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
Norway our illustrions King Arthur with his Royall British army laden with honour and victory left these coasts and set sayle for Britain where soon ariving they were received with uncredible gladness and triumph as such a sprosperous voyage deserveâ— CHAP. VII How King Arthur instituted the order of the Round Table and graced it with 150. Knights with the reason of its institution to maintain concord KIng Arthur having filled all eares with the fame of his incomparable victories and being at home on all sides quiet by none molested by all loved or feared to honour those high born Princes Nobles and Barrons who had done God and him such notable service he betheught him how he might in some manner guerdonize their incomparable worth with some honourable Order of Knights had a thing customary in many renowned conquerors and because he took notice that being most of them of equivolent condition both in birth and haughtiness of spicit to avoid emulation envy and heart burnings incident to such a Company about priority or precedency of place at feasts to prevent any such occasion of distraction and to continue concord and mutuall correspondence among that noble fellowship he instituted at the City of Winchester where he then was residing the Order of the Round Table causing a certaine number of Round Tables to be made at which these illustr ous Heroes dined and supped the salt and the bread alwaies set in the middle there was neither upper end nor lower end of the Table but all equall into this noble Order was received 150. men of high bloud equality which or what high birth soever none were under the degred of Barron were called Knights of the Round Table and because I find many of their names to be at this day great sirnames in the Monarchy of great Britain I think it convenient to the honour of the beaters notwithstanding my promised brevity to set down the names of the first Knights of the Round Table in Alphabeticall order as I found them long since in an old Chancerian manuscript 1. SIr Acolon 2. Sir Alot 3. sir Agar 4. sir Aucruise 5. sir Ambross 6. sir Ascot 7. sir Ascue 8. sir Albone 9. sir Aubaurne 10. sir Ash 11. sir Amice 12. sir Beumans 13. sir Belamore 14. sir Bersunt 15. sir Belvoire 16. sir Boâ—s 17. sir Beleobus 18. sir Basset 19. sir Bygot 20. sir Brian 21. sir Bevis 22. sir Best 23. sir Buâ—â—acie 24. sir Baude 25. sir Betris 26. sir Baulks 27. sir Cador. 28. sir Christian 29. sir Carlâ—on 30. sir Cleere 31. sir Clare 32. sir Cade 33. sir Cosels 34. sir Callin 35. sir Clay 36. sir Coats 37. sir Castor 38. sir Daubeny 39. sir Delamore 40. sir Deucie 41. sir Dallin 42. sir Doughty 43. sir Daynty 44. sir Dunsmore 45. sir Darcy 46. sir Dalby 47. sir Duncombe 48. sir Dotrill 49. sir Doguery 50. sir Doriner 51. sir Evan. 52. sir Ector 53. sir Eincrie 54. sir Eâ—smeere 55. sir Eatone 56. sir Eger 57. sir Edwards 58. sir Erskeine 59 sir Euball 60 sir Eupheos 61 sir Ermin 62 sir Floll 63 sir Frith 64 sir Fly 65 sir Forscue 66 sir Feâ—lde 67 sir Foulke 68 sir Fly 69 sir Flesk 70 sir Forbs 71 sir Fleere 72 sir Frisk 73 sir Font 74 sir Fode 75 sir Freake 76 sir Fax 77 sir Ghislet 78 sir Gavin 79 sir Gaheris 80 sir Gareth 81 sir Gravet 82 sir Geuls 83 sir Gortrim 84 sir Gilden 85 sir Giles 86 sir Goulde 87 sir Gaull 88 sir Guest 89 sir Hard 90 sir Hay 91 sir Hope 92 sir Hill 93 sir Hunt 94 sir Hugin 95 sir Harcourt 96 sir Harold 97 sir Hamond 98 sir Hoby 96 sir Hollis 100 sir Jermin 101 sir Ingram 102 sir Islip 103 sir Ipre 104 sir Jones 105 sir Joyce 106 sir Ive 107 sir Killian 108 sir Kirk 109 sir Kercacy 110 sir Knevet 111 sir Kilegrew 112 sir Lancelot 113 sir Lanjon 114 sir Lyonell 115 sir Lewes 116 sir Loftus 117 sir Laude 118 sir Leuellen 119 sir Lovelace 120 sir Leukâ—or 121 sir Maurice 122 sir Martin 123 sir Morton 124 sir Miles 125 sir Meridith 126 sir Mariot 127 sir Newton 128 sir Norton 129 sir Norman 130 sir Nayler 131 sir Nudigate 132 sir Napper 133 sir Oliver 134 sir Osbolstone 135 sir Ouldtoire 136 sir Osbourne 137 sir Percivall 138 sir Pelleas 139 sir Pallamaide 140 sir Peregrin 141 sir Playster 142 sir Querin 143 sir Reiner 144 sir Roderik 145 sir Randolph 146 sir Sugris 147 sir Tristram 148 sir Tramore 149 sir Tracy 150 sir Valentine These were the Names of those Princes and Noble Men. FIrst brother of this honourable fellowship and fraternity called Knights of the Round Table betwéen whom there was such an unanmious and mutual correspondency that all the whole world admired the admirable feats of chivalry by them performed for with those 150. scarce any 300. Knights in Europe durst adventure to Combat of their noble acte you shall hear further in the progress of our history to the end CHAP. VIII How King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table fought against the Pits Scots Irish and Saxons in one battell and how he slew with his own hands Colgrim King of the Saxons Balduff his brother and Childrick a Prince of Germany and how he forced Guillamore King of Ireland to become tributary unto him SHe Saxons envying King Arthurs prosperity and vexing at their late success in Britâ—ine have now suborned the Picks Scots Irish and the Hesens of Germany to aide them in revenging themselves upon K. Arthur so they came hither with an army composed of all these aforementioned Nations consisting of 200000 horse and foot under the conduct of Colgrim their King balduff his brother Guillamore King of Ireland and Childrick Prince Coras now Landsgrave Hesen meaning to share the Kingdome of Britain among them they landed suddenly in the North of England and burnt and spoyled before them for the space of 18. miles without any opposition but so soon as ever our Lyon like Arthur his Knights heard of it they came with a puissant force to withstand them and near to Humber obtained a glorious victory slew 28000. in the Field of the common sort and took 300 of the ir chief Commanders prisoners but which most adornes the victory King Arthur himselfe in person slew head to head Colgrim the Saxons King with Balduff his brother and Childrick of Hesen but Guillamore King of Ireland trusting to his footmanship for his horse was slaine under him ran towards the 〈◊〉 thinking to escape by shipping but Sir Cador overtaking him brought him prisoner to the King who forced him for the safeguard of his life to resigne his Kingdome unto his majesty and to that effect he did homage yeelding to pay unto King Arthur and his heires a yearly purtion of nine thousand pounds Thus was our noble Arthur every way magnified his foes every where confounded and the monarchy of Britain under his government 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