Honeyfoot
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Mr Honeyfoot was a member of the Learned Society of York Magicians at the time of its dissolution. He was a staunch supporter of John Segundus within the Society, and together, they explored the question of why there was (apparently) no longer any practical magic in England.
During the performance of Mr Norrell's first public act of magic, in which he awakened The stones of York, one particularly vocal statue indignantly related a story of how a young girl had been murdered by a young man - within the church, within its own sight - many years before. It pleaded urgently for his bones to be punished (for the murderer was long dead). Mr Honeyfoot had sensibility enough to be much moved by this striking instance of fidelity in what was, after all, only a piece of stone; and so after his career as a magician ended he spent a considerable amount of time over the next few years first petitioning various authorities in order to find the murderer's grave in the Cathedral, and secondly to have the remains cast out. Perhaps he felt this villain had polluted the sacred precincts of a church long enough. The Dean and Canons however refused to take the word of a mere statue on the matter, claiming there was no precedent for such a witness - which Mr Honeyfoot strongly denied, and he attempted to demonstrate that there was indeed such a precedent, in the case of the murder at Alston. It is unknown whether he succeeded, but it is perhaps not likely; for should a Dean or a Bishop once take up a position on a question, they are not very easily moved[3].
In July 1809, Honeyfoot and Segundus visited the Shadow House, where they ran into Jonathan Strange. Honeyfoot played a partial role in coaxing Strange to meet with Gilbert Norrell [23]. In the Autumn and Winter of 1815 Mr. Honeyfoot again had a partial role in Segundus's founding a school of magic (later a madhouse) at Starecross Hall [41].
Mr Honeyfoot was born about the year 1751, and at the time of which our author writes he was tall, of a florid complexion and wore his own hair, which was grey[1]. He was the father of three daughters, including the eldest Miss Honeyfoot, and Miss Jane Honeyfoot. He resided with his wife in High-Petergate [1]. Although his daughters were all apparently unmarried in early 1807 one of them (likely the eldest) must have been wed soon after Mr Segundus made their acquaintance, for by 1815 one was married, another engaged, and the third deciding between suitors. At this time Mr Segundus was also giving lessons in magic to Mr Honeyfoot's two young grandsons of 5 and 7 years of age[41].
During the performance of Mr Norrell's first public act of magic, in which he awakened The stones of York, one particularly vocal statue indignantly related a story of how a young girl had been murdered by a young man - within the church, within its own sight - many years before. It pleaded urgently for his bones to be punished (for the murderer was long dead). Mr Honeyfoot had sensibility enough to be much moved by this striking instance of fidelity in what was, after all, only a piece of stone; and so after his career as a magician ended he spent a considerable amount of time over the next few years first petitioning various authorities in order to find the murderer's grave in the Cathedral, and secondly to have the remains cast out. Perhaps he felt this villain had polluted the sacred precincts of a church long enough. The Dean and Canons however refused to take the word of a mere statue on the matter, claiming there was no precedent for such a witness - which Mr Honeyfoot strongly denied, and he attempted to demonstrate that there was indeed such a precedent, in the case of the murder at Alston. It is unknown whether he succeeded, but it is perhaps not likely; for should a Dean or a Bishop once take up a position on a question, they are not very easily moved[3].
In July 1809, Honeyfoot and Segundus visited the Shadow House, where they ran into Jonathan Strange. Honeyfoot played a partial role in coaxing Strange to meet with Gilbert Norrell [23]. In the Autumn and Winter of 1815 Mr. Honeyfoot again had a partial role in Segundus's founding a school of magic (later a madhouse) at Starecross Hall [41].
Mr Honeyfoot was born about the year 1751, and at the time of which our author writes he was tall, of a florid complexion and wore his own hair, which was grey[1]. He was the father of three daughters, including the eldest Miss Honeyfoot, and Miss Jane Honeyfoot. He resided with his wife in High-Petergate [1]. Although his daughters were all apparently unmarried in early 1807 one of them (likely the eldest) must have been wed soon after Mr Segundus made their acquaintance, for by 1815 one was married, another engaged, and the third deciding between suitors. At this time Mr Segundus was also giving lessons in magic to Mr Honeyfoot's two young grandsons of 5 and 7 years of age[41].