KING HENRY II. AND THE MILLER

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Closely connected with the history of the parish of Sutton is the tradition of King Henry II. and the Miller. Midway between Sutton and Mansfield is the Reservoir which was constructed by a former Duke of Portland, and which in a time of bad trade afforded employment to hundreds of distressed stockingers, and which irrigates the Duke's meadows. This Reservoir, consisting of about 80 acres, formerly the site of a farm on which a Mr. Samuel Hibbert was born one 29th of February, thus having but one birthday in four years,—is partly in Sutton and partly in Mansfield parish, and at the north-east of it stands the King's Mill, which, at one time, formed part of the possessions of the Crown. It is said that in the days of King Henry II. this Mill was occupied by John Cockle, who resided here with his son and his daughter Margery. One day in hunting the King was separated from his retinue, and found his way towards dusk to the Mill, and requested the mistress of the house to give him food and a night's lodging. Upon remarking that he looked like a clean, decent man, she gave him some supper, and arranged that he should sleep with her son Dick. In the morning she gave him some breakfast, and "Carrotty Margery" waited upon his Majesty; and whilst engaged on the meal a number of courtiers arrived, asking if anything had been seen or heard of the missing King, in search of whom they had been engaged all the night. The King then declared himself, much to the amazement of Mistress Cockle, who went on her knees to beg pardon for the familiarity with which she had treated him, and above all for putting him to sleep with her son. But the King graciously thanked her for her kindness and hospitality, knighted her husband on the spot, and thus made her "My Lady;" and the story goes on to say that the despotic Monarch insisted on one of his lords taking "Carrotty Margery" to wife, and finding a wife for his quondam bedfellow amongst the ladies of the court.