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
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
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
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
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
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
conducted by what chaunce the Heauens has allotted him not one steppe hée knew aright nor what course to take to finde the direct way but it hapned that aâ—igniâ— fatuus as hee thought or a goeing Fire led him the right way out of the Forrest directly to the Castle where his dishonest Mother made her abode But comming néere vnto the Gates hée found all close and neere vnto the Castle the Black-moore set halfe way quicke into the earth hauing for want of foode eaten most part of the flesh from his armes whom the Blacke Knight soone digged vp and kept aliue to be a furtherance to his intended reuenge The poore Indian being thus happily preserued from dâ—ath reuealed all that had happned in the said Castle how his Mother liued in adultery how his Father was murthered why himselfe was set quicke in the earth and lastly for the loue of his dead Master hée protested to conduct him through a secret Uault into the Castle that in the dead of the night they might the easier accomplish their desired reuenge Thus lingring secretly about the Castle till the middle of night a time as they imagined to bée the fittest for thée tragicall businesse at last the midnight houre came and through a secret Cell they entred vnder the Castle into the Lodging where his Father was murthred This is the place quoth the Negar where my sad eyes beheld thy Father both aliue and dead so goeing from thence into the Chamber which by chaunce and as ill lucke had appointed was through negligence left open hée shewed him the Bedde where these Adulterers lay secretly sléeping in each others Armes Oh dolefull sight This lust hath made mée fatherlesse and ere long this Weapon shall make me motherlesse â—o kneeling downe vpon his knées in a whispering manner hee said vnto himselfe Yée lowring Destinies now weaue vp the Webbe of their two liues that haue liued too long You infernall Furies draw néere Assist me thou reuengefull God Nemesis for on this Sword sits now such a glorious Reuenge as being taken the world will applande mee for a louing Sonne Hauing spoken these words hee sheathed his Sword vp to the hiltes in the boosome of the Knight of the Castle who lying in the armes of Anglitora gaue so deadly a groane that shée immediatly awaked first looking to the Knight that was slaine in her Armes thou percciuing her Sonne standing with his weapon drawne yet wreaking in the blood of the dead Knight meanacing likewise her death with â— wofull shrike she breathed out these words Oh what hast thou done my cruell Sonne Thou hast â—laine the miracle of humanitie and one whom I haue chosen â—o be my hearts Parramour and thy second Father Oh Lady quoth the Blacke Knight for Mother is too proud a title for thée what Furie driueth thee to lament â—he deserued death of that lewde blood shedder and not rather choose with heart-renting sighes to bewaile the death of my Father thy renowned Husband whose guiltlesse body euen dead thou didst dispise by buring him whâ—â—anly vpon a â—ounghill but Heauen hath graunted and Earth hath agréed â—etesting both thy misdéedes and hath sent mée to sacrifice thy blood vnto the Soule of my murthered Father Whilst hée was speaking these words Anglitora arose from her bed and in her smocke which was of pure Cambrâ—â—ke shée knéeled to her sonne vpon her bare knées saying Oh thou my deare Sonne whom once I nourisht in my painefull wombe and fedde thée with mine owne blood whom oft I choycely dandled in my armes when with lullababyes and swéet kisses I rocked asléepe Oh fatre bée it from thée my louing Sonne to harme that breast from whom thou first receiuest life Of thée my Sonne thy Mother begging life Oh spare the life that once gaue thée life with bléeding teares I doe confesse my wanton offences I doe confesse through mee thy Father dyed Then if confession of faults may merit mercie pardon my life Obscure not thy renowne with cruelty making thy selfe unkind and monstrous in murthering of thy Mother I charge thée by thy dutie that thou owest mee by all the bondes of loue betwixt a Mother and a Sonne by all the kindnesse shewed to thée in thy infancy let thy mother liue that begs life vpon her bare knées Doe not thou glory in my miseries let not my teares whet on thy cruellnesse let not thy minde bée bent to death and murther bee no â—â—â—age Monster bee not vnnaturall rude and brutish let my intreates preuaile to saue my life wound not the wombe that fostred thée which now I tearmed wicked by onely fostring thee what childe can glut his eyes with gazing on his Parents wounds and will not faint in beholding them Hereupon the Blacke Knight not able to indure to suffer his Mothers further intreaties least pittie and remorse might mollifie his heart and so graunt her life which to Heauen to take away hée had déepely sworne hée cut her off with these deadly words Lady I am not made of Flint nor Adamant in kinde regard of calamitie I am almost strucke with remorce but dutie must quite vndoe all dutie Kinde must worke against kinde all the powers of my body bée at mortall strife and séeke to confound each other Loue turnes to Hatred Nature turnes to wrath and Dutie to Reuenge for mée thinkes my Fathers Blood with agroning voice cryes to Heauen for Reuenge therefore to appease my Fathers angry spirit here shalt thou yéeld vp thy déerest blood Here was hee ready to strike and with his sword to finish vp the tragedie but that his grieued soule in kinde nature plucked backe his hand whereupon with a great sigh he sayd Oh Heauens how am I grieued in minde Father forgiue mee I cannot kill my Mother And now againe mée thinks I sée the pale shaddow of my fathers Ghost glyding before mine eyes mée thinkes hée shewes me the manner of his murther mée thinkes his angry lookes threatens mée and tels how that my heart is possest with cowardice childish feare Thou doest preuaile O Father euen now receiue this sacrifice of blood and death this pleasing sacrifice which to appease thy troubled soule I heare doe offer And thus in speaking these words with his Sword hée split the deare heart of his mother from whence the blood as from a gushing Spring issued Which when hee beheld such a sodaine conceit of griefe entred his minde considering that hée had slaine his owne Mother whom in duty hee ought to honour aboue all liuing women that hee rather fell into a frenzie theÌ„ a melancholy and so with a pale countenance and gastly lookes with spartling like to a burning Furnace began to talke idlely What haue I done Whome hath my bloody hand murthered Now woe vnto my soule for I am worse then the Uiperous brood that eates out their Dammes wombe to get life vnto themselues they doe but according to nature I against all Nature for I haue digged vp the boosome that
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