victed, punished by a severe fine and standing in the pillory. A
judicial writ ad inquirendum being executed, the prisons of his
inquisition were laid open, and several innocent captives enlarged.

In the course of Shackle's trial, it appeared that the knight's
confinement was a scheme executed by his rival Mr. Sycamore, according to
the device of his counsellor, Dawdle, who, by this contrivance, had
reconciled himself to his patron, after having deserted him in the day of
battle. Our hero was so incensed at this discovery of Sycamore's
treachery and ingratitude, that he went in quest of him immediately, to
take vengeance on his person, accompanied by Captain Crowe, who wanted to
balance accounts with Mr. Dawdle. But those gentlemen had wisely avoided
the impending storm, by retiring to the continent, on pretence of
travelling for improvement.

Sir Launcelot was not now so much of a knight-errant as to leave Aurelia
to the care of Providence, and pursue the traitors to the farthest
extremities of the earth. He practised a much more easy, certain, and
effectual method of revenge, by instituting a process against them,
which, after writs of capias, alias et pluries, had been repeated,
subjected them both to outlawry. Mr. Sycamore, and his friend, being
thus deprived of the benefit of the law by their own neglect, would
likewise have forfeited their goods and chattels to the King, had not
they made such submissions as appeased the wrath of Sir Launcelot and
Captain Crowe; then they ventured to return, and, by dint of interest,
obtained a reversal of the outlawry. But this grace they did not enjoy
till long after our adventurer was happily established in life.

While the knight waited impatiently for the expiration of Aurelia's
minority, and in the meantime consoled himself with the imperfect
happiness arising from her conversation, and those indulgences which the
most unblemished virtue could bestow, Captain Crowe projected another
plan of vengeance against the conjurer, whose lying oracles had cost him
such a world of vexation. The truth is, the captain began to be tired of
idleness, and undertook this adventure to keep his hand in use. He
imparted his design to Crabshaw, who had likewise suffered in spirit from
the predictions of the said offender, and was extremely well disposed to
assist in punishing the false prophet. He now took it for granted that
he should not be hanged for stealing a horse; and thought i