manner how it was done they concluded it could be no other than the Devil to punish them for their Sins Then began the Host to tell the Bayliffs of their Swearing and Cruelty how many ungodly practises they used to get people in their Clutches and having them there how unconsionably they used them The Bayliffs on the other side tell the Host and Hostess of their false Reckonings Scoreing with a crotched Chalk and when people were near fuddled carrying away Flaggons before they were half empty and frothing them up again making them pay for whole ones as also how they gave information to Padders and Men of that profession the quality of the Guests that Lodged at their Houses The Horse-Courser was also accused for divers deceits in his Occupation so that if his picture be drawn to the Life you shall find him by his qualities to be no other than a Cozening Knave In the mean time their supposed Devil Ricardo was gotten beyond the length of their Clutches leaving them to lament their Losses and now he was minded to return the next day to his Master and to that end went directly to the Farmers where he had left his Horse But a new trouble appeared unto him for he had no Money to pay for his Horse-keeping but that difficulty was soon over for passing by a Usurer's House he heard Money clattering on the Table and the Door being open putting on his Invisible-Ring he went in where a Poor Man who had borrowed Ten Pounds of this Usurer was now come to pay it which being told and the Bond Cancel'd the Usurer put it up in a Bag of his own all which Ricardo Eyed very narrowly and no sooner had he laid it on the Table but Ricardo as soon took it away The Usurer whose Eye like his Heart was always on his Money seeing his Bag to creep away so insensibly was quite confounded with Amazement as it would move a Dog to see a Pudding stir and began to call upon him who before was seldom in his thoughts fearing the Devil whom he Judged to have drawn away his Bag would next come for him and therefore vowed a Reformation of his Course of Life That he would never more take the Rigour of a Forfeiture as soon as the day was past nor under Colour of Bonds Writing and Procuration make the Borrower pay at least Ten or Twelve Shillings in the Hundred Nay rather than fail to be preserv'd from this Danger he would build an Alms-House to maintain them who had been Ruin'd by his Extortion Now you will say it had been good Hanging this Usurer whilst he was in this humour lest he should be of the same Mind with a Master of a Ship who in a great extremity of Danger promised our Lady to offer at her Altar a Candle as great as the main Mast of his Ship And when one of his Mates jogging him told him he had promised an impossibility Tush Fool said he we must speak to her fair in time of need but if ever I come ashore I will make her be content with a Candle of six to the Pound But Ricardo was somewhat more Consciencious in his doings for being got safe out of the Usurers House he put some of the Money in his Pocket and waiting for the poor Man's return gave him the rest bidding him to be a good Husband with it and pray for the Squire of the Invisible Ring for his good Fortune And so leaving the Poor Man over-joy'd he went towards the Farmers when passing through a Meddow he saw a Maid Milking of a Cow who was sweetly singing forth this Song When first on Love I cast my wanton thoughts But yet not minding him for to obey For freedom sure I thought was better oughts Than serving him his Servitors doth slay For what to Hungry Lovers is relief But Sorrow Anguish Discontent and Grief But yet my mind is not so fully set For Maidens minds are subject unto change But if I could a faithful Servant get Whose Love would not be subject for to range I soon to Love should yield a due subjection And he should Master be of my Affection For Maidens Hearts they are not like to steal Obdurate hard will no Impression take But tender soft when Cupid's Darts they feel Which in their Hearts will soon Impression make No Fort so strong but may be won at last No Mind so fixt but it may change as fast Ricardo stood amaz'd at the ravishing Harmony of her Voice comparing it to the Melody of the Thracian Poet Orpheus when by his Songs he attracted Beasts Trees and Stones to follow him or rather to the Harmony of the Seraphick Choires wishing himself all Ear to listen to her Song the pleasingness whereof so insensibly crept into his Heart that he became a Thrawl unto her But first he began to consider whether Squire Errants might have their Mistresses as well as Knights and many weighty Arguments pro and Con passed in his thoughts but Love so over-swayed them all that he became solely captivated to her Affections and therefore was she no sooner risen from Milking her Cow but he accosted her on this manner Most beautyful Mistress the attractiag Harmony of your Angelical Voice hath so captivated my Heart that I am become a Sworn Servant to your Vertues and therefore among all the Days of my Life I must account this the Happiest wherein I had the Honour first to see you Nor think you have met with an ordinary person which seeks thus to gain an Interest in your Graces for know I am no less than a Squire-Errant to that Renowned Knight at Arms the invincible and Victorious Sir Billy of Billerecay whose Fame begins to sound all the World over and whose History is to be Writ with a brazen Pen and enroled in the Book of Fame Let me intreat you therefore to accept of me for your Servant by which you may come to be as Famous as Dulcina my Masters Lady and in process of Time the Wife to a Governour of an Island The poor Maid who had never before been acquainted with any Love-Rhetorick above that of a Ballad or in the Plough-Mans dialect Vaith Jone I Love thee stared upon him as one stricken into a sudden amazement at last she said to him Pray Sir do not use such hard Words you scare my Cows and spoil my milking Ricardo finding he was not rightly understood went towards her thinking to Salute her but the Wench as nimbly avoided him threatning to cry out if he approached any nigher to her whereupon slipping on his Invisible-Ring he thought to gain his purpose that way The Wench seeing him so vanisht on a sudden and feeling such smattering about her lips without perceiving any thing threw down her Milk pail and ran homewards as fast as her legs could carry her so that on a sudden she was gotten out of Ricardo's sight who seeing her fled thought it in vain to pursue her
nimbly slipt the Ring from off his Finger and as nimbly put it on his own whereby the Tinker again became visible but Ricardo was no where to be seen The Hostess seeing such Juggling tricks began to call out for her Money with such a loud voice as waked also the Bedlam who asking for his Master I think said she your Master is the Devil for the Tinker and he are in Dock out Nettle sometimes seen and sometimes not and here is Seven Shillings and six pence to pay and now the Young Devil is fled which I much marvel at for I think none of you both have any Crosses about ye to scare him away Whilst they were thus arguing the case Ricardo slipt away from them taking his course directly towards Billerecay where how he sped we shall declare in the next Chapter CHAP. 7. Hap Ricardo delivered his Letter to Jone Grumball with her Answer to it And several exploits performed by Ricardo with his Invisible Ring IT was at such time of the day when the Curl pate Waggoner of Heaven had well near finisht his Diurnal Course and was driving his panting Steeds down towards the Western Hill when the Renowned Squire Errant Ricardo entred into the Town of Billerecay bending his course directly towards the House of Jone Grumball to whom he delivered Sir Billy's Letter with much obsequiousness telling her such Stories of his Master's Valour his Honour of Knight-Hood and of the great affection he bore to her that her heart began to melt towards him even as a pound of Butter melts before the Sun But being she could not read her self she sent for a Journey-man Shoomaker to the further end of the Town to read it one who bore good will unto her and was at that present inditing a Letter to make her know the affection he bore her Crispin having read it over and understanding he had a Knight to his Rival was very much troubled but Jone Grumball was so well pleased with the Sugar-Candy Words he sent unto her that she vowed her self unto him both Body and Breeches asking Ricardo many questions concerning him all which he answered in such lofty Language amplifying his prowess the respects all people shewed unto him with the faithful Love he bare unto her that she was more and more entangled in the Lime-Twigs of Love vowing and protesting her self his for ever Crispin by these presages finding his Suit like to have but a cold reception to avenge himself on Ricardo by whose speeches he thought Jone's Heart was estranged from him he therefore ran to old Thomasio telling him his Son's partner in stealing away his Horses was at that instant at Jone Grumball's whom he might easily take and by that means know what was become of his Son as also of his Horses Thomasio quick as lightning taking a Constable along with him went to Jone Grumballâ— and seizing upon Ricardo threatned him with all the punishments he could reckon up as Hanging Burning Drowning Killing Stabbing and twenty other kinds of Death besides if he told him not where his Son and Horses were Ricardo nothing daunted at his Domineering but intending to put a trick upon him told him that his Son was become one of the greatest Lord in the World that Kings and Queens craved his Assistance and Lords and Ladies implored his help that he commonly kill'd half a dozen Gyants for his Breakfast and bathed his Sword in the Blood of Monsters and Dragons every day That his Master was at that present in the Sage Freston's Castle where the most excellent Princess Tantabilus courted his Love but that he had vowed himself only to the Service of his Beautiful Dulcina In sum that his Master was a Knight and he was his Squire and that therefore by the Laws of Knight Errantry they were not to be troubled nor molested wheresoever they came But Thomasio being minded not to be put off with such Noninoes charged the Constable to carry him before a Justice of Peace to which Ricardo willingly consented whether they immediately address'd themselves The Justice having heard the Allegations on both sides perswaded Thomasio to go along with Ricardo and see by fair means to bring his Son home again and if he were so obstinate he would not return to take away their Horses which would be a means to spoil their Knight-Errantry and that they might go the more lovingly together he called for a Bottle of Sack to drink them into Unity The Bottle was no sooner set on the Table but Ricardo vowed himself Master thereof and thereupon slipping on his Invisible-Ring he boldly steps to the Table and clapping the Bottle of Sack under his Coat marched away with it not being descerned by any The Justice and Thomasio were stricken into a wonderful Amazement to see the Bottle go away without hands as they thought but much more when they missed Ricardo And now remembring what strange stories he had told of Billy they concluded that both the Master and the Man were turned Conjurers and therefore dreaded what further mischief might by â—is means be shewed unto them In the mean time Ricardo was walked to Jone Grumballs with his Bottle of Sack never pulling off his Ring till he came within the House that not any one might take any Notice of him Here did he tell her what a trick he served the Justice and that therefore he must make all the hast he could to his Master Jone was very well pleased with the Jest but much more with her part she had in the Sack and having drank a Health to Billy she desired Ricardo to stay so long till she got a Letter in answer to his Master which by the School-Master of the Town was performed for her in these words My dearest Knight WIth what Joy I Jone Grumball the Lady of thy affections received your Letter may better be exprest by Imagination than words for hearing of the ardent Love that you beare unto me set forth in such Rhetorical Elocution it fared with me as with a Beggar who on a sudden finding a rich Treasure can scarce believe his own Eyes but fears it is a Dream or some fond Illusion Even so my dearest Knight did it happen unto me hardly could I believe my one Ears much less imagine that so Heroick Renowned a Champion as thou art wouldest become the Loadstone of my Affections But know that I am as much over Head and Ears in Love as thou Nor do not think me light for yielding so soon for what Heart can hold out at the Battery of thy Eloquence thou being a Conqueror of Affections as well as Gyants I shall think the time long till I hear from thee again much more till such time I see thee till when I subscribe my self Thine in indeared Friendship Jone Grumball Ricardo having received the Letter of her promised to be very careful in the delivery of it and she for her part promised him that when she came to be his Knights
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
The ESSEX Champion OR The Famous History of Sir Billy of Billerecay and his Squire Ricardo Chap. 1. The Birth of Sir Billy of Billerecay His bringing up at School And Resolution to pursue Knightly Adventures 2. How Sir Billy and his Squire went forth to seth Adventures Their Encounter with a Scare-crow and how he came to a Castle to be Dubbed Knight 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 4. Sir Billy being dubbed Knight Marcheth forth to seek Adventures his Encounter with Poppet-Grants his Imprisonment in a wooden Inchanted Castle and Entertainment by the Sage Preston 5 Ricardo is sent with a Letter to Dulcina in the mean time Sir Billy encountereth with a monstrous Gyant in defence of the Tantabilan Princess whom he Manfully overthrows 6. How Ricardo in his Journey towards Billerecay met with an Aged Palmer who gave him an Invisible-Ring with which he cheats an Inn-keeper as also what a Trick he served a Bedlam and a Tinker 7. How Ricardo delivered his Letter to Jone Grumball with her Answer to it And several exploits performed by Ricardo with his Invisible-Ring 8. How Ricardo delivered his message to his Master and of the Challenge made by Sir Billy against all enners in Honour of his Mistress Dulcina 9. How Sir Billy was forced to run from his Challenge Tee Mirth Ricardo had at a Wedding What a Trick he served an Old Fornicator and how he went in pursuit of his Master 10. Sir Billy's encounter with a Dancer on the Ropes how he was carried before a Justice of the Peace and set free by Ricardo by the help of his Invisible-Ring 11. Ricardo going to recover his Masters Horse and Armor acteth a very pleasant Adventure in an Inn with other things which happened 12. Sir Billy's ill success in his adventure against the Pedlars How he was rescued by Ricardo by the help of his Invisible-Ring With other things that happened 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 the means of Sir Billy and a Constable 14. Sir Billy's entertainment at the Justices House his Oration in praise of the Golden Ane with his challenging the Coroner to sight in defence of Knight-Errantry 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 London Printed for J. Blare at the Looking-Glass on London-Bridge The Famous History of Sir Billy of Billerecay and his Squire Ricardo CHAP. 1. The Birth of Sir Billy of Billerecay His bringing up at School And Resolution to pursue Knightly Adventures IN the East part of England as in respect of the Metropolis thereof London in that County formerly inhabited by the Trinobantes afterwards possessed by the East-Saxons from whom it derived to East-sex since by Corruption or rather for the more easier Pronunciation Essex In a Town thereof called Billerecay not many years ago there lived a Farmer named Thomasio one whose Means as they were too low to make him envied so were they too high to cause Scorn enjoying a Mediocrity betwixt Riches and Poverty that as he was no Gentleman to live on his Lands yet adding Industry to his small Stock he had most commonly Mony in his Pocket when others who made a braver show were without In his younger Years he married the Sexton of Bursted's Daughter a Man of such Strength that according to the Records of that place he would Thresh as much Wheat in one day as another Man could do in two and which is further remembred of him that at a Match of Foot-ball plaid betwixt that Village and the neighbouring Hamlet by his alone Manhood and Prowess the Victory was clearly obtain'd of his side We are the willinger to mention these things because the Reader may understand that the Person of whom we intend to treat of was descended from couragious adventurous Persons Now four times had Hiem's Frosts bereav'd the Farth of her Summers Livery and as many times had Lady Flora bestowed on Tellus a Suit of curious embroyder'd Tapistry since the Nuptials were celebrated betwixt Thomasio and his loving Consort during which time he had by his Industry much increased that little Stock he began with nothing now so much perplex'd him as the want of an Heir on whom to bestow this parsel of Estate if Death should Summon him to his Grave At last to his exceeding Joy his Wife prov'd to be with Child and in process of time was deliver'd of a goodly Boy who was Christen'd by the Name of William This Child as he was long in coming so was he the more welcome unto them and so much the rather because that Lucy so was his Wife named was now so stricken in Years that he had little hopes of having another wherefore he resolved to bestow some Cost on the bringing up of his Son Billy his ambitious Thoughts soared so high that he swore by his Plow-share if his Son lived he would make him a Schollard not only to write and read ordinarily but if need were to make a Bill or a Bond and to write a Letter that he might not be beholding to the Vicar of the Parish upon every occasion Accordingly no sooner had his Son come to some Maturity of Knowledge but he bought him a Horn-book and put him to School to an Old Woman that lived in an Alms-house who so indoctrinated him that in a short time he had learned the Criss-cross-row which made Thomasio think his Penny a Week well bestow'd on him so that he told his Son If he proved a good Boy when he had learn'd his Horn-book he would buy him a Golden Primmer nay that he should likewise have a Plum-cake into the bargain which so encourag'd young Billy that in a short time he claimed his Father's Promise for he was now in the last line of that Folio book Whereupon Thomasio going to the Market after diligent enquiry for such a Volume he at last did light on one according to his hearts desire on the cover whereof was pictur'd St. George a conquering the Dragon the sight whereof did no doubt implant in young Billy's Heart the Seeds of Valour and Heroick Thoughts and prognosticated to the World what a Champion this would prove whose valorous Acts should afterwards be proclaim'd by Fames golden Trumpet and fill each corner of the habitable Earth with the Report of his deserved Praises Billy now plyed his Book with might and main having gotten to the end of the same before others who began with him had attained half way and now to encourage him the more his Father bought him several Ballads as of Fair Rosamond The Blind Beggar of Bednal Green King Edward the Fourth and the Tanner c. but amongst them all none of them pleased Billy so well as the