Mean while, the Squire was on his way
The Knight’s late orders to obey; 100
Who sent him for a strong detachment
Of beadles, constables, and watchmen,
T’ attack the cunning-man fur plunder,
Committed falsely on his lumber;
When he, who had so lately sack’d 105
The enemy, had done the fact;
Had rifled all his pokes and fobs
Of gimcracks, whims, and jiggumbobs,
When he, by hook or crook, had gather’d,
And for his own inventions father’d 110
And when they should, at gaol delivery,
Unriddle one another’s thievery,
Both might have evidence enough,
To render neither halter proof. 
He thought it desperate to tarry, 115
And venture to be accessary
But rather wisely slip his fetters,
And leave them for the Knight, his betters. 
He call’d to mind th’ unjust, foul play
He wou’d have offer’d him that day, 120
To make him curry his own hide,
Which no beast ever did beside,
Without all possible evasion,
But of the riding dispensation;
And therefore much about the hour 125
The Knight (for reasons told before)
Resolv’d to leave them to the fury
Of Justice, and an unpack’d Jury,
The Squire concurr’d t’ abandon him,
And serve him in the self-same trim; 130
T’ acquaint the Lady what h’ had done,
And what he meant to carry on;
What project ’twas he went about,
When Sidrophel and he fell out;
His firm and stedfast Resolution, 135
To swear her to an execution;
To pawn his inward ears to marry her,
And bribe the Devil himself to carry her;
In which both dealt, as if they meant
Their Party-Saints to represent, 140
Who never fail’d upon their sharing
In any prosperous arms-bearing
To lay themselves out to supplant
Each other Cousin-German Saint. 
But, ere the Knight could do his part, 145
The Squire had got so much the start,
H’ had to the Lady done his errand,
And told her all his tricks afore-hand. 
Just as he finish’d his report,
The Knight alighted in the court; 150
And having ty’d his beast t’ a pale,
And taking time for both to stale,
He put his band and beard in order,
The sprucer to accost and board her;
And now began t’ approach the door, 155
When she, wh’ had spy’d him out before
Convey’d th’ informer out of sight,
And went to entertain the Knight
With whom encount’ring, after longees
Of humble and submissive congees, 160
And all due ceremonies paid,
He strok’d his beard, and thus he said: