to a Princes eye must bee surrendred vp for wormes to féed vpon Many other words would she haue spoken but that the commaunding Messenger being tyed to an houre caused her to put on the impoysoned Roabes which no sooner came to the warmth of her body but the good Lady after a few bitter sighes and dreadfull gaspes yéelded vp the ghost being through the extremitie of the infectious Garment made like vnto an Anatomie which they wrapped in Seare cloth the next day gaue her buriall according to her estate and so returned to the inraged Quéene kéeping then her Court at Pendragon castle in Wales into whose presence was no sooner the Messenger come but the angry Quéene beyond all measure being desirous to heare of Lady Angellicas death in a rage ran and clasped him about the middle saying Speake Messenger speake is the vile strumpet dead Is the shame of womankind tortured Is my hearts griefe by her death banished my boosome speake for I am ouermaistred with doubts Most gracious Quéene quoth the Messenger resolue your selfe of her death for the cold earth hath inclosed vp her body but so patiently tooke shee her death that well might it haue mooued a Tygers heart to remorse for in troth my heart relented at the manner of her death Neuer went Lambe more gently to the slaughter nor neuer Turtledoue was more méeke then this wofull Lady was at the message of her death for the Elements did séeme to mourne closing their bright beauties vp to blacke and sable Curtaines and the very flintie walles as it were sweate at the agonie of her death so gentle méeke and humbly tooke shee her death commending her selfe vnto your maiestie wishing that her death might be your soules contentment And could shée bee so patient quoth the Quéene that euen in death would wish happinesse to the causers thereof farewell thou miracle of womankind I haue béen to thée a sauage Lionnesse I was blinded at the report of thy wantonnesse else hadst thou béen now aliue all my cruelnesse against thée I now déeply repent and for thy deare hearts blood by me so rashly spilt shall bee satisfied with the liues of many soules Hereupon shee in a furie commanded the Messengers head to bee stricken off and seuen Seruitours to bee hanged all at the Court Gate and afterward caused their limbes to be set vpon high Pooles by the Common high wayes side as an example of her indignation Neuer after this houre such is the remorse of a guiltie conscience could shée sleepe in quiet but strange visions of this Lady as shee thought seemed to appeare to her the least noise that she heard whispering in the silence of the night did she imagine to bee some Furte to dragge her to Hell for the death of this good Lady the Windes as shee imagined murmured foorth Reuenge the running Riuers hummed foorth Reuenge the flying Fowles of the Ayre whistled out Reuenge yea euery thing that made noyse in her conceit gaue remorse for Reuenge and till that her owne life had giuen satisfact on by death for the rume of so swéet a Ladyes life no food could doe her good no sléepe quiet her braine no pleasure content her minde but Despaire with a terrible countenance did euermore attend her willing her sometime to throwe her selfe head-long from the top of a Tower sometime by poyson to end her dayes sometime by drowning sometime by hanging sometime by one thing sometime by another but at last in the middle of the night hauing her heart déepely ouermaistred by dispaire shee tooke a Girdle of pure Arabian Silke which Girdle shee first word on her Princely Nuptiall day when King Arthur marryed her this fatall Girdle shee made a riding knot of and therewithall vpon her Bed post shee hanged her sefle Thus blood you sée being guiltlesse shed is quitted againe with blood The Quéene being dead was not so much pittied of the people as the good Lady Angellica little lamentation was made for her death for euery one expected the like vntimely ende but according to the aleadgeance of Subiects her Noblemen gaue her a Princely Funerall and set ouer her an Iron Tombe in signification that shee had an Iron heart and Flintie conditions Heere will wée leaue the dead to their quiet restes and returne to the Blacke Knight and his Mother Anglitora with the Indian slaue that attends them sor strange bee the accidents that happen to them in forraigne Countryes and after wée will speake what hapned to the Red-rose Knight on the Sea CHAP. 4 By what meanes Anglitora became a Curtizan and how her Sonne the Blacke Knight lost himselfe in a wildernesie THE Blacke Knight his Mother Anglitora and the Blacke 〈◊〉 slaue hauing happily crâ—st the Seas and ariued in a Countrey very â—ertill to see to replenished with all kinde of Trees and Fruit yet were there no Inhabitants to finde but onely an old Castle built of Fluiâ— stones the Turrets whereof were made like the Grecian Piramedes square and very high At this Castle gate they knocked so boldly each one carelesse of all accidents that might vappen as it rung into the Chamber were the Knight of the Castle lay who immediatly sent a very low statur d Dwarffe to sée who knocked and if they were strangers to direct them vp into his Chamber to take such kinde courtesies as the Castle afforded for indeed hee was a Knight of a bountifull condition full of liberalitie The Dwarffe no sooner comming to the Gate and espying people in such strange disguised attyres neuer hauing séene the like before without speaking one word ran amazedly vp to his Master certifiing him that a kinde of people of an vnknowne nation was arriued and that they séemed rather Angels in shape then any earthly creatures The Knight of the Castle hearing this came downe and met them in a large square Court paued with marble stone where hee kindly gaue them entertainement promising them both lodging and other needfull things they were destitute of The thrée Trauellers accepted of his courtesies and being long before weather-beaten on the Seas thought themselues from a déepe dungeon of calamities lifted to the toppe of all pleasures and prosperitie thus from this paued Court the Knight led them vp to his owne Chamber wherein was a fire made of Iuniper wood Frankinsence which smelled very sweete the walles were hung about with rich Tapestrie whereon was writ the story of Troyes destruction the Creation of mankind and the fearefull description of the latter day of Doome likewise hung vpon the said wales Instruments of all sorts of musicke with such varietie of other pleasures as they had neuer seene the like Now while these weary Trauellers tooke pleasure in beholding these things the good Knight caused his Dwarffe which was all the seruants that hee kept to couer the Table made of Cypresse wood with a fine Damaske table-cloth and thereon set such dellicates as his castle afforded which was a piece
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.
this thy monstrous disobedience These words being ended hee gaue such an extreame sigh that his very heart brake with griefe and hee immediatly dyed in the presence of the Red-rose Knight For whose death hee made more sorrowfull lamentation then Niobe did for her seuen Sonnes But in recompence of old Antonioes kind loue that preserued his infancie from the fury of rauenous Fowles he intombed him most stately in the Citie of Lincolne whose body he sent thither by certaine Passengers whom hee had taken and withall a thousand pound in treasures to be bestowed vpon a great Bell to bee rung at his Funerall which Bell hee caused to bee called Tom a Lincolne after his owne name where to this day it remaineth in the same Citie These Passengers being as then rich Merchants of London hauing receiued the dead body of old Antonio and withall the treasure went with all speed vnto Lincolne and performed euery thing as the Red-rose Knight had appointed The death of this good old man not onely caused a generall sorrow through the whole Citie but stroke such an extreame griefe to old Antonioes wife that shee within few dayes yeelded her life to the remorcelesse stroke of the frowning destinies and was buried in the same graue where her Husband was intombed Whose deaths we will now leaue to be mourned by their dearest friends and likewise for breuities sake passe ouer many stratagems which were accomplished by the Red-rose Knight his followers vpon Barnsedale Heath and returne to King Arthur his Knights flourishing in the English Court. CHAP. III. Of the first Conquest of Portingale by the Red-rose Knight and how hee was the first that euer triumphed in the Citie of London THe report of Tom a Lincolnes practises grew so generall amongst the vulgar sort of people that at last it came to King Arthurs eares who imagined in his Princely minde that he was sprung of his bloud and that hee carried lofty thoughts of honour planted in his brest though shrowded vnder a Countrey life therefore through kinde nature hee purposed to haue him resident in Court with him that hee might daily sée his liuely sparkes of honour shew their resplendant brightnesse yet in such obscurity that hee should not know the smallest motion of his Parentage therefore hee called together thrée of his apprâ—ued Knights namely Lancelot du Lake Sir Tristram and Sir â—â—â—amore and gaue them in charge if it were possible to fetch the Red-rose Knight vnto his Court of whose aduenturous exployts hée hath heard so many times reported and withall he gaue them generall Pardon sealed with his priuie Seale for him and all his lawlesse followers This Commission beeing receiued by the three worthie Knights they with all spéede armed themselues in rich Corselets and strong habiliments of Warre and so rode towards Bransedale Hâ—aâ—h where being no sooner come and deliuered their message from the King but the Red-rose Knight gaue them an honourable welcome and for thrée dayes most royally feasted them vnder large Canuasse Tents wherein they slept as securely as they had béene in King Arthurs Court or in a strong Castle of warre After this Tom a Lincolne selected out a hundred of his resolute Followers such as he best liked of and came with Sir Lancelot and the rest to the English Court where King Arthur not onely gaue him a friendly entertainment but also installed him one of his Knights of the Round-table and withall preclaimed a solemne Turniament that should be hâ—lden in the honour of this new made Knight to which Turniament assemble from other Countries many Princes Barons Knights of high honour which behaued themselues most nobly and woon great commendations of euery beholder but especially the Red-rose Knight who for that day stood as chiefe Champion against all commers In that Turniament or first dayes deede of his Knighthood where onely by his valour and prowesse hee ouerthrew thrée Kings and thirty other Knights all famouzed for Chiualry whereby he obtained such grace in the English Court that he had by the King a paire of golden Spurres put vpon his féet and generally of the whole assembly he was accounted one of the brauest Knights that then liued in the world But now marke how frowning Fortune ended their Triumphes with vnlucky Newes for the same day before the Knights had vnbuckled their Armours there arriued a Messenger who certified King Arthur how his Ambassadour was vniustly done to death in the Portingale Court which was an Act contrary both to the Faith of Princes and the Law of Armes For whose death King Arthur grew so enraged that he sware by the Honour of his bright Renowne and by the golden Spurre of true Knighthood the Portingales should repent that inhumane violence with the death of many thousand guiltlesse soules and that Babes vnborne should haue iust cause to curse the first contriuer of that vniust murther therefore with all spéede hée mustered vp a mighty Armie of Souldiers and because hee was continually molested with home-bred Mutinies and treacherous rebellions the which himselfe in person of force must pacifie appointed the Red-rose Knight as chiefe Generall ouer the Armie mustered for Portingale In which Seruice hée accomplished so many famous Exployts that hee was for euer after surnamed The Boast of England For no sooner had hée the whole Campe in charge and aboard their Shippes but hee prooued the perfect Patterne of an exquisiâ—e Souldier such a one as all martiall Captaines may learne to imitate for hée so circumspectly ordered his Captaines that in his Campe was neuer knowne any brawle or muâ—â—nie â—e was very courteous and liberall doing honour to all men according to their deserts He so painfully and with such care instructed his Souldiers that at an instant alwayes if it were needfull euery man by the sound of a Drumme or a Trumpet was found in his Charge and Quarter And to be briefe his Campe resembled one of the greatest Cities in the world for all kind of officers were there found in order and also a great number of Merchants to furnish it with all manner of necessaryes Hee 〈◊〉 case permitted any robberies priuy fighting force or violence but with seuerity punished those that were therein found guiltie His desire was that his Souldiers should glory in nothing so much as in Martiall prowesse Uertue and Wisedome He euermore gaue them their pay without fraud or deceit He honoured he praysed he imbrac'd and kist them and withall kept them in awe and subiection by which meanes his fame and honour grew so renowned that his Army dayly encreased more and more For when he first arriued vpon the Confines of Portingale his Campe grew to bee as great as euer was Caesars when he conquered the Western World and in matchlesse proâ—â—esse nothing inferiour vnto his So fortunate were his proceedings that he made a great part of the Prouinces of Portingale desolate not being intercepted by any but poyling euery Towne and Citie as hee
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
thy bounds and with the spoyles of forraigne Countries made thee the onely Prince of Kingdomes yet thou repayest me with disgrace and load'st mée with more contempt then my neuer conquered Heart can inture so kissing the ground with his warme lippes that had so long fostered him and with many a bitter teare and deepe sobbe like a Pilgrime as I said before hée tooke leaue of his natiue Countrey and so went to the Sea side where hee heard of his Wife and his Sonnes departure after whom as soone as the Wind conueniently serued hée tooke shipbord Where wée will now likewise leaue him to his fortune vpon the Sea and speake of the professed malice the Quéene prosecuted against Angellica the mother of the Red-rose Knight CHAP. 3 Of the wofull death of Angellica Mother to the Red-rose Knight and of the death of the iealous Queene and others THe beautious Angellica béeing left by her Sonne the Red-rose Knight at his departure in a Monestarie at Lincolne there to bewaile her former offences and for her youths pleasure in age to taste the bitter food of sorrow the day time shée spent in grieued passion 〈…〉 night shée wasted with sâ—ghs and heart-breaking sobbes shée fed on carefull thoughts her drinke was streames of salt teares her companions thoughts of her passed wanton pleasures her bed no better then the cold earth her sléepes were few but her comforts lesse her continuall exercise was with a Néedle to worke in silke vpon the Hangings of her Chamber how shée was first woed then won to King Arthurs pleasures in what manner their meetings were their wanton daliances his imbraces her smiles his Princely gifts her courteous acceptance and lastly the birth of her thrice worthy Sonne his bringing vp his honours in the Court and his strange discouerie all which shee had wrought as an Arras worke with silke of diuers collours in a peece of the purest Holland cloath In doing this twise had the golden Sunne runne his circumference about the world twise had the pleasant Spring beautified the Earth with her changable mantles twise had nipping Winter made the Fields barren and the Woods leafelesse and twise had the yeere shewed himselfe to all mankind in which time of twise twelue moneths euery day made shée a sorrowfull complaint for the wracke of Honour and her Uirginities losse which so willingly she surrendred in this time so greatly had sorrow and griefe changed her that her eyes which had wont like twinckling Diamonds to giue light to all affections were now sunke into their Cels and séemed like a hollow Sepulcher new opened her Face wherein Beautie her selfe dwelt and her Chéekes the true die of the Lillie and the Rose intermixt now appeared old and writhen like to the countenance of Hecuba when her husband King Priamus and all her Princely Children were slaine at Troyes destruction and her tresses of Gold-like Hayre which like to Indian Wyers hung ouer her shoulders were now growne more white then Thistle downe the Isickles of frozen Ice or the white mountaine Snow all these griefes of Nature had not age changed but the inward griefe of her carefull heart But now marke the wofull chance that hapned euen vpon the day which by computation she had in former times yéelded vp her Maydens pride and lost that Iewell that Kingdomes cannot recouer vpon that haplesse day came there a Messenger from the Quéene to bid her make preparation for death for â—â— that day should bee her liues end and her fortunes period which she most willingly accepted of and tooke more ioy thereat then to be inuited to a Princely Banquet Be not dismayde said the Messenger for you shall haue as honourable a death as euer had Lady seauen seuerall Instruments of death shall be presented to you for a choyse and your owne tongue shall giue sentence which of them you will die by whereupon this Messenger set this sorrowsull Lady at a round Table directly in the middle of a very large roome whereinto he had led her hung all about with blacke where being placed as to a Banquet or some solemne Dinner of State there entred seauen Seruitours in disguised shapes like vnto Murtherers with seauen seuerall deadly seruices in Dishes of siluer Plate The first brought in Fire burning in a Dish if shée would to consume her body to ashes The second brought in a Dish a twisted Ceard to strangle her to death The third a Dish full of deadly Poyson to burst her body withall The fourth a sharpe edgd Rayzor or Knife to cut her throat The fifth an Iron wracke to teare her body into small péeces The sixth a Dish full of liue Snakes to sting her to death And the seuenth an impoysoned Garment being worne that will consume both flesh and blood These seauen deathfull Seruitours hauing set downe their Dishes the least whereof brings present death shée was commanded by the Messenger which of them she should choose to die withall and to make spéedy choyce for he was sworne to the Quéene on whom he attended to sée it that day accomplished At these his words shée fell presently vpon her knées and with a courage readier to yéeld to deaths furie then to the mercie of the liuing Quéene said as follloweth Oh thou guider of this earthly Globe thou that gauest my weake nature ouer to a wanton life and from a Uirgin chast hast made me an infamous Strumpet thou that sufferedst only a King in Maiestie to preuaile against mée and with the power of greatnesse worme mée to lewdnesse for which I am now doomed to a present death and forced by violence to bidde this tempted world aâ—ue Inspire mee with that happy choyce of death as my Soule may haue an easie passage from my body First to dye by Fire to an earthly imagination séemes terrible and farre different from nature secondly to die with strangling cord were base and more sitting for robbers théeues and malefactors thirdly to die by deadly poyson were a death for Beasts and wormes that féeds vpon the bosome of the Earth fourthly to die by cutting kniues and slicing razors were a death for cattle fowles and fishes that dies for the vse of man fitly by an iron wracke to end my life were a barbarous death and against mans nature but seuenthly to die a lingring death which is a life consuming by wearing of impoysoned garments where repentance may still bée in company will I choose therefore swéet Messenger of my death doe thy office attyre me in these robes and the manner of my death I beséech thée make knowne vnto the Quéene tell her I pray thée I forgiue her and may my death bée a quiet vnto her soule for my life is to her eares as the fatall sound of night Rauens or the Mermaides tunes Uaine world now must I leaue thy flattering intisements and in stead of thy pompe and glory must shortly treade the dolefull march of pale death and this body that hath béene so pleasing
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
first gaue mee life Oh wicked wretch where shall I nowe hide my head for I haue slaine my selfe in killing her I haue staynde this Chamber héere with humane blood The Heauens abhorre me for this déed The World condemnes mée for this murther and Hell Furies will follow mee with shame and terrour The Gods are grieued Men me thinks â—â—ie my company dead Ghosts arise in my distresses I see my Mother comes with a brest bléeding threatning confusion to my fortunes Oh thou vgly Spirit cease to follow mée torment me not aliue for the wrath of Heauen is fallen vpon my head Dispaire where art thou I must finde thée out I will goe seeke thee through the world and if in the world I finde thee not I le saddle winged Pegasus and scale he mantion place of loue I will ransake all the corners of the â—kie I will throwe downe the Sunne the Moone and Starres then leauing heauen I will goe seeks for Despaire in the loathsome poole of Hell there in Plutoes Court will I binde blacke Cerberus vp in Chaines the triple-headed Helhound that Porter of Hell gates because hee let Despaire passe from thence In this frantike sort ranne he vp and downe the Chamber and at last with the nayles of his fingers hée fell to graue vpon the Stone walles the picture of his Mother imitating Pigmalion hoping to haue life breathed into the same Meane while the poore Indian with fleshlesse armes heaued vp towards Heauen and on his bare knées made his supplication to the Gods for the Blacke Knights recouery of his wittes Oh you angry Heauens quoth hee reuoke your heauy doomes forget this crime forgiue this vnnaturall murther pittie the state of this distressed Knight and send some meanes to recouer his senses Thou bright Lampe of Heauen thou eternall light although in iustice we haue deserued thy wrath yet let my prayers my neuer ceasing Prayers my heartes renting Sighs my déepe inforced Teares worke some remorce from thy incensed ire that either this Knight may recouer his lost senses or set him frée from death Thus in a zealous manner prayed the poore Negar desiâ—ing God to lay the Knights fault vpon his head and reclaime his vnbridled rage which Prayer was soone regarded by Heauen for the Blacke Knight had immediatly his madnesse turned into a sad melancholly and in a more gentle manner made his sad lamentations as you shall heate in the next Chapter But now the Negar that all the time of Anglitoras murther stood in a traunce beganne now a little considering the fright hee tooke at the Blacke Knights madnesse to summon againe together his naturall senses and perceiuing the vnchast Lady dead cold pale wanne lying weltering in her goare and the blood of her false heart shed by her owne child all besprinckled about the Chamber sayd as followeth Now quoth the Negar betwixt life and death haue you showne your selfe a dutifull Sonne and nobly reuenged the death of your Father These were the last words of the poore Indian which as then sâ—nke downe and neuer after breathed Thereupon came fâ—orth the Dwarffe of the Castle with great store of treasure proffering the same to the Blacke Knight who nothing thirsting after couetousnesse refused it and withall tooke the Dwarffe in satisfaction for the Negars death and crammed the treasure downe his throate and after buryed the two Seruants together in one Graue This being done he digged vp his Fathers body from the Dunghill and brought it to the Chamber where his mother lay and after in an Abby yard belonging to the Castle he buryed them both likwise in one Graue This being done hee knéeled thereupon and made his complaint in this manner CHAP. 7 Of the Black Knights melancholy lamentations ouer the graue of his Parents and of other things that hapned OH thricâ— happy for euer-more bee this ground that containes the bodyes of my vnfortunate Parents for this Earth hath receiued the swéete Darling of Nature and the onely delight of the whole World the Sunshine of Christendome and the glory of Mankinde Oh thrice happy be the grasse that from hencefoorth shall grow vpon this Graue let neuer Sithe touch it nor crafty â—urking Serpent with venemous breath or deadly poyson hurt it Let no Lyons pawes nor Beares foot tread vpon it Let no Beasres Horne in any manner abuse it Let no Birds with pecking nor créeping filthy Uermine no winters nipping Frost no nightly falling Dewes no rage of the parâ—hing Sunnes heate nor Starres haue power from Heauen nor fearefull Tempest nor horrible Lightning in any manner annoy it Let no Plough-man driue hither his weary Oren nor Shepheards bring hither their Shéepe least by the Bulls rage it bee harmed or by the harmelesse Shéepe it be eaten but let it for euer grow that the displaying thereof may reach to Heauen and may from hencefoorth this Graue be euer accounted sacred and may the Grasse bee euer sprinkled with swéet Waters Some good man vpon this Graue set a burning Taper that then for euery anguish of my heart I may beate my Breasts till my Fistes haue strucken the winde from my body and that my Soule may beare them company into Elizium Come you wanton fleshly Satyres Come you friendly Fawnes Come you Fayries and Dryades and sing swéet Epitaphes lift vp your voyces to Heauen and let your prayses bée in the honour of my Parents my selfe like a wan pale and dead man will beare you company I will wearie the World with my complaints I will make huge Streames with my Teares such Streames as no Banke shall barre such Streames as no Drought shall drye But alasse what doe I meane to repeate these seuerall lamentations since my deare Parents bée dead since from the world they are parted since they are buried without solemnitie since my delights are all inclosed in the Grounde yet will I still here make my complaints though no good ease comes thereby adding teares to teares and sorrowes to sorrowes Oh frowning Fortune Oh vnlucky Starres Oh cursed day that euer I did this déed for now no sence nor knowledge takes their vnsensible bodyes of my griefes in this Graue there is no féeling in Death there is no pittie taken Oh thou Siluannus thou commander of these Mountaines helpe mee poore helpelesse soule to shed teares for my religion for my deuotion and Countries sake helpe mee either let me haue some comfort in my sorrowes or let me in Death beare my Parents company Thou séest what Torments I suffer how my heart trembles how my eyes flow with teares how my head is with teares possest how my Soule is full of horrible anguish all this thou séest and yet it little grieues thée to sée it Oh thou churlish ground from hencefoorth cease any more to beare Fruit cease to be deck't with Flowers cease to be mantled in Gréene for the purest Flowers are withered Thy Garlands are decayed my deare Parents are too vntimely bereft of life their sweete bodyes thou