The honour of the taylors, or, The famous and renowned history of Sir John Hawkwood, Knight containing his many rare and singular adventures, witty exploits, heroick atchievements, and noble performances relating to love & arms in many lands : in the series of which history are contained likewise the no less famous actions and enterprizes of others of the same art and mystery : with many remarkable passages relating to customs, manners &c., ancient and modern : illustrated with pictures and embelished with verses and songs wonderfully pleasant and delightful : to which, as an appendix, is added a brief account of the original of the Worshipful Company of Merchant-Taylors, as to their being incorporated &c., ...

CHAP. VII.

How Gaspero being still resolved upon Revenge, accidently happens on Da••iel and Bragwell, two Ruffians, to whom he commits the Punishment of Hawkwood; and by what means it is to be brought about.

GAspero having decreed as aforesaid, yet not daring to attempt it himself, it so hapned: As he was looking out of his Window one Evening, he espyed two Ruffian-like fellows walking carelesly in the street, appearing by their Garb and Motion to be destitute both of Money and Imployment; insomuch, that at that time it came into his Head, that these were wonderful sitting to execute his Revenge: Wherefore, when he had a little narrowlier observed them, he sent a little Youth he kepe to run on Errands after them, with order to invite them to his House. These Fellows, who would have run a Mile to a Three-penny Ordinary, upon this Invita∣tion, began to wonder what it should mean, yet stood not to dispute the matter, but followed the Youth, as supposing to what end soever it was, it could not be to their prejudice: And so being brought into the Hall, the Boy went up to his Master, and informed him, that the Men he had sent for were below, and waited his good plea∣sure; whereupon he ordered him to carry them into his Parlour, and set before them such Meat and Drink as the House at that time afforded; which was done with all convenient speed. This unexpected Entertainment did not a little surprize them, for Now or Never they thought they had met with their good Angel, which made them smile upon each other, and ask the Boy the cause, who told them, he knew no other than that it was his Master's good pleasure. Then began they to conclude, that this was some Gentleman, of an Ancient Family, who generously (though contrary to the fashion) kept up the Hospitality of his Ancestors; and so, without any further scruple, fell on feeding and carrousing, not only for present satisfaction, ••ut to pay their hungry Bellies the Arrears of divers days before, wherein they had Dined at Duke Humphry's.

When Gaspero supposed his new-come Guest had well refreshed themselv••s, he came into the Room, and whilst they stood cringing and complementing, ••id them heartily welcome; and so commanding the Boy away, after a Glass or two had gone round, he said, Gentlemen, you may well wo••der that (you being Strangers to me) I have taken upon me to invite you into my house; for indeed (as I rem••mber) I have n••t

seen either of you before I saw you passing by: But (continued he) Gentlemen, there is more in it (perhaps) than you can guess at, or I am willing, without a so∣lemn Promise of Secresie, to divulge unto you: Promise me, I say, to keep Secret what I shall propose to you, and if when it is proposed, you will undertake it, you shall be bountifully rewarded: Or if you refuse it, in consideration that it may spread no further, and that thereon you will plight and engage your faiths and troths, you shall not go altogether empty-handed from my House.

This kind of Discourse made the two Ruffians stare upon each other, as not know∣ing for some time what to reply; but being men of a desperate Fortune, at length waxing bold one of them brake the silence, and said, Sir, your Bounty towards us has already ingag••d us to oblige you in any thing that is within our power; there∣fore for my p••rt, I shall be willing to be directed by you in any thing that may stand with your conveniency or good-liking; and as for your mistrusting our fidelity, let that be far from you. Thus said the one, and the other confirmed it as the Senti∣ments of his Mind; and in brief, both of them made such Protestations, that Gas∣pero stood no longer doubtful, but opened all the business to them, from the beginning to the ending, aggravating the Affront, and requiring them to revenge it, in execu∣ting what he had determined on Hawkwood. This without further delay they promised to undertake, and seemed to rejoyce, that an opportunity of that kind was put into their hands to serve him; and then murmured, that him they were to under∣take was not some Gyant, or Monster of a Man, that in exerting their Valour, their Zeal to serve him might more eminently appear; or that it was not their happiness to engage with odds of number; boasting at a large rate their wonderful Exploits and valiant Atchievements; adding, that in this case the Affront being so great, in their opinions, Murther was too small a Revenge, if it was possible it could be car∣ried further.

These Expressions delivered with so much Bravado, made Gaspero conceive he had happened on the most worthy Champions of the World, and began to compute Guy, Bevis, and the Ancients, but Child••en to these; and thereupon perceiving they wan∣ted convenient Weapons to mawl the Youngster, who all this while was ignorant of what was intended against him, impatient of delay, he runs to his Armoury, and fetches a couple of rusty Back-swords, made in the days of his great Grandfather, and these he recommends as fit Instruments of his Indignation; but withal, com∣mands them they should proceed no further than to cutting and slashing, or make him compound for his Life with the loss of a Limb, or the like. But now a greater diffi∣culty was started, viz. how they should conveniently light on young Hawkwood, so that when they had accomplished their business, they might escape undiscovered: one while they were for watching his going abroad; at another, to find some quaint De∣vice to get him abroad by a wile, as he had done Impolito, or to send for him in a feigned Name: Many things they suggested of this kind, and often randyed about the matter; when in the end, the old blade bethought himself that Green-Goose Fair, annually kept at Bow by Stratford, was on the following Monday, which lucki∣ly happened to be St. Willielmus day, who is much honoured by the Taylors, as their Patron, and in honour of whom, they for the most part keep every Monday Holy-day, as those of the Gentle-Craft do for St. Crispin. To this place he doub∣ted not but young Hawkwood (who was ever frolick and gay) would resort; and that upon his return singling him from his Company, they might (under some pretence of scraping acquaintance) use him at their pleasure: and the better to know him, that they might not be mistaken in the man, one of them was to go to his Master's House

in the habit of a Porter, to deliver a Letter, as brought up by the Carrier, from a Friend of his in the Country: All which succeeded so to their wish, that having a good Stipend in hand, and larger promises when the business was effected, they laid their Ambush, though to their small advantage; as in the following Chapter will appear.