The most pleasant History of TOM ALINCOLNE That renowned Souldier the RED-ROSE Knight who for his Valour and Chivalry was surnamed The Boast of England Shewing his Honourable Victories in Forraigne Countries with his strange Fortunes in the Fayrie Land and how he married the faire Anglitora Daughter to Prester Iohn that renowned Monarke of the World Together with the Lives and Deathes of his two famous Sonnes the Blacke Knight and the Fayrie Knight with divers other memorable accidents full of delight The sixth Impression LONDON Printed Aug Mathewes and are to bee sold by Robert Byrde and Francis Coules 1631. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL SIMON WORTEDG of Okenberrie in the County of Huntington Esquire health happines and prosperitie THE generall report and consideration right Worshipfull of your exceeding courtesie and the great friendship which my parents haue heretofore found at the hands of your renowned Father doe imbolden me to present vnto your Worship these my vnpolisht Labours which if you shall vouchsafe to cast a fauourable glaunce vpon and therin find any part or parcell pleasing to your vertuous minde I shall esteeme my trauell most highly honoured The History I present you shall finde delightfull the matter not offensiue to any only my skil in penning it very simply and my presumption great in presenting so rude a peece of worke to so wise a Patron which I hope your Worship will the more beare with and accompt the rather to be pardonable in that the fault proceedeth from a good meaning Your worships deuoted and poore Country-man R. I. The Pleasant Historie of TOM A LINCOLNE the RED-ROSE Knight for his valour and Chiualrie surnamed the Boast of England CHAPTER 1. How King Arthur loued faire Angellica the Earle of Londons Daughter and likewise of the birth of Tom a Lincolne WHEN as King ARTHVR wore the Emperiall Diadem of England and by his chiualrie had purchased many famous Uictories to the great renowne of this mayden Land hee ordeined the order of the round Table and selected many worthy Knights to attend his Maiestie of whose glistering renowne many ancient Histories doe record and witnesse to all insuing ages This worthy Prince vpon a time intending to visit the city of London with some few number of his Knights came and feasted with Androgius being at that time Earle of London whose house as then was not only replenished with most delicate fare but gratâ—st with a number of beautifull Ladyes who gaue such a pleasing entertainement to King Arthur and his Knights that they were rauished with pleasure and quite forgot the sound of martiall Drummes that had wont to summon them foorth to the fields of Honour Amongst these glorious troupes of London Ladyes Angellica the Earles daughter had the chiefest prayse for beauty and courtly behauiour for euen as the siluer-shining Moone in a Winters frâ—sty night surpasseth the brightest of the twinckling Stars â—o farre Angellicaes sweete feature excéeded the rest of the Ladyes whereby King Arthur was so intangled in the snares of loue that by no meanes he could withdraw his affections from her diuine excellence He that before delighted to tread a weary mâ—rch after Bellonas Drummes was now constrayned to trace Cupids Measures in Ladyes Chambers and could as well straine the strings of a Louers Lute as sound a Souldiers alarme in the field her beauty like the Adamant drew his stéeled heart to lodge in the closure of her breast and no company delighted so much the loue-sicke King as the presence of faire Angellica So vpon a time as hee stood looking out of his Chamber window hee espied the Mistris of his soule sitting in a Garden vnder a Bower of Uines prettily picking the ripest Grapes with her delicate hands and tooke such pleasant pains in that maydenlike exercise that the well coloured blood in her face began to ware warme and her chéekes to obtaine such an excellent beauty that they séemed like two purple Roses intermixt with Hawthorne-buds whereby King Arthur grew inamored vpon her and stood for a time sencelesse through the extreame passion he tooke in beholding her beâ—uty But at last recouering his senses he spake to himselfe in this manner Oh most diuine Angellica Natures sole wonder thou excellent ornament of Beauty thy louely Face painted with a crimson die thy rosicall Chéekes surpassing Snow in whitenesse thy decent Necke like purest Iuory hath like a Fowlers net intangled my yéelding heart whereby it is for euermore imprisoned in thy breast Oh that the golden Dresses of thy dainty Haire which shine like the Rubyes glittering in the Sunne had neuer twinckled before my rauisht eyes then had my heart inioyed his wonted liberty and my Fancie béen frée from Louers vaine imaginations Thus and in like manner complayned the King vnto himselfe séeking by all meanes possible to exclude Loues fire from his breast But the more hee stroue to abandoâ— it the more it increased and féeling no pollicie might preuaile but that this burning torment must of force bee quenched with her celestiall loue hee descended from his Chamber and went bouldly into the Garden where taking Angellica by the hand as shée sate vpon a bed of Uiolets which as then grew vnder the Arbour in this manner began to court her Faire of all faires sayd the King deuine and beautious Paragon faire Flower of London know that since my aboad in thy Fathers house thy beauty hath so conquered my affections and so bereaued me of my liberty that vnlesse thou vouchsafe to coole my ardent desires with a willing graunt of thy loue I am like to dye a lanâ—uishing death and this Countrey England of force must lâ—ose him that hath filde her boundes with many triumphant Uictories therefore swéet Angellica if thy hard heart be so obdurate that the teares of my true loue may nothing molliffe yet take pitty on thy Countrey that through thy cruelty she loose not her wanton glory and be made vnhappy by the losse of her Soueraigne thou séest my diuine Angellica how I that haue made Princes stoope and Kings to humble when I haue frownde doe now submissiuely yéeld my high honour to thy feete either to be made happy by thy loue or vnhappy in thy hate that in time to come Children may either blesse or cuâ—se thee Of these two consider which thou wilt performe either with cruelty to kill mee or with clemencie to preâ—eiue mee This vnexpected request of the King so amazed Angellica that her Cheeks were â—tayned with blushing shame and like a bashfull Maiden for a time stood silent not knowing in what manner to answere him considering hee was King of England and she but Daughter to an Earle But at last when feare and shame had a while stroue together in her heart shee replyed in this sort Most mighty King said shee if your entertainement in my Fathers house hath beene honourable séeke not the foule dishonour of his Daughter nor proffer to blemish the bud of her virginitie with the least
consideration I doubt not but shall bring vnto thee much pleasure and delight being for the quantitie thereof nothing inferiour to the best that hath beene written of the like Subiect I meane of Knights aduentures and Ladyes beloued I therefore dedicate this to thy reason knowing that this old Prouerbe may confirme my expectation which is That good Wine needs no Bush nor a pleasing Historie craues no shelter Farewell R. I. The second part of the famous History of Tom a Lincolne the Red-rose Knight c. CHAP. I. How Tom a Lincolne knew not his Mother till forty yeares of his age nor whose Sonne he was Of King Arthurs death and his dying speeches and of what hapned thereupon WHen Arthur that renowned King of England being one of the nine Worthies of the World had by twelue seuerall set Battailes conquered the third part of the Earth and being wearied with the exploytes of Marti all aduentures in his olde dayes betooke himselfe to a quiet course of life turning his Warlkie habiliaments to diuine Bookes of celestiall meditations that as the one had made him famous in this World so might the other make him blessed in the World to come Seauen yeares continued quiet thoughts in his breast seauen yeares neuer heard he the sound of delightfull Drums nor in seuen yeares beheld hee his thrice worthy Knights of the Round Table flourishing in his Court by which meanes his Pallace grew disfurnished of those Martiall troupes that drew commendations from all forraigne Kingdomes In this time most of those renowned Champions had yéelded their liues to the conquering Tiranny of pale Death and in the bowels of the Earth lay sléeping their eternall sléepes the royall King himselfe laden with the honour of many yeeres and hauing now according to nature the burthen of death lying heauie vpon his shoulders and the stroke lifted vp to diuide his body from his soule he called before him all the chiefen of his Court but especially his own Quéene the Red-rose Knight and his Lady Anglitora with the faire Angellica the Nunne of Lincolne whom hee had so many yéeres secretly loued and being at the poynt to bid a wafull farewell to the world with Countenance as Maiestical as King Priam of Troy he spake as followeth First to thée my loued Queene must I vtter the secrets of my very soule and what wanton escapes I haue made from any nuptiall Bedde otherwise cannot this my labouring life depart from my fading body in quiet Long haue I liued in the delightfull sinne of Adulterie and polluted our mariage Bed with that vile pleasure pardon I beseech thee and with that forgiuenesse which I hope will proceed from thy gentle heart wash away this long bred euill the Celestaill powers haue grauated me remâ—ssion Then turning to Angellica the Nunne of Lincolne hee said Oh thou my youths delight thou whose loue hath bereaued my Quéene of much mariage pleasure thou and but onely thou haue I offended withall therefore diuine Angellica forgiue me I like a rauisher spotted thy Uirginitie I â—râ—pt thy sweet budde of Chastitie I with flattery won thy heart and ledde thee from thy Fathers house that good Earle of London to feede my wanton desires by thee had I a Sonne of whom both then and I take glory of for in his worthynesse remaine the true Image of a Martialist and this renowned Knight of the Red-rose is he He liues the fruit of our wanton pleasures borne at Lincolne and there by a Shepherd brought vp few knowing till now his true Parente Maâ—â—aile not deere Sonne thinke not amisse sweete Queene for thou my louely Angellica Be not dismayde you honourable States heere attending my dying houre for as I hope presently to enter into Elizium Paradise and weare the Crowne of disertfull Glory I haue reuealed the long secrets of my heart and truely brought to light those things that the darknesse of obliuion hath couered Now the Mother knowes her Sonne the Sonne the Mother Now may this valiant Knight boast of his Pedegrée and a quiet content satisfie all your doubts Thus haue I spoke my minde thus quieted my soule bids the world farwell Adue faire Quéene adue déere son farwell louely Angellica Lords and Ladyes adue vnto you all you haue seene my life so now behold my death as Kings doe liue so Kings must die These were the last of Kings Arthurs words And being dead his death not halfe so amazed the standers by as the strange spéeches at his liues farwell The Quéene in a raging ielousie fretted at her Marriage wrongs protesting in heart to be reuenged vpon the Nunne of Lincolne The Nunne of Lincolne séeing her wantonnesse discouered tooke more griefe thereat then ioy in the finding of her long lost Son supposing now that the King being gone she should be made a scandall to the world The Red-rose Knight knowing himselfe to be begot in wantonnesse and borne a Bastard tooke small ioy in the knowledge of his Mother Anglitora Tom a Lincolnes Wife excéeded all the rest in sorrow bitterly sobbing to her selfe and in heart making great lamentation in that she had forsaken Father Mother Friends Acquaintance and Countrey all for the loue of a Bastard bred in the wombe of a shamelesse Strumpet therefore she purposed to giue him the slip and with her owne Sonne a young gallant Knight named the Blacke Knight in courage like his Father to trauaile towards the Kingdome of Prester Iohn where she first breathed life and her Father reigned In this melancholy humour spent they many dayes troubling their braines with diuers imaginations The Court which before rung with Delights and flourished in gallant sort now thundred with Complaints euery one disliking his owne estate Discontent as a proud Commaunder gouerned ouer them and their Attendants were idle Fancies and disquiet Thoughts and to speake troth such a confused Court was seldome séene in the Land for no sooner was Kings Arthurs Funerall solemnized but the whole troupes of Lords Knights and Gentlemen Ladyes and others were like to a splitted Shippe torne by the Tempest of the Sea seuered euery one departed whither his Fancie best pleased The Red-rose Knight conducted his Mother Angellica to a Cloyster in Lincolne which place she had so often polluted with her shame there to spend the remnant of her life in repentance and with her true Lamentations to wash away her blacke spottes of sinne that so grieuously stayneth her Soule and from a pure Uirgine made her selfe a desolute Strumpet Likewise King Arthurs widdowed Quéene like to irefull Hecuba or the tealous Iuno kept her Chamber for many dayes pondering in her minde what reuenge shee might take vpon Angellica her Husbands late fauorite On the other side Anglitora Lady and Wife to the Red-rose Knight with her Sonne the Blacke Knight made prouision for their departure towards the Land of Prester Iohn where shée was borne so vpon a night when neither Moone nor Star-light appeared they secretly departed the Court
thy bounds and with the spoyles of forraigne Countries made thee the onely Prince of Kingdomes yet thou repayest me with disgrace and load'st mée with more contempt then my neuer conquered Heart can inture so kissing the ground with his warme lippes that had so long fostered him and with many a bitter teare and deepe sobbe like a Pilgrime as I said before hée tooke leaue of his natiue Countrey and so went to the Sea side where hee heard of his Wife and his Sonnes departure after whom as soone as the Wind conueniently serued hée tooke shipbord Where wée will now likewise leaue him to his fortune vpon the Sea and speake of the professed malice the Quéene prosecuted against Angellica the mother of the Red-rose Knight CHAP. 3 Of the wofull death of Angellica Mother to the Red-rose Knight and of the death of the iealous Queene and others THe beautious Angellica béeing left by her Sonne the Red-rose Knight at his departure in a Monestarie at Lincolne there to bewaile her former offences and for her youths pleasure in age to taste the bitter food of sorrow the day time shée spent in grieued passion 〈…〉 night shée wasted with sâ—ghs and heart-breaking sobbes shée fed on carefull thoughts her drinke was streames of salt teares her companions thoughts of her passed wanton pleasures her bed no better then the cold earth her sléepes were few but her comforts lesse her continuall exercise was with a Néedle to worke in silke vpon the Hangings of her Chamber how shée was first woed then won to King Arthurs pleasures in what manner their meetings were their wanton daliances his imbraces her smiles his Princely gifts her courteous acceptance and lastly the birth of her thrice worthy Sonne his bringing vp his honours in the Court and his strange discouerie all which shee had wrought as an Arras worke with silke of diuers collours in a peece of the purest Holland cloath In doing this twise had the golden Sunne runne his circumference about the world twise had the pleasant Spring beautified the Earth with her changable mantles twise had nipping Winter made the Fields barren and the Woods leafelesse and twise had the yeere shewed himselfe to all mankind in which time of twise twelue moneths euery day made shée a sorrowfull complaint for the wracke of Honour and her Uirginities losse which so willingly she surrendred in this time so greatly had sorrow and griefe changed her that her eyes which had wont like twinckling Diamonds to giue light to all affections were now sunke into their Cels and séemed like a hollow Sepulcher new opened her Face wherein Beautie her selfe dwelt and her Chéekes the true die of the Lillie and the Rose intermixt now appeared old and writhen like to the countenance of Hecuba when her husband King Priamus and all her Princely Children were slaine at Troyes destruction and her tresses of Gold-like Hayre which like to Indian Wyers hung ouer her shoulders were now growne more white then Thistle downe the Isickles of frozen Ice or the white mountaine Snow all these griefes of Nature had not age changed but the inward griefe of her carefull heart But now marke the wofull chance that hapned euen vpon the day which by computation she had in former times yéelded vp her Maydens pride and lost that Iewell that Kingdomes cannot recouer vpon that haplesse day came there a Messenger from the Quéene to bid her make preparation for death for â—â— that day should bee her liues end and her fortunes period which she most willingly accepted of and tooke more ioy thereat then to be inuited to a Princely Banquet Be not dismayde said the Messenger for you shall haue as honourable a death as euer had Lady seauen seuerall Instruments of death shall be presented to you for a choyse and your owne tongue shall giue sentence which of them you will die by whereupon this Messenger set this sorrowsull Lady at a round Table directly in the middle of a very large roome whereinto he had led her hung all about with blacke where being placed as to a Banquet or some solemne Dinner of State there entred seauen Seruitours in disguised shapes like vnto Murtherers with seauen seuerall deadly seruices in Dishes of siluer Plate The first brought in Fire burning in a Dish if shée would to consume her body to ashes The second brought in a Dish a twisted Ceard to strangle her to death The third a Dish full of deadly Poyson to burst her body withall The fourth a sharpe edgd Rayzor or Knife to cut her throat The fifth an Iron wracke to teare her body into small péeces The sixth a Dish full of liue Snakes to sting her to death And the seuenth an impoysoned Garment being worne that will consume both flesh and blood These seauen deathfull Seruitours hauing set downe their Dishes the least whereof brings present death shée was commanded by the Messenger which of them she should choose to die withall and to make spéedy choyce for he was sworne to the Quéene on whom he attended to sée it that day accomplished At these his words shée fell presently vpon her knées and with a courage readier to yéeld to deaths furie then to the mercie of the liuing Quéene said as follloweth Oh thou guider of this earthly Globe thou that gauest my weake nature ouer to a wanton life and from a Uirgin chast hast made me an infamous Strumpet thou that sufferedst only a King in Maiestie to preuaile against mée and with the power of greatnesse worme mée to lewdnesse for which I am now doomed to a present death and forced by violence to bidde this tempted world aâ—ue Inspire mee with that happy choyce of death as my Soule may haue an easie passage from my body First to dye by Fire to an earthly imagination séemes terrible and farre different from nature secondly to die with strangling cord were base and more sitting for robbers théeues and malefactors thirdly to die by deadly poyson were a death for Beasts and wormes that féeds vpon the bosome of the Earth fourthly to die by cutting kniues and slicing razors were a death for cattle fowles and fishes that dies for the vse of man fitly by an iron wracke to end my life were a barbarous death and against mans nature but seuenthly to die a lingring death which is a life consuming by wearing of impoysoned garments where repentance may still bée in company will I choose therefore swéet Messenger of my death doe thy office attyre me in these robes and the manner of my death I beséech thée make knowne vnto the Quéene tell her I pray thée I forgiue her and may my death bée a quiet vnto her soule for my life is to her eares as the fatall sound of night Rauens or the Mermaides tunes Uaine world now must I leaue thy flattering intisements and in stead of thy pompe and glory must shortly treade the dolefull march of pale death and this body that hath béene so pleasing
thought of your vnchast desires the losse of which swéet Iemme is a torment to my soule more worse then death Consider with your selfe most worthy Prince the blacke scandall that it may bring vnto your name and honour hauing a Quéene a most vertuous and loyall Princesse Thinke vpon the staine of your mariage bed the wrongs of your wedded phéere and lasting infamie of your owne gloâ—ie for this I vow by Dianaes bright maiesty before I will yâ—â—ld the conquest of my virginitie to the spoyle of such vnchast desires I will suffer more torments then mans heart can imagine therefore most mighty Soueraigne cease your vnreuerend suite for I will not loose that matchlesse Iewell for all the treasure the large Ocean containes And in speaking these words shée departed thence and left the loue-sicke King in the Arthur complaining to the emptie ayre where after hée had numbred many determinations together this hee purposed Neuer to cease his suite till he had gained what his soule so much desired for continually at the break of day when â—irans beautie began to shine and Auroraes blush to appears would hee alwayes send to her Chamber window the sweetest Musicke that could bée deuised thinking thereby so obtaine her Loue. Many times would hee solicite her with rich gifts and large promises befitting rather an Empresse then the Daughter of an Earle profering such kindnes that if she had a heart of Iron yet could shee not choose but relent and requite his curtesies for what is it that time will not accomplish hauing the hand of a King set thereunto Twelue wearydayes King Arthur spent in woing of Angellica before hee could obtaine his hearts happinesse and his soules content at the end of which time she was as plyant to his will as is the tender twig to the hand of the Husbandman But how their secret meaning required a pollicie to keepe their priuie leues both from King Arthurs Quéene and from old Androgius Angellicas Father and that their secret ioyes might long time continue without mistrust of any partie whatsoeuer this deuice they contriued that Angellica should desire liberty of her Father to spend the remaine of her life in the seruice of Diana like one that a bandoned all earthly vanitie honouring true chastity and religious life So with a denâ—ure countenance and a sober grace shee went vnto her Father and obtained such leaue at his hands that he willingly condiscended that shee should liue as a professed Nunne in a Monasterie that the King before time had builded in the Citie of Lincolne and so furnishing her foorth with such necessaries as her state required he gaue her his blessing and so committed her to Dianaes seruice But now Angellica being no sooner placed in the Monastery and chosen a Sister of that fellowship but King Arthur many times visited her in so secret a manner and so disguisedly that no man suspected their pleasant méetings but so long tasted they the ioyes of loue that in the end the Nunne grew great bellied and bore King Arthurs quittance sealed in her wombe and at the end of forty wéekes shée was deliuered where in presence of the Midwife one more whom the King largly recompenced for their secrecy shee was made a happy Mother of a goodly sonne whom King Arthur caused to be wrapped in a Mantle of gréene Silke tying a Purse of Gold about his necke and so causing the Midwife to beare it into the Fields and to lay it at a Shepheards gate néere adioyning to the Citie in hope the old man should foster it as his own by which means his Angellicaes dishonour might be kept secret from the world and his owne disgrace from the murmuring reports of the vulgar people This his commandement was so spéedily performed by the Midwife that the very next morning she stole the young Infant from his Mothers kéeping and bore it secretly to the place appointed there laying it downe vpon a turffe of gréene grasse if séemed prettily to smile turning his christall eyes vp towards the Elements as though it foreknew his owne good Fortune This being done the Midwife withdrew her selfe some little distance from that place and hid her selfe closely behind a well growne Oake diligently marking what should betide the comfortlesse Infant But long shee had not there remained but there flocked such a number of little Birdes about the young harmelesse Babe and maâ—e such a chirping melody that it fell into a silent slumber and slept as swéetly as though it had béen layde in a Bed of softest Silke By this time the golden Sunne began to glister on the Mountaine top and his sister Luna to withdraw her waterish countenance at which time the pleasant Shepheards began to tune their Morning notes and to repayre vnto their foulded Shéepe according to their woonted manner Amongst which crue of lusty Swaines old Antonio approached foorth of his Gate with a chearefull countenance whose Beard was as white as polished Siluer or like to Snow lying vpon the Northerne Mountaines this bonny Shepheard no sooner espied Angelicâ—es swéet Babe lying vpon the gréene Hillocke but immediatly hee tooke it vp and viewing circumspectly euery parcell of the rich Uestments wherein it was wrapped at last found out the Purse of Gold which the King had tyed vnto the Childs necke whereat the Shepheard so exceedingly reioyced that for the time he stoode as a man rauished with pleasure and was not able to remoue from the place where he stood but yet at the last thinking with himselfe that Heauen had senâ— him that good fortune not onely giuing him Riches but withall a Sonne to be a comfort to him in his latter yeares so bearing it in to his old Wife and withall the Purse of Gold and the rich Mantle with the other things who at the sight thereof was as highly pleased as her Husband when he found it first so being both agréed to foster and bring it vp as their own considering that Nature neuer gaue them in all their life any child incontinently they caused it to be thristened and called by the name of TOM A LINCOLNE after the Towne where it was found a name most fitting for it in that they knew not whom were his true Parents But now speake wee againe of the Midwife that after shée had beheld how kindly old Antonio receiued the young Infant shée returned backe unto Angelicaes Chamber whom shee found bitterly lamenting the losse of her tender Babe thinking that some Fayry Nimph had sâ—olne it away but such was the kind comfort which the smooth tonged Midwife gaue her in that extremity whereby her sorrow seemed the lesse and her mistrustfull feare exchanged into smiling hope yet neither would the King nor the Midwife at any time whatsoeuer make knowne vnto her what was become of her little Sonne but driuing her off with delayes and fond excuses lest hauing intelligence of his aboâ—d she should through kinde loue and naturall affection goe visite him and so discouer
returned from the Warre that they should the first night of their comming bee slaine sléeping in their Beds and that neuer after they should suffer man to enter into their Countrey After this conclusion they crowned Caelia the Kings Daughter for their Quéene And so afterward when the King and his Armie returned from his Warres this bloudy murther was practised and not a man left aliue but onely the King reserued whom Caelia would in no wise against nature murther but yet notwithstanding shee deliuered him into the hands of her chiefest Ladies which put him into a Boat alone and so sent him to the Sea to seeke his fortune Therefore most noble Knights this is the cause why you may not enter into our Countrey which if you doe and not presently withdraw your selues vnto the Sea the Ladies will suddenly giue you a meruailous Battell Now by the Euer-liuing 〈…〉 which English-men adore said the Noble Red-rose Knight such extremitie haue wee suffered at Sea that wée are like to perish and dye with hunger vnlesse wée finde some succeur at your hands and before we will end our liues with famine we will enter Battell with those Ladies and so dye with Honour in the Field yet this kindnesse doe we humbly desire at your hands to returne vnto your Quéene and certifie her of our poore estate and necessity and that we altogether instantly desire her that if there be any sparke of Uertue or Nobility harboured in her breast that shée will haue pitie vpon vs and suffer vs not to end our liues by such an unhappy kind of death With this request the two Damsels returned to the Quéen and recounted from word to word the humble suit of the Red-rose Knight and what extremitie they were in Which when the Quéene vnderstood and that they were Knights of England the fame of which countrey shée had so often heard reportes shée demaunded what manner of people they were and of what condition Surely Madam answered one of the two Damsels I neuer in all my life saw more goodly men nor better spoâ—en and it is to bée supposed they bée the choyce of all humane people and with their courteous demeanors are able to draive the mercilesse and sauage Nation to affect them The Quéene hearing the Damsels so highly to commend the English Knights thinking also vpon their request began in minde to haue pitie of their misaduentures and so instantly sent for them and gaue them frée libertie to make their abode in her Countrey which incontinently when the English Knights heard how they should receiue a kinde welcome and a friendly entertainement grew so exceeding ioyfull as though Heauen had sent them present comfort so comming before the Quéene and her Ladyes they saluted each other most courteously and with great reuerence But when the vertuous Quéene behelde this noble company before her in all humilitie shée deliuered to a hundred of her Ladies the hundred English Knights and reserued the Princely Red-rose Knight vnto her selfe and so were they brought to the Quéenes Pallace where euery Lady feasted her Knight in most gallant sort and to their hearts content But now when the Quéene had the Red-rose Knight in her Chamber and had beheld the exceeding beautie of the noble Prince shée tooke him by the hand and led him into one of her Chambers where the shewed him her Riches and Treasure and after sayd vnto him in this manner Most noble and valiant Englishman these Riches bée all onely at thy Commandement and also my body which here I offer vp as a gift and Present to thy diuine excellencie and furthermore there is nothing of value which I am Mistris of but shall be at thy disposing to the intent that my loue may be acceptable to thy gracious eyes But when the Red-rose Knight perceiued to what intent she spake these words in this manner answered her saying Most deare Princesse and faire Quéene of this Maiden countrey I giue you right humble thankes for these your courtesies and by no meanes possible may I deserue this high honour you haue grac'd me with Oh great Knight replyed then the Quéene the smallest thought of your honourable minde is sufficienâ—â—o recompence the vttermost of my deserts yet let me request this one thing at your noble hands that neuer asked the like fauour of any one before for she that neuer knew the least motion of loue is now pricked with a hundred torments and vnlesse you quench the ardent affection wherwith my heart is fired with the pleasant hopes of your comfortable smiles I am like to die desperat and then the world will accuse you of cruelty in murdering a consiant Lady but if it shall please you to grant me loue and so espouse me according to Himens holy Kites héere shall you rule sole King and be the Lord of all this Countrey My right deare Lady answered then the Red-rose Knight you haue done such pleasure to mée and to my distressed followers in preseruing vs from famine as I shal neuer requite it though I should spend all the rest of my life in your Seruice And know most excellent Princesse that there is no aduenture so dangerous yet at your commandement would I practise to accomplish yet for to tye my selfe in Wedlockes bonds there is no woman in the world shall procure mee for till I haue finished an Aduenture which in my heart I haue vowed I will not linke my affection to any Lady in the world But thinke not Madam that I refuse your loue through disdaine for I sweare by the dignity King Arthur gracâ—d mée with I should think my selfe most fortunate if I had so faire and noble a Lady as your diuine selfe Most worthy Knight then answered the Quéene I imagine that the Gods haue sent you into this Countrey for two causes principally The first is that you and your followers should be preserued from death by my meanes The second is that you should inhabit in this Countrey least it should in short time be left as a desert wildernesse for it is inhabited onely by Women without a King and haue no other Gouernour but me which am their chiefe Princesse And for so much as I haue succoured you so succour you this desolate Citie that it may be repeopled with your séed and in so doing you shall accomplish a vertuous déed and winne to your names an eternall memory to all ensuing ages I confesse quoth the Red-rose Knight that you and your Ladies haue succoured mée and my followers in our great necessitie and in recompense whereof wee will imploy all our indeauours to the repeopling againe of this Countrey But in regard of the secret vow my heart hath made I will not yéeld my selfe to your desires for if I should infringe my oath mine Honour were greatly impaired And before I would commit that dishonourable fact I would suffer the greatest torment that mans heart can imagine Incontinently when the loue-sicke Quéene heard this answere of
penning her selfe closely within her Chamber like one that made no conscience for to kill shée in all hast sent for a Doctor of Phisicke not to giue Phisicke to restâ—â—e health but poyson for vntimely death who being no sooner some into her presence but presently she lockt her Chamber doore and with an angry countenance staring him in the face shee breathed this horror into his harmelesse eares Doctor thou knowest how oft in secret matters I haue vsed thy helpe wherein as yet I neuer saw thy faith falsified but now amongst the rest I am to require thy ayd in an earnest businesse so secret which if thou dost but tell it to the whispering windes it is sufficient to spread it through the whole world whereby my practises may be discouered and I be made a noted reproach to all hearers Madame quoth the Doctor whose heart harboured no thought of bloody deeds what needs all these circumstances where dutie doth command my true obedience desist not ther fore gentle Empresse to make me priuy to your thoughts for little did he thinke her minde could harbour so vile a thought but hauing coniured most strongly his secrefie she spake to him as followeth Doctor the loue nay rather raging lust which I haue spied of late betwixt my vnnaturall sonne and proud Dulcippa may in short time as thou knowest bring a sudden alteration of our state considering that he being borne a Prince and descended from a royall race should match in marriage with a base and ignoble Mayden daughter but to a meane Gentleman therefore if I should suffer this secret loue to goe forward and séeke not to preuent it the Emperour might condemne mée of falshood and iudge me an agent in this vnlawfull loue which to a voyd I haue a practise in my head and in thy hand it lyes to procure thy Princes happinesse and Countreys good Dulcippas father as thou knowest dwels about thrée miles from my Pallace vnto whose house will this day send Dulcippa about such businesse as I thinke best where thou shalt bée appoynted and none but thou to conduct her thither where in a thicke and bushy groue which standeth directly in the midway thou shalt giue her the cup of death and so rid my heart from suspitious thoughts This bloody practise being pronounced by the Empresse caused such a terrour to enter into the Doctors mind that he trembled foorth this sorrowfull complaint Oh you immortall powers of Heauen you guider of my haplesse fortunes why haue you thus ordained mee to bée the bloody murderer of a chaste and vertuous Lady and the true patterne of sobrietie whose vntimelesse ouerthrow if I should but once conspire Dianas Nymphs would turne their wonted Natures and staine their hands with my accursed blood Therefore most glorious Empresse cease your determination for my heart will not suffer my hand to commit so foule a villany And wilt not thou doe if then replâ—ed the Empresse with a mind fraught with rage and blood â— doe protest quoth shée by Heauens bright Maiestie except thou doest consent to accomplish my intent thy head shall warrant this my secresie Stand not on termes my resolute attempt is cleane impatient of obiections The Doctor hearing her resolution and that nothing but Dulcippas death might satisfie her wrath hée consented to her request and purposed cunningly to dissemble with the bloody Quéene who beléeued that hée would performe what shée so much desired so departing out of her chamber she went to the giltlesse Lady sending her on this fatall message who like to haplesse Bellerophon was ready to carry an embassage of her own death But in the meane time the Doctor harbored in his breast a world of bitter woes to thinke how vilely this vertuous Lady was betrayd and considering in his minde how that he was forced by constraint to performe this tragedy therefore hee purposed not to giue her a cup of Poyson but a sleeping Drinke to cast her into a traunce which shee should as a cup of death receiue as well to try her vertuous Constancie as to rid himselfe from so haynous a crime But now returne wee to Dulcippa who beeing sped of her Message went with the Doctor walking on the way where all the talke which they had was of the liberall praise of Prince Valentine who remayned in Court little mistrusting what had happened to his beloued Lady and she likewise ignorant of the hurt that was pretended against her life but being both alone together in the Wood where nothing was heard but chirping Birds which with their voyces séemed to mourne at the Ladyes misfortune But now the Doctor breaking off their former talke tooke occasion to speake as followeth Man of all other creatures most vertuous Lady is most miserable for Nature hath ordayned to euery Bird a pleasant tune to bemoane their misshapps the Nightingale doth complaine her Rape and lost Uirginitie within the desart Groues the Swanne doth likewise sing a dolefull heauie tune a while before shée dyes as though Heauen had inspired her with some foreknowledge of things to come Yâ—â— Madame now must sing your Swan-like Song for the pretty Birds I sée doe drope their hanging heads and mourne to thinke that you must die Maruell not Madame the angry Quéene will haue it so Accurst am I in being constrayned to bee the bloody instrument of so tyrannous a fact Accurst am I that haue ordained that cuppe which must by Poyson stanche the thirst of the bloody Empresse and most accursed am I that cannot withstand the angry Fates which haue appoynted mée to offer outrage vnto vertue And in speaking these words hée deliuered the Cup into the Ladyes hands who like a Lambe that was led to the slaughter vsed silence for her excuse Many times lift shee vp her eyes toward the sacred Throne of Heauen as though the Gods had sent downe vengeance vpon her giltlesse Soule and at last breathed foorth these sorrowfull lamentations Neuer quoth shee shall vertue stoope to Uice Neuer shall Death affright my soule nor neuer Poyson quench that lasting loue which my true heart doth beare to Princely Valentine whose Spirit I hope shall méete mée in the ioyfull Fields of Elizium to call those Ghosts that dyed for Faithfull loue to beare mee witnesse of my Faith and Loyalty and so taking the Cup shée said Come come thou most blessed Cup wherein is contained that happy Drinke which giues rest to troubled mindes And thou most blessed Wood beare witnesse that I mixe this banefull Drinke with Teares distilling from my bléeding heart These Lips of mine that had woont to kisse Prince Valentine shall now most willingly kisse this Ground that must receiue my Corse The author of my death I le blesse for shee honours mee in that I die for my swéet Valentines sake And now Doctor to thée being the instrument of this my Death I doe begueath all earthly happinesse and here withall I drinke to Valentines good fortune So drinking off
the sleeping Potion shée was presently cast into a traunce which shée poore Lady supposed death The Doctor greatly admiring at her vertuous minde erected her body against an aged Oake where he left her sléeping and with all spéede returned to the hatefull Quéene and told her that he had performed her Maiesties command who gaue him many thanks and promised to requite his secrecie with a large recompence But now speake we againe of Prince Valentine who had intelligence how the onely comfort of his heart had ended her life by Poysons violence for which cause he leaues the Court and conuerted his rich Attire to ruthfull Roabes his costly coloured Garments to a homely russet Coat and so trauailing to the solitary woods he vowed to spend the rest of his dayes in a Shepheards life His royall Scepter was turned into a simple Shéepehooke and all his pleasure was to kéepe his Shéepe from the téeth of the rauenous Wolues Thrée times had glistering Phoebe renewed her horned winges and deckt the elements with her smiling countenance Thrée moneths were past thrée Moones had likewise runne their wonted composse before the Grecian Emperou mist his Princely Sonne whose want was no sooner bruted through the Court but hee ecchoed foorth this horrour to himselfe What cursed Planet thus indirectly rules my haplesse course or what vnâ—outh dryery Fate hath bereaued me of my Princely sonne Ioue send downe thy burning Thunderbâ—lts and strike them dead that be proâ—urers of his want But if swéet Venus he be dead for loue houer his Ghost before mine eyes that hee may discouer the cauâ—e or his inflictions But contrariwise if his life be finished by the fury of some murtherous mind then let my exclamations pierce to the iustfull Maiestie of Heauen that neuer Sunne may shine vpon his hated head which is the cause of my Valentines decay Or that the angry Furies may lend me their burning whips inceâ—santly to scourge their purple soules till my Sonnes wrongs bee sufficiently reuenged Thus or in such a like frantick humour ranne hee vp and downe his Pallace till Reason pacified his outragious thoughts and by perswasion of his Lords he was brought into his quiet bed Meane space Diana the Quéene of Chastitie with a Traine of beautifull Nimpheâ— by chance came through the Wood where Dulcippa was left in her traunce in which place rousing the Thickets in purâ—uit of a wilde Hart the Quéene of Chastity espied the harmlesse Lady standing against a Trée and beheld her swéet breath to passe through her closed lips At whose presence the Quéene a while stood wondring at but at last with her sacred shee awaked her and withall asked the cause of her traunce and by what meanes she came thither Which poore awaked Lady being amazed both at her sodaine Maiestie and the strangenesse of her passed Fortune and distresse with farre fetcht sighes shee related what happened to her in those desart Woods The heauenly Goddesse being moued with pitie with a most smiling voyce cheared her vp and with a Lilly taken from the ground she wiped the teares from off Dulcippa tender chéekes which like to a riuer trickled from her Christall eyes This being done Diana with an Angels voyce spake vnto her as followeth Swéete Uirgine for so it séemeth thou art farre better would it befit thy happy estate happy I terme it hauing past so many dangers to spend the remnant of thy life amongst my Traine of Nimphes whereas springeth nothing but Chastity and purity of life Dulcippa though in her loue both firme and constant yet did she condiscend to dwell with Dianas Nimphs where now instead of parly with courtly Gallants shée singeth Songs Carrols Roundelayes in stead of Penne and Incke wherewith she was wont to write Loue-letters shee exerciseth her Bow Arrows to kill the swift-fat Deare and her downie Beddes are pleasant Groues where pretty Lambes doe graze But now returne wée againe to the raging Emperour who sifted the matter out in such sort that hee found the Empresse giltie of her Sonnes want and the Doctor to bee the instrument of Dulcippas death who being desperat like one that vtterly detested the cruelty of the Empresse would not alleadge that he had but set the Lady in a traunce but openly confessed that he had poysoned her for that fact was willing to offer vp his life to satisfie the Law therefore the angry Emperour sweares that nothing shall satisfie his Sonnes reuengement but death and thereupon straightly commaunded the Empresse to be put in prison and the Doctor likewise to be lockt in a strong Tower but yet because shee was his lawfull Wife and a Princesse borne hee something sought to mittigate the Law that if any on within a tweluemonth and a day would come and offer himselfe to combate in her cause against himselfe which would be the appealant Champion she should haue life if not to bee burnt to ashes in sacrifice of his Sonnes death all which was performed as the Emperour had commanded But now all this while the poore Prince liues alone within the Woods making his complaints to the flockes of Séepe and washing their waell with his diâ—â— ressed teares His bedde whereon his body rested was turned into a Sun-burnd bank his chaire of state couered with grasse his musicke the whiâ—â—ling winds the Rethoricke pittifull complaints and meanes wherewith he bewayled his passed fortunes and the bitter crosses of his vnhappy loue The solitarie place wherein this Prince remained was not farre â—distant from the Groue where Dullcippa led her sacred life who by chaunce in a morning at the Sunnes vprising attyred in gréene vesiments bearing in her hand a Bow bended and a quiuer of arrowes hanging at her backe with her hayre tyed vp in a Willow wreath least the Bushes should catch her golden Tresses to beautifie their branches in this manner comming to hunt a sauage Hart she was surprized by a bloody Satire bent to rape who with a bloody mind pursued her and comming to the same place where Prince Valentine fedde his mourning Lambes hee ouertooke her whereat shee gaue such a terrible shrike in the Wood that shee stird vp the Shepherds princely mind to rescue her but now when the bloody Satyre beheld a face of Maiestie shrowded in a shepherds clothing immediatly hée scudded through the Woods more swifter then euer fearefull Deare did run But now gentle Reader héere stay to reade a while and thinke vpon the happy méeting of these Louers for surely the imagination thereof will lead a golden witte into the Laberinth of heauenly ioyes but being breathlesse in auoyding passed dangers they could not speake a word but with stedfast eyes stood gazing each other in the face but comming againe to their former senses Vailentine brake silence with this wauering speach What heauenly wight art thou quoth hee which with thy beautie hast inspired me I am no Goddesse replyed shée againe but a Uirgin vowed to kéepe Diana companie Dulcippa my name a Lady
onely attended on by a Negar or Black-more a Slaue fitting to prouide them necessaries and to carry their Apparell and Iewels after them whereof they had aboundant store The Blacke Knight her Sonne so called rather by fierce courage then this blacke complexion was all fiered with the ardent desire that hee had to sée his Graundsire Prester Iohn therefore without taking leaue of his Father being then absent in the company of his leawde Graunde mother with a noble spirit conducted his mother to the Sea side where a shippe was ready then to hoyst Sayle where of the Pilots they were most willingly receiued for Passengers And in this manner departed they the Land the Blacke Knight wore on his Helmet for a Scutchon a blacke Rauen féeding on dead mens flesh his Caparisons were all of blacke veluet imbrodered which most liuely figured foorth the blacke furie lodged in his Princely boosome Anglitora his Mother had the attyre of an Amazon made all of the best Arabian silke coloured like the changeable hue of the Raine-bow about her necke hung a Iewell of a wounderfull value which was a Diamond cut in the fashon of a Heart split asunder with a Turkish Semiter betokening a doubt that shee had of her Knights loyaltie The slauish Moore that attended them went all naked except a shaddow of gréene Taffata which couered his priuie parts vpon his foote a Morischo Shoe which is nothing but a Soale made of an Asses hide bucklde with small Leathers to his insteps vpon his Head hee wore a Wreath of Cypres guilded with pure gold and a Plate of Brasse about his necke close locked with the word bond-slaue ingrauen about it In this manner passed they the Seas and was by these strange habites wondred at in all Countries where they came In which trauels wee will leaue them for a time and speake of other things pertinent to our Story CHAPTER 2 Of Tom a Lincolnes strang manner of trauelling his wofull departure from England and of his sorrowfull lamentations for the vnkindnesse of his Lady WHen Tom a Lincolne the Red-rose Knight had spent some two months in the company of his Mother at Lincolne giuing her as much comfort as a Sonne might hee left her very penitent for her liues amisse and returned to the Court where hée left both his Wife and her Sonne the Blacke Knight thinking at his ariuall to finde so ioyfull a welcome and so courtious an intertainement that all the blacke cloudes of Discontent might bée blowne ouer by their happy méeting but as ill chaunce had allotted all things fell out contrary to his expectation for hee neither found Wife Childe Seruant nor any one to make him answere His Plate and Treasure was deminished his house-hold Furniture imbesselled and by Théeues violently carryed away hée had not so much as one Stéed left in his Stable for them the Quéene had seazed on for her vse and furthermore by her commandement a Decrée was made that whomsoeuer in all the Land shewed him any duty or gaue him but homely reuerence should loose their heads for shée had intitled him The base borne seed of Lust a Strumpets brat and the common shame of the dead King This was the malice of King Arthurs widow and assuredly Quéene Iuno neuer thirsted more for the confusion of Hercules then shée did for Tom a Lincolns ouerthrow But yet this griefe being cast from a Princesse fauour to a vulgar disgrace was but a pleasure to the sorrow he tooke for the misse of his Lady and Sonne No newes could hee heare of them but that they were fled from the furie of the angry Quéene which was but a vaine imagination laid vpon the enuious time but farre otherwise did mischiefe set in her foote the doting minde of his Lady Anglitora intended to a further reach which was to abandon his presence for euer and to thinke him as ominous to her sight as the killing Cockatrice The effect of this his Wiues sodaine dislike shée had caused before her departure to be carued in stone ouer the Chimny of his lodging how that She deserued damnation to leaue Father Friends and Countrie for the disloyall loue of a Bastard Of all griefes to him this was the very spring the roote the deapth the hight which when hee had read hee fell into a sounde and had it not béene for two Pages that attended him he had neuer recouered in this agony the vaines of his breast sprung out into blood and all the partes of his body swate with griefe downe fell hee then vpon his knees and immediatly pulled the King from his finger which shée had giuen him when they were first bethrothed and wash't it with his teares kissing it a hundred times All that euer hee had from her did hée wash in the blood that trickled from his bâ—esome and after bound them in a Cypresse to his left side directly where his heart lay protesting by that God that created him and was the guide of all his passed fortunes neuer to take them thence till either hee found his Lady or ended his life He likewise made a solemne vow to Heauen neuer to out his Haire neuer to come in Bedde neuer to weare She neuer to taste Food but onely Bread and Water nor neuer to take pleasure in humanitie till he had eased his griefe in the presence of his déerest Anglitora and that her loue were reconcâ—led to him Being thus strangely resolued hée discharged his Seruants and Pages giuing them all the wealth that he had and clad himselfe in tand shéeps skins made close vnto his Body whereby hée séemed rather a naked Wilde man bredde in the Wildernesse then a sencible creature brought vp by ciuill conuersation Thus bare footed and bare legged with an Iuory Staffe in his hand hée set forward to séeke his vnkind Wife and vnnaturall Sonne giuing this wofull farewell to his natiue Countrey Oh you celestiall Powers quoth he wherefore am I punished for my Parents offences Why is their secret sinnes made my publike miserie What haue I mis-done that my Wife resisteth me and like a discourteous Lady forsakes mée making her absence my present calamitie Oh thou gratious Quéene of Loue I haue béene as loyall a seruant in thy pleasures as euer was Hero to her Leander or Pryamus to his Thisbie Then what madding furie like a cruell commander hath tâ—ken possession of my Anglitoras heart and placed infernall conditions whereas the pure vertues of modest behauiour had wont to bee harboured It cannot bee otherwise but the enraged Quéene with her vnâ—uenchable Enuie hath driuen her hence and not only of one heart made two but of two séekes to make none which is by vntimely death to worke both our confusions therefore proud Quéene faâ—â—well let all the furies haunt thée and may thy Court séeme as hatefull to thy sight as the torments of Hell fire to a guilty Conscience Ungratefull England likewise adue to thée for all the honours I haue brought into
to a Princes eye must bee surrendred vp for wormes to féed vpon Many other words would she haue spoken but that the commaunding Messenger being tyed to an houre caused her to put on the impoysoned Roabes which no sooner came to the warmth of her body but the good Lady after a few bitter sighes and dreadfull gaspes yéelded vp the ghost being through the extremitie of the infectious Garment made like vnto an Anatomie which they wrapped in Seare cloth the next day gaue her buriall according to her estate and so returned to the inraged Quéene kéeping then her Court at Pendragon castle in Wales into whose presence was no sooner the Messenger come but the angry Quéene beyond all measure being desirous to heare of Lady Angellicas death in a rage ran and clasped him about the middle saying Speake Messenger speake is the vile strumpet dead Is the shame of womankind tortured Is my hearts griefe by her death banished my boosome speake for I am ouermaistred with doubts Most gracious Quéene quoth the Messenger resolue your selfe of her death for the cold earth hath inclosed vp her body but so patiently tooke shee her death that well might it haue mooued a Tygers heart to remorse for in troth my heart relented at the manner of her death Neuer went Lambe more gently to the slaughter nor neuer Turtledoue was more méeke then this wofull Lady was at the message of her death for the Elements did séeme to mourne closing their bright beauties vp to blacke and sable Curtaines and the very flintie walles as it were sweate at the agonie of her death so gentle méeke and humbly tooke shee her death commending her selfe vnto your maiestie wishing that her death might be your soules contentment And could shée bee so patient quoth the Quéene that euen in death would wish happinesse to the causers thereof farewell thou miracle of womankind I haue béen to thée a sauage Lionnesse I was blinded at the report of thy wantonnesse else hadst thou béen now aliue all my cruelnesse against thée I now déeply repent and for thy deare hearts blood by me so rashly spilt shall bee satisfied with the liues of many soules Hereupon shee in a furie commanded the Messengers head to bee stricken off and seuen Seruitours to bee hanged all at the Court Gate and afterward caused their limbes to be set vpon high Pooles by the Common high wayes side as an example of her indignation Neuer after this houre such is the remorse of a guiltie conscience could shée sleepe in quiet but strange visions of this Lady as shee thought seemed to appeare to her the least noise that she heard whispering in the silence of the night did she imagine to bee some Furte to dragge her to Hell for the death of this good Lady the Windes as shee imagined murmured foorth Reuenge the running Riuers hummed foorth Reuenge the flying Fowles of the Ayre whistled out Reuenge yea euery thing that made noyse in her conceit gaue remorse for Reuenge and till that her owne life had giuen satisfact on by death for the rume of so swéet a Ladyes life no food could doe her good no sléepe quiet her braine no pleasure content her minde but Despaire with a terrible countenance did euermore attend her willing her sometime to throwe her selfe head-long from the top of a Tower sometime by poyson to end her dayes sometime by drowning sometime by hanging sometime by one thing sometime by another but at last in the middle of the night hauing her heart déepely ouermaistred by dispaire shee tooke a Girdle of pure Arabian Silke which Girdle shee first word on her Princely Nuptiall day when King Arthur marryed her this fatall Girdle shee made a riding knot of and therewithall vpon her Bed post shee hanged her sefle Thus blood you sée being guiltlesse shed is quitted againe with blood The Quéene being dead was not so much pittied of the people as the good Lady Angellica little lamentation was made for her death for euery one expected the like vntimely ende but according to the aleadgeance of Subiects her Noblemen gaue her a Princely Funerall and set ouer her an Iron Tombe in signification that shee had an Iron heart and Flintie conditions Heere will wée leaue the dead to their quiet restes and returne to the Blacke Knight and his Mother Anglitora with the Indian slaue that attends them sor strange bee the accidents that happen to them in forraigne Countryes and after wée will speake what hapned to the Red-rose Knight on the Sea CHAP. 4 By what meanes Anglitora became a Curtizan and how her Sonne the Blacke Knight lost himselfe in a wildernesie THE Blacke Knight his Mother Anglitora and the Blacke 〈◊〉 slaue hauing happily crâ—st the Seas and ariued in a Countrey very â—ertill to see to replenished with all kinde of Trees and Fruit yet were there no Inhabitants to finde but onely an old Castle built of Fluiâ— stones the Turrets whereof were made like the Grecian Piramedes square and very high At this Castle gate they knocked so boldly each one carelesse of all accidents that might vappen as it rung into the Chamber were the Knight of the Castle lay who immediatly sent a very low statur d Dwarffe to sée who knocked and if they were strangers to direct them vp into his Chamber to take such kinde courtesies as the Castle afforded for indeed hee was a Knight of a bountifull condition full of liberalitie The Dwarffe no sooner comming to the Gate and espying people in such strange disguised attyres neuer hauing séene the like before without speaking one word ran amazedly vp to his Master certifiing him that a kinde of people of an vnknowne nation was arriued and that they séemed rather Angels in shape then any earthly creatures The Knight of the Castle hearing this came downe and met them in a large square Court paued with marble stone where hee kindly gaue them entertainement promising them both lodging and other needfull things they were destitute of The thrée Trauellers accepted of his courtesies and being long before weather-beaten on the Seas thought themselues from a déepe dungeon of calamities lifted to the toppe of all pleasures and prosperitie thus from this paued Court the Knight led them vp to his owne Chamber wherein was a fire made of Iuniper wood Frankinsence which smelled very sweete the walles were hung about with rich Tapestrie whereon was writ the story of Troyes destruction the Creation of mankind and the fearefull description of the latter day of Doome likewise hung vpon the said wales Instruments of all sorts of musicke with such varietie of other pleasures as they had neuer seene the like Now while these weary Trauellers tooke pleasure in beholding these things the good Knight caused his Dwarffe which was all the seruants that hee kept to couer the Table made of Cypresse wood with a fine Damaske table-cloth and thereon set such dellicates as his castle afforded which was a piece
harborest and in thy wombe deliuereâ—st them as a food vnto Wormes Therefore thou cruell Earth howle andmourne for thou art vnworthy of such blessed bodies And now oh you pittifull Heauens heare my complaints conuey them to the Soules of my deceased Parents for my lamentations by the gentle Windes are blowen from the East vnto the West the dry Land and the Watry Seas are witnesses to them Therefore no day shall rise but it shall heare my complaints no night shall come but it shall giue eare vnto my moâ—nes neither day nor night shall be frée from my heart-breaking cryes If that I groane mée thinkes the Trees are bended as though they pittied my teares The very Ground for griefe I sée alters her complexion All that I heare all that I see all that I feele giues fresh increase to my sorrow I will neuer hencefoorth come in peopled Towne nor inhabited Cittie but wander all alone vp and downe by low Uallyes and sleepy Rockes or I will dwell in darke Dennes frequented onely by Wilde Beastes where no path of man was euer séene or to the Woods I will goe so darke and beset so thicke with shaddow branches that no Sunne may shine there by day nor no Starre by night may be seene whereas is heard no voyce but the outcryes of horrible Goblings the balefull shrikes of Night-owles the vnlukie sounds of Rauens and Crowes there shall mine eyes bee made watry Fountaines there will I make such plaints as Beasts shall mourne to heare them such plaints will I make as shall rend and riue strong trees make wilde Panthers tame and mollifie hard flinty stones And if by chance that sléepe oppresse mee on the bare and cold Ground shall these wofull limbs rest the gréene turffe shall serue as a Pillow for my head boughs and branches of trées shall couer me and then I hope some venemous Serpent wil spéedily giue mee my deaths wound that this my poore soule may be released from flesh and blood by which meanes I may passe to those Fields those faire Elizium Fields whereas my murthered Parents daily resort In this manner complained the Blacke Knight vpon his Parents graue thrée dayes and nights together still knéeling vpon the cold ground and could not by any imagination bee comforted euery thing his eyes beheld renewed fresh sorrow and drew on new lamentations but at last the Powers of Heauen intending to graunt him some ease cast his distressed Senses into a quiet slumber where lying vpon his fathers graue wee will let him for a time rest CHAP 8. How the Fayerie Knight came to be called the Worlds Triumph Of his ariuall in England of the two Knights deaths and of the Proue rbe vsed of three Cities in England YOu haue read in the first part of this Historie how the Fayerie Knight the Sonne of Caelia begot by the Red-rose Knight was committed by his Mother at her death to the keeping of the Ladies of the Land for then was there but few Men liuing being a Countrey onely of Women and now being of lusty age and a Knight of renowned valoure he betooke himselfe to trauell the onely cause to finde his Father or some of his kindred whom he had neuer seene Many were the Countries he passed but more the dangers hee indured all which for this time wee omit onely a little speake of thrée guifts giuen him by an Hermite that had thrée excéeding Uertues For comming to an Iland to séeke aduentures it was his chance to saue a young beautifull Mayden from rauishing by a satyricall Wild-man for he hauing tyed the golden locks of her Hayre to two knoity brambles and being ready to take his venerall pleasure vpon her the Fayerie Knight comming by and séeing that dishonour and violence offered to so young a Uirgin with his Sword at one blow paired away the Wild-mans head and so went with the Mayden home to her Fathers house which was an Hermitage some mile distant off where being no sooner come but the good old man hauing a Head more white then Siluer but a heart more heauier then Lead by reason of the want of his daughter so cruelly taken from him began at her sight to be so cheered that he had not the power for ioy to speake a good space but at last taking the fayerie Knight by the hand he led him to an inward roome where hee banqueted him with such chéere as his Hermitage afforded and after in â—â—ew of his daughters reschew hee gaue him thrée such Gifts and of thrée such Uertues as the like seldome had Knight The first was a King which whosoeuer did weare should neuer dye by treason The second a Sword that on what Gate soeuer it strucke it would presently fly open The third and last a viall of such Drinke that whosoeuer tasted should sodainely forget all passed sorrowes Hauing receiued these thrée Gifts of the good old Hermite he departed and trauelled without any aduenture till he came and found the blacke Knight afléepe vpon his fathers Graue which when the Fayerie Knight had awaked in countenance they were so alike as Nature had made them both one for indéed they were Brothers by the Fathers side the one true borne the other a Bastard yet at the first sight such a secret affection grew betwixt them that they plighted their â—aythes to each other vowing neuer to part friendships But when the Blacke Knight had reuealed his birth parentage his Fathers name and place of birth the Fayerie Knight resolued himselfe that he had found a Brother as well in nature as condition But when hee heard the story of his Fathers life and the manner of his death with the murther of Anglitora his vnchast wife hee could not choose but shed teares whereof plenty descended from his faire eyes whereupon hée tooke occasion to speake as followeth Heauen rest thy swéet soule my vnknowne Father and may the fruite of thee proue as famous in the World as thou hast been but more fortunate in their Mariage choyse As for my Stepmother though her vnchast life baue made her in famous to all Womankinde yet this in charitie I desire that when shee comes to Plutoes Realme that Proserpine may send her to the blessed fields of Elizium in remembrance of whom in this world if euer we ariue in that noble Countrey of England where my Knightly Father was borne wee will there erect her a stately Tombe yet no Epitaph shall show her disloyall life nor the cause of her death onely in Letters of beaten Gold shall remaine ingrauen vpon her Tombe the name of Anglitora Daughter to Prester Iohn and Wife to the worthy Red-rose Knight Hereupon hee gaue his new-found Brother the Blacke Knight his Wall of Drinke which the Hermit had giuen him who no sooner had tasted but all former gréefes were forgotten hee remembred not the death of his Father nor the murther of his Mother nor what sorrow hee had sustayned in the Wildernesse but like a ioconde