The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-02-10
King George iii. and Bob Sheath.

When King George III. was residing
AZ Cheltenham he paid visit to Wcrces-
ter. At that time the keeperof the Bar
borne teli-gate was aman of sturdy char
acter. known as Bob Sheath. who de-
clared that his Majesty should not pass
through his gate unless he paid the toll
like any other person. 1.-The Chelten-
ham toll-gate keepers might let him pass
free if they choose-more fools they for
doing so; but he wasn't going to do So
If the King came at the head of an army
then he would throw open the gate and
let him pass through without paying;
but so long as he was there as a visitor
he must pay the toll like other folk"
Such was Bob Sleath's resolve; and,
though the people to whom he said this
told him that he was making an empty
boast, and that he would not dare to shut
his toll-bar in the Kings face, yet Bob
Sheath declared that he would most GER
tainly do so if he had the chance.
The chance was offered him, for the
King came that way; and, true to his
word, Bob Sheath closed the gate and
made il fast with lock and key. The out
rider ordered him to throw open the
gate, as the Kings carriage was COM
ing, with q considerable retinue, followed
by a loyal throng. But Bob Sheath re-
fused to comply with the request until
he had been duly paid for the carriage
and horsemen. The Kings equerry then
rode up and was informed of the state of
affairs, the royal coach being then close
at hand. The equerry explained to the
toll-gate keeper that the Kings secre-
tary came last in the procession and
would pay for all who passed through
the gate if Bob would carefully count
them as they went by him. With
this promise Bob Sheath opened the
gate, and without any detention
having been made to the royal progress,
the King and his attendants passed
through the gate. But, although the
toll-gate keeper went up to more than
one of those who followed the King, no
one would confess to being the bearer Of
the Kings purse, or to being authorized
to pay the toll. So every one passed
through free, as did also the loyal crowd,
who pressed forward after the carriage
before the toll.gate keeper could close
the gate.
Bob Sheath felt that he was tmcked;
poe 'ip "oS iosoiNCu tuhb lflS suOHid lob
occur second time. So the next day,
when the King returned and wished to
pass through Barborne gate on his way
back to Cheltenham, Bob Sheath securely
locked the gate, and refused to open it
to the outrider. Then came the equerry,
who endeavored, as on the previous day,
to secure the opening of the gate by the
promise of payment of the toll by the
Kings secretary. But Bob Sheath plainly
told him that he did not believe in the
existence of that court official, and that
he would not open the gate for the Kings
coach until the whole of the toll for both
yesterday and to-day was paid to him.
The equerry endeavored to Brighten him
into compliance by representing the an
noyance that would be felt by his Males
ty; but Bob Sheath would not relent or
abate one jot of his demand; so, as the
Kings coech was then brought to
standstill, and his Majesty was inquiring
into the cause Of the delay, the equerry
paid the toll-gate keeper the whole Of the
money he demanded, at the same time
threatening that he would have him be-
fore court of law and make him refund
the sum. Then Bob Sheath opened the
gate, and made his best bow to the King
as he passed through; he never again saw
George Ill, and never heard any more
of the toll that he had taken from him.
Notes and Queries.