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There lived at this Troutbeck a man of amazing strength,
whose name was Gilpin, commonly called the Cork Lad of
Kentmere: I cannot tell much more about him, than what I
picked out of the church register, and some memoirs of one
William Birket of Troutbeck. He lived in the time of Edward
VI. his mother was a poor woman, (some say a nun,) and
begged from house to house to support herself and son, and
drew to a house upon an estate called Troutbeck Park, which
had been forfeited to the Crown, and of so little value that
no notice was taken of it for some time. At last being
granted, the grantee went to take possession, but was
prevented by this Cork lad, who was then just come to man's
estate, quite uncivilized, and knew no law but strength: He
was thereupon sent for to London, and by fair speeches and
wiles got thither: During his stay, the King held a day as
he did many, for gymnastic amusements; this Cork lad
observed the several combatants, but particularly the
wrestlers; at last he mounted the stage (in his undyed
dress, which his mother had spun him,) and threw
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