. Devonshire characters and strange events. been intermitted, yet of due,you owe me so much a year for that land. John started from his seat, and told Slanning to hisface that he lied, and mad with rage, drew his daggerand would have stabbed him. Slanning with a knifebeat down Fitzs blade, and the friends at the tablethrew themselves between them and patched up thequarrel as they supposed. Nicholas Slanning then leftthe apartment and departed for Bickleigh with hisman, both being on horseback. They had not ridden far when they came to a deepand rough descent, whereupon Slanning bade his manlea
. Devonshire characters and strange events. been intermitted, yet of due,you owe me so much a year for that land. John started from his seat, and told Slanning to hisface that he lied, and mad with rage, drew his daggerand would have stabbed him. Slanning with a knifebeat down Fitzs blade, and the friends at the tablethrew themselves between them and patched up thequarrel as they supposed. Nicholas Slanning then leftthe apartment and departed for Bickleigh with hisman, both being on horseback. They had not ridden far when they came to a deepand rough descent, whereupon Slanning bade his manlead the horses, and he dismounting walked through afield where the way was easier. At that moment he saw John Fitz with four attend-ants galloping along the lane after him. Without ado,Slanning awaited the party and inquired of John Fitzwhat he desired of him. Fitz replied that he hadfollowed that he might avenge the insult offered Fitz called to his men, and they drew theirblades and fell on Slanning, who had to defend himself. SLANNING S OAKFrovi an oil painting hy A, B, Collier, 1855 SIR JOHN FITZ 189 against five men. The matter might even then havebeen composed, but one of Fitzs men, named Cross,twitted his master, saying, What play is this? It ischilds play. Come, fight! Fitz, who had sheathedhis sword, drew it again and attacked Slanning. Thelatter had long spurs, and stepping back they caughtin a tuft of grass, and as he staggered backward, Fitzran him through the body. At the same time, one ofFitzs men struck him from behind. Slanning fell to theground and died. He was conveyed home, and buriedin Bickleigh Church, where his monument still exists,but in a mutilated condition. It was of plaster, andwhen the church was restored fell to pieces; but thecurious Latin inscription has been preserved. Nicholas Slanning had been married to Margaret,daughter of Henry Champernowne, of Modbury, andhe died leaving as his heir a child, and the administra-tion of his estat
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