revenged upon his Daughter for her Disobedience And as he travelled there was no Cave Den Wood or Wilderness but he furiously entred and diligently searched for his Angelica At last by strauge Fortune he hapned into Armenia near unto the place whereas his Daughter had her residence where after he had intelligence by the Commons of the Country that she remained in an old ruinated Building on the top of a Rock near at hand without any more delay he travelled unto that place at such a time as the Magician her Husband was gone about his accustomed Hunting where coming to the Gate and finding it lockt he knockt thereat so furiously that he made the noise resound all the House over with the redoubling Eccho When Angelica heard one knock she came unto the Gate and with all speed she did open it where when she thought to imbrace him thinking iâ—to be her Lover she saw that it was her Father and with a sudden alteration she gave a great shriek and ran with all the speed she could back into the House Her Father being angry like a furious Lyon followed her saying It doth little avail thee Angelica to run away for that thou shalt dâ—â— by this revengeful hand paying me with thy Death the Dishonour that my Crown hath received by thy Flight So he followed her till he came to the Chamber where her waiting-Maid Fidelia was who likewise presently knew the King upon whose wrathful countenance appeared the Image of pale Death and fearing the harm that might happen unto her Lady she put her self over her Ladies Body and gave most terrible loud and lamentable shrieks The King as one kindled in Wrath and forgetting the natural love of a Father towards his Child he laid hands upon his Sword and said It doth not profit thee Angelica to flie from thy death for thy desert is such that thou canst not escape from it for here mine own arm shall be the killer of my own flesh and I unnaturally hate that which nature it self commandeth me especially to love Then Angelica with a Countenance more red than Scarlet answered and said Ah my Lord and Father will you be now as cruel unto me as you had wont to be kind and pitiful Appease your Wrath and withdraw your unmerciful Sword and hearken unto this which I say in discharging my self of that you charge me withal You shall understand my Lord and Father that I was overcome and constrained by love for to love forgetting all fatherly Love and Duty towards your Majesty yet for all that having power to accomplish the same it was not to your dishonour in that I live honourably with my Husband then the King with a visage fraught with terrible â—re more like a Dragon in the Woods of Hircania than a Man by nature answered and said Thou virerous Brat degenerate from Natures kind thou wicked Traytor to thy generation what reason hast thou to make this false excuse when as thou hast committed a Crime that deserves more punishment than humane nature can inflict And in saying these Words he lift up his Sword inâ—ending to strike her into the heart and to bath his Weapon in his own Daughters blood Whereat Fidelia being present gave a terrible shriek and threw her self upon the Body of unhappy Angelica offering her tender Breast to the fury of his sharp cutting Sword only set at liberty her â—ear Lady and Mistress But when the furious King saw her in this sort make her defence he pulled her off by the hair of her Head offering to trample her delicate Body under his feet thereby to make a way that he might execute his determined purpose without resistance of any Fidelia when she saw the King determined to kill his Daughter like unto a Lioness she hung about his neck and said Thou Monstrous Murtherer more cruel than the mad Doggs in Aegypt why dost thou determine to slaughter the most chast and loyallest Lady in the World even the within whose lap untamed Lions will come and sleep Thou art thy self I say the occasion of all this evil and thine only is the fault for that thy self wert so malicious and so full of mischief that she dâ—rst not let thee understand of her Love These Words and Tears of Fidelia did little profit to molifie the Kings heart who rather like a wild Boar in the Wilderness being compassed about with a company of Dogs most irefully shook his Limbs and threw Fidelia from him in such sort that he had almost dasht her Brains against the Chamber Walls and with double Wrath he did proceed to execute his fury Yet for all this Fidelia with terrible shrieks sought to hinder him till such time as with his cruel hand he thrust his Sword into her Ladies Breast so that it appeared forth at her back whereby her Soul was forced to leave her terrestrial habitation and flie into the wide Air after those which dyed for true loves sake Thus this unhappy Angelica when she was most at quiet and content with her mean kind of Life then Fortune turned her unconstant Wheel and cast her from a glorious delight to sudden death The ireful King when he beheld his Daughters blood sprinkled about the Chamber and that by his own Hands it was committed he repented himself of the Deed and cursed the Hour wherein the first motion of such a Trime entred into his mind wishing the hand that did it ever after might be same and the heart that did contrive it to be plagued with more extremities than was miserable Oedipus or to be terrified with her Ghostly Spirit as was the Macedonian Alexander with Clitus Shadow whom he caustelly murthered In this manner the unfortunate King repented his Daughters bloody Tragedy with this determination not to stay till the Magician returned from his Hunting Exercise but to â—â—clude himself from the company of all Men and to spend the remnant of his loathsom life among untamed Beasts in some wild Wilderness Upon this resolution he departed the Chamber and withal said Farewel thou liveless Body of my Angelica and may thy blood which I have spilt crave vengeance of the Fates against my guilty Soul for my Earthly Body shall indure a miserable punishment Likewise at his departure he writ upon the Chamber Walls these Uerses following with his Daughters Blood Now unto Hills to Dales to Rocks to Caves I go To spend my Days in Shame in Sorrow Grief and Woe Fidelia after the departure of the King used such violent fury against her self both by rending the golden Tranunels of her Hair and â—earing her Rosie-coloured Face with her furious Nails that she rather seemed an infernal Fury subject to Wrath than any Earthly Creature furnished with Clemency she sate over Angelica's Body wiping her bleeding Bosom with a Damask Scarf which she pulled from her Wast and hathing her dead Body in luke-warm Tears which forcibly ran down from her Eyes like an overslowing Fountain In thâ—t woful
sumptuous Habiliments his Lady lying in her Child-bed as glorious as if she had been the greatest Empress in the World and thrée Princely Boys swéetly sleeping in their several Cradles at whose first fight his heart was so Ravished with joy that for a time it with-held the passage of his Tongue but at last when he found the Silver Tablets lying under the Pillows and read the happy Fortunes of his Children he ran unto his Lady embracing her lovingly and kindly demanded the true discourse of this Accident and by whose means the Bower was beautified so gorgeously and the propounder of his Childrens Prophesie who with a countenance blushing like purple morning replied in this manner My most dear and well beloved Lord the pains I have endured to make you the happy Father of three lovely Boys hath not been more painful than the stroke of Death but yet my Delivery more joyful than the pleasures of this World the Winds carried my groans to every corner of this Wilderness whereby both Trees and Herbs assisted my complaints Beasts Birds and feathered Fowls with every seâ—sless thing that Nature framed on this Earth seem'd to pity my moans but in the midst of my Torments when my Soul was ready to forsake this worldly habitation there appeared to me a Queen Crowned with a Golden Diadem in State and Gesture like Imperious Iuno and in Beauty to Divine Diana her Garments for Bravery seemed to stain the Rain-Bow in her brightest hue and for diversity of Colours to surpass the Flowers of the Field on her attended many beautiful Nymphs some clad in Garments in colour of the Crystal Ocean some in Attire as gallant as the pleasant Rose and some more glorious than the Azured Firmaments her Wisdom might compare with Apollo's her Judgment with Pallas and her skill with Lucina's for no sooner entred she my presence but my Travels ceased and my Womb delivered up my grievous Burden my Babes being brought to light by the virtue of her skill she prepared these rich and sumpthou Cradles the which were brought invisibly to my Cabine likewise these Mantles and this Imbroidered Coverlet she frankly bestowed upon me and so immediately vanished away At which words St. George gave her so many kind imbraces and kissed her so lovingly as though it had been the first day of their Nuptials At last her hunger increased and her desire thirsted so much after food that except she received some comfortable sustenance her life were in danger This extream desire of Sabra caused St. George to buckle on his Armour and to unsheath his trusty sword ready to goar the Intrails of some Deer who swore by the honour of true Knighthood never to rest in peace till he had purchased her hearts content My Love said he I will adventure for thy sake more dangers then Iason did for Medea 's Love I will search the thickest Groves and chase the nimble Doe to Death the flying Fowl I 'll follow up and down from Tree to Tree till over-wearied they do fall down and die for love of thee and these my tender Babes whom I esteem more dear than the Conquest of rich Babylon I will adventure more dangers than did Hercules for the Love of Dejanira and more extreams than Turnus did in his bloody Battels And thereupon with his Fauchion ready charged he traced the Woods leaving no Thorny Brake nor Mossie Cave unsearched till he had found a Herd of Fallow Deer from which number he singled out the fattest to make his Lady a bountiful Banquet but in the time of his absence there hapned to Sabra a strange and wonderful Accident for there came weltring into the Cabine three most Wild and Monstrous Beasts a Lioness a Tygress and a she Wolf which took the Babes out of their Cradles and bore them to their secret Dens At which sight Sabra like one berest of Sense started from her Bed and to her weak power offered to follow the Beasts but all in vain for before she could get without her Cabine they were past fight and the Childrens cry without her hearing then like a Discontented Woman she turned back beating her Breast rending her Hair and Raging up and down her Cabine using all the Rigour she could devise against her self and had not St. George return'd the sooner she had most violently committed her own slaughter but at his return when he beheld her face stained with tears her head disrobed of Ornaments and her Ivory Breast all to be-rent he cast down his Uenison in all hast and asked the cause of her Sorrow Oh said she this is the wofullest day that ever hapned to me for in the time of your unhappy Hunting a Lioness a Tygress and a Wolf came into the Cabin and took my Children from their Cradles what is become of them I know not but greatly I fear by this time they are intombed within their hungry Bowels Oh simple Monuments quoth he for such sweet Babes Well Sabra if the Monsters have bereaved me of my Children this bloody Sword that dived into the Entralls of the fallow Deer shall rive my woful heart in twain Accursed be this fatal day the Planets that predominate and Sun that shines thereon Heaven blot it from the year and let it never more be numbred but accounted for a dismal day throughout the World let all the Trees be blasted in those accursed Woods let Herbs and Grass consume away and die and all things perish in this Wilderness But why breathe I out these Curses in vain when as methinks I hear my Children in untamed Lions Dens crying for help and succour I come sweet Babes I come either to redeem you from Tygers wrathful Jaws or make my Grave within their hungry Bowels Then took he up his Sword besmeared all in blood and like a man bereaved of Wit and Sense ranged up and down the Wilderness searching every corner for his Children but his Lady remained still in her Cabine lamenting for their loss â—â—ashing their Cradles with her pearled Tears that run down her stained Cheeks like silver drops Many ways wandred St. George sometimes in Ualleys where Wolves and Tygers lurk sometimes in Mountain tops where Lyons whelps do sport and play and many times in dismal Thickets where Snakes and Serpents live Thus wandred St. George up and down the Wilderness for the space of two days hearing no news of his unchristened Children At last he approached the sight of a pleasant River which smoothly glided down betwixt two Mountains into whose streams he purposed to cast himself and so by a desperate death give end to his Sorrows but as he was committing his body to the mercy of the Waters and his Soul to the pleasure of the Heavens he heard afar off the rusul shriek as he thought of a comfortless Babe which sudden noise caused him to refrain from his desperate purpose and with more discretion to tender his own safety then casting his eyes aside it was his happy
that thy glistering Beauty may have such force and power whereby the shining beams thereof may take revengement of the dishononr of thy Mother give ear dear Child I say unto thy dying Mother thou that art born in the Dishonour of thy Generation by the loss of my Virginity here do I charge thee upon my Blessing even at my hour of Death and swear thee by the band of Nature never to suffer thy Beauty to be enjoyed by any one until thy disloyal Father's Head be offered up in Sacrifice unto my Grave thereby somewhat to appease the fury of my discontented Soul and recover part of my former Honour These and such like words spake the as afflictes Queen to the wonderful amazement of the thrée young Knights which as yet intended not to discover themselves but still to mark the event for they conjectured that her woful Complaints were the indualon of some strange Accident Thus as they stood obscurely behind the Trees they saw the young and beautiful Damsel give unto her dying Mother Payer Pen and Ink the which she pulled from her fair Bâ—som with which the grieved Queen subscribed certain sorrowful Lines unto him that wâ—â— the causer of her Bamâ—tment and making an end of her Writing then heard her with a dying Breath speak unto her Daughter these sorrowful Words following Come Daughter quoth she behold thy Mother at her latest Gasp and imprint my dying Request in thy Heart as in a Table of Brals that it never may be forgotten time will not give longer respite that with Words I may shew unto thee my deep Affections for I feel my Death approaching and the fatal Sisters ready to cut my thread of Life asunder between the edges of their Shears insomuch that I most miserable Creature do feel my Soul trembling in my Flesh and my Heart quivering at this my last and fatal Hour but one thing my sweet and tender Child do I desire of thee before I die which is That thou wouldest procure that this Letter may be given to that cruel Knight thy disloyal Father giving him to understand of this my troublesome Death the occasion whereof was his unreasonable Cruelty and making an end of laying this the miserable Queen fell down not having any more strength to sit up but let the Letter fall out of her hand the which her sorrowful Daughter presently took up and falling upon her Mother's Breast she replied in this sorrowful manner O my sweet Mother tell me not that you will die for it adds a Torment more grievous unto my Soul than the Punishment which Danaus his Daughters feel in Hell I had rather be torn in pieces by the fury of some merciless Monster or to have my Heart parted in twain by the hands of him that is my greatest Enemy than to remain without your company Sweet Mother let these my youthful Years and this green budding Beauty encourage you still to revive and not to leave me comfortless like an Exile in the World but if the gloomy Fates do triumph in your Death and abridge your breathing trunk of Life and your Soul must needs go wander in the Elizian Shades with Trula's Shadow and with Dido's Ghost here I protest by the great and tender Love I bear you and by the due Obedience that I own unto your Age either to deliver this your Letter into the hand of my unkind Father or with these my ruful Fingers to rend my Heart in sunder and before I will forget my Yow the silver streamed Tygris shall forsake her Course the Sea her Tydes and the glistering Queen of Night her usual Changes neither shall any Forgetfulnesâ— be an occasion to withdraw my Mind from performing your dying Requests Then this weak Queen whose Power and Strength was wholly decayed and her hour of Deaâ—h grew near aâ— hand with a feeble Uoice she said O you sacred and immortal Gods and all you bright celestial Powers of Happiness into your divine Bosomes now do I commend my dying Soul asking no other Revengement against the causer of my Death but that he may die lâ—ke me for want of Love After this the dâ—ing Queen nâ—vâ—r spake word more for at that instant the cruel â—estinâ—es gave an end unto her Life but when Rosana peâ—ceived her to be Dead and she left to the World devoid of Comfort shâ— began to tear the golden Trammels from her Head and most â—uâ—iouâ—ly to beat her where 〈◊〉 Breast filling the empty Air with â—lamours of her Mâ—aâ—s making tâ—e Skâ—eâ— like an Eccho to resound her Lamentations and at last taking her Mâ—ther's Letter into her hands washing it with floods of Tears and puâ—tâ—ng it next unto her naked Breast she said Here lie thou near adjoyning to my bleeding Heart never be removed until I have performed my dying Mother's Testament Oh Works and the last Work of those her dying Hands here do I swear by the Honour of true Virgins not to part it from my grieved Bosome until such time as Love has rent the disloyal Heart of my unkind Father and speaking this she kissed it a tâ—ousand times breatâ—ing forth millions of Sighs and so with a bluâ—â—ing Countenance as red as Aurora's glistering Beams she â—ose and said to herselâ— What is this Rosana dost thou think to recal thy Mother's Life with ceremonious Complaints and not perform that which by her was commanded thee Arise arise I say gather unto thyself Strength and Courage and wander up and down the World till thou hast found thy disloyal Father as thy true heart hath promised to do Theâ—e words were no sooner finished but St. George's Sons like Men whose Hearts were almost overcome with Gâ—ief came fâ—oâ— the Pine-trées and discovered themselves to the Damsel and courteously requested her to discourse the Story of all her pâ—ssed Mâ—series and as they were true Christian Kâ—ights they promised her if it lay in their Power to releaâ—e her Sorrows and to give end unto her Miseries Rosana when she beheld these courteous anâ— well dâ—meanoâ—'d Knâ—ghts which in her conceit carried relenting Minds and considering how kindâ—y they dâ—sired to be paâ—tners in her Greifs she stood not â—â—en curious Terms nor upon Exceptions but most wiâ—â—ingly condescended to their Requests so when they had prepared their Ears to entertain her sad and sorrowful Discourse with a sober Countenance she began in this manner Lately I was quoth he whilst Fortune smiled on me the only Child and Daughter of this liveless Queen that you behold here lying Dead and she before my Birth whilst Fortune granted her Prosperity was the Maiden Queen of a Country called Armenia adjoyning near unto this unhappy Island whom in her young Years when her Beauty began to flourish and her high Renown to mount upon the wings of Fame she was so intrapped with the golden Bait of blind Câ—pid and â—o intangled with the Love of a disloyal Knight called the Knight of the Black Castle who after he had flourisht in the
side unto the other without taking any ease or having any power or strength to declare the inward grief which at that time he felt but with lamentation which did torment his heart he called continually on the Armenian Queen and in that Devilish fury wherein he was drew out his Dagger and lifting up the skirt of his shirt of Mail he thrust it into his Body and giving himself this unhappy death with calling upon his wronged Lady he finished his life and fell to the ground This sad and heavy Lady when she beheld him so desperately to gore his Martial Breast and to fall lifeless to the Earth she greatly repented her self that she had not discovered her Name and revealed to him how that she was his unfortunate Daughter whose face before that time he had never beheld and as a Lion though all too late who seeing before her Eyes a young Lioness evil intreated of the Hunter even so she ran unto her murthered Father and with great speed pulled off his Helmet from his wounded head and unbraced his Armour the which was in colour according to his passion but yet as strong as any Diamond made by Magick Art Also she took away his Shield which had on it a Russet Flag and in the midst thereof was pourtrayed the God of Love with two faces the one was very fair and baund with a cloth about his eyes and the other was made marvellous fierce and furious This being done with a fair linnen cloath she wiped off the blood from his wounded Body And when she was certain that it was he after whom she had travelled so many steps and that he was without life with a furious madness she â—â—re her Artyre from her Head and all to rent her golden hair tearing iâ— in pieces and then returned again and wiped his bleeding Body making such sorrowful lamentation that whosoever had seen her would have been moved to compassion Then she took his Head betwixt her hands striving to lift it up and to lay it upon her Lap but seeing for all this that there was no moving him she joyned her face unto his pale and dead Cheeks and with sorrowful Words she said Dear Father open thine eyes and behold me open them sweet Father and look upon me thy sorrowful Daughter If Fortune be so favourable let me receive some contentment whilst Life remaineth Oh strengthen thy self to look upon me wherein such delight may come to me that we may one accompany the other Oh my Lord and only Father seeing that in former times my unfortuate Mothers â—ears were not sufficient to reclaim thee make me satisfaction for the great travel which I have taken in seeking thee out Come now in death and joy in the sight of thy unhappy Daughter and die not without seeing her open thine eyes that she may gratifie thee in dying with thee This being said Rosana began again to wipe his Body for that it was again all to be bathed in blood with her white hands she felt his eyes and mouth and all his Face and Head till such time as she touched his Breast and put her hand on the mortal Wound where she held it still and looked upon him whether he moved or no. But when she felt him without sense or feeling she began anew to complain and crying out with most terrible Exclamations she said Oh my hapless Father how many Troubles and great Travels hath thy Daughter passed in seeking thee watering the Earth with her Tears and always in vain calling for thee Oh how many times in naming thy name hath she been answered with an Ercho which was unto her great dolor and grief And now that Fortune hath brought her where thou art to rejoyce her self in thy presence the same Fortune hath converted her wishes into grief and dolour O cruel and unconstant Queen of Chance hath Rosana deserved this to be most afflicted when she expected some joy O Leoger if ever thou will open thine eyes now open them or let the glasses of mine be closed eternally Herewith she perceived his dim eyes to open and his senses now a little gathered together and when he saw himself in her Arms and understood by her Words that she was his Daughter whom he had by the unfortunate Queen of Armenia he suddenly strove against Weakness and at last recovering some strength he cast his yielding Arms about the milk-white neck of the fair Rosana and they joined their Faces the one with the other distilling betwixt them many salt and bitter Tears in such sort that it would have moved the very wild Beasts unto compassion and then with a feeble and weak voice the wounded Knight said O my Daughter unfortunate by my Dissoyalty let me recreate and comfort my self in injoying this thy mouth the time that I shall remain alive and before my silly Soul doth depart the company of my dying Body I do confess that I have been pittiless unto thy Mother and unkind to thee in making thee to travel with great sorrow in seeking me and now thou hast found me I must leave thee alone in this sorrowful place with my dead Body pale and wan yet before my death sweet Girl give me some few gentle kisses this only delight I crave for the little time I have to carry and afterwards I desire thee to intomb my Body in thy Mothers Grave though it be far in distance from this unlucky Country O my dear Lord answered she do you request me to give your Body a Sepulchre I think it more requisite to seek some to give it unto us both for I know my life cannot continue long if the angry Fates deprive me of your living company And without strength to proceed any further in Speeches she kissed his Face with many sobbings and sighs and having within her self a terrible conflict she carryed for the answer of her dying Father who with pain and great anguish of Death said O my Child how happy should I be that thus imbracing one in anothers Arms we might depart together then should I be joyful in thy company and account my self happy in my death but alas I must leave thee unto the World Daughter farewel good Fortune preserve thee and for ever may she take thee into her Favour And when he had said these Words inclining his neck upon the Face of Rosana he dyed When this sorrowful Lady saw that the Soul had got the victory and departed from the Body she kissed his pale lips and giving deep and dolorous sighs she began a marvellous and most heavy lamentation calling her self unhappy and unfortunate and laid her self upon the dead Body cursing her destinies so that it was lamentable to hear O my dear Father said she what small benefit have I received for all my travel and pain the which I have suffered in seeking thee and now in the finding of thee the more is my grief for that I came to see thee die O most unhappy
be the vain imagination of men and believe in our True and Everliving God under whose Banner we Christians have taken in hand this long War Secondly Thou shalt give Commandment that all thy Barbarous Nations be Christened in the Faith of Christ. Thirdly and lastly That thy three Kingdoms of Barbary Morocco and India swear true Allegiance to all Christian Kings and never to bear Arms but in the true Quarrel of Christ and his anointed Nations These things duly observed the Life shall be preserved and thy Liberty obtained otherwise look for no mercy but a speedy and most terrible death These words more displeased the unchristian King of Morocco than the Sentence of his Condemnation whereupon in these brief Speeches he set down his Resolution Great Potentate of Europe reply'd Almidor by whose Mightiness Fortune sits fettered in the Chains of Power my Golden Diadem and Regal Scepter by constraint I must deliver up But before I will forsake my Country-gods I will endure a hundred Deaths and before my Conscience be reformed to a new Faith the Earth shall be no Earth the Sea no Sea the Heaven no Heaven Thinkest thou now proud Christian by thy threatned Torments to make me forget my Creator and believe in thy God the supposed King of the Jews and basely born under an Ox's Stall No no accursed Christians you Off-spring of Cain you Generation of Ismael you Seed of Vipers and accursed through the World look for a speedy shower of Vengeance to Rain from Heaven upon you wicked Nations Your bloody practices have pierced the Battlements of Iove and your Tyrannies beaten open the Gate of Mighty Mahomet who had provided Whips of burning wyre to scourge you for your Cruelties proffered to and against his blessed Worshippers Now with this deadly Curse I bid you all farewell The Plagues of Egypt â—ight upon your Kingdom The Curse of Cain upon your Children the Famine of Ierusalem upon your Friends and the misery of Dedipus upon your selves This wicked resolution and baleful Curse was no sooner ended by the desperate minded Almidor but the impatience of St. George was so highly moved that he gave present commandment to the appointed Executioners to cast him into the bolling Cauldron which incontinently they performed to the terror of all the Beholders To see this woful Spectacle the Battlements of the Temple were so thronged with People the Houses covered with Women and Children and the Streets filled with Armed Soldiers that it was a wonder to behold amongst which multitudes there were some particular Persons that at the sight of Almidor's death fell down and brake their Necks but the general number as well of Pagans as Christians cryed with chearful voices Honour and Victory follow St. George of England for he hath Redeemed Barbary from a miserble Servitude Which joyful hearing so delighted the Seven Champions of Christendom that they caused their Conduits to run with Wines the Streets to be beautified with Bonefires and a sumptuous Banquet to be proclaimed through the City which after continued for the space of seven days in more magnificent Royalty than the Banquet of Babylon when the Macedonian Monarch returned from the World's Conquest The Champions Liberty procured such faithful Love in the hearts of the Morocco Peers that with a general Consent they chose S. George for their Lawful King where after they had invested him in the Princely Seat of the Morocco Pottentate they set the Crown upon his Head and after presented him with an Imperial Pall which the Kings of Barbary usually wore upon their Coronation-day protesting to forsake their Profane Religion and be Christened in the Faith of Christ. This promised Conversion of the Infidels more highly delighted the English Champion than to have the whole World's Honour at Command for it was the chiefest point of his Knightly Oath to advance the Faith of Christ and to enlarge the Bounds of Christindom After his Coronation was so solemnly performed the other six Champions conducted him to a Princely Palace where he took true Allegiance of the Morocco Lords by â—â—ighted Oath to be true to his Crown After this he established the Christian Laws to the benefit of the whole Country then he commanded all the Ceremonious Rites of Mahomet to be trodden under Foot and the true Gospel of Christ to be Preached likewise he caused all that did remain in Barbary to be Christened in the new Faith but these Observations continued but for a time as hereafter shall be discovered at large For Fame not intending to let the worthy Champion long to remain in the idle Bowers of Peace summoned them to pâ—rieveâ—e in the Noble Atchievements and to Muster up anew their Soldiers whose Armour Caukered Case had almost stained with Rust Therefore St. George committed the Government of the Country to four of the principal Peers of Morocco and Marched towards the Country of Egypt where lived Treacherous Ptolomy the Father of his beloved Lady Sabra whom he had left in the Kingdom of England In which Journey and happy arrival in Egypt we will leave the Seven Champions for a time and speak of the Faithless Infidels in Barbary after the departure of the Christians whose former Honours they slightly regarded For no sooner had St. George with his Martial Troops bidden their Country adieu but the Faithless Moors reconciled themselves to their formed Gods and purposed a speedy Revenge for the Death of Almidory against all Christians that remained within the Limits of that Hâ—aâ—hen Nation For there were many Soldiers wounded in the 〈…〉 likewise a number oppressed with sicknesâ— which the Christian Champions had left behind for their better recoveries upon whom the Barbarous Moors committed their first Tyranny for they caused the distressed Soldiers to be drawn upon Sleds to the uttermost parts of the City and there put them into a large and old Monastery which they presently set on fire and most inhumanely burned the Christian Soldiers and after converted the place into a filthy Lestall Many Women and succourless Children they dragged up and down the Streets till their Brains were dashed against the stones and the blood had covered the Earth with a purple hue Many other Cruelties were committed by the wicked Infidels against the distressed Christians which I purpose to pass over and wholly discourse of the woful and bloody murder of an English Merchant and his Wife in the same City of Tripoly The report whereof may force even merciless Tygers to relent and those eyes to shed springs of Tears that never wept before The bloody-minded Negro's violating both Oaths and Promises before plighted to St. George by violence set upon the Merchant's House where first they made a Massacre of his Servants and before his face cast their dead Bodies to hunger-starv'd Dogs Then coming to the Merchant they bound him fast with hempen Cords to the strongest post in his House and after took his Children being seven of the goodliest Boys that ever Nature framed
whom they likewise tyed round about him then one of the Moors being crueller than the rest proffened to desloue the Merchant's Wife before his face but she in Chastity like Camma choosing rather an honourable death than an infamous life spit in the Negro's â—ace and most bitterly reviled him yielding neither to his force nor his bloody threats but snatching a Knife from his Girdle vowed to sheath it in her Bosom before the would lose her precious Gem of Honour that once being gone could not be recovered for all the Worlds Treasure This Resolution of the English Merchant's Wife caused the stern Negro to exceed in Cruelty but the Principal of that wicked company being a bloody and merciless Tyrant stabbed one of the silly Children before the Mother's face Now stubborn Dame quoth he wilt thou yield to my desires and preserve the lives of the other six Children Otherwise shalt thou behold them Butchered in the same manner To sell my Honour for the lives of my Children replyed she will be an Offence to God and a continual corrosive to my Husband's heart if we live together Therefore accursed Monster prosecute your Tyranny it is not all your threats and bloody dealings shall convert my chaste mind nor once enforce my thoughts to give any consent thereunto These words being no sooner ended but the lustful Moor took another of her Children and stabbed before her Husband's face thinking thereby to force the Merchant to intreat his Wife to consent to the wicked Negro's determinations but he being as resolute as his vertuous Wife spake in this manner O you cursed black Dogs of Barbary more worse in quality than bloody Tygers and more merciless than wicked Canibals think you that the Murder of our Children shall enforce our hearts to yield to your Lustful desires No no persevere in your Tyrannies Iâ— I had an hundred Children twice the number of King Priam's yet would I lose them all before I would endure to see my Wife's Dishonour Children may be begotten again but her honour never recovered These words pricked the Negro's to the gall and caused them to commit the wickedest Deed that ever was practised under the Celestial Globe of Heaven First they sheathed their Poniards in the Breasts of all the Merchant's Children whose guiltless blood stained all the Chamber with a crimson colour then with their Faulchions did they cut their Bodies in sunder and caused seven Pies to be made of their flesh and after served in a Banquet to their woful Parents whom the merciless Moors set at a square Table the Merchant placed directly opposite against his Wife where they were constrained either to feed upon their own Children or starve for want of other Sustenance This woful spenacle struck such a Grief into the English Merchant's heart that he could scarce endure to speak for weeping his Wife when she beheld the heads of her lovely Sons lying upon the Table as it were looking to Heaven for Revenge breathed forth this dying Lamentation O silly Babes would you had been strangled in my Womb at your first conception then should not these accursed Infidels have triumph'd thus in your unhappy Tragedies nor your unfortunate Parents beheld this luckless day whereon I pray that never Sun may shine again but be accounted an ominous day throughout the whole World for Heaven I hope poor Babes will Rain a showre of Uengeance on their heads that have caused this our untimely death and with this Prayer I bid the Word farewel At which words her Grief so exceeded the bounds of Reason that it stayed the passage of her breath whereby she was forced to yield her Soul to the Paradice of Peace She being no sooner dead but the sorrowful Merchant likewise bitterly exclaimed against the Injustice of Fortune and the Tyranny of the Barbarous Moors accounting his Destiny more hapless than the Thracian Kings that buried his Children in his own Bowels and the cruelty of these Infidels to exceed the Tyranny of Nero that caused his Mother's Womb to be opened that he might behold the place of his conception But when the Merchant had sufficiently bewail'd the murder of his Children the Death of his Wife and his own Misery he yielded his Soul to the furious stroke of Death The end of whose long languishments when the wicked Moors had intelligence of they caused their dead Bodies to be carried to the top of a high Mountain and there left for the prey of hungry Ravens But the Sun consumed them like the morning dew And by the wonderful Workmanship of Heaven in the same place sprung a Bower of Roses to signifie the unspotted honour of the Merchant and his Uertuous Wife which Miracle we leave to the wonder of the Moors and speak of the Christian Champions Proceeding that by this time were arrived in the Kingdom of Aegypt CHAP. XV. How the Christians arrived in Egypt and what hapned to them there The Tragedy of the Lustful Earl of Coventry How Sabra was bound to a Stake to be burnt And how St. George Redeemed her Lastly How the Egyptian King cast himself from the top of a Tower and broke his Neck DUring the time of the bloody Murder wrought by the Barbarous Moors upon the English Merchant and his Wife with his seven Children as you heard in the former Chapter the Champions of Christendom arrived upon the Territories of Egypt where they supposed to have adventured their lives upon the chance of War but all things fell out contrary to their expectations they found the Gates of every City set open and every Uillage and Town unpeopled for the Commons at the report of the Christians arrival secretly hid their Treasure in the Caves of the Earth in deep Wells and such like obscute places and a general fear and extream terror assailed the Egyptians as well the Peers of the Land as the simple Country People Many fled into Woods and Wildernesses and closely hid themselves in hollow Trees many digged Caves in the Ground where they thought best to remain in safety and many fled to high Mountains where they long time lived in great extremity fooding upon the Grass of the Ground so greatly the Egyptâ—ans feared the Army of the Christians that they expected nothing but the Auine of their Countrey with the loss of their own lives and the murder of their Wives and Children But to speak of the Christian Champions who finding the Countrey desolate of People suspected some deep policy of the Egyptian thinking them to have Mustred their Warlike Forces to bid them Battel Therefore St. George gave commandment through the whole Camp that not a Man upon pain of Death should break his Rank but March Advisedly with their Weapons ready prest to encounter Battel as though the Enemies had directly placed themselves opposite against them Which special charge the Christian Soldiors duly observed looking neither after the Wealth of Cities nor the Spoil of Uillages but circumspectly Marched according to their
bestow upon thee Farewel Knighthood farewel honourable Adventures and Princely Atchievments Never may this dauntless arm brandish Weapon more in honour of the Christian Cross For death awaiteth at my back to cut off all such noble hopes and I by Tyranny am betrayed thereto These Speeches being uttered he was forced to stand silent and in the presence of the King with many hundreds more was constrained to yield his Body to the fatal stroak where his Head being laid upon the Block was by a base Eâ—ecutioner quickly dissevered from the rest of his manly Members Which being no sooner done and the Champion lifeless but the Elements beset with cloudy exhalations sent down such a terrible Thunder-clap that struck presently dead the Knight of Saint Michael that accused him the Executioner with others that were at his Attachment at which strange and fearful spectacle the King himself grew so amazed that he deemed him to be a blessed Creature and that he had suffered wrongfully and how his cause for which he so willingly rendred up his life was the true cause which all must have a desire to die in Wherefore incontinent from a Pagan the King turned Christian and caused the same to be proclaimed through all his Provinces ordaining Churches to be built in remembrance of this great Man And likewise in the place where he suffered he caused with all speed to be built an Hermitage of relief for poor Pilgrims to find succour in and such as travelled in the honour of that God in whose Name this good Champion dyed Thus received France the true Faith in which we leave it flourishing and speak of Saint James the Spanish Champion and how he dyed CHAP. XX. Of the Tyrannous Death that the Spanish Champion was put unto and how God revenged the same in a strange manner and of other things that hapned HEre gentle Reader with a sad eye prepare to give Entertainment to the dolorous manner of the Spanish Champions Death who by Tyranny and cruel Dealing of the Intidels was likewise made away For Age and Time as upon the former grew upon him and so enfeebled his strength that he was no longer able to manage the Adventures of Chivalry nor sight the Battels of his Saviour Wherefore resolving to spend the remnant of his days in peace he desired leave likewise to commit his Fortunes to the Queen of Chance which as the other did he quickly obtained and so leaving Constantinople he put himself to travel towards the Country of his first Being not decked in his shining Armour nor mounted on his Spanish Gennet but poor and bare in outward habit though inwardly furnished with Gold and Jewels of an inestimable value which he had sowed up in the patches of a russet Gaberdine the better to travel with where instead of a bright shining Curtle-Axe his Pilgrims Staff served him to walk with and for his Burgonet of glistring Steel he covered his head now as white Thistle-down with Age with a Hat of gray colour broached with a broad Scallop-shell his Princely Lodgings were changed to green Pastures and his Canopies to the Skies azured covering where the Nightingale and Lark told the times passage These were now his best contents and comforts that time and age bestowed upon him In which manner travelling many days and nights giving still as he went the poor and needy such small pieces of Silver as he well could spare he arrived at last upon the Consines of Spain Where in honour of that God for whom he had fought so many Battels he builded up at his own charge a most sumptuous Chappel to this day bearing the Name of Saint Jacque's Chappel and for the maintenance thereof purchased divers Lands adjoining with Quiristers to sing a Day and Night therein Allelujah to his Redeemer This Celestial gift and glorious customs so prepared begot such love of the meaner sort of People that they esteemed him more than a Man with a reverence of such regard bestowed upon him that the very Name of this Noble Champion won greater admirations than the high Tilts of their Countries King who being then a cruel Tyrant and proud King maintaining Atheism by his Government grew so envious thereat that he caused good Saint Jacques with the whole Quire of his Celestial Singers to be closed up together in the Chappel which the Champion had erected so starved them to death Oh bloody butchery and inhumane cruelty a death of more terrour than ever was heard of Nero in ripping up his Mothers Womb to see the Bed of his Creation was not half so cruel But to be short hunger prevailed and they dead their Bodies purrified and in time consumed away to dust and mould whereupon the Lord to shew how they died in his favour and the love of Heaven inflicted such a light in the Chappel that it shined Day and Night with such a glorious brightness as if it had been the glorious Palace of the Sun and likewise continually was heard therein though no Creature remaining such a Quire of melodious Harmony as if it had been the sound of Celestial Musick Which strange pleasures both to the eyes and ear bred so great an amazement to the whole Countrey that all with the common consent accused their King for the tyrannous putting to death of these good men so cruelly murthered but especially the noble S. Jacques that they purposed to hold him for their Countrys Saint and Champion till the Worlds dissolution The proud King perceiving now his own rashness and his common hate against him for this deed doing took an inward conceit of grief that without taking any food ever after he languished away and died Thus have you heard the Tragedy of the Spanish Champion whom we likewise commit to the sweet sleeps of Eternity and pass on further to more dreadful Accidents CHAP. XXI Of the Honourable and Worthy Death of the Italian Champion how in the height of pleasure in his own Countrey death by a Prophecy seized upon him AFter all these aforesaid Proceedings Nature the common Nurse of us all so wrought in the heart of Saint Anthony the Champion for Italy that he undertook the next Tragical Enterprize and leaving Saint George with Saint Andrew resting their crazed Bones in the Emperours Court of Constantinople where they lately atchieved so many Praises of Knighthood he took his Journey towarns Italy and knowing by the course of Nature that his Days were not many he purposed there to set up his lives rest and in Death to finish up all Earthly Troubles So coming after a long Journey to the City of Rome where the Emperour Domitian kept his Court and the City being then in her chiefest Pomp and Glory won great desire in the Champions Mind to see the Monuments of the same So upon the Morning going from his Lodging he walked up and down the streets with admiration and fed his eyes with many delightful Objects First with great wonder he stood gazing upon
the Monuments that were erected in the honour of all their famous Emperours Councels Orators and Conquerours things which yielded him great Pleasure The next thing that his eyes delighted in was the Temple of the twelve Sibyls a most miraculous building in which Temple were all their Prophecies inroled as also the beginning and ending of the whole Catalogue of the Heathen Gods as Mars Jupiter Saturn Apollo and such like with their manner of Worship The next that he saw was the House of Remus and Romulus that builded Rome a building of much Worthiness Next unto it stood an ancient Prison can old rotten thing where the man lay that was condemned to death and could have no body come to him and succour him but was searche yet was kept alive a long space by sucking of his Daughters Breasts After this he saw Pompeys Theatre reputed one of the Nine Wonders of the World the Emperour Nero's Tomb maintained with disgrace for the offence he did in setting Rome on fire To conclude he spent many days in viewing the Martyrs Tombs and other 〈◊〉 brought from Jerusalem amongst many other delightful fights he came into a Chappel dedicated unto himself called The honour of St. Anthony Wherein was pourtrayed in Alabaster Pictures the true forms of all the Champions of Christendom with the Stories of all their Adventures Combats Turnaments and Battles their Imprisonments Dangers and Enchantments all Portrayed and Pictured up by Enchantments and Witchcraft whereupon ran a Prophesie that the Patron of this Chappel should ever live unconquered and never imbrace Death till his eyes were witness of the â—aâ—e Portraytures which in golden Letters were subscribed over the Chappel Door or Entrance All which when St. Anthony had beheld and knowing by Inspiration himself to be the Man with a meek mind embraced his own end and never after departed the Chappel but remained kneeling in the same upon the bare Marble making his Orisons of repentance to the eternal Deity till pale Destiny had cut off the threads of his old days And thus being converted to mouldy Earth the Emperour caused him to be Intombed in the same Chappel and over his Grave to be 〈◊〉 a magnificent Chair in which Chair for many years after the Roman Conquerours receive their Laurel rewards of Martial Wooly under whose Banner and Name even to this day they make their Adventures to which high Honour and Fame both lived and 〈…〉 is praise worthy Champion St. Anthony of Italy CHAP. XXII Of tâ—â— Martyrdom of St. Andrew the Scottish Champion and how his death was revenged by the King of that Countrey and by what means Scotland was brought unto the Christian Faith SAint George and Saint Andrew were the two last Champions that stayed together and as it seemed the dearest love remained between them two but yet rusty Time with his swift course would needs part them and break this their united fellowship For the summons of Honour so animated the bold heart of the Scottish Champion that he burned with desire to see his Native Country and to behold the place of his first Being For leaving Constantinople only honoured with the presence of Saint George and his three Sons in great jollity of mind he travelleth month by month week by week day by day till Time and Fate set him happily in the Kingdom of Scotland where having not been in many years before he received such Entertainment as if he had been the greatest Emperour of the World for all the streets and passages as he went were furnished with people of the best regard to give him a gracious welcome to his native home especially the King himself who for the love and honour he bore unto his Name and Knight-hood lodged him his own Pallace and proclaimed for his noble Welcome a Princely Turnament to be holden for the space of fifteen days in which time all the Nobility and Martial Knights of Scotland performed such well-approved Atchievements that not Greece Constantinople Rome nor Jerusalem could equal them in the least regard But St. Andrew being now aged and unapt for such Princely Encounters â—aâ—e as a beholder censuring of the best deserver and gave such due commendations as beâ—itted so gallant a company and for a farewel of such time honoured Pastimes he desired leave of the King to depart and to spend the remnant of his life in private contempâ—ations for the good of his Soul to wash away with the water of true penitence all that blood he had spild in his Travel about the World in the maintainance of Knight-hood a request so reasonable that the King could not refuse but give his consent So taking leave of his Majesty the rest of the Nobility Knights there present he departed up to a Mountain far remote from the Kings Court under which by Nature was erected a Cave or hollow Uault wherein he remained for the space of a year studying Divinity and the Commands of his Redeemer Scotland being theâ— a rude and Heathenish Countrey where the common sort of People inhabited by which means he was much admired and supposed to be sent from some place unknown as a Messenger to bring them evil ridings Whereupon those misbelieving people by a common consent taking him for some subtil Conspirer against their Pagan Gods which as then they worshipped put him secretly to death and after cutting off his Head in hope of reward bore it to the King deeming they had done a deed of much deserved commendations Which inhumane Cruelty when the King saw with much grief he lamented the loss of this good Man and with all speed in revenge of his Death raised a power of his best resolved Knights of War putting every one to the Sword both Man Woman and Child that in any manner consented to the Champions Martyrdom and after in process of time appointed a Monastery to be built in the same place where he died causing the whole Kingdom to be brought in subjection to a quiet Government and Christened in the right belief of this holy Father This was the last Deed of St. Andrew by whose Death Scotland received the true Faith in which it now remaineth CHAP. XXIII Of the Adventure performed by St. George how he received his Death by the sting of a venomous Dragon and of the Honours and Royalties done unto his Name being intitled our English Patron of Knighthood NOw droops my weary Muse for she is come unto her latest Tragedy S. George is summoned to the Bar of Death where magnificent honour stands ready to give his Name a Noble Renown to all ensuing Ages This illustrious Champion when he was left alone as you heard in the company of his three Sons Guy Alexander and David strange imaginations day by day possessed his mind that he could not rest nor sleep sometimes supposing his Companions were in great distress other while how they had won the chiefest Goal of Honour little needing his Knightly service and assistance sometimes
new into the room made him young again In another Table was pourtrayed King Midas who for preferring Pans Pipe before Apollos Harp was for his pains rewarded with a pair of Asses Ears Whilst they were viewing these Pictures with delight the Enchantress Mededa came down from her Chamber who beholding Sir Guy with a fixed look thus said unto him Sir Knight return unto thy Ship Let no advantage from thee slip For now the time is nigh at hand Thou must be joyn'd in Hymens band Thy constancy to her is known Who seeks to have thee for her own But e're these things to thee betide Thou many troubles must abide Having thus said she vanished out of their sight leaving them much wondring at what they had heard Then taking their leave of the Dwarf they returned again towards their Ship but in their way as they passed along by a Rivers side which gently running made swéet musick with the enameled stones and séemed to give a gentle kiss to every sedge he overtook in his watry Pilgrimage There came crossing a Meadow towards them an antient Shepherd who by the downfal of his mellow years seemed as if Nature had brought him near to the door of death yet were not his Hairs so gray by years as made by sorrow which his blubber'd Countenance gave a doleful copy of his thoughts what he was about to speak Sir Knights said he if ever compassion harboured in noble Breasts let my aged years and extream misfortunes crave your pity who from a contented and not despicable estate am now become Fortunes Tennis-ball by the unconstancy of that blind Goddess Know then worthy Knights my name is Selindus once possessed of the Wealthy Barrony of Mompelior scituate in this Island of Micomicom a place which for the richuefs of the Soyl and pleasantness of the Scituation is scarcely parallel'd in all the Country These fair possessions of mine left unto me when I was young soon procured me a Wife of which yet I had no cause to repent being a Lady replenished with all the Ornaments and Endowments of Nature which might make her in every wise compleat Happily we lived together for some short space of time when the fruits of her Womb gave us great hopes of more future joyes but the Fates had decreed otherwise for upon her delivery the birth of the Ihfant proved the death of the Parent and she to bestow a Gem on the Earth became her self a Pearl in the starry Firmament What should I say more I lost a Wife and gained a Daughter and indeed a Daughter of such super-excellent parts as might put a cessation of sorrow for the Mother This Daughter whose name was Praxida did I bring up in all vertuous Education who in short time became the wonder of her Sex having in her such perfections as did yield subject to admiration and as she grew more in years so did she add more to her perfections which admirable Endowments attracted to her many adorers who sued for her favour amongst whom was one whom she most fancied whose name was Euphemius a knight of Placida being an Island not far off under the Queen Artemia who had made him sole Governour thereof Betwixt this Euphemius and my Daughter unknown to me had passed a solemn Contract she belike fearing to disclose it to me as doubting my consent his Estate not being answerable to my Revenues wherefore they got privately Married together Now it happened not long after upon some offence against the Queen Euphemius was committed to Prison and having layn there some few dayes was brought before the Queen to be examined who beheld him with great wonder and astonishment for indéed he was a person of a lovely Countenance and in whom Dame Nature had done her utmost to the making of him in all parts compleat which so wounded her heart with an affection towards him that instead of his being her Captive she became his and in part to manifest the same unto him she frankly gave him his freedom and with many kind words entertained him very graciously into her favour yet could not all this kindness endear her unto him but the more she shewed love to him on the one side the more was his hatred to her on the other and that not so much in respect of his to my Daughter as the mortal spite he bare to her for his Imprisonment so that having a sit opportunity offered him he fled from the Court and confederating with some friends intended to levy War against the Queen The Queen understanding of his departure fared like unto a distracted Woman wringing her hands and beating on her Ivory Breasts she cast her self upon the ground tearing the lovely Tresses from her head Her Ladies comforted her the best wise they could but that cherisht fire which blindly crept through every Uein of her fluent blood would suffer her to take no rest but being at last informed in what place he was she sent to him this following Letter COuld I in the least imagine what should cause your so sudden departure if it lay in my power the cause thereof should be removed but the fore not being known how can the remedy be administred If you think upon your restraint think also upon your free-given Liberty and do not write the one in Marble the other in Sand. That I seek for love to you impute it not to lightness but to a real affection and let your return again to me demonstrate that your heart is not inexorable when perhaps my presence may plead more in my excuse then can this Paper-Messenger so wishing you what she wants her self Health she remains ever yours Artemia This Letter she sent by a trusty Messenger but his mind was so fully bent against her that instead of liking it caused loathing Wherefore taking his Pen in hand he sent her again this bitter return WHat should cause you to dote where you are hated I cannot imagine love but lust therefore I shall not esteem of your Syrens Tongue knowing that Bees have stings as well as honey Nor think not to entrap me any more by your suger'd baits but know that none so much hates the memory of you as doth your sworn Enemy Euphemius This Answer was to Artemia as a Dagger piercing her heart so that she immediately fell into such a deadly swound as her Ladies about her could hardly recover her Unhappy Artemia then said the Queen and must I live to be despised and he to triumph in my overthrow ungrateful man can all my courtesies reap no other profit but only disdain Is it possible that I can continue to love thee that deservest rather to live in my hatred but why do I thus exclaim against him who perhaps doth this only to try me no no Artemia he slights thy love Then dye fond Queen defer not to live any longer yet dear Euphemius in my death shall I make it known how near thy love was to my heart and how
upon the briny face of Neptune I behold something floating on that glassy deep and staying to take better notice of it I perceived it to be a Boat which without the help of â—â—â—her Man or Oars made towards the shore and being come near I drew it to land wherein were laid these two Children fast asleep and betwixt them a Tablet written in Letters of Gold which contained these words Left to Queen Chance two Babes of Knightly birth Are to the rage of Wind add Seas exposed If that they gain a habitable Earth By this their Paredts dear may be disclosed Fonteious Children whom Death Prisoner keeps Their Mother in the Inchanted-Castle sleeps Their Step-Father Sir Uuylon who did owe A grudge unto them for their Mothers sake To end their lives his malice did bestow On whom the Queen of Chance did pity take Declaring they shall by an English Knight Restored be unto his Fathers right Thus Fates decree and those do strive in vain Who ere they be to alter Fates decree By unkown means our ends we oft attain And furthest ways to thought may nearest be Learn then for to be just without offence Heavens punish evil protect innocence Now from what place these Children came I am as ignorant as they themselves whose tender Age was such as made them incapable of any knowledge either of Parents or Country yet was I much revived by the Writing which promised there restoration by an English Knight in which I also hoped my own was included wherefore ever since I have carefully brought them up and fostered them in the best manner I could And now I hope is the time come about wherein what was promised by the Queen of Chance will be performed not doubting but that such magnanimous resolutions as I see seated in your noble breasts joyned with a just cause will make you couragious to perform the adventure and to free me from this tedious trouble and thraidom Sir David hearing this story with much admiration remembred how he and his Brothers had freed there Mother from the Enchanted Castle as also of the knight which told how Sir Vuylon had exposed these two Children to the mercy of the Sea all which he related to the ancient Gentleman and withal promised him his utmost endeavour for finishing the Enchantment and restoring him again to the Island of Ancona And now was much mirth and joy on all sides Sir David was entertained into the Hermits Cell together with as many of the prime Commanders as it would sufficiently sustain the rest of the Soldiers cut down boughs from trees and therewith made them Hutts to shelter them from the heat of the Sun when his hot Steeds from their Nostrils vomit flame on the parched Earth Sheep and Goats they killed abundance so that there was store of boyling broyling frying roasting stewing and other ways of dressing dishes to refresh their Bodies after their sore and bitter hunger sustained at Sea This continued for a weeks space together but then Sir David remembring his promise made to the Aged Hermit he buckled on his Armour and putting himself into his Ship-boat rowed with two Marriners and guided by the Old Hermit he undauntedly landed before the Inchanted Castle and marched directly towards the Gate thereof whither no sooner he was come but the Dragon most fiercely issued out when presently began betwixt them the most fierce encounter that ever was heard of so that to describe it to the full I want the skill of Orpheus that sweet Thracian singer or the invention of Homer in describing the battles of the Greeks and Trojans The Dragon most furiously assailed Sir David séeking to catch him in her paws which he nimbly avoided and lent the Dragon many blows who lifting up her head â—ought to throw the whole weight of her Body upon Sir David which he perceiving slipping aside gave her a wound on the Belly wherein she only was penetrable and made her give forth a hidâ—â—us yell which advantage Sir David espying he thrust his sword into her mouth which she so strongly bit with her Teeth that had it not béen made of the purest Lydian steel if would have been in great danger of being bitten in two so that Sir David to draw it out was forced to use great strength but withal it so cut her Tongue that the poysonous blood came pouring forth of her mouth which so enraged the Dragon that turning her about she gave him such a blow with her Tayl as made him to stagger and as if stounded the Sword was ready to drop out of his hand so that the aged Hermit and the two Marriners who all this while sat in the Boat to behold the Combat began to doubt of the success thereof but Sir David recovering himself against she came to assail him again with her Tayl taking his sword with both his hands he struck such a stroak as cut off two yards in length of her Tayl And now the Dragon being thus wounded began to use her first play and sought to sieze upon Sir David with her paws but her strength was so enfeebled through the loss of so much blood that her force availed her not On the other side Sir David gathering strength at the sight of her weakness ran against her with all his might and by main force tumbled her all along and ere she could recover thrust his sword into divers parts of her Belly which was as big as any Tun and in colour like to the burnisht Gold whereout issued such abundance of poysoned filth and withal strunk so abominably as not able to endure it he retreated to the Boat who were ready to receive him where they beheld how the ugly Monster rolled about in his own goar and beating the Earth with the remainder of her Tayl until at last she dyed when was heard a mighty clap of Thunder and immediately the Castle vanished away No sooner had they beheld the Castle vanished but they put forth to land where Sir David on his knees gave thanks to the Immortal Powers for his Uictory and then going up higher into the land they came to a little Uillage the Inhabitants whereof were greatly astonished some of the younger sort thereof having never seen a Man 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 â—hose that were elder in not many years 〈…〉 understood that the Queen Wife to the 〈…〉 and that her Daughter the beautiful 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 whereupon they determining to go 〈◊〉 the young 〈…〉 Marriâ—ers back for the 〈…〉 Company to 〈◊〉 â—long with them Now whilst they 〈◊〉 their many of the Country came to see them some of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 remembering their King fell down at the aged Hermits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have seen that day they might behold again 〈…〉 Then was great enquiry made for the rest of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for their 〈◊〉 some for their Brothers and other 〈…〉 to whom the Aged King Antenor for such was his name 〈◊〉 by which Title we shall now call him could
and coming to the Castle having read the Writing aforesaid they resolved to encounter with the Gyant where after a long and tedious fight valiantly performed on both sides he was at last overcome and slain by them This Gyant was of Nature as cruel as those Tygers who are nourisht in the Hircanian Wood to whose Heart Nature had set a lock to shut out all pity delighting to bathe and paddle in the blood of Men so that the dread of him ran all the Country round about for whomsoever he took he so tormented that Death was to them the least punishment He kept only one old Woman for his Domestick Servant as cruel as deformed and so deformed that I want Art to describe the same you could hardly perceive she had any Eyes but by the holes only which were crept further into her Face then her Nose was out of it her quarrelling Teeth of such a colour that they themselves scared one another her Breath able to infect the Air and cause a Pestilence and all the rest of her Body like to the Chaos of an unlickt Bears Whelp This deformed Trot whose Face was enough to proclaim her a Witch all the time the fight was botwixt the Gyant and Sir Owen and Sir Phelim was mumbling the Devils Pater-noster for the good success of her Master but when she saw that he was slain she exclaimed against Heaven and cursed all the Internal Powers wishing the Ground might open and swallow them up although she her self were invelloped in their destruction nay her desperation was so much that she would have cast her self from the Walls and given her Soul a loathed Sacrifice to the Devil had she not been prevented by Sir Phelim who as soon as he saw the Gyant fall ran in at the Gates for fear they should have been shut against them and ascending the Castle sound this old Witch ready to have execused vengeance upon her self but he siezing upon her found in her custody a great bunch of Keys such as the Poets feign that Cerberus is possess of the Porter of Hell And now Sir Owen séeing the Gyans quite read was also come up to the Castle where partly by threats and partly by force they-come pelled her to show them the several Rooms that they might release such as were Prisoners therein but to see what 〈◊〉 of tortures this Cyprant inflicted on those poor Creatures it would make a man to bless himself to behold it In the first Room she opened there lay four Knights bound neck and heels together these were four Wrothers Sons to a certain Baron named Cleander who coming to revenge themselves upon the Gyant who had ravished their Sister were by him taken Prisoners we having â—â—bound them and told them how the Gyant was killed they were transported with an extasie of joy yet could haâ—â—ly be perswaded of the truth thereof thinking it too high a Blessing for them to obtain In the next Room they entered there lay a young man leaden with Irons of so vast a weight that he was not able to stand upright and level'd thus low with disgrac'd Calamity he seemed to be only a living Corse with much add they knocked the Irons off his Legs who whilst they were doing it he oftentimes 〈◊〉 away but being revived by some Cordial Spirits of rare Waters which they had brought with them they at last brought him to himself and demanding what he was and what misfortune brought him thither after a two or three deep fetcht sighs he thus said I am said he one whom the Fates have markt out to be a â—éeler of the extreams of misery all whose torments should Men but know you would say they had no mercy that could wiâ—h for me a dayes breath more Born a Native of this Country my Father a Count thereof who in a quarrei having killed a Peer of the Realm sought to fly into another Land but in his passage thither was drowned at Sea which my Mother hearing of fell distracted and to add to our miseries the King siezed upon his whole Estate but this was not all for as if Fate were resolved to use her utmost spight against me my only Sister who was then upon her Marriage being thereby disappointed of her Portion desperately stabbed her self so that now all the Happyness which remained to me was a security that I was so miserable as Fortune could not make me worse Yet the King coâ—miserating my condition took me to be aâ—â—e of the Gentlemen of his Bed-Chamber and withal allowed me a competent 〈◊〉 for my maintenance so that my sorrows seemed in some part to be mittigated but as if my heart were nought but a â—age for Tragedies this serene Sky did not last long for I attending the King a Hunting a pastime in which he took great delight he was on a sudden surprized by this Gyant none but I standing to him although followed by a great Company the ugliness of his proportion so affrighting them that they recommended the protection of their Life to their Féet and fled as swift as trembling Doves before the swooping Eagle And now the King and I thus left to his mercy nothing would redeem our Lives but the delivering up this Castle to him which then was the Royal Mansion of his Majesty and though this was done according to his desire yet this perâ—idious lâ—mp of flesh retained us both Prisoners which how he used the King is to me unknown but for my self my miseries under him were so great that Natures rude Serjant Death should have béen very welcome to have arrested my Body and laid me in the cold Prison of the Grave This sorrowful Relation wrought great compassion in the hearts of Sir Owen and Sir Phelim who with wrathful Countenances commanded the old Hag to show them presently where the King was but she denying there was any such one there they threatned her with words and that not prevailing they cut off one of her Fingers telling her they would cut her in pieces Joynt by Joynt if she did not perform it whereupon she promised them that she would and leading them up to the top of the Castle as if he had béen imprisoned in one of the Garrots she cast her self from the top of the Battlements to the Ground dashing her Brains out against the pavement and so made an end of her damnable Life Sir Phelim and Sir Owen taking the Keys from this wretched Coarse opened many doors and in every Room they went to beheld sad spectacles of the Gyants Cruelty at last they came to the place where the King lay whom they found making his mone in this manner O ye immortal powers what have I deserved to have this punishment inâ—licted on me How is it that Death siezes on those who would willingly live and flyes from him who would court his embraces O that Atropos would cut in twain the thread of my Life to put a period to my miseries but they are as
sanguine a dye to be forgiven and all his repentance and sorrow only â—ained they therefore concluded he should be put to death and gave him his choice of eight several sorts of ways whereby to dye Viz. 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet 2. To be put into a sack and thrown into the Sea 3. To have his head smitten of 4. To be poysoned 5. To be burned to death 6. To be stung to death with snakes 7. To be cast down headlong from a high Tower Or 8. To be shot to death with Arrows Sad is the choice said the wretched Almantor chuse which I will For 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet is to dye the death of a Dog 2. To be put into a sack and drowned is to be devoured by Fishes and want decent Burial 3. To have my Head smitten off is indeed the death of a Nobleman but which no Nobleman would willingly have 4. To be poysoned is to be a stinking Carcase before I am scarce cold in my Grave 5. To be burned is of all deaths most cruel 6. To be stung to death with snakes is a painful lingring death 7. To be cast down from a high Tower an uncertain death What then remains but the last kind of death to be killed with Arrows and that is the death of a Soldier which I shall soonest choose come then seeing you think me not fitting to live quickly dispatch me out of the World Then rending open his Doublet he tyed a Handkerchief before his Eyes and leaning his Back against a Trée he cryed out now do your worst whereupon immediately some Soldiers who were planted on purpose sent a flight of Arrows into his Breast so that in an instant he fed down and dyed Then digged they for him a Grave into which he being put they covered the same with a heap of stones and on one broad one which lay on the top they inscribed this Epitapb Who in his life time still for Blood did crave Was at the last sent bloody to his Grave Whilst this was in doing the Soldiers which Sir David had sent for arrived in the Island whereupon Sir David leaving some few of them for the guarding of the Island under the conduct of the Gyant VVonder he with the residue sailed towards the Island where Almantor lived taking along with him the ancient Gentleman for his guide and sailing thither in the same Ships wherein Almantor came which they of the Island espying seeing their own Ships afar off began to rejoyce but when they perceived strangers in them they began to arm themselves with all the spéed they could and to put themselves in a posture to resist their landing But Sir David nothing daunted at their appearance landed in desâ—igâ—t of all the 〈◊〉 they could make and being on land he with his sword quickly made waâ— for his Soldiers to follow him who encouraged by his example as soon made 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 Enemies that fled before their conquering swords like flocks of Sheep before the devouring Wolves But now the fury of their rage being over Sir David scorning to â—â—ult over a vanquished party caused a retreat to be sounded and sent Messengers after them that he would parley with them to which they willingly condelcended and to that Purpose sent 3 or 4 of the chiefest of than to whom Sir David spake as followeth The cause of my sending to you is to offer you Peace and Liberty Liberty from the Tâ—raldom of an insulting Tyrant to whose insatiable avaâ—ice your Bodies and Estates were made thrall one who not only delighted in Crueety but took delight in the several forms of executing the same who hath now paid his just desots by the â—â—oke of Justice being shit to death for his cruel Tyranny in stead of whom we shall 〈◊〉 for your Governor one well known unto you and here he presented to them the Ancient Gentleman whom if you refuse to accept then expect no other â—â—t what the Sword and a conquering Arm well inforce you to do The Messengers having heard these words with a loud voice cryed out long live our Lord Pandion for so was the ancient Gentleman called and thereupon they desired leave to go immediately to acquaint the rest with their determination which when they had done there was such an acclamaâ—on and shout of the People as surpassed that which Thracian Boreas makes a mongst the Pines of Ossa or as when the Artillery of Heaven are discharged along the cleaving Sky And thereupon coming all to Sir David they submitted themselves promising faithful Obedience to the Aged Pandion which he most lovingly embraced giving them many wholesome admonitions and desiring Sir Pandion to be a Gracious Lord unto them And thus having setled him in the Tyrant Almaâ—ters place he returned to the island of the precious Fountain where leaving a sufficient Guard with Sir Wonder and taking with him some store of the Fruit as also some Vessels of the healing Wine of the Fountaln he returned back to his owâ— country where he was very welcome to his Queen Rosetta and joyfully entertained by the rest of his Subjects CHAP. XX. Now the three Sons of St. George Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David met at a great Justs at Constantinople as also Sir Turpin of France Sir Pedro of Spain Sir Orlando of Italy Sir Ewin of Scotland Sir Phelim of Ireland and Sir Owen of Wales where they obtained the Victory voer all that Juste awith them being richly rewarded by the Emperour for their high Valour LOng had not Sir David been in his Kingdom of Ancona but there Arrived an Herald who by sound of Trumpet proclaimed a solemn Justs to be held by the Emperour of Constantinople in honour of his Sons Nuptials who was contracted to the King of Tribizonds Daughter the Beauteous Lucinda whose Fame resounded all the world over These Justs were proclaimed in all the Kingdoms of the Earth so that at the time appointed there arrived at his Court the most approved Knights for Valour and prowess that were then living Amongst others were St. Georges three Renowned Sons Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David Thiâ—her also had Fames Trumpet invited the Valiant Sir Turpin from France Sir Fedro from Spain Sir Orlando from Italy Sir Ewin from Scotland Sir Philiâ— from Ireland and Sir Owen from Wales Being come to the Emperours Pallace they were by him most kindly entertained and having had knowledg that they were the Sons of the seven Renowned Champions of Christendom whose Valiant Acts had eternized their never dying Memories he thereâ— on commanded them all to be lodged in one Chamber wherein were provided for them nine most sumptuous Beds adorned with the riehest Furniture that could be procured and because the Justs lasted only nine days he appointed each of them to be Champion his particular day But before the Justs began the Prince Rofinda Son to the Emperour was with great state and magnificence Married to the beauteous
highly thou wer 't prized in my Affections In this manner did the woful Queen spend her dayes until sickness coming on put the harmony of Nature out of tune in her Body which by little and little languished away in such sort that she became a meer Skelleton or Anatomy and now finding that Death by degrees began to sieze on her Uital parts she called her Nobles unto her and spake to them these words My Lords I am now taking my last leave of you the spent Hour-glass of my Life is near at hand and now at my parting ghost I do adjure ye as you will answer it before the Higher Powers whither I am now going to appear that ye invest Euphemius King when I am dead and gone and though I doubt not of your performance herein yet for my more assurance and that my ghost may quietly rest hereafter I shall desire you to take an Oath to do it which if you should fail in the performance know assuredly you will both wrong your selves and him him in depriving him of his Crown and your selves of a good King he being a Prince kind wise just and merciful and only unkind unto me The Nobles to satisfie her request freely took their Oaths to be true to Euphemius and now the Queen being fully satisfied with what was done willingly yielded up the ghost whom the Nobles buried in most sumptuous manner which being done they sent an Honourable Messenger to Euphemius to certifie him of the Queens death and how she had bequenthed her Crown to him which Messenger set forth Artemia's love in such pathetical words as wrought in him a strange alteration for when he thought upo nher unalterable affection towards him the constancy of her love her matchless beauty rare endowments and superexcellent parts he began to reflect upon himself his unkindness to her his vile ingratitude that could wrong her which dyed for love of him These considerations made him to like where before he loathed and to loath where before he loved for whereas before he used to give many private visits to my Daughter protesting all constancy and loyalty towards her now the poyson of hatred entred into his heart against her as taking her to be the chief obstacle which hindred him from the enjoyment of the Quéen and might be also the same of the Kingdom if it should be known he were married unto her wherefore he departed along with the Messenger never so much as bidding her farewel or sending any Messenger unto her The Nobles entertained him very splendidly and with great solemnity Crowned him King In the mean time the poor Praxeda was well near distracted with discontent finding her self to be with Child fearing to discover it unto me and finding such an alteration of love from him Her case being thus desperate knowing it impossible to be long concealed she sent to him this following Letter My Dear Euphemius MEN do tax our Sex for being unconstant but now I must apply that fault to you I say to you whose Oaths did give so great a Testimony of your fidelity that I duâ—st not doubt them for fear of injuring my self Ah Euphemius doth Honours change Manners can you so soon forget Praxeda whom you swore so firmly to love Now if thou hast no pity for me take some compassion on the fruit of my Womb the seal of our loves wherein thy lively Image is implanted and if thou hast any thing of Nature in thee thou canst not but deplore its condition and provide a remedy for the same we still hoping thou wilt remain constant I rest Thine own Praxeda Euphemius received this Letter with great indignation vowing revenge the Rhamnusian Nemesis possessing his vengeful breast in all her blackest formes and now his enraged blood being tickled with the thoughts of a pleasing himself for as he thought his disgrace in claiming him to be her Husband he intended the destruction not only of she but of all her Kindred and that to be pâ—â—formed as soon as he could find any pretended cause of aquatâ—◠〈◊〉 her In the mean time to deterr her from any proâ—â—â—â—tion â—â— her 〈◊〉 he returned â—o her this invective answer HAth your impudence no other person to Father your Pastard brat but upon me whose known reputation is such as will free me in the Consciences of all honest persons from the known calumnies of such a vile Strumpet was it not my vertue preferred me by a general consent to a Kingdom and do you think by detraction to bespatter my good name Cease then perverse Monster of Women-kind to prosecute any further claim unto me lest it prove the deserved destruction of thee and thine Thy deserved Enemy Euphemius But before she received this Letter feeling the burthen of her Womb to grow great she desired leave to go visit an Aunt of hers named Milesia pretending indisposition of Health to which I readily granted knowing my Sister very careful over her for her good To this her Aunt she discovered all what had passed betwixt Euphemius and she desiring her aid and secresie therein and indeed it was but high time for within three days after her coming thither she was delivered of a goodly Boy whom her Aunt named Infortunio and put him out to Nurse to one of her Tenants Soon after she received the Letter from Euphemius which when she had read her grief and sorrow were so great that she deemed her self the very Map of misery and falling into a swound it was long ere her Aunt and the other attendants could recover her to life such a sudden grief had her soul contracted that who so had beheld her would have thought her Spirit ready to descend into Charons Boat to be transported into the Elizian fields but coming a little to her self she thus began for to exclaim And is it possible such Perjury can remain in men do they think Oaths are not binding or that divine vengeance doth not follow upon breach of promise Ah Euphemius can thy heart prove so disloyal were all the protestations thou so often didst reiterate unto me only feigned baits to entrap me to my destruction Then glory in thy triumph but know accursed Caitiff my soul shall haunt thee after death as did the ghost of Queen Dido follow the Body of Perjured Aeneas and saying these words she stabbed her self to the heart with a Bodkin which she had hidden within the Trammels of her Hair and â—etching only two or three deep groans she presently dyed Praxida having acted this woful Tragedy on her self put all the Houshold in a great uproar especially my Sister Milesia who fared like to one of Bacchus frantick raging Nuns or like a Tartar when in a strange habit he prepares himself to a dismal Sacrifice Ah Praxida said she how hath thy actions straid from Reasons center thus to give thy soul a Goal-delivery Abhorred Euphemius accursed mayst thou be that wer't the causer of all this mischief Hast thou a heart more