Page:Annals of horsemanship (1792).djvu/94

 entering the church-yard, I descried John, rather too sweet upon Elizabeth, and conducting her among the tomb-stones, under the large apple-trees. I instantly sallied to rout them, which, as I was effecting, I heard a noise of a tremendous kind, and looking up, saw (it's a fact) a fierce-looking man, mounted on a horse of great magnitude, prancing in the middle of an apple-tree. He showered down the pippins like hail upon us, and, as I saw he was about to descend, I for fear of the worst, took to my heels, and was home, I believe, in a shorter time by some minutes than I was the Sunday before, when there was a danger of a turbot's being overdrest. The parish have taken it up; and, I understand, stories of the turbot are handed about, to hurt me with the Bishop; and this last business of the apple-tree, is turn'd into very shameful scandal. But the above is truth, I am ready to affirm. I have since heard, that the figure and horse came to the earth, and flying over the church-yard wall, were seen no more. I have put some of the pippins in brandy