The Essex champion, or, The famous history of Sir Billy of Billerecay and his Squire Ricardo shewing the renowned atchievements and valiant acts of the invincible knight Sir Billy of Billerecay with his love to his Lady Dulcinia, as also, the comical exploits and amorous adventures of Squire Ricardo performed by his invisible ring, their tilts and tournaments in honour of ladies, their battles with gyants and monsters, their punishing of inchanters and negromancers, pedlars and poppit-players / being that excellent piece of knight-errantry written by William Winstandly.

CHAP. 6. How Ricardo in his Journey towards Bille∣recay 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.

RIcardo, as you heard in the former Chapter, being sent on an arrand to the Lady Dulcina, bethought himself by the way, that if he returned back to Billerecay, old Thomasio would appre∣hend him for stealing of his Horse, and therefore began to doubt whether Squire Errantry would protect him from the Gallows. To prevent which disgrace, he resolved upon the first opportunity to sell his Horse, and with the Mony to maintain himself until he could get into a more safer Service than that of Knight Errantry. Wandring therefore through by-paths as his most ready way, at such time as the days bright burning eye cast scorching Rayes upon the parched Earth, he sat him down under the Covert of a broad spreading Oak, and being full of thoughts not knowing what to do, he spyed coming towards him an aged Pal∣mer,

one who seemed by the downfall of his mellow years, that Nature had brought him near to the door of Death. This Palmer whose cold Age had Frosted his gray Hairs, said to him, Ricardo Esquire to the Famous Knight Errant Sir Billy of Billerecay, I am sent to thee from the Goddess of Fortune, with the Invisible ••in••, made by the Famous Negromancer T••e••ia, whereby thou shalt perform to thy Master such Services as shall exceed all those which were ever done by any ••quire to the best Knight Errant that ever wore Sword.

Then did he instruct Ricardo in the use of the Ring, how putting it on hi•• Finger he could be seen by no-body, but as soon as it was off he appeared as visi∣ble as any other, by which he might both please and pleasure himself in divers Feasts. It happened at the same time some Maids going by to milk their Cows, Ricardo to try the vertue of his Ring, putting it on his finger, fell to kissing the Maids, which put them to the squeak, feeling his Mouth but seeing no body. Ricardo was so far transported with Joy of this Ring, that he could scarcely believe so great a truth, not daring to trust his own Eyes, but fearing it to be only some

flattering Dream or vain Vision; yet by one infallible Argument he found himself to be awake, which was, that he was thoroughly an hungry. In the mean time the old Palmer was vanished away; wherefore Ricardo resolved, the first thing he did to seek out for Belly-Timber, put∣ting his Ring in his pocket, that at a con∣venient time it might serve to discharge his Reckoning.

He had not gone long in his way before he came to a stately Inn, where alight∣ing, he commanded the Hostler to look well to his Horse, and give him as many Oats as he would eat; and walking into the House, with as much state as if he had been a Man of some special Note, he called for a Room and a pint of Canary, with both which he was quickly accom∣modated. Then asked he what provision they had in the House? with the best of which taking a small repast, he com∣manded a Capon to be laid to the Fire for his better Accommodation; during the time while it was Roasting, the Host and he drank two or three Pints of Sack. The Capon being ready he fell to it with an extraordinary Stomach, and with as quick a dispatch washed it down with the brisk Canary. But now the main matter of

all, the Reckoning came to pay, which for his Horse and himself amounted to seven Shillings. Ricardo putting his hand into his Pocket as if to draw out his Mony, slipped on his Ring, whereby in an in∣stant he became invisible. This sudden▪ ••light of their Guest, with the loss of their Reckoning, put them all into such amaze that they stood senseless transfor∣med with Wonder. Ricardo in the mean time slipped into the Stable, and getting out his Horse, mounted him, Galloped away as fast as he could. This made the Hos••ler to Swear like a Culter, that the Horse should unty himself, and run away with the Saddle on his Back, for they could see no Man that rode thereon. And now both Host, Hostess, and Hostler, concluded it was no other than the De∣vil, who had come thither in ••••e likeness of a Guest, to punish her for false Scoreing with a crotched Chalk, and the Hostler for Tallowing of Horses Teeth, and Cheating them of their Oats by a half peck with a false bottom.

In the mean time Ricardo was gotten quite out of danger, Hugging himself in conceit for the Trick he had served the Inn-keeper, and now he fears no Colours, knowing his Ring a sure preservative a∣gainst

all dangers; But because his Horse was not so invisible as himself, he re∣solved to leave him behind, and to that purpose bargained with a Farmer for a Weeks keeping, at the end of which he promised to come again and pay him. Then taking his Journy towards Billere∣cay, fearless of Stocks, Prison, or Gal∣lows, on the way he overtook a Bedlam and Tinker, who had newly been taking a lusty cup of Rum-booz at the Bowzing∣ken. With these Ricardo willingly con∣sorted, minding to make some further experiments with his Ring; so asking them where the best Liquor was to be had, as men very well knowing that way, they soon returned him this pleasing answer. Master; if you will give us half a dozen, we will help you to such nappy Liquor whose dancing sprightly bubbles defie degenerou•• Fears, and raise up poor afflicted Heart•• to the highest degree of Mirth and Jollity.

Ricardo willingly imbraced the motion, and so joyning Company, the struck down a by-path until they came unto a Woods side, by which stood a thatch'd Cottage with Loam Walls and a Clay Chimney, and though it had no sign with∣out, it had that within which a sign signi∣fied, Viz. Beer which would make a Cat

speak, and such transcendant Ale, that York, Chester, Hull, Nottingham, Darby, nor Gravesend with a Toast, could Parallel it. Here did they sit and tipple Superna∣culum, until such time as they all grew Boozy; Ricardo promising to pay for all, thinking when the Reckoning came to pay to escape away with his invisible Ring; But his Fortune had like to have proved very bad, for in striving to suddle the other two, he got so drunk himself that he fell fast asleep, as also did the other two. In this Swinish condition they lay ••noreing four or five hours, at last the Tinker awak'd, and seeing his two Com∣rades fast, and remembring the Golden promises Ricardo had made, he thought to ri••••e the Nest before the Birds were flown; and diveing into his Pockets, he found nothing there, but only the Ring, and a knife and sheaf, which Ring he thought to have been as brazen as his Kettles, and therefore was about to throw it away, and with the knife to have Cut his Throat for cheating him of his Golden Expectation; Howsoever the Ring he put on his Finger, when instant∣ly the Hostess came in to look after her Guests, but not seeing the Tinker, who by wearing the Ring was become in∣visible,

she fell to Jogging the other two to know what was become of the Tinker? the Tinker Judged her to be mad to ask for him before his Face, and therefore said, what a P— is the Old Jade blind she cannot see me? The Old Woman hearing his voice, but seeing no Body, asked, where are ye, where are ye? with that he gave her such a Box on the Ear, as tumbled her down upon Ricardo, whose fall awaked him out of his sleep, and hearing the Tinker to Curse and Bann because his Hostess could not see him, he thought he had gotten away his Ring, and fe••ling in his Pocket found it so indeed, wherefore he was ready to swound away with fear, but recollecting himself he called to the Tinker, saying, Honest Brother-give me thy Hand, which the Tinker doing, he 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 Bed∣lam, 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.