About the year 1738, Metcalf having increased his stud, and being aware of the docility of that noble animal, the horse, so tutored his own, that whenever he called them by their respective names, they would immediately answer him by neighing. This was chiefly accomplished by some discipline at the time of feeding. He could, however, without the help of those responses, select his own horses out of any number.
Having matched one of his horses, to run three miles, for a wager of some note, and the parties agreeing to ride each his own, they set up posts at certain distances, on the Forest, including a circle of one mile; having, of course, three rounds to go. Great odds were laid against Metcalf, upon the supposition of his inability to keep the course. But what did his ingenuity suggest in this dilemma: or, rather, what did it anticipate? He procured four dinner-bells from the different inns, with what others he could borrow; and placing a man, with a bell, at each post, he was enabled, by the ringing, to turn; and fully availing himself of the superior fleetness of his horse, came in winner, amidst the plaudits and exultations of the multitude, except only those who had betted against him.
A gentleman of the name of Skelton then came up, and proposed to Metcalf a small wager, that he could not gallop a horse of his fifty yards, and stop him within two hundred. This horse was notorious as a run-away, and had baffled the efforts of the best and strongest riders to hold him. Metcalf agreed to the wager, upon condition that he might choose his ground; but Skelton objected to there being either hedge or wall in the distance. Metcalf, every ready at any thing that was likely to produce a joke, agreed; the stakes were deposited; and knowing that there was a large bog near the Old Spa at Harrogate, he mounted at about the distance of an hundred and fifty yards from it. Having observed the wind, and placed a person who was to sing a song, for the guidance of sound, he set off, at full gallop, for the bog, and soon fixed the horse saddle-skirt deep in the mire. He then floundered through the dirt as well as he was able, till he gained a firm footing; when he demanded his wager, which was allotted him by the general suffrage. It was with the greatest difficulty, however, that the horse could be extricated.——That Metcalf was so well acquainted with this spot, was owing to his having, about three weeks before, relieved a stranger who had got fast in it in the night, and whose cries had attracted him.
It was now no unusual thing with him to buy horses, with a view to sell them again. Happening to meet with a man who had left the place of huntsman to a pack of subscription hounds kept by Sir John Kaye, ’Squire Hawkesworth, and others, and who had a horse to sell, Metcalf inquired his price, at the same time requesting permission to ride him a little way. Having trotted the horse a mile or two, he returned, telling the owner that the eyes of his nag would soon fail. The man, however, stood firm to his demand of twenty-five guineas for the horse, alledging that he was beautifully moulded, only six years old, and his action good. Metcalf then took the man into the stable, and desired him to lay his hand upon the eyes of the horse, to feel their uncommon heat; asking him, at the same time, how he could, in conscience, demand so great a price for a horse that was going blind. This treaty ended with Metcalf’s purchasing the horse, bridle, and saddle, for fourteen pounds.
A few days after, as he was riding on his new purchase, he ran against a sign-post, upon the Common, near the Toy-Shop, and nearly threw it down. Not discouraged by this, he set off for Ripon, to play at an assembly; and passing by a place at Harrogate called the World’s-End, he overtook a man going the Ripon road.—With him Metcalf laid a wager of six-pennyworth of liquor, that he would get first to an alehouse at some small distance. The ground being rough, Metcalf’s horse soon fell, and lay for a while on the thigh of his master, when, making an effort to rise, he cut Metcalf’s face with one of his fore shoes. The Rev. Mr. Richardson coming up at this moment, and expressing his concern for the accident, Metcalf told him that nothing had hurt him but the cowardice of his horse, who had struck him whilst he was down. His instrument, however, suffered so materially, that he was obliged to borrow one to perform on for the night, at Ripon, to which place he got without further accident. The assembly over, he set off to return to Harrogate, and arrived there about three in the morning.
He now thought it was time to dispose of his fine horse, whose eyes began to discharge much. After applying the usual remedies of allum blown into the eyes, roweling in different parts, &c. he found him in marketable condition; and knowing that there would soon be a great shew of horses without Micklegate-Bar, at York, he resolved to take the chance of that mart; and setting out the night before, put up at the Swan, in Micklegate. The next morning, when the shew began, Metcalf’s nag attracted the notice of one Carter, a very extensive dealer, who asking the price, was told twenty-two guineas. Carter then inquired if he was sound, and received for answer, “I have never known him lame; but I shall trot him on this pavement, and if there be any ailment of that kind, it will soon appear, with my weight.” The dealer bade him sixteen guineas, and a little after, seventeen; which Metcalf, for well-known reasons, was glad to receive.
Having sold his horse, he set off on foot for Harrogate; but before he had got to Holgate (about a mile on his way) he was overtaken by a Knaresborough man, on horseback, who proposed, for two shillings-worth of punch, to let him ride in turn, dividing the distances equally. Metcalf thought the man was unreasonable in his demand, but agreed to it at length; and giving his companion one tankard, he, by consent, got the first ride, with instructions to the following effect, viz. That he should ride on till he got a little beyond Poppleton-Field, where he would see a gate on his right hand, to which he should fasten the horse, and leaving him for the owner, proceed. Metcalf not seeing the gate, as described, rode on to Knaresborough, which was seventeen miles from the place where he had left his fellow-traveller. He then left the horse at the owner’s house, saying that the master having got into a return-chaise, had desired him to ride the horse home.—— The owner was greatly enraged at being left to walk so long a way; but, on Metcalf’s pleading that he never saw the gate, he found it his interest to join in the laugh.
Being now in the prime of life, and possessing a peculiar archness of disposition, with an unceasing flow of spirits, and a contempt of danger, seldom if ever equalled by one in his circumstances, it will not be wondered at that levities, such as are before recited, should have employed a considerable portion of his time. The sequel, however, will, in due course, shew, that he was capable of embarking in, and bringing to perfection, several schemes, of public as well as private utility; and this promise to the reader, it is hoped, will insure his patience, while he is made the companion of the author in a few more of his frolicsome adventures.
In the year 1738 Metcalf attained the age of twenty-one years, and the height of six feet one inch and an half, and was remarkably robust withal.
At that time there lived at Knaresborough one John Bake, a man of a ferocious temper and athletic figure. He was considered in the neighbourhood as a champion, or rather bully; and thus qualified, was often employed specially, to serve writs or warrants, in cases where desperate resistance was expected. Metcalf going one evening, with a friend, to a public house, they there met this Bake; and a short time after, Metcalf’s and Bake sat down to cards. The latter took some money off the table, to which he was not entitled; and the former remonstrating on the injustice of Bake, received from him a violent blow. Metcalf interposing with words only at first, was treated in the same manner; when instantly entering into combat with this ruffian, he bestowed upon him such discipline as soon extorted a cry for mercy.