end our Names in obscurity let not chill fear the Cowards companion pull us back from the golden Throne where the adventurous Souldier sits in glory deservedly we are to trample in a Field of death and dead mens Bones and to buckle with an Enemy of great strength a Pagans power that seeks to over-run all Christian Kingdoms and to wash our Cambrian Fields with innocent Blood To Arms I say brave followers I will be the first to give death the onset and for my Colours or Ensign do I wear upon my Burgonet you see a green Leek beset with Gold which shall if we win the Victory hereafter be an honour unto Wales and on this day being the first of March be for ever worn by the Welsh-men in remembrance hereof Which Words were no sooner spoken by the Champion but all the Royal Army of every degree and calling got themselves the like Recognizance which was each of them a green Leek upon their Hats or Bravers which they wore all the time of the Battel and by that means the Champions followers were known from the others This was not long a doing before S. David and his Companie beheld descending from the Mountains an Army of Pagans as it seemed numberless people of such mighty Statures whole sight might even have daunted their noble Resolutions had not the brave Champion still animated them forward with Princely incouragements Time stayed not long e're the Battels joyned and the Pagans with their Iron Clubs and Bats of Steel so laid about them that had not our Christian Army been preserved by miracle such a slaughter had been made of the Champion and the Knights that well might have caused the whole World to wonder at But the Queen of Chance so favoured St. David and his Followers that what with their nimble Lances keen Darts and Arrows shot from their quick Bows and Welsh Hooks in great abundance the Sun also lying in the Pagans Faces to their great disadvantage that in short time the Noble Champion won a worthy Uictory The ground lay all covered with mangled Carkasses the Grassie Fields changed from green into red colour with the mingled Blood that ran from Horse and Man thus murthered A Noble Policy was it for all our Christians in that Battel to wear green Leeks in their Burgonets for their Colours by which they were all known and preserved from the slaughter of one anothers Swords only St. David himself excepted who being Uictor in the highest pride of his Glory was at last vanquished O unhappy fate to cut off his honour that was the only darling of Honour Help me Melopemene to bewail his loss that having won all lost his dear life a life that 〈◊〉 whole World might well have miss of Oh fatal Chance for coming from the Battel over-heated in Blood a sudden cold congealed in all his lives Members that without Recovery he was forced to yield unto death to the great grief of all Knights and Followers who for the space of forty days mourned for him in great heaviness and after attended him unto his Grave with much sorrow Which being done in the honour of his Name they ordained a custom that the day of his Uictory should be canonized and called in all after Ages S. David's day being holden still upon the first of March and in remembrance thereof upon the same day should likewise he worn by all well-willers to the same Country certain green Leeks in their Hats or on their Bosoms in true honour of this Noble Martialist which is still a praise worthy Custom in these our Northern Climates which time beloved Souldier we will now leave sleeping in his Tomb in peace and go forward in our other intended Tragical Discourses CHAP. XIX How Saint Dennis was Beheaded in his own Countrey and how by a Miracle shewed at his Death the whole Kingdom of France received the Christian Faith SAint Denis being the third in this our Pilgrimage of Death was likewise desirous of the sight of his own Country which he had not seen in many years and purposing a toilsom Travel to the same took leave of the other Champions who not altogether willing to leave so Noble a Champion yet considering the desire of his mind they quickly condescended wishing him the best well-face of Knight-hood and so parting they to their Princely Pavillions and be to his restless Iourney as well mounted and as richly furnished with habiliments of Knight-hood as any Martialist in all Arabia in which Country he was then but leaving that place to satisfie his desires he travelled day by day toward the Kingdom of France without any Adventure worth reporting till he arrived upon the borders of that fair Country that he had so long wished to behold But now see how Fare frowned the welcome he expected was suddenly converted into a deadly hatred for there was remaining in the French Kings favour a Knight of St. Michaels Drder who in former times hearing of the hourable Adventures of this Noble Champion St. Dennis and thinking this same to be a disparagement to his Knight-hood and the rest of that Drder conspired to betray him and to bring all his former Honours with his life to a final overthrow Whereupon this envious Knight of Saint Michaels goes unto the King being as then a Pagan Prince one that had no true knowledge of the Deity and said There was come into his Kingdom a strange Knight a false Believer one that in time would draw the love of his Subjects from him to the Worship of a strange God and that in despight of him and his Country he would establish a falufyed Opinion and that he wore upon his Breast the Christian Cross With many other things contrary to the Laws of his Kingdom Upon these aforesaid false informations the King grew so enraged that without any more consideration he caused the good Knight Saint Denis to be attached in his Bed-chamber otherwise a score of the best Knights in all France had not been sufficient to bring him Prisoner to the Kings presence before whom being no sooner come but with more than humane sury without cause he adjudged him a speedy Death and by Martial Law without any further Tryal to receive the same The good Champion Saint Denis even in Death having a most noble resolution nothing at all dismayed and knowing his cause to be good and that he should suffer for the Name of his sweet Redeemer he most willingly accepted of the same Iudgment saying Most mighty but yet cruel King think not but yet this exceeding Tyranny will be requited in a strange manner thy censure I take with much joy in that I die for him whose Colours I have worn from mine Infancy and this my Death seals up the obligation of all my Comforts And thou sweet Country where I first took life receive it again a Legacy due unto thee for this my Blood which here I offer up into thy Bosom is the best gift I can
glorious Attempts not only for hope of gain but for the desire of honour at which his illustrious and undaunted mind aimed to eternize his Deeds in the memorable Records of Fame and to shine as a Crystal Mirror to all ensuing Times So closing down his Bever and locking on his Furniture he scoured over the Plains before the Hunters of Jerusalem in pace more swift then the winged Winds till he approached an old unfrequented Forrest wherein he espied a huge and mighty Wild Boar lying before his Mossy Den gnawing upon the mangled joynts of some Passenger which he had murthered as he travelled through the Forrest This Bore was of wonderful length and bigness and so terrible to behold that at the first fight he almost daunted the Courage of the Spanish Knight for his Monstrous head séemed ugly and deformed his Eyes sparkled like a fiery Furnace his Tusks more sharp than pikes of Steel and from his Nostrils fumed such a violent breath that it seemed like a tempestuous Whirlwind his Bristles were more hard than seven times melted Brass and his Tail more loathsome than a wreath of Snakes near whom when St. James approached and beheld how he drank the blood of humane Creatures and devoured their flesh he blew his Silver Horn which as then hung at the Pummel of his Saddle in a Scarf of gréen Silk whereat the furious Monster turned himself and most fiercely assailed the Noble Champion which most nimbly leaped from his Horse and with his Spear struck such a violent blow upon the breast of the Boar that it shivered into twenty pieces Then drawing his good Fauchion from his side he gave him a second encounter but all in vain for he struck as it were upon a Rock of Stone or a Pillar of Iron nothing hurtful to the Boar but at last with staring Eyes which sparkled like burning Steel and with open Iaws the greedy Monster assailed the Champion intending to swallow him alive but the nimble Knight as then trusted more upon policy than to fortitude and so for advantage skipped from place to place till on a sudden he thrust his keen-edged Cuttle-ax down his intestine throat and so most valiantly split his heart in sunder The which being accomplished to his own desire he cut off the Boar's head and so presented the honour of the Combat to the King of Jerusalem who was then with his mighty Train of Knights but now entred the Forrest who having graciously received the gift and bountifully fulfilled his promises demanded the Champion's Country his Religion and place of his Nativity who no sooner had intelligence that he was a Christian Knight and born in the Territories of Spain but presently his patience exchanged into a great fury and by these words expressed his cankered stomach toward the Christian Champion Knowest thou not bold Knight said the King of Jerusalem that it is the Law of Iudah to harbour no uncircumcised Man but either to banish him the Land or end his days by some untimely Death Thou art a Christian and therefore shalt die not all thy Country Treasures the Wealthy Spanish Mines not if all the Alps which divide the Countries of Italy and Spain were torn'd to Hills of burnisht Gold and made my Lawful Heritage they should not redeem thy Life Yet for the honour thou haâ—â— done in Iuda I grant thee this favour by the Law of Arms to choose thy Death else hadst thou suffered a vigorous Torment Which severe Iudgment so amazed the Champion that desperately he would have killed himself upon his own Sword but that he thought it a more Honour to his Country to dye in the Defence of Christendom So like a true ennoâ—led Knight fearing neither the Threats of the Iews nor the impartial stroke of the fatal Sisters he gave this Sentence of his own Death First he requested to be bound to a Pine-tree with his Breast laid open naked against the Sun then to have an hours respite to make his supplication to his Creator and afterwards to be shot to death by a true Uirgin Which words were no sooner pronounced but they disarmed him of his Furniture bound him to a Pine-tree and laid his Breast open ready to entertain the bloody stroke of some unrelenting Maiden but such pity meekness mercy and kind lenity lodged in the heart of every maiden that none would take in hand or be the bloody Executioner of so bravea Knight At last the Tyrannous Nabuzaradan gave strict Commandment upon pain of Death that Lots should be east betwixt the Maids of Juda that were there present and so whom the Lot fell she should be the fatal Executioner of the Condemned Christian. But by chanee the Lot fell to Celestine the King 's own Daughter being the Paragon of Beauty and the fairest Maid then living in Jerusalem in whose heart no such deed of cruelty could be harboured nor in whose hand no bloody Weapon could be entertained Instead of Death's fatal Instrument she shot towards his Breast a deep strained sigh the true messenger of Love and afterwards to Heaven she thus made her humble supplication Thou great Commander of Coelestial moving Powers convert the cruel motions of my Father's mind into a spring of pitiful tears that they may wash away the Blood of this innocent Knight from the habitation of his stained purple Soul O Iudah and Ierusalem within whose Bosoms live a Wilderness of Tygers degenerate from Nature's kind more cruel than the hungry Cannibals and more obdurate than untamed Lions what merciless Tygers can unrip that Breast where lives the Image of true Nobility the very Pattern of Kinghthood and the Map of a noble Mind No no before my hand shall be stained with Christians Blood I will like Scilla against all Nature sell my Country's safety or like Medea wander with the Golden Fleece to unknown Nations Thus and in such manner complained the beauteous Celestine the King's Daughter of Jerusalem till her sighs stopped the passage of her Speech and her Tears stained the natural Beauty of her Rosie Cheeks her Hair which glistred like to Golden Wires she besmeared in dust and disrobed her self of her costly Garments and then with a Train of her Amazonian Ladies went to the King her Father where after a long suit she not only obtained his Life but Liberty yet therewithall his perpetual Banishment from Jerusalem and from all the Borders of Judah the want of whose sight more grieved her heart than the loss of her own life So this Noble and Praise-worthy Celestine returns to the Christian Champion that expected every minute to entertain the Sentence of Death but this expectation fell out contrary for the good Lady after she had sealed two or three Kisses upon his pale Lips being changed through the fear of Death cut the bands that bound his Body to the Tree into many pieces and then with a flood of salt Tears the motives of true Love she thus revealed her mind Most Noble Knight and
her Sister's Wedding The Ceremonies being no sooner performed and the day spent in pleasures fitting the Honour of so great and Mighty a Train but Castria requested the use of the Country which was â—his that the first night of every Maidens Marriage a known Uirgin should lie with the Bride which Honourable task was committed to Castria who provided against the hour appointed a silver Bodkin and hid it secretly in the â—amels of her hair wherewith she intended to prosecute Revenge The Bride's Lodging-Chamber was appointed far from the hearing of any one lest the noise of People should hinder her quiet sleep But at last when the hour of her wishes approached that the Bride should take leave of her Ladies and Maidens that attended her to her Chamber the new-Married Floridon in company of many Scythian Knights committed Marcilla to her quiet Rest little mistrusting the bloody purpose of her Sisters mind But now behold how every thing fell out according to her desires The Ladies and Gentlemen were no sooner departed and silence taken possession of the whole Court but Castria with her own hand locked the Chamber-door and secretly conveyed the Keys under the Beds-head not perceived by the betrayed Marcilla which poor Lady after some speeches departed to Bed wherein she was no sooner laid but a heavy sléep over-mastered her Senses whereby her tongue was forced to bid her Sister good-night who as then sate discontented by her Bed-side watching the time wherein she might conveniently Act the Bloody Tragedy upon a Court-Cupboard stood two burning Tapers that gave Light to the whole Chamber which in her conceit seemed to burn blue which fatal spectacle encouraged her to a more spéedy performance and by the light of the two Lamps she unbraced her Uestures and stripped her self into her Milk-white Smock having not so much upon her head as a Caul to hold up her golden hair after this she took her Silver Bodkin that before she had secretly hidden in her hair and with a wrathful Countenance upon whose brows sate the Image of pale death she came to her new Married Sister being then overcome with a heavy slumber and with her Bodkin pierced her tender Breast who immediately at the stroke thereof started from her sleep and gave such a pitiful shriek that it would have awakened the whole Court but that the Chamber stood far from the hearing of Company except her bloody-minded Sister whose hand was ready to redouble her Fury with a second stroak But when Marcilla beheld the Sheets and Ornaments of her Bed bestained with purple gore and from her Breast ran streams of Crimson blood which like to a Fountain trickled from her bosom she breathed forth this cruel exclamation against the cruelty of Castria O Sister quoth she hath Nature harboured in thy Breast a Bloody mind what Fury hath incensed thee thus to commit my Tragedy In what have I misdone or wherein hath my Tongue offended thee What cause hath been the occasion that thy remorsless band against Nature hath converted my joyful Nuptials to a woful Funeral This is the cause Replyed Castria and therewithal shewed her Womb grown big through the burthen of her Child that I have bathed my hands in thy detested Blood See see Marcilla said she the unhappy Bed wherein thy accursed Husband hath sown his Seed by which my Virgins honour is for ever stained this is the spot which thy heart blood must wash away and this is the shame that nothing but death shall finish therefore a sweet Revenge and a present Murther likewise will I commit upon my self whereby my loathed Soul in company of my unborn Babe shall wander with my Ghost along the Stygian Lakes Which words being no sooner finished but she violently pierced her own Breast whereby the two Sisters Blood were equally mingled together but now Marcilla being the first wounded and the nearer drawing toward Death she wofully complained with this dying Lamentation Draw near said she you blazing Stars you Earthly Angels you embroidered Girls you lovely Ladies and flourishing Dames of Scythia behold her woful end whose Glories mounted to the Elements behold my Marriage-bed here beautified with Tapestry converted to Death's Bloody Habitation my brave Attire to Earthly Mould and my Princely Palaces to Elizium shades being a place appointed for those Dames that lived and dy'd true Virgins for now I feel the pains of Death closing my Life's Windows and Heart ready to entertain the stroke of Destiny Come Floridon come instead of Arms get Eagles Wings that in thy Bosom I may breathe my murdered Ghost World fare thou well I was too proud of thy inticing pleasures thy Princely Pomp and all thy glistring Ornaments I must for ever bid adieu Father farewell with all my Masking Train Courtly Ladies Knights and Gentlewomen my Death I know will make thy Palace Death's Gloomy Regiment and last of all farewell my Noble Floridon for thy sweet sake Marcilla here is Murdered At the end of which words the dying Lady being faint with the abundance of Blood that issued from her wounded Breast gave up the Ghost No sooner had pale Death seized on her liveless body but Castria through the extremity of her wounds was ready to entertain the stroke of her fatal Sister who also complained in this manner Hearken to me you Loving Girls said she to you I speak that know what endless grief disloyal and false Love breeds in constant minds the thought whereof is so intolerable to my Soul that it exceeds the Torments of Danae's Daughters which continually fill Water in bottomless Tubs in Hell Oh that my Ears had never listened to his sugared spéeches nor never known what Courtly pleasures meant where Beauty lives a bait for every lustful eye but rather to have lived a Country Lass where sweet content is harboured and Beauty shrowded under true Humility then had not Floridon bereaved me of my sweet Uirginity nor had this accursed hand committed this cruel Murder But Oh! I feel my soul passing into Elizium shades where Croesus's shadow and Didoe's Ghost have their abidings thither doth my spirit flie to be entertained amongst those unhappy Ladies whom unconstant Love hath murdered Thus Castria not being able to speak any longer gave a very grievous sigh and so bad adieu to the World Now when the Morning Sun had chased away the darksome Night Floridon who little mistrusted the Tragedy of the two Sisters repaired to the Chamber-door with a Consort of skilful Musicians where the inspiring Harmony sounded to the Walls and Floridon's Morning Salutations were spent in vain For Death so stopped the two Princesses Ears that no resound of thanks at all re-answered his words which caused Floridon to depart thinking them to be asleep and to return within an hour after who without any Company came to the Chamber-door where he again found all silent at which suspecting some future event he burst open the Door where being no sooner entred but he sound the
that thy glistering Beauty may have such force and power whereby the shining beams thereof may take revengement of the dishononr of thy Mother give ear dear Child I say unto thy dying Mother thou that art born in the Dishonour of thy Generation by the loss of my Virginity here do I charge thee upon my Blessing even at my hour of Death and swear thee by the band of Nature never to suffer thy Beauty to be enjoyed by any one until thy disloyal Father's Head be offered up in Sacrifice unto my Grave thereby somewhat to appease the fury of my discontented Soul and recover part of my former Honour These and such like words spake the as afflictes Queen to the wonderful amazement of the thrée young Knights which as yet intended not to discover themselves but still to mark the event for they conjectured that her woful Complaints were the indualon of some strange Accident Thus as they stood obscurely behind the Trees they saw the young and beautiful Damsel give unto her dying Mother Payer Pen and Ink the which she pulled from her fair Bâ—som with which the grieved Queen subscribed certain sorrowful Lines unto him that wâ—â— the causer of her Bamâ—tment and making an end of her Writing then heard her with a dying Breath speak unto her Daughter these sorrowful Words following Come Daughter quoth she behold thy Mother at her latest Gasp and imprint my dying Request in thy Heart as in a Table of Brals that it never may be forgotten time will not give longer respite that with Words I may shew unto thee my deep Affections for I feel my Death approaching and the fatal Sisters ready to cut my thread of Life asunder between the edges of their Shears insomuch that I most miserable Creature do feel my Soul trembling in my Flesh and my Heart quivering at this my last and fatal Hour but one thing my sweet and tender Child do I desire of thee before I die which is That thou wouldest procure that this Letter may be given to that cruel Knight thy disloyal Father giving him to understand of this my troublesome Death the occasion whereof was his unreasonable Cruelty and making an end of laying this the miserable Queen fell down not having any more strength to sit up but let the Letter fall out of her hand the which her sorrowful Daughter presently took up and falling upon her Mother's Breast she replied in this sorrowful manner O my sweet Mother tell me not that you will die for it adds a Torment more grievous unto my Soul than the Punishment which Danaus his Daughters feel in Hell I had rather be torn in pieces by the fury of some merciless Monster or to have my Heart parted in twain by the hands of him that is my greatest Enemy than to remain without your company Sweet Mother let these my youthful Years and this green budding Beauty encourage you still to revive and not to leave me comfortless like an Exile in the World but if the gloomy Fates do triumph in your Death and abridge your breathing trunk of Life and your Soul must needs go wander in the Elizian Shades with Trula's Shadow and with Dido's Ghost here I protest by the great and tender Love I bear you and by the due Obedience that I own unto your Age either to deliver this your Letter into the hand of my unkind Father or with these my ruful Fingers to rend my Heart in sunder and before I will forget my Yow the silver streamed Tygris shall forsake her Course the Sea her Tydes and the glistering Queen of Night her usual Changes neither shall any Forgetfulnesâ— be an occasion to withdraw my Mind from performing your dying Requests Then this weak Queen whose Power and Strength was wholly decayed and her hour of Deaâ—h grew near aâ— hand with a feeble Uoice she said O you sacred and immortal Gods and all you bright celestial Powers of Happiness into your divine Bosomes now do I commend my dying Soul asking no other Revengement against the causer of my Death but that he may die lâ—ke me for want of Love After this the dâ—ing Queen nâ—vâ—r spake word more for at that instant the cruel â—estinâ—es gave an end unto her Life but when Rosana peâ—ceived her to be Dead and she left to the World devoid of Comfort shâ— began to tear the golden Trammels from her Head and most â—uâ—iouâ—ly to beat her where 〈◊〉 Breast filling the empty Air with â—lamours of her Mâ—aâ—s making tâ—e Skâ—eâ— like an Eccho to resound her Lamentations and at last taking her Mâ—ther's Letter into her hands washing it with floods of Tears and puâ—tâ—ng it next unto her naked Breast she said Here lie thou near adjoyning to my bleeding Heart never be removed until I have performed my dying Mother's Testament Oh Works and the last Work of those her dying Hands here do I swear by the Honour of true Virgins not to part it from my grieved Bosome until such time as Love has rent the disloyal Heart of my unkind Father and speaking this she kissed it a tâ—ousand times breatâ—ing forth millions of Sighs and so with a bluâ—â—ing Countenance as red as Aurora's glistering Beams she â—ose and said to herselâ— What is this Rosana dost thou think to recal thy Mother's Life with ceremonious Complaints and not perform that which by her was commanded thee Arise arise I say gather unto thyself Strength and Courage and wander up and down the World till thou hast found thy disloyal Father as thy true heart hath promised to do Theâ—e words were no sooner finished but St. George's Sons like Men whose Hearts were almost overcome with Gâ—ief came fâ—oâ— the Pine-trées and discovered themselves to the Damsel and courteously requested her to discourse the Story of all her pâ—ssed Mâ—series and as they were true Christian Kâ—ights they promised her if it lay in their Power to releaâ—e her Sorrows and to give end unto her Miseries Rosana when she beheld these courteous anâ— well dâ—meanoâ—'d Knâ—ghts which in her conceit carried relenting Minds and considering how kindâ—y they dâ—sired to be paâ—tners in her Greifs she stood not â—â—en curious Terms nor upon Exceptions but most wiâ—â—ingly condescended to their Requests so when they had prepared their Ears to entertain her sad and sorrowful Discourse with a sober Countenance she began in this manner Lately I was quoth he whilst Fortune smiled on me the only Child and Daughter of this liveless Queen that you behold here lying Dead and she before my Birth whilst Fortune granted her Prosperity was the Maiden Queen of a Country called Armenia adjoyning near unto this unhappy Island whom in her young Years when her Beauty began to flourish and her high Renown to mount upon the wings of Fame she was so intrapped with the golden Bait of blind Câ—pid and â—o intangled with the Love of a disloyal Knight called the Knight of the Black Castle who after he had flourisht in the
so And so it may I will it not deny Yet have I tryd so long and this do know Time gives no end to this my misery But rather Fortune Time and Fate agree To Plague my heart with woe eternally Ye Silvan Nymphs that in these Woods do shrowd To you my mournful sorrows I declare You Savage Satyrs let your ears be bow'd To hear my woe your nimble Selves prepare Trees Herbs and Flowers in Rural Fields that grow While thus I mourn do you some silence show Sweet Philomel cease thou thy song a while And will thy Mates their Melodies to leave And all at once attend my mournful stile Which will of mirth your sugred notes bereave If you desire the burthen of my Song I sigh and sob cause Ladies I did wrong You furious Beasts that feed on Mountains high And restless run with rage your Prey to find Draw near to him whose brutish cruelty Hath cropt the bud of Virgins chast and kind The only thing yet rests to comfort me Repentance comes a while before I die Since all agree for to increase my care What hope have I for to enjoy delight Sith Fates and Fortune do themselves prepare To work against my soul their full despight I know no means to yield my heart relief T is only death which can dissolve my grief I muse and may my sorrows being such That my poor Heart can't longer life sustain Sith daily I do find my grief so much As every day I feel a dying Pain But alas I live afflicted still And have no hope to heal me of my ill When as I think upon my Pleasure past Now turn'd to Pain it makes me rue my state And since my joy with woe is over-cast O death give end to my unhappy fate For only death will lasting life provide Where living thus I sundry deaths abide Wherefore all you that hear my mournful Song And tasted have the grief that I sustain All lustful Ravishers that have done wrong With tear fill'd eyes assist me to complain All that have being do my being hate Crying hast hast this Wretches dying state This sorrowful Song being dâ—ne he laid himself an along upon the green grass closing up the closers of his eyes in hope to repose himself in a quiet sleep and to abandon all discontented thoughts in which silent contemplations we will leave him for a while and return to Rosana the Queens Daughter of Armenia that bold Amazonian Lady whom you remember likewise departed from the Black Castle clad with Enchanted Armour in the pursuit of her disloyal Father whom she never in her life beheld This courteous Lady to perform her Mothers Will travelled up and down strange Countries with many a weary step yet never could she meet with her unkind Father unto whom she was commanded to give her Mothers Letter neither could she here in any place wheresoever she came where she might go to seek him In which travel she met with strange Adventures which with great honour to her Name she finished yet still she wandred over Hills and Dales Mountains and Ualleys and through many solitary Woods till at last she hapned by fortune into the Wilderness whereas this discontented Knight lay sleeping upon the green grass near to which place she likewise reposed her self under the branches of a Chess-nut Tree desiring to take some rest after her long travel But upon a sudden being betwixt waking and sleeping she heard towards her left hand a very dolorous groan as it were of some sorrowful Knight which was so terrible heavy and bitter that it made her to give an attentive car unto the sound and to see if she could hear and understand what it should be So with making the least noise that she could possibly she arose up and went toward the place whereas she might see who it was and there she beheld a Knight very well armed lying upon the green grass under a certain fair and green Myrtle Tree his Armour was all Russet and full of bars of black Steel which shewed to be a very sad sorrowful and heavy Enamelling agreeable to the inward sadness of his heart He was somewhat of a big stature of body and well proportioned there seemed by his disposition to be in his heart great grief where after she had a while stood in secret beholding his sorrowful countenance in a woful manner he tumbled his restless body upon the green grass with a sad and heavy look he breathed forth this lamentation Oh heavy and perverse Fortune said he why dost thou consent that I so vile and cruel a wretch do breath so long upon the Earth upon whose wicked head the Golden Sun disdains to shine and the glittering Elements deny their chearful lights Oh that some ravenous Harpy would welter from his Den and make his loathsome bowels my fatal Tomb or that my eyes were sightless like the miserable King of Thebes that I never might again behold this Earth whereon I have long lived and committed so many cruelties I am confounded with the curse of sad mischance for wronging that Maiden Queen of Armenia in the spoil of whose Uirginity I made a triumphant Conquest O Leoger Leoger What fury did induce thee to commit so great sin leaving her stained with thy Lust and dishonoured by thy disloyalty O cruel and without Faith thou wert nursed with some unkindly milk of Tygers and born into the World for thine own torment Where was thine Understanding when thou forsookest that gracious Princess who not only yielded to thee her Liberty Love and Honour but therewith a Kingdom and a golden Diadom and therefore woe unto me Traytor and more woes fall upon my soul than there be hairs upon my head and may the sorrows of old Priam be my last punishment What doth it profit me to fill the Air with Lamentations when that the Crime is already past without all remedy or hope of comfort this being said he gave a grievous and terrible sigh and so held his peace Rosana by those heavy and sorrowful Lamentations together with his Reasons which she heard knew him to be her disloyal Father whom she had so long travelled after to find out but when she remembred how that his unfaithfulness and unkindness was the death of her Mother her heart endured such extream pain and sorrow that she was constrained without any feeling to fall down to the ground But yet her couragious heart could not remain long in that passion but straightways she rose up again upon her feet with a desire to perform her Mothers Will but yet not intending to discover her Name nor to reveal unto him that she was his Daughter So with this thought and determination she went unto the place where Leoger was who when he heard the noise of her coming straight ways started upon his feet Then Rosana did salute him with a voice somewhat heavy and Leoger did return his salutations with no less shew of grace Then
the Amazonian Lady took forth the Letter from her naked Breast where so long time she had kept it and she delivered it into his hands and said Is it that thou art that forgetul and disloyal Knight which left the unfortunate Queen of Armenia with so great pain and sorrow big with child among those unmeriful Tyrants her Country Men which banished her out of her Country in revenge of thy committed Crime where ever since she hath been companion with Wild Beasts that in their natures have lamented her Banishment Leoger when he heard her say these Words began to behold her and although his eyes were all to be blubbred and weary of waeping yet he most earnestly gazed in her face and answered her in this manner I will not deny to thee gentle Amazonian said he that which the very clouds do blush at and the low earth doth mourn for Thou shalt understand that I am the same Knight whom thou hast demanded after tell me therefore what is thy Will My Will is said she thou most ungrateful Knight that thou read here this Letter the last Work of the white hand of the unhappy Armenian Queen At which Words the Knight was so troubled in thought and grieved in mind that it was almost the occasion to dissolve his Soul from his Body and therewithal putting forth his hand somewhat trembling he took the Letter and set himself down very sorrowful upon the green grass without any power to the contrary his grief so abounded the bounds of reason No sooner had he opened the Letter but he presently knew it to be written by the hands of his wronged Lady the Armenian Queen and with great alteration both of heart and mind he read the sorrowful Lines which contained these Words following The Queen of Armenia her Letter TO thee thou disloyal Knight of the Black Castle the unfortunate Queen of Armenia can neither send nor wish salutations for having no health my self I cannot send it unto him whose cruel mind hath quite forgotten my true love I cannot but lament continually yea and complain unto my Fates incessantly considering that my fortune is converted from a Crowned Queen to a miserable and banished Caitiff whereas savage Beasts are my chief Companions and the mournful Birds my best Solicitors Oh Leoger Leoger why didst thou leave me comfortless without all cause as did Eneas his unfortunate Dido what second love hath bereaved me of thy sight and made thee forget her that ever shall remember thee O Leoger remember the day when first I saw thy face which day be fatal evermore and counted for a dismal day in time to come both heavy black and full of foul mischances for it was unhappy unto me for in giving thee joy I bereaved my self of all and lost the Possession of my liberty and honour although thou hast not esteemed nor took care of my sorrowful Fortunes yet thou shouldest not have mockt my perfect love and disdained the servent affection that I have born thee in that I have yielded to thee that precious Jewel the which hath been denyed to many a Noble King O love cruel and spiteful love that so quickly didst make me blind and deprived me of the knowledge that belonged to my Royal Highness Oh uncourteous Knight being blinded with thy Love the Queen of Armenia stained her honesty which she ought to have kept and preserved it from the biting canker of disloyal Love Hadst thou pretended to meck me thou shouldst not have suffered me to have lost so much as I did forgo for thy sake Tell me why didst thou not suffer me to execute my Will that I might have opened my white Breast with a piercing Sword and sent my Soul to shady Banks of sweet Elizium Then had it been better for me to have dyed than to live still and daily die Remember thy self Leoger and behold the harm that will come hereof have a care to the Pawn which thou hast sealed in my Womb and let it be an occasion that thou mayst after all thy violent Wrongs return to see me sleeping on my Tomb that my Child may not remain Fatherless in the Power of Wild Beasts whose hearts be fraughted with nothing but cruelty Do not consent that the perfect love which I bear thee should be counted vain but rather perform the Promise which thou hast made to me Oh unkind Leoger O cruel and hard heart is falshood the firm love that so unfeignedly thou didst profess to me What is he that hath been more unmerciful than thou hast been There is no furious Beast nor lurking Lyon in the Desarts of Lybia whose merciless paws are all besmeared in blood that is so cruelly hearted as thy self else wouldesâ— thou not leave me comfortless spending my days in solitary Woods whereas Tygers mourn at my distresses and the chirping Birds in their kinds grieve at my lamentations the unreasonable torments and sorrows of my soul are so many that if my Pen were made of Libian Steel and my Ink the purple Ocean yet could I not write the number of my Woes But now I determine to advertise thee of my desired Death for in writing this my last Testament the Fates are cutting asunder my thread of life and I can give thee knowledge of no more but yet I desire thee by the true love which I bear thee that thou wilt read with sorrow these few lines and now I desire the Destinies that thou mayst die the death that for thee I now do and so â—end By her which did yield unto thee her Life Love Honour Fame and Liberty WHen this sad and heavy Knight had made an end of reading this dolorous Letter he could not restrain his Eyes from distilling salt tears so great was the grief that his heart sustained Rosana did likewise bear him company to solemnize his heaviness with as many tears trickling from the conduits of her Eyes The great sorrow and lamentation was such and so much in both their hearts that for a great space the one could not speak unto the other but afterwards their griefs being somewhat extenuated Leoger began to say Oh Messenger from her with the remembrance of whose wrong my heart is wounded being undeservedly of me evil rewarded tell me even by the nature of true love if thou dost know where she is shew unto me her abiding place that I may go thither and give a discharge of this my great fault by yielding unto Death Oh cruel and without love answered Rosana What discharge canst thou give unto her that already through thy Cruelty is dead and buryed only by the occasion of such a forsworn Knight This penitent and grieved Knight when he understood the certainty of her Death with a sudden and hasty fury he struck himself on the Breast with his fist and lifting his Eyes unto the Clouds in manner of Exclamation against the Fates giving deep and sorrowful sighs he threw himself to the ground tumbling and wallowing from one
bestow upon thee Farewel Knighthood farewel honourable Adventures and Princely Atchievments Never may this dauntless arm brandish Weapon more in honour of the Christian Cross For death awaiteth at my back to cut off all such noble hopes and I by Tyranny am betrayed thereto These Speeches being uttered he was forced to stand silent and in the presence of the King with many hundreds more was constrained to yield his Body to the fatal stroak where his Head being laid upon the Block was by a base Eâ—ecutioner quickly dissevered from the rest of his manly Members Which being no sooner done and the Champion lifeless but the Elements beset with cloudy exhalations sent down such a terrible Thunder-clap that struck presently dead the Knight of Saint Michael that accused him the Executioner with others that were at his Attachment at which strange and fearful spectacle the King himself grew so amazed that he deemed him to be a blessed Creature and that he had suffered wrongfully and how his cause for which he so willingly rendred up his life was the true cause which all must have a desire to die in Wherefore incontinent from a Pagan the King turned Christian and caused the same to be proclaimed through all his Provinces ordaining Churches to be built in remembrance of this great Man And likewise in the place where he suffered he caused with all speed to be built an Hermitage of relief for poor Pilgrims to find succour in and such as travelled in the honour of that God in whose Name this good Champion dyed Thus received France the true Faith in which we leave it flourishing and speak of Saint James the Spanish Champion and how he dyed CHAP. XX. Of the Tyrannous Death that the Spanish Champion was put unto and how God revenged the same in a strange manner and of other things that hapned HEre gentle Reader with a sad eye prepare to give Entertainment to the dolorous manner of the Spanish Champions Death who by Tyranny and cruel Dealing of the Intidels was likewise made away For Age and Time as upon the former grew upon him and so enfeebled his strength that he was no longer able to manage the Adventures of Chivalry nor sight the Battels of his Saviour Wherefore resolving to spend the remnant of his days in peace he desired leave likewise to commit his Fortunes to the Queen of Chance which as the other did he quickly obtained and so leaving Constantinople he put himself to travel towards the Country of his first Being not decked in his shining Armour nor mounted on his Spanish Gennet but poor and bare in outward habit though inwardly furnished with Gold and Jewels of an inestimable value which he had sowed up in the patches of a russet Gaberdine the better to travel with where instead of a bright shining Curtle-Axe his Pilgrims Staff served him to walk with and for his Burgonet of glistring Steel he covered his head now as white Thistle-down with Age with a Hat of gray colour broached with a broad Scallop-shell his Princely Lodgings were changed to green Pastures and his Canopies to the Skies azured covering where the Nightingale and Lark told the times passage These were now his best contents and comforts that time and age bestowed upon him In which manner travelling many days and nights giving still as he went the poor and needy such small pieces of Silver as he well could spare he arrived at last upon the Consines of Spain Where in honour of that God for whom he had fought so many Battels he builded up at his own charge a most sumptuous Chappel to this day bearing the Name of Saint Jacque's Chappel and for the maintenance thereof purchased divers Lands adjoining with Quiristers to sing a Day and Night therein Allelujah to his Redeemer This Celestial gift and glorious customs so prepared begot such love of the meaner sort of People that they esteemed him more than a Man with a reverence of such regard bestowed upon him that the very Name of this Noble Champion won greater admirations than the high Tilts of their Countries King who being then a cruel Tyrant and proud King maintaining Atheism by his Government grew so envious thereat that he caused good Saint Jacques with the whole Quire of his Celestial Singers to be closed up together in the Chappel which the Champion had erected so starved them to death Oh bloody butchery and inhumane cruelty a death of more terrour than ever was heard of Nero in ripping up his Mothers Womb to see the Bed of his Creation was not half so cruel But to be short hunger prevailed and they dead their Bodies purrified and in time consumed away to dust and mould whereupon the Lord to shew how they died in his favour and the love of Heaven inflicted such a light in the Chappel that it shined Day and Night with such a glorious brightness as if it had been the glorious Palace of the Sun and likewise continually was heard therein though no Creature remaining such a Quire of melodious Harmony as if it had been the sound of Celestial Musick Which strange pleasures both to the eyes and ear bred so great an amazement to the whole Countrey that all with the common consent accused their King for the tyrannous putting to death of these good men so cruelly murthered but especially the noble S. Jacques that they purposed to hold him for their Countrys Saint and Champion till the Worlds dissolution The proud King perceiving now his own rashness and his common hate against him for this deed doing took an inward conceit of grief that without taking any food ever after he languished away and died Thus have you heard the Tragedy of the Spanish Champion whom we likewise commit to the sweet sleeps of Eternity and pass on further to more dreadful Accidents CHAP. XXI Of the Honourable and Worthy Death of the Italian Champion how in the height of pleasure in his own Countrey death by a Prophecy seized upon him AFter all these aforesaid Proceedings Nature the common Nurse of us all so wrought in the heart of Saint Anthony the Champion for Italy that he undertook the next Tragical Enterprize and leaving Saint George with Saint Andrew resting their crazed Bones in the Emperours Court of Constantinople where they lately atchieved so many Praises of Knighthood he took his Journey towarns Italy and knowing by the course of Nature that his Days were not many he purposed there to set up his lives rest and in Death to finish up all Earthly Troubles So coming after a long Journey to the City of Rome where the Emperour Domitian kept his Court and the City being then in her chiefest Pomp and Glory won great desire in the Champions Mind to see the Monuments of the same So upon the Morning going from his Lodging he walked up and down the streets with admiration and fed his eyes with many delightful Objects First with great wonder he stood gazing upon
In his Shield was pourtrayed the resemblance of a Garden with divers springing flowers and this Motto still increasing Against him entered a Corinthian Knight named Agelastus mounted on a Milk white Horse but that upon his Shoulders and Withers he was frâ—ckled with red stains as when a few Strawberries are scattered into a dish of Cream His Armour was blood red denoting terrour to his Enemies and on his Shield was depensilled a Hawk siezed on a Pigeon yet hurting it not the Word was True Glory the only prize At the sound of the Trumpets which was by the appointment of two Reverend Iudges they ran fiercely against each other breaking their staves with much gallantry but at the second course Agelastus was driven quite from out of the saddle which disgrace he would have revenged with his sword but that the Iudges forbid it it being quite contrary to the order set down To revenge this disgrace there entered the Lists a Laconian Knight named Lysander riding on a Barbary Horse of a cole black his Armour answerable to the same representing the dark shades of night through which yet peeped some stars as if a comfortable day would ensue On his Shield was pourtrayed the Goddess Fortune who Janus like looked two ways to denote that nothing in this World is so certain but that if good went before as ill might come behind the word was the end Crowns all These two encountered each other with such invincible courage as made the Spectatours to surmize that the Warlike Mars and invincible Alcides were come to try their martial prowess upon Earth and fighting thus with equal courage a long space Sir Alberts Horse leaning hard upon the other and wining ground the other Horse féeling himself prest began to rise a little before as he was wont to do in his Cornet which advantage Sir Albert taking set forward his own Horse with the further spur so as Lysanders Horse came over with his Master under him giving to Sir Albert the honour of the victory Many other Knights and great Personages were by him worsted as Sir Egre of Sparta Don Zara of Argos VVildamore of Creet and many others but as we have seen the Sun in a â—erene day disperse his Beams with great splendour enlightening the World to the content of all the beholders and towards the Evening his radiant lustre set in a darkned Cloud even so the glories gained by Sir Albert were darkned by his last enterprize with an encounter against an Arcadian Knight named Sir Selvador who at such time as was the Ebb of day when Phaebus bright Chariot had run past the proud Pillars of Alomena's Son and with his Earth born shades began to cloath the Earth with night entered the Lists in an Armour representing only confusion no piece answerable to the other yet all so well compacted as if Art had made order in confusion At the signal of the Trumpets sounding they set spurs to their Horses encountering each other with such well guided valour and Courage as showed them each to be a Master of Martial Prowess but at the third course it was Sir Alberts ill fortune to miss his Rest which he could not recover before Sir Selvador had met him and by main strength cast him to the ground The Honour of the day remaining thus to Sir Selvador the approach of night put a period to those Martial exercises for that day which yet were continued with manly courage and resolution for several days after And now before King Alexanders return home to Thessaly the Coronation of Guy with his Quéen Urania was appointed which was performed with all art and splendour imaginable which also made good the Prophesie that the Fairy Quéen had predicted of him as we mentioned before in the 14 Chapter of the first part of this History A Souldier bold a man of wonderous might A King likewise this Royal Babe shall dye Three Golden Diadems in bloody fight By this brave Prince shall also conquered be The Towers of fair Ierusalem and Rome Shall yield to him in happy time to come The Coronation being thus over King Alexander with his Retinue returned to Thessaly being accompanied part of the way with King Guy and his Queen Urania Captain Bolus also with the English Soldiers departed to their own Country being highly rewarded by the King and Queen And now here must we leave these worthy Captains to relate what befel to the Heroick Knight Sir David after he was separated from his two Brothers in the storm as you heard before said CHAP. XIV How Sir David and his Company were almost Famished with Hunger How they came to the Isle Fortuna where Sir David slew a Dragon and delivered the Island Ancona from Enchantment AFter the angry Seas had by the fury of the Tempest separated the three Brothers as you heard declared before The magnanimous Knight Sir David was with his Ship by the force of the storm driven upon unknown Seas where they sailed for several days in great want and penury being necessitated both for victuals and fresh water having nothing but their own tears to quench their thirst and ready to eat one another to satisfie their hunger Impetuous Famine that pinching fury so Lording it over them as nothing was expected now but to dye a lingring and of all others the worst kind of death The Sailers were grown so feeble they were not able to handle their Sails and the Souldiers instead of encountring their Enemies ready to embrue their hands in their fellows bloods and like Cannibals to devour those whom they slew The disconsolate Sir David seeing his Soldiers thus with weakned Limbs and barking Stomachs thus complained to himself O you Immortal Powers why did you reserve us thus from the hands of our Enemies to perish by a more lingring and ignoble death O why was I born to see this day far better it had been for us to have been slain by the swords of the Insidels then had we dyed in the bed of Honour and not thus miserably to end our Lives by that which Valour cannot encounter nor the stoutest Courage be able to resist In this manner did the Noble Knight Sir David make his Complaint but not willing the Souldiers should know his inward grief he comforted them in the best wise he could although his own hopeless misery could present no comfort to himself But now at last when all hope seemed 〈◊〉 and every woe that could by despair be brought presenâ—â—d it self to the troubled thought it chanced that one of the Company as he thought spyed Land which he imparting to his fâ—llows they upon view imagined the same wheâ—â—upon some sparks of comfort began to enter in at the crannics of their heâ—rts and making towards it as well as their weak Bodies was able to guide the Ship with much ado they got on Land which â—o their great Comfort they found plentifully scored with Sheep Câ—nies and divers sorts of Fowls with which they
which Balm this courteous Lady chafed every part of the breathless Champion's body one while washing his stiff Limbs with her salt tears the which like pearls fell from her Eyes another while drying them with tresses of her golden hair which hung dangling in the wind then chafing his lifeless body again with a Balm of a contrary nature but yet no sign of life could she espie in the dead Knight which caused her to grow desperate of all hope of his recovery Therefore like a loving meek and kind Lady considering he had lost his life for her sake she intended to bear him company in Death and with her own hands to finish her days and to die upon his Breast as Thisbe died upon the Breast of her true Pyramis therefore as the Swan sings a while before her death so this sorrowful Lady warbled forth this Swan-like Song over the body of the Noble Champion Muses come mourn with doleful Melody Kind Silvan Nymphs that sit in Rosie Bowers With brackish tears commix your harmony To wail with me both minutes days and hours A heavy sad and Swan-like song sing I To ease my heart a while before I die Dead is the Knight for whom I live and die Dead is the Knight which for my sake is slain Dead is the Knight for whom my careful cry With wounded soul for ever shall complain A heavy sad and Swan-like Song sing I c. I 'll lay my Breast upon a Silver stream And swim in Elysium's Lilly Fields There in Ambrosia Trees I 'll write a Theme Of all the woful sighs my sorrow yields A heavy sad and Swan-like Song sing I c. Farewell fair Woods where sing the Nightingales Farewell fair Fields where feed the light-foot Dee Farewell you Groves you Hills and Flowry Dales But fare you ill the cause of all all my woes A heavy sad and Swanlike Song Sing I c. Ring out my ruth you hollow Caves of Stone Both Birds and Beasts with all things on the ground You sensless Trees be assistant to my moan That up to Heaven my sorrows may resound A heavy sad and Swan-like Song sing I c. Let all the Towns of Thrace Ring out my Knell And write in leaves of Brass what I have said That after Ages may remember well How Rosalinde both liv'd and dy'd a Maid This woful Ditty was no sooner ended but the desperate Lady unsheathed the Champion's Sword which was as yet all besprinkled with the Gyant 's Blood and being at the very point to execute her intended Tragedy and the sharp edged Weapon directly against her Ivory Breast she heard the distressed Knight give a grievous and terrible groan whereat she stopped her remorseless hand and with more discretion tendred her own safety for by this time the Balm wherewith she anointed his Body by wonderful operation recovered the dead Champion insomuch that after some few gasps and deadly sighs he rais'd up his stiff Limbs from the cold Earth where like one cast into a Trance for a time he gazed up and down the Mountain but at the last having recovered his lost Senses espied the Thracian Damsel stand by not able to speak one word her joy so abounded but after some continuance of time he revealed to her the manner of his dangerous encounter and successful Uictory and she the cause of his recovery and her intended Tragedy Where after many kind Salutations she courteously took him by the hand and led him into the Castle where for that night she lodged his weary Limbs in an easie Bed stuffed with Turtle-feathers and softest Thistle-down the Chamber where he lay had as many Windows as there were Months in the Year and as many Doors as there were Quarters in the Year and to describe the curious Architecture and the artificial Workmanship of the place were too tedious and a work without end But to be short the noble-minded Knight slept soundly after his dangerous Battel without mistrusting of Treason or Rebellious Cogitations till Golden Phoebus bad him good morrow Then rising out of his stoathful bed he attired himself not in his wonted Habiliments of War but in Purple Garments according to the time of Peace and so intended to over-view the Rarities of the Castle but the Lady Rosalinde all the morning was bufied in looking to his Horse preparing Delicates for his Repast and in making a fire against his uprising where after he had refreshed his weary steps with a dainty Banquet and carowsed down two or three Bowls of Greekish Wine he after by the advice of Rosalinde stripped the Grant from his Iron Furniture and left his naked body upon a craggy Rock to be devoured of hungry Ravens which being done the Thracian Uirgin discovered all the Castle to the adventurous Champion first she led him to a Leaden Tower where hung a hundred well approved Corssers with other Martial Furniture which were the spoils of such Knights as he had violently slain after that she brought him to a Stable wherein stood a hundred pampered Iades which daily fed upon nothing but humane flesh against it was directly placed the Gyant 's own Lodging his Bed was of Iron corded with mighty Bars of Steel the Testern or Covering of carved Brass the Curtains were of leaves of Gold and the rest of a strange and wonderful substance of the colour of the Element after this she led him to a broad Pond of Water more clear than Quick-silver the Streams whereof lay continually as smooth as Crystal whereon swam six milk-white Swans with Crowns of Gold about their Necks Oh here said the Thracian Lady begins the Hell of all my Grief At which words a shower of pearled Tears ran from the Conduit of her Eyes that for a time they staid the passage of her Tongue but having discharged her heart from a few sorrowful sighs she began in this manner to tell her forepassed Fortunes These six milk-white Swans most honourable Knight you behold swimming in this River quoth the Lady Rosalinde be my natural Sisters both by Birth and Blood and all Daughters to the King of Thrace being now Governor of this unhappy Countrey and the beginning of our Imprisonment began in this unfortunate manner The King my Father ordained a solemn hunting to be holden thro' the Land in which honourable pastime my self in Company of my six Sisters was present So in the middle of our Sports when the Lords and Barons of Thracia were in Chase after a mighty she Lion the Heavens suddenly began to lour the Firmaments over-cast and a general darkness overspread the face of the whole Earth then presently rose such a Storm of Lightning and Thunder as though Heaven and Earth had met together by which our Lordly Troops of Knights and Barons were separated one from another and 〈◊〉 poor Ladies forced to seek for sheiter under the bottom of this high and steepy Mountain where when this Cruel Gyant Blanderon espied us as he walked upon his
So the Emperor after some few days passed and the Obsequies of his Son being no sooner performed but he caused the Christian Knight to be brought into his Presence to whom he committed this heavy Task and weary Labour Proud Knight said the Angry Emperor thou knowest since thy Arrival in our Territories how highly I have Honoured thee not only in granting liberty of Life but making thee chief Champion of Tartary which high Honour thou hast repayed with great Ingratitude and blemished true Nobility in Acting my dear Son's Tragedy for which unhappy Deed thou rightly hast deserved Death But yet know Accursed Christian that Mercy harboureth in Princely minds and where Honour sits Enthronized there Justice is not too Severe Although thou hast deserved Death yet if thou wilt adventure to the Enchanted Garden and bring hither the Magician's Head I grant thee not only Life but therewithal the Crown of Tartary after my Decease because I see thou hast a mind furnished with all Princely thoughts and Adorned with true Magnanimity This heavy Task and strange Adventure not a little pleased the Noble Champion of Wales whose mind ever thirsted after Worthy Adventures And so after some considerate thoughts in this manner reply'd Most High and Magnificent Emperor said the Champion were this Task which you enjoyn me to as wonderful as the Labours of Hercules or as fearful as the Enterprize which Jason made for the Golden Fleece yet would I attempt to finish it and return with Triumph to Tartary as the Macedonian Monarch did to Babylon when he had Conquered part of the wide World Which words were no sooner ended but the Emperor bound him by his Oath of Knighthood and by the Love he bore unto his Native Countrey never to follow other Adventure till he had performed his Promise which was to bring the Magicâ—â—n Ormandine's Head into Tartary whereupon the Emperor departed from the Noble Knight St. David hoping never to see 〈◊〉 return but rather to hear of his utter Confusion or Everlasting 〈◊〉 â—â—isonment Thus the Ualiant Christian Champion being bound to his Promise within three days prepared all Necessaries in readiness for his departure and so Travelled West-ward till he approached the sight of the Enchanted Garden the Situation whereof somewhat daunted his Ualiant Courage For it was encompassed with a Hedge of withered Thorns and Bryars which seemed continually to burn Upon the top thereof fate a number of strange and deformed things some in the likeness of Night-Owls which wondred at the Presence of St. David some in the shape of Progne's Transfoâ—mation foretelling his unfortunate Success and some like Ravens that with their harsh Throats Ring forth hateful Knelâ—s of woful Tragedies The Element which covered the Enchanted Garden seemed to be over-spread with misty Clouds from whence continually shot flames of Fire as though the Skies had been filled with blazing Comets which fearful Spectacle as it seemed the very pattern of Hell struck such a Terror into the Champion's heart that twice he was in the mind to return without performing the Adventure but for his Oath and Honour of Knighthood which he had pawned for the accomplishment thereof So laying his Body on the cold Earth being the first Nurse and Mother of his Life he made his humble Petition to God that his mind might never be oppressed with Cowardice nor his heart daunted with faint Fears till he had performed what the Tartarian Emperor had bound him to the Champion rose from the Ground and with chearful looks beheld the Elements which seemed in his conceit to smile at the Enterprize and to foreshew a lucky Event So the Noble Knight St. David with a Ualiant Courage went to the Garden Gate by which stood a Rock of Stone overspread with Moss In which Rock by Magick Art was enclosed a Sword nothing outwardly appearing but the Hilt which was the Richest in his Iudgment that ever his Eyes beheld for the Steel-work was engraven very curiously beset with Iaspers and Saphire-Stones the Pummel was in the fashion of a Globe of the purest Silver that the Mines of Rich America brought forth about the Pummel was engraven with Letters of Gold these Uerses following My Magick Spells remain most firmly bound The Worlds strange Wonder unknown by any one Till that a Knight within the North be found To pull this Sword from out this Rock of Stone Then ends my Charms my Magick Arts and all By whose strong hand wise Ormandine must fall These Uerses drave such a conceited imagination into the Champions mind that he supposed himself to be the Northern Knight by whom the Necromancer should be Conquered Therefore without any further advisement he put his hand into the Hilt of the Rich Sword thinking presently to pull it out from the Enchanted Rock of Ormandine but no sooner did he attempt that vain enterprize but his Ualiant Courage and Invincible Fortitude failed him and all his Senses were overtaken with a sudden and heavy sleep whereby he was forced to let go his hold and to fall flat upon the barren ground where his eyes were so fast locked up by Magick Art and his waking Senses drowned in such a dead slumber that it was as much impossible to recover himself from sleep as to pull the Sun out of the Firmament The Necromancer by his Magick skill had intelligence of the Champion's unfortunate success who sent from the Enchanted Garden four Spirits in the similitude and likeness of four beautiful Damsels which wrapped the drousie Champion in a sheet of fine Arabian Silk and conveyed him into a Cave directly placed in the middle of the Garden where they laid him upon a soft Bed more softer than the Down of Culvers where those beautiful Ladies through the Art of wicked Ormandine continually kept him sleeping for the Term of seven years One while singing with sweet sugared Songs more sweet and delightful than the Syrens Melody Another while with rare conceited Musick surpassing the sweetness of Arion's Harp which made the Dolphins in the Sea dance at the sound of his sweet inspiring melody or like the Harmony of Orpheus when he Iourneyed down into Hell where the Devils rejoyced to hear his admired Notes and on Earth Trees and Stones leaped when he did but touch the silver strings of his Ivory Harp Thus was St. David's Adventure cross'd with a wonderful bad Success whose Days Travels was turned into á Nights Repose whose nights repose was made a heavy sleep which endured until seven years were fully finished where we will leave St. David to the Mercy of the Necromancer Ormandine and return to the most Noble and Magnanimous Champion St. George where we left him Imprisoned in the Sculdan's Court. But now Gentle Reader thou wilt think it strange that all these Champions should meet together again seeing they be separated into so many Borders of the World First St. Denis the Champion of France remains now in the Court of Thessaly with his Lady Eglantine S. James
which always kneeled down untill she had ascended the Saddle and likewise her Eunuch was mounted upon another Steed whereon all their rich Furniture with costly Iewels and other Treasures was born So these three worthy Personages committed their Travels to the Guide oâ— Fortune who preserved them from the dangers of pursuing Enemies which at the King's return from hunting sollowed a main to every Port and Haven that divided the Kingdom of Barbary from the Confines of Christendom but kind Destiny so guided their steps that they Travelled another way contrary to their expectations for when they looked to arrive upon the Territories of Europe they were cast upon the fruitful Banks of Grecia In which Countrey we must tell what hapned to the three Travellers and omit the vain pursuit of the Morocco Knights the wrathful Melancholy of the King and the bruited Rumor that was amongst the Commons at the Queens departure who caused the Larum Bells to be Rung out and the Beacons set on Fire as though the Enemy had entred their Countrey But now Melpomene thou Tragick Sister of the Muses report what unlucky Crosses hapned to these three Travellers in the Confines of Grecia and how their smiling Comedy was by ill hap turned into a weeping Tragedy for when they had journeyed some three or four Leagues over many a lofty Hill they came nigh unto a Mighty and Uast Wilderness through which the way seemed so long and the Sun-Beams so exceedingly glowed that Sabra what for weariness in Travel and the extream heat of the Day was constrained to rest under the shelter of a mighty Oak whose Branches had not been lopt in many a year Where the had not long remained but her heart began to faint for hunger and her Colour that was but a little before as fair as any Ladies in the World began to change for want of a little drink Whereat the most famous Champion St. George half dead with very grief comforted her as well as he could after this manner Faint not my dear Lady said he here is that good Sword that once preserved thee from the burning Dragon and before thou shalt die for want of Sustenance it shall make way to every corner of the Wilderness where I will either kill some Venison to refresh thy hungry Stomach or make my Tomb in the Bowels of some Monstrous Beast Therefore abide thou here under this Tree in company of thy faithful Eunuch till I return either with the flesh of some wild Deer to else some flying Bird to refresh thy Spirits for a new Travel Thus left he his beloved Lady with the Eunuch to the mercy of the Woods and Travelled up and down the Wilderness till he espied a Herd of fatted Deer from which company he fingled out the fairest and like a tripping Satyr coursed her to Death then with a keen-edged Sword cut out the goodliest Haunch of Uenison that ever Hunters eye beheld which Gift he supposed to be most welcome to his beloved Lady But mark what hapned in his absence to the two weary Travellers under the Tree Where after St. George's departure they had not long sitten discoursing one while of their long Iourneys another while of their safe Delivery from the Blackamoor King spending the stealing time away with many an ancient Story but there appeared out of a Thicket two huge and monstrous Lions which came directly pacing towards the two Travellers Which fearful spectacle when Sabra beheld having a heart over-charged with the extream fear of Death wholly committed her Soul into the hands of God and her Body almost Famished for want of Food to suffice the hunger of the two furious Lions who by the appointment of Heaven proffered not so much as to lay their wrathful paws upon the smallest part of her Garment but with eager mood assailed the Eunuch until they had buried his Body in the empty Uaults of their hungry Bowels Then with their Teeth lately imbrued in Blood rent the Eunuch's Steed into small pieces Which being done they came to the Lady which sate quaking half dead with fear and like two Lambs couched their Heads upon her Lap where with her hands she stroaked down their bristled hairs not daring almost to breathe till a heavy sleep had over-mastered their furious Senses by which time the Princely-minded Champion St. George returned with a piece of Uenison upon the point of his Sword Who at that unexpected sight stood in a Maze whether it was best to flie for safeguard of his Life or to venture his Fortune against the Furious Lions But at last the Love of his Lady encouraged him to a forwardness whom he beheld quaking before the dismal Gates of Death So laying down his Uenison he like a Uictorious Champion sheathed his approved Faulchion most furiousty in the Bowels of one of the Lions Sabra kept the other sleeping in her Lap till his prosperous hand had likewise dispatched him Which Adventure being performed he first thanked Heaven for Uictory and then in this kind manner saluted his Lady Now Sabra said he I have by this sufficiently proved â—â—iy true Virginity for it is the Nature of a Lion be he never so furious not to harm the unspotted Virgin but humbly to lay his bristled Head upon a Maidens Lap. Therefore Divine Paragon thou art the World 's chief wonder for Love and Chastity whose honoured Vertues shall ring as far as Phebus sends his Lights and whose Constancy I will maintain in every Land where I come to be the truest under the Circuit of the Sun At which words he cast his eyes aside and beheld the bloody spectacle of the Eunuch's â—â—agedy which by Sabra was wofully discoursed to the grief of St. George where sad sighs served for a doleful Knell to bewail his untimely death But having a noble mind not subject to vain Sorrow where all hope of Life is past ceased his grief and prepared the Uenison in readiness for his Ladies Repast which in this order was dressed He had in his Pocket a Firelock wherewith he struck fire and kindled it with Sun-burnt Moss and encreased the Flame with other dry wood which he gathered in the Wilderness Against which they Roasted the Uenison and sufficed themselves to their own contentments After which joyful Repast these two Princely Persons set forward to their wonted Travels whereby the happy Guide of Heaven so conducted their steps that before many days passed they arrived in the Grecian Court even upon that day when the Marriage of the Grecian Emperor should be solemnly holden Which Royal Nuptials in former times had been bruited into every Nation in the World as well in Europe as Africa and Asia At which honourable Marriage the bravest Knights then living on Earth were present For Golden Fame had bruited the Report thereof to the Ears of the Seven Champions In Thessaly to S. Denis the Champion of France there remaining with his beauteous Eglantine into Sevil to St. James the Champion of
of Morocco with his scattered Troops of Moors and Negroes returned from Hungary and by Fire and Sword had wasted many of their chiefest Towns and Forts whereby the Countrey was much weakned and the Commons compelled to sue for Mercy at the Champions hands who bearing true Christian minds within their hearts continually pity harboured vouchsafed to grant mercy to those that yielded their Lives to the pleasure of the Christian Knights But when St. George had intelligence of Almidor's approach with his weakned Troops he presently prepared his Soldiers in readiness to give the Moors a bloody Banquet which was the next Morning by break of day performed to the high honour of Christendom but the night before the Moors knowing the Countrey better than the Christians got the advantage both of Wind and Sun whereat St. George being something dismayed but yet not discouraged imboldned his Soldiers with many Heroicat Speeches proffering them frankly the Enemies Spoils and so with the Sun 's uprising entred Battel where the Moors fell before the Christians Swords as ears of Corn before the Reapers Sickles During this Conflict the Seven Champions still in the fore Front of the Battel so adventurously behaved themselves that they slew more Negroes than a hundred of the bravest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intended to make St. George's Prowess to shine brighter than the rest singled out the Morocco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long and dangerous Fight But St. George so Couragiously behaved himself with his trusty Sword that Almidor was constrained to yield to his Mercy The Army of the Moors séeing their King taken Prisoner presently would have fled but that the Christians being the lighter of foot overtook them and made the greatest slaughter of them that ever hapned in Barbary Thus after the Battel ended and the joyful sound of Uictory rang through the Christian Army the Soldiers furnished themselves with the Enemies Spoils and Marched by St. George's direction to the City of Tripoly being then almost unpeopled through the late slaughter which was there made In which City after they had rested some days and refreshed themselves with wholesome food the English Champion in Revenge of his former proffered Injuries by the Morocco King gave this severe Sentence of Death First He commanded a brazen Cauldron to be filled with boiling Lead and Brimstone Then Almidor to be brought to the plâ—â—e of Death by twelve of the Noblest Peers in Barbary therein to be consumed Flesh Blood and Bones which was duly performed within seven days following The brazen Cauldron was erected by the appointment of St. George directly in the middle of the chiefest Market-place under which a mighty hot fire continually burned for the space of eight and forty hours whereby the boiling Lead and Brimstone seemed to sparkle like fiery Furnaces in Hell and the heat to exceed the burning Oven at Babylon Now all things being thus prepared in readiness and the Christian Champions present to behold the woful spectacle the Condemned Blackmoor King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of fine Indian Silk his hands pinioned together with a Chain of Gold and his face covered with a Damask Scart his Attendants and chief Conductors twelve Moors Peers claâ— in sable Gowns of Taffaty carrying before him the Wheel of Fortune with the Picture of an Usurper climbling up with this Motto on his Breast I will be King in spite of Fortune Upon the top of the Wheel the Picture of a Monarch vaunting with this Motto on his Breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheel the Picture or perfect Image of a Deposed Potentate falling with his head downwards with this Motto on his Breast I have been a King while it pleased Fortune Which plainly signified the Chance of War and of inconstant Destiny His Guard was a hundred Christian Soldiers holding Fortune in disdain after them had attended a hundred of Morocco Uirgins in black Ornaments their hair bound up with Silver Wyres and covered with Ueils of black Silk signifying the Sorrow of their Countrey for the loss of their Sovereign In this mournful manner came the unfortunate Almidor to the boiling Cauldron which when he came near his heart waxed cold and his tongue devoâ—d of utterance for a time at last he brake forth into these earnest Protestations proffering more for his Life than the whole Kingdom of Barbary could perform Most Mighty and Invincible Champion of Christendom quoth he let my Life be Ransomed and Thou shalt yearly receive ten Tuns of tryed Gold Five hundred webs of woven Silk the which our Indian Maids shall sit and Spin with Silver Wheels an hundred Ships of spices and Refined Sugar shall be yearly paid thee by our Barbary Merchants an hundred Waggons likewise laden with Pearl and Jasper stones which by our cunning Lapidists shall be yearly chosen forth and brought thee home to England to make that blessed Country the richest within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will deliver up my Diadem with all my Princely Dignities and in company of these Morocco Lords like bridled Hories draw thee daily in a silver Chariot up and down the circled Earth till Death give end to our Lives Pilgrimage therefore most admired Knight at Arms let these salt tears that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtain one grant of comfort at thy hands for on my bended knees I beg for life that never before this time did kneel to Mortal Man Thou speakest in vain reply'd St. George not the Treasures hidden in the deepest Seas nor all the golden Mines of rich America shall redeem thy Life Thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practices in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereave me of my life through thy Treachery I endured a long Imprisonment in Persia where for seven years I drank foul Channel-water and sufficed my hunger with Bread of Bran Meal My Food was loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismal Dungeon where neither Sun nor the chearful light of Heaven lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered injuries the Heavens inforce me to a speedy Revenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Torment prepared for thy Death this brazen Cauldron filled with boiled Lead and Brimstone wherein thy accursed Body shall be speedily cast and boiled till thy detested Limbs be consumed to a watry substance in this sparkling liquor therefore prepare thy self to entertain the violent stroke of Death and willingly bid all thy Kingly Dignities farewell But yet I let thee understand that Mercy harbours in a Christian's heart and where Mercy dwells there faults are forgiven upon some humble penitence though thy Trespass deserves no pity but severe punishment yet upon these considerations I will grant thee liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy Gods Tarmagant and Apollo which
whom they likewise tyed round about him then one of the Moors being crueller than the rest proffened to desloue the Merchant's Wife before his face but she in Chastity like Camma choosing rather an honourable death than an infamous life spit in the Negro's â—ace and most bitterly reviled him yielding neither to his force nor his bloody threats but snatching a Knife from his Girdle vowed to sheath it in her Bosom before the would lose her precious Gem of Honour that once being gone could not be recovered for all the Worlds Treasure This Resolution of the English Merchant's Wife caused the stern Negro to exceed in Cruelty but the Principal of that wicked company being a bloody and merciless Tyrant stabbed one of the silly Children before the Mother's face Now stubborn Dame quoth he wilt thou yield to my desires and preserve the lives of the other six Children Otherwise shalt thou behold them Butchered in the same manner To sell my Honour for the lives of my Children replyed she will be an Offence to God and a continual corrosive to my Husband's heart if we live together Therefore accursed Monster prosecute your Tyranny it is not all your threats and bloody dealings shall convert my chaste mind nor once enforce my thoughts to give any consent thereunto These words being no sooner ended but the lustful Moor took another of her Children and stabbed before her Husband's face thinking thereby to force the Merchant to intreat his Wife to consent to the wicked Negro's determinations but he being as resolute as his vertuous Wife spake in this manner O you cursed black Dogs of Barbary more worse in quality than bloody Tygers and more merciless than wicked Canibals think you that the Murder of our Children shall enforce our hearts to yield to your Lustful desires No no persevere in your Tyrannies Iâ— I had an hundred Children twice the number of King Priam's yet would I lose them all before I would endure to see my Wife's Dishonour Children may be begotten again but her honour never recovered These words pricked the Negro's to the gall and caused them to commit the wickedest Deed that ever was practised under the Celestial Globe of Heaven First they sheathed their Poniards in the Breasts of all the Merchant's Children whose guiltless blood stained all the Chamber with a crimson colour then with their Faulchions did they cut their Bodies in sunder and caused seven Pies to be made of their flesh and after served in a Banquet to their woful Parents whom the merciless Moors set at a square Table the Merchant placed directly opposite against his Wife where they were constrained either to feed upon their own Children or starve for want of other Sustenance This woful spenacle struck such a Grief into the English Merchant's heart that he could scarce endure to speak for weeping his Wife when she beheld the heads of her lovely Sons lying upon the Table as it were looking to Heaven for Revenge breathed forth this dying Lamentation O silly Babes would you had been strangled in my Womb at your first conception then should not these accursed Infidels have triumph'd thus in your unhappy Tragedies nor your unfortunate Parents beheld this luckless day whereon I pray that never Sun may shine again but be accounted an ominous day throughout the whole World for Heaven I hope poor Babes will Rain a showre of Uengeance on their heads that have caused this our untimely death and with this Prayer I bid the Word farewel At which words her Grief so exceeded the bounds of Reason that it stayed the passage of her breath whereby she was forced to yield her Soul to the Paradice of Peace She being no sooner dead but the sorrowful Merchant likewise bitterly exclaimed against the Injustice of Fortune and the Tyranny of the Barbarous Moors accounting his Destiny more hapless than the Thracian Kings that buried his Children in his own Bowels and the cruelty of these Infidels to exceed the Tyranny of Nero that caused his Mother's Womb to be opened that he might behold the place of his conception But when the Merchant had sufficiently bewail'd the murder of his Children the Death of his Wife and his own Misery he yielded his Soul to the furious stroke of Death The end of whose long languishments when the wicked Moors had intelligence of they caused their dead Bodies to be carried to the top of a high Mountain and there left for the prey of hungry Ravens But the Sun consumed them like the morning dew And by the wonderful Workmanship of Heaven in the same place sprung a Bower of Roses to signifie the unspotted honour of the Merchant and his Uertuous Wife which Miracle we leave to the wonder of the Moors and speak of the Christian Champions Proceeding that by this time were arrived in the Kingdom of Aegypt CHAP. XV. How the Christians arrived in Egypt and what hapned to them there The Tragedy of the Lustful Earl of Coventry How Sabra was bound to a Stake to be burnt And how St. George Redeemed her Lastly How the Egyptian King cast himself from the top of a Tower and broke his Neck DUring the time of the bloody Murder wrought by the Barbarous Moors upon the English Merchant and his Wife with his seven Children as you heard in the former Chapter the Champions of Christendom arrived upon the Territories of Egypt where they supposed to have adventured their lives upon the chance of War but all things fell out contrary to their expectations they found the Gates of every City set open and every Uillage and Town unpeopled for the Commons at the report of the Christians arrival secretly hid their Treasure in the Caves of the Earth in deep Wells and such like obscute places and a general fear and extream terror assailed the Egyptians as well the Peers of the Land as the simple Country People Many fled into Woods and Wildernesses and closely hid themselves in hollow Trees many digged Caves in the Ground where they thought best to remain in safety and many fled to high Mountains where they long time lived in great extremity fooding upon the Grass of the Ground so greatly the Egyptâ—ans feared the Army of the Christians that they expected nothing but the Auine of their Countrey with the loss of their own lives and the murder of their Wives and Children But to speak of the Christian Champions who finding the Countrey desolate of People suspected some deep policy of the Egyptian thinking them to have Mustred their Warlike Forces to bid them Battel Therefore St. George gave commandment through the whole Camp that not a Man upon pain of Death should break his Rank but March Advisedly with their Weapons ready prest to encounter Battel as though the Enemies had directly placed themselves opposite against them Which special charge the Christian Soldiors duly observed looking neither after the Wealth of Cities nor the Spoil of Uillages but circumspectly Marched according to their
at every Course the Servitors brought in a Consort of Egyptian Ladies who on their Ivory Lutes strained forth such admired Harmony that it surpassed Orion's Musick which when he was cast into the Sea caused the Dolphins to bring him safe to the shore or the swiftness of Orpheus his silver Harp which made both Stones and Trees to dance or the melody of Apollo's inspiring Musick when he descended to the lower parts for the love of Daphne These pleasures so ravished the Christian Champions that they forgot the sound of Warlike Drums which were wont to call them fortly to bloody Battels But these delights continued but a short time for there arrived a Knight from England that brought such unexpected News to St. George that changed his Ioys into extream sorrow for after this manner begun the Messenger to tell his woful Tale Fair England 's Champion said he instead of Arms get Swallows wings and flie to England if ever thou wilt see thy beloved Lady for she is judged to be burned at a stake for murdering the Earl of Coventry whose lostful Desires would have stained her Honour with Infamy and made her the scorn of Vertuous Women Yet this Mercy is granted by the King of England that if within twelve Months a Champion may be sound that for her lake will venture his life if it be his fortune to overcome the the Challenger of her Death she shall live but if it be his fatal Destiny to be Conquered then must she suffer the heavy Judgment before pronounced therefore as you love the life of your chaste and beloved Lady haste into England delay no time for delay is dangerous and her life in hazard to be lost This woful Discourse struck such a terror to St. George's heart likewise to the Egyptian King her Father that for a time they stood gazing one in anothers face as though they had been bereaved of their wits notable to speak one word but at last St. George recovered his former Sense and breathed forth this sorrowful Lamentation O England O unkind England Have I adventured my Life in thy Defence and for thy Defence have lain in the Field of Mars buckled on my Armour in many a parching Summers-day and many a freezing Winters night when you have taken your quiet sleeps on Beds of Down and will you repay me with this discourtesie or rather undeserved wrong to adjure her spotless body to consuming fire whose blood if it be spilt before I come I vow never to draw my trusty Sword in England 's Quarrel more nor never account my self her Champion but I will rend my Warlike Colours into a thousand pieces the which I wear on my Burgoneâ— I mean the crimson Cross of England and wander unknown Countries obscurely from the sight of any Christian eye Is it possible that England will be so ungrateful to her Friend can that Renowned Country harbour such a Lustful Monster to seek to dishonour her within whose heart the Fountain of Vertue springs Or can that Noble City the Nurse and Mother of my Life entertain so vile a Homicide that will offer Violence to her whose Chastity and true Honour hath caused tameless Lions to sleep in her Lap. In this sorrowful manner wearied St. George the time away untill the Egyptian King whose Sorrow being as great as his put him from his Complaints and requested the English Knight to tell the true discourse of Sabra's proffered Uiolence and how she murdered the Lustful Earl of Coventry to whom after a bitter sigh or two the Messenger thus replied in this manner Most Noble Princes and Potentates of the Earth prepare your Ears to entertain the wofullest Tale that ever English Knight discoursed and your Eyes to weep Seas of brackish Tears I would I had no Tongue to tell it nor Heart to remember it but seeing I am compelled through the Love and Duty I owe the Noble Champions of Christendom to express it then thus it was It was the fortune nay I may say unhappy Destiny of your beloved Lady upon an Evening when the Sun had almost lodg'd in the West to walk without the Walls of Coventry to take the pleasures of the sweet Fields and flourishing Meadows which Flora had beautified in a Summers Livery but as she walked up and down sometimes taking pleasure to hear the chiruing Birds how they strained their silver Notes other times taking delight to see how Nature had covered both Kills and Pales with sundry â—orâ—y of Flowers then walking to see the Crystal running Rivers the murmuring Musick of whose Streams exceeded the rest for pleasure but she kind Lady delighting her self by the River side a sudden and strange alteration troubled her mind for the Chain of Gold that she did wear about her Neck presently changed colour from a yellow burnisht brightness to a dim paleness Her Kings fâ—ll from her Fingers and from her Nose fell drops of blood whereat her heart began to throb her ears to glow and every ioynt to tremble with fear This strange Accident caused her speedily to haste homewards But by the way she met the Earl of Coventry walking at that time to take the pleasure of the Evening Air with such a Train of worthy Gentlemen as though he had been the greatest Peer in England Whose sight when she beheld afar off her heart began to misgive thinking that Fortune had alotted those Gentlemen to proffer her some Injury so that upon her Cheeks Fear had set a Uermilion dye whereby her Beauty grew admirable which when the Earl beheld he was ravished therewith and deemed her the excellentest Creature that ever Nature framed their meeting was silent She shewed the humility of a Uertuous Lady and he the courtesie of a kind Gentleman She departed homewards and he into the Fields she thinking all danger past but he practised in his mind her utter Ruin and Downfal For the Part of Love had shot from her beauteous Cheeks into his heart not true Love but Lust so that nothing might quench his desire but the Conquest of her Chastity such extream Passion bewitched his mind that he caused his Servants every one to depart And then like a discontented Man he wandred up and down the Fields beating in his mind a thousand sundry ways to obtain his desire for without he enjoyed her Love he was likely to live in endless languishment But at last he sighed out this passion of Love Oh you immortal Powers why have you transported her from an Earthly Lady to an Heavenly Angel Sabra is no worldly Creature but a Divine Substance her Beauty is a stain unto the Quéen of Love and her Countenance of more Majesty than Juno's Grace Her twinkling eyes that glister like the flaming Stars and her beauteous Cheeks more pleasant than Roses dipt in Milk have pierced my heart with the pricks of Love and her Love I will enjoy oâ— lose my self Oh! but there is a Bar which thwarts kind Affection and hinders my desires
they came to the Orchard Gate which they presently burst open wherein no sooner entring but they found their Murdered Master lying by a Bed of Uiolets covered with Moss likewise searching to find out the Murderer at last they espied Sabra in her bare Petticoat her hands and face besprinkled with blood and her Countenance as pale as ashes by which â—ighs 〈◊〉 suspected her to be the bloody bereaver of their Lord and Master's Life therefore because she descended from a Noble Lineage they brought her the same night before the King which did then keep his Court in the City of Coventry who immediately upon the confession of the Murder gave this severe judgment against her First to be conveyed to Prison there to remain for the term of twelve months and at the end thereof to be burned like a most wicked Offender Yet because she was the Daughter to a King and a Loyal Lady to so Noble a Knight His Majesty in Mercy granted her this favour that if she could get any Knight at Arms before the time were expired that would be her Champion and by Combat redeem her from the Fire she should live otherwise if her Champion were Uanquished then to Suffer the former Punishment Thus have you heard the discourse of all things which happened till my departure from England where I left her in Prison and since that time five Months are fully expired therefore most Renowned Champion as you love the Life of your Lady and with her Delivery make no tarriance but with all speed post into England for I greatly fear before you arrive on the blessed Shore the time will be finished and Sabra suffer death for want of a Champion to defend her Cause This doleful discourse drove St. George with the other Knights and Champions to such an extasie of mind that every one departed to their Lodging Chambers with dumb signs of Sorrow being not able to speak one word where for that night they lamâ—â—ted the mishap of so vertuous a Lady The Egyptian King her Father he abandoned the sight of all companies and repaired to the top of a high Tower built of Marble Stone wherein he barred himself so fast with Iron Bolts that none could come within the hearing of his Lamentation then raged he up and down like frantick Oâ—dipus tearing his eyes from their Natural Cells accusing Heaven of injustice condemning the Earth of iniquity and accursing Man for such an execrable Crime one while wishing that his Daughter's Birth-day had been her Burial-day another while that some unlucky Planet would descend the Firmament and fall upon his miserable head Being in this extream Passion he never hoped to see his Daughter's Countenance again and so about midnight being a time when desperate Men practise their own Destruction he cast himself headlong from the top of the Tower and broke his Neck and all besprinkled the â—linty Pavements with his Blood and Brains No sooner was the night vanished and bright Phoebus entered the Zodiack of Heaven but his bruised body liveless and sensless was found by his Servants lying in the Palace-yard all beaten in pieces against the ground The woful News of this self-willed Murder they told to certain Egyptian Knights who took his scattered Limbs and carried them to St. George's Chamber whom they found arming himself for his departure towards England but at this woful spectacle he took a second conceited grief in such extream manner that it had almost cost him his Life but that the Egyptian Knights gave him many comfortable speeches and by the consent of many Dukes Earls Lords and Barons with many other of the late King's Privy-Council they Eleâ—ted him the true succeeding King of Egypt by the Marriage of Ptolomy's Daughter which Royal proffer St. George refused not but took upon him the Regiment of the whole Countrey so that for a short time his Iourney towards England was stayed and upon the third day following his Coronation was appointed which they solemnly performed to the high honour of all the Christian Champions for the Egyptian Peers caused St. George to be Apparelled in Royal Uestures like a King he had on a Suit of flaming Green like an Emerald and a Mantle of Scarlet very richly Furâ—'d and wrought curiously with Gold then the other six Champions led him up to the King's Throne and set him in a Chair of Ebony which had pummels of Silver which stood upon an Alabaster Elephant then came three of the greatest Lords in Egypt and set a Crown of Gold upon his Head then followed the Knights with a Scepter and a naked Sword to signifie that he was chief Governor of the Realm and Lord of all that appertained to the Crown of Egypt This being performed in most sumptuous and stately manner the Trumpets with other Instruments began to sound whereat the general Company with joyful Uoices cryed altogether Long live St. George true Champion for England and King of Egypt Then was he conducted to the Royal Palace where for ten days he remained among his Lords and Knights spending the time in great joy and pleasure the which being finished his Lady's distress constrained him to a sudden departure therefore he left the Guiding of his Land to twelve Egyptian Lords binding them all by Oath to deliver it at his return likewise charging them to interr the Body of Ptolomy in a sumptuous Tomb be fitting the Body of so Royal a Potentate Also appointed the six Champions to raise their Tents and muster up anew their Soldiers and with all speed march into Persia and there by dint of Bloody War Revenge his former Injuries upon the accursed Souldan This Charge being given the next morning by break of day he buckled on his Armour mounted on his swift-footed Steed and bad his Friends in Aegypt for a season adieu and so in company of the Knight that brought him that unlucky News he took his Iourney with all speed toward England in which Travel we will leave him for a time Also passing over the speedy provision made by the Christian Champions in Egypt for the Invasion of Persia and return to sorrowful Sabra being in Prison awaiting each Minute to receive the final stroke of impartial Death for now had the rowling Planets brought their years Iourney to an end yet Sabra had no Intelligence of any Champion that would defend her Cause therefore she prepared her delicate Body to receive her latest breath of Life The time being come she was brought to the place of Execution whither she went as willingly and with as much joy as ever she went before time unto her Marriage she had made humble submission to the World and unfeignedly committed her Soul to God She being at the Stake where the King was present with many thousands as well of woful Personages as of common People to behold this woful Tragedy the Deaths-man stripping off her Garment which was of black Sarsenet and in her Snow-white Smock bound her with an Iron
Legions of his Devils could ever after loose him where we leave him to his Lamentations filling the Air with ecchoes of Cries and speak how St. George redeemed the Champions from their Enchantments First When we beheld them discoved of their warlike Attire their Furniture hung up and themselves secretly Sleeping upon the laps of Ladies he fell into these discontented Speeches O Heavens said he how my Soul abhors this Spectace Champions of Christendom arise brave Knights stand up I say and look about like Men Are you the chosen Captains of your Countries and will you bury all your Honours up in Ladies Laps For shame arise I say they have the Tears of Crocodiles the Songs of Syrens to enchant To Arms brave Knights let Honour be your Loves Blush to behold your Friends in Arms and blush to see your Native Country-men steeping the Fields of Mavors with their Bloods Champions arise St. George calls the Victory will tarry till you come Arise and tear the womanish Attire surfeit not in silken Robes put on your steely Corslets your glistering Burgonets and unsheath your conquering Weapons that Mavors Fields may be converted into a purple Ocean These heroical Speeches were no sooner finished but the champions like Men amazed rose from their Ladies bosoms and being ashamed of their follies they submissively crabed Pardou and vowed by Protestations never to sleep in Beds of Down nor never unbuckle their Shields from their weary arms till they had won their Credits in the Fields again nor never would be counted his deserved followers till their Triumphe were enroâ—led amongst the Deeds of Partial Knights So arming themselves with approved Corslets and taking to them their trustp Swords they accompanted St. George to the thickest of their Enemies and left the Necromancer chained to the Trée which at their depature breathed forth these bitter Curses Let Hell's Horror and tormenting Pains quoth he be their eternal Punishment let flaming Fire deseend the Elements and consume them in their warlike Triumphs and let their ways be strowed with venemous Thorns that all their Legs may rancle to the Knees before they march to their Native Country But why exclaim I thus in vain when Heaven itself preserves their Happiness Now all my Magick Charms are ended and all my Spirits forsaken me in my need and here am I fast chained up to starve and dye Have I had power to rend the Vales of Earth and shake the mighty Mountains with my Charms Have I had power to raise up dead Mens shapes from kingly Tombs and can I not unchain myself from this accursed Tree O no for I am fettered up by the immortal Power of the Christians God against whom because I did rebel I am now condemned to everlasting Fire Come all ye Necromancers in the World come all you Sorcerers and Charmers come all you Schollars from the learned Universities come all you Witches Beldams and Fortune-tellers and all that practice devilish Arts come take example by the story of my Eyes This being said he violently with his own hands tore his Hair from his Head as a sufficient revenge because by the direction of their Wills he was first trained in that damned Art then betwixt his Teeth he hit in two his loathsome Tongue because it muttered forth so many Charms then into his thirsty Bowels he devoured his Hands because they had so often held the â—â—â—lver Wand wherewith he had made his charmed Circles and for every Letter Mark and Character that belonged to his Conjutations he inflicted a several Torment upon himself and at last with sightless Eyes speechless Tongue handless Arms and dismembred Body he was forced to give up his condemned Ghost where after his art of Lift was vanished from his earthly Trunck the Heavens seemed to smile at his sudden Fall and Hell began to roar at the conquest of his Death the Ground whereon he died was ever after that time unfortunate and to this present time it is called in that Country A Vale of Walking-Spirits Thus have you heard the damnable Life and miserable Fall of this accursed Necromancer Osmond whom we will now leave to the Punishments due to such a wicked Offender and to speak of the seven noble and magnanimous Christian Champions After St. George had ended these Enchantments they never â—â—â—athed up their Swords nor unlocked their Armour till the Subversion of Persia was accomplished and the Souldan with his-petty Rings was taken Prisoners Seven days the Battle continued without ceasing they slew two hundred thousand Souldiers besides a number that fled away and drownded themselves some cast themselves headlong down from the top of high Trees some made slaughter of themselves and yielded to the mercies of the Christians but the Souldan with his Princes riding in their Iron Chariots endured the Christians Encounters till the whole Army was discomfitted and then by force and violence they were compelled to yield The Souldan hapned into the hands of St. George and six Uice-roys to the other six Champions where after they had sworn Allegiance to the Christian Knights and had promised to forsake their Mahomet they were not only set at liberty but used most honourably but the Souldan himself having a Heart fraught with despight and tyranny contemned the Champions Courtesies and utterly disdained their Christian Governments protesting that the Heavens should first lose their wonted Brightness and the Seas forsake their sooelling Tides before his Heart should yield to their intended Desires whereupon St. George being resolved to revenge his Injuries commanded that the Souldan should be disrobed from all his princely Attire and in base Apparel sent to Prison then to the Dungeon where he himself had endured so long Imprisonment as you heard in the beginning of this History which strict Commandment was presently performed in which Dungeon the Souldan had not long continued sufficing his hungry Stomach with the Bread of musty Bran and stanching his thirst with Channel-water but he began to grow desperate and weary of his Life and at last fell into this woful Lamentation O Heavens quoth he now have you thrown a deserved Plague upon my Head and all those guiltless Souls that in former times my Tyranny have murthered may now be fully satisfied for I that was wont to have my Table beautified with Kings am now constrained to feed alone in a Dungeon where Sorrow is my Food and Despair my Servitor I that have famished thousands up in Walls of Stone am now constrained to feed upon mine own Flesh or else to starve and die yet shall these cruel Christians know that as I lived in Tyranny so will I die for I will make a Murther of myself that after this Life my angry Ghost may fill their Sleeps with ghastly Visions This being said he desperately ran his head against a Marble pillar standing in the middle of the Dungeon and dasht his Brains from out of his hateful Head the news of whose death when it was bruited in the
that it was wonderful to Discourse The first thinking to exceed his Brothers in the strangeness of his Gift made repair unto a cunning Enchantress which had a biding in a secret Cave adjoyning to the City whom he procured through many rich Gifts and large Promises by Art to devise a means to get the Honour from his Brethren and to give a Gift of that strange nature that all the World might wonder at the report thereof The Enchantress being won with his Promises by Art and Magick Spells devised a Garland containing aâ—l the diversity of Flowers that ever grew in earthly Gardens and though it were then in the dead time of the Winter when as the silver Iâ—cleâ— had diâ—â—obâ—d both Herbs and Flowers of their Beauties and the Snow lay freezing on the Mountain tops yet was this Garland contrived after the fashion of a rich Imperial Crown with as many several Flowers as ever Flora plated upon the Towns of rich Arcadia in diversity of colours like the glistering Rainbow when it shineth in greatest Pride and casting such an odoriferous Scant and Sanour as tho the Heavens had rained down showers of Champhire Biss or sweet smelling Ambergâ—eece This rare and exceeding Garland was no sooner framed by Enchantment and delivered in his hands but he left the Enchantress sitting in her Ebon-Chair upon a block of Steel practising her fatal Arts with her Hair hanging about her Shoulders like wâ—eaths of Snakes or invenomed Serpents and so returned to his Mother's Tomb where he hung it upon a Piller of Silver that was placed in the middle of the Monument The second Brother also repaired to his Mother's Tomb and brought in his hand an Ivory Lute whereon he plaid such inspiring melody that it seemed like the harmony of Angels or the celestial Musick of Apollo when he descended Heaven for the Love of Daphne whom he turned into a Bay-Tree the Musick being finished he tyed his Lute in a Damask-Scarf and with great humility he hung it at the West-end of the Tomb upon a knob of a Iasper-stone Lastly The third Brother likewise repaired with no outward Devotion or worldly Gift but clad in a Uesture of white Silk bearing in his hand an Instrument of Death like an innocent Lamb going to Sacrifice or one ready to be offered up for the love of his Mother's Soul This strange manner of repair caused his other Brothers to stand attentively and with diligent Eyes to be hold his purpose First After he had submissively and with great humility let fall a showre of silver Tears from the â—isters of his Eyes in remembrance of his Mother's timeless Tragedy he prick'd his naked Breast with a silver Bodkin the which he brought in his hand from whence there trickled down some thirty drops of Bloud which he after offered to his Mother's Tomb in a silver Bason as an evident sign that there could be nothing more dear nor of more preâ—ious price than to offer up his own Bloud for her Love This ceremonious Gift caused his two other Brothers to swell in hatred like to chased Lyons and run with fury upon him intending to catch him by the hair of the Head and drag him roâ—nd 〈◊〉 their Mother's Tomb till his Brains were dashed against a Marble Pavement and his Bloud sprinkled upon her Grave but this wicked Enterprize moved the Majesty of Heaven that e'er they could accomplish their Intents or stain their hands with his Bloud they heard as it were the noise of dead Mens Bones ratling in the ground whereupon looking fearfully about them the Tomb seemed of itself to open and thereupon to appear a most terrible gastly Shape pale like unto ashes in Countenance resembling their Mother with her Breast besmeared in Bloud and her Body wounded with a number of Scars and so with a dismal and ruful look she spake unto her desperate Sons in this manner Oh you Degenerate from Nature's kind why do you seek to make a Murther of yourselves can you indure to see my Body rent in twain my Heart split in sunder and my Womb dismembred Abate this fury stain not your Hands with your own Blouds nor make my Tomb a Spectacle of more Death Unite yourselves in Concord that my discontented Soul may sleep in Peace and never more be troubled with your unbridled Humours Make hast I say arm yourselves in steel Corslets and follow your valiant Father to Ierusalem he is there in danger and distress of Life away I say or else my angry Ghost shall never leave this World but hunt you up and down with gastly Visions This being said she vanished from their sight into the brittle Air whereat for a time they stood amazed and almost distraught of Wits through the terrours of her Words but at last recovering their former Senses they all vowed a continual Unity and never to proffet the like Iniury again but to live in brotherly Concord till the dissolution of their earthly Bodies So in haste they went unto the King and certified him of all things that had hapned and falling upon their Knées before his Majesty â—eâ—uelled at his hands the honour of Knight hood with leave to depart in pursuit of their Father and the other Champions that were fallen into great â—isteess The King purposing to aâ—complish their Desires and to fulfil their Requests presently condescended and not only gave them the honour of Knight-hood but furnished them with â—iâ—h Habiliments of War answerable to their magnanimous Minds First be frankly bestowed upon them three stately Palsâ—yes bred upon the bright Mountains of Sardinia in colour of an Iron-gray beautified with silver Hairs and in â—ate switer than Spanish Iennets which are a kind of Horse ingendred by the Winds upon the Alpes certain cragged Mountains that divided the Kingdoms of Italy and Germany for boldness and courage like to Bucephalus the Horse of Alexander the Macedonian or Caesar's Steed that never danted in the Field and they were trapped with rich Crapyings of Gold After the Morocco Fashion with Saddles framed like unto Iron-chairs with backs of Steel and their Fore-heads were beautified with spangled Plumes of purple Feathers whereon hung many golden Pendants the King likewise bestowed upon them three costly Swords wrought of purest Lybian Steel with Lances bound about with Plates of Brass at the tops where of hung silken Streamers beautified with the English Cross being the crimson Badge of Knighthood and Honour of Adventurous Champions Thus in this royal manner rode these three young Knights from the City of London in company of the King with a train of Knights and gallant Gentlemen who conducted them to the Sea-side where they left the young Knights to their future Fortunes and returned back to the English Court. Now are St. George's Sons floating upon the Seas making their first Adventures in the World that after Ages might applaud these Atchietements and enroul their Fames in the Records of Honour Fate prosper them successfully and gentle Fortune
giving me to understand that he would carry her to his Wife for whose sight she had so much desired and at whose coming she would receive so great Ioy and Contentment her suddain Departure bred such Sorrows in my Heart being the only Stay and Comfort of my declining Agâ— that the fountains of my Eyes rained down a showre of saâ—â— Tears upon my aged Breast so dear is the Love of a Father unto his Child but to be short when this lustful minded Câ—â—tiffe with his pompious Train came in sight of his Castle he commanded his Followers to ride forwards that with my Daughter he might secretly coutec of serious Matters and so staâ—d lingring behind till he saw his Company almost out of sight and they two alone together then he found opportunity to accomplish his Iustful Desire and so rode into a â—ittle Grove which was hard at hand close by a River's side where without any more carrying he carried her into the thickest part thereof where he thought it most conveâ—ent to perform so wicked a Deed. When â—e beheld the Branches of the thick Tree to with-hold the Light of Heaven from them and that it seemed a place as it were over-spread with the sable mâ—ntles of Night he alighted from his Horse and willed my well-beloved Daughter that she would likewise alight she in whose Heart reigned no kind of suspision presently alighted and sat her down by the River siâ—e and washed her fair white Hands in the Streams and refreshed her Mouth with the Crystal Waters Then this dissembling Traytor could not longer resâ—ain but with a Countenance like the lustful King of Thrace when he intended the Ravishment of Progne or like Tarquinus of Rome when he defloured Lucretia he let her understand by some outward Shews and dark Sentences the kindâ—ed fire of Love that burned in his Heart and in the end he did wholly declare his devillish Pretence and determined Purpose So my unmarried Daughter being troubled in mind with his Iustful Assailments began in this manner to reprchend him Will you said she destle my Sister's Bed and stain the Honour of your House with Lust will you bereave me of that precious Iewel the which I hold more dear than my Life and blot my true Uirginity with your false Desires brought you me from the comfortable sight of my Father to be joy unto my Sister and will you flourish in the spoiling of my true Chastity Look look immoderate Knight I will not call thee Brother look I say how the Skies blush at thy Attempts and see how chaste Diana sits upon the winged Firmament and threatens Uengeance for her Uirgin's sake wash from thy Heart these lustful Thoughts with showers of repentant Tears and seek not in this sort to wrong thy Marriage bed the which thou oughtest not to violate for all the Kingdoms in the World Then this accursed Knight seeing the chaste and vertuous Maiden to stand so boldly in the defence of her Uirginity with his rigorous Hand he took fast hold by her neck and with a wrathful Countenance he delivered these Words Do not think stubborn Damsel to preserve thy Honour from the purpose of my Desires for I swear by the Crystal Tower of Jupiter either to accomplish my Intents or put thee to the cruellest Death that ever was devised for any Damsel or Maid At which Words the most sorrowful and distressed Uirgin with a shower of pearled Tears trickling down her seemly blushing Cheeks replyed in this order Think not false Traytor quoth she that fear of Death shall cause me to yield to thy filthy Desires no no I will account that stroak ten times more happy and welcom to my Soul then the joys of Wedlock then might I walk in the Elizian Fields among those Dames that died true Uirgins and not live to hold the bud of my Maiden's Glory whithered with the nipping Frosts of thy unnatural Desires Those Words being well understood by the lustful Knight who with a Countenance more furious then savage Lyons in the Deserts of Libia took her by the slender wast and rigorusly dasht her Body against the ground and there withal spake these Words Understand said he and be well perswaded thou unrelenting Damsel that eithere living or dead I will perform my Will and intended Purpose for in my heart there burns a fire that all the Waters in the Seas can never quench nor all the driâ—â—ing clouds of Rain if they should drop eternal Showers but it is the Water of thy sweet Uirginity that must quench my furious burning Love and thereupon in a madness he cut a great part of the Train of her Gown and bound it very fast to the Hair of her Head which glistered like golden Wyers and bragged her up and down the Grove till the Griâ—ss turned to a Purple colour with the Blood that issued from her Body by which trueâ—ty he thought to enforce her to his pleasure but she respected not his wicked Cruelty and she more he proceeded to â—orment her the more earnestly the defended her Honour When this cruel and inhumane Monster saw that neither slaâ—tering Speeches nor his cruel threats were of sufficiency to prevail began to forget all Faith and Loyalty he owed unto the honour of Knight-hood and the respect he should bear unto Women-kind and blasphemed against Heaven tearing her Cloaths all to pieces he stripped her stark naked and with the Reins of the Bridle of his Horse iâ—e cruelly whipped and scouâ—ged her white and tender Back that it was full of blew Spots and horrible circles of black and setled Blood with such extream cruelty that it was a very grievous and sorrowful sight to behold And yet this did profit him nothing at all for she continued in her former Resolutions He seeing that she still persevered in the defence of her Honour he straight-ways like to a bloody Monster heaped Cruelty upon Cruelty and so took and bound her well proportioned Legs crystalline Arms straightly unto a withered Tree saying Oh cruel and more cruel than any Woman in the World hath ever been why dost thou suffer thy self to be Tormented and not give consent to procure thy Ease Dost thou think it better to endure this torment than to live a most loving sweet and contented Life and therewith his Anger so encreased that he staring on her Face with his accursed Eyes fixed in such sort that he could not withdraw them back The which being perceived by this distressed Uirgin as one far more desirous of Death than of Life with a furious Uoyce she said Oh Traytor thou wicked Monster thou utter Enemy to all Humanity thou shameless Creature more cruel than the Lyons in the Desarts of Hircania thou stain of Knight-hood and the bloodiest Wretch that ever Nature â—ramed in the World wherein dost thou contemplate thus thyself thou fleshly Butcher thou unmerciful Tyger thou leâ—herous Hogg and dishonourer of thy Progeny make an end I say of these my Torments for now
protesting that sooner should the Lives of all the famous Romans be raised from Death from the time of Romulus to Caesar and all the rest unto this time than to be perswaded to return from their Promises and never to travel back into Christendom till they had Performed their Uows and thus burning with Desire to see thee end of this sorrowful Adventure St. George clasped up the bloody written Book and gave it again to the Shepherd and so they proceeded forwards towards the Island where the Knight of the Black Castle had his Residence guided only by the direction of the old Man whose aged Limbs séemed so lusty in Travelling that it prognosticated a lucky Event in which Iourney we will leave the Champions for a time with the wonderful provision that the Knight of the Black Castle made in his Defence the Success whereof will be the strangest that ever was reported and return and speak of St. George's three Sons in the pursuit of their Father where we left them as you heard before travelling from the constnes of Barbary where they redeemed the Norman Lady from the Tawny-moors CHAP. VI. A wonderful and strange Adventure that happ'ned to St. George his Sons in the persuit of their Father by finding certain drops of Blood with Virgin 's Hair scattered in the Field and how they were certified of the injurous dealing of the Knight of the Black Castle against the Queen of Armenia MAny and dangerous were the Adventures of the three young Princes in the pursuit of their Father St. George and many were the Countries Islands and Princes Courts that they searched to obtain a wished sight of his Martial Countenance but all to small purpose for Fortune neither cast them happily upon that Coast where he with his Famous Champions had their Residence nor luckily sounded in their Ears the places of their Arrival In which pursuit I omit and pass over many Noble Adventures that these three Princes atchieved as well upon the raging Ocean as upon the firm Land and only discourse upon an Accident that hapned to them in an Island bordered upon the Confines of Armenia near unto the Island where the Knight of the Black Castle remained as you heard in the last Chapter upon which Coast after they were arrived they travelled in a broad and straigh Path until such time as they came to a very fair and delectable Forrest whereas sundry creeping Birds had gathered themselves together to refresh and shroud themselves from the parching Heat of the golden Sun filling the Air with the pleasures of their shâ—ill-tuned Notes In this Forrest they travelled almost two hours and then they wâ—nt up to the top of a small Mountain which was at hand from the which they discovered very fair and well-towâ—ed Towns Princely Palaces very sumptuous to behold likewise they discovered from the Hill a fair Fountain wrought all of Marble like unto a Pillar out of which did proceed tour Spouts running with Water which fell into a great Cistern and coming to it they washed their Hands refreshed their Faces and so departed After they had looked round about them on every-side and toward their right hand they espied amongst a company of green Trees a small Tent of black Cloath towards which these young Princes directed their Courses with an easie Pace but when they had entred the Tent and saw no body therein they remained silent a while hearkning if they could hear any stirring but they could neither see nor hear any thing but only they found the print of certain little Feet upon the Sand which caused them more earnestly to desire to know whose Foot-steps they were for that they seemed to be some Ladies or Damsels so finding the Trace they followed them and the more the Knights followed the more the Ladies seemed to hast so long they pursued after the Trace that at the end they approached a little Mountain whereas they sound scattered about certain locks of yellow Hair which seemed like threads of Gold and stooping to gather them up they perceived that some of them were wet with drops of Blood whereby they well understood that in great anger they were pulled from some Lady's Head likewise they saw in divers places how the Earth was spotted with spots of crimson Blood then with a more Desire than they had before they went up to the top of that little Mountain and having lost the Foot-steps they recovered it again by gathering up the Hair wheâ—e they had not travelled far upon the Mountain but towards the Waters-side they â—eard a grievous Complaint which seemed to be the Uoice of a Woman in great Distress and the words which the Knights did understand were these O Love now shalt thou no more rejoyce nor have any longer dominion over me for Death I see is ready to cut my thred of Life and finish these my sorrowful Lamentations how often have I ask'd Revengement at the Hands of Fortune against that wicked Wretch that hath been the causer of my Banishment but yet she will not 〈◊〉 my Request how oft have I made my sad Complaints to Hell yeâ— have the fatal Furies stopt their Ears against my mournful Cries And with this she held her peace giving a sorrowful Sigh which being done the three Christian Knigâ—ts turned their Eyes to the place from whence they heard this Complaint and discovered among certain green Trees a Lady who was endued with singular Beauty being so excellent that iâ— almost depâ—ived them of their Hearts and captived their Senses in the snares of Love which liberty as yet they never lost she had her Hair aboue her Ears which hung defusedly down her comely Shoulders through the Uiolence she used against herself and leaning her Cheek upon her delicate white Hand that was all to bespotted with Blood which was constrained by the scratching of her Nails upon her rosie coloured Face by her stood another Damsel which they conjectured to be her Daughter for she was clad in Uirgin-coloured Silk as white as the Lillies of the Fields and as pleasant to behold as the glistering Moon in a clear Winter fréezing Night notwithstanding all this delectable sight the three princely Knights would not discover themselves but stood closely behind three Pine trees which grew near unto the Mountain to hear the event of this sad Accident whereas they stood cloked in silence they heard her thus to confer with her beautiful Daughter Oh my Rosana quoth she the unhappy figure of him that without pity hath wounded my Heart and left me comfortless with the greatest cruelty that ever Knight or Gentleman left Lady How hath it been possible that I have had the force to bring up thee the Child of such a Father which hath bereaved me of my Liberty O you Soveraign Powers grant that I may establish in my mind the remembrance of the Love of thy adulterous Father O Girl born to a further Grief here do I desire the guiders of thy Fortunes
almost equally with the King for which there ingendered in the Kings heart a secret rancour and hatred towards him The Magician cast his love upon the young Princess Angelica and it was ordained by destiny that she should repay him with the same affection so that both their hearts being wounded with love the one to the other they indured sundry great Passions Then Love which continually seeketh occasions did on a time set before this Magician a Waiting Maid of Angelica's named Fidelia the which thing seemed to be wrought by the immortal power of the Goddess Venus Oh in what fear the Magician was to discover unto her all his heart and to bewray the secrets of his love-sick Soul but in the end by the great industry and diligence of the Waiting-maid whose Name was answerable unto her mind there was order given that these two Lovers should meet together This fair Angelica for that she could not at her ease enjoy her true Lover she did determine to leave her own natural Country Father and with this intention being one night with her Love she cast her Arms about his neck and said Oh my sweet and well-beloved Friend seeing that my Destinies have been so kind to me as to have my heart linked in thy Breast let no man find in thee ingratitude for that I cannot live except continually I enjoy thy sight and do not muse my Lord at these my Words for the intire love that I bear to you constreineth me to make it manifest And this believe of a certainty that if thy sight be absent from me it will be an occasion that my heart will lack his vital recreation and my soul forsake her Earthly habitation You know my Lord how that the King my Father doth bear you no good Will but doth hate you from his soul which will be an occasion that we cannot enjoy our hearts contentments for the which I have determined if you think well thereof to leave both my Father and my native Country and to go and live with you in a strange Land And if you deny me this you shall very quickly see your loving Lady without life but I know you will not deny me for thereon consisteth the benefit of my welfare and my chiefest prosperity And therewithal sheding a few tears from her Crystal Eyes she held her peace The Magician as one half ravished with her earnest desires answered and said My Love and sweet Mistress wherefore have you any doubt that I will not fulfill and accomplish your desire in all things therefore out of hand put all things in readiness that your pleasure is to have done for what more benefit or contentment can I receive than to enjoy your sight continually in such sort that neither of us may depart from the others company till the fatal Destinies give end to our lives Or if it so fall out that Fortune frown upon us that we be espied and taken in our enterprize and suffer death together what more glory can there happen unto me than to die with thee and to end my life betwixt thy arms therefore do not trouble your self dear Lady and Mistress but give me leave for â—o depart your presence that I may provide all things in readiness for our departures And so with this conclusion they took leave one of the other and departed away with as great secresie as might possibly be devised After this within a few days the Magitian by his Enchantment caused a Chariot to be made that was drawn by the flying Dragons into the which without being espyed of any one they put themselves together with their trusty Waiting-Maid and in great secresie they departed out of the Kings Pallace and took their journey towards the Country of Armenia into the which Country in a short time they arrived and came without any misfortune unto a place where as deep Rivers did continually strike upon a Rock upon the which stood an old ancient building wherein they intended to inhabit as a most convenient place for their dwelling whereas they might without all fear of being found live peaceably enjoying each others love Not far from that place there was a small Uillage from whence they might have necessary provision for the maintaining of their bodies Great joy and pleasure these two Lovers received when they found themselves in such a place whereas they might take their fill of each others loves The Magician delighted in no other thing but to go a hunting with certain Country Dwellers that inhabited in the next Uillage leaving his sweet Angelica accompanied with her trusty Fidelia in that house so in this order they lived together four years spending their days in great pleasure but in the end time who never â—ested in one degree did take from them their â—est and repayed them with sorrow and extream misery For when the King her Father found her missing the sorrow and grief was so much that he received that he kept his Chamber a long time and would not be comforted of any body Four years he passed away in great heaviness filling the Court with Ecchoes of his beloved Daughter and making the Skies to resound his lamentations sorrow was his food salt tears his drink and grief his chief Companion But at last upon a time as he sate in his Chair lamenting her absence with great heaviness and being over-charged with grief he chanc'd to fall into a troublesome dream for after quiet sleep had closed up the closers of his Eyes he dreamed that he saw his Daughter standing upon a Rock by the Sea-side offering to cast her Body into the Waves before she would return to Babylon and that he beheld her Lover with an Army of Satyrs and Wild-men ready furnished with habiliments of War to pull him from his Throne and to deprive him of his Kingdom Out of this Uision he presently started from his Chair as though it had been one frighted with a Legion of Sâ—irits and caused four of the chief Peers of his Land to be sent for to whom he committed the Government of his Country certifying them that he intended a Uoyage to the Sepulchre at Memphis thereby to qualify the fury of his Daughters Ghost whom he dreamed to be drowned in the Seas and that except he sought by true Submission to appease the angry Fates whom he had offended he should be deposed from his Kingdom None could withdraw him from his Determination though it was to the prejudice of the whole Land therefore within twenty Days he furnished himself with all necessaries as well of Armour and Martial Furniture as of Gold and Treasure and so departed from Babylon privately and alone not suffering any other though many desired it humbly and very earnestly to bear him company But he travelled not as he told his Lords after any Ceremonious Order but like a Blood Hound searching Country after Country Nation by Nation and Kingdom by Kingdom that after a barbarous manner he might be
revenged upon his Daughter for her Disobedience And as he travelled there was no Cave Den Wood or Wilderness but he furiously entred and diligently searched for his Angelica At last by strauge Fortune he hapned into Armenia near unto the place whereas his Daughter had her residence where after he had intelligence by the Commons of the Country that she remained in an old ruinated Building on the top of a Rock near at hand without any more delay he travelled unto that place at such a time as the Magician her Husband was gone about his accustomed Hunting where coming to the Gate and finding it lockt he knockt thereat so furiously that he made the noise resound all the House over with the redoubling Eccho When Angelica heard one knock she came unto the Gate and with all speed she did open it where when she thought to imbrace him thinking iâ—to be her Lover she saw that it was her Father and with a sudden alteration she gave a great shriek and ran with all the speed she could back into the House Her Father being angry like a furious Lyon followed her saying It doth little avail thee Angelica to run away for that thou shalt dâ—â— by this revengeful hand paying me with thy Death the Dishonour that my Crown hath received by thy Flight So he followed her till he came to the Chamber where her waiting-Maid Fidelia was who likewise presently knew the King upon whose wrathful countenance appeared the Image of pale Death and fearing the harm that might happen unto her Lady she put her self over her Ladies Body and gave most terrible loud and lamentable shrieks The King as one kindled in Wrath and forgetting the natural love of a Father towards his Child he laid hands upon his Sword and said It doth not profit thee Angelica to flie from thy death for thy desert is such that thou canst not escape from it for here mine own arm shall be the killer of my own flesh and I unnaturally hate that which nature it self commandeth me especially to love Then Angelica with a Countenance more red than Scarlet answered and said Ah my Lord and Father will you be now as cruel unto me as you had wont to be kind and pitiful Appease your Wrath and withdraw your unmerciful Sword and hearken unto this which I say in discharging my self of that you charge me withal You shall understand my Lord and Father that I was overcome and constrained by love for to love forgetting all fatherly Love and Duty towards your Majesty yet for all that having power to accomplish the same it was not to your dishonour in that I live honourably with my Husband then the King with a visage fraught with terrible â—re more like a Dragon in the Woods of Hircania than a Man by nature answered and said Thou virerous Brat degenerate from Natures kind thou wicked Traytor to thy generation what reason hast thou to make this false excuse when as thou hast committed a Crime that deserves more punishment than humane nature can inflict And in saying these Words he lift up his Sword inâ—ending to strike her into the heart and to bath his Weapon in his own Daughters blood Whereat Fidelia being present gave a terrible shriek and threw her self upon the Body of unhappy Angelica offering her tender Breast to the fury of his sharp cutting Sword only set at liberty her â—ear Lady and Mistress But when the furious King saw her in this sort make her defence he pulled her off by the hair of her Head offering to trample her delicate Body under his feet thereby to make a way that he might execute his determined purpose without resistance of any Fidelia when she saw the King determined to kill his Daughter like unto a Lioness she hung about his neck and said Thou Monstrous Murtherer more cruel than the mad Doggs in Aegypt why dost thou determine to slaughter the most chast and loyallest Lady in the World even the within whose lap untamed Lions will come and sleep Thou art thy self I say the occasion of all this evil and thine only is the fault for that thy self wert so malicious and so full of mischief that she dâ—rst not let thee understand of her Love These Words and Tears of Fidelia did little profit to molifie the Kings heart who rather like a wild Boar in the Wilderness being compassed about with a company of Dogs most irefully shook his Limbs and threw Fidelia from him in such sort that he had almost dasht her Brains against the Chamber Walls and with double Wrath he did proceed to execute his fury Yet for all this Fidelia with terrible shrieks sought to hinder him till such time as with his cruel hand he thrust his Sword into her Ladies Breast so that it appeared forth at her back whereby her Soul was forced to leave her terrestrial habitation and flie into the wide Air after those which dyed for true loves sake Thus this unhappy Angelica when she was most at quiet and content with her mean kind of Life then Fortune turned her unconstant Wheel and cast her from a glorious delight to sudden death The ireful King when he beheld his Daughters blood sprinkled about the Chamber and that by his own Hands it was committed he repented himself of the Deed and cursed the Hour wherein the first motion of such a Trime entred into his mind wishing the hand that did it ever after might be same and the heart that did contrive it to be plagued with more extremities than was miserable Oedipus or to be terrified with her Ghostly Spirit as was the Macedonian Alexander with Clitus Shadow whom he caustelly murthered In this manner the unfortunate King repented his Daughters bloody Tragedy with this determination not to stay till the Magician returned from his Hunting Exercise but to â—â—clude himself from the company of all Men and to spend the remnant of his loathsom life among untamed Beasts in some wild Wilderness Upon this resolution he departed the Chamber and withal said Farewel thou liveless Body of my Angelica and may thy blood which I have spilt crave vengeance of the Fates against my guilty Soul for my Earthly Body shall indure a miserable punishment Likewise at his departure he writ upon the Chamber Walls these Uerses following with his Daughters Blood Now unto Hills to Dales to Rocks to Caves I go To spend my Days in Shame in Sorrow Grief and Woe Fidelia after the departure of the King used such violent fury against her self both by rending the golden Tranunels of her Hair and â—earing her Rosie-coloured Face with her furious Nails that she rather seemed an infernal Fury subject to Wrath than any Earthly Creature furnished with Clemency she sate over Angelica's Body wiping her bleeding Bosom with a Damask Scarf which she pulled from her Wast and hathing her dead Body in luke-warm Tears which forcibly ran down from her Eyes like an overslowing Fountain In thâ—t woful
side unto the other without taking any ease or having any power or strength to declare the inward grief which at that time he felt but with lamentation which did torment his heart he called continually on the Armenian Queen and in that Devilish fury wherein he was drew out his Dagger and lifting up the skirt of his shirt of Mail he thrust it into his Body and giving himself this unhappy death with calling upon his wronged Lady he finished his life and fell to the ground This sad and heavy Lady when she beheld him so desperately to gore his Martial Breast and to fall lifeless to the Earth she greatly repented her self that she had not discovered her Name and revealed to him how that she was his unfortunate Daughter whose face before that time he had never beheld and as a Lion though all too late who seeing before her Eyes a young Lioness evil intreated of the Hunter even so she ran unto her murthered Father and with great speed pulled off his Helmet from his wounded head and unbraced his Armour the which was in colour according to his passion but yet as strong as any Diamond made by Magick Art Also she took away his Shield which had on it a Russet Flag and in the midst thereof was pourtrayed the God of Love with two faces the one was very fair and baund with a cloth about his eyes and the other was made marvellous fierce and furious This being done with a fair linnen cloath she wiped off the blood from his wounded Body And when she was certain that it was he after whom she had travelled so many steps and that he was without life with a furious madness she â—â—re her Artyre from her Head and all to rent her golden hair tearing iâ— in pieces and then returned again and wiped his bleeding Body making such sorrowful lamentation that whosoever had seen her would have been moved to compassion Then she took his Head betwixt her hands striving to lift it up and to lay it upon her Lap but seeing for all this that there was no moving him she joyned her face unto his pale and dead Cheeks and with sorrowful Words she said Dear Father open thine eyes and behold me open them sweet Father and look upon me thy sorrowful Daughter If Fortune be so favourable let me receive some contentment whilst Life remaineth Oh strengthen thy self to look upon me wherein such delight may come to me that we may one accompany the other Oh my Lord and only Father seeing that in former times my unfortuate Mothers â—ears were not sufficient to reclaim thee make me satisfaction for the great travel which I have taken in seeking thee out Come now in death and joy in the sight of thy unhappy Daughter and die not without seeing her open thine eyes that she may gratifie thee in dying with thee This being said Rosana began again to wipe his Body for that it was again all to be bathed in blood with her white hands she felt his eyes and mouth and all his Face and Head till such time as she touched his Breast and put her hand on the mortal Wound where she held it still and looked upon him whether he moved or no. But when she felt him without sense or feeling she began anew to complain and crying out with most terrible Exclamations she said Oh my hapless Father how many Troubles and great Travels hath thy Daughter passed in seeking thee watering the Earth with her Tears and always in vain calling for thee Oh how many times in naming thy name hath she been answered with an Ercho which was unto her great dolor and grief And now that Fortune hath brought her where thou art to rejoyce her self in thy presence the same Fortune hath converted her wishes into grief and dolour O cruel and unconstant Queen of Chance hath Rosana deserved this to be most afflicted when she expected some joy O Leoger if ever thou will open thine eyes now open them or let the glasses of mine be closed eternally Herewith she perceived his dim eyes to open and his senses now a little gathered together and when he saw himself in her Arms and understood by her Words that she was his Daughter whom he had by the unfortunate Queen of Armenia he suddenly strove against Weakness and at last recovering some strength he cast his yielding Arms about the milk-white neck of the fair Rosana and they joined their Faces the one with the other distilling betwixt them many salt and bitter Tears in such sort that it would have moved the very wild Beasts unto compassion and then with a feeble and weak voice the wounded Knight said O my Daughter unfortunate by my Dissoyalty let me recreate and comfort my self in injoying this thy mouth the time that I shall remain alive and before my silly Soul doth depart the company of my dying Body I do confess that I have been pittiless unto thy Mother and unkind to thee in making thee to travel with great sorrow in seeking me and now thou hast found me I must leave thee alone in this sorrowful place with my dead Body pale and wan yet before my death sweet Girl give me some few gentle kisses this only delight I crave for the little time I have to carry and afterwards I desire thee to intomb my Body in thy Mothers Grave though it be far in distance from this unlucky Country O my dear Lord answered she do you request me to give your Body a Sepulchre I think it more requisite to seek some to give it unto us both for I know my life cannot continue long if the angry Fates deprive me of your living company And without strength to proceed any further in Speeches she kissed his Face with many sobbings and sighs and having within her self a terrible conflict she carryed for the answer of her dying Father who with pain and great anguish of Death said O my Child how happy should I be that thus imbracing one in anothers Arms we might depart together then should I be joyful in thy company and account my self happy in my death but alas I must leave thee unto the World Daughter farewel good Fortune preserve thee and for ever may she take thee into her Favour And when he had said these Words inclining his neck upon the Face of Rosana he dyed When this sorrowful Lady saw that the Soul had got the victory and departed from the Body she kissed his pale lips and giving deep and dolorous sighs she began a marvellous and most heavy lamentation calling her self unhappy and unfortunate and laid her self upon the dead Body cursing her destinies so that it was lamentable to hear O my dear Father said she what small benefit have I received for all my travel and pain the which I have suffered in seeking thee and now in the finding of thee the more is my grief for that I came to see thee die O most unhappy
thy hands 〈…〉 Boâ—y to use 〈…〉 to thy will and pleasure requesting only this thing at thy hand that as thou loveâ— me â—iâ—ing thou wil◠〈…〉 and like a merciful Champion suffer me to receive a Pâ—incely Funeral At last of all to thee Divine Diana do I speak â—câ—ept of this my bâ—eeâ—ing Soul that with so much Blood is offered unto thee So in finishing this sorrowful Speech she drew out a fair and bright shining Sword which she had â—â—â—oden secretly under her â—own and setting the Hâ—â—â— against the Scaffâ—â—d 〈◊〉 looked for of her Father and those that were present she suddenly threw her self upon the point of that Sword in such fuâ—iouâ— manner that it parted her bâ—oody heart in sunder so rendeâ—ed her Son to the tâ—ition of her unto whom she offered her moâ—â— bloody 〈◊〉 sacrifice What shall I here declare the lamentable sorrows and pitiful lamentation that was there made by her Father and other Roman Knights that were present at this unhappy mâ—â—chance to great it was that the Wall of the Monastery Ecchoed and their piâ—tiful shrieks ascended to the Clouds But none was more grieved in mind than the afflicted English Champion who like a man distraught of sense in great fury rushed amongst the â—eoâ—le throâ—ing them down on every side till he ascended upon the Scaâ—â—old and approaching the dead Body of Lucina he took her up in his arms and with a sorrowful and passionate voice â—e said O my belovâ—d 〈…〉 hearts delight is this the Sacrifice wherein through thy despâ—rateness thou hast deceived me who loved thee more thâ—n my life 〈…〉 respite that thou requirest for seven days wherein thâ—â— haâ—t conclude 〈…〉 and my utter Confusion O Noble Lucina and my 〈…〉 were thy intention why didst thou not first Sacrifice me thy Servant 〈◊〉 â—ove wholly subjected unto thy Divine Beauty Woe be unto â—e 〈…〉 unto my unhappy enterprize for by it is she lost who was mâ—de Soverâ—gâ— Lady of my heart O Diana accursed be this Chance because thou hast consented to so bloody a Tragedy for I do here protest that never more shalt thou be worshipped but in thy stead every Land and Country where the English Champion cometh shall Lucina be adored For from henceforth will I seek to diminish thy Name and blot it from the Godral of the Firmament yea and utterly extinguish it for ever so that there shall never more memory remain of thee for this thy bloody Tyranny in suffering so lamentable a Sacrifice No sooner had he delivered these Speeches but incensed with fury he drew his Sword and parted the Image of Diana into two pieces protesting to ruinate the Monastery within whose Wall 's the device of this bloody Sacrifice was concluded The Sorrow and extream Grief of the Roman Emperour so exceeded for the murther of his Daughter that he fell to the Earth in a senseless swound and was carried by certain of his Knights half dead with grief home to his Palace where he remained speechless by the space of thirty days The Emperour had a Son as valiant in arms as any born Italian except S. Anthony This young Prince whose Name was Lucius seeing his sisters timeless death and by what means it was committed he presently intended with a Train of an hundred armed Knights which continually attended upon his Person to assail the discontented Champions and by force of arms to revenge his Sisters death This resolution so encouraged the Roman Knights but especially the Emperors Son that betwixt these two companies began as terrible a Battel as ever was fought by any Knights the fierceness of their blows so exceeded the one side against the other that they did resound Ecchoes which yielded a terrible Noise in the Neighbouring Woods This Battel did continue betwixt them both sharp and sierce for the space of two hours by which time the valour of the incensed Champions so prevailed that most of the Roman Knights were discomfited and slain some had their Heads parted from their shoulders some had their Arms and Legs lopped off and some lay breathless weltring in their own blood in which encounter many a Roman Lady lost her Husband many a Widow was bereaved of her Son and many a Child left Fatherless to the great sorrow of the whole Country But when the valiant Poung Prince of Rome saw his Knights discomfited and he left alone to withstand so many Noble Champions he presently set spurs to his Horse and fled from them like a heap of dust forced by a Whirle-wind After whom the Champions would not pursut accounting it no glory to their Names to triumph in the overthrow of a single Knight but remained still by the Scaffold where they buryed the sacrificed Uirgin under a Marble stone close by the Monastery Wall The which being done to their contentments S. George engraved this Epitaph upon the same Stone with the point of his Dagger which was in this wise following Under this Marble Stone interr'd doth lye Luckless Lucina yet of Beauty bright Who to maintain her spotless Chastity Against the assailment of an English Knight Upon a Blade her tender Breast she cast A bloody Offering to Diana chaste So when he had written this Epitaph the Christian Champions mounted upon their swift-footed Steeds and bad adue to the unhappy confines of Italy hoping to find better Fortunes in other Countries In which Travel we will leave them for a time and speak of the Prince of Rome who after the discomfiture of the Roman Knights fled in such haste from the furies of the Warlike Champions After which he like a raging Lyon traversed along by the River of Tybris filling all places with his melancholy passions untill such time as he entred into a thick Grove wherein he purposed to rest his weary Limbs and lament his misfortunes After he had in this solitary place unlaced his Helmet and hurled it scornfully against the ground the infernal Furies began to visit him and to sting his Breast with motions of fiery revenge In the end he cast up his wretched Eyes unto the Skies and said O you fatal Torches of the Elements why are you not clad in mournful Habiliments to cloak my wandring steps in eternal darkness Or shall I be made a scorn in Rome for my Cowardize Or shall I return and accompany my Roman Friends in death whose Blood methinks I see sprinkled about the Fields of Italy Methinks I hear their bleeding Souls fill each corner of the Earth with my base flight therefore will I not live to be termed a fearful Coward but die couragiously by mine own hands whereby those accursed Champions shall not obtain the Conquest of my Death nor triumph in my Fall This being said he drew out his Dagger and clave his heart in sunder The News of whose desperate Death after it was bruited to his Fathers ears he interred his Body with his sister Lucina's and erected over them a stately Chappel wherein the Nuns and ceremonious
the Monuments that were erected in the honour of all their famous Emperours Councels Orators and Conquerours things which yielded him great Pleasure The next thing that his eyes delighted in was the Temple of the twelve Sibyls a most miraculous building in which Temple were all their Prophecies inroled as also the beginning and ending of the whole Catalogue of the Heathen Gods as Mars Jupiter Saturn Apollo and such like with their manner of Worship The next that he saw was the House of Remus and Romulus that builded Rome a building of much Worthiness Next unto it stood an ancient Prison can old rotten thing where the man lay that was condemned to death and could have no body come to him and succour him but was searche yet was kept alive a long space by sucking of his Daughters Breasts After this he saw Pompeys Theatre reputed one of the Nine Wonders of the World the Emperour Nero's Tomb maintained with disgrace for the offence he did in setting Rome on fire To conclude he spent many days in viewing the Martyrs Tombs and other 〈◊〉 brought from Jerusalem amongst many other delightful fights he came into a Chappel dedicated unto himself called The honour of St. Anthony Wherein was pourtrayed in Alabaster Pictures the true forms of all the Champions of Christendom with the Stories of all their Adventures Combats Turnaments and Battles their Imprisonments Dangers and Enchantments all Portrayed and Pictured up by Enchantments and Witchcraft whereupon ran a Prophesie that the Patron of this Chappel should ever live unconquered and never imbrace Death till his eyes were witness of the â—aâ—e Portraytures which in golden Letters were subscribed over the Chappel Door or Entrance All which when St. Anthony had beheld and knowing by Inspiration himself to be the Man with a meek mind embraced his own end and never after departed the Chappel but remained kneeling in the same upon the bare Marble making his Orisons of repentance to the eternal Deity till pale Destiny had cut off the threads of his old days And thus being converted to mouldy Earth the Emperour caused him to be Intombed in the same Chappel and over his Grave to be 〈◊〉 a magnificent Chair in which Chair for many years after the Roman Conquerours receive their Laurel rewards of Martial Wooly under whose Banner and Name even to this day they make their Adventures to which high Honour and Fame both lived and 〈…〉 is praise worthy Champion St. Anthony of Italy CHAP. XXII Of tâ—â— Martyrdom of St. Andrew the Scottish Champion and how his death was revenged by the King of that Countrey and by what means Scotland was brought unto the Christian Faith SAint George and Saint Andrew were the two last Champions that stayed together and as it seemed the dearest love remained between them two but yet rusty Time with his swift course would needs part them and break this their united fellowship For the summons of Honour so animated the bold heart of the Scottish Champion that he burned with desire to see his Native Country and to behold the place of his first Being For leaving Constantinople only honoured with the presence of Saint George and his three Sons in great jollity of mind he travelleth month by month week by week day by day till Time and Fate set him happily in the Kingdom of Scotland where having not been in many years before he received such Entertainment as if he had been the greatest Emperour of the World for all the streets and passages as he went were furnished with people of the best regard to give him a gracious welcome to his native home especially the King himself who for the love and honour he bore unto his Name and Knight-hood lodged him his own Pallace and proclaimed for his noble Welcome a Princely Turnament to be holden for the space of fifteen days in which time all the Nobility and Martial Knights of Scotland performed such well-approved Atchievements that not Greece Constantinople Rome nor Jerusalem could equal them in the least regard But St. Andrew being now aged and unapt for such Princely Encounters â—aâ—e as a beholder censuring of the best deserver and gave such due commendations as beâ—itted so gallant a company and for a farewel of such time honoured Pastimes he desired leave of the King to depart and to spend the remnant of his life in private contempâ—ations for the good of his Soul to wash away with the water of true penitence all that blood he had spild in his Travel about the World in the maintainance of Knight-hood a request so reasonable that the King could not refuse but give his consent So taking leave of his Majesty the rest of the Nobility Knights there present he departed up to a Mountain far remote from the Kings Court under which by Nature was erected a Cave or hollow Uault wherein he remained for the space of a year studying Divinity and the Commands of his Redeemer Scotland being theâ— a rude and Heathenish Countrey where the common sort of People inhabited by which means he was much admired and supposed to be sent from some place unknown as a Messenger to bring them evil ridings Whereupon those misbelieving people by a common consent taking him for some subtil Conspirer against their Pagan Gods which as then they worshipped put him secretly to death and after cutting off his Head in hope of reward bore it to the King deeming they had done a deed of much deserved commendations Which inhumane Cruelty when the King saw with much grief he lamented the loss of this good Man and with all speed in revenge of his Death raised a power of his best resolved Knights of War putting every one to the Sword both Man Woman and Child that in any manner consented to the Champions Martyrdom and after in process of time appointed a Monastery to be built in the same place where he died causing the whole Kingdom to be brought in subjection to a quiet Government and Christened in the right belief of this holy Father This was the last Deed of St. Andrew by whose Death Scotland received the true Faith in which it now remaineth CHAP. XXIII Of the Adventure performed by St. George how he received his Death by the sting of a venomous Dragon and of the Honours and Royalties done unto his Name being intitled our English Patron of Knighthood NOw droops my weary Muse for she is come unto her latest Tragedy S. George is summoned to the Bar of Death where magnificent honour stands ready to give his Name a Noble Renown to all ensuing Ages This illustrious Champion when he was left alone as you heard in the company of his three Sons Guy Alexander and David strange imaginations day by day possessed his mind that he could not rest nor sleep sometimes supposing his Companions were in great distress other while how they had won the chiefest Goal of Honour little needing his Knightly service and assistance sometimes
of the Cataracts of Nilus or the greatest crack of the loudest Thunder but having received his deaths wound with some little strugling he yielded his life up to the Uictors who surveying his Body found it to be from the head to the end of the tail full ten yards in length his bulk at least a Tun weight having paws and claws answerable unto it and each part so armed with scales as scarcely penetrable witd any sword The Knights having obtained this Uictory returned thanks to the Immortal Powers and leaving the Carcass of the hideous Monster travel'd up higher into the Country hoping to meet with some of the inhabitants thereof whom now they saw had left their houses for dread of this Monster Having travelled some few miles and desirous of refreshment after this encounter they saw some smoak ascending out of the tunnel of a little Cell near unto them whither bending their course they saw standing at the door an aged Hermit in a Gown of Freeze reaching to the ground his Hair as white as the downe of Swans or driven Snow which in a careless manner hung dishelved down his Shoulders in his Face you might read the Map of sorrow charactered out in deep furrowed wrinkles whom the Knights courteously saluted desiring to know the reason why so fruiful a Country as they had passed was left destitute of Inhabitants The aged Hermit having viewed them well and perceiving by their habit they were Outlandish Knights bent upon Martial Adventures and seeming to be persons who dreaded no danger he desired them to alight from their Warlike Steeds and for a while to repose themselves in his lowly Cell and he would endeavour to satisfie their desires in the mean time said he I would desire you to take such homely refreshment as my Cell affords and thereupon brought them forth such Country Uiands as that place afforded which they courteously accepting and having satisfied their hunger the Hermit began to speak to them in this manner Sir Knights said he for so you séem by your outward Habiliments if we may judge of the goodness of the apple by the fairness of the rind know that this Country wherein you now are is the Land of Sicily once so fruitful and abounding in all things that it might well be called the Granary of the VVorld and now still retaining its vertue durst the Inhabitants manure the same But now our plenty is turned into misery our mirth into mourning our streets which were wont to be replenished with throngs of people now destitute and empty of Inhabitants and all by reason of a most gastly dreadful Monster sent I think from the Infernal Regions for the punishment of Mankind whom the Country people term by the name of Pongo This direful Monster or rather Devil incarnate begotten as it is thought between a Land Tyger and a Sea Shark so that it participates of both Elements swimming in the Sea near our Sicilian Coasts espyed some Heardsmen on the shore who with great wonder beheld this Monster as he disported himself on the waves of the Sea but when they saw he made towards them and beheld the monstrousness of his proportion fear standing at the gates of their Eyes put back all further perswasions of beholding him and adding wings to their feeâ— they flew away in the greatest hastâ— they possibly could make but in vain was all their speed for he soon recovering the shore siezed upon some of the hindmost of them whom he made a prey to his devouring paunch and having tasted the sweets of humane blood he ever since hath haunted our Coasts ranging up higher into the Country devouâ—ing all wheresoever he came and herein is his cruelty most exemplary that he delights more in the slaughter of Men then of Beasts so that it is judged he hath devoured no less then five hundred persons and for twenty miles space left all desolate and uninhabited the dread of him being so very great that the women to terrifie their children from crying use to say the Pongo cometh Thus Ronowned Knights have you heard the cause of our Countries misery not one of our â—â—outest Champions having the heart to encounter with him so that at freedom he wasts and destroys all before him until such time as it shall please Providence to send us some more redoubled Knights then ours to free us from him for which our King hath promised great rewards the spur to honourable atchievments besides the great good a Reward in it self which it will do to Mankind in fréeing us from so terrible an enemy The Hermit concluding his speech with a deep sigh for a period the Ualiant Knight Sir Guy with a smiling countenance thus answered him Now then said he are the Stars so benigne unto Sicily that your Country is fréed from this direful misery for the cause being taken away the effects must needs cease Know then that by the victorious Armes of me and my two Brothers the Monster is dead and no more dread of your affrighting dead Pongo then is to be feared from a living Grashopper or Butterfly Scarcely had Sir Guy ended his speech when the Hermit transported with an excessive joy fell down at his feet being almost in as great an extasie for joy as was that Father who having three Sons returned Uictors from the Olympick Games his overjoyed spirit could not contain its self in the bounds of reason but by the excessiveness thereof yielded up the ghost And is our Land said he capable of so great a benefit does so good Fortune attend our Country Then thanks to the immortal powers above who hath sent you hither to be the means of our future happiness how is our Nation bound to your Manhood and what victims shall we offer for your fortunate success As the Hermit was thus discoursing there was passing by the Cell a Herald at Arms well accontered and attended on by four Knights clad all in mourning Armour who were sent by the King into Forreign Countries to proclaim in every place where they came that if any Knight would be so hardy as to encounter with the Pongo and overcome him he should be made a Peer of the Realm and have a golden Helmet for a reward This their errand being made known to the three Knights they declared unto them how Pongo was already killed which put a stop to their further journey and sending back one of the Knights to the King to inform him thereof the rest went to view the dead Carcass of the Pongo which having surveyed with great admiration the three Sicilian Knights invited Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David to the City of Syracusa where the King then kept his Court who courteously accepting of their proffer taking leave of the aged Hermit who returned to his Cell mounting their Warlike Steeds with an easie pace they marched on But when the King heard the news of the Monsters death he caused the Bells to be rung and Banfires to
Lord of the fruitful Land of Campania which when St. Anthony understood this Duke Ursini having formerly béen his loving Friend he declared unto them who he was and what were his Companions and also how they were bound for Italy whereupon there was great rejoycing on both fides and the Gentleman and Captain and Master of the Italian ship were invited into the other where after some Complements past on both sides and a short Collation the Sea being calm and like a standing Pool no Waves nor Billows to arise they intreated the Gentleman now that their ships lay thus at Hull to declare unto them the manner of Duke Ursini's death and how he came to dye in so remote a Country To which the Gentleman willingly condescended and spake as followeth It is not now fully two years since that the Renowned Prince Oswy Duke of Ferrara at the Celebration of his Marriage with the famous Lady Lucinda of Mantua kept solemn Iusts and Turnaments with Royal Entertainment for all comers which invited thither not only the prime Nobility and Gallants of the Italians but also the news being spread abroad into Forreign Countries several persons of great Quality resorted thither amongst others was â—iâ—ian the Daughter of Lampasco Prince of Scandia a Lady of such glorious eye surprizing Rays that in her Faâ—e Love seemed to sit enthroned in full Majesty nor wanted 〈◊〉 theâ—â— with the helps of Art to set forth her natural perfâ—â—â—ens so that she seemed rather a Divine Goddess then a humane creature These her admirable Endowments was looked on by Duke Urâ—â—ni through a multiplying glass which rendered her to him the moll admirable of all Creatures captivating his heart such a shâ—alâ— to her Beauty that he vowed himself a servant to her vertues and to endear himself the more in her Respects by some Atchievments of Honour he entered the Lists as chief Challenger against all comets being mounted on a milk white Barbary Courser trapped with Capparisons of Silver and on his Burgonet a plume of goodly Feathers His Armour was blew resembling the Azure Firmament spangled with stars of Gold with this word for his device Vertue like the clear Heaven is without Clouds He encountered with sundry Knights of great worth against atl which he had much the better which gained him both great applause and envy Nor was he less skilful in the intrigues of Love than in the management of Arms and to court a Lady as well as encounted with an Enemy which he with much artificial Eloquence demonstrated in an address to the Lady Jilian who seemed much affected with his person and so far the matter went that there seemed nothing wanting to the consummation of their Marriage but only the consent oâ— her Parents which to obtain he sailed with her unto Scandia where he was most nobly entertained and his suit very well liked on Now it was so that a young Baron of that Country named Lamptido had formerly born a great affection unto the Princess Jilian and had so far prevailed with her that he was in great hopes of obtaining her Love but his means not being answerable to her high Dignity it was kept very close from Prince Lampascoes Ear yet hoped he in time that either by the death of Lampasco or some secret stratagem he should compass his eâ—â—s but now seeing Prince Ursini in so great â—avour he began utterly to despair in his suit unless by some means he could find a way to deprive him of his Life It happened not long after that Prince Lampasco proclaimed a general hunting of the wild Bore to which Princely exercise resorted all the flower of the Nobility and every one whose 〈…〉 â—ired with desire of glory and renown amongst others none was more forward to this Royal sport then Prince Ursini who at the appointed time came into the field armed with his Bore-â—pear and mounted on a Spanish Gennet who for their swiâ—â—ness are said to be ingendred of the Wind. Being come within view of the place where they were to hunt each man was ordered according to his â—and when a Brace of lusty Beagles were let loose to rouse the Bore In the mean time every man prepared himself for the â—antling of his Weapons and with a nimble Eye to catch all advantages that might be taken It was not long before the Beagles haâ—â—ouzed the Bore out of his 〈◊〉 who seeming to regard no danger nimbly turning round aboâ—â—â— with a kind of a wallowing running pace ran where he could see any company The first that struck at him was an Italian Knight who accompanied Prince Ursini in his Uoyage to Scandia who brake his Spear but wounded him not for his Skin was scarcely penetrable being as hard as a Bulls hide when it is tanned Leaving this Italian he ran against a valorous Knight named â—â—iastâ—r who encountered with him very couragiously yet could not his courage strength nor skill aâ— which he was in a full ineasâ—â—â— Master of prevail any thing yet was his performance so much that giving him a small wound on the Leg feeling the smart he ran towards Baron Lamprido who used his utmost strength and skill to withstand him but the smart of his wound in his Leg so exasperated him that he ran with such fury against Lamprido as turned him Horse and Man to the ground and undoubtedly had slain him had not Duke Ursini come to his rescue who with undaunted courage set upon the Bore and with great strength guided by skill so followed his blowes that he made the Bore begin to stagger who yet with open mouth came towards him which advantage Duke Ursini spying thrust his Bore Spear down his Throat and therewith rest his Heart in sunder yielding unto him the absolute Uictory By this time divers Knights were come in to him amongst others Lamprido having recovered his fall came in with the thickest but when he saw that the Bore was killed and by the hands of Ursini his blood boiled within him for anger out of envy that he had done it which he knew would more endear him in the affections of the Lady Jilian as also that his own overthrow would much lessen her opinion of him Hereupon a desire of revenge entering into his heart his study was how to effect it with privacy not only for danger of the Law but dread of Duke Ursini's valour whom he knew he could not match in single combat he therefore concluded to do it by treachery which not long after he brought to pass in this manner Amongst other exercises which Duke Ursini much delighted in one was the Art of Angâ—ing in which he would oftentimes spend many hours and that with as much privacy as he could because multitude of persons was a hinderance to the sport It to chanced one day that he accompanied only with one servant and having no other Armour but his Sword went in a Boat unto a spacious River a fishing which being known unto Lampridi he
new into the room made him young again In another Table was pourtrayed King Midas who for preferring Pans Pipe before Apollos Harp was for his pains rewarded with a pair of Asses Ears Whilst they were viewing these Pictures with delight the Enchantress Mededa came down from her Chamber who beholding Sir Guy with a fixed look thus said unto him Sir Knight return unto thy Ship Let no advantage from thee slip For now the time is nigh at hand Thou must be joyn'd in Hymens band Thy constancy to her is known Who seeks to have thee for her own But e're these things to thee betide Thou many troubles must abide Having thus said she vanished out of their sight leaving them much wondring at what they had heard Then taking their leave of the Dwarf they returned again towards their Ship but in their way as they passed along by a Rivers side which gently running made swéet musick with the enameled stones and séemed to give a gentle kiss to every sedge he overtook in his watry Pilgrimage There came crossing a Meadow towards them an antient Shepherd who by the downfal of his mellow years seemed as if Nature had brought him near to the door of death yet were not his Hairs so gray by years as made by sorrow which his blubber'd Countenance gave a doleful copy of his thoughts what he was about to speak Sir Knights said he if ever compassion harboured in noble Breasts let my aged years and extream misfortunes crave your pity who from a contented and not despicable estate am now become Fortunes Tennis-ball by the unconstancy of that blind Goddess Know then worthy Knights my name is Selindus once possessed of the Wealthy Barrony of Mompelior scituate in this Island of Micomicom a place which for the richuefs of the Soyl and pleasantness of the Scituation is scarcely parallel'd in all the Country These fair possessions of mine left unto me when I was young soon procured me a Wife of which yet I had no cause to repent being a Lady replenished with all the Ornaments and Endowments of Nature which might make her in every wise compleat Happily we lived together for some short space of time when the fruits of her Womb gave us great hopes of more future joyes but the Fates had decreed otherwise for upon her delivery the birth of the Ihfant proved the death of the Parent and she to bestow a Gem on the Earth became her self a Pearl in the starry Firmament What should I say more I lost a Wife and gained a Daughter and indeed a Daughter of such super-excellent parts as might put a cessation of sorrow for the Mother This Daughter whose name was Praxida did I bring up in all vertuous Education who in short time became the wonder of her Sex having in her such perfections as did yield subject to admiration and as she grew more in years so did she add more to her perfections which admirable Endowments attracted to her many adorers who sued for her favour amongst whom was one whom she most fancied whose name was Euphemius a knight of Placida being an Island not far off under the Queen Artemia who had made him sole Governour thereof Betwixt this Euphemius and my Daughter unknown to me had passed a solemn Contract she belike fearing to disclose it to me as doubting my consent his Estate not being answerable to my Revenues wherefore they got privately Married together Now it happened not long after upon some offence against the Queen Euphemius was committed to Prison and having layn there some few dayes was brought before the Queen to be examined who beheld him with great wonder and astonishment for indéed he was a person of a lovely Countenance and in whom Dame Nature had done her utmost to the making of him in all parts compleat which so wounded her heart with an affection towards him that instead of his being her Captive she became his and in part to manifest the same unto him she frankly gave him his freedom and with many kind words entertained him very graciously into her favour yet could not all this kindness endear her unto him but the more she shewed love to him on the one side the more was his hatred to her on the other and that not so much in respect of his to my Daughter as the mortal spite he bare to her for his Imprisonment so that having a sit opportunity offered him he fled from the Court and confederating with some friends intended to levy War against the Queen The Queen understanding of his departure fared like unto a distracted Woman wringing her hands and beating on her Ivory Breasts she cast her self upon the ground tearing the lovely Tresses from her head Her Ladies comforted her the best wise they could but that cherisht fire which blindly crept through every Uein of her fluent blood would suffer her to take no rest but being at last informed in what place he was she sent to him this following Letter COuld I in the least imagine what should cause your so sudden departure if it lay in my power the cause thereof should be removed but the fore not being known how can the remedy be administred If you think upon your restraint think also upon your free-given Liberty and do not write the one in Marble the other in Sand. That I seek for love to you impute it not to lightness but to a real affection and let your return again to me demonstrate that your heart is not inexorable when perhaps my presence may plead more in my excuse then can this Paper-Messenger so wishing you what she wants her self Health she remains ever yours Artemia This Letter she sent by a trusty Messenger but his mind was so fully bent against her that instead of liking it caused loathing Wherefore taking his Pen in hand he sent her again this bitter return WHat should cause you to dote where you are hated I cannot imagine love but lust therefore I shall not esteem of your Syrens Tongue knowing that Bees have stings as well as honey Nor think not to entrap me any more by your suger'd baits but know that none so much hates the memory of you as doth your sworn Enemy Euphemius This Answer was to Artemia as a Dagger piercing her heart so that she immediately fell into such a deadly swound as her Ladies about her could hardly recover her Unhappy Artemia then said the Queen and must I live to be despised and he to triumph in my overthrow ungrateful man can all my courtesies reap no other profit but only disdain Is it possible that I can continue to love thee that deservest rather to live in my hatred but why do I thus exclaim against him who perhaps doth this only to try me no no Artemia he slights thy love Then dye fond Queen defer not to live any longer yet dear Euphemius in my death shall I make it known how near thy love was to my heart and how
highly thou wer 't prized in my Affections In this manner did the woful Queen spend her dayes until sickness coming on put the harmony of Nature out of tune in her Body which by little and little languished away in such sort that she became a meer Skelleton or Anatomy and now finding that Death by degrees began to sieze on her Uital parts she called her Nobles unto her and spake to them these words My Lords I am now taking my last leave of you the spent Hour-glass of my Life is near at hand and now at my parting ghost I do adjure ye as you will answer it before the Higher Powers whither I am now going to appear that ye invest Euphemius King when I am dead and gone and though I doubt not of your performance herein yet for my more assurance and that my ghost may quietly rest hereafter I shall desire you to take an Oath to do it which if you should fail in the performance know assuredly you will both wrong your selves and him him in depriving him of his Crown and your selves of a good King he being a Prince kind wise just and merciful and only unkind unto me The Nobles to satisfie her request freely took their Oaths to be true to Euphemius and now the Queen being fully satisfied with what was done willingly yielded up the ghost whom the Nobles buried in most sumptuous manner which being done they sent an Honourable Messenger to Euphemius to certifie him of the Queens death and how she had bequenthed her Crown to him which Messenger set forth Artemia's love in such pathetical words as wrought in him a strange alteration for when he thought upo nher unalterable affection towards him the constancy of her love her matchless beauty rare endowments and superexcellent parts he began to reflect upon himself his unkindness to her his vile ingratitude that could wrong her which dyed for love of him These considerations made him to like where before he loathed and to loath where before he loved for whereas before he used to give many private visits to my Daughter protesting all constancy and loyalty towards her now the poyson of hatred entred into his heart against her as taking her to be the chief obstacle which hindred him from the enjoyment of the Quéen and might be also the same of the Kingdom if it should be known he were married unto her wherefore he departed along with the Messenger never so much as bidding her farewel or sending any Messenger unto her The Nobles entertained him very splendidly and with great solemnity Crowned him King In the mean time the poor Praxeda was well near distracted with discontent finding her self to be with Child fearing to discover it unto me and finding such an alteration of love from him Her case being thus desperate knowing it impossible to be long concealed she sent to him this following Letter My Dear Euphemius MEN do tax our Sex for being unconstant but now I must apply that fault to you I say to you whose Oaths did give so great a Testimony of your fidelity that I duâ—st not doubt them for fear of injuring my self Ah Euphemius doth Honours change Manners can you so soon forget Praxeda whom you swore so firmly to love Now if thou hast no pity for me take some compassion on the fruit of my Womb the seal of our loves wherein thy lively Image is implanted and if thou hast any thing of Nature in thee thou canst not but deplore its condition and provide a remedy for the same we still hoping thou wilt remain constant I rest Thine own Praxeda Euphemius received this Letter with great indignation vowing revenge the Rhamnusian Nemesis possessing his vengeful breast in all her blackest formes and now his enraged blood being tickled with the thoughts of a pleasing himself for as he thought his disgrace in claiming him to be her Husband he intended the destruction not only of she but of all her Kindred and that to be pâ—â—formed as soon as he could find any pretended cause of aquatâ—◠〈◊〉 her In the mean time to deterr her from any proâ—â—â—â—tion â—â— her 〈◊〉 he returned â—o her this invective answer HAth your impudence no other person to Father your Pastard brat but upon me whose known reputation is such as will free me in the Consciences of all honest persons from the known calumnies of such a vile Strumpet was it not my vertue preferred me by a general consent to a Kingdom and do you think by detraction to bespatter my good name Cease then perverse Monster of Women-kind to prosecute any further claim unto me lest it prove the deserved destruction of thee and thine Thy deserved Enemy Euphemius But before she received this Letter feeling the burthen of her Womb to grow great she desired leave to go visit an Aunt of hers named Milesia pretending indisposition of Health to which I readily granted knowing my Sister very careful over her for her good To this her Aunt she discovered all what had passed betwixt Euphemius and she desiring her aid and secresie therein and indeed it was but high time for within three days after her coming thither she was delivered of a goodly Boy whom her Aunt named Infortunio and put him out to Nurse to one of her Tenants Soon after she received the Letter from Euphemius which when she had read her grief and sorrow were so great that she deemed her self the very Map of misery and falling into a swound it was long ere her Aunt and the other attendants could recover her to life such a sudden grief had her soul contracted that who so had beheld her would have thought her Spirit ready to descend into Charons Boat to be transported into the Elizian fields but coming a little to her self she thus began for to exclaim And is it possible such Perjury can remain in men do they think Oaths are not binding or that divine vengeance doth not follow upon breach of promise Ah Euphemius can thy heart prove so disloyal were all the protestations thou so often didst reiterate unto me only feigned baits to entrap me to my destruction Then glory in thy triumph but know accursed Caitiff my soul shall haunt thee after death as did the ghost of Queen Dido follow the Body of Perjured Aeneas and saying these words she stabbed her self to the heart with a Bodkin which she had hidden within the Trammels of her Hair and â—etching only two or three deep groans she presently dyed Praxida having acted this woful Tragedy on her self put all the Houshold in a great uproar especially my Sister Milesia who fared like to one of Bacchus frantick raging Nuns or like a Tartar when in a strange habit he prepares himself to a dismal Sacrifice Ah Praxida said she how hath thy actions straid from Reasons center thus to give thy soul a Goal-delivery Abhorred Euphemius accursed mayst thou be that wer't the causer of all this mischief Hast thou a heart more
raising such clouds of dust as covered the face of the darkned Sky when presently Pikes Bills and Darts like a moving Wood rushed against each other The Horses angry in their Masters anger with love and obedience brought forth the effects of hate and resistance and with winds of servâ—tude did as if they affected glory And now all hands were busied in killing and the poor Soldiers stood with fear of death as dead struck the thirsty Earth drank up whole streams of blood and mounts were made of slaughtered Carcases Sir Guy did wonders that day with his Sword sending thousands of souls to the Infernal Regions As thus he made lanes of his Enemies dead Bodies he came at last to meet with Grimaldo with whom he entered into combat and notwithstanding his Body was enclosed about with glittering walls of Steel yet made he such breaches therein as Death had many ways to enter and Life as many holes whereby to creep out and now Grimaldo craved for Mercy which Sir Guy refused saying No Varlet thou mightest have taken it when it was proffered thee but now nothing but death can satisfie for thy disloyalty and therewithal reacht him such a blow as brought him headlong to the ground and redoubling the same the second sent him post hast to Prince Pluto to keep company with his fellow Rebels Grimaldo being thus killed the whole Army betook themselves to flight whom Sir Guy and his Company persued in eager wise killing and destroying whomsoever they overtook without any remorse or pity so that there was more slain in the chase then in the fight Having obtained this signal victory Sir Guy ordered a part of the Army to persue the residue of the Rebels whilest he with the rest marched back unto the City and now was such a universal joy amongst the Citizens as was not to be crediâ—ed all the way as Sir Guy passed along the streets the people sending forth such loud Acclamations as the vast Air was deasited therewith and that their joy should resound to the Antipodes When they came to the Palace Gate they were met by the Queen accompanied with a great Train of Ladies and Nobles that attended on her before all which the Queen could not forbear but taking Sir Guy about the Neck gave him a kiss My dearest Love said she what recompence can our Country afford thee in retribution of such inestimable benefits as the Divine Powers by thy victorioâ—s Arms have bestowed upon us how had our Weal beee bâ—ried in woe our Plenty in penury our Riches in ruine hadst not thou rescued us from Rake-hells and Rebels Consider this my Honoured Nobles and so submit to him as your King whom I intend very speedily to make my Husband And so hand in hand they marched up to her Palace were he was entertained with a stately Banquet Sir Guy behaving himself so affably and courteously to the Nobles and Ladies that he wone their applause they accounting him to be the very mirrour of true Magnanimity and pattern of noble Chevalry And now all things being thus quieted and the two Princely Lovers assured of each others real affection towards one another their hearts and minds were very well satisfied The Thessalian Army being richly rewarded were sent home and wiâ—h them an Honourable Messenger to King Alexander to return him thanks for his aid as also to invite him to the Wedding of Sir Guy and the Quéen Urania the prefixed day whereof was suddenly to be And now till that long wished for day came did they mix Times wings with pleasant discourses and delightful Sonâ—ess amongst others Sir Guy contemplating the perfections of his Mistress breathed forth her Praises in this Sonnet Appelles like when Nature did thee make Slâ—e view'd the Beauties of the Earth each one And from them all the best of all did take That thou should'st not excelled be by none And for to make thee super excellent She joyn'd in one what many Beauties lent And thus with Uenus beauty she endow'd thee And Pallas like she wisdom to the gave The Learning of Cornelia she allow'd thee That thou no lack of any thing shouldst have And more then thus thy better parts to grace Infused a divine Soul to a fair face Some though but few as beautiful may be Others and those not many may as wise Others may be as Learned but in thee All Natures Jewels in one Casket lies That who so views thy looks a Lover makes him Either thy Vertues or thy Beautie takes him The appointed day being now near at hand the Nobles and Knights prepared a solemn Iusts to be holden against all comers and many costly Pageants and delightful shews were prepared by the Citizens the Ladies got them many costly Iewels and other rich Ornaments to adorn themselves against that day and to compleat the solemnity King Alexander with a splendid Train of followers came to Sicily who were most magnisicently entertained by Sir Guy and the Queen Urania On the Marriage Morning the Bride and Bridegroom were saluted up with most sweet sounding Musick the Palace was hung round about with Garlands and rich perfumes cast into fires which gave a most odoriferous smell melodious Harps and Songs tickled the Ears with delight In brief every thing was so well ordered as befitted such a Royal Solemnity All the way as they went to the Temple the ways were strowed with Flowers of Flora's chiefest pride and the Priest having joyned them in Hymens Nuptial bands as they returned there was great store of money thrown amongst the poorer sort of people that they also might participate the gladness of the day the Bells rang Trumpets sounded Cornets flourisht and the Acclaimations of the people were so great as would have silenced the 〈◊〉 of thunder shot from a divided Cloud In this stately manner they marched back to the Palace where was provided for them a most magnificent Dinner which for variety of Dishes and most artful Dressing is far beyond my skill to express the variety of the Dishes being so many as if this Feast would as the Floud destroy all sorts of Fowls and Beasts The Afternoon was spent in Dancing Masking Rebelling and other Delightful sports until such time as Morpheus the drowsie Sergant of the Night summoned them to Bed there to take their Repose Next Morning no sooner had Aurora from the East displayed her purple dedrâ—â—â— and the rosie Morning drawn away his sable Curtain and let in the day but the Knights and Nobles prepared themselves to Iust Sir Guy King Alexander and the Queen Urania with divers Ladies and Péers seating themselves on Scaffolds to behold the same The first that entered the Lists was a Sicilian Knight named Sir Albert mounted on a Horse of a fiery sorrel colour with black féet and black list on his back who with open Nostrils breathed forth War before he could see an Enemy His Armour was Green like to the Earth when it begins to put on its Summer Livery
upon the briny face of Neptune I behold something floating on that glassy deep and staying to take better notice of it I perceived it to be a Boat which without the help of â—â—â—her Man or Oars made towards the shore and being come near I drew it to land wherein were laid these two Children fast asleep and betwixt them a Tablet written in Letters of Gold which contained these words Left to Queen Chance two Babes of Knightly birth Are to the rage of Wind add Seas exposed If that they gain a habitable Earth By this their Paredts dear may be disclosed Fonteious Children whom Death Prisoner keeps Their Mother in the Inchanted-Castle sleeps Their Step-Father Sir Uuylon who did owe A grudge unto them for their Mothers sake To end their lives his malice did bestow On whom the Queen of Chance did pity take Declaring they shall by an English Knight Restored be unto his Fathers right Thus Fates decree and those do strive in vain Who ere they be to alter Fates decree By unkown means our ends we oft attain And furthest ways to thought may nearest be Learn then for to be just without offence Heavens punish evil protect innocence Now from what place these Children came I am as ignorant as they themselves whose tender Age was such as made them incapable of any knowledge either of Parents or Country yet was I much revived by the Writing which promised there restoration by an English Knight in which I also hoped my own was included wherefore ever since I have carefully brought them up and fostered them in the best manner I could And now I hope is the time come about wherein what was promised by the Queen of Chance will be performed not doubting but that such magnanimous resolutions as I see seated in your noble breasts joyned with a just cause will make you couragious to perform the adventure and to free me from this tedious trouble and thraidom Sir David hearing this story with much admiration remembred how he and his Brothers had freed there Mother from the Enchanted Castle as also of the knight which told how Sir Vuylon had exposed these two Children to the mercy of the Sea all which he related to the ancient Gentleman and withal promised him his utmost endeavour for finishing the Enchantment and restoring him again to the Island of Ancona And now was much mirth and joy on all sides Sir David was entertained into the Hermits Cell together with as many of the prime Commanders as it would sufficiently sustain the rest of the Soldiers cut down boughs from trees and therewith made them Hutts to shelter them from the heat of the Sun when his hot Steeds from their Nostrils vomit flame on the parched Earth Sheep and Goats they killed abundance so that there was store of boyling broyling frying roasting stewing and other ways of dressing dishes to refresh their Bodies after their sore and bitter hunger sustained at Sea This continued for a weeks space together but then Sir David remembring his promise made to the Aged Hermit he buckled on his Armour and putting himself into his Ship-boat rowed with two Marriners and guided by the Old Hermit he undauntedly landed before the Inchanted Castle and marched directly towards the Gate thereof whither no sooner he was come but the Dragon most fiercely issued out when presently began betwixt them the most fierce encounter that ever was heard of so that to describe it to the full I want the skill of Orpheus that sweet Thracian singer or the invention of Homer in describing the battles of the Greeks and Trojans The Dragon most furiously assailed Sir David séeking to catch him in her paws which he nimbly avoided and lent the Dragon many blows who lifting up her head â—ought to throw the whole weight of her Body upon Sir David which he perceiving slipping aside gave her a wound on the Belly wherein she only was penetrable and made her give forth a hidâ—â—us yell which advantage Sir David espying he thrust his sword into her mouth which she so strongly bit with her Teeth that had it not béen made of the purest Lydian steel if would have been in great danger of being bitten in two so that Sir David to draw it out was forced to use great strength but withal it so cut her Tongue that the poysonous blood came pouring forth of her mouth which so enraged the Dragon that turning her about she gave him such a blow with her Tayl as made him to stagger and as if stounded the Sword was ready to drop out of his hand so that the aged Hermit and the two Marriners who all this while sat in the Boat to behold the Combat began to doubt of the success thereof but Sir David recovering himself against she came to assail him again with her Tayl taking his sword with both his hands he struck such a stroak as cut off two yards in length of her Tayl And now the Dragon being thus wounded began to use her first play and sought to sieze upon Sir David with her paws but her strength was so enfeebled through the loss of so much blood that her force availed her not On the other side Sir David gathering strength at the sight of her weakness ran against her with all his might and by main force tumbled her all along and ere she could recover thrust his sword into divers parts of her Belly which was as big as any Tun and in colour like to the burnisht Gold whereout issued such abundance of poysoned filth and withal strunk so abominably as not able to endure it he retreated to the Boat who were ready to receive him where they beheld how the ugly Monster rolled about in his own goar and beating the Earth with the remainder of her Tayl until at last she dyed when was heard a mighty clap of Thunder and immediately the Castle vanished away No sooner had they beheld the Castle vanished but they put forth to land where Sir David on his knees gave thanks to the Immortal Powers for his Uictory and then going up higher into the land they came to a little Uillage the Inhabitants whereof were greatly astonished some of the younger sort thereof having never seen a Man 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 â—hose that were elder in not many years 〈…〉 understood that the Queen Wife to the 〈…〉 and that her Daughter the beautiful 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 whereupon they determining to go 〈◊〉 the young 〈…〉 Marriâ—ers back for the 〈…〉 Company to 〈◊〉 â—long with them Now whilst they 〈◊〉 their many of the Country came to see them some of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 remembering their King fell down at the aged Hermits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have seen that day they might behold again 〈…〉 Then was great enquiry made for the rest of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for their 〈◊〉 some for their Brothers and other 〈…〉 to whom the Aged King Antenor for such was his name 〈◊〉 by which Title we shall now call him could
give no other account but that he could give no account of them at all In the mean time some of them had posted to the Court and acquainted the young Queen where her Father was who at first could not believe their reports such an unlikelyhood did the truth of the story carry with it but being confirmed by so many at last she believed what she most desired to be true and taking with her som of the châ—â—â—est of her Maidens she hasted to him with all the speed she could but it was a most rare sight to behold into what wonder and admiration they were both stricken at the first sight of each other for she having never seen a man before that she could remember thought his long Beard and other attire most strange to behold and he on the other side having not seen her in so many years the remembrance of her was quite out of his memory However she having been instructed in the honour that Children should do to their Parents humbled her self to him on her â—nees whom he most lovingly embraced and now tears through the ever excess of joy stâ—pped for a while the passage of their speech at last the King Antenor spake as followeth Most dear Daughter in whâ—â—â— sight me thinks I behold the perfections of thy Mother the joy which I have to behold thee is enough to blot out all the story of my misfortune for what thing can there be under the Heavenly Canopy that can bring more gladness to my Soul or can present my Genius with a fuller blandishment of transportation then by pouring my self forth into Labyrinths of joy to behold the jem of my desires whom I despaired ever to have seen but now that I have seen thee I have my desire and shall the more willingly descend to my Geave when I shall lye every minute expecting deaths sad summons Much other talk had they concerning the death of the Queen and of what occurrences had passed in the mean space all which time Sir David beheld the Princess Rosetta with admiration so that Love through his Eyes stole into his Heart and there took a full possession becoming so enamoured of her that an old man doth not love his heaps of Gold with a more doting superstition then he doted on her perfections and so becoming Loves Chaplain thrust himself into that yoak which is justly termed the Harbinger of all unrest a freezing fire pleasing flame fond fancy and self chosen snare but having not an opportunity now to disclose it and the Queen inviting them to her Palace whilst they were preparing to set forwards the rest of the Ships company came up to them together with the two Thracian Children destined to destruction by Sir Vuylon and who were preserved by Antenor as you heard before All the way as they went to the Palace they were entertained with great joy a Troop of Maidens cloathed all in white going before them with Timbrels in their hands with which they played very melodiously singing of Songs and answering one another in pleasant Roundelays The people all the way as they passed came flocking about them the younger sort wondring at the Men as if they were Monsters and the Men wondring as much to behold in every place nothing but Women The Quéen Rosetta entertained Sir David with very high respects who returned her kindness with obliging Civilty The chiefest Commanders were accommodated with Tents peculiar to themselves and stored with delicious Uiands and Wines Nay the very meanest Soldiers were so well gratified and entertained that they thought themselves very much obliged both to the Queen and the rest of her Subjects In this condition we will leave them for a while to tell you what happened soon after in the Island CHAP. XV. How Sir David was Married to the Queen Rosetta how he over came the remnant of the Pagan army Sir Pandrasus with his men landing in Ancona and how they hanged a Sagittary upon a Tree COnquering and imperious Love had so wounded the heart of Sir David that he could take no rest day nor night all sports and pastimes seemed tedious to him and he gave himself over to such excessive melancholly that he seemed like a Status had not his sighs breathed from his heaved-up heart showed it to be a kind of living death yet were his afflictions so merciful to him that his very tears were of a soveraign use which as they gushed forth seemed to quench those flames his Mistresses Eyes had kindled which otherwise would have scorcht him to ashes In thislingring kind of life did he live for some time seeking to suppress those passions which Love had kindled in his Breast but the more he strove to suppress it the more it encreased so that not able any longer to contain himself finding a fit opportunity when Rosetta was alone he brake his mind to her in this manner Madam I see so many perfections residing in you that not to love you would argue a stupidity of knowledge and obliges me to honour your excellent endowments to the utmost of my power for believe me Madam my desires are good and my wishes flow from a sincere affection towards you that if you please to yield to me your Love you shall find me both constant in affection towards you faithful to deal Honourably with you and Loyal not to do any thing that shall be disagreeable to your will Most Courteous Knight replyed the Queen to whose valour we are so much indebted as we want words to express a due thankfulness for what you have done for us for your suit in love though it be a thing strange unto me as not acquainted with any Men before your coming hither so cannot I promise you any thing in it as not being at my own disposal my Father and Country claiming a knowledge thereof before I give a final consent to a thing of such consequence yet as I would not have you hope too much since your merit might command more so would I not have you to despair since you shall not find me who am most concerned in it the most obâ—oxious to your suit Account me noâ— Dear Sir over sound in my expressions since such high deservings joyned with such Manhood and Courtesie cannot but attract â—â—willing acceptance of that which is so vertuously offered â—hâ—y second self said Sir David my ambition is no higher to 〈◊〉 but by a Ladder of desert though all I can do were it far â—â—gher then what I have already done must needs come far short 〈◊〉 the enjoyment of so divine a Jewel as your self As he would cave proceeded further the King Antenor missing the company of Sir David in which he took a most special delight came unto them and linding Sir David in parley with his Daughter he pâ—â—asantly said to him Most worthy Chiefâ—ain if you are as fortunate in conquering â—â— Amours as you are at Arms it is not in the power of â—â—y Lady to withstand
with them the Scythian Dog to whose swiftness they trusted more then any thing else knowing that catching of him was half the Uictory Marching in this Equipage more like to Hunters than Soldiers they spread themselves about but the chiefest of them kept together going in that Road they were directed by the affrighted Women when at last they spyed him upon a Hillock whose barking Stomach was gurmandizing upon a Sheep which he had newly siezed on but having a sight of his persuers he left his â—rey and run away as swift as a Stag who scorning the Earth with his hâ—â—â—s runs from the shrill cryes of the full mouthed Pound but the Scythian Dog having gotten a sight of him 〈◊〉 after as swift as the slight of Ligthening through the Air so that in an instant he had nigh overtaken him which the Tartar perceiving turned about and seeing he must dye resolved yet to give one breath of Ualour before his expiring and with his Ebon Iavelin ran against the dog with all his might and gave him a wound upon the shoulder whereupon the dog nimbly turning about slew upon his face and catching hold of his â—aâ— made him bellow most hideously and rising up on their hind féet tumbled over one another in which fall the Tartar got his ear lose from the dog and withal gave him a wound on the flank but then the dog catched him by the leg and there held him till the Company came up to him who siezed on him and sending for the wooden Cage wherein he was before put him into the same again and carrying him back to the Palace hung it upon one of the arms of a stately Oak where he remained for a spectacle for the people to gare on Whilst they were thus busâ—ed about the Tartar another Party who had béen out in search for him returned bringing with them the Negromancer Orpine whose Charms and Spells upon Sir Davids conquering his Inchanted Castle became of no effect so that now instead of riding in his burning Chariot drawn by Dragons he vagabond like wandered about upon his fort being almost starved for want of suâ—â—enance dreading to come near any Habitation his wicked life being so notorious as deserved no pity nor compassion Antenor seeing him could hardly forbear running him through with his sword such a deep impression had the wrongs he received imprinted on him Nor would the Negromancer have been unwilling to dye had not the fear of going to a worser place made him willing to enjoy the priviledg of breath a little longer But that they might make his life as uncomfortable to him as he had made others to them they clogged him with Irons and casting him into a Dungeon there sustained him with bran and water and now lying in this deplorable condition he breathed forth this doleful lamentation O Heavens why do you thus prolong my life in misery what heart so flinty that will not grieve to hear my mones being the direst Tragedy that ever challenged wonder which who so hears his Eyes may spare to weep and learn to bleed Carnation tears VVho can look upon my woes but must there in behold the prospect of consuming grief for there is nothing can sooner make a worker of miracles then to see that there is any thing like to my ill fortune Come then death and end my miseries if so be that death could end it but how can he think to come to Heaven that always travelled the road to Hell how can he think to converse with the Heavenly Hierarchy of Angels whose practise was only to converse with infernal Spirits O the horrors of a guilty Conscience the pains of Sisiphon Ixion nor Tantalus are not comparable unto mine and yet should I end this misery alas it is but the beginning of a worse and this momentary death but an entrance into eternal death O what hath my wicked ambition brought me to what my desire of revenge but a worse plague upon my own head In this manner complained the woful Orpine wishing for death yet afraid to dye loathing life yet desirous to live such was the miserable condition of this wicked wretch fréezing in fire and burning in ice feeling greivous tortures without and more within through the horrour that he had deserved it And now that the Monster and Negromancer were both secured for joy thereof Antenor prepared a costly Banquet to which were invited King David and Queen Rosetta with Sir Pandrasus and the chief of the English and Danish Captains After the Banquet was ended King David desired Sir Pandrasus to give him a relation of his Travels after they had parted from the Christian Army to which he readily condescended and began as followeth Know then most worthy audience that after we had taken our â—eave of those Magnanimous Heroes the seven Champions of Christendom whose names shall live for ever inroled in the Books of Fame we intended to steer our course directly for Denmark whose fruitful Banks we greatly longed to behold but Fates had otherwise decréed for our Pilot being unskilful in those Seas after much wandrings to and fro we at last arrived in an Island named Barâ—ona the VVarlike for that both King and People of the same inure themselves continually to the exercise of Arms and whither people from all places resort as unto a school of War Here were we courteously entertained the next day was held a solemn Iusts wherein the King and twelve others where Challengers against a Prince of a bordering Island and twelve of his partners in these conflicts were broken betwixt the parties five hundred and eight Spears On the next day was kept a Turnament for all persons to try their Ualour which was done with great Courage and Magnanimity on both sides this bring done â—â—ey fought with much eagerness and Courage at the Brariers and in these exercises did they commonly spend their time After some Communication had with the King of our Travels and Adventures he knowing us to be Soldiers and that I was Commander in chief challenged me to Iust with him and to that purpose furnished me with Horse and Arms at these Iusts it chanced by shivering of a Spear that one of the spiâ—nters entering the Kings Helmet pierced his Brain so that he fell down presently dead The Nobles seeing their King thus killed were in a marvellous rage and vowing revenge sought to lay their hands upon me but I perceiving their intentions defended my self as well as I could so that some blowes began to be dealt amongst us when my men seeing what danger I was in armed themselves and stoutly stood in my defence And now much mischief might have ensued had not one of the ancient Noblemen stept in betwixt them and us and desiring us to forbear until such time as he had spoken a few words he then delivered himself in this manner Let not Dear Friends sudden Passions so prevail over Reason as without Causes throughly weighed and mature
and coming to the Castle having read the Writing aforesaid they resolved to encounter with the Gyant where after a long and tedious fight valiantly performed on both sides he was at last overcome and slain by them This Gyant was of Nature as cruel as those Tygers who are nourisht in the Hircanian Wood to whose Heart Nature had set a lock to shut out all pity delighting to bathe and paddle in the blood of Men so that the dread of him ran all the Country round about for whomsoever he took he so tormented that Death was to them the least punishment He kept only one old Woman for his Domestick Servant as cruel as deformed and so deformed that I want Art to describe the same you could hardly perceive she had any Eyes but by the holes only which were crept further into her Face then her Nose was out of it her quarrelling Teeth of such a colour that they themselves scared one another her Breath able to infect the Air and cause a Pestilence and all the rest of her Body like to the Chaos of an unlickt Bears Whelp This deformed Trot whose Face was enough to proclaim her a Witch all the time the fight was botwixt the Gyant and Sir Owen and Sir Phelim was mumbling the Devils Pater-noster for the good success of her Master but when she saw that he was slain she exclaimed against Heaven and cursed all the Internal Powers wishing the Ground might open and swallow them up although she her self were invelloped in their destruction nay her desperation was so much that she would have cast her self from the Walls and given her Soul a loathed Sacrifice to the Devil had she not been prevented by Sir Phelim who as soon as he saw the Gyant fall ran in at the Gates for fear they should have been shut against them and ascending the Castle sound this old Witch ready to have execused vengeance upon her self but he siezing upon her found in her custody a great bunch of Keys such as the Poets feign that Cerberus is possess of the Porter of Hell And now Sir Owen séeing the Gyans quite read was also come up to the Castle where partly by threats and partly by force they-come pelled her to show them the several Rooms that they might release such as were Prisoners therein but to see what 〈◊〉 of tortures this Cyprant inflicted on those poor Creatures it would make a man to bless himself to behold it In the first Room she opened there lay four Knights bound neck and heels together these were four Wrothers Sons to a certain Baron named Cleander who coming to revenge themselves upon the Gyant who had ravished their Sister were by him taken Prisoners we having â—â—bound them and told them how the Gyant was killed they were transported with an extasie of joy yet could haâ—â—ly be perswaded of the truth thereof thinking it too high a Blessing for them to obtain In the next Room they entered there lay a young man leaden with Irons of so vast a weight that he was not able to stand upright and level'd thus low with disgrac'd Calamity he seemed to be only a living Corse with much add they knocked the Irons off his Legs who whilst they were doing it he oftentimes 〈◊〉 away but being revived by some Cordial Spirits of rare Waters which they had brought with them they at last brought him to himself and demanding what he was and what misfortune brought him thither after a two or three deep fetcht sighs he thus said I am said he one whom the Fates have markt out to be a â—éeler of the extreams of misery all whose torments should Men but know you would say they had no mercy that could wiâ—h for me a dayes breath more Born a Native of this Country my Father a Count thereof who in a quarrei having killed a Peer of the Realm sought to fly into another Land but in his passage thither was drowned at Sea which my Mother hearing of fell distracted and to add to our miseries the King siezed upon his whole Estate but this was not all for as if Fate were resolved to use her utmost spight against me my only Sister who was then upon her Marriage being thereby disappointed of her Portion desperately stabbed her self so that now all the Happyness which remained to me was a security that I was so miserable as Fortune could not make me worse Yet the King coâ—miserating my condition took me to be aâ—â—e of the Gentlemen of his Bed-Chamber and withal allowed me a competent 〈◊〉 for my maintenance so that my sorrows seemed in some part to be mittigated but as if my heart were nought but a â—age for Tragedies this serene Sky did not last long for I attending the King a Hunting a pastime in which he took great delight he was on a sudden surprized by this Gyant none but I standing to him although followed by a great Company the ugliness of his proportion so affrighting them that they recommended the protection of their Life to their Féet and fled as swift as trembling Doves before the swooping Eagle And now the King and I thus left to his mercy nothing would redeem our Lives but the delivering up this Castle to him which then was the Royal Mansion of his Majesty and though this was done according to his desire yet this perâ—idious lâ—mp of flesh retained us both Prisoners which how he used the King is to me unknown but for my self my miseries under him were so great that Natures rude Serjant Death should have béen very welcome to have arrested my Body and laid me in the cold Prison of the Grave This sorrowful Relation wrought great compassion in the hearts of Sir Owen and Sir Phelim who with wrathful Countenances commanded the old Hag to show them presently where the King was but she denying there was any such one there they threatned her with words and that not prevailing they cut off one of her Fingers telling her they would cut her in pieces Joynt by Joynt if she did not perform it whereupon she promised them that she would and leading them up to the top of the Castle as if he had béen imprisoned in one of the Garrots she cast her self from the top of the Battlements to the Ground dashing her Brains out against the pavement and so made an end of her damnable Life Sir Phelim and Sir Owen taking the Keys from this wretched Coarse opened many doors and in every Room they went to beheld sad spectacles of the Gyants Cruelty at last they came to the place where the King lay whom they found making his mone in this manner O ye immortal powers what have I deserved to have this punishment inâ—licted on me How is it that Death siezes on those who would willingly live and flyes from him who would court his embraces O that Atropos would cut in twain the thread of my Life to put a period to my miseries but they are as
sanguine a dye to be forgiven and all his repentance and sorrow only â—ained they therefore concluded he should be put to death and gave him his choice of eight several sorts of ways whereby to dye Viz. 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet 2. To be put into a sack and thrown into the Sea 3. To have his head smitten of 4. To be poysoned 5. To be burned to death 6. To be stung to death with snakes 7. To be cast down headlong from a high Tower Or 8. To be shot to death with Arrows Sad is the choice said the wretched Almantor chuse which I will For 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet is to dye the death of a Dog 2. To be put into a sack and drowned is to be devoured by Fishes and want decent Burial 3. To have my Head smitten off is indeed the death of a Nobleman but which no Nobleman would willingly have 4. To be poysoned is to be a stinking Carcase before I am scarce cold in my Grave 5. To be burned is of all deaths most cruel 6. To be stung to death with snakes is a painful lingring death 7. To be cast down from a high Tower an uncertain death What then remains but the last kind of death to be killed with Arrows and that is the death of a Soldier which I shall soonest choose come then seeing you think me not fitting to live quickly dispatch me out of the World Then rending open his Doublet he tyed a Handkerchief before his Eyes and leaning his Back against a Trée he cryed out now do your worst whereupon immediately some Soldiers who were planted on purpose sent a flight of Arrows into his Breast so that in an instant he fed down and dyed Then digged they for him a Grave into which he being put they covered the same with a heap of stones and on one broad one which lay on the top they inscribed this Epitapb Who in his life time still for Blood did crave Was at the last sent bloody to his Grave Whilst this was in doing the Soldiers which Sir David had sent for arrived in the Island whereupon Sir David leaving some few of them for the guarding of the Island under the conduct of the Gyant VVonder he with the residue sailed towards the Island where Almantor lived taking along with him the ancient Gentleman for his guide and sailing thither in the same Ships wherein Almantor came which they of the Island espying seeing their own Ships afar off began to rejoyce but when they perceived strangers in them they began to arm themselves with all the spéed they could and to put themselves in a posture to resist their landing But Sir David nothing daunted at their appearance landed in desâ—igâ—t of all the 〈◊〉 they could make and being on land he with his sword quickly made waâ— for his Soldiers to follow him who encouraged by his example as soon made 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 Enemies that fled before their conquering swords like flocks of Sheep before the devouring Wolves But now the fury of their rage being over Sir David scorning to â—â—ult over a vanquished party caused a retreat to be sounded and sent Messengers after them that he would parley with them to which they willingly condelcended and to that Purpose sent 3 or 4 of the chiefest of than to whom Sir David spake as followeth The cause of my sending to you is to offer you Peace and Liberty Liberty from the Tâ—raldom of an insulting Tyrant to whose insatiable avaâ—ice your Bodies and Estates were made thrall one who not only delighted in Crueety but took delight in the several forms of executing the same who hath now paid his just desots by the â—â—oke of Justice being shit to death for his cruel Tyranny in stead of whom we shall 〈◊〉 for your Governor one well known unto you and here he presented to them the Ancient Gentleman whom if you refuse to accept then expect no other â—â—t what the Sword and a conquering Arm well inforce you to do The Messengers having heard these words with a loud voice cryed out long live our Lord Pandion for so was the ancient Gentleman called and thereupon they desired leave to go immediately to acquaint the rest with their determination which when they had done there was such an acclamaâ—on and shout of the People as surpassed that which Thracian Boreas makes a mongst the Pines of Ossa or as when the Artillery of Heaven are discharged along the cleaving Sky And thereupon coming all to Sir David they submitted themselves promising faithful Obedience to the Aged Pandion which he most lovingly embraced giving them many wholesome admonitions and desiring Sir Pandion to be a Gracious Lord unto them And thus having setled him in the Tyrant Almaâ—ters place he returned to the island of the precious Fountain where leaving a sufficient Guard with Sir Wonder and taking with him some store of the Fruit as also some Vessels of the healing Wine of the Fountaln he returned back to his owâ— country where he was very welcome to his Queen Rosetta and joyfully entertained by the rest of his Subjects CHAP. XX. Now the three Sons of St. George Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David met at a great Justs at Constantinople as also Sir Turpin of France Sir Pedro of Spain Sir Orlando of Italy Sir Ewin of Scotland Sir Phelim of Ireland and Sir Owen of Wales where they obtained the Victory voer all that Juste awith them being richly rewarded by the Emperour for their high Valour LOng had not Sir David been in his Kingdom of Ancona but there Arrived an Herald who by sound of Trumpet proclaimed a solemn Justs to be held by the Emperour of Constantinople in honour of his Sons Nuptials who was contracted to the King of Tribizonds Daughter the Beauteous Lucinda whose Fame resounded all the world over These Justs were proclaimed in all the Kingdoms of the Earth so that at the time appointed there arrived at his Court the most approved Knights for Valour and prowess that were then living Amongst others were St. Georges three Renowned Sons Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David Thiâ—her also had Fames Trumpet invited the Valiant Sir Turpin from France Sir Fedro from Spain Sir Orlando from Italy Sir Ewin from Scotland Sir Philiâ— from Ireland and Sir Owen from Wales Being come to the Emperours Pallace they were by him most kindly entertained and having had knowledg that they were the Sons of the seven Renowned Champions of Christendom whose Valiant Acts had eternized their never dying Memories he thereâ— on commanded them all to be lodged in one Chamber wherein were provided for them nine most sumptuous Beds adorned with the riehest Furniture that could be procured and because the Justs lasted only nine days he appointed each of them to be Champion his particular day But before the Justs began the Prince Rofinda Son to the Emperour was with great state and magnificence Married to the beauteous
true Champion of Christendom thy Life and Liberty I have gained but therewith thy Banishment from Iuda which is a Hell of Plorror to my Soul for in thy bosome have I built my happiness and in thy heart I account the Paradise of my true Love thy first sight and lovely Countenance did ravish me for when these eyes beheld thee mounted on thy Princely Palfry my heart burned in Affection towards thee therefore dear Knight in reward of my Love be thou my Champion and for my sake wear this Ring with this Poesie engraven in it Ardeo affectione and so giving him a Ring from her Finger and therewithal a Kiss from her Mouth she departed with a sorrowful sigh in company of her Father and the rest of his honourable Train back to the City of Jerusalem being as then near the Setting of the Sun But now St. James the Champion of Spain having escaped the danger of Death and at full liberty to depart from that unhappy Nation he fell into many cogitations one while thinking upon the true Love of Celestine whose name as yet he was ignorant of another while upon the cruelty of her Father then intending to depart into his own Country but looking back to the Towers of Jerusalem his mind suddenly altered for thither he purposed to go haping to have sight of his Lady and Mistriss and to live in some disguised sort in her presence and be his Loves true Champion against all Comers So gathering certain Black-berries from the Trees he coloured his Body all over like a Blackmoor but yet considering that his Countrey Speech would discover him intended likewise to continue dumb all the time of his Residence in Jerusalem So all things ordered according to his desire he took his Iourney to the City where with signs and other motions of dumbness he declared his intent which was to be entertained in the Court and to spend his time in the Service of the King Whose Countenance when the King beheld which seemed of the natural colour of the Moors he little mistrusted him to be the Christian Champion whom before he greatly envied but accounted him one of the bravest Indian Knights that ever his eye beheld therefore he installed him with the honour of Knighthood and appointed him to be one of his Guard and likewise his Daughters only Champion Thus when St. James of Spain saw himself invested in that honourable place his soul was ravished with such exceeding joy that he thought no pleasure comparable to his no place of Elysium but the Court of Jerusalem and no goodness but his beloved Celestine Long continued he dumb casting forth many a loving sigh in the presence of his Lady and Mistress not knowing how to reveal the secrets of his mind So upon a time there arrived in the Court of Nabuzaradan the King of Arabia with the Admiral of Babylon both presuming upon the Love of Celestine and craving her in the way of Marriage but she exempted all their motions of Love from her chast mind only building her thoughrs upon the Spanish Knight which she supposed to be in his own Countrey At whose melancholy passions her importunate Suitors the King of Arabia and the Admiral of Babylon marvelled and therefore intended upon an Evening to present her with some rare devised Mask So choosing out fit Consorts for their Courtly Pastimes of which number the King of Arabia was chief and first Leader of the Train the great Admiral of Babylon was the second and her own Champion St. James the third who was called in the Court by the name of the Dumb Knight in this manner the Mask was performed First entred a most excellent Consort of Musick after them the aforesaid Maskers in cloath of Gold and most curiously imbroidered and daunced a course about the Hall at the end whereof the King of Arabia presented Celestine with a costly Sword at the Hilt whereof hung a Silver Glove and upon the point was erected a Golden Crown Then the Musick sounded another Course of which the Idmiral of Babylon was Leader who presented her with a Uesture of pure Silk of the colour of the Rain-bow brought in by Diana Venus and Juno which being done the Musick sounded the third time in which course St. James tho' unknown was the Leader of the Dance who at the end thereof presented Celestine with a Garland of sweet Flowers which was brought in by the three Graces and put upon her head Afterwards the Christian Champion intending to discover himself unto his Lady and Mistress took her by the lilly-hand and led her a stately Morisco Dance which was no sooner finished but he offered her the Diamond Ring which she gave him at his departure in the Woods the which she presently knew by the Poesic and shortly after had intelligence of his long continued Dumbness his counterfeit Colour his changing of Nature and the great danger he put himself to for her sake which caused her with all the speed she could possibly make to break off Company and to retire into a Chamber which she had by where the same Evening she had a long Conference with her true and faithful Lover and adventurous Champion and to conclude they made some agreement betwixt them that the same night unknown to any in the Court she bad Jerusalem adieu and by the light of Cynthia's glistering Beams stole from her Father's Palace where in company of none but St. James she took her Iourney towards the Countrey of Spain But this Noble Knight by Policy prevented all ensuing Dangers for he shod his Horse backwards whereby when they were missed in the Court they might be followed the contrary way By this means escaped the two Lovers from the Fury of the Jews and arrived safely in Spain in the City of Sevil wherein the brave Champion St. James was born where now we leave them for a time to their own contented minds Also passing over the hurly-burly in Jerusalem for the loss of Celestine the vain pursuits of adventurous Knights in sâ—opping the Ports and Havens the preparing of fresh Horse to follow them and the Bustering of Soldiers to pursue them the frantick passions of the King for his Daughter the mèlancholy moan of the Admiral of Babylon for his Mistris and the woful Lamentation of the Arabian King for his Lady and Love we will return to the Adventures of the other Christian Champions CHAP. VI. The terrible Battel betwixt St. Anthony the Champion of Italy and the gyant Blanderon and afterwards of the strange Entertainment in the Gyant 's Castle by a Thracian Lady and what hapned to him in the same Castle IT was the same time of the year when the Earth was newly deckt with the Summer's Livery when the Noble and Heroical minded Champion St. Anthony of Italy Arrived in Thracia where he spent his seven years Travels to the Honour of his Country the Glory of God and to his own still lasting Memory for after he had
Monks during all their lives sung Dirges for his Childrens Souls After this the Empero made Proclamations through all his Dominions that if any Knight were so hardy as to travel in pursuit after the English Champion and by force of Arms to being him back or deliver his head unâ—o the Empero he should not only be held in great estimation through the Land but receive the Government of the Empire after his deceâ—se Which rich proffer so encouraged the minds of many adventurous knights that they went from fundry Provinces in the pursuit of S. George but their attempts were all vain CHAP. XV. Of the Triumphs Tilts and Turnaments that were solemnly held in Constantinople by the Grecian Emperor and of the honourable Adventures that were there atchieved by the Christian Champions with other strange accidents that hapâ—ed IN the Easâ—ern parts of the World the fame and valiant déeds of the Champions of Christendom was noised with their Heroical Acts and feats of Arms naming them the Mirrour of Nobility and the Types of bright honour all Kings and Princes to whose ears the report of their Ualours were bruited desired much to behold their noble Personages And when the Emperor of Grecia keeping then his Court in the City of Constantinople heard of their mighty and valiant deeds he thirsted after their sights and his mind could never be satisfied with content until such time as he had devised a means to Train them unto his Court not only in y e he might enjoy the benefit of their Companies but to have his Court honoured with the presence of such renowited Knights and therefore in this manner it was accomplished The Emperor dispatched Messengers into divers parts of the World gave them in châ—â—ge to publish throughout every Country and Province as the went of an honourable Turnament that should be 〈…〉 in the City of Constantinople within six months following therein to accomplish his 〈◊〉 and to bring the Christian Championâ— whose company he so much desâ—â—ed unto his Court. This charge of the Grecian Emperour as he commanded was speedily performed with such diligence that in a short time it came to the ears of the Christian Knights as they travelled betwixt the Provinces of Asia and Africa who at the time appointed came in great Pomp and Majesty to Constantinople to furnish forth the honourable Triumphs At the Fame whereof likewise resorted thither a great number of Knights of great valour and strength among whom was the Prince of Argier with a goodly company of Noble Persons and the Prince of Fez with many well proportioned Knights likewise came thither the King of Arabia in great state and with no less Maiesty came the King of Sicilia and a Brother of his who were both Giaâ—ts Many other brave and valiant Knights whose Names I here 〈◊〉 came thither to honour the Grecian Emperour for that he was very well esteemed of by them all And as they came to honour the Triumphs so likewise they came to prove their Foritudes and to get Fame and Name and the praise that belongeth to adventurous Knights It was supposed of all the company that the King of Sicilia would gain by his Prowess the Dignity from the rest for that he was a Giant of very big Limbs although his Brother was taken to be the more furious Knight who determined not to just for that his Brother should get the honour and praise from all the Knights that came but it fell out otherwise as hereafter you shall understand For when the day of Turnament was come all the Ladies and Damsels put themselves in places to behold the justing and attired themselves in the greatest bravery that they could devise and the great Court swarmed with People that came thither to behold the triumphant Turnament What shall I say here of the Emperours Daughter the fair Alcida who was of so great beauty that she seemed more like a Divine substance than an earthly Creature and sate glistering in rich Drnaments amongst the other Ladies like unto Phoebus in the Crystal Firmament and was noted of all beholders to be the fairest Princess that ever mortal eye beheld so when the Emperour was seated upon his Imperial Throne under a Tent of green Uelver The Knights began to enter into the Lists and he that first entred was the Knight of Arabia mounted upon a very fair and well adorned Courser he was armed with black Armour all to bespotted with silver knobs and he brought with him fifty Knights all apparelled with the same Livery and thus with great Majesty he rode round about the Palace making great obedience unto all the honourable Ladies and Damsels After him entred the Pagan Knight who was Lord of Syria and armed with Armour of Lions Colour accompanied with an hundred Knights all apparâ—lled in Uelver of the same Colour and passed round about the Pallace shewing unto the Ladies great friendship and courtesie as the other did Which being done he beheld the King of Arabia tarrying to receive him at the Iust and the Trumpets began to sound giving them to understand that they must prepare themselves ready to the encounter whereto these two Knights were nothing unwilling but spurred their Couriers with great fury and closed together with couregious Ualour The King of Arabia most strongly made his Encounter and strook the Pagan without missing upon his breast but the Pagan at the next Race being heated with fury strook him so surely with his Lance that he heaved him out of his Saddle and he sell presently to the ground after which the Pagan Knight rode up and down with great pride and gladness The Arabian King being thus overthrown there entred into the Lists the King of Argier armed with no other Furniture but with silver Mail and a Breast-plate of might steel before his Breast his pomp and pride exceeded all the Knights that were then present but yet to small purpose his pride and arrogancy served for at the first Encounter he was overthrown â—o the ground in like sort did that Pagan use fifteen other Knights of fifteen several Provinces to the great wonder and amazement of the Emperour and all the Assembly During all these valiant Encounters S. George with the other Christian Champions stood afar off upon a high Gallery beholding them intending not as yet to be seen in tho Tilt. But now this valiant Pagan after he had rode some siâ— Courses up and down the place and seeing none entred the Tilt-yard he thought to bear all the fame and honour away for that day But at the same instant there entred the noble minded Prince of Fez being for courage the only pride of his Country he was a marvellous well-proportioned Knight and was armed all in white Armour wrought with excellent knots of Gold and he brought in his company a hundred Knights all attyred in white Satâ—en and riding about the place he shewed his obedience unto the Emperour and to all the Ladies and thereupon the