THE ELIZABETHAN FAIRIES

EARTHLY LIFE OF FAIRIES 143
tune, for the fairies haunted their favorites there, leav-
ing unexpected gifts by which they could be recognized.
Posthumus, in Cymbeline, was well aware of this trait,
and accordingly attributed the book of prophecies which
he found in his cell to the fairies who " haunt this
ground." lZ9
The fairies did not confine themselves to money or
treasure, but bestowed jewels which they could " fetch
upon their protegCs to such an
. . . from the deep," lSO
extent that the recipients sometimes, but most infre-
quently, complained: " . . . they haunt me like fairies,
and give me jewels here "; 131 and any jewels strangely
found were fairy donations, for " surely the heauens
haue rained thee jewels . . . or else doe Fairies haunt
this holy greene." 132
It was the fairies' well-known generosity with precious
stones and other presents that made them so invaluable
to generous but shrewd courtiers who wished to present
gifts to Elizabeth and her successor without laying them-
selves liable to a suspicion of bribery. Again and again
the fairies were impersonated to make the presentation
of a diamond or a ruby for an aspiring mortal, and many
a progress or a masque became " a shew representing the
Phayries (as well as might be) . . . in the whiche shew,
a rich jewel1 was presented to the Queenes High-
nesse," 133 as at Hengrave Hall, or at Apthorpe,lS4 or
Quarrend~n,'~~ or as at Woodstocke when " a goune for
lZ9 v, 4.
'so M. N. D., 111, I.
l31 Jonson, The Silent Woman, Gifford ed., 1846, V, I.
132 Chapman, An Humerous dayes Myrth, Pearson ed., VoI. I, p. 57.
l33 Nichols, Prog. of Eliz., Vol. 11, p. 215.
l34 Jonson, Morley ed., The Satyr.
See The Complete Works of John Lyly, Bond ed., 1902, Vol. I,
P. 453 ff.