The other house was “White Webb’s,” on the confines of Enfield Chase.  In the Record Office there is a document describing how, many Popish books and relics were discovered when the latter was searched.  The building was full of trap-doors and secret passages.  Some vestiges of the out-buildings of “White Webb’s” may still be seen in a quaint little inn called “The King and Tinker.”

But of all the narrow escapes perhaps Father Blount’s experiences at Scotney Castle were the most thrilling.  This old house of the Darrells, situated on the border of Kent and Sussex, like Hindlip and Braddocks and most of the residences of the Roman Catholic gentry, contained the usual lurking-places for priests.  The structure as it now stands is in the main modern, having undergone from time to time considerable alterations.  A vivid account of Blount’s hazardous escape here is preserved among the muniments at Stonyhurst—­a transcript of the original formerly at St. Omers.

One Christmas night towards the close of Elizabeth’s reign the castle was seized by a party of priest-hunters, who, with their usual mode of procedure, locked up the members of the family securely before starting on their operations.  In the inner quadrangle of the mansion was a very remarkable and ingenious device.  A large stone of the solid wall could be pushed aside.  Though of immense weight, it was so nicely balanced and adjusted that it required only a slight pressure upon one side to effect an entrance to the hiding-place within.  Those who have visited the grounds at Chatsworth may remember a huge piece of solid rock which can be swung round in the same easy manner.  Upon the approach of the enemy, Father Blount and his servant hastened to the courtyard and entered the vault; but in their hurry to close the weighty door a small portion of one of their girdles got jammed in, so that a part was visible from the outside.  Fortunately for the fugitives, someone in the secret, in passing the spot, happened to catch sight of this tell-tale fragment and immediately cut it off; but as a particle still showed, they called gently to those within to endeavour to pull it in, which they eventually succeeded in doing.

At this moment the pursuivants were at work in another part of the castle, but hearing the voice in the courtyard, rushed into it and commenced battering the walls, and at times upon the very door of the hiding-place, which would have given way had not those within put their combined weight against it to keep it from yielding.  It was a pitchy dark night, and it was pelting with rain, so after a time, discouraged at finding nothing and wet to the skin, the soldiers put off further search until the following morning, and proceeded to dry and refresh themselves by the fire in the great hall.

When all was at rest, Father Blount and his man, not caring to risk another day’s hunting, cautiously crept forth bare-footed, and after managing to scale some high walls, dropt into the moat and swam across.  And it was as well for them that they decided to quit their hiding-hole, for next morning it was discovered.