Page:Devonshire Characters and Strange Events.djvu/661

Rh not money enough, and Chowne had retorted, 'You had better let me have him, Jack. I have noticed that when a man refuses an offer for a horse from me, something goes wrong with the animal. It is very curious really that it should be so, but so it is.' And the horse would be sent to him for twenty-five pounds.

"He was frequently engaged in litigation, and one day Mr. Cockburn (afterwards Lord Chief Justice of England, but then a wild young fellow enough) was engaged against him, and Chowne lost his case. Cockburn then, or so it is said, left the court in the Castle of Exeter in order to have some luncheon.

"In the castle yard he saw an old countryman in yellow leggings and a long blue coat, who had an ash sapling in his hand. As the great lawyer passed him, whack! down came the stick across the silk gown upon his shoulders.

"'Be you the young rascal who spoke up against me in court just now?' ’I suppose that you are Parson Chowne,' said Cockburn. 'I was against you, and I am very glad that I succeeded; and now I am inclined to have you up for striking me.'

"'No you won't,' was the reply, 'you shall come and have luncheon with me instead. You are a deuced clever young chap, and I am hanged if ever I have a case on again without employing you. So come along, you little beggar, and I will stand you a bottle of port.' Cockburn went, and frequently afterwards he would stay with Chowne."

The following story shall be told as near as may be in the words of the farmer who was present when occurred the incident he related.

"On Saturday last Mr. Froude drove a fox from Molland to ground in Parson Jekyll's Wood at Tar Steps. He was going to dig him out, and the men had