What became of the daughter tradition sayeth not. Doubtless she died, as Tom Leake's intended bride ought, of grief, and was buried under some grand old oak in Blidworth Forest."
Let us direct attention to another class of sportsmen. At Bunney, a monument is erected to Sir Thomas Parkyns, the well-known wrestler. It bears four lines in Latin, which have been translated thus:--
At length he falls, the long contest's o'er, And Time has thrown whom none e'er threw before; Yet boast not (Time) thy victory, for he At last shall rise again and conquer thee.
The next is copied from a stone in St. Michael's churchyard, Coventry, on a famous fencing master:--
To the memory of Mr. JOHN PARKES, A native of this City He was a man of mild disposition, A Gladiator by profession; Who after having fought 350 battles, In the principal parts of Europe, With honour and applause, At length quitted the stage, sheathed his sword, And with Christian resignation, Submitted to the Grand Victor In the 52nd year of his age Anno Domini 1733.
An old stone bearing the foregoing inscription was replaced by a new one some years ago at the expense of the late S. Carter, Esq., formerly Member of Parliament for Coventry. In the pages of the _Spectator_ honourable mention is made of John Parkes.
In the churchyard of Hanslope is buried Sandy M'Kay, the Scottish giant, who was killed in a prize fight with Simon Byrne. A headstone bears the following inscription:--
Sacred to the memory of ALEX. M'KAY, (Late of Glasgow), Who died 3rd June, 1834, Aged 26 years.
Strong and athletic was my frame; Far from my native home I came, And manly fought with Simon Byrne; Alas! but lived not to return. Reader, take warning of my fate, Lest you should rue your case too late; If you ever have fought before, Determine now to fight no more.
We are informed that Byrne was killed shortly afterwards, whilst engaged in fighting.
From the prize-ring let us turn to the more satisfactory amusement of cricket. In Highgate Cemetery, Lillywhite, the celebrated cricketer, is buried, and over his remains is placed a monument with the significant emblem of a wicket being upset with a ball.
The following lines are said to be copied from a tombstone in a cemetery near Salisbury:--