribed Roman Stone from Melandra 11 Prehistoric Spearhead from Mouselow Castle 12 “The Princess Ineld” 13 “A Country Maid of Longdendale” 17 The War-Hill, Mottram—with View of Church 25 “In the Minstrel’s Gallery” 28 Doorway to Staley Chapel, Mottram Church 30 Effigy of Sir Ro and his Lady, Mottram Church 31 “The Forest of Longdendale”:—View at Bottom’s Hall 34 “The Robin Hood Stone” 37 “The Abbot’s Chair” 40 Base of Cross on the Monk’s Road 41 “The Lady Geraldine” 44 “The Fairies” 52 “Bess Andrew” 60 Mottram Church and Village Cross 73 “A Running Stream” 83 Dukinfield Hall 93 “A Puritan Chant of Praise” 98 Arms of the Dukinfield Family 100 Ancient Doorway, Mottram Church 105

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To
FREDERICK HIGHAM,
of
Abbotsford, Godley Green, Hyde,
in memory of
Happy Hours spent together in Literary Association,
and for the sake of
A Friendship which ripens as the Years pass,
This Book of
Legends of that Wild Land we both Love,
is Dedicated
by
THE AUTHOR.

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I.
The Legend of Coombs Rocks.

FOR some time after the invasion of Britain by Julius Cæsar (55 B.C.) no proper steps were taken by the Romans to reduce to submission the northern portion of the island. The civil war in Rome, which resulted in the establishment of a monarchy under Augustus, prevented the Romans from making further attempts upon Britain, for Augustus was unwilling to endanger the empire by extending its limits. At length, however, the Emperor Claudius, remembering the island, sent over an army which carried the Roman line beyond the Thames. Later in the same reign the Romans subdued an insurrection among the Brigantines—a nation which inhabited Lancashire, Yorkshire and the other Northern counties. The kingdom of the Brigantines extended to Longdendale, where it was bounded by the territory of the Cornavii, another ancient British tribe who were masters of Cheshire and several other counties to the south of the Brigantine line. These warlike tribes again rose in opposition to the Romans, but were finally subdued by Julius Agricola, who, coming to Britain about the year 79