Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange EventsBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents, and Strange Events
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Legends -- England -- Yorkshire; Yorkshire (England) -- Miscellanea
Here the fox had earthed, as was expected; and the other horsemen (who
had gone over the Low Bridge and through the town) after some time came
up. They were much surprised at finding Metcalf there, and attributed
the soaked condition of himself and horse to profuse sweating; nor were
they undeceived till they reached Scriven.
Soon after this, Blind Jack was at Scarborough. As he was walking one
day on the sands with a friend, he resolved to take a swim in the sea,
his companion agreeing to shout out when he should think he had gone far
enough outward; but the other not making a sufficient allowance for the
noise of the sea, suffered him to go out of hearing before he shouted,
and Metcalf continued swimming until he got out of sight of his friend,
who now expected to see him no more. At length Metcalf began to think he
must have got out of hearing of his friend, and becoming rather tired he
turned on his back to rest himself, his ears being covered with water;
but after he had sufficiently rested he turned himself again, and
removing the hair of his head from his ears, began to listen, when he
thought he heard the breakers beating against the pier which defends the
Spa; finding by the noise that he was at a great distance, he increased
his efforts, and providentially taking a right direction, he landed in
safety, to the immense relief of his friend.
Having an aunt at Whitby, near the Alum Works, he went there, left his
horse, and got on board an alum ship bound for London. He arrived at the
metropolis, stayed there only a few weeks, played on the violin, and did
very well; but meeting so many acquaintances, did not think himself
safe. After some time, meeting with a vessel, he returned back again to
Whitby; and having a numerous acquaintance at Newcastle, formed at
Harrogate, he went thither, and was kindly received by many persons.
Amongst the rest was one Councillor Grey, who invited Metcalf to dine
with him every day during the time he should stay, which was about a
month. One day he said to Metcalf, "You and I are near a size," and
brought down a suit of clothes, saying, "I think these will fit you, and
are at your service if you please to accept them; they have scarcely
been worn; go into the next room and try them on." Metcalf then left
Newcastle and went to Sunderland, where he stayed a short time among the
sailors; then proceeded to Whitby to his aunt's, with whom he had left
his horse, as she was in tolerable circumstances; after that he
determined to go to Knaresborough, and set off in the forenoon,
intending to call at Mr. Varley's, as he had been there for six months
shortly before. He had company over the moor to Pickering, as he had
never been that road. At Pickering his company left him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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