The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries

‘It remains for ever true that the proper study of mankind is man; and even early man is not beneath contempt, especially when he proves to have had within him the makings of a great race, with its highest notions of duty and right, and all else that is noblest in the human soul.’ The Right Hon. Sir John Rhŷs . CONTENTS PAGES Preface xi-xiii Introduction xv-xxviii SECTION I THE LIVING FAIRY-FAITH Environment 1-16 Psychical Interpretation—The Mysticism of Erin and Armorica—In Ireland—In Scotland—In the Isle of Man—In Wales—In Cornwall—In Brittany. The Taking of Evidence 17-225 Method of Presentation—The Logical Verdict—Trustworthiness of Legends—The Fairy-Faith held by the highly educated Celt as well as by the Celtic Peasant—The Evidence is complete and adequate—Its Analysis—The Fairy Tribes dealt with—Witnesses and their Testimony: from Ireland, with Introduction by Dr. Douglas Hyde; from Scotland, with Introduction by Dr. Alexander Carmichael; from the Isle of Man, with Introduction by Miss Sophia Morrison; from Wales, with Introduction by the Right Hon. Sir John Rhŷs; from Cornwall, with Introduction by Mr. Henry Jenner; and from Brittany, with Introduction by Professor Anatole Le Braz. An Anthropological Examination of the Evidence 226-82 The Celtic Fairy-Faith as Part of a World-wide Animism—Shaping Influence of Social Psychology—Smallness of Elvish Spirits and Fairies, according to Ethnology, Animism, and Occult Sciences—The Changeling, Belief and its Explanation according to the Kidnap, Human-Sacrifice, Soul-Wandering, and Demon-Possession Theory—Ancient and Modern Magic and Witchcraft shown to be based on definite psychological laws—Exorcisms—Taboos, of Name, Food, Iron, Place—Taboos among Ancient Celts—Food-Sacrifice—Legend of the Dead—Conclusion: the Background of the Modern Belief in Fairies is Animistic. SECTION II THE RECORDED FAIRY-FAITH The People of the Goddess Dana or the Sidhe 283-307 The Goddess Dana and the Modern Cult of St. Brigit—The Tuatha De Danann or Sidhe conquered by the Sons of Mil—But Irish Seers still see the Sidhe —Old Irish Manuscripts faithfully represent the Tuatha De Danann—The Sidhe as a Spirit Race— Sidhe Palaces—The ‘Taking’ of Mortals—Hill Visions of Sidhe Women— Sidhe Minstrels and Musicians—Social Organization and Warfare among the Sidhe —The Sidhe War-Goddesses, the Badb —The Sidhe at the Battle of Clontarf, A. D. 1014—Conclusion. Brythonic Divinities and the Brythonic Fairy-Faith 308-31 The God Arthur and the Hero Arthur—Sevenfold Evidence to show Arthur as an Incarnate Fairy King—Lancelot the