two Ladies weltring in their own gore which woful spectacle presently so bereaved him of his Wits that like a frantick man he raged up and down and in this manner bitterly complained Oh immortal Powers open the wrathful Gates of Heaven and in your justice punish me for my unconstant Love hath murdered two of the bravest Ladies that ever Nature framed revive swéet Dames of Scythia and hear me speak that am the wofullest Wretch that ever spake with a tongue if Ghost may here be given for Ghost dear Ladies take my Life and live or if my heart might dwell within your Breasts this hand shall equally divide it but words I see are vain and my proffer cannot purchase life nor recover your breathing spirits yet Uengeance shall you have this hand shall untwine my fatal twist and bereave my bloody Breast of Life whereby my happy Ghost shall follow you through Tartar Gulfs through burning Lakes and through the lowring shades of dreadful Cocytus gape gape sweet Earth and in thy Womb make all our Tombs together Which woful Lamentation being no sooner breathed from his sorrowful Breast but he finished his days by the stroke of that same accursed Bodkin that was the bloody Instrument of the two Sisters death the which he found still remaining in the remorsless hand of Castria Thus have you heard most worthy Knight the true Tragedy of thrée of the most goodliest Personages that ever Nature framed but now with diligent ears listen unto the unfortunate discourse of my own Misery which in this unhappy manner fell out for no sooner came the flying news of the Miâ—â—dered Princesses to my ears but I grew into such a discontented Passion that I abandoned my self from company of People and sate for seven Months in a solitary passion â—ainenting the loss of my Children like weeping Niobe which was the sorrowfullest Lady that ever lived During which time the Report of Floridon's unhappy Tragedy was bruited to his Father's ears being the sole King of Armenia whose grief so exceeded the bounds of Reason that with all convenient speed he gathered the greatest strength Armenia could make and in Revenge of his Son's Murder entred my Territories and with his well approved Warriours subdued my Provinces slaughtered my Soldiers Conquered my Captains slew my Commons burnt my Cities and left my Country Uillages Desolate where when I beheld my Country overspread with Famine Fire and Sword three Intestine Plagues wherewith Heaven scourgeth the sins of the wicked I was forced for the safeguard of my Life to forsake my Native Habitation Kingly Government only committing my Fortune like a Banish'd Exile to wander in unknown passages where Care was my chief Companion and Discontent my only Solicitor at last it was in my Destiny to arrive in this unhappy place which I supposed to be the Walks of Despair where I had not remained many days in my melancholy Passions but methought the many â—aws of deep Avernus opened from whence ascended a most fearful Devil that enticed me to bequeath my Fortune to his disposing and he would defend me from the fury of the whole World to which I presently condescended upon some assurance then presently he placed before my face this Enchanted Sword so surely closed in stone that it should never be pulled out but by the hands of a Christian Knight and till that Task was performed I should live exempt from all Danger although all the Kingdoms of the Earth assailed me which task most adventurous Champion thou hast now performed whereby I know the hour of my Death approacheth and my time of confusion is at hand This Discourse pronounced by the Necromancer Ormandine was no sooner finished but the worthy Champion St. George heard such a ratling in the skies and such a lumbring in the Earth that he expected some strange event to follow then casting his eyes aside he saw the Enchanted Garden to Uanish and the Champion of Wales to awake from his long sleep wherein he had remained seven years who like one risen from a swoon for a time stood speechless not able to utter one word till he beheld the Noble Champion of England that stedfastly gazed upon the Necromancer who at the vanishing of the Enchantment presently gave a most terrible groan and died The two Champions after many Courteous imbracings and kind greetings revealed each to other the strange Adventures they had passed St. David told how he was bound by the Oath of Knighthood to perform the Adventure of Ormandine whereupon S. George presently delivered the Enchanted Sword with the Necromancer's Head into the hands of St. David the which he presently dissevered from his Body But here must my weary Muse leave St. David Travelling with Ormandine's Head to the Tartarian Emperor and speak of the following Adventures that hapned to St. George after his departure from the Enchanted Garden CHAP. XI How St. George arrived at Tripoly in Barbary where he stole away Sabra the King's Daughter of Egypt from the Blackmoor King and how she was known to be a pure Virgin by the means of the Lion and what hapned to him in the same Adventure SAint George after the Recovery of St. David as you heard in the former Chapter dispatched his Iourney toward Christendom whose pleasant Banks he long desired to behold and thought every day a year till his Eyes enjoyed a sweet sight of his Native Country of England upon whose Chalky Cliffs he had not Rode in many a weary Summer's day therefore committing his Iourney to a fortunate Success he travelled through many a dangerous Countrey where the People were not only of a bloody disposition given to all manner of wickedness but the Soil greatly annoyed with wild Beasts through which he could not well Travel without danger therefore he carried continually in one of his hands a Weapon ready Charged to encounter with the Heathen People if occasion should serve and in the other hand a bright blaze of Fire to defend him from the fury of wild Beasts if by violence they assailed him Thus in extream Danger Travelled the Noble and Adventurous Champion St. George till he arrived in the Territories of Barbary in which Countrey he purposed for a time to remain and to seek for some Noble Atchievement whereby his Fame might be encreased and his honoured Name King through all the Kingdoms of the World and being encouraged with this Princely Cogitation the Noble Champion of England climbed to the top of a huge Mountain where he unlocked his Bever which before had not been lifted up in many a day and beheld the wide and spacious Countrey how it was beautified with losty Pines and adorned with many goodly Palaces But amongst the number of the Towers and Cities which the English Champion beheld there was one which seemed to exceed the rest both in Situation and brave Buildings which he supposed to be the chiefest City in all the Countrey and the place where the King usually kept his Court
smile upon their Travels for three braver Knights did never cross the Seas nor make their Adventures into strange Countries CHAP. III. How St. George 's Sons after they were Knighted by the English King travelled towards Barbary and how they redeemed the Duke's Daughter of Normandy from Ravishment that was assailed in a Wood by three Tawny-moores and also of the tragical Tale of the Virgin 's strange Miseries with other Accidents MAny days had not these three magnanimous Knights endured the danger of the swelling Waves but with a prosperous and successful Wind they arrived upon y e Tirritories of France where being no sooner safely set on shore but they bountifully rewarded their Marriners and betook themselves fully to their intended Travels Now began their costly trapped Steeds to pace it like the scudding Winds and with their waâ—like Hoofs to thunder on the beaten passages now began true Honour to flourish in their princely Breasts and the Renown of their Father's Atchievements to encourage their Desires Although tender Youth sat but budbing on their Cheeks yet portly Man-hood triumpht in their Hearts and although their childish Arms as yet never tryed the painful adventures of Knight-hood yet bore they high and princely Cegitations in as great esteem as when theâ— Father slew the burning Dragon in Aegypt for preservation of their Mother's life Thus travelled they to the farther part of the Kingdom of France guided only by the Direction of Fortune without any Adventure worth the noâ—ing till at last riding thorow a mighty Fortess standing on the Borders of Lâ—sitania they heaâ—d as at off as it were the ruful cries of a distressed Woman which in this manner filled the Air with â—â—hees of her Moans O Heavens said she be kind and pitiful unto a Maiden in Distress and send some happy Passengers that may deliver me from these inhumane Monsters This woful and unexpected noise caused the Knights to alight from their Horses and to see the event of this Accident So after they had tyed their Steeds to the body of a Pine-tree by the Râ—ins of their Bâ—â—oleâ— they walked on foot into the thickest of the Forrest with their Weapons drawn ready to withstand any assaysment whatsoever and as they drew near to the distressed Uirgin they heard her breathe forth this piâ—iful moving Lamentation the second time Come come some courteous Knight or else I must forgo that precious Jewel which all the World can never again recover These words caused them to make the more speed and to run the nearest way for the Maiden's Succour Where approaching her presence they found her tyed by the locks of her own hair to the trunk of an Orange-tree and three cruel and inhumane Negroes standing ready to dispoil her of her pure and undefiled Chastity and with their Lusts to blast the blooming Bud of her dear and unspotted Uirginity But when St. George's Sons be held her lovely Countenance besmeared in Dust that before seemed to be as beautiful as Roses in Milk and her crystal Eyes the perfect patterns of Bâ—shfulness imbrewed in floods of Tears at one instant they ran upon the Negroes and sheathed their angry Weapons in their loathsome Bowels the Leacherâ— being slain their Blonds sprinkled about the Forrest and their Bodies cast out as a Prey for ravenous Beasts to feed on they unbound the Maiden and like courteous Knights demanded the cause of her Captivity and by what means she came into that solitary Forrest Most noble Knights quoth she and true renowned Men at Arms to tell the cause of my passed Misery were a prick onto my Soul for the Discourse thereof will burst my Heart with Grief but consider your Nobilities the which I do perceive by your princely Behaviour and kind Courtesies extended towards me being a Virgin in Distress under the hands of these lustful Negroes whom you have justly murthered shall so much imbolden me though unto my Heart 's great Grief to Discourse the first cause of my miserable Fortune My Father quoth she whilst gentle Fortune smiled upon him was Duke and sole Commander of the State of Normandy a Country now situated in the Kindom of France whose Lands and Revenues in his prosperity was so great that he continually kept as stately a Train both of Knights and Gentlemen as any Prince in Europe wherefore the King of France greatly envied and by bloody Wars deposed my Father from his Princely Dignity who for safeguard of his life in company of me his only Heir and Daughter betook us to these solitary Woods where ever since we have secretly remained in a poor Cell or Hermitage the which by our industrious Pains hath been Builded with plants of Vines and Oaken boughs and covered over-head with clods of Earth and turfs of â—raâ—s seven Years we have continued in great Extremities sustaining our Hunger with the Fruits of Trees and quenching of our Thirst with the Dew of Heaven falling nightly upon fragrant Flowers and here instead of princely Attire imbroidered Garments and damask Vestures we have been constrained to cloath our selves with Flowers the which we have painfully woven up together here instead of Musick that wont each morning to delight our Ears we have the whilstling Winds resounding in the Woods our Clocks to tell the Minutes of the wandring Nights are Snake and Toads that sleep in roots of rotten Trees our Canopies to cover us are not wrought of Median Silk the which Indian Virgins Weave upon their silver Looms but the fable Clouds of Heaven when as the chearful day hath closed her crystal Windows up Thus in this manner continued we in this solitary Wilderness making both Birds and Beasts our chief Companions these merciless Tawny-moores whose hateful Breasts you have made to water the parched Earth with streams of Blood who as you see came into our Cell thinking to have found some store of Treasure but casting their gazing Eyes upon my Beauty they were presentl◠〈…〉 with lustfull Desires only to crop the sweet Bâ—d of my Virginity then with furious and dismal Countenance more black than the 〈◊〉 Garments of sad Meâ—ponisâ—it when she mournâ—ully writes of bloudy Frageâ—hes and with Hearts more cruel than was Nero 's the tyranous Roman Emperour when he beheld the Entrails of his natural Mother laâ—d open by his inhumane and merciless Commandment or when he stood upon the highest top of a mighty Mountain to see that famous and imperial City of Rome set on fire by the remorseless hands of his unrelenâ—ing Ministers that added unhallowed Flames to his unholy Furies In this kind I say these merciless and wicked minded Negroes with violent hands took my aged Father and most cruelly bound him to the blasted Body of a withered Oak standing before the entry of his Cell where neither the rever and honour of his silver Hairs glistering like the frozen Isikles upon the Northern Mountains nor the strained Sighs of his Breast wherein the Pledge of Wisdom was inthronized nor all my Tears
Nations and Kingdoms the Kings of those Countries assembled together all the Forces they could make and with the greatest expedition they could use marched into the Plains of Babylon The first that came thither mas the King of Arabia attended with an Army of Twenty Thousand Men whereof Eight Thousand were mountted on Arabian Coursers being armed with Spears and Targets so swift and dexterous in their undertakings that they seldom mist of atchieving any business they went about His Pavilion was of a Uiolet colour fringed with yellow to distinguish of what Country he was of The next was the Soldan of Persia himself with an Army of Ten Thousand Horsemen and Thirty Thousand Foot of which Nine Thousand were Pioneers to level the way for the Arâ—ies matching and to dig Trenches for the assaulting of any Castle or City His Pavilion was red fringed with Orange-fawny being mounted on a Hill to be the more conspicuous to the Beholders Next was the King of Egypt with Twenty-five Thousand men of which three hundred were Magicians or 〈◊〉 to charm and bewâ—tch the Christian Army that they might not fight His Pavilion was Blue fringed with black and was placed on the Right-hand of the King of Arabia Soon after came the great Cham of Tartary with an Army of thirty thousand men all in quilted Jackets so thick wrought that no Arrow could pierce them They were all armed with Steel Gantlets and had Swords of a hands breadth and withal so sharp that they would cut off a man at the â—â—â—ble with a blow His Pavilion was of a Primrose colour with a White fringe which was placed on the Left-hand of the Soldan of Persia. Next came the King of Morocco with two thousand Horsemen mounted all on Barbary Steeds armed with Skins of Stags so thick and tough that no sword could cut through them he had also ten thousand Footmen with Iron Marâ—s having round balls at the end of them of four or five pound weight therewith to dash out the Christians brains His Pavilion and the Fringe thereof was all black to signifie black and dismal days to ensue He was placed next to the King of Egypt The next that arrived in the fruitful Fields of Babylon was the King of Parthia with an Army consisting of fifteen thousand men He had also an hundred Elephants carrying Towers on their backs in each of which ten men might stand and fight This King was in stature four foot higher than most men having each Limb answerable thereto so that he wore a sword of two yards in length the pummel whereof weighed twenty pound His Pavilion was of sky-colour fringed with sea-green and was placed next to the King of Morocco Next was the Emperour or Grand Signior of the Turks accompanied with ten thousand Janisaries armed with sharp Scimiters so keen they would cut a Bolt of Iron asunder He was armed in a Coat of Mail of burnisht Silver having on his head a white Turbant and a Pendant on it wherein was depictured a half Moon with this Motto still encreasing His Pavilion was green with silver and gold fringe and was placed on the Right-hand of the Soldan of Persia. After him came the Prince of Tripoly accompanied with â—ouâ— Gyants of a marvellous size and bigness whose names were Garion Carus Phidon and Rhapsarus those bore on their necks great knotty Oaks with which they could strike two yards déep into the ground and were most dreadful to behold He had also with him a deformed Creature called a Sagitary being half a Man and half a Horse who could run as swift as a Ship can sail having wind and weather His offensive weapon was a Bow with which he shot poysoned Arrows and was so expert therein that he could shoot to a hairs breadth This Prince of Tripoly was encamped next to the King of Parthia and had a Pavilion of a Pease blossom colour â—ringed with Murrey After him came the Count Palatine of Trebizond with fifteen hundred Cross-bow-men all armed in Stéel Corslets He had also thrée thousand men that used slings with which they would eractly hit whatever they aimed at and that at a great distance from them On his shield was painted a Griffin grasping of a Christian with this Motto siezed of his Prey His Pavilion was of an azure colour fringed with red and was placed next to the Emperour or Grand Signior of the Turks The next that appeared on the Babylonian Plains for the destruction of of the Christians was the Bassa of Aleppo who brought with him a hundred wains loaden with balls of wild-fire sulpher and certain Engines called Calthorps being little things made with four pricks of Iron of such a fashion that which way soever they be thrown one point will always strick up like a nail and these were to be thrown into the Christians Army to spoil the feet of their Horses His Pavilion was of an Iron-gray colour and was placed next to the Count Palatine of Trebizond Next was the Mamaluck of Damascus attended with six thousand Horse and six thousand Footmen He had also in his Army a deformed Monster from the shoulders downwards shaped like a man but his head and face like to that of a horse being a present sent him from the Cham of Tartary and from whom descended the horse-faced Tartar kill'd by Count Sereni This Mamalucks Pavilion was of yellow intermixed with black and fringed with red being placed next to the â—assa of Allepo Many other Kings Princes and Emperors were engaged in this enterprize whose names would be too tedious here to recite insomuch that there was assembled such an Army as made the earth to shake under the weight thereof being more in number then that of Xerxes which drank up ' whole Rivers dry as ' they went or then that of the Macedonian Alexander with which he conquered the greatest part of the World Being thus in this manner assembled together the Soldan of Persia as one of the chiefect of the Association gathered the greatest Princes and Captains to his Pavilion where he entertained them with a costly Banquet and then made unto them this following Dration Most Mighty Kings Princes and Captains of this invincible Army It is not unknown unto you what injuries and mischiefs we have received from the Christian Armies under the conduct of those persons whom they called the seven Champions of Christendom to enumerate them all in particular would make my Oration too tedious unto you I shall therefore only give you some few instances What injury did St. George the Champion of England unto Ptolomy King of Egypt by stealing away his daughter as also from Almidor King of Morocco his dearest Lady and Mistress did not the Kings Daughter of Thesialy run away from her Country by the sly insinuations of St. Denis of France as also the King of Ierusalems Daughter by the like perswasion of St. Iames of Spain what intollerable injury was it to the King of Thracia to
have his fair Daughter Kessalinde tempt'd away from her Country by the Italian Champion but much more from the Champion of Scotland to be deprived of his other six Daughters did not the Welch Champion slay the Count Palatine of Tartary in his Fathers Court besides infiuite other mischiefs losses and disgraces we have received from them all which whilst they lived we were not able to revenge but now since Death hath been so kind to take them out of the World let us pluck up our courages and manfully sight in revenge of our injuries let pity be exiled from our thoughts neither sparing old Age for their hoary head nor the tender infant for his pitiful cry let not the tears of Matrons find regard nor the wailings of Widows any respect but let all be destined to the sword that we may have a general triumph in their utter confusion This Dration was received with a general applause each one protesting their utmost endeavours for the extirpation of Christianity and never to sheath their swords till they had laid the European Cities equal with the dust and their stately Monuments in ruine like to the lofty Pyramids of Troy And now considering by experience the fatal effects of their former disâ—ord in electing a General and how necessary it was to have one Commander in chief to avoid all controversie it was dâ—creed amongst them that siâ— of the chiefest should be picked forrth and out of them one to be chosen by Lot to be their General These six were the King of Arabia the King of Persia the Soldan of Babylon the King of Egypt the Emperour of the Turks and the King of Morocco The Lots being cast it fell to the share of the Soldan of Babylon to be their General the Emperour of the Turks was appointed Lieutenant General the King of Persia Major General and the King of Arabia by reason of the swiftness of his Coursers Scout-Master General Other Kings and Princes had appointed unto them several other offices according to their quality and capacity they had in the seats of War So that all things considered they seemed to be an Army invincible being for number like the Army of Xerxes which drank whole Rivers dry and for Warlike Provisions so much and plentiful as far excâ—ded all numbers of Arithmetick Here will we leave this mighty Army in the Plains of Babylon and come to tell ye of the great preparations the Christians made to resist them but first we shall describe the valiant arts of St. Georges three Sons and how they hearing of this great Army intended for the ruine of Chistendom returned home to fight in defence of their Country CHAP. II. How St. George's Three Sons left England to seek Adventures in Forreign Countries how they Arrived in Sicily and killed a terrible Monster named Pongo How Urania the King of Sicily's Daughter fell in love with Sir Guy with other things which happened YOU may remember in the Second Part of this famous History we left St. Georges three Sons in the English Court where they had not continued long after their Fathers death but growing weary of idleness and being more desirous to follow the Camp of Mars then to dally with Ladies in the Court of Venus they resolved to betake themselves to â—ravel and to seek out adventures in Foreign Countries and having unparted their mind to the King they furnished themselves with all things necessary for such a journey and bâ—â—ding the fruitful â—oyl of England 〈◊〉 they in a few weeks sailing arrived on the Coasts of Sicily where marching up higher into the Country they saw many Houses but no Inhabitants yea whole Towns of empty Houses but neither Man Woman nor Child within them which made them mistrust some grievous Pestilence had lately overspread that Country and made it desolate of Inhabitants wherefore to avoid any infection which might happen unto them they took up their lodging in the open Fields having only the starâ—y Firmament for their Canopy Thus sweetly reposeing on their Mother Earth they slept as soundly as if they had laid on Beds of Downe and been surrounded with Curtains of the purest Arabian Silk Thus did they sleep securely until such time as Aurora began to guild the Firmament with her bright Rayes and to usher in Phoebus golden light when suddenly they were awaked with a most horrible noise which séemed to be sent from the déep Abyss and to be able to rend the Rocks asunder where upon they suddenly buckled on their Armour and stood upon their Guard and indeed it was but high time for at that instant they saw coming towards them a most deformed Monster of an excessive bigness and terrible shape having Eyes like burning sawcers and Claws sharper than Eagles â—allons He seemed to move like a high Tower or Pyramid and with his weight to make the Earth to tremble the sight of this ugly Monster so sâ—artled their Horses that they would hardly endure the bit but snorting and stumping the Earth with their feet showed the dread they had of such a sight but these thrée valiant Knights in whom was sown the seeds of true magnanimity stood fearless to abide what danger soever might happen The first whom this fierce Monster made unto was the valiant Knight Sir Guy who nothing daunted at his hideous shape having put his Spear in his Rest ran furiously against him but the Monster being armed with scales far harder than brass his Spear shiver'd in a thousand pieces then drawing out his trusty Fauchion he assailed the Monster with manly stroaks who on his part was not backward in defence but bolting upright on his tail stretched forth one of his paws and with the same grasped so hard on the arm of Sir Guy that he had well near siezed on him had not Sir David at that instant come in ond with his sword cut the Monsters paw quite off leaving the claws so firmly fixt on Sir Guy's Arm that notwithstanding the goodness of his armour it was very hard to be gotten off In the mean time the valiant and renowned Knight Sir Alexander with great force sot upon the monster giving him such a blow upon the head as made him to reel who with his tail striking of Sir Alexander so wrapped the same about his horses legs that not able to stand he came over and over with the Kniht The Monster seeing him on the ground was making towards him whom Sir David met with such a lusty thrust on his breast that though it pierced not the same it laid the Monster flat on his back which was no sooner done but Sir Guy nimblp leaping from off his horse thrust his sword down the Monsters Throat who lay gasping for breath whereby he rived his heart in sunder yet notwithstanding the same the Monsters Teeth were so kéen that he bit the Knights sword intwo leaving the one half in his Throat and withal sent forth such a hideous yell as surpassed the roaring
began to roar such an infernal and harsh melody that the inchanted Rock burst in twain and then Kalyb's Charms lost their effect Her Magick no longer endured than the term of an hundred years the which as then was fully finished and brought to an end then the Obligation which she subscribed with her dearest blood and sealed with her own hands brought up a Witness against her by which she knew and fully perswaded her self that her Life was fully finished therefore in this most fearful manner she began to make her last Will and Testament First welcome said she my sad Executors welcome my Grave and everlasting Tomb for you have digged it in the fiery Lakes of Phlegeton my winding sheet wherein to shrowd both my Body and contemned Soul is a Cauldron of boiling Lead and Brimstone and the Worms that should consume my Carkass are fiery Forks which toss burning Fire-brands from place to place from Furnace to Furnace and from Cauldron to Cauldron therefore attend to Kalyb's woful Testament and engrave the Legacy she gives in Brass Rolls upon the burning Banks of Acheron First These eyes that now too late weep hapless tears I give unto the Watry Spirits for they have wrackt the treasures hidden in the deepest Seas to satisfie their most unsatiable looks Next I bequeath these hands which did subscribe the bloody Obligation of my perpetual banishment from Joy unto those Spirits that hover in the Air my Tongue that did conspire against the Majesty of Heaven I give to those Spirits which have their being in the fire my earthly heart I bequeath to those gross Demons that dwell in the Dungeon of the Earth and the rest of my Condemned Body to the Torments due to my deservings Which strange and fearful Testament beeing no sooner ended but all the Spirits generally at one instant seized upon the Enchantress and dismembred her Body in a thousand pieces and divided her Limbs to the four Elements one Member to the Air another to the Water another to the Fire and another to the Earth which were carried away in a moment by the Spirits that departed with such a horror that all things within the hearing thereof suddenly died both Beasts Birds and all creeping Worms which remained within the compass of those inchanted Woods the trees which before were wont to flourish with green leaves withered away and died the blâ—des of graâ—s perished for want of natural moisture which the watry Clouds deâ—ied to nourish in so wicked a place Thus by Iudgment of the Heavens sensless things perished for the wickedness of Kalyb whom we leave to her endless Torments and return to the Seven worthy Champions of Christendom whose laudable Adventures Fame hath inâ—olled in the Books of Memory CHAP. III. How St. George slew the burning Dragon in Egypt and Redeemed Sabra the King's Daughter from Death How he was betray'd by Elmido the black King of Morocco and sent to the Soldan of Persia where he slew two Lions and remained seven years in Prison AFter the Seven Champions departed from the Enchanted Cave of Kalyb they made their abode in the City of Coventry for the space of nine Months in which time they erected a costly Monument over the Herse of S. George's Mother and â—o in that time of the Year when the Spring had overspread the Earth with the Mantles of Flota they Armed themselves like wandring Knights and took their Iourney to seek for Foreign Adventures accounting no Dishonour so great as to spend their days in Idleness Atchieving no Memorable Accident So travelling for the space of thirty days without any Adventure worthy the noting at length they came to a broad Plain whereon stood a Brazen Pillar where seven several ways met which caused the seven Knighis to forsake each others Company and to take every one a contrary way where we leave six of the Champions to their contented Travels and wholly discourse upon the Fortunate Success of our Worthy English Knight who after some few Months Travel happily arrived within the Territories of Aegypt which Country as then was then was greatly annoyed with a dangerous Dragon but before he had Iournied fully within the distance of a Mile the silent Night approached and solitary stillness took possession of all living things at last he espied an old poor Hermitage wherein he purposed to rest his Horse and to take some repast after his weary Iourney till the Sun had renewed his Morning Light that he might fall to his Travel again but entring the Cottage he found an Ancient Hermit overworn with years and almost consumed with Grief with whom in this manner he began to confer Father said he for so you seem by your Gravity may a Traveller for this Night crave Entertainment within your Cottage not only for himself but his Horse or is there some City near at hand where unto I may take my Journey without danger The old Man starting at the sudden approach of St. George replyed unto him in this order Sir Knight quoth he of thy Country I need not demand for I know it by thy Burgonet for indeed thereon was graven the Arms of England but I sorrow for thy hard Fortune that it is thy Destiny to arrive in this our Country of Egypt wherein is not left sufficient alive to bury the Dead such is the Distress of this Land through a Dangerous and Terrible Dragon now ranging up and down the Country which if he be not every day appeased with the Body of a true Virgin which he devoureth down his Venomous Bowels that day so neglected will he breathe such a stink from his Nostrils whereof grows a most grievous Plague and Mortality of all things which use hath been observed four and twenty years and now there is not left one true Virgin but the King's Daughter throughout Egypt which Damsel to morrow must be offered up in Sacrifice to the Dragon therefore the King hath made Proclamation that if any Knight dare prove so adventurous as to Combat with the Dragon and preserve his Daughter's Life he shall in Reward have her to his Wife and the Crown of Egypt after his Decease This large proffer so encouraged the English Knight that he vowed either to Redeem the King's Daughter or else to lose his Life in that honourable Enterprize So taking his repose and nightly rest in the old Man's Hermitage till the chearful Cock being the true Messenger of Day gave him warning of the Sun's uprise which caused him to buckle on his Armour and to furnish his Steed with strong Habiliments of War the which being done he took his Journey guided only by the old Hermit to the Valley where the King's Daughter should be offered up in Sacrifice But when he approached the sight of the Valley he espied afar off a most fair and beautiful Damsel attired in pure Arabian Silk going to Sacrifice guarded to the place of Death only by â—age and modest Matrons Which woful sight encouraged the
and other timber-work of the purest Ebony the covering thereof of pure Silk cross-barr'd with pure staves of Gold likewise an hundred of the Noblest Peers of Egypt Attired in Crimson Uelvet Mounted on Milk-white Coursers with Rich Caparisons attended the coming of St. George Thus were all appointed for his Honourable Entertainment which they performed in such Solemn Order that I lack Eloquence to describe it for when he first entred the Gates of the City he heard such a melodious Harmony of Heavenly sounding Mulick that it seemed in his conceit to surpass the sweetness of all that ever he had heard before Then they most Royally Presented him with a sumptuous and costly Ball of Gold and after invested him in that Ebony Chariot wherein he was Conducted to the Palace of King Ptolomy where this Noble and Princely-minded Champion surrendred up his Conquest and Uictory to the hands of the Beauteous Sabra where she with like Courtesie and more Humility requited his Bounty For at the first sight of the English Knight she was so Ravished with his Princely Countenance that for a time she was not able to speak Yet at last taking him by the hand she led him to a Rich Pavillion where she Unarmed him and with most Precious Salves imbalmed his Wounds and with her Tears washed away the Blood which being done she furnished a Table with all manner of Delicates for his repast where her Father was present who enquired of his Country Parentage and Name After the Banquet was ended he enstalled him with the Honour of Knighthood and put upon his feet a pair of Golden Spurs But Sabra who fed upon the Banquet of his Love conducted him to his Nights Repose where she sate upon his Bed and warbled forth most Heavenly Melody upon her Lute till his Senses were overcome with a swéet and sileÌ„nt sleep where she left him for that Night after his late dangerous Battel No sooner did Aurora's Radiant Blush display the Beauty of the East and the Sun shew his Morning Countenance but Sabra repaired to the English Champion's Lodging and at his first uprising presented him with a Diamond of most rare and excellent Uertue the which he wore upon his finger The next that entred his Lodging was the Treacherous Almidor the Black King of Morocco having in his Hand a Bowl of Graekish Wine which he offered to the Noble Champion St. George of England but at the receit thereof the Diamond the Lady gave him which he wore upon his finger waxed pale and from his Nose fell three drops of Blood whereat he started which sudden Accident caused the King's Daughter to suspect some secret Poison compounded in the Wine and thereupon so vehemently shrieked that a sudden Uproar presently overspread the whole Court whereby it came to the King's Intelligence of the proffered Treachery of Almidor against the English Champion but so dear was the Love of the Egyptian King to the Black King of Morocco that no belief of Treachery could enter into his mind Thus Almidor the second time was prevented of his practice whereat in Mind he grew more enraged than a chased Bore yet thinking the third should pay for all he expected a time wherein to work his wicked purpose which he brought to pass in this manner Many a day remained St. George in the Egyptian Court sometimes Revelling among the Gentlemen Dancing and Sporting with Ladies other times in Tilts and Tournaments with other Honourable Exercises Likewise long and extream was the Love that Beauteous Sabra bore to the English Champion of the which this Treacherous Almidor had Intelligence by many secret practises and many times his Ears were witnesses of their Discourses So upon an Evening when the Gorgeous Sun lay level with the Ground it was his Fortune to wander under a Garden Wall to take the coolness of the Evenings Air where unseen of the two Lovers he heard their Amorous Discourses as they sate dallying under a Bower of Roses Courting one another in this manner My Soul's delight my Heart 's chief comfort sweet George of England said the Love-sick Sabra Why art thou more obdurate than the Flint whom the Tears of my true Heart can never mollifie how many thousand sighs have I breathed for thy sweet sake which I have sent to thee as true Messengers of my Love yet never wouldst thou requite me with a smiling Countenance Refuse not her dear Lord of England that for thy Love will forsake Parents Country and Inheritance which is the Crown of Egypt and like a Pilgrim follow thee throughout the wide World On therefore knit that Gordian knot of Wedlock that none but Death can afterwards untie that I may then say The Sun shall lose his brightness the Moon her splendant beams the Sea her tydes and all things under the Cope of Heaven grow centrary to Kind before Sabra the Heir of Egypt prove Unconstant to sweet George of England These words so fired the Champion's heart that he was almost intangled in the snares of Love which before-time only affected Martial Discipline he yet to try her Patience a little more made her this Answer Lady of Egypt Can'st thou not be content that I have ventured my Life to free thee from Death but I should link my future Fortunes in a Woman's Lap and so bury all my Honours in Oblivion No no Sabra George of England is a Knight born in a Country where true Chivalry is nourisht and hath sworn to search the World so far as ever the Lamp of Heaven doth lend his Light before he tie himself in the troublesome State of Marriage therefore attempt me no more that am a Stranger and a Wanderer from place to place but seek to aim at higher states as the King of Morocco who will attempt to climb to Heaven to gain thy Love and good Liking At which speeches she suddenly replied in this manner The King of Morocco is as bloody minded as a Serpent but thou more gentle then a Lamb his Tongue as ominous as the screeching Night Owl but thine more sweet than the Morning Lark his kind embracings like the stinging Snakes but thine more pleasant than the creeping Vine What if thou beest a Knight of a strange Country thy Body is more precious to mine Eves than Kingdoms to mine Heart There stay Reply'd the English Champion I am a Christian thou a Pagan I Honour God in Heaven thou Earthly Shadows here below therefore if thou â—â—ilt obtain my Love and Liking thou must forsake thy Mahomet and be Christned in our Christian Faith With all my Soul answered the Egyptian Lady I will forsake my Countrey Gods and for thy Love become a Christian and therewithal she burst a Ring in twain the one half she gave to him in pledge of Love and kept the other half for her self and so for that time departed the Garden During all the time of their Discourse the Treacherous minded Almidor stood listning to their speeches and fretted inwardly to
vanish in a moment that the hour of her Benevolence might approach other times comforting his sad cogitations with the remembrance of her true Chastity and long continued Constancy for his sake comparing her Love unto Thisbe's her Chastity to Diana's and her Constancy to Penelope's Thus spent he the time away till the glorious Sun began to decline the Western parts of the Earth when the Palmers should receive her wonted benevolence against which time the English Champion placed himself in the midst of them that expected the wished hour of her coming who at the time appointed came to the Palace Gate attired in Mourning Uesture like Polixena King Priam's Daughter when she went to Sacrifice her hair after a careless manner hung wavering in the wind almost changed from yellow burnisht brightness to the colour of Silver through her long continued Sorrows and Grief of Heart her eyes seemed to have wept Seas of Tears and her wonted Beauty to whose Fairness all the Ladies in the World did sometimes yield obeysance was now stained with the pearled dew that trickled down her Cheeks Where after the sorrowful Queen had justly numbred the Palmers and with vigilant eyes beheld the Princely Countenance of Saint George her Colour began to change from Red to White and from White to Red as though the Lilly and the Rose had strove for superiority but yet colouring her Cogitations under a smooth Brow first delivered her Alms to the Palmers then taking St. George aside with him she thus kindly began to confer Palmer said she thou resemblest both in Princely Countenance and Courteous Behaviour that thrice honoured Champion of England for whose sake I have daily bestowed my◠benevolence for this seven years his Name is St. George his Fame I know thou hast heard Reported in many a Country to be the bravest Knight that ever buckled on Steel Helm Therefore for his sake will I grace thee with the chiefest Honour in this Court instead of thy Russet Gaberdine I will Cloath thee in Purple Silk and instead of thy Ebon Staff thy hand shall wield the richest Sword that ever Princely eye beheld To whom the Noble Champion St. George replyed in this Courteous manner I have heard quoth he the Princely Atchievements and Magnanimous Adventures of that Honoured English Knight which you so dearly Affected bruited through many Princes Court and how for the Love of a Lady he hath endured a long Imprisonment from whence he never looked to return but to spend the remnant of his days in lasting misery At which the Queen let fall from her eyes such a shower of Pearled Tears and sent such number of strained Sighs from her grieved heart that her Sorrow séemed to exceed the Queen's of Carthage when she had for ever lost the sight of her beloved Lord. But the brave-minded Champion purposed no longer to continue secret but with his Discovery to convert her sorrowful moans to smiling joy And so casting off his Palmers Weed acknowledged himself to the Queen and therewithal shewed the half Ring whereon was engraven this Poesie Ardeo Affectione which Ring in former time as you may read before they had very equally divided betwixt them to be kept in remembrance of their plighted Faith Which unexpected sight highly pleased the Beauteous Sabra and her Ioy so exceeded the bounds of Reason that she could not speak one word but was constrained through her new conceited pleasure to breath a sad sigh or two into the Champion's Bosom who like a true ennobled Knight entertained her with a loving Kiss where after these two Lovers had fully Discoursed each to other the secrets of their Souls Sabra how she continued for his Love a pure Uirgin through the secret vertue of a Golden Chain steept in Tyger's Blood the which she wore seven times double about her Ivory Neck took him by the gentle hand and led him into her Husband's Stables where stood his approved Palfrey which she for seven years had fed with her own hands who no sooner espied the return of his Master but he was more proud of his Presence than Bucephalus of the Macedonian Monarch when he most joyfully returned in Triumph from any Uictorious Conquest Now is the time said the excellent Princess Sabra that thou mayest seal up the quittance of our former Loves therefore with all convenient spéed take thy approved Palfrey and thy trusty Sword Askalon which I will presently deliver into thy hands and with all celerity convey me from this unhappy Countrey for the King my Husband with all his adventurous Knights are now rode forth on Hunting whose absence will further our flight but if you stay till his return it is not a hundred of the hardiest Knights in the World can bear me from this accursed Palace At which words St. George having a mind graced with all excellent Uertues replyed in this manner Thou knowest my Divine Mistress that for thy Love I would endure as many Dangers as Iason suffered in the Isle Calcos so I might at last enjoy the pleasure of true Virginity For how is it possible thou canst remain a pure Maid when thou hast been a Crowned Queen these seven years and every night hast entertained a King into thy Bed If thou findest me not a true Maid quoth she in all that thou canst say or do send me back hither again unto my Foe whose Bed I count more loathsome than a Den of Snakes and his sight more Ominous than the Crocodiles As for the Morocco Crown which by force of Friends was set upon my head I wish that it might be turned into a blaze of quenchless Fire so it might not endanger my Body and for the Name of Queen I account it a vain Title for I had rather to be the English Lady than the greatest Empress in the World At which speeches St. George willingly condescended and with all speed purposed to go into England And therewithal sealed an assurance with as sweet a kiss as Paris gave to lovely Hellena when she consented to forsake her Native Countrey and to Travel from her Husband Menelaus into Troy So losing no time lest delay might breed danger Sabra furnished her self with sufficient Treasure and speedily delivered to St. George his trusty Sword which she had kept seven years for his sake with all the Furniture belonging to his approved Steed who no sooner received her proffered gifts which he accounted dearer than the Asian Monarchy but presently he Sadled his Horse and beautified his strong Limbs with rich Caparisons In the mean time Sabra through fair Speeches and Promises obtained the good will of an Eunuch that was appointed for her Guard in the King's absence to accompany them in their Travel and to serve as a trusty Guide if occasion required which with the Lady stood ready at the Champion's commandment who no sooner had furnished himself with Habiliments of War belonging to so dangerous a Iourney but he set his beloved Mistriss upon a gentle Palfrey
to provide for the Pagans Entertainment So after due considerations the Champions departed in company of their betrothed Ladies who chose rather to live in their Husbands Bosoms than with their misbeliving Parents Where after some few days they arrived in the spacious Bay of Portugal in which Haven they Uowed by the honour of true Knighthood to meet again within six Months ensuing there to conjovn all their Christian Armies into one Legion Upon which plighted Resolution the worthy Champions departed one from another St. George into England St. Denis into France St. James into Spain St. Anthony into Italy St. Andrew into Scotland St. Patrick into Ireland St. David into Wales Whose pleasant Banks they had not beheld in many years before Where their Entertainments were as honourable as their hearts desired But to speak of the Mustring up of Soldiers in every Christian Kingdom and what strength arrived at the appointed time in the Bay of Portugal shall be discoursed in the sequel of this History and how troublesome Wars overspread the whole Earth where the Heroical Deeds of these Noble Champions shall at large be described Also the Overthrow of many Kings and Kingdoms Ruines of Towns and Cities and the decay of many flourishing Common-weals Likewise of the bloody Tragedies of many Unchristian Princes Whereat the Heavens will mourn to see the effusion of Blood trickle from the breasts of murthered Infants the heaps of slaughtered Damsels trampled to pieces by Souldiers Horses and the streets of many a City sprinkled with the blood of Reverend Age Therefore gentle Reader accept of this my Labour with a smooth Brow and kind Countenance and my weary Muse shall never rest till I have finished the pleasant History of these Heroical Champions CHAP. XIII How the Seven Champions of Christendom arrived with all their Troops in the Bay of Portugal the number of the Christian Armies and how St. George made an Oration to the Soldiers AFter the Seven Champions of Christendom arrived in their Native Countries and by true Reports had blazed abroad to every Princes ear the bloody Resolution of the Pagans and slow the Provinces of Africa and Asia had Mustred up their Forces to the Invasion of Europe All Christian Kings then at the entreaty of the Champions appointed Mighty Armies of well approved Soldiers both by Sea and Land to intercept the Infidels wicked intention Likewise by the whole consent of Christendom the Noble and Fortunate Champion of England St. George was appointed chief General and principal Leader of the Armies and the other six Champions were Elected for his Council and chief Assistants in all Attempts that appertained either to the benefit of Christendom or the furtherance of their Fortunate Proceedings This Honourable War so fired the hearts of many youthful Gentlemen and so encouraged the minds of every common Soldier that some Mortgaged their Lands and at their own proper Charges furnished themselves some sold their Patrimonies to serve in these Honourable Wars and other some forsook Parents Kindred Wife Children Friends and Acquaintance and without constraint of Pressing offered themselves to follow so Noble a General as the Renowned Champion of England and to spend their Blood in the just Quarrel of their Native Country To be brief one might behold the Stréets of every Town and City throughout all the Dominions of Europe beautified with Troops of Soldiers which thirsted after nothing but Fame and Honour Then the joyful sound of thundring Drums and the Ecchees of silver Trumpets summoning them to Arms that followed with as much willingness as the Grecians followed Agamemn on to the woful overthrow of Troy For by that time the Christian Champions had sported themselves in the Bosome of their kind Mistresses the forward Captains taken their Courtly Pastimes and the willing Souldiers bad adieu to their Friends and Acquaintance the Spâ—ing had covered the Earth with a nâ—w Liveâ—y which was the appointed time the Christian Armies should meet in Portugal there to joyn their several Troops into one Legion which Promise caused the Champions to bid adieu to their Native Countrys and with all speed to â—uckle on their Furnitures to hoise up Sails where after a short time the wind with a calm and prosperous Gale cast them happily into the Bay of Portugal The first that arrived in that spacious Haven was the Noble Champion S. George with an hundred thousand Couragious English Soldiers whose forwardness betâ—kened a fortunate success and their willing minds a joyful Uictory His Army set in Battel-aray seemed to countervail the number of the Macedonian Soldiers wherewith worthy Alexander Conquered the Western World his Horsemen being in number twenty thousand were armed all in black Corssets Their Launces bound about with Plates of Steel their Steeds covered with Mail three times double Their Colours were the sanguine Cross supported by a Golden Lyon His sturdy Bow-men whose Conquering grey-Goose wing in former times hath terrified the circled Earth being in number likewise twenty thousand clad all in red Mandilians with Caps of the same colour bearing thereon likewise a sanguine Cross being the true Badge and Honour of England Their Bows of the strongest Yew and their Arrows of the soundest Ash with forked heads of Steel and their Feathers bound on with green War and twisted Silk His Musqueteers being in number ten thousand their Musquets of the widest bore with Firelocks wrought by curious workmanship yet of such wonderful lightness that they required no rest at all to ease their right aiming Arms. His Caliver shot likewise ten thousand of the smaller timbred Men but yet of as Couragious minds as the tallest Soldiers in his Army His Pikes and Bills to guard the waving Ensigns thirty thousand clad all with glistring bright Armour likewise followed ten thousand labouring Pioneers if occasion served to undermine any Town or Castle to intrench Forts or Sconces or to make a Passage through Hills and Mountains as worthy Hannibal did when as he made a way for his Souldiers through the lofty Alps that divide the Countreys of Italy and Spain The next that arrived within the Bay of Portugal was the Princely-minded Champion St. David of Wales with an Army of Fifty Thousand true born Britains furnished with all Habiliments of War for so Noble and Ualiant a Service to the high Reâ—own of his Countrey and true Honour of his Progeny Their Armour in richness nothing inferiour to the English mens Their Colours were a Golden Cross supported by a Silver Griffin which Escutcheon signified the ancient Arms of Wales for no sooner had St. George a sight of the Ualiant Britain but he caused his Musqueteers presently to entertain them with a Uolley of Shot to express their happy and joyful welcome to Shoar which speedily they performed so couragiously with such a ratling noise as though the Firmament had burst in â—under and the Earth made eccho to their thundring Melody But no sooner were the Skies cleared from the smoak of the reaking
of Morocco with his scattered Troops of Moors and Negroes returned from Hungary and by Fire and Sword had wasted many of their chiefest Towns and Forts whereby the Countrey was much weakned and the Commons compelled to sue for Mercy at the Champions hands who bearing true Christian minds within their hearts continually pity harboured vouchsafed to grant mercy to those that yielded their Lives to the pleasure of the Christian Knights But when St. George had intelligence of Almidor's approach with his weakned Troops he presently prepared his Soldiers in readiness to give the Moors a bloody Banquet which was the next Morning by break of day performed to the high honour of Christendom but the night before the Moors knowing the Countrey better than the Christians got the advantage both of Wind and Sun whereat St. George being something dismayed but yet not discouraged imboldned his Soldiers with many Heroicat Speeches proffering them frankly the Enemies Spoils and so with the Sun 's uprising entred Battel where the Moors fell before the Christians Swords as ears of Corn before the Reapers Sickles During this Conflict the Seven Champions still in the fore Front of the Battel so adventurously behaved themselves that they slew more Negroes than a hundred of the bravest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intended to make St. George's Prowess to shine brighter than the rest singled out the Morocco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long and dangerous Fight But St. George so Couragiously behaved himself with his trusty Sword that Almidor was constrained to yield to his Mercy The Army of the Moors séeing their King taken Prisoner presently would have fled but that the Christians being the lighter of foot overtook them and made the greatest slaughter of them that ever hapned in Barbary Thus after the Battel ended and the joyful sound of Uictory rang through the Christian Army the Soldiers furnished themselves with the Enemies Spoils and Marched by St. George's direction to the City of Tripoly being then almost unpeopled through the late slaughter which was there made In which City after they had rested some days and refreshed themselves with wholesome food the English Champion in Revenge of his former proffered Injuries by the Morocco King gave this severe Sentence of Death First He commanded a brazen Cauldron to be filled with boiling Lead and Brimstone Then Almidor to be brought to the plâ—â—e of Death by twelve of the Noblest Peers in Barbary therein to be consumed Flesh Blood and Bones which was duly performed within seven days following The brazen Cauldron was erected by the appointment of St. George directly in the middle of the chiefest Market-place under which a mighty hot fire continually burned for the space of eight and forty hours whereby the boiling Lead and Brimstone seemed to sparkle like fiery Furnaces in Hell and the heat to exceed the burning Oven at Babylon Now all things being thus prepared in readiness and the Christian Champions present to behold the woful spectacle the Condemned Blackmoor King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of fine Indian Silk his hands pinioned together with a Chain of Gold and his face covered with a Damask Scart his Attendants and chief Conductors twelve Moors Peers claâ— in sable Gowns of Taffaty carrying before him the Wheel of Fortune with the Picture of an Usurper climbling up with this Motto on his Breast I will be King in spite of Fortune Upon the top of the Wheel the Picture of a Monarch vaunting with this Motto on his Breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheel the Picture or perfect Image of a Deposed Potentate falling with his head downwards with this Motto on his Breast I have been a King while it pleased Fortune Which plainly signified the Chance of War and of inconstant Destiny His Guard was a hundred Christian Soldiers holding Fortune in disdain after them had attended a hundred of Morocco Uirgins in black Ornaments their hair bound up with Silver Wyres and covered with Ueils of black Silk signifying the Sorrow of their Countrey for the loss of their Sovereign In this mournful manner came the unfortunate Almidor to the boiling Cauldron which when he came near his heart waxed cold and his tongue devoâ—d of utterance for a time at last he brake forth into these earnest Protestations proffering more for his Life than the whole Kingdom of Barbary could perform Most Mighty and Invincible Champion of Christendom quoth he let my Life be Ransomed and Thou shalt yearly receive ten Tuns of tryed Gold Five hundred webs of woven Silk the which our Indian Maids shall sit and Spin with Silver Wheels an hundred Ships of spices and Refined Sugar shall be yearly paid thee by our Barbary Merchants an hundred Waggons likewise laden with Pearl and Jasper stones which by our cunning Lapidists shall be yearly chosen forth and brought thee home to England to make that blessed Country the richest within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will deliver up my Diadem with all my Princely Dignities and in company of these Morocco Lords like bridled Hories draw thee daily in a silver Chariot up and down the circled Earth till Death give end to our Lives Pilgrimage therefore most admired Knight at Arms let these salt tears that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtain one grant of comfort at thy hands for on my bended knees I beg for life that never before this time did kneel to Mortal Man Thou speakest in vain reply'd St. George not the Treasures hidden in the deepest Seas nor all the golden Mines of rich America shall redeem thy Life Thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practices in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereave me of my life through thy Treachery I endured a long Imprisonment in Persia where for seven years I drank foul Channel-water and sufficed my hunger with Bread of Bran Meal My Food was loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismal Dungeon where neither Sun nor the chearful light of Heaven lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered injuries the Heavens inforce me to a speedy Revenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Torment prepared for thy Death this brazen Cauldron filled with boiled Lead and Brimstone wherein thy accursed Body shall be speedily cast and boiled till thy detested Limbs be consumed to a watry substance in this sparkling liquor therefore prepare thy self to entertain the violent stroke of Death and willingly bid all thy Kingly Dignities farewell But yet I let thee understand that Mercy harbours in a Christian's heart and where Mercy dwells there faults are forgiven upon some humble penitence though thy Trespass deserves no pity but severe punishment yet upon these considerations I will grant thee liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy Gods Tarmagant and Apollo which
be the vain imagination of men and believe in our True and Everliving God under whose Banner we Christians have taken in hand this long War Secondly Thou shalt give Commandment that all thy Barbarous Nations be Christened in the Faith of Christ. Thirdly and lastly That thy three Kingdoms of Barbary Morocco and India swear true Allegiance to all Christian Kings and never to bear Arms but in the true Quarrel of Christ and his anointed Nations These things duly observed the Life shall be preserved and thy Liberty obtained otherwise look for no mercy but a speedy and most terrible death These words more displeased the unchristian King of Morocco than the Sentence of his Condemnation whereupon in these brief Speeches he set down his Resolution Great Potentate of Europe reply'd Almidor by whose Mightiness Fortune sits fettered in the Chains of Power my Golden Diadem and Regal Scepter by constraint I must deliver up But before I will forsake my Country-gods I will endure a hundred Deaths and before my Conscience be reformed to a new Faith the Earth shall be no Earth the Sea no Sea the Heaven no Heaven Thinkest thou now proud Christian by thy threatned Torments to make me forget my Creator and believe in thy God the supposed King of the Jews and basely born under an Ox's Stall No no accursed Christians you Off-spring of Cain you Generation of Ismael you Seed of Vipers and accursed through the World look for a speedy shower of Vengeance to Rain from Heaven upon you wicked Nations Your bloody practices have pierced the Battlements of Iove and your Tyrannies beaten open the Gate of Mighty Mahomet who had provided Whips of burning wyre to scourge you for your Cruelties proffered to and against his blessed Worshippers Now with this deadly Curse I bid you all farewell The Plagues of Egypt â—ight upon your Kingdom The Curse of Cain upon your Children the Famine of Ierusalem upon your Friends and the misery of Dedipus upon your selves This wicked resolution and baleful Curse was no sooner ended by the desperate minded Almidor but the impatience of St. George was so highly moved that he gave present commandment to the appointed Executioners to cast him into the bolling Cauldron which incontinently they performed to the terror of all the Beholders To see this woful Spectacle the Battlements of the Temple were so thronged with People the Houses covered with Women and Children and the Streets filled with Armed Soldiers that it was a wonder to behold amongst which multitudes there were some particular Persons that at the sight of Almidor's death fell down and brake their Necks but the general number as well of Pagans as Christians cryed with chearful voices Honour and Victory follow St. George of England for he hath Redeemed Barbary from a miserble Servitude Which joyful hearing so delighted the Seven Champions of Christendom that they caused their Conduits to run with Wines the Streets to be beautified with Bonefires and a sumptuous Banquet to be proclaimed through the City which after continued for the space of seven days in more magnificent Royalty than the Banquet of Babylon when the Macedonian Monarch returned from the World's Conquest The Champions Liberty procured such faithful Love in the hearts of the Morocco Peers that with a general Consent they chose S. George for their Lawful King where after they had invested him in the Princely Seat of the Morocco Pottentate they set the Crown upon his Head and after presented him with an Imperial Pall which the Kings of Barbary usually wore upon their Coronation-day protesting to forsake their Profane Religion and be Christened in the Faith of Christ. This promised Conversion of the Infidels more highly delighted the English Champion than to have the whole World's Honour at Command for it was the chiefest point of his Knightly Oath to advance the Faith of Christ and to enlarge the Bounds of Christindom After his Coronation was so solemnly performed the other six Champions conducted him to a Princely Palace where he took true Allegiance of the Morocco Lords by â—â—ighted Oath to be true to his Crown After this he established the Christian Laws to the benefit of the whole Country then he commanded all the Ceremonious Rites of Mahomet to be trodden under Foot and the true Gospel of Christ to be Preached likewise he caused all that did remain in Barbary to be Christened in the new Faith but these Observations continued but for a time as hereafter shall be discovered at large For Fame not intending to let the worthy Champion long to remain in the idle Bowers of Peace summoned them to pâ—rieveâ—e in the Noble Atchievements and to Muster up anew their Soldiers whose Armour Caukered Case had almost stained with Rust Therefore St. George committed the Government of the Country to four of the principal Peers of Morocco and Marched towards the Country of Egypt where lived Treacherous Ptolomy the Father of his beloved Lady Sabra whom he had left in the Kingdom of England In which Journey and happy arrival in Egypt we will leave the Seven Champions for a time and speak of the Faithless Infidels in Barbary after the departure of the Christians whose former Honours they slightly regarded For no sooner had St. George with his Martial Troops bidden their Country adieu but the Faithless Moors reconciled themselves to their formed Gods and purposed a speedy Revenge for the Death of Almidory against all Christians that remained within the Limits of that Hâ—aâ—hen Nation For there were many Soldiers wounded in the 〈…〉 likewise a number oppressed with sicknesâ— which the Christian Champions had left behind for their better recoveries upon whom the Barbarous Moors committed their first Tyranny for they caused the distressed Soldiers to be drawn upon Sleds to the uttermost parts of the City and there put them into a large and old Monastery which they presently set on fire and most inhumanely burned the Christian Soldiers and after converted the place into a filthy Lestall Many Women and succourless Children they dragged up and down the Streets till their Brains were dashed against the stones and the blood had covered the Earth with a purple hue Many other Cruelties were committed by the wicked Infidels against the distressed Christians which I purpose to pass over and wholly discourse of the woful and bloody murder of an English Merchant and his Wife in the same City of Tripoly The report whereof may force even merciless Tygers to relent and those eyes to shed springs of Tears that never wept before The bloody-minded Negro's violating both Oaths and Promises before plighted to St. George by violence set upon the Merchant's House where first they made a Massacre of his Servants and before his face cast their dead Bodies to hunger-starv'd Dogs Then coming to the Merchant they bound him fast with hempen Cords to the strongest post in his House and after took his Children being seven of the goodliest Boys that ever Nature framed
at every Course the Servitors brought in a Consort of Egyptian Ladies who on their Ivory Lutes strained forth such admired Harmony that it surpassed Orion's Musick which when he was cast into the Sea caused the Dolphins to bring him safe to the shore or the swiftness of Orpheus his silver Harp which made both Stones and Trees to dance or the melody of Apollo's inspiring Musick when he descended to the lower parts for the love of Daphne These pleasures so ravished the Christian Champions that they forgot the sound of Warlike Drums which were wont to call them fortly to bloody Battels But these delights continued but a short time for there arrived a Knight from England that brought such unexpected News to St. George that changed his Ioys into extream sorrow for after this manner begun the Messenger to tell his woful Tale Fair England 's Champion said he instead of Arms get Swallows wings and flie to England if ever thou wilt see thy beloved Lady for she is judged to be burned at a stake for murdering the Earl of Coventry whose lostful Desires would have stained her Honour with Infamy and made her the scorn of Vertuous Women Yet this Mercy is granted by the King of England that if within twelve Months a Champion may be sound that for her lake will venture his life if it be his fortune to overcome the the Challenger of her Death she shall live but if it be his fatal Destiny to be Conquered then must she suffer the heavy Judgment before pronounced therefore as you love the life of your chaste and beloved Lady haste into England delay no time for delay is dangerous and her life in hazard to be lost This woful Discourse struck such a terror to St. George's heart likewise to the Egyptian King her Father that for a time they stood gazing one in anothers face as though they had been bereaved of their wits notable to speak one word but at last St. George recovered his former Sense and breathed forth this sorrowful Lamentation O England O unkind England Have I adventured my Life in thy Defence and for thy Defence have lain in the Field of Mars buckled on my Armour in many a parching Summers-day and many a freezing Winters night when you have taken your quiet sleeps on Beds of Down and will you repay me with this discourtesie or rather undeserved wrong to adjure her spotless body to consuming fire whose blood if it be spilt before I come I vow never to draw my trusty Sword in England 's Quarrel more nor never account my self her Champion but I will rend my Warlike Colours into a thousand pieces the which I wear on my Burgoneâ— I mean the crimson Cross of England and wander unknown Countries obscurely from the sight of any Christian eye Is it possible that England will be so ungrateful to her Friend can that Renowned Country harbour such a Lustful Monster to seek to dishonour her within whose heart the Fountain of Vertue springs Or can that Noble City the Nurse and Mother of my Life entertain so vile a Homicide that will offer Violence to her whose Chastity and true Honour hath caused tameless Lions to sleep in her Lap. In this sorrowful manner wearied St. George the time away untill the Egyptian King whose Sorrow being as great as his put him from his Complaints and requested the English Knight to tell the true discourse of Sabra's proffered Uiolence and how she murdered the Lustful Earl of Coventry to whom after a bitter sigh or two the Messenger thus replied in this manner Most Noble Princes and Potentates of the Earth prepare your Ears to entertain the wofullest Tale that ever English Knight discoursed and your Eyes to weep Seas of brackish Tears I would I had no Tongue to tell it nor Heart to remember it but seeing I am compelled through the Love and Duty I owe the Noble Champions of Christendom to express it then thus it was It was the fortune nay I may say unhappy Destiny of your beloved Lady upon an Evening when the Sun had almost lodg'd in the West to walk without the Walls of Coventry to take the pleasures of the sweet Fields and flourishing Meadows which Flora had beautified in a Summers Livery but as she walked up and down sometimes taking pleasure to hear the chiruing Birds how they strained their silver Notes other times taking delight to see how Nature had covered both Kills and Pales with sundry â—orâ—y of Flowers then walking to see the Crystal running Rivers the murmuring Musick of whose Streams exceeded the rest for pleasure but she kind Lady delighting her self by the River side a sudden and strange alteration troubled her mind for the Chain of Gold that she did wear about her Neck presently changed colour from a yellow burnisht brightness to a dim paleness Her Kings fâ—ll from her Fingers and from her Nose fell drops of blood whereat her heart began to throb her ears to glow and every ioynt to tremble with fear This strange Accident caused her speedily to haste homewards But by the way she met the Earl of Coventry walking at that time to take the pleasure of the Evening Air with such a Train of worthy Gentlemen as though he had been the greatest Peer in England Whose sight when she beheld afar off her heart began to misgive thinking that Fortune had alotted those Gentlemen to proffer her some Injury so that upon her Cheeks Fear had set a Uermilion dye whereby her Beauty grew admirable which when the Earl beheld he was ravished therewith and deemed her the excellentest Creature that ever Nature framed their meeting was silent She shewed the humility of a Uertuous Lady and he the courtesie of a kind Gentleman She departed homewards and he into the Fields she thinking all danger past but he practised in his mind her utter Ruin and Downfal For the Part of Love had shot from her beauteous Cheeks into his heart not true Love but Lust so that nothing might quench his desire but the Conquest of her Chastity such extream Passion bewitched his mind that he caused his Servants every one to depart And then like a discontented Man he wandred up and down the Fields beating in his mind a thousand sundry ways to obtain his desire for without he enjoyed her Love he was likely to live in endless languishment But at last he sighed out this passion of Love Oh you immortal Powers why have you transported her from an Earthly Lady to an Heavenly Angel Sabra is no worldly Creature but a Divine Substance her Beauty is a stain unto the Quéen of Love and her Countenance of more Majesty than Juno's Grace Her twinkling eyes that glister like the flaming Stars and her beauteous Cheeks more pleasant than Roses dipt in Milk have pierced my heart with the pricks of Love and her Love I will enjoy oâ— lose my self Oh! but there is a Bar which thwarts kind Affection and hinders my desires
and loving kiss calling her the most true and the most Loyal Lady that ever Nature framed that to the very death would not lose one jot of her unspotted Honour Likewise she accounted him the truest Knight and Loyalest Husband that ever Heavenly Hymen linckt in Bands of Marriage with any Woman But when the King had notice that it was St. George his Countrey 's Champion which atchieved that Noble Conquest in vanquishing the Baron of Chester he was ravished with such Ioy that he came running in all haste to the Chamber and most kindly embraced him and after he was unarmed and his wounds washed with White-wine and new Milk the King conducted him with his Lady to his Banquetting-house where they feasted for that Evening and after he kept open Court for all Comers so long as St. George continued there which was for the space of one Month At the end whereof he took his Lady and one Page with him and bad England adieu and then he Travelled towards Persia to the other Christian Champions whose dangerous Iourney and strange Adventures you may read in this Chapter following CHAP. XVI How St. George in his Journey towards Persia arrived in a Country inhabited only by Maids where he atchieved many strange and wonderful Adventures Also of the Ravishment of seven Virgins in a Wood and how Sabra preserved her honour from a terrible Gyant AFter St. George with his vertuous Lady departed from England and had Travelled through many Countreys taking their direct Courses towards Aegypt and the Confines of Persia where the other six Champions remained with the Warlike Legions at last they arrived in the Countrey of the Amazonians a Land inhabited by none but Women In which Region St George Atchieved many brave and Princely Adventures which are most wonderful to rehearse as after is declared for Travelling up and down the Countrey they found every Town and City desolate of People yet very sumptuously built the Earth likewise untilled the Pastures uncherished and every Field overgrown with Weeds whereby he deemed that some strange Accident had befallen the Countrey either by War or Mortality of some grievous Plague for they could neither set Eye of Man Woman nor Child whereby they were forced to feed upon Roots and instead of brave Palaces they were constrained to lie on broad Pastures upon the banks of Moss and instead of Curtains of Silk they had black and dark Clouds to cover them In this extremity they Travelled up and down for thirty days but at last it was their happy Fortunes to arrive before a Rich Pavilion situated and standing in the open Fields which seemed to be the most glorious sight that ever they beheld for it was wrought of the Richest works in the World all of green and crimson Sattin bordered with Gold and Azure the Posts that bare it up were of Ivory the Cords of green Silk and on the top thereof there stood an Eagle of Gold and at the two Corners two green Silver Griffons shining against the Sun which seemed in richness to exceed the Monument of Mausolus being one of the worlds twelve Wonders They had not there remained long admiring at the Beauty of the Workmanship but at the Entry of the Pavilion there appeared a Maiden Queen Crowned with an Imperial Diadem who was the fairest Creature that ever he saw On her attended Amazonian Dames bearing in their hands Silver Bows of the Turkish Fashion and at their backs hung Quivers full of Golden Arrows upon their Heads they wore Silver Coronets beset with Pearls and precious Stones their Attire Comely and Gallant their Faces fair and gentle to behold their Foreheads plain and white the Tramels of their Hair like burnished Gold their Brows small and proper somewhat drawing to a brown colour their Uisage plain neither too long nor too round but coloured like Roses mixed with Lillies their Noses long and streight their Ruddy Cheeks somewhat smiling their Eyes Lovely and all the rest of their Parts and Lineaments by Nature framed most Excellent who had made them in Beauty without compare The Queen her self was cloathed in a Gown of Green strait girt unto her Body with a Lace of Gold so that somewhat her round and Lilly-white Breast might be seen which became her wonderful well beside all this she had on a crimson Kirtle lined with Uiolet-coloured Uelvet and her wide Sleeves were likewise of green Silk embroidered with flowers of Gold and with rich Pearls When St. George had sufficiently beheld the Beauty of this Maiden Queen he was almost entrapped in her Love but that the dear Affection he bare so his own Lady prevented him whom he would not wrong for all the Treasures betwixt the highest Heaven and the lowest Earth At last he alighted from his Horse and humbled himself unto her Excellency and thus courteously began to question with her after this manner Most Divine and Fair of all Fairs Queen of sweet Beauty said he let a Travelling Knight obtain this favour at your hands that both himself and his Lady whom you behold here wearied with Travel may take our rest within your Pavilion for a night For we have wandred up and down this Country many a dâ—â— neither seeing Man to give us Lodging nor finding food to cherish us which made us wonder that so brave Country and so beautified with Nature's Ornaments as this is should be left desolate of People the cause whereof is strange I know and full of wonder This Question being Courteously demanded by St. George caused the Amazonian Queen as kindly to reply Sir Knight quoth she for so you seem both by your Behaviour and gallant Stature what Favour my Pavilion may afford be assured off but the remembrance of my Country's Desolation which you speak of breeds a Sea of Sorrow in my Soul and maketh me sigh when I remember it but because you are a Knight of a strange Land I will report it though unto my grief About some twelve years since it was a Necromancer's chance to arrive within this Countrey his name is Osmond the cunningest Artist this day living upon the Earth for he can at his call raise all the Spirits out of Hell and with his Charms make Heaven to Rain continually showers of blood my beauty at that instant tempted him to Love and drowned his Senses so in desire that he assailed by all perswasions that either Wit or Art could devise to win me to his Will but I having vowed my self to Diana 's Chastity to live in singleness among these Amazonian Maids contemned his Love despised his Person and accounted his perswasions as ominous Snakes for which he wrought the destruction of this my Realm and Kingdom for by his Magick Art and damned Charms he raised from the Earth a mighty Tower the Mortar whereof he mingled with Virgins Blood wherein are such Enchantments wrought that the light of the Sun and the brightness of the Skies is quenched and the Earth blasted with a
the Misery and Death of the Conjurer and how the Souldan Brained himself against a Marble Pillar NOw must we return to the Christian Champions and speak of their Battels in Persia and what happened to them in St. George's absence for if you remember before being in Aegypt when he had news of his Lady's condemnation in England for the Murther of the Earl of Coventry he caused them to march into Persia and incouraged them to revenge his wrongful Imprisonment upon the Souldan's Provinces in which Country after they had marched some fifty Miles burning and spoiling his Territories they were intercepted by the Souldan's Power which was about the number of three hundred thousand fighting Men but the Muster-rolls of the Christians weâ—e likewise numbred and they amounted not to above one hundred thousand able Men at which time betwixt the Christians and Pagans happened a long and dangerous Battle the like many Age was seldom fought for it continued without ceasing for the space of five days to the great effusion of bloud on both Parties but at last the Pagans had the worst for when they beheld their fields bestrowed with mangled Bodies and that the Rivers for twenty Miles comâ—ass did flow with crimson Blood their hearts began to fail and incontiâ—ently fled like Sâ—eep before the Wolf Then the vaâ—â—ant Christians thirsting after revenge speedily pursued them sâ—aâ—â—ng neither young nor old till the ways were strowed with liveless bodies like heaps of scattered sand in which Pursuit and honourable Conquest they burned two hundred Forts and Towns battering their Towers of Stone as level with the ground as Harvest-Reapers do Fields of â—â—pened Corn but the Souldan himself with many of his approved Souldiers escaped alive and fortified the City of Grand Belgor being the strongest Town of War in all the Kingdom of Persia before whose Walls we will leave the Christian Champions planting their puissant Forces and speak of the damnable practises of Osmond within the Town where he accomplisht many admirable Accidents by Magick Art for when the Christians Army had long time given assaults to the Walls sending their fiery Bullets to their lofty Battlements like Storms of Winters Hail whereby the Persian Souldiers were not able any longer to resist they began to yield and commit their lives to the mercy of the Christian Champions but when the Souldan perceived the Souldiers cowardise and how they would willingly resign his happy Government to forreign Rule he encouraged them still to resist the Christians desperate encounters and within thirty days if they had not the honour of the War then willingly to condescend to their Country's Conquest which princely resolution encouraged the Souldiers to resist intending not to yield up their City till Death had made triumph on their Bodies Then departed he unto a sacred Tower where he found Osmond sitting in a Chair studying by Magick how long Persia should remain unconquered who at his entrance drove him from his Charms with these Speeches Thou wondrous Man of Art said the Souldan whom for Necromancy the World hath made famous Now is the time to express the Love and Loyalty thou bearest thy Soveraign Now is the time thy charming Spells must work for Persia 's good thou seest my Fortunes are deprest my Souldiers dead my Captains slaughtered my Cities burned my Fields of Corn consumed and my Country almost conquered I that was wont to cover the Seas with Fleets of Ships now stand amazed to hear the Christians Drums that sound forth doleful Funerals for my Souldiers I that was wont with armed Legions to drink up Rivers as we marched and made the Earth to groan with bearing of our Multitudes I that was wont to make whole Kingdoms tremble at my Frowns and force imperious Potentates to humble at my Feet I that have made the Streets of many a City to run with Bloud and stood rejoycing when I saw their Buildings burnt I that have made the Mothers Wombs the Infants Tombs and caused Cradles for to swim in streams of Bloud may now behold my Country's ruine my Kingdom 's fall and mine own fatal overthrow Awake great Osmond from thy dreaming Trance awake I say and raise a Troop of black infernal Fiends to sight against the damned Christians that like swarms of Bees do flock about our Walls prevent I say my Land's Invasion and as I am great Monarch of Asia I 'll make thee King over twenty Provinces and sole Commander of the Ocean raise up I say thy charmed Spirits leave burning Acheron empty for a time to aid us in this bloudy Battel These words were no sooner ended but there ratled such a peal of Cannons against the City Walls that they made the very Earth shake whereat the Necromancer started from his Chair and in this manner encouraged the Souldan It is not Europe quoth he nor all the petty Bands of armed Knights nor all the Princes in the World that shall abate your Princely Dignity Am not I the great Magician of this Age that can both loose and bind the Fiends and call the black-faced Furies from low Cocitus Am not I that skilful Artist which framed the charmed Tower amongst the Amazonian Dames which all the Witches in the World could never spoil Therefore let Learning Art and all the Secrets of the Deeps assist me in this Enterprise and then let frowning Europe do her worst my Charms shall cause the Heavens to rain such ratling showers of Stones upon their Heads whereby the Earth shall be over-laden with their dead Bodies and Hell over-filled with their hateful Souls senceless Trees shall rise in humane shapes and fight for Persia. If wise Medea were ever famous for Arts that did the like for safeguard of her Father's State then Why should not Osmond practice Wonders for his Soveraign's Happiness I 'll raise a Troop of Spirits from the lowest Earth more black then dismal Night the which in ugly Shapes shall haunt them up and down and when they sleep within their rich Pavilions legions of fiery Spirits will I up-raise from Hell that like to Dragons spitting flames of Fire shall blast and burn the damned Christians in their Tents of War the Fields of Grand Belgor shall be over-spread with venemous Snakes Adders Serpents and impoysoned Toads the which unseen shall lurk in mossie Ground and sting the Colonels of warlike Horses down from the crystal Firmament I will conjure Troops of airy Spirits to descend that like to Virgins clad in princely Ornaments shall link those Christian Champions in the Charms of Love their Eyes shall be like the twinkling Lamps of Heaven and dazle so their warlike Thoughts and their lively Countenance more bright then Fairies shall lead them captive to a Tent of Love the which shall be articially erected up by Magick Spells their warlike Weapons that were wont to smoak in Pagans Bloud shall in my charmed Tent bâ— hung upon the bowers of Peace their glistâ—ing Armour that were wont to shine within
or Exclamations could any whit abate their Cruelties but grim Dogs of Barbary in they left my Father fast bound unto the Tree and like egregious Vipers took me by the Trammels of my golden Hair draging me like a silly Lamb unto this flaughtering place intending to satisfie their Luftwith the flower of my Chastity Being used thus I made my humble Supplication to the highest Majesty to be revenged upon their Cruelties I reported to them the rewards of â—â—oudy Ravishments by the Example of Tereus sometime King of Thrace and his furious Wife that in revenge of her Sister's Ravishment caused her Husband to eat the Flesh of his own Son Likewise to preserve my undefiled Honour I told them that for the Rape of Lucroce the Roman Matron Tarquiâ—ius and his whole Name was ever banished out of Rome with many other Examples thus like the Nightingale recorded I nothing but Rape and Murther yet neither the Fears of Heaven nor the terrible Threats of Hell could mollifie their bloudy Minds but they protested to persevere in that Wickedness and vowed that if all the Leaves of the Trees that grew within the Wood were turned into Indian Pearls and that place made as wealthy as the golden Streams of Paâ—tâ—lus where M. das washtâ—her golden Wish away yet should they not redeem my Chastity from the stain of their insatiable and lustful Desires This being said they bound me with the Trammels of mine own Hair to this Orange tree and at the very instant they proffered to defile my unspotted Body you happily approached and not only redeemed me from their tyrannous Desires but quit the World from three of the wickedest Creatures that ever Nature framed for which most noble and invincible Knights if ever Virgin 's Prayers may prevail humbly will I make my Supplications to the Deities that you may prove as valliant Champions as ever put on Helmet and that your Fames may ring to every Prince's Ear as far as bright Niperion doth shew his golden Face This tragical Tale was no sooner ended but the three Knights with remorseful Hearts sobbing with Sighs imbraced the sorrowful Maiden betwixt their Arms and earnestly requested her to conduct them unto the place whereas she left her Father bound unto the withered Oak to which she willingly consented and thanked them â—ighly to their kindness but before they approached to the old Man's presente what for the grief of his Banishment and violent Usage of his Daughter he was forced to yield up his miserable Life to the mercy of unavoidable Death When St. George's valiant Sons in company of this sorrowful Maiden came to the Tree and contrary to their Expectations found her Father cold and 〈◊〉 devoid of Sense and Feeling also his Hands and Face covered with green Moss which they supposed to be done by the Robin Red-breast and other litâ—le Birds who do use naturally to cover the bare parts of any Body that they find dead in the Field they all fell into a new confused extremity of grief but especially his Daughter having lost all Ioy and Comfort in this World made both Heaven and Earth resound with her exceeding Lamentations and mourned without Comfort like weeping Niobe that was turned into a Rock of Stone Lamenting for the loss of her Children thus when the three young Knights perceived the comfortless Sorrow of the Uirgin and how she had vowed never to depart from those solitary Groves but to spend the remnant of her days in company of her Father's dead Body they courteously assisted her to bury him under a Chesnut-tree where they left her behind them bathing his senseless Grave with her Tears and returned back to their Horses where they left them at the entry of the Forrest tyed to a lofty Pine and so departed on their Iourney where we will leave them for a time and speak of the Seven Champions of Christendom that were gone on Pilgrimage to the City of Jerusalem and what strange Adventures hapned to them in their Travel CHAP. IV. Of the Adventures of the Golden Fountain in Damaseâ— how six of the Christian Champions were taken Prisoners by a mighty Giant and how after they were delivered by St. George and also how he redeemed fourteen Jews out of Prison with divers other strange Accidents that hapned LEt us now speak of the favourable Clementy that smiling Fortune shewed to the Christian Champions in their Travels to Jerusalem for after they were departed from England and had journyed in their Pilgrims Attire through many strange Countries at last they arrived upon the Constnes of Damasco which is a Country not only beautified with Cumptuous costly Buildings framed by the curious Architecture of Man's Device but also furnished with all the precious Gifts that Nature in her greatest liberality could bestow In this fruitful Dominion long time the Christian Champions rested their weacy Steps and made their abode in the House of a rich and courteous Jew a Man that spent his Wealth chiefly for the Succour and Comfort of Travelers and Wandring Pilgrims his House was not curiously erected up of carved Timber work but framed with quarries of blew Stones and supported with many stately Pillars of the purest Mâ—rble the gates and entry of his House were continually kept open in sign of his bountiful Mind over the Portal thereof did hang a brazen Table whereon was most curiously engraven the Picture of Ceres the Goddess of Plenty deck'd with Garlands of Wheat wreaths of Olivâ—s bunches of Usnes and with all manner of fruitful things the Chamber wherein these Champions took their nightly Reposes and golden Sleep was garnished with as many Windows of crystal Glass as there were Days in the Year and the Walls painted with as many Stories as were Years since the World's Creation it was likewise Built four square after the manner of Pyramids in Greece at the East end thereof was most lively portrayed bright Phoebus rising from Aurora's golden Bed with a glistering Countenance distaining the Element for her departure at the West side was likewise portrayed how Thetis tripped upon the silver Sands when as Hiperion's Car drives to the watry Ocean and takes his night's Repose upon his Lover's Bosom on the North side was paintted high Mountains of Snow whose tops did seem to reach the Clouds and mighty Woods over-hung with silver Isikles which is the nature of the Northern Climate Lastly Upon the West side of the Chamber sat the God of the Seas riding upon a Dolphin's back a troop of Mermaids following him with their golden Trammels floating upon the silver Waves there the Trytons seemed to dance about the crystal Streams with a number of the other silver scaled Fishes that made it seem delightful for Pleasure Over the Roof of the Chamber was most perfectly portrayed the four Ages of the World which seemed to over-hang the rest of the curious Works First The Golden Age was pendant over the East The second being the Silver a Mettle some what
kind Friend hast graced my Name with many Titles of Honour and making me Famous in thy large circumference thou hast given me Uictories over all mine Enemies and weakned the boldness of all my withstanders that my Life and Name might be charactered amongst the rest of our Christian Champions for which I have thought my self predestinated to a lasting happiness in that the Title of my Fortunes challenge so long a Memory World I say fare thou well my life lingereth now to her last minute which as willingly I here deliver up as ever I brandisht Wrapon against powerful Pagan I need no Pompal Train of Princes to attend my Funeral nor solemn Chimes of Bells to Ring me to my Grave nor Troops of Mourners in Sable Garments to furnish out my Obsequy my self here buries up my self and all Offices of Lamentations belonging to so bad a business as my own hand Labour Earth I imbrace thee thou gentle Mould my Bodies covering with humility I kiss thee no difference is between thy cold Nature and my Life 's warm substance we are both one Emperours are but Earth so am I. Thou Earth gently do I yield my self into thy mouldy bosom I come I come sweet Comforter into thy hands I commend my Spirit These and such like were the last Words that ever this good Champion delivered so yielding to death the Earth of it self as it were buried up his Body in the Grave which his own hands had digged Thus being changed from a lively substance to a dead Picture his Attenders as their usual custom was came with Food to relieve him and calling at the hole where he had wont to receive it they heard nothing but empty ayre blowing in and out which made them conjecture presently that death had prevailed and the fatal Sisters finished up their labours so calling together more company they made an entrance thereinto and finding what had hapned how he had buried his own self they reported it for a wonder up and down the Country being an accident of much strangeness for before that time the like never chanced Whereupon by a common consent of the whole Kingdom they pulled down the aforesaid House or Tower and in the same place builded in process of time a most sumptuous Chappel casting it St. Patricks Chappel and in the place where this Holy Father had buried himself they likewise erected a Monument of much richness framed upon Pillars of pure Gold beautified with many artificial sights most pleasant to behold whereunto for many years after resorted distressed People such as were commonly molested with loathsom Diseases where making their Orisons at Saint Patricks Tomb they found help and were restored to their former Healths By which means the Name of Saint Patrick is grown so famous through the World that to this day he is intituled one of our Christian Champions and the Saint for Ireland where in remembrance of him and of his honourable atchievments done in his life time the Irish-men as well in England as in that Country do as yet in honour of his Name keep one day in the year Festival holding upon the same a great Solemnity wearing upon their Hats each of them a Cross of red silk in token of his many Adventures under the Christian Cross as you have heard in the former History at large discoursed Whose Noble Deeds both in life and Death we will leave sleeping with him in his Grave and speak of our next renowned Tragedy which Heaven and Fate had allotted to Saint David the Champion for Wales at that time entituled Cambro-Brittanus CHAP. XVIII Of the honourable Victory won by Saint David in Wales Of his Death and cause why Leeks are by custom of Welchmen worn on Saint Davids day with other things that hapned SOme certain Month after the departure of Saint Patrick from the City of Constantinople from the other Champions as you heard before in the last Chapter Saint David having a heart still sâ—r'd with Fame thirsted even to his dying day for honourable atchievements and although age and time had almost weared him away yet would he once more make his Adventure in the Field of Mars and seal up his honours in the records of Fame with a Noble farewell So upon a morning framing himself for a Knightly Enterprize he took his leave of the other Champions and all alone well mounted upon a lusty Courser furnished with sufficient Habiliments for so brave an enterprize he began a Iourney home towards his own Country accounting that his best joy and â—he soil of his most comfort But long had he not travelled ere he heard of the distresses thereof how Wales was beâ—eâ— with a people of a Savage nature christing for Blood and the ruine of that brave Kingdom and how that many Battels had been fought to the disparagement of Christian Knight-hood Whereupon arming himself with true resolution he went forward with a couragious mind either to redeem the same or to lose his best blood in the honour of the Adventure Whereupon all the way as he travelled he drew into his aid and assistance all the best Knights he could find of any Nation whatsoever giving them promises of Noble Rewards and entertainment as befitted so worthy a fellowship By this means before he came upon the Borders of Wales he had gathered together the number of five hundred Knights of such noble resolutions that all Christendom could not afford better the seven Champions excepted And these all well furnished for Battel entred the Country where they found many Towns unpeopled gallant Houses subverted Monasteries defaced Cities ruinated Fields of Corn consumed with Fire yea every thing so out of order as if the Country had never been inhabited Whereupon with a grieved mind he saw the Region of his Birth place so confounded and nothing but upâ—â—ars of murder and death sounded in his ears he summoned his Knights together placing them in Battel array to travel high up into the Country for the performance of his desired hopes But as they marched along with an easie pace to prevent dangers there resorted to them people of all Ages both young and old bitterly complaining of the Wrongs thus done unto their Country Where when they knew him to be the Champion of Wales whom so long they had desired to see their joys so exceeded that all former Woes were abolished and they emboldened to nothing but revenge The rest of the Knights that came with St. David perceiving their forces and numbers to increase purposed a present onset and to shew themselves before their Enemies which lay incamped amongst the Mountains with such strength and policy that hard it was to make an Assailment Whereupon the Noble Champion being then their General and Leader called his Captains together and with a bold courge said as followeth Now is the time brave Martialists to be canonized the Sons of Fâ—me this is the day of Dignity or Dishonour an Enterprize to make â—s ever live or to
one thing sometimes another so molested him that he must needs make his Adventure to follow them Whereupon calling his three Sons together he went to the Grecian Emperour and requested that they might all four depart with his leave and likeing for Knightly Adventures had challenged them all to appear in some foreign Region where Noble Atchievements were to be performed but where and in what Countrey his Destiny had not yet revealed to him So furnishing them all four in Habiliments of shining steel they left Constantinople as it were guided by Fate until they came into England then called Brittain whose chalky Clifts S. George had not seen in twice twelve years and now coming with a sweet embracement of his Native Countrey he gave his three Sons thereinto a most joyful Welcome shewing them to their great comfort the brave Situation of the Towns Cities the pleasant prospects of the Fields as they passed until they came within the sight of the City Coventry where he was born and received his first being upon whose glistering Pinacles no sooner casting his eye-sight but the Inhabitants interrupted his pleasure delights with a doleful Report how upon Dunsmore-Heath as then remained an infectious Dragon that so annoyed the Countrey that the Inhabitants there abouts could not pass the Heath without great danger how that fifteen Knights of the Kingdom had already lost their lives in adventuring to suppress the same Also giving him to understand of a Prophecy That a Christian Knight never born of a Woman should be the Destroyer thereof and his Name in after Ages for Accomplishing the Adventure should be holden for an eternal Honour to the Kingdom Saint George no sooner hearing thereof and what Wrongs his native Country received by this infectious Dragon and knowing himself to be the Knight grew so encouraged that he purposed presently to put the Adventure in tryal either to free his Country from so great danger or to finish his days in the attempt so raking leave of his Sons the rest there present he rode forward with as noble a spirit as he did in Aegypt when he there combared with the burning Dragon So coming to the middle of the Plain where his infections Enemy lay couching the ground in a deep Cave who by a strange instinct of Nature knowing his death to draw near made such a yelling Noise as if the Element had burst with Thunder or the Earth had shook with a terrible Exhalation so coming from his Den and spying the Champion he ran with such fury against him as if he would have devoured both Man and Horse in a moment but the Champion being quick and nimble gave the Dragon such way that he mist him and with his sting ran full two foot into the Earth but covering he returned again with such rage upon Saint George that he had almost born his Horse over and over but that the Dragon having no stay of his strength fell with his back downward upon the ground and his feet upward whereat the Champion taking advantage kept him still down with his Horse standing upon him fighting as you see in the Picture of St. George with his lance goring him through in divers parts of the Body and withal contrariwise the Dragons sting annoyed the good Knight in such sort that the Dragon being no sooner stain and weltered in his venomous Gore but Saint George likewise took his Deaths Wound by the deep stroaks of the Dragons sting which he received in divers parts of his Body and bled in such abundance that his strength began to enfeeble and grow weak yet retaining the true Nobleness of Mind valiantly returned Uictor to the City of Coventry where his three Sons with the whole Inhabitants stood without the Gates in great Royalty to receive him and to give him the honour that belonged to so worthy a Conqueror who no sooner arrived before the City and presented them with the Dragons Head which so long had annoyed the Country but what with the abundance of Blood that issued from his deep Wounds and the long bleeding without stopping the same he was forced in his Sons Arms to yield up his breath for whom his three Princely Sons long lamented making the greatest mone that ever was made in any Kingdom and again they were so seconded with the grief of the whole Country that all the Land from the King to the Shepherd mourned for him for the space of a Month which heavy time being ended the King of this Country being a vertuous and Noble Prince advanced Saint George's three Sons to Noble â—ssices First the eldest of them named Guy to be Earl of Warwick and high Chamberlain of his Houshold The next named Alexander according to his Name to be Captain General of his Knights of Chivalry And the youngest named David to be his Cup-bearer and Controler of all his Revels and Delights And likewise in remembrance of their Noble Father the Christian Champion he ordained for ever after to be kept a solemn Procession about the Kings Court by all the Princes and chief Nobility of the Country upon the 23 day of April naming it St. George's Day upon which day he was most solemnly interred in the City where he was born and caused a stately Monument to be erected in Honour of him though now by the ruines of time defaced and abolished He likewise decreed by the consent of the whole Kingdom that the Patron of the Land should be named Saint George our Christian Champion in that he had fought so many Battles in the Honour of Christendom All which we see with many more Honours to this day here maintained in remembrance of this good Knight who no doubt resteth in eternal peace with the other renowned Champions of Christendom So God grant we may do all Amen FINIS Advertisement of Four Books THe History of the Seven Wise Masters The History of the Seven Wise Mistresses The History of Dorastus and Faunia The Garland of Good Will All Printed for George Conyers at 〈…〉 Ring in 〈…〉 Brittain over against Bartholomen-Close Gate The 〈◊〉 HISTORY OF THE Seven Champions OF Christendom The Third PART SHEWING The Valiant Acts and Renowned Atchievements of St. George's three Sons Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David AS ALSO The Warlike Exploits and Martial performances of Sir Turpin Son to St. Denis of France Sir Pedro Son to St. James of Spain Sir Orlando Son to St. Anthony of Italy Sir Ewin Son to St. Andrew of Scotland Sir Phelim Son of St. Patrick of Ireland and Sir Owen Son to St. David of Wales Their strange Fights and Combats with Gyants Monsters and Dragons their Tilts and Turnaments in Honour of Ladies their Battles with Miscreants and Tyrants in defense of the Christian Religion and relief of distressed Knights and Ladies their punishing of Negromancers and puting to an end their Inchantments with other their Knightly Prowess and Chevalry AS ALSO How St. George's three Sons came all