94 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



monotonous life." If correctly reported he, of course, referred 

 to the quickening of the pulses which even the labourer shares 

 when confronted with the pageantry of sport ; and although not 

 himself a sportsman, there can be no doubt as to his opinion of 

 them, after the following passage : 



" I think it is true that some of the very best Yorkshire 

 Christians who have ever lived have been keen sportsmen. ..." 



Then, as a last reference to Mr. Slingsby, he summed up his 

 life admirably : 



" He was one of those — and I think there should be more of 

 them in the ranks of the clergy — who loved the country for its 

 own sake, who loved the people, the birds and the beasts who 

 inhabit it." 



So Mr. Slingsby was " A man of the field," but he was also 

 a " faithful priest." For thirty-six years of his life he had been 

 an earnest, faithful servant of the Church in Yorkshire. 



After this appreciation from the Archbishop any description 

 of mine concerning Mr. Slingsby would be superfluous. 



The Slingsbys are an old north-country family who fought 

 for their king in the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The monuments 

 in Knaresborough Church attest the antiquity and fame of the 

 family. 



One of Mr. Charles Slingsby's ancestors. Sir William Slings- 

 by, was the reputed discoverer of Harrogate mineral springs ; 

 he was Commissioner-General in 1595 and honorary Carver to 

 Anne, Queen Consort, in 1603 ; in that same year he was 

 knighted. He was a great traveller, and during his journeyings 

 tasted the chalybeate waters in Germany and at once recognised 

 the virtue of what is known as the " Old Spa " or Tewitt well 

 on the Spray at Harrogate. This was about 1596, when the 

 whole district was merely part of the old Forest, and Knares- 

 borough the chief town. It was not, however, until nearly a 

 hundred years later that the valuable properties of the waters 

 became recognised, and for a long time there was only one inn, 

 or hotel, as we should now name it, where people could stay. 



Sir William's son Henry also gave this country something 

 by which he may be remembered. As Master of the Mint in the 

 time of Charles II. he was author of the motto on the coinage, 

 " Decus et Tutamen." 



During the two hundred and thirty years that have passed 



