Chain unto the Stake then placed they round about her tender body both Pitch Turpentine and Gunpowder with other merciless things thereby to make her death the more easie and her pain the shorter which being done the King caused the Herauld to summon in the Challenger who at the sound of the Trumpet came tracing in upon a Roan coloured Steed without any kind of mark and Trapped with Rich Trappings of Gold and precious stones of great price there came out at the Horse's mouth two Tusks like unto an Elephants his Nostrils were very large and big his head little his breast somewhat broad well pitcht and so hard that no Sword were it never so sharp was able to enter in thereat The Champion was called the Baron of Chester a bolder and hardier Knight they thought lived not then upon the face of the whole Earth he so advanced himself up and down as though he had béen able to encounter with an hundred Knights Then the King caused the Herauld to summon in the Defendant if there were any to defend her Cause both Drums and Trumpets sounded three several times up and down the Fields betwixt every rest was a full quarter of an hour but yet no Defendant did appear therefore the King commanded the Executioner to set the Stake on fire At which words Sabra began to grow pale as Ashes and her Ioynts to tremble like to Aspen Leaves her Tongue that before continued silent began to record a Swan-like dying Tale and in this manner uttered the passion of her heart Be witness Heaven and all your bright Coelestial Angels be witness Sun and Moon all true beholders of my Fact be witness thou clear Firmament and all the World be witness of my Innocency the blood Iâ—shed was for the safeguard of my Honour and unspotted Chastity great God of Heaven if the Prayers of my unstained heart may move thy mighty Majesty or my true Innocency prevail with thy immortal Power command that either my Lord may come to be my Champion or sad beholder of my Death But if my hands were stained with the blood about some wicked Enterprize then Heaven shew present Vengeance upon me else by some Noble Champion save my body alive At which instant she heard the sound of a shrill Trumpet the which S. George caused to be winded for as then he was near which caused the Execution a while to be deferred At last they beheld afar off a stately Banner waving in the Air the which a Squire carried before S. George then they espied near unto the Banner a most Ualiant Armed Knight mounted upon a coal-black Palfrey with a Warlike Launce standing in his Rest by which sudden approach they knew him to be the same Champion that would defend the distressed Lady's Life Then the King commanded the Drums and Trumpets to sound whereat the People gave a general shout and the poor Lady half dead with fear began to revive and her blushing Cheeks to be as Beautiful as red Roses dipt in Milk or as blood mingled with Snow But when St. George approached the sight of his constant Lady whom he found Chamed to a Sâ—ake incompassed with many Instruments of Death his heart so relented with Grief that he almost fell buside his Horse yet remembring wherefore he came he recalled his Courage and intended to try his Fortune in the Combate before he would discover himself unto his Lady And when the Trumpets sounded Death's Alarm the two Knights set Spurs to their Horses and made them run so fiercely that at the first encounter they shivered both their Launces to their hands then rushed they together so rigorously with their Bodies and Helmets that they fell down both to the Earth but St. George who was the more Lusty Knight nimbly leap'd upon his feet without any hurt but the Baron of Chester lay still with his head downward casting from his mouth abundance of blood for he was mightily bruised with the fall but when he revived from his Trance he took his Shield drawing out a mighty Faulchion and with wrathful countenance ran at St. George Now proud Knight quoth he I swear by all the Saints of Heaven to Revenge my Blood which thou hast shed and therewithal he struck so violently upon St. George's Shield that it cleaved quite asunder Then began he to wax angry and took his Sword in great wrath and gave the Baron of Chester such a stroke that he cut away Arm and Shoulder and all the flesh of his side to the bare Kibs and likewise cut his Leg almost quite in sunder in the thickest place of his Thigh and yet for all that the Sword entred half a foot into the earth then fell the Baron of Chester to the Ground and breathed forth this lamentable cry Now frown you fatal Stars eternally that did predominate at my Birth for he is Slain and Vanquished that never stoopt to any Knight before this day And thereupon the Blood stopped the passage of his Speech and his Soul went flying to Elysium whereat the whole Company admired and applauded Saint George for the most fortunate Knight in the World Then the King delivered Sabra with his own hands to St. George who most courteously received her and like a counteous Knight cast a Scarlet Mantle over her Body the which a Lady standing by bestowed upon him yet he minding nâ—â— to discover himself but set her upon his portly Steed that â—â—â—â—ently grew proud in carrying so rich a burden and with his own hands led him by the Bridle Reins So great was the Ioâ— throughout the City that the Bells rung without ceasing that whole day together the Citizens through every place St. George should pass did hang forth at their Windows and on their walls Cloath of Gold and Silk with Rich Carpets Cushion-coverings of green Uelvet lay abroad in every Window the Clergy in Copes of Gold and Silk met them with solemn Procession The Ladies and Beautiful Damsels strewed every street whereas he passed with Roses and most pleasant Flowers and Crowned him with a Wreath of green Gays in sign of his Triumphant Uictory and Conquest In this manner went he to the King's Palace not known by any what he should be but that he was a Knight of a strange Countrey Yet Sabra many times as they passed along desired to see his Face and know his Name for that he had adventured so far for her sake and that for her Delivery he had vanquished the bravest Knight in England Yet for all her perswasions he kept himself undiscovered till a Troop of Ladies in company of Sabra got him into a Chamber richly hung with Arras cloath and there unlaced his Bever whose Countenance when she beheld and saw that it was her Lord and Husband which had redeemed her from Death she sell into a dead swoon for very Ioy but St. George sprinkled a little cold water on her face and revived her presently After this he gave her many a kind
said she more sharp than the pricking Bryer with what inequality dost thou torment my wounded heart not linking my dear Lord in the like Affection of Mind O Venus if thou be imperious in thy Deity to whom both Gods and Men obey command my wandring Lord to return again or grant that my Soul may flie into the Clouds that by the Winds it may be blown into his sweet Bosom where now lives my bleeding heart But foolish Fondling that I am he hath rejected me and shuns my Company as the Syrens else had he not refused the Court of Egypt where he was Honoured as a King and wandred the the World to seek another Love No no it cannot be he bears no such unconstant mind and I greatly fear some Treachery hath bereaved me of his sight or else some stony Prison excludes my George from me If it be so sweet Morpheus thou God of Golden Dreams reveal to me my Love 's Abiding that in my sleep his shadow may appear and report the cause of his departure After this Passion breathed from the mansion of her Soul she committed her watchful eyes to the Government of sweet sleep which being no sooner closed but there appeared as she thought the shadow and very shape of her dearly beloved Lord St. George of England not as he was wont to be flourishing in his glittering Burgonet of Steel nor Mounted on a stately Iennet deckt with a crimson Plume of spangled Feathers but in over-worn and simple Attire with pale Looks and lean Body like to a Ghost risen from some hollow Grave breathing as it were these sad and woful Passions Sabra I am Betrayed for Love of thee And lodg'd in hollow Caves and dismal Night From whence I never more shall come to see Thy loving Countenance and Beauty bright Remain thou True and Constant for my sake That of thy Love they may no Conquest make Let Tyrants think if ever I obtain What e're is lost by Treason's cursed guile False Egypt's Scourge I surely will remain And turn to streaming blood Morocco's smile That damned Dog of Barbary shall rue The doleful Sâ—ratagems that will ensue The Persian Towers shall smoak with fire And lofty Babylon be tumbled down The Cross of Christendom shall then aspire To wear the proud Egyptian tripple Crown Ierusalem and Iudah shall behold The fall of Kings by Christian Champians bold Thou Maid of Egypt still continue chast A Tyger seeks thy Virgins Name to spill Whilst George of England is in Prison plac'd Thou shalt be forc'd to Wed against thy will But after this shall happen Mighty things For from thy Womb shall spring three Wondrous Kings This strange and woeful spéech was no sooner ended but she awaked from her Sleep and presently reached forth her white hands thinking to imbrace him but she catched nothing but brittle Air which caused her to renew her former Complaints Oh wherefore died I not in this my troublesome Dream said the sorrowful Lady that my Ghost might have haunted those inhumane Monsters which have thus falsly betrayed the bravest Champion under the Cope of Heaven for his sake will I exclaim against the ingratitude of Egypt and like Ravished Philomel fill every corner of the Land with Ecchoes of his wrong my Woes shall exceed the Sorrows of Dido Queen of Carthage mourning for Eneas With such like Passions wearied she the time away till twelve Months were fully finished At last her Father understanding what fervent Affection she bore to the English Champion began in this manner to relate Daughter said the Egyptian King I charge thee by the bond of Nature and the true obedience thou oughtest to bear my Age to banish and exclude all fond Affections from thy mind and not thus to settle thy Love upon a wandring Knight that is unconstant and without habitation thou seest he hath forsaken thee and returned into his own Country where he hath Wedded a Wife of that Land and Nation therefore I charge thee upon my Displeasure to Affect and Love the Black King of Morocco that rightfully hath deserved thee in Marriage which shall be shortly Honourably holden to the Honour of Egypt and so he departed without any Answer at all By which Sabra knew he would not be crost in his Will and Pleasure therefore she sighed out these lamentable words O unkind Father to cross the Affection of his Child and to force Love where no Liking is Yet shall my mind continue true unto my dear beloved Lord although my Body be forced against Nature to Obey and Almidor have the Honour of my Marriage-Bed English George shall enjoy my true Uirginity if ever he return again into Egypt and thereupon she pulled forth a chain of Gold and wrapped it seven times about her Ivory Neck This said she hath been seven days steept in Tygers Blood and seven nights in Dragons Milk whereby it hath obtained such excellent Uertue that so long as I wear it about my Neck no Man on Earth can enjoy my Uirginity though I be forced to the state of Marriage and lie seven years in Wedlocks Bed yet by the vertue of this Chain I shall continue a true Uirgin Which words were no sooner ended but Almidor entred her sorrowful Chamber and presented her with a Wedding Garment which was of the purest Median Silk imbossed with Pearl and rich refined Gold perfumed with sweet Syrian Powders it was of the colour of the Lilly when Flora hath bedecked the Fields in May with Natures Ornaments Glorious and Costly were her Uestures and so stately were the Nuptial Rites Solemnized that Egypt admired the bounty of her Wedding which for seven days was holden in the Court of Ptolomy and then moved to Tripoly the chief City in Barbary where Almidor's forced Bride was Crowned Queen of Morocco at which Coronation the Conduits ran with Greekish Wines and the Streets of Tripoly were beautified with Pageants and delightful shews The Court resounded such melodious Harmony as though Apollo with his Silver Harp had descended from the Heavens such Tilts and Tournaments were performed betwixt the Egyptian Knights and the Knights of Barbary that they exceeded the Nuptials of Hecuba the beauteous Queen of Troy which honourable proceedings we leave for this time to their own contentments some Masking some Dancing some Revelling some Tilting and some Banqueting Also leaving the Champion of England Saint George mourning in the Dungeon in Persia as you heard before and return to the other Six Champions of Christendom which departed from the Brazen Pillar every one his several way whose Knightly and Noble Adventures if the Muses grant me the Bounty of fair Castalian Springs I will most amply discover the Honour of all Christendom CHAP. IV. How Saint Denis the Champion of France lived Seven years in the shape of an Hart and how proud Eglantine the King's Daughter of Thessaly was transformed into a Mulberry-Tree and how they recovered their former shapes by means of Saint Denis 's Horse CAlling
now to mind the long and weary Travels of Saint Denis the Champion of France endured after his departure from the other Six Champions at the Brazen Pillar as you heard in the beginning of the former Chapter from which he wandred through many a Desolate Grove and Wilderness without any Adventure worthy the noting till he arrived upon the Borders of Thessaly being a Land as then inhabited only with Wild Beasts wherein he endured such a penury and scarcity of Uictuals that he was forced the space of seven years to feed upon the Herbs of the field and the Fruits of Trees till the hairs of his â—eâ—d were like Eagles Feathers and the Nails of his Fingers to Birds Claws his drink the dew of Heaven the which he licked from the Flowers of Meadows the Attire he cloathed his Body withal Bay-leaves and broad Docks that grew in the Wood his Shoes the barks of Trees whereon he Travelled through many a Thorny Brake but at last as it was his Fortune or cruel Destiny being over-prest with the extremity of hunger to taste and feed upon the Berries of an inchanted Mulberry Tree whereby he lost the lively Form and Image of his Humane substance and was Transformed into the shape and likeness of a Wild Hart which strange and sudden transformation this Noble Champion little mistrusted till he espied his mishapen form in a clear Fountain which Nature had erected in a cool and shady Ualley but when he beheld the shadow of his deformed substance and how his Head late honoured with a Burgonet of Stéel now dishonoured with a pair of Silvan Horns his face whereon the countenance of true Nobility was lately charactered now covered with a Beast-like similitude and his Body late the true Image of Magnanimity now over-spread with a hairy hide in colour like to the follow Fields which strange alteration not a little perplexed the mind of Saint Denis that it caused him with all speed having the natural reason of a Man still remaining to â—epair back to the Mulberry tree again supposing the Berries he had eaten to be the cause of his Transformation under which Tree the distressed Knight laid his deformed Limbs upon the bare ground and thus wofully began to complain What Magick Charms said he or other bewitching Spells remain within this cursed Tree whose wicked Fruit hath confounded my future Fortunes and converted me to a miserable estate O thou Coelestial Director of the World and all you pitiful Powers of Heaven look down with a kind Countenance upon my hapless Transformation and bend your browsto hear my woful Lamentation I was of late a Man but now a horned Beast I was a Soldier and my Countrey 's Champion but now a loathsome Creature and a prey for Dogs my glistering Armour is exchanged into a Hide of Hair and my brave Array more baser than the low Earth henceforth instead of Princely Palaces these shady Woods must serve to shrowd me in wherein my Bed of Down must be a heap of Sun-burn'd Moss my sweet recording Musick the blustering Winds that with Tempestuous Gusts do make the Wilderness to tremble the Company I daily keep must be the Silvan Satyrs Driades and Airy Nymphs which never appear to worldly eyes but in twilights or at the prime of the Moon the Stars that beautifie the Crystal Veil of Heaven shall henceforth serve as Torches to light me to my woful Bed the scowling Clouds shall be my Canopy my Clock to count how Time runs stealing on the sound of hissing Snakes or else the croaking of Toads Thus described he his own Misery till the watry Tears of Calamity gushed out in such abundance from the Conduits of his Eyes and his scorching Sighs so violently forced from his bleeding Breast that they seemed as it were to constrain the untamed Bears and merciless Tygers to relent his moan and like harmless Lambs sit bleating in the Woods to hear his woful exclamations Long and many days continued this Champion of France in the shape of an Hart in more distressed misery than the unfortunate English Champion in Persia not knowing how to recover his former likeness and humane substance So upon a time as he lamented the loss of Nature's Ornaments under the branches of that Enchanted Mulberry-Tree which was the cause of his Transformation he heard a grievous and terrible groan which he supposed to be the induction of some admirable Accident that would ensue so taking Truce for a time with sorrows he heard a hollow voice breath from the Trunk of that Mulberry-Trée these words following The Voice in the Mulberry-Tree Cease now to Lament thou Famous man of France With gentle Ears come listen to my moan In former Times it was my fatal Chance To be the proudest Maid that e'er was known By Birth I was the Daughter of a King Though now a breathless Tree and sensless Thing My Pride was such that Heaven confounded me A Goddess in my own conceit I was What Nature lent too base I thought to be But deem'd my self all earthly things to pass And therefore Nectar and Ambrosia sweet The Food of Heaven for me I countedmeet My Pride contemned still the Bread of Wheat But purer food I daily sought tofind Refined Gold was boiled in my Meat Such self-conceit my Fancies fond did blind For which the Gods above transformed me From humane substance to this senseless Tree Seven years in shape of Hart thou must remain And then the purest Rose by Heaven's Decree Shall bring thee to thy former Shape again And end at last thy wofull misery When this is done be sure you cut in twain This fatal Tree wherein I do remain After the Uoice had breathed these speeches from the Mulberry Tree he stood so much amazed at the strangeness of the words that for a time his sorrows bereaved him of his speech and his long appointed Punishment constrained his thoughts to lose their natural understanding But yet at last recovering his Senses though not his humane likeness he bitterly complained of his hard Misfortunes O unhappy Creature said the woful Champion more miserable than Progne in her Transformation and more distressed than Acteon was whose perfect Picture I am made His misery continued but a short time for his own Dogs the same day tore him in a thousand pieces and buried his transformed Carcass in their hungry Bowels mine is appointed by the Angry Destinies till seven times the Summers Sun hath yearly replenished his radiant Brightness and seven times the Winters Rain hath washed me with the Showers of Heaven Such were the Complaints of the Transformed Knight of France sometimes remembring his former Fortunes how he had spent his days in the honour of his Country sometimes thinking upon the place of his Nativity Renowned France the Nurse and Mother of his Life sometimes treading with his foot as for hands he had none in sandy ground the print of the words the which the Mulberry-Tree had repeated and many times
Powder and that St. George might at pleasure discern the Noble and Magnanimous Champion of Wales who as then rode upon a milk-white Hobby in Silver Armour guarded with a Train of Knights in purple Uestures but he greeted St. David with kind Courtesies and accompanied him to the English Tent. which they had erected close by the Port-side where for that night these two Champions remained spending the time with unspeakable pleasure And so upon the next day after St. David departed to his own Tent which he had caused to be pitched a quarter of a League from the Englsh Army The next that arrived on the fruitful Banks of Portugal was St. Patrick the Noble Champion of Ireland with an Army likewise of Fifty thousand attired after a strange and wonderful manner Their Furnitures were of the skins of Wild-beasts but yet more unpierceable than the strongest Armour of Proof They bore in their hands mighty Darts tipp'd at the end with pricking Steel which the Couragious and Ualiant Irish Soldiers by the agility of their Arms could throw a full flight shot and with forcible strength would strike three or four Inches into an Oak and with such a certain aim they would not miss the breadth of a Foot These adventurous and hardy Soldiers no sooner arrived on the Shore but the English Musqueteers gave them a Princely Entertainment and presently conducted the noble-minded Champion St. Patrick to the English Tent where the three Champions of England Wales and Ireland passed away the time with exceeding great Royalty laying down Plots how to pitch their Camps to the most disadvantage of the misbelieving Enemy and setting perfect directions which way they were best to March and such like Devices for their own safeties and the benefit of Christendom The next that Landed on the Banks of Portugal was St. Andrew the worthy Champion of Scotland with threescore thousand of well-approved Soldiers His Horse-men the old adventurous Gallowaâ—s clad in quilted Iackâ—ts with 〈◊〉 of the Turkish fashion thick and short â—earing upon their Beâ—â—ers the Arms of Scotland which was a corner Cross supported by a 〈◊〉 Uirgin His Pikemen the sâ—iff and hardy Men o◠〈◊〉 which conâ—â—nually lye upon freezing Mountains the Iâ—â— Roâ—k and the Snowy Uallys his shot the light-â—ooted 〈◊〉 that if occasion be can climb the highest Hill and for nimbleness in running over-go the swift-sooted Stag. These bold adventurous Scottish Men in all forwardness deserved as much Honour at the Engâ—iâ—â— Champion's hands as any other Nations before therefore he commanded his shot on their first entry on Land to give them a Noble Entertainment which they performed most Royally and also conducted St. Andrew to the English Tent where after he had given S. George the Courtesie of his Countrey departed to his Tent which was distant from the English Tent a Mile The next that arrived was St Anthony the Champion of Italy with a Band of Fourscore thousand brave Italian Souldiers mounted on warlike Coursers every Horsman attended on by a naked Negro bearing in his hand a Streamer of watchet Silk with the Arms of Italy thereon set in Gold every Footman furnished with approved Furniture in as stately a manner as the English-men who at their Landing received as Royal an Entertainment as the other Nations and likewise St. Anthony was as highly Honoured by the English Champion as any of the other Christian Knights The next that arrived was S. Denis the Uictorious Champion of France with a Band of Fourscore thousand After him Marched Dukes of twelve several Dukedoms then under the Government of the French King every one at his own proper Cost and Charges maintained two thousand Soldiers in these Christian Wars their Entertainments were as Glorious as the rest The last of the Christian Champions that arrived upon the fruitful Banks of Portugal was the Magnanimous Knight St. James of Spain with a Band likewise of Fourscore thousand with him he brought from the Spanish Mines ten Tun of Refined Gold only to maintain Soldiers in the Defence of Christendom who no sooner Landed with his Troops but the Six Champions gave him the honourable welcome of a Soldier and ordained a solemn Banquet for the general Armies whose number justly surmounted Five hundred thousand which Legious they enjoyned into one Camp-Royal and after placed their Wings and Squadrons Battel-wise chiefly by the direction of St. George being then chief General by the consent of the Christian Kings who after he had over-viewed the Christian Armies his Countenance seemed to prognosticate a Crowned Uictory and to foretell a fatal Overthrow to the misbelieving Potentates Therefore to encourage his Princely Followers to persevere in their wonted willingness pronounced this Princely Oration You Men of Europe said he and my Countrey-men whose Conquering Fortunes never yet have feared the Enemies of Christ you see we have forsook our Native Lands and committed our Destinies to the Queen of Chance not to fight in any unjust Quarrel but in the true Cause of Israel's Anointed not against Nature to climb to the Heavens as Nimroâ— and the Giants proffered in former time but to prevent the Invasion of Christendom the Ruine of Europe and the intended overthrow of all Christian Provinces the Bloody-minded Infidels have Mustered up Legions in numbers like blades of Grass that grow upon the flourishing Downs of Italy or the Stars of Heaven in the coldest Winters night protesting to fill our Countries with Seas of Blood to scatter our streets with mangled Limbs and convert our Glorious Cities into Flames of quenchless Fire Therefore dear Country-men live not to see our Christian Uirgins spoiled by Lustfull Rape nor dragged along our Streets like guiltless Lambs to a bloody Slaughter nor to see our harmless Baâ—es with bruised brains dashed against hard Flinty stones nor to see our unlusty Age whose hair resembles silver Mines lye bleeding on the Marble Pavements but like true Christian Soldiers fight in the Quarrel of your Countries What though the Pagans be in number ten to one yet Heaven I know will fight for Christendom and cast them down before our faces like drops of April showers Be not dismayed to see them in ordered Ranks nor fear not when as you behold the streamers hovering in the waving wind when as their steeled Pikes like to a Thorny Forrest will overspread whole Countreys Thousands of them I know will have no heart to fight but flie with cowardly fear like Flocks of Shéep before the greedy Wolf I am the Leader of your noble Minds that never sought in vain nor ever entred Battel but returned with Conquest Then every one with me build upon this Princely Resolution For Christendom we Fight For Christendom we Live and Dâ—e This Soldierlike Oration was no sooner finished but the whole Army with a general voice cried to Arms to Arms with Uictorious George of England Which Noble Resolution of the Soldiers so reioyced the English Champion and likewise encouraged the other Christian Knights
they came to the Orchard Gate which they presently burst open wherein no sooner entring but they found their Murdered Master lying by a Bed of Uiolets covered with Moss likewise searching to find out the Murderer at last they espied Sabra in her bare Petticoat her hands and face besprinkled with blood and her Countenance as pale as ashes by which â—ighs 〈◊〉 suspected her to be the bloody bereaver of their Lord and Master's Life therefore because she descended from a Noble Lineage they brought her the same night before the King which did then keep his Court in the City of Coventry who immediately upon the confession of the Murder gave this severe judgment against her First to be conveyed to Prison there to remain for the term of twelve months and at the end thereof to be burned like a most wicked Offender Yet because she was the Daughter to a King and a Loyal Lady to so Noble a Knight His Majesty in Mercy granted her this favour that if she could get any Knight at Arms before the time were expired that would be her Champion and by Combat redeem her from the Fire she should live otherwise if her Champion were Uanquished then to Suffer the former Punishment Thus have you heard the discourse of all things which happened till my departure from England where I left her in Prison and since that time five Months are fully expired therefore most Renowned Champion as you love the Life of your Lady and with her Delivery make no tarriance but with all speed post into England for I greatly fear before you arrive on the blessed Shore the time will be finished and Sabra suffer death for want of a Champion to defend her Cause This doleful discourse drove St. George with the other Knights and Champions to such an extasie of mind that every one departed to their Lodging Chambers with dumb signs of Sorrow being not able to speak one word where for that night they lamâ—â—ted the mishap of so vertuous a Lady The Egyptian King her Father he abandoned the sight of all companies and repaired to the top of a high Tower built of Marble Stone wherein he barred himself so fast with Iron Bolts that none could come within the hearing of his Lamentation then raged he up and down like frantick Oâ—dipus tearing his eyes from their Natural Cells accusing Heaven of injustice condemning the Earth of iniquity and accursing Man for such an execrable Crime one while wishing that his Daughter's Birth-day had been her Burial-day another while that some unlucky Planet would descend the Firmament and fall upon his miserable head Being in this extream Passion he never hoped to see his Daughter's Countenance again and so about midnight being a time when desperate Men practise their own Destruction he cast himself headlong from the top of the Tower and broke his Neck and all besprinkled the â—linty Pavements with his Blood and Brains No sooner was the night vanished and bright Phoebus entered the Zodiack of Heaven but his bruised body liveless and sensless was found by his Servants lying in the Palace-yard all beaten in pieces against the ground The woful News of this self-willed Murder they told to certain Egyptian Knights who took his scattered Limbs and carried them to St. George's Chamber whom they found arming himself for his departure towards England but at this woful spectacle he took a second conceited grief in such extream manner that it had almost cost him his Life but that the Egyptian Knights gave him many comfortable speeches and by the consent of many Dukes Earls Lords and Barons with many other of the late King's Privy-Council they Eleâ—ted him the true succeeding King of Egypt by the Marriage of Ptolomy's Daughter which Royal proffer St. George refused not but took upon him the Regiment of the whole Countrey so that for a short time his Iourney towards England was stayed and upon the third day following his Coronation was appointed which they solemnly performed to the high honour of all the Christian Champions for the Egyptian Peers caused St. George to be Apparelled in Royal Uestures like a King he had on a Suit of flaming Green like an Emerald and a Mantle of Scarlet very richly Furâ—'d and wrought curiously with Gold then the other six Champions led him up to the King's Throne and set him in a Chair of Ebony which had pummels of Silver which stood upon an Alabaster Elephant then came three of the greatest Lords in Egypt and set a Crown of Gold upon his Head then followed the Knights with a Scepter and a naked Sword to signifie that he was chief Governor of the Realm and Lord of all that appertained to the Crown of Egypt This being performed in most sumptuous and stately manner the Trumpets with other Instruments began to sound whereat the general Company with joyful Uoices cryed altogether Long live St. George true Champion for England and King of Egypt Then was he conducted to the Royal Palace where for ten days he remained among his Lords and Knights spending the time in great joy and pleasure the which being finished his Lady's distress constrained him to a sudden departure therefore he left the Guiding of his Land to twelve Egyptian Lords binding them all by Oath to deliver it at his return likewise charging them to interr the Body of Ptolomy in a sumptuous Tomb be fitting the Body of so Royal a Potentate Also appointed the six Champions to raise their Tents and muster up anew their Soldiers and with all speed march into Persia and there by dint of Bloody War Revenge his former Injuries upon the accursed Souldan This Charge being given the next morning by break of day he buckled on his Armour mounted on his swift-footed Steed and bad his Friends in Aegypt for a season adieu and so in company of the Knight that brought him that unlucky News he took his Iourney with all speed toward England in which Travel we will leave him for a time Also passing over the speedy provision made by the Christian Champions in Egypt for the Invasion of Persia and return to sorrowful Sabra being in Prison awaiting each Minute to receive the final stroke of impartial Death for now had the rowling Planets brought their years Iourney to an end yet Sabra had no Intelligence of any Champion that would defend her Cause therefore she prepared her delicate Body to receive her latest breath of Life The time being come she was brought to the place of Execution whither she went as willingly and with as much joy as ever she went before time unto her Marriage she had made humble submission to the World and unfeignedly committed her Soul to God She being at the Stake where the King was present with many thousands as well of woful Personages as of common People to behold this woful Tragedy the Deaths-man stripping off her Garment which was of black Sarsenet and in her Snow-white Smock bound her with an Iron
sumptuous Habiliments his Lady lying in her Child-bed as glorious as if she had been the greatest Empress in the World and thrée Princely Boys swéetly sleeping in their several Cradles at whose first fight his heart was so Ravished with joy that for a time it with-held the passage of his Tongue but at last when he found the Silver Tablets lying under the Pillows and read the happy Fortunes of his Children he ran unto his Lady embracing her lovingly and kindly demanded the true discourse of this Accident and by whose means the Bower was beautified so gorgeously and the propounder of his Childrens Prophesie who with a countenance blushing like purple morning replied in this manner My most dear and well beloved Lord the pains I have endured to make you the happy Father of three lovely Boys hath not been more painful than the stroke of Death but yet my Delivery more joyful than the pleasures of this World the Winds carried my groans to every corner of this Wilderness whereby both Trees and Herbs assisted my complaints Beasts Birds and feathered Fowls with every seâ—sless thing that Nature framed on this Earth seem'd to pity my moans but in the midst of my Torments when my Soul was ready to forsake this worldly habitation there appeared to me a Queen Crowned with a Golden Diadem in State and Gesture like Imperious Iuno and in Beauty to Divine Diana her Garments for Bravery seemed to stain the Rain-Bow in her brightest hue and for diversity of Colours to surpass the Flowers of the Field on her attended many beautiful Nymphs some clad in Garments in colour of the Crystal Ocean some in Attire as gallant as the pleasant Rose and some more glorious than the Azured Firmaments her Wisdom might compare with Apollo's her Judgment with Pallas and her skill with Lucina's for no sooner entred she my presence but my Travels ceased and my Womb delivered up my grievous Burden my Babes being brought to light by the virtue of her skill she prepared these rich and sumpthou Cradles the which were brought invisibly to my Cabine likewise these Mantles and this Imbroidered Coverlet she frankly bestowed upon me and so immediately vanished away At which words St. George gave her so many kind imbraces and kissed her so lovingly as though it had been the first day of their Nuptials At last her hunger increased and her desire thirsted so much after food that except she received some comfortable sustenance her life were in danger This extream desire of Sabra caused St. George to buckle on his Armour and to unsheath his trusty sword ready to goar the Intrails of some Deer who swore by the honour of true Knighthood never to rest in peace till he had purchased her hearts content My Love said he I will adventure for thy sake more dangers then Iason did for Medea 's Love I will search the thickest Groves and chase the nimble Doe to Death the flying Fowl I 'll follow up and down from Tree to Tree till over-wearied they do fall down and die for love of thee and these my tender Babes whom I esteem more dear than the Conquest of rich Babylon I will adventure more dangers than did Hercules for the Love of Dejanira and more extreams than Turnus did in his bloody Battels And thereupon with his Fauchion ready charged he traced the Woods leaving no Thorny Brake nor Mossie Cave unsearched till he had found a Herd of Fallow Deer from which number he singled out the fattest to make his Lady a bountiful Banquet but in the time of his absence there hapned to Sabra a strange and wonderful Accident for there came weltring into the Cabine three most Wild and Monstrous Beasts a Lioness a Tygress and a she Wolf which took the Babes out of their Cradles and bore them to their secret Dens At which sight Sabra like one berest of Sense started from her Bed and to her weak power offered to follow the Beasts but all in vain for before she could get without her Cabine they were past fight and the Childrens cry without her hearing then like a Discontented Woman she turned back beating her Breast rending her Hair and Raging up and down her Cabine using all the Rigour she could devise against her self and had not St. George return'd the sooner she had most violently committed her own slaughter but at his return when he beheld her face stained with tears her head disrobed of Ornaments and her Ivory Breast all to be-rent he cast down his Uenison in all hast and asked the cause of her Sorrow Oh said she this is the wofullest day that ever hapned to me for in the time of your unhappy Hunting a Lioness a Tygress and a Wolf came into the Cabin and took my Children from their Cradles what is become of them I know not but greatly I fear by this time they are intombed within their hungry Bowels Oh simple Monuments quoth he for such sweet Babes Well Sabra if the Monsters have bereaved me of my Children this bloody Sword that dived into the Entralls of the fallow Deer shall rive my woful heart in twain Accursed be this fatal day the Planets that predominate and Sun that shines thereon Heaven blot it from the year and let it never more be numbred but accounted for a dismal day throughout the World let all the Trees be blasted in those accursed Woods let Herbs and Grass consume away and die and all things perish in this Wilderness But why breathe I out these Curses in vain when as methinks I hear my Children in untamed Lions Dens crying for help and succour I come sweet Babes I come either to redeem you from Tygers wrathful Jaws or make my Grave within their hungry Bowels Then took he up his Sword besmeared all in blood and like a man bereaved of Wit and Sense ranged up and down the Wilderness searching every corner for his Children but his Lady remained still in her Cabine lamenting for their loss â—â—ashing their Cradles with her pearled Tears that run down her stained Cheeks like silver drops Many ways wandred St. George sometimes in Ualleys where Wolves and Tygers lurk sometimes in Mountain tops where Lyons whelps do sport and play and many times in dismal Thickets where Snakes and Serpents live Thus wandred St. George up and down the Wilderness for the space of two days hearing no news of his unchristened Children At last he approached the sight of a pleasant River which smoothly glided down betwixt two Mountains into whose streams he purposed to cast himself and so by a desperate death give end to his Sorrows but as he was committing his body to the mercy of the Waters and his Soul to the pleasure of the Heavens he heard afar off the rusul shriek as he thought of a comfortless Babe which sudden noise caused him to refrain from his desperate purpose and with more discretion to tender his own safety then casting his eyes aside it was his happy
recovered his decayed Senses he gladly conducted them into thâ—iâ— several Lodgings and there they were presently unarnied and their Wounds washed in White wine and new Milk and after banqueted them in the best manner he could devise at which Banquet there wanted not all the excellency of Musick that the Iews seven younger Sons could divise exâ—olling in their sweet sonnets the excellent fortitude of the English Champion that had not only delivered their captivated Brethren but restored by that ugly Giant 's deserved Death their aged Father to the repossession of his Golden Fountain Thus after Saint George with the other six Champions had soiourned there for the space of thirty days having placed the Iew with his Sons in their former desired Dignities that is in the government of the Golden Fountain they cloathed themselves again in their Pilgrims Attire and so departed forward on their intended iourney to visit the holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem Of whose noble Adventures you shall hear more in the Chapter following CHAP. V. Of the Champions return to Ierusalem and after how they were almost famished in a Wood and how St. George obtained them Food by his Valour in a Giant 's House with other things that hapned The Champions after this Battel of the Golden Fountain never rested travelling till they arrived at the holy Hill of Sion and had visited the Sepulchre the which they found most richly Built of the purest Marble garnished curiously by cunning Architecture with many Carbuncles of Iasper and Pillars of Ieat The Temple where in it was erected stood seven Degrees of Stairs down within the Ground the Gates whereof were of vurnisht Gold and the Portals of refined Silver cut as did seem out of a most excellent beautified Alabasset Rock But in it continually burned a sweet smelling Taper always maintained by twelve of the noblest Uirgins dwelling in Judea attending still upon the Sepulchre clad in silken Druaments in colour like to Lillies in the flourishing pride of Summet the which costly Attire they continually more as an evident sign of their pure and unspotted Uirginities Many days offered up these worthy Champions their ceremonious Devotions to that sacred Tomb washing the Marble Pavements with their true and unfained Tears and witnessing their true and hearty Zeal with their continual Ualleys of discharged Sighs But at last upon an evening when Titan's golden Beams begin to descend the western Element as those princely minded Champions in company of these twelve admired Maidens kneeled before the Sepulchre offering up their evening Drizons an unseen Uoice to the amazement of them all from a hollow Uault in the Temple uttered these words You magnanimous Knights of Christendom whose true Nobilities hath circled the Earth with Reports of Fame whose bare Feet for the love of our sweet Saviour have set more weary steps upon the parched Earth than there be Stars within the golden Canopy of Heaven return return into the bloudy Fields of War and spend not the Honours of your time in this ceremonious manner for great things by you must be accomplished such as in time to come shall fill large Chronicles and cause Babes as yet unborn to speak of your honourable Atchievements And you chast Maidens that spend your time in the Service of God even by the plighted Promise you have made to true Virginity I charge you to furnish forth these warlike Champions with such approved Furniture as hath been offered to this Royal Sepulchre by those traveling Knights which have fought under the Banner of Christendom This is the pleasure of high Fates and this for the redress of all wrong'd Innocents in Earth must be with all immediate dispatch forthwith accomplished This unexpected Uoice was no sooner ended but the Temple in their conceits seemed strangely to resound like the melody of celestial Angels or the holy Harmony of Cherubins as a sign that the Gods were pleased at their proceeding whereupon the twelve Uirgins arose from their Contemplatidus and conducted the seven Champions to the further side of Mount Sion and there bestowed frankly upon them seven of the bravest Steeds that they ever beheld with martial Furniture answerable thereunto befiâ—ting Knights of such esteem thus the Christian Champions being proud of their good Fortunes attyred themselves in rich and sumptuous Corslets and after mounted upon their warlike Coursers kindly bidding the Ladies adieu betook them to the World 's wide journey This Travel began at that time of the Year when the Summer's Queen began to spread her beautious mantle among the green and fresh Boughs of the high and mighty Cedaâ—s when as all kind of small Birds flew round about recreating themselves in the beauty of the day and with their well-tuned Notes making a sweet and heavenly Melody at which time I say these mighty and well esteemed Knights the seven Champions of Christendom took their way from Jerusalem which they thought to be most used in which they had not many days travelled through the Desarts and over many a Mountain-top but they were marvelously feeble for lack of their accustomed Uictuals and could not hide nor dissemble their great Hunger so that the War which they sustained with Hunger was far greater than the Battles they had fought against their Enemies as you heard discoursed in the first Part of this History So upon a Summer's Evening when they had spent the day in great extremity and night grew on they happned into a Thâ—cket of mighty Trees when as the silver Moon with her bright Beams glistered most clerly yet to them it seemed to be as dark as pitch for they were very so etroubled for lack of that which should sustain them and their Faces did shew and declare the perplexities of their Stomachs So they sat them down upon the green and fresh Herbs very pensive of their extream Necessity providing to take their rests that night but all was in vain for that their corporal Necessities would not consenâ— the eunro but without sleeping for that night till the next day in the morning that they turned to their accustomed Travel and Journey thinking to find some Food for the cherishing of their Stomachs and had their Eyes always gazing about to spie some Uillage or House where they might satisfie their Hunger and take their Rests Thus in this helpless manner spent they away the next day till the closing of the Evening-light by which time then grew so faint that they fell to the ground with seebleness Oh what a sorrow it was to St. George not only for himself to see the rest of the Champions in such a miserable case being not able to help themselves and so parting a little from them be lamented in this manner following Thou that hast given me many Victories thou that hast made me Conquerour of Kings and Kingdoms and thou by whose invincible Power I have tamed the black fac'd Furies of dark Coritus that mask abroad the World in Humane shapes look down sweet Queen
her nightly Reposes upon the green Grass shadowed with the fable Eurtains of the Skies and the 〈◊〉 that were provided against her Delivery were Nymphs and Fayries dancing in the night by Proserpine's Commandment 〈◊〉 in great Grâ—ei continued sâ—e many days contenting her self with her appointed Banishment making her Lamentations to wispering Winds which seemed in her conceit to re-answer her Complaints at length the glistering Moon had ten times borrowed light of golden Phoebus and the nights that Candle was now almost exâ—inguished by which time approached the hour of her laboursome Travel where without helâ— of a Woman she was delivered of me her unhappy Daughter where ever since I have been nourished in these unfrequented Woods and many times when I came to years of Discretion my woful Mother would discourse unto me this Iamentable Story of both our Miseries the which I have most truly declared unto you Likewise she told me that many times in my Infancy when she wanted Milk in her Breasts to nourish me there would come a Lyoness and sometimes a she-Beat and gently give me suck and contrary to the Nature of wild Beasts they would many times sport with me whereby she conjectured that the immortal Powers had preserved me for some strange Fortune Likewise at my Birth Nature had pictured upon my Breast directly betwixt my two Paps the lively form of a purple Rose which as yet doth beautifie my Bosom with a Uermilion colour and this was the cause that my Mother named me Rosana answerable to my Natures Mark. After this we lived many a year in great Distress Penury and Want intreating Time to redress our Woes more often then we had lived Hours the abundance of our Tears might suffice to make warry Seas and our Sighs counterhall the Stars But at last the fatal Sisters listning to my Mother's Moans and to my great Sorrows deprived her of Life where now I am left a comfortless Orphan to the World attending the time until I find some courteous Knight that may conduct me to the Black Castle where my disloyal Father hath his Residence that I may there perform my Mother's dying Will. These words being finished Rosana stood silent for that her extream Brief hindred the passage of her Tongue and her Eyes rained such a shower of pearled Tears upon the liveless Body of her Mother that it constrained St. George's Sons to express the like Sorrow where after they had leâ— fall a few salt Tears down from their sad Eyes and had taken teâ—ce for a time with Brief they took Rosana by the hand which before that time never touched the hand of any Man and protested never to depart from her contâ—any till they had safely conducted her to the Black Castle Thus after this when the Christian Knights had pitifully bewailed the Misery and untimely Death or her Mother they took their Daggers and digged a Grave under a Bay-tree and buried her Body therein that hungry Ravens might not seize upon it nor furious Bears tear it in pieces nor ravenous Harpies devour it and after with the point of their Daggers they engraved this Epitaph in the rinde of the Bay-tree which words were these that follow The Epitaph over the Grave of the unfortunate Queen of Armenia Here lies the Body of a helpless Queen Whose great Good-will to her small Joy did Bring Her willing Mind requited was with Teen Though she deserv'd for love a Regal King And as her Corpse inclosed here doth lie Her luckless Fate and Fame should never die So when they had made this Epitaph and covered her Grave with green Turfs they departed forward on their Iourney towards thee Black Castle where we will leave them in their Travels and return to the disloyal Leoger and how he fortified his Castle by Magick Art according to the learned skill of a â—unning Necromancer and of the Adventure that hapned to St. George with the other three Christian Champions in the same Castle therefore grant you immortal Powers of invention that my Pen may be dipt in the Water of that learned Fountain where the nine Sisters do inhabit that by the help of that sweet Liquor my Muse may have a delightful Uein so that mixing the speech of Mercury with the prowess of Mars I may discourse the strangest Accident that ever hapned to wandring Knights CHAP. VIII Of the preparation that the Knight of the Black Castle made by Magick Art to withstand his Enemies and how the Seven Champions entred the same Castle where they were Enchanted into a deep Sleep so long as seven Lamps burned which could not be quenched but by the Water of an Enchanted Fountain THe wicked Leoger as you have read of before being the Knight of the Black Castle and one that for Wealth and Treasure surpassed moâ—â— of the Potentates when he grew detested and abhorted in every Company as well by Noble Knights as Gallant Ladies for â—ne spoil and murther of those three Uirgin Iames whose pitiful Stories you heard in the two former Chapters and fearing sudden Uengeance to fall upon his Head he fortified himself strongly in his Castle and with his Treasure hired many fuâ—â—oâ—e Giants to defend it wherein if they failed and should chance to be overcome he consorted with a wicked Necromancer that he with Charms and Spels should work wonders in his Castle which Magical accomplishments we will pass over till a more convenient time because I purpose to explain the History in good order to the Reader First speak we of St. George with the other Christian Knights that came in revenge of the Shepherd and his unfortunate Daughter who with good Success arrived upon the shore of the Island where this wicked Leoger and the Mâ—gâ—can had fortified their Black Castle in which Country the Champions like the invincible Followers of Mars fearing no danger nor the â—rowns of unconstant Fortune betook themselves to the readiest way towards the Castle in which Iourney they were almost ravished with the pleasure of the Island for entring into a narrow and straight Lane gâ—rnisheâ— on both sides with Trees of divers sorts they heard how the Summer Birds recorded their pleasant Melodies and made their sweet and accustomed Songs without fear of any Man to molest them In which row of pleasant Trees that delighted them on both sides there wanted not the green Lawrel so much esteemed of learned Scholars nor the sweet Myrtle tree loved by Ladies nor the high Cypress so much regarded of Loâ—ers nor the stacely Pine which for his flourishing height is called the Prince of Trees whereby they judged it to be rather an habitation for Gods and Goddesses than a terrestial Country for that the Golden Sun with his glistering Beams did pass through those green and pleasant Trees without any hindrance of black Clouds for Skies were clear as tryed silver likewise the Western Wind did softly shake the shivering Leaves whereby it made as sweet a Harmony as if they had been
manner spent the sorrowful Fidelia that unhappy day till bright Phoebus went into the Western Parts at which time the Magician returned from his accustomed Hunting and finding the Door open he entered into Angelica's Chamber where when he found her Body westring in congealed Blood and beheld how Fidelia sate weeping over her bleeding Wounds he cursed himself for that he accounted his negligence the occasion of her Death in that he had not left her in more safety But when Fidelia had certified him how that by the hands of her own Father she was slaughtered he began like a Frantick Tyrant to rage against black Destiny and to fill the Air with terrible Exclamations Oh cruel Murtherer said he crept from the Womb of some untamed Tyger I will be so revenged upon thee O unnatural King that all Ages shall wonder at thy misery And likewise thou unhappy Virgin shalt endure like punishment in that thy accursed Tongue hath bruited this fatal Deed unto my Ears the one for committing the Crime and the other for reporting it For I will cast such deserved vengeance upon your Heads and place your Bodies in such continual Torments that you shall lament my Ladies Death leaving alive the Fame of her with your Lamentations And in saying these Words he drew a Book out of his Bosom and in reading certain Charms and Enchantments that were therein contained he made a great and very black Cloud appear in the skies which was brought by terrible and hasty winds in the which he took them up both and brought them into the Enchanted Castle where ever since they have remained in this Tomb cruelly tormented with unquenchable Fire and must for ever continue in the same extremity except some courteous Knight will vouchsafe to give but three blows upon the Tomb and break the Enchantment Thus have you heard you magnanimous Knight the true discourse of my unhappy Fortunes And the Uirgin which for the true love she bore unto her Lady was committed to this torment as my self and this pale Body lying upon the Tomb is the unhappy Babylonian King which unnaturally murthered his own Daughter and the Magician which committed all these villanies is that accursed wretch which by his Charms and Devillish Enchantments hath so strongly withstood your Encounters These Words were no sooner finished but Saint George drew out his sharp cutting Sword and gave three blows upon the Enchanted Tomb whereat presently appeared the Babylonian King standing before him attyred in rich Robes with an Imperial Diadem upon his Head and that Lady standing by him with a countenance more beautiful than the Damask Rose When Saint George beheld them he was not able to speak for joy nor to utter his mind so exceeding was the pleasure that he took in their sights so without any long circumstance he took them betwixt both his hands and led them into the Chamber whereas he found the other Knights newly risen from their Beds To whom he revealed the true discourse of the passed Adventure and by what means he redeemed the King and Lady from their Enchantments which to them was as great joy as before it was to Saint George So after they had for some six days refreshed themselves in the Castle they generally intended to accompany the Babylonian King into his Country and to place him again in his Regiment In which Travel we will leave the Christian Knights to the conduct of Fortune and return again to Rosana who as you heard before departed from the Castle in the pursuit of her disloyal Father of whose strange Accidents shall be spoken in this following Chapter CHAP. XII How the Knight of the Black Castle after Conquest of the same by the Christian Champions wandred up and down the World in great terror of Conscience â—nd after how he was found in a Wood by his own Daughter in whose presence he desperately slew himself with other accidents that after hapned YOu do well remember when that the Christian Champions had slain the seven Giants in the Enchanted Castle and had made conquest thereof disloyal Leoger being Lord of the same secretly fled not for anger of the loss but for the preservation of his life So in grief and terrour of Conscience he wandred like a fugitive up and down the World sometimes remembring of his passed prosperity other times thinking upon the Rapes he had committed how disloyally in former times he had left the Queen of Armenia big with Child bearing in her Womb the stain of honour and the confusian of her reputation Sometimes his guilty Mind imagined that the bleeding Ghosts of the two Sisters whom he both ravished and murthered followed him up and down haunting his ghost with fearful Exclamations and filling each corner of the earth with clamours of Revengement Such fear and terror raged in his Soul that he thought all places where he travelled were filled with multitudes of Knights and that the strength of Countries pursued him to heap vengeance upon his guilty head for those wronged Ladies Whereby he cursed the hour of his Birth and blamed the cause of his creation wishing the Fates to consume his Body with a Fire or that the Earth would gape and swallow him In this manner he travelled up and down filling all places with Ecchoes of his Sorrow and Grief which brought him into such a perplexity that many times he would have slain himself and have â—id his wretched Soul from a world of Miseries But it hapned that one morning very early by the first light of Titans golden Torch he entred into a narrow and straight Path which conducted him into a very thick and solitary a Forrest wherein with much sorrow he travelled till such time as glistring Phoebus had passed the half part of his journey And being weary with the long way and the great weight of his Armour he was forced to take some rest and case under certain fresh a green Myrtle Trees whese large leaves did shadow a very fair and clear Fountain whose stream made a bubling murmur on the Pibbles Being set he began anew to have in remembrance his former committed Cruelty and complaining of Fortune he thus published his great grief and although he was weary of complaining yet seeing himself without all remedy he resolved like unto the Swan to sing a while before his death and so thinking to give some ease unto his tormented Heart he warbled forth these Uerses following MOurnful Melpomeneapproach with speed And shew thy sacred Face with tears besprent Let all thy Sisters Hearts with sorrow bleed To hear my Plaints and rufull discontent And with your mones sweet Muses all assist My mournfull Song that doth of woe consist That so I may at large paint out my pain Within these Desart Groves and Wilderness And after I have ended to complain They may record my woes and deep distress Except these Myrtle Trees relentless be They will with sobs assist the sighs of me Time wears out life it is reported
the Amazonian Lady took forth the Letter from her naked Breast where so long time she had kept it and she delivered it into his hands and said Is it that thou art that forgetul and disloyal Knight which left the unfortunate Queen of Armenia with so great pain and sorrow big with child among those unmeriful Tyrants her Country Men which banished her out of her Country in revenge of thy committed Crime where ever since she hath been companion with Wild Beasts that in their natures have lamented her Banishment Leoger when he heard her say these Words began to behold her and although his eyes were all to be blubbred and weary of waeping yet he most earnestly gazed in her face and answered her in this manner I will not deny to thee gentle Amazonian said he that which the very clouds do blush at and the low earth doth mourn for Thou shalt understand that I am the same Knight whom thou hast demanded after tell me therefore what is thy Will My Will is said she thou most ungrateful Knight that thou read here this Letter the last Work of the white hand of the unhappy Armenian Queen At which Words the Knight was so troubled in thought and grieved in mind that it was almost the occasion to dissolve his Soul from his Body and therewithal putting forth his hand somewhat trembling he took the Letter and set himself down very sorrowful upon the green grass without any power to the contrary his grief so abounded the bounds of reason No sooner had he opened the Letter but he presently knew it to be written by the hands of his wronged Lady the Armenian Queen and with great alteration both of heart and mind he read the sorrowful Lines which contained these Words following The Queen of Armenia her Letter TO thee thou disloyal Knight of the Black Castle the unfortunate Queen of Armenia can neither send nor wish salutations for having no health my self I cannot send it unto him whose cruel mind hath quite forgotten my true love I cannot but lament continually yea and complain unto my Fates incessantly considering that my fortune is converted from a Crowned Queen to a miserable and banished Caitiff whereas savage Beasts are my chief Companions and the mournful Birds my best Solicitors Oh Leoger Leoger why didst thou leave me comfortless without all cause as did Eneas his unfortunate Dido what second love hath bereaved me of thy sight and made thee forget her that ever shall remember thee O Leoger remember the day when first I saw thy face which day be fatal evermore and counted for a dismal day in time to come both heavy black and full of foul mischances for it was unhappy unto me for in giving thee joy I bereaved my self of all and lost the Possession of my liberty and honour although thou hast not esteemed nor took care of my sorrowful Fortunes yet thou shouldest not have mockt my perfect love and disdained the servent affection that I have born thee in that I have yielded to thee that precious Jewel the which hath been denyed to many a Noble King O love cruel and spiteful love that so quickly didst make me blind and deprived me of the knowledge that belonged to my Royal Highness Oh uncourteous Knight being blinded with thy Love the Queen of Armenia stained her honesty which she ought to have kept and preserved it from the biting canker of disloyal Love Hadst thou pretended to meck me thou shouldst not have suffered me to have lost so much as I did forgo for thy sake Tell me why didst thou not suffer me to execute my Will that I might have opened my white Breast with a piercing Sword and sent my Soul to shady Banks of sweet Elizium Then had it been better for me to have dyed than to live still and daily die Remember thy self Leoger and behold the harm that will come hereof have a care to the Pawn which thou hast sealed in my Womb and let it be an occasion that thou mayst after all thy violent Wrongs return to see me sleeping on my Tomb that my Child may not remain Fatherless in the Power of Wild Beasts whose hearts be fraughted with nothing but cruelty Do not consent that the perfect love which I bear thee should be counted vain but rather perform the Promise which thou hast made to me Oh unkind Leoger O cruel and hard heart is falshood the firm love that so unfeignedly thou didst profess to me What is he that hath been more unmerciful than thou hast been There is no furious Beast nor lurking Lyon in the Desarts of Lybia whose merciless paws are all besmeared in blood that is so cruelly hearted as thy self else wouldesâ— thou not leave me comfortless spending my days in solitary Woods whereas Tygers mourn at my distresses and the chirping Birds in their kinds grieve at my lamentations the unreasonable torments and sorrows of my soul are so many that if my Pen were made of Libian Steel and my Ink the purple Ocean yet could I not write the number of my Woes But now I determine to advertise thee of my desired Death for in writing this my last Testament the Fates are cutting asunder my thread of life and I can give thee knowledge of no more but yet I desire thee by the true love which I bear thee that thou wilt read with sorrow these few lines and now I desire the Destinies that thou mayst die the death that for thee I now do and so â—end By her which did yield unto thee her Life Love Honour Fame and Liberty WHen this sad and heavy Knight had made an end of reading this dolorous Letter he could not restrain his Eyes from distilling salt tears so great was the grief that his heart sustained Rosana did likewise bear him company to solemnize his heaviness with as many tears trickling from the conduits of her Eyes The great sorrow and lamentation was such and so much in both their hearts that for a great space the one could not speak unto the other but afterwards their griefs being somewhat extenuated Leoger began to say Oh Messenger from her with the remembrance of whose wrong my heart is wounded being undeservedly of me evil rewarded tell me even by the nature of true love if thou dost know where she is shew unto me her abiding place that I may go thither and give a discharge of this my great fault by yielding unto Death Oh cruel and without love answered Rosana What discharge canst thou give unto her that already through thy Cruelty is dead and buryed only by the occasion of such a forsworn Knight This penitent and grieved Knight when he understood the certainty of her Death with a sudden and hasty fury he struck himself on the Breast with his fist and lifting his Eyes unto the Clouds in manner of Exclamation against the Fates giving deep and sorrowful sighs he threw himself to the ground tumbling and wallowing from one
the Earth and with great roaring he began to rage and stare like a Beast and to blaspheme against the Fates for this his sudden mishap The other two Brethren seeing this presently cut off his two heads whereby he was forced to yielded the mercy of imperious Death There was another Knight that came with this Monster who when he saw all that had passed with great fear returned the way from whence he came These Uictorious Conquerours when they saw that with so great ease they were delivered from the Tyrants Cruelty with joyful hearts they departed with Conquest to the Prince of Constantinople where they left him comforting his distressed Lady So when they were altogether they commanded the Marriners to provide them somewhat to eat for that they had great need thereof who presently prepared it for that continually they bore their Provision about them of this banquet the Knights were very glad and rejoiced much at that which they had archieved and commanded that the Lady should be very well looked to and healed of her harm received So at the end of three days when the princely Lady had recovered Health they left the Country of Armenia and departed back to the Seas whereas they had left their Ships lying at road that tarried there until their coming Whereinto they had no sooner entred but the Marriners hoised sail and took their way towards Constantinople as the Knights commanded The Winds served them to prosperously that within a small time they arrived in Greece and Landed within two days Iourney of the Court which lay then at Pâ—ru about a mile from Constantinople Being a Land the Prince Pollemus consulted with St. George's three Sons what course were best to be taken for their proceeding in the Court. For saith he unless I may with the Emperour my Fathers consent enjoy my dearest Dulcippa I will live unknown in her company rather than delight in the Heritage of ten such Empires At last they concluded that the Lady should be covered in a black vail for being known and Pollemus in black Arms and the other Knights all suitable should ride together which accordingly they did and about ten in the morning entred the Pallace where they sound the Emperour the seven Champions with many other Princes in the great Hall to whom one of Saint George's Sons thus spake Great Emperour and Noble Knights this Knight that leadeth the Lady hath long loved her in their Births there is great difference so that their Parents croft their affections for him she hath indured much sorrow and for her he will and hath suffered many hazards His coming thus to your Court is to this end to approve her the only desertful Lady in the world himself the faithfullest Knight against all Knights whatsoever which with your Imperial leave he my self and these two my Associates will maintain desiring your Majesty to give judgment as we shall deserve The Emperour condescended and on the Green before the Pallace those four overthrew more than four hundred Knights so that Saint George and three other of the Champions entred the Lists and ran three violent Courses against the Black Knights without moving them who never suffered the points of their Spears to touch the Armour of the Champions which the Emperour perceiving guessed them to be of acquaintance wherefore giving judgment that the Knight should possess his Lady at his request they discovered themselves To describe the delightful comfort that the English Champion took in the presence of his Children and the joy that the Emperour received at the return of his lost Son requires more Art and Eloquence than my tyred senses can afford I am therefore here forced to leave the Flower of Chivalry in the City of Constantinople Of whose following Adventures I will at large Discourse hereafter and how all these Famous Champions came to their Deaths and for what cause they were called the seven Saints of Christendom CHAP. XVII Of the renowned and praise worthy Death of Saint Patrick how he buried his own self and for what cause the Irish-men to this day do wear their red Cross upon Saint Patrick's Day HEre must you suppose gentle Readers that time had ran a long Race before these aforesaid thrice honoured Champions had purchased so many Right Worthy Uictories and being now wearied with Age Death with his gloomy countenance began to challenge an end of all their worldly Atchievements and to draw there Noble Names to a full perfection therefore preparing a black Stage for honour to act his last Scene out thus it followed The Ualiant Champion S. Patrick feeling himself weakned with Time and Age not able any longer to endure the bruises of Princely Atchievements became an Hermite and wandring up and down the World in poor Habiliments he came at last to the Country of his Birth which is now called Ireland but in former times Hibernia where instead of Martial Atchievements he offered up in the name of his Redeemer devout Orisons daily making petitions to the Deity of Glory in behalf of his desired peace a life more delightful to his aged Heart than all his former accomplishments And now willing to bid farewel to the World he desired a reclosure to be made and to be pent up in a stony Wall from the sight of all Earthly Oâ—jects To which request of this Holy Father now no Souldier but a man of Peace the Inhabitants wholly condescended and builded him a four-square House of Stone without either Window or Door only a little hole to receive his Food in wherein they closed him up never to be seen more alive by the eyes of mortal Men. Also appointing divers of the Country to bring him at convenient times Food to maintain Nature which they delivered in at the aforesaid hole which they thought to be a deed of more than common charity and he the receiver to be an honour to their Country by the severe and strict course of life he put himself to Thus lived he the servant of his God day and night kneeling on the bare ground till thrice the Winters cold had taken departure and as oft the Summers warmth had cheared up the cold Earth making his knees hard with kneeling and his eyes dim with Lamentations for his former offences In which time the Hairs of his Head were all over-grown and deformed and the Nails of his Fingers as it were seemed like the Talons and Claws of an old Raven with the which by little and little he digged his own Grave prepared against the hour of his death to be buried in the which by process of time came thus to effect as followeth When he had wasted as I said before thrice twelve months in Divine Contemplations by Inspiration as it seemed he laid him down in the Grave that his own Nails had digged and feeling his body weak and feeble ready to deliver up the ayre of Life he began to speak as followeth World quoth he thou hast been long my
of the Cataracts of Nilus or the greatest crack of the loudest Thunder but having received his deaths wound with some little strugling he yielded his life up to the Uictors who surveying his Body found it to be from the head to the end of the tail full ten yards in length his bulk at least a Tun weight having paws and claws answerable unto it and each part so armed with scales as scarcely penetrable witd any sword The Knights having obtained this Uictory returned thanks to the Immortal Powers and leaving the Carcass of the hideous Monster travel'd up higher into the Country hoping to meet with some of the inhabitants thereof whom now they saw had left their houses for dread of this Monster Having travelled some few miles and desirous of refreshment after this encounter they saw some smoak ascending out of the tunnel of a little Cell near unto them whither bending their course they saw standing at the door an aged Hermit in a Gown of Freeze reaching to the ground his Hair as white as the downe of Swans or driven Snow which in a careless manner hung dishelved down his Shoulders in his Face you might read the Map of sorrow charactered out in deep furrowed wrinkles whom the Knights courteously saluted desiring to know the reason why so fruiful a Country as they had passed was left destitute of Inhabitants The aged Hermit having viewed them well and perceiving by their habit they were Outlandish Knights bent upon Martial Adventures and seeming to be persons who dreaded no danger he desired them to alight from their Warlike Steeds and for a while to repose themselves in his lowly Cell and he would endeavour to satisfie their desires in the mean time said he I would desire you to take such homely refreshment as my Cell affords and thereupon brought them forth such Country Uiands as that place afforded which they courteously accepting and having satisfied their hunger the Hermit began to speak to them in this manner Sir Knights said he for so you séem by your outward Habiliments if we may judge of the goodness of the apple by the fairness of the rind know that this Country wherein you now are is the Land of Sicily once so fruitful and abounding in all things that it might well be called the Granary of the VVorld and now still retaining its vertue durst the Inhabitants manure the same But now our plenty is turned into misery our mirth into mourning our streets which were wont to be replenished with throngs of people now destitute and empty of Inhabitants and all by reason of a most gastly dreadful Monster sent I think from the Infernal Regions for the punishment of Mankind whom the Country people term by the name of Pongo This direful Monster or rather Devil incarnate begotten as it is thought between a Land Tyger and a Sea Shark so that it participates of both Elements swimming in the Sea near our Sicilian Coasts espyed some Heardsmen on the shore who with great wonder beheld this Monster as he disported himself on the waves of the Sea but when they saw he made towards them and beheld the monstrousness of his proportion fear standing at the gates of their Eyes put back all further perswasions of beholding him and adding wings to their feeâ— they flew away in the greatest hastâ— they possibly could make but in vain was all their speed for he soon recovering the shore siezed upon some of the hindmost of them whom he made a prey to his devouring paunch and having tasted the sweets of humane blood he ever since hath haunted our Coasts ranging up higher into the Country devouâ—ing all wheresoever he came and herein is his cruelty most exemplary that he delights more in the slaughter of Men then of Beasts so that it is judged he hath devoured no less then five hundred persons and for twenty miles space left all desolate and uninhabited the dread of him being so very great that the women to terrifie their children from crying use to say the Pongo cometh Thus Ronowned Knights have you heard the cause of our Countries misery not one of our â—â—outest Champions having the heart to encounter with him so that at freedom he wasts and destroys all before him until such time as it shall please Providence to send us some more redoubled Knights then ours to free us from him for which our King hath promised great rewards the spur to honourable atchievments besides the great good a Reward in it self which it will do to Mankind in fréeing us from so terrible an enemy The Hermit concluding his speech with a deep sigh for a period the Ualiant Knight Sir Guy with a smiling countenance thus answered him Now then said he are the Stars so benigne unto Sicily that your Country is fréed from this direful misery for the cause being taken away the effects must needs cease Know then that by the victorious Armes of me and my two Brothers the Monster is dead and no more dread of your affrighting dead Pongo then is to be feared from a living Grashopper or Butterfly Scarcely had Sir Guy ended his speech when the Hermit transported with an excessive joy fell down at his feet being almost in as great an extasie for joy as was that Father who having three Sons returned Uictors from the Olympick Games his overjoyed spirit could not contain its self in the bounds of reason but by the excessiveness thereof yielded up the ghost And is our Land said he capable of so great a benefit does so good Fortune attend our Country Then thanks to the immortal powers above who hath sent you hither to be the means of our future happiness how is our Nation bound to your Manhood and what victims shall we offer for your fortunate success As the Hermit was thus discoursing there was passing by the Cell a Herald at Arms well accontered and attended on by four Knights clad all in mourning Armour who were sent by the King into Forreign Countries to proclaim in every place where they came that if any Knight would be so hardy as to encounter with the Pongo and overcome him he should be made a Peer of the Realm and have a golden Helmet for a reward This their errand being made known to the three Knights they declared unto them how Pongo was already killed which put a stop to their further journey and sending back one of the Knights to the King to inform him thereof the rest went to view the dead Carcass of the Pongo which having surveyed with great admiration the three Sicilian Knights invited Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David to the City of Syracusa where the King then kept his Court who courteously accepting of their proffer taking leave of the aged Hermit who returned to his Cell mounting their Warlike Steeds with an easie pace they marched on But when the King heard the news of the Monsters death he caused the Bells to be rung and Banfires to
what in them lay as fighting for the Liberty of their Country yet being overpowered and bore down by the strength and valour of the Gyant Predo they received a dismal overthrow the greatest part of their Army slain and most of the rest taken Prisoners amongst whom our woful King was one who encountering Predo who had on him a Coat of Mail and over that an Armour of two hundred pound weight being on foot for no Horse was able to bear him Our King running against him with his Lance it shiver'd in a thousand pieces nor could his Sword ought avail against the Gyants Armour although he laid so on load that the sparkles flew from it as from a piece of hot Iron when a Smith is working it But the Gyant valued his blows so little finding him to be the Thessalian King and now almost spent with long fighting that he made no more adâ— but clasping his Arms about him he carried both Horse and Man together into his Tent which our men séeing fled and dispersed themselves as well as they could for their own safety And now the Thracians being absolute Uictors it was agreed amongst them that the Gyant Predo should carry our King Prisoner with him into his Castle where he lives being a place strongly Sâ—ituated in an Island having one associated with him famous for his skill in the Black Art so that what by the strength of the one and Devilish cunning of the other we despair of ever having our King again As for the King of Thrace he with the remaining of his Army marched up to the City of Larissa wherein our Princess Mariana is enclosed and so straitly besieged that without speedy help the City is in danger to be lost and with it the liberty and welfare of our whole Country which now lies a bléeding in a pittyful manner unless most Noble Prince your goodness will be pleased to lend us any aid and assistance which now both our Nobles and Commons do most humbly implore at your hands This woful Tale being finished moved great pity and compassion in all the hearers thereof especially in the three English Brothers whose Princely minds being endowed with the true séeds of Magnanimity they vowed by the honour of Knighthood and all that was most dear unto them to use their utmost endeavour were it to the spending their most precious blood for the relieving the Princess Mariana and her captivated Father The Thessalian King promising his best assistance to joyn with them they with all speed made what hast they could for the mustering up of an Army and notwithstanding the great strength and terribleness of the Gyant Predo did strike some dread and terrour into the hearts of many yet being accompanied with such invincible Knights as were these three Brothers they dreaded no danger but with a valiant courage resolved to venture their lives with them whose valiant acts and noble atchievements deserving to be recorded in the Books of Fame Calliope assisting shall be recorded in the next Chapter CHAP. III. How Sir Guy took his leave of the Princess Urania the Battle betwixt the Sicilians and Thracians The Message of the Princess Mariana to the Inchanted Castle and how Sir Alexander counted the Princess THE Captains and other Officers made such expedition in Mustering up an Army that in a fortnights time then hâ—â— gotten together twenty thousand men all which the 〈◊〉 compleatly armed out of his Royal Armory being a Magaâ—â—nâ— sufficiently stored with all necessary Habiliments of 〈◊〉 To the three Brothers he gave each of them a Silver Helmet 〈◊〉 with Gold and inlaid with precious Stones as a reward of their victorious conquering the Monster Pongo appointing to their valiant conduct the management of the whole Army Whilst thus this preparation was in hand the Couragious knight Sir Guy although his heart was full fraught with Ualour and bent to the performance of Noble Atchiveements yet had Love taken such déep Impression in his thoughts that it was Death unto him to part with his Urania Whilst thus Hâ—nour on the one hand invited him to buckle on his Armour and Love on the other side pleaded for his stay he resolved not to desist from the performance of Honourable Atchievements since the attainment of Love was by hazardous attempts in actions which were truly honourable Accordingly be bestirred himself in Mustring up of his Men shewing them how to handle their Weapons and â—o use them to the best advantage also how to gain ground in fight and when to retreat with other things belonging to Martial Discipline And now being ready for their march he went to take his solemn leave of the Princess Urania who bestowed on him a very fair Diamond Ring to wear for her sake as also a Meddal of her self very curiously wrought with great Art and exceeding cost which he afterwards constantly wore in his Bosom next his Heart But now seeing he could not have the opportunity of expressing his mind unto her as he would have done he wrote this Letter which by a waiting Gentlewoman that attended on her was delivered unto her about the time of his departing Excellent Princess BLamâ— me not that for a while I am Summoned by the highest tye of Honour to depart from you being in such a cause to help the injured which all true Knights are bound to perform Yet Madam know that no distance of place shall remove the affection I bear to your Vertues and this I swear by all that is Sacred and can make an Oath Let me desire you therefore to cherish a good Opinion of me until Crowned with Victory I return again to evidence my self to be Your Most Loyal Servant Guy This Letter wos very welcome to the Princess Urania who now began to set such a high esteem of Sir Guy as she judged him worthy of the Empire of the World And now he being the sole Monarch of her heart she could not but breathe forth some sighs to think upon his absence but then considering upon what an honourable account he was ingaged she could not but applaud his undertaking yet to give him some more clear demonstration of her affection to him upon his marching away she went in her Chariot to speak to him whom she found in the head of his Troops and kindly hid him farewel in these words Most Courteous Knight may the Heavens prosper your undertakings according to the justness of your Cause and that your return may be both speedy and honourable and for your more prosperous proceeding assure your self you shall have a Virgins Prayers day and night In the mean time let me request you to wear this Scarf for my sake that by looking on the same I may not be altogether out of your remembrance In delivering of which the tears began to flâ—w into her Eyes for grief of his departure which that they might not be espyed by Sir Guy she made the more hast back to her Palace where from one
Until three Brothers shall the same attain Whose power shall be this Castles overthrow VVho ere thou art sorbear to draw too near Thy Life 's at stake than which there 's nought more dear Near unto this Brazen Pillar stood a Rock of Alabaster in which were enclosed three swords richly enchased and beset with Precious Stones in the Pummels on the handle of the first Sword were these Lines written Hard closed in this Rock I sirmly stand Until drawn out by the first Brothers hand On the Pummel of the second Sword were these Lines inscribed The second Brother shall by Fates decree Draw from the Rock this sword and none but he On the Pummel of the third Sword which was more artificially wrought then any of the other two having a rich Saphire set therein which cast forth a most radiant Lustre on the handle thereof were these words Engraved VVhen the third Brother he shall draw me forth Then is our Negromantick skill nought worth All Magick charms and spells shall be in vain And then shall the end Gyant Predos Reign The Messenger notwithstanding he had read the writing on the Brazen Pillar yet adventured for to go forwards but coming into the Inchanted ground before he could come at the Castle Gate he fell into such a sound sleep that had twenty pieces of Ordnance béen shot off at his Ears they would not have awaked him The Negromancer who by his skill in the Black Art knew what had happened fetched his Body into the Castle laying it by the Thessalian King who also as soon as he came into the Inchanted ground had fallen into a dead sléep And now being there laid together we will leave them taking their rests and come to speak of the proceedings of the Sicilian Army at the City of Larissa The Princess Mariana hearing no news of her Messenger and doubting the worst which might befal her Father consulting with the three Brothers it was agreed amongst them to march with their Army into Thracia although at that time Love had taken so deep an impression in her heart that it was almost Death unto her to part with Sir Alexander On the other side Sir Alexander upon the first sight of the Princess was so stricken with her admirable perfections her beauty being such an attractive Loadstone as captivated his heart in the allurements of Love so that now as the Poet hath it The treasure of his heart did lie In the fair Casket of his Mistress eye Cupid having thus stricken him with his youthful dart so that he became a stranger to rest he resolved yet to declare his amours before he betook himself again to armes and to that purpose finding one day the Princess all alone he accosted her in this manner Most Gracious Princess I think the Stars could have alotted me no greater good then to behold the surpassing work of Nature in you Your Excellencies having so captivated my heart that to live without your good liking will be but a lingring death unto me I must confess my presumption great in aiming so high but who can look on such perfections without liking and who can like without loving And though the small tryal you have of the real affection wherewith I honour your Vertues may discourage you to credit my words yet I hope that in the trying of me how willing I shall be to merit your favour you will find my deserts not altogether unworthy of your regard since the utmost of my abilities is and shall be devoted to your service To which the Princess returned this answer Most Courteous Knight to whom I stand so much obliged for former courtesies that all which I can do will not stand in competition of your deserts yet the natural affection which I bear to my Aged Father compels me at this time humbly to implore your further assistance which as I doubt not the Gods being just in rightfull causes you will perform so assure your self your extraordinary kindness afforded to me in such a time of necessity shall never be razed out of my heart and therefore of this you may be ascertained that no one whatsoever hath so large a Possession therein as your self so that should you as the Gods forbid miscarry therein when I am dead as Death must assuredly ensue thereon they will find the name of Alexander written in my heart Their Minds thus made known to each other gave great contentment to them both especially to Sir Alexander who humbly kissing the hands of the Princess replyed thus unto her Madam There is no danger in the World so great which I shall not adventure on for your sake were it to perform the twelve labours of Hercules or with Aeneas to encounter with the Gyant Turnus Be pleased therefore to accept me as your Knight and Servant and I hope to behave my self so hereafter as you shall have no cause to repent you thereof To whom the Princess smiling said Sir I do accept you for my Knight and hope the Gods will be so propitious to you for my sake that you shall not have an enemy able to withstand you With which words taking a rich Diamond Ring from off her Finger and giving it him she said wear this for my sake that whensoever hereafter you look on it it may add fresh courage into your breast by the remembrance of me Much other Discourse they had but the Army being now upon their march summoned Sir Alexander to march along with them Wherefore taking a gentle farewel of the Princess having vowed constancy on both sides he joyned himself unto the Army whose Knightly adventures with those of his two Brothers we shall prosecute in the next Chapter CHAP. IV. The great Battle betwixt the three English Knights and the Sicilians on the one side and the three Gyants and Count Brandamil on the other side the finishing the adventure of the Inchanted Castle with the story of the wicked Sir Vylon THE Negromancer Soto who lived with the Gyant Predo in the Inchanted Castle knowing by his Magick spells that the Sicilian Army had given their King a total overthrow and taken him Prisoner as also how they were marching towards the Country of Thrace he acquainted the Gyant with his knowledge who thereupon bestired himself in all haste to their resistance sending for his two Brothers Brandamore the stout and Pandaphilo the cruel to come with all speed unto his assistance who no sooner had notice thereof but that with their Forces belonging unto them they hastned away In like manner he sent unto Count Brandamil whom the King of Thrace had left his Deputy at such time as he made his expedition in Thessaly to raise what power he could against the Sicilians And now nothing was heard but the loud sound of the thundering Drum and the shrill noise of the sounding Trumpet horrour and amazement siczed on the stoutest heart and the fore-boding Ravens foretold the fall of flaughtered Carcasses Whilst these things
who now though something over-worn through Grief and Age yet by the remains of her Uisage shewd she had once a Face which might have béen accounted Natures proud Master-piece and an attractive Loadstone wherein the God of Love sat Enthroned All the Company especially the King of Thessaly were very inquisitive to know what she was and by what accident she came to be Inchanted in that Castle and therefore requested she would be so courteous to them as to give them a relation thereof To which after a deep sigh setched she said although Noble Gentlemen the rehearsal of my misfortunes cannot but breed sorrow in the hearers much more in the relater yet to satisfie your curiosities and in part of retribution for the favours I have received from you I shall the more willingly impart them to you Know then that I am a Native of this Country and at such time when Fortune smiled on me Wife to a Noble Knight named Fonteious a Man Renowned through all Thrace for his Learning and Liberality two special Ornaments of a noble Mind Rich he was both in Wealth and Uertue which two though they seldom go together yet in him had they their residence At the age of sixteen years I was married unto him now whether likeness be the cause of Love or Love she cause of liking I know not but so it was that reciprocal Love passed betwixt us I loving him because he was kind unto me and he being kind to me because I loved him long time thus lovingly lived we together until Atropos cutting off the thread of his Life gave an ultimum vale to my good fortune for my Husband leaving me very rich and I being withal young and beautiful you may be sure such a Widow would not be long without suiters And indeed it was not long before I had plenty of them so that the famous Ulysses House during his ten years absence at the siege of Troy was not more thronged with them to court the chaste Penelope then was my House to gain my favour Amongst others of this gallant Crew was one Sir Vylon a man who had he been endued with internal vertues as he was adorned with a comely out-side he might have been a match fit for a Princess The multiplicity of his vows the protestations of his love his gifts upon gifts were as so many snares to entrap me To be short with the catching Oratory of his words and Language strowed with flowers he wone me and matcht me But long had not we been Married together although no cause given on my part but his smiles were returned into frowns no just pretence could he make therefore though many were pretended at last he found a means to accomplish his desire which he brought to pass in this manner He hearing of the Fame of this Inchanted Castle with the dire effects attending upon those which came near it Pretended a Letter as come from a Brother of mine who had been long absent and was thought as indeed he then was dead The Letter contained these words Dear Sister AFter many dangers and troubles passed in my peregrination it was my hap to come into this Country with great expectation of enjoying your happy Society but hearing how crosly you are matcht and how your Husband undervalues your Kindred because I cannot appear so splendid before him as stands to your credit I would desire you to come to me as privately as you can to the Castle in the Island Commanded by my especial Friend Sir Brandamore where we may conferr together in safety Thus desiring your presence as soon as possibly you can I remain Your affectionate Brother Brudo This Letter was conveyed privately to my hands and to give me the better Opportunity to go thither my Husband pretended a Journey to Boetia where he said he should stay a fortnight All things did I then think conspired to my happiness when as the Fates had decreed the clean contrary for taking only one Servant for my guide in whom I could repose Confidence coming within sight of the Castle I returned him back again with instructions how to excuse my absence from home as being gone to see a near Relation Then boldly I approached the Castle-Gate but ere I could come at it a déep Sléep siezed on me which how long it hath lasted I am ignorant of but I never awaked until both sleep and Castle were vanished away together And thus Gentlemen have you heard the sad story of my misfortunes what hath befallen at home since I am fearful to think having left behind me two young Children a Son and a Daughter the dear pledges of my first Husband who I fear may speed the worse for my sake for those who love not the stock of the Tree will never affect the Branches thereof Whilst she was thus discoursing there chanced to be there a Thracian Knight whose dwelling was not far from Sir Vylons who hearing the relation of her misfortunes Madam said he for what you are so doubtful of I can in the greatest part resolve ye know then that since the time you were missing during which space I conceive you have slept is now fully two years but what will add most Grief to your hearing is that soon after your Husband had thus subtilly disposed of you which he thought to be for a longer space he then began to revel in all sensual delights spending his Time and Coyn in such a riotous manner as if he had had the riches of Crcesus and were to have lived the years of Nestor But had his wickedness terminated in himself it had been the more tollerable but it extended to others in a mest barbarous cruelty for he being conscious of his own guilt thinking if your Children lived he might be brought to an account for his rioâ—ousness and débauchery he found a means to make them away and that in this manner He had in his House a servant named Barco one as ripe for mischief as himself and to whom he bare a special affection as being a Companion with him in lewdness these two complotting together entiâ—ed the Children to the Sea-side where they had provided an empty Boat into which putting the two innocent Babes they launched them into the Sea and so committed them to the merâ—y of the Waves which how they dealt with them is only known to the Almighty Powers But it was not long ere the Children being missing caused a suspicion amongst the Neighbours of hard usage towards them by some belonging to Sir Vylon nay there were those who sticked not openly to accuse Barco as one prompt for any villany and who would receive any impression his Master put upon him Now this was so openly buzzed abroad that at last it came to Sir Vylons Gar who fearing to be deâ—â—cted thought if Barco were put to the rack he would discover all wherefore he made means to have him poysoned a just reward for all such bloody Uillains had it
new into the room made him young again In another Table was pourtrayed King Midas who for preferring Pans Pipe before Apollos Harp was for his pains rewarded with a pair of Asses Ears Whilst they were viewing these Pictures with delight the Enchantress Mededa came down from her Chamber who beholding Sir Guy with a fixed look thus said unto him Sir Knight return unto thy Ship Let no advantage from thee slip For now the time is nigh at hand Thou must be joyn'd in Hymens band Thy constancy to her is known Who seeks to have thee for her own But e're these things to thee betide Thou many troubles must abide Having thus said she vanished out of their sight leaving them much wondring at what they had heard Then taking their leave of the Dwarf they returned again towards their Ship but in their way as they passed along by a Rivers side which gently running made swéet musick with the enameled stones and séemed to give a gentle kiss to every sedge he overtook in his watry Pilgrimage There came crossing a Meadow towards them an antient Shepherd who by the downfal of his mellow years seemed as if Nature had brought him near to the door of death yet were not his Hairs so gray by years as made by sorrow which his blubber'd Countenance gave a doleful copy of his thoughts what he was about to speak Sir Knights said he if ever compassion harboured in noble Breasts let my aged years and extream misfortunes crave your pity who from a contented and not despicable estate am now become Fortunes Tennis-ball by the unconstancy of that blind Goddess Know then worthy Knights my name is Selindus once possessed of the Wealthy Barrony of Mompelior scituate in this Island of Micomicom a place which for the richuefs of the Soyl and pleasantness of the Scituation is scarcely parallel'd in all the Country These fair possessions of mine left unto me when I was young soon procured me a Wife of which yet I had no cause to repent being a Lady replenished with all the Ornaments and Endowments of Nature which might make her in every wise compleat Happily we lived together for some short space of time when the fruits of her Womb gave us great hopes of more future joyes but the Fates had decreed otherwise for upon her delivery the birth of the Ihfant proved the death of the Parent and she to bestow a Gem on the Earth became her self a Pearl in the starry Firmament What should I say more I lost a Wife and gained a Daughter and indeed a Daughter of such super-excellent parts as might put a cessation of sorrow for the Mother This Daughter whose name was Praxida did I bring up in all vertuous Education who in short time became the wonder of her Sex having in her such perfections as did yield subject to admiration and as she grew more in years so did she add more to her perfections which admirable Endowments attracted to her many adorers who sued for her favour amongst whom was one whom she most fancied whose name was Euphemius a knight of Placida being an Island not far off under the Queen Artemia who had made him sole Governour thereof Betwixt this Euphemius and my Daughter unknown to me had passed a solemn Contract she belike fearing to disclose it to me as doubting my consent his Estate not being answerable to my Revenues wherefore they got privately Married together Now it happened not long after upon some offence against the Queen Euphemius was committed to Prison and having layn there some few dayes was brought before the Queen to be examined who beheld him with great wonder and astonishment for indéed he was a person of a lovely Countenance and in whom Dame Nature had done her utmost to the making of him in all parts compleat which so wounded her heart with an affection towards him that instead of his being her Captive she became his and in part to manifest the same unto him she frankly gave him his freedom and with many kind words entertained him very graciously into her favour yet could not all this kindness endear her unto him but the more she shewed love to him on the one side the more was his hatred to her on the other and that not so much in respect of his to my Daughter as the mortal spite he bare to her for his Imprisonment so that having a sit opportunity offered him he fled from the Court and confederating with some friends intended to levy War against the Queen The Queen understanding of his departure fared like unto a distracted Woman wringing her hands and beating on her Ivory Breasts she cast her self upon the ground tearing the lovely Tresses from her head Her Ladies comforted her the best wise they could but that cherisht fire which blindly crept through every Uein of her fluent blood would suffer her to take no rest but being at last informed in what place he was she sent to him this following Letter COuld I in the least imagine what should cause your so sudden departure if it lay in my power the cause thereof should be removed but the fore not being known how can the remedy be administred If you think upon your restraint think also upon your free-given Liberty and do not write the one in Marble the other in Sand. That I seek for love to you impute it not to lightness but to a real affection and let your return again to me demonstrate that your heart is not inexorable when perhaps my presence may plead more in my excuse then can this Paper-Messenger so wishing you what she wants her self Health she remains ever yours Artemia This Letter she sent by a trusty Messenger but his mind was so fully bent against her that instead of liking it caused loathing Wherefore taking his Pen in hand he sent her again this bitter return WHat should cause you to dote where you are hated I cannot imagine love but lust therefore I shall not esteem of your Syrens Tongue knowing that Bees have stings as well as honey Nor think not to entrap me any more by your suger'd baits but know that none so much hates the memory of you as doth your sworn Enemy Euphemius This Answer was to Artemia as a Dagger piercing her heart so that she immediately fell into such a deadly swound as her Ladies about her could hardly recover her Unhappy Artemia then said the Queen and must I live to be despised and he to triumph in my overthrow ungrateful man can all my courtesies reap no other profit but only disdain Is it possible that I can continue to love thee that deservest rather to live in my hatred but why do I thus exclaim against him who perhaps doth this only to try me no no Artemia he slights thy love Then dye fond Queen defer not to live any longer yet dear Euphemius in my death shall I make it known how near thy love was to my heart and how
highly thou wer 't prized in my Affections In this manner did the woful Queen spend her dayes until sickness coming on put the harmony of Nature out of tune in her Body which by little and little languished away in such sort that she became a meer Skelleton or Anatomy and now finding that Death by degrees began to sieze on her Uital parts she called her Nobles unto her and spake to them these words My Lords I am now taking my last leave of you the spent Hour-glass of my Life is near at hand and now at my parting ghost I do adjure ye as you will answer it before the Higher Powers whither I am now going to appear that ye invest Euphemius King when I am dead and gone and though I doubt not of your performance herein yet for my more assurance and that my ghost may quietly rest hereafter I shall desire you to take an Oath to do it which if you should fail in the performance know assuredly you will both wrong your selves and him him in depriving him of his Crown and your selves of a good King he being a Prince kind wise just and merciful and only unkind unto me The Nobles to satisfie her request freely took their Oaths to be true to Euphemius and now the Queen being fully satisfied with what was done willingly yielded up the ghost whom the Nobles buried in most sumptuous manner which being done they sent an Honourable Messenger to Euphemius to certifie him of the Queens death and how she had bequenthed her Crown to him which Messenger set forth Artemia's love in such pathetical words as wrought in him a strange alteration for when he thought upo nher unalterable affection towards him the constancy of her love her matchless beauty rare endowments and superexcellent parts he began to reflect upon himself his unkindness to her his vile ingratitude that could wrong her which dyed for love of him These considerations made him to like where before he loathed and to loath where before he loved for whereas before he used to give many private visits to my Daughter protesting all constancy and loyalty towards her now the poyson of hatred entred into his heart against her as taking her to be the chief obstacle which hindred him from the enjoyment of the Quéen and might be also the same of the Kingdom if it should be known he were married unto her wherefore he departed along with the Messenger never so much as bidding her farewel or sending any Messenger unto her The Nobles entertained him very splendidly and with great solemnity Crowned him King In the mean time the poor Praxeda was well near distracted with discontent finding her self to be with Child fearing to discover it unto me and finding such an alteration of love from him Her case being thus desperate knowing it impossible to be long concealed she sent to him this following Letter My Dear Euphemius MEN do tax our Sex for being unconstant but now I must apply that fault to you I say to you whose Oaths did give so great a Testimony of your fidelity that I duâ—st not doubt them for fear of injuring my self Ah Euphemius doth Honours change Manners can you so soon forget Praxeda whom you swore so firmly to love Now if thou hast no pity for me take some compassion on the fruit of my Womb the seal of our loves wherein thy lively Image is implanted and if thou hast any thing of Nature in thee thou canst not but deplore its condition and provide a remedy for the same we still hoping thou wilt remain constant I rest Thine own Praxeda Euphemius received this Letter with great indignation vowing revenge the Rhamnusian Nemesis possessing his vengeful breast in all her blackest formes and now his enraged blood being tickled with the thoughts of a pleasing himself for as he thought his disgrace in claiming him to be her Husband he intended the destruction not only of she but of all her Kindred and that to be pâ—â—formed as soon as he could find any pretended cause of aquatâ—◠〈◊〉 her In the mean time to deterr her from any proâ—â—â—â—tion â—â— her 〈◊〉 he returned â—o her this invective answer HAth your impudence no other person to Father your Pastard brat but upon me whose known reputation is such as will free me in the Consciences of all honest persons from the known calumnies of such a vile Strumpet was it not my vertue preferred me by a general consent to a Kingdom and do you think by detraction to bespatter my good name Cease then perverse Monster of Women-kind to prosecute any further claim unto me lest it prove the deserved destruction of thee and thine Thy deserved Enemy Euphemius But before she received this Letter feeling the burthen of her Womb to grow great she desired leave to go visit an Aunt of hers named Milesia pretending indisposition of Health to which I readily granted knowing my Sister very careful over her for her good To this her Aunt she discovered all what had passed betwixt Euphemius and she desiring her aid and secresie therein and indeed it was but high time for within three days after her coming thither she was delivered of a goodly Boy whom her Aunt named Infortunio and put him out to Nurse to one of her Tenants Soon after she received the Letter from Euphemius which when she had read her grief and sorrow were so great that she deemed her self the very Map of misery and falling into a swound it was long ere her Aunt and the other attendants could recover her to life such a sudden grief had her soul contracted that who so had beheld her would have thought her Spirit ready to descend into Charons Boat to be transported into the Elizian fields but coming a little to her self she thus began for to exclaim And is it possible such Perjury can remain in men do they think Oaths are not binding or that divine vengeance doth not follow upon breach of promise Ah Euphemius can thy heart prove so disloyal were all the protestations thou so often didst reiterate unto me only feigned baits to entrap me to my destruction Then glory in thy triumph but know accursed Caitiff my soul shall haunt thee after death as did the ghost of Queen Dido follow the Body of Perjured Aeneas and saying these words she stabbed her self to the heart with a Bodkin which she had hidden within the Trammels of her Hair and â—etching only two or three deep groans she presently dyed Praxida having acted this woful Tragedy on her self put all the Houshold in a great uproar especially my Sister Milesia who fared like to one of Bacchus frantick raging Nuns or like a Tartar when in a strange habit he prepares himself to a dismal Sacrifice Ah Praxida said she how hath thy actions straid from Reasons center thus to give thy soul a Goal-delivery Abhorred Euphemius accursed mayst thou be that wer't the causer of all this mischief Hast thou a heart more