Show REWARD FOR GOOD SERVICE kinsalas KIn sales earls had privilege of be ing covered before king paris has caught the hanolt of going hatless and many stories connected with hats and their history are re called it was once counted a orivl lege to walk not bareheaded but cov ered before a king the earls of kinsale had this dubious distinction as rew ard for an old time service seven centuries ago philip of france summoned that cheerful hero eng land s king john to mortal combat john thought he would rather not but offered te courcey earl of kin sale freedom from the dungeon where he lay it he would tal e in hand the commission de courcey spoiling or a fight agreed and john and phil p sat together to see somebody some bod s head cracked the french champion ried off on seeing the size of the englishman whereupon the untried conqueror playfully stuck his helmet upon a post of oak and drove his sword through it and so deep into the wood that none save himself could withdraw it he had purchased his and his reward he heard from his magnanimous sovereign s aps thou art a pleasant companion and heaven beep thee in good beav ers never unveil thy bonnet aga n before king or subject |