Great Britains GLORY BEING THE HISTORY OF King ARTHUR WITH THE ADVENTURES OF THE Knights of the Round Table London Printed by and for W. O. and sold by the Booksellers To the READER Courteous Reader DUring the Revolutions of this Kingdom such have been the Valerous Exploits of the Princes and other Renowned Warriours Natives not only in this our Land and neighbouring Countries but throughout the known World that all Nations have stood amazed and trembled at their Prowess And amongst other well may the Famous Arthur that renowned British King take place though to lessen the Credit of his great Exploits some envious Aliens have endeavoured to prove there was never such a Man but since it is evident by Chronologers of the most Antiquity and Integrity that he was the Son of Vter Pendragon of the Ancient British Royal Blood I shall not 〈◊〉 more Arguments to manifest it to the World 〈…〉 to the Matter of History as I sign it layed down for the Instruction of future Ages And remain Reader Yours to serve you J. S. The History of King Arthur CHAP. I. Of the Parentage of King Arthur with a Desciption of his usual Accouterments his Visioâ— and the Interpretation thereof and how he constituted the Knights of the Round Table THe Saxons after the departure of the Romans having under the title of Friendship seized upon many strong Places in this Kingdom the native Britains after having tryed their Fortunes in many dreadful Battles were obliged to retire into Wales and Cornwal yet retaining many Places of considerable strength and from thence by frequent Excursions they greatly annoyed the Enemy not forgetting their antient Valour and the former Glory of this Isle amongst which was King Vter Pendragon lineally descended from the British Kings who in the Year Anno 500 began to Reign over the Britains that possessed the Mountainous Country with great success giving the Saxons many Defeats and gaining upon them till at last falling in love with a fair Lady named Igreyin Wife to Alfridus Duke of Cornwal he so doted on her Beauty that not finding her to be won by perswasion to yield her Chastity to his Disposal he plotted with Merlyn a famous Necromancer of that Age to bring his Designs about by Policy This Necromancer undertaking the matter the better to ease his Prince's labouring Thoughts with Spells and by Magick Inchantment so wrought that either deluding the Lady's sight or transforming the King into the Shape of her Lord she received him as such and suffered him in the absence of Alfridus to enjoy her a whole night on whom he got our famous Arthur For her Lord being in War against the West Saxons was slain e're his return of which the King hearing though greatly grieved at the loss of so renowned a Subject yet as much rejoyced that Fate gave him opportunity to procure the love of the fair Dutchess in an honourable way which he prosecuting after the Days of Mourning were over he so dealt with her by fair Words and rich Presents that being now at liberty she was contented to be his Wife and was married to him by the Bishop of Carlile with great Pomp and Splendour all the Lords and Nobles subject to his Scepter together with their Ladies adorning their Nuptials and assisting at the Ceremony And so great was the Ioy that Feasting Turnaments and all manner of Desports to recreate the Senses were held for twenty Days Yet the Queen was troubled to find the Fruits of her Womb increase so fast as fearing to be suspected of Adultry for well she knew she had been deceived when she computed the time of Alfrydus's Death with the same she supposed him in her Embraces but the King to put her out of doubt and to prevent melancholy thoughts in loving wise revealed the whole Mistery yet it was agreed between them that it should be kept secret and that the Child should as soon as born be conveyed to a trusty Guardian to prevent Coloquie The Queen about six Months after the Ceremony of the Wedding was over being brought to bed of a Son the Child named Arthur as it was resolved was conveyed by trusty Hands to a Lady of good Repute named Mariâ—da Wife to Sir Ector one of the King's Knights who brought him up in such Learning as was meet for his Pears When as his Father worn out with the continual Folies of War and much distempered through many wounds he had received died leaving him sole Heir of his Dominions who thereupon was proclaimed by most of the Nobility and crowned King tho' some taking the advantage of his green Years rebelled and raised divers Commotions but he growing up and getting the Reins of Government into his Hands did many great Exploits as will in the Series of this History appear King Arthur by this time being grown up became exceeding tall and strong insomuch that he seemed more than Man and in many Iusts and Turnaments so well behaved himself that none could stand before him A Horse he had which he called Beaucephalus after the name of the Great Alexander's Horse and he in all Exploits proved the best in the World His Sword was of a large size viz. five foot in length and in breadth eight inches cutting with two fearful edges on which hung death and destruction His Lance was eight Cubits and the head thereof formed of massy Steel weighing six Pound His Armour was of the highest Prooff shining with Gems and burnished Gold And the better to inure him to War and great Exploits he frequently rode thus accutered and often in places of greatest danger glorying in nothing more than his Strength and manly Prowess delighting in nor fancying none but such as were truly Valiant and feared not Death in any of his dreadful Shapes but to such he was lavish to Exccess Retaining no other for his Counsellor but Merlyn the famous Necromancer from whom as from an Oracle he received the certainty of future Events and at his request recreated him with strange and wonderful Sights the Representation of Magick and amongst the rest upon a great Plain before the King's Palace at Cardigan he raised a stately Tower and round it a pleasant Garden adorned with Fruits and fragrant Flowers Fish ponds Fountains Bowers and Vmbrages into which he led the King and all his Nobility feasting them after a sumptuous manner as they imagined but he had no sooner reconveyed them thence but looking back they saw all vanish in Thunder Lightning and a prodigious Earthquake to their great amazement yet knowing before it was but Defusion they rested somewhat more satisfied yet could not but think of what had passed The day being spent in viewing this Piece of Recreation end the King ruminating many things in his mind at last laying him down upon his Couch he fell into a slumber and then dreamed that he was carried into a spacious Hast in which stood a Table of great circumference out of the middle of
King hed order to attend the Queen having a fair gale on the ninth of October landed where they first imbarqued and were received with universal joy whereupon the King coming to a Castle of his near 〈◊〉 feasted the Dainish Nobility in a mast spianded manner But whilst he remained there he had notice That Magor King of Ierland who by his Amiassaders had courted the fair Gemna and been refused was to revenge it on his Arrival landed with great Power in South Wales whereupan the King comforting his Queen who was greatly grieved that through her cause such suddenly Troubles should arise passed on with his victorious Army and gave him Battle near Merioneth and utterly discomfited him so that flying with his broken Army and being every-where assaises by the Country Peasants who had laid the way for him he scarcely escaped to his Ships with five thousand out of his thirty thousand so that King Arthur speedy as Cesar in his victories returned to his fair Queen with the Trophies of his conquered Enemies long before he was expected to have fought the Battle when sending four thousand Men under the leading of Sir Lancelot and divers of her good Knighes they landed on the Isle of Angle 〈◊〉 and drove thence the French that had for some time past during the troubles of this Kingdom setled themselves there The King's Victories daily increasing the Terror of his Name being spread wide it made the most redoubted Monarch tremble yet durst France then powerful at Sea invade our Coait and with fire and sword spoiled many Sea-towns carrying away great booty as also the People the Men they made cow in their Gallies and the Women to satiate their prodigious Lust when as the crys of his suffering sujects reaching his ear where he was delighting himself with his Queen he resolved once more to forsake the Camp of Venus and her soft Delighis to court Fame and Glory in the Camp of Mars whereupon having sent to Lotharioâ— for Restitution and receiving rather scorns than a satisfactory answer from that imperious King he made great proparations for the War and had at that time twelve Sale of Ships sent to his aid by his Brother of Denmark when being in a readiness with an Army of thirty four thousand he coasted the Country and puning into the bay of Marselies with his shot of Arrows that flew like Haile drove the defendants from the shore on which himself with his own Standard first leaped and stood like an inraged Lyon though a thousand that is flew round his Head and many 〈◊〉 from his glittering shield but long it was not e're the valiant Knights of the Order imsrating their Soveraign thrust their Ships to Land and putting their Soldiers in Battle-aray charged furiously upon the formost Battailian of the Enemy lead by the Duke 〈◊〉 Vallois so that being overset they retreated in great disorder and finding no place to be received broke the Ranks of their Friends when as the Duke De Nevers advanced with the right wing of Horse to their succour but was so gauled with the shot of Arrows that the Horses mischiefet more the Riders than the Britains In this Confusion the King drawing out six thousand of his choice Men charged upon the disordered Enemy with such courage that he pierced their main Battle making lanes of death where-ever he came cutting off Arms Heads and Legs insomuth that the Danish General Gironeus imitating him the French Soldiers routed in all parts left their Commanders and fled insomuch that the slaughter of the Nobility was great a Fare even incident to that Kingdom nor would they trust to the weak wall of Marselies but flying to Lyons and Paris left that part of the Country naked to be possessed of the Britains The terror of this overthrow alarming the French Court and finding that brought home to them which they had used to others abroad the People with Tears besought their King to appease the Conquerer in time and thereby prevent worse desolation who considering his tottering Kingdom was at stake sent four of his prime Lords to beg a Week's Cessation or Truce to which King Arthur whose 〈◊〉 was more at Glory and Renown than Advanvantage accorded during which time the King having raised a Mistion of Crowns sent them in divers Waggons with other rich Presents to purchase his Peace and the depatrure of his new come Guest yet prevailed they not e're he had made his Acknowledgment for the indignity put upon the King's Ambassadors and deliver the Town and 〈…〉 Marselies to be possessed as a Pledge of future Peace by the Britains for the spare of twenty Years to come and upon pain of forfeiting it for ever no Hostilities to be used by Lend nor Depravations by Sea These Articles accorded the Kinâ— hastened to his own Country with the grearest part of his Army leaving only 〈…〉 Solders in Marselies and having amply rewarded the 〈◊〉 dismissed them Vpon King 〈…〉 he found to his unspeakable joy his fair Queen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a lovely Boy who by the Advice of Merlyn he namâ—d Constantius those Victories and great Exploits that Prophet forâ—… which after his Father's death he succeeding him in his Throne exactly came to pass and now the joy bring great throughout the British Dominisns all the Saxon Kings came to King Arthur's Court then removed to the then floursihing City of Hereford and made their Homage complementing him highly on his Marriage and the birth of his Son presenting the Queen and Royal Infant with great Presents as Iewels Gold and fragrant Spice of Arabia promising for them and their Heirs to be obedient to the British Stepter though before and after the Death of King Arthur they brake their Vaws though to their great disadvantage For the young Prince almost as successful in War as his Father grasped the Kingdoms of the Mercians and East-angles with so hard a hand that during his Life they could not wrest them from him but to our purpose King Arthur being the chief Favourite of Fortune and the eldest Son of Fame began to enlarge the splendor of his Court and increase the number of the Knights of the Round Table in whom consisted his chief Strength for scarce was there any one of them but durst encounter ten ordinary Men hand to hand and as he increased them so he enlarged their Pensions which drew the most Valiant of all Nations to serve him though none were admitted before they were tryed The habit they ordinarily wore when without their Armour was a Vest lined with Sables and on the back of it a red Cross and on their Thighs Cushes of highest proof their Stockings were in the manner of Bugkins and their Shoes of Camelsskin the Hair appearing outward on their Heads they wore Caps made of Seal-skins lined with Silk and Cotted and about their neck Silk of divers colours each of them in War carrying a double Faulchion a Battle-axe a Bow and Quiver a Launce being severally
which grew an Oak and Laurel with Crowns Scepters Swords and Ensigns hanging on them and that they were guarded by many valiant Knights high in Prowess and terrible to the whole World which made him desirous to become their Associate nor did he sooner demand it but they joyfully received him and placing him in a Chair of Ivory and Gold made him their Chief and gave him a Banner with a Lyon rampant portrayed thereon and this Motto written viz. Ever Victorious upon which the sound of Trumpets noise of Drums clattering of Arms shouts and cries saluted his Ears And he supposed he beheld Armies in rout and slaughter scattered through the whole World and that the Couquerers laid the Trophies at his Feet and with an Vniversal Shout saluted him Great Monarch of the Western World At what time awakning he found it but a Dream yet revolving in his Mind the strangeness of the Fancy the next morning he related it to his Nobles who assured him of happy Presages and advised him to make inquiry into the Interpreration thereof whereupon sending for his Necromantick Counsellor he related it to him who promised within a day to give him the signification of his Dream which he did as followeth viz. That by the Table was signified his Kingdom by the Knights the Pillars and Strength thereof by Oak and Laurel Strength Victory and Durance the Crowns Scepters Swords and Ensigns the Spoiles of the Nations he should be possess's of and the Schene of War the Representations of the many dreadful Battles he should fight wherein he should ever remain victorious and the making him Chief giving him the Standard and placing him in a Chair Ivory and Gold denoted him deep in his Subjects Love and that no Treason should prosper against him This Interpretation highly pleased the King and raised his towring Imaginations to such a pitch that he resolved to spread the terror of his Arms throughout the World Wherefore he made great Preparation of all manner of Warlike Provision but above all of hardy and couragious Knights inviting them from all parts to his Court and for their better Incouragement caused a spacious Hall three hundred Foot in length and twenty in breadth to be built with Glass Turrets on the top ceiled with Fret-work and Gold wainscoted with Cedar and paved with Marble in the midst of which he placed a Round Table at which four hundred Knights might sit and caused it daily to be furnished with great store of choice Provision for the entertainment of such Men of War as would resort thither and shortly after constituted the Order of the Round Table allowing a Yearly Pension of a hundred Mark to such as were truly valiant and would intole themselves to attend his Service when Occasion required making himself the Head Soveraign of the Order so that by this means the valiant Men of the neighbouring Nations tendered their Service to him and were admitted into the noble Order but not before they had been proved in some Exploit CHAP. II. How King Arthur warred with the Kings of Mercia and the East Angles who invaded his Dominions slew a Monstrous Gyant and put their Armies to the Rout c. THe King being established in his Throne and having thus far proceeded caused a place to be made for Iusting where 〈◊〉 every Week his Knights exercised in Martial Order and Iusted with each other and to him that did hest the King would frequently send one rich Present or other himself being still a Spectator of those Exercises and at all great Feasts present amongst them at Dinner having a Chair like a Throne placed on that part of the Table that was towards the upper-end of the Hall but no Musick suffer'd except the Martial Sounds of Drums Trumphers and Clarions in which most of all our Heroick Prince delighted And now being furnished with mighty Men that might compate to David's Worthies if not exceed them in dreadful Foot 's of Arms he passionately desired to have an honourable Occasion to try his and their Valours which was not long wanting For the Mercian King of the Saxons and the King of the East Angles presuming upon their Strength broke into Cornwal part of King Arthur's Dominions and committed divers Outrages burning plundring ravishing and slaughtering in suth a dreadful manner that the People with such substance as they could convey fled every-where before them The News of which rouzed our Lyon-like Prince who taking with him his Guard of Knights and eight hundred common Soldiers the Flower of his Dominions by swift Marches passed on give War the meeting whose approach to the Enemy being treble the Number little regarded not doubting to give him the Overthrow trusting greatly to the force of one Cingeterox a monstrous Gyant nine Cubits high six in circumference and armed with a huge Battle are and Coat of Mael but the undaunted Prince whom Fear could not dismay having animated his Soldiers and set them in Battle-array attended by his Knights broke through the Ramparts killing such as guarded the Camp and setting upon the Infidels for so at that time they were cutting through the thickest of them made such a slaughter that all the way he passed was strewed with dead Bodies yet on he pressed through lanes of Death his Heroick Champions following as animated by the Martial Deeds of their Renowned Leader Nor did they less annoy the Enemy who by this time taking the Alarum in all parts come running to oppose them and began to make some slaughter of his Men especially where the Gyant fought which the King perceiving by the Cry that arose caused his Standard with the great Lion to advance that way bearing down all before him till he came to the place where he found Cingeterox and Ethwaldus the King bathing their Ares in the Blood of his Men of which they had slain three hundred when as King Arthur with a loud voice cried Turn this way Infidels spare the Weak and bend your force again the Stronger Vpon which the Gyant stairing on him with a dreadful voice replied Who art thou that comes to seek thy Death I am a Slodier said the King and one that am come to fetch thy Head by way of Reprizal for the Mischiefs thou hast done in my Country But you must get it first said the Gyant That shall not be long said the King and thereupon charged on the Monster so furiously with his Sword that e're he could welld his Battle oxe with a full stroke on his Helme which made the sire spring from thence he made him staggar three huge Paces and bend with his Knee to the Ground then the Gyant inraged made at him and struck at the King so that the blow dazled him and made his Eyes swim but spon recovering he that had never been so used before resolved revenge thereupon after a fust stroke wheeling his dreadful Sword about he struck the Monster en the Helmet with such force that cutting it through the