The Church-Knight

A Church-man was there on a time I reade,
Of great estate his father being dead,
Which got, his Syrpe-cloth he discarded quite,
Resoluing fully now to be a Knight:
Vp to the Court he goes with speede he can,
Where he encountred a North-britaine man,
With whom discoursing in his Euening walke,
He spoke of Knights 'mongst other idle talke,
How th'title it was worthie, and that he,
Could well endure entitled so to be;
For I do reade (quoth he) of such as these
Within the Ecclesiasticke histories:
What fame and honour they obtain'd by warre,
Which sir (belieue me made me come thus farre,
That I (if meanes or mony could obtaine it)
Might in respect to my prosession gaine it.
The Brittane his profession did require:
A Curate once, quoth he, of Brecknocke-shire,
Helde, I may say to you, a learned man;
But since my fathers death turn'd gentleman.
I ioy me in th'occasion th'Brittan sayd,
(Doubt not sir Priest) you shall a Knight be made;
And you deserue't: for though Knights common are.
"Holy church-knights, such as you be, seeme rare,
To Long-lane goes the Curate to prouide,
An ancient suite, and other things beside;
As skarfe and roses all of different colour,
Which bought, at White-friers staires he takes a Sculler.
Prepar'd with resolution all the sooner,
To gaine this priuiledge and Knightly honour;
Which hauing got by long petitioning suite,
And pai'd vnto the Brittain his first fruit,
To's Neighbors streight he hies-where they much grieue him
"For, swearing he's a knight, they'le not belieue him
Nor would they (such incredulous men were these)
Till he had showen discharge for all his fees.