PARSONS, THE STAFFORDSHIRE GIANT

Harwood's note in Erdeswick's *Staffordshire*, quoted by your correspondent C.H.B., is incorrect, inasmuch as the writer has confused the biographies of two distinct "giants"—WALTER PARSONS, porter to King James I., and WILLIAM EVANS, who filled the same office in the succeeding reign. The best account of these two "worthies" is that found in Fuller, and which I extract from the original edition now before me:— WALTER PARSONS, born in this county [Staffordshire], was first apprenticed to a smith, when he grew so tall in stature, that a hole was made for him in the ground to stand therein up to…