that Sieur de Challonier who escorted Coe

lonier figures in the Domesday Book, as owning cons

Manor where James I. had slept for seven nights, a gracious guest of Mr Ilbert Challoner, in the year 1612. The baronetcy then c

il which, in the middle of the seventeenth century, shook the country to its very foundations, lighting the lurid torch

ater conflict between a Catholic King and his Protestant people touched them even less. Neither Pretender could boast of

ave been described as a typical example of an English squire of those days, but for a certain taint of parsimoniousness

of harshness towards the tenants on his estates, and he was famed throughout

he-way parts, that were on the way to nowhere. Sir Humphrey himself was but little known in the neighbourhood

most important family in the sister counties. Therefore when Sir Humphrey's coach stopped at the cross-roads, and the Squire himself alighted therefrom and walked tow

said Sir Humphrey; "you might also examine the l

ous laugh as he handed a pair of si

them done?" asked John, with some

-morrow," replied his Honour. "I am

he remembered Lady Patience's look of terror when the squire's coach first came into view on the crest of the distant hill, and his fa

ed the Squire, jovially. "I've arranged to meet my man of business t

wayside inn, your Ho

d! night overtook me some ten miles from Hartington, and I was attacked by a damned rascal who

e had culminated in fifty guineas being found in the poor box at Brassington court-hou

pistols. "'Tis a scandal to the whole country, this constant highway robbery on Brassing Moor. The impudent rascal who attacked me

im plainly?" asked Joh

hout 'Damn you' thrice. Just for one moment, though, one of my lanterns flashed upon the impudent thief. He was masked, of course, but I tell thee

is clever at a bargain," said

rogue does not belie his name-'Beau Brocade' forsooth! Faith! he dresses like a l

any case quite beyond the powers of honest John Stich, though he would have given quite a good deal of his worldly wealth to know for cert

n that direction. Just as Sir Humphrey, having left the pistols in the

at passed here about ha

ch, your

ll my man told me he could see a coach st

to handle. But he felt, as Sir Humphrey was going to Aldwark and therefore would surely meet La

ce Gascoyne's coac

h the same obvious indiffe

yship did not stop. I fancy she drove down Wirkswort

hrewd and somewhat sarcastic smile pla

rk for me on this unhallowed Moor; and for sure my horses could not reach Wirksworth now before nigh

roan, the cumbersome vehicle turned down the road to Aldwark, whils