of Pharo light vpon their countries the miserie of Oedipus vpon their Princes that they may bée eye witnesses of their dâ—ughters rauishments and beholde their Citties flâ—ming like the burning baâ—tailâ—mentes of Troy Thus lamented be the lâ—sse of his libertie accursing his birth day and houre of his creâ—tion wishing that it neuer might be numbred in the yeare but counâ—ed â—minâ—â—s to all insuing ages His sighes exceeded the number of the Ocian landes and his teares the water 〈◊〉 in a raynie day and as one deminished anoâ—her presâ—ntlâ— appearde Tâ—us sorrow was his companion and dispaire his chiefe 〈◊〉 till Hiperion with his golden Câ—â—ch had thirtie times rested in Thetis purple Pallâ—ce Ciniliia thirtie times daunst vppon the Christall waues which was the verie time his compleat mones should ende according to the seuere and cruell Iudgment of the Soldan of Persia Buâ— by what extraordenary meanes he knew not So looking euery minnute of an houre to entertaine the wished messenger of death he heard a farre off the tirrable roring of two hunger starued Lyons which for the space of fourtéene dayes had beene restrayned from their foode and naturall sustinance onely to deuoure and staunch their hunger starued bowels with the bodie of this thrice renowned ChaÌ„pion which crie of the Lyons so terrified hys minde that the haire of his head grâ—w stiffe hys browes sweat blood through anguish of hys soule so extreamely bee feared the remorceles stroke of death that by violence hee burst the chaines in sunder wherewith he was bound and rent the curled tresses from hys head that was of the colour of Amber the which hee wrapped about hys armes against the Assault of the Lyons for he greatly suspected them to be the ministers of hys Tragedie which indéede so fell out for at that same instant they descended the dungeoÌ„ being brought thither by the Guard of Iamâ—saries onely to make a ful period of the Champions life But such was the inuincible fortitude of Saint George and so polliticke hys defence that when the starued Lyons came running on him with open Iawes he valiantly thrust hys sinnewed Armes into their throats beeing wrapped about with the haire of hys head whereby they presently choaked and so he pulled out their bloody harts Which spâ—ctakle the Soldans Iannsaries beholding wer so amazed with feare that they ran in all haste to the Pallace and certified the Soldan what had hapned who commaunded euery part of the Court to be strongly guarded with Armed Souldiers supposing the English Knight rather to be some monster ascended from the Sea than any creature of humane substaunce or els one possessed with some diuine inspiration that by force of Armes hath accomplished so manie aduenterous stratagems such a terrour assayled the Soldans heart séâ—ing hee had slaine two Lyons and slaughtered two thousand Persians with hys owne hands and likewise haâ— intelligence how he slewâ— a burning Dragon in Egipt caused the dungeon to be closed vp with bars of Iron lest he should by pollicie or fortitude recouer his libertie and so indanger the whole countrie of Persia where he remayned in want pennury and great necessitie for the tearme of seauen winters feeding onelie vpon rats and mice with other créeping wormes which he caught in the dungeon During which time hee neuer tasted of the bread of Corne but of wheate branne and Channell water which daylie was serued him through the Iron grates where now we leaue Saint George languishing in great misery and returne againe into Egipt where wee left Sabra the Câ—ampions betrothed Lady lamenting the want of hys companie whome she loued dearer than any Knight in all the world Sabra that was the fairest maide that euer mortall eye beheld in whom both Arte and nature séemed to excell in â—urious workemanship her body béeing comlier than the stately Câ—der and her beautie purer than the Paphian Quéenes the one with ouer burthened griefe was quite alterâ—d and the other stayned with flouds of brackish teares that daylie trickled downe her christall chéekes wherby she found the very Image of discontent the nap of woe and the only mirrour of sorrow she accounted all companie loathsome to her sight and excluded the fellowship of all Ladyes onely betaking her selfe to a solitarie Cabbinet where shée sate sowing many a wofull storie vpon a crimson Sampler whereon sometimes bathing a wouâ—ded heart with luke warme teares that fell from the Conduits of her eyes then presently with her crisped lockes of haire which dangled downe her Iuorie necke dry vp the moysture of her sorrowfull teares then thinking vpon the plighted promises of her deare beloued Knight fell into these passionate and pittifull complaints O Loue said shée more sharper than the pricking Brier with what vnequallity dost thou torment my wounded heart not â—â—â—cking my deare Lorde in the like affection of minde O Venus if thou be imperious in thy Deitie to whom both Gods and men obay commaund mâ— wandred Lorde to returne againe or that my soule may flee into the clowds that by the winds it may be blowne into his sweet bosome where liues my bleeding hart But foolish fondling that I am he hath reiected me and sâ—uns my company like the Syrens else had hee not refused the Court of Egipt where hee was honoured like a king and wandered the world to seeke another loue No no it cannot be he beares no such inconstant minde for I greatly feare some treacherie hath bereaude me of his sight or els soone sâ—onny prison includes my George from me If it be so sweet Morpheus thou God of golden dreames reueale to me my loues abiding that in my sleepe his shaddow may appeare and report the cause of his departure After this paâ—â—â—on was breathed from thâ— mansion of her soule she committed her watchfull eyes to the gouernement of sweete sâ—eepe which being no sooner closed but there appeared as she thought the shadow and very shape of her dearely beloued Lord Saint George of England not as hee was wont to bee flourishing in his grauen Burgonet of stéele or mounted on a stately Genet deckt with a watchet Plume of spangled â—eathers but in ouerworne and simple attyre with pale looks and leaue body like to a Ghoast risen from some hollow graue breathing as it were these sad and wofull passions Sabra I am betraide for loue of thee And logde in hollow Caues of dismall night From whence I neuer more shall come to see Thy louing countenance and beautie bright Remaine thou true and constant for my sake That of thy loue they may no conquest make Let tyrants thinke if euer I obtaine What now is lost by treasons cursed guileâ— False Egipts scourge I surelie will remaine And turne to streaming blood Morocos smile The damned dogge of Barbarie shall rue The balefull stratagems that will insue The Persian towers shall smoke with fire And loftie Babilon be tumbled downe The Crosse of Christendome shall then aspire To weare the proud Egiptian
the Lady of the woodes boldly stopping in befoâ—e 〈◊〉 mistrusting the prâ—tended polâ—icie of S. George 〈…〉 in her owne practises for no sooner entred the the rocke but he stroke his siluer wand thereupon and immediatly it closed where shee bellowed foorth exclamations to the senceles stones without al hope of deliuery Thus this Noble Knight deceaued the wicked Inchantâ—esse Kalyb and set the other sixe Champions likewise at libertie who rendred him all Knightly curtesies gaue him thankes for their safe deliuerie so storing themselues with all thinges according to their desiers tooke their iournies from the Inchanted groue whose procéeding fortunes and heroicall aduentures shall bee shewed in this Chapter following CHAP. II. Kalybs Lamentation in the Rocke of stone her Will Testament and how shee was torne in peeces by Spirits with other thinges that hapned in the Caue BUT after the departure of the seauen worthy Champions Kalyb seeing her selfe fast closed in the rocke of stone by the pollicie of the English Knight grew into such extreame passion of minde that she cursed the houre of her creation and bitterly bâ—nned all motions of coniuration the earth she wearied with her cries whereby the verie stones séemd to relent and as it were wept cristall teares sweat with verie anguish of her griefe the blasted Oakes that grewe about the Inchaunted rocke likewise seemde to rue at her exclamations the blustering windes were silent the murmuring of Birds still and a soliâ—â—rie dumbnes tooke possession of euery 〈…〉 within the 〈◊〉 of the woods to heare hâ—r wofull Lamentation which she vttered in this manâ—â—â— O miserable Kalyb accuâ—sed be thy desteny for 〈◊〉 thou art inclâ—sed within a desolate darkesome den where neyther sunne can lend thée comfort with his bright beams nor aire extend his breathing coolenes to thy wofull soule for in the déepe foundations of the earth thou art for euermore inclosed I that haue beene the woonder of my time for Magicke I that by Arte haue made my iournie to the déepest dungeons of hell where multitudes of vglie blacke and fearefull spirits hath trembled at my charmes I that haue bound the furies vp in beds of steele and caused them to attend my pleasure like swarmes of hornets that ouerspreads the mountaines in Egipt or the flies vpon the parched hilles where the tawnie tanned Mores doo inhabite am now constrained to languish in eternall darkenes woe to my soule woe to my charmes and woe to all my Magicke spels for they haue bound me in this hollowe rocke pale bee the brightnes of the cleare sunne and couer earth with euerlasting darkenesse skyes turne to pitch the elements to flaming fire rorâ— hell quake earth swell seas blast earth rockes rend in twaine all creatures mourne at my confusion and sighe at Kalybs wofull and pittifull exclamations Thus wearied she the time away one while accusing Fortune of tâ—rrany another while blâ—ming the falsehood trechery of the English Knight sometimes fearing her curled locks of brisâ—led haire that like a wreath of sâ—â—kes hung dangling downe her deformed necke then beating her breasts another while rending her ornaments whereby shée séemd more liker â— fury than an earthly creature so impacient was this wicked inchantres Kalyb being â—â—uâ—trate of all hope of recouâ—ry began a fresh to thundâ—â— forth these tearmes of coniuration Câ—me câ—me you Princes of the elements câ—me come and teare this rocke in peeces and let me be inclosed vp in the eternal languishment appeaâ—e you shadowes of blacke missie nighâ— Magâ—ll Câ—math Helueza Zontomo Come when I call venite â—estinate inquam At which wordes the earth began tâ— quake and the verie elements to tremble for all the spirits both of aire of earth of water and of fire were obedient to her charmes and by multitudes cam flâ—cking at her call some froÌ„ the fire in the likenes of burning Dragons breathing fâ—om their tearefull nostrels sulphuâ—e and flaming Brimstone some from the water in shape of Fishes with other dâ—formed creatures that hath their abiding in the Seas some from the aire the purest of the ellements in the likenes of Angels and other bright shadowes and other some from the grose earth most vglie blâ—â—ke and dreadfull to behold So when the legions of spirits had incompast the wicked Inchantresse hell began to rore such an infernall and harsh mellodie that the Inchanted rocke burst in twaine and then Kalybs châ—rmes tooke no effect for her Magick no longer indured than the tearme of an hundred yeares the which as then were fullie finished and brought to end for the Obligation which shee subscribed with her dearest blood and sealed with her own hands was brought as a witnes against her by which she knew and fullie perswaded herselfe that her life was fully come to end therefore in this fearefull manner she began to make her Will latest Testament First welcome said shée my sad Executors welcome my graue and euerlasting toombe for you haue diâ—dâ— it in the fierie lakes of Phlegethon my winding shéet wherein to shrowde both my body and condemnâ—d soule is a Calderne of boyling lâ—â—d and brimstone and thâ— worâ—es that should consume my Carâ—â—sse are the fiery forkes which tosse burning fireâ—â—ands from place to place from furnace to furnace and from calderne to calderâ—â— therefore attend to Kalybs wofull testament aâ—d ingraâ—e the Legacies she giues in brasse rolles vpon the burning bankes of Acheron First these eyes that now too late wéepe helples teares I giue vnto the watrie spirits for they haue rakt the treasures hidden in déepest Seas to satisfie their most insatiate lookes next I bequeath thâ—se hands which did subscribe the bloody Obligation of my perpetuall banishment from ioy vnto those spirits that houer in the Aire my tongue that did conâ—pire against the Maiestie of Heauen I giue to those spirits which haue their bâ—â—ing in the fire my earthly hart I bequeath to those grâ—ce Daemons that dwell in the â—ungeons of the earth and the rest of mâ— condemned body to the torments due to my deseruings which straunge and fearefull Testament being no sooner ended but all the spirits generally at one instance ceazed vpon the Inchantresse and dismembred her bodie to a thousand peeces and deuided her limbes to the corners of the earth one member to the Aire another to the water another to the fire and another to the earth which was carried away in a moment by the spirits that departed with such a horror that all things within the hearing thereof sodainely died both Beastes Byrds and all creeping wormes which remayned within the compasse of those inchanted woodes for the trées which before was wont to flourish with greene leaues withered away and died the blades of grasse perished for want of naturall moysture which the watrie cloude denied to nourish in sâ— wicked a place Thus by the iudgments of the heauens sensles things pâ—rished for the wickednes of Kalyb whom wée leaue to hir endles torments both of body and
soule and returne to the seauen worthâ— Champions of Christendome whose laudable aduentures fame hath inâ—old in the bookes of memorie CHAP. III. How Saint George slewe the burning Dragon in Egipt and redeemed Sabra the Kinges Daughter from death How hee was betraied by Almidor the blacke King of Moroco and sent to the Soldan of Persia where hee slew two Lyons and remained seauen yeares in prison AFter the seauen Champions departed froÌ„ the Inchaunted Caue of Kalib they made their abode in the Câ—â—tie of Couentrie for the space of nine monthes in which time they erected vp a sumptuous costly monument ouer the herse of Saint Georges Mother and so in that time of the yeare when the spring had ouerspred the earth with the mantles of Flora they Armed themselues like wandring Knights and tooke their iournie to seeke for forraine aduentures accounting no dishonour so great as to spend their dayes in idlenes atchiuing no memorable accident So trauailing for the space of thirtie dayes without any aduenture worthie the noting at length came to a large broad Plaine wheron stood a brasen piller whereat seauen seuerall waies deuided which caused the seauen Knights to forsake each others companie and to take euery one a contrary way where we leaue sixe of the Champions to their contented trauailes and wholly discourse vpon the fortunate successe of our worthy English knight who after some few months trauaile happily ariued within the â—eretories of Egipt which countrie as then was greatly annoyed with a dangerous Dâ—â—gon but before hee had iournied fullie the distance of a 〈◊〉 the silent night approched and solitary stilâ—es tooke possâ—ssion of all liuing thinges at last he espied 〈…〉 wherein he purposed to rest his hoâ—se and to take soâ—e repast after his wearie iournie til the 〈◊〉 had renewed his mornings light that he might fâ—â—l to 〈◊〉 â—rauaile agâ—ine but entring the Cottage hee found 〈◊〉 Hermit ouerworne with yeares and almost consumed with griefe to whome hee begâ—n in this manner to conferre Father said hee for so you seeme by your grauety may a trauailer for this night craue entertainment within your Cottage not onely for himselfe but his horse or is there some Cittie neare at hande whetherto I may take my iournie without daunger The oldman starting at the sodaine approch of Saint George replyed vnto him in this order Sir Knight quoth hee of thy countrie I néede not demaund for I know it by thy Burgonet for indeed thereon was grauen the Armes of England but I sorrow for thy â—ard fortune that it is thy destenie to ariue in this our countrie of Egipt Wherein is not left sufficient aliue to burie the dead such is the distresse of this land through a dangerous and tirrible Dragon now ranging vp and downe the countrie which if hee bee not euery day appeased with a pure and true virgin which he deuoureth downe his venemous bowels but that day so neglected will he breath such a stench from his nostrels whereof will grow a most grieuous plague and mortallity of all thinges which vse hath beene obserued for these foure and twentie yeares but now there is not left one true virgin but the Kings only daughter throughout Egipt which Dâ—msell to morrow must bée offered vp in Sacrifice to the Dragon Therefore the King hath mâ—de Proclamâ—tion that if any Knight dare proue so aduenterous as to combat with the Dragon and preserue his daughters life shall in reward haue her to his wife and the Crowne of Egipt after his disâ—â—ase This large proffer so incouraged the English Knight that hée vowde eyther to redeeme the Kinges Daughter or els to loose his life in that honourable enterprise So taking his repose and nightly rest in the olde mans Hermitage till the chearefull Cocke béeing the true messenger of day gaue him warning of the Sunnes vp-rise which causd him to buâ—kle on his Armour and to furnish his Stéed with strong habilliments of war the which being done he tooke his iournie guided onely by the olde Hermit to the valley where the kinges Daughter should bee offered vp in Sacrifice But when he approched the sight of the valley he espied a far off a most fair and beautifull Damsell â—ttired in pure Arabian silke going to sacrifice guarded to the place of death onlie by sâ—ge modest Matrons which wofull sight so encouraged the English Knight to such a forwardnesse that he thoght euery 〈◊〉 a day til he had redéemed the Damsell from the Dragons tyrranâ—e So approching thâ— Lady gaue her comfort of deliuerie and returnde her back to her Fathers Pallace againe After this the Noble Knight like a bold aduenterous Champion entred the valley where the Dragon had his residence who no sooner had a fight of him but hee gaue such a tirâ—able yâ—ll as though it had thundered in the â—llements the bignes of the Dragon was fearefâ—â—â— to behold for betwixt his shoulders and his tayle were fiftie foote in distance his scales glistered brighter than siluer but farre more harder than brasse his belly of the coloure of gold but more bigger than a Tun. Tâ—us weltred he from his hideoâ—s denne and fiâ—rcely assailed the stuâ—die Champion with his burning winges that at the first encounter hée had almâ—st fellâ—d him to the ground but the Knight nimbly recouering him selfe gaue the Dragon such a thrust with his 〈◊〉 tâ—at it shiuerd in a thousand péeces whereat the furious Dragon so â—iercely smote him with his venemous tayle that downe fell man and horse in which fall two of Saint Georges ribs were sore brused but yet stepping backward it was his chaunce to leape vnder an Orringe trée which trée had such pretious vertue that no venemous worme durst come within the compasse of the braunches nor within seauen foote thereof where this valiant Knight rested himselfe vntill he had recouered his former strength who no sooner féeling his spirits reuiued but with an eger courage smote the burning Dragon vnder his yellow burnisht bellie with his trustie sworde Askalon whereout came such abundance of venome that it sprinkled vpon the Champions Armour whereby immediatly through the impoysoned strength of the venome his Armour burst in twaine and the good Knight fell into a gréeuous and dead sound that for a time he lay breathles but yet hauing that good memorie remayning that he tumbled vnder the branches of the Orringe trée in which place the Dragon could proffer him no further violence The fruit of the trée was of such an excellent vertue that whosoeuer tasted thereof should presently bee cured of all manner of diseases and infirmities whatsoeuer So it was the Noble Champions good and happie fortune a little to recouer through the vertue of the trée and to espie an Orringe which a little before had dropped downe wherwith he so refreshed himselfe that hee was in short time as sound as when hee first began the incounter Then knéeled hee downe and made his diuine supplication to heauen that God
raging seas arriued in the vnhappy dominions of Iuda vnhappy by reason of the long and troublesome misery hee indured for the loue of a fayre Iew For comming to the rich and beautifull Citty of Ierusalem being in that age the woonder of the world for braue buildings Princely Pallaces gorgeous Monuments and time woondering Temples hee so admired the glorious scituation thereof being the richest place that euer his eyes behâ—ld that he stoode before the walles of Ierusalem one while gazing vppon her golden gates glistering against the Suns bright countenance another while beholding her stately Pâ—nnacles whose lofty péering tops seemde to touch the Clouds another while woondring at her towers of Iasper Iett and Ebony her strong and fortefied walles thrée times doubled about the Citty the glistering Spires of the Temples of Sion built in the fashion and similitude of two Piramides the auncient monument of Greece whose battlements were couered with stéele the walles burnished with siluer and the ground paued with tinne Thus as this inobled and famoused knight at Aâ—mâ—s stood beholding the scituation of Ierusalem there sodainely thundred such a peale of Ordinance within the Citty that it séemed in his rauished conceit to shake the vales of heauen and to mooue the déepe foundations of the fastned earth whereat his horse gaue such a sodaine start that he leâ—t forty foote from the place whereon he stood After this he heard the chearefull sound of Drums and the ecchoes of brazen Trumpets by which the good Champion exspected some honorable pastime or some great tâ—rnament to be at hand which indeede so fell out for no sooner did he cast his vigilant eyes toward the East side of the City but he beheld a troope of well appointed horse come marching through the Gates after them twelue Armed Knights mounted on Warlike Coursees bearing in their handes twelue blood red streamers wheron was wrought in silke the picture of Adonis wounded with a Bore after them the King drawne in a Charriot by Spanish Genets which be a certaine kind of Steeds ingendred by the winde The Kings Guard were a hundred nâ—ked Moores with Turkish Bowes and Darts feathered with Rauens quilles after them marched Celestine the â—ing of Ierusalems faire Daughter mounted on a tâ—me Unicorne in her hand a Iauelin of siluer Armed with a breast plate of gold artificially wrought like the skales of a Porcupine her Guard were a hundred Amazonian Dames â—lad in greene 〈◊〉 after them follâ—wed a â—umber of â—â—quiers Gentlemen some vpon Barbarian Stéeds some vpon Arabian Palfrayâ—s and some on foote in pace more nimbler than the tripping Dâ—are â— more swifter than the tameles Harts vâ—on the mountaines of Thessalie Thus Nâ—buzaradan great King of Ierusalem for so was he called solemnely â—unted in the Wildernes of Iuda bâ—eing a countrie verie much anoyed with wilde beasts as the Lyon the Leopard the Bore and such like In which exercise the King apointed as it was proclâ—imed by his chiefe Harrold at Armes the which he heard repeated by a shéepheard in the fieldes that whosoeuer sâ—ewe the first wilde beast in the Forrest shuld haue in reward a Corsâ—et of stéele so richlie ingraued that it shuld be worth a thousand sickles of siluer Of which Honorable enterprise when the Champion had vnderstanding with what liberall bountie thâ— aduentâ—rus Knights should bee rewarded his heart was â—â—angâ—ted with inuincible courage thirsting after glorious attempts not onely for hope of gaine but for the desire of Honour At which hys illustrious and vndaunted 〈◊〉 aymed at to internize his déedes in the memorable records of Fame and to shine as a Christall mirrour to all insuing times So closing downe his Beuer and locking on his furniture scoured ouer the plaines before the Hunters of Ierusalem in paâ—e more swifter than the winged windes till he aproched an olde solitarie and vnfrequented Forrest wherein he espied a huge and mighty wilde Bore lying before his mossie den gnawing vpon the mangled ioynts of some passenger which hee had murthered as hee trauailed through the Forrest This Bore was of a wonderfull length and bignes so tyrrable to behold that at the first sight hee almost daunted the courage of this Spanish Knight for his monstrous head séemed vgly and deformed hys eyes sparkeled like a â—irie furnace hys tuskes more sharper than picks of steâ—le and from hys nostrels fumed such a violent breath that it séemed like a tempestious whirle winde his brissels were more harder than seauen times milted brasse and his tayle more loathsome than a wreath of Snakes Nâ—re whomâ— when Saint Iames approched and beheld how he drank the blood of humane creatures and deuoured their fleshe hée blew hys siluer horne which as then hung at the pummell of hys saddle in a scarfe of gréene silke whereat the furious monster roused himselfe and most fiercely assailed the Noble Champion which most nimbly leaped from his horse with his speare stroke such a violent blow against the brest of the Borâ— that it shiuered into twentie péeces Then drawing hys good Fauchion from hys side gaue him a second incounter but all in vaine for hee stroke as it were on a Rocke of stone or a piller of Iron nothing hurtfull to the Bore but at last with staring eies which sparkled like burning stéele and with open Iawes the gréedy monster assailed the Champion intending to swallow him aliue but the nimble Knight as then trusted more vpon pollicie than to fortitude and so for aduantage skipped from place to place till on a sodaine he thrust his kéene edged 〈◊〉 aâ—e downe his intestine throate and so most valiantly split his hart in sunder The which beeing accomplished to his own desâ—ers he cut off the Bores head and so presented the Honour of his Combat to the king of Ierusalem who as then with his mightie traine of Knights were but now enâ—â—red the Forrest but haâ—ing gratiously accepted the giâ—t and bountifullie fulfilled his promises demaunding the Champions Countrie his Religion place of Natiuitie who no sooner had intelligence how he was a Christian Knight and borne in the territories of Spaine but presently his patience exchaunged into extreame furie and by these wordes heâ— expressed his cankered stomacke towardes the Christian Champion Knowst thou not bold Knight said the King of Ierusalem that it is the law of Iuda to harbour no vncircumsiced man but eyther bannish him the land or end his dayes by some vntimelâ— death Thou art a Christian and therefore shalt thou die not all thy countries treasure the wealthie Spanish mines nor if all the Alphes which deuide the countries of Italie and Spaine were turned to hilles of burnisht gold and made my lawfull heritage they shuld not redéeme thy life Yet for the Honour thou haste done in Iuda I grant thée this loue by the law of Armes to choose thy death els hadst thou suffered a timmerous torment which seuere Iudgment amazed the Champion that desperately he would haue gorgde
earth and to rattle against the walles of the Castell like mighty thunder claps and had not the polliticke Knight continually skipped from the furie of his blow hee had béene brused as small as flesh vnto the potte for euerie stroke that the Giant gaue the roote of hys Oake entered at the least two or thrée foote déepe into the groundâ— But such was the wisedome and pollicie of the worthie Champion not to withstand the force of his weapon till the Giant grew breathles and not able through his long labour to lift the Oake aboue his head and likewise the heate of the Sunne was so intollerable by reason of the extreame haight of the Mountaine and the mightie waight oâ— hys Iron coate that the sweat of the Gyants browes ran into hys eyes and by the reason that hee was so extreame fat hee grewe blinde that hee coulde not see to indure Combat with him any longer and as farre as hee coulde perceiue woulde haue retired or runne backe againe into hys Castell but that the Italian Champion with a bold courage assailed the Giant so fiercely that he was forced to let his Oake fall and stand gasping for breath which when the noble Knight beheld with a fresh supplie hee redoubled his blowes so couragiously that they battered on the Giants Armour like a storme of winters haâ—le whereby at last Blanderon was compelled to aske the Champion mercie and to craâ—e at his hands some respite of breathing but his demaunde was in vaine for the valiant Knight supposed now or neuer to obtaine the honour of the day therefore neuer resting his wearie arme but redoubling blow after blow till the Gyant for want of breath and through the anguish of his deepe gashed wounds was forced to giue the world a farewell and to yéelde the riches of his Castell to the most renowned Conquerour S. Anthonie the Champion of Italie But by that time the long and dangerous encounter was finished and the Giant Blanderons head disseuered from his bodie the Sunne sate mounted on the highest part of the Elements which caused the day to be extreame hote and sulthie whereby the Champions Armour so extreamely scalded him that hee was constrained to vnbrace his Corslet and to lay aside his Burgonet and to cast his body on the cold earth onely to mittigaâ—e his ouerburthened heate But such was the vnnaturall coolenâ—s of the earth and so vnkindely to his ouerlabored hart that the melted grease of his inward parts was ouercooled sodainely wherby his bodie receiued such vnnaturall distemperature that the vapors of the cold earth stroke presently to hys heart by which hys vitall aire of life was excluded and hys body without sence or moouing wherein the mercie of pale death he lay bereaued of féeling for the space of an houre During which time faire Rossalinde one of the Daughters of the Thracian Kinges beeing as then Prisoner in the Castell by chaunce looked ouer the walles and espied the bodie of the Giant headles vnder whose subiection shée had continued in great seruitude for the time of seauen monthes likewise by him a Knight vnarmed as she thought panting for breath the which the Ladie Iudged to bee the Knight that had slaine the Giant Blanderon the man by whome her deliuerie should be recouered she presently descended the walles of the Castell and ran with all speed to the aduenterous Champion whome she found dead But yet béeing nothing discouraged of his recouerie féeling as yet a warme blood in euerie member retired backe with all spéede to the Castell and fetcht a box of pretious Balme the which the Giant was wont to poure into hys woundes after his encounter with any knight with which Balme this curteous Ladie chafed euerie part of the breathles Champions bodie one while washing his stiffe limbes with her salt teares the which like pearles fell from her eyes another while drying them with the tresses of her golden haire which hung dangling in the winde then chafing hys liâ—eles bodie againe with a Balme of a contrarie nature but yet no signe of life could she espie in the dead Knight which caused her to growe desperate of all hope of his recouerie Therefore like a louing méeke and kinde Lady considering he had lost his life for her sake shee intended to beare him companie in death and with her owne handes to finâ—â— vp her dayes and to die vpon his breast as This be died vpon the breast of her true Pyrramus therfore as the Swanne singes a while before her death so this sorrowfull Ladie warblâ—d foorth this Swan-like song ouer the bodie of the Noble Champion Muses come mourne with dolefull mellodie Kinde Siluane Nimphes that sit in Rosie bowersâ— With brackish teares commix your harmonie To waile with me both minutes monthes and houres A heauie sad and Swan-like song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Dead is the Knight for whome I liue and die Dead is the Knight which for my sake is slaine Dead is the Knight for whome my carefull crie With wounded soules for euer shall complaiâ—â—â— A heauie sad and Swan-like song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Ile set my breast vpon a siluer streame And swim vnto Elisium lillie fields There in Ambrosian trees Ile write a Theame Of all the wofull sighes my sorrow yeelds A heauie sad and Swan-like song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Farewell faire woods where singes the Nightingales Farewell faire fields where feeds the light foote Does Farewell you groues you hilles and flourish dales But fare thou ill the cause of all my woes A heauie sad and Swanlike song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Ring out my ruth you hollow Caues of stone Both birds and beasts with all things on the ground You sencsles trees be all assistant to my mone That vp to heauen my sorrowes may resound A heauie sad and swanlike song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Let all the Townes of Thrace ring out my knell And write in leaues of brasse what I haue said That after ages may remember well How Rosalinde both liude and dide a Maid A heauie sad and Swanlike song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die This wofull Dittie béeing no sooner ended but the desperate Ladie vnsheathed the Champions sword which as yet was all besprinkled with the Gyants blood and béeing at the verie point to execute her intended Tragedie and the bloody weapon directly placed against her Iuorie breast but shee heard the distressed Knight giue a grieuous tâ—rrible grone whereat she stopped her remorcâ—les â—and with more discreation tendered her owne safetie for by this time the Balme wherewith she anoyntâ—d hys bodie by wonderfull operation recâ—uered the dead Champion insomuch that after some few gaspes and earnest sighes hee raised vp hys stiffe limbes from the cold earth where like one cast into a trance for
in the foreâ—runt of the battell so aduenturously behaued them selues that they slew more Negars than a hundred of the brauest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intending to make saint Georges prowesse to shinâ— brighter than the rest singled out the Moroco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long dangerous fight But saint George so couragiouslye behaued him with his trustie sword that Almidor was constrained to yeeld 〈◊〉 his mercie The Armie of the Moores séeing their King taken prisoner presently would haue fled but that the Christians béeing the lighter of foote ouertooke them and made the greatest slaughter that euer hapned in Barberie Thus after the battell ended and the ioyfull sound of victorie rung through the Christian Armie the souldiers furnished themselues with the enemies spoyles and martched by saint Georges direction to the Cittie of Tripolie being then almost vnpeopled through the late slaughter In which Cittie after they had râ—sted some few dayes and refreshed themselues with holsome food the English Champion in reuenge of his former proffered iniuries by the Moroco King gaue hys seuere sentence of death First hee commaunded a brazen cauldron to bee filled with boyling Lead and Brimstone then Almidor to be brought to the place of death by twelue of the Noblest Pieres in Barberie therein to be consumed flesh blood and bone which was duelie performed within seauen dayes following the brazen cauldron was erected by the appointment of saint George directlie in the middle of the chiefest Market place vnder which a mightie hot fire continually burned for the space of of eight and fortie houres whereby the boyling Lead and Bâ—imstone seemed to sparckle like the fierie furnaces in hell and the heate to eâ—ceede the burning Ouen at Babilon Thus all thinges béeing no sooner prepared in a readines the Christian Champions present to behold the wofull spectakle but the condemned Blackâ—more King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of the finest Indian silk his hands pinniond together with a chaine of gold his face couered with a Damske Scarfe his attendants chiefe conducters twelue Moroco Pieres clad in Sablâ— gownes of Taffetie carring before him the whéele of fortune with the picture of a Usurper climbing vp with this Motto on his breast I will be king in spite of Fortune vpon the top of the whéele the picture of a Monarke vaunting with this Motto on his breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheele the picture or perfect image of a deposed Potentate falling with hys head downewards with this Motto on hys breast I haue beene a King so pleaseth Fortune which plainelie signified the chaunce of warre and the constancie of destenie hys guard was a thousand Christian souldiers holding fortune in disdaine after them attended a hundred of Moroco virgins in blacke ornaments their haire bounds vp with siluer wiers and couered with vales of black silke signifiing the sorrow of their countrie for the losse of their Soueraigne In this mournefull manner came the vnfortunate Almidor to the boyling Câ—ulderne which wheÌ„ he beheld hys heart waxed cold and his tongue dâ—ueide of vtterance for a time yet at last he brake foorth into thesâ— earnest protestations proffering more for his life than the whole Kingdome of Barberie can performe Most mightie inuincible Champion of Christendome quoth he let my life be ransomed and thou shâ—lâ— yearely receaue ten tunnes of â—ried gold a hundred inchs of wouen silke the which our Indian maides shall sit and spinne â—ith siluer whéeles a hundred Arguses of spices and â—efined suger shal be yearely paid thee by our Barberie 〈◊〉 a hundred waggons likewise richly laden wit◠〈◊〉 aâ—d Iasper stones which by our cunning Lapidisies â—hall 〈◊〉 yearelie chosen foorth and brought â—hee home to England â—o make that blessed countrie the richest land within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will â—eliuer vp my Diadem with all my Princely dignities and in companie of these Moroco Lordes like bridled Horses drawe thée daylie in a siluer Charriot vp and downe the serâ—led earth til death giues end to our liues Pilgrimage Therefore most admired Knight at Armes let these salt teares that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtaine one graunt of comfort at thy handes for on my bended knées I beg for life that neuer before this time did kneele to any mortallman Thou speakst in vaine replyed saint George it is not the treasures hidden in the déepest seas nor all the golden mines of rich America that can redéeme thy life thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practises in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereaue me of my life Likewise through thy treachery I endâ—red a long imprisonment in Persia where for seauen yeares I dranke the Channell water and suffizde my hunger with the breads of branne meale My foode the loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismall dungeon where neither sunne nor the chearefull light of heauen lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered iniuries the hâ—auens inforceth mee to a spéedy reuenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Engine prepared for thy death this brazen Caldron fild with boyling lead and brimstone wherein thy cursed body shall be spéedily cast and boyled till thy detested limbs bee consumed to a watry sâ—bstance by this sparckling lickour therefore prepare thy selfe to entertaine the violent stroake of death and willingly byd all thy kingly dignities farewell But yet I let thée vnderstand that mercy harboreth in a Christians hart and where mercy dwels there faults are forgiuen vppon some humble penetence though thy trespasse deserues 〈◊〉 pitty but seuere punishment yet vpon these considerations I will graunt thée liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy false Gods Termagaunt Mahomet and Apollo which he but the vayne imaginations of man and beléeue in our true and euer liuing God vnder whose banner we Christians haue taken in hande this long warre Secondly thou shalt giue commandement that all thy barbarous Nations be christened in the faith of Christ Thirdly and lastly that thy thrée Kingdomes of Barbary Moroco India sweare true alleagance to all Christian Kings and neuer to beare Armes but in the true quarrell of Christ and his annoynted Nations These things duly obserued thy life shall be preserued and thy liberty obtayned otherwise looke for no mercy but a spéedy and most â—yrâ—ible death These wordes more displeased the vnchristian King of Morco than the sentence of his condemnation and in these briefe spéeches set downe his resolution Great Potentate of Europe replied Almidor by whose mightines fortune sits fettered in the chaines of power my golden Diadem and regall Scepter by constraint I must deliuer vp but before I forsake my countrie Gods I will indure a hundred deathes and before my conscience be reformed to a new faith the earth
therefore the gorgeous sunne shall loose his light by day the siluer Moone by night the skyes shall fall the earth shall sinke and euerie thing shall chaunge from his kinde and nature before I falseâ—â—e my faith or prooue disloyall to my beloued George attempt no more my Noble Lord to batter the fortresse of my good name with the Gunshot of your flatterie nor séeke to staine my honour with your lustfull desires What if my Lord and Husband proue disloyal and choose out other loues in forraine Lands yet will I proue as constant to him as did Penelope to her Vlisses and if it bee hys pleasure neuer to returne but spend hys dayes amongst straunge Ladies then wil I liue in single solitarines like to the Turtle Doue when shee hath lost her mate abandoning all companie or as the mournefull Swan that swimmes vppon Maeanders siluer streames where she recordes her dying tunes to raging bellowes so will I spend away my lingring dayes in griefe and die This resolution of the vertuous Ladie daunted so the Earle that he stoode like a sensles image gazing at the Sun not knowing how to replie but yet when they had daunced the third course he began a new to assault her vnspotted chastetie in these tearmes Why my deare mistresse haue you a heart more harde than Flint that the teares of my true loue can neuer molefie can you behold him plead for grace that hath beene sâ—de vnto by many worthie Dames I am a man that can commaund whole countries yet can I not command thy stubburne heart to yéeld Diuine Sabra if thou wilt graunt me loue and yéelde to my desier Ile haue thee clad in sliken Robes and damaske Uâ—stures imbost with Indian Pearles and rich refined gold perfumed with Camphier Bisse and Syrrian swéet perfumes by day a hundred Uirgins like to Thetis tripping on the siluer sands shall euermore attend thy person by night a hundred Euenukes with their strained Instruments shall bring thy sences in a golden slumber If this suffizeth not thy swéet content I will prepare a sumptuous Charriot made of gold wherein thou shalt be drawne by Sable spotted Stéedes along the fieldes and gallant pastures adioyning to our Cittie walles wheras the Euening ayre shall breath a coolenes far more swéeter than Balme vpon thy cheekes and make thy beautie glister like the purple Pallace of Hiperion when he leaues Aurora blushing in her bed whereby the heauens and all the powers therein shall stand and woonder at thy beautie and quite forget theyr vsuall courses All this my deare diuine and daintie Mistresse is at thy commaund and more so that I may enioy thy loue and fauour which if I haue not I will discontentedly end my life in woodes and desert places Tygers and vntamed beasts shall be my chiefe companions These vaine promises and flattering intiâ—â—â—ents caused Sabra to blush with bashfulnes and to giue him this sharpe answere Thinke you my Lorde with golden 〈◊〉 to obtaine that precious Gem the which I will not loose for Europes treasurie henceeforth be silent in that enterprâ—â—e and neuer after this attempt to practise 〈◊〉 dishonour which if you doe I vowe by heauen to make it knowne to euery one within the Cittie and fill all places with rumors of thy wilfull lust A Troupe of modest maidens I will procure to haunt thée vp and downe the stréetes and woonder at thee like an Owle that neuer comes abroade but in the darkest nights this I am resolued to doe and so farewell Thus departed Sabra with a frowning countenance whereby the rest of the Ladies suspected that the Earle had attempted her dishonour by secret conference but they all assuredly knew that she was as farre from yéelding to hys desires as is the aged man to become young againe or the azurde firmament to be a place for siluaine beastes to inhabit In such like imaginations they spent awaie the day till the darke night caused them to breake off companie The Earle smothering his griefe vnder a smiling countenance till the Ladies were euerie one departed whome hee curteously caused his seruants to conduct homewards with Torch lightes because it began to be verie darke After their departure he accursed his owne Fortune and like a Lyon wanting foode raged vp and downe his Chamber filling euerie corner with bitter exclamations rending hys garments from his backe tearing his haire beating hys breast and vsing all the violence he could deuise against himselfe In this manner spent hee away the night suffering no sléepe to close the windowes of his body such a melancholy and extreame passion discontented his minde that heâ— purposeâ— to giue an end to hys sorrowes by some vntimelie death So when the morning appeared hee made hys repaire to an Orchardâ— where Sabra commonlie once a daie walked to take the Ayre The place was verie melancholy and farre from the noyse of people where after hee had spent some certaine time in exclaiming against the vnkindnes of Sabra he pulled his Poyniard from his backe prepared hys breast to entertaine the stroke of death but before the pretended Tragedie with his dagger hee ingrauâ—d these verses following vpon the barke of a walnut trée O hart more hard than bloody Tyger fell O eares more deafe than senceles troubled seas O cruell foe thy rigor doth excell For thee I dye thy anger to appease But time will come when thou shalt finde me slaine That thy repentance will increase thy payne I here ingraue my will and testament That my sad griefe thou mayst behold and see How that my wofull heart is torne and rent And gorg'd with blooddy blade for loue of thee Whome thou disdayndst as now the end doth try That thus distrest dost suffer me to dye Oh Gods of loue if so their anie be And you of loue that feeles the deadly payne Or Sabra thou that thus afflictest me Heare these my wordes which from my hart I straine Ere that my corpes be quite bereaud of breath Let me declare the cause of this my death You mountaine Nimphes which in the desarts raigne Cease off your chase from sauage beasts a while Prepare to see a hart opprest with paine Addresse your eares to heare my dolefull stile No strength nor Arte can worke me any weale Sith she vnkinde and Tyrantlike doth deale You Fayrie Nimphes of louers much adorde And gracious Damsels which in Eueninges faire Your Closets leaue with heauenlie beautie storde And on your shoulders spread your golden haire Record with me that Sabra is vnkinde Within whose breast remaines a bloody minde Yee sauage Beares in Caues and Dens that lie Remaine in peace if you my sorrowes heare And be not mooued at my miserie Though too extreame my passions doo appeare England farewell and Couentrie adue But Sabra heauen aboue still prosper you These verses béeing no sooner finished and ingrauen about the Barke of the Walnut trée but with a grisly looke and wrathfull countenance he lift vp hys hand
hys Court in the Cittie of Couentrie who immediatly vpon the Confession of the murther gaue this seuere iudgment against her First to be conueied to Prison there to remaine for the tearme of twelue moneths and at the end whereof to be burned like a most wicked offender yet because she was the Daughter of a King and loyall Lady to so Noble a Knight his Maiesty in mercie graunted her this fauour that if she could get any Knight at Armes before the time were expired that would be her Champion and by Combat redéeme her from the fire she should liue otherwise if her Champion were vanquished then to suffer the former Iudgement Thus haue you heard the true discourse of all things which hapned till my departure from England where I left her in Prison and since that time fiue monthes are fullie exspired Therefore most renowned Champion as you loue the life of your Ladie and wish her deliuerie make no tarriance but with all spéed post into England for I greatly feare before you ariue vppon that blessed shore the time will be finished and Sabra suffer death for want of a Champion to defend her cause This doleful discourse draue saint George with the other Knights and Champions to such an eâ—tasie of minde that euery one departed to their lodging Chambers with dumbe signes of sorrow being not able to speake one word where for that night they lamented the mishap of so vertuous a Lady The Egyptian King her father he abandoned the sight of all companies and repayred to the toppe of an high Tower built of Marble stone wherein hee barred himselfe fast with yron bolts so that none could come within the hearing of his lamentations then raged hee vp and downe like franticke Oedipus tearing his eyes from their naturall Celles accusing heauen of iniustice condemning earth of iniquity and accursing man for such an execrable crime one while wishing his daughters byrth hower had béene her buriall day another while that some vnlucky Plannet would descend the firmament and fall vppon his miserable head being in this extreame passion hee neuer hoped to sée his daughters countenance againe and so about midnight being a time when desperate men practise their owne destructions he cast himselfe headlong from the toppe of the Tower and broake his necke and all besprinckled the flinty pauements with his blood and braines No sooner was the night vanished and bright Phoebus entred the Zodiacke of heauen but his bruised body liueles and senseles was found by his seruants lying in the Pallace yard all to be beaten in péeces against the grounde The wofull newes of this selfe-wild murtherer they presently told to certaine Egyptian Knights who tooke his scattered limbs and carryed them to saint Georges Chamber where they found him arming himselfe for his departure towardes England But at this wofull spectackle he tooke a seconde conceited griefe in such extreame manner that it had almost cost him his life but that the Egyptian Knights gaue him many comfortable spéeches and by theÌ„ consent of many Dukes Earles Lords and Barrons with many other of the late Kings priuy Councell they elâ—cted him the true succéeding King of Egipt by the marriage of Ptolomies daughter which Royall proffer saint George refused not but took vpon him the Regiment of the whole Country so that for that day his iourney toward England was stayed and vppon the third day following his Coronation was appoynted which they solemnely perfourmed to the high honour of all the Christian Champions For the Egyptian Pieres caused saint George to be apparralled in Royall Uâ—stures like a King he had on a sute of flaming greene like an Emerauld and a Mantle of scarlet very richly furd and wrought curiously with gold then the other sixe Champions lead him vp to the Kings Throane and set him in a Chayre of Ebony with pummells of siluer which stood vpon an Allablaster Elephant then came thrée of the greatest Lords in Egypt and set a Crowne of gold vpon his head then followed two Knights with a Scepter and a naked Sâ—â—â—rde to signefie that he was chiefe Champion of all the Râ—alme and Lord of all that appertained to the Crowne of Egypt This being performed in most sumptuous and stately manner the Trumpets with other Instruments began to sound wherat the generall company with ioyfull voyces cryed all together Long liue saint George true Champion for England and King of Egypt Then was he conducted to the Royall Pallace where for ten dayes he remayned amongst his Lords and Knights spending the time in great ioy and pleasure the which béeing finished hys Ladyes distresse constrayned him to a sodaine departure therefore he left the guiding of his Lande to twelue Egyptian Lordes binding them all by oath to redeliuer it at his returne likewise charging them to interre the body of Ptolomie in a sumptuous Tombe befitting the body of so Royall a Potentate Also appoynting the sixt Champions to rayse their Tents and muster vp anewe their souldiers and with all spéede march into Persia and there by dynt of bloody warre reuenge his former iniuries vpon the cursed Soldan This change being giuen the next morning by breake of day 〈◊〉 buckled on his Armour mounted on his swift footed Stéed and had hys friends in Egipt for a season adue and so in companie of the Knight that brought him that vnluckie newes hee tooke his iournie with all spéed toward England In which trauaile we leaue him for a time Also passing ouer the spéedy prouision made by the Christian Champions in Egypt for the inuasion of Persia and returne to sorrowfull Sabra béeing in priosn awayting each minute to receaue the finall stroke of impartiall death for now had the rowling Plannets brought their yeares trauailes to an end yet Sabra had no intelligence of any ChaÌ„pion that would defend her cause therefore shee prepared her dilicate bodie to receaue her latest breath of life the time beeing come shee was brought to the place of execution whether she went as willinglie and with as much ioy as euer shée went before time vnto her marriage for she had made her humble submission to the world and vnfainedly committed her soule to God She béeing at the stake where the king was present with many thousands as wel of Noble personages as of Common people to behold this wofull Tragedie the deaths-man stripped off her Garment which was of blacke sarceâ—et in her snow-white smocke bound her with an Iron chaine vnto the stake then placed they round about her tender body both Pitch Turpentine and Gunpowder with other merciles things therby to make her death the more easier and her paine the shorter Which béeing â—one the King caused the Harrold to summon in the Challenger who at the sound of the TruÌ„pet came trasing in vpon a Rone coloured Stéede without any kinde of marke and trapped with rich trappinges of gold precious stones of great price there came foorth at the Horse mouth two tuskes
shall be no earth the sea no sea nor the heauen no heauen Thinkest thou now proud Christian by thy threatned tormentes to make mee forget my creator and beléeue in thy false God which was but the sonne of a Carpenter and bacely borne vnder an Oxe stall No no accursed Christians you ofspringes of Cayne you generations of Iesmaell you séede of Uipers and accursed through the world looke for a spéedie shower of vengeance to raine from heauen vppon your wicked Nations your bloodie practises hath pearst the Battlements of Ioue and your tyrranies beaten open the gaâ—es of mightie Mahomet who hath prouided whips of burning wier to scourge you for your cruelties proffered against his blessed worshippers and now with this deadlie curse I bid you all farewell the plagues of Egipt light vpon your kingdomes the curse of Cayne vpon your children the famine of Ierusalem vpon your friends and the miserie of Oedipus vppon yourselues This wicked resolution and balefull curse béeing no sooner ended by the desperate minded Almidor but the impatience of saint George was so highly mooued that he gaue present commandement to the appointed Executioners to cast him into the boyling cauldron which incontinentlie they performed to the terror of all the beholders to behold this wofulll spectakle the Battlements of Temples weâ—e so thronged with people the houses couered with women children and the stréetes filled with Armed Souldiers that it was a woonder to beholde amongst which multitudes there were some perticular persons that at the sight of Almidors death fell downe and broake their neckes But the generall number as well of Pagans as Christians cryed with chearefull voyces Honour and victory followe saint George of England for he hath redéemed Barbary from a miserable seruitude Which ioyfull hearing so delighted the seauen Champions of Christendome that they caused the Conduits to runne with wine the stréets to be beautefied with bonefiers and a sumptuous banquet to be proclaimed through the Citty which after continued for the space of seauen dayes in more magnificent Royaltie than the banquet at Babilon when the Macedonian Monarke returned from the worlds Conquest The Champions liberality procured such faithfull loâ—e in the harts of the Moroco Pieres that with a generall consent they chose saint George for theyr lawfull King where after they had inuested him in the Princely seate of the Moroco Potentates they set the Crown vpon his head and after presented him with an imperious Pall which the Kings of Barbary vsually wore vppon their Coronation day protesting to forsake theyr prophane Religion and 〈◊〉 christened in the fayth of Christ. This promised conuertion of the Infidels more delighted the English Champion than to haue the whole worlds honour at commaund for it was the chiefeest poynt of his Knightly oath to aduaunce the faith of Christe and to inlarge the boundes of Christendome after his Coronation was solemlie performed the other six Champions conductâ— him to a Princely Pallace where he tooke the true alegance of the Moroco Lordes by plighted oath to bee true to hys Crowne after this he established Christian lawes to the benefit of the whole countrie then he commaunded al the ceremonious rites of Mahomet to be trodden vnder foote the true Gospell of Christ to be preached likewise he caused all that did remaine in Barberie to be Christned in the new faith But these obseruations continued but a time as shall hereafter shall be discoursed at large For fame not intending to let the worthie Champions long to remaine in the idle bowers of peace but summoned them to perseuer in their Noble atchiuements and tâ— muster vp a new their souldiers whose Armour canckered ease had almost staind with rust therefore saint George committed the gouernment of hys countrie to foure of the principall Peares of Moroco and martched towardes the Countrie of Egipt where liued trecherous Ptolomie the Father of hys beloued Lady Sabra whome hee had left in the Kingdome of England In which iournie and happie ariuall in Egipt wâ— will leaue the seauen Champions for a time and speake of the faithles Infidels in Barberie after the departure of the Christians whose former Honours they slightly regarded For no sooner had saint George with hys martiall Troupes bidden their countrie adue but the faithles Moores reconciled themselues to their former Gods and purposed a spéedie reuenge for the death of Almidor against all Christians that remained within the limmets of that Heathen Nation For there were many souldiers wounded in the late battaile Likewise a number oppressed with sicknes had the Christian Champions left behinde for their better recoueries vppon whome the barberous Moores committed their first tyrranie for they caused the distressed souldiers to be drawen vpon â—lids to the outermost part of the Cittie and there put them into a large and old Monestarie which they presently set on fire and most inhumanely burned the Christian souldiers and after conuerted the place into a filthie leastall many women and succourles children they dragged vp and downe the stréetes till their braines were dasht against the stones and the blood had couered the earth with a purple hue Many other cruelties were committed by the wicked Infidels against the distressed Christians which I â—urpose to paâ—â—e ouer and wholie discourse of the wofull and bloody murther of an English Marchant and hys wife in the same Cittie of Tripolie the report whereof may force the merciles Tygers to relent and those eyes to shed a spring of teares that neuer wept before The bloodie minded Negars violating both oath and promise before plighted to saint George by violence set vppon the Marchants house where first they made a massaker of his seruants and before hys face cast their dead bodies to hunger starued Dogges then comming to the Marchant they bound him fast with hempen cordes to the strongest post in his house and after tooke hys children béeing seauen of the goodliest boyes that euer nature â—â—amed and likewise tied round about him Then one of the Moores béeing crueller than the rest proffered to deflowre the Marchants wife before hys face but she in chastetie like Camma chose rather an honourable death than an infamous life spit in the Negars face and most bitterly reuiled him yéelding neyther to hys force nor hys bloodie threates but snatching a knife from hys girdle vowed to sheath it in her bosome before she would loose that precious Gemme of honour that once beeing gone cannot bee recouered for all the worldes treasure This resolution of the English Marchants wife caused the sterne Negars to excéede in crueltie but the principall of that wicked companie béeing a bloody and merciles Tyrant stabbed one of the sillie Children before the mothers face Now stubborne Dame quoth he wilt thou yéeld to my desires and preserue the liues of thy other sixe Children otherwise shalt thou beholde them butchered in the same manner To sell my honour for the liues of my Children replied shee will be an