Rollright rhymes

Seven strides thou shalt take,
And if Long Compton thou can see,
King of England thou shall be.

Following last month’s article on Midsummer customs we are reminded by Jean Evans of the rhyme associated with the Rollright legend.

After six strides the hopeful king thought the land was his, but at the seventh, the view was obscured so he and his men were turned by the witch into stone while she turned herself into the eldern tree.