The Famous History of the Valiant London-Prentice.  
Printed for J. Back, at the Sign of the Black-Boy on London-Bridge. 1686.   

THE Famous History OF AURELIUS, The VALIANT London- PRENTICE SHOWING His Noble Exploits at home and abroad, his LOVE, and Great Success.  
Very Pleasant and Delightful.  
Written for Encouragement of Youth, By J. S.  
This may be Printed, R. P.  
Printed for I. Back, at the Sign of the Black Boy on London-Bridge.   

The History of the London-Prentice, etc.  

CHAP. I. An account of his Birth, Education, and early Valour, etc.  
IN times past, there was Born in the Famous County of Cheshire, a young Man of excellent beauty, promising very great things, even in his infancy; to promote which, his Parents being wealthy, spared not to Educate or bring him up in the best manner the Country would afford, nor did he, as he grew up, fail in any thing their expectation. In learning he was well seen, and in many other matters, but nothing so inflamed his mind as the desire of Exercising himself in ●eats of Arms, and was the more incited thereto by Reading the Famous adventures of Knights-Errant how successful they were in overcoming Giants and Monsters, and rescuing beauteous Ladies from death and misery; and as these heroic thoughts increased, so he found his strength abound, nature not sparing to give him manly limbs and an able body, so that in his Childish Encounters, those that far surpassed him in Years, were not able to resist his force, nor come near him in Wrestling, jumping, Running, casting the Bar, Stone or Dart; which made not his Parents but a little proud of such a blessing, whom they had named Aurelius, as one that promised great things.   

CHAP. II. An account of his first adventures and Erterprises, where he won the Virgin's hearts, etc.  
WHen Aurelius was at the age of fourteen, he went to a Wake or Mercy meeting to recreate himself with other Youths of the Country, where he so well behaved himself, that his courage, activity, strength and beauty, gained great applause, and took so mainly with the Virgins, that some of them began to fee a  in their minds, which Cupid who at such mercy meetings is seldom wanting in Promoting the Business of Love, failed not to increase, but he as yet not capable of feeling the flame of passion that way, regarded not their amorous glances, nor understood the silent Language of inflamed hearts, though it notwithstanding created him those Enemies that were causelessly jealous of him as a most dangerous Rival, and who gathered their reason for it from the many praises their Mistresses bestowed on him in his absence.   

CHAP. III. How the fair Lucinda fell in love with him, and how those she despised for his sake, conspired against him.  
Our Youth increasing his Strength and beauty with his years, and continuing as occasion offered to appear in public amongst those admiring Virgins that in a manner doted on him, and often wished to be Mistress of his affections: Lucinda the fair Daughter of a Wealthy Shepherd was the chief who sought by many ways to oblige him, and to let him understand her passion; but Modesty sealing her Lips, he did not, or would not Interpret her dumb signs, but kept on his Merriment, without any regard of her passion; which made her sigh and grow Melancholy, refusing to entertain the Address of those that adored her, and doted on her Beauties more than she did on those that adorned our Heroic Youth. This sudden alteration made them restless till they knew the cause of it which was not long  they did from her Virgin Companions to whom she had droped some words of her passion; as likewise by a Letter she had written in order to send to him by a trusty hand, but had accidentally droped it, in which were these words:  
Dear Aurelius,  
seeing you do not understand the Language of a Lovesick Virgin's Eyes, pardon my Boldness, if with Blushes I have taken the liberty to let you know Lucinda dotes on you, and begs you would requite her Love with Love, who for your sake, renounces the rest of Mankind: Then have Compassion or Lucinda must be miserable.  
Subscribed Lucinda.  
This giving the Amorists a full knowledge upon whose account they found such cold Entertainment from their beloved Mistress, whom every one of them feared to lose, they bent their study how to remove that Screen that stood between them and their much-desired happiness; some were of opinion that nothing but the death of Aurelius could effect it; but others of a milder disposition, declared, that it would not only be too much Cruelty, but bring their own lives in question; therefore considering womankind was generally more taken with the Beauty of the Body, than with that of the Soul, they thought it fit to Deform him with Poison, but where to get it they knew not, and so came to re●u●t, that disfigure his Face, etc. with Wounds might work the same effect, and put an end to the passion of their dear Lucinda, which they knew not any other ways to distinguish.   

CHAP. IU. How they attempted to destroy Aurelius, but were overcome and left naked in the Wood  
THe Plot thus laid against our valiant youth, many ways were sought for an opportunity to put it in practice, till at last they understand he was gone to pay a visit to an Aunt of his, who lived at a Village about two miles from his Father's house, and that he must return by a Wood: This Lucky opportunity, as they imagined it, made them all Leap for joy, there being four in number, they Armed them with mischievous Weapons, and in disguise, placed themselves in Ambush under a Thicket of Trees, in the way he must pass, each Swearing to the other to keep the thing secret, though they keep not their Oaths, as you will hear. Long they had not stayed, but as they wished, our Valiant Youth not dreaming of such Treachery, came on, but hearing the Bushes rusle, he made a halt to see what it meant, when out leapt the Lovers, and encompassing him, after they had uttered many big words, and reviled him at an unseemly rate, they made in to grapple with; who ignorant of their intent, and scorning to stoop to fear, took the two foremost in either hand, and by main force brought their heads together, that they rung like a Barber's Basin; so that stunded with the violent Knocks, after staggering some paces, down they fell; and having by this time wrested a Weapon from one of them, he set upon the other two with such fury, that giving them several Wounds, they, when they found the blood run about their ears, fell on their knees, and cried for mercy, as did the other, who by this time were recovered from their Trance; yet could not they obtain their wish till he had Thrashed them into a Confession of the whole matter, and thereby became sensible of the Love Lucinda bore him; and that she might come to the knowledge of what had happened on this occasion, and that their Treachery might be rewarded with disgrace, he caused them to unstrip, and with such Tackling as their Garments afforded, he bond them to four several Trees starknaked, where these hot-brained Lovers took a fit of Cooling till the morning, which discovering the whole Intrigue, their rash Valour became for some time aftter, the Mirth of the Country; but most of all it pleased the fair Lucinda, whose favour they lost thereby.   

CHAP. V How his Father put him Apprentice to a Merchant, and the leave he took of Lucinda.  
THe Father of young Aurelius having received an exact account of all that had happened, and fearing these Lovers might study a further Revenge to repair their Disgrace, as also to prevent any Amours that might happen between him and Lucinda, to whom he was not willing he should be Married; he took an opportunity to discourse him about putting himself in a way that might render him capable of living in Credit in the World: when finding him pliable and ready to submit to what he should propose, he told him it was his pleasure he should go to London, and there be put an Apprentice to some Honourable Calling, that he might be a comfort to him in his Old days; and that it should be in his power to choose him a Master of any Profession. Upon this he had not long considered,  he rep●y'd, That seeing it was his pleasure, he was contented; and for the desire he had to Travel and see strange Countries, he could fancy none better than a Merchant. To this the Old Man agrees, and shortly after he was sent up to London, and placed to a Turkey Merchant upon London-Bridge, and upon his departure directed these Lines to Lucinda.  
Pardon me Beauteous Maid, if Love as yet  
No power a Conquest o'er me has to get;  
That you deserve what e'er Love can bestow  
I must confess, but I, alas! must go  
And wander o'er the World  I can Love  
Then be contented, and for me ne'er grieve.  
Subscribed Aurelius.  
This flat denial made the fair Lucinda shed many tears, and bewail her hard fortune, in loving where she was not repaid with an equal passion; but soon after a Rich Farmer's Son offering service to her, she having with much struggling over come her former affection, she changed her passion, and Sacrificed her Virginity to the pleasure of this new-come Lover, where Revelling in excess of joy, we will leave them, and follow Aurelius to his new preferment.   

CHAP. VI How he gained the love of his Master, and became Enamoured of Dorinda his fair Daughter.  
Our Youth upon his Trial proved so diligent and respectful, that it was not long  he was Bound, according to the Custom of the City; and then doubling his diligence, he won the love of the whole Family, not omitting any thing that might please or be for his Master's Interest; and what time he had to spare, he employed in Manly Exercise, of recreating himself in the Fencing-School, and in Martial Exploits, gaining every where the name of a bold and hardy Youth, and one that promised great things. In this happy state he lived near three years, when Fortune who is as unconstant as the Wind, conspired to give him some disturbance, for Dorinda his Master's Daughter, a beautiful Virgin of about 14 Years of Age, returning from the School where she had been brought up at Board, her Modesty, winning behaviour, and Charming Graces, by his often gazing on her, prompted him to admire her, and by degrees, to conceive such a passion for that excellent Creature, that he was no longer master of his heart, which his eyes had given away: A while he smothered the flame, but in the end it broke out the fiercer, and then he knew experimentally what Dorinda had suffered often, he attempted to discover his passion, and as often fear to offend, stayed the words at his Tongues-end, and all he could do, was to sigh and stand confounded in her presence; whilst the innocent Lady would frequently ask the reason, but had no answer, but what his eyes delivered in burning Glances. Thus he continued for a month or more, at the end of which, he resolved one way or other to make his passion known, and soon found an opportunity to drop a Letter in the way of the lovely Dorinda, containing these words:  
Beauteous Dorinda,  
after many sighs and eager looks, I have presumed to let you know, if this come to your fair hand, that I love you dearer than my own life, and to be requited with your Love, there is not any thing so hazardus that I would not undertake for your sake; the inequality I must confess, is great, yet Love is a power obedient to no Law but his own: pity me then as a Lover, that love you above all Earthly things, and look not on me as your Father's Servant, but your devoted Slave, by whose Smiles I live, and without which, my Life must need; be miserable.  
Subscribed Aurelius.  
This did not a little surprise the beauteous Maid, who considered, that although she might have cause to love him, yet he being as then a Servant, it would be highly displeasing to her Parents, if she should countenance his affections; wherefore preferring her duty and obedience before her fancy or the passion of Aurelius, the next time she met him her words were, That she could not but wonder, he should presume to make Love to her who was his Master's daughter, e'er half his time was expired, & wished him not to make mention of it any more by Letter or Word, lest her Father were made acquainted with it, to his prejudice; and so with a kind of a scornful frown, left him as one in a Maze of Grief.   

CHAP. VII. How he got leave to go for Turkey, and what ensued.  
Aurelius' being thus repulsed in his first Love, found himself altogether restless, and that as often as he beheld his beautiful Mistress, his flame increased, and his torture was more and more augmented; and though he tried many ways to give way to his labouring mind, he found them in vain, and therefore concluded, unless he was removed from the lovely Object, he must be always miserable; and perceiving her looks and carriage every day more scornful towards him, he resolved to request his Master that he might go for Turkey as his Factor, in the next Fleet: Which Request of his was granted without much difficulty, and in a gallant Equipage took leave, though not without some tears of his scornful Mistress, who by this time, began somewhat to relent that she had so unkindly repulsed his Address; but being young and beautiful, and considering that those advantages, her Indulgent Father would add a large Portion, her thoughts of a higher advancement, hushed that care, and so they parted, the valiant Aurelius to the Ship, and the Lady to her Chamber, where we must leave her, who shortly after Married a Rich Merchant, and followed him into Turkey.   

CHAP. VIII. How he arrived in Turkey, and of his Reception: How he overthrew the Turks, and killed a Turkish Prince.  
THe gallant Aurelius having passed the danger of the Seas, and a while contended with the Storms of Winds and Love, Landed at Constantinople, where he was received with much respect by the English Merchants and Factors residing there, and behaved himself so well in the Management of his Affairs, that he gained a general Esteem; and in all this, he forgot not to exercise his Valour as occasion required; and being by this time grown to his full strength, he found none able to Encounter him, though he was too Modest to boast of his own Abilities: Now it so fell out, that upon the Marriage of one of the Turks Daughters, great Sports and Shows were prepared, and all the Valiant Knights summoned to Exercise at Tilt and Tournament, in Honour of the Ladies, and of their Countries. This News pleased Aurelius so well, that he resolved to make one amongst them, and show his Prowels for the honour of the English Nation, against the proud Infidels, and thereupon provided Armour, a Horse, Sword, and Lance, bearing in his Shield a Golden Phoenix, to signify he was a Subject to a Virgin Queen, and under it Neptune Bridling the Ocean, showing that the Seas Sovereignty depended on her Will; as for his Armour, it was White, signifying Innocence.  
Thus bravely Accoutred, he hasted to the List to await the Trumpets sound, where all the Nobles and Ladies were Seated in their Degrees, clad in Gold and Gems, when on a sudden, three Turks well Mounted and Richly Armed, Advanced with their Mooned Shields, and with a loud voice, did Defiance, as the Bridegroom's Champions, to all the Knights of Christendom; which made Aurelius mad to let them know what English Valour was; but perceiving the Champions of other Nations preparing for the Encounter, he forbore till he might by a witness of their Fortune, and that his Honour might be the greater, in overcoming their overcomers, nor did amiss, for the Turks being of a Monstrous size, and w●ll Managed to such Feats of Arms, at the first Encounter cast them from their Saddles, and so passed on, and did the like to three others, which made the bold Aurelius believe it was time for him to Advance, and thereupon se●●ing Spurs to his Horse, he met the foremost with a full stroke on his Breast, that it tumbled him with his heels upward, quite over the Crup, and passing on, struck the second on the Crest with such force that he broke it, and the Lance entering his Brain, he fell breathless to the ground, which the third perceiving, who was of a Giantlike Stature, came upon him with his Sword, and with a full blow, cut through his Shield, and much bruised him, but he Charging furiously upon the Infidel, soon made him give ground, and after divers Wounds, obliged him to kiss the Earth, and beg quarter for his Life.  
To revenge this disgrace of his Champions, the Turkish Prince, with the leave of his Father-in Law, entered the List in great rage, and defied the bold Aurelius, Swearing by Mahomet, he would Chastise the great Affront, and with many reproachful woods, bid him come on, upon which they set Spurs to their Horses, and met with such fury, that their Lances burst, and shivered in the Air, when the Turkish Prince drew his Sword, but Aurelius neglecting to do the like made at him with the Truncheon of his Spear, with which he gave him such a weighty blow on the top of his Helmet, that broke his Neck 〈◊〉 sunder, and down he fell in a Morca● trance; after which, the Turks strained Compliment, and none durst undertake the Valiant English Champion.   

CHAP. IX. How he destroyed two Lions prepared to Devour him, and had the King's Daughter in Marriage.  
THe Great Turk upon notice that Prince Grodmon his Son-in-Law, whom he thought had only been stunned, was dead, vowed that Aurelius, whom he called English Boy, should die the cruelest death that ever man died, and thereupon sent a strong Guard to seize him and convey him to Prison, till he consulted what manner of death to put him to to, which in the end was concluded, that he should be cast alive to two Lions, who to be the greedier in devouring, were kept fasting many days.  
The day of his death, as by appointment being come, and the King, his Nobles, and all his Ladies seated to behold the Execution, the brave Aurelius was brought forth in a Shirt of Cambric, and Drawers of white Satin, Ambroidered with Gold, and a Crimson Cap on his head, but had scarce time to bow respectfully to the Ladies, who greatly praised his Manly Beauty, and began highly to pity his misfortune,  the Lions were let lose, who at the sight of their prey, easting their eyes upon him, began to Roar horribly, insomuch that the Spectators trembled; but behold Aurelius, whom Death could not daunt, laying aside all fear, as they came fiercely at him with open mouth, charged his Hands into their Throats, and e'er they had power to get from his strong Arms, forced out their Hearts, and laid them dead at his feet, demanding of the King what other dangerous Erterprises they had to put on, and he would gladly do it for the Honour of his Queen and Country's sake; when immediately the Turk descending from his Throne, tenderly Embracing him, Swearing he was some Angel, withal, Pardoned him, and gave Beauteous Theraza his Daughter in Marriage, with great Riches, who for his sake became a Christian; and after spending some time in that place, they both returned to England with great joy, where they lived many years very Loving and Happy.   
FINIS.   


I B   
John Back, at the Black-Boy, on London Bridge, Furnisheth any Gentlemen or Chap Men with all sorts of BOOKS, BALLAD and all other Stationary-Wares, at Reasonable Rates.