than probable that the fame of the kingly founder of the hospital has totally eclipsed that of his humble subject, and for this reason it seems right for us to find a place in our list of illustrious shoemakers for a worthy man whose industry and benevolence are bearing good fruit to this day, and who once, it may be, was not a little proud of the honorable nickname of _Ye Cocke of Westminster_.[98] [98] For this and one or two other examples of noted shoemakers the writer is indebted to a series of most interesting articles entitled "Concerning Shoes and Shoemakers," in the _Leisure Hour_, 1876. TIMOTHY BENNETT, THE HERO OF HAMPTON-WICK. It would be hard to find a name more worthy of being enrolled in our list than that of the public-spirited and courageous shoemaker of Hampton-Wick in Surrey named _Timothy Bennett_,[99] who, early in the last century, undertook, at his own cost, to rescue a right of road from loss to the public. This road ran from Hampton-Wick to Kingston-upon-Thames through the well-known Bushy Park, belonging to the Crown. Bennett was grieved to see the right of way infringed by the Crown authorities, and to observe the consequent inconvenience to thousands of his neighbors. He determined, therefore, to go to law about the matter, and, if possible, put a stop to the high-handed and unjust proceedings of the "Ranger of the Park." He went to a lawyer and inquired as to the probable chances of success in his project, and as to the cost, saying, "I have _seven hundred pounds_ which I would be willing to bestow upon this attempt. It is all I have, and has been saved through a long course of honest industry." Satisfied on both points, he resolved to carry out his plan. Lord Halifax was then Ranger of Bushy Park, and having heard of Bennett's intentions, sent for him. "Who are you, sir," demanded my lord, "that have the assurance to meddle in this affair?" "My name, my lord, is Timothy Bennett, shoemaker, of Hampton-Wick. I remember, an't please your Lordship, when I was a young man, of seeing, while sitting at my work, the people cheerfully pass by to Kensington market; but now, my lord, they are forced to go round about, through a hot sandy road, ready to faint beneath their burdens, and I am unwilling" (using a phrase he was very fond of) "to leave the world worse than I found it. This, my lord, I humbly represent, is the reason of my conduct." "Be gone! You are an impertinent fellow!" said the Ranger of Bushy Park. After thinking the matter over in a calmer mood, Lord Halifax saw the equity of the shoemaker's claim, and the certainty of his own failure to justify his conduct, and gave up his opposition. The road was opened, and remains open to this day, and is used not only by those who pass on business between Hampton and Kingston, but by thousands of pleasure-seekers from the busy and smoke-laden metropolis, who run down by rail in the spring and summer to