1 8 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



less intoxicated condition than the coachman, and thought it 

 would be a pity to jump the sunk fence with the carriage behind 

 them. While they were having an altercation with the coach- 

 man we became aware of our perilous position in time to avoid 

 disaster. 



Inside the house there are some beautiful painted ceilings 

 and old-fashioned fireplaces ; also a secret door in the library, 

 and other interesting things. 



The Hustlers are an old family, the first I can hear of them 

 being in the reign of James I., when a Hustler was knighted and 

 given the Manors of Bridlington for shooting the noted pirate. 

 Sir Andrew Barton, who in 1511 commanded two Scotch ships, 

 with the help of which, and by his depredations, he amassed 

 great wealth. His ships were usually heavily laden. The Earl 

 of Surrey, who was the chief of the " Council Board of England " 

 at the time, received so many complaints from merchants and 

 sailors of the robberies of this Sir Andrew Barton, that he 

 determined at all costs a stop should be put to his nefarious 

 practices. With this object in view he fitted out two ships 

 and sent them to sea under his two sons with letters of marque. 

 One son was Sir Thomas Howard, called Lord Howard by old 

 historians, afterwards created Earl of Surrey in his father's 

 lifetime ; the other son was Sir Edward Howard, according 

 to an old manuscript I have before me. 



After encountering some dirty weather, these sporting 

 seamen fell in with the Lion, commanded by Sir Andrew Barton 

 in person, who was tackled by Lord Howard. The other 

 brother Edward came across the Union, the second pirate ship. 

 It appears the engagement between these four ships was ex- 

 tremely obstinate on both sides, but at last the fortunes of the 

 Howards prevailed and Sir Andrew was killed, fighting bravely 

 and encouraging his men to hold out to the last, in spite of 

 which the two Scotch ships were captured and carried up the 

 river Thames on August 2nd, 1511. 



This was rather a brilliant achievement, as the two Howards 

 were only volunteers, so to speak, acting on the orders of their 

 father. The affair was in a great measure the cause of the 

 Battle of Flodden in which James IV. lost his life on September 

 9th, 1513. 



An old ballad in the keeping of one of the Hustler family 



