Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-01-18
King George ILL.,, and Bob Sheath.

From Notes and Queries
When King George III. was residing
ut Cheltenham he paid visit TO Wor-
cester. At that time the keeper OF the
Barborne toll-gate was man of sturdy
character, known as Bob Sheath, who
declared that his Majesty should not
pass through his gate unless he paid
the toll like any other person. The
Cheltenham toll-gate keepers might let
him pass free il 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 rs
he was there as 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 declar-
ed that he would most certainly do so il
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 it fast with lock and key. The
outrider ordered him to throw open the
gate, as the Kings carriage was COM
ing, with considerable retinue, follow
ed by loyal throng. But Bob Sheath
F. refused to comply with the request I'M
til he had been duly paid for the car
riage and horsemen. The Kings equer-
ry then rode up, and was informed OF
the state of affairs, the royal coach be-
ing then close at hand. The equerry
explained to the toll-gate keeper that
the kings secretary 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 de-
tention 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 for
ward after the carriage before the toll
gate keeper could close the gate.
Bob Sheath felt that he was tricked;
but he was resolved that this should not
occur second time. So the next day,
when the King returned and wished TO
pass through Barporne gate on his way
back to Cheltenham, Bob Sheath secure
ly locked the gate, and refused to open
it to the outrider. Then came the equer-
ry, 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 frighted him into COM
pliance by representing the annoyance
that would be felt by his Majesty; but
Bob Sheath would not relent or abate
one jot of his demand; so, as the King S
coach 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
that he demanded, at the same time
threatening that he would have him be-
fore court of law and make him re-
fund the sum. Then Bob Sheath open
ed the gate, and made his best bow To
the King as he passed through; but he
never again saw George Ill, and never
heard any more of the toll that he had
taken from him.