FIRESIDE STORIES. 547

 

feats of Tom were no less wonderful; for, after having slain
hundreds, and at length broke his club, he seized upon “a lusty
rawboned miller” as a substitute, and made use of him as a
weapon, till he had quite cleared the field.

The King, of course, received intelligence of these extraordi-
nary exploits, and sent for the two heroes to his palace, where
a royal banquet was prepared for their honour and entertain-
ment, most of the nobility being present. Now, after the banquet
was over, the King made a speech, neither too short nor too long,
but having the extraordinary merit of being very much to the
purpose. We cannot omit so remarkable a specimen of royal
eloquence. “These my guests,” said the King, “are my trusty
and well-beloved subjects, men of approved courage and valour;
they are the men that overcame and conquered ten thousand
rebels who were combined for the purpose of disturbing the
peace of my realm. According to the character I have received
of Thomas Hickathrift and Henry Nonsuch, my two worthy
guests here present, they cannot be matched in any other king-
dom in the world. Were it possible to have an army of twenty
thousand such as these, I dare venture to assert I would act the
part of Alexander the Great over again. In the meanwhile, as
a proof of my royal favour, kneel down, Thomas Hickathrift,
and receive the ancient order of knighthood. And with respect
to Henry Nonsuch, I will settle upon him, as a reward for his
great services, the sum of forty shillings a year for life.’ After
the delivery of this excellent address the King retired, and Tom
and Henry shortly afterwards took their departure, attended for
many miles by a portion of the Court.

35—2