At the court of King Charles I

The hospitality and acclaim overwhelmed Parr. Old Parr was treated with kindness and crowds came to see him. He was duly introduced to King Charles I and there are details of their exchanges. Thomas's last few weeks were spent at the palace. His marvellous memory and wits made him an unmatched entertainer.

Thomas's age attracted the attention of King Charles, who wished to investigate the secret of "The English Methuselah" old age (Old Parr was 151 years old at the time).

The King:

"You have lived longer than other men. What have you done more than other men"?

Old Parr:

"Sire, I did penance when I was a hundred years old".

Parrs actual reply was a bit cruder than just mentioning the fact that he did "penance" for having fathered a child out of wedlock when over 100 years old. Charles, who was a bit on the puritanical side, didn´t appreciate the wisecrack.

In the meeting of the venerable patriarch with the British sovereign, a parallel is almost suggested with the grand simplicity in which the presentation of Jacob to Pharaoh is recorded in the Book of Genesis.