slaughter THe King having been absent from his own Dominions for the space of six months began to cast his eye homeward when having remitted Burnamissa the charges he was at and only gave order his Subjects loss should be repaired he with his fair Queen whom the King loaded with rich presents took leave of the Danish Court and imbarquing with the whole Army and divers of the Danish Nobility who from their King had order to attend the Queen having a fair gale on the ninth of October landed where they first imbarqued and were received with vniversal joy whereupon the King coming to a Castle of his near Cardniff feasted the Danish Nobility in a most splendid manner But whilst he remained there he had notice That Magor King of Ireland who by his Ambassadors had courted the fair Genura and been refused was to revenge it on his arrival landed with a great Power in South-Wales whereupon the King comforting his Queen who was greatly grieved that through her cause such sudden troubles should arise passed on with his victorious Army and gave him Battel near Merionoth and utterly discomfited him so that flying with his broken Army and being every where assailed by the Country Pesants who had laid the way for him he scarcely escaped to his Ships with five Thousand out of thirty Thousand so that King Arthur speedy as Caesar in his victories returned to his fair Queen with the Trophies of his conquored Enemies long before he was expected to have fought the Battel when sending four Thousand men under the leading of Sir Lancelot and divers other good Knights they landed on the Isle of Angle-Sea and drove thence the French that had for some time past during the troubles of this Kingdom setled themselves there CHAP. IX How the King having recovered the Isle of Angle-Sea from the French sailed with a great Power into France to revenge the injury done to his Subjects and overthrowing their Army made them dearly purchase Peace THe Kings victories daily increasing the terrour of his name spread wide and made the most re-doubted Monarch tremble yet durst France then powerfull at Sea invade our Coast and with fire and sword spoiled many Sea-Towns carrying away great booty as also the people the men they made row in their Gally and the women to satiate their prodigious Lust When as the crys of his suffering subjects reaching his ear where he was delighting himself with his Queen he resolved once more to forsake the Camp of Venus and her soft delights to court Fame and Glory in the Camp of Mars whereupon having sent to Lotharius for Restitution and receiving rather scorns than a satisfactory answer from that imperious King he made great preparations for the War and had at that time twelve Saile of Ships sent to his aid by his Brother of Danemark when being in a readiness with an Army of 34000 he coasted the Country and putting into the Bay of Marselies with his shot of Arrows that flew like Haile drove the defendants from the shore on which himself with his own Standard first leaped and stood like an inraged Lyon though a thousand shafts flew round his Head and many rebounded from his glittering shield but long it was not e're the valiant Knights of the Order imitating their Soveraign thrust their ships on Land and putting their Souldiers in Battel-aray charged furiously upon the formost Battailian of the Enemy lead by the Duke De Vallois so that being over-set they retreated in great disorder and finding no place to be received broke the Ranks of their friends when as the Duke De Nevers advanced with the right wing of Horse to their succour but was so gauâ—ed with the shot of Arrows that the Horses mischiefed more the Riders than did the Brittains In this confusion the King drawing out 6000 of his choice men charged upon the disordered Enemy with such courage that he pierced their main Battel making lanes of death wherever he came cutting off Arms Heads and Legs insomuch that the Danish General Gironeus imitating him the French Souldiers routed in all parts left their Commanders and fled insomuch that the slaughter of the Nobility was great a fate ever incident to that Kingdom nor would they trust to the weak wall of Marselies but flying to Lyons and Paris left that part of the Country naked to be possessed of the Brittains The terror of this overthrow alaruming the French Court and finding that brought home to 'em which they had used to others abroad the people with Tears besought their King to appease the Conquorer in time and thereby prevent worse desolation who considering his tottering Kingdom was at stake sent four of his prime Lords to beg a weeks Cessation or Truce to which King Arthur whose aim was more at Glory and Renown than Advantage accorded during which time the King having raised a Million of crowns sent them in divers Waggons with other rich Presents to purchase his Peace and the departure of his new-come Guest yet prevailed they not e're he had made his acknowledgment for the indignity put upon the Kings Ambassadors and deliver the Town and Port of Marselies to be possessed as a pledge of future Peace by the Brittains for the space of 20 years to come and upon pain of forfeiting it for ever no Hostilitys to be used by Land nor depradations by Sea These Articles accorded the King hastened to his own Country with the greatest part of his Army leaving only 2000 Souldiers in Marselies and having amply rewarded the Danes dismissed them CHAP. X. How Queen Geneura was delivered of a Son and of the Presents and Vows made by the Saxon Kings As also a full description of the Knights of the Round Table UPon King Arthur's return he found to his unspeakable joy his fair Queen delivered of a lovely boy who by the advice of Merlyn he named Constantius whose Uictories and great Exploits that Prophet fore-told which after his Fathers death he succeeding him in his Throne exactly came to pass And now the joy being great throughout the Brittish Dominions all the Saxon Kings came to King Arthur's Court then removed to the then flourishing City of Hereford and made their Homage complementing him highly on his Marriage and the birth of his Son presenting the Queen and Royal Infant with great Presents as Iewels Gold and fragrant Spice of Arabia promising for them and their Heirs to be obedient to the Brittish Scepter though before and after the Death of King Arthur they brake their vows though to their great disadvantage For the young Prince almost as successful in War as his Father grasped the Kingdomes of the Mercians and East-Angles with so hard a hand that during his Life they could not wrest them from him but to our purpose King Arthur being the chief Favourite of Fortune and the eldest Son of Fame began to inlarge the splendor of his Court and increase the number of the Knights of the Round Table
his Nobility feasting them after a sumptuous manner as they imagined but he had no sooner re-conveyed them thence but looking back they saw all vanish in Thunder Lightning and a prodigious Earthquake to their great amazement yet knowing before it was but delusion they rested somewhat more satisfied yet could not but think of what had passed The day being spent in viewing this Piece of Recreation and the King ruminateing many things in his mind at last laying him down upon his Couch he fell into a slumber and then dreamed that he was carried into a spacious Hall in which stood a Table of great circumference out of the middle of which grew an Oak and a Laurel with Crows Scepters Swords and Ensigns hanging on them and that they were guarded by many valiant Knights high in prowess and terrible to the whole World which made him desirous to become their Associate nor did he sooner demand it but they joyfully received him and placeing him in a Chair of Ivory and Gold made him their Chief and gave him a Banner with a Lyon rampant portruyed thereon and this Motto written viz. EVER VICTORIOUS upon which the sound of Trumpets noise of Drums clattering of Arms shouts and cries saluted his Ears And he supposed he beheld Armies in rout and slaughter scattered through the whole World and that the Conquorers laid the Trophies at his feet and with an vniversal shout saluted him Great Monarch of the Western World At what time awakeing he found it but a Dream yet revolving in his mind the strangeness of the fancy the next morning he related to his Nobles who assured him of happy presages and advised him to make inquiry into the interpretation thereof whereupon sending for his Necromantick Counsellor he related it to him who promised within a day to give him the signification of his Dream which he did as followeth viz. That by the Table was signified his Kingdom by the Knights the Pillars and Strength thereof by Oak and Laurel strength victory and durance the Crowns Scepters Swords and Ensigns the spoiles of the Nation he should be possess'd of and the Schene of War the representations of the many dreadful Battels he should fight wherein he should ever remain victorious and the making him Chief giving him the Standard and placeing him in a Chair of Ivory and Gold denoted him deep in his Subjects love and that no Treason should prosper against him This interpretation highly pleased the King and raised his towring imaginations to such a pitch that he resolved to spread the terrour of his Arms throughout the world wherefore he made great preparation for all manner of Warlike provision but above all of hardy and couragious Knights inviteing them from all parts to his Court and for their better incouragement caused a spacious Hall 300 Foot in length and Twenty in breadth to be built with Glass Turrets on the top ceiled with Fret-work and Gold wainscoted with Cedar and paved with Marble in the midst of which he placed a Round Table at which 400 Knights might sit and caused it daily to be furnished with great store of choice pâ—ovision for the entertainment of such men of UUar as would resort thither and shortly after constituted the Order of the Round Table allowing a Yearly Pension of 100 Mark to such as were truly valiant and would inrole themselves to attend his service when occasion required making himself the Head or Soveraign of the Order so that by this means the valiant men of the neighbouring Nations tendered their service to him and were admitted into the noble Order but not before they had been proved in some great Exploit CHAP. III. How King Arthur warred with the Kings of Mercia and the East Angles who invaded his Dominions slew a monstrous Gyant and put their Armies to the rout c. THe King being established in his Throne and having thus far proceeded caused a place to be made for justing where once every week his Knights exercised in Martial Order and justed with each other and to him that did best the King would frequently send one rich present or other himself being still a Spectator of those Exercises and at all great Feasts present amongst them at Dinner having a Chair like a Throne placed on that part of the Table that was towards the upper end of the Hall but no Musick suffer'd except the Martial sounds of Drums Trumpets and Clarions in which most of all our Heroick Prince delighted And now being furnished with mighty men that might compare to Davids worthies if not exceed them in dreadful Feats of Arms he passionately desired to have an honourable occasion to try his and their valours which was not long wanting For the Mercian King of the Saxons and the King of the East Angles presuming upon their strength broke into Cornwall part of King Arthurs Dominions and committed divers outrages burning plundering ravishing and slaughtering in such a dreadful manner that the people with such substance as they could convey fled every where before them the News of which rouzed our Lyon-like Prince who taking with him his Guard of 400 Knights and 8000 common Souldiers the flower of his Dominions by swift Marches passed on to give UUar the meeting whose approach the Enemy being treble the number little regarded not doubting to give him the overthrow trusting greatly to the force of one Cingeterox a monstrous Gyant nine cubits high six in circumference and armed with a huge Battel-Axe and Coat of Mael but the undaunted Prince whom fear could not dismay having animated his Souldiers and set them in Battel-Array attended by his Knights broke through the Ramparts killing such as guarded the Camp and setting upon the Infidels for so at that time they were and cutting through the thickest of them made such slaughter that all the way he passed was strewed with dead bodies yet on he pressed through â—anes of death his Heroick Champions following as animated by the Martial deeds of their Renowned Leader nor did they less annoy the Enemy who by this time taking the Alarum in all parts came running to oppose them and began to make some slaughter of his men especially where the Gyant fought which the King perceiving by the cry that arose caused his Stander with the great Lyon to advance that way beating down all before him till he came to the place where he found Cingeterox and Ethwaldus the Mercian King bathing their Axes in the blood of his men of which they had slain 300 when as King Arthur with a loud voice cried Turn this way Infidels spare the weak and bend your force against the strong upon which the Gyant stairing on him with a dreadful voice replied Who art thou that comes to seek thy Death I am a Souldier said the King and one that am come to fetch thy Head by way of reprizal for the mischiefs thou hast done in my Country But you must get it first said the Gyant That shall
not be long said the King and thereupon charged on the Monster so furiously with his Sword that e're he could wield his Battel-Axe with a full stroke on his Helme which made the fire spring from thence he made him stagger three huge Paces and bend with his knee to the ground then the Gyant inraged made at him and struck the King so that the blow dazled him and made his eyes swim but soon recovering he that had never been so used before resolved revenge and thereupon after a full stroke wheeling his dreadful Sword about he struck the Monster on the Helme with such force that cutting it through the Sword entered six inches whereupon with a terrible groan he fell to the Earth at what time the King stood on him and divided his Head from his Trunk the which he delivered to his Esq that bore his bow and quiver Nor were the Knights of the Order idle for Sir Lancelot had by this time grievously wounded the Mercian King and taken him Prisoner and Sir Tristriam slain 7 Captains besides 36 common Souldiers so that the King of the East Angles seeing all go to wrack and his men were disordered caused the Retreat to be sounded whereupon his Captains endeavoured to bring off their men but they being in great consternation and the Brittains pressing on them fearful of death fled in all parts and left all the booty they had gotten to the Conquerors who fiercely pursuing the flying Foe made terrible slaughter insomuch 〈◊〉 such as could not fly into Castles and places of strength fell by the Sword to the number of 20000. This overthrow being noised abroad brought a great fear upon all the Saxon Princes so that the Mercians wholly submitted and sent a great ransome for their King who upon his swearing to become Tributary and Uassal to King Arthur was set at liberty Nor were there any of their petty Kings that then possessed this Island which they had divided into a Heptiarthey but sent their Ambassadors with great Presents to intreat a Peace the which upon their acknowledging him their supream Prince and paying each 200 Mark a brace of Geldings a Faulcon and a Grey-hound yearly was accorded to And thus flourished this Renowned King in the beginning of his Reign but more dreadful and re-doubted were his future deeds as by the sequel will appear CHAP. IV. How King Arthur passed into Danemark conquored the Kingdom of Norway overthrew Burnamissa the Danish King THe King having in a manner brought England to his subjection resolved not to suffer the current of his Victory to be damed up with ease took counsel with Merlyn and the most valiant of his Knights what Enterprize was next to be undertaken who advised him That it was most for his Honour to revenge the injuries he had received by the Danes who roaming about those Seas had not only taken divers of his Ships but landing had surprized some small Towns upon the Sea-Coast and burnt them carrying the Inhabitants into miserable Captivity and by cruel tortures obliged them to offer Sacrifice to their Idols that Kingdom being then unconverted This motion pleased the King whose restless spirit and desire of Glory made him impatient of ease whereupon he caused a great Navy of Ships to be rigg'd in Milford Haven and in all other Ports and gave Order for the building Men of War and Gallys so that in six months space he had a fleet of small and great Uessels that consisted of 300 saile on which early in the Spring he imbarqued with 28000. choice Souldiers and all manner warlike of provision having by this time inroled twenty new Knights to supply the places of such as fell by the Sword or dyed of divers diseases and so with a fresh gale weigshing Anchor and with a fair wind arriving in the Baltique Ocean entered the Straits now guarded by the two famous Castles of Coronsburg and Elzeburg the later standing on the Coast of Norway and there brought such a fear on either shore that the Inhabitants in all parts fled with what they could most conveniently carry leaving the rest for a prey to the Brittains who under the conduct of their victorious King inriched themselves with a great booty when incamping before Nidrosia in Norway summoned the City to yield but there being a strong Garrison therein they returned answer That they kept the City for Burnamissa King of Danemark and would in no wise yield it without his Order whereupon the King commanded the assault to be made by 12000 men under the leading of 44 Knights of the Order of the Round Table who having their scaleing Engine in a readiness on Easter-Eve marched to the wall and with a showre of Arrows and Wild-fire drove the defendants thence when as Sir Ector bearing the Royal Standard mounted and making great slaughter of such as opposed cutting off Arms Legs and Helmed Heads placed it on the chief Bulwark which the rest seeing on all sides strove to imitate him so that within less than six houres the City was won which the conquered perceiving retired to the Market-place and throwing down their Arms begged mercy which the King generously granted yet gave the spoile of the City to his Souldiers not reserving any part to himself which so hightened them that leaving a Garrison there passed on to Bergen which upon the first simmons surrendred and by its Example all the remaining Cities and walled Towns did the like so that the Kingdom of Norway was entirely at King Arthur's devotion whereupon finding no more to conquer he having received a supply of 5000 men to make up the number he brought by reason he was forced to leave the like number in Garrison imbarqued and passing the Straits landed upon the Danish shore filling all with terror and amazement when as that King having gathered a huge Army advanced to give him Battel which did not a little rejoyce King Arthur who greatly desired to try his strength in War when joyning on the great Plain before Copen Hagen a dreadful Fight began but Uictory who never declined our Heroick Prince soon declared for the Brittains so that the Danish King finding the Battel swerve and that he could not stay his men longer from open flight to cover their shame sounded the Retreat whereupon they retiring in great confusion K. Arthur and his Knights followed so furiously that all the Plain was strewed with the bodies of the slain and so hotly they pressed on that e'r three parts of the Army entered the City the Gates were shut up and a third part shut out for fear the Brittains should enter pell-mell with them who were by the furious Souldier slain in the sight of their friends though the compassionate King bid spare the sword CHAP. V. How King Arthur besieged Copen-Hagen and how at the intreaty of Geneura the Sister of the Danish King he hearkened to an Accord THe Danes thus overthrown the King incamped before the City resolving to carry it by
Brittains Glory OR THE HISTORY Of the LIFE and DEATH of K. ARTHUR And the Adventures of the KNIGHTS of the Round Table GIVING A Relation of their Heroick Exploits and Victories in many Lands but especially in the Holy-Land against the Turks and Sarazens The Combates with Gyants and Monsters and fearful wild Beasts Encounters with Pyrates at Sea His building Pallaces Love to Ladies and the many deliverances wrought by him With other wonderful Atchievements Pleasant and delightful altogether worthy the perusal of the ingenious Reader Printed by H. B. for J. Wright J. Clark W. Thackeray and T. Passinger 1684. Entred according to Order JOHN SHURLY TO THE READER COURTEOUS READER DVring the Revolutions of this Kingdom such have been the Valourous Exploits of the Princes and other Renowned Warriours Natives not only in this our Land and neighbouring Countries but throughout the known World that all Nations have stood amazed and trembled at their Prowess And amongst others well may the famous ARTHUR that Renowned Brittish King take place though to lessen the Credit of his great Exploits some envious Aliens have endeavoured to prove there was never such a man but since it is evident by Chronologers of the most Antiquity and Integrity that he was the Son of Vter Pendragon of the Antient Brittish Royal Blood I shall not use more Arguments to manifest it to the World but proceed to the Matter of History as I find it layed down for the Instruction of future Ages And remain Reader Yours to serve you I. S. BRITTAIN'S GLORY OR The HISTORY of the Life and Death of King Arthur and the Adventures of the Knights of the ROUND TABLE CHAP. I. Of the Parentage of King Arthur and how he came to the Crown after his Fathers death THE Saxons after the departure of the Romans having under the title of friendship seized upon many strong places in this Kingdom the native Brittains after having tryed their fortunes in many dreadful Battels were obliged to retire into Wales and Cornwall â—et retaining many places of considerable strength and from thence by frequent excursions greatly anoyed the Enemy not forgetting their antient Ualour and the former Glory of this Isle amongst which was King Vter Pendragon lineally descended from the Brittish Kings who in the Year Anno 500. began to Raign over the Brittains that possessed the Mountainous Country with great success giving the Saxons many defeats and gaining greatly upon them till at last falling in love with a fair Lady named Igrayin wife to Alfridus Duke of Cornwall he so doted on her Beauty that not finding her to be won by perswasion to yield her chastity to his disposal he plotted with Merlyn a famous Necromancer of that age to bring his designs about by policy This Necromancer undertaking the matter the better to ease his Princes labouring thoughts with Spells and by Magick Inchantment so wrought that either deluding the Ladies sight or transforming the King into the shape of her Lord she received him as such and suffered him in the absence of Alfridus to injoy her a whole night on whom he got our famous Arthur For her Lord being in War against the West-Saxons was slain e're his return of which the King hearing though greatly grieved at the loss of so renowned a Subject yet as much rejoyced that fate gave him opportunity to procure the love of the fair Dutchess in an honourable way which he prosecuting after the days of mourning were over so dealt with her by fair words and rich presents that being now at liberty she was contended to be his Wife and was married to him by the Bishop of Carlile with great pomp and splendour all the Lords and Nobles subject to his Scepter together with their Ladies adorning their Nuptials and assisting at the Ceremony And so great was the joy that easting Turnament and all manner of disports to recreate the sences were held for twenty daies Yet the Queen was troubled to find the fruits of her womb increase so fast as fearing to be suspected of Adultry for well she knew she had been deceived when she computed the time of Alfridus death with the time she supposed him in her embraces but the King to put her out of doubt and to prevent melancholly thoughts in loving wise unrevealed the whole mistery yet it was agreed between them that it should be kept secret and that the Child should as soon as born be conveyed to a trusty Guardian to prevent obloquie The Queen about six months after the Ceremony of the Wedding was over being brought to bed of a Son the Child named Arthur as it was before resolved was conveyed by trusty hands to a Lady of good repute named Marilda Wife to Sir Ector one of the Kings Knights who brought him up in such learning as was meet for his Years When as his Father worn out with the continual toiles of War and much distempered through the many wounds he had received died leaving him sole-Heir of his Dominions who thereupon was proclaimed by most of the Nobility and Crowned King though some taking the advantage of his green years rebelled raised divers Commotions but he growing up and getting the Reins of Government into his hands did many great Exploits as will in the series of this History appear CHAP. II. The Description of King Arthur's usual Accuterments his Vision and the Interpretation thereof And how he constituted the Knights of the Round Table KIng Arthur by this time being grown up became exceeding tall strong insomuch that he seemed more than man and in many Iusts and Turnaments so well behaved himself that none could stand before him A Horse he had which he called Beaucephalus after the name of the Great Alexander's Horse and he in all Exploits proved the best in the world His Sword was of a large size viz. five foot in length and in breadth eight inches cutting with two fearful edges on which hung death and destruction His Launce was eight cubits and the head thereof formed of Massy Steel weighing six pound His Armour was of the highest prooff shining with Gems and burnished Gold And the better to inure him to War and great Exploits he frequently rode thus accutered and often in places of greatest danger glorying in nothing more than his strength and manly prowess delighting in nor fancying none but such as were truly valiant and feared not Death in any of his dreadful shapes but to such he was lavish to Excess retaining no other for his Counsellor but Merlyn the famous Necromancer from whom as from an Oracle he received the certainty of future events and at his request recreated him with strange and wonderful sights the Representation of Magick and amongst the rest upon a great Plain before the Kings Palace at Cardigan he raised a stately Tower and round it a pleasant Garden adorned with Fruits and fragrant Flowers Fish-ponds Fountains pleasant Bowers and Umbrages into which he led the King and all