follow my first resolution in pursuance of Knight Errantry that after ages may read with admiration the deeds performed by my invincible Arm and Babes unborn speak of the Matchless atchievements done by my Valour CHAP. 13. The Woful story of a Taylor and his Sweet-Heart how they were Hanged in a Barn and how the Murtherers were taken by he means of Sir Billy and a Constable RIcardo was not so attentive to his Master's discourse as he was solicitous for his future safety 〈…〉 assuredly that the Constable having gotten more aid would return again afresh in pursuit of them and then began to mistrust that Knight-Errantry would not protect them from the Constables Whip so imparting his mind to old Gerion the Beggar what he should do therein was by him told of a more secret place as free from search as it was from beholding the Sun-beams to which it was never visible since first it was made a Naskin for the Canting-Crew But Sir Billy by no means would be perswaded to remove resolved he said to see the utmost of his Famous Adventure which put Ricardo into a great consternation not knowing what to do for to tell him of danger was but to cast Oyl into Fire and made him more furious to stay he therefore resolved to sooth him up in his folly and to catch this Buzard in the Woodcocks springe wherefore slipping on his Invisible-Ring and clapping him on the shoulder he uttered forth these Words Sir Knight whose Fame about is Hurl'd Throughout the Vniversal World Whose praises to the skies do Mount And Babes unborn shall it Recount The wise Urganda doth by me Command that thou from hence do Flee Therefore make hast use no delay But with Ricardo pack away Sir Billy hearing a voice and seeing no body was verily perswaded this was some Messenger from the wise Vrganda to have him depart and therefore calling hastily to Ricardo he said unto him My trusty Squire I shall now condescend to thy request in going away from this same-place having received a Command from the wise Urganda therefore whose Words to me I esteem as Oracles and whose Commands as Laws unviolably to be observed Ricardo therefore making no delay mounted his Master on Bellerophon and taking old Gerion up behind him on his own Horse away they marched directed by the old Beggar until such time as they were clear out of danger from all pursuers It was then at such time of the day when as the high pitch'd Sun invades the Earth with his hottest Beams bearing an equal distance betwixt foregoing and ensuing light The scorching Rayes of Heavens Charioteer beating so hotly upon them made them desirous to take shade under the Coverture of some leavy Canopyâ— when looking about for the fittest place they spyed an old Barn encompassed about so with Trees as scarce discernable through their leavy branches Hither being come they entred the same which they had no sooner done but there ran out thereof a lusty young Man with such swiftness as if each step strived to overgo the other so that he was soon vanisht from their eyes which attended him so long as he was discernable wondring what should be the cause of this hast when casting their eyes they saw a Maid stanged onâ— beam whose Soul had taken a final farewel of her body and over her a young Man newly hang'd whose soul was ready â—o dislodge and to sink into the House of Death but Ricardo and old Gerion perceiving some motion in his Body gathere'd by thence that he was not as yet quite rake'd up in deaths cold embers and therefore cutting the rope they by chasing him and some other means which they used brought him to Life and at last to such a degree of Life as to digest his thoughts in words which the first he used were to desire their help to take down that Maid and see if any means might recover her which yet he doubted was impossible whereupon they cut her down but all their endeavours about her were fruitless for cold-faced Death Natures bold pursivant had closed up her eyes in an everlasting sleep which when the young Man perceived fetching a deep sigh he breathed forth this sorrowful lamentation And what can fortune add more to the compleating of my miseries who cannot look beyond the prospect of my consuming grief being one whom the fates have marked out for a feeler of the extreams of miseries miserable below the reach of pitty whose heart is nothing but a Stage of Tragedies all the happinâ—â—â— I have being this that Fortune cannot throw me in a degree of being more miserable Sir 〈◊〉 took great notice of all which â—â—ssed imagining thereby some Famous adventure would fall out 〈◊〉 â—â—erformed by him and therefore spake thus unto the young Man Distressed Knight said he for soâ—â—â—â— see mest by thy sorrowful lamentation do out inform me what humane Wretch hath thus wrong 〈◊〉 â—ee and thy vertuous Lady and let him be Gyant Monster or Devil he shall be chastized by my 〈…〉 Arm for to this end have I taken upon me the profession of Knight Errantry to right 〈…〉 Knights and Ladies and to rid the World of such Monsters of Nature whose delight is 〈…〉 mischief and whose Trades are continued Acts of cruelty The 〈…〉 an who was but as it were newly revived out of a Trance hearing Sir Billy's discourse replyed 〈…〉 either Knight Squire nor yet good Gentleman but a Taylor by Trade living in a village hard by 〈◊〉 this Maiden who is here dead the Daughter of a wealthy Farmer in the same Parish both of 〈…〉 misfortune and sorrow In our very infancy we contracted an indissolvible bond of 〈…〉 be 〈◊〉 and as our years further increased so our affections grew more and more and arriviâ—â—â— to those years wherein the God of Love maketh the hearts of his subjects to dote more upon a Mistress â—an an olâ— man on his heaps of Gold I then began to râ—â—eal my affections unto her which found such a Friendly reception that by mutual vows and promises we contracted our selves each to other 〈◊〉 the foul paâ—e Hog envy that banquets her self in others miseries repining at our happiness had caused 〈◊〉 heart of a certain Smith of our Town to be Captivated by the charming looks of my Rosaro foâ—â—â— wâ—â— my Love caâ—â—â— who with much earnestness declared his affection unto her using many vowâ—◠〈◊〉 protestations of the reality of his Love â—our her heart was so deeply linked to me that whatsoâ—â—â—â— she was was only mine she â—â—ve him so sharp a denial that his Love converting to hatred he 〈◊〉 with revengful fury against her and from thenceforth waited only for an opportunity to put his 〈◊〉 in execution which at last he brought to pass as â—ou see for confederating himself with a coupâ—â—â—â— Fellows the Devils Factors for all wickedness and such whom an honest Man can neither see nor speak 〈◊〉 withoâ—◠〈◊〉 These having intelligence
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
Huon of Bourdeaux Sir Amadis de Gaule Sir Palmendis Palmerin of England Palmerin Doliva or those other renowned Heroes mentioned in Books of Knight Errantry were now alive how would they laugh at thy Ignorance what wouldst thou reap thy Harvest before thou Sowest thy Corn gather thy Fruit before the Trees be grafted drink the Wine e'er the Vine be planted did not St. George suffer seven years imprisonment in a Dungeon in Persia before he came to be King of Morocco and Egypt what troubles à id the Famous Chiron of England endure before he obtained the Beautiful Cassiopia in Marriage How many Crosses Troubles and vexations suffered the renowned Montelion Knight of the Oracle before he enjoyed the Beautiful Lady Philotheta for his Wise There is nothing to be obtained without much Trouble and Hazard he that will Travel upon the Sea must address himself to abide the Peril of every storm he that will enjoy the sweet content of Felicity must undergo all the hard haps of envious adversity and he that will in this spacious World seek the Advantage of Honour must look e'er he attain it to meet with many Misfortunes But those Men you spake of said Ricardo spent their time in killing of Gyants Monsters and Tyrants whereas all your Encounters have been only against Scare-Crows Poppet-Shows and Pedlárs whereby you have received more Ignominy than Honour And therefore my resolution is that if henceforward you will not be rul'd from running your self into needless dangers mistaking Inns for Castles and Fairs for Armies I shall resign up my Squire-Errant-ship and leave you alone to the pursuance of your Follies Sir Billy was so angry with Ricardo at these words that could he have come at him there had been a mortal affray between the Knight and his Squire but his bruises and Sores would not admit him to stir Now whilst they were in this consternation came in the Constable attended with Four or five rusty Halberts bringing with them a young lusty sturdy Rogue who being taken in a notorious Thievery upon promise of Favour had confessed all that he knew concerning this House how it was the receptacle of their stolen Goods and the randezvouze of them that stole them Upon that information the Constable made a strict search thorow all the House securing every one he found therein But Sir Billy whose thoughts were holy taken up with what he had read in his Romantick Histories seeing the Constable and his Guard cryed out Oh ye haters and tormenters of Knights Errant ye off-spring of Pluto and Cerebus always envious of the good of Mankind may mischief and sorrow go along with ye may hearts discontent and Sore affliction be play-fellows to keep you Company may Poyson be your drink and Gall nay worse than Gall the dainties that ye taste Think not ye wicked Negromancers whose exercise is Murther and sullen Tragedies think not I say with all your Sorceries and Charms to prevail against me who am ordained by the Fates to be a Scourge and plague to all such wicked Miscreants These words listned to attentively by the Constable made him to wonder what kind of Person this should be and being told that he was a Knight Errant I have heard said he of Knights of the Garter Knights of St. Michael Knights of the Golden-Fleece and several other sorts of Knights but never of Knights-Errant and therefore I rather take him for a Knight-vagrant and as a Vagrant I apprehend him till I know further from whence his Honour is derived Proud Magician said Sir Billy who knowest not what belongs to true Honour think not to escape my hands without Chastisement Mangre the power of the Stygian Prince thy Hell-bred Master and all his infernal band of Devils The Constable hearing him rave in this manner like a Bull stung by Hornets or like one of Bacchus frantick raging Nuns imagined him to be one who was scarce Master of his Wits and therefore thought him to be an object of pitty rather than of punishment but casting his head aside and seeing Sir Billy's Armor lie on a side Table he thought them not things fitting for a Mad-Man to have in possession and therefore bid one of his followers to take and secure them The Fellow no sooner commanded but was getting them up on his Back to carry them away which Ricardo eyeing slipped on his Inviable-Ring and following after him no sooner was he out of the Constable's sight but he strikes up his heels and giving him three or four buffets on the Face which almost dazel'd him he takes the Armor and throws it into a by place all but his Sword which he draws and brandishing it about his head runs towards the Constable who seeing it come directly against him threw down his Staff and betook him to his heel his followers seeing their Captain thus to run and the Sword to come brandishing towards them were also ready to run away from themselves like the Satyr that ran away at the Noise of the horn which he himself blew and therefore casting away their weapons ran after him for Company Ricardo seeing the Coast clear went back again towards the fellow from whom he had took the Armor who by this time was come again to himself but seeing also a Sword without hands flaunting it towards him he roared out like a Town-Bull and taking example by others thought his Legs the surest defence and so with hasty steps ran as it were from Death it self Ricardo could not but smile to see how his project took and taking off his Invisible-Ring returned to old Gerion the Beggar who was as much amazed as the rest and would have ran likewise if he could have done it to any place of safety But as for Sir Billy who beheld all what had happened he was nothing daunted but rather more confirmed in this Romantick opinions being verily perswaded that this help came from the wise Vrganda for his deliverance and that by her protection he should never fail in what he undertook So calling to Ricardo he said Seâ—st thou not thou Nullifidian in Knight Errantry what care the immortal powers do take of those that practice Chevalry not all the Charms nor Negromantick spells Magicians use can do the least prejudice against a Knight Errant and yet thou out of a Cowardly fear wouldst leave off this Honourable exercise for what can be more honourable than a valiant mind that knows not fear nor Death Souls of that Fire they 'll catch a Bullet flying scale a Wall battled with Enemies stand breaches laugh at the thunder of the Cannon call it Musick fitter for a Ladies Chamber than the Field and when over their heads the Element is darkned with darts fight under the shade of it and ask no other Roof to hide their heads in such Men are to be honoured as adventure upon such designs that have no more probability than is enough to keep them from being impossible And therefore I am resolved still to
ye Sir Billy hearing his Knighthood so vilified and degraded was in a great rage and drawing his Sword he bid the Constable defend himself for he should dearly abide the Blasphemy he had uttered against so Honourable an Order and thereupon began to fall upon him with all his might Ricardo and old Gerion seeing the madness of Sir Billy stepped to him to have staid his hands but the more they strived to hinder him the more he laid on The messenger that should have gone to the Lady Dulcina seeing them thus to bestir themselves betook himself unto his heels which the Taylor perceiving cryed out to follow him whereupon they left off fighting and ran after him all but Sir Billy who now was an absolute Conqueror at least in conceit The Smith who had all this while lain in a swound his Soul now seemed to re-enter his Body and he freed from this Counterfeit of death rose up and stood upright on his Feet and seeing Sir Billy with a wrathful countenance and a Sword in his hand he fell on his knees and humbly implored his Mercy I grant you Life said Sir Billy but upon Condition that as your fellow before you has engaged you also present your self on your knees to my Lady Dulcina as conquered by my Victorious Arm. By this time was the Constable returned bringing the fellow along with him with his hands tyed behind him and to prevent further mischief no sooner was he in the Barn but closing with Sir Billy struck up his heels and disarmed him of his Sword whilst the others seized on the Smith The Constastable would also have tyed Sir Billy's hands had not Ricardo and old Gerion interceded for him However Sir Billy rav'd like a mad Man for the Loss of his Sword threatning the Constable whom he branded with the Name of Magician Sorcerer Negromancer and a hundred such other names as he had read in Books of Knight Errantry The Constable taking him for one whose brains were crazed gave little regaad unto his words but told him he should have his Sword Only in the mean time he must go before one of his profession a righter of wrongs a reliever of the oppressed and who by vertue of a piece of Paper can send a Man to an Inchanted Castle kept by furious Gyants so strong and unpregnable that none can deliver him out of it but he that is armed with the Sword of Justice Shew me one of those Inchanted Castles said Sir Billy and if I do not take it by my Valour and the strength of my unconquered Arm Then let my Name be for ever razed out of the Honourable Bead-role of Knights Errant and I esteemed for a Carpet Knight a meer Toast and Butter afraid of my own Sword and affrighted with the clashing of my own Armor The Constable hearing Sir Billy's resolution could not chuse but smile telling him he would help him to the fight of this Inchanted Castle and now all parties being ready laying the two dead Bodies upon Sir Billy's and Ricardo's Horses and the two Prisoners pinioned and guarded by the Constables attendants they set forwards towards a Justice of the Peace his House where how they sped you shall hear in the Chapter following CHAP. 14. Sir Billy's entertainment at the Justices House his Oration in praise of the Golden Age with his challenging the Coroner to fight in defence of Knight-Errantry THIS Justice that they were going to was a very merry conceited Gentleman which made the Constable the more willing to have Sir Billy to him and by the way to sooth him up in his Fancies he told him that the Lord of the Castle whether they were going was descended in a direct Line by the Fathers side from the Famous Montelion Knight of the Oracle and by the Mothers side from the Renowned Amadis de Gaul That all the brave Heroes mentioned in the Mirror of Knighthood were near of Kin to his Ancestors as also that Don Belianis of Greece Parismus and Pheander the Maiden Knight were his great Grandfathers first Couzens Ricardo heard all their discourse with great attention and hearing him nominate only foreign kindred he asked the Constable how it came to pass that his Ancestors marched into such remote parts and not rather into their own Country and if they did what Kin this Lord of the Castle was to Guy Earl of Warwick or Bevis of Southampton I have heard said the Constable by Tradition and they say it is recorded in the Chronicles of Miconicon that Earl Terry who was sisters Son to Guy was Nephew to Euphrosina this Lord of the Castle 's great Grandfathers Aunt and that Sabere Sir Bevis his Uncle was Nephew in two descents to Earl Terry Thou speakest said Sir Billy as one well versed in the study of Knight Errantry and indeed it hath been often in my own thoughts that I am descended from Valentine or Orson Don Flores of Greece Palmerin of England or some of those renowned Champions whose Names flourish in the Book of Fame because I feel in my self those sparks of Fire kindled in my breast which do stir up noble minds to valiant performances By this time they were come to the Justices House where before they were examined the Constable acquainted him with the humor of Sir Billy and what discourse he had had with him which pleased his Fancy extraordinarily but having a great respect to Justice he first sifted out the Business concerning the two dead Corps which were brought before him and upon examination sent the Smith and his partner to Prison retaining Sir Billy still with him and using such respect to him as he thought was most correspondent to a Knight Errant Sir Billy whilst the Justice was examining the Prisoners busied himself with viewing some old Helmets Corslets and Launces which were hanged up in the Hall being to 〈…〉 â—â—angingâ— than the best Tapistry that could adorn it And now the Company being gone Sir Billy was invited to a Banquet of several dishes suitable to the season but e'er he would sit down to participate of it he began a long Oration in praise of Frugality to usher in the great need of Knight Errantry which with an audible voice he delivered in these words Thrice happy was that time which men do call the Golden Age not because Gold was then plenty but for the Innocent and harmless lives of those that lived in it being contented with those things which Nature produced of it self Their Meat was the Roots of the Earth Nuts and Acorns dainty Fare and for Liquors they had recourse to the Christal Spring the Earth brought forth Roses and flowers of it self without the Midwifry of Gardeners and the common wealth of Bees instead of stings carried Honey in their Tails Those contentious words of Meum and Tuum were not known in the World Men contented themselves with Cloaths made of the Fleece as it came from the Sheep which they wore only for Warmth for Pride