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
this thy monstrous disobedience These words being ended hee gaue such an extreame sigh that his very heart brake with griefe and hee immediatly dyed in the presence of the Red-rose Knight For whose death hee made more sorrowfull lamentation then Niobe did for her seuen Sonnes But in recompence of old Antonioes kind loue that preserued his infancie from the fury of rauenous Fowles he intombed him most stately in the Citie of Lincolne whose body he sent thither by certaine Passengers whom hee had taken and withall a thousand pound in treasures to be bestowed vpon a great Bell to bee rung at his Funerall which Bell hee caused to bee called Tom a Lincolne after his owne name where to this day it remaineth in the same Citie These Passengers being as then rich Merchants of London hauing receiued the dead body of old Antonio and withall the treasure went with all speed vnto Lincolne and performed euery thing as the Red-rose Knight had appointed The death of this good old man not onely caused a generall sorrow through the whole Citie but stroke such an extreame griefe to old Antonioes wife that shee within few dayes yeelded her life to the remorcelesse stroke of the frowning destinies and was buried in the same graue where her Husband was intombed Whose deaths we will now leaue to be mourned by their dearest friends and likewise for breuities sake passe ouer many stratagems which were accomplished by the Red-rose Knight his followers vpon Barnsedale Heath and returne to King Arthur his Knights flourishing in the English Court. CHAP. III. Of the first Conquest of Portingale by the Red-rose Knight and how hee was the first that euer triumphed in the Citie of London THe report of Tom a Lincolnes practises grew so generall amongst the vulgar sort of people that at last it came to King Arthurs eares who imagined in his Princely minde that he was sprung of his bloud and that hee carried lofty thoughts of honour planted in his brest though shrowded vnder a Countrey life therefore through kinde nature hee purposed to haue him resident in Court with him that hee might daily sée his liuely sparkes of honour shew their resplendant brightnesse yet in such obscurity that hee should not know the smallest motion of his Parentage therefore hee called together thrée of his apprâ—ued Knights namely Lancelot du Lake Sir Tristram and Sir â—â—â—amore and gaue them in charge if it were possible to fetch the Red-rose Knight vnto his Court of whose aduenturous exployts hée hath heard so many times reported and withall he gaue them generall Pardon sealed with his priuie Seale for him and all his lawlesse followers This Commission beeing receiued by the three worthie Knights they with all spéede armed themselues in rich Corselets and strong habiliments of Warre and so rode towards Bransedale Hâ—aâ—h where being no sooner come and deliuered their message from the King but the Red-rose Knight gaue them an honourable welcome and for thrée dayes most royally feasted them vnder large Canuasse Tents wherein they slept as securely as they had béene in King Arthurs Court or in a strong Castle of warre After this Tom a Lincolne selected out a hundred of his resolute Followers such as he best liked of and came with Sir Lancelot and the rest to the English Court where King Arthur not onely gaue him a friendly entertainment but also installed him one of his Knights of the Round-table and withall preclaimed a solemne Turniament that should be hâ—lden in the honour of this new made Knight to which Turniament assemble from other Countries many Princes Barons Knights of high honour which behaued themselues most nobly and woon great commendations of euery beholder but especially the Red-rose Knight who for that day stood as chiefe Champion against all commers In that Turniament or first dayes deede of his Knighthood where onely by his valour and prowesse hee ouerthrew thrée Kings and thirty other Knights all famouzed for Chiualry whereby he obtained such grace in the English Court that he had by the King a paire of golden Spurres put vpon his féet and generally of the whole assembly he was accounted one of the brauest Knights that then liued in the world But now marke how frowning Fortune ended their Triumphes with vnlucky Newes for the same day before the Knights had vnbuckled their Armours there arriued a Messenger who certified King Arthur how his Ambassadour was vniustly done to death in the Portingale Court which was an Act contrary both to the Faith of Princes and the Law of Armes For whose death King Arthur grew so enraged that he sware by the Honour of his bright Renowne and by the golden Spurre of true Knighthood the Portingales should repent that inhumane violence with the death of many thousand guiltlesse soules and that Babes vnborne should haue iust cause to curse the first contriuer of that vniust murther therefore with all spéede hée mustered vp a mighty Armie of Souldiers and because hee was continually molested with home-bred Mutinies and treacherous rebellions the which himselfe in person of force must pacifie appointed the Red-rose Knight as chiefe Generall ouer the Armie mustered for Portingale In which Seruice hée accomplished so many famous Exployts that hee was for euer after surnamed The Boast of England For no sooner had hée the whole Campe in charge and aboard their Shippes but hee prooued the perfect Patterne of an exquisiâ—e Souldier such a one as all martiall Captaines may learne to imitate for hée so circumspectly ordered his Captaines that in his Campe was neuer knowne any brawle or muâ—â—nie â—e was very courteous and liberall doing honour to all men according to their deserts He so painfully and with such care instructed his Souldiers that at an instant alwayes if it were needfull euery man by the sound of a Drumme or a Trumpet was found in his Charge and Quarter And to be briefe his Campe resembled one of the greatest Cities in the world for all kind of officers were there found in order and also a great number of Merchants to furnish it with all manner of necessaryes Hee 〈◊〉 case permitted any robberies priuy fighting force or violence but with seuerity punished those that were therein found guiltie His desire was that his Souldiers should glory in nothing so much as in Martiall prowesse Uertue and Wisedome He euermore gaue them their pay without fraud or deceit He honoured he praysed he imbrac'd and kist them and withall kept them in awe and subiection by which meanes his fame and honour grew so renowned that his Army dayly encreased more and more For when he first arriued vpon the Confines of Portingale his Campe grew to bee as great as euer was Caesars when he conquered the Western World and in matchlesse proâ—â—esse nothing inferiour vnto his So fortunate were his proceedings that he made a great part of the Prouinces of Portingale desolate not being intercepted by any but poyling euery Towne and Citie as hee
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
their Loues practises Thus liued the most fayre Angelica many dayes in great griefe wishing his returne and desiring Heauen that the Destinies might be so fauourable that once againe before the fatall Sisters had finished her life she might behold her Infants face for whose presence her very soule thirsted for Here will we leaue the solitary Lady comfortlesse and without company except it were the King that sometimes visited herby stealth and report what happened to Tom a Lincolne in the Shepheards house CHAP. II. Of the manner of Tom a Lincolnes bringing vp and how he first came to be called the Red-rose Knight with other things that hapned to him GReat was the wealth that old Antonio gathered together by meanes of the Treasure hee found about the Infants attire whereby hee became the richest in all that Country and purchast such Lands and Liuings that his supposed Sonne for wealth was déemed a fit match for a Knights Daughter Yet for all this his bringing vp was but meane and in a homely sort for after he had passed ten yeares of his age hee was set to kéepe Antonioes Shéepe and to follow Husbandry whereby he grew strong and hardy and continually gaue himselfe to painefull endeauours imagining and deuising haughty and great enterprises yet notwithstanding was of honest and vertueus conditions well featured valiant actiue quick and nimble sharpe witted and of a ripe iudgement hée was of a valiant and inuincible courage so that from his Cradle and infancie it séemed he was vowed to Mars and martiall exploits And in his life and manners is decâ—phered the Image of true Nobilitie for though hee obâ—curely liued in a Countrey Cottage yet had he a superious mind aiming at state and maiestie bearing in his breast the princely thoughts of his Father For on a time keeping Cattell in the Field amongst other yong men of his age and condition he was chosen in sport by them for their Lord or Knight and they to attend on him like dutifull Seruants and although this their election was but in play yet he whose spirits were rauished with great and high matters first procuted them to sweare to him loyalty in all things and to obey him as a King where or when it should please him in any matter to command them to which they all most willingly condescended Thus after they had solemnly taken their oathes he perswaded them to leaue that base and seruile kinde of life séeking to serue in Warre and to follow him being the Generall the which through perswasion they did and so leauing their Cattell to their Fathers and Masters they assembled all together to the full number of a hundred at the least vnto whom he seuerally gaue certaine Red Roses to be worne for colours in their Hattes and commanded them that euer after hee should be called the Red-rose Knight So in this manner departed he with his followers vnto Barnsedale Heath where they pitched vp Tents and liued long time vpon the robberies and spoyles of passengers in so much that the whole Country were greatly molested by them This disordered life so highly displeased the Parents of these vnruly Outlawes that many of them died with griefe but especially of all other old Antonio tooke it in ill part considering how dearely hee louâ—d him and how tenderly hee had brought him vp from his infancy therefore he purposed to practise a meane to call him from that vnciuill kinde of life if it might possible be brought to passe so in his old dayes vndertaking this tasking hee trauelled towards Barnsedale Heath into which being no sooner entred but some of the ruder sort of these Outlawes ceased vpon the old man and without any further violence brought him before their Lord and Captain who at the first sight knew him to be his Father as he thought and therefore vsed him most kindly giuing him the best entertainement that hee could deuise where after they had some small time conferred together the good old man brake out into these spéeches Oh thou degenerate quoth he from natures kind Is this thy duty to thy fathers age thus disobediently to liue â—â—cunding thy naturall Countrey with vnlawfull spoyles Is this the comfort of mine age is this thy loue vnto thy Parents whoâ—e tender care hath béen euer to aduance thy estate Canst thou behold these milke-white Hayres of mine all to rent and torne which I haue violently martyred in thy absence Canst thou indure to see my dim Eyes almost sightlesse through age to droy downe Teares at thy disobedient féete Oh wherefore hast thou infringed the Lawes of Nature thus cruelly to kill thy fathers heart with griefe and to end his dayes by thy vitiâ—uâ— life Returne returne deare Child banish from thy breast these base actions that I may lay I haue a vertuous Sonne and be not like the viperous brood that workes the vntimely death of their Parents And speaking these words griefe so excéeded the bounds of Reason that hee stood silent and beginning againe to speake teares trickled from his eyes in such abundance that they stayed the passage of his spéech the which being perceiued by the Red-rose Knight he humbly sell vpon his knées and in this sort spake vnto good Antonio Most deare and reuerent Lather if my offence doe séeme odious in your eyes that I deserue no forgiuenesse then here behold now your poore inglorious Sonne laying his breast open ready prepared to receiue Deaths remorselesse stroke from your aged hands as a due punishment for this my disobedient crime but to be reclaimed from this honorable kind of life I count it honourable because it taketh of manhood first shall the Sun bring day from out the Westerne Heauens the siluer Moone lodge her brightnesse in the Easterne waues and all things else against both kind and nature turne their wonted â—â—urse Well then quoth Antonio if thy resolution bee such that neither my bitter teares nor my faire intâ—â—aties may preuaile to withdraw thy vaine folly then know then most vngratious impe that thou art no Sonne of mine but sprung from the bowels of some vntanted Tyger or wild Liâ—nesse elâ—e wouldst thou humbly submit thy selfe to my reuerent perswasions from whence thou camest I know not but sure thy breast harbours the tyranny of some monstrous Tyrant from whose â—oynes thou art naturally descended Thou art no fruite of my body for I found thee in thy infancy lying in the Fields cast out as a prey for rauening Fowles ready to bee deuowred by hunger-starued Dogges but such was my pitty towards thée that I tooke thee vp and euer since haue fostered thee as mine owne Child but now such is thy vnbridled folly that my kind curtesie is requited with extreame ingratitude which sinne aboue all others the immortall powers of Heauen doe condemne and the very Diuels themselues doe hate therefore like a Serpent henceforth will I spit at thee and neuer cease to make incessant prayers to the iustfull Heauens to reuenge
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
sometime in the Grecian Court whilst happy fortune smilde but being crost in loue here doe I vow to spend the remitant of my dayes And with that hee catching the word out of her mouth said Oh you immortall Gods and is my Dulcippa yet aliue I I aliue I sée she is I sée that sweet celestiall beautie in her face which hath banished déepe sorrow from my heart and with that kissing her hée said Soo see faire of all faires that Nature euer made I am thy Valentine thy vnhappy Loue the Prince of Greece the Emperours true Sonne who for thy louely sake am thus 〈◊〉 and for thy loue haue left the gallant Court for this 〈◊〉 and homely country life With that shée tooke him about his manly necke and breathed many a bitter sâ—â—h into his bosome and after with wéeping teares discoursed all her passed dangers as well the crueltie of the Empresse as of the vertuous déed of the good Doctor And hauing both recounted their passed fortunes they confented disguised as they were to trauell to the Grecian Court to sée if the Destenies had transformed the state of the Emperour or his regiment for now no longer outcries nor heauie stratagems or sorrowfull thoughts sought to pursue them but smiling fortune gratious delights and happy blessings Now Fortune neuer meant to turne her whéele againe to crosse them with calamities but intended with her hand to powre into their hearts oyle of lasting peace Thus whilst Apolloes beames did parch the tender twigs these two Louers sate still vnder the branches of a shadie Béech recounted still their ioyes and pleasures and sitting both thus vpon a grassy bancke there came trauelling by them an aged old man bearing in his withered hand a staffe to stay his benummed body whose face when Prince Vallentine beheld with a gentle voyce he spake vnto him in this sort Father God saue you How happeneth that you wéeried with age doe trauell through the desart Groues befitting such as can withstand the checkes of Fortunes sicklenes Come faire old man sit downe by vs whose mindes of late were mangled with griefe and crost with worldly cares This good old Hermite hearing the curteous request of the Prince safe downe by them and in sitting downe he fumbled forth this spéech I come young man from yonder Citie whereas the Emperour holds a heauy Court and makes excéeding sorrow for the want of his eldest Sonne and for a Lady which is likewise absent the Empresse being found guilty of their wants is kept close prisoner and is condemned to bee burnt vnlesse within a tweluemoneth and a day she can get a Champion that will enter Battaile in her cause and with her a Doctor also is adiudged to suffer death Great is the sorrow that is there made for this noble Prince and none but commends his vertue and withall the deserued praises of the absent Lady Father replyed then the Prince thou hast told vs tydings full of bitter truth able to enforce an iron heart to lament for cruell is the doome and most vnnaturall the Emperour to deale sâ—hardly with his Quéene Nay quoth the old man if she be guilty I cannot pitty her that will cause the ruine of so good a Prince for higher powers must giue example vnto their subjects By Lady Father quoth the Princely Shepheard you can well guesse of matters touching Kings and to be a svitnesse of this accident wee will presently goe vnto the Court and sée what shall betide vnto this distressed Quéene This being said they left the aged man and so trauailed towards the Grecian Court and by the way these Louers did consult that Prince Valentine attired like a Shepheard should offer himselfe to combat in his Mothers cause and so to expresse the kinde leue and nature which was lodged in his Princely breast But being no sooner arriued in the Court and séeing his Father to take the combat vpon himselfe presently he knéeled downe and like an obedient Senne discouered himselfe and withall Dulcippas strange fortunes whereupon the Empresse and the Doctor were presently deliuered and did both most willingly consent to ioyne these two Louers in the bands of Mariage where after they spent their dayes in peace and happinesse This pleasant Discourse being ended which Sir Lancelot had told to the excéeding pleasure of the greatest company but especially of the Red-rose Knight who gaue many kind thanks At this time the windes began to rise and blow chéerefully by which they sayled on their iourney succesfully from one coast to another till at the last they arriued vpon the coasts of Prester Iohns Land which was in an euening when the day began to loose her christall Mantle and to giue place to the Sable garments of gloomy night where they cast Anchor vnséene of any of that Country Inhabitants CHAP. VI. What happened to the Red-Rose Knight and his company in the Court of Prester Iohn and how the Red-rose Knight slew a Dragon with three tongues that kept a golden Tree in the same Country with other attempts that happned THE next Morning by the breake of day the Red-rose Knight rose from his Cabbin and went vpon the Hatches of the Shippe casting his eyes round about to see if hee could espie some Towne or Cittie where they might take harbour and in looking about hee espied a great spacious Cittie in the middle whereof stood a most sumptuous Pallace hauing many high Towers standing in the ayre like the Orecian Piramides the which he supposed to be the Pallace of some great Potentate therefore calling Sir Lancelot with two other Knights vnto him hee requested them to goe vp into the Citie and to enquire of the Countrey and who was the Gouernour thereof the which thing they promised to doe so arming themselues as it was conuenient being strangers in that Country they went vp into the Citie where they were presently presented vnto Prester Iohn who being alwayes liberall and courteous vnto Strangers gaue them a royall intertainment leading them vp into his Pallace and hauing intelligence that they were English-men and aduenturous trauaileurs he sent foure of his Knights for the rest of their company desiring them in the Knights behalfe to returne to the Court where they should haue a friendly welcome and a Knightly entertainment Thus when the Red-rose Knight had vnderstoode the will of Prester Iohn by his foure Knights the next euening with his whole company hee repaired to the Cittie which was right Noble and fayre and although it was night yet were the Stréetes as light as though it had béene mid-day by the cleare resplendant brightnesse of Torches Cressetts and other Lights which the Citizens ordained to the intertaining of the English Knights The Stréets through which they passed to goe to the Kings Pallace were filled with people as Burgomasters Knights and Gentlemen with Ladies beautifull Damosels which in comely order stood beholding their coÌ„ming But when the Red-rose Knight was entred the Pallace hée found the
Ladyes and Damsels were in her company whilst thus shee lamented her Knights absence who hearing of her desperate intended death made excéeding sorrow Some there were that so mightily grieued that they could not speake one word other some there were that souâ—ht to perswade her from her desperate intent but all in vaine For she presently went from them and with her owne blood writ a Letter and wrapping it in a Sear-cloth and then solved it to the Uestures wherein she was clothed then taking her Crowne shee bound it from her head with a GoldeÌ„ chaine which the Red-rose Knight before time had giuen hâ—r Then when shee had done all this shee came to her little Sunne and many times kissed him and â—o deliuered him to the Ladyes and Damsels to bee nourished so after taking leaue of them all she departed toward the sea whether being â—oâ—te the went to the top of the high rock where she began to looke downe vpon the Sea and after casting her selfe vpon the Earth looking vp towards Heauen she sayd Thou God of my Fortunes Lord of the Windes Seas thou that broughtest into this country the right perfect Knight in beauty manhood and all vertues graunt that when my soule hath made passage out of this world my body may be intombed in his bâ— some which words being sayd shée turned her eyes towards her Pallace and spake with a high voyce Adue my deare Babe adue you glistring Towres my royall Pallace aâ—ue Ladyes and Damsels and lastly adue to all the world And in saying so she cast herselfe into the Sea there desperately drowned her selfe But yet such was her fortune that the waues of the Sea bore her dead body the same day to the English Knights Ship which as then lay in a Road where they had cast Anchor for to rest that night and to be short it so happened at the same houre when her dead Body was cast against the Shipps the Red-rose Knight went vp the Hatches to take the fresh ayre where looking about he espyed the dead Lady richly attyred in cloth of Gold that gorgiously stone in the Water the which he presently caused to be taken vp and brought into the Ship where looking wiâ—hly vpon her he knew her perfectly well and after stooping to kisâ—e her pale Lippes hee found the bloudy Letter which hee had compeled â—râ—pt in Seare-cloth so taking it and reading the contents thereof his Blood began to change and to war redde like the Rose and presently againe as pale as ashes Whereat Sir Launcelat and the other Knights were greatly abashed but especially Anglitora who demaunded the câ—use of his griefe Whereunto the Red-rose Knight was not able to answere a word the sorrow of his heart so excâ—eded yet not withstanding he deliuered the bloody letter to Anglitora the contents whereof are these that follow The bloody Letter of Queene Caelia THou bright Star of Europe thou Chosen of England for prowesse beautie When wilt thou return to fulfill thy promise made vnto her that many a day hath had her eyes planted vpon the Seas after thee shedding more teares in thy absence then the Heauens conteineh Starres Ah my deare Loue makest thou no reckoning nor account of thy promise that thou madest to me at thy departure knowest thou not that euery noble mind is bound to keepe his word vpon paine of reproach and shame but thou hast infringed it and hast broken thy oath of Knighthood which no excuse can recouer For since I last saw thy Shippe floating on the Seas I neuer came within my Pallace till the writing hereof nor neuer lay in Bedde to take my rest nor neuer sate in iudgement on my Countries causes but for the space of fortie dayes I stood vpon a Rocke expecting thy returne till famine constrayned me to depart There haue I stood day and night in raine and in snow in the cold of the morning and in the heate of the Sunne in fasting in prayers in desires in hope and finally languishing in dispaire and death Where when I could heare no newes of thy returne I desperately cast my selfe into the Sea desiring the Gods that they would bring mee either aliue or dead to thy presence to expresse the true affection that I haue euer borne thy noble Person Thus fare thou well From her that liued and dyed with an vnsported minde Thine owne true Louer till we meete in the Elizian fields thy vnhappy Caelia Queene of the Fayerie Land THus when faire Anglitora had read those bloody lines she greatly lamented her vnhappy death withall requested the Red-rose Knight in that she dyed for his sake to beare her Body into England and there most honourably intombe it to which he most willingly consented So causing her body to be inbalmed they hoysted sayle and departed towards England into which Country they within foure moneths safely ariued At whose comming the Inhabitants and dwellers greatly reioyced but chiefely the Red-rose Knight and his company who at their first ariuall knéeled downe vpon the Earth and gaue God thankes for preseruing them from so many dangers and perils to their high renowne and triumphant victoryes After this they intombed the body of Caelia most honourably as befitted a Princesse of her calling This being done they departed towards Pendragon Castle standing in Walles where as then King Arthur kept his royall Court where being ariued they found the King and many other Nobles in a readines to giue them a Princely welcome amongst whom was faire Angelica the Nun of Lincolne mother to the Red-rose Knight yet kept in so secret a manner that neither he nor she had any suspition thereof but spake one to another as méere strangers The discouery of whom discoursed at large in the second part of this Historie as likewise the strange fortune of Caelias little Sonne which the Ladyes in the Fayerie land called by the name of the Fayerie Knight and by what meanes he came to be called the Worlds Tryumph with many other strang accidents c. But now to conclude this first part the Red-rose Knight and the faire Anglitora were solemnely maried together and liued long time in King Arthurs Court in great ioy and tranquilitie and peace FINIS R. I. THE Second Part of the Famous Historie of Toma Lincolne the Red-rose Knight Wherein is declared his vnfortunate Death his Ladyes disloyalty his Childrens Honours and lastly his Death most strangely reuenged Written by the first Author At London Printed by Augustine Matthewes dwelling in the Parsonage House of Saint Brides in Fleete-street 1631. To the Reader PRomise is debt gentle Reader I haue therefore performed what in my first Part I promised which was to shew thee the vnfortunate death of the Red rose Knight his beloued Lady Anglitoras disloyal affections towards him his Childrens Honours Renownes and Dignities and in the period of this small Historie his death both iustly truely and strangely reuenged The reading of which if with good
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
first gaue mee life Oh wicked wretch where shall I nowe hide my head for I haue slaine my selfe in killing her I haue staynde this Chamber héere with humane blood The Heauens abhorre me for this déed The World condemnes mée for this murther and Hell Furies will follow mee with shame and terrour The Gods are grieued Men me thinks â—â—ie my company dead Ghosts arise in my distresses I see my Mother comes with a brest bléeding threatning confusion to my fortunes Oh thou vgly Spirit cease to follow mée torment me not aliue for the wrath of Heauen is fallen vpon my head Dispaire where art thou I must finde thée out I will goe seeke thee through the world and if in the world I finde thee not I le saddle winged Pegasus and scale he mantion place of loue I will ransake all the corners of the â—kie I will throwe downe the Sunne the Moone and Starres then leauing heauen I will goe seeks for Despaire in the loathsome poole of Hell there in Plutoes Court will I binde blacke Cerberus vp in Chaines the triple-headed Helhound that Porter of Hell gates because hee let Despaire passe from thence In this frantike sort ranne he vp and downe the Chamber and at last with the nayles of his fingers hée fell to graue vpon the Stone walles the picture of his Mother imitating Pigmalion hoping to haue life breathed into the same Meane while the poore Indian with fleshlesse armes heaued vp towards Heauen and on his bare knées made his supplication to the Gods for the Blacke Knights recouery of his wittes Oh you angry Heauens quoth hee reuoke your heauy doomes forget this crime forgiue this vnnaturall murther pittie the state of this distressed Knight and send some meanes to recouer his senses Thou bright Lampe of Heauen thou eternall light although in iustice we haue deserued thy wrath yet let my prayers my neuer ceasing Prayers my heartes renting Sighs my déepe inforced Teares worke some remorce from thy incensed ire that either this Knight may recouer his lost senses or set him frée from death Thus in a zealous manner prayed the poore Negar desiâ—ing God to lay the Knights fault vpon his head and reclaime his vnbridled rage which Prayer was soone regarded by Heauen for the Blacke Knight had immediatly his madnesse turned into a sad melancholly and in a more gentle manner made his sad lamentations as you shall heate in the next Chapter But now the Negar that all the time of Anglitoras murther stood in a traunce beganne now a little considering the fright hee tooke at the Blacke Knights madnesse to summon againe together his naturall senses and perceiuing the vnchast Lady dead cold pale wanne lying weltering in her goare and the blood of her false heart shed by her owne child all besprinckled about the Chamber sayd as followeth Now quoth the Negar betwixt life and death haue you showne your selfe a dutifull Sonne and nobly reuenged the death of your Father These were the last words of the poore Indian which as then sâ—nke downe and neuer after breathed Thereupon came fâ—orth the Dwarffe of the Castle with great store of treasure proffering the same to the Blacke Knight who nothing thirsting after couetousnesse refused it and withall tooke the Dwarffe in satisfaction for the Negars death and crammed the treasure downe his throate and after buryed the two Seruants together in one Graue This being done he digged vp his Fathers body from the Dunghill and brought it to the Chamber where his mother lay and after in an Abby yard belonging to the Castle he buryed them both likwise in one Graue This being done hee knéeled thereupon and made his complaint in this manner CHAP. 7 Of the Black Knights melancholy lamentations ouer the graue of his Parents and of other things that hapned OH thricâ— happy for euer-more bee this ground that containes the bodyes of my vnfortunate Parents for this Earth hath receiued the swéete Darling of Nature and the onely delight of the whole World the Sunshine of Christendome and the glory of Mankinde Oh thrice happy be the grasse that from hencefoorth shall grow vpon this Graue let neuer Sithe touch it nor crafty â—urking Serpent with venemous breath or deadly poyson hurt it Let no Lyons pawes nor Beares foot tread vpon it Let no Beasres Horne in any manner abuse it Let no Birds with pecking nor créeping filthy Uermine no winters nipping Frost no nightly falling Dewes no rage of the parâ—hing Sunnes heate nor Starres haue power from Heauen nor fearefull Tempest nor horrible Lightning in any manner annoy it Let no Plough-man driue hither his weary Oren nor Shepheards bring hither their Shéepe least by the Bulls rage it bee harmed or by the harmelesse Shéepe it be eaten but let it for euer grow that the displaying thereof may reach to Heauen and may from hencefoorth this Graue be euer accounted sacred and may the Grasse bee euer sprinkled with swéet Waters Some good man vpon this Graue set a burning Taper that then for euery anguish of my heart I may beate my Breasts till my Fistes haue strucken the winde from my body and that my Soule may beare them company into Elizium Come you wanton fleshly Satyres Come you friendly Fawnes Come you Fayries and Dryades and sing swéet Epitaphes lift vp your voyces to Heauen and let your prayses bée in the honour of my Parents my selfe like a wan pale and dead man will beare you company I will wearie the World with my complaints I will make huge Streames with my Teares such Streames as no Banke shall barre such Streames as no Drought shall drye But alasse what doe I meane to repeate these seuerall lamentations since my deare Parents bée dead since from the world they are parted since they are buried without solemnitie since my delights are all inclosed in the Grounde yet will I still here make my complaints though no good ease comes thereby adding teares to teares and sorrowes to sorrowes Oh frowning Fortune Oh vnlucky Starres Oh cursed day that euer I did this déed for now no sence nor knowledge takes their vnsensible bodyes of my griefes in this Graue there is no féeling in Death there is no pittie taken Oh thou Siluannus thou commander of these Mountaines helpe mee poore helpelesse soule to shed teares for my religion for my deuotion and Countries sake helpe mee either let me haue some comfort in my sorrowes or let me in Death beare my Parents company Thou séest what Torments I suffer how my heart trembles how my eyes flow with teares how my head is with teares possest how my Soule is full of horrible anguish all this thou séest and yet it little grieues thée to sée it Oh thou churlish ground from hencefoorth cease any more to beare Fruit cease to be deck't with Flowers cease to be mantled in Gréene for the purest Flowers are withered Thy Garlands are decayed my deare Parents are too vntimely bereft of life their sweete bodyes thou