that these vallanous rebess and traytors who speak what they wish shall soon find these words kindle fresh fire of valour in the breasts of all true Britaines so as the battell did as it were begin anew insomuch that the perfidious Mordred without hope fled with his rebellious remnant towards the Towns of Glasenbury in Somerset shire whither King Arthur and his Knights with the rest of his gallantry speedily pursued them and there began afresh to fight where King Arthur who in former fights had received ten severall wounds in his head but none mortall till now that the speele of a broken Launce hapned to pierce his skull and that proved his deaths wound but before he dyed even when he felt the very agony of death approaching in his hot incensed bloud he did wonderfull execution upon his enemies and still continued fighting as though he had felt no hurt till a messenger brought him tydings that the Trator Mordred was slain then said he the unresistable will and decree of heaven be done for I am well contented and willing to dye So soon as the Rebels heard and saw that their Captain Mordred was dead it is wonderfull to relate in what a disordered confusion they ran some one way and some another they were sensible by the testimony of conscience that their obstract persisting in rebellion against so rare a King had brought them beyond hope of pardon therefore they asked none in this destraction there was a greater number killed in the flâ—gâ—t then in the battell scarce a man of them had escaped if the sudden approach of good King Arthurs death had not pretented further pursuit there was slain in the battell twelve thousand and in the slight fifteen thousand Mordreds hatefull deeds in his life time procured him a generall hatred after death he dyed suddenly without any care for his soul thrust thorrow the heare with a Iavelin in the hand of a Common souldier and when he was dead none tooke care of his Body his own kindred a fit guerdon for a Traytor which were of the blood royall and was he being nephew to King Arthur as you have heard before the gallant Sir Gowin Knight of the Round Table who dyed bravely fighting for his King in this battell was his own brother he was cosen garman to that illustrate Cador Duke of Cornwall another Knight of the Round Table who also triumphed over death in his Soveraignes cause whose Son Constantine succeeded King Arthur in the Kingdome yet all this high birth and alience could not purchase a grave unless some Country hynde buried him in his Orchard or Garden for of his sepulcher though so great a personage no mention was ever made to this day Well enough of him unless he had been better now let us returne to K. Arthur who lying upon his death-Bed at Glasenbury where having like a worthy Christian as he alwayes had lived made an eternall peace between God and his foul and also a likely lasting peace for the future to his Kingdome appointing for his successor dying without any issue his Nephew Constantine the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall as I told you lately So this renowned Christian worthy valiant King Arthur having first vanquished the Saxons at home and anexed six forraign Crownes to the Monarchy of Britain when he had thus victoriously raigned 26. years he rendred to death his interest and his soule to his Redeemer in the year of Grace 543. and was buryed at Glasenbury they where in this present modern age I meane within living mens memory there hath been an old Epitaph with some other memorials of him found the Epitaph so well as I can I think it not impertinent to render in English King Arthurs Epitaph Here lyes great Arthur Britains King ' Mongst Christian worthies one of three His fame throughout the world doth ring None did such doughty deeds as he Death all unto this passe doth bring He can subdue the greatest King FINIS London printed for Francis Coles at the signe of the Lamb in the Old-Bailey 1660.
The most admirable HISTORIE OF That most Renowned Christian Worthy ARTHVR King of the Britaines To 〈◊〉 those noble spirits who after antiquity joyned with truth WOrthy Country men or women by what name age title or quality soever you are distinguished I present you here with a piece of that huge volume of antiquity wherewith our ancestors were for the most part contentedly furnished Love to the party oftentimes causeth partiality in publishing of praise-worthy deeds this was the notion that the Zelots of that age so far superabounded in their historical relations of this indeed matchless mirror of Monarcks and example of heroical Actors insomuch that proposing improbabilities they have in some sort drowned realities to be brief where brevity is aimed at Geofry of Monmouth and other Clarks of that time have so fabulously written of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table that divers by these Hyperbolical discourses have been pusselled with ambiguity whether any such story were essential or no which to doubt were no less then to question whether Wil. the Son of Robert Duke of Normandy was ever King of England King Arthur is and hath been ever since his life and death accounted for one of the 3. Christian Worthies whereof not only our own Countrymen but also others of forraign Nations have interchangably written This have the French in as glorious a stile as they have done of their own Charls Maine or Godfrey of Bullaine therefore to explode one is to hisse all the rest from the stage of Christianity which I being confident you wil not refer to what follows truly collected by a lover of truth VVith antiquity M.P. The Contents of the severall Chapters in this following History Chap. 1. HOw King Vter sirnamed Pendragon slew in batel Coisen the proud Duke of Cornwall that rebelled against him and took his widow faire Igren to wife of whom he begot our renowned Arthur Chap. 2. How the learned Merlin who flourished in those daies had the tuition of the young Prince Arthur committed unto him and how he tutured him Chap. 3. The death of King Vter Pendragon and how Prince Arthur at the age of 18. years was crowned King of Britain by common consent Chap. 4 Of the great triumphs tilts and turnaments used in his Court at the beginning of his reign and the wonderfull resort of gallant warriers Chap. 5. Of his war with the Saxons and how he victoriously overcame them in 12. several set battels to the uter subduing of their pride and preventing the progress of their conquests during his own and his next successors reign Chap. 6. How King Arthur crost the Seas and subdued Denmark and Norway unto him in which voyage many admirable occurances hapned well worth observation Chap 7. How King Arthur instituted the order of the Round Table and graced it with a 150. Knights and the reason of its institution to maintain concord with the names of the first Knights of the Order so in all none under the degree of Baron Chap 8. How King Arthur fought against the Picks Scots Irish and Saxons in one battell and slew Colgrim King of the Saxons Bladust his Brother and Childrick a Prince of Germany who came to their aide and how he forced Guillamore King of Ireland to become tributary unto him Chap. 9. How King Arthur sayled to subdue Ireland which he performed with great honor converting that People and all the adjacent Lands to Christianity and obedience to him and the British Monarchy Chap. 10. How King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table went into Palestine to fight against the Pagan Infidels where they performed wonderfull feats of Arms to the honor of Christ and Christendome converting or confounding all where ever they came and how in the intrim the traytor Mordred nephew to King Arthur whom as Viceroy he had left to govern the Land in his absence usurped the Crown which King Arthur hearing of made hast to come home and in his march through France encountred and overcame Lucius the Roman Consul and many Princes of great birth and valour Chap. 11. How King Arthur returned into England He and Mordred were both slain in battel and how noble King Arthur was buried at Glasenbury in Summerset-Shire The History of Arthur King of Britain CHAP. I. How King Uter sirnamed Pendragon slew in battell Coisen the proud Duke of Cornwall that rebelled against him and took his widow fair Igren to wife of whom he begat one renowned King Arthur THe Britains having drawn their necks out of the Roman yoak which they had borne almost 500. years from Julius Caesar who conquered Casibelan King of Britain unto Gratian the last Roman governour here who ended his life and with him the domination over this Iland in Anno domini 376. After this Vortiger of the Race Royall of Britain did by murder and usurpation possess the Diadem and jurisdiction over this noble Kingdome but by his execrable life and wicked government gowing hatefull in the Subjects eyes he fearing their justly instigated arming against him sends over into Germany to a Noble and warlike Nation there called the Saxons of Saxonie to intreat their aid against his Natives whom he called Subjects The Saxons under the conduct of their two Princely Leaders Hengist and Horsus having gotten an invitative entrance into this Land which pleased them so well they never lest of procéeding their warlike policy until they became in fine sole Masters of the Field chasing the Britaines by degrees into that monntanous County now called Wales then Cambria which hapned about the year 590 under Careticus the Britaine 's deposing usurping Votiger put Vortimer his Son into his stead who being poisoned by Voitigers wife who was Hergists Daughter Vortiger reassumes the dominion raigns with much vexation 19. yeare and then both he and Rowan his Saxon wife are burnt in their Castle by Aurelius Ambrose of the linage of Constance whom Vortiger to get the Crown had murthered To this Aurelius Ambrose after 32. years raigne succéeded Uter Pendragon his Brother All the premises are as so many steps ascendant to our story this Uter was the Father of our renowned Christian worthy King Arthur the great of Great Britain King and Emperor the noble subject of this Kingly and most Heroick History in the begining of King Uters reigne the great Duke of Cornwall named Coisen prompted by ambition avarice and oppulency three strong cords to draw an evill disposed man to destruction raised an open Rebellion against his Soveraign in which lawless enterprise he was slain and his Wife Igren the mirror of Ladies for her beauty and vertue became as lawfull prise to King Uter and although the death of Coisen her late Husband might seeme to be some obstract yet the justness of his death the Kings cause and request overcomming all niceties to the increase of her joy and dignity by the marriage of the King she became Queen of Britain Of this gallant Lady Queen
Igren our worthy Arthur was begotten and born of whose matchless achievments for the honour of God and his Nation and the terror of his enemies this following epitomy or abstract of his History gives a briefe and reall notion this first Chapter serving as a proeme to what follows in order according to the Rule of Chronography or History CHAP. 2. How the learned Merlin who flourished in those daies had the tuition of Prince Arthur committed unto him and how he tutored him IN those daies lived and flourished that learned Clark Mrlin by some accounted a Negromancer by all a Prophet of whose predictions Prophecies so much talk is at this day especially among the Welch who being in great favour with King Uter as one by whose counsell he was chiefly governed in all his actions to him was committed the tuition and education of the young Prince whose advice gave him his name Arthur for some cause which he propounded Merlin having gotten himselfe to be intrusted with the government of this Child of whom he Prophecied great and admirable deeds to be done applied all his best of skill and industry to continue and augment the good opinion which both the King and his People conceived of his Learning Wisedome Gravity and Fidelity to his Nation and his Soveraign so that he nurtured the Prince in his minority in rudiments sutable to his age and procliuity and as he grew and increased in years so Art Learning and Vertue grew and increased in him insomuch that in him appeared all that might promise a future greatnesse and goodness his mind and study above all things earthly he dedicated to divine documents and next unto that his discourses were all military and his déeds answerable exceeding the compass of his age briefly what may be possibly expected in a Prince every way pointed out or set apart for God and his Countrey honour and service in our Arthur was so conspicuous and visible that the whole world made him the severall objects of both envy and hope Thus much concerning his education under Merlin in the next Chapter we will bring his to Father his Sepulcher and him to his Throne CHAP. III. Of the death of King Vter Pendragon and how Prince Arthur at the age of 18. years was crowned King of Britaine by common consent KIng Uter having royally and lovingly both governed and nourished the sickly estate of Britain for the space of 28. years in which time he had gotten many fortunate battels against the Saxons then being a prevailing party here at last to verifie our now common saying too much familiarity breeds contempt growing too much familiar with a Saxon Prince called Enerinus he was by him or his appointment poisoned at a great feast held in the Town of Salop leaving his noble Son Prince Arthur the expectation of England and the just revenger of his Fathers death who immediately seconded his exit with his own entrance upon the stage of majesty he was at that time but a strippling in age having past over but 18. Winters and as many Summers but in Statute Strength Wisdome and Valour he passed thousands that doubled his days Such majesty in his eyes such gravity in his gesture and countenance such mediocrity and modesty in his behaviour and comportment joyned with subtle wisedome prudence and temperance in his words that justice and fortitude in his actions were void of doubt or question so that his wise and cunning Tutor presenting his Pupill so exquisitly qualified gained the lasting love of the Common-Wealth for his so artificially yoaking grace and nature to draw on the Chariot of Britains honour and happiness The same night that his Father was poisoned Prince Authur in a dream saw a vision in this manner a huge spreading Vine with great ripe clusters shewed themselves red and ready to be crushed From the root of this Vine issued a venomous Viper which Viper was seconded with a great Snake between the Viper and the Snake was a cruell Combate the Snake for her advantage wound her selfe about the body of the Vine and from thence parlied with her enemy the Viper breathing out threatnings against the Snake instead of hurting her with his venemous breath poisoned the grapes which a man in sad sable habit comming after to tast of died immediately Soon after all this came in a lusty raging Lyon that with his roaring scared away both the Viper and the Snake and also awaked Prince Arthur This dream and vision Merlin disected in these or the like words most noble branch of British Royalty whom my prophetick spirit dares in the present tense regarding of the future call the sole and absolute Monarch of all Christendome this last night thy royall Father hath by late reconciled enemies whom we are forbidden to trust been invited to a supper and though as yet fame hath not sounded the trumpet of his death neither do I know any thing by the voice of the People but that he is very well and in perfect good health yet worthy Prince my genius conspiring with your highness dream and vision dictats to my thoughts that he is by this time to our great sorrow dead being poisoned by Remon at the appointment of Querinus the Saxon Prince who was lately of a fierce foe transformed into the shape of a feined friend This I tell you and this you will find true these are the Viper and the Snake for they were at variance before but agreed for the poisoning of Vter which have between them poisoned the Vine intimated by the grapes which your Father signified by the man in a sable habit a fit emblem of death tasted and dyed thereof well what renowned Prince remains now but that you must be that raging fierce revenging and roaring Lyon who with your powerfull and frightfull voyce of command shall make this Snake and this Viper this Remon and this Querinus with all the rest of that hellish rabble of heathenish Pagans these miscreant Saxons to fly away and hide themselves from your Lyon like fury No sooner were these speeches by learned Merlin uttered but presently a Post came in all hast to give information of the business signifying that King Uter Pendragon was poisoned the Saxons had possest themselves of the Town of Salop having most treacherously butchered man woman and child that were therein first ravishing both Wives and Virgins before their Husbands and Parents faces and then made a generall massacre of all together When Prince Arthur heard this sad and horrible report after sundry short ejaculations invoking divine assistance he turning to his Tutor Merlin said thus learned Sir your words are oracles and so I shall ever esteem of the same during my mortal life when I swerve from your counsell I can expect nothing but destruction to my self and my people and if Alexander esteemed so much a dead Homers works what shall I Arthur deem of a learne◠Merlins voyce the noblest Barrons Prelates common people of the Kingdom
the Saxons never daring to come towards it during his reign nor his next successors Constine as I told you heretofore CHAP. IX How King Arthur and his Knights sayled to subdue Ireland which he performed with great honour converting that and the adjacent Lands to Christianity and obedience to him and the British Monarchy GReat Spirits cannot be idle the thoughts once fixed on honourable at chievements and cherished with happy success are ever busied in finding out this jewel where ever it lie hid in the worl This is evident in our Christian Worthy and his gallant Knights who loathing to be backward in putting forwards Gods glory in the enlargement of Christendom and hearing that Ireland and other people thereabout liveâ— in heathenish Idolatry and blind worship not having the light of the Gospell as yet revealed to them he raised an army to reduce them to the Law of Christ and obedience to him with happy success this voyage goeth on King Arthur and his Royal army consisting of no more but 30000. depending on divine Auxiliaries adventure upon this great enteprise and arive happy in Ireland where they find great opposition yet overcome with small difficulty The people by Nature rude and savage as hardy as their Country is cold yet these cold comforts nor the peoples frozen conscience dismay not our undaunted Britains whose zealous fire is of force both to warme themselves and to thaw their enemies hearts a forious encounter they sound at their entrance for the barbarous Islanders were upon a sudden ranged into a body of above forty thousand their King Malvasius a renowned and hardy Knight famoused for many victories against the Laplanders and Finians came himselfe in person before his souldiers boldly demanding a sight of and speech with King Arthur which to his happy unhappiness he soon attained CHAP. X. How King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table sayled into Palestine to fight against the Pagan Infidels where they performed wonderfull feats of chivalry to the honour of Christ and Christianity converting or confounding all where ever they came LOng had not King Arthur and his honour thirsty Knights slept at home but fresh adventure pricks them forward to travel Europe by their meanes is quitted and the fold of Christ much enlarged but in Asia the Pagan infidels rage Palestine with her Christians groanes under this heavy yoke therefore our worthy Arthur and his gallant warries will not rest in peace while tydings of this horrible war and oppression is spread through the land of Christendome briefly with the very same army which he brought out of the cold Countries he marched upon this hot yet honourable enterprise of all other the most laudable for a Christian Army to engage himselfe in let us now imagine we see the Christian Banner displayed between Jerusalem and Jericho upon the plain of Nabor where an innumerable host of Saraces are encamped against the Xerxian multitude with great confidence goes our Christian Army not doubting of that which they near failed to get victory which by divine providence they accomplished it were incredible to shew what extraordinary vertue King Arthur and his Knights performed in that service for three dayes space the battel continued and then our Christian Army had the happiness to behold the destruction and total rout of the whole Pagan host CHAP. XI How King Arthur returned into England He and Mordred were both slain in battell and how noble King Arthur was buried at Glasenbury in Summerset-shire NOw hath prosperous wind and weather brought our worthy Arthur and his bold belonists to the British Coasts he seeks lading at Dover but finds it fortified to impeach his arrivall the tray for Mordred had so possessed the people with his spirit of treason and rebellion that they in stead of magnificent shews and trumphes to welcome him as his vertue required and their duty had heretofore done defied him to his face O ingrateful Caiâ—ifs and insolently denies his entrance into his owne inheritance a very unfit guerdon for the unparalen'd honour wherewith King Arthur and his Knights had endowed and adorned the British Monarchy upon the British shore he can set no footing but by force which if there be no remedy he knows how to do being so long and so well verst in that business and so by force doth enter and is by a huge army of bastardly Britaine 's opposed a cruell fight is maintained for a long time in fiâ—e the King â—s victor the usurper and his wicked company for so many as escaped alive fly and were pursued by the King and their own evill consciences yet being hardned with malice and as it were steeled with basenessâ— the miscreants in that nature worse then the Pagan Infidels which his all conquering courage had so often triumphed over have the face again to afront that majesty the splender whereof had so dazelled the eys of the world which looking on his glorâ—ous conquest that none beheld his countenance in a warlike construction without fear and trembling nor durst they havâ— done it had they not been too bold in such an action Britains that dare do any thing Sir Cador that matchless man of men was slaine fighting against a whole Regiment Sir Gawin a man of invincible valour coming to his rescue also with him joyned in fellowship of death the renowned and couragious young King of Scotland Arguisell by name coming to the aide of King Arthur dyed gallantly fighting in his quarrell Sir Killian de Londre environed with a troup of horse after the death of 12. men which with his own hand he slew was himselfe hit with a dart throwne from a common Irish or Pictish hand laid dead on the earth Sir Martin de Forest in rescuing King Arthur encompassed with a troup of horse that sought to have taken him was shot into the heart with an arrow and dyed presently after this Sir Cador Sir Gawin Sir Kildan and Sir Martin after so many unequalled victories abroad came to yield their loyall hearts by the hands of perfidious Rebels their own nativâ—s into the power of death in their native Country also that valiant Scot before mentioned King Arguisel thoughnot a Knight of the Round Table yet an undaunted Knight and trusty friend to King Arthur who like an enraged Lyon makes slaughter on every side with his sword beyond the expectation of humane force insomuch that the enemy beginning to dispaire of victory a Pictish souldier suborned by Mordred cries out aloud in the British Language fly you Britaines what do you fight for Arthur your King on whom you depend and all his Knights of the Round Table are dead This made King Arthurs souldiers begin to start which he hearing made hast to the most eminent place that he could find where being conspicuous and visible to them all he spoke these conragious words Fight on fellows in armes I am I praise heaven for it neither dead nor wounded but in perfect health and strength and
when they had notice of this Royal Tragedy made hast â—â—â—hâ—â— have a King to govern them and a revenging scourge for their enemies so with a unanimous consent they chose Prince Arthur for their Soveraign CHAP. IV. Of the great Triumphs Tilts and Turnaments used in his Court in the beginning of his reign and the wonderful resort of galliant wartiers THe barbarous Sarons having performed that treasonable practise in the poisoning of King Uter as you heard in the precedent chapter though they had made sure work for the totall extirpation of the British blood not thinking this our Arthur to be his successor thought the hearts of the Britains in this exigent were set upon the consideration of his promising vertues which were the step by which he principally ascended the Throne For although I do not many then did question his legitamacy of knowing that the love which King Uter professed to 〈◊〉 in Igren for her beauty and vertue caused the jarre between him and her husband but that 's not pertinent to our story Arthur is crowned King of Britain and that the Saxons shall soon know to their cost At his first initiation into the government he proclaimed a generall Turnament for all commers at the City of Rerulam long since buried in ruine and oblivion near to St Albons King Authur was crowned by the hands of William Bishop of London to this Triumphant Tilt and Turnament it is wonderful to relate what resort there was of gallant wartiers from all-neighbor Nations from Scotland Ireland France and Almaine the most approved Knights for valour gave luster to King Arthurs Court who for munificent entertainment and large hospitality far surmounted all his prececessors at this Turnament which lasted all the Whitson week and four daies alter was much galantry performed both by our Britaines and Forraigners which were tedious to relate in particular In this brief discourse it shalt suffice to nommate some of the principall actors in this martiall scene how they were mated and who were Victors First Cador Duke of Cornwal a most valiant and British Knight encountred Macpar Prince of Lenster in Ireland a mighty man in statute and conposure of body so of equall skill and courage with the best knight then living These two Heroes at their first carrier found fortune so impartiall in her friendship that they were were both sent one way their bodies fell to the earth and their spears mounted with their fame into the the aire This they did thrée severall times with the like issue Cador likewise can against Godfrey Count of Henault a very good and experienced Knight to whom Lady Fortune had been heretofore extremly prodigall in curtesies but now to shew her mutability her fame left him and so did his vitall breath for being a corpulent man of body with the violent fall from his horse he broke his neck and died presently in the place whose death was so generally lamented that the good Knight Duke Cador sorrowfully threw off his armour and tilted no more during all the time briefly the Earle of Ludlow overthrew and wounded the Duke of Mountpelier the Earle of Rothsay a gallant Scot did the like to the Count St Paul and the King of Northwals running against the Duke of Halstein threw both him and his horse to the ground breaking with the violence of the fall the neck of the horse and the arme of the rider the Duke of Britain did the like with the Count of Ipre but the most notable combate of all that I have either mentioned or for brevity omitted hapned upon the last day between the Count Palatine of Chester and the Daulphin of Viena which considering all circumstances deserves expression though in a brief manner during the Courtly entertainment before the Turnament and in the intrim these two young gallants both Batchelors became mutually enamoured on the matchless beanty of the Lady Jaquinta sole daughter and heire to the Earle of Flintshire who was a Courtly attendant on and Neece to the Queen Igren the Kings Mother and being jealous of each others fortune in the affairs of Cupid Mars upon this offered occasion interposing himselfe as a moderator to decide the difference so that being interiorly as well as exteriorly armed and both gallantly mounted they entred the Lists with extraordinary engagment and courage as the event justifies at their first encounter both of them fell horse and man to the ground sorely bruised and recovering their legs contrary to their forâ—aâ—â—ners sell to it firecely with their swords their manhood whetted on that fair Ladies perfections turned friendly tryall by turnament to the mortal thirst of revenge with such eager stroaks one of them pursued the other that the Princely spectators must needs judge death to be the umpire of the controversie for both being disswaded by Royall command and intreated of friends all was answered with desire of prosecution with such accerbity and accrimony of heart did they stride to defend and offend that it was hard to censure whether malice or valour had most predominance the Count Palatine judging his native right to the Lady more then the Dolphin which was an Aliene and the Dolphin deeming that Princely birth and correspondent qualities might merit affection in any part of the world This is the beginning and ground of the quarrel whereof the end and issue is death to both as you shall hear presently the Dolphin hit the Count Palantin such a forcible blow on the helme making way by steele through steele it both pierced his skull and also brought him upon his knees at which advantage he ran violently upon him to have crushed him to the earth but the Count Palatine actâ—ive both in body and spirit reassumes his legs the Dolphins strength being much interior to his and with his kine sword lent him such a lucky or unluckly stroake between the head and shoulders that cutting his windpipe down fell the Dolphin but as he fell he thrust his sword under the skirt of the Count Palatines armor which visiting his intrals with the point of death these two noble Knights and lovers though not of each other dyed both together in hatred neither of them injoying his wish but revenge and so with the end of them I will finish the feast and turnament and withall conclude this chapter CHAP. V. Of King Arthurs first War with the Saxons and how he victoriously overcame them in twelve several set battels to the subduing of their pride and preventing their progress of conquest during his own and his next successors raign THe triumph thus tragically begun and ended our worthy Arthur having first solemnized the funeral obsequies of his Royal Father also the Count Henault the Dolphin of Viena and the Count Pasatine of Chester which was on four severall dayes performed with all due celebritie begins to think the redemption of both upon his native Country from Pagan slavery and revenging of his Royall Fathers horrible murder And to this