Tinker."

But of all the narrow escapes perhaps Father Blount's experiences
at Scotney Castle were the most thrilling. This old house of
the Darrells, situated on the border of Kent and Sussex, like
Hindlip and Braddocks and most of the residences of the Roman
Catholic gentry, contained the usual lurking-places for priests.
The structure as it now stands is in the main modern, having
undergone from time to time considerable alterations. A vivid
account of Blount's hazardous escape here is preserved among the
muniments at Stonyhurst--a transcript of the original formerly
at St. Omers.

One Christmas night towards the close of Elizabeth's reign the
castle was seized by a party of priest-hunters, who, with their
usual mode of procedure, locked up the members of the family securely
before starting on their operations. In the inner quadrangle of
the mansion was a very remarkable and ingenious device. A large
stone of the solid wall could be pushed aside. Though of immense
weight, it was so nicely balanced and adjusted that it required
only a slight pressure upon one side to effect an entrance to
the hiding-place within. Those who have visited the grounds at
Chatsworth may remember a huge piece of solid rock which can be
swung round in the same easy manner. Upon the approach of the
enemy, Father Blount and his servant hastened to the courtyard
and entered the vault; but in their hurry to close the weighty
door a small portion of one of their girdles got jammed in, so
that a part was visible from the outside. Fortunately for the
fugitives, someone in the secret, in passing the spot, happened
to catch sight of this tell-tale fragment and immediately cut