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. 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.

RIcardo was not so attentive to his Ma∣ster's discourse, as he was solicitous for his future safety, knowing 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 this Famous Adventure, which put Ricardo into a great consterna∣tion, 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 Ʋniversal 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 Ʋrganda 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 un∣violably to be observed. Ricardo therefore making no delay, mounted his Master on Bellerophon, and taking old Gerion up be∣hind 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 in∣vades the Earth with his hottest Beams, bear∣ing an equal distance betwixt foregoing and ensuing light; The scorching Rayes of Hea∣vens Charioteer beating so hotly upon them, made them desirous to take shade under the Coverture of some leavy Canopy, when looking about for the fittest place, they spyed an old Barn encompassed about so with Trees, as scarce discernable through their leavy branches.

H••ther being come, they entred the same, which they h••d 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 Hanged on a beam, whose Soul had taken a final farewel of her body; and over her a young Man newly hang'd whose soul was ready to dislodge, and to sink into the House of Death; but Ricardo and o••d Gerion percei••ing some motion in his Body, gathered by thence, that he was not as yet quite ••ake'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 bo••d 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 lamen∣tation:

And what can fortune add more to the compleat∣ing of my miseries, who cannot look beyond the pro∣spect of my consuming grief; being one whom the fates have marked out for a feeler of the extreams of miseries; mis••rable below the ••each of pitty, whose heart is nothing but a Stage of Tragedies; all the happiness I have being this, that Fortune cannot throw me in a degree of being more miserable.

Sir Billy took great notice of all which passed, ima∣gining thereby some Famous adventure would fall out to be performed by him, and therefore spake

thus unto the young Man. Distressed ••night (said he) for so thou seemest by thy sorrowful lamentation, do but inform me what humane Wretch hath thus wronged thee and thy vertuous Lady, and let him be Gyant, Monster, or Devil, he shall be chastized by my victorious Arm; for to this end have I taken upon me the profession of Kn••ght Errantry, to right wronged Knights and Ladies, and to rid the World of such Monsters of Nature, whose delight is only mischief, and whose Trades are continued Acts of cruelty.

The young Man who was but as it were newly re∣vived out of a Trance, hearing Sir Billy's discourse, replyed; Sir, I am neither Knight, Squire, nor yet good Gentleman, but a Taylor by Trade, living in a village hard by; And this Maiden who is here dead, the Daughter of a wealthy Farmer in the same Parish, both of us born to misfortune and sorrow; In our very infancy we contracted an indissolvible bond of Friendship betwixt us, and as our years fur∣ther increased; so our affections grew more and more; and arriving to those years wherein the God of Love maketh the hearts of his subjects to dote more upon a Mistress than an old man on his heaps of Gold; I then began to reveal my affections unto her, which found such a Friendly reception, that by mutual vows and promises we contracted our selves each to other. But the foul pale Hog Envy, that banquet•• her self in others miseri••s, repining at our happiness▪ had caused the heart of a certain Smith of our Town to be Captivated by the charming looks of m•• Rosaro (for so was my Love called) who with muc•• earnestness declared his affection unto her, usin•• many vows and protestations of the reality of h•••• Love; but her heart was so deeply linked to m•• that whatsoever she was, was only mine; she ga•••• him so sharp a denial, that his Love converting 〈◊〉〈◊〉

hatred, he burnt with revengful fury against her, and from thenceforth waited only for an opportunity to put his designs in execution, which at last he brought to pass as you see, for confederating himself with a couple of Fellows, the Devils Factors for all wickedness, and such whom an honest Man can neither see nor speak of without a blush. These having in∣telligence that Rosaro was to go to an Aunt of hers that liveth hard by, and that I was to accompany her, way laid us, and having seized on us, brought us to this Barn, where over-powring our weak re∣sistance, and having brought cords with them for the Execution of their damn'd intents, they in conclusion hanged us up as you saw.

Sir Billy listened very attentively to this discourse, and being exceedingly moved at it, he swore by the bloody Falshion of Mars, that e'er Don Phoebus had run his diurnal Course three times about our Hemisphire, be would take such exemplary punish∣ment on the Smith and his perfidious Mate••, that Babes unborn shall tremble at the narration of it. Whilst he was thus speaking, the Smith whose guilty Con∣science feared a discovery, having found out his Companions, returned again with an intent to murther Sir Billy, Ricardo, and old Ge••ion, to prevent their giving any knowledge of him, But having entred the Barn, and seeing the Taylor alive whom they sup∣posed to be dead, they immediately set upon him, and were as quickly set upon by Sir Billy; and this being the justest cause he fought in, his success was answerable thereunto, for at the second stroak he cut the Smith so deep a gash on the Wrist as made him to drop his Club, and quite disarmed him of any fur∣ther resistance, which being by the Taylor espyed, he snatches up the Smiths Club, and seconded by Ricardo, they Jointly set upon the other two; and now were many blows given and received on each side,

when old Gerion whose courage was still good, though his strength infirm, not loving to be Idle when so necessary a work was to be done, being armed with a great walking staff, as commonly Beggars go so guarded, he gave one of the Rogues such a rap on the pate as made him to stagger, and seconding it with another, laid him at his Feet streaking his heels; the Third party seeing this, would have run for it, but being surrounded by them all four, he was forced to abide his fate, and whilst he was defending him∣self against old Gerion and Ricardo, who faced him with their Weapons, Sir Billy being behind him, gave him such a wound on the head as felled him to the earth, and sent his Soul to dwell in the lower Regions, there to inhabit with the damned in burning Beds of Steel, Roasted in Sulpher, and washt in de••p vast gulphs of Liquid Fire.

The Smith in the mean time, through the loss of so much Blood as issued from his Wound, was fall••n into a deep swound, so that he seemed for the pre∣sent to be inroled in the Regiment of Death, but his Companion who had been knockt down by old Geri∣on, being of a strong robustious Nature, reviving again, began for to bustle, as if he would again try for the Victory; which being perceived by Sir Billy, he ran to him, and with his Sword gave him such a Blow on the head, as made him once more to measure his full length on the Earth, and then setting his Foot on his breast, and the point of his Sword to his Throat, he said to him; Vile M••screant, or rather Devil in Hose and Doublet, the impostume of all corruptions, and abstract of all wickedness; Now will I send thy Soul to be an inhabitant in the glooming dwellings of Dam••ed Spirits, there to bathe it self in pools of Scalding Oyl and Sulpher, which thou hast worthily deserved by contracting such a Load of Guilt that lies heavy on thy blood-thirsty Conscience.

The Murthering Villain hearing such thundring Words, roared out like a Town Bull, craving and crying out for Mercy, when a new crotchet coming into Sir Billy's noddle, he said unto him, I yield thee Mercy though unworthy of it, but upon condi∣tion that thou go and present thy self upon thy knees as vanquished by my Yi••••orious Arm, unto the Lady of my Affections, the most renowned Dulcina of Billerecay, and this you shall Swear to do upon my Sword. I willingly yield to your conditions (said the dissembling Villain) and shall swear Faithfully to perform it. Whereupon Sir Billy let him rise, and was about to give him his Oath, which the young Man perceiving, and that he intended to let him go; Sir (said he) It is not fase nor convenient so to do, for this Man being a Murtherer, ought according to the Law to be had before a Justice of the Peace, to be by him exa∣mined and secured, that he may receive the reward of his deserts. Sir Bi••ly having heard what he said, with a vehement indignation replyed, Thou speakest (said he) like one altogether ignorant of the Laws of Knight Errantry; ought not the Conquerer to dis∣pose of the Conquered as he pleases? was not he su••∣dued by the Force of m•• invincible Arm, and there∣fore to be by me d••••pose•• of according to my own will and pleasure; now since my valour whereby I conquered him came by the inspiration of my Lady Dulcina, ought not she in retribution thereof to have the honour of this submission, as being magnetically performed by her. But this (said the Taylor) is so notorious a villain; and his crime so Capital, that be∣ing once got free, he will never come near her, nor ever make any submission unless he be forced to do it to the Gallows. Why, said Sir Billy, have I not his Oath to perform it? His Oath, quoth the Taylor, is not to be regarded, for he who fears not to commit Mur∣ther, will make no Conscience to forswear himself.

Whilst they were thus arguing the Case, the Constable of the Parish, who had a Warrant for the pressing of some Soldiers, being guarded with Four lusty men, came to that place, it being a Common receptacle for sturdy loytering Beggars and Vaga∣bonds; when beholding the floor imbrued with Blood, and strowed with dead Carcases, he demanded the cause of this so sad a Spectacle? to whom Sir Billy being about to reply, he was interrupted by rhe Tay∣lor, who declared all the whole business in manner as you heard it before; and withal adding, that Sir Bi••ly being a Knight-Errant, was resolved to send that murdering Rogue that was alive to a certain Lady named Dulcina, but earnestly desired his Journey might be staid, that the Hangman might not be dis∣appointed of his due.

Yea, said Sir Billy, I am by profession a Knight Errant, my Trade is to kill Gyants and Dragons, and to relieve oppressed Ladies, and distressed Damo∣se••s, to release captivated Knights from their Im∣prisonment, and to bring to confusion the Hellish brood of Negromancers and Inchanters. Sir (said the Constable) if you are so good for fighting, you will be the fitter to serve the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and therefore I press you for his Majesty's service. I understand (said Sir Billy) that thou art a Constable, but altogether ig∣norant in thy Office, for if thou hadst read Books of Chevalry, thou wilt find that Knights Errant are subject to no King nor to no Laws. Sir (said the Constable) if you are subject neither to King nor Laws, then you are a Vagabond, and as a Vagabond I must apprehend ye.

Sir Billy hearing his Knighthood so vilified and de∣graded, 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 ••o Honourable an Order; and thereupon began to

fall upon him with all hls might. Ricardo and old Gerion seeing the madness of S••r Billy, stepped to him to have sta••d his hands, but the more they strived to hinder him, the more he laid on. The messen∣ger that should have gone to the Lady Dulcina, seeing them thus to bestir themselves, betook him∣self 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 ha•• engaged, you also present your self on your knee••, 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 be∣hind 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 Consta∣stable would also have tyed Sir Billy's hands had not Ricar••o and old Gerion interceded for him; How∣ever 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 rega••d unto his words, but told

him he should have his Sword; Only in the mean ••••me he must go before one of his profession, a ••ighter 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 〈◊〉〈◊〉-role of Knights Errant, and I esteemed for a Ca••pet 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 sight 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.