The record-union., 1897-04-26
DIARY OF PARSON PARLETH.

January s, 1667-Forth to Brackmin-
ster by appointment to meet with the
Bishop, who hath given me the living of
Sternax, newly vacated.
His Lordship very courteous and did
offer to lodge me that night. But l was
anxious for Dorothy, she being all alone,
and did think of it the more that it's
now two years that very day that her
dear mother did leave me a widower, to
my unceasng sorrow.
Yet the good Bishop would have me, at
the least, dine with him, and did hasten
the meal for my greater expedition. A
good dinner of roast pullet and sucking
pig, but I have drank better wine. was
not, fear me, the good company l gen.
orally be.
In Sternax parish, as my Lord Bishop
did priVily inform me, there be man
of strange life and behavior, albeit of
good substance and position, one Sir
Ralph Brant, whom Mr.. Thorp, the for
mer parson, now dead of the jaundice,
did ever regard as a thorn in his flesh.
On my asking wherein he did more
particularly offend, Nay, that" quoth
the Bishop, Il cannot precisely tell. But
Mr.. Thorp did ever complain of him as
a pagan man who did set bad example
to the parish, nor would accept his pas
tors guidance in the matter of aims
giving. Yet am l bound to say that my
nephew, who did meet with this same
Sir Ralph in foreign parts ere he came
into his inheritance at Sternax, ever
spake loudly in his praise, as most ex-
cellent good young man and a valiant.
And 'twixt you and me, Mr. Parlett,
your predecessor, though a worthy man
and a pious, was wanting in discern
ment"
1 was little downcast at the thought
of so contrary a parishOner, which the
Bishop perceiving did lay his hand kind
ly on my shoulder.
BE of good cheer" said he. What
though the man be an odd fish? Twill
be for you to angle for him and draw
him to land by virtue of your officei"
Thence, parting from the bishop with
his blessing, to the White Hart Tavern,
where l had bestowed my nag, and
whence I did homeward Wend me in
company of Mr.. Thrupton, of my parish,
whom, being originally from Sternax
way, I did cautiously sound as to Sir
Ralph Brant.
"'Tis man." quoth he, 'T have never
seen, but have heard strange things of
would fill a book
Whereupon he, being a merry man
and of a pretty enough wit, did, to my
great content, fall to beguile the way
with talk of this Sir Ralph. 1 will brief
1y set down one or two things he did tell
me-
Some three years ago, Sir Ralph be-
ing but newly come to Sternax, a
couple of foOtpads, bold knaves, did
stop several that journeyed that way,
leaving them ever the poorer for the
meeting At length the raScals did
wax so impudent as to strip a wealthy
grazier to the skin and then truss him
like a fowl to stake passed under his
bent thighs, and was found next morn
ing under hedge well night perished
with cold Now Sir Ralph, when he
heard it, did disguise him with a mock
white beard, and bowling his shoulders
did shape himself as an aged man, and
leaning on a crutch did go that way of
a moonlit night. Up to him the two
Tuffians and did jeer him, and We're
for treating him like the rest, when he
out with a stout cudgel from under his
cloak, and, being a marvellous strong
man, did trounce them both and tie
them back to back And the end was
they were lodged in Brackminster Jail,
where the grazier did swear to them,
and We're both hanged.
Here be another tale. Sir Ralph did
chance to be passing through Sternax
village one day, when he heard words
between a widow woman and her
ing her sen to turn the dung heap aside
from her cowhouse door lest she should
soil her skirts going to milk.
And think ye 1 be going to soil my
hands with the dirty work." cried the
sulky lout.
Up steps Sir Ralph. Eyes, my man."
quoth he quietly, ''and not only so, but
you'll wash the stones for a path for
your mother when all is done"
Which the man did as meek as
lamb, under the shadow of Sir Ralphs
sapling staff.
And now for your pay" said Sir
Ralph with a queer smile. follow
me-"
And the rustic followed him, not
knowing what to think, till they got out
of sight and ken of all men into the
heart of Sternax Common, where Sir
Ralph did baste him right heartily with
his oaken stick.
And now be off and be a good son
to your mother, or there'lI be another
payday"
And from that day no saint could
keep the fifth commandment better
than did Toby Skies.
At which hearing it did seem strange
to me if Sir Ralph We're not the best
beloved nan of that countryside.
Nay" quoth Mr. Thrupton. its not
so. For he hath a. strange twist Of