nt of his
master, who desired to know what was become of his armour. Timothy,
understanding that it had been left in the room when the knight
undressed, began to scratch his head in great perplexity; and at last
declared it as his opinion, that it must have been carried off by
witchcraft. Then he related his adventure with Tom Clarke, who he said
was conveyed to his bedside he knew not how; and concluded with affirming
they were no better than Papishes who did not believe in witchcraft. Sir
Launcelot could not help smiling at his simplicity; but assuming a
peremptory air, he commanded him to fetch the armour without delay, that
he might afterwards saddle the horses, in order to prosecute their
journey.

Timothy retired in great tribulation to the kitchen, where, finding the
misanthrope, whom the noise had also disturbed, and, still impressed with
the notion of his being a conjurer, he offered him a shilling if he would
cast a figure, and let him know what was become of his master's armour.

Ferret, in hope of producing more mischief, informed him without
hesitation, that one of the company had conveyed it into the chancel of
the church, where he would now find it deposited; at the same time
presenting him with the key, which Mr. Fillet had left in his custody.

The squire, who was none of those who set hobgoblins at defiance, being
afraid to enter the church alone at these hours, bargained with the
ostler to accompany and light him with a lantern. Thus attended, he
advanced to the place where the armour lay in a heap, and loaded it upon
the back of his attendant without molestation, the lance being shouldered
over the whole. In this equipage they were just going to retire, when
the ostler, hearing a noise at some distance, wheeled about with such
velocity, that one end of the spear saluting Crabshaw's pate, the poor
squire measured his length on the ground; and, crushing the lantern in
his fall, the light was extinguished. The other, terrified at these
effects of his own sudden motion, threw down his burden, and would have
betaken himself to flight, had not Crabshaw laid fast hold on his leg,
that he himself might not be deserted. The sound of the pieces
clattering on the pavement roused Captain Crowe from a trance or slumber,
in which he had lain since the apparition vanished; and he hallooed, or
rather bellowed, with vast vociferation. Timothy and his friend were so
intimidated by this terrific strain, that