dead nor wounded but in perfect health and strength and that these vailanous rebels and traytors who speak what they wish shall soon find these words kindle fresh fire of valour in the breâ—sts 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 Towne of Glasenbury in Somerlet shire whither King Arthus and his Knights with the rest of his gallantry speedily pursued them and there began afresh to sight 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 then when he felt the very agony of death aproâ—ching 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 Trater Mordâ—â—d 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 distraction there was a greater number killed in the flight then in the battell scarce a man of them had escaped if the sudâ—en approach of good King Arthurs death had not pretented further puâ—suit there was slain in the battell twelve thousand and to the slight fifteen thousand Mordreds hatefull deeds in his life time procured him a generall hatred after death be dyed suddenly without any care for his soul thrust thorrow the heart 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 sit 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 Gawin Knight of the Round Table who dyed bravely fighting for his King in this battell was his own brother he was cosen garmaâ— to that Illustrate Cador Duke of Cornwall another Knight of the Round Table who also triumphed over death in his Soveraignes cause whole Son Coâ—stantine succeeded King Arthur in the Kingdome yet all this high birth and alâ—enâ—â—â—ould not purchase a gravs 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. Arthus 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 soul 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 â—ound 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 first 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 Famous HISTORY OF That most Renowned Christian Worthy ARTHVR King of the Britaines And his famous Knights of the ROVND TABLE To all all 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 the nto 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 Paron 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 heating 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 dio by murder and usurpation possess the Diadem and jurisdiction over this noble Kingdome but by hi sexecrable 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 intrent 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 loit of procéeding their warlike policy until they became in fine sole Masters of the Field chasing the Britaines by degrees into that mountanous 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 Vortigers 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 Croven had murthered To this Aurelius Ambrose after 32. years raigne succeeded 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 Wise 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 besome 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
the most most renowned throughout all the whole world 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 atchievements and cherished with happy success are ever busied in finding out this iewel where ever it lie hid in the world 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 lived 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 â—0000 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 furious encounter they found 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 sight 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 warriers will not rest in peace while tydings of thâ—s 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 Sarares 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 destrustion 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 traytor 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 Caitifs and insolently denies his entrance into his owne inheritance a very unfit guerdon for the unparalell'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 sight is maintained for a long time in fine the King is victor the usurper and his wicked company for so many 〈◊〉 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 basenesse 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 bazeiled the eye of the world which looking on his glor ous conquest that none beheld his countenance in 〈◊〉 warlike construction without fear and trembling nor durst they have done it had they not been too bold in such an action Britains that dare do any thing Sir Câ—dor 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 Foâ—eâ— 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 Killian and Sir Martin after so many unequalled victories abroad came to yield their loyall hearis by the hands of perfidious Rebels their own nativis into the power of death in their native Country also that valiant Scot before mentioned King Arguisel though not a Knight of the Round Table yet an undaunted Knight and trusly friend to King Arthur who like an enraged Lyon makes slaughter on every side with his sword beyoud the expectation of humane force insomuch that the enemy beginning to dispaire of victory a Pictish souldier 〈◊〉 by Mordâ—ed 〈◊〉 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 starâ— which he hearing made hast to the most eminent place that he could â—iâ—d where being conspirnous and visible to them all he spoke these coursgious words Fight on fellows in armes I am I praise heaven for it neither