do because Sir Billy what ever he bragged himself to be was but a meer Hony-sop a dish of skim'd Milk whose Feet was his best defence and his Tongue his best Weapon The Jugler animated herewith steps to Sir Billy and said Sir I understand you have gotten my things and therefore pray give me them again without any more Fooling which if you refuse to do I shall make you such an Example of my wroth and Indignation as shall make you curse the time that ever you saw me Sir Billy hearing such threatning words from one he thought so much beneath him in great anger replyed Thou wicked Inchanter unworthy to live upon the Face of the Earth who hast made a league with Hell and a Covenant with the Devil to be his Servant Think not by thy wicked Charms to escape my fury for if thou hadst as many hands as Briareus and in every hand there were a Sword yet would I encounter with thee my Valour being such as to know no fear in my self yet to teach it others that have to do with me And thereupon drawing his Sword began to lay on load upon Hocus who seeing Sir Billy was in earnest thought his best refuge to be his Heels running with such hasty steps as if his feet scarce toucht the Ground being more swift in his flight than Daphne when she fled from the imbraces of Apollo whereupon the Company gave such a shout as made the House to Ring their loud exclamations cleaving the yielding Air like the roaring of a whole Herd of Lyons or if it could be greater than the Noise of Ten Irish Funerals Sir Billy seeing his flight so swift thought it in vain to pursue him any further and thereupon returned in as great State as the Macedonian Victor from the Conquest of Darius The Justice meeting him congratulated his success giving him as much praise as if it had been the thirteenth labour of Alcides the other persons also each one in proper words sought to magnifie this his enterprize although an attempt so inconsiderable that had the Jugler had but as much valour as an Hamble-Bee with a dozen of dangerous words in his mouth he might have resisted him with a Bull-Rush By this time the Coroner was come to the House and a Jury impannelled to enquire about the two dead Persons The first witness that was examined was Sir Billy who being requested to tell his knowledge in the particulars spake as followeth You shall know Courteous Gentleman that by profession I am a Knight Errant an Order of all others the most beneficial to mankind which were it highly cherished as it is deserving it would encourage many noble Spirits to the profession thereof by whose manly prowess all Tyrants and oppressors of the Poor being suppressed we should have no need of Lawyers Attorneys nor Soliciters who pretending to right people in their causes do them more wrong by their extortions and Fees than they received by the parties against whom they sued In the prosecution of these Knightly adventures it was my Fortune or rather lucky Chance to come to an old ruinated Castle attended only by my Squire Ricardo and an Old Gentleman one of the Knights of Industry Into this solitary Receptacle being entered to sharde us from the burning beams of the refulgent Sun we espyed there a most sad and dolorn◠〈…〉 Woman hanged and a Man hanging with little hopes of Life in either which we had scarce leisure to view when a lusty stout robustious fellow rushed from forth the place and winged with hast ran away as swift as the sweeping stream or winged Arrow He being gone we cut the young Man down who was near entred into the territories of Death yet by helps that was used he was brought again to the possession of Life as you see there standing before ye but the Woman who was the Lady of his Affections notwithstading all endeavours which we used we could never perswade her sullen Soul for to re-enter into her Body but Lifes Candle was quite extinct in her Whilst we were thus fruitlesly employed in the recovery of the Maid the murdering Villain who had ran from us before now returned again with two others who had been partners with him in his Butcherly design and setting upon us thought to have made us a morsel for the Jaws of Death and with their Clubs have signed our Passport into another World but I perceiving what was their intentions drawing my Sword and invocating the Lady Dulcina for aid set upon the Villains and in an instant brought two of them to the Ground of which Death the Graves Purveyor took possession of one the othes soon after recovered whom we brought unto you as also the third who though he ran away from me yet was brought back again by my Squire Ricardo and the Knight of Industry with some others who came into our assistance although had I been alone the strength of my Victorious Arm had been enough to have Conquered them all The whole Company highly applauded Sir Billy's valour as a true Son of Mars that derides Death and meets with Triumph in a Tomb. Afterwards was the Taylor examined as also old Gerion and Ricardo who agreeing all in one Tale the Jury found the Maids to be wilful Murther and the killing of the Fellow done in their own defence The Justice being a bountiful Housekeeper invited the Coroner and Jury as also Sir Billy Ricardo and old Gerion to Dinner which he had caused to be provided for them against they had done After Dinner the Justice and Coroner fell into a deep discourse the Coroner being of Opinion that the Order of Knights Errant was a needless Idle unnecessary imployment for that the Laws being so open wrongs might be redressed and the oppressed eased far better by the Law than by their Swords which oftentimes for want of due knowledge of the case did far greater wrong than right And as for Books of Chevalry he Judged them to be very prejudicial to a well-governed Common-Wealth wherein Men might bestow their time better than in reading Figments impossibilities and in many of them incitements rather to looseness and Vanity than any instructions to vertuous Living To this the Justice replyed that Knights Errant have in former Ages been applauded by learned Persons for such was Hercules whose going about and destroying Gyants and Monsters was no other than Knight-Errantry and for which they honoured him as a God and then for reading Books of Chevalry what prejudice could come by reading them for the subjects of them being known to be fabulous and figments no man's faith is beguiled nor any perswaded to believe them as a truth rather on the contrary where the minds of the vulgar are not busied in some such pleasant arguments they fall upon matters which less concerns them and become troublesome Judges of the State and Church wherein they live and therefore it hath been accounted great Policy to divert Men's Fancies by
Song of that Arch Pyrate Sir Andrew Barton and that Heroick Poem of Chevy-Chase of which last the worthy Sir Philip Sidney used to say That the hearing thereof though Sung no better than by a Country Crowd stirred up his Heart more than a Trumpet well therefore might it be a great Motive to Billy to undertake such high Adventures as afterwards God willing we shall declare unto you And now Billy will be no longer under the Tuition of a Dame as knowing by natural Instinct that a Womans Domination is most Imperious wherefore his Father provides him a School-master one Snip a Taylor who for his Dexterity in Singing was advanced to the Dignity of Church-Clerk of the Parish which Office and keeping of a School found him with Powder'd-Beef and the Vales of his Trade furnished him with Cabbage Two Years went Billy to School with this Master in which space of time he had learn'd to read so well as gave his Father extraordinary content so that now he buys Billy a choice Library of Books viz. The History of Tom Thumb Robin Good-fellow The Fryer and the Boy The Three Merry Wives of Green-Goose-Fair The Sackfull of News A Hundred Merry Tales c. And now he thinks his Son sufficiently provided for Learning as concerning the Reading part his next care is to learn him to Write and cast Account and then he fears not but he may live in any place in England yea and if that the Stars should be propitious to him he might in time be advanced to a Justice of the Peace his Clerk Therefore seeing that Snip could not write he intreated the Vicar of the Parish to take some pains with his Son and if he made Billy as cunning at his Pen as he himself was at his Plough he promised him to Fallow his Glebe Land for him for nothing Upon these Considerations the Vicar took Billy under his Tuition but advised Thomasio that whilst his Son learned to write that he might not in the mean time forget his Reading to buy him some pretty Books to read in which might draw him thereto with some delight Thomasio replied He had been at great Charges that way already but for his Sons good he would not stick out for a small matter So the next Fair taking his Son along with him for the choice of his Volumes at a Pedlars Stall he bought him these Books following The Garland of Good Will The Garland of Princely Delights Pasquill 's Jeasts Scoggin Long Meg of Westminster Doctor Faustus Fryer Bacon The Seven Wise Masters The Gentle-Craft Jack of Newberry Reynard the Fox Diogenes History of Fortunatus George a Green Bevis of Southampton Guy of Warwick Palmerin of England Huon of Bourdeaux Valentine and Orson Don Beliavis of Greece Parismus and Parismenes The Seven Champions of Christendom Destruction of Troy History of King Arthur Amadis de Gaule Tom a Lincoln the Red Rose Knight Pheander the Maiden Knight The Knight of the Sun The Mirror of Knighthood Hero and Leander Children in the Wood. Tom Stitch the Tayler Knight of the Burning Sword Argalus and Parthenia King and the Cobler Nine penniworth of Wit for a Penny The Man of Kent Billy was not a little brag of his Books for he imagined he had now as good a Library as the best Scholar in Christendom but nothing tickled his Fancy so much in the reading of them as those Romantick Stories of killing Gyants and Dragons which many times did so far transport him that he thought himself to be really engaged in these imaginary Fights and so intent were his Thoughts upon them that Death's image sleep could not divert him so that when Morpheus with his leaden Mair had knock'd down others a sleep in their Beds the Thoughts of these strange Adventures did so run in his Head that he would rise in his sleep and getting a Bed-staff in his hand lay about him as if he were mad imagining he had encountred with some Gyant or other strange Monster The Servants that lay in the same Room with him being disturbed thus with his Fegaries complained to their Master who thereupon chid his Son telling him That People which laboured hard must not be disturb'd of their natural Rest for by that means they could not perform their work And therefore he threatned him If he plaid any more such Pranks he would not only put him to Plow but also take all his Books from him for he imagined it was his Books that wrought that Indisposition in him Yet notwithstanding all his Threatnings Billy's mind did so run of his Knightly Atchievements that he still continued in his old course for one night dreaming he was encountring with a terrible Dragon he got up in his sleep and taking the Bed-staff in his hand began to lay about him according to his old manner Now it so chanced that thorough often redoubling his blows he at last struck the Plow-man such a blow on the Pate that the Blood trickled down his Ears The Plow-man being betwixt sleeping and waking feeling the smart of the blow started out of his Bed and taking a Plow whip in his hand which stood up there ready in a corner he began to exercise the same on Billy's body laying it on so foundly that had Billy been in such a sleep as St. David the Champion of Wales was in the inchanted Garden of Ormondine yet must the smart thereof needs have waked him but Billy took all patiently imagining it to be the blows of the Dragon's Tail having read that Knights Errant are subject to such Adventures And now the Plow-man being weary of belabouring him went to Bed Billy also return'd to his Cabbin but the smart of his blows were such as would not suffer him to sleep one wink all that night enough to have spoil'd a young Knight Errant had not his mind been so fully fixed on Knightly Adventures Next Morning Billy was so soar that he could not go to School and being ask'd how he came to be so he told them It was with encountring of a mighty Dragon whilst he uttempted to rescue a King's Daughter that was bound to a Stake And so run on in a wild Discourse what a terrible Duel he had with him according as he had read in the seven Champions of the Combat there betwixt St. George and the Dragon But his Father understanding by his Plow-man's broken Pate what Whimsies still possessed his Son's Noddle repented him that ever he had put him to School and accursed the time that ever he bought him these Books the original cause as he imagined of Billy's Distemper and so in a Rage getting all his Books tegether the Knights and the Gyants had been all burnt in one Bon-fire had not Billy with Tears and his Wife Lucy with Intreaties rescu'd them out his hands And now Billy instead of going to School is put to keep Sheep which he liked far better than going to Plow because he had read of some Kings and
than Knights-Errant To this Honourable Function have I therefore devoted my self beseeching you most Mighty Monarch of this Famous Castle for the Consummation of my intended purposes to bestow on me the Honour of Knight-hood whereby I may be enabled to perform such seats of Arms that Babes unborn may read with Wonder the Valiant Arts performed by me The Courteous Old Gentleman hearing his Extravagancies and willing to make some pastime with his folly as also that his Friends might have some Jovial Divertisement he freely granted him his request in these Words Most noble Youth in whom appears the early sparks of Martial Resolutions who would seek to quench the Flames of Magnanimity which I see already enkindled in your Breast that were to deprive posterity of the knowledge of your renowned Actions therefore know your request is granted you performing those Services which Knights-Errant are bound to do Namely this Night to watch your Arms and manfully defend them against any one that should seek to oppose ye thereby shewing your self worthy of the Honour to be conferred on ye and the next day we shall Dub ye Knight accordingly Sir Billy thanked him very heartily undertaking the Charge and performing it most Valiantly as you shall hear in the next Chapter CHAP. 3. Sir Billy watcheth his Armor and is made Knight by the Lord of the Castle his ill success in running at the Quinten with other things which happened NOw had the Curle pated Waggoner of Heaven finisht his Diurnal course and driven his panting Steeds down to the Western Hill and Nights black Wings had Maskt up the light in gloomy Darkness when the renowned Champion Sir Billy of Billerecay having refreshed his Spirits with the sprightly Liquor of the spreading Vine undertook according to those Presidents he had read in Books of Chevalry to watch his Arms for that Night accordingly they were seated in a very convenient place where if any opposition should be offer'd unto him he might have full liberty to bestir himself the Gentleman wishing him to be very watchful because the place he said was troubled with Devils and infernal Spirits which yet notwithstanding nothing daunted Sir Billy's Courage so much was his Heart fraught with invincible Valour that he dreaded no Danger whatsoever Whilst Billy was thus fixt in watching his Armor to try his-Man-hood the Master of the House with the other Gentlemen perswaded a Groom a lusty Stout Fellow to Encounter with him promising if he overcame him a good reward for his Pains The Fellow willing to show the Gentlemen some sport undertakes the same but thinking it more pleasant to overcome without blows he intends to do it by Stratagem and to this purpose there being a Bears skin in the House he cloathed himself therewith and putting a Vizard on his Face and carrying on his shoulder a lighted Candle in the Rinde of a Pompion cut out with the resemblance of Nose Eyes and Mouth it looked most dreadfully but least those should not take the wished Effect he carried in his hand a good Ashen Towel to defend himself Being thus Accoutred in the dead of the Night when darkness had clothed our Hemisphere save only a faint light which Cynthia gave through the dusky Clouds he Approaches to the place where Sir Billy stood with his drawn Sword to Encounter any that should oppose him At the first sight thereof he was in some little Fear as having never read in all his Books of Errantry of such a fearfull Apparition but his Earnest desire of being Dub'd a Knight made him slight all danger so that with his great two-handed Sword he struck at the Groom with all his might but Fortune herein was Favourable to him for the blow lighting on the Pompion Lanthorn broke it all in pieces and in an instant extinguisht the Light which made Billy verily believe he had cut the Devils head off Encouraged wherewith he so redoubled his blows that the Fellow thought he would send him to the Devil indeed imagining the cracking of the Pompion had been the cracking of his Bones wherefore giving him a fair pair of heels he hasted from his Clutches as hard as he could drive This Victory thus obtained Sir Billy imagined himself no less than a Second Hercules resolving to undergo whatsoever attempt should happen unto him In the mean time the Gentlemen with all the Rhetorick they could use were perswading the Groom to make a Second onset on Billy but fear standing at the Gates of his Eyes put back all perswasions which they could use whereupon willing to have the Frolick continued one of the Gentlemen undertook the Adventure and putting on a Buff Coat a Helmet on his head and taking a Sword in his right Hand and a lighted Torch in the other he marched directly to Sir Billy who very watchfully attended his coming And now Caliope thou sacred Sister of the Muses assist my Pen in describing this Jest Earnest Combat Assist my trembling and unable Quill O all ye Powers that haunt Pernassus Hill This young Gentleman whom for Distinction sake we will call Orlande seemed with great fury to make a pass at Sir Billy who seeing his bright Sword coming directly towards him went backwards but not as the Ram to return with the greater fury but with the same mind as Cowards who run away from the Battel only to be kill'd further from their fellows Thus retreated he back until at last his back touched a Brick Wall when all on a sudden remembring the Goddess he had devoted himself unto it put fresh Vigor into his Veins and crying out O Beauteous Dulcina assist thy Servant he laid about him with as much Courage as Alcides when he encountred with the Nemaean Lyon so that the Gentleman to defend himself was forced to use his utmost skill but his Torch being longer than Sir Billy's Sword he crost the Fire thwart his Face which put Sir Billy again to the retreat but it would have made one to split with laughter to see how the Gentleman coming up to Sir Billy and having given him three or Four slaps with the flat of his Sword he would fly back again as it were for fear whom Sir Billy then would eagerly pursue Thus did they make good their ground for several times when at last Mr. Orlando wearied as well as satisfied with the divertisement ran quite away from Sir Billy whom the Conquerour would not pursue it being his duty then only to watch his Arms. Next Morning no sooner did Aurora begin to display her Golden locks and the Sun to gild the Horizon with his Radiance but the Gentleman accompanied with the Master of the House went altogether to visit Sir Billy and to Congratulate with him for his great manhood in defending his Arms. Arms said Sir Billy I think I have been Encountred this Night with the Fellest of the infernal Region but had they had the strength of Ascapart who could bear a Knight at Arms and his Horse
Thomasio who was returned from paying his Landlord his Rent being in formed of the Departure of his Son and what was most dear to him two of his best Horses he broke forth into such a sad Lamentation as would have grieved a Heart of Flint to hear it Cursing the time that ever he put his Son to School but more that ever he bought him any Books of Knight Errantry Saying They were all composed of meer witchcraft and therefore not fit to be suffered in a well governed Common-wealth And now seeing he could not come at his Son he resolved to be revenged on his Books but being ignorant in all sorts of Learning he associated to him Sir John the Curate of the Parish to peruse them and whom he condemned for faulty to be cast into the fire Billy had locked up all his Library in a very large Chest of which he carried the Key always about him and therefore Old Thomasio caused it to be broke open The first Book they laid hands on was Sir Bevis of Southampton This said the Curate is the Father of our English Romancers made upon a Knight who lived in the time of King William the Conqueror but hath in it an Ell of lying to an Inch of Truth And by my fay said Thomasio a Lyar they say is as bad as a Thief and therefore into the Fire he shall go although he were a killer of Gyants and Dragons The next that came to hand was the First and Second part of Amadis de Gauls in English The Original of this said the Curate is French of which there is above thirty Parts but we in English have but Six of them And by Plough Share said Thomasio that is too much by above five of them and therefore he shall accompany his fellow Sir Bevis in the fire Next said the Curate here is Palmerin D'oliva in three Parts Primaleon of Greece in three Parts Palmerin of England in three Parts and Palmendas in one all these are one continued History of an Emperor of Constantinople called Palmerin D'ovila his Son Primaleon and Grandson Palmerin of England and others By my fay said Thomasio these Palmerins and Amadisses were notable Cutting ond Slashing Blades which made a great disturbance in the World but we shall reconcile them all in one fire together notwithstanding they were such big Fellows in their time The next said the Curate is Don Belianis of Greece one who could cut two or three Gyants in two by the midle at a stroke Were he Achilles of Greece said Thomasio he should go to the Fire and if I had the Authour of his History he should likewise accompany him for his abominable lying The next said the Curate is Paladine of England one also of French extraction but more modest in his expressions than Don Bellianis His Modesty said Thomasio shall not excuse him but he shall to the fire were he as big a Frenchman as Charlemain But what Sir John is that Book which hath a Curtain drawn over the Letters in the beginning of it This said the Curate is worthy to be preserved it being the History of Argalus and Parthenia written by the divine Poet Mr. Francis Quarles Why said Thomasio was not that Argalus a Knight-Errant O no quoth the Curate but one who was premised for the pattern of Vertue and example of true Love and Magnanimity These words gave the noble Argalus a reprieve from the Fire but the next they laid hands on felt a worser Fate which was the Mirror of Knighthood in Nine Parts for which Thomasio would hear no excuse but said that the fire would purge it from all its lys wherewith that and other Books of Knight Errantry do abound whereupon it was cast into the Fire as also the Four Sons of Amon Arthur of great Brittain Arthur of little Brittain Valentine and Orson Parismus and Parismenus Montelian Knight of the Oracle Ornatus and Artesia the Seven Champions of Christendom Guy of Warwick Cleoctreon and Cloryana Chinon of England Galien of France Aratos Prince of Greece Tom a Lincoln the Red Rose Knight Huon of Burdedux Pheander the Maiden Knight and all other Books of that Nature of which he would spare none and indeed he had none of the more refined Sort such as the Countess of Pembrook's Arcadia Bentevolio and Vrania The Illustrous Bassa Grand Cyrus Astreo Palexander Eremenn the banished Virgin Coralbo Ariana Clclia Cassandra Cleopatra Pharamond Iphigenis Grand Scipio and some others These I conceive either were not written in his time or too dear for him to purchase Some Books of Poetry he had likewise amongst them but all Thomasio's spight being against Knight Errantry he let the Books of Poetry escape the Fire yet judged them not good for any thing unless to be put under Mutton Pasties or Apple-Pies In the mean time while these things were acting Sir Billy was pursuing his Knightly Adventures little thinking what a fiery tryal his Knights Errant were put to at home And long he thought the time until he might meet with some Adventure which might Crown his undertakings being fully perswaded that now he was made Knight no power whatsoever could withstand the force of his Victorious Arm. In the mean time his Squire was devoutly praying to meet with such another Castle wherein to recruit his wambling belly which was every five or six hours incessantly craving for a supply Having thus rid about three or Four Miles they came to a Market-Town where at that time was kept a Fair in the middle whereof was a stately Inn in which was a Poppet-Show to be seen to which purpose they had hanged out a painted Cloth whereon was this written Within this place is to be seen the Fight betwixt little David and Goliah the Gyant of Gath as also of other Gyants killed by David's Servants Billy having read the Writing and finding that Gyants were within he resolved to encounter with them so alighting from his Horse he gave him to Ricardo to walk whilst he went to kill the Gyants and following the multitude he came to a door where a Woman sat to take Mony of them who would see the Show Billy knowing that Knights Errant were priviledged to pass any where without Money refused to pay whereupon he was stopped from going in at which incensed he drew his Sword threatning Death to any who should oppose him and so without any further opposition ran into the Chamber where the Gyants were placed upon a Table ready to be shown Sir Billy no sooner saw them but quick as lightning he fell upon them with his trusty Sword Rosero making such havock amongst them that the Master of the Show like a man distracted ran out crying help help Murther Murther for his Gyants were kill'd before the fight begun This hideous out-cry presently raised a confused rabble who running in fell upon Billy belabouring him as he had done the Poppets who yet so valiantly behaved himself that twice or thrice he put
or Mad-brain'd Fool what whimzey possest thy Idle Coxcomb to make such a disturbance amongst the People Thinkest thou Proud Princocks to encounter with a Company and art not able to grapple with a single Person If you know not how to use your Liberty but in playing such freaks I shall bestow you in such a place where your whole employment shall be to pick straws And so would have had him the next way to the Cage but understanding there was a Justice of the Peace in the Town he thought it more Convenient to have his advice in the matter and therefore was dragging Sir Billy thither when in the intrim his Squire Ricardo who as we told you before went in pursuit of his Master coming that way soon espyed them and having understood by one of the Fellows the occasion of his so handling he resolved to succor him out of their hands and to that purpose putting on his Invisible-Ring he followed them to the Justices to whom the Constable the Dancing-Master and especially Jack-Pudding made a grievous complaint aggravating his offence in several circumstances as that he had not only hindred him the taking much Money but disabled both himself and his Man from further performances the one by his fall the other by the Wound which he had given him besides the affrightment of the people and breach of the King's Peace in drawing his Naked Sword and doing what in him lay to have mischief'd others Ricardo all this while stood by unperceiv'd but diligently marked what was done and seeing the Constable to lay his Masters Sword on the Table he snatched it up and drawing it out of the Sheath flourished it about his Head which the Company seeing it struck them into a sudden amazement to see a Sword so flaunt it about without ever a hand to guide it so that fear adding Wings to their Feet they ran as if Old Nick were behind them Sir Billy was as much amazed as any of them but that it might not be thought that Knights Errant were daunted for any thing he stirred not a jot And now the Coast being clear Ricardo Counterfeiting his Voice said to Sir Billy I am an Invisible Spirit sent from thè wise Urgunda the Lady of the Woods to deliver thee out of the hands of thy Enemies therefore follow me and thou shalt be safe And with those words passed away still flourishing the Sword about his Head whom Sir Billy followed directly step by step verily imagining he was Succord by some divine power according as he had read in his Books of Knight Errantry many of the people saw him as he went along but durst not come near him their fear was so great so that they paâ—â—â—d clear away none being so hardy to follow after them CHAP. 11. Rieardo going to recover his Masters Horse and Armor acteth a very pleasant Adventure in an Inn with other things which happened RIcardo having brought his Master quite out of danger let fall his Sword for Sir Billy to take up and conveyed himself away by a Compass to meet him with his Invisible-Ring off because his Master should not know by what means he was set free nor yet the vertue of his Ring which he was always resolved to keep secret to himself Sir Billy wondred as much to see his Sword laid on the Ground before him without hands and was at first in a quandary whether he should take it up or no but being verily perswaded it was the will of the wise Vrganda that he should shift for himself he took it up and went his way but he had not gone far when Ricardo met him who seeming to wonder much at their so accidental meeting fell to embracing him with many expressions of Joy for this their so happy rencounter desiring his Master to tell him what Successes he had met with since their last parting My trusty Squire said Sir Billy I were not worthy to be thy Master should I deny thee so small a request Know then that after such time I parted from thee occasioned by the unfortunate pursuit of my Father by the malign influence of some Cross-grain'd Planet or rather the hatred of wicked Spirits and Negromancers which they bear to Knights Errant wandring whether Fortune was pleas'd to guide me I came to a certain Castle where I heard of an Adventure of a flying Negromancer And so related all had befallen him as you heard before only imputing his Misfortunes to the Malice of Magicians and Inchanters and how he was rescued from them by Vrganda Lady of the Woods with the Miraculous Brandishing of his Sword and dropping before him Ricardo heard all with great seeming attention and now began to counsel his Master that seeing that Knight Errantry was attended with so many troubles and dangers to leave it off but Sir Billy would by no means condescend thereunto saying That the immortal Honour attained by Arms could not be purchased without much hazard and danger the rugged Paths leading thereunto being altogether Paved with Perils an Ounce of Honour costing a Pound of Blood And therefore said Ricardo since the purchase is so dear far better it is to let it alone what avails Honour in the Grave nor will it without Money purchase the Belly full of Victuals Sir Billy was so incensed against Ricardo for these as he thought Cowardly expressions that in a great rage he burst forth into this exclamation O thou Dasterdly Son of Fear thou off spring of Clinias and Dametas that wouldest sooner creep into a Scabbard than draw a Sword that at the approach of danger art ready to run away from thy self like the Satyr that ran away at the Noise of the Horn which he himself blew being ready to Sink at the very Name of Wounds and Scars as if thou hadst indented with the Grave to bring all thy Limbs thither Thinkest thou such a Cowardly passion and fear shall ever take possession of the least Limb about me No know that I am of such undaunted high erected Spirit as may make the Dead Quake in their Grave to think of me who if I should not live to enjoy the Honour purchased with my Blood yet will I leave the World my Executor to whom I will bequeath the rich inheritance of my Memory These thundring words made Ricardo to quake with astonishment so that fearing to exasperate his Master any further he condescended to accompany him in the pursuance of his Knightly adventures But now their chiefest care was for the Recovery of their Old Horses or else to be furnished with new Sir Billy was of opinion that Knight Errantry would warrant them to take Horses in any place where they could find them but Ricardo who valued his Life more than Sir Billy did his and who of all Death 's dreaded that most of being Hang'd up in the Air like a Dog was altogether against it He therefore trusting to the vertue of his Invisible Ring told his Master that if
reading such Romances Many other ways might be invented said the Coroner to divert Mens Fancies than this destructive one of rending such Books which the better they are Writ the more dangerous they are for some young people are so intentive upon them that they imagine themselves to be such as they read of And such a one I suppose this young man to be who by reading Books of Knight Errantry would Fool himself into a conceit that he is a Knight Errant But such people so conceired ought not to be soothed up in their Follies but rather sharply reproved and if that will not mend them then either let them be sent to Bedlam or Whipped at a Carts-Tayle until this foolish humour be Whipped out of them Sir Billy was in such a rage to hear these words that the Icy Current of his frozen blood kindled up in agonies as hot as flames of burning Sulphur fretting and suming like a piece of Gumm'd Velvet Monster of all wicked Men said he whom I cannot name without spitting after it for fear of being poysoned could thy malice vent it self in nothing but speaking against the most noble Order of Knight-Errantry nor know I whether thy envy or arrogancy be greatest in it nor what punishment is equivalent to such high presumption yet shall not thy malapertness escape unpunished if my trusty Sword fail me not and therefore if thou art as valiant of thy hands as thou hast been prodigal of thy Tongue I challenge thee out into the field to fight with me which if thou shalt deny to do I shall proclaim thee the most Cowardly Carpet Knight that ever wore Sword only valiant in Voice but at the sight of an Enemy ready to run away from thy self The Coroner who was a man well skill'd at his Weapon and with Courage answerable to his skill scorning to be out-braved by such a Princocks was resolved to chastise his folly and therefore told him that though it were beneath him to answer one so Inconsiderable yet least his rashness should take that to be fear which was only contempt he would answer him at any time place or weapon he should appoint bidding him be sure in making his words good of what he had promised or else he would be a shame unto the Order he did profess And I quoth Ricardo Squire unto the renowned Knight Sir Billy of Billerecay do challenge the Squire that belongeth to the Knight which is to fight with my master at any Weapon he shall propose to fight withal so it be such a Weapon as former Squires to Knights-Errant used for to fight withal This unexpected Challenge of Ricardo put all the Company into a merry kind of amazement endeavouring by all means to have the humor go forward There was at that time attending on the Coroner a young Man much about the Age and stature of Ricardo who hearing this Challenge desired his Master he might accept of it which being granted him he told Ricardo he should be answered at his own Weapon at the time and place when their Masters did fight All things being thus agreed they next consult of the time and place when and where it should be done Sir Billy would have had a sortnights space and that in the mean time Messengers should be sent abroad to declare by sound of Trumpet in all Market-Towns and general assemblies of this their fight But the Justice and Coroner not willing to have a private divertisement made so publick would not agree to it so at last it was concluded to be the second day after in a large Meadow behind the Justices House during which time the four Combatants prepared themselves for the encounter which how it was performed on both sides we shall in the next Chapter the sacred nine assisting in our endeavours in full and ample manner declare unto you CHAP. 15. Sir Billy's Encounter with the Coroner How he was relieved by Ricardo His admirable description of his Mistress With Ricardo's Counterbuff thereto SOON had wide-mouth'd Tatling Fame dispersed the News of the combat betwixt Sir Billy and the Coroner so that at the day appointed there was a great concourse of people to behold the same The Old Justice had the day before highly caressed Sir Billy and his Daughter a Virgin of about sixteen years of Age gave him all the encouragement she could bestowing a Ribbon upon him to wear on his Hat telling hiâ— that if he overcame him he should be her Knight and that she should account her self the most happy Woman in the World to have such a Servant I think my self extraordinarily engaged to you for your goodness said Sir Billy and doubt not Madam of my success it being in the vindication of those noble Knights Amadis de Gaule Sir Huon of Bourdeaux Don Belianis of Greece Palmerin of England Orlando Furioso Don Flores of Greece Sir Guy of Warwick Bevis of Southampton and abundance of other noble Heroes who spending their time in Arms dyed in the Bed of Honour whose memory this foul Miscreant seeks to deprave and that with such opprobrious words enough to raise the Ghost of those deceased Worthies out of their Graves to vindicate their own Honour had not the Fates allotted me in this latter Age to be a Brother of that noble Society for the punishment of all those who shall offer to villifie such a noble profitable Honourable Order You have reason in what you say replyed the Damosel for should such noble Orders fall into contempt it would be a great discouragement to vertuous enterprizes and then for want of such persons how would the World be pester'd with Tyrants Oppressors and merciless persons Dragons and Monsters would abound in every place and Gyants so increase that the habitable World would be turned into a meer Desart Whilst they were thus discoursing there came a Messenger to Sir Billy to bid him make ready for the encounter for his Antagonist was upon entering the Lists whereupon Sir Billy buckled on his Armor which was something difficult for him to do each piece being so ill proportioned to the other and now thus Armed as he thought Cap-pe he marched into the field against his Enemy who was attending him clad in a Buff Coat with no other Armor but his Sword Ricardo and the other young man came into the field habited for to fight and with a resolution answerable to the Courage of their Masters And now a general expectation was fixed in the minds of the Spectuors each promising to themselves an assured Victory but the Eyes of most there present were fully fixed on Sir Billy who marched in as great state towards the Coroner as Hector the Trojan Prince before the Walls of Ilium and being come near to him he said yield thy self Prisoner to my conquering Arm else shall thy Life pay for thy Tongues presumption I crave no favour said the Coroner but look to thy self else will the Honour of Knight Errantry lie in the dust