Ladyes and Damsels were in her company whilst thus shee lamented her Knights absence who hearing of her desperate intended death made excéeding sorrow Some there were that so mightily grieued that they could not speake one word other some there were that souâ—ht to perswade her from her desperate intent but all in vaine For she presently went from them and with her owne blood writ a Letter and wrapping it in a Sear-cloth and then solved it to the Uestures wherein she was clothed then taking her Crowne shee bound it from her head with a GoldeÌ„ chaine which the Red-rose Knight before time had giuen hâ—r Then when shee had done all this shee came to her little Sunne and many times kissed him and â—o deliuered him to the Ladyes and Damsels to bee nourished so after taking leaue of them all she departed toward the sea whether being â—oâ—te the went to the top of the high rock where she began to looke downe vpon the Sea and after casting her selfe vpon the Earth looking vp towards Heauen she sayd Thou God of my Fortunes Lord of the Windes Seas thou that broughtest into this country the right perfect Knight in beauty manhood and all vertues graunt that when my soule hath made passage out of this world my body may be intombed in his bâ— some which words being sayd shée turned her eyes towards her Pallace and spake with a high voyce Adue my deare Babe adue you glistring Towres my royall Pallace aâ—ue Ladyes and Damsels and lastly adue to all the world And in saying so she cast herselfe into the Sea there desperately drowned her selfe But yet such was her fortune that the waues of the Sea bore her dead body the same day to the English Knights Ship which as then lay in a Road where they had cast Anchor for to rest that night and to be short it so happened at the same houre when her dead Body was cast against the Shipps the Red-rose Knight went vp the Hatches to take the fresh ayre where looking about he espyed the dead Lady richly attyred in cloth of Gold that gorgiously stone in the Water the which he presently caused to be taken vp and brought into the Ship where looking wiâ—hly vpon her he knew her perfectly well and after stooping to kisâ—e her pale Lippes hee found the bloudy Letter which hee had compeled â—râ—pt in Seare-cloth so taking it and reading the contents thereof his Blood began to change and to war redde like the Rose and presently againe as pale as ashes Whereat Sir Launcelat and the other Knights were greatly abashed but especially Anglitora who demaunded the câ—use of his griefe Whereunto the Red-rose Knight was not able to answere a word the sorrow of his heart so excâ—eded yet not withstanding he deliuered the bloody letter to Anglitora the contents whereof are these that follow The bloody Letter of Queene Caelia THou bright Star of Europe thou Chosen of England for prowesse beautie When wilt thou return to fulfill thy promise made vnto her that many a day hath had her eyes planted vpon the Seas after thee shedding more teares in thy absence then the Heauens conteineh Starres Ah my deare Loue makest thou no reckoning nor account of thy promise that thou madest to me at thy departure knowest thou not that euery noble mind is bound to keepe his word vpon paine of reproach and shame but thou hast infringed it and hast broken thy oath of Knighthood which no excuse can recouer For since I last saw thy Shippe floating on the Seas I neuer came within my Pallace till the writing hereof nor neuer lay in Bedde to take my rest nor neuer sate in iudgement on my Countries causes but for the space of fortie dayes I stood vpon a Rocke expecting thy returne till famine constrayned me to depart There haue I stood day and night in raine and in snow in the cold of the morning and in the heate of the Sunne in fasting in prayers in desires in hope and finally languishing in dispaire and death Where when I could heare no newes of thy returne I desperately cast my selfe into the Sea desiring the Gods that they would bring mee either aliue or dead to thy presence to expresse the true affection that I haue euer borne thy noble Person Thus fare thou well From her that liued and dyed with an vnsported minde Thine owne true Louer till we meete in the Elizian fields thy vnhappy Caelia Queene of the Fayerie Land THus when faire Anglitora had read those bloody lines she greatly lamented her vnhappy death withall requested the Red-rose Knight in that she dyed for his sake to beare her Body into England and there most honourably intombe it to which he most willingly consented So causing her body to be inbalmed they hoysted sayle and departed towards England into which Country they within foure moneths safely ariued At whose comming the Inhabitants and dwellers greatly reioyced but chiefely the Red-rose Knight and his company who at their first ariuall knéeled downe vpon the Earth and gaue God thankes for preseruing them from so many dangers and perils to their high renowne and triumphant victoryes After this they intombed the body of Caelia most honourably as befitted a Princesse of her calling This being done they departed towards Pendragon Castle standing in Walles where as then King Arthur kept his royall Court where being ariued they found the King and many other Nobles in a readines to giue them a Princely welcome amongst whom was faire Angelica the Nun of Lincolne mother to the Red-rose Knight yet kept in so secret a manner that neither he nor she had any suspition thereof but spake one to another as méere strangers The discouery of whom discoursed at large in the second part of this Historie as likewise the strange fortune of Caelias little Sonne which the Ladyes in the Fayerie land called by the name of the Fayerie Knight and by what meanes he came to be called the Worlds Tryumph with many other strang accidents c. But now to conclude this first part the Red-rose Knight and the faire Anglitora were solemnely maried together and liued long time in King Arthurs Court in great ioy and tranquilitie and peace FINIS R. I. THE Second Part of the Famous Historie of Toma Lincolne the Red-rose Knight Wherein is declared his vnfortunate Death his Ladyes disloyalty his Childrens Honours and lastly his Death most strangely reuenged Written by the first Author At London Printed by Augustine Matthewes dwelling in the Parsonage House of Saint Brides in Fleete-street 1631. To the Reader PRomise is debt gentle Reader I haue therefore performed what in my first Part I promised which was to shew thee the vnfortunate death of the Red rose Knight his beloued Lady Anglitoras disloyal affections towards him his Childrens Honours Renownes and Dignities and in the period of this small Historie his death both iustly truely and strangely reuenged The reading of which if with good
the sleeping Potion shée was presently cast into a traunce which shée poore Lady supposed death The Doctor greatly admiring at her vertuous minde erected her body against an aged Oake where he left her sléeping and with all spéede returned to the hatefull Quéene and told her that he had performed her Maiesties command who gaue him many thanks and promised to requite his secrecie with a large recompence But now speake we againe of Prince Valentine who had intelligence how the onely comfort of his heart had ended her life by Poysons violence for which cause he leaues the Court and conuerted his rich Attire to ruthfull Roabes his costly coloured Garments to a homely russet Coat and so trauailing to the solitary woods he vowed to spend the rest of his dayes in a Shepheards life His royall Scepter was turned into a simple Shéepehooke and all his pleasure was to kéepe his Shéepe from the téeth of the rauenous Wolues Thrée times had glistering Phoebe renewed her horned winges and deckt the elements with her smiling countenance Thrée moneths were past thrée Moones had likewise runne their wonted composse before the Grecian Emperou mist his Princely Sonne whose want was no sooner bruted through the Court but hee ecchoed foorth this horrour to himselfe What cursed Planet thus indirectly rules my haplesse course or what vnâ—outh dryery Fate hath bereaued me of my Princely sonne Ioue send downe thy burning Thunderbâ—lts and strike them dead that be proâ—urers of his want But if swéet Venus he be dead for loue houer his Ghost before mine eyes that hee may discouer the cauâ—e or his inflictions But contrariwise if his life be finished by the fury of some murtherous mind then let my exclamations pierce to the iustfull Maiestie of Heauen that neuer Sunne may shine vpon his hated head which is the cause of my Valentines decay Or that the angry Furies may lend me their burning whips inceâ—santly to scourge their purple soules till my Sonnes wrongs bee sufficiently reuenged Thus or in such a like frantick humour ranne hee vp and downe his Pallace till Reason pacified his outragious thoughts and by perswasion of his Lords he was brought into his quiet bed Meane space Diana the Quéene of Chastitie with a Traine of beautifull Nimpheâ— by chance came through the Wood where Dulcippa was left in her traunce in which place rousing the Thickets in purâ—uit of a wilde Hart the Quéene of Chastity espied the harmlesse Lady standing against a Trée and beheld her swéet breath to passe through her closed lips At whose presence the Quéene a while stood wondring at but at last with her sacred shee awaked her and withall asked the cause of her traunce and by what meanes she came thither Which poore awaked Lady being amazed both at her sodaine Maiestie and the strangenesse of her passed Fortune and distresse with farre fetcht sighes shee related what happened to her in those desart Woods The heauenly Goddesse being moued with pitie with a most smiling voyce cheared her vp and with a Lilly taken from the ground she wiped the teares from off Dulcippa tender chéekes which like to a riuer trickled from her Christall eyes This being done Diana with an Angels voyce spake vnto her as followeth Swéete Uirgine for so it séemeth thou art farre better would it befit thy happy estate happy I terme it hauing past so many dangers to spend the remnant of thy life amongst my Traine of Nimphes whereas springeth nothing but Chastity and purity of life Dulcippa though in her loue both firme and constant yet did she condiscend to dwell with Dianas Nimphs where now instead of parly with courtly Gallants shée singeth Songs Carrols Roundelayes in stead of Penne and Incke wherewith she was wont to write Loue-letters shee exerciseth her Bow Arrows to kill the swift-fat Deare and her downie Beddes are pleasant Groues where pretty Lambes doe graze But now returne wée againe to the raging Emperour who sifted the matter out in such sort that hee found the Empresse giltie of her Sonnes want and the Doctor to bee the instrument of Dulcippas death who being desperat like one that vtterly detested the cruelty of the Empresse would not alleadge that he had but set the Lady in a traunce but openly confessed that he had poysoned her for that fact was willing to offer vp his life to satisfie the Law therefore the angry Emperour sweares that nothing shall satisfie his Sonnes reuengement but death and thereupon straightly commaunded the Empresse to be put in prison and the Doctor likewise to be lockt in a strong Tower but yet because shee was his lawfull Wife and a Princesse borne hee something sought to mittigate the Law that if any on within a tweluemonth and a day would come and offer himselfe to combate in her cause against himselfe which would be the appealant Champion she should haue life if not to bee burnt to ashes in sacrifice of his Sonnes death all which was performed as the Emperour had commanded But now all this while the poore Prince liues alone within the Woods making his complaints to the flockes of Séepe and washing their waell with his diâ—â— ressed teares His bedde whereon his body rested was turned into a Sun-burnd bank his chaire of state couered with grasse his musicke the whiâ—â—ling winds the Rethoricke pittifull complaints and meanes wherewith he bewayled his passed fortunes and the bitter crosses of his vnhappy loue The solitarie place wherein this Prince remained was not farre â—distant from the Groue where Dullcippa led her sacred life who by chaunce in a morning at the Sunnes vprising attyred in gréene vesiments bearing in her hand a Bow bended and a quiuer of arrowes hanging at her backe with her hayre tyed vp in a Willow wreath least the Bushes should catch her golden Tresses to beautifie their branches in this manner comming to hunt a sauage Hart she was surprized by a bloody Satire bent to rape who with a bloody mind pursued her and comming to the same place where Prince Valentine fedde his mourning Lambes hee ouertooke her whereat shee gaue such a terrible shrike in the Wood that shee stird vp the Shepherds princely mind to rescue her but now when the bloody Satyre beheld a face of Maiestie shrowded in a shepherds clothing immediatly hée scudded through the Woods more swifter then euer fearefull Deare did run But now gentle Reader héere stay to reade a while and thinke vpon the happy méeting of these Louers for surely the imagination thereof will lead a golden witte into the Laberinth of heauenly ioyes but being breathlesse in auoyding passed dangers they could not speake a word but with stedfast eyes stood gazing each other in the face but comming againe to their former senses Vailentine brake silence with this wauering speach What heauenly wight art thou quoth hee which with thy beautie hast inspired me I am no Goddesse replyed shée againe but a Uirgin vowed to kéepe Diana companie Dulcippa my name a Lady
consideration I doubt not but shall bring vnto thee much pleasure and delight being for the quantitie thereof nothing inferiour to the best that hath beene written of the like Subiect I meane of Knights aduentures and Ladyes beloued I therefore dedicate this to thy reason knowing that this old Prouerbe may confirme my expectation which is That good Wine needs no Bush nor a pleasing Historie craues no shelter Farewell R. I. The second part of the famous History of Tom a Lincolne the Red-rose Knight c. CHAP. I. How Tom a Lincolne knew not his Mother till forty yeares of his age nor whose Sonne he was Of King Arthurs death and his dying speeches and of what hapned thereupon WHen Arthur that renowned King of England being one of the nine Worthies of the World had by twelue seuerall set Battailes conquered the third part of the Earth and being wearied with the exploytes of Marti all aduentures in his olde dayes betooke himselfe to a quiet course of life turning his Warlkie habiliaments to diuine Bookes of celestiall meditations that as the one had made him famous in this World so might the other make him blessed in the World to come Seauen yeares continued quiet thoughts in his breast seauen yeares neuer heard he the sound of delightfull Drums nor in seuen yeares beheld hee his thrice worthy Knights of the Round Table flourishing in his Court by which meanes his Pallace grew disfurnished of those Martiall troupes that drew commendations from all forraigne Kingdomes In this time most of those renowned Champions had yéelded their liues to the conquering Tiranny of pale Death and in the bowels of the Earth lay sléeping their eternall sléepes the royall King himselfe laden with the honour of many yeeres and hauing now according to nature the burthen of death lying heauie vpon his shoulders and the stroke lifted vp to diuide his body from his soule he called before him all the chiefen of his Court but especially his own Quéene the Red-rose Knight and his Lady Anglitora with the faire Angellica the Nunne of Lincolne whom hee had so many yéeres secretly loued and being at the poynt to bid a wafull farewell to the world with Countenance as Maiestical as King Priam of Troy he spake as followeth First to thée my loued Queene must I vtter the secrets of my very soule and what wanton escapes I haue made from any nuptiall Bedde otherwise cannot this my labouring life depart from my fading body in quiet Long haue I liued in the delightfull sinne of Adulterie and polluted our mariage Bed with that vile pleasure pardon I beseech thee and with that forgiuenesse which I hope will proceed from thy gentle heart wash away this long bred euill the Celestaill powers haue grauated me remâ—ssion Then turning to Angellica the Nunne of Lincolne hee said Oh thou my youths delight thou whose loue hath bereaued my Quéene of much mariage pleasure thou and but onely thou haue I offended withall therefore diuine Angellica forgiue me I like a rauisher spotted thy Uirginitie I â—râ—pt thy sweet budde of Chastitie I with flattery won thy heart and ledde thee from thy Fathers house that good Earle of London to feede my wanton desires by thee had I a Sonne of whom both then and I take glory of for in his worthynesse remaine the true Image of a Martialist and this renowned Knight of the Red-rose is he He liues the fruit of our wanton pleasures borne at Lincolne and there by a Shepherd brought vp few knowing till now his true Parente Maâ—â—aile not deere Sonne thinke not amisse sweete Queene for thou my louely Angellica Be not dismayde you honourable States heere attending my dying houre for as I hope presently to enter into Elizium Paradise and weare the Crowne of disertfull Glory I haue reuealed the long secrets of my heart and truely brought to light those things that the darknesse of obliuion hath couered Now the Mother knowes her Sonne the Sonne the Mother Now may this valiant Knight boast of his Pedegrée and a quiet content satisfie all your doubts Thus haue I spoke my minde thus quieted my soule bids the world farwell Adue faire Quéene adue déere son farwell louely Angellica Lords and Ladyes adue vnto you all you haue seene my life so now behold my death as Kings doe liue so Kings must die These were the last of Kings Arthurs words And being dead his death not halfe so amazed the standers by as the strange spéeches at his liues farwell The Quéene in a raging ielousie fretted at her Marriage wrongs protesting in heart to be reuenged vpon the Nunne of Lincolne The Nunne of Lincolne séeing her wantonnesse discouered tooke more griefe thereat then ioy in the finding of her long lost Son supposing now that the King being gone she should be made a scandall to the world The Red-rose Knight knowing himselfe to be begot in wantonnesse and borne a Bastard tooke small ioy in the knowledge of his Mother Anglitora Tom a Lincolnes Wife excéeded all the rest in sorrow bitterly sobbing to her selfe and in heart making great lamentation in that she had forsaken Father Mother Friends Acquaintance and Countrey all for the loue of a Bastard bred in the wombe of a shamelesse Strumpet therefore she purposed to giue him the slip and with her owne Sonne a young gallant Knight named the Blacke Knight in courage like his Father to trauaile towards the Kingdome of Prester Iohn where she first breathed life and her Father reigned In this melancholy humour spent they many dayes troubling their braines with diuers imaginations The Court which before rung with Delights and flourished in gallant sort now thundred with Complaints euery one disliking his owne estate Discontent as a proud Commaunder gouerned ouer them and their Attendants were idle Fancies and disquiet Thoughts and to speake troth such a confused Court was seldome séene in the Land for no sooner was Kings Arthurs Funerall solemnized but the whole troupes of Lords Knights and Gentlemen Ladyes and others were like to a splitted Shippe torne by the Tempest of the Sea seuered euery one departed whither his Fancie best pleased The Red-rose Knight conducted his Mother Angellica to a Cloyster in Lincolne which place she had so often polluted with her shame there to spend the remnant of her life in repentance and with her true Lamentations to wash away her blacke spottes of sinne that so grieuously stayneth her Soule and from a pure Uirgine made her selfe a desolute Strumpet Likewise King Arthurs widdowed Quéene like to irefull Hecuba or the tealous Iuno kept her Chamber for many dayes pondering in her minde what reuenge shee might take vpon Angellica her Husbands late fauorite On the other side Anglitora Lady and Wife to the Red-rose Knight with her Sonne the Blacke Knight made prouision for their departure towards the Land of Prester Iohn where shée was borne so vpon a night when neither Moone nor Star-light appeared they secretly departed the Court
harborest and in thy wombe deliuereâ—st them as a food vnto Wormes Therefore thou cruell Earth howle andmourne for thou art vnworthy of such blessed bodies And now oh you pittifull Heauens heare my complaints conuey them to the Soules of my deceased Parents for my lamentations by the gentle Windes are blowen from the East vnto the West the dry Land and the Watry Seas are witnesses to them Therefore no day shall rise but it shall heare my complaints no night shall come but it shall giue eare vnto my moâ—nes neither day nor night shall be frée from my heart-breaking cryes If that I groane mée thinkes the Trees are bended as though they pittied my teares The very Ground for griefe I sée alters her complexion All that I heare all that I see all that I feele giues fresh increase to my sorrow I will neuer hencefoorth come in peopled Towne nor inhabited Cittie but wander all alone vp and downe by low Uallyes and sleepy Rockes or I will dwell in darke Dennes frequented onely by Wilde Beastes where no path of man was euer séene or to the Woods I will goe so darke and beset so thicke with shaddow branches that no Sunne may shine there by day nor no Starre by night may be seene whereas is heard no voyce but the outcryes of horrible Goblings the balefull shrikes of Night-owles the vnlukie sounds of Rauens and Crowes there shall mine eyes bee made watry Fountaines there will I make such plaints as Beasts shall mourne to heare them such plaints will I make as shall rend and riue strong trees make wilde Panthers tame and mollifie hard flinty stones And if by chance that sléepe oppresse mee on the bare and cold Ground shall these wofull limbs rest the gréene turffe shall serue as a Pillow for my head boughs and branches of trées shall couer me and then I hope some venemous Serpent wil spéedily giue mee my deaths wound that this my poore soule may be released from flesh and blood by which meanes I may passe to those Fields those faire Elizium Fields whereas my murthered Parents daily resort In this manner complained the Blacke Knight vpon his Parents graue thrée dayes and nights together still knéeling vpon the cold ground and could not by any imagination bee comforted euery thing his eyes beheld renewed fresh sorrow and drew on new lamentations but at last the Powers of Heauen intending to graunt him some ease cast his distressed Senses into a quiet slumber where lying vpon his fathers graue wee will let him for a time rest CHAP 8. How the Fayerie Knight came to be called the Worlds Triumph Of his ariuall in England of the two Knights deaths and of the Proue rbe vsed of three Cities in England YOu haue read in the first part of this Historie how the Fayerie Knight the Sonne of Caelia begot by the Red-rose Knight was committed by his Mother at her death to the keeping of the Ladies of the Land for then was there but few Men liuing being a Countrey onely of Women and now being of lusty age and a Knight of renowned valoure he betooke himselfe to trauell the onely cause to finde his Father or some of his kindred whom he had neuer seene Many were the Countries he passed but more the dangers hee indured all which for this time wee omit onely a little speake of thrée guifts giuen him by an Hermite that had thrée excéeding Uertues For comming to an Iland to séeke aduentures it was his chance to saue a young beautifull Mayden from rauishing by a satyricall Wild-man for he hauing tyed the golden locks of her Hayre to two knoity brambles and being ready to take his venerall pleasure vpon her the Fayerie Knight comming by and séeing that dishonour and violence offered to so young a Uirgin with his Sword at one blow paired away the Wild-mans head and so went with the Mayden home to her Fathers house which was an Hermitage some mile distant off where being no sooner come but the good old man hauing a Head more white then Siluer but a heart more heauier then Lead by reason of the want of his daughter so cruelly taken from him began at her sight to be so cheered that he had not the power for ioy to speake a good space but at last taking the fayerie Knight by the hand he led him to an inward roome where hee banqueted him with such chéere as his Hermitage afforded and after in â—â—ew of his daughters reschew hee gaue him thrée such Gifts and of thrée such Uertues as the like seldome had Knight The first was a King which whosoeuer did weare should neuer dye by treason The second a Sword that on what Gate soeuer it strucke it would presently fly open The third and last a viall of such Drinke that whosoeuer tasted should sodainely forget all passed sorrowes Hauing receiued these thrée Gifts of the good old Hermite he departed and trauelled without any aduenture till he came and found the blacke Knight afléepe vpon his fathers Graue which when the Fayerie Knight had awaked in countenance they were so alike as Nature had made them both one for indéed they were Brothers by the Fathers side the one true borne the other a Bastard yet at the first sight such a secret affection grew betwixt them that they plighted their â—aythes to each other vowing neuer to part friendships But when the Blacke Knight had reuealed his birth parentage his Fathers name and place of birth the Fayerie Knight resolued himselfe that he had found a Brother as well in nature as condition But when hee heard the story of his Fathers life and the manner of his death with the murther of Anglitora his vnchast wife hee could not choose but shed teares whereof plenty descended from his faire eyes whereupon hée tooke occasion to speake as followeth Heauen rest thy swéet soule my vnknowne Father and may the fruite of thee proue as famous in the World as thou hast been but more fortunate in their Mariage choyse As for my Stepmother though her vnchast life baue made her in famous to all Womankinde yet this in charitie I desire that when shee comes to Plutoes Realme that Proserpine may send her to the blessed fields of Elizium in remembrance of whom in this world if euer we ariue in that noble Countrey of England where my Knightly Father was borne wee will there erect her a stately Tombe yet no Epitaph shall show her disloyall life nor the cause of her death onely in Letters of beaten Gold shall remaine ingrauen vpon her Tombe the name of Anglitora Daughter to Prester Iohn and Wife to the worthy Red-rose Knight Hereupon hee gaue his new-found Brother the Blacke Knight his Wall of Drinke which the Hermit had giuen him who no sooner had tasted but all former gréefes were forgotten hee remembred not the death of his Father nor the murther of his Mother nor what sorrow hee had sustayned in the Wildernesse but like a ioconde
Knight gyrt his Sword round about him and stood on Thornes till hee was set forward to seeke Martiall aduentures Hereupon these two Knights departed toward England and performed many noble deeds of Chiualrie by the way But amongst all others being in the Turkish Court this is worthy to bée noted for with one Boxe of the eare the Blacke Knight killed the Turkes Sonne starke dead for which cause by treason were their liues conspired and the following night had their Lodging entred by twelue of the Turkes Guard with an intent to murther them but by reason of the inchaunted Ring in the which they put both their little fingers the Guard of a sodaine fell all fast in a traunce hereupon the two Knights departed the Turkish Court But no sooner were they out of the Citie but a troupe of armed Knights pursued them and followed them so néerely that they were forced to enter a Castle that stood by the Sea side wherein no creature had abyding comming to the Gate the Fayerie Knight with his Sword strucke thereat an it presently opened wherein being no sooner entred but the armed Knights of the Turkish nation closed them fast in and caused the Gates to bée walled vp with Free Stone and so departed Now were these two Knights in more danger of death then euer they had beene in all their liues and sure they had starued had not good pollicie preserued their liues for the Castle walles were so high that none durst venture downe without great danger As in greatest extreamity mans wit is the quickest for inuention so the two Knights cut off all the Hayre from their heads which were very long and therewithall made along â—ooâ—sted Line or Cord with the which they slid from the top of the Wall to the Ground But this mischaunce hapned as the Fayerie Knight glyded downe the Coard broke and his body tooke such a violent blow against the stonie Ground that it strucke the breath quite out of his body no life by the Blacke Knight could bee perceiued but that his soule was for euer diuided This of all misfortunes was held the extreamest therefore in great griefe hee breathed foorth this lamentation Oh you partiall Fates quoth hee Oh you vniust Destinies Why haue you reft two liues by wounding one Now let the Sunne forbeare his wonted light Let Heate and Coulde let Drought and Moysture let Earth and Ayre let Fire and Water be all mingled and confounded together let that old confused Chaos returne againe and heere let the World end And now you Heauens this is my request that my Soule may presently forsake this flesh I haue no soule of mine owne for it is the soule of the Fayerie Knight for but one Soule is common to vs both then how can I liue hauing my Soule departed which spightfull death hath now separated Oh thou my Knightly brother though the Fates deny to giue thée life yet in spight of them I le follow thée You Heauens receiue this halfe soule of my true Friend and let not life and death part vs with Eagles wings will I flye after him and in Ioues celeâ—â—iall Throane ioyne with him in friendship We two in life were but one one will one heart one minde one Soule made vs one one life kept vs both aliue one being dead drawes the other vnto death therefore as wee liued in loue so will we dye in loue and with one Graue wee may interre both our bodyes How glorious and happy were my death to dye with my beloued friend Now doe I loath this life in liuing alone without my deare Brother whereupon drawing his Sword from his side hée sayd Oh thou wofull Weapon euen thou shalt be the meane to ridde my soule from this prison of body Oh faith vnfaigned Oh hand of sacred friendship I am resolued both with the force of Heart Hand and Armes to giue my Heart deaths deadly wound for now my noble Fayerie Knight this blood I offer vp vnto thy Soule But being ready with his Sword to pierce his owne heart hée saw a liuely blood spread in his friends face and those eyes that were so dolefully closed vp began now to looke abroad and the countenance that was so pale and wan receiued a fresh complexion whereupon the Blacke Knight stayed from his desperate resolution and from a bloody tragedian became the recouerer of his brothers life who after a while began to be perfect sencible so binding his bruzed bones together they went a Shipboard on a Shippe that lay at anchor at the next Port making for England so the next morning the wind serued well the Pilots hoysted sayle merily floting on the waters Ten wéekes had not passed toward the finishing of a yéere before they ariued on the Chaulkie cliftes of England vpon which they had no sooner set footing but with their warme lippes they gently kissed the cold earth This is the Land of promised glory said the Fayerie Knight to finde this Land I haue indured many miseries to find this Land I haue passed many Countries and in this Land must I seale vp the last quittance of my life here shal my bones rest for I am lawfully descended from the loynes of an English Knight peace bee in my ende for all my dayes haue béene spent in much trouble In such like discourses left they the shore side trauayling further into the Land they met with one of King Arthurs Knights named Sir Launcelat Dulake so old and lame that through his bruises in chiualry hée séemed rather an impotent creature then a Knight at Armes yet at the sight of these two aduenturous Knights his blood séemed to grow young and hée that before could not march a mile on foote for a Kingdome now went as tiuely as any of the two other Knights did First came they to London where for their fathers sake they were by the Gouernours most gallantly entertained the stréets were hung round with Arras hangings and Tape strie workes Pagiants were builded vp in euery stréet the Condâ—nts ran with Wine and a solemne Holy-day was then proclaimed to be kept yearely vpon that day To speake of Banquets prepared for them the Tilts and Turnaments and such honourable graces I thinke néedlesse In London in great content stayed they some twenty dayes in which time came noble messengers from the Court to conduct them to the King that then raigned for since the Blacke Knight and his mother departed the Land hapned thrée changes euery one maintaining the ancient honour of King Arthurs Knights of the Round Table whereof these two in presence of all the Nobilitie were in Knightly sort created After this the King ordained a solemne Iusting to be kept in his Court held in great honour for fortie dayes to which Knightly sports resorted the chiefest flowers of Chiualrie from all Countries as Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses â—arles Lords and Knights and for chiefe Challenger and Champion for the Countrey was the Fayerie Knight who for his matchlesse man-hood therein showne had this title giuen him by a generall consent to bee called The Worlds Wonder After this being desirous to sée the Citie of Lincolne where the Red-rose Knight was borne hee in company of his Brother true friend the Blacke Knight and old sit Lancelat Dulake rod thither at whose comming into the Citie the great Bell called Tom a Lincolne was rung an houre which as then was seldome showne to any excepting Kings and renowned warriours returning victoriously from bloody â—attles Here builded they a most sumptuous Minster which to this day remaines in great magnificence and glory Likewise here builded they a most stately Tombe in remembrance of their Parents the like as then no place of England afforded Thus hauing left the noble feats of Chiualry they liued a life zealous and most pleasing to God erecting many Alms-houses for poore people giuing thereto great Wealth and Treasure And when nature ended their dayes they were buried in the same Minster both in one Tombe which likewise was so richly set vp with Pillars of Gold that aboue all otâ—er Cities it grew the most famous whereupon since that time hath this old Prouerbe of thrée Cities grâ—wn common which is vsed in these words Lincolne was London is and Yorke shall be FINIS R. I.
penning her selfe closely within her Chamber like one that made no conscience for to kill shée in all hast sent for a Doctor of Phisicke not to giue Phisicke to restâ—â—e health but poyson for vntimely death who being no sooner some into her presence but presently she lockt her Chamber doore and with an angry countenance staring him in the face shee breathed this horror into his harmelesse eares Doctor thou knowest how oft in secret matters I haue vsed thy helpe wherein as yet I neuer saw thy faith falsified but now amongst the rest I am to require thy ayd in an earnest businesse so secret which if thou dost but tell it to the whispering windes it is sufficient to spread it through the whole world whereby my practises may be discouered and I be made a noted reproach to all hearers Madame quoth the Doctor whose heart harboured no thought of bloody deeds what needs all these circumstances where dutie doth command my true obedience desist not ther fore gentle Empresse to make me priuy to your thoughts for little did he thinke her minde could harbour so vile a thought but hauing coniured most strongly his secrefie she spake to him as followeth Doctor the loue nay rather raging lust which I haue spied of late betwixt my vnnaturall sonne and proud Dulcippa may in short time as thou knowest bring a sudden alteration of our state considering that he being borne a Prince and descended from a royall race should match in marriage with a base and ignoble Mayden daughter but to a meane Gentleman therefore if I should suffer this secret loue to goe forward and séeke not to preuent it the Emperour might condemne mée of falshood and iudge me an agent in this vnlawfull loue which to a voyd I haue a practise in my head and in thy hand it lyes to procure thy Princes happinesse and Countreys good Dulcippas father as thou knowest dwels about thrée miles from my Pallace vnto whose house will this day send Dulcippa about such businesse as I thinke best where thou shalt bée appoynted and none but thou to conduct her thither where in a thicke and bushy groue which standeth directly in the midway thou shalt giue her the cup of death and so rid my heart from suspitious thoughts This bloody practise being pronounced by the Empresse caused such a terrour to enter into the Doctors mind that he trembled foorth this sorrowfull complaint Oh you immortall powers of Heauen you guider of my haplesse fortunes why haue you thus ordained mee to bée the bloody murderer of a chaste and vertuous Lady and the true patterne of sobrietie whose vntimelesse ouerthrow if I should but once conspire Dianas Nymphs would turne their wonted Natures and staine their hands with my accursed blood Therefore most glorious Empresse cease your determination for my heart will not suffer my hand to commit so foule a villany And wilt not thou doe if then replâ—ed the Empresse with a mind fraught with rage and blood â— doe protest quoth shée by Heauens bright Maiestie except thou doest consent to accomplish my intent thy head shall warrant this my secresie Stand not on termes my resolute attempt is cleane impatient of obiections The Doctor hearing her resolution and that nothing but Dulcippas death might satisfie her wrath hée consented to her request and purposed cunningly to dissemble with the bloody Quéene who beléeued that hée would performe what shée so much desired so departing out of her chamber she went to the giltlesse Lady sending her on this fatall message who like to haplesse Bellerophon was ready to carry an embassage of her own death But in the meane time the Doctor harbored in his breast a world of bitter woes to thinke how vilely this vertuous Lady was betrayd and considering in his minde how that he was forced by constraint to performe this tragedy therefore hee purposed not to giue her a cup of Poyson but a sleeping Drinke to cast her into a traunce which shee should as a cup of death receiue as well to try her vertuous Constancie as to rid himselfe from so haynous a crime But now returne wee to Dulcippa who beeing sped of her Message went with the Doctor walking on the way where all the talke which they had was of the liberall praise of Prince Valentine who remayned in Court little mistrusting what had happened to his beloued Lady and she likewise ignorant of the hurt that was pretended against her life but being both alone together in the Wood where nothing was heard but chirping Birds which with their voyces séemed to mourne at the Ladyes misfortune But now the Doctor breaking off their former talke tooke occasion to speake as followeth Man of all other creatures most vertuous Lady is most miserable for Nature hath ordayned to euery Bird a pleasant tune to bemoane their misshapps the Nightingale doth complaine her Rape and lost Uirginitie within the desart Groues the Swanne doth likewise sing a dolefull heauie tune a while before shée dyes as though Heauen had inspired her with some foreknowledge of things to come Yâ—â— Madame now must sing your Swan-like Song for the pretty Birds I sée doe drope their hanging heads and mourne to thinke that you must die Maruell not Madame the angry Quéene will haue it so Accurst am I in being constrayned to bee the bloody instrument of so tyrannous a fact Accurst am I that haue ordained that cuppe which must by Poyson stanche the thirst of the bloody Empresse and most accursed am I that cannot withstand the angry Fates which haue appoynted mée to offer outrage vnto vertue And in speaking these words hée deliuered the Cup into the Ladyes hands who like a Lambe that was led to the slaughter vsed silence for her excuse Many times lift shee vp her eyes toward the sacred Throne of Heauen as though the Gods had sent downe vengeance vpon her giltlesse Soule and at last breathed foorth these sorrowfull lamentations Neuer quoth shee shall vertue stoope to Uice Neuer shall Death affright my soule nor neuer Poyson quench that lasting loue which my true heart doth beare to Princely Valentine whose Spirit I hope shall méete mée in the ioyfull Fields of Elizium to call those Ghosts that dyed for Faithfull loue to beare mee witnesse of my Faith and Loyalty and so taking the Cup shée said Come come thou most blessed Cup wherein is contained that happy Drinke which giues rest to troubled mindes And thou most blessed Wood beare witnesse that I mixe this banefull Drinke with Teares distilling from my bléeding heart These Lips of mine that had woont to kisse Prince Valentine shall now most willingly kisse this Ground that must receiue my Corse The author of my death I le blesse for shee honours mee in that I die for my swéet Valentines sake And now Doctor to thée being the instrument of this my Death I doe begueath all earthly happinesse and here withall I drinke to Valentines good fortune So drinking off
plainely expressing the bounty that beautified his princely breast The Musicians being departed hee arose from his rich Bed and went vnto the King whom he found as then walking in a pleasant Garden of whom he requsted his Daughter Anglitora in marriage in recompence of his aduenture The which request so displeased the King that all his former curtesies was exchanged into sodaine sorrow and would by no meanes consent that Anglitora should bee his betrothed Spouse and answered that first hee would loose his Kingdome before shée should bee the wife of a wandring Knight The noble Red-rose Knight when hée vnderstood the vnkind answere of Prester Iohn all abashed went vnto Sir Launcelat and his other friends and certified them of all things that had happened who counselled him that the next morning they should depart After this conclusion they went to the King and thanked him for the high Honour hée had grac'd them with and after that went and visited their Shippe where for that day they passed the time in pleasure and so when the scouling night approached the Red-rose Knight went to the faire Anglitora and certified her of the vnkind answere of her cruell Father whereat thée grew sorrowfull and grieued in minde but at last better considering with her selfe shée yéelded her fortune fully at his pleasure promising that for his loue shee would forsake both Countrey Parents and Friends and follow him to what place soeuer hée pleased to conduct her And it is to be supposed that this night the fayre Anglitora tooke all the richest Iewels which she had and trussed them in a faâ—dle and so when it was a little before day shée came vnto the Red Rose Knight and awaked him who presently made him ready and so departed secretly from his Chamber till they came to their Shippes where they found all the rest of the English Knights ready to depart So when they were all a Board they hoysted Sayle and departed from the Port. To whose happy iourney we will now leaue them for a time and speake of the discontents of Prester-Iohn who all that night was exceeding sorrowfull for the vnkind answere which he had giuen to the Red-Rose Knight and so Melancholly that he could neither sléepe nor rest but at the last hee concluded with himselfe that he would goe conuey the English Knights at their departing vnto their Ships to the end that being in other countreys they might applaud his courtesies vsed to Strangers So in the morning hee arose and went to the Chamber where the Red rose Knight was lodged whom hee found departed contrary to his expectation After that he went into his Daughters Chamber where he found nothing but relentlesse walles which in vaine hee might speake vnto whose absence droue him into such a desperate minde that hée suddenly ran to the Sea coastes where hee found many of his Citizens that shewed him the Shippes wherein the English Knights were which was at that time from the Port or Hauen more then halfe a mile Then the King wéeping tenderly demaunded of them if they had séene his Daughter Anglitora To whom they answered that they had séene her vpon the Shippe hatches in company of the Red-rose Knight At which the King bitterly lamented beating his Brest and tearing his milke-white Hayre from his Head vsing such violence against himselfe that it greatly grieued the beholdâ—â—â— At that time there was many of his Lords present who by gentle perswasions withdrew him from the Sea coasts to his Pallace where he many dayes after lamented the disobedient flight of his Daughter CHAP. 7. How Caelia the Queene of the Fayrie Land was found dead floting vpon the waues of the Sea with other things that happened to the English Knights MAny dayes the windes blew chearfully in such sort that the English Ships were within keâ—ning of the Fayery Land at which Sir Lancelat tooke an occasion to speak vnto the Red-rose Knight and put him in remembrance how hee had promised Caelia to returne into her Countrey vnto which hée answered and said That he would keepe promise if the Destenies did afford him life And thereupon commanded the Master Pilot to make thitherward but the windes net being willing raysed such a Tempest on the Sea that the Shippe was cast a contrary way and the Marriners by no means possible could approach the Fayery land At which time the noble Quéene Caelia stood by the sea side vpon an high Rocke beholding the English Ship as it passed by as her vsual manner was euery day standing expecting her deare Loues returne many times making this bitter lamentation to her selfe Ah gentle Neptune thou God of Seas and Windes where is my desired Loue bring him againe vnto mee that day and night wée peth for his company Thus she complained at the same instant when her Louers Shippe sayled by for surely she knew if by the Banners and Ensignes which were displayed in the winde but when the poore Lady perceiued the Ship to turne from her she was sore abashed and dismayed In stead of ioy she was forced to wéepe teares and instead of singing was constrained to make sorrowfull complaints In this manner she aboad there all that ensuing night and caused Fires and great Lights to be made on the shore thinking thereby to call the Red-rose Knighâ— vnto her This order kept shee every day and night for the space of sixe wéekes wayling the want of him whom she loued more deare then her owne heart but when the sixe weekes were past and that the Fayerie Quéene perceiued that she should haue no tydings of her Loue she went from the Rocke all in dispaire into her Chamber where being entred shee caused her Sonne to be brought vnto her whom shée kissed many times for the loue she bore vnto his Father and after beholding the little Infant crossing her Armes with a sigh comming from the bottome of her heart she sayd Alasse my deare Sonne alasse thou canst not speake to demaund tydings of thy Father which is the brauest Knight the most vertuous and the most valiant in Armes that God euer formed Oh where is Nature swéet Babe that should enioyne thée to wéepe and my selfe more then thée for the lesse of so braue a Prince whose face I neuer more shall sée Oh cruell and vnkind Fortune my heart hath concluded that I goe and cast my selfe headlong into the Sea to the intent that if the Noble Knight bee there buried that I may lye in the same Sepulchre or Tombe with him where contrariwise if hee be not dead that the same Sea that brought him hither aliue bring me to him being dead And to conclude before I commit this desperate murther vpon my selfe with my Blood I will write a Letter which shall bée sewed to my Uestments or Attyre to the intent that if euer my body bee presented to the Red-rose Knight that then this bloody Letter may witnesse the true loue that I bore him to the houre of my death Many
Womanhood Marriage Loue was forgotten their passed ioyes were as things neuer been not any thought of remorse remayned within her but shee more cruell then the new deliuered Bear or the Tyger starued for meate by the helpe of the Knight of the Castle tooke the Scarffe of Iewells sent her from him the same euening and by violence thrust them downe the Palmers throat by which meanes they bereaued him of life and without any solemnity due to so braue a man they buried him in a Dunghill without the Gate not shedding so much as one teare for his death so great was the 〈…〉 of this his 〈◊〉 full Lady The poore Negar they set vp to the middle in the ground so surely fastned that by any meanes he could not stirre from thence where wée will leaue him wishing for death The Red-rose Knight or rather the vnhappy Palmer in his vnchristian like Graue and the Knight of the Castle with the murtheresse Anglitora to their surfetting Banquets of sinne and returne to the Blacke Knight which had lost himselfe in the Woods CHAP. 6. How the Blacke Knight being lost in a wildernesse became a wild man how his Fathers Ghost appeared vnto him and in what manner hee slew his owne Mother BY this time the Blacke Knight grewe so naturall a Wilde-man as though hée had béene bredde in the Wildernesse for day by day hee sported with Lions Leopards Tygers Elephants Unicornes and such like kinde of Beasts playing as familiarly with them as in King Arthurs Court hée had done with gallant Gentlemen But marke how it hapned one day aboue an other Hee chaunched to walke downe into a Ually where hee set himselfe downe by the Riuers side and in humane complaints bewayled his owne estate how beeing borne and breed of a Princely Race discended royally should thus consume his dayes in sauage sort amongst Wilde beasts and by no meanes could recouer his libertie or frée himselfe from that solitary Wildernesse Being in this distresse of mind a suddaine feare assayld him his heart shiuered his haire stood vpright the Elements seemed to looke dimme a terrible Tempest tore vp huge trees the Wilde Beastes roared and gathered on a heape together Birdes fell liuelesse from the ayre the Ground as it were trembled and a sodaine alteration troubled each thing aboue him in this amaze sate hée a good time maruelling what would ensue at last there appeared as hée imagined the Ghost of his Faâ—heâ— newâ—y murthered with a countenance pale and wan with hollowe eyes or none at all gliding vp and downe before him casting such fearefull frownes as might make the stoutest heart in the world to tremble and at last setting himselfe before the Blacke Knight spake as followeth Fearenot my Sonne I am the Ghost of thy murthered Father returned from Plutoes hollow Region I came from that burning Kingdome where continually flames an euerlasting Furnace from the fearefull Pitte come I to thee for reuenge Oh thou my Sonne if euer gentle Nature were plyant in thy boosome if euer thou tookest pleasure to hearethy Fathers honours spoken of if euer thou desirest to haue thy life meritorious in this world take to thee thy neuer failing Courage and reuenge my death vpon thy adulterous Mother thy Mother now liuing in the filthinesse of shame making the Castle where shee now remaines in a lustfull stewes there was I murthered and there buried in a stincking Dunghill no man gaue mee Funeral teares nor any sorrowed for my death I that haue dared Death in the face and purchast Honour in many Kingdomes was slaine by my owne Wife by my néerest Friend by my second selfe by Anglitora by her whom the whole world admired for vertue Rise deare Sonne rise and hast thée to that Castle polluted with the shame of thy wicked Mother Rise I say and let the Pauements of that Castle be sprinkeled with their detested blood the blood of that Monster that hath not onely dispoyled my marriage bedde of honoured dignities but like a tyrant to her owne flesh hath murthered mee Sée how the angry Heauens as it were doe threaten my Reuenge hearke how Hell-Furies doe howle and roare for Reuenge my Wiues Adulterie at the hand of Heauen deserues Reuenge My bléeding soule Oh my Sonne wandreth in vnquiet paths till thou workest Reuenge my death and murther cries for Reuenge then feare not Sonne to act it for duty loue and nature bindes thée to it By Heauen and by that great immortall Throane of happinesse By that low Kingdome of eternall paines By the huge watrey Seas I past to follow her By Earth and by the Soules of all the mortall men that euer dyed I commaund â—haâ—ge and constraine thée to perseuere in this Reuenge Hence to that foule defamed Castle defamed by Adulterie defamed by Murther there to my Soule doe thy latest dutie there wound thy cursed Mothers breast there sacrifice her liues blood there appease thy Fathers Ghost insenst with furie so shall my Soule in ioy enter the Fields of faire Elizeum But if thou prouest coward-like and through feare deny to execute my glorious Reuenge from this day hence-forth shall my pale wan leane and withred Ghost with gastly lookes and fearefull steps pursue and follow thee These were the words of his Fathers Ghost and hauing spoken these words with a grieuous groane hee vanished At this his sodaine departure the Blacke Knight cryed with a loud and fearefull voyce saying My noble Father stay Oh stay thy hasty steppes once more let mee heare thee speake Whether flyest thou Oh let me heare thy voyce againe It will not be He is vanished and my Mother liues as a shame to all our generation Oh thou staine of woman-hood Oh thou bloody Lionnesse Oh brutish act Oh beastly desires Where shall I now finde a place to shed teares in for my heart is rent into tenne thousand pieces and the terrour of this déed is too intollerable Rest thou in peace sweete Father thou in thy life wert both wise and valiant thy vertue wisedome and manhood made the very enemies to loue thée Oh then what fortune hadst thou to die by the friendly trust of thy owne Wife my disloyall Mother thy neerest friend proud thy greatest enemie and by a Womans mallice that heart was killed that millions of Foes could neuer daunt Oh sweete Red-rose Knight most happy hadst thou been to haue dyed â—â— the Fields of bloody Warre and seal'd thy liues quittance â—moâ—est renowned Souldiers then had thy death béene more honorable my wicked Mother had not murthered thée nor I béen inforst to take such bloody vengeance as I intend deare Father for thy sake for let mée neuer breath one day longer nor view the next Mornings rising Sunne let mée neuer liue imprisoned in this Wildernesse let nothing prosper that 〈◊〉 I â—ake in hand and here let the worlde end if I cease to prosecute a mortall Reuenge as the soule of my Father hath commaunded Hereupon hée set forward toward the Castle