Chap. 1.
Tom's Birth and Parentage.
In the reign of William the Conqueror I have read in antient records, there lived in the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire, a man named Thomas Hickathrift, a poor labourer, yet he was an honest stout man, and able to do as much work in a day as two ordinary men. Having only one Son he called him after his own name Thomas. The old man put his son to School, but he would learn nothing.
God called the old man aside, his Mother being tender of her son, maintained him by her own labour as well as she could; but all his delight was in the chimney corner, and he eat as much at once as would serve five ordinary men. At ten years old he was six feet high and three in thickness, his hand was like a shoulder of mutton, and every other part proportionable; but his great strength was yet unknown.
Chap. 2.
How Tom Hickathrift's great Strength came to be
Known.
Tom's Mother being a poor widow, went to a rich farmer's house, to beg a bundle of straw, to shift herself and her son Thomas. The farmer being an honest charitable man, bid her take what she wanted. She, going home to her son Thomas said, Pray go to such a place and fetch me a bundle of straw; I have asked leave.—He swore he would not go—Nay, prythee go, said his poor old Mother.—Again he swore he would not go, unless she would borrow him a cart rope, she being willing to pleasure him, went and borrowed one.
Then taking the Cart rope, away he went, and coming to the farmer's house, the master was in the barn, and two men threshing.
Tom said, I am come for a burden of Straw. Tom, said the farmer, take as much as thou can'st carry. So he laid down his Cart rope, and began to make up his burden.
Your rope, Tom, said they is too short, and jeered him. But he fitted the farmer well for his joke; for when he had made up his burthen, it was supposed it might be two thousand weight—But says they, what a fool art thou? for thou can'st not carry the tythe of it.—But however he took up his burthen, and made no more of it than we do an hundred pound weight, to the great admiration of master and men.