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The '''lubber fiend''', '''Lob''', '''lubberkin''', '''lurdane''' or '''Lob Lie-By-The-Fire''' is a [[legendary creature]] of [[English folklore]] that is similar to the "[[Brownie (mythology)|brownie]]"  (or "Urisk") of [[Scotland]] and northern England, the "[[Hob (folklore)|hob]]" of northern [[England]] and the Scottish Borders, the [[Slavic mythology|Slavic]] "[[domovoi]]" and [[Scandinavia]]n "[[tomte]]". It has been related also to [[Robin Goodfellow]], and [[Hobgoblin]]s. It is best known for being mentioned by [[John Milton]].

The lubberkin is typically described as a large, hairy man with a tail who performs housework in exchange for a saucer of milk and a place in front of the fire. One story claims he is the giant son of a [[witch]] and the [[Devil]].

The abbey lubber is a minor [[demon]] that haunts the wine cellars and kitchens of [[abbey]]s, tempting the monks into drunkenness, gluttony and lasciviousness. The best known abbey lubber tale is that of [[Friar Rush]].<ref>[[Katharine Mary Briggs|Briggs, Katharine]] (1976). ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies''. Pantheon Books. p. 1. {{ISBN|0394409183}}.</ref>

==Lubber fiend in literature==
The lubber fiend appears also in ''[[The Red Axe]]'' by [[Samuel Rutherford Crockett|S.R. Crockett]] (1900)

{{quote|That fool, Jan Lubber Fiend, will ever be at his tricks. 'Tis my young mistress that encourages him, more is the pity! For poor serving-men are held responsible for his knavish on-goings. Why, I had just set him cross-legged in the yard with a basket of pease to shell, seeing how he grows as much as a foot in the night—or near by. But so soon as my back is turned he will be forever answering the door and peeping out into the street to gather the mongrel boys about him. 'Tis a most foul Lubber Fiend to keep about an honest house, plaguing decent folks withal!<ref>Chapter X ''The Lubber Fiend''</ref>}}

Lob is the title of a poem by [[Edward Thomas (poet)|Edward Thomas]].

It also appears in ''[[Lob Lie-By-The-Fire]]'' by [[Juliana Horatia Ewing|Juliana H. Ewing]], ''[[Troll Fell]]'' by [[Katherine Langrish]], ''Abbeychurch'' by [[Charlotte Mary Yonge|Charlotte M. Yonge]] and ''[[Dear Brutus]]'' by [[J. M. Barrie]] (as "Lob, the ancient Puck").

It is also notable that [[Hellboy]] fills in some of the credentials of a Lubber Fiend. He was born of a witch and the devil, he has a tail, and he serves men, though not for milk. He can therefore be seen as a modern-day Lubber Fiend.

==See also==
* [[Wirry-cow]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/ewing/lob/lob-01.html ''Lob Lie-By-The-Fire'', by Juliana H. Ewing]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/1/2/1/9/12191/12191-8.txt ''The Red Axe'', by S. R. Crocket]

{{Fairies}}

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[[Category:English folklore]]
[[Category:Northumbrian folklore]]
[[Category:European demons]]
[[Category:English legendary creatures]]