The Famous History of GEORGE Lord FAVKONBRIDGE Bastard Son to RICHARD CORDELION KING OF ENGLAND Begotten in his royal Tower vpon the princely Clarabel Daughter to Don Iohn Duke of Austria surnamed The Worldes faire Concubine Shewing his Knightly Aduentures dignified Victories with his Life and death spent in the honor of GOD and his Countrey Neuer wearing any other Garment but that Lyons Skinne by which his Kingly Father challenged his Lyon-like Title Printed at London by I. B. and are to be sold by Iames Danie◠at his shop neere Fleet Conduit 1616. THE FAMOVS History of GEORGE Lord FAVKONBRIDGE Bastard sonne to RICHARD CORDELION King of England CHAP. I. How Richard Cordelion King of England going to the holy Land slew Phillip the Prince of Austria and how Don Iohn doomed him to a most strange punishment and of his wofull lamentation in prison WHen the true spirits of illustrious atchieuements possest the Nobility of Europe and that the Babes of honour fed vpon the milke of Knightly aduentures here raigned in England a royall minded King named Richard Cordelion a Prince replenished with the commendable reports of renowne in whose gouernement both Armes and Art flourished warres wrought peace and peace brought happinesse In this Kings time the blessed state of Gods holy City of Ierusalem groaned vnder the heauy yoke of Paganisme and the despised Infidels with pride and tyranny suppressed all her royalties for recouery whereof all Christendome tooke Armes and the rumors of warre wrathfully thundered in all our Northerne Nations Fiue Christian Kings vnder the bloody standers of Godfrey of Bullin that imperious Monarks and worthy of the World marched Amongst which glorious number one matchles King Richard Plantaginet was too aduenturous forward for he in the blooming bud of his youth with the chiefest Chiualry of England cloathed in stéele fired with fame and full of resolution left the gouernment of his kingdome to his brother Iohn then Duke of Ireland and arriued in Austria the méeting place of these Christian Potentates The rest of this Campe royall not then in a readinesse according to the customes of Princes caused King Richard to request entertainement for him and his Knights Don Iohn then Duke of Austria being a Prince so curteous and noble that he could doe no lesse then grant it Now Fame and Fortune in King Richards thoughts smiled and the smooth brow of wished good spéed bad him and his hundred Knights welcome A hundred he had as then for his guard called Knights of the Bath a title of dignity first giuen by this King but now while the rest of his Army planted their standers vpon the downes adioining to the Court these Knightly Gallants so reuelled in the Dukes Pallace that well were they that could purchase their fauours and highly graced were all such as had but the smallest imployment of an English Knight So amiable pleasing and curteous were the conditions of King Richard and his followers so truely were their minds deuoted to honour that they euen inforced loue from all estates the haughty minded of their own accords became gentle the stubborne nature pliable and the frowne of euery English brow by desert challenged both cap and knée Don Iohn himselfe began to grow disgracious his Subiects wauering alegiance waxed cold and none but the name of English Richard merited Fortunes high graces All Austria estéemed England a happy Nation by nature the darling of vertue and the only hopes of Christendome so grealy are still the fauors of our English people in the eies of forren kingdoms This detracted loue of his subiects did not a little displease Don Iohn and his son Prince Phillip and no little enuy by it were bred in their two fired breasts that nothing could quench the increasing flame therof but King Richards shame and confusion Politicke and close were their purposes deadly and diuellish their intents and most vnhumane and vnchristian like their procéedings the law of Armes was quite laid aside the honor of Princes forgotten and the dignity of Knight hood vilely abused malice and wrath the champions of pale death hourely possessed their two hearts with a secret imagination of vengeance plotted against the life of royall Richard to murther by violence would but incurre displeasures of forren Nations to kill innocents offendeth Heauen and to betray Princes hath rewards in hell a thousand thousands of displeasing motions disquieted their discontented mindes dishonoured as they thought by the vertues of King Richard disgrace boyling in her greatest heart could no longer be suppressed but néeds the flames of fury must breake forth and a flattering practise of reuengement mollifie their intollerable torments and in this manner was it accomplished Prince Phillip the onely sonne and heire apparant to Don Iohn the pride and hopes of Austria in whose life and good Fortune consisteth his countries honor like a desperate and prodigall gallant in a dissembling shape of friendship challenged King Richard at a Princely turnament and in the knightly games of tilting personally to combat hand to hand the English King in the Aprill of his man-hood nothing inferior in prowesse to Prince Phillip hauing the sparkes of Maiesty glowing in his bosome in a most princely manner accepted his challenge and against the day appointed prouided al things fitting for so noble an enterprise Time with his lazy wings séemed to fly too slowly and to crosse the forward attempts of these youthfull combitants each minute séemed an houre each houre a day and each day a moneth till the appointed time came of this royall turnament so bold forward and illustrious were these martialists the one striuing for honor the other for reuenge I néed not here speake of the sumptuous preparations the excéeding charge and costly habilliments prouided against that day numberlesse were the eye-witnesses of this Court-like pastime ready prepared to bid them welcome with a gracious applause To come to the fulnesse of this glory the day approched the morning Sunne chéerefully rose with a bright smile the christall Skie put on her fairest robe and the moderate aire séemed to further their procéedings all things by nature were as furtherers to summon them to Armes Don Iohn himselfe attended by his greatest Nobility sate as Vmpiers in the case and each Lady with a prepared eye was ready to censure of their deserts the tilting place being rayled in quadrangle-wise round about beset with lofty galleries whereon people in degrees were placed in such multitudes as memory it selfe could hardly number the Sunne beames had not more motes by imagination then this theater spectators equally wishing good fortune to them both bright honors sceane being ready to begin the Drums and Trumpets gaue warning of the two combitants approch in such a melodious manner as both aire and earth resounded the first that entered the listes was Prince Phillip in a black caparison his horse betrapt with sable his beuer close made of the fashion of a flying Griffon his Launce and Scutchion borne
barren that therein they found no other thing to succour their distresses and preserue them from famishment but onely fresh water with the which they sufficiently stored their ship giuing Heauen thankes for so blessed a fauour But this suffised not the desires of noble Faukonbridge hoping to find better reliefe for him and his men resolutely aduentured further vp into the Iland to discouer if he could wherewithall to vittaile his ship But woe is me to report it this aduenturous Gentleman trauelled so farre that he lost his way not being able to returne backe vnto his company by which meanes he was constrained to stay all night vpon the top of a trée for feare of wilde beasts whereof the Iland was full But now marke how vnlucky all things fell out the same night the wind rose and so violently droue the ship from the shore that the Pilot was inforced to leaue Lord Faukonbridge a Land and commit his Fortunes to the Sea where before day light they were cast vpon the coast where Saint Peters charitable Hermitage was scituated they being Infidels and Moorish natured people neuer expected the safety of Lord Faukonbrdge being a Christian but left him comfortlesse in the barren Iland and cast a shore where faire Clarabell abode where comming a Land desired her for his sake that created her to affoord them some reliefe whereby their liues might be saued and their ship sufficiently replenished with food fitting their intended voyage Pittifull Clarabell good Lady shée greatly reioiced that it lay in her power to furnish their wants most willingly gaue them entertainement and yéelded them such refreshing comforts as preserued both their ship and liues from perishing Likewise they meaning to expresse no vngratefull thankes for so kinde a fauour as an humble signe of good will curteously bestowed vpon her the twelue barrels of gold which Lord Faukonbridge reported to be red lead all which according to her gentle nature noble minded Clarabell receiued So parting with thankes to each other the Pilot returned to Morocco very ioyfull for the riddance of Lord Faukonbridge their Countries supposed enemy and shée no lesse delighted in the performance of her bountifull charity extended to the preseruation of so many dying men All this while Lord Faukonbridge remained in the barren Iland almost hunger-starued for want of food in which place was nothing found to satisfie his gentle nature but the flesh of wilde beasts which hee killed with his owne hands which for want of fire hee rosted in the sun and with the same to his content made more pleasinger banquets then when he feasted in the Morocco Court onely patience chiefly guided him but being thus lost and exiled from the society of humane creatures he liued a long time in the woods in such penurie and want that his strength began to faile sicknesse grew on and danger of life tormented him for want of naturall sustenance caused a grieuous kind of leprosie to grow quite ouer his body in such sort that his Princely countenance was suddenly changed into a most vgly visage and pale death as it were sate perching vpon his heauie brow betwixt life and death hee sate him down vpon the root of a dead withered trée making this complaint vnto himselfe If euer pitty quoth he entred the celestiall gate of Heauen or euer remorsfull mercy tenderly lookt into the poore estate of a miserable Gentleman then by this my liues ruine may be séene the true patterâ—e of calamity woe vpon me crosse vpon crosse and extremity vpon extremity makes a vnity and all conspires together to worke my good Fortunes confusion Here am I now left in a wildernesse of desolation friendlesse without comforter not knowing which way to get forth but committed to the vile tyranny of vntamed Tygers euen ready to intombe my dying body within their blood-thirsting bowels a graue most vnfit to close vp my new created life In speaking these words he heard from a farre as it were out of a hollow vaute a voice sounding forth these spéeches Faulkonbridge rise vp and follow me Fate and good chance will prosper thée This séemed to be the voice of the Fairy Quéene his old Nurse being still most carefull of his liues preseruation as it was indéed which no sooner ecchoed in the eares of Lord Faukonbridge but he arose from vnder the trée where he lay and being ready to goe forward all weake and sickely as he was he espied before one of the Fairy Instruments which was an Ignis Fatuis the fire of destiny or a going fire which by nature fully leadeth wandring trauellers out of the way This as his guide went still before him he with a slow pace followed after not intercepted by any misaduenture till hee came to the Sea side where being ioyfully arriued in good time he beheld a Barke sailing by to which he made shew of entertainement as one desirous to be taken into their ship and to be conducted in to some better resting place both his motions and his intent the Mariners soone perceiued whereupon they satisfied his desire and within few â—aies set him safely vpon the next inhabited kingdome which was the happy place where Clarabell affoorded such bountifull liberality Being thither come the Countrey people and such as beheld his perplexed estate led him as diseased as he was vnto Clarabels Monastery where being arriued and standing shaking at the gate he desired for his sake that pardoneth all sinnes and requiteth all good déeds that shée would with the oyle of her skill balme his grieued paines and with the mercy that shée fréely bestowes vpon distressed soules cure his malady Gentle Clarabell at this his humble request called him in leading him vp inio a close chamber prepared onely for the comfort of such wofull creatures in which place after shée had receiued his drooping sences and by the vertues of the same ring he in former times had bestowed vpon her recouered his wonted health shée séeming in his face that beauty replenished againe which before that time shee supposed to haue séene and calling to remembrance his former Fauour shee perfectly knew him whereupon seeking to imbrace him shee sounded in his armes and for the sudden ioy that he receiued by his strange returne lay for a good season in a dying trance but being by great diligence recouered they recounted each to other the wonderfull Fortunes passed betwixt them from the first loosing of one another to that houre Likewise he spake how hee neither knew Father nor Mother nor from whence he descended and withall opening his bosome he shewed her the golden Faulkon by nature pictured vpon his breast which when shee beheld her very soule as it were eleuated it selfe to Heauen and more then mortall ioy possest her heart By this shee knew him to bee her onely Sonne begot by King Richard Cordelion King of England and so made it knowne vnto him Which when good Lord Faukonbridge vnderstood he in the true duty of a Sonne newly created downe vpon his knées craued her blessing and in great humility of mind gaue thankes to heauen in that it was his Fortune to defend his mother in an vnknowne Land from so many dangers and shee likewise made many deuout Orizons to God that in his mercy had so preserued them and in this manner brought them most strangely together FINIS
thereby came to bee called Richard Cordelion and of other accidents ACcording to the heauy and bitter command of the angry Duke in reuenge of his sonnes death the Nobility and Knights of England departed Don Iohns Kingdome leauing the wofull King in prison as ashamed of so haplesse a voiage where being no sooner come and the reports thereof bruted in the eares of the Earles of Arundell and Oxford but like two English spirited gallants not able to brooke this forraine disgrace they resolutely departed England protesting either to bring their Soueraigne Lord safely to his Kingdome or to leaue their bodies buried in Austria that blood quoth they spent in the honour of our King and Countrey is the sweet sacrifice of Knight-hood and the true vermillion colour that beautifies the rich robes of honour Thus nobly minded they with all speed crossed the Seas which they were ioyfull off so with so glorious a burthen and the whisling wind proud of these Princely resolued Gentlemen louing kind and loyall set open their gentle portals and beyond the expectation of man set them safely vpon the costs of Austria where being no sooner come but they attired themselues in the disguised habits of Fryers the most secret and fittest pollicy to attaine the wished presence of their imprisoned King and by that meanes thought they to relieue him if his extremity so much required so comming to the prison gate in a professed zeale as they said they had of King Richards soules health they desired accesse and that the Lord Marshall would admit them to the Kings presence who being a man of a curteous nature could doe no lesse then grant their request being so honest and vertuous a demand Frowning Fortune beganne now a little to smile and a little to ease his languishing sorrowes for no sooner had his gentle eies cast their dimme sights almost blinded with teares vpon his two deare friends but a sudden reioycing hope assailed his heart and like a royotous heire newly possessing his patrimony surfetted in pleasure all dispairing passions by the delightfull presence of these two English Earles were immediatly conuerted into iollity their imbraces were as the closes of new married Damsels where the extremity of ioy so swelled in their bosomes that euen their eyes distilled teares and their hearts as it were danced These two supposed Friers had no other Orisons but comfortable reports from his loyall Subiects in England their Bookes were their loues and their Beades their fealties Thus in this secret manner vnsuspected of any repaired they daily to this distressed King expecting hourely his liues metamorphoses either of liberty or death Freedome or confusion royalty or captiuity in which wauering doubt while these three subiects of sorrow remained the displeased Duke still harbouring in his heart blacke malice called a counsell of flattering sicophants such as be still the attendants of Monarkes where against both the law of Armes and Nations it was decreed that King Richard should combate with a Lyon which if he ouercame his liberty thereby might be purchased but being ouercome he should endure the sharpe punishment of this mercilesse beast whose greatest fauour were but death vpon which pittilesse doome this bloody counseâ—l concluded and thereupon appointed the time and houre to the extreame griefe of many thousadns whose whose gentle harts euen trembled at this remorslesse iudgement But now marke the difference in nature of a cruel Father and a kind Child the Father mercilesse the Child mild the Father proud the Child humble the Father vnreasonable the Child reasonable the Father cruell the Child louing betwixt whom tyranny and remorse strous for superiority for Don Iohn bore not more extreame hate against the English King then his daughter faire Clarabella extended loue In her heart partiall Cupid builded his Bower and pitty with his smooth countenance sent dumbe messengers to the distressed King which were modest sighes bashfully sent from her maiden-like breast fearing to offend in affecting her Fathers enemy yet loue which hath commanded euen the Gods themselues and still blindly leades earthly Monarkes with vnequall affections making no difference betwixt Kings and Beggars so ruled the desires of diuine Clarabell that shée wished no other consolation in this world but the sacred loue of English Richard whose presence if shée might possesse were to her soule as the pleasures of Paradice duty and obedience by nature her Fathers right were now exchanged into desire and loue the Princely behauiour of King Richard guided her thoughts and though as yet vnknowne to him intangled her loue-sicke heart in the toiles of Venus wherein was no hope of recouery but the vniting of them both in the equality of desire These were faire Clarabels discontents which as an vncurable wound dismembred all the liuely wishes of virginity offending onely in thought and with the chilling feare of her second solues destruction by the terrible censure of her angry Father shée grew like madde Medea lunaticke and distraught expecting the sauage murther of royall Richard shée railed both at Heauen and Earth conspiring thus against all her good Fortunes For in loosing him quoth shée the bloome of my maiden-head withereth and I am like to pine in the languishing estate of misery made onely miserable by the Eagle like pitch of my lofty desires In this manner spent shée away the day till the sable Canopy of Heauen couered all the earth a time of silence a time of peace and rest a time that the eyes of all things closeth vp yet sléepe the comforter of distressed minds could not locke vp her eyes for care had made them watchfull griefe and distrust like two dreadful companions waited in her chamber euery idle imagination buzzed in her cares the misaduenture of her loue fighting with all the misdoubts of desire shée consumed away the slow night where euery minute séemed a day till morning came and then like a carefull bride shée cloathed her selfe in her richest attire and by the Sunnes rising came vnto the prison where shée found royall Richard vpon his Princely knée pleading for his soules saluation preparing himselfe ready for his Lion-like combat the night before brought to the Lord Marshall in a warrant from the Dukes counsel Farewell vaine world quoth he thy flattering pompe hath béene to me as water bubbles in a rainie day or as Aprill showers or the flourishes of Gardens sudden and variable Comfort me God only in thy power is my deliuery and without thy assistance this day is like to be my doomes day and the last day of all my liues fortunes At these words faire Clarabel sunke into a swound and so abounded in griefe that her sences were hardly recouered but being againe come to her selfe shée fell at King Richards knée and in a most milde nature spake as followeth Most imperious Potentate in whose happines consisteth my liues ioy and in whose welfare my glory shineth In thée thou pride of manhood haue I built my hopes and in louing thée
doo I purchase my fathers frowne the Diademe of Austria Now my right and patrimony doe I vtterly forsake changing all my natiue honours into forraine hopes and for thy sake make my selfe a stranger to my countrey euen in death springs my loue and being dead all earthly loues in me ends Cast me not off in disgrace but locke my true heart in thy Princely bosome there kéepe it as an inestimable Iewell pure vnspotted and vnstained and tender as the budding Rose blasted with the least winde of thy dislike As for thy liues danger swéet Prince feare not heauen I sée with a smiling countenance promiseth comfort and legions of Celestiall Angels stand ready armed to defend thée from that hunger-starued Lyon prepared for thy liues destruction a death dishonourable and vnfit for so royall a person In speaking these words shée tooke a gréene scarfe from about her iuory necke and gaue it to King Richard saying Take this swéet Prince as the maiden-like promise of my loâ—e and remembrance weare it for my sake it may proue thy liues preseruer and the onely instrument to glut vp the Lyons gréedy Iaw euen at that deadly minute when he seaseth vpon thy noble body Pardon my immodest presumption for desire and loue imboldens me and all my maiden like bashfulnesse is abolished by the delightfull presence of thy swéet selfe For thée and for thy loue haue I sold all my royall promotions Then equall it great King that my affection bee not blasted in the bloome and I made the most wofull and dispised Lady aliue More would shée haue spoken but that the gentle King tooke her from the ground yet knéeling and with the delightfull ioy of a curteous kisse sealed their lippes together and after gratified her kindenesse with this louing discourse Thou faire of all faires thou paragon of beauty in whose countenance I sée sits inthronised both vertue and modesty what vndeserued fauour hath true iudging Heauen graced me with in that thy inspiring loue hath eluminated my cloudy Fortunes now scowling with a dismall countenance Were the whole world mine and I commander of Monarchies yet should all my dignities inrich thee and my powerfull regalties aduance thee to the imperiall estate of all earthly graces This thy kindnesse hath inchanted me rauisht my sences eleuated my soule and of an earthly substance made my desires immortall Now flie I with the wings of good chance which nothing can clip but the sharpe sickle of despitefull death For death I know with his gasily visage walkes here inuisibly with his tirannous command ready to seaze vpon me now is the houre of my liues aduenture and the minute of that fearefull iudgement to be put in practise to the appeasing of Prince Phillips angry ghost At this word speaking came in the Lord Marshall with an armed guard hauing a commission to conduct King Richard to a square Court walled round wherein was a Shée-Lionesse newly bereaued of her Whelps to make her the more mankind about which Court sat the Duke and his Barrons in a gallery to behold this vnnaturall tradegy vnto which place being come attended on a farre off by the Princesse Clarabell who with teares and sighes did not a little solicet heauen for his strengthner all which forced pitty from the hearts of his enemies and might haue mollified euen Tygers to relent The two English Earles of Arundell and Oxford his approued friends in misery High spirited and full of resolution attended as before in their Friers habits feeding him as the beholders supposed with the food of diuine counsels but indéed with the animation of courage imbouldening him to take his fortunes patiently and to thinke of the honour of his Countrey by whose death England was widdowed and his subiects made Kinglesse These motions of incouragement bred in his manly heart an inconquerable strength committing his life to the disposing of fate He stripped himselfe from all Court-like habiliments and in his cambricke shirt with faire Clarabels scarfe wrapped about his arme he stood prepared for the entertainement of the remorslesse Lyon which at the sound of a Trumpet was let loose whose roares were as thunder from the clouds and in whose grim visage sat the fearefull president of destruction heart-breaking afflictions possest all his well willers and the quiuering feare of his confusion assailed euery gentle eye excepting Don Iohn and his associats To bee short the Lyon like the galfe of burning Acharon gaped to receiue the royal body of King Richard who neither fearing death nor the threatnings of tyranny with an vnknowne courage he most valiantly thrust his arme wrapped about with faire Clarabels silke scarfe into the gaping iawes of the ouer-furious Lyonesse and by the force of his manhood to are out his sauage heart yet leaping warme in his hand and threw it at Don Iohns face saying Take that thou monster of humanity thou vnprincely Potentate heauen thou séest hath defended me to the wonder of ages and thy vile disgraces Generall was the applause the intollerable vexation of the wrathfull Duke who like an vntamed Panthar rose from his seat and in great wrath departed King Richard séeing the Lionesse heartlesse and liuelesse lying on the ground to the great amasement of all the beholders yéelded the glory of this victory to the all-seeing praises of Heauen No little ioy had the two English Earles at this lucky successeâ— but espeâ—ially the heart of diuine Clarabell danced in delights Neuer had Lady the like cause of content nor neuer Lady more bound to thanke the Almighty powers of heauen The relieued King as the ignorant Lambe newly escaped from the bloody fury of the Wolie with a countenance of a crimson blush declared the like gladnesse and in most kinde manner cast the reflecting beames of his eyes toward Clarabell that shee well perceiued his curteous thoughts and that gratefull thankes harboured in his Princely heart After the Dukes departure the whole company soone broke off bearing a secret fauour to the English King who by faire Clarabell the Earles of Arundell and Oxford with some few other attendants of England conducted him to a priuate chamber where after some refreshing repast they prepared for England but not meaning discourteously to leaue faire Clarabell behind caused her to be attired in the habit of a Court Page in a sute of watched coloured veluet to signifie the trunesse of her loue for his sake in refusing both Countrey Parents and Kindred and in this sort to become estranged from al her acquaintance Such an imperious God is loue and so commanding The next day vnknowne of any of the Dukes Court but the Lord Marshall who assisted them in all their procéedings they tooke leaue of Austria and iournied toward England where by the way King Richard and faire Clarabell so secretly closed in affections that her blooming bud of virginity was cropt and the quittance of his loue-stroake sealed in her wombe a condition of such content as both pleasure and
desires pleased each party Clarabell in her Pages attire séemed in decentnesse to excéed Ganemede Ioues minion or wanton Adonius the delights of Venus Neuer had Paris the Troyan Prince a greater conquest in the loue of faire Helena then royall King Richard of his admired Clarabell Nature in her greatest pride framed this beautifull Lady as then the onely miracle of woman kind he muses in her praises may write eternally and those lasting reports which aduanced so many Grecian dames may now tell and foreuer speake off the super-abounding graces of this faire Lady that like vnto that Angell-faced Rosamond wrought wonders in all eyes No other comforts could possesse the Kings fancy but this celestiall Lady Europes admiration and the worlds glory In this rauâ—shing content spent they the time away till happy Fortune seâ— them safely vpon the shores of England whose swéet sight was as ioyfâ—ll to them all as the returne of banisht exiles to their wâ—shed dwellings This ioyfull day of their arriuall in England was by the King and his Counsell canonized for a holy day being the third of March and to thiâ— time called Saint Richard 〈◊〉 our English Almanacks can yet testifie King Richard hauing againe taken possession of his Kingdome and imperiall dignity first gracing his two déere friend of Aâ—undell and Oxforâ— â—oâ—th commendable adâ—â—ancement for their loues and loyaltieâ— then preparing in his City of London a royall lodging â—oâ— his faire loue néere vnto Cheape-side called his Tower Royall Men royall as he said in harbouring so faire a Paramour as was diuine Clarabell In this place repaired he full often vnto her and tasted of those delights in nature spotting her name with the title of a Kings Concubine Long was he lulled in the cradle of pleasures carelesse of honours aduancement neglecting his countries fame knightly Chiualry was conuerted to courtly dances the lullabies of idle pastimes rockt him asléepe till the disgraces of England receiued by his late imprisonment awaked him and called to armes Then rowsing vp his Knightly courage like Fames darling being set amongst his Barrons he said as followeth Now Fire and Sword the two instruments of consuming warre shall forrage Austria and by the Kingdomes ruine worke me a swéet reuenge My wrongs there receiued by the vniust decrées of Don Iohn shall be quittanced with more then common spoiles his Court shall swim in blood his turrets flame in fire heaps of mangled men choake vp his stréetes woe vpon woe shall beset him round Troy in her ten yéeres warres did not endure more calamities then Austria shall shortly suffer These and such like high spirited spéeches did King Richard speake amongst his Lords to the great incouragement of them all and so fired their lusty bloods that well were they that could the most gallantliest set forth themselues and be the most forwardest in his noble enterprise So desirous were all estates and so willing in this noble warre that in lesse then twenty daies the King was the royall Generall of fifty thousand Souldiers all prouided so manfully as if they had gone to make a new conquest of Ierusalem In which honourable iourney we will leaue him and also the preparation that Don Iohn made to withstand him and his army and speake of the birth of Faukonbridge borne and kept secretly in King Richards Tower royall with many other strange euents that happened in the birth of this Princely babe CHAP. III. Of the birth of Faukonbridge and how he came to be so named and likewise how he was nursed by the Queene of Fairies Faire Clarabels lamentation for the losse of her young sonne and of other accidents TIme the conclusion of all euents brought to the worlds eye the springing wombe of Clarabell and néerely tenne Moones had now wandred out their wained courses when as therein King Richards royall fruit began to grow ripe and ready to fall against which ioyfull houre the carefull Lady spared for no cost and with her déere relenting heart solicited heauen for a happy deliuerie the onely desire of all weomen I will not speake of the tender natured Nurses the diligent Midwiues nor the rich furniture prouided against that time néedlesse it were to report the sumptuousnesse of banqueting dishes nor the variety of seruices belonging to so noble a businesse most honourable and gracious were all the procéedings of this her Christian-like child-birth not any displeasing obiect hindered her content nor any way disquieted her mind but onely the want of her beloued whose presence in her eye had béene more delightsome then the pleasures of Elizeum Little supposed shée that King Richard had taken armes against her Father the successe whereof would haue but bred a strise betwixt loue and nature For nature in reason tooke her Fathers part when as loue leaned to her Lord yet shrowded were all imaginations in the closet of secretnesse and she least report thereof sounded in her eares Vnknowne were all these procéedings For King Richard at his departure gaue commandement not to reueale them till heauen had brought light to the fruit of her body To be short the minute approched of the Babes comming into the World a sweet tender blossome a most ioyfull wish for the pained Mother who being borne was to the beholders an excellent péece of natures worke-manship vpon whose Infant brow sat the promises of good Fortune After the Midwife according to her manner had trimmed vp the swéet Babe and shewed him naked to the other weomen her associats being a man child vpon his breast it had the picture of a golden Faulkon soaring ouer a most dangerous bridge the which being shewed as a wonder in nature the honorable Ladies in the Kings Court by whose meanes it was generally reported through the Land and after called in Christendome by the name of George Lord Faukonbridge A title fitting for so noble an Impe of vertue being descended from so royall a stocke as was King Richard and faire Clarabell But to come to our purpose before one moneth had run out thirty dayes to the more then common griefe hf the mother the tender Infant lying in his cradle attended on by thrée carefull nurses euen at the middle houre of the night when the siluer Moone in her greatest glory danced on the christall Seas euen at that silent houre when the God of Dreames gouerned the World there was heard in the chamber such a melodious sound of Musicke as if it had béene the harmony of Angels or the singing Cherubins of Heauen which in a bewitching manner so inchanted the wakefull Nurses that their eyes closed and their sences yéelded to sound sléepes In this still time of silence came in the Quéene of Fairies with a troupe of her inuisible attendants being the pretty dancing Elues of an vnknowne Kingdome and stoale away young Faukonbridge out of his Princely cradle whose misse at his Nurses waking bred such an amasement amongst them as almost procured lunasie and forced them like Bacchus froes to
Seas of blood CHAP. IIII. A wofull report of King Richards death Of faire Clarabels lamentation for the same Of her grieuous punishment by famine and of other accidents AFter some little ease like the swéet returne of some long absent friend had mittigated the inward sorrowes of faire Clarabell and that a little the remembrance of her Infants losse some-what ceased her former laments thinking to cheere her sad heart with infusing delights that shée hoped to enioy by the swéet presence of King Richard wishing hourely his company little dreaming of his departure for Austria but that he reuealed in his owne Court to her great ioy and his owne renowne that at his first arriuall into her presence they might like Mars and Venus surfet in delight or like Paris with his Helena seale vp the true quittances of desire but all was not as shée wished for her hearts beloued King Richard flourished in the royalties of Belonaes battels wading in blood and mounted vpon his vndaunted courser treading vpon mangled men and marching after the cheerefull melody of warre Which when the poore distressed Lady hard off like a condemned exile banished from all solace shée exclaimed against cruell desteny reuiling the angry Quéene of chance accounting all her hopes ominous and her selfe the onely patterne of misfortunes Oh quoth shée what vnlucky planet predominated my birth why was I borne to these miseries I liue destitute of friends in an vnknowne kingdome dishonoured with the title of a Curtizan a pointing marke for vertuous Ladies a staine of woman-hood Oh why was I borne to commit so foule a sinne that blemisheth the glory of all Princes Oh vnkind King Richard now I sée thou heapest vpon my backe a second misery as thou hast disrobed me of virginity making me neither wife widow nor maide so wilt thou orphane me and intitle me by the name of a parentlesse child Woe vpon woe I sée pursues me calamity discontent sorrow despaire yea and all the miseries that euer haplesse woman indured now like whirle-winds or tempestuous gusts tumbles my care kild heart into the gulfe of vnpitied afflictions be iust thou punisher of blacke trespasses for my skarlet sinnes knocke at Heauen gates for reuenge and my desert excéedeth Tarpies that sold Rome or the daughter of Ninus that betraied her fathers kingdome for euen as the Viper I féed vpon my Parents woe and as the curse of nature haue gloried in disobedience what good fortune can I challenge at the hand of destiny in louing my fathers foe yéelding that vnrecouered iem to his pleasure as being well bestowed might haue merited the worlds fame but being lost to satisfie his lust hath placed me for a strumpet in the blacke booke of infamy who can pitty my extremities or what gentle eye will vouchsafe thereat to shed one teare Teares from a remorslesse bosome are most comfortable dewes and the swéet waters of hearts ease These or such like passions breathed shee from her discontented bosome which manner of lamentations once a day shée made to the sightlesse aire till the time of sixe moneths ouerpassed at the end whereof there arriued at her lodging the two Earles of Arundell and Oxford newly returned from Austria being the onely counsellors to King Richard in all his procéedings which two Lords brought the heauiest newes that euer néerely touched England such newes that might euen haue broke a sauage heart newes of death and dolour the signification thereof sate like characters in their foreheads and as it were made dumbe shewes of discontent being with heauy countenances both come into the presence of Lady Clarabell the good Earle of Arundell said as followeth Prepare swéet Lady with a gentle silence to entertaine the wofullest tale that euer man at armes reported for it tels of blood and death and of the ruine of imperious soueraignety Know faire Clarabell that in one day by the fury of relentlesse warre thou hast lost both thy Father and thy Loue First thy Father when the battel 's ioined closed with high spirited Richard in such Princely resolution as euen fired his whole army with the liuely sparkes of valour and so proudly managed himselfe against the gun-shot of chance as if Hector and Achilles combated each other On the other side English Richard vnder whose ensignes our selues marched so nobly and so beyond expectation he behaued himselfe as if Mars fought vpon the earth both Heauen and Earth thundered forth their glories Our two Armies were in number like the Campe of Scythian Tamberlaine which as it were made the huge earth to grone Neuer since the ten yéeres warres at Troy did mans eye behold so numberlesse a multitude all valiant fearelesse and aduenturous we for the honour of England they for the honour of Austria Seas of blood couered the gréene fields and the féete of horses trampled out dead mens braines the cries of dying souldiers séemed like thunder and the christ al Aire spread forth her sable Canopy mourning at so wofull a massacre After thousands lay breathlesse on the hungrie earth glutted with the blood of so many thousand Christians the victory grew so doubtfull that Lady Fortune sate wauering not resolued to what side to yéeld it But woe is me euen then the glory of both our Armies faded and the eluminating light of two Princes was by consuming death extinguished Austria lost royall Don Iohn your Father and wee imperious Richard our King Two such losses as Europe for them weepes blood and may well consume in griefe Vpon whose deaths both our Armies sounded retreate a peace proclaimed and both their bodies had such funerals as befitted the persons of such high dignities Our Leaders and Captaines hauing lost their Princely Generall imbraced peace and with the Swordes sheathed Cullors rolled vp and with heauy hanging countenances are now arriued in England where with the generall consent of the whole Nobility we haue crowned Iohn his brother King of this Countrey whom in all allegiance we will henceforth honour and obey More would they haue spoken but the griefe of Clarabella so abounded that shee could keepe silence no longer but in great extremity of passion burst out into these spéeches Héere quoth shée let the World end for the terrible extremity of woe like the raging Ocean breakes in and ouerflowes all my ioyes I haue lost my Father Friends Countrey Kinred Acquaintance yea and my Child and the dearest of all Iewels Royall King Richard by whose death I am made most vnfortunate Descend some vnlucky starre fall vpon me you fatall planets and strike me blinde that my sightlesse eyes may behold no further miseries Where art thou mischance afflict me with some fearefull confusion that like the wife of Oedipus the whole World may report my shame Heauens blessings I sée hath refused me and like an out-cast loaden my blood-red heart with more then earthly sorrow and with which it is rent torne and most lamentably tormented At these wordes shée offered to teare forth her
owne eyes had not the gentle aduice of the two Earles perswaded her to patience which shée willingly imbraced and so for that time parted company Shée to her sorrowfull closet they to the new refined Court where after K. Iohn had intelligence of the successes of Clarabella sent to her a commission of banishment with a commandement that no English subiect vpon paine of death should giue her any sustenance of food whereby her wantonnesse might be scourged with pining famishment a grieuous and seuere penance deseruing the name of heathen tyranny But such was the indignation of King Iohn and so violent in wrath that euen death quittanced her fauourites Poore mappe of misery shée was forced to forsake Courtly fashions and to exchange her costly attires into beggers wéeds shée that had wont to féed vpon the variety of dainties was now sufficed with course seruices no otherwise then with those things that satisfied hunger-starued hounds many a little dogge in the laps of young wantons had more abundance of food then this gallant Lady had Day by day walked shée comfortlesse vp and downe the stréetes moning her owne misfortunes yet vnpittied and left to her complaint Night by night wearied shée out the long houres with remembrances of her former life where euery minutes thought begot new griefe and euery thought of new griefe almost split her heart sighes were as common obiects to satisfie her discontents being displeased with all things shée cast her eye vpon Not any comfortable motion could shée entertain wearied shée grew of the wanton world not knowing which way to turne her selfe Misery followed her vp and downe when shée remembred Austria her Fathers Kingdome disobedience cut her heart when shée called to mind her Virginities wracke a thousand woes ioined with repentance ouerwhelmed all insuing hopes and almost cast her into desperation shée supposed pitty to be deafe and the tender remorse of humane gentlenes to bée shut vp against her Shée that lately abounded in plentuousnesse now liued in want of a beggars pittance shée onely fed vpon sorrow Sighes were her food and teares her drinke wo misery and penury in most extreame manner tormented her pining carkasse till pouerties thinne countenance conuerted her rose-like chéekes into a pale complexion her hollow eyes séemed like the empty cels of death sorrowes badge which is a wrinckled brow declared to the world pitifull prospects to the wringing handed griefe of the beholders which were not a few in number See into this globe of misery you blazing starres of Christendome you flourishing Damsels that sels your bodies pleasures to make your soules blacke You that liue by the spoiles of youth making a pastime of wantonnesse gathering to your selues the hated names of common Curtizans corrupted with most vile diseases loathsome and full of leprosie To ouerpasse many woes poore Clarabell indured in this pining penance we will leaue her lying vpon the bare earth by a spittle gate onely for an example to all such carelesse liuers being too simple a lodging for a Princes daughter and returne to the succéeding euent of young Faukonbridge and those thrée vnhappy Nurses séeking for this Babe of honor CHAP. V. How young Faukonbridge was found by King Iohn in his hunting How hee preserued his Mothers life vnknowne to him And likewise how he succoured the three Nurses and of the three gifts giuen him by the Queene of Fayries NOw must we suppose Time in his swiftest course to runne along and some certaine yeares to passe ouer the head of Faukonbridge where taking leaue of the Fayry Queene he had thrée of the richest gifts giuen him by her as neuer worldly man was owner off The first was a garment made him of the Lyons skinne that his Father Richard Cordelyon slew in Austria of vertue so precious that the wearer thereof should neuer faint in courage but euer continus Victor in all atchieuements The second a purse of gold of such a plentifull treasure that can neuer grow empty but as it is taken forth the vertue thereof replenisheth it againe by which meanes it continues full The third a ring of such inestimable price that by the touch therof healeth all diseases neuer so dangerous and vncurable These were the blessings of the Fayry Queene bestowed vppon this yong gallant which he receiued as his patrimony and kept them as the onely gifts of good Fortune Thus being of the age of fiftéene yéeres he continued in the woods like vnto a sauage satyre vnacquainted with worldly people rouing vp and downe vntill such time as King Iohn of England his vnckle by the Fathers side found him in his wild quality but séeing him replenished with such lineaments of nature strong and sturdy as promised ensuing honors He tooke him to his kéeping and gaue him in charge to an ancient Noble man of his Court to be trained vp and taught perfectly his naturall English tong which hee most spéedily accomplished to his high renowne whereupon the King soone aduanced his estate and made him groome of his priuy chamber but he hauing the lofty spirit of Knight-hood springing in his brest aimed at nobler aduentures and to winne credit by the strength of his body desired the Kings leaue to depart his Court and to trie forraigne atchieuements in the honour of God and his Countrey which princely request did not a little content the King whereupon he gaue him a horse well furnished with all the abilliments fitting so resolued a Gentleman and with all graced him with the picture by nature set vpon his brest Thus after leaue taken like one of Fames darlings this knightly Faukonbridge in the spring-time of his youth committed himselfe to fortunes fickle fauours where after he had trauelled some few daies iournies from the English Court he arriued at the gate of an Hospitall whereat lay Clarabell his vnknowne mother begging for reliefe with these lines grauen ouer her head vpon the wall in capitall letters according to King Iohns commandement A Princes daughter by the Kings decree Here pines in care stand still and passe not by Till this poore map of perfect misery With wringing hands heau'd vp to heauen high Tels how her wanton life in sinne was spent And why shee thus makes wofull languishment Pitty her not her life is staind with shame By her a Kingdomes ruine was begot Lust and desire hath blotted her good name And true repentance must make cleere that spot To succour her is death authority commands Against which power lift no presumptuous hands Lord Faukonbridge hauing read this superscription in pitty rued her estate not knowing her to be his mother for as yet his parents were vnknown to him yet harbouring in his breast noble thoughts he could not choose but extend charity vnto her and being the first of his aduentures and the maiden-head of his mercy the first good déed that euer he did therefore he willingly alighted from his palphrey and in tender pitty tooke the halfe starued Lady by the hand