A Strange Story Of Eastwell

was no relation to him ) came once a quarter and paid for his board , and took care to see that he wanted nothing . And one day this gentleman took hint and carried him to a fine groat house , where he passed through several statel y rooms , in one of which he left him , bidding him stay there . "Then a man , finel y drcst , with a star and garter , came to him ; asked him some questionstalked kindly to himand gave him some money . Then the

, , fore-mentioned gentleman returned and conducted him back to his school . " Some time after , the same gentleman came to him again , with a horse and proper accoutrements , and told him be must take a journey with him into the country . They went into Leicestershire , and came to Bosworth field ; and he was carried to King Richard III . ' s tent . The king embraced him and told him be was his son . ' But , child , ' says be , ' to-morrow 1 must fight for my crown .

And assure yourself if I lose it I lose my life too ; but I hope to preserve both . Do you stand in such a place ( directing him to a particular place ) where you may see the battle , out of danger . Aud when I have gained the victory come to me ; I will then own you to be mine , and take care of you . But , if I should be so unfortunate as to lose the battle , then shift as well as you can , and . take care to let nobody know that I am your father , for no . mercy will be shewed to anyone so nearly related to me . ' Then the king gave him a jmrse of golcf and dismissed him .

" He followed the king s directions . And when he saw the battle was lost and the king killed , he hasted to London , sold bis horse and fine clothes , and the better to conceal himself from all suspicion of being son to a king , and that he mi ght have means to live by his honest labour , he put himself apprentice to a bricklayer . But having- a competent skill in the Latin tongue he was unwilling to lose it , and having an inclination also to reading , and no delight in the conversation of those he was obliged to work withhe generall

, y spent all the time be had to spare in reading by himself . " Sir Thomas said , 'You are now old , and almost past labour ; I will give you the running of my kitchen as long as you live . ' He answered , ' Sir , you have a numerous family ; I have been used to live retired , give me leave to build a bouse of one room for myself , in such a field , and there , with your good leave , I will live and die . ' Sir Thomas granted his request ; he built his

house , and there continued till his death . " Dr . Brett adds : " I suppose ( though my lord did not mention it ) that he went to eat in the family , and then retired to his but . My lord said that there was no park at that time ; but when the park was made , that house was taken into it , and continued standing till his ( my lord ' s ) father pulled it clown . ' But , ' said my lord , ' I would as soon have pulled down this house ; ' " meaning Eastwell Place .

The good doctor , who resided , at the time he received the above narrative from the Earl of Winchelsea , at Sjiring Grove , in the immediate vicinity of Eastwell , and had , therefore , every opportunity of acquainting himself with the current local traditions , aud also of consulting parish records and other documents , has left some notes anent this curious story . Dr . Brett tells its : " I have been computing- the age of this Richard Plantagenet when he diedand find it to be about 81 . For Richard III . was killed August

, 23 rd , 1485 , which subtracted from 1550 there remains 65 , to which add 16 , for the age of Richard Plantagenet at that time , and it makes 8 . 1 . But though he lived to that age , he could scarcely enjoy his retirement in his little bouse above two or three years , or a little more . For I find that Sir Thomas Moyle did not purchase the estate of Eastwell till about the years 1543 or 1544 . We may therefore reasonably suppose that upon his building a new house upon

his purchase he could not come to live iu it till 1546 , but that his workmen were continued to build the walls about his gardens , and other conveniences off from the house . And till he came to live in the house he could not well have an opportunity of observing how Richard Plantagenet retired with his I