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death_n	approach_v	young_a	youth_n	17	3	7.8921	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46926	The famous history of the seven champions of Christendom St. George of England, St. Denis of France, St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, and St. David of Wales. Shewing their honourable battels by sea and land: their tilts, justs, turnaments, for ladies: their combats with gyants, monsters and dragons: their adventures in foreign nations: their enchantments in the Holy Land: their knighthoods, prowess, and chivalry, in Europe, Africa, and Asia; with their victories against the enemies of Christ. Also the true manner and places of their deaths, being seven tragedies: and how they came to be called, the seven saints of Christendom. The first part.; Most famous history of the seven champions of Christendome. Part 1	Johnson, Richard, 1573-1659?	1696 (1696)	Wing J800; ESTC R202613	400,947	510

this Tragical Accident drowned their Friends in a Sea of Sorrow for the news of her untimely Death was no sooner bruited abroad but the same caused both Did and Young to lament the loss of so sweet a Lady The silver-headed Age that had wont in scarlet Gowns to meet in Counsel sat now in discontented Griefs the gallant Youth and comely Uirgins that had wont to beautifie the Streets with costly Garments went drooping up and down in mournful Uestures and those remorseless Hearts that seldom were oppressed with Sorrow now constrained their eyes like Fonutains to destil floods of brinish and pearly Tears This general Grief of the Citizens continued for the space of thirty Days at the end whereof St. George with his Sons and the other Champions interred her Body very honourably and erected over the same a rich and costly Monument in sumptuons State like the Tomb of Mausolus which was called one of the Wonders of the World or like to the Pyramids of Greece which was a stain to all Architects for thereon was portrayed the Queen of Chastity with her Maidens bathing themselves in a crystal Fountain as a witness of her wonderous Chastity against the lustful Assailments of all lastivious Attempts Thereon was also most lively pictured a Turtle dove sitting upon a Tree of Gold in sign of the true Love that she bore to her betrothed Husband Also a silver coloured Swan swimming upon a crystal River as a token of her Beauty for as the Swan excelleth all other Fowls in Whiteness so she excelled all the Ladies in the World for Beauty I leave to speak of the curious Workmanship of the Pinacles that were framed all of the purest Ieat enamelled with Silver and Iasper-stanes and I omit the Pendants of Gold the Escutcheous of Princes and the Arms of Countries that beautified her Tomb the Discourse whereof requires an Oratour's Gloquence or a Pen of Gold dipt in the Dew of Helicon flowing from Parnassus's Hill where all the Muses do inhabit Her Statue or Picture was carved cunningly in Alabaster and laid as it were upon a Pillow of green Silk like to Pigmalion's Iuory Image and directly over the same hung a silver Tablet whereon in Letters of Gold was this Epitalph written Here lies the Wonder of this Worldly Age For Beauty Wit and princely Majesty Whom spiteful Death in his imperious Rage Procur'd to Fall through ruthless Cruelty For as she sported in a fragrant Wood Upon a thorny Brake she spilt her Blood Let Ladies fair and Princes of great might With silver-pearled Tears bedew this Tomb Accuse the fatal Sisters of despight For blasting thus the Pride of Nature's Bloom For here she sleeps within this earthly Grave Whose Worth deserves a golden Tomb to have Seven Years she kept her pure Virginity In absence of her true betrothed Knight When many did pursue her Chastity Whilst he remained in Prison day and night But yet we see that things of purest Prize Forsake the Earth to dwell above the Skies Ladies come Mourn with doleful Melody And make this Monument your setled Bower Here shed your brack●●h Tears eternally Lament both Year Month Week Day Hour For here she rests whose Like can ne'r be found Here Beauty's Pride lies buried in the Ground Her wounded Heart that yet doth freshly bleed Hath caus'd seven Knights a Journey for to take To fair Ierusalem in Pilgrims Weeds The fury of her angry Ghost to slake Because their Silvane Sport was chiefest guilt And only cause her Blood was timeless spilt Thus after the Tomb was erected and the Epitalph engraven on a silver Table and all things performed according to Saint George's direction he left ●is Sons in the City of London under the Government of the English King and in company of the other six Champions he took his Iourney towards Jerusalem They were attired after the manner of Pilgrims in russet Gaberdines down to their feet in their hands they bore Staves of Ebon wood tipt at the ends with silver the pikes whereof were of the strongest Lydian Steel of such a sharpness that they were able to pierce a Target of Tortoys-shell upon their Breasts hung Crosses of crimson Silk to signifie they were Christian Pilgrims travelling to the Sepulchre of Christ. In this manner set they forward from England in the spring-time of the year when Flora had beautified the Earth with Nature's Tapestry and made their Passages as pleasant as the Gardens of Hesperides adorned with all kind of odoriferous Flowers When as they crossed the Seas the silver Waves seemed to lie as smooth as crystal Ice and the Dolphins to dance above the Waters as a sign of a prosperous Iourney In travelling by Land the ways seemed so short and easie and the chirping melody of Birds made them such Musick as they passed that in a short season they arrived beyond the Borders of Christendom and had entered the Confines of Affrica There were they forced instead of Downy-beds nightly to rest their weary Limbs upon heaps of sun-burnt Moss and instead of silken Curtains and curious Canopies their had the Clouds of Heaven to cover them Now their naked legs and bare Féet that had wont to stride the stately Steeds and to trample in Fields of Pagans Blood were forced to climb the craggy Mountains and to endure the torments of pricking Bryers as they travelled through the desart Places and comfortless solitary Wildernesses Many were the Dangers that happened to them in their Iourny before they arrived in Judea Princely their Atchievements and most Honourable their Adventures which for this time I pass over leaving the Champions for a time in their travel towards the Sepulchre of Christ and speak what happened to St. George's three Sons in visiting their Mother's Tomb in t●● City of London CHAP. II. Of the strange Gifts that St. George 's Sons offered at their Mother's Tomb and what happ'ned thereupon how her Ghost appeared to them and counselled them to the pursuit of their Father also how the King of England Installed them with the Honour of Knighthood and furnished them with Habiliments of War THe swift footed Steeds of Titan's fiery Car had almost finished a Year since Sabra's Funeral was solemnized in which time St. George's three Sons had visited their Mother's Tomb oftner than were Days in the Year and had shed more sorrowful Tears thereon in remembrance of her Love than are Stars in the glistering Horizon but at last these thrée young Princes fell at a civil Discord and mortal Strife which of them should bear the truest Love to their Mother's dead Body and which of them should be held in greatest Esteem for before many Days were expired they concluded to offer up their several Devotions at her Tomb and he that devised a Gift of the rarest Price and of the straugest Quality should be held worthy of the greatest Honour and accounted the Noblest of them all This Determination was spéedily performed and in so short a time accomplished

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 bl●des of gra●s perished for want of natural moisture which the watry Clouds de●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 in●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 ●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 ●age and modest Matrons Which woful sight encouraged the

Chain unto the Stake then placed they round about her tender body both Pitch Turpentine and Gunpowder with other merciless things thereby to make her death the more easie and her pain the shorter which being done the King caused the Herauld to summon in the Challenger who at the sound of the Trumpet came tracing in upon a Roan coloured Steed without any kind of mark and Trapped with Rich Trappings of Gold and precious stones of great price there came out at the Horse's mouth two Tusks like unto an Elephants his Nostrils were very large and big his head little his breast somewhat broad well pitcht and so hard that no Sword were it never so sharp was able to enter in thereat The Champion was called the Baron of Chester a bolder and hardier Knight they thought lived not then upon the face of the whole Earth he so advanced himself up and down as though he had béen able to encounter with an hundred Knights Then the King caused the Herauld to summon in the Defendant if there were any to defend her Cause both Drums and Trumpets sounded three several times up and down the Fields betwixt every rest was a full quarter of an hour but yet no Defendant did appear therefore the King commanded the Executioner to set the Stake on fire At which words Sabra began to grow pale as Ashes and her Ioynts to tremble like to Aspen Leaves her Tongue that before continued silent began to record a Swan-like dying Tale and in this manner uttered the passion of her heart Be witness Heaven and all your bright Coelestial Angels be witness Sun and Moon all true beholders of my Fact be witness thou clear Firmament and all the World be witness of my Innocency the blood I●shed was for the safeguard of my Honour and unspotted Chastity great God of Heaven if the Prayers of my unstained heart may move thy mighty Majesty or my true Innocency prevail with thy immortal Power command that either my Lord may come to be my Champion or sad beholder of my Death But if my hands were stained with the blood about some wicked Enterprize then Heaven shew present Vengeance upon me else by some Noble Champion save my body alive At which instant she heard the sound of a shrill Trumpet the which S. George caused to be winded for as then he was near which caused the Execution a while to be deferred At last they beheld afar off a stately Banner waving in the Air the which a Squire carried before S. George then they espied near unto the Banner a most Ualiant Armed Knight mounted upon a coal-black Palfrey with a Warlike Launce standing in his Rest by which sudden approach they knew him to be the same Champion that would defend the distressed Lady's Life Then the King commanded the Drums and Trumpets to sound whereat the People gave a general shout and the poor Lady half dead with fear began to revive and her blushing Cheeks to be as Beautiful as red Roses dipt in Milk or as blood mingled with Snow But when St. George approached the sight of his constant Lady whom he found Chamed to a S●ake incompassed with many Instruments of Death his heart so relented with Grief that he almost fell buside his Horse yet remembring wherefore he came he recalled his Courage and intended to try his Fortune in the Combate before he would discover himself unto his Lady And when the Trumpets sounded Death's Alarm the two Knights set Spurs to their Horses and made them run so fiercely that at the first encounter they shivered both their Launces to their hands then rushed they together so rigorously with their Bodies and Helmets that they fell down both to the Earth but St. George who was the more Lusty Knight nimbly leap'd upon his feet without any hurt but the Baron of Chester lay still with his head downward casting from his mouth abundance of blood for he was mightily bruised with the fall but when he revived from his Trance he took his Shield drawing out a mighty Faulchion and with wrathful countenance ran at St. George Now proud Knight quoth he I swear by all the Saints of Heaven to Revenge my Blood which thou hast shed and therewithal he struck so violently upon St. George's Shield that it cleaved quite asunder Then began he to wax angry and took his Sword in great wrath and gave the Baron of Chester such a stroke that he cut away Arm and Shoulder and all the flesh of his side to the bare Kibs and likewise cut his Leg almost quite in sunder in the thickest place of his Thigh and yet for all that the Sword entred half a foot into the earth then fell the Baron of Chester to the Ground and breathed forth this lamentable cry Now frown you fatal Stars eternally that did predominate at my Birth for he is Slain and Vanquished that never stoopt to any Knight before this day And thereupon the Blood stopped the passage of his Speech and his Soul went flying to Elysium whereat the whole Company admired and applauded Saint George for the most fortunate Knight in the World Then the King delivered Sabra with his own hands to St. George who most courteously received her and like a counteous Knight cast a Scarlet Mantle over her Body the which a Lady standing by bestowed upon him yet he minding n●● to discover himself but set her upon his portly Steed that ●●●●ently grew proud in carrying so rich a burden and with his own hands led him by the Bridle Reins So great was the Io● throughout the City that the Bells rung without ceasing that whole day together the Citizens through every place St. George should pass did hang forth at their Windows and on their walls Cloath of Gold and Silk with Rich Carpets Cushion-coverings of green Uelvet lay abroad in every Window the Clergy in Copes of Gold and Silk met them with solemn Procession The Ladies and Beautiful Damsels strewed every street whereas he passed with Roses and most pleasant Flowers and Crowned him with a Wreath of green Gays in sign of his Triumphant Uictory and Conquest In this manner went he to the King's Palace not known by any what he should be but that he was a Knight of a strange Countrey Yet Sabra many times as they passed along desired to see his Face and know his Name for that he had adventured so far for her sake and that for her Delivery he had vanquished the bravest Knight in England Yet for all her perswasions he kept himself undiscovered till a Troop of Ladies in company of Sabra got him into a Chamber richly hung with Arras cloath and there unlaced his Bever whose Countenance when she beheld and saw that it was her Lord and Husband which had redeemed her from Death she sell into a dead swoon for very Ioy but St. George sprinkled a little cold water on her face and revived her presently After this he gave her many a kind

sumptuous Habiliments his Lady lying in her Child-bed as glorious as if she had been the greatest Empress in the World and thrée Princely Boys swéetly sleeping in their several Cradles at whose first fight his heart was so Ravished with joy that for a time it with-held the passage of his Tongue but at last when he found the Silver Tablets lying under the Pillows and read the happy Fortunes of his Children he ran unto his Lady embracing her lovingly and kindly demanded the true discourse of this Accident and by whose means the Bower was beautified so gorgeously and the propounder of his Childrens Prophesie who with a countenance blushing like purple morning replied in this manner My most dear and well beloved Lord the pains I have endured to make you the happy Father of three lovely Boys hath not been more painful than the stroke of Death but yet my Delivery more joyful than the pleasures of this World the Winds carried my groans to every corner of this Wilderness whereby both Trees and Herbs assisted my complaints Beasts Birds and feathered Fowls with every se●sless thing that Nature framed on this Earth seem'd to pity my moans but in the midst of my Torments when my Soul was ready to forsake this worldly habitation there appeared to me a Queen Crowned with a Golden Diadem in State and Gesture like Imperious Iuno and in Beauty to Divine Diana her Garments for Bravery seemed to stain the Rain-Bow in her brightest hue and for diversity of Colours to surpass the Flowers of the Field on her attended many beautiful Nymphs some clad in Garments in colour of the Crystal Ocean some in Attire as gallant as the pleasant Rose and some more glorious than the Azured Firmaments her Wisdom might compare with Apollo's her Judgment with Pallas and her skill with Lucina's for no sooner entred she my presence but my Travels ceased and my Womb delivered up my grievous Burden my Babes being brought to light by the virtue of her skill she prepared these rich and sumpthou Cradles the which were brought invisibly to my Cabine likewise these Mantles and this Imbroidered Coverlet she frankly bestowed upon me and so immediately vanished away At which words St. George gave her so many kind imbraces and kissed her so lovingly as though it had been the first day of their Nuptials At last her hunger increased and her desire thirsted so much after food that except she received some comfortable sustenance her life were in danger This extream desire of Sabra caused St. George to buckle on his Armour and to unsheath his trusty sword ready to goar the Intrails of some Deer who swore by the honour of true Knighthood never to rest in peace till he had purchased her hearts content My Love said he I will adventure for thy sake more dangers then Iason did for Medea 's Love I will search the thickest Groves and chase the nimble Doe to Death the flying Fowl I 'll follow up and down from Tree to Tree till over-wearied they do fall down and die for love of thee and these my tender Babes whom I esteem more dear than the Conquest of rich Babylon I will adventure more dangers than did Hercules for the Love of Dejanira and more extreams than Turnus did in his bloody Battels And thereupon with his Fauchion ready charged he traced the Woods leaving no Thorny Brake nor Mossie Cave unsearched till he had found a Herd of Fallow Deer from which number he singled out the fattest to make his Lady a bountiful Banquet but in the time of his absence there hapned to Sabra a strange and wonderful Accident for there came weltring into the Cabine three most Wild and Monstrous Beasts a Lioness a Tygress and a she Wolf which took the Babes out of their Cradles and bore them to their secret Dens At which sight Sabra like one berest of Sense started from her Bed and to her weak power offered to follow the Beasts but all in vain for before she could get without her Cabine they were past fight and the Childrens cry without her hearing then like a Discontented Woman she turned back beating her Breast rending her Hair and Raging up and down her Cabine using all the Rigour she could devise against her self and had not St. George return'd the sooner she had most violently committed her own slaughter but at his return when he beheld her face stained with tears her head disrobed of Ornaments and her Ivory Breast all to be-rent he cast down his Uenison in all hast and asked the cause of her Sorrow Oh said she this is the wofullest day that ever hapned to me for in the time of your unhappy Hunting a Lioness a Tygress and a Wolf came into the Cabin and took my Children from their Cradles what is become of them I know not but greatly I fear by this time they are intombed within their hungry Bowels Oh simple Monuments quoth he for such sweet Babes Well Sabra if the Monsters have bereaved me of my Children this bloody Sword that dived into the Entralls of the fallow Deer shall rive my woful heart in twain Accursed be this fatal day the Planets that predominate and Sun that shines thereon Heaven blot it from the year and let it never more be numbred but accounted for a dismal day throughout the World let all the Trees be blasted in those accursed Woods let Herbs and Grass consume away and die and all things perish in this Wilderness But why breathe I out these Curses in vain when as methinks I hear my Children in untamed Lions Dens crying for help and succour I come sweet Babes I come either to redeem you from Tygers wrathful Jaws or make my Grave within their hungry Bowels Then took he up his Sword besmeared all in blood and like a man bereaved of Wit and Sense ranged up and down the Wilderness searching every corner for his Children but his Lady remained still in her Cabine lamenting for their loss ●●ashing their Cradles with her pearled Tears that run down her stained Cheeks like silver drops Many ways wandred St. George sometimes in Ualleys where Wolves and Tygers lurk sometimes in Mountain tops where Lyons whelps do sport and play and many times in dismal Thickets where Snakes and Serpents live Thus wandred St. George up and down the Wilderness for the space of two days hearing no news of his unchristened Children At last he approached the sight of a pleasant River which smoothly glided down betwixt two Mountains into whose streams he purposed to cast himself and so by a desperate death give end to his Sorrows but as he was committing his body to the mercy of the Waters and his Soul to the pleasure of the Heavens he heard afar off the rusul shriek as he thought of a comfortless Babe which sudden noise caused him to refrain from his desperate purpose and with more discretion to tender his own safety then casting his eyes aside it was his happy

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 ●●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 Tarqui●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 Pa●t●lus where M. das washt●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 ●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 lit●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 Damase● 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 M●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 Oliv●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

changed their pleasant Pastime to a sad and bloody Tragedy for Sabra proffering to keep pace with them delighted to behold the valiant Encounters of her young Sons and being careless of herself through the over swiftness of her Steed she slipped beside her Saddle and so fell directly vpon a thomey brake of Brambles the pricks whereof more sharp than Spikes of Iron entred to every part of her delicate Body some pierce the lovely closets of her star-bright Eyes whereby instead of cristal pearled Tears there issued drops of purest Blood her Face before that blushed like the Morning 's radiant Countenance was now changed into a Crimson-red her milk white hands that lately strained the ivory Lute did seem to wear a bloody scarlet Glove and her tender Paps that had often sed her Sons with the Milk of Nature were all becent and ●or● with those accu●sed Brambles from whose deep Wounds there issued such a stream of purple Gore that it converted the Grass from a lively green to a crimson-hue and the abundance of Blood that trickled from her Breast began to enforce her Soul to give the World a woful Farewel Yet notwithstanding when her beloved Lord her sorrowful Sons and all the rest of the waful Champions had washed her wounded Body with a spring of Tears and when she perceived that she must of force commit herself to the fury of imperious Death she breathed forth this dying Exhortation Dear Lord said she in this unhappy Hunting must you lose the truest Wife that ever ●ay by any Prince's side yet mourn not you nor grieve you my Sons nor you brave Christian Knights but let your warlike Drums convey m● royally to my Tomb that all the World may write in brazen Books how I have followed my Lord the Pride of Christendom through many a bloody Field and for his sake have left my Parents Friends and Country and have travelled through many a dangerous Kingdom but now the cruel Fates have wrought their last spight and finished my Life because I am not able to perform what Love he hath deserved of me And now to you my Sons this Blessing do I leave behind even by the Pains that forty Weeks I once endured for your sakes when as you lay enclosed in my Womb and by my Travels in the Wilderness whereas my Groans upon your Birth-day did in my thinking cause both Trees and Stones to drop down Tears when as the merciless Tygers and tameless Lyons did stand like gentle Lambs and mourned to hear my Lamentations and by a Mother's Love that ever since I have born you imitate and follow your Father in all his honourable Attempts harm not the silly Infant nor the helpless Widow defend the Honour of distressed Ladies and give freely unto wounded Souldiers seek not to stain the unspotted Virgins with your Lust and adventure evermore to redeem true Knights from Captivity live evermore professed Enemies to Paganism and spend your Lives in the Quarrel and Defence of Christ that Babes as yet unborn in time to come may speak of you and record you in the Books of Fame to be true Christian Champions This is my Blessing and this is the Testament I leave behind for now I feel the chilness of pale Death closing the Closets of mine Eyes Farewel vain World dear Lord farewel sweet Sons you 'r famous Followers of my George and all true Christian Knights adieu These words were no sooner ended but with a heavy sigh she yielded up the Ghost whereat St. George being impatient in his sorrows fell upon her liveless Body tearing his Hair and rending his Hunter's Attire from his back into many pieces and at last when his Griefs were some what diminished he burst out into these bitter Lamentations Gone is the Star quoth he that lighted all the Nothern World whithered is the Rose that beautified our Christian Fields dead is the Dame that for her beauty stained all Christian Women for whom I 'll fill the Air with everlasting Mones Let this day henceforth be fatal to all times and counted for a dismal day of Death let never the Sun shew forth his Beams thereon again but Clouds as black as pitch cover the Earth with fearful Darkness let every Tree in this accursed Forrest henceforth be blasted with unkindly Winds let Brambles Herbs and Flowers consume and wither let Grass and blooming Buds perish and decay and all things near the place where she was slain be turned to dismal black and ghastly colour that the Earth itself in mourning Garments may lament her loss let never Bird sing chearfully on tops of Trees but like the mournful Musick of the Nightingale fill all the Air with fatal Tunes let bubling Rivers murmure for her loss and silver Swans that swim thereon sing doleful Melody let all the Dales belonging to these fatal Woods be covered with green bellied Serpents croaking Toads hissing Snakes and sigh-killing Cockatrices in blasted Trees let fearful Ravens shrick let Howlets cry and Crickets sing that after this it may be called a place of dead Mens wandring Ghosts But fond Wretch why do I thus Lament in vain and bath her bleeding Body with my Tears when Grief by no means will recal her Life yet this shall satisfie her Soul for I will go a Pilgrimage unto Ierusalem and offer up my Tears to Jesus Christ upon his blessed Sepulchre by which my stained Soul may be washt from this bloody Guilt which was the cause of this sorrowful day's mishap These sorrowful words were no sooner ended but he took her bleeding Limbs between his fainting Arms and gave a hundred kisses upon her dying coloured Lips retaining yet the colour of Alabaster new wash'd in Purple-blood and in this ●●ta●●e a while lying gave way to others to unfold their Woes But his Sons whose Sorrows were as great as his protested never to neglect one day but daily to weep some Tears upon their Mother's Grave till from the Earth did spring some mournful flower to beav remembrance of her Death as did the Uiolet that sp●●ng from chast Adonis's Blood where Venus wept to see him slain Likewise the other six Champions that all the time of their Lamentations stood like Men drowned in the depth of Sorrow began now a little to recover themselves and after protested by the honour of true Knight hood and by the Spu● and golden Garter of St. George's Leg to accompany him unto the Holy Land bare footed without either Horse or S●ooe only cl●●● in russet Gaberdines like the usual Pilgrims of the World and never to return till they had paid their Uows at that blessed Sepulchre Thus in this sorrowful manner wearied they the time away filling the Woods with echoes of their Lamentations and recording their Dolours to the whistling Winds but at last when black Night began to approach and with her cable Mantle to overspread the crystal Firmament they retired with her dead Body back to the City of London where the report of