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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46926	The famous history of the seven champions of Christendom St. George of England, St. Denis of France, St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, and St. David of Wales. Shewing their honourable battels by sea and land: their tilts, justs, turnaments, for ladies: their combats with gyants, monsters and dragons: their adventures in foreign nations: their enchantments in the Holy Land: their knighthoods, prowess, and chivalry, in Europe, Africa, and Asia; with their victories against the enemies of Christ. Also the true manner and places of their deaths, being seven tragedies: and how they came to be called, the seven saints of Christendom. The first part.; Most famous history of the seven champions of Christendome. Part 1	Johnson, Richard, 1573-1659?	1696 (1696)	Wing J800; ESTC R202613	400,947	510

this Tragical Accident drowned their Friends in a Sea of Sorrow for the news of her untimely Death was no sooner bruited abroad but the same caused both Did and Young to lament the loss of so sweet a Lady The silver-headed Age that had wont in scarlet Gowns to meet in Counsel sat now in discontented Griefs the gallant Youth and comely Uirgins that had wont to beautifie the Streets with costly Garments went drooping up and down in mournful Uestures and those remorseless Hearts that seldom were oppressed with Sorrow now constrained their eyes like Fonutains to destil floods of brinish and pearly Tears This general Grief of the Citizens continued for the space of thirty Days at the end whereof St. George with his Sons and the other Champions interred her Body very honourably and erected over the same a rich and costly Monument in sumptuons State like the Tomb of Mausolus which was called one of the Wonders of the World or like to the Pyramids of Greece which was a stain to all Architects for thereon was portrayed the Queen of Chastity with her Maidens bathing themselves in a crystal Fountain as a witness of her wonderous Chastity against the lustful Assailments of all lastivious Attempts Thereon was also most lively pictured a Turtle dove sitting upon a Tree of Gold in sign of the true Love that she bore to her betrothed Husband Also a silver coloured Swan swimming upon a crystal River as a token of her Beauty for as the Swan excelleth all other Fowls in Whiteness so she excelled all the Ladies in the World for Beauty I leave to speak of the curious Workmanship of the Pinacles that were framed all of the purest Ieat enamelled with Silver and Iasper-stanes and I omit the Pendants of Gold the Escutcheous of Princes and the Arms of Countries that beautified her Tomb the Discourse whereof requires an Oratour's Gloquence or a Pen of Gold dipt in the Dew of Helicon flowing from Parnassus's Hill where all the Muses do inhabit Her Statue or Picture was carved cunningly in Alabaster and laid as it were upon a Pillow of green Silk like to Pigmalion's Iuory Image and directly over the same hung a silver Tablet whereon in Letters of Gold was this Epitalph written Here lies the Wonder of this Worldly Age For Beauty Wit and princely Majesty Whom spiteful Death in his imperious Rage Procur'd to Fall through ruthless Cruelty For as she sported in a fragrant Wood Upon a thorny Brake she spilt her Blood Let Ladies fair and Princes of great might With silver-pearled Tears bedew this Tomb Accuse the fatal Sisters of despight For blasting thus the Pride of Nature's Bloom For here she sleeps within this earthly Grave Whose Worth deserves a golden Tomb to have Seven Years she kept her pure Virginity In absence of her true betrothed Knight When many did pursue her Chastity Whilst he remained in Prison day and night But yet we see that things of purest Prize Forsake the Earth to dwell above the Skies Ladies come Mourn with doleful Melody And make this Monument your setled Bower Here shed your brack●●h Tears eternally Lament both Year Month Week Day Hour For here she rests whose Like can ne'r be found Here Beauty's Pride lies buried in the Ground Her wounded Heart that yet doth freshly bleed Hath caus'd seven Knights a Journey for to take To fair Ierusalem in Pilgrims Weeds The fury of her angry Ghost to slake Because their Silvane Sport was chiefest guilt And only cause her Blood was timeless spilt Thus after the Tomb was erected and the Epitalph engraven on a silver Table and all things performed according to Saint George's direction he left ●is Sons in the City of London under the Government of the English King and in company of the other six Champions he took his Iourney towards Jerusalem They were attired after the manner of Pilgrims in russet Gaberdines down to their feet in their hands they bore Staves of Ebon wood tipt at the ends with silver the pikes whereof were of the strongest Lydian Steel of such a sharpness that they were able to pierce a Target of Tortoys-shell upon their Breasts hung Crosses of crimson Silk to signifie they were Christian Pilgrims travelling to the Sepulchre of Christ. In this manner set they forward from England in the spring-time of the year when Flora had beautified the Earth with Nature's Tapestry and made their Passages as pleasant as the Gardens of Hesperides adorned with all kind of odoriferous Flowers When as they crossed the Seas the silver Waves seemed to lie as smooth as crystal Ice and the Dolphins to dance above the Waters as a sign of a prosperous Iourney In travelling by Land the ways seemed so short and easie and the chirping melody of Birds made them such Musick as they passed that in a short season they arrived beyond the Borders of Christendom and had entered the Confines of Affrica There were they forced instead of Downy-beds nightly to rest their weary Limbs upon heaps of sun-burnt Moss and instead of silken Curtains and curious Canopies their had the Clouds of Heaven to cover them Now their naked legs and bare Féet that had wont to stride the stately Steeds and to trample in Fields of Pagans Blood were forced to climb the craggy Mountains and to endure the torments of pricking Bryers as they travelled through the desart Places and comfortless solitary Wildernesses Many were the Dangers that happened to them in their Iourny before they arrived in Judea Princely their Atchievements and most Honourable their Adventures which for this time I pass over leaving the Champions for a time in their travel towards the Sepulchre of Christ and speak what happened to St. George's three Sons in visiting their Mother's Tomb in t●● City of London CHAP. II. Of the strange Gifts that St. George 's Sons offered at their Mother's Tomb and what happ'ned thereupon how her Ghost appeared to them and counselled them to the pursuit of their Father also how the King of England Installed them with the Honour of Knighthood and furnished them with Habiliments of War THe swift footed Steeds of Titan's fiery Car had almost finished a Year since Sabra's Funeral was solemnized in which time St. George's three Sons had visited their Mother's Tomb oftner than were Days in the Year and had shed more sorrowful Tears thereon in remembrance of her Love than are Stars in the glistering Horizon but at last these thrée young Princes fell at a civil Discord and mortal Strife which of them should bear the truest Love to their Mother's dead Body and which of them should be held in greatest Esteem for before many Days were expired they concluded to offer up their several Devotions at her Tomb and he that devised a Gift of the rarest Price and of the straugest Quality should be held worthy of the greatest Honour and accounted the Noblest of them all This Determination was spéedily performed and in so short a time accomplished

true Champion of Christendom thy Life and Liberty I have gained but therewith thy Banishment from Iuda which is a Hell of Plorror to my Soul for in thy bosome have I built my happiness and in thy heart I account the Paradise of my true Love thy first sight and lovely Countenance did ravish me for when these eyes beheld thee mounted on thy Princely Palfry my heart burned in Affection towards thee therefore dear Knight in reward of my Love be thou my Champion and for my sake wear this Ring with this Poesie engraven in it Ardeo affectione and so giving him a Ring from her Finger and therewithal a Kiss from her Mouth she departed with a sorrowful sigh in company of her Father and the rest of his honourable Train back to the City of Jerusalem being as then near the Setting of the Sun But now St. James the Champion of Spain having escaped the danger of Death and at full liberty to depart from that unhappy Nation he fell into many cogitations one while thinking upon the true Love of Celestine whose name as yet he was ignorant of another while upon the cruelty of her Father then intending to depart into his own Country but looking back to the Towers of Jerusalem his mind suddenly altered for thither he purposed to go haping to have sight of his Lady and Mistriss and to live in some disguised sort in her presence and be his Loves true Champion against all Comers So gathering certain Black-berries from the Trees he coloured his Body all over like a Blackmoor but yet considering that his Countrey Speech would discover him intended likewise to continue dumb all the time of his Residence in Jerusalem So all things ordered according to his desire he took his Iourney to the City where with signs and other motions of dumbness he declared his intent which was to be entertained in the Court and to spend his time in the Service of the King Whose Countenance when the King beheld which seemed of the natural colour of the Moors he little mistrusted him to be the Christian Champion whom before he greatly envied but accounted him one of the bravest Indian Knights that ever his eye beheld therefore he installed him with the honour of Knighthood and appointed him to be one of his Guard and likewise his Daughters only Champion Thus when St. James of Spain saw himself invested in that honourable place his soul was ravished with such exceeding joy that he thought no pleasure comparable to his no place of Elysium but the Court of Jerusalem and no goodness but his beloved Celestine Long continued he dumb casting forth many a loving sigh in the presence of his Lady and Mistress not knowing how to reveal the secrets of his mind So upon a time there arrived in the Court of Nabuzaradan the King of Arabia with the Admiral of Babylon both presuming upon the Love of Celestine and craving her in the way of Marriage but she exempted all their motions of Love from her chast mind only building her thoughrs upon the Spanish Knight which she supposed to be in his own Countrey At whose melancholy passions her importunate Suitors the King of Arabia and the Admiral of Babylon marvelled and therefore intended upon an Evening to present her with some rare devised Mask So choosing out fit Consorts for their Courtly Pastimes of which number the King of Arabia was chief and first Leader of the Train the great Admiral of Babylon was the second and her own Champion St. James the third who was called in the Court by the name of the Dumb Knight in this manner the Mask was performed First entred a most excellent Consort of Musick after them the aforesaid Maskers in cloath of Gold and most curiously imbroidered and daunced a course about the Hall at the end whereof the King of Arabia presented Celestine with a costly Sword at the Hilt whereof hung a Silver Glove and upon the point was erected a Golden Crown Then the Musick sounded another Course of which the Idmiral of Babylon was Leader who presented her with a Uesture of pure Silk of the colour of the Rain-bow brought in by Diana Venus and Juno which being done the Musick sounded the third time in which course St. James tho' unknown was the Leader of the Dance who at the end thereof presented Celestine with a Garland of sweet Flowers which was brought in by the three Graces and put upon her head Afterwards the Christian Champion intending to discover himself unto his Lady and Mistress took her by the lilly-hand and led her a stately Morisco Dance which was no sooner finished but he offered her the Diamond Ring which she gave him at his departure in the Woods the which she presently knew by the Poesic and shortly after had intelligence of his long continued Dumbness his counterfeit Colour his changing of Nature and the great danger he put himself to for her sake which caused her with all the speed she could possibly make to break off Company and to retire into a Chamber which she had by where the same Evening she had a long Conference with her true and faithful Lover and adventurous Champion and to conclude they made some agreement betwixt them that the same night unknown to any in the Court she bad Jerusalem adieu and by the light of Cynthia's glistering Beams stole from her Father's Palace where in company of none but St. James she took her Iourney towards the Countrey of Spain But this Noble Knight by Policy prevented all ensuing Dangers for he shod his Horse backwards whereby when they were missed in the Court they might be followed the contrary way By this means escaped the two Lovers from the Fury of the Jews and arrived safely in Spain in the City of Sevil wherein the brave Champion St. James was born where now we leave them for a time to their own contented minds Also passing over the hurly-burly in Jerusalem for the loss of Celestine the vain pursuits of adventurous Knights in s●opping the Ports and Havens the preparing of fresh Horse to follow them and the Bustering of Soldiers to pursue them the frantick passions of the King for his Daughter the mèlancholy moan of the Admiral of Babylon for his Mistris and the woful Lamentation of the Arabian King for his Lady and Love we will return to the Adventures of the other Christian Champions CHAP. VI. The terrible Battel betwixt St. Anthony the Champion of Italy and the gyant Blanderon and afterwards of the strange Entertainment in the Gyant 's Castle by a Thracian Lady and what hapned to him in the same Castle IT was the same time of the year when the Earth was newly deckt with the Summer's Livery when the Noble and Heroical minded Champion St. Anthony of Italy Arrived in Thracia where he spent his seven years Travels to the Honour of his Country the Glory of God and to his own still lasting Memory for after he had

of Morocco with his scattered Troops of Moors and Negroes returned from Hungary and by Fire and Sword had wasted many of their chiefest Towns and Forts whereby the Countrey was much weakned and the Commons compelled to sue for Mercy at the Champions hands who bearing true Christian minds within their hearts continually pity harboured vouchsafed to grant mercy to those that yielded their Lives to the pleasure of the Christian Knights But when St. George had intelligence of Almidor's approach with his weakned Troops he presently prepared his Soldiers in readiness to give the Moors a bloody Banquet which was the next Morning by break of day performed to the high honour of Christendom but the night before the Moors knowing the Countrey better than the Christians got the advantage both of Wind and Sun whereat St. George being something dismayed but yet not discouraged imboldned his Soldiers with many Heroicat Speeches proffering them frankly the Enemies Spoils and so with the Sun 's uprising entred Battel where the Moors fell before the Christians Swords as ears of Corn before the Reapers Sickles During this Conflict the Seven Champions still in the fore Front of the Battel so adventurously behaved themselves that they slew more Negroes than a hundred of the bravest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intended to make St. George's Prowess to shine brighter than the rest singled out the Morocco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long and dangerous Fight But St. George so Couragiously behaved himself with his trusty Sword that Almidor was constrained to yield to his Mercy The Army of the Moors séeing their King taken Prisoner presently would have fled but that the Christians being the lighter of foot overtook them and made the greatest slaughter of them that ever hapned in Barbary Thus after the Battel ended and the joyful sound of Uictory rang through the Christian Army the Soldiers furnished themselves with the Enemies Spoils and Marched by St. George's direction to the City of Tripoly being then almost unpeopled through the late slaughter which was there made In which City after they had rested some days and refreshed themselves with wholesome food the English Champion in Revenge of his former proffered Injuries by the Morocco King gave this severe Sentence of Death First He commanded a brazen Cauldron to be filled with boiling Lead and Brimstone Then Almidor to be brought to the pl●●e of Death by twelve of the Noblest Peers in Barbary therein to be consumed Flesh Blood and Bones which was duly performed within seven days following The brazen Cauldron was erected by the appointment of St. George directly in the middle of the chiefest Market-place under which a mighty hot fire continually burned for the space of eight and forty hours whereby the boiling Lead and Brimstone seemed to sparkle like fiery Furnaces in Hell and the heat to exceed the burning Oven at Babylon Now all things being thus prepared in readiness and the Christian Champions present to behold the woful spectacle the Condemned Blackmoor King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of fine Indian Silk his hands pinioned together with a Chain of Gold and his face covered with a Damask Scart his Attendants and chief Conductors twelve Moors Peers cla● in sable Gowns of Taffaty carrying before him the Wheel of Fortune with the Picture of an Usurper climbling up with this Motto on his Breast I will be King in spite of Fortune Upon the top of the Wheel the Picture of a Monarch vaunting with this Motto on his Breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheel the Picture or perfect Image of a Deposed Potentate falling with his head downwards with this Motto on his Breast I have been a King while it pleased Fortune Which plainly signified the Chance of War and of inconstant Destiny His Guard was a hundred Christian Soldiers holding Fortune in disdain after them had attended a hundred of Morocco Uirgins in black Ornaments their hair bound up with Silver Wyres and covered with Ueils of black Silk signifying the Sorrow of their Countrey for the loss of their Sovereign In this mournful manner came the unfortunate Almidor to the boiling Cauldron which when he came near his heart waxed cold and his tongue devo●d of utterance for a time at last he brake forth into these earnest Protestations proffering more for his Life than the whole Kingdom of Barbary could perform Most Mighty and Invincible Champion of Christendom quoth he let my Life be Ransomed and Thou shalt yearly receive ten Tuns of tryed Gold Five hundred webs of woven Silk the which our Indian Maids shall sit and Spin with Silver Wheels an hundred Ships of spices and Refined Sugar shall be yearly paid thee by our Barbary Merchants an hundred Waggons likewise laden with Pearl and Jasper stones which by our cunning Lapidists shall be yearly chosen forth and brought thee home to England to make that blessed Country the richest within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will deliver up my Diadem with all my Princely Dignities and in company of these Morocco Lords like bridled Hories draw thee daily in a silver Chariot up and down the circled Earth till Death give end to our Lives Pilgrimage therefore most admired Knight at Arms let these salt tears that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtain one grant of comfort at thy hands for on my bended knees I beg for life that never before this time did kneel to Mortal Man Thou speakest in vain reply'd St. George not the Treasures hidden in the deepest Seas nor all the golden Mines of rich America shall redeem thy Life Thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practices in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereave me of my life through thy Treachery I endured a long Imprisonment in Persia where for seven years I drank foul Channel-water and sufficed my hunger with Bread of Bran Meal My Food was loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismal Dungeon where neither Sun nor the chearful light of Heaven lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered injuries the Heavens inforce me to a speedy Revenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Torment prepared for thy Death this brazen Cauldron filled with boiled Lead and Brimstone wherein thy accursed Body shall be speedily cast and boiled till thy detested Limbs be consumed to a watry substance in this sparkling liquor therefore prepare thy self to entertain the violent stroke of Death and willingly bid all thy Kingly Dignities farewell But yet I let thee understand that Mercy harbours in a Christian's heart and where Mercy dwells there faults are forgiven upon some humble penitence though thy Trespass deserves no pity but severe punishment yet upon these considerations I will grant thee liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy Gods Tarmagant and Apollo which

the Misery and Death of the Conjurer and how the Souldan Brained himself against a Marble Pillar NOw must we return to the Christian Champions and speak of their Battels in Persia and what happened to them in St. George's absence for if you remember before being in Aegypt when he had news of his Lady's condemnation in England for the Murther of the Earl of Coventry he caused them to march into Persia and incouraged them to revenge his wrongful Imprisonment upon the Souldan's Provinces in which Country after they had marched some fifty Miles burning and spoiling his Territories they were intercepted by the Souldan's Power which was about the number of three hundred thousand fighting Men but the Muster-rolls of the Christians we●e likewise numbred and they amounted not to above one hundred thousand able Men at which time betwixt the Christians and Pagans happened a long and dangerous Battle the like many Age was seldom fought for it continued without ceasing for the space of five days to the great effusion of bloud on both Parties but at last the Pagans had the worst for when they beheld their fields bestrowed with mangled Bodies and that the Rivers for twenty Miles com●ass did flow with crimson Blood their hearts began to fail and inconti●ently fled like S●eep before the Wolf Then the va●●ant Christians thirsting after revenge speedily pursued them s●a●●ng neither young nor old till the ways were strowed with liveless bodies like heaps of scattered sand in which Pursuit and honourable Conquest they burned two hundred Forts and Towns battering their Towers of Stone as level with the ground as Harvest-Reapers do Fields of ●●pened Corn but the Souldan himself with many of his approved Souldiers escaped alive and fortified the City of Grand Belgor being the strongest Town of War in all the Kingdom of Persia before whose Walls we will leave the Christian Champions planting their puissant Forces and speak of the damnable practises of Osmond within the Town where he accomplisht many admirable Accidents by Magick Art for when the Christians Army had long time given assaults to the Walls sending their fiery Bullets to their lofty Battlements like Storms of Winters Hail whereby the Persian Souldiers were not able any longer to resist they began to yield and commit their lives to the mercy of the Christian Champions but when the Souldan perceived the Souldiers cowardise and how they would willingly resign his happy Government to forreign Rule he encouraged them still to resist the Christians desperate encounters and within thirty days if they had not the honour of the War then willingly to condescend to their Country's Conquest which princely resolution encouraged the Souldiers to resist intending not to yield up their City till Death had made triumph on their Bodies Then departed he unto a sacred Tower where he found Osmond sitting in a Chair studying by Magick how long Persia should remain unconquered who at his entrance drove him from his Charms with these Speeches Thou wondrous Man of Art said the Souldan whom for Necromancy the World hath made famous Now is the time to express the Love and Loyalty thou bearest thy Soveraign Now is the time thy charming Spells must work for Persia 's good thou seest my Fortunes are deprest my Souldiers dead my Captains slaughtered my Cities burned my Fields of Corn consumed and my Country almost conquered I that was wont to cover the Seas with Fleets of Ships now stand amazed to hear the Christians Drums that sound forth doleful Funerals for my Souldiers I that was wont with armed Legions to drink up Rivers as we marched and made the Earth to groan with bearing of our Multitudes I that was wont to make whole Kingdoms tremble at my Frowns and force imperious Potentates to humble at my Feet I that have made the Streets of many a City to run with Bloud and stood rejoycing when I saw their Buildings burnt I that have made the Mothers Wombs the Infants Tombs and caused Cradles for to swim in streams of Bloud may now behold my Country's ruine my Kingdom 's fall and mine own fatal overthrow Awake great Osmond from thy dreaming Trance awake I say and raise a Troop of black infernal Fiends to sight against the damned Christians that like swarms of Bees do flock about our Walls prevent I say my Land's Invasion and as I am great Monarch of Asia I 'll make thee King over twenty Provinces and sole Commander of the Ocean raise up I say thy charmed Spirits leave burning Acheron empty for a time to aid us in this bloudy Battel These words were no sooner ended but there ratled such a peal of Cannons against the City Walls that they made the very Earth shake whereat the Necromancer started from his Chair and in this manner encouraged the Souldan It is not Europe quoth he nor all the petty Bands of armed Knights nor all the Princes in the World that shall abate your Princely Dignity Am not I the great Magician of this Age that can both loose and bind the Fiends and call the black-faced Furies from low Cocitus Am not I that skilful Artist which framed the charmed Tower amongst the Amazonian Dames which all the Witches in the World could never spoil Therefore let Learning Art and all the Secrets of the Deeps assist me in this Enterprise and then let frowning Europe do her worst my Charms shall cause the Heavens to rain such ratling showers of Stones upon their Heads whereby the Earth shall be over-laden with their dead Bodies and Hell over-filled with their hateful Souls senceless Trees shall rise in humane shapes and fight for Persia. If wise Medea were ever famous for Arts that did the like for safeguard of her Father's State then Why should not Osmond practice Wonders for his Soveraign's Happiness I 'll raise a Troop of Spirits from the lowest Earth more black then dismal Night the which in ugly Shapes shall haunt them up and down and when they sleep within their rich Pavilions legions of fiery Spirits will I up-raise from Hell that like to Dragons spitting flames of Fire shall blast and burn the damned Christians in their Tents of War the Fields of Grand Belgor shall be over-spread with venemous Snakes Adders Serpents and impoysoned Toads the which unseen shall lurk in mossie Ground and sting the Colonels of warlike Horses down from the crystal Firmament I will conjure Troops of airy Spirits to descend that like to Virgins clad in princely Ornaments shall link those Christian Champions in the Charms of Love their Eyes shall be like the twinkling Lamps of Heaven and dazle so their warlike Thoughts and their lively Countenance more bright then Fairies shall lead them captive to a Tent of Love the which shall be articially erected up by Magick Spells their warlike Weapons that were wont to smoak in Pagans Bloud shall in my charmed Tent b● hung upon the bowers of Peace their glist●ing Armour that were wont to shine within

the Earth and with great roaring he began to rage and stare like a Beast and to blaspheme against the Fates for this his sudden mishap The other two Brethren seeing this presently cut off his two heads whereby he was forced to yielded the mercy of imperious Death There was another Knight that came with this Monster who when he saw all that had passed with great fear returned the way from whence he came These Uictorious Conquerours when they saw that with so great ease they were delivered from the Tyrants Cruelty with joyful hearts they departed with Conquest to the Prince of Constantinople where they left him comforting his distressed Lady So when they were altogether they commanded the Marriners to provide them somewhat to eat for that they had great need thereof who presently prepared it for that continually they bore their Provision about them of this banquet the Knights were very glad and rejoiced much at that which they had archieved and commanded that the Lady should be very well looked to and healed of her harm received So at the end of three days when the princely Lady had recovered Health they left the Country of Armenia and departed back to the Seas whereas they had left their Ships lying at road that tarried there until their coming Whereinto they had no sooner entred but the Marriners hoised sail and took their way towards Constantinople as the Knights commanded The Winds served them to prosperously that within a small time they arrived in Greece and Landed within two days Iourney of the Court which lay then at P●ru about a mile from Constantinople Being a Land the Prince Pollemus consulted with St. George's three Sons what course were best to be taken for their proceeding in the Court. For saith he unless I may with the Emperour my Fathers consent enjoy my dearest Dulcippa I will live unknown in her company rather than delight in the Heritage of ten such Empires At last they concluded that the Lady should be covered in a black vail for being known and Pollemus in black Arms and the other Knights all suitable should ride together which accordingly they did and about ten in the morning entred the Pallace where they sound the Emperour the seven Champions with many other Princes in the great Hall to whom one of Saint George's Sons thus spake Great Emperour and Noble Knights this Knight that leadeth the Lady hath long loved her in their Births there is great difference so that their Parents croft their affections for him she hath indured much sorrow and for her he will and hath suffered many hazards His coming thus to your Court is to this end to approve her the only desertful Lady in the world himself the faithfullest Knight against all Knights whatsoever which with your Imperial leave he my self and these two my Associates will maintain desiring your Majesty to give judgment as we shall deserve The Emperour condescended and on the Green before the Pallace those four overthrew more than four hundred Knights so that Saint George and three other of the Champions entred the Lists and ran three violent Courses against the Black Knights without moving them who never suffered the points of their Spears to touch the Armour of the Champions which the Emperour perceiving guessed them to be of acquaintance wherefore giving judgment that the Knight should possess his Lady at his request they discovered themselves To describe the delightful comfort that the English Champion took in the presence of his Children and the joy that the Emperour received at the return of his lost Son requires more Art and Eloquence than my tyred senses can afford I am therefore here forced to leave the Flower of Chivalry in the City of Constantinople Of whose following Adventures I will at large Discourse hereafter and how all these Famous Champions came to their Deaths and for what cause they were called the seven Saints of Christendom CHAP. XVII Of the renowned and praise worthy Death of Saint Patrick how he buried his own self and for what cause the Irish-men to this day do wear their red Cross upon Saint Patrick's Day HEre must you suppose gentle Readers that time had ran a long Race before these aforesaid thrice honoured Champions had purchased so many Right Worthy Uictories and being now wearied with Age Death with his gloomy countenance began to challenge an end of all their worldly Atchievements and to draw there Noble Names to a full perfection therefore preparing a black Stage for honour to act his last Scene out thus it followed The Ualiant Champion S. Patrick feeling himself weakned with Time and Age not able any longer to endure the bruises of Princely Atchievements became an Hermite and wandring up and down the World in poor Habiliments he came at last to the Country of his Birth which is now called Ireland but in former times Hibernia where instead of Martial Atchievements he offered up in the name of his Redeemer devout Orisons daily making petitions to the Deity of Glory in behalf of his desired peace a life more delightful to his aged Heart than all his former accomplishments And now willing to bid farewel to the World he desired a reclosure to be made and to be pent up in a stony Wall from the sight of all Earthly O●jects To which request of this Holy Father now no Souldier but a man of Peace the Inhabitants wholly condescended and builded him a four-square House of Stone without either Window or Door only a little hole to receive his Food in wherein they closed him up never to be seen more alive by the eyes of mortal Men. Also appointing divers of the Country to bring him at convenient times Food to maintain Nature which they delivered in at the aforesaid hole which they thought to be a deed of more than common charity and he the receiver to be an honour to their Country by the severe and strict course of life he put himself to Thus lived he the servant of his God day and night kneeling on the bare ground till thrice the Winters cold had taken departure and as oft the Summers warmth had cheared up the cold Earth making his knees hard with kneeling and his eyes dim with Lamentations for his former offences In which time the Hairs of his Head were all over-grown and deformed and the Nails of his Fingers as it were seemed like the Talons and Claws of an old Raven with the which by little and little he digged his own Grave prepared against the hour of his death to be buried in the which by process of time came thus to effect as followeth When he had wasted as I said before thrice twelve months in Divine Contemplations by Inspiration as it seemed he laid him down in the Grave that his own Nails had digged and feeling his body weak and feeble ready to deliver up the ayre of Life he began to speak as followeth World quoth he thou hast been long my

kind Friend hast graced my Name with many Titles of Honour and making me Famous in thy large circumference thou hast given me Uictories over all mine Enemies and weakned the boldness of all my withstanders that my Life and Name might be charactered amongst the rest of our Christian Champions for which I have thought my self predestinated to a lasting happiness in that the Title of my Fortunes challenge so long a Memory World I say fare thou well my life lingereth now to her last minute which as willingly I here deliver up as ever I brandisht Wrapon against powerful Pagan I need no Pompal Train of Princes to attend my Funeral nor solemn Chimes of Bells to Ring me to my Grave nor Troops of Mourners in Sable Garments to furnish out my Obsequy my self here buries up my self and all Offices of Lamentations belonging to so bad a business as my own hand Labour Earth I imbrace thee thou gentle Mould my Bodies covering with humility I kiss thee no difference is between thy cold Nature and my Life 's warm substance we are both one Emperours are but Earth so am I. Thou Earth gently do I yield my self into thy mouldy bosom I come I come sweet Comforter into thy hands I commend my Spirit These and such like were the last Words that ever this good Champion delivered so yielding to death the Earth of it self as it were buried up his Body in the Grave which his own hands had digged Thus being changed from a lively substance to a dead Picture his Attenders as their usual custom was came with Food to relieve him and calling at the hole where he had wont to receive it they heard nothing but empty ayre blowing in and out which made them conjecture presently that death had prevailed and the fatal Sisters finished up their labours so calling together more company they made an entrance thereinto and finding what had hapned how he had buried his own self they reported it for a wonder up and down the Country being an accident of much strangeness for before that time the like never chanced Whereupon by a common consent of the whole Kingdom they pulled down the aforesaid House or Tower and in the same place builded in process of time a most sumptuous Chappel casting it St. Patricks Chappel and in the place where this Holy Father had buried himself they likewise erected a Monument of much richness framed upon Pillars of pure Gold beautified with many artificial sights most pleasant to behold whereunto for many years after resorted distressed People such as were commonly molested with loathsom Diseases where making their Orisons at Saint Patricks Tomb they found help and were restored to their former Healths By which means the Name of Saint Patrick is grown so famous through the World that to this day he is intituled one of our Christian Champions and the Saint for Ireland where in remembrance of him and of his honourable atchievments done in his life time the Irish-men as well in England as in that Country do as yet in honour of his Name keep one day in the year Festival holding upon the same a great Solemnity wearing upon their Hats each of them a Cross of red silk in token of his many Adventures under the Christian Cross as you have heard in the former History at large discoursed Whose Noble Deeds both in life and Death we will leave sleeping with him in his Grave and speak of our next renowned Tragedy which Heaven and Fate had allotted to Saint David the Champion for Wales at that time entituled Cambro-Brittanus CHAP. XVIII Of the honourable Victory won by Saint David in Wales Of his Death and cause why Leeks are by custom of Welchmen worn on Saint Davids day with other things that hapned SOme certain Month after the departure of Saint Patrick from the City of Constantinople from the other Champions as you heard before in the last Chapter Saint David having a heart still s●r'd with Fame thirsted even to his dying day for honourable atchievements and although age and time had almost weared him away yet would he once more make his Adventure in the Field of Mars and seal up his honours in the records of Fame with a Noble farewell So upon a morning framing himself for a Knightly Enterprize he took his leave of the other Champions and all alone well mounted upon a lusty Courser furnished with sufficient Habiliments for so brave an enterprize he began a Iourney home towards his own Country accounting that his best joy and ●he soil of his most comfort But long had he not travelled ere he heard of the distresses thereof how Wales was be●e● with a people of a Savage nature christing for Blood and the ruine of that brave Kingdom and how that many Battels had been fought to the disparagement of Christian Knight-hood Whereupon arming himself with true resolution he went forward with a couragious mind either to redeem the same or to lose his best blood in the honour of the Adventure Whereupon all the way as he travelled he drew into his aid and assistance all the best Knights he could find of any Nation whatsoever giving them promises of Noble Rewards and entertainment as befitted so worthy a fellowship By this means before he came upon the Borders of Wales he had gathered together the number of five hundred Knights of such noble resolutions that all Christendom could not afford better the seven Champions excepted And these all well furnished for Battel entred the Country where they found many Towns unpeopled gallant Houses subverted Monasteries defaced Cities ruinated Fields of Corn consumed with Fire yea every thing so out of order as if the Country had never been inhabited Whereupon with a grieved mind he saw the Region of his Birth place so confounded and nothing but up●●ars of murder and death sounded in his ears he summoned his Knights together placing them in Battel array to travel high up into the Country for the performance of his desired hopes But as they marched along with an easie pace to prevent dangers there resorted to them people of all Ages both young and old bitterly complaining of the Wrongs thus done unto their Country Where when they knew him to be the Champion of Wales whom so long they had desired to see their joys so exceeded that all former Woes were abolished and they emboldened to nothing but revenge The rest of the Knights that came with St. David perceiving their forces and numbers to increase purposed a present onset and to shew themselves before their Enemies which lay incamped amongst the Mountains with such strength and policy that hard it was to make an Assailment Whereupon the Noble Champion being then their General and Leader called his Captains together and with a bold courge said as followeth Now is the time brave Martialists to be canonized the Sons of F●me this is the day of Dignity or Dishonour an Enterprize to make ●s ever live or to

of the Cataracts of Nilus or the greatest crack of the loudest Thunder but having received his deaths wound with some little strugling he yielded his life up to the Uictors who surveying his Body found it to be from the head to the end of the tail full ten yards in length his bulk at least a Tun weight having paws and claws answerable unto it and each part so armed with scales as scarcely penetrable witd any sword The Knights having obtained this Uictory returned thanks to the Immortal Powers and leaving the Carcass of the hideous Monster travel'd up higher into the Country hoping to meet with some of the inhabitants thereof whom now they saw had left their houses for dread of this Monster Having travelled some few miles and desirous of refreshment after this encounter they saw some smoak ascending out of the tunnel of a little Cell near unto them whither bending their course they saw standing at the door an aged Hermit in a Gown of Freeze reaching to the ground his Hair as white as the downe of Swans or driven Snow which in a careless manner hung dishelved down his Shoulders in his Face you might read the Map of sorrow charactered out in deep furrowed wrinkles whom the Knights courteously saluted desiring to know the reason why so fruiful a Country as they had passed was left destitute of Inhabitants The aged Hermit having viewed them well and perceiving by their habit they were Outlandish Knights bent upon Martial Adventures and seeming to be persons who dreaded no danger he desired them to alight from their Warlike Steeds and for a while to repose themselves in his lowly Cell and he would endeavour to satisfie their desires in the mean time said he I would desire you to take such homely refreshment as my Cell affords and thereupon brought them forth such Country Uiands as that place afforded which they courteously accepting and having satisfied their hunger the Hermit began to speak to them in this manner Sir Knights said he for so you séem by your outward Habiliments if we may judge of the goodness of the apple by the fairness of the rind know that this Country wherein you now are is the Land of Sicily once so fruitful and abounding in all things that it might well be called the Granary of the VVorld and now still retaining its vertue durst the Inhabitants manure the same But now our plenty is turned into misery our mirth into mourning our streets which were wont to be replenished with throngs of people now destitute and empty of Inhabitants and all by reason of a most gastly dreadful Monster sent I think from the Infernal Regions for the punishment of Mankind whom the Country people term by the name of Pongo This direful Monster or rather Devil incarnate begotten as it is thought between a Land Tyger and a Sea Shark so that it participates of both Elements swimming in the Sea near our Sicilian Coasts espyed some Heardsmen on the shore who with great wonder beheld this Monster as he disported himself on the waves of the Sea but when they saw he made towards them and beheld the monstrousness of his proportion fear standing at the gates of their Eyes put back all further perswasions of beholding him and adding wings to their fee● they flew away in the greatest hast● they possibly could make but in vain was all their speed for he soon recovering the shore siezed upon some of the hindmost of them whom he made a prey to his devouring paunch and having tasted the sweets of humane blood he ever since hath haunted our Coasts ranging up higher into the Country devou●ing all wheresoever he came and herein is his cruelty most exemplary that he delights more in the slaughter of Men then of Beasts so that it is judged he hath devoured no less then five hundred persons and for twenty miles space left all desolate and uninhabited the dread of him being so very great that the women to terrifie their children from crying use to say the Pongo cometh Thus Ronowned Knights have you heard the cause of our Countries misery not one of our ●●outest Champions having the heart to encounter with him so that at freedom he wasts and destroys all before him until such time as it shall please Providence to send us some more redoubled Knights then ours to free us from him for which our King hath promised great rewards the spur to honourable atchievments besides the great good a Reward in it self which it will do to Mankind in fréeing us from so terrible an enemy The Hermit concluding his speech with a deep sigh for a period the Ualiant Knight Sir Guy with a smiling countenance thus answered him Now then said he are the Stars so benigne unto Sicily that your Country is fréed from this direful misery for the cause being taken away the effects must needs cease Know then that by the victorious Armes of me and my two Brothers the Monster is dead and no more dread of your affrighting dead Pongo then is to be feared from a living Grashopper or Butterfly Scarcely had Sir Guy ended his speech when the Hermit transported with an excessive joy fell down at his feet being almost in as great an extasie for joy as was that Father who having three Sons returned Uictors from the Olympick Games his overjoyed spirit could not contain its self in the bounds of reason but by the excessiveness thereof yielded up the ghost And is our Land said he capable of so great a benefit does so good Fortune attend our Country Then thanks to the immortal powers above who hath sent you hither to be the means of our future happiness how is our Nation bound to your Manhood and what victims shall we offer for your fortunate success As the Hermit was thus discoursing there was passing by the Cell a Herald at Arms well accontered and attended on by four Knights clad all in mourning Armour who were sent by the King into Forreign Countries to proclaim in every place where they came that if any Knight would be so hardy as to encounter with the Pongo and overcome him he should be made a Peer of the Realm and have a golden Helmet for a reward This their errand being made known to the three Knights they declared unto them how Pongo was already killed which put a stop to their further journey and sending back one of the Knights to the King to inform him thereof the rest went to view the dead Carcass of the Pongo which having surveyed with great admiration the three Sicilian Knights invited Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David to the City of Syracusa where the King then kept his Court who courteously accepting of their proffer taking leave of the aged Hermit who returned to his Cell mounting their Warlike Steeds with an easie pace they marched on But when the King heard the news of the Monsters death he caused the Bells to be rung and Banfires to

changed their pleasant Pastime to a sad and bloody Tragedy for Sabra proffering to keep pace with them delighted to behold the valiant Encounters of her young Sons and being careless of herself through the over swiftness of her Steed she slipped beside her Saddle and so fell directly vpon a thomey brake of Brambles the pricks whereof more sharp than Spikes of Iron entred to every part of her delicate Body some pierce the lovely closets of her star-bright Eyes whereby instead of cristal pearled Tears there issued drops of purest Blood her Face before that blushed like the Morning 's radiant Countenance was now changed into a Crimson-red her milk white hands that lately strained the ivory Lute did seem to wear a bloody scarlet Glove and her tender Paps that had often sed her Sons with the Milk of Nature were all becent and ●or● with those accu●sed Brambles from whose deep Wounds there issued such a stream of purple Gore that it converted the Grass from a lively green to a crimson-hue and the abundance of Blood that trickled from her Breast began to enforce her Soul to give the World a woful Farewel Yet notwithstanding when her beloved Lord her sorrowful Sons and all the rest of the waful Champions had washed her wounded Body with a spring of Tears and when she perceived that she must of force commit herself to the fury of imperious Death she breathed forth this dying Exhortation Dear Lord said she in this unhappy Hunting must you lose the truest Wife that ever ●ay by any Prince's side yet mourn not you nor grieve you my Sons nor you brave Christian Knights but let your warlike Drums convey m● royally to my Tomb that all the World may write in brazen Books how I have followed my Lord the Pride of Christendom through many a bloody Field and for his sake have left my Parents Friends and Country and have travelled through many a dangerous Kingdom but now the cruel Fates have wrought their last spight and finished my Life because I am not able to perform what Love he hath deserved of me And now to you my Sons this Blessing do I leave behind even by the Pains that forty Weeks I once endured for your sakes when as you lay enclosed in my Womb and by my Travels in the Wilderness whereas my Groans upon your Birth-day did in my thinking cause both Trees and Stones to drop down Tears when as the merciless Tygers and tameless Lyons did stand like gentle Lambs and mourned to hear my Lamentations and by a Mother's Love that ever since I have born you imitate and follow your Father in all his honourable Attempts harm not the silly Infant nor the helpless Widow defend the Honour of distressed Ladies and give freely unto wounded Souldiers seek not to stain the unspotted Virgins with your Lust and adventure evermore to redeem true Knights from Captivity live evermore professed Enemies to Paganism and spend your Lives in the Quarrel and Defence of Christ that Babes as yet unborn in time to come may speak of you and record you in the Books of Fame to be true Christian Champions This is my Blessing and this is the Testament I leave behind for now I feel the chilness of pale Death closing the Closets of mine Eyes Farewel vain World dear Lord farewel sweet Sons you 'r famous Followers of my George and all true Christian Knights adieu These words were no sooner ended but with a heavy sigh she yielded up the Ghost whereat St. George being impatient in his sorrows fell upon her liveless Body tearing his Hair and rending his Hunter's Attire from his back into many pieces and at last when his Griefs were some what diminished he burst out into these bitter Lamentations Gone is the Star quoth he that lighted all the Nothern World whithered is the Rose that beautified our Christian Fields dead is the Dame that for her beauty stained all Christian Women for whom I 'll fill the Air with everlasting Mones Let this day henceforth be fatal to all times and counted for a dismal day of Death let never the Sun shew forth his Beams thereon again but Clouds as black as pitch cover the Earth with fearful Darkness let every Tree in this accursed Forrest henceforth be blasted with unkindly Winds let Brambles Herbs and Flowers consume and wither let Grass and blooming Buds perish and decay and all things near the place where she was slain be turned to dismal black and ghastly colour that the Earth itself in mourning Garments may lament her loss let never Bird sing chearfully on tops of Trees but like the mournful Musick of the Nightingale fill all the Air with fatal Tunes let bubling Rivers murmure for her loss and silver Swans that swim thereon sing doleful Melody let all the Dales belonging to these fatal Woods be covered with green bellied Serpents croaking Toads hissing Snakes and sigh-killing Cockatrices in blasted Trees let fearful Ravens shrick let Howlets cry and Crickets sing that after this it may be called a place of dead Mens wandring Ghosts But fond Wretch why do I thus Lament in vain and bath her bleeding Body with my Tears when Grief by no means will recal her Life yet this shall satisfie her Soul for I will go a Pilgrimage unto Ierusalem and offer up my Tears to Jesus Christ upon his blessed Sepulchre by which my stained Soul may be washt from this bloody Guilt which was the cause of this sorrowful day's mishap These sorrowful words were no sooner ended but he took her bleeding Limbs between his fainting Arms and gave a hundred kisses upon her dying coloured Lips retaining yet the colour of Alabaster new wash'd in Purple-blood and in this ●●ta●●e a while lying gave way to others to unfold their Woes But his Sons whose Sorrows were as great as his protested never to neglect one day but daily to weep some Tears upon their Mother's Grave till from the Earth did spring some mournful flower to beav remembrance of her Death as did the Uiolet that sp●●ng from chast Adonis's Blood where Venus wept to see him slain Likewise the other six Champions that all the time of their Lamentations stood like Men drowned in the depth of Sorrow began now a little to recover themselves and after protested by the honour of true Knight hood and by the Spu● and golden Garter of St. George's Leg to accompany him unto the Holy Land bare footed without either Horse or S●ooe only cl●●● in russet Gaberdines like the usual Pilgrims of the World and never to return till they had paid their Uows at that blessed Sepulchre Thus in this sorrowful manner wearied they the time away filling the Woods with echoes of their Lamentations and recording their Dolours to the whistling Winds but at last when black Night began to approach and with her cable Mantle to overspread the crystal Firmament they retired with her dead Body back to the City of London where the report of