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. XV.

He tells how the Love-Intreagues were disc••ver'd by old Cisly the Servant-Wench, to the Parents of Lamira; And how she being thereupon confined to her Cham∣ber, he adventured down the Chimney, and found an opportunity to free her, by the means of a Bears Skin: And what comically happened on that occasion.

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ANd now I thought my self as happy as man could wish, and seemed to look down upon the World with pitty, not imagining there was any felicity, but what was centered in my Heart. But when I was in the midst of this extasie, coming one day to visit my Mistris, I found her overwhelmed with sorrow, and that by the Tears she had shed, the Lustre of her sparkling Eyes were much impaired; whereupon in much surprize I asked the cause, as thinking she began to repent of what she had promised, but found the contrary, for her grief proceeded from the proposal of a Match, which her Parents highly approved, and strongly pressed her to consent to, in lucre of her large Estate, and that the Lover was no less enamoured than she was a∣verse. This struck me with a cold damp to the heart, and deadned all my Joys; but com∣forting her in the best manner, it was agreed between us, That to prevent the trouble of his nausious visits, and the danger that delay might breed, we should the following Sunday joyn our Hands, as Love had joyned our Hearts; and so with a kiss and amorous smile, I cheer'd up the beauteous face of fair Lamira, which before was clouded with anxiety and sorrow: But so it unfortunately happened, That when we were about to take our leave, in comes the new Lover, and having first saluted my Mistris, he fell

to doing the like to me, and from that, to the entertaining us with much impertinent discourse, especially about his Love to Lamira, and what Mountains she might expect, if she would condescend to his desire; entreating me at the same time, if I was mar∣ried, (as he believed by my Womanly Countenance I was) to let her know, in his absence, the many Joys that attended a Matrimonial Estate; which I faithfully promised to perform, and indeed any thing else that he could request, to be rid of his company, of which (as I well p••rceived) my Mistris was but too sick: Not that I feared such a Rival, had her Constancy been less, by reason he was not only old, but much deformed and impaired in his natural shape and conditions: And indeed, as I could wish, there came an hasty Messenger to inform him, his House was on fire; upon which, in much consternation and confusion, he abruptly took his leave; though in the end I perceived, by the Laughter of my Mistris, that this false Alarum was given by her advice, that we might have the better leisure and opportunity to proceed further in discourse about our Marriage; but that proved our misfortune: for an old Wench, whom Improspero had well bribed to sollicite his Cause, having out of curiosity to hear our Discourse, (contrary to our knowledge) hid her self behind the Hangings, & perceiving by the earnestness of our Expressions, the repeated Vows of Constancy and Fidelity, together with the tender Embraces, Kisses, and Caresses, that passed between us, that such Love could not well proceed from meer Complement, or be consistent in One of the Female Sex to another; she, from that time began to suspect, there was more in it than so; and thereupon more narrowly watching my Behaviour, Gait, marking my Voice, Limbs, and other matters, and being a season'd Stick at Intreagues, she no longer doubted, but that I was not what I seemed; nor did she delay to acquaint Improspero with her Thoughts; who finding himself abused, as to the Relation of the Fire, soon after my departure returned, and he imparted as much to the Mother of the fair Lamira, who searching her Desk, unhappily found a Copy of Verses I had written in praise of her, and subscribed with my Name, and some other Papers that had passed be∣tween us: Nor was it long e're the Father was acquainted with what they had gathered by circumstances; so that the House was in a secret consternation; and my Mistris had no more time, than just to send me word, our Intreague was disco∣vered, before she was closely confined to her Chamber, under the guard and care of her that had betray'd us. This, you may well think, was killing News to me, and for a time made me almost beside my self; for now my disguise, I found, was no more available, but might rather confirm the matter; sometimes I thought to revenge the Treachery; at other times, how I might release my Mistris; and often burst out into Tears, to think that for my cause, and that for the sake of Love, so fair a Creature should be so roughly handled, and wished that any misfortune might have befallen me, so she was no partaker of it. And now my study was to gain intelligence, in which Room she was confined, resolving at any hazard to speak with, and comfort her in the best wise: Nor was it long e're I gained it from a little Youth, belonging to the House, whom I had found abroad, and tempted to the dis∣covery with divers trifles of no great value; but surveying the place at a distance, I found the access wonderful difficult; yet, What will not Love do, where it does truly center? I getting me the Skin of a Bear, with a Head so artificial, that much curiosity must be used in distinguishing it from that of a live one; and so fit I framed this covering for my purpose, that when I was wrapped in it, I seemed no other than the very Creature I represented; and so the succeeding night lay in Ambush, in

order to rush up Stairs, and force my Mistrisses Guards, whom I knew (through fear and dismay) would leave their Charge, and then presently discover my self to her, and convey her thence: But finding no opportunity to do this, by reason I could perceive none of the outward Doors open, I thought upon getting in at the Window, but found many of them strongly Barred with Iron; and so, whilst I began to despair of putting my Design in Practice, it luckily came into my Head, that if I could get to the top of the House, I might descend the Chimney, and by that means come into her Chamber; and upon this wild Adventure I resolved; but mistaking the Funnel, I happened into the next to it, where I found the old Cisly (with whom Improspero, it seems, had been carrousing in the absence of her Master and Mistris) fast asleep, with a winking Candle by her, and the Key in her Lap, which I taking up, lay'd aside my Hairy Garment, and unlocked the Cham∣ber, where I found her reading very pensive; at first sight of me she was surpri∣zed; but perceiving who I was, we embraced each other with all the endearing Caresses that within the Bounds of Modesty can be imagined, and then (like mourn∣ful Turtles) complained to each other of our hard Misfortune; she telling me how she had been pressed, and almost tired with Improspero's nauseous Love; and how severe her Parents had been to her, in her strict restraint; what Threatnings they used, if she disobeyed; with many other matters: And withal, demanded how I got the liberty to be admitted; the which I giving her to understand, we in the end fell to plotting, how at that time we might escape, seeing Fortune had so far favoured my Enterprize; but in that found many difficulties: For the Father, Mother, Improspero, and the Lad, being gone to Supper at a Neighbour's House, had taken all the Keys of the outward Doors with them: Through the Windows we could not get, neither was it convenient, or possible, for my Mistris to clamber out at the top of the Chimney; wherefore the gagging or binding old Cisly (for so was the Wench called) we imagined, might prove as disadvantageous, as if Vlisses had killed the Polyphem: Wherefore cudgeling my Brains for a while, I at last re∣solved to make a Bug-bear of the Wench; and thereupon, as Fortune would have it, in the almost insensible condition she was in, I clapped my Bears-Skin about her, and so well buckled it on, (whilst she thought probably, that some body was wrap∣ping her in a Rugg, for fear of catching Cold) that now she appeared all over a Beast.

Having thus done, we went down Stairs, and bolted the Door on the inside, and so hid our selves in a Nook, or behind the Geaum of the Wall, to expect the event, and weather the utmost that might befall. Now so it fell out, that soon after the good People coming home, and not being able with their Keys to get Entrance, mistrusting somewhat more than ordinary, fell to knocking and thundering at the Door like Wild fire, which made old Cisly, between sleep and wake, after a yaun or two, stagger down Stairs in her Fur-Mantle, the which, by the reason of the con∣dition she was in, she did not perceive; but getting to the Door as well as she could, she opened it, by drawing back the Bolts; but no sooner did she appear in that frightful form, but those that were so hasty to enter, were hastier in the Retreat: Improspero, to seem valiant, supposing (at first) some Thieves were gotten into the House, drew his Sword; but old Cisly, who began to wonder at their running away, staggering after them, he no sooner beheld her, but seized with a panique fear, drop∣ping his Weapon, he betook himself to his Heels: During which const••••nation, I and my Dear Lamira had opportunity to depart undiscovered; to our (then) no small Joy and Satisfaction.