A near female relation of the compiler [i.e. Ritson], who was born and brought up in a small village in the bishopric of Durham, related to him many years ago [late eighteenth century] several circumstances which confirmed the exactitude of Milton’s description. She, particularly, told of [brownie] thrashing the corn, churning the butter, drinking the milk, &c. and, when all was done, ‘lying before the fire like a great rough hurgin [?] bear’ (Ritson 22).