bore a Cross of purple Silk and on his Burgonet a goodly Plume of Feathers but yet Fortune so frowned upon his Enterprize that he nothing prevailed but committed his Life to the mercy of the Grant who likewise imprisoned him with the other Knights The fifth Lot fell to St. Patrick of Ireland as brave a Knight as ever Nature created and as adventurous in his Atchievements If ever Hector upon his Phrygian Steed pranced up and down the Streets of Troy and made that Age admire his Fortitude this Irish Knight might countervail his Ualour For no sooner had the Moon forsook the azure Firmament and had committed her Charge to the golden burnish'd Sun but St. Patrick approached the sight of the Giant mounted upon his Irish Hobby clad in a Corsser of Proof beautified with silver Nails his Plume of feathers of the colour of Uirgin's Hair his Horse covered with a Uail of Orangetawny-silk and his saddle bound about with Plates of Steel like an Iron Chair The sight of this valiant Champion so dounted the Courage of the Giant that he thought him to be the Knight that the Uision had revealed and by whom the Adventure should be accomplished therefore with no cowardly Fortitued he assassed the Irish Knight who with as princely Ualour indured the encounter but the unkind Destinies not intending to give him the honour of the Uictory compelled the Champion to yield to the Giant 's force and like a Captive to accompany the other imprisoned Champions The next Lot fell to St. David of Wales who nothing discouraged at the other Christian Knights but at the morning Sun's uprise into the azure Firmament glistered in his silver Armour before the Fountain with a golden Griffon shining on his Breast where he endured a long and dangerous Combat with the Giant making the Skies refound with ecchoes of their Stroaks but at last when the Giant perceived that St. David began to grow almost breathless in defending the huge and mighty Blows of his stéeled Bat and chiefly through his long Encounter the Giant renuâ—d his Strength and redoubled his Stroaks that St. David was constrained like to the other Christian Champions to yield to the Giant 's Mercy But now the invincible and heroical Champion of England St. George he that was Fame's true Knight that Man of Honour and the World's Wonder remaining in the Iew 's Pavion and pondring in his mind the bad success of the other six Champions and that it was â—is turn to try his Fortune the next morning in the Adventure he fell into great Contemplation Quoth he I that have fought for Christian Knights in Fields of purple Bloud and made my Enemies to swim in Streams of crimson Gore shall I not now confound this bloody and inhumane Monster that hath discomfitted six of the bravest Knights that ever Nature framed I slew the burning Dragon in Egypt I conquered the terrible Glant that kept the enchanted Castle amongst the Amazonians then Fortune let me accomplish this dangerous Adventure that all Christians and Christian Knights may applaud my Name In this manner spent he away the Night hoping for the happy Success of the next Day 's Enterprize whereon he vowed by the honour of his golden Garter either to return a worthy Conqueror or to die with honour valiently And when the day began to beautifie the Eastern Elements with a fair purple colour he repaired to the Iew 's Armory and clad himself in a black Corslet mâ—unting himself upon a pitchie coloured Steed adorned with a blood red Camparison in sign of a bloudy and trâ—gical Adventure his Plume of Feathers was like a flame of Fire quencht in Blood as a taken of speedy Revenge he armed himself not with a sturdy Launce bound about with Plates of Brass but took a Iavelin made of Steel the one end sharpned like the point of a Needâ—e at the other end a Ball of Iron in fashion of a Mace or Club. Being thus armed according to his wished desires he took leave of the Iew and his seven Sons all attired in black and mournful Ornaments praying for his happy and fortunate Success and so departed speedily to the Golden Fountain where he found the Giant sleeping carelesly upon his block of Steel dreading no ensuing Danger But when the valiant Champion St. George was alighted from his Horse and sufficiently beheld the deformed proportion of the Giant how the Hair of his Head stood staring upright like the bristles of a wild wore his Eyes gazing open like two blazing Comets his Teeth long and sharp like to Spikes of Steel the Nails of his Hands like the Tallants of an Eagle over which was drawn a paâ—â— of Iron glaves and every other Limb huge and strongly proportioned like to the body of some mighty Oak the worthy Champion awakened him in this order Arise said he unreasonable deformed Monster and either make delivery of the captive Knights whom thou wrongfully detainest or prepare thy ugly self to abide the uttermost force of my warlike Arm and death prepared Weapon At which words the furious Giant started up as one suddenly amazed or affrighted from his sleep and without making any reply at all took his Iron Mace fast in both his hands and with great terrour let drive at the must worthy English Champion who with exceeding cunning and nimbleness defended himself from the Danger by speedy avoiding the violent Blows and withal returned on his Adversary a mighty Thrust with the pointed or sharp end of the Iavelin which rebounded from the Giant 's Body as if it had been â—un against an Adamantine Pillar The which the invincible Knight St. George perceiving turned his heavy round-ball-end of his Massie Iavelin and so mightily assailed the Giant râ—doubling his heavy Blows with such couragious Fortitude that at last he beat his Brains out of his deformed Head whereby the Giant was constrained to yield up the Ghost and to giue such a hiâ—eous Roar as tho' the whole Frame of the Earth had been shaken with the violence of some clap of Chunder This being done St. George rast his loathsome Carâ—ass as a Prey to the Fowls and ravenous Beasts to seize upon and after diligently searched up and down till he found the Rock wherein all the Knights and Champions were imprisoned the which with his steely Iavelin he burst in sundev and delivered them presently from their Servitudes and after returned most triumphantly back to the Iew 's Pavilion in as great Majesty and Royalty as Vespasian with his Roman Nobles and Peers veturned into the Consines of flourishing Italy from the admired and glorious Conquest of Jerusalem and Judea But warn the reverend Iew saw the English Champion returnâ— with Uictory together with his other six Fellow champions and likewise beheld his fourteen Sons sately delivered his Ioy so mightily exceeding the bounds of Reason that he suddenly Bwounded and lay â—oâ—â— time in a dead Trance with the great exceeding Pleasure he conceived But having a little
of Chance I say from thy Imperial Seat shew me some favour and do not consent that I and my Company perish for Hunger and want of Victuals make no delay to remedy our great Necessity let us not be meat for Birds hovering in the Air nor our Bodies cast as a Prey for the ravenous Beasts ranging in these Woods but rather if we must needs perish let us die by the hands of the strongest Warriors in the universal World and not basely lose our Lives with cowardly Hunger These and such like Lamentations uttered this valiant Champion of England till such time as the day appeared and the sable curtains of coal black night were with drawn Then turned be to the rest of his Company where he found them very weak and feeble but he encouraged them in the best manner he could devise to take their Horses and try the Chance of their utâ—aâ—t unkind Fortune Altho St. George as they travelled was ready to Die by the way and in great trouble of Mind for want of Food yet rode he first to one then to another comforting them and making them ride a-pare which they might very well do for that their Horses were not so unprovided as their Masters by reason of the goodly Grass that grew in these Woods wherewith at pleasure they filled them every night By this time the golden Sun had almost mounted to the top of Heaven and the glorious prime of the Day began to approach when they came into a Field very plain where in the midst of it was a little Mountain out of the which there appeared a great smoak which gave them to understand that there should be some Habitation in that place Then the princely minded St. George said to the other Champions Take comfort with yourselves and by little and little come forward with an calle pace for I will ride before to see who shall be out Host this ensuing night and of this brave Knights and Champions be all assurâ—â— whether he be pleased or no be shall give us Lodging and Entertainment like travelling Knights and therewithal he set spurs to his Horse and swiftly scoured away like to a Ship with swelling Saâ—is upon the marble coloured Ocean his Beast was so speedy that in a short time he approached the Mountain where at the noise and rushing of his Horse in running there arose from the ground a mighty and terrible Giant of so great height that he seemed to be a big grown Tree and for hugeness like to a Rock of Stone but when he cast his staring Eyes upon the English Knight which seemed to him like two brazen Plates or two Torches ever flaming he laid his hand upon a mighty Club of Iron which lay by him and came with great lightness to meet St. George out when he approached his presence he thinking him to be a Knight of but small Ualour and Fortitude he threw away his Iron Bat and came towards the Champion intending with his fists to buffet and beat out his Brains but the courage of the English Champion so exceeded that he forgot the extremity of Hunger and like a couragious Knight raised himself in his stirrops otherwise he could not reach his Head and gave him such a blow upon the Fore-head with his keen edged Fauchion that he cut his Head half in sunder and his Brains in great abundance raiâ—down his deformed Body so that amazed he fell to the ground and presently died his fall 〈◊〉 to make the ground to shake as though a stony Tower had been overturned for as he lay upon the Earth he séemed to be a great Oak blown up by the Roots with a tempestuoâ—s Whirle-wind At that instant the rest of the Champions came to that place with as much joy at that present as before they were sad and sorrowful And so when St. Dennis with the other Knights did sée the greatness of the Giant and the deformity of his Body they advanced his Ualour beyond imagination and déemed St. George the fortunatest Champion that ever Nature framed holding that Adventure in as high Honour as the Grecians held Jason's Prize when he turned from Colchos with Medea's Golden Fleece and with as great danger accomplished as the twelve fearful Labours of Hercules but after some few Speeches passed St. George desired the rest of the Champions to go and see what store of Uiauals the Giant had prepared for him Whereupon they concluded and so generally entered the Giant 's House which was in the same manner of a great Barn cut out of hard Stone and wrought out of a Rock therein they found a very large Copper Cauldron standing upon a Trevet of Steel the feet and supporters thereof were as big as great Iron Pillers under the same burned such a huge flaming Fire that it sparkled like the fiery Furnace in burning Acheron Within the Cauldron were boiling the flesh of two fat Bullocks prepared only for the Giant 's dinner the sight of this ensuing Banquet gave them such comfort that every one fell to work hoping for their Travel to eat part of the Meat one turned the Béef in the Cauldron another encreased the Fire and others pulled out the Coals so that there was not any idle in the hope of the benefit to come The Hunger they had and their desire to eat caused them to fall to their Meat before it was half reaâ—y as though that it had béen over sodden the two Knights of Wales and Ireland not intending to dine without Bread and Drink searched in a secret hollow Cave wherein they found two great Lâ—aves of Bread as big in compass as the circle of a Well and two great Flagons full of as good Wine as ever they tasted the which with great joy and pleasure they brought from the Cave to the great and exceeding contentment of the other Champions Instead of Knives to cut their Uictuals St. George used his Curtle-axe which had lately been stained with the hateful Giant 's detested Blood and imbrewed with his loathsome Brâ—ins Thus and after this manner qualified they the pinching pains and torments of Hunger whereof they took as joyful a repast as if they had vanqueted in the richest King's Palace in the World So being joyful for their good and happy Fortunes St. George requested the Champions to take Horse â—nd mounted himself upon his Palfrey and so they travelled from thence thorow a narrow Path which séemed to be used by the Giant and so with great delight they travelled all the rest of that Day till Night closed in the beauty of the Heavens at which time they had got to the top of a high Mountain from whence a little before Night they did discover marvelous and great Plains the which were inhabited with fair Cities and Towns at which sight these Christian Champions received great contentment and joy and so without any staying they made haste onward on their Iourney till such time as they came to a low Ualley lying
manner Thou art by Birth said she Son to the Lord Albert High Steward of England and from thy Birth to this day have I kept thee as my Child within these solitary Woods So taking him by the hand she led him into a Brazen Castle wherein remained as Prisoners six of the bravest Knights of the World These are said she Six worthy Champions of Christendom The first is St. Dennis of France the second St. Iames of Spain the third St. Anthony of Italy the fourth St. Andrew of Scotland the fifth St. Patrick of Ireland the sixth St. David of Wales and thou art born to be the Seventh thy Name being St. George of England for so thou shalt be termed in time to come Then leading him a little farther she brought him into a large fair Room where stood seven of the goodliest Stéeds that ever Eye beheld Six of these said she belong to the six Champions and the seventh will I bestow upon thee whose Name is Bayard likewise she led him to another Room where hung the Richest Armour in the World so choosing out the strongest Corsset from her Armory she with her own hands buckled it about his Breast laced on his Helmet and attired him with a Rich Caparison then fetching forth a mighty Faulchion she put it likewise in his hand Now said she thou art Armed in Richer Furniture than was Ninus the first Monarch of the World thy Steed is of such Force and Invincible Power that whilst thou art mounted on his back there can be no Knight in all the World so hardy as to Conquer thee thy Armour is of the purest Lydian Steel that neither Weapon can pierce nor Battle-Ax bruise thy Sword which is called Ascalon is made of the Cyclops that it will separate and cut the hardest Flint and hew in sunder the strongest Steel for in the Pummel lies such precious Vertue that neither Treason Witchcraft nor any other Violence can be offered thee so long as thou wearest it Thus the Lustful Kalyb was so blinded in her own conceit that she not only bestowed the Riches of her Cave upon him but gave him Power and Authority through a Silver Wand which she put in his hand to work her own Destruction for coming by a huge great Rock of Stone this Ualiant Knight struck his Charming Rod thereon whereupon it opened and shewed apparently before his eyes a number of sucking Babes which the Enchantress had Murthered by her Witchcraft and Sorceries Oh! said she this is a place of horror where nought is heard but shrieks and ruful groans of dead Mens Souls but if thy ears can endure to hear them and thy eyes behold them I will lead thee the way So the Lady of the Woods boldly stepping in before little doubting the pretended policy of St. George was deceived in her own practices for no sooner entred she the Rock but he struck his Silver Wand thereon and immediately it closed where she bellowed forth exclamations to the sensless Stones without all hope of Delivery Thus this Noble Knight deceived the wicked Enchantress Kalyb and set the other six Champions likewise at Liberty who rendred him all Knightly Courtesies and gave him thanks for their safe delivery So storing themselves with all things fitting to their desires took their Iourneys from their Enchanted Grove whose Proceedings Fortunes and Heroical Adventures shall be shewed in the Chapters following CHAP. II. Kalyb 's Lamentation in the Rock of stone her Will and Testament and how she was torn in pieces by Spirits with other things that hapned in the Cave BUT after the departure of the Seven Worthy Champions Kalyb seeing her self fast closed in the Rock of Stone by the Policy of the English Knight grew into such extream passion of mind that she cursed the hour of her Creation and bitterly banned all motions of Conjuration the Earth she wearied with her cries whereby the very Stones seemed to relent and as it were wept pearled tears and sweat with anguish of her Grief the blasted Oaks that grew about the Enchanted Rock likewise seemed to â—ue at her Exclamations the blustring of Winds were silent the murmuring of Birds and solitary dumbness took possession of every creature that abode within the circuits of the Woods to hear her woeful lamentations which she uttered in this manner O miserable Kalyb accursed be thy Destiny for now thou art inclosed within a Desolate and darksome Den where neither Sun can lend thee comfort with his bright Beams nor Air extend breathing coolness to thy woeful Body for in the deep foundations of the Earth thou art for evermore enclosed that hast been the wonder of time for Magick I that by Art have made my journey to the deepest Dungeons of Hell where multitudes of ugly black and fearful Spirits have trembled at my Charms I that have bound up the Furies in Beds of Steel and caused them to attend my pleasure like swarms of Hornets that overspread the Mountains of Egypt or the Flies upon the parched Hills where the tawny tanned Moors do inhabit am now constrained to languish in eternal darkness woe to my Soul woe to my Charms and woe to all my Magick Spells for they have bound me in this hollow Rock pale be the brightness of the clear Sun and cover the Earth with everlasting darkness Skies turn to pitch Elements to flaming Fire Roar Hell Quake Earth Swell Seas Blast Earth Rocks rend in twain all Creatures mourn at my Confusion and sigh Kalyb's woeful and pitiful Exclamations Thus wearied she the time away one while accusing Fortune of Tyranny another while blaming the Falshood and Treachery of the English Knight sometimes tearing her curled Locks of bristled Hair that like a wreath of Snakes hung dangling down her deformed Neck then beating her Breasts another while rending her Ornaments whereby she seemed more like a Fury than an earthly Creature so impatient was this Enchantress Kalyb but being frustrate of all hopes of Recovery she began again to thunder forth these terms of Conjuration Come come you Princes of the Elements come come and tear this Rock in pieces and let me not be inclos'd in this Eternal Languishment Appear you shadows of black misty night Magol Cumoth Helveza Zontdma Come when I call venite fastinate inquam At which words the Earth began to quake and the very Elements trembled and all the Spirits both of Air of Earth of Water and of Fire were obedient to her Charms and by Multitudes came flocking at her cast some from the Fire in the likeness of burning Dragons breathing from their fearful Nostrils Sulphur and flaming Brimstone some from the Water in shape of Fishes with other deformed creatures that have their abiding in the Seas â—â—â—e from the Air the purest of the Elements in the likeness of Spirits and other bright Shadows and other some from the gross Earth most ugly black and dreadful to behold So when these Legions of Spirits had encompassed the wicked Enchantress Hell
to which place St. George intended to Travel not to furnish himself with any needful thing but to accomplish some Honourable Adventure whereby his worthy Deeds might be eternized in the Books of Memory So after he had descended from the top of the steepy Mountain and had Travelled into a low Ualley about some two or three Miles he approached an old and almost Ruinated Hermitage over-grown with Moss and other Weeds before the entry of this Hermitage sate an Ancient Father upon a round Stone taking the heat of the warm Sun which cast such a comfortable brightness upon the Hermit's face that his white Beard seemed to glister like Silver and his Head to exceed the whiteness of the Northern Isicles to whom after St. George had given the due Reverence that belonged unto Age he demanded the name of the Countrey and the City he Travelled to and under what King the Countrey was Governed To whom the Courteous Hermit thus replyed Most Noble Knight for so I guess you are by your Furniture and outward appearance you are now in the Confines of Barbary the City opposite before your eyes is called Tripoly remaining under the Government of Almidor the black King of Morocco in which City he now keepeth his Court attended on by as many gallant Knights as any King under the Cope of Heaven At which words the Noble Champion of England suddenly started as though he had intelligence of some baleful news which deeply discontented his Princely mind his heart was presently incensâ—d with a speedy Revenge and his mind so extreamly thirsted after Almidor's Tragedy that he could scarce answer again to the Hermit's words But bridling his Fury the angry Champion spake in this manner Grave Father said he through the Treachery of that Accursed King I endured seven years Imprisonment in Persia where I suffered both hunger cold and extream misery But if I had my good Sword Ascalon and my trusty Palfrey which I lest in the Egyptian Court where remains my betrothed Love the King's Daughter of Egypt I would be Avenged on the Head of Almidor were his Guard more strong than the Army of Xerxes whose multitudes drank Rivers dry Why said the Hermit Sabra the King's Daughter of Egypt is Queen of Barbary and since her Nuptials were solemnly performed in Tripoly are seven Summers fully finished Now by the honour of my Country England replied St. George the place of my Nativity and as I am a true Christian Knight these eyes of mine shall never close this undaunted heart never entertain one thought of Peace nor this unconquered hand receive one minutes rest untill I have obtained a sight of the sweet Princess for whose sake I have endured so long Imprisonment Therefore dear Father be thus â—â—nd to a Travellor as to exchange thy Cloathing for this my Rich Furniture and lusty Stéed which I brought from the Souldan of Persia for in the habit of a Palmer I may enjoy the fruition of her sight without suspicion Otherwise I must néeds be constrained by Uiolence with my trusty Falchion to make way into her Princely Palace where I know she is attended on most carefully by many a Ualiant and Couragious Knight therefore courteously deliver me thy Hermit's Gown and I will give to boot with my Horse and Armour this Box of costly Iewels Which when that grave Hermit beheld he humbly thanked the Noble Champion and so with all the speed they could possible make exchanged Apparel and in this manner departed The Palmer being glad repaired to his Hermitage with St. George's Furniture and St. George in the Palmer's Apparel towards the City of Tripoly who no sooner came to the sumptuous Buildings of the Court but he espied a hundred poor Palmers kneeling at the Gate to whom St. George spake after this manner not with lofty and Heroical speeches beseeming a Princely Champion but with meek and humble words like an aged Palmer My dear Brethren saidâ— the Champion for what intent remain you here or what expert you from this honourable Court We abide here answered the Palmers for an Alms which the Queen once a day hath given this seven years for the sake of an English Knight named St. George whom she affecteth above all the Knights of the World But when will this be given said St. George In the afternoon replied the Palmers until which time upon our bended knees we hoâ—rly pray for the good Fortune of that most noble English Knight Which Speeches so pleased the Ualiant-minded Champion St. George that he thought every minute a whole year till the Golden Sun had passed away the middle part of Heaven for it was but newly risen from Aurora's Bed wheâ—e light as yet with a shamefac'd radiant blush distained the Eastern Skie During which time the most valiant and Magnahimous Champion St. George of England one while remembring the extream misery he endured in Persia for her sake whereat he let fall many Crystal Tears from his Eyes another while thinking upon the Terrible Battel he had with a Burning Dragon in Aegypt where he Redeemed her from the Fatal Iaws of Death at last it was his chance to walk about the Court beholding the sumptuous Buildings and the curious engraven works by the atchievement of Man bestowed upon the glistring Windows where he heard to his exceeding pleasure the heavenly Uoice of his beloved Sabra descending from a Window upon the West-side of the Palace where she warbled forth this sorrowful Ditty upon her Ivory Lute Die all desires of Joy and Courtly Pleasures Die all desires of Princely Royalty Die all desires of Worldly Treasures Die all desires of stately Majesty Sith he is gone that pleased most mine Eye For whom I wish ten thousand times to die O that mine eyes might never cease to weep O that my tongue might evermore complain O that my Soul might in his Bosome sleep For whose sweet sake my Heart doth live in pain In Woe I sing with brinish Tears besprent Out worn with Grief Consum'd with Discontent In time my Sighs will dim the Heaven's fair Light Which hourly flie from my tormented Breast Except Saint George that Noble English Knight With safe return abandon my unrest Then careful cries shall end with deep annoy Exchanging weeping Tears for smiling Joy Before the Face of Heaven this Vow I make Tho unkind Friends have Wed me to their Will And Crown'd me Queen my ardent flames to slake Which in despite of them shall flourish still Bear witness Heavens and Earth what I have said For George's sake I live and die a Maid Which sorrowful Ditty being no sooner ended but she departed the Window quite from the hearing of the English Champion that stood gazing up to the Casements preparing his ears to entertain her sweet tuned Melody the second time but it was in vain whereat he grew in more perplexed passions than Aenea when he had lost his beloved Creâ—sa amongst the Army of the Grecian sometimes wishing the day to
Chain unto the Stake then placed they round about her tender body both Pitch Turpentine and Gunpowder with other merciless things thereby to make her death the more easie and her pain the shorter which being done the King caused the Herauld to summon in the Challenger who at the sound of the Trumpet came tracing in upon a Roan coloured Steed without any kind of mark and Trapped with Rich Trappings of Gold and precious stones of great price there came out at the Horse's mouth two Tusks like unto an Elephants his Nostrils were very large and big his head little his breast somewhat broad well pitcht and so hard that no Sword were it never so sharp was able to enter in thereat The Champion was called the Baron of Chester a bolder and hardier Knight they thought lived not then upon the face of the whole Earth he so advanced himself up and down as though he had béen able to encounter with an hundred Knights Then the King caused the Herauld to summon in the Defendant if there were any to defend her Cause both Drums and Trumpets sounded three several times up and down the Fields betwixt every rest was a full quarter of an hour but yet no Defendant did appear therefore the King commanded the Executioner to set the Stake on fire At which words Sabra began to grow pale as Ashes and her Ioynts to tremble like to Aspen Leaves her Tongue that before continued silent began to record a Swan-like dying Tale and in this manner uttered the passion of her heart Be witness Heaven and all your bright Coelestial Angels be witness Sun and Moon all true beholders of my Fact be witness thou clear Firmament and all the World be witness of my Innocency the blood Iâ—shed was for the safeguard of my Honour and unspotted Chastity great God of Heaven if the Prayers of my unstained heart may move thy mighty Majesty or my true Innocency prevail with thy immortal Power command that either my Lord may come to be my Champion or sad beholder of my Death But if my hands were stained with the blood about some wicked Enterprize then Heaven shew present Vengeance upon me else by some Noble Champion save my body alive At which instant she heard the sound of a shrill Trumpet the which S. George caused to be winded for as then he was near which caused the Execution a while to be deferred At last they beheld afar off a stately Banner waving in the Air the which a Squire carried before S. George then they espied near unto the Banner a most Ualiant Armed Knight mounted upon a coal-black Palfrey with a Warlike Launce standing in his Rest by which sudden approach they knew him to be the same Champion that would defend the distressed Lady's Life Then the King commanded the Drums and Trumpets to sound whereat the People gave a general shout and the poor Lady half dead with fear began to revive and her blushing Cheeks to be as Beautiful as red Roses dipt in Milk or as blood mingled with Snow But when St. George approached the sight of his constant Lady whom he found Chamed to a Sâ—ake incompassed with many Instruments of Death his heart so relented with Grief that he almost fell buside his Horse yet remembring wherefore he came he recalled his Courage and intended to try his Fortune in the Combate before he would discover himself unto his Lady And when the Trumpets sounded Death's Alarm the two Knights set Spurs to their Horses and made them run so fiercely that at the first encounter they shivered both their Launces to their hands then rushed they together so rigorously with their Bodies and Helmets that they fell down both to the Earth but St. George who was the more Lusty Knight nimbly leap'd upon his feet without any hurt but the Baron of Chester lay still with his head downward casting from his mouth abundance of blood for he was mightily bruised with the fall but when he revived from his Trance he took his Shield drawing out a mighty Faulchion and with wrathful countenance ran at St. George Now proud Knight quoth he I swear by all the Saints of Heaven to Revenge my Blood which thou hast shed and therewithal he struck so violently upon St. George's Shield that it cleaved quite asunder Then began he to wax angry and took his Sword in great wrath and gave the Baron of Chester such a stroke that he cut away Arm and Shoulder and all the flesh of his side to the bare Kibs and likewise cut his Leg almost quite in sunder in the thickest place of his Thigh and yet for all that the Sword entred half a foot into the earth then fell the Baron of Chester to the Ground and breathed forth this lamentable cry Now frown you fatal Stars eternally that did predominate at my Birth for he is Slain and Vanquished that never stoopt to any Knight before this day And thereupon the Blood stopped the passage of his Speech and his Soul went flying to Elysium whereat the whole Company admired and applauded Saint George for the most fortunate Knight in the World Then the King delivered Sabra with his own hands to St. George who most courteously received her and like a counteous Knight cast a Scarlet Mantle over her Body the which a Lady standing by bestowed upon him yet he minding nâ—â— to discover himself but set her upon his portly Steed that â—â—â—â—ently grew proud in carrying so rich a burden and with his own hands led him by the Bridle Reins So great was the Ioâ— throughout the City that the Bells rung without ceasing that whole day together the Citizens through every place St. George should pass did hang forth at their Windows and on their walls Cloath of Gold and Silk with Rich Carpets Cushion-coverings of green Uelvet lay abroad in every Window the Clergy in Copes of Gold and Silk met them with solemn Procession The Ladies and Beautiful Damsels strewed every street whereas he passed with Roses and most pleasant Flowers and Crowned him with a Wreath of green Gays in sign of his Triumphant Uictory and Conquest In this manner went he to the King's Palace not known by any what he should be but that he was a Knight of a strange Countrey Yet Sabra many times as they passed along desired to see his Face and know his Name for that he had adventured so far for her sake and that for her Delivery he had vanquished the bravest Knight in England Yet for all her perswasions he kept himself undiscovered till a Troop of Ladies in company of Sabra got him into a Chamber richly hung with Arras cloath and there unlaced his Bever whose Countenance when she beheld and saw that it was her Lord and Husband which had redeemed her from Death she sell into a dead swoon for very Ioy but St. George sprinkled a little cold water on her face and revived her presently After this he gave her many a kind
that it was wonderful to Discourse The first thinking to exceed his Brothers in the strangeness of his Gift made repair unto a cunning Enchantress which had a biding in a secret Cave adjoyning to the City whom he procured through many rich Gifts and large Promises by Art to devise a means to get the Honour from his Brethren and to give a Gift of that strange nature that all the World might wonder at the report thereof The Enchantress being won with his Promises by Art and Magick Spells devised a Garland containing aâ—l the diversity of Flowers that ever grew in earthly Gardens and though it were then in the dead time of the Winter when as the silver Iâ—cleâ— had diâ—â—obâ—d both Herbs and Flowers of their Beauties and the Snow lay freezing on the Mountain tops yet was this Garland contrived after the fashion of a rich Imperial Crown with as many several Flowers as ever Flora plated upon the Towns of rich Arcadia in diversity of colours like the glistering Rainbow when it shineth in greatest Pride and casting such an odoriferous Scant and Sanour as tho the Heavens had rained down showers of Champhire Biss or sweet smelling Ambergâ—eece This rare and exceeding Garland was no sooner framed by Enchantment and delivered in his hands but he left the Enchantress sitting in her Ebon-Chair upon a block of Steel practising her fatal Arts with her Hair hanging about her Shoulders like wâ—eaths of Snakes or invenomed Serpents and so returned to his Mother's Tomb where he hung it upon a Piller of Silver that was placed in the middle of the Monument The second Brother also repaired to his Mother's Tomb and brought in his hand an Ivory Lute whereon he plaid such inspiring melody that it seemed like the harmony of Angels or the celestial Musick of Apollo when he descended Heaven for the Love of Daphne whom he turned into a Bay-Tree the Musick being finished he tyed his Lute in a Damask-Scarf and with great humility he hung it at the West-end of the Tomb upon a knob of a Iasper-stone Lastly The third Brother likewise repaired with no outward Devotion or worldly Gift but clad in a Uesture of white Silk bearing in his hand an Instrument of Death like an innocent Lamb going to Sacrifice or one ready to be offered up for the love of his Mother's Soul This strange manner of repair caused his other Brothers to stand attentively and with diligent Eyes to be hold his purpose First After he had submissively and with great humility let fall a showre of silver Tears from the â—isters of his Eyes in remembrance of his Mother's timeless Tragedy he prick'd his naked Breast with a silver Bodkin the which he brought in his hand from whence there trickled down some thirty drops of Bloud which he after offered to his Mother's Tomb in a silver Bason as an evident sign that there could be nothing more dear nor of more preâ—ious price than to offer up his own Bloud for her Love This ceremonious Gift caused his two other Brothers to swell in hatred like to chased Lyons and run with fury upon him intending to catch him by the hair of the Head and drag him roâ—nd 〈◊〉 their Mother's Tomb till his Brains were dashed against a Marble Pavement and his Bloud sprinkled upon her Grave but this wicked Enterprize moved the Majesty of Heaven that e'er they could accomplish their Intents or stain their hands with his Bloud they heard as it were the noise of dead Mens Bones ratling in the ground whereupon looking fearfully about them the Tomb seemed of itself to open and thereupon to appear a most terrible gastly Shape pale like unto ashes in Countenance resembling their Mother with her Breast besmeared in Bloud and her Body wounded with a number of Scars and so with a dismal and ruful look she spake unto her desperate Sons in this manner Oh you Degenerate from Nature's kind why do you seek to make a Murther of yourselves can you indure to see my Body rent in twain my Heart split in sunder and my Womb dismembred Abate this fury stain not your Hands with your own Blouds nor make my Tomb a Spectacle of more Death Unite yourselves in Concord that my discontented Soul may sleep in Peace and never more be troubled with your unbridled Humours Make hast I say arm yourselves in steel Corslets and follow your valiant Father to Ierusalem he is there in danger and distress of Life away I say or else my angry Ghost shall never leave this World but hunt you up and down with gastly Visions This being said she vanished from their sight into the brittle Air whereat for a time they stood amazed and almost distraught of Wits through the terrours of her Words but at last recovering their former Senses they all vowed a continual Unity and never to proffet the like Iniury again but to live in brotherly Concord till the dissolution of their earthly Bodies So in haste they went unto the King and certified him of all things that had hapned and falling upon their Knées before his Majesty â—eâ—uelled at his hands the honour of Knight hood with leave to depart in pursuit of their Father and the other Champions that were fallen into great â—isteess The King purposing to aâ—complish their Desires and to fulfil their Requests presently condescended and not only gave them the honour of Knight-hood but furnished them with â—iâ—h Habiliments of War answerable to their magnanimous Minds First be frankly bestowed upon them three stately Palsâ—yes bred upon the bright Mountains of Sardinia in colour of an Iron-gray beautified with silver Hairs and in â—ate switer than Spanish Iennets which are a kind of Horse ingendred by the Winds upon the Alpes certain cragged Mountains that divided the Kingdoms of Italy and Germany for boldness and courage like to Bucephalus the Horse of Alexander the Macedonian or Caesar's Steed that never danted in the Field and they were trapped with rich Crapyings of Gold After the Morocco Fashion with Saddles framed like unto Iron-chairs with backs of Steel and their Fore-heads were beautified with spangled Plumes of purple Feathers whereon hung many golden Pendants the King likewise bestowed upon them three costly Swords wrought of purest Lybian Steel with Lances bound about with Plates of Brass at the tops where of hung silken Streamers beautified with the English Cross being the crimson Badge of Knighthood and Honour of Adventurous Champions Thus in this royal manner rode these three young Knights from the City of London in company of the King with a train of Knights and gallant Gentlemen who conducted them to the Sea-side where they left the young Knights to their future Fortunes and returned back to the English Court. Now are St. George's Sons floating upon the Seas making their first Adventures in the World that after Ages might applaud these Atchietements and enroul their Fames in the Records of Honour Fate prosper them successfully and gentle Fortune
her nightly Reposes upon the green Grass shadowed with the fable Eurtains of the Skies and the 〈◊〉 that were provided against her Delivery were Nymphs and Fayries dancing in the night by Proserpine's Commandment 〈◊〉 in great Grâ—ei continued sâ—e many days contenting her self with her appointed Banishment making her Lamentations to wispering Winds which seemed in her conceit to re-answer her Complaints at length the glistering Moon had ten times borrowed light of golden Phoebus and the nights that Candle was now almost exâ—inguished by which time approached the hour of her laboursome Travel where without helâ— of a Woman she was delivered of me her unhappy Daughter where ever since I have been nourished in these unfrequented Woods and many times when I came to years of Discretion my woful Mother would discourse unto me this Iamentable Story of both our Miseries the which I have most truly declared unto you Likewise she told me that many times in my Infancy when she wanted Milk in her Breasts to nourish me there would come a Lyoness and sometimes a she-Beat and gently give me suck and contrary to the Nature of wild Beasts they would many times sport with me whereby she conjectured that the immortal Powers had preserved me for some strange Fortune Likewise at my Birth Nature had pictured upon my Breast directly betwixt my two Paps the lively form of a purple Rose which as yet doth beautifie my Bosom with a Uermilion colour and this was the cause that my Mother named me Rosana answerable to my Natures Mark. After this we lived many a year in great Distress Penury and Want intreating Time to redress our Woes more often then we had lived Hours the abundance of our Tears might suffice to make warry Seas and our Sighs counterhall the Stars But at last the fatal Sisters listning to my Mother's Moans and to my great Sorrows deprived her of Life where now I am left a comfortless Orphan to the World attending the time until I find some courteous Knight that may conduct me to the Black Castle where my disloyal Father hath his Residence that I may there perform my Mother's dying Will. These words being finished Rosana stood silent for that her extream Brief hindred the passage of her Tongue and her Eyes rained such a shower of pearled Tears upon the liveless Body of her Mother that it constrained St. George's Sons to express the like Sorrow where after they had leâ— fall a few salt Tears down from their sad Eyes and had taken teâ—ce for a time with Brief they took Rosana by the hand which before that time never touched the hand of any Man and protested never to depart from her contâ—any till they had safely conducted her to the Black Castle Thus after this when the Christian Knights had pitifully bewailed the Misery and untimely Death or her Mother they took their Daggers and digged a Grave under a Bay-tree and buried her Body therein that hungry Ravens might not seize upon it nor furious Bears tear it in pieces nor ravenous Harpies devour it and after with the point of their Daggers they engraved this Epitaph in the rinde of the Bay-tree which words were these that follow The Epitaph over the Grave of the unfortunate Queen of Armenia Here lies the Body of a helpless Queen Whose great Good-will to her small Joy did Bring Her willing Mind requited was with Teen Though she deserv'd for love a Regal King And as her Corpse inclosed here doth lie Her luckless Fate and Fame should never die So when they had made this Epitaph and covered her Grave with green Turfs they departed forward on their Iourney towards thee Black Castle where we will leave them in their Travels and return to the disloyal Leoger and how he fortified his Castle by Magick Art according to the learned skill of a â—unning Necromancer and of the Adventure that hapned to St. George with the other three Christian Champions in the same Castle therefore grant you immortal Powers of invention that my Pen may be dipt in the Water of that learned Fountain where the nine Sisters do inhabit that by the help of that sweet Liquor my Muse may have a delightful Uein so that mixing the speech of Mercury with the prowess of Mars I may discourse the strangest Accident that ever hapned to wandring Knights CHAP. VIII Of the preparation that the Knight of the Black Castle made by Magick Art to withstand his Enemies and how the Seven Champions entred the same Castle where they were Enchanted into a deep Sleep so long as seven Lamps burned which could not be quenched but by the Water of an Enchanted Fountain THe wicked Leoger as you have read of before being the Knight of the Black Castle and one that for Wealth and Treasure surpassed moâ—â— of the Potentates when he grew detested and abhorted in every Company as well by Noble Knights as Gallant Ladies for â—ne spoil and murther of those three Uirgin Iames whose pitiful Stories you heard in the two former Chapters and fearing sudden Uengeance to fall upon his Head he fortified himself strongly in his Castle and with his Treasure hired many fuâ—â—oâ—e Giants to defend it wherein if they failed and should chance to be overcome he consorted with a wicked Necromancer that he with Charms and Spels should work wonders in his Castle which Magical accomplishments we will pass over till a more convenient time because I purpose to explain the History in good order to the Reader First speak we of St. George with the other Christian Knights that came in revenge of the Shepherd and his unfortunate Daughter who with good Success arrived upon the shore of the Island where this wicked Leoger and the Mâ—gâ—can had fortified their Black Castle in which Country the Champions like the invincible Followers of Mars fearing no danger nor the â—rowns of unconstant Fortune betook themselves to the readiest way towards the Castle in which Iourney they were almost ravished with the pleasure of the Island for entring into a narrow and straight Lane gâ—rnisheâ— on both sides with Trees of divers sorts they heard how the Summer Birds recorded their pleasant Melodies and made their sweet and accustomed Songs without fear of any Man to molest them In which row of pleasant Trees that delighted them on both sides there wanted not the green Lawrel so much esteemed of learned Scholars nor the sweet Myrtle tree loved by Ladies nor the high Cypress so much regarded of Loâ—ers nor the stacely Pine which for his flourishing height is called the Prince of Trees whereby they judged it to be rather an habitation for Gods and Goddesses than a terrestial Country for that the Golden Sun with his glistering Beams did pass through those green and pleasant Trees without any hindrance of black Clouds for Skies were clear as tryed silver likewise the Western Wind did softly shake the shivering Leaves whereby it made as sweet a Harmony as if they had been
of these invincible Knights the Flowers of Chivalry or else were constrained by course of nature to yield up his loathed life to the fury of those fatal Sisters In this deep distress will my weary muse likewise leave this old Shepherd mourning for the long absence of the English Champion and the other Christian Knights and turn unto S. George's valiant Sons whom we left travelling from the Queen of Armenia's Grave with her unhappy Daughter Rosana to take revengment of her distoyal Land being the Knight of the Black Castle of whose villanies you have heard so much before CHAP. IX How Saint George's three Sons after their departure from the Queen of Armenia's Sepulchre in company of her Daughter Rosana met with a Wild Man with whom there hapned a strange Adventure and after how they entered the Black Castle where they quenched the Lamps and awaked the seven Champions of Christendom after they had slept seven day upon an Enchanted Bed with other things that chanced in the same Castle THE budding Flowers of Chivalry the valiant Sons of Saint George to perform their Knightly promises and to accomplish what they had protested to Rosana at the Queen her Mothers grave which was to bring her safely unto the black Castle where her unkind Father had his residence First they provided her a Palfrey or Iennet bred upon the borders of Spain which was furnished with black Caparisons in sign of her heavy and discontented mind and his fore-head beautified with a spangled Plume of Feathers Where in her company they travelled day and night from the Confines of Armenia with successful Fortune till they happily arrived upon the Island of the black Castle where they were constrained to rest themselves many nights under the shadows of green leaved Trees where the melody of silver tuned Birds brought to them sweet sleeps and instead of delicate fare they were forced to satisfie their hunger with sweet Oranges and ripe Pomegranets that grew very plentifully in than Island But at last upon a morning when the Skies appeared in their sight very clear and pleasant and at such time as when the Sun began to spread his glistering Beams upon the lofty Mountains and stately Cedars they set forward on their Iourney hoping before the closing in of the days bright countenance to arrive at the Black Castle being their long wilht for Haven and desired Port. But entring into an unknown way and narrow path not much used they were intercepted by a strange and wonderful Adventure For as they travelled in those unâ—rodden Passages spending the time in pleasant conference without mistrusting of any thing that should happen to them in that pleasant Island upon a sudden not knowing the occasion their Horses started and rose up with their fore feet and turned back ward into the Air in such sort that they had almost unsâ—dled their Masters whereat the valiant Knights upon a sudden looked round about them to see who or what it was that caused so much fear but when they perceived nothing nor could conjecture what should be the occasion of such Terrour they grew wonderfully troubled in mind Then one began to encourage the rest saying believe me Brethren I much wonder what should be the cause of this alteration in our Horses hath some Spirit glided by us or remaineth some Devil among these Bushes Whatsoever it be set us by the power and favour of all good luck attempt to know and with our warlike Weapons revenge the frighting of our Horses for our minds are not daunâ—ed by the Prowess of Men nor are we afreid of the fury of Devils These words being spoken with great courage and Majesty caused Rosana to smile with a chearful countenance and to embolden her heart against all ensuing accidents so preâ—ently they came to a River which was both clear and deep the which they judged to run quite thorow the middle of the Island and so travelling along by the River side where within a little while their Horses began again to startle to be wonderfully afraid whereupon the Knights casting about their vigilant Eyes to see if they could perceive what it should be that made their Horses so timorous they espyed a terrible Moniter in the shape and form of a Satyr or a Wild Man which did cross overtâ—wart the Island of a wonderful great and strange making who was as big and broad as any Gyant for he was almost four squars his face was three foot in length and had but one Eye and than was in his Fore-head which glistered like a blazing Comer or a fiery Planet his Body was covered all over with long and shagged haiâ— and in his breast there was as though it had been glass out of the which there seemed a great and shining light to proceed This Monster directed his way towards certain Rocks of Stone which stood in the Island and by reason of the stragling and great noise that the Horses made he cast his Head aâ—â—de and espyed the three Knights travelling in company of the Lady upon whom he had no sooner cast his blazing Eye but with a Devilish fury he ran towards them and instead of a Club he bare in his hand a great and knotty Maple Tree These valiant Knights never dismay'd at the sight of this deformed Creature but against his coming they chear'd up their Horses and pricked their sides with their golden Spurs giving a great shout as in sign of encouragement and withal drawing forth their sharp cutting Swords they stood attending the fury of the Monster who came roaring like a Bull and discharged his knotty Tree amongst the magnanimous Knights who with light leaps cleared themseves from his violent Blows so that his Club fell down to the ground with a terrible fall as though with the violence it would have overthrown a Castle With that the Knights presently alighted from their Horses thinking thereby more nimbly to defend themselves and with more courage to assail the Satyr Many were the Blows on both sides and dangerous the Encounter without sign of Uictory intiming to either party During the Battel Rosana through the grief and fear that she received â— wounded upon her Passrey and had fallen beside his back if she had not first closed her hands about the pummel of the laddlâ— â— being come a little unto her self she made humble supplication unto the Lady of Chance soliciting her that she might rather be buried in the Monsters Bowels thereby to satisfie his Wrath than to see such Noble Knights lose the least drop of Blood or to have the smallest Hair upon their Heads diminished such was the love and true zeal she bore unto those three Knights But Saint George's Sons so manfully behaved themselves in the Encounter bearing the Prowess of their Fathers Mind that they made very deep wounds in the Monsters Flesh and such terrible gashes in his Body that all the green Grass was covered with his black Blood and the ground all to
side unto the other without taking any ease or having any power or strength to declare the inward grief which at that time he felt but with lamentation which did torment his heart he called continually on the Armenian Queen and in that Devilish fury wherein he was drew out his Dagger and lifting up the skirt of his shirt of Mail he thrust it into his Body and giving himself this unhappy death with calling upon his wronged Lady he finished his life and fell to the ground This sad and heavy Lady when she beheld him so desperately to gore his Martial Breast and to fall lifeless to the Earth she greatly repented her self that she had not discovered her Name and revealed to him how that she was his unfortunate Daughter whose face before that time he had never beheld and as a Lion though all too late who seeing before her Eyes a young Lioness evil intreated of the Hunter even so she ran unto her murthered Father and with great speed pulled off his Helmet from his wounded head and unbraced his Armour the which was in colour according to his passion but yet as strong as any Diamond made by Magick Art Also she took away his Shield which had on it a Russet Flag and in the midst thereof was pourtrayed the God of Love with two faces the one was very fair and baund with a cloth about his eyes and the other was made marvellous fierce and furious This being done with a fair linnen cloath she wiped off the blood from his wounded Body And when she was certain that it was he after whom she had travelled so many steps and that he was without life with a furious madness she â—â—re her Artyre from her Head and all to rent her golden hair tearing iâ— in pieces and then returned again and wiped his bleeding Body making such sorrowful lamentation that whosoever had seen her would have been moved to compassion Then she took his Head betwixt her hands striving to lift it up and to lay it upon her Lap but seeing for all this that there was no moving him she joyned her face unto his pale and dead Cheeks and with sorrowful Words she said Dear Father open thine eyes and behold me open them sweet Father and look upon me thy sorrowful Daughter If Fortune be so favourable let me receive some contentment whilst Life remaineth Oh strengthen thy self to look upon me wherein such delight may come to me that we may one accompany the other Oh my Lord and only Father seeing that in former times my unfortuate Mothers â—ears were not sufficient to reclaim thee make me satisfaction for the great travel which I have taken in seeking thee out Come now in death and joy in the sight of thy unhappy Daughter and die not without seeing her open thine eyes that she may gratifie thee in dying with thee This being said Rosana began again to wipe his Body for that it was again all to be bathed in blood with her white hands she felt his eyes and mouth and all his Face and Head till such time as she touched his Breast and put her hand on the mortal Wound where she held it still and looked upon him whether he moved or no. But when she felt him without sense or feeling she began anew to complain and crying out with most terrible Exclamations she said Oh my hapless Father how many Troubles and great Travels hath thy Daughter passed in seeking thee watering the Earth with her Tears and always in vain calling for thee Oh how many times in naming thy name hath she been answered with an Ercho which was unto her great dolor and grief And now that Fortune hath brought her where thou art to rejoyce her self in thy presence the same Fortune hath converted her wishes into grief and dolour O cruel and unconstant Queen of Chance hath Rosana deserved this to be most afflicted when she expected some joy O Leoger if ever thou will open thine eyes now open them or let the glasses of mine be closed eternally Herewith she perceived his dim eyes to open and his senses now a little gathered together and when he saw himself in her Arms and understood by her Words that she was his Daughter whom he had by the unfortunate Queen of Armenia he suddenly strove against Weakness and at last recovering some strength he cast his yielding Arms about the milk-white neck of the fair Rosana and they joined their Faces the one with the other distilling betwixt them many salt and bitter Tears in such sort that it would have moved the very wild Beasts unto compassion and then with a feeble and weak voice the wounded Knight said O my Daughter unfortunate by my Dissoyalty let me recreate and comfort my self in injoying this thy mouth the time that I shall remain alive and before my silly Soul doth depart the company of my dying Body I do confess that I have been pittiless unto thy Mother and unkind to thee in making thee to travel with great sorrow in seeking me and now thou hast found me I must leave thee alone in this sorrowful place with my dead Body pale and wan yet before my death sweet Girl give me some few gentle kisses this only delight I crave for the little time I have to carry and afterwards I desire thee to intomb my Body in thy Mothers Grave though it be far in distance from this unlucky Country O my dear Lord answered she do you request me to give your Body a Sepulchre I think it more requisite to seek some to give it unto us both for I know my life cannot continue long if the angry Fates deprive me of your living company And without strength to proceed any further in Speeches she kissed his Face with many sobbings and sighs and having within her self a terrible conflict she carryed for the answer of her dying Father who with pain and great anguish of Death said O my Child how happy should I be that thus imbracing one in anothers Arms we might depart together then should I be joyful in thy company and account my self happy in my death but alas I must leave thee unto the World Daughter farewel good Fortune preserve thee and for ever may she take thee into her Favour And when he had said these Words inclining his neck upon the Face of Rosana he dyed When this sorrowful Lady saw that the Soul had got the victory and departed from the Body she kissed his pale lips and giving deep and dolorous sighs she began a marvellous and most heavy lamentation calling her self unhappy and unfortunate and laid her self upon the dead Body cursing her destinies so that it was lamentable to hear O my dear Father said she what small benefit have I received for all my travel and pain the which I have suffered in seeking thee and now in the finding of thee the more is my grief for that I came to see thee die O most unhappy
began to roar such an infernal and harsh melody that the inchanted Rock burst in twain and then Kalyb's Charms lost their effect Her Magick no longer endured than the term of an hundred years the which as then was fully finished and brought to an end then the Obligation which she subscribed with her dearest blood and sealed with her own hands brought up a Witness against her by which she knew and fully perswaded her self that her Life was fully finished therefore in this most fearful manner she began to make her last Will and Testament First welcome said she my sad Executors welcome my Grave and everlasting Tomb for you have digged it in the fiery Lakes of Phlegeton my winding sheet wherein to shrowd both my Body and contemned Soul is a Cauldron of boiling Lead and Brimstone and the Worms that should consume my Carkass are fiery Forks which toss burning Fire-brands from place to place from Furnace to Furnace and from Cauldron to Cauldron therefore attend to Kalyb's woful Testament and engrave the Legacy she gives in Brass Rolls upon the burning Banks of Acheron First These eyes that now too late weep hapless tears I give unto the Watry Spirits for they have wrackt the treasures hidden in the deepest Seas to satisfie their most unsatiable looks Next I bequeath these hands which did subscribe the bloody Obligation of my perpetual banishment from Joy unto those Spirits that hover in the Air my Tongue that did conspire against the Majesty of Heaven I give to those Spirits which have their being in the fire my earthly heart I bequeath to those gross Demons that dwell in the Dungeon of the Earth and the rest of my Condemned Body to the Torments due to my deservings Which strange and fearful Testament beeing no sooner ended but all the Spirits generally at one instant seized upon the Enchantress and dismembred her Body in a thousand pieces and divided her Limbs to the four Elements one Member to the Air another to the Water another to the Fire and another to the Earth which were carried away in a moment by the Spirits that departed with such a horror that all things within the hearing thereof suddenly died both Beasts Birds and all creeping Worms which remained within the compass of those inchanted Woods the trees which before were wont to flourish with green leaves withered away and died the blâ—des of graâ—s perished for want of natural moisture which the watry Clouds deâ—ied to nourish in so wicked a place Thus by Iudgment of the Heavens sensless things perished for the wickedness of Kalyb whom we leave to her endless Torments and return to the Seven worthy Champions of Christendom whose laudable Adventures Fame hath inâ—olled in the Books of Memory CHAP. III. How St. George slew the burning Dragon in Egypt and Redeemed Sabra the King's Daughter from Death How he was betray'd by Elmido the black King of Morocco and sent to the Soldan of Persia where he slew two Lions and remained seven years in Prison AFter the Seven Champions departed from the Enchanted Cave of Kalyb they made their abode in the City of Coventry for the space of nine Months in which time they erected a costly Monument over the Herse of S. George's Mother and â—o in that time of the Year when the Spring had overspread the Earth with the Mantles of Flota they Armed themselves like wandring Knights and took their Iourney to seek for Foreign Adventures accounting no Dishonour so great as to spend their days in Idleness Atchieving no Memorable Accident So travelling for the space of thirty days without any Adventure worthy the noting at length they came to a broad Plain whereon stood a Brazen Pillar where seven several ways met which caused the seven Knighis to forsake each others Company and to take every one a contrary way where we leave six of the Champions to their contented Travels and wholly discourse upon the Fortunate Success of our Worthy English Knight who after some few Months Travel happily arrived within the Territories of Aegypt which Country as then was then was greatly annoyed with a dangerous Dragon but before he had Iournied fully within the distance of a Mile the silent Night approached and solitary stillness took possession of all living things at last he espied an old poor Hermitage wherein he purposed to rest his Horse and to take some repast after his weary Iourney till the Sun had renewed his Morning Light that he might fall to his Travel again but entring the Cottage he found an Ancient Hermit overworn with years and almost consumed with Grief with whom in this manner he began to confer Father said he for so you seem by your Gravity may a Traveller for this Night crave Entertainment within your Cottage not only for himself but his Horse or is there some City near at hand where unto I may take my Journey without danger The old Man starting at the sudden approach of St. George replyed unto him in this order Sir Knight quoth he of thy Country I need not demand for I know it by thy Burgonet for indeed thereon was graven the Arms of England but I sorrow for thy hard Fortune that it is thy Destiny to arrive in this our Country of Egypt wherein is not left sufficient alive to bury the Dead such is the Distress of this Land through a Dangerous and Terrible Dragon now ranging up and down the Country which if he be not every day appeased with the Body of a true Virgin which he devoureth down his Venomous Bowels that day so neglected will he breathe such a stink from his Nostrils whereof grows a most grievous Plague and Mortality of all things which use hath been observed four and twenty years and now there is not left one true Virgin but the King's Daughter throughout Egypt which Damsel to morrow must be offered up in Sacrifice to the Dragon therefore the King hath made Proclamation that if any Knight dare prove so adventurous as to Combat with the Dragon and preserve his Daughter's Life he shall in Reward have her to his Wife and the Crown of Egypt after his Decease This large proffer so encouraged the English Knight that he vowed either to Redeem the King's Daughter or else to lose his Life in that honourable Enterprize So taking his repose and nightly rest in the old Man's Hermitage till the chearful Cock being the true Messenger of Day gave him warning of the Sun's uprise which caused him to buckle on his Armour and to furnish his Steed with strong Habiliments of War the which being done he took his Journey guided only by the old Hermit to the Valley where the King's Daughter should be offered up in Sacrifice But when he approached the sight of the Valley he espied afar off a most fair and beautiful Damsel attired in pure Arabian Silk going to Sacrifice guarded to the place of Death only by â—age and modest Matrons Which woful sight encouraged the
the very Gall to hear the Mistriss of his Heact-reject his former Courtesies Therefore intending now or never to infringe their plighted hands went in all hast to the Egyptian King and in this manner made his Supplication Know Great Monarch of the East that I have a Secret to unfold which toucheth nearly the safeguard of your Countrey It was my chance this Evening at shutting up of Titan's Golden Gates to take the comfort of the Western breathing Air under your private Garden Walk where I heard though unseen a deep pretended Treason betwixt your Daughter and the English Knight for â—he hath vowed to for sake her gods and believe as Christians do and likewise she intends to â—lie from this her Native Country and go with this Wandring Traveller which hath been so much Honoured in your Court. Now by Mahomet and all our Country gods we Egyptians commonly adore said the King this Damned Christian shall not gain the Conquest of my Daughters Love for he shall lose his Head yet not in our Egyptian Court but by violence elâ—ewâ—ere Therefore Almidor he secreâ— in my intent for I will send him to my Cousin the Persian Souldan from whence he shall never return to Egypt again except his Ghost bring News of his bad Success into my Daughter and thereupon they presently contrived this Letter The Letter to the Souldan of Persia. I Ptolomy King of Egypt and the Eastern Territories send Greeting to Thee â—he Mighty Souldan of Persia great Emperor of the Provinces of bigger Asia This is the Request upon the League of Friendship betwixt us to shew the Bearer hereof thy Servant Death for he is an utter Enemy to all Asia and Africa and a proud Contemner of our Religion Therefore sail not in my Request as thou wilt answer on the Oath and so in haste farewel Thy Kinsman Ptolomy the King of Egypt Which Letter being no sooner Subscribed and Sealed with the Great Seal of Egypt but St. George was dispatched with Embassage for Persia with the Bloody Sentence of his own Destruction to the true Delivery whereof he was sworn by the Honour of his Knighthood and for his Pawn he left behind him his good Steed and his trusty Sword Ascalon in the keeping of Ptolomy the Egyptian King only taking for his Purvoy and easie Travel one of the King's Horses Thus the Innocent Lamb Betrayed by the Wily Fox was sent to the hunger-starved Lion's Den being suffered not once to give his Lady and Mistriss understanding of his sudden departure but Travelled Day and Night through many a long and Solitary Wilderness without any Adventure worthy the Memory only hearing the dismal cry of Night-Ravens thundring in his Ears and the fearful sound of screech-Owls in the Crevices of the Earth and such like Messengers of Mischance which foretold some Fatal Accident to be at hand yet no Fear could daunt his Noble Mind nor Danger hinder his intended Travel till he had sight of the Souldan's Palace which seemed more like Paradise than any other Earthly Habitation for as the History reports the Walls and Towers of the Palace were of the purist Marble stone the Windows of Carved Silver-work Enamelled with Indian Pearl beset with Latten and Crystal Glass the outward Walls and Buildings painted with Gold the Pillars and Gates were all of Brass about the Palace was a River of great breadth and depth over the same stood a stately Bridge erected up with sumptuous workmanship of Graven Images under the Bridge a hundred Silver Bells were hung by Art so that no Creature might pass unto the Palace but they gave warning to the Souldan's Guard at the end of the Bridge was built an Alabaster Tower whereon stood an Eagle of Gold his Eyes like the richest precious Stones the brightness whereof glittered so much that all the Palace did shine with the light thereof The day that St. George entred the Souldan's Court was when the Persians Solemnly Sacrificed to their gods Mahomet and Apollo which unchristian Procession so moved the impatience of the English Champion that he took the Ensigns and Streamers whereon the Persian gods were Pictured and trampled them under his Feet whereupon the Pagans presently fled to the Souldan for Succour and shewed him how a strange Knight had despised their Mahomet and trampled their Banners in the Dust. Hereupon he sent an hundred of his Armed Knights to know the cause of that sudden uproar and to bring the Christian Champion bound to his Majesty but the Persian Knights were entertained with such a bloody Banquet that some of their heads tumbled in the miry Stréets and the Channels overflowed with streams of their blood the Pavements of the Palace were overspread with slaughtered men and the Walls be-sprinkled with purple gore so Uidoriously he behaved himself against the Enemies of Christ that e'er the Sun had declined the West he brought to ground the most part of the Souldan's Knights and enforced the rest ' like frighted sheep to flie to the Souldan for aid and succour which as then remained in the Palace with a Guard of a thousand Soldiers who at the report of this unexpened uproar furnished his Soldiers with Habiliments of War and came Marching from his Palace with such a mighty power as though the strength of Christendom had béen to Invade the Territories of Asia But such was the invincible Courage of Saint George that he encountred with them all and made such a Massacre in the Souldan's Court that the Pavements were covered with slaughtered Persians and the Paiace-Gate stuffed with heaps of slaughtered Pagans At last the Larum Bells were caused to be rung and the Beacons set on fire whereat the Commons of the Country rose in Arms and came flocking about the English Champion like swarms of Bees whereat through his long Encounter and the multitude of his Enemies his never daunted Courage was forced to yield and his restless Arm wearied with Fight constrained to let his Weapon fall to the Ground Thus he whose Fortitude sent thousands to wander about the Banks of Acheron stood now obedient to the Mercies of his Enemies which with their brandishing Weapons and sharp edged Faulchions environed him about Now bloody-minded Monster said the Souldan what Countrey-man soever thou art Jew Pagan or misbelieving Christian look for a Sentence of severe punishment for every drop of blood thy unhappy hand hath here shed first thy skin with sharp Razors shall be pared from thy flesh alive Next thy flesh with burning Irors seared from thy bones Lastly thy cursed Limbs drawn in pieces joynt from joynt with untamed Horses This bloody Iudgment pronounced by the Souldan moved St. George to reply in this manner Great Potentate of Asia I crave the Liberty and Law of Arms whereto all the Kings of the Earth are by Dath ever bound First my Descent in my Native Countrey is of Royal Blood and therefore challenge I a Combate Secondly an Embassador am I from Ptolomy the King of Egypt
and therefore no Uiolence should be proffered me Lastly the Laws of Asia grant me safe Conduct back to Egypt therefore what I have done Ptolomy must answer And thereupon he delivered the Letter Sealed with the Great Seal of Egypt the which was no sooner broken up and Read but the Souldan's Eyes sparkled like Fire and upon his Countenance appeared the Image of Wrath and Discontent Thou art by the Report of Ptolomy said the Souldan a great contemner of our Gods and despiser of our Laws therefore his Pleasure is that I should end thy days by some inhumane death the which I swear by Mahomet and all my Country Gods to accomplish and thereupon he gave him in keeping to an hundred of the Ianisaries till the day of Execution which was appointed within thirty days following Hereupon they disroved him of his Apparel and attired him in simple and vase Array his Arms that late were employed to weild the mighty Target and tâ—ss the weighty Battle-Ax they strongly fettered up in Iron Bolts and those Haâ—ds which were wont to be garnished with Steely Gauntlets they bound up in Hempen Bands that the purple blood trickled down from his Finger's ends and so being despoiled of all Knightly Dignity they conveyed him to a deep dark and desolate Dungeon wherein the Golden Sun did never shew his splenoent Beams nor never could the comfortable light of Heaven be sâ—â—n betwixt the day and night no difference could he make the Summer's parching heat and the Winters freezing cold were both alike his chiefest comforts were to number the Persians he had sâ—ain in the conflict one white pâ—ndring in his restless thoughts the ingratitude of Ptolomy the Egypâ—â—â—n King another while remembring his Love and Uow and deep Affection that he bare to the Egyptian's Daughter and how unkindly she took his departure carving her Picture with the Nails of his Fingers upon the Walls of the Dungeon to which sensless substance he would many times thus complain O cruel Destinies why is this grievous punishment assotted to my Pennance Have I conspired against the Majesty of Heaven that they have thrown this Uengeance on my head shall I never recover my former Liberty that I may be Revenged upon the causers of my Imprisonment Frown Angry Heavens upon these bloody-minded Pagans these daring Misereants and professed Enemies of Christ and may the Plagues of Pâ—araoh light upon their Countreys and the miseries of Oelipus upon their Princes that they may be witnesses of their Daughters Ravishment and behold their Cities flaming like the burning Battlements of Troy Thus lamented he the loss of his Liberty Accursing his Birth-day and hour of his Creation wishing that it â—â—ver might be numbred in the year but be counted Ominous to all ensuing Ages His Sighs exceeded the number of the Ocean-sands and his Tears the Water-bubbles in a Rainy day as one diminished another presently appeared Thus Sorrow was his Company and Despair his chief Solicitor till Hyperion with his Golden Coach had thirty times rested in Thetis's purple Palace and Cynthia thirty times danc'dupon the Crystal Waves which was the very time when as his moans should end according to the severe and cruel Iudgment of the Souldan of Persia. But by what extraordinary means he knew not So expecting every minute to entertain the wished Messenger of Death heard afar off the terrible Roaring of two hunger-starved Lions which for the space of four days had been restrained from their Food and natural sustenance only to devour and staunch their hunger-starved bowels with the body of this thrice Renowned Champion which cry of the Lions so terrified his mind that the Hair of his Head grew stiff and his Brows sweat water thro' anguish of his Soul so extreamly he feared the remorsless stroke of Death that by Uiolence he burst the Chains in sunder wherewith he was bound and rent the curled Tresses from his Head that were of the colour of Amber the which he wrapped about his Arms against the assault of the Lyons for he greatly suspected them to be the Messengers of his woful Tragedy which indeed was so appointed for at the same instant they descended the Dungeon brought thither by the Ianisaries only to make a full period of the Champion's Life but such was the Invincible Fortitude of St. George and so politick was his Defence that when the starved Lions came running on him with open Iaws he valiantly thrust his sinewed arms into their throats being wrapped about with the hair of his head whereby they presently choaked and so he pulled out their hearts Which spectacle the Souldan's Ianisaries beholding were so amazed with fear that they ran in all haste to the Palace and certified the Souldan what had hapned who commanded every part of the Court to be strongly Guarded with Armed Soldiers supposing the English Knight rather to be some Monster ascended from the deep than any Creature of Humane Substance or else one possessed with some Divine Inspiration that by the force of Arms had accomplished â—o many adventurous Stratagems such a Terrour assailed the Souldan's heart seeing he had slain two Lions and slaughtered two thousand Persians with his own hands and likewise had intelligence how he slew a burning Dragon in Egypt that he caused the Dungeon to be closed up with Bars of Iron lest he should by Policy or Fortitude recover his Liberty and so â—ndanger the whole Country of Persia where he remained in Want Penury and great Necessity for the term of Seven Winters living only upon Rats and Mice with other creeping Worms which he caught in the Dungeon During which time he never tasied the Bread of Corn but of Bran and Channel-water which daily was served him through Iron Gates where now we leave St. George languishing in great misery and return again into Egypt where we lest Sabra the Champion's betrothed Lady lamenting the want of his Company whom she loved dearer than any Knight in the World Sabra that was the fairest Maid that ever mortal eye beheld in whom both Art and Nature seemed to excell in curious Workmanship her Body being straiter than the stately Cedar her Beauty purer than the Paphian Queens the one with over-burthened Grief was quite altered and the other stained with floods of brackish Tears that daily trickled down from her fair Cheeks whereupon sate the very Image of Discontent the Map of Woe and the only mirror of Sorrow she accounted all company loathsome to her sight and excluded the fellowship of all Ladies only betaking her self to a solitary Cabinet where she sate sowing many a woâ—ul Story upon a crimson coloured Sampler whereon sometimes she bathed wounded hearts with luke-warm tears that fell from the conduits of her eyes then presently with her crisped Locks of Hair which dangled down her Ivory Neck she dried up the moisture of her sorrowful tears then thinking upon the plighted Promises of her dearly beloved Knight fell into these Passions and pitiful Complaints O Love
forsake their proper Nature At which words the Champion gave her the Courtesies of his Country and sealed her Promises with a loving Kiss After which Beautiful Eâ—lantine being ashamed of her Nakedness Weaved her self a Garment of green Rushes intermixed with such variety of sundry Flowers that it surpassed for workmanship the Indian Maidens curious Webs her crisped Locks of Hair continued still of the colour of the Mulberry-tree whereby she seemed like Flora in her greatest Royalty when the Fields were decked with Natures Tapestry After which she washed her Lilly-hands and Rose-coloured Face in the dew of Heaven which she gathered from a Bed of Uiolets-Thus in green Uestments she intends in company of her true Love the Ualiant Knight of France to take her Iourney to her Father's Court being as then the King of that Countrey where after some few days Travel they arrived safe in the Court of Thessaly whose Welcomes were according to their wishes and their Entertainments most Honourable for no sooner did the King behold his Daughters safe approach of whose strange Transformation he was ever ignorant but he fell in such a deadly swoon through the exceeding joy of her presence that for a time his Senses were without vital moving and his heart imbraced so kindly her dainty body and proffered such Courtesie to the strange Knight that St. Denis accounted him the mirror of all Courtesie and the pattern of true Nobility After the Champion was unarmed his stiff and wearied Limbs were bathed in new Milk and White-wine he was conveyed to sweet smelling Fire made of Iuniper and the fair Eglantine conducted by the Maidens of Honour to a private Chamber where she was Disrobed of her Silvan Attire and apparelled in a pall of purple Silk in which Court of Thessaly we will leave this our Champion of France with his Lady and go forward in the Discourse of the other Champions discovering what Adventures hapned to them during the seven years But first how St. James the Champion of Spain fell in Love with a fair Jew and how for her sake he continued seven years dumb and after if Apollo grant my Muse the gift of Scholarism and dip my Pen in the Ink of Art I will not rest my weary hand till I have explained the honourable Proceedings of the Knights of England France Spain Italy Scotland Wales and Ireland to the honour of Christendom and the dishonour of all the professed Enemies of Christ. CHAP. V. How St. Iames the Champion of Spain continued seven years dumb for the love of a fair Jew and how he should have been shot to death by the Maidens of Ierusalem with other things which chanced in his Travels NOw must my Muse speak of the strange Adventures of St. James of Spain the Third Champion and Renowned Knight of Christendom and what hapned unto him in his seven years Trauels through many a strange Country by Sea and Land where his Honourable Acts were so Dangerous and full of Wonder that I want skill to express and art to describe also I am forced for brevities sake to pass over his dangerous Battel with the burning Drake upon the flaming Mount in Sicily which terrible Combat continued for the space of seven days and seven nights Likewise I omit his Travel in Capâ—aâ—ocia through a Wilderness of Monsters with his passage over the Red Seaâ—â— where his Ship was devoured with Worms his Mariners drowned and Himself his Horse and Furniture safely brought to Land by the Sea-Nymphs and Mairmaids where after his long Travels passed Perils and dangerous Tempests amongst the boisterâ—us Billows of the raging Seas he arrived in the unhappy Dominions of Judah unhappy by reason of the long and troublesome misery he endured for the Love of a fair Jew For coming to the beautiful City Jerusalem being in that Age the Wonder of the World for brave Buildings Princely Palaces Gorgeous Mountains and time-wondring Temples he so admired the glorious situation thereof being the richest place that ever his eyes 〈◊〉 that he stood before the Walls of Jerusalem one while gazing upon her Golden Gates glistering against the Sun's bright countâ—nance another while beholding her stately Pinacles whose lofty peeping tops seemed to touch the Clouds another while wondring at her Towers of Iasper Iet and Ebony her strong and fortified Walls three times double about the City the glistering Spires of the Temple of Sion built in the fashion and similitude of the Pyramids the ancient Monument of Greece whose Battlements were covered with steel the Walls burnished with Silver the Ground paved with Tin Thus as this ennobled and famous â—ntat Arms stood beholding the situation of Jerusalem there suddenly thundred such a peal of Ordnance within the City that it seemed in his Ravished Conceit to shake the Uail of Heaven and to move the deep Foundations of the fastned Earth whereat his Horse gave such a sudden start that he leaped ten foot from the place whereon he stood After this he heard the sound of Drums and the chearful Ecchoes of brazen Trumpets by which the Ualiant Champion expected some honourable Pastime or some great Tournament to be at hand which indeed so fell out for no sooner did he cast his vigilant Eyes toward the East-side of the City but he beheld a Troop of well appointed Horse come marching through the Gates after them twelve Armed Knights mounted on twelve Warlike Coursers bearing in their hands twelve blood-red Streamers whereon was wrought in Silk the Picture of Adonis wounded with a Boar after them the King drawn in a Chariot by Spanish Iennets which being a certain kind of Steeds ingendred by the Wind The King's Guard were a 100 naked Moors with Turkish Bows and Darts feathered with Ravens wings after them marched Celestine the King of Jerusalem's fair Daughter mounted on a tame Unicorn In her hand a Iavelin of Silver and Armed with a Breast-plate of Gold artificially wrought like the Scales of a Porcupine her Guard were an hundred Amazonian Dames clad in green Silk after them followed a number of Esquires and Gentlemen some upon Barbarian Steeds some upon Arabian Palfries and some on foot in pace more nimble than the tripping Deer and more swift than the tamest Hart upon the Mountains of Thessaly Thus Nebuzaradan great King of Jerusalem for so was he called solemnly hunted in the Wilderness of Judah being a Country very much annoyed with Wild Beasts as the Lyon the Leopard the Boar and such like in which exercise the King appointed as it was Proclaimed by his chief Herauld at Arms the which he heard repeated by the Shepherd in the Fields that whosoever slew the first Wild-beast in the Forrest should have in reward a Corsset of Steel so richly engraven that it should be worth a thousand sheckles of Silver Of which honourable enterprize when the Champion had understanding and with what liberal bounty the adventurous Knight would be rewarded his heart was fraught with invincible courage thirsting after
glorious Attempts not only for hope of gain but for the desire of honour at which his illustrious and undaunted mind aimed to eternize his Deeds in the memorable Records of Fame and to shine as a Crystal Mirror to all ensuing Times So closing down his Bever and locking on his Furniture he scoured over the Plains before the Hunters of Jerusalem in pace more swift then the winged Winds till he approached an old unfrequented Forrest wherein he espied a huge and mighty Wild Boar lying before his Mossy Den gnawing upon the mangled joynts of some Passenger which he had murthered as he travelled through the Forrest This Bore was of wonderful length and bigness and so terrible to behold that at the first fight he almost daunted the Courage of the Spanish Knight for his Monstrous head séemed ugly and deformed his Eyes sparkled like a fiery Furnace his Tusks more sharp than pikes of Steel and from his Nostrils fumed such a violent breath that it seemed like a tempestuous Whirlwind his Bristles were more hard than seven times melted Brass and his Tail more loathsome than a wreath of Snakes near whom when St. James approached and beheld how he drank the blood of humane Creatures and devoured their flesh he blew his Silver Horn which as then hung at the Pummel of his Saddle in a Scarf of gréen Silk whereat the furious Monster turned himself and most fiercely assailed the Noble Champion which most nimbly leaped from his Horse and with his Spear struck such a violent blow upon the breast of the Boar that it shivered into twenty pieces Then drawing his good Fauchion from his side he gave him a second encounter but all in vain for he struck as it were upon a Rock of Stone or a Pillar of Iron nothing hurtful to the Boar but at last with staring Eyes which sparkled like burning Steel and with open Iaws the greedy Monster assailed the Champion intending to swallow him alive but the nimble Knight as then trusted more upon policy than to fortitude and so for advantage skipped from place to place till on a sudden he thrust his keen-edged Cuttle-ax down his intestine throat and so most valiantly split his heart in sunder The which being accomplished to his own desire he cut off the Boar's head and so presented the honour of the Combat to the King of Jerusalem who was then with his mighty Train of Knights but now entred the Forrest who having graciously received the gift and bountifully fulfilled his promises demanded the Champion's Country his Religion and place of his Nativity who no sooner had intelligence that he was a Christian Knight and born in the Territories of Spain but presently his patience exchanged into a great fury and by these words expressed his cankered stomach toward the Christian Champion Knowest thou not bold Knight said the King of Jerusalem that it is the Law of Iudah to harbour no uncircumcised Man but either to banish him the Land or end his days by some untimely Death Thou art a Christian and therefore shalt die not all thy Country Treasures the Wealthy Spanish Mines not if all the Alps which divide the Countries of Italy and Spain were torn'd to Hills of burnisht Gold and made my Lawful Heritage they should not redeem thy Life Yet for the honour thou haâ—â— done in Iuda I grant thee this favour by the Law of Arms to choose thy Death else hadst thou suffered a vigorous Torment Which severe Iudgment so amazed the Champion that desperately he would have killed himself upon his own Sword but that he thought it a more Honour to his Country to dye in the Defence of Christendom So like a true ennoâ—led Knight fearing neither the Threats of the Iews nor the impartial stroke of the fatal Sisters he gave this Sentence of his own Death First he requested to be bound to a Pine-tree with his Breast laid open naked against the Sun then to have an hours respite to make his supplication to his Creator and afterwards to be shot to death by a true Uirgin Which words were no sooner pronounced but they disarmed him of his Furniture bound him to a Pine-tree and laid his Breast open ready to entertain the bloody stroke of some unrelenting Maiden but such pity meekness mercy and kind lenity lodged in the heart of every maiden that none would take in hand or be the bloody Executioner of so bravea Knight At last the Tyrannous Nabuzaradan gave strict Commandment upon pain of Death that Lots should be east betwixt the Maids of Juda that were there present and so whom the Lot fell she should be the fatal Executioner of the Condemned Christian. But by chanee the Lot fell to Celestine the King 's own Daughter being the Paragon of Beauty and the fairest Maid then living in Jerusalem in whose heart no such deed of cruelty could be harboured nor in whose hand no bloody Weapon could be entertained Instead of Death's fatal Instrument she shot towards his Breast a deep strained sigh the true messenger of Love and afterwards to Heaven she thus made her humble supplication Thou great Commander of Coelestial moving Powers convert the cruel motions of my Father's mind into a spring of pitiful tears that they may wash away the Blood of this innocent Knight from the habitation of his stained purple Soul O Iudah and Ierusalem within whose Bosoms live a Wilderness of Tygers degenerate from Nature's kind more cruel than the hungry Cannibals and more obdurate than untamed Lions what merciless Tygers can unrip that Breast where lives the Image of true Nobility the very Pattern of Kinghthood and the Map of a noble Mind No no before my hand shall be stained with Christians Blood I will like Scilla against all Nature sell my Country's safety or like Medea wander with the Golden Fleece to unknown Nations Thus and in such manner complained the beauteous Celestine the King's Daughter of Jerusalem till her sighs stopped the passage of her Speech and her Tears stained the natural Beauty of her Rosie Cheeks her Hair which glistred like to Golden Wires she besmeared in dust and disrobed her self of her costly Garments and then with a Train of her Amazonian Ladies went to the King her Father where after a long suit she not only obtained his Life but Liberty yet therewithall his perpetual Banishment from Jerusalem and from all the Borders of Judah the want of whose sight more grieved her heart than the loss of her own life So this Noble and Praise-worthy Celestine returns to the Christian Champion that expected every minute to entertain the Sentence of Death but this expectation fell out contrary for the good Lady after she had sealed two or three Kisses upon his pale Lips being changed through the fear of Death cut the bands that bound his Body to the Tree into many pieces and then with a flood of salt Tears the motives of true Love she thus revealed her mind Most Noble Knight and
Swans in which likeness we remained seven years but at last recovered by a worthy Christian Knight named St. Andrew the Champion of Scotland after whom we have Travelled many a weary step never crossed by any Violence until it was our angry Fates to arrive in this unhappy Wilderness where your eyes have been true witnesses of our Misfortunes Which sad Discourse was no sooner finished but the Worthy Champion thus began to comfort the distressed Ladies The Christian Champion after whom you take in hand this weary Travel said the Irish Champion is my approved Friend for whose Company and wished for Sight I will go more weary miles than there be Trees in this vast Wilderness and number my steps with the Sands hidden in the Seas Therefore most excellent Ladies true Ornaments of Beauty be sad Companions in my Travels for I will never cease till I have found our Honourable Friend the Champion of Scotland or some of those brave Knights whom I have not seen these seven Summers These words so contented the sorrowful Ladies that without any exception they agréed and with as much willingness consented as the Champion demanded So after they had recreated themselves eased their weariness and cured their Wounds which was by the secret Uertues of certain Herbs growing in the same Woods they took their Iourneys anew under the Conduct of this Worthy Champion St. Patrick where after some days Travel the obtained the â—ight of a broad beaten way where committing their Fortunes to the Fatal Sisters and setting their Faces toward the East they merrily Iourneyed together In whose Fortunate Travels we will leave them and speak of the seventh Christian Champion whose Adventurous Exploitâ— and Knightly Honours deserve a Golden Den dipt in Ink of truâ— Fame to Discourse at Large CHAP. IX How St. David the Champion of Wales slew the Count Palatine in the Tartarian Court and after how he was sent to the Enchanted Garden of Drmandine wherein by Magick Art he slept seven years SAint David the most Noble Champion of Wales after his departure from the Brazen Pillar whereat the other Champions of Christendom divided themselves severally to seek Foreign Adventures he atchieved many memorable things as well in Christendom as in those Nations that acknowledged no true God which as for this time I omit and only discourse what hapned unto him among the Tartarians for being in the Emperor of Tartary's Court a place very much honoured with Ualorous Knights highly graced with a Train of Beautiful Ladies where the Emperor upon a time Drdained a Solemn Iust and Tournament to be holden in the honour of his Birth-day whither resorted at the time appointed from all the Borders of Tartary the best and the hardiest Knights there remaining In which Honourable and Princely Exercise the Noble Knight St. David was appointed Champion for the Emperor who was Mounted upon a Morocco Stéed betrapped in a rich Eaparison wrought by the curious work of Indian Women upon whose Shield was set a Golden Griffen rampant in a Field of Blue Against him came the Count Palatine Son and Heir apparent to the Tartarian Emperor brought in by twelve Knights Richly furnished with Habiliments of Honour who paced thrée times about the Lists before the Emperor and many Ladies that were present to behold the honourable Tournament The which being done the twelve Knights departed the Lists and the Count Palatine prepared himself to Encounter with the Christian Knight being appointed chief Champion for the Day who likewise prepared himself and at the Trumpet 's Sound by the Herald's appointment they ran so fiercely each against other that the Ground séemed to shake under them and the Skies to resound Ecchoes of their mighty strokes At the second Race the Champions ran St. David had the worst and was constrained through the forcible strength of the Count Palatine to lean backward almost beside his Saddle whereat the Trumpets began to sound in sign of Uictory but yet the Ualiant Christian nothing dismayed but with a Courage within whose eyes sate Knightly Revenge ran the third time against the Count Palatine and by the Uiolence of his Strength he overthrew both Horse and Man whereby the Count's Body was so extreamly bruised with the fall of his Horse that his heart-blood issued forth by his mouth and his vital spirits pressed from the mansion of his breast so that he was forced to give the World Farewell This fatal Overthrow of the Count Palatine abashed the whole Company but especially the Tartarian Emperor who having no more Sons but him caused the Lists to be broken up the Knights to be unarmed and the murdered Count to be brought by four Esquires into his Palace where after he was despoiled of his Furniture and the Christian Knight received in honour of his Uictory the woeful Emperor bathed his Son's Body with Tears which dropped like Crystal Pearls from the congealed blood and after many sad sighs he breathed forth this woful Lamentation Now are my Triumphs turned into Everlasting Woes from a Comical Pastime to a direful and Bloody Tragedy O most unkind Fortune never Constant but in Change why is my Life deferred to see the downfall of my dear Son the Noble Count Palatine Why rends not this accursed Earth whereon I stand and presently swallow up my Body into her hungry Bowels Is this the use of Christians For true Honour to repay Dishonour Could not base blood serve to stain his deadly hands withall but the Royal blood of my dear Son in whose Revenge the face of the Heavens is stained with Blood and cries for Vengeance to the Majesty of Mighty Jove The dreadful Furies the direful daughters of dark Night and all the baleful company of burning Acheron whose Loins shall be girt with Serpents and Hair be hanged with Wreaths of Snakes shall haunt pursue and follow that accursed Christian Champion that hath bereaved my Country Tartary of so precious a Jewel as my dear Son the Count Palatine was whose Magnanimous Prowess did surpass all the Knights of our recovery Thus sorrowed the woful Emperor for the Death of his Noble Son Sometimes making the Ecchoes of his Lamentations pierce the Elements Another while forcing his bitter Curses to sink to the deep Foundations of Acheron One while intending to be Revenged on St. David the Christian Champion then presently his intent was crossed with a contrary imagination thinking it was against the Law of Arms and a great Dishonour to his Country by Uiolence to Oppress a strange Knight whose Anions had ever been guided by true Honour but yet at last this firm Resolution entred into his Mind There was adjoyning upon the Borders of Tartary an Enchanted Garden kept by Magick Art from whence never any returned that attempted to enter the Governour of which Garden was a Notable and Famous Necromancer named Ormandine to which Magician the Tartarian Emperor intended to send the Adventurous Champion St. David thereby to Revenge the Count Palatine's Death
pitied a Traveller or granted succour to a Christian Knight give to me one meals meat now almost famisht To whom the Lady aâ—ter a curst â—rown or two answered in this order Sir Knight quoth she I advise thee with all speed to depart for here thou gettest but a cold Dinner my Lord is a mighty Gyant and believeth in Mahomet and if he once do but understand that thou art a Christian Knight not all the Gold of higher India nor the Riches of wealthy Babylon can preserve thy Life Now by the honour of my Knighthood replied St. George and by the great God that Christendom adores were thy Lord more stronger than mighty Hercules that bore Mountains on his back here will I either obtain my Dinner or die by his accursed hand These words so abashed the Lady that she went with all speed from the Tower and told the Gyant how a Christian Knight remained at the Gate which had sworn to suffice his hunger in despite of his will Whereat the furious Gyant suddenly started up being as then in a sound sleep for it was the middle of the day who took a bar of Iron in his hand and came down to the Tower Gate His stature was in heighth five yards his head bristled like a Bore a foot there was betwixt each Brow his Eyes hollow his Mouth wide his Lips werelike to flaps of Steel in all his proportion more like a Devil than a Man Which deformed Monster so daunted the Courage of St. George that he prepared himself for Death Not through fear of the Monstrous Gyant but for hunger and feebleness of body but here God provided for him and so restored to him his decayed strength that he endured Battel untill the closing up of the Evening by which time the Gyant grew almost blind through the sweat that ran down from his monstrous Brows whereat St. George got the advantage and wounded the Gyant so cruelly under the short Ribs that he was compelled to fall to the Ground and to give end to his Life After which happy event of the Gyant 's slaughter the invincible Champion St. George first gave the Honour of his Uictory unto God in whose power all his Fortune consisted Then entring the Tower whereas the Lady presented him with all manner of Delicates and pure Wines but the English Knight suspecting Treachery to be hidden in her proffered Courtesie caused her first to taste of every Dish likewise of his Wine least some violent Poison should be therein commixt Finding all things pure and wholsome as Nature required he sufficed his hunger rested his weary Body and refreshed his Horse And so leaving the Tower in keeping of the Lady he committed his Fortune to a new Travel where his revived Spirits never entertained longer Rest but to the refreshing of himself and his Horse so Travelled he through part of Grecia the Confines of Phrygia and into the Borders of Tartory within whose Territories he had not long Iourneyed but he approached the sight of the Enchanted Garden of Ormandine where St. David the Champion of Wales had so long slept by Magick Art But no sooner did he behold the wonderful Situation thereof but he espied Ormandine's Sword enclosed in the Enchanted Rock where after he had read the superscription written about the Pummel he essayed to pull it out by strength where he no sooner put his hand into the Nilt but he drew it forth with much ease as though it had been hung by a Thread of untwisted Silk but when he beheld the glistering brightness of the Blade and the wonderful Richness of the Pummel he accounted the Prize more worth than the Armour of Achilles which caused Ajâ—x to run mad and more Riches than Medea's Golden Fléece But by that time St. George had circumspectly looked into every secret of the Sword he heard a strange and dismal voice Thunder in the Skyes a Terrible and Mighty Lumbring in the Earth whereat both Hills and Mountains shook Rocks removed and Daks Rent into pieces After this the Gates of the Enchanted Garden flew open whereat incontinently came forth Ormandine the Magician with his Hair staring on his Head his Eyes sparkling his Chéeks blushing his Hands quivering his Legs trembling and all the rest of his Body distempered as though Legions of Spirits had encompassed him about he came directly to the worthy English Knight that remained still by the Enchanted Rock from whence he had pulled the Magician's Sword whence after the Necromancer had sufficiently beheld his Princely Countenance whereon true Honour sat Enthronized and viewed his portly Personage the Image of true Knighthood the which séemed in the Magician's Eyes to be the rarest work that ever Nature framed First he took the most Ualiant and Magnanimous Champion St. George of England by the Steely Gauntlet and with great Humility kissed it then proffering him the Courtesies due unto Strangers which was performed very graciously he afterwards conducted him into the Enchanted Garden to the Cave where the Champion of Wales was kept sleeping by four Uirgins singing delightful Songs and after setting him a Chair of Ebony Ormandine thus began to relate of wonderful things Renowned Knight at Arms said the Necromancer Fame's worthiest Champion whose strange Adventures all Christendom in time to come shall applaud be silent till I have told my Tale for never after this must my Tongue speak again The Knight which thou seest here wrapt in this Sheet of Gold is a Christian Champion as thou art sprung from the ancient Seed of Trojan Warriours who likewise attempted to draw this Enchanted Sword but my Magick Spells so prevailed that he was intercepted in the Enterprize and forced ever since to remain sleeping in this Cave but now the hour is almost come of his Recovery which by thee must be accomplished Thou art that Adventurous Champion whose Invincible Hand must finish up my detested Life and send my fleeting Soul to draw thy fatal Chariot on the Banks of burning Acheron for my time was limited to remain no longer in this Enchanted Garden but till that from the North should come a Knight that should pull this Sword from the Enchanted Rock which thou happily hast now performed therefore I know my time is short and my hour of Destiny at hand What I report write in brazen Lines for the time will come when this Discourse shall highly benefit thee Take heed thou observe three things first that thou take to Wife a pure Maid Next that thou erect a Monument over thy Father's Grave And lastly That thou continue a professed Enemy to the Foes of Christ Iesus bearing Arms in the Honour and Praise of thy Country These things being truly and justly observed thou shalt attain such Honour that all Kingdoms of Christendom shall admire thy Dignity what I speak is upon no vain imagination sprung from a frantick Brain but pronounced by this Mystical and deep Art of Necromancy These words were no sooner ended but the most
her Sister's Wedding The Ceremonies being no sooner performed and the day spent in pleasures fitting the Honour of so great and Mighty a Train but Castria requested the use of the Country which was â—his that the first night of every Maidens Marriage a known Uirgin should lie with the Bride which Honourable task was committed to Castria who provided against the hour appointed a silver Bodkin and hid it secretly in the â—amels of her hair wherewith she intended to prosecute Revenge The Bride's Lodging-Chamber was appointed far from the hearing of any one lest the noise of People should hinder her quiet sleep But at last when the hour of her wishes approached that the Bride should take leave of her Ladies and Maidens that attended her to her Chamber the new-Married Floridon in company of many Scythian Knights committed Marcilla to her quiet Rest little mistrusting the bloody purpose of her Sisters mind But now behold how every thing fell out according to her desires The Ladies and Gentlemen were no sooner departed and silence taken possession of the whole Court but Castria with her own hand locked the Chamber-door and secretly conveyed the Keys under the Beds-head not perceived by the betrayed Marcilla which poor Lady after some speeches departed to Bed wherein she was no sooner laid but a heavy sléep over-mastered her Senses whereby her tongue was forced to bid her Sister good-night who as then sate discontented by her Bed-side watching the time wherein she might conveniently Act the Bloody Tragedy upon a Court-Cupboard stood two burning Tapers that gave Light to the whole Chamber which in her conceit seemed to burn blue which fatal spectacle encouraged her to a more spéedy performance and by the light of the two Lamps she unbraced her Uestures and stripped her self into her Milk-white Smock having not so much upon her head as a Caul to hold up her golden hair after this she took her Silver Bodkin that before she had secretly hidden in her hair and with a wrathful Countenance upon whose brows sate the Image of pale death she came to her new Married Sister being then overcome with a heavy slumber and with her Bodkin pierced her tender Breast who immediately at the stroke thereof started from her sleep and gave such a pitiful shriek that it would have awakened the whole Court but that the Chamber stood far from the hearing of Company except her bloody-minded Sister whose hand was ready to redouble her Fury with a second stroak But when Marcilla beheld the Sheets and Ornaments of her Bed bestained with purple gore and from her Breast ran streams of Crimson blood which like to a Fountain trickled from her bosom she breathed forth this cruel exclamation against the cruelty of Castria O Sister quoth she hath Nature harboured in thy Breast a Bloody mind what Fury hath incensed thee thus to commit my Tragedy In what have I misdone or wherein hath my Tongue offended thee What cause hath been the occasion that thy remorsless band against Nature hath converted my joyful Nuptials to a woful Funeral This is the cause Replyed Castria and therewithal shewed her Womb grown big through the burthen of her Child that I have bathed my hands in thy detested Blood See see Marcilla said she the unhappy Bed wherein thy accursed Husband hath sown his Seed by which my Virgins honour is for ever stained this is the spot which thy heart blood must wash away and this is the shame that nothing but death shall finish therefore a sweet Revenge and a present Murther likewise will I commit upon my self whereby my loathed Soul in company of my unborn Babe shall wander with my Ghost along the Stygian Lakes Which words being no sooner finished but she violently pierced her own Breast whereby the two Sisters Blood were equally mingled together but now Marcilla being the first wounded and the nearer drawing toward Death she wofully complained with this dying Lamentation Draw near said she you blazing Stars you Earthly Angels you embroidered Girls you lovely Ladies and flourishing Dames of Scythia behold her woful end whose Glories mounted to the Elements behold my Marriage-bed here beautified with Tapestry converted to Death's Bloody Habitation my brave Attire to Earthly Mould and my Princely Palaces to Elizium shades being a place appointed for those Dames that lived and dy'd true Virgins for now I feel the pains of Death closing my Life's Windows and Heart ready to entertain the stroke of Destiny Come Floridon come instead of Arms get Eagles Wings that in thy Bosom I may breathe my murdered Ghost World fare thou well I was too proud of thy inticing pleasures thy Princely Pomp and all thy glistring Ornaments I must for ever bid adieu Father farewell with all my Masking Train Courtly Ladies Knights and Gentlewomen my Death I know will make thy Palace Death's Gloomy Regiment and last of all farewell my Noble Floridon for thy sweet sake Marcilla here is Murdered At the end of which words the dying Lady being faint with the abundance of Blood that issued from her wounded Breast gave up the Ghost No sooner had pale Death seized on her liveless body but Castria through the extremity of her wounds was ready to entertain the stroke of her fatal Sister who also complained in this manner Hearken to me you Loving Girls said she to you I speak that know what endless grief disloyal and false Love breeds in constant minds the thought whereof is so intolerable to my Soul that it exceeds the Torments of Danae's Daughters which continually fill Water in bottomless Tubs in Hell Oh that my Ears had never listened to his sugared spéeches nor never known what Courtly pleasures meant where Beauty lives a bait for every lustful eye but rather to have lived a Country Lass where sweet content is harboured and Beauty shrowded under true Humility then had not Floridon bereaved me of my sweet Uirginity nor had this accursed hand committed this cruel Murder But Oh! I feel my soul passing into Elizium shades where Croesus's shadow and Didoe's Ghost have their abidings thither doth my spirit flie to be entertained amongst those unhappy Ladies whom unconstant Love hath murdered Thus Castria not being able to speak any longer gave a very grievous sigh and so bad adieu to the World Now when the Morning Sun had chased away the darksome Night Floridon who little mistrusted the Tragedy of the two Sisters repaired to the Chamber-door with a Consort of skilful Musicians where the inspiring Harmony sounded to the Walls and Floridon's Morning Salutations were spent in vain For Death so stopped the two Princesses Ears that no resound of thanks at all re-answered his words which caused Floridon to depart thinking them to be asleep and to return within an hour after who without any Company came to the Chamber-door where he again found all silent at which suspecting some future event he burst open the Door where being no sooner entred but he sound the
Noble-minded Champion of Wales obtained such favour at the Emperor's hands that he likewise was chief Challenger who entred the Lists upon a Tartarian Palsrey covered with a veil of Black to signifie a black and Tragical day should befall those Grecian Knights that durst approve his invincible Fortitude His Tent was pitcht in the marmer and form of a Castle in the West side of the Lists before the entry whereof hung a Golden Shield whereon was lively pourtrayed a silver Griffin Rampant upon a Golden Helmet which signified the Ancient Arms of Britain His Srmcely Atchievements not only obtained due commendations at the Emperor's hands but of the whole Assembly of the Grecian Ladies wherewith they applauded him to be the most Noble Knight that ever â—hidered Launce and the most fortunate Champion that ever entred into the Grecian Court. Upon the seventh and last day of these Honourable Turnaments and most Noble Sroceedings the Famous and Ualiant Knight at Arms St. George of England as Chief Challenger entred the Lists upon a Sable-coloured Steed betrapt with Bars of burnished Gold his Fore-head beautified with a gorgeous Plume of purple Feathers from whence hung many Pendants of Gold his Armour of the purest Lydian Steel nailed fast together with silver Plates his Helmet ingraven very curiously beset with Indian Pearl and Iasper-stones before his Breast-place hung a silver Table in a Damask Scarf whereon was pinured a Lion Rampant in a bloody Field bearing three golden Crowns upon his head before his Tent stood an Ivory Chariot guarded by twelve cole-black Negroes wherein his beloved Lady and Mistress Sabra sate invested upon a sâ—â—ver Globe to behold the Heroical Encounters of her most Noble and Magnanimous Champion St. George of England His Tent was as white as the Swans Feathers glistring against the Sun supported by four joyntless Elephants framed of the purest Brass about his Helmet he tied a wreath of Uirgin's hair where hung his Lady's Glove which he wore to maintain her excellent Gifts of Nature to exceed all Ladies on the Earth These costly Habiliments ravished the beholders with such unspeakable pleasure that they stood gazing at his Furniture not able to withdraw their Eyes from so Heavenly a sight But when they behold his Uictorious Encounters against the Grecian Knights they supposed him to be the invincible Tamer of that seven-headed Monster that climbed to the Elements offering to pull Jupiter from his Throne His Stéed never gave Encounter with any Knight but he tumbled Horse and Man to the Ground where they lay for a time berest of Sense The Tournaments dured for that day from the Suns rising till the cole-black Evening-Star appeared in which time he Conquered five hundred of the hardiest Knights then living in Asia and shivered a thousand Launces to the wonderful admiration of the Beholders Thus were the seven days brought to an end by the Seven worthy Champions of Christendom in reward of whose Noble Atchievements the Grecian Emperor being a Man that highly favoured Knightly Proceedings gave them a Golden Tree with seven Branches to be divided equally amongst them Which Honourable Prize they conveyed to St. George's Pavillion where in dividing the Branches the Seven Champions discovered themselves each to other and by what good Fortune they arrived in the Grecian Court whose long wished sight so rejoyced their hearts that they all accounted that happy day of meeting the joyfullest day that ever they beheld But now after the Tournaments were fully ended and the Knights rested themselves some few days recovering their wonted agility of Body they fell to a new exercise of pleasure not appearing in glistring Armour before the Tilt nor following the loud sounding Drums and Silver Trumpets but spending away the time in Courtry Dances amongst their â—â— loved Ladies and Mistresses in more Royalty than the Phâ—ygian Knights when they presented the Paragon of Asia with an Enchanted Mask There wanted no inspiring Musick to delight their Ears no pleasant Sonnets to ravish their Senses nor no curious Dances to please their Eyes Sabra she was the Mistress of the Revels who graced the whole Court with her excellent Beauty which seemed to exceed the rest of the Ladies in fairness as far as the Moon surpasseth her attending Stars in a froâ—ty Night and when she danced she seemed like Thetis tripping on the silver Sands with whom the Sun did fall in Love And if she chanced to smile the cloudy Elements would weep and drop down heavenly dew as though they mourned for Love There likewise remained in the Court the six Thracian Uirgins that in former time lived in the shape of Swans which were as Beautiful Ladies as ever eye beheld also many other Ladies attended the Empress in whose Companies the Seven Champions daily delighted Sometimes discoursing of Amorous conceits other times delighting themselves with sweet sounding Musick Then spending the day in Banqueting Revelling Dancing and such like pastimes not once injuring their true betrothed Ladies But their Courtly pleasures continued not long for they were suddenly dashed with a certain News of open Wars Proclaimed against all Christendem which fell out contrary to the expectation of the Christian Knights There arrived in the Grecian Emperor's Palace an hundred Heralds of an hundred several Provinces which Proclaimed utter Defiance to all Christian Kingdoms by these words We the High and Mighty Emperors of Asia and Africa great Commanders both of Land and Seas Proclaim by general Consent of all the Eastern Potentates utter Ruine and Destruction to the Kingdoms of Christendom and to all those Nations where any Christian Knights are harboured First the Souldan of Persia in Revenge of a Bloody Slaughter done in his Palace by an English Champion Ptolomy the Egyptian King in Revenge of his Daughter violently taken away by the same Knight Almidor the black King of Morocco in Revenge of his Queen likewise taken away by the said English Champion The great Governor of Thessaly in Revenge of his Daughter taken away by a French Knight The King of Ierusalem in Revenge of his Daughter taken away by a Spanish Knight The Tartarian Emperor in Revenge of his Son Count Palatine slain by the unhappy hand of the Champion of Wales the Thracian Monarch in Revenge of his vain Travel after his seven Daughters now in keeping of certain Christian Knights In Revenge of which Injuries all Kingdoms from the further parts of Prester-Iohn's Dominions to the Borders of the Red-Sea have sent down their Hands and Seals to be Aiders in this bloody War This Proclamation was no sooner ended but the Grecian Emperor likewise consented to their bloody determination and thereupon gave speedy Commandment to Muster up the greatest Strength that Grecia could afford to joyn with the Pagans to the utter Ruine and Confusion of Christendom which bloody Edict or rather inhumane Iudgment pronounced by the accursed Infidels compelled the Christian Champions to a speedy departure and every one to hasten to his own Country there
of Morocco with his scattered Troops of Moors and Negroes returned from Hungary and by Fire and Sword had wasted many of their chiefest Towns and Forts whereby the Countrey was much weakned and the Commons compelled to sue for Mercy at the Champions hands who bearing true Christian minds within their hearts continually pity harboured vouchsafed to grant mercy to those that yielded their Lives to the pleasure of the Christian Knights But when St. George had intelligence of Almidor's approach with his weakned Troops he presently prepared his Soldiers in readiness to give the Moors a bloody Banquet which was the next Morning by break of day performed to the high honour of Christendom but the night before the Moors knowing the Countrey better than the Christians got the advantage both of Wind and Sun whereat St. George being something dismayed but yet not discouraged imboldned his Soldiers with many Heroicat Speeches proffering them frankly the Enemies Spoils and so with the Sun 's uprising entred Battel where the Moors fell before the Christians Swords as ears of Corn before the Reapers Sickles During this Conflict the Seven Champions still in the fore Front of the Battel so adventurously behaved themselves that they slew more Negroes than a hundred of the bravest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intended to make St. George's Prowess to shine brighter than the rest singled out the Morocco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long and dangerous Fight But St. George so Couragiously behaved himself with his trusty Sword that Almidor was constrained to yield to his Mercy The Army of the Moors séeing their King taken Prisoner presently would have fled but that the Christians being the lighter of foot overtook them and made the greatest slaughter of them that ever hapned in Barbary Thus after the Battel ended and the joyful sound of Uictory rang through the Christian Army the Soldiers furnished themselves with the Enemies Spoils and Marched by St. George's direction to the City of Tripoly being then almost unpeopled through the late slaughter which was there made In which City after they had rested some days and refreshed themselves with wholesome food the English Champion in Revenge of his former proffered Injuries by the Morocco King gave this severe Sentence of Death First He commanded a brazen Cauldron to be filled with boiling Lead and Brimstone Then Almidor to be brought to the plâ—â—e of Death by twelve of the Noblest Peers in Barbary therein to be consumed Flesh Blood and Bones which was duly performed within seven days following The brazen Cauldron was erected by the appointment of St. George directly in the middle of the chiefest Market-place under which a mighty hot fire continually burned for the space of eight and forty hours whereby the boiling Lead and Brimstone seemed to sparkle like fiery Furnaces in Hell and the heat to exceed the burning Oven at Babylon Now all things being thus prepared in readiness and the Christian Champions present to behold the woful spectacle the Condemned Blackmoor King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of fine Indian Silk his hands pinioned together with a Chain of Gold and his face covered with a Damask Scart his Attendants and chief Conductors twelve Moors Peers claâ— in sable Gowns of Taffaty carrying before him the Wheel of Fortune with the Picture of an Usurper climbling up with this Motto on his Breast I will be King in spite of Fortune Upon the top of the Wheel the Picture of a Monarch vaunting with this Motto on his Breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheel the Picture or perfect Image of a Deposed Potentate falling with his head downwards with this Motto on his Breast I have been a King while it pleased Fortune Which plainly signified the Chance of War and of inconstant Destiny His Guard was a hundred Christian Soldiers holding Fortune in disdain after them had attended a hundred of Morocco Uirgins in black Ornaments their hair bound up with Silver Wyres and covered with Ueils of black Silk signifying the Sorrow of their Countrey for the loss of their Sovereign In this mournful manner came the unfortunate Almidor to the boiling Cauldron which when he came near his heart waxed cold and his tongue devoâ—d of utterance for a time at last he brake forth into these earnest Protestations proffering more for his Life than the whole Kingdom of Barbary could perform Most Mighty and Invincible Champion of Christendom quoth he let my Life be Ransomed and Thou shalt yearly receive ten Tuns of tryed Gold Five hundred webs of woven Silk the which our Indian Maids shall sit and Spin with Silver Wheels an hundred Ships of spices and Refined Sugar shall be yearly paid thee by our Barbary Merchants an hundred Waggons likewise laden with Pearl and Jasper stones which by our cunning Lapidists shall be yearly chosen forth and brought thee home to England to make that blessed Country the richest within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will deliver up my Diadem with all my Princely Dignities and in company of these Morocco Lords like bridled Hories draw thee daily in a silver Chariot up and down the circled Earth till Death give end to our Lives Pilgrimage therefore most admired Knight at Arms let these salt tears that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtain one grant of comfort at thy hands for on my bended knees I beg for life that never before this time did kneel to Mortal Man Thou speakest in vain reply'd St. George not the Treasures hidden in the deepest Seas nor all the golden Mines of rich America shall redeem thy Life Thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practices in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereave me of my life through thy Treachery I endured a long Imprisonment in Persia where for seven years I drank foul Channel-water and sufficed my hunger with Bread of Bran Meal My Food was loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismal Dungeon where neither Sun nor the chearful light of Heaven lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered injuries the Heavens inforce me to a speedy Revenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Torment prepared for thy Death this brazen Cauldron filled with boiled Lead and Brimstone wherein thy accursed Body shall be speedily cast and boiled till thy detested Limbs be consumed to a watry substance in this sparkling liquor therefore prepare thy self to entertain the violent stroke of Death and willingly bid all thy Kingly Dignities farewell But yet I let thee understand that Mercy harbours in a Christian's heart and where Mercy dwells there faults are forgiven upon some humble penitence though thy Trespass deserves no pity but severe punishment yet upon these considerations I will grant thee liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy Gods Tarmagant and Apollo which
St. George I mean is her true and lawful Husband the honour of whose Bed she will not violate for all the Kingdoms of the World Tush faint-hearted fool that I am Sabra is beautiful and therefore to be tempted She is a Woman and therefore easie to be won her Husband he is sporting in the Fields of Mars then why may not she take pleasure in the Chamber of Venus I will use my flattering glosses many kind speeches and many sweet imbraces but I will crop that Bud which but to taste I would give my whole Lands and Revenues I will tell her St. George is a wanderer and one that will never return whereas I am a mighty Deer in England and one that can accomplish whatsoever she desirâ—â—â— Many other circumstances this Lustful Garâ—used to flatter himself in this vain conceit At last the scowling night with pitchy Clouds began to overspread the brightsome Heavens whereby he was forced to repair homewards and to smother up his Love in silence no quiet sléep that night could enter into his eyes but fond and restless dreams sometimes be thought he had his lovely Mistress in his Arms daslying like the 〈◊〉 Queen upon her Minions knee but presently awaking he found it but a gilded shadow which added new grief to his Love-sick passions then by and by he thought he saw how the wrathful Champion with his dreadful and bloody Fauchion came to revenge his Lady's Ravishment whereas the troubled Earl started from his Bed and with a loud voice cried to his Chamberlain for help saying That St. George was come to Murder him Which sudden Outery not only awaked the Chamberlain but the whole house which generally came to hear him company They set up Camphire Tapers to give Light and made him Musick to comfort him and to drive all â—ond santâ—fies from his mind But no sooner ceased the Musick but he 〈◊〉 into his former Cogitations pondering in his mind which way he might obtain his purpose Whereat a dismal Night-Raven beat her wings against his Chamber windows and with a harsh voice gave him warning of a sad success 〈◊〉 presently began the Tapers to â—uâ—â— bâ—â—e as though a Troop of â—hastly 〈◊〉 did encompass his Lâ—â—ging which was an evident â—â—gn that some strange and unhappy Muâ—â—â—r should worthily follow All which could not withdraw the â—ustâ—ul Earl from his wicked Enterprize nor conâ—â—â—â— his mind from the spoil of so sweet a Lady In this manner spent he the night away till the Sun 's bright conuienance summoned him from his restless Bed From whence being no sooner risen but he sent for the Steward of his House and gave him a charge to provide a most sumptuous and costly Banquet for he intended to invite thereunto all the principal Ladies in Coventry What bountiful cheer was provided I think it needless to repeat but to be short at the time and hour appointed the invited Ladies repaired the Banquet was brought in by the Earl's Servants and placed upon the Table by the Earl himself Who after many Welcomes given began thus to move the Ladies to delight I think my House most highly honoured said he that you have vouchsafed to grace it with your presence for methinks you beautifie my Hall as the twinkling Stars beautifie the Ueil of Heaven But amongst the number of you all you have a Cynthia a glistring silver Moon that for brightness exceeded all the rest for she is fairer than the Queen of Cypress lovelier than Dido when Cupid sate upon her knee wiser than the Prophetess of Troy of Personage more comely than the Grecian Dame and of more Majesty than the Queen of Love So that all the Muses with their Ivory pens may write continually and yet not sufficiently describe her excellent Ornaments of Nature This Commendation caused a general smile of the Ladies and made them look one upon another whom it should be Many other Courtlike discourses pronounced the Earl to move the Ladies delight till the Banquet was ended which being finished there came in certain Gentlemen by the Earl's appointment with most excellent musick other some that danced most curiously with as much Majesty as Paris in the Grecian Court. At last the Earl requested one of them to choose out his beloved Mistress and lead her some stately Corants Likewise requesting that none should be offended what Lady soever he did affect to grace with that Courtly pastime At which request all them were silent and silence is commonly a sign of consent therefore he emboldned himself the more to make his desires known to the beholders Then with excéeding courtesie and great humisity he kissed the beauteous hand of Sabra who with a blushing countenance and bashful look accepted his courtesie and like a kind Lady disdained not to dance with him So when the Musicians strained forth their inspiring Melody the Lustful Earl led her a first Course about the Hall in as great Majesty as Mavors did the Queen of Paphos to gain her Love and she followed with as much Grace as if the Queen of Pleasure had been present to behold their Courtly Delights and so when the first Course was ended he found fit opportunity to unfold his secret Love and reveal unto the Lady his extream Passion of mind which were in these Speeches expressed Most Divine and Peerless Paragon said he thou only Wonder of the World for Beauty and excellent Ornaments of Nature know that thy two twinkling Eyes that shine more brighter than the Lights of Heaven being the true Darts of Love have pierced my heart and those thy crimson Cheeks as lovely as Aurora's Countenance when she draws the Curtains of her purple Bed to entertain her wandring Lover those Cheeks I say have wounded me with Love therefore except thou grant me kind comfort I am like to spend the remnant of my Life in Sorrow Gare and Discontent I blush to speak what I desire because I have setled my Love where it is unlawful in a bosome where Kings may sleep and surfeit with delight thy Breast I mean most Divine Mistress for there my Heart is kept Prisoner Beauty is the Keeper and Love the Key my Ransome is a constant Mind Thou art my Uenus I will be thy Mars thou art my Helen I will be thy Mahomet thou art my Cressida I will be thy Croilus thou art my Love and I will be thy Paramour Admit thy Lord and Husband be alive yet hath he most unkindly left thee to spend thy young years in solitary Widow-hood He is unconstant like Eneas and thou more hapless than Dido He marcheth up and down the world in glistring Armour and never doth intend to return He abandoneth thy presence and lieth sporting in strange Ladies Laps therefore dear Sabra live not to consume thy youth in singleness for Age will overtake thee too soon and convert thy Beauty to wrinkled Frowns To which words Sabra would have presently made answer but that the Musick called them to Dance
the secrets of a Woman in such a case stay not I say dear Lord to see the Infant now sprawling in my Womb to be delivered from the Bed of his Creation forsake my presence for a time and let me like the Noble Queen of France obtain the favour of some Fairy to be my Midwife that my Babe may be as happily born in this Wilderness as was her Valiant Sons Ualentine and Orson the one of them was cherishâ—d by a King and the other by a Bear yet both of them grew famous in their Deeds my pain is great dear Lord therefore depart my Cabinet and before Phoebus lodgeth in the West I shall either be a happy Mother or a lifeless Body thou a joyful Father or aâ— sorrowful Widower At which words St. George sealed the Agreement with a kiss and departed silently without any reply but with a thousand sighs he bad her adieu and so took his way to the top of a Mountain being in distance from his Lady's aviding a quarter of a Mile there kneeled he during the time of her Travel with his bare knees upon the bosome of the Earth never ceasing Prayers but continually soliciting the Majesty of God to grant his Lady a speedy and easie Delivery at whose Divine Orisons the Heavens seemed to relent and all the time of her pain covered the place with a vale of darkness by great flights of Birds with Troops of untamed Beasts that came flocking about the Mountain where he kneeled and in their their kinds assisted his Celestial Contemplations where I will leave him for a time and speak what hapned to Sabra in the middle of her pains and extremity of her Travel for after St. George's departure the fury of her Grief so raged in her Womb that it exceeded the bounds of Reason whereby her heart was constrained to breathe so many scorching sighs that they seemed to blast the leaves of Trees and to wither the Flowers which beautified her Cabinet her burthened Torments caused her Star-bright Eyes like Fountains to distill down silver drops and all the rest of her Body to tremble like a Castle in a terrible Earthquake so grievous were her pains and ruâ—ul were her cries that she caused merciless Tygers to relent and untamed Lyons with other wild Beasts like silly Lambs to sit and bleat her grievous cries and bitter moans caused the Heavens as it were to bleed their Uapours down and the Earth to weep a spring of Tears both Herbs and Trees did seem to drop hard stâ—ny Rocks to sweat when she complained At last her pitiful cries pierced down to the lowest Uaults of direful Dis where Proserpine sits Crowned amongst her Fairies and so prevailed that in all hast she ascended from her Regiment to work this Ladies safe Delivery and to make her Mother of three goodly Boys who no sooner arrived in Sabra's Lodging but she practised the Duty of a Midwife eased the burden of her Womb and safely brought her Babes into the World at whose first sight the Heavens began to smile and the Earth to rejoyce as a sign and token that in times to come they would prove three of the Noblest Knights in the World This courteous Dâ—â—d of Proserpine was no sooner performed but she laid the three Boys in three sumptuous Cradles the which she caused the Fairies to fetch invisibly from three of the Richest Knights in the World and therewithal Mantles of Silk with other things thereunto belonging likewise she caused a winged Satyr to fetch from the farthest Borders of India a covering of Damask Taffaty embroidered with Gold the most richest Ornament that ever Mortal eye beheld for thereon was wrought and lively pourtrayed by the curious skill of Indian Weavers how God Created Heaven and Earth the wandring Courses both of Sun and Moon and likewise how the Golden Planets daily do predominate also there is no Story in any Age remembred since the beginning of the World but it was thereon most perfectly wrought So excellent it was that Art her self could never devise a cunninger With this rich and sumptuous Ornament she covered the Ladies Child-bed whereby it seemed to surpass in bravery the gorgeous Bed of Juno the brave Queen when first she entertained imperious Jove After this Proserpine laid under every Child's Pillow a Silver Tablet whereon were written in Letters of Gold their good and happy Fortunes Under the first was these Uerses Charactered who at that time lay frowning in his Cradle like the God of War A Soldier bold a Man of wondrous Might A King likewise this Royal Babe shall die Three Golden Diadems in bloody Fight By this brave Prince shall also Conquered be The Towers of old Ierusalem and Rome Shall yield to him in happy time to come Under the Pillow of the second Babe was Charactered these Uerses following who lay in his Cradle smiling like Cupid upon the Lap of Dido whom Venus transformed to the likeness of Ascanius This Child shall likewise live to be a King Time's Wonder for Device and Courtly sport His Tilt and Tournaments abroad shall ring To every Coast where Noble Knights resort Queens shall attend and humble at his feet Thus Love and Beauty shall together meet Lastly Under the Pillow of the third was these Uerses likewise Charactered who blushed in his Cradle like Pallas when she strove for the Golden Apple with Venus and the Queen of Heaven The Muses Darling for true Sapience In Princes Courts this Babe shall spend his days Kings shall admire his Learned Eloquence And write in brazen Books his endless Praise By Pallas's gifts he shall atchieve a Crown Advance his Fame and lift him to Renown Thus when the Fairy Queen had ended her Prophecy upon the Children and had left them Golden Fortunes lying in their Cradles she vanished away leaving the Lady rejoycing at her safe Delivery and wondring at the Gifts of Proserpine which she conjectured to be but shadows to dazle her eyes and things of fading substance but when she had laid her hands upon the rich Covering of Damask Taffaty which covered her Mossie Bed and felt that it was the self-same form that it seemed she cast her eyes with a chearful look up to the Majesty of Heaven and not only gave thanks to immortal Jove for her rich received benefits but for his merciful kindness in making her the happy Mother of three such goodly Children But we will now return again to the Noble Champion St. George whom we left Praying upon the Mountain top and as you heard before the Skies were overspread with sable Clouds as though they had been Mourning Witnesses of his Ladies Torment but before the Golden Sun had dived into watry Thetis's Lap the Element began to clear and to withdraw her former mourning Mantles by which he supposed that Heaven had pitied his Ladies pains and granted her a safe Delivery therefore in all haste he retired back to the Silvan Cabine the which he found most strangely deckt with
Champions with entiring delight whom he purposed to keep as Prisoners therein then fell he again to his Conjuration and bound a hundred Spirits by due obedience to transform themselves into the likeness of beautiful Uirgins which in a moment they accomplished and they were framed in form and beauty like to the Darlings of Venus in comliness comparable with Thetis dancing on the silver Sands and in all proportion like Daphne whose Beauty caused Apollo to descend the Heavens their Lâ—mbs were like the lofty Cedars their Chéeks to Roses dipt in Milk and their Eyes more brighter then the Stars of Heaven also then seemed to carry in their hands silver Bows and on their baâ—ks 〈…〉 of goâ—den Arrows likewise upon their breasts tâ—ey had 〈◊〉 the God of Love danâ—â—â—g upon Mars his knee Thus in the â—hape of beauteous Damâ—selâ— caused he these Spâ—â—â—ts to enter the Câ—râ—stianâ— Army and with the golden Bait of their entiring Smiles â—o tangle the Champions in the snares of Love and with their sinning Beauties led them from their Souldiers and to bring them Prisoners into his enchanted Tâ—nt Which Commandment being no sooner given but these Uiâ—gins or rather internal Furies â—â—ore swift then the Winds glideâ— into the Christians Army where their gâ—istering Beauties so dazled the Eyes of the six Christian Champions and their sâ—ber Countenances so entraâ—ped their Hearts with desire that their princely Ualours were aâ—â—ted and they stood gazing as their excellent proportions as though Medusa's shadow had been pictured upon their faces to whom the inticing Ladies spake in this manner Come princely Gallants come away with Arms forget the sounds of bloody War and hang your angry weapons on the power of Peace Uenus you see hath sent her Messengers from Paphos to lead you to the paradise of Love there Heaven will rain down Nectar and Ambrosia sweet for you to feed upon and there the melody of Angels will make you Musick there shall you fight upon beds of Silk and encounter with inticing Kisses These golden promises so ravished the Champions that they were enchanted with their Loves and vowed to take their last farewel of Knighthood and magnanimous Chivalty Thus were they led from their warlike Companies to the Necromancer's enchanted Tent leaving their Souldiers without Guiders in danger of confusion But the Queen of Chance so smiled upon the Christians that the same time St. George arrived in Persia with a fresh supply of Knights of whose noble Atchievements I purpose 〈◊〉 to speak For no sooner had he entred the Battel and placed his Squadrons but he had intelligence of the Champions misadventures and how they say Enchanted in a Magick Tent sleeping in pleasure upon the laps of internal Furies the which Osmond had transformed by his Charms into the likeness of beautiful Damosels which unexpected news conâ—â—rained St. George to breathe from his sorrowful heart this woful Lamentation Unconstant Fortune quoth he why dost thou entertain me with such bitter news Are my Fellow-champions come from Christendom to win immortal Honour with their Swords and lie they now bewitcht with Beauty Come they from Europe to fight in coats of Steel and will they lye distraught in Tents of Love Came they to Asia to purchase Kingdoms and by bloody War to ruinate Countries and will they yield their Victories to so foul Disgrace O shame and great dishonour to Christendom O spot to Knighthood and true Chivalry this news is far more bitter to my Soul than was the poysoned Dregs that Antipater gave to Alexander in his Drunkenness and a deadsier pain unto my Heart than was that Juice that Hannibal suckt from his fatal King Come Souldiers come you Followers of those cowardly Champions unsheath your warlike Weapons and follow him whose Soul hath vowed either to redeem them from the Necromancer's Charms or die with honour in that Enterprize If ever mortal Creatures warred with damned Furies and made a passage to enchanted Dales where Devils dance and warlike Shadows in the Night Then Souldiers let us march unto that Pavilion and chain the cursed Charmer to some blasted Oak that hath so highly dishonoured Christendom These resolute speeches were no sooner finished but the whole Army before daunted with fear grew so couragious that they protested to follow him through more dangers than did the Grecian Knights with noble Jason in the Ifle of Colcos Now began the Battle again to renew and the Drums to sound fatal Knells for the Pagan Souldiers whose Souls the Christians Swords by numbers sent to burning Acheron but St. George that in valour exceeded the rest as much as the golden Sun Turpasseth the smallest Stars in brightness with his Sword made lanes if slaughtered Men and with his angry Arm made passage through the thickest of their Troops as though that Death had been Commander of the Battel he caused Crowns and Scepters to swim in Blood and headless Stéeds with joyntless Men to fall as fast before his Sword as drops of Rain before Thunder and ever in great danger he encouraged his Souldiers in this manner Now for the Fame of Christendom fight Captains be now Triumphant Conquerors or Christian Martyrs These words so encouraged the Souldiers hearts with invincible Ualour that they neither feared the Necromancer's Charms nor all the flaming Dragons nor-flerce Drakes that filled the Air with burning Lights nor daunted at the strange encounters of â—estish Legions that like to armed Men with burning Fauchious haunted them so fortunate were their Proceedings that they followed the invincible Champion to the enchanted Tent whereas the other Champions lay surfeting in â—â—â—ve whilst thousands of their Friends fought in Coats of Steel and merited Renown by their noble Atchievements for no sooner arrived St. George with his warlike Followers before the Pavilion but he heard as it were the melody of the Muses likewise his ears were almost ravished with the sugered Songs of the enchanted Uirgins which like the Musick of Orpheus's Harp caused the Stones and Trees to dance and made the Elemeâ—ts to shew more brighter than the morning Beauty with drops of Honey trickling down their crystal Cheeks the Doves did kiss when they began to sing the running Waters danced and every senceless thing did seem to breath out Sighs for Love so pleasant and heavenly were the sights in the Tent and so delightful in his Eyes that he had been enchanted with their Charms if he had not continually born the honour of Knighthood in his Thoughts and that the dishonour would â—edound to Christendom's Reproach therefore with his Sword he let drive at the Tent and cut it in a thousand pieces the which being done he apparently beheld where the Necromancer sat upon a block of Steel feeding his Spirits with drops of blood whom when the Champion beheld he caused his Souldiers to lay hold upon him and after chained him fast to the root of an old blassed Oak from whence neither Art nor help of all his Charms nor all the
Legions of his Devils could ever after loose him where we leave him to his Lamentations filling the Air with ecchoes of Cries and speak how St. George redeemed the Champions from their Enchantments First When we beheld them discoved of their warlike Attire their Furniture hung up and themselves secretly Sleeping upon the laps of Ladies he fell into these discontented Speeches O Heavens said he how my Soul abhors this Spectace Champions of Christendom arise brave Knights stand up I say and look about like Men Are you the chosen Captains of your Countries and will you bury all your Honours up in Ladies Laps For shame arise I say they have the Tears of Crocodiles the Songs of Syrens to enchant To Arms brave Knights let Honour be your Loves Blush to behold your Friends in Arms and blush to see your Native Country-men steeping the Fields of Mavors with their Bloods Champions arise St. George calls the Victory will tarry till you come Arise and tear the womanish Attire surfeit not in silken Robes put on your steely Corslets your glistering Burgonets and unsheath your conquering Weapons that Mavors Fields may be converted into a purple Ocean These heroical Speeches were no sooner finished but the champions like Men amazed rose from their Ladies bosoms and being ashamed of their follies they submissively crabed Pardou and vowed by Protestations never to sleep in Beds of Down nor never unbuckle their Shields from their weary arms till they had won their Credits in the Fields again nor never would be counted his deserved followers till their Triumphe were enroâ—led amongst the Deeds of Partial Knights So arming themselves with approved Corslets and taking to them their trustp Swords they accompanted St. George to the thickest of their Enemies and left the Necromancer chained to the Trée which at their depature breathed forth these bitter Curses Let Hell's Horror and tormenting Pains quoth he be their eternal Punishment let flaming Fire deseend the Elements and consume them in their warlike Triumphs and let their ways be strowed with venemous Thorns that all their Legs may rancle to the Knees before they march to their Native Country But why exclaim I thus in vain when Heaven itself preserves their Happiness Now all my Magick Charms are ended and all my Spirits forsaken me in my need and here am I fast chained up to starve and dye Have I had power to rend the Vales of Earth and shake the mighty Mountains with my Charms Have I had power to raise up dead Mens shapes from kingly Tombs and can I not unchain myself from this accursed Tree O no for I am fettered up by the immortal Power of the Christians God against whom because I did rebel I am now condemned to everlasting Fire Come all ye Necromancers in the World come all you Sorcerers and Charmers come all you Schollars from the learned Universities come all you Witches Beldams and Fortune-tellers and all that practice devilish Arts come take example by the story of my Eyes This being said he violently with his own hands tore his Hair from his Head as a sufficient revenge because by the direction of their Wills he was first trained in that damned Art then betwixt his Teeth he hit in two his loathsome Tongue because it muttered forth so many Charms then into his thirsty Bowels he devoured his Hands because they had so often held the â—â—â—lver Wand wherewith he had made his charmed Circles and for every Letter Mark and Character that belonged to his Conjutations he inflicted a several Torment upon himself and at last with sightless Eyes speechless Tongue handless Arms and dismembred Body he was forced to give up his condemned Ghost where after his art of Lift was vanished from his earthly Trunck the Heavens seemed to smile at his sudden Fall and Hell began to roar at the conquest of his Death the Ground whereon he died was ever after that time unfortunate and to this present time it is called in that Country A Vale of Walking-Spirits Thus have you heard the damnable Life and miserable Fall of this accursed Necromancer Osmond whom we will now leave to the Punishments due to such a wicked Offender and to speak of the seven noble and magnanimous Christian Champions After St. George had ended these Enchantments they never â—â—â—athed up their Swords nor unlocked their Armour till the Subversion of Persia was accomplished and the Souldan with his-petty Rings was taken Prisoners Seven days the Battle continued without ceasing they slew two hundred thousand Souldiers besides a number that fled away and drownded themselves some cast themselves headlong down from the top of high Trees some made slaughter of themselves and yielded to the mercies of the Christians but the Souldan with his Princes riding in their Iron Chariots endured the Christians Encounters till the whole Army was discomfitted and then by force and violence they were compelled to yield The Souldan hapned into the hands of St. George and six Uice-roys to the other six Champions where after they had sworn Allegiance to the Christian Knights and had promised to forsake their Mahomet they were not only set at liberty but used most honourably but the Souldan himself having a Heart fraught with despight and tyranny contemned the Champions Courtesies and utterly disdained their Christian Governments protesting that the Heavens should first lose their wonted Brightness and the Seas forsake their sooelling Tides before his Heart should yield to their intended Desires whereupon St. George being resolved to revenge his Injuries commanded that the Souldan should be disrobed from all his princely Attire and in base Apparel sent to Prison then to the Dungeon where he himself had endured so long Imprisonment as you heard in the beginning of this History which strict Commandment was presently performed in which Dungeon the Souldan had not long continued sufficing his hungry Stomach with the Bread of musty Bran and stanching his thirst with Channel-water but he began to grow desperate and weary of his Life and at last fell into this woful Lamentation O Heavens quoth he now have you thrown a deserved Plague upon my Head and all those guiltless Souls that in former times my Tyranny have murthered may now be fully satisfied for I that was wont to have my Table beautified with Kings am now constrained to feed alone in a Dungeon where Sorrow is my Food and Despair my Servitor I that have famished thousands up in Walls of Stone am now constrained to feed upon mine own Flesh or else to starve and die yet shall these cruel Christians know that as I lived in Tyranny so will I die for I will make a Murther of myself that after this Life my angry Ghost may fill their Sleeps with ghastly Visions This being said he desperately ran his head against a Marble pillar standing in the middle of the Dungeon and dasht his Brains from out of his hateful Head the news of whose death when it was bruited in the
changed their pleasant Pastime to a sad and bloody Tragedy for Sabra proffering to keep pace with them delighted to behold the valiant Encounters of her young Sons and being careless of herself through the over swiftness of her Steed she slipped beside her Saddle and so fell directly vpon a thomey brake of Brambles the pricks whereof more sharp than Spikes of Iron entred to every part of her delicate Body some pierce the lovely closets of her star-bright Eyes whereby instead of cristal pearled Tears there issued drops of purest Blood her Face before that blushed like the Morning 's radiant Countenance was now changed into a Crimson-red her milk white hands that lately strained the ivory Lute did seem to wear a bloody scarlet Glove and her tender Paps that had often sed her Sons with the Milk of Nature were all becent and â—orâ— with those accuâ—sed Brambles from whose deep Wounds there issued such a stream of purple Gore that it converted the Grass from a lively green to a crimson-hue and the abundance of Blood that trickled from her Breast began to enforce her Soul to give the World a woful Farewel Yet notwithstanding when her beloved Lord her sorrowful Sons and all the rest of the waful Champions had washed her wounded Body with a spring of Tears and when she perceived that she must of force commit herself to the fury of imperious Death she breathed forth this dying Exhortation Dear Lord said she in this unhappy Hunting must you lose the truest Wife that ever â—ay by any Prince's side yet mourn not you nor grieve you my Sons nor you brave Christian Knights but let your warlike Drums convey mâ— royally to my Tomb that all the World may write in brazen Books how I have followed my Lord the Pride of Christendom through many a bloody Field and for his sake have left my Parents Friends and Country and have travelled through many a dangerous Kingdom but now the cruel Fates have wrought their last spight and finished my Life because I am not able to perform what Love he hath deserved of me And now to you my Sons this Blessing do I leave behind even by the Pains that forty Weeks I once endured for your sakes when as you lay enclosed in my Womb and by my Travels in the Wilderness whereas my Groans upon your Birth-day did in my thinking cause both Trees and Stones to drop down Tears when as the merciless Tygers and tameless Lyons did stand like gentle Lambs and mourned to hear my Lamentations and by a Mother's Love that ever since I have born you imitate and follow your Father in all his honourable Attempts harm not the silly Infant nor the helpless Widow defend the Honour of distressed Ladies and give freely unto wounded Souldiers seek not to stain the unspotted Virgins with your Lust and adventure evermore to redeem true Knights from Captivity live evermore professed Enemies to Paganism and spend your Lives in the Quarrel and Defence of Christ that Babes as yet unborn in time to come may speak of you and record you in the Books of Fame to be true Christian Champions This is my Blessing and this is the Testament I leave behind for now I feel the chilness of pale Death closing the Closets of mine Eyes Farewel vain World dear Lord farewel sweet Sons you 'r famous Followers of my George and all true Christian Knights adieu These words were no sooner ended but with a heavy sigh she yielded up the Ghost whereat St. George being impatient in his sorrows fell upon her liveless Body tearing his Hair and rending his Hunter's Attire from his back into many pieces and at last when his Griefs were some what diminished he burst out into these bitter Lamentations Gone is the Star quoth he that lighted all the Nothern World whithered is the Rose that beautified our Christian Fields dead is the Dame that for her beauty stained all Christian Women for whom I 'll fill the Air with everlasting Mones Let this day henceforth be fatal to all times and counted for a dismal day of Death let never the Sun shew forth his Beams thereon again but Clouds as black as pitch cover the Earth with fearful Darkness let every Tree in this accursed Forrest henceforth be blasted with unkindly Winds let Brambles Herbs and Flowers consume and wither let Grass and blooming Buds perish and decay and all things near the place where she was slain be turned to dismal black and ghastly colour that the Earth itself in mourning Garments may lament her loss let never Bird sing chearfully on tops of Trees but like the mournful Musick of the Nightingale fill all the Air with fatal Tunes let bubling Rivers murmure for her loss and silver Swans that swim thereon sing doleful Melody let all the Dales belonging to these fatal Woods be covered with green bellied Serpents croaking Toads hissing Snakes and sigh-killing Cockatrices in blasted Trees let fearful Ravens shrick let Howlets cry and Crickets sing that after this it may be called a place of dead Mens wandring Ghosts But fond Wretch why do I thus Lament in vain and bath her bleeding Body with my Tears when Grief by no means will recal her Life yet this shall satisfie her Soul for I will go a Pilgrimage unto Ierusalem and offer up my Tears to Jesus Christ upon his blessed Sepulchre by which my stained Soul may be washt from this bloody Guilt which was the cause of this sorrowful day's mishap These sorrowful words were no sooner ended but he took her bleeding Limbs between his fainting Arms and gave a hundred kisses upon her dying coloured Lips retaining yet the colour of Alabaster new wash'd in Purple-blood and in this â—â—taâ—â—e a while lying gave way to others to unfold their Woes But his Sons whose Sorrows were as great as his protested never to neglect one day but daily to weep some Tears upon their Mother's Grave till from the Earth did spring some mournful flower to beav remembrance of her Death as did the Uiolet that spâ—â—ng from chast Adonis's Blood where Venus wept to see him slain Likewise the other six Champions that all the time of their Lamentations stood like Men drowned in the depth of Sorrow began now a little to recover themselves and after protested by the honour of true Knight hood and by the Spuâ— and golden Garter of St. George's Leg to accompany him unto the Holy Land bare footed without either Horse or Sâ—ooe only clâ—â—â— in russet Gaberdines like the usual Pilgrims of the World and never to return till they had paid their Uows at that blessed Sepulchre Thus in this sorrowful manner wearied they the time away filling the Woods with echoes of their Lamentations and recording their Dolours to the whistling Winds but at last when black Night began to approach and with her cable Mantle to overspread the crystal Firmament they retired with her dead Body back to the City of London where the report of
smile upon their Travels for three braver Knights did never cross the Seas nor make their Adventures into strange Countries CHAP. III. How St. George 's Sons after they were Knighted by the English King travelled towards Barbary and how they redeemed the Duke's Daughter of Normandy from Ravishment that was assailed in a Wood by three Tawny-moores and also of the tragical Tale of the Virgin 's strange Miseries with other Accidents MAny days had not these three magnanimous Knights endured the danger of the swelling Waves but with a prosperous and successful Wind they arrived upon y e Tirritories of France where being no sooner safely set on shore but they bountifully rewarded their Marriners and betook themselves fully to their intended Travels Now began their costly trapped Steeds to pace it like the scudding Winds and with their waâ—like Hoofs to thunder on the beaten passages now began true Honour to flourish in their princely Breasts and the Renown of their Father's Atchievements to encourage their Desires Although tender Youth sat but budbing on their Cheeks yet portly Man-hood triumpht in their Hearts and although their childish Arms as yet never tryed the painful adventures of Knight-hood yet bore they high and princely Cegitations in as great esteem as when theâ— Father slew the burning Dragon in Aegypt for preservation of their Mother's life Thus travelled they to the farther part of the Kingdom of France guided only by the Direction of Fortune without any Adventure worth the noâ—ing till at last riding thorow a mighty Fortess standing on the Borders of Lâ—sitania they heaâ—d as at off as it were the ruful cries of a distressed Woman which in this manner filled the Air with â—â—hees of her Moans O Heavens said she be kind and pitiful unto a Maiden in Distress and send some happy Passengers that may deliver me from these inhumane Monsters This woful and unexpected noise caused the Knights to alight from their Horses and to see the event of this Accident So after they had tyed their Steeds to the body of a Pine-tree by the Râ—ins of their Bâ—â—oleâ— they walked on foot into the thickest of the Forrest with their Weapons drawn ready to withstand any assaysment whatsoever and as they drew near to the distressed Uirgin they heard her breathe forth this piâ—iful moving Lamentation the second time Come come some courteous Knight or else I must forgo that precious Jewel which all the World can never again recover These words caused them to make the more speed and to run the nearest way for the Maiden's Succour Where approaching her presence they found her tyed by the locks of her own hair to the trunk of an Orange-tree and three cruel and inhumane Negroes standing ready to dispoil her of her pure and undefiled Chastity and with their Lusts to blast the blooming Bud of her dear and unspotted Uirginity But when St. George's Sons be held her lovely Countenance besmeared in Dust that before seemed to be as beautiful as Roses in Milk and her crystal Eyes the perfect patterns of Bâ—shfulness imbrewed in floods of Tears at one instant they ran upon the Negroes and sheathed their angry Weapons in their loathsome Bowels the Leacherâ— being slain their Blonds sprinkled about the Forrest and their Bodies cast out as a Prey for ravenous Beasts to feed on they unbound the Maiden and like courteous Knights demanded the cause of her Captivity and by what means she came into that solitary Forrest Most noble Knights quoth she and true renowned Men at Arms to tell the cause of my passed Misery were a prick onto my Soul for the Discourse thereof will burst my Heart with Grief but consider your Nobilities the which I do perceive by your princely Behaviour and kind Courtesies extended towards me being a Virgin in Distress under the hands of these lustful Negroes whom you have justly murthered shall so much imbolden me though unto my Heart 's great Grief to Discourse the first cause of my miserable Fortune My Father quoth she whilst gentle Fortune smiled upon him was Duke and sole Commander of the State of Normandy a Country now situated in the Kindom of France whose Lands and Revenues in his prosperity was so great that he continually kept as stately a Train both of Knights and Gentlemen as any Prince in Europe wherefore the King of France greatly envied and by bloody Wars deposed my Father from his Princely Dignity who for safeguard of his life in company of me his only Heir and Daughter betook us to these solitary Woods where ever since we have secretly remained in a poor Cell or Hermitage the which by our industrious Pains hath been Builded with plants of Vines and Oaken boughs and covered over-head with clods of Earth and turfs of â—raâ—s seven Years we have continued in great Extremities sustaining our Hunger with the Fruits of Trees and quenching of our Thirst with the Dew of Heaven falling nightly upon fragrant Flowers and here instead of princely Attire imbroidered Garments and damask Vestures we have been constrained to cloath our selves with Flowers the which we have painfully woven up together here instead of Musick that wont each morning to delight our Ears we have the whilstling Winds resounding in the Woods our Clocks to tell the Minutes of the wandring Nights are Snake and Toads that sleep in roots of rotten Trees our Canopies to cover us are not wrought of Median Silk the which Indian Virgins Weave upon their silver Looms but the fable Clouds of Heaven when as the chearful day hath closed her crystal Windows up Thus in this manner continued we in this solitary Wilderness making both Birds and Beasts our chief Companions these merciless Tawny-moores whose hateful Breasts you have made to water the parched Earth with streams of Blood who as you see came into our Cell thinking to have found some store of Treasure but casting their gazing Eyes upon my Beauty they were presentl◠〈…〉 with lustfull Desires only to crop the sweet Bâ—d of my Virginity then with furious and dismal Countenance more black than the 〈◊〉 Garments of sad Meâ—ponisâ—it when she mournâ—ully writes of bloudy Frageâ—hes and with Hearts more cruel than was Nero 's the tyranous Roman Emperour when he beheld the Entrails of his natural Mother laâ—d open by his inhumane and merciless Commandment or when he stood upon the highest top of a mighty Mountain to see that famous and imperial City of Rome set on fire by the remorseless hands of his unrelenâ—ing Ministers that added unhallowed Flames to his unholy Furies In this kind I say these merciless and wicked minded Negroes with violent hands took my aged Father and most cruelly bound him to the blasted Body of a withered Oak standing before the entry of his Cell where neither the rever and honour of his silver Hairs glistering like the frozen Isikles upon the Northern Mountains nor the strained Sighs of his Breast wherein the Pledge of Wisdom was inthronized nor all my Tears
to our Friends such Glory to God consists in recovering Right to the Wronged and punishing rightfully the Wrongers of the Oppressed and that there be no Contention among us who shall begin this Adventure for I know all you thirst after Honour therefore let Lots be made and to whomsoever the chief Lot falleth let him be foremost in Assayling the Giant and so good Fortune be our Guides The exceeding Ioy which the old Iew conceived at the spéeches of St. George had near-hand bereft him of the use of Sense for above measure was he over-joyed but at length recovering use of Speech he thus thankfully brake forth How infinitely I find myself bound unto you you famous and undoubted Christian Champions all my Ableness is not able to express only Thankfulness from the depth of a true Heart shall to you be rendred The Champions without more words discoving themselves from their Pilgrims Attire every one elected forth an Armour fitting to their portly Bodies then ready in the Iew 's House instead of their Ebon Staves tipt with Silver they wielded in their Hands steeled Blades and their Feet that had wont to indure a painful Pilgrimage upon the bare Ground were now ready drest to mount the lofty stirrop but as I said they purposed not generally to assail the Giant but singly every one to try his one Fortune thereby to obtain the greater Honour and their Deeds to merit the higher Fame therefore the Lots being cast among themselves which should begin the Adventure the Lot fell first to St. Dennis the noble Champion of France who greatly rejoyced at his fortune and so departed for y e night to get things in readiness but the next morning no sooner had the golden Sun displayed his Beauty in the East but St. Dennis arose from his sluggish bed and attired himself in costly Armour and mounted upon a Steed of Iron-gray with a spangled Plume of purple Feathers on his Butgonet spangled with Stars of Gold resembling the Azure Firmament beautified with glistering Stars Where ofter he had taken leave of the other Champions and had demanded of the Iew where the Giant had his residence he departed forward on his Iourney and before the Sun had mounted to the top of Heaven he approached to the Giant 's presence who as then sate upon a Block of Steel direct â—â— before the golden Fountain satisfying his hunger with raw Flesh and quenching his thirst with the Iuce of ripe Grapes The first sight of his ugly and deformed proportion almost daunted the valour of the French Champion that he stood in amaze whether it was better to try the Adventure or return with dishonour back to his other Fellow-knights but having a heart furnished with true magnanimity he chose rather to die in the Encounter then to return with Infamy so committing his Trust to the unconstant Queen of Chance he sâ—urred forth his Horse and assailed the Giant so furiously that the strokes of his Sword sounded like a weighty blow hammered upon an Anvile But so smally regarded the Giant the puissant force of this single Knight that be would scarce rise from the place where he safe but yet remembring a strange Dream that a little before he had in his Sleep which revealed unto him how that a Knight would come from the Northern Climates of the Earth which should alone end the Adventure of the Fountain and vanquish him by Fortitude therefore not minding to be taken at an advantage he suddenly started up and with a gâ—iâ—n countenance he â— an upon St. Dennis and took him Horse Armour Furniture and all under his left arm as lightly as a strong Man would take a sucking Infant from his Cradle and bore him to a hollow Rock of Stone bound about with Bars of Iron standing near unto the Fountain in a Ualley betwixt two mighty Mountains in which Prison he closed the French Champion amongst fourteen other Knights that were Sons to the courteous Iew as you heard before discoursed and being proud of that Attempt he returned to the block of Steel where we will leave him sitting glorying in his own Conceit and speak of the other Champions remaining in the Iew 's house expecting the French Knight's fortunate return but when the sable Curtains of Darkness were drawn before the crystal Windows of the Day and Night had taken possession of the Elements and no news was heard of the Champion's Success they judged presently that either he was slain in the Adventure or else discomfitted and taken Prisoner therefore they cast Lots again which of them the next morning should try his Fortune and revenge the French Knight's Quarrel so the Lot fell to St. James the noble Champion of Spain whereat his princely Heart rejoyced more than if he had been made King of the western World So in like manner on the next morning by break of day he attired himself in rich and costly Armour like the other Champion and mounted upon a Spannish Gennet in pace most swift and speedy and in portly state like to Bucephalus the proud Stéed of Macedonian Alexander his Caparison was in colour like to the Waves of the Sea his Burgonet was beautified with a spangled Plume of sable Feathers and upon his Breast he bore the Arms of Spain Thus in this gallant manner departed he from the Iew 's habitation leaving the other Champions at their divine Contemplations for his happy Success but his Fortune chanced contrary to his Wishes for at the Giant 's first Encounter he was likewise born to the Rock of Stone to accompany St. Dennis This Giant was the strongest and hardiest knight at Arms that ever set foot upon the Confines of Damasco his Strength was so invincible that at one time durst encounter with an hundred Knights But now return we again to the other Champions whom when night approached and likewise missing Saint James they cast Lots the third time and it fell to the noble Champion of Italy St. Anthony who on the next morning attired himself in costly habiliments of War and mounted upon a Babarian Palfrey as richly as did the valiant Jason when he adventured into the Isle of Colcos for the golden Fleece and for Medea's Love his Helmet glistered like an try Mountain deck'd with a Plume of ginger-coloured Feathers and beautified with many silver Pendants But his shining glory was soon â—lemished with a cloud of mischance for although he was as valiant â—s ever brandisht Weapon in the Fields of Mars yet he found a disability in his fortitude to withstand the furious blows of the Giant in such sort that he was forced to yield himself Prisoner like the former Champions The next Lot that was cast chanced to St. Andrew of Scotland a Knight as highly honoured for Martial Discipline as any of the rest his Steed was clad with a Caparison after the manner of the Grecians his Armour varnished with green Oyles like the eâ—lour of the Summer fields upon his Breast he
unto his Castle and to arrest all such Travellers as by Adventure landed upon that Island not suffering them to pass untill such time as they had promised by Dath to aiâ— and assist him even unto Death against all his Enemies In the mean time the aforenamed Squite which had seen and heard all the tragical Dealings that have been here declared in the best wise he could returned again unto my Cottage and told me all that you have heard which was unto me very sorrowful and heavy News iudge here then gentle Knights and ye beholders of this woful Tragedy what Sorrow I unfortunate Wretch sustained and what Anguish I received for at the hearing thereof I fell into a senseless Swound and being come again to my self I all to besmeared my milk white Hairs in Dust that before were as Clean as tryed Silver and with my Tears being the true signs of sorrow I bathed the bosome of my Mother-earth and my sighs passed with such abundance from my tormented Heart that they stayed the passage of my Speech and my Tongue could not reveal the Grief that my woful Thoughts conceived In this dumb silence and sorrow of Mind I remained three Days and three Nights numbring my silent Passions with the Minutes of the Day and my nightly Griefs with the Stars when frostly bearded Winter had clad the Elements with sparkling Diamonds but at last when my amazed Griefs were something abated my Eyes almost blind with weeping requiring some sleep thereby to mitigate the sorrows of my Heart I made my repair into a certain Meadow adioyning near unto my Cottage where amongst the green springing Downs I purposed to take some Rest and to look up the Closets of of my fearful Eyes with gâ—lden Slumbers thinking it to be the greatest content my sobbing Heart required but before I could settle my Senses to a quiet Sleep I was constrained to breath this woful Lamentation from my oppressed Soul Oh unhappy Chance quoth I oh cruel and most spightful Fortune why diddest thou not make me lose this bitter and sorrowful Life in my Child-hood or why didst thou not permit and suffer me to be strangled in my Mother's Womb or to have perished in my Cradle or at my Nurse's Pap then had my Heart never felt this Sorrow my Ears heard the Murther of my Children nor mine Eyes had never wept so many helpless Tears Oh you Mountains you untamed Beasts oh you deep Seas and you infernal powers of revengful Hell come I say and willingly assist me in this mortal Tragedy that these my aged Hands which never yet practised any hamous Crime may now be stained in his accursed blood that hath bereaved me of the prop and stay of declined Age my Daughters I mean whose bleeding Ghosts will never be appeased nor never sleep in quiet upon the joyful Banks of the Elâ—zian Fields but wander up and down in the World filling each corner of the Earth with fearful and doleful clamouâ— of Murther and Revenge nor ever shall the furies of angry Souls be pacified until mine Eyes behold a stream of purple gore run trickling from the detestable Breast of that accursed Ravisher and that the Blood may issue from his guilty Heart like a Fountain with a number of Springs where the Pavements of this Castle may be sprinkled with the same and the Walls of his Tâ—rrets coloured with a crimson hue like to the Streets of Troy when as her Channels ran with Blood at the end of this sorrowful Lamentation what for Grief and what for want of natural Rest my Eyes closed together and my Senses fell into a heavy Sleep But as I lay slumbring in the green Meadows I dreamed that there â—s a great and fierce Wild-man which stood before me with a sharp Fauchion in his hand making as though he would kill me whereat me thought I was so frighted that I gave in my troublesome Dream many terrible shrieks calling for succour to the empty Air. Then me thoughts there appeared before my Face a company of courteous Knights which said unto me Fear not old Man for we be come from thy Daughter to aid and succour thee but yet for all this the Wild-man vanished not away but struck with his Fauchion upon my Breast whereas it seemed to open and then the wild Centaure put his hand into the gaping Wound and pulled out my bleeding Heart where at the same instant methought that one of the Knights likewise laid hold upon my Heart and they strove together with much Contention who should pull it from the others hands but in the end each of them remained with a piece in his Hand and my Heart parted in two Then the piece which remained in the Wild-man's keeping turned into a hard Stone and the piece which remained in the power of the Knight converted into red Blood and so they vanished away Then straight after this there appeared before mine eyes the Image of my murthered Daughter in the self same manner and form as you behold her portrayed who with a naked Body all besmared in Blood reported unto me the true Discourse of her unhappy Fortunes and told me what place and where her Body lay in the Woods dishonoured for want of Burial also desiring me not of myself to Attempt the Revengement for it was unpossible but to intomb her Corpse by her Mother and cause the picture of her Body to be most lively portrayed and wrought of fine Crystal in the same manner that I found it in the Woods and after erect it near unto a common Passage where Adventurous Knights do usually Travel And assuring me that thither would come some certain Christian Champions that should revenge this Injury and inhumain Murther Which words being finished me thought she vanished away with a grievous and heavy Groan leaving behind her certain drops of Blood sprinkled upon the Grass Whereat with great perplexity and Sorrow I awaked out of my Dream bearing it in my grieved Mind not telling it to one not so much as to the vast Air but with all expedition performed her bleeding Souls request Where ever since most courteous and noble Knights I have here lamented her untimely Death and my unhappy Fortune spending the time in writing her doleful Tragedy in Blood-red Lines the which I see with great grief you have read in this Book of Gold Therefore most curious Knights if ever Honour encouraged you to fight in noble Adventures I now most earnestly intreat you with your Magnanimous Fortitudes to assist me to take Revengement for that great cruelty that hath been used against my unfortunate Daughter At the â—rading of this sorrowful History St. George with the other Champions shed many Tears wherewith there did encrease in them a further desire of Revengment and being moved with great Compassion theâ— protested on their Promises made to the honour of Knight-hood to persevere speedily on their vowed Revenge and determined Purpose so sealing up a Promise to their pâ—ighâ—ed Oaths
protesting that sooner should the Lives of all the famous Romans be raised from Death from the time of Romulus to Caesar and all the rest unto this time than to be perswaded to return from their Promises and never to travel back into Christendom till they had Performed their Uows and thus burning with Desire to see thee end of this sorrowful Adventure St. George clasped up the bloody written Book and gave it again to the Shepherd and so they proceeded forwards towards the Island where the Knight of the Black Castle had his Residence guided only by the direction of the old Man whose aged Limbs séemed so lusty in Travelling that it prognosticated a lucky Event in which Iourney we will leave the Champions for a time with the wonderful provision that the Knight of the Black Castle made in his Defence the Success whereof will be the strangest that ever was reported and return and speak of St. George's three Sons in the pursuit of their Father where we left them as you heard before travelling from the constnes of Barbary where they redeemed the Norman Lady from the Tawny-moors CHAP. VI. A wonderful and strange Adventure that happ'ned to St. George his Sons in the persuit of their Father by finding certain drops of Blood with Virgin 's Hair scattered in the Field and how they were certified of the injurous dealing of the Knight of the Black Castle against the Queen of Armenia MAny and dangerous were the Adventures of the three young Princes in the pursuit of their Father St. George and many were the Countries Islands and Princes Courts that they searched to obtain a wished sight of his Martial Countenance but all to small purpose for Fortune neither cast them happily upon that Coast where he with his Famous Champions had their Residence nor luckily sounded in their Ears the places of their Arrival In which pursuit I omit and pass over many Noble Adventures that these three Princes atchieved as well upon the raging Ocean as upon the firm Land and only discourse upon an Accident that hapned to them in an Island bordered upon the Confines of Armenia near unto the Island where the Knight of the Black Castle remained as you heard in the last Chapter upon which Coast after they were arrived they travelled in a broad and straigh Path until such time as they came to a very fair and delectable Forrest whereas sundry creeping Birds had gathered themselves together to refresh and shroud themselves from the parching Heat of the golden Sun filling the Air with the pleasures of their shâ—ill-tuned Notes In this Forrest they travelled almost two hours and then they wâ—nt up to the top of a small Mountain which was at hand from the which they discovered very fair and well-towâ—ed Towns Princely Palaces very sumptuous to behold likewise they discovered from the Hill a fair Fountain wrought all of Marble like unto a Pillar out of which did proceed tour Spouts running with Water which fell into a great Cistern and coming to it they washed their Hands refreshed their Faces and so departed After they had looked round about them on every-side and toward their right hand they espied amongst a company of green Trees a small Tent of black Cloath towards which these young Princes directed their Courses with an easie Pace but when they had entred the Tent and saw no body therein they remained silent a while hearkning if they could hear any stirring but they could neither see nor hear any thing but only they found the print of certain little Feet upon the Sand which caused them more earnestly to desire to know whose Foot-steps they were for that they seemed to be some Ladies or Damsels so finding the Trace they followed them and the more the Knights followed the more the Ladies seemed to hast so long they pursued after the Trace that at the end they approached a little Mountain whereas they sound scattered about certain locks of yellow Hair which seemed like threads of Gold and stooping to gather them up they perceived that some of them were wet with drops of Blood whereby they well understood that in great anger they were pulled from some Lady's Head likewise they saw in divers places how the Earth was spotted with spots of crimson Blood then with a more Desire than they had before they went up to the top of that little Mountain and having lost the Foot-steps they recovered it again by gathering up the Hair wheâ—e they had not travelled far upon the Mountain but towards the Waters-side they â—eard a grievous Complaint which seemed to be the Uoice of a Woman in great Distress and the words which the Knights did understand were these O Love now shalt thou no more rejoyce nor have any longer dominion over me for Death I see is ready to cut my thred of Life and finish these my sorrowful Lamentations how often have I ask'd Revengement at the Hands of Fortune against that wicked Wretch that hath been the causer of my Banishment but yet she will not 〈◊〉 my Request how oft have I made my sad Complaints to Hell yeâ— have the fatal Furies stopt their Ears against my mournful Cries And with this she held her peace giving a sorrowful Sigh which being done the three Christian Knigâ—ts turned their Eyes to the place from whence they heard this Complaint and discovered among certain green Trees a Lady who was endued with singular Beauty being so excellent that iâ— almost depâ—ived them of their Hearts and captived their Senses in the snares of Love which liberty as yet they never lost she had her Hair aboue her Ears which hung defusedly down her comely Shoulders through the Uiolence she used against herself and leaning her Cheek upon her delicate white Hand that was all to bespotted with Blood which was constrained by the scratching of her Nails upon her rosie coloured Face by her stood another Damsel which they conjectured to be her Daughter for she was clad in Uirgin-coloured Silk as white as the Lillies of the Fields and as pleasant to behold as the glistering Moon in a clear Winter fréezing Night notwithstanding all this delectable sight the three princely Knights would not discover themselves but stood closely behind three Pine trees which grew near unto the Mountain to hear the event of this sad Accident whereas they stood cloked in silence they heard her thus to confer with her beautiful Daughter Oh my Rosana quoth she the unhappy figure of him that without pity hath wounded my Heart and left me comfortless with the greatest cruelty that ever Knight or Gentleman left Lady How hath it been possible that I have had the force to bring up thee the Child of such a Father which hath bereaved me of my Liberty O you Soveraign Powers grant that I may establish in my mind the remembrance of the Love of thy adulterous Father O Girl born to a further Grief here do I desire the guiders of thy Fortunes
that thy glistering Beauty may have such force and power whereby the shining beams thereof may take revengement of the dishononr of thy Mother give ear dear Child I say unto thy dying Mother thou that art born in the Dishonour of thy Generation by the loss of my Virginity here do I charge thee upon my Blessing even at my hour of Death and swear thee by the band of Nature never to suffer thy Beauty to be enjoyed by any one until thy disloyal Father's Head be offered up in Sacrifice unto my Grave thereby somewhat to appease the fury of my discontented Soul and recover part of my former Honour These and such like words spake the as afflictes Queen to the wonderful amazement of the thrée young Knights which as yet intended not to discover themselves but still to mark the event for they conjectured that her woful Complaints were the indualon of some strange Accident Thus as they stood obscurely behind the Trees they saw the young and beautiful Damsel give unto her dying Mother Payer Pen and Ink the which she pulled from her fair Bâ—som with which the grieved Queen subscribed certain sorrowful Lines unto him that wâ—â— the causer of her Bamâ—tment and making an end of her Writing then heard her with a dying Breath speak unto her Daughter these sorrowful Words following Come Daughter quoth she behold thy Mother at her latest Gasp and imprint my dying Request in thy Heart as in a Table of Brals that it never may be forgotten time will not give longer respite that with Words I may shew unto thee my deep Affections for I feel my Death approaching and the fatal Sisters ready to cut my thread of Life asunder between the edges of their Shears insomuch that I most miserable Creature do feel my Soul trembling in my Flesh and my Heart quivering at this my last and fatal Hour but one thing my sweet and tender Child do I desire of thee before I die which is That thou wouldest procure that this Letter may be given to that cruel Knight thy disloyal Father giving him to understand of this my troublesome Death the occasion whereof was his unreasonable Cruelty and making an end of laying this the miserable Queen fell down not having any more strength to sit up but let the Letter fall out of her hand the which her sorrowful Daughter presently took up and falling upon her Mother's Breast she replied in this sorrowful manner O my sweet Mother tell me not that you will die for it adds a Torment more grievous unto my Soul than the Punishment which Danaus his Daughters feel in Hell I had rather be torn in pieces by the fury of some merciless Monster or to have my Heart parted in twain by the hands of him that is my greatest Enemy than to remain without your company Sweet Mother let these my youthful Years and this green budding Beauty encourage you still to revive and not to leave me comfortless like an Exile in the World but if the gloomy Fates do triumph in your Death and abridge your breathing trunk of Life and your Soul must needs go wander in the Elizian Shades with Trula's Shadow and with Dido's Ghost here I protest by the great and tender Love I bear you and by the due Obedience that I own unto your Age either to deliver this your Letter into the hand of my unkind Father or with these my ruful Fingers to rend my Heart in sunder and before I will forget my Yow the silver streamed Tygris shall forsake her Course the Sea her Tydes and the glistering Queen of Night her usual Changes neither shall any Forgetfulnesâ— be an occasion to withdraw my Mind from performing your dying Requests Then this weak Queen whose Power and Strength was wholly decayed and her hour of Deaâ—h grew near aâ— hand with a feeble Uoice she said O you sacred and immortal Gods and all you bright celestial Powers of Happiness into your divine Bosomes now do I commend my dying Soul asking no other Revengement against the causer of my Death but that he may die lâ—ke me for want of Love After this the dâ—ing Queen nâ—vâ—r spake word more for at that instant the cruel â—estinâ—es gave an end unto her Life but when Rosana peâ—ceived her to be Dead and she left to the World devoid of Comfort shâ— began to tear the golden Trammels from her Head and most â—uâ—iouâ—ly to beat her where 〈◊〉 Breast filling the empty Air with â—lamours of her Mâ—aâ—s making tâ—e Skâ—eâ— like an Eccho to resound her Lamentations and at last taking her Mâ—ther's Letter into her hands washing it with floods of Tears and puâ—tâ—ng it next unto her naked Breast she said Here lie thou near adjoyning to my bleeding Heart never be removed until I have performed my dying Mother's Testament Oh Works and the last Work of those her dying Hands here do I swear by the Honour of true Virgins not to part it from my grieved Bosome until such time as Love has rent the disloyal Heart of my unkind Father and speaking this she kissed it a tâ—ousand times breatâ—ing forth millions of Sighs and so with a bluâ—â—ing Countenance as red as Aurora's glistering Beams she â—ose and said to herselâ— What is this Rosana dost thou think to recal thy Mother's Life with ceremonious Complaints and not perform that which by her was commanded thee Arise arise I say gather unto thyself Strength and Courage and wander up and down the World till thou hast found thy disloyal Father as thy true heart hath promised to do Theâ—e words were no sooner finished but St. George's Sons like Men whose Hearts were almost overcome with Gâ—ief came fâ—oâ— the Pine-trées and discovered themselves to the Damsel and courteously requested her to discourse the Story of all her pâ—ssed Mâ—series and as they were true Christian Kâ—ights they promised her if it lay in their Power to releaâ—e her Sorrows and to give end unto her Miseries Rosana when she beheld these courteous anâ— well dâ—meanoâ—'d Knâ—ghts which in her conceit carried relenting Minds and considering how kindâ—y they dâ—sired to be paâ—tners in her Greifs she stood not â—â—en curious Terms nor upon Exceptions but most wiâ—â—ingly condescended to their Requests so when they had prepared their Ears to entertain her sad and sorrowful Discourse with a sober Countenance she began in this manner Lately I was quoth he whilst Fortune smiled on me the only Child and Daughter of this liveless Queen that you behold here lying Dead and she before my Birth whilst Fortune granted her Prosperity was the Maiden Queen of a Country called Armenia adjoyning near unto this unhappy Island whom in her young Years when her Beauty began to flourish and her high Renown to mount upon the wings of Fame she was so intrapped with the golden Bait of blind Câ—pid and â—o intangled with the Love of a disloyal Knight called the Knight of the Black Castle who after he had flourisht in the
spoil of her Virginity and had left his fruitful Seed springing in her Womb grew weary of her Love and most discourteously left her as a Shame unto her Countrey and a Stain unto her Kindred and after gave himself to such Lustful and Lascivious manner of Life that he unlawfully Married a Shepherd's Daughter in a Forreign Land and likewise ravished her own Sister and after committed her to a most inhumain Slaughter in a desart Wood this being done he fortified himself in his Black Castle and only consorted with a cunning Necromancer whose skill in Magick is now grown so excellent that all the Knights in the World can never conquer the Castle where ever since he hath remained in despight of the whole Earth But now speak I of the tragical Story of my unhappy Mother when as I her unfortunate Babe began first to struggle in her Womb wherein I wish I had been strangled she heard news of her Knight's ill demeanour and how he had given himself to the spoyl of Virginity and had for ever left her Love never intending to return again the Grief whereof so troubled her Mind that she could not in any wise dissemble it and so upon a time being amongst her Ladies calling to remembrance her spotted Virginity and the Seed of Dishonour placed in her Womb she fell into a wonderful and strange Trance as though she had been oppressed with sudden Death which when her Ladies and Damsels beheld they presently determined to unbrace her rich Ornaments and to carry her unto her Bed but she made Signs with her hands that they should depart and leave her alone whose Commandment was straightways obeyed not without great Sorrow of them all for their Loves were dear unto her this afflicted Queen when she saw that she was alone began to exclaim against her Fortune reviling the Fates with bitter Exclamations Oh unconstant Queen of Chance said she thou that hast wraped such strange Webs in my Kingdom thou that gaved my Honour to that Tyrant's Lust which without all Remorse hath left me Comfortless it is thou that didst constrain me to set my Life to sale and to sell my Honour as it were with the Cryer compelling me to do that which hath spotted my princely Estate and stained my bright Honour with black Infamy woe is me for Virginity that which my Parents gave me charge to have Respect unto but I have carelesly kept it and smallâ— regarded it I will therefore chastise my Body for thus forgetting of myself and be so revenged for the little regard that I have made of my Honour that it shall be an Example to all noble Ladies and Princes of high Estate in the whole World Oh miserable Queen oh fond and unhappy Lady thy Speeches be too foolish for although thy desperate Hand should pull out thy despised Heart from thy bleeding Breast yet can it not make satisfaction for thy Dishonour O you Clouds why do you not cast some fiery Thunder-bolt down upon my Head or why doth not the Earth gape and swallow my infamous Body oh false and deceived Lord I would thy loving and amorous Words had never been spoken nor thy quick-sighted Eyes ever gazed upon my Beauty then had I flourisht still with Glory and Renown and lived a happy Virgin of chaste Diana 's Train With these and other like Lamentations this grieved Queen passed away the time from Day to Day till at last she felt her Womb to grow Big with Child at the which she received double Pain for that it was impossible to cover or hide it and seeing her self in this case like a Woman hated and abhorted she determined to discover herself Publickly unto her Subjects and deliver her Body unto them to be Sacrificed unto their Gods and with this Determination one day she caused certain of her Nobles to be sent for who straight-way came according to her Commandment but when she perceived her Lords Knights and Gentlemen of Honour were come thither before her she covered herself with a rich Robe and sat upon her Bed in her private Chamber being so pale and lean that all they that saw her had great compassion upon her Sorrow being all set round about her Bed and keeping silence she revealed to them the cause of her grief in this manner My Lords quoth she I shame to entitle myself your Queen and Soveraign in that I have desamed the honour of my Country and little regarded the Welfare of my Common-wealth my glistering Crown me thinks is shaded with a Cloud of black Disgrace and my princely Attire converted into unchaste Habiliments in which I have both lost the liberty of my Heart and withal my wonted Joy and now am constrained to indure perpetual Pain and an ever-pining Death for I have lost my Honour and reaped nothing but Shame and Infamy To conclude I have foregone the liberty of a Queen and sold myself to a slavish Sin only mine own is the Fault and my own shall be the Punishment Therefore without making any Excuse I here surrender up my Body into your Powers that you may as an evil Queen sacrifice me unto our Gods for now my Lords you shall understand that I am dishonoured by the Knight of the Black Castle he hath planted a Vine within my fruitful Garden and also sown a Seed within my accursed Womb that hath made Armenia Infamous he it is that hath committed hourly Evils in the World he it is that delights in Virgins Spoyls and he it is that hath bereaved me of my Honour but with my Consent I must needs confess and left me for a Testimony of this my evil Deed big with Child by which my Virgin 's Glory is converted to a monstrous Scandal and with this she made an end of her lamentable Speech and being grievously oppressed with the pain of her burthenous Womb she fat her down upon her rich Bed and attended their Wills But when those Earls Lords and honourable Parsouages that were present had understood all that the Queen had said unto them like Men greatly amazed they changed their colours from red to white and from white to red in sign of Anger looking one upon another without speaking any Words but printing in their Hearts the Fault doue by their Queen to the great disgrace of their Country they without any further consideration deprived her from all Princely Dignity both of Crown and Regiment and pronounced her perpetual banishment from Armenia like Subjects not to be governed by such a defamed Princess that hath graâ—ted the Fruit of such a Tree within her Womb. So at the time appointed like a Woman forlorn and hated of all Companies she stored herself with sufficient Treasure and betook herself to her appointed Banishment After whose departure the Armenians elected themselves another Prince and lest their lustful Queen wandring in unknown Islands big with Childs dâ—void of Succour and relief where inflead of her princely Bed covered with Eanopies of Silk the took
Ceâ—eâ—tial Cherubins A thousand little streamed Brooks ran upon the enameled Ground making sundry fine Works by their â—rooked Tuâ—nings and joyning one Water with another with a very gentle meeting making such silver Musick that the Champ ons with the pleasure thereof were almost ravished and smally regardâ—d whether their Horses went right or no and travelling in this sort they rode forward till they came into a marvelous great and wide Meadow being of such exceeding fairness that I am not able with a Pen to paint out the exceliency thereof whereas were feeding both wild and tame Harts adorned with great and cragged Horns like wise the furious wild Bore the fierce Lyon and the simple Lambs were altogether feeding with so great Friendship as on the contrary by Nature they were Enemies Whereat the noble Champions were almost overcome in their own Conceits and amazed in their Imaginations to see so strange Love clean contrary unto Nature and that there was no difference betwixt the love of wild Beasts and tame in this manner they travelled along till upon a sudden they arrived before the Buildings of the Black Castle and casting their Eyes towards the same they beheld near unto the principal Gate right over the Castle twelve marble Pinacles of such an exceeding height that the Pyramids of Aegypt were very low in comparison of them in such sort that whosoever would look upon them was scant able with his sight to comprehend the height thereof and they were all painted most gorgerously with several Colours Down below under the Castle there was an Arch with a Gate which seemed to be of Diamonds and all was compassed about with a great Moat or Ditch being of so great a depth that they thought it to reach to the midst of the Earth and it was almost two hundred Paces broad and every Gate had his Draw-bridge all made of red Boards which seemed as though they had been bathed all in Blood After this the Champions rode to the other side of this goodly Castle wondring at the curious and sumptuous workmanship where they espyed a Pillar of beautiful Iasper-stone all wrought full of precious Stones of strange Works the which Pillar was of great value and was garnished with chains of Gold that were made fast unto it by Magick Art at which Pillar likewise hung a very costly silver Trumpet with certain Letters carved about the same the which contained these Words following If any dare attempt this place to see By sounding this the Gate shall opened be A Trumpet here enchin'd by Magick Art To daunt with fear the proudest Champion's Heart Look thou for blows that enterest in this Gate Return in time Repentance comes too late The which when St. George beheld and had understood the meaning of those mystical Letters without any more tarrying he set the Silver Trumpet to his Mouth and sounded such a vehemenâ— blâ—st that it seemed to Eccho in the foundation of the Castle whereas the principal Gate presently opened and the Dâ—aw bringe was let down without the help of any visible hand which made the Champions to wonder and to stand amazed at the strange Accident but yet intending not to return like Cowards 〈◊〉 with a past of Wind they alighted from their warlike 〈◊〉 and delivered them into the old Shepherd's hanâ—s to be fed upon the fragrant and green Grass till they had performed the adventure of the Castle the which they vowed either to accomplish or never to return so lacking down their Beavers and drawing forth their Keen edged Fauchions they entred the Gates and being safe within the Champions looked round about them to see if they could espy any body but they said nothing but a pair of winding Stairs whereat they descended then had not gone many steps out therein was so great a darkness that scarce they could see any light so that it rather seemed the similitude of Hell than any other worldly place yet groping by the Walls they kept their going down those narrow and turning Stairs which were very dark and at such length that they thought they descended in the middle of y e Earth They spent a great time in descending those Stairs but in the end they came into a very fair and large Court all compassed with Iron Gates like unto a Prison or a Pallace provided to keep untamed Lyons wherein casting their Eyes up to the top of the Castle they beheld the wicked Knight walking with the Necromancer upon a large Gallery supported with huge Pillars of Brass likewise there were attending upon them seven Giants cloathed in mighty Iron Coats holding in their hands Bats of Steel to whom the bold and venturous Champion of England spake with an undaunted Courage and loud Uoyce in this manner saying Come down thou wicked Knight thou spoyl of Virginity thou that art invironed with these monstrous Giants these the wondring works of Nature whose daring Looks seem to scale the Clouds much like unto the Pride of Nimrod when he offered to build up Bavel 's confused Tower Come down I say from they brazen Gallery and take to thee thy Armour thou that hast a Heart to commit a Virgin 's Rape for whose Revenge we come now likewise have a Courage is thy Defence for we vow never to depart out of thy Castle till we have confounded thee or by thy Force be discomfited â—â— which words he held his peace expecting an Answer whereâ—â—he wicked Knight when he heard these heroical Spéeches of St. Gorge began to fret and fume like to a starved Lyon famishâ—â— with hungar or the cruel Tyger mâ—sâ—ing in humane Blood with a great desire to satisfie his Chirst or like the Wrath of doggeâ— Cerberus when as he feasted with Alcide's Flesh even to raged Leoger the Knight of the Black Castle throatning sorth fury from his sperkling Eyes and in this â—â—â—e manner re-answered the noble Champion of England Proud Knight quoth be or Peasant whatsoever thou art I pass not the smallest Hair of my Head for thy upbraiding me with thy unruly Tongue I will return thy Speeches on thy self for the Pavements of my Castle shall be sprinkled with thy cursed Blood and the Bones of those thy unhappy Followers shall be buried in the sinks of my Channels If thou hadst brought the Army of Crasar that made all Lands to tremble where he came yet were they but as a blast of wind unto my force seest thou not my Giants which stand like Oaks upon our brazen Gallery they at my Commandment shall take you from the places where you stand and throw you over the Walls of this my Castle in such fort that they shall make you flee into the Air more then ten Fauchions high And for that thou hast upbraided me with the disgrace done unto a Virgin I tell thee if I had thy Mother here of whom thou tookest first the ayr of Life my hand should spilt her Womb that thou mightest see the Bed of thy Conception as
Nero did in Rome or it thy Wife and Children were here present before thy face I would al ridge their Lives that thy accuried Eyes might be witnesses of their bloody Murthers so much Wrath and Hare rageth in my Heart that all the Blood in thy Body cannot waâ—â—â—â— thence At which words the Giants which he had hired to desend him from his Foes came unto him very througly aâ—med with sturdy Weapons in their hands and requested him to be quâ—er and to abâ—â—e his so intenled Anger and they would fetch unto his presence all those braving Knights that were the occation of his Disquietness and Anger and so without carrying for an answer they departed down into the Court and left the Knight of the Castle with the Magician standing still upon the Gallecy to behold the following Encounters But when the Giants approached the Champions presence and saw them so well porportioned and furnished Knights of so gallant Statures they flourished about their knotty Clubs and purposed not to spend the time in Words but in Blows Then one of y e fiercest and cruellest Giants of them all which was called Brandamond seeing St. George to be the forwardest in the Enterprize and judged him to be the Knight that had so braved his Lord he began with a stern Ceuntenance to speak unto him in this manner Art thou that bold Knight said the Giant that with thy witless Words hast so anger'd the mighty Leoger the Lord of this Castle If thou be I advse thee by Submission to seek to appease his furious Wrath before Revengement be taken upon thy Person Also I do charge thee that if thou wilt remain with thy Life that thou dost leave thy Armour and yield thyself with all these Followers with their hands bound behind them and go and ask Forgiveness at his Feet To which St. George with a smiling Countenance answered Gyant said he thy Counsel I do not like nor thy Advice will I receive but rather do we hope to send thee and all thy Followers without tongues to the infernal King of fiery Phlegeton and for that you shall not have any more time to speak such folly and foolishness either return your ways from whence you came and repent of this which you have said or else prepare yourselves to a mortal Battle The Giants when they heard the Champions Resolutions and how slightly they regarded their Proffers without any longir tarrying they straight way fell upon St. George and his Company intending with their knotty Bats of Steel to beat them as small as flesh unto the Pot but the Quéen of Chance so smiled upon the Christian Champions that the Giants smally prevailed for betwixt them was fought a long and terrible battle in such danger that the victory hung wavering on both sides not knowing to whom it would fall the Bats and Fauchions made such a noise upon one another's Armour that they sounded like to the blows of the Cyclops working upon their Anvils and at every blow they gave fire flew from their sâ—etled Corllets like sparkles from the flaming Furnaces in Hell the Skies resounded back the ecchoes of their Strokes the Ground shook as though it had been oppressed with an Earth-quake the pavement of the Court was over spread with an intermixing of blood and sweat and the Walls of the Castle were mightily battered with the Giants Clubs by the time that glistering Sol the days bright Candle began to decline from the top of Heaven the Giants wearied in fight began to faint whereat the Christian Knights with more Courage began to encrease in Strength and with such vigour affayled the Giants that before the golden Sun had dived to the western World the Giants were quite discomforted and â—â—ainâ— some lay with their Hands dismembred from their Bodies weltring in purple gore some had their Brains sprinkled against the Walls some lay in Channels with their Intrals trailing down in streams of Blood and some Ioyntless with Bodies cut in pieces so that there was not one left a live to withstand the Christian Champions Whereat St. George with the other six Knights fell upon their knees and thanked the immortal Rector of all good Chance for their Uictory But when the Knight of the Black Castle which stood upon the Gallery during all the time of the Encounter and saw how all the Giants were stain by the Prowess of those strange knights he raged in great Wrath wishing that the Ground might gape and swallow him before he were delivered into the hands of his Enemies and presently would have cast himself headlong from the top of the Gallery thereby to have dasht out his Brains against the Pavement had not the Necromancer who like wise beheld the event of the Encounter intercepted him in his intended Drift promising to perform by Art what the Giants could not do by Force So the Necromancer fell to his Magick Spells and Charms by which the Christian Champions were mightily troubled and molested and brought in danger of their Lives by afearful and strange manner as shall be hereafter shown For as they stood after their long Encounters unbuckling their Armours to take the fresh Ayr and their bloody Wounds received in their last conflict the Magirian caused by his Art a Spirit in the likeness of a Lady of a marvellous and fair Beauty to look through an Iron Grate who seemed to lean her fair Face upon her white Hand very pensively and distilled from her crystal Eyes great abundance of Tears When the Champions saw this beautiful Creature they remained in great Admiration thinking with themselves that by some hard Misfortune she was imprisoned in those Iron Grates at which this Lady did seem to open her fair and crystaline Eyes looking earnestly upon St. George and giving a grsevous and sorrowful Sigh she withdrew herself from the Grate which sudden departure caused the Christian Knights so have a great desire to know who it should be suspecting that by the force of some Enchantment they should be overthrown but casting up their Eyes again to see if they could see her they could not but they saw in the very same place a Woman of a great and princely Stature who was all armed in silver Plates with a Sword girded at her Waste sheathed in a golden Scabberd and had hanging at her Neck an ivory Bow and a gilt Quiver this Lady was of so great Beauty that she séemed almost to excéed the other but in the same sort as the other did upon a sudden she vanished away leaving the Champions no less troubled in their thought than before they were The Christian Knights had not long time bewailed the absence of the two Ladies but that without seeing any body they were stricken with such furious blows upon their Backs that they were constrained to stoop with one Knee upon the ground yet with a trice they rose again and looking then to see who they were that struck them they perceived them to be the
Earthly Water may suffice but this To quench the Lamps where Art commander is No Wight alive this Water may procure But she that is a Virgin chast and pure And Nature at her Birth did so dispose Upon her Breast to print a purple Rose These Uerses being perused by the three Knights and finding them as it were contrived in the manner of a mystical Oracle they could not imagine what they should signifie but Rosana being singular well conceited and of a quick understanding presently knew that by her the adventures should be finished and therefore she encouraged them to a forwardness 〈◊〉 â—o â—eek out the enchanted fountain that by the water thereof the Lamps mighâ— be quenched and the seven Champions delivered out of Captivity This importunate desire of Rosana caused the three young Knights not to lose any time but to search in every corner of the Castle till they had found the place wherein the Fountain was for as they went towards the North-side of the Court they espyed another little door standing in the Wall and when they came to it they saw that it was made all of very strong Iron with a Portal of Steel and in the Key-hole thereof there was a Brazen key with the which they did open it whereat presently unto their wonderful amazements they heard a very sad and sorrowful voice breath forth these words following Let no Man be so fool-hardy as to enter here for it is a place of Terrour and Confusion Yet for all this they entred in thereat and would not be daunted with any ceremonious fear but like Knights of heroical estimation they went forward wherein they were no sooner entered but they saw that it was wonderful dark and it seemed unto them that it should be a very large Hall and there they heard very fearful howlings as though there had been a Legion of Hell-hounds or that Pluto's Dog had been Uicegerent of that place Yet for all this these valiant Knights did not lose any of their accustomed courage nor would the Lady leave their companies for any danger at all but they entred in further and took off their Gauntlers from their left hands whereon they wore marvellous great and fine Diamonds which were set in Rings that gave so much light that they might plainly see all things that were in the Hall the which was very great and wide and upon the Walls were painted the Figures of many furious Fiends Devils with other strange Uisions framed by Magick Art only to terrifie the Beholders But looking very circumspectly about them on every side they espyed the Enchanted Fountain standing directly in the middle of the Hall towards which they went with their shields braced on their left Arms and their good Swords charged in their right hands ready to withstand any dangerous accident whatsoever should happen But coming to the Fountain and offering to fill their Helmets with water there appeared before them a strange and terrible Griphon which seemed to be all of slanting fire who struck all the three Knights one after another in such 〈◊〉 that they were forced to recoyl back a great way yet notwithstanding with discretion they kept themselves upright and with a wonderful lightness accompanied with no less anger they threw their Shields at their backs and taking their Swords in both their hands they began most fiercely to assays the Griphon with mortal and strong blaws Then presently there appeared before them a whole Legion of Devils with flesh hooks in their hands spitting forth flames of Fire and breathing from their Nostrils smoaking Sulphur and Brimstone In this terrible sort tormented they these three variant Knights whose years although they were but young yet with great wrath redoubled force adventured they themselves amongst this Hellish Crew striking such terrible flows that in spight of them they came unto the Fountain and prossered to take of the water but all in vain for they were not only put from it by this Devilish company but the water it self glided from their hands Oh in what great travel perplexity these Knights remaineâ— amongst this wicked and devilish generation for to defend them selves that they might attain to the finishing of this Adventure according to their Knightly promise But during the time of all these dangerous encounters Rosana stood like one berest of sense through the terrour of the same but at last remembring her self of the superscription written in the silver Tablet the which the Knights pecused by the enchanted Lamps the signification of which was that the quenching of y e lights should be accomplished by a pure Uirgin that had the lively form of a Rose naturally pictured upon her breast all the which Rosana knew most certainly to be comprehended in her self therefore whilst they continued in their dangerous fight she took up a Helmet that was pulled from one of the Knights Heads by the furieus force of the Griphon and ran unto the Fountain and filled it with water wherewith she quenched the enchanted Lamps with as much case as though one had dipped a waxen Torch in a mighty River of water This was no sooner done and finished to Rosana's chiefest contentment but then the Skies began to war dark and immediately to be overspread with a black and thick Cloud and it came with great thundring and Lightnings and such a terrible noise as tho' the earth would have sunk and the longer it endured the more was the fury therefore in such sort that the Griphon with all that deluded generation of Spirits vanished away and the Knights forsook their encounters and fell upon their knees and with great humility they desired in their hearts to be delivered from the fury of that exceeding and terrible Tempest By this sudden alteration of the Heavens the Knight of the Castle knew that the Lamps were extinguished the Champions redeemed from their enchanted sleeps the Castle yielded to the pleasure of the three Knights and his own life to the fury of their Swords except he preserv'd it by a sudden flight so presently he departed the Castle and secretly fled out of the Island unsuspected by any one of whose after Fortunes Miseries and Death you shall hear more hereafter in the course of the History following The Necromancer by his art likewise knew that the Castle was yielded unto his Enemies Power and that his charms and magick Spels nothing prevailed therefore he caused two airy Spirits in the likeness of two Dragons to carry him swiftly through the Air in an Ebon Chariot Here we likewise will leave him in his wicked and devillish attempts and damned enterprizes which shall be discoursed hereafter more at large because it appertaineth to our History now to speak of the seven renowned Champions of Christendom that by the quenching of the Lamps were awakened from their Enchantments wherein they had sain in obscurity for the space of seven days For when they were risen from their sléep and had rowzed up their drowsie Spirits
manner and likewise how he found a Knight lying upon a Tomb that stood over a flaming Fire with other things of note that hapned upon the same MOst sweet were the sleeps that these Princely minded Champions took in the Castle all the first part of the night without molestation either by disquiet dreams or disturbing motions of their minds till such time as the Queen of Night had run half her weary journey and had spent the better part of the night for betwixt twelve and one being the chiefest time of fear and terrour in the night such a strange alteration did work in Saint George's thought that he could not enjoy the benefit of sweet sleep but was forced to Iye broad awake like one disquieted by some sudden fear but as he lay with wakeful eyes thinking upon his passed Fortunes and numbring the minutes of the night with his cogitations he heard as it were a cry of Night-Ravens which flew beating their fatal Wings against the Windows of his Lodging by which he imagined that some direful accident was near at hand yet being not frighted with this fearful noise nor daunted with the croking of these Ravens he lay still silently not revealing it to any of the other Champions that lay in the six several Beds in the same chamber but at last being between sleeping and waking he heard as it were the voice of a sorrowful Knight that constrained these bitter passions from his tormented soul they contained these words following O thou invincible Knight of England thou that art not frighted with this sorrowful dwelling wherein thou canst see nothing but Torments rise up I say from thy sluggish bed and with thy undaunted courage and strong Arm break the charm of my Enchantment And therewithal he seemed to give a most terrible groan and so ceased This unexpected noise caused Saint George without the knowledge of any of the other Champions to arise from his Bed and to buckle on his Armour and to search about the Castle to see if he might find the place that harboured the Knight that made such sorrowful lamentations So going up and down by-corners in the Castle all the latter part of the night without finding the adventure of this strange voice or disturbance by any other means but that he was hindred from his natural and quiet sleep by the break of day when the dark night began to withdraw her sable Curtains and to give Aurora liberty to display her purple brightness he entered into a four square Parlor hung round about with black cloth and other mournful habiliments where on the one side of the same he saw a Tomb all covered likewise with black and upon it there lay a Man with a pale colour who at certain times gave most marvellous and grievous Sighs caused by burning flames that procéeded from under the Tomb being such that it seemed that his Body therewith should be converted into Coals the flame thereof was so stinking that it made Saint George somewhat to retire himself from the place where he did sée that most horible and fearful spectacle He which lay upon the Tomb casting his eyes aside espyed Saint George and knowing him to be a humane creature with an afflicted voice he said Who art thou Sir Knight that art come into this place of Sorrow where nothing is heard but clamours of Fear and Terrour Nay tell me said Saint George who thou art that with so much Grief dost demand of me that which I stand in doubt to reveal to thee I am the King of Babylon answered he which without all consideration with my cruel hand did pierce thorow the white and delicate Brest of my beloved Daughter Woe be to me and woe unto my Soul therefore for she at once did pay her offence by Death but I a most miserable wretch with many Torments do die living When this worthy Champion Saint George was about to answer him he saw come forth from under the Tomb a Damsel who had her hair of a yellow and wan colour hanging down about her shoulders and by her face she seemed that she should be very strangely afflicted with Torments and with a sorrowful Uoice she said O unfortunate Knight what dost thou séek in this infernal lodging where cannot be given thee anyother pleasure but mortal torment and there is but one thing that can clear thee from it and this cannot be told thâ—e by any other but by me â—et I will not express it except thou will grant me one thing which I will ask of thee The English Champion that with a sad countenance stood behalding of the sorrowful Damsel and being greatly amazed at the lâ—ght which he had seen answered and said The Powers which were Governours of my liberty will do their pleasures but touching the grant of thy request I never denyed any lawful thing to either Lady or Gentlewoman but with all my power and strength I was made to fulfill the same therefore demand what thy pleasure â—s And with that the Damiel threw her self into the Sepulchre and with a grievous voice she said now most courteous Knight perâ—orm thy promisâ— strike but three stroaks upon this fatal Tomb and thou shalt deliver us from a world of Miseries and likewise make an and of our continual torments Then the invincible Knight replyed in this order whether you be humane creatures said he placed in this Sepulchre by Enchantment or furies raised from fiery Acheron to work my confusion or no I know not and there is so little truth in this infernal Castle that I stand in doubt whether I may believe thy words or not but yet discourse unto me the truth of all your passed fortunes and by what means you were brought into this place and as I am a crue Knight and one that fights in the quarrel of Christendom I vow to accomplish whatsoever lyeth in my power Then the Damsel began with a grievous and sorrowful lamentation to declare as strange a Tragedy as ever was told And lying in the fatal Sepulchre unseen of Saint George that stood leaning his back against the Wall to hear her discourse a lamentable sâ—ory with a hollow voice like a murthered Lady whose bleeding Soul as yet did feel the terrible stroak of her Death she repeated this pittiful Tale following CHAP. XI Of a Tragical Discourse pronounced by a Lady in a Tomb and how her Enchantment was finished by Saint George with other strange accidents that hapned to the other Six Champions of Christendom IN famous Babylon sometimes reigned a King although a Heather yet adorned with noble and vertuous customs and had only one Daughter that was very fair whose name was Angelica humble wise and chast Who was beloved of a mighty Duke and a man wonderful cunning in the black â—rt this Magician had a sage and grave countenance and one that for wisdom better deserved the Government than any other in the Kingdom and was very well esteemed throughout all Babylon
almost equally with the King for which there ingendered in the Kings heart a secret rancour and hatred towards him The Magician cast his love upon the young Princess Angelica and it was ordained by destiny that she should repay him with the same affection so that both their hearts being wounded with love the one to the other they indured sundry great Passions Then Love which continually seeketh occasions did on a time set before this Magician a Waiting Maid of Angelica's named Fidelia the which thing seemed to be wrought by the immortal power of the Goddess Venus Oh in what fear the Magician was to discover unto her all his heart and to bewray the secrets of his love-sick Soul but in the end by the great industry and diligence of the Waiting-maid whose Name was answerable unto her mind there was order given that these two Lovers should meet together This fair Angelica for that she could not at her ease enjoy her true Lover she did determine to leave her own natural Country Father and with this intention being one night with her Love she cast her Arms about his neck and said Oh my sweet and well-beloved Friend seeing that my Destinies have been so kind to me as to have my heart linked in thy Breast let no man find in thee ingratitude for that I cannot live except continually I enjoy thy sight and do not muse my Lord at these my Words for the intire love that I bear to you constreineth me to make it manifest And this believe of a certainty that if thy sight be absent from me it will be an occasion that my heart will lack his vital recreation and my soul forsake her Earthly habitation You know my Lord how that the King my Father doth bear you no good Will but doth hate you from his soul which will be an occasion that we cannot enjoy our hearts contentments for the which I have determined if you think well thereof to leave both my Father and my native Country and to go and live with you in a strange Land And if you deny me this you shall very quickly see your loving Lady without life but I know you will not deny me for thereon consisteth the benefit of my welfare and my chiefest prosperity And therewithal sheding a few tears from her Crystal Eyes she held her peace The Magician as one half ravished with her earnest desires answered and said My Love and sweet Mistress wherefore have you any doubt that I will not fulfill and accomplish your desire in all things therefore out of hand put all things in readiness that your pleasure is to have done for what more benefit or contentment can I receive than to enjoy your sight continually in such sort that neither of us may depart from the others company till the fatal Destinies give end to our lives Or if it so fall out that Fortune frown upon us that we be espied and taken in our enterprize and suffer death together what more glory can there happen unto me than to die with thee and to end my life betwixt thy arms therefore do not trouble your self dear Lady and Mistress but give me leave for â—o depart your presence that I may provide all things in readiness for our departures And so with this conclusion they took leave one of the other and departed away with as great secresie as might possibly be devised After this within a few days the Magitian by his Enchantment caused a Chariot to be made that was drawn by the flying Dragons into the which without being espyed of any one they put themselves together with their trusty Waiting-Maid and in great secresie they departed out of the Kings Pallace and took their journey towards the Country of Armenia into the which Country in a short time they arrived and came without any misfortune unto a place where as deep Rivers did continually strike upon a Rock upon the which stood an old ancient building wherein they intended to inhabit as a most convenient place for their dwelling whereas they might without all fear of being found live peaceably enjoying each others love Not far from that place there was a small Uillage from whence they might have necessary provision for the maintaining of their bodies Great joy and pleasure these two Lovers received when they found themselves in such a place whereas they might take their fill of each others loves The Magician delighted in no other thing but to go a hunting with certain Country Dwellers that inhabited in the next Uillage leaving his sweet Angelica accompanied with her trusty Fidelia in that house so in this order they lived together four years spending their days in great pleasure but in the end time who never â—ested in one degree did take from them their â—est and repayed them with sorrow and extream misery For when the King her Father found her missing the sorrow and grief was so much that he received that he kept his Chamber a long time and would not be comforted of any body Four years he passed away in great heaviness filling the Court with Ecchoes of his beloved Daughter and making the Skies to resound his lamentations sorrow was his food salt tears his drink and grief his chief Companion But at last upon a time as he sate in his Chair lamenting her absence with great heaviness and being over-charged with grief he chanc'd to fall into a troublesome dream for after quiet sleep had closed up the closers of his Eyes he dreamed that he saw his Daughter standing upon a Rock by the Sea-side offering to cast her Body into the Waves before she would return to Babylon and that he beheld her Lover with an Army of Satyrs and Wild-men ready furnished with habiliments of War to pull him from his Throne and to deprive him of his Kingdom Out of this Uision he presently started from his Chair as though it had been one frighted with a Legion of Sâ—irits and caused four of the chief Peers of his Land to be sent for to whom he committed the Government of his Country certifying them that he intended a Uoyage to the Sepulchre at Memphis thereby to qualify the fury of his Daughters Ghost whom he dreamed to be drowned in the Seas and that except he sought by true Submission to appease the angry Fates whom he had offended he should be deposed from his Kingdom None could withdraw him from his Determination though it was to the prejudice of the whole Land therefore within twenty Days he furnished himself with all necessaries as well of Armour and Martial Furniture as of Gold and Treasure and so departed from Babylon privately and alone not suffering any other though many desired it humbly and very earnestly to bear him company But he travelled not as he told his Lords after any Ceremonious Order but like a Blood Hound searching Country after Country Nation by Nation and Kingdom by Kingdom that after a barbarous manner he might be
manner spent the sorrowful Fidelia that unhappy day till bright Phoebus went into the Western Parts at which time the Magician returned from his accustomed Hunting and finding the Door open he entered into Angelica's Chamber where when he found her Body westring in congealed Blood and beheld how Fidelia sate weeping over her bleeding Wounds he cursed himself for that he accounted his negligence the occasion of her Death in that he had not left her in more safety But when Fidelia had certified him how that by the hands of her own Father she was slaughtered he began like a Frantick Tyrant to rage against black Destiny and to fill the Air with terrible Exclamations Oh cruel Murtherer said he crept from the Womb of some untamed Tyger I will be so revenged upon thee O unnatural King that all Ages shall wonder at thy misery And likewise thou unhappy Virgin shalt endure like punishment in that thy accursed Tongue hath bruited this fatal Deed unto my Ears the one for committing the Crime and the other for reporting it For I will cast such deserved vengeance upon your Heads and place your Bodies in such continual Torments that you shall lament my Ladies Death leaving alive the Fame of her with your Lamentations And in saying these Words he drew a Book out of his Bosom and in reading certain Charms and Enchantments that were therein contained he made a great and very black Cloud appear in the skies which was brought by terrible and hasty winds in the which he took them up both and brought them into the Enchanted Castle where ever since they have remained in this Tomb cruelly tormented with unquenchable Fire and must for ever continue in the same extremity except some courteous Knight will vouchsafe to give but three blows upon the Tomb and break the Enchantment Thus have you heard you magnanimous Knight the true discourse of my unhappy Fortunes And the Uirgin which for the true love she bore unto her Lady was committed to this torment as my self and this pale Body lying upon the Tomb is the unhappy Babylonian King which unnaturally murthered his own Daughter and the Magician which committed all these villanies is that accursed wretch which by his Charms and Devillish Enchantments hath so strongly withstood your Encounters These Words were no sooner finished but Saint George drew out his sharp cutting Sword and gave three blows upon the Enchanted Tomb whereat presently appeared the Babylonian King standing before him attyred in rich Robes with an Imperial Diadem upon his Head and that Lady standing by him with a countenance more beautiful than the Damask Rose When Saint George beheld them he was not able to speak for joy nor to utter his mind so exceeding was the pleasure that he took in their sights so without any long circumstance he took them betwixt both his hands and led them into the Chamber whereas he found the other Knights newly risen from their Beds To whom he revealed the true discourse of the passed Adventure and by what means he redeemed the King and Lady from their Enchantments which to them was as great joy as before it was to Saint George So after they had for some six days refreshed themselves in the Castle they generally intended to accompany the Babylonian King into his Country and to place him again in his Regiment In which Travel we will leave the Christian Knights to the conduct of Fortune and return again to Rosana who as you heard before departed from the Castle in the pursuit of her disloyal Father of whose strange Accidents shall be spoken in this following Chapter CHAP. XII How the Knight of the Black Castle after Conquest of the same by the Christian Champions wandred up and down the World in great terror of Conscience â—nd after how he was found in a Wood by his own Daughter in whose presence he desperately slew himself with other accidents that after hapned YOu do well remember when that the Christian Champions had slain the seven Giants in the Enchanted Castle and had made conquest thereof disloyal Leoger being Lord of the same secretly fled not for anger of the loss but for the preservation of his life So in grief and terrour of Conscience he wandred like a fugitive up and down the World sometimes remembring of his passed prosperity other times thinking upon the Rapes he had committed how disloyally in former times he had left the Queen of Armenia big with Child bearing in her Womb the stain of honour and the confusian of her reputation Sometimes his guilty Mind imagined that the bleeding Ghosts of the two Sisters whom he both ravished and murthered followed him up and down haunting his ghost with fearful Exclamations and filling each corner of the earth with clamours of Revengement Such fear and terror raged in his Soul that he thought all places where he travelled were filled with multitudes of Knights and that the strength of Countries pursued him to heap vengeance upon his guilty head for those wronged Ladies Whereby he cursed the hour of his Birth and blamed the cause of his creation wishing the Fates to consume his Body with a Fire or that the Earth would gape and swallow him In this manner he travelled up and down filling all places with Ecchoes of his Sorrow and Grief which brought him into such a perplexity that many times he would have slain himself and have â—id his wretched Soul from a world of Miseries But it hapned that one morning very early by the first light of Titans golden Torch he entred into a narrow and straight Path which conducted him into a very thick and solitary a Forrest wherein with much sorrow he travelled till such time as glistring Phoebus had passed the half part of his journey And being weary with the long way and the great weight of his Armour he was forced to take some rest and case under certain fresh a green Myrtle Trees whese large leaves did shadow a very fair and clear Fountain whose stream made a bubling murmur on the Pibbles Being set he began anew to have in remembrance his former committed Cruelty and complaining of Fortune he thus published his great grief and although he was weary of complaining yet seeing himself without all remedy he resolved like unto the Swan to sing a while before his death and so thinking to give some ease unto his tormented Heart he warbled forth these Uerses following MOurnful Melpomeneapproach with speed And shew thy sacred Face with tears besprent Let all thy Sisters Hearts with sorrow bleed To hear my Plaints and rufull discontent And with your mones sweet Muses all assist My mournfull Song that doth of woe consist That so I may at large paint out my pain Within these Desart Groves and Wilderness And after I have ended to complain They may record my woes and deep distress Except these Myrtle Trees relentless be They will with sobs assist the sighs of me Time wears out life it is reported
the Amazonian Lady took forth the Letter from her naked Breast where so long time she had kept it and she delivered it into his hands and said Is it that thou art that forgetul and disloyal Knight which left the unfortunate Queen of Armenia with so great pain and sorrow big with child among those unmeriful Tyrants her Country Men which banished her out of her Country in revenge of thy committed Crime where ever since she hath been companion with Wild Beasts that in their natures have lamented her Banishment Leoger when he heard her say these Words began to behold her and although his eyes were all to be blubbred and weary of waeping yet he most earnestly gazed in her face and answered her in this manner I will not deny to thee gentle Amazonian said he that which the very clouds do blush at and the low earth doth mourn for Thou shalt understand that I am the same Knight whom thou hast demanded after tell me therefore what is thy Will My Will is said she thou most ungrateful Knight that thou read here this Letter the last Work of the white hand of the unhappy Armenian Queen At which Words the Knight was so troubled in thought and grieved in mind that it was almost the occasion to dissolve his Soul from his Body and therewithal putting forth his hand somewhat trembling he took the Letter and set himself down very sorrowful upon the green grass without any power to the contrary his grief so abounded the bounds of reason No sooner had he opened the Letter but he presently knew it to be written by the hands of his wronged Lady the Armenian Queen and with great alteration both of heart and mind he read the sorrowful Lines which contained these Words following The Queen of Armenia her Letter TO thee thou disloyal Knight of the Black Castle the unfortunate Queen of Armenia can neither send nor wish salutations for having no health my self I cannot send it unto him whose cruel mind hath quite forgotten my true love I cannot but lament continually yea and complain unto my Fates incessantly considering that my fortune is converted from a Crowned Queen to a miserable and banished Caitiff whereas savage Beasts are my chief Companions and the mournful Birds my best Solicitors Oh Leoger Leoger why didst thou leave me comfortless without all cause as did Eneas his unfortunate Dido what second love hath bereaved me of thy sight and made thee forget her that ever shall remember thee O Leoger remember the day when first I saw thy face which day be fatal evermore and counted for a dismal day in time to come both heavy black and full of foul mischances for it was unhappy unto me for in giving thee joy I bereaved my self of all and lost the Possession of my liberty and honour although thou hast not esteemed nor took care of my sorrowful Fortunes yet thou shouldest not have mockt my perfect love and disdained the servent affection that I have born thee in that I have yielded to thee that precious Jewel the which hath been denyed to many a Noble King O love cruel and spiteful love that so quickly didst make me blind and deprived me of the knowledge that belonged to my Royal Highness Oh uncourteous Knight being blinded with thy Love the Queen of Armenia stained her honesty which she ought to have kept and preserved it from the biting canker of disloyal Love Hadst thou pretended to meck me thou shouldst not have suffered me to have lost so much as I did forgo for thy sake Tell me why didst thou not suffer me to execute my Will that I might have opened my white Breast with a piercing Sword and sent my Soul to shady Banks of sweet Elizium Then had it been better for me to have dyed than to live still and daily die Remember thy self Leoger and behold the harm that will come hereof have a care to the Pawn which thou hast sealed in my Womb and let it be an occasion that thou mayst after all thy violent Wrongs return to see me sleeping on my Tomb that my Child may not remain Fatherless in the Power of Wild Beasts whose hearts be fraughted with nothing but cruelty Do not consent that the perfect love which I bear thee should be counted vain but rather perform the Promise which thou hast made to me Oh unkind Leoger O cruel and hard heart is falshood the firm love that so unfeignedly thou didst profess to me What is he that hath been more unmerciful than thou hast been There is no furious Beast nor lurking Lyon in the Desarts of Lybia whose merciless paws are all besmeared in blood that is so cruelly hearted as thy self else wouldesâ— thou not leave me comfortless spending my days in solitary Woods whereas Tygers mourn at my distresses and the chirping Birds in their kinds grieve at my lamentations the unreasonable torments and sorrows of my soul are so many that if my Pen were made of Libian Steel and my Ink the purple Ocean yet could I not write the number of my Woes But now I determine to advertise thee of my desired Death for in writing this my last Testament the Fates are cutting asunder my thread of life and I can give thee knowledge of no more but yet I desire thee by the true love which I bear thee that thou wilt read with sorrow these few lines and now I desire the Destinies that thou mayst die the death that for thee I now do and so â—end By her which did yield unto thee her Life Love Honour Fame and Liberty WHen this sad and heavy Knight had made an end of reading this dolorous Letter he could not restrain his Eyes from distilling salt tears so great was the grief that his heart sustained Rosana did likewise bear him company to solemnize his heaviness with as many tears trickling from the conduits of her Eyes The great sorrow and lamentation was such and so much in both their hearts that for a great space the one could not speak unto the other but afterwards their griefs being somewhat extenuated Leoger began to say Oh Messenger from her with the remembrance of whose wrong my heart is wounded being undeservedly of me evil rewarded tell me even by the nature of true love if thou dost know where she is shew unto me her abiding place that I may go thither and give a discharge of this my great fault by yielding unto Death Oh cruel and without love answered Rosana What discharge canst thou give unto her that already through thy Cruelty is dead and buryed only by the occasion of such a forsworn Knight This penitent and grieved Knight when he understood the certainty of her Death with a sudden and hasty fury he struck himself on the Breast with his fist and lifting his Eyes unto the Clouds in manner of Exclamation against the Fates giving deep and sorrowful sighs he threw himself to the ground tumbling and wallowing from one
that I am where was my mind when I saw that fatal Dagger pierce thy tender Breast Whereon was my Thoughts Wherefore did I stand still and did not with courage make resistance against that terrible and fatal Blow If my strength would not have served me yet at the least I should then have born thee company You furious Beasts that are hid in your Dens and deep Caves where are you now Why do you not come and take pity upon my Grief in taking away my life doing so you shew your selves pittiful for that I do abhor this dolorous Life Yet all this while she did not forget the promise that she made him which was to give his Body burial in her Mothers Tomb Which was the occasion that she did somewhat cease her lamentation and taking unto her self more courage than her sorrowful grief would consent unto she put the dead Body under a broad branched Pine-apple Tree and covered it with leaves and green grass and withal hung his Armour upon the boughs in hope that the sight thereof would cause some adventurous Knight to approach her presence that in kindness would assist her to in tomb him This done here we will leave Rosana weeping over her Fathers Body and speak of the Necromancer after his flight from the Black Castle CHAP. XIII How the Magician found Leogers Armour hanging upon a Pine Tree kept by Rosana the Queens Daughter of Armenia betwixt whom hapned a terrible Battel also of the desperate-Death of the Lady and after how the Magician framed by Magick Art an Enchanted Sepulchre wherein he inclosed himself from the sight of all humane Creatures I Am sure you do well remember when the Christian Knights had conquered the Black Castle which was kept by Enchantment how the furious Necromancer to preserve his life fled from the same carried by his Art through the Air in an Iron Chariot drawn by two flying Dragons in which charmed Chariot he crossed over many parts and plains of the Eastern Climates At last being weary of his Iourney he put himself into the thickest of a Forrest wherein travelling with his whirling Dragons he never rested till he came unto a mighty and broad River the which seemed to be an arm of the Marble-coloured Ocean there he alighted from his Chariot for to refresh himself and took Water with his hands and drunk thereof and washed his face and as he found himself all alone there came into his mind many thoughts of his torepaised site and how he was vanquished by the Christian Knights for which with great anger he gave terrible sighs and began to curse not only the hour of his Birth but the whole World and all the generations of Mankind Likewise he remembred the great sorrow and travel that he ever since had induced and what toâ—l travelling Knights do endure In these variable cogitations spent he the time away till golden Phoebus began to withdraw himself into his accustomed Lodging to hide his light in the Occidental parts and therewith drew on the dark and tenehrous Night which was the occasion that his pain did the more encrease all that Night he passed away with such sorrowful lamentations for his late disgraces that all the Woods and Mountains did resound his woful Erclamations till that Sol with his glistering Beams began again to recover the Earth The which being seen by the Magician with a trice he arose up and intending to prosecute his Journey but lifting up his eyes towards the Elements he discovered hanging upon a high and mighty Pine-apple Tree the Armour of Leoger This Armour was hung there by Rosana in the remembrance of his death as you heard in the last Chapter And although it had almost lost the wonted colour and began to rust through the abundance of rain that had fallen thereon yet for all that it seemed of a great value and of a wonderful richness so without any further circumspection or regard he took down the Knights Armour and armed himself therewith and when he had lacked no more to put on but the Helmet he heard a voice that said Be not so hardy thou Knight as to undo this Trophie except thou prepare thy self to win it by the Sword The Magician at this unexpected Nosse cast his Head on the one side and espyed Rosana newly awaked from a heavy sleep most richly Armed with a strong Enchanted Armour after the manner of the Amazonians but for all that he did not let to make an end of arming himself and having laced on his Burgoner he went towards the Demanvet with his Sword ready drawn in his hand inviting her to a mortal Bartel Rosana who saw his determination did provide to defend her self and offend her Enemy O my Muse that I had but learned Eloquence for to set out and declare the noble Encounters of these two Gallant Warriours Rosana though she was but a Feminine by nature yet was she as bold in Heroical Adventures as any Knight in the World except the invincible Christian Champions But now return we to our History The valiant Amazonian when her Enemy came unto her she struck him so terrible a blow upon the visour of his Helmet that with the fury thereof she made sparkles of fire to issue out with great abundanee and forced him to bow his head unto his Breast The Magician did return unto her his salutation and struck her such a blow upon her Helmet that with the great noise thereof it made a sound in all the Mountains And so began between them a marvellous and fearful Battel Fortune not willing to use her utmost extremity enclined the foyl to neither party nor as yet gave the Conquest to any all the time of the Conflict the furious Magician and the valiant Amazonian thought on no other thing but either of them endeavoured to bring the other to an overthrow striking each at other such terrible blows and with so great fury that many times it made either of them senseless and both seeing the great force one of another were marvellously incenst with anger Then the valiant Lady threw her Shield at her back that with more force she might strike and hurt her Enemy and therewithal gave him so strong a blow upon the Burgonet that he fell quite astonished to the Earth without any feeling But when the Magician came again to himself he returned Rosana such a terrible blow that if it had chanced to hit right upon her it would have cloven her head in pieces but with great â—iâ—â—retion she cleared her Head in such sort that it was strucken in vain and with great lightness she retired and struck the Magician so furiously that she made him once again to fall to the ground all astonished and there appeared at the visour of his Helmet great abundance of Blood that issued out of his mouth but presently he revived and got up in a trice with so great anger that the smoak which came from his mouth seemed like a
mist before his Helmet so that almost it could not be seen Then thus furious Devil blaspheming against his hard hap having his sharp Sword very fast in his hand ran towards his enemy who without any fear of his Fury went forth to receive him and when they met together they discharged their â—lows at once but it fortuned that the Amazonians Blow did first fasten with so great strength that for all the Helmet of the Magician which was wrought of the strongest Steel it was not sufficient to make defence but with the rigorous force wherewith it was charged it bended in such sort that it brake into pieces and the Magicians head was so grievously wounded that streams of blood ran down his Armour and he was forced for want of strength to yield to the mercy of the valiant Lady who quickly condescended to his request upon this condition that he would be a means to convey her Fathers dead Body to an Island near adjoyning to the Borders of Armenia and there to Intomb it in her Mothers Grave as she promised when that his Ayr of life fleeted from his body The Magician for safeguard of his life presently agreed to perform her Desires and protested to accomplish whatsoever she demanded Then presently by his Art he prepared his Iron Charriot with his flying Dragons in a readiness wherein he laid the murthered Body of Leoger upon a pillow of Mysâ—etoe and likewise placed themselves therein wherein they were no sooner entred with necessaries belonging to their Travels but they fled thorow the Air more swift than a Whirl-wind or a Ship sailing on the Seas in a stormy tempest The Wonders that he performed by the way be so many and miraculous that I want an Orators Eloquence to describe them and a Poets skill to express them But to be short when Rosana was desirous to eat and that her hunger encreased by his Charms he would procure Birds of their own accords to fall out of the Skies and yield themselves unto their pleasure with all things necessary to suffice their wants Thus Rosana with her Fathers dead Body carryed through the air by Magick Art over Hills and Dales Mountains and Ualleys Woods and Forrests Towns and Cities and through many both wonderful and strange Places and Countries And at last they arrived near unto the Confines of Armenia being the place of their long desired rest But when they approached near unto the Queen of Armenia's Grave they descended from their Enchanted Chariot and bore Leoger's body to his burying place the which they found since Rosana departed overgrown with Moss and withered Brambles Yet for all that they opened the Sepulchre and laid his Body yet freshly bleeding upon his Ladies consumed Carkass which being done the Magician covered the Grave again with earth and laid thereon green Turfs which made it seem as though it never had been opened All the time that the Magician was performing the Ceremonious Funeral Rosana watered the Earth with her Tears never with drawing her Eyes from looking upon the Grave and when it was finished she sell into a sorrowful lamentation following Oh cruel Destinies said she sith your rigours have bereaved me of both my Parents and left me to the World a comfortless Orphan receive the Sacrifice to my Chastity in payment of your Vengeance and let my blood here shed upon this Grave shew the singleness of my heart And with the like Solemnity may all their hearts be broken in pieces that seek the downfall and dishonour of Ladies As she was uttering these and the like sorrows she took forth a naked Sword which she had ready for the fame effect and purâ—ing the Pummel to the ground cast her Breast upon the point The which she did with such furious violence and exceeding haste that the Magician although he was there present could not succour her nor prevent her from committing on her self so bloody a Fact This sudden mischance so amazed him and so grieved his Soul that his Heart for a time would not consent that his Tongue should speak one word to express his Passion But at last having taken truce with Sorrow and recovering his former Speech he took up the dead Body of Rosana bathed all in Blood and likewise buried her in her Parents Grave and over the same hung an Epitaph that did declare the occasion of all their Deaths This being done to express the sorrows of his heart for the desperate Death of such a magnanimous Lady and the rather to exempt himself from the company of all humane creatures he erected over the Grave by Magick Art a very stately Tomb which was in this order framed First there were fixed four Pillars every one of a very fine Rubie upon which was placed a Sepulchre of Crystal within the Sepulchre there seemed to be two fair Ladies the one having her breast pierced thorow with a Sword and the other with a Crown of Gold upon her Head and so lean of body that she seemed to pine away and upon the Sepulchre there lay a Knight all along with his Face looking up to the Heavens and armed with a Corsset of fine Steell of a russet Enamelling under the Sepulchre there was spread abroad a great Carpet of Gold and upon it two Pillars of the samâ— and upon them lay an old Shepherd and his Sheep-hook lying at his féet his eyes were shut and out of them were diffilled many pearled tears at either Pillar there was a Gentlewoman of a comely Feature the one of them seemed to be murthered and the other ravished And near unto the Sepulchre there lay a terrible great Beast heâ—ded like a Lian his Breast and Body like a Wolf and his tail like a Scorpion which seemed to spir continually flames of fire The Sepulchre was compassed about with a Wall of Iron with four Gates for to enter in thereat the Gates were after the manner and colour of fine Diamonds and directly over the top of the chiefest Gate stood a Marble Pillar whereon hung a Table written with red Letters the Contents whereof were as follow So long shall breathe upon this brittle Earth The Framer of this stately Monument Till that three Children of a wondrous Birth Out of a Northern Climate shall be sent They shall obscure his Name as Fates agree And by his fall the Fiends shall tamed be This Monument was no sooner framed by the assistance of Pluto's Legions and maintained by their Devillish Powers but the Necromancer inclosed himself within the Walls where he consorted chiefly with Furies and walking Spirits that continually fed upon his blood and left their damnable seals sticking upon his left side as a sure token and witness that he had given both his Soul and Body to their Governments after the date of his mortal Life was finished In which enchanted Sepulchre we will leave him for a time conferring with his damnable Mates and return to the Christian Knights where we left them travelling towards Babylon
next morning by break of day he went unto the Nunnery in company of no other but the Christian Champions armed in bright Armour with their glistering Swords ready drawn which they carryed under their side Cloaks to prevent suspition But when they came to the Monastery and had entered into the Chamber of Lucina whom they found kneeling upon the bare ground at her Ceremonious Orisons Saint George first proffered her kindness by fair Promises but finding that thereby he nothing prevailed he then made known his pretended unmerciful Purpose and thereupon all of them shaking their bright Swords against her vertuous Breast they protested though contrary to their intents that except she would yield to Saint George her unconquered Love they would bathe their Weapons in her dearest Blood At which Words the distressed Uirgin being overcharged with fear sunk down presently to the ground and lay for a time in a dead Agony but in the end recovering her self she lifted up her Angelical Face shrouded under a cloud of pale sorrow and in this manner declared her mind Most Renowned and well approved Knight said she it is as difficult to me to climb up to the highest top of Heaven as to persuade my mind to yield to the fulfilling of your requests The pure and chast Goddess Diana that sits now crowned amongst the goâ—ven Stars will revenge my perjured promise if I yield â—o your dâ—â—ires for I have long since deeply vowed to spend my days in this Religious House in honour of her Deity and not to yield the flower of my Uirginity to any one which Uow I will not infringe for all the Wealth of Rome you know brave champions that in time the watery drops will mollifie the hardest Diamond and time may root this resolution out of my heart Therefore I request you by honour of true Knighthood and by the loves you bear to your Native Countries to grant me the liberty of seven days that I may at full consider with my heart before I give an answer to your demands and to the intent that I may make some publick Sacrifices as well to appeafe the Wrath which the chast Goddess Diana may conceive against me as to satisfie my own Soul for not fulfilling my Uow These Words were no sooner ended but the Champions incontinently without any more delay joyfully consented and moreover proffered themselves to be all present at the same sacrifice and so departed from the Monastery with exceeding great comfort The Champions being gone Lucina called together all the rest of the Nuns and declared to them the whole discourse of her assailment whereafter amongst this Religious company with the help of some other of their approved Friends they devised a most strange Sacrifice which hath since been the occasion that so many inhumane and bloody Sacrifices have been committed The next morning after six days were finished no sooner did bright Phoebus shew his golden Beams abroad but the Nuns began to prepare all things in readiness for the Sacrifice for directly before the door of the Monastery they hired cunning Work-men to erect a Scaffold all very richly covered with Cloth of Gold and upon the Scaffold about the middle thereof was placed a fair Table covered also with a Carpet of Cloth of Gold and upon it a Chasing-dish of Coals burning all this being set in good order the Emperor with the Christian Champions and many other Roman Knights being present to behold the Ceremonious Sacrifice little mistrusted the doleful Tragedy that after hapned The Assembly being alent there was straight-ways heard a sweet and harmonious sound of Clarions and Trumpets and sundry other kinds of Instruments these entered first upon the Scaffold and next unto them were brought seven Rams all adoâ—ned with fine white Wool more soft in feeling than Arâ—bâ—â— Silk with huge and mighty charged Horns bound about with Garlands of Flowers â—â—â—er them followed a certain member of Nuns aâ—â—yled in black Uestmâ—â—â— singing their accustomed Songs in the honour of Diana after them followed an ancient Marton drawn in a Chariot by four comely Uirgins bringing in their hands the Image of 〈◊〉 and on either side of her two ancient Nuns of great estimation each of them bearing in their hands rich Uessels of gold full of most precious and sweet Wines then after all this came the beautiful Lucina apparelled with a rich Robe of Estate being of a great and inâ—â—â—â—able Uaâ—â—e Thus ceremoniously she ascended the Scaffold where the Matron placed the Image of Diana behind the Chasing dish of Coals that was there burning and the rest of the Nuns commned still singing their Songs and drinking of the precious Wines that were brought in the golden Uessels This being done they all at once brought low the necks of the Râ—ms by â—â—â—tting their Throarâ— whose blood they sprinkled round about the Scaffold â— opened their bowels and burned the inward parts in the Chasing diâ—â— of Coals Thus with the slaughter they made Sacrifice to the Queen of Chastity at the sight whereof was present the surfeiting Lover S. George with the other six Christian Knights aâ—med all in bright Armour were all very attentive to this that I have here told you This Sacrifice ended this Lucina commanded silence to be made and when all the company were still she raised her self upon her â—â—eâ— and with a heavy Uoice distilling many salt Tears the said O mâ—â—t excellent and chast Diana in whose blessed bâ—â—om we undetiled Virgins do recreate our selves unto thy most Divine excellency do I now 〈◊〉 this my last Sacrifice calling to record all the Gods that I have done my best to continue a spâ—tless Maiden of thy most 〈◊〉 Train O heavens shall I consent to deliver my Uirginity willingly to him whose Soul desires to have the use of it Or shall I my self consent my utter ruine and sorrowful destruction which proceedeth only by the means of my flourishing beauty I would it had been as the night Ravens or like to the tawny tanned Moors in the farthest Mountains of India O Sacred Diana thou blessed Queen of Chastity is it possible that thou â—ost consent that a Uirgin descended from so Royal a Race as I am should suffer the worthiness of her Predecessours to be sported by yielding her Uirgin honour to the conquest of Love without respecting the chast Uow I made unto thy Deity Well seeing it is so that I must neeâ—s viâ—â—me my self against all humane nature â— beseech thee to receive the soâ—eâ—nity of this my death which I offer up in Sacrifice to thy Diâ—ine Excellency for I am here conâ—trained with mine own trembling hâ—nd to cut off the flourishing Branches of these 〈…〉 For this I swear before the 〈◊〉 of Diana that I 〈…〉 the society and sâ—cced Bosom of that great Goddeâ—s than â—o 〈◊〉 the Caâ—â—â—e of my Chaâ—â—â—â—y to the Conquest of any â—nigâ—â— in â—â—e Woâ—ld And now to thee I speak thou valiant knight of 〈◊〉 beâ—oâ—d here I â—ield unto
furious Monster called the Two-headed Knight and he is so furious in his Tyranny that never any stranger could as yet escape out of his hand alive And for proof of his Cruelty no longer than yesterday he brought hither a Lady Prisoner who at her first coming on shoar he all to bewhipt and beat her in such sort that it would make the most tyrannous tyrant that is to relent and pity her distress swearing that every day he would so torment her till her life and body did make their separation Pollemus the Prince of Constantinople was very attentive to the old Mans Words thinking the Lady to be his Dulcippa after whom he so long travelled the grief he received at this report struck such a terrour to his heart that he fell into a swound and was not able to go any further but St. George's Sons who knew him to be a Knight of much valour encouraged him and protested by the honour of their Knight-hoods never to forsake his company till they saw his Lady delivered from her torments and he safely conducted home into his own Countrey So travelling with this resolution the night came on and it was so dark that they were constrained to seek some convenient place to take their rests and laying themselves down under a broad branched Oak Tree they passed the night pondering in their minds a thousand imaginations So when the morning was come and that the Diamond of Heaven began to glister with his beams upon the Mountain tops these martial Knights were not slothful but rose up and followed their Iourneys After this they had not travelled scarce half a mile when that they heard a pittiful Lamentation of a Woman whose voice by reason of her low shrieks was very hoarse so they staid to hear from whence that lamentable Noise should come And presently afar off they beheld a high Pillar of stone out of the which there came forth a spout of fair and clear Water and thereat was bound a Woman all naked her back fastned to the Pillar her arms backwards embracing it with her hands fast bound behind her Her skin was so fair and white that if it had not been that they heard her lamentation they would have judged her to have been an Image made artificially of Alabaster and joyned to the Pillar These Warlike Knights laced on their Helmets and came unto the place where she was but when the Prince of Constantinople saw her he presently knew her to be his Lady and lovely Mistress For by reason of the coldness of the Night and with her great Lamentation and Weeping she was so full of sorrows and affliction that she could scarce speak Likewise the Princes heart so yerned at the sight of his unhappy Lady that almost he could not look upon her for Weeping But yet at last with a sorrowful sigh he said O cruel hands is it possible that there should remain in you so much mischief that whereas there is such great beauty and fairness you should use such baseness and villany she doth more deserve to be loved and served than to be in this sort so evil intreated This woful Prince with much sorrow did behold her white skin and back all to bespotted with her blood and taking a Cloak from one of the Marriners he threw it upon her and covered her body and took her in his arms whilst the other Knights unbound her This unhappy Lady never felt nor knew what was done unto her till such time as she was loosed from those bands and in the Arms of her Lover But yet she thought that she had been in the Arms of the Monstrous Two-headed Knight and therefore she gave a terrible sigh saying Oh Pollemus my true betrothed Husband where art thou now that thou comest not to succour me and there withal ceased her Speeches The Prince hearing these Words would have answered her but he was disturbed by hearing or a great Noise of a Horse which seemed to be in the Woods amongst the Trees The rest of the Knights intending to see what it should be left the Lady lying upon the green Grass in the keeping of Prince Pollemus and the Marriners and so St. George's Sons went towards the place whereas they heard that rushing Noise and as they diligently lookt about them they beheld the Two-headed Monster mounted upon a furious and great Palfrey who returned to see if the Lady were alive for to torment her anew But when he came to the Pillar and saw not the Lady with an ireful look he cast his eyes looking round about him on every side and at last he saw the three Knights coming towards him with a slow and quiet pace and how the Lady was untied from the Pillar where he left her and in the arms of another Knight making her sorrowful complaint The Two-headed Knight seeing them in this order with great Wrath he came riding upon his furious Horse towards them and when he was near them he said Fond Knights what wretched folly and madness hath bewitched you that without any leave you have adventured to untye the Lady from the Pillar where I left her or come you to offer up your Blood in sacrifice upon my Fauchin To whom one of the three valiant Brothers answered and said We be Knights of a strange Country that at the sorrowful complaint of this Lady arrived at this place and seeing her to be a fair and beautiful Woman and without any desert to be thus evil intreated it moved us to put our persons in adventure against them that will seem farther to misuse her In the mean time that the Knight was speaking these Words the ugly deformed Monster beheld him very precisely knitting his brows with the great anger he had received in hearing his Speeches and with great fury he spurred his monstrous Beast that he made him give so mighty a leap that he had almost fallen on the English Knight who with great lightness did deliver himself and so drawing out his Sword he would have strucken him but the Beast passed by with so great swiftness that he could not reach him Here began as terrible a Battel between the Two-headed Knight and Saint George's Sons as ever was fought by any Knights their mighty blows seemed to rattle in the Elements like a terrible thunder and their Swords to strike sparkling fire in such abundance as though it had been from a Smiths Anvil During this Conflict the English Knights were so grievously wounded that all their bright Armour was stained with a bloody gore and their Helmets bruised with the terrible stroaks of the Monsters Fauchion whereat they grew more inraged and their strength began to increase in such sort that one of them struck an overthwart blow with his trusty Sword upon his knee and by reason that his Armour was not very good he cut it clean asunder so that Leg and all fell to the ground and the Two-headed Knight fell on the other-side to
be made for joy thereof and hearing how the three Knights were coming towards him he went forth to meet them attended on in this manner First went two Trumpeters â—lad in the Arms of Sicily being two plauches argent charges with as many Eagles Sable Then followed a Band of Pensioners with golden Streamers which they displayed as they marched along After them marched fourscore Knights mounted on their Barbed Steede and armed with bright glistering Fauchions Next went the Kings Lifeguard in their Buff-coats edged with silver fringe and wearing on their shoulders Carnation Scarfs inlayed with Gold After them the King himself in a costly Chariot studded with Pillars of Silver and liâ—ed with Carnation Uelvet being followed with an innumerable Train of Lords and Gentlemen and their Attendants With this stately Train did the King go to méet the three Uictorious Knights who at his coming alighted from their Steeds whom the King courteously embrraced and after some short Discourse had them into his Chariot and so triumphantly returned back to Syracusa all the way the Bells ringing the Bonfires blazing and the people making such loud Acclamations of Ioy as the Earth rang with the noise thereof Being come to the Kings-Palace they were met by the Queen Berenice and her beautiful Daughter Urania the flower of courtesie and Paragon of rare perfection who as the excelled the other Sicilian Uirgins in Dignity and Honour so did she surpass them all in Beauty and other Ornraments of Nature to which was joyned such rare endowments of the mind as compleated her a Princess of admirable parts After they were alighted from the Chariot they were conducted to a stately Room where was provided â—oâ— them a costly Banquet which being ended their Ears were saluted with most choice Musick after which the Ladies presented them with a stately masque All this while the Princess Urania fed her Eyes with beholding of Sir Guy whose perfections she so contemplated that Love entering in at her Eyes so wounded her heart as she became wholly captivated in the Bonds of Cupid Sir Guy on the other side was so pierced with her transcendant Beauty and her other rare accomplishments that he wholly resigned up himself to her devotion she being the loadstone of his affections attracting all the faculties of his Soul in obedience to her commands Thus did these two Princely persons reciprocally bear true love to each other though neither of them knew the others mind but as fire will not be long hid under combustible matter so Love where it is ardent will show its self through all the disguises they can put upon it These Heroick Knights had not béen many weeks in the Sicilian Court feasting and revelling in all the delights and pleasures which that fruitful Country afforded but such pleasures grew tedious unto them especially to Sir Guy whose Love to the Princess Urania made sports and company distastful unto him so one Evening at such time as the Golden Charioter of Heaven had finishd his Diurnal course and driven his panting Steeds down the Western Hill he intended to fetch a solitary walk in the Garden by himself when coming under the Princess Urania's Chamber Window he heard the Musick of a Lute which with Harmonious Airs saluted his Ears and listening a while a Uoice deliver'd its self in these words Now woe is me poor hapless Virgin I Am forc'd to yield to Cupids Deity All my striving is in vain Love the Conquest he will gain And I a Vassal must to him remain Yet gentle Cupid let me thee desire To wound his Breast like mine with equal fire That so our Loves together joyn'd May settle in a quiet mind And we in them may true contentment find As Sir Guy was listening to this Harmonious Uoice there passed by him one of the Princess Uranias Ladies which put a stop unto her singing But pondering well in his mind the substance of her Sonnet gave him great hopes of her affections to him and as every Lover flatters himself in his own imagination so did he imagine himself sole Monarch of the Princesses heart That night the Ladies had provided a stately Mask which at the end of every Scene was attended with most rare Musick and excellent Dancing to which Mask the three Brothers were invited The time being come for the Mask to begin it was performed on this manner First began a most excellent Consort of Musick then enter'd sour Maskers in Cloth of Gold most richly Embroidered three of them personated the three Goddesses Juno Pallas and Venus when they strove for the Golden Apple on the Mount of Ida the fourth represented the Shepherd Paris who having heard their several Pleas which they made for the obtaining of the Apple he adjudged it to Venus and then having danced a Course about the Room they all withdrew After a little space the Musick playing again according as it was appointed the three Knights took each of them a Lady by the hand to lead them a dance and now had Sir Guy the happiness to converse with his dear Lady and Mistress for taking the Princess Urania by the hand he with great courtesie and humility kissed it and she kindly accepting his proffer he led her a Course about the Room in as great Majesty and state as did Aeneas when he reveled it in the Court of Queen Dido and she following him with as much grace as might become the Queen of Love to have acted it and so having shewed to the Spectators that he could as wâ—ll tread a measure in a dance as handle the Warlike Spear or Lance He with the Princess Urania withdrew into a corner of that spacious Room whilst Sir Alexander having associated himself with a gallant Lady named Alsatia and Daughter to the Uice Roy of Naples began a second Course to the Musick which whilst they were performing Sir Guy courted the Princess Urania in these words Most Peerless Princess said Sir Guy if the bleeding wounds of my heart could speak which you have pierced by the beams of your matchless Beauty then would it save my Tongue the labour to declare the affection which I bear to your Noble Person If I have aim'd too high blame your matchless Beauty and Vertues that have caused it Let me therefore conjure you by all the Rites and Charmes of Love and by those fair Eyes that have enthralled mine not to prove obdurate in thy Love though I must confess my self unworthy of so high a Bliss yet shall the Sun sooner cease to run his course the Stars to give light and every thing alter from his wonted course e're Guy will prove false or cease to honour the perfections of the Princess Urania Although this Speech were very welcome to the Love-sick Princess yet that she might not seem too forward with a Maidenly modesty she thus replyed Sir You must pardon me if I look before I leap That my self together with our whole Country is indebted to your Prowess we
what in them lay as fighting for the Liberty of their Country yet being overpowered and bore down by the strength and valour of the Gyant Predo they received a dismal overthrow the greatest part of their Army slain and most of the rest taken Prisoners amongst whom our woful King was one who encountering Predo who had on him a Coat of Mail and over that an Armour of two hundred pound weight being on foot for no Horse was able to bear him Our King running against him with his Lance it shiver'd in a thousand pieces nor could his Sword ought avail against the Gyants Armour although he laid so on load that the sparkles flew from it as from a piece of hot Iron when a Smith is working it But the Gyant valued his blows so little finding him to be the Thessalian King and now almost spent with long fighting that he made no more adâ— but clasping his Arms about him he carried both Horse and Man together into his Tent which our men séeing fled and dispersed themselves as well as they could for their own safety And now the Thracians being absolute Uictors it was agreed amongst them that the Gyant Predo should carry our King Prisoner with him into his Castle where he lives being a place strongly Sâ—ituated in an Island having one associated with him famous for his skill in the Black Art so that what by the strength of the one and Devilish cunning of the other we despair of ever having our King again As for the King of Thrace he with the remaining of his Army marched up to the City of Larissa wherein our Princess Mariana is enclosed and so straitly besieged that without speedy help the City is in danger to be lost and with it the liberty and welfare of our whole Country which now lies a bléeding in a pittyful manner unless most Noble Prince your goodness will be pleased to lend us any aid and assistance which now both our Nobles and Commons do most humbly implore at your hands This woful Tale being finished moved great pity and compassion in all the hearers thereof especially in the three English Brothers whose Princely minds being endowed with the true séeds of Magnanimity they vowed by the honour of Knighthood and all that was most dear unto them to use their utmost endeavour were it to the spending their most precious blood for the relieving the Princess Mariana and her captivated Father The Thessalian King promising his best assistance to joyn with them they with all speed made what hast they could for the mustering up of an Army and notwithstanding the great strength and terribleness of the Gyant Predo did strike some dread and terrour into the hearts of many yet being accompanied with such invincible Knights as were these three Brothers they dreaded no danger but with a valiant courage resolved to venture their lives with them whose valiant acts and noble atchievements deserving to be recorded in the Books of Fame Calliope assisting shall be recorded in the next Chapter CHAP. III. How Sir Guy took his leave of the Princess Urania the Battle betwixt the Sicilians and Thracians The Message of the Princess Mariana to the Inchanted Castle and how Sir Alexander counted the Princess THE Captains and other Officers made such expedition in Mustering up an Army that in a fortnights time then hâ—â— gotten together twenty thousand men all which the 〈◊〉 compleatly armed out of his Royal Armory being a Magaâ—â—nâ— sufficiently stored with all necessary Habiliments of 〈◊〉 To the three Brothers he gave each of them a Silver Helmet 〈◊〉 with Gold and inlaid with precious Stones as a reward of their victorious conquering the Monster Pongo appointing to their valiant conduct the management of the whole Army Whilst thus this preparation was in hand the Couragious knight Sir Guy although his heart was full fraught with Ualour and bent to the performance of Noble Atchiveements yet had Love taken such déep Impression in his thoughts that it was Death unto him to part with his Urania Whilst thus Hâ—nour on the one hand invited him to buckle on his Armour and Love on the other side pleaded for his stay he resolved not to desist from the performance of Honourable Atchievements since the attainment of Love was by hazardous attempts in actions which were truly honourable Accordingly be bestirred himself in Mustring up of his Men shewing them how to handle their Weapons and â—o use them to the best advantage also how to gain ground in fight and when to retreat with other things belonging to Martial Discipline And now being ready for their march he went to take his solemn leave of the Princess Urania who bestowed on him a very fair Diamond Ring to wear for her sake as also a Meddal of her self very curiously wrought with great Art and exceeding cost which he afterwards constantly wore in his Bosom next his Heart But now seeing he could not have the opportunity of expressing his mind unto her as he would have done he wrote this Letter which by a waiting Gentlewoman that attended on her was delivered unto her about the time of his departing Excellent Princess BLamâ— me not that for a while I am Summoned by the highest tye of Honour to depart from you being in such a cause to help the injured which all true Knights are bound to perform Yet Madam know that no distance of place shall remove the affection I bear to your Vertues and this I swear by all that is Sacred and can make an Oath Let me desire you therefore to cherish a good Opinion of me until Crowned with Victory I return again to evidence my self to be Your Most Loyal Servant Guy This Letter wos very welcome to the Princess Urania who now began to set such a high esteem of Sir Guy as she judged him worthy of the Empire of the World And now he being the sole Monarch of her heart she could not but breathe forth some sighs to think upon his absence but then considering upon what an honourable account he was ingaged she could not but applaud his undertaking yet to give him some more clear demonstration of her affection to him upon his marching away she went in her Chariot to speak to him whom she found in the head of his Troops and kindly hid him farewel in these words Most Courteous Knight may the Heavens prosper your undertakings according to the justness of your Cause and that your return may be both speedy and honourable and for your more prosperous proceeding assure your self you shall have a Virgins Prayers day and night In the mean time let me request you to wear this Scarf for my sake that by looking on the same I may not be altogether out of your remembrance In delivering of which the tears began to flâ—w into her Eyes for grief of his departure which that they might not be espyed by Sir Guy she made the more hast back to her Palace where from one
of the highest Turrets she might behold in what goodly aray the Army passed along the valiant Guy like a second Hector Prince of Troy conducting them in as much state as the Macedonian Monarch when he returned from the Conquest of the Indian Empire The distressed estate of the Thessalians was such as called aloud for help and succour which made the Sicilians to make such hast that in four days time they were gotten into the bounds of pleasant Thessaly a Country formerly enriched with all the delights that Art and Nature could afford but now by the miseries of War so ruinated and devasted that it looked like to a barren Wilderness The first place they made to was the City of Larissa wherein the Princess Urania was besieged for the relief of which Sir Alexander was sent before with a choice part of the Army to give them a Camisado in the night season the rest of the Army marching at more leisure to second them if they should be over-power'd And one of the Thessalians who was well acquainted with the Country was sent into the City to give them notice of their coming and that at such a time they should make what strength they could and give a salley out upon the Thracians This Thessalian who was thus sent in brought great comfort unto the besieged who accordingly prepared against the time and so about midnight when Sir Alexander with his Army was come within sight of the City and holding up a blazing Torch to give them notice of their approach they issued out of their Gates and manfully set upon the Thracians Sir Alexander on the other side coming upon their Backs fell on them with such fury as sent such numbers of the Thracians souls to the lower Regions that Charons Boat was overburthened with their numbers Sir Alexander laid about him with such incredible valour that he made a Lane of slaughtered Carcasses till he came to the Thracian Kings Pavilion who not dreaming of any Enemies approach was at that time asleep in his Bed but being alaâ—um'd by the dreadful cry of his Souldiers he suddenly started up but before he could put on his Cloaths Sir Alexander was entered his Pavilion and took him Prisoner Then fell the hearts of the Thracians nothing being heard but cryes and lamentations of wounded men Here was one who would have run away but had one Leg cut off and the other deeply wounded here another entangled in his fellows guts which he could not disentangle having both his Arms cut off Here lay the Trunk of a Body without a Head and there a Head gasping as if it would speak to what Body it belonged In some Death appeared in so many shapes and all of them so horrid that to any but a very unrelenting heart indeed the sight would appear very pitiful By this time was Sir Guy come up with the rest of the Forces where he found an absolute Uictory obtained to his hand so that all which they had to do was only to take Prisoners and divide the spoil amongst the Souldiers By this time Hiperion with his Golden Chariot had enlightened our lower Hemisphear Wherefore the Army marched into the City to refresh themselves Sir Alexander as he worthyly deserved the Honour of the Uictory leading his Royal Prisoner to present him to the Princess Mariana who was ready to receive him with all due acknowledgments to the three Brothers but in an especial manner to Sir Alexander for his Magnanimity and Martial Conduct in the rescuing of her and the Kingdom from so implacable an Enemy Most Heroick Knight said the Lovely Princess although my Tongue is not able to express how much I am indebted to your Victorious Arm nor to set forth your due deserved merits whose worth transcends all Eâ—comions of Praise yet shall the remembrance of these so great kindnesses never be out of my Heart nor the thoughts of them out of my Mind without a grateful acknowledgment Then turning to the Thracian King with as much a wrathful Countenance as so lovely Beauty would admit she thus spake And as for you Sir the causer of all this mischief how just reason of hatred I may have unto you you cannot surely but imagine for could you think this the way to come a woing I am sure if you did you might well think it was not the way to come a speeding And now Sir since we have you and I must confess rather as an Enemy then a Lover you must not be angry if we safely secure you until we hear how Our Royal Father is used by those that belong unto you And so committed him to the Custody of the Marshal of her Houshold to be kept Prisoner in a strong Tower near adjoyning to her Palace but with charge that he should be accommodated as a King This being done she invited the three Brothers with many of the other Chief Commanders into her Palace where having disarmed themselves and refreshed with some Bowls of Greekish Wine there was provided for them a Banquet of the choicest fare which they had about them at that time the long and strait Siege which they had endured having eaten up the most part of their Provision The Banquet being ended they were entertained with most excellent Musick intermixed with Songs in praise of the Sicilians Ualour for in the Art of Poetry the Thessalians are very expert The common Souldiers were highly feasted by the Citizens and in fine such a universal joy did so possess the hearts of the people that had I the skill of Homer the Grecian Poet and as many hands to express that skill as Argus had eyes and as many pens to write withal as â—riareus had hands yet were all insufficient to express the same Amidst this Ioy the Princess Mariana was not forgetful of her Fathers safety and therefore she presently dispatched a messenger to the Gyant Predo at his Castle in the Inchanted Island offering the Thracian King to be exchang'd for him which if it should be denyed he was to learn in what estate the King was in and if it were possible to speak with him and to acquaint him how matters stood with resolutions of using their utmost power for relief Whilst the Messenger was gone on this message the Souldiers took their Repose in safety only each of the days they were exercised that if the Gyant Predo should be averse to any good Conclusion they might be the more expert at their Arms and indeed it was good policy so to do for the Messenger arriving at the Inchanted Island could find no access into the Castle it being so â—ramed by Art Magick that whosoever approached within twelve yards of the Gate was taken with such a deep sléep as if he had drank Opium or the juice of Aconitum Before the Gate was a Pillar of Brass supported by two Lyons and curiously Engraved on which these Uerses were inscribed By Magick spells this Castle shall remain Supported by Inâ—ernal Flends below
Until three Brothers shall the same attain Whose power shall be this Castles overthrow VVho ere thou art sorbear to draw too near Thy Life 's at stake than which there 's nought more dear Near unto this Brazen Pillar stood a Rock of Alabaster in which were enclosed three swords richly enchased and beset with Precious Stones in the Pummels on the handle of the first Sword were these Lines written Hard closed in this Rock I sirmly stand Until drawn out by the first Brothers hand On the Pummel of the second Sword were these Lines inscribed The second Brother shall by Fates decree Draw from the Rock this sword and none but he On the Pummel of the third Sword which was more artificially wrought then any of the other two having a rich Saphire set therein which cast forth a most radiant Lustre on the handle thereof were these words Engraved VVhen the third Brother he shall draw me forth Then is our Negromantick skill nought worth All Magick charms and spells shall be in vain And then shall the end Gyant Predos Reign The Messenger notwithstanding he had read the writing on the Brazen Pillar yet adventured for to go forwards but coming into the Inchanted ground before he could come at the Castle Gate he fell into such a sound sleep that had twenty pieces of Ordnance béen shot off at his Ears they would not have awaked him The Negromancer who by his skill in the Black Art knew what had happened fetched his Body into the Castle laying it by the Thessalian King who also as soon as he came into the Inchanted ground had fallen into a dead sléep And now being there laid together we will leave them taking their rests and come to speak of the proceedings of the Sicilian Army at the City of Larissa The Princess Mariana hearing no news of her Messenger and doubting the worst which might befal her Father consulting with the three Brothers it was agreed amongst them to march with their Army into Thracia although at that time Love had taken so deep an impression in her heart that it was almost Death unto her to part with Sir Alexander On the other side Sir Alexander upon the first sight of the Princess was so stricken with her admirable perfections her beauty being such an attractive Loadstone as captivated his heart in the allurements of Love so that now as the Poet hath it The treasure of his heart did lie In the fair Casket of his Mistress eye Cupid having thus stricken him with his youthful dart so that he became a stranger to rest he resolved yet to declare his amours before he betook himself again to armes and to that purpose finding one day the Princess all alone he accosted her in this manner Most Gracious Princess I think the Stars could have alotted me no greater good then to behold the surpassing work of Nature in you Your Excellencies having so captivated my heart that to live without your good liking will be but a lingring death unto me I must confess my presumption great in aiming so high but who can look on such perfections without liking and who can like without loving And though the small tryal you have of the real affection wherewith I honour your Vertues may discourage you to credit my words yet I hope that in the trying of me how willing I shall be to merit your favour you will find my deserts not altogether unworthy of your regard since the utmost of my abilities is and shall be devoted to your service To which the Princess returned this answer Most Courteous Knight to whom I stand so much obliged for former courtesies that all which I can do will not stand in competition of your deserts yet the natural affection which I bear to my Aged Father compels me at this time humbly to implore your further assistance which as I doubt not the Gods being just in rightfull causes you will perform so assure your self your extraordinary kindness afforded to me in such a time of necessity shall never be razed out of my heart and therefore of this you may be ascertained that no one whatsoever hath so large a Possession therein as your self so that should you as the Gods forbid miscarry therein when I am dead as Death must assuredly ensue thereon they will find the name of Alexander written in my heart Their Minds thus made known to each other gave great contentment to them both especially to Sir Alexander who humbly kissing the hands of the Princess replyed thus unto her Madam There is no danger in the World so great which I shall not adventure on for your sake were it to perform the twelve labours of Hercules or with Aeneas to encounter with the Gyant Turnus Be pleased therefore to accept me as your Knight and Servant and I hope to behave my self so hereafter as you shall have no cause to repent you thereof To whom the Princess smiling said Sir I do accept you for my Knight and hope the Gods will be so propitious to you for my sake that you shall not have an enemy able to withstand you With which words taking a rich Diamond Ring from off her Finger and giving it him she said wear this for my sake that whensoever hereafter you look on it it may add fresh courage into your breast by the remembrance of me Much other Discourse they had but the Army being now upon their march summoned Sir Alexander to march along with them Wherefore taking a gentle farewel of the Princess having vowed constancy on both sides he joyned himself unto the Army whose Knightly adventures with those of his two Brothers we shall prosecute in the next Chapter CHAP. IV. The great Battle betwixt the three English Knights and the Sicilians on the one side and the three Gyants and Count Brandamil on the other side the finishing the adventure of the Inchanted Castle with the story of the wicked Sir Vylon THE Negromancer Soto who lived with the Gyant Predo in the Inchanted Castle knowing by his Magick spells that the Sicilian Army had given their King a total overthrow and taken him Prisoner as also how they were marching towards the Country of Thrace he acquainted the Gyant with his knowledge who thereupon bestired himself in all haste to their resistance sending for his two Brothers Brandamore the stout and Pandaphilo the cruel to come with all speed unto his assistance who no sooner had notice thereof but that with their Forces belonging unto them they hastned away In like manner he sent unto Count Brandamil whom the King of Thrace had left his Deputy at such time as he made his expedition in Thessaly to raise what power he could against the Sicilians And now nothing was heard but the loud sound of the thundering Drum and the shrill noise of the sounding Trumpet horrour and amazement siczed on the stoutest heart and the fore-boding Ravens foretold the fall of flaughtered Carcasses Whilst these things
Pedro would néeds head whilst the rest refreshed themselves in the City These fresh men by intelligence of the Country people had soon notice whether the Gyant with the greatest part of his men were gone whereupon Sir Pedro taking along with him a choice party of the swiftest Horsemen pursued him so fast that in a short space they had a view of him but the envious Destinies had so ordered it that near thereunto there was a strong Castle into which he was entered before he could be overtaken wherefore they resolved for to besiege it and either force him by Famine to submit himself or to gain his fréedom by hazard of battle Whilst they were thus busied in besieging the Gyant and the Army refreshing themselves in the City it happened that the Captain of the Guard with a party of such as fled with him being joyned to some others whose despicable fortunes made them desperate having intelligence that the French and Spanish Ships were but weakly guarded he with incredible celerity siezed on them forcing those Seamen that were in them to weigh Anchor and hoise Sail into the Sea intending to go unto the Island Zeylon near thereunto adjoyning to raise Forces to withstand the Enemy or if that failed to séek a habitation in some other remote Country Whilst they werâ— thus hovering at Sea it chanced that Sir Owen of the Mountains with Bond his of valiant Welshmen came sailing that way being severed from Sir Phelim with his Irish by a storm at Sea Sir Owen sâ—eing these Ships imagined them to be his faithful Friends the French and Spaniards and therefore made up to them but the mistake being soon perceived they instantly fell to fighting pell mell and now Death shewed himself with much horrour and blood filled the wrinkles of the Seas visage which the water would not wash away that it might witness it was not always his fault when we condemn his cruelty Sir Owen with great valour defended himself notwithstanding he were oppressed with the multitude of his enemies which were so many in number above his men that he had béen in some danger of being worsted had not in the very nick of opportunity Sir Phelim with his Irish come timely to his rescue but now being strengthened with this recruit they so resolutely charged on the Cypriots that first they began to retreat and afterwards sought to shift away the best they could by flight But these Soldiers were so unskilful in Sea-affairs and the Seamen whom they had forced to go along with them being joyful to be relieved by the Welsh and Irish they so ordered the business that the Ships were all taken and the Soldiers in them carried back to the Port from whence they had béen forced away Sir Turpin and Sir Pedro hearing of this gallant enterprize of the VVelsh and Irish in all hast went unto them But now to recount the great joy at their so happy a meeting it is beyond my Art to express But after congratulations passed betwixt them they took order for the better safeguard of their Ships and then with their Prisoners marched to the City where they were entertained with excéeding great joy being most magnificently feasted by the Citizens and complemented with showes and representations performed with great cost and Art Whilst they were thus revelling in delights there came to them a Messenger from the Gyant Guylon with a Letter directed to the Officers of the Christians Army which had Invaded the Island of Cyprus This Letter or Challenge being opened contained these words Think not proud Christians although by stealth and fraud you have Invaded our Country that you shall ever subdue our Hearts although you may hap to â—ubjâ—gate our Bodies Now if your Arms be answerable to your Artifices and that you will maintain with your Sword what you have compassed by Craft I Challenge the best of you all to fight with me upon this condition that if you overcome me we will submit our selves and Country to your disposal but if you be overcome by me then to pass away quietly out of our Land and restore what unjustly you have taken from us This you cannot refuse if you have any spark of Valour in you Guylon This bold Challenge being Read before the four Heroick Captains they each of them desired to have the Combat and that with such earnestness as it almost bred a quarrel amongst them but to avoid all Controversies it was agréed to cast Lots amongst them to whose Honour it should befal which being done accordingly the Lot fell on the Renowned Knight Sir Owen of the Mountains who returned the Gyant this answer to his Challenge Proud Gyant whose Valour consisteth most in boasting and who Triumphest before Conquest Know that thy Challenge shall be answered in justification of what we have done prepare therefore thy self against to morrow when I will not fail to meet thee till then Farewel Owen of the Mountains Accordingly the next day being richly mounted on a Gray Barbary Steed armed in a Coat of Mail with a Sword by his side and a strong keen Fauchion in his hand he rode towards the Castle accompanied with the French Spanish and Iâ—ish Captains and a Band of lusty Soldiers least there should be any treachery shown by the other side Soon after came the Gyant forth of the Castle attended only by a Dwarf he was on foot for he was too heavy for any Horse to bear him He was likewise armed in a Coat of Mail and came with his great Bar of Iron in his hands which he flourished over his head with great pride and ostentation drawing near unto Sir Owen with a haughty voice stuffed with arrogancy he thus spake unto him Proud Knight now shall thy Life pay for thy presumption and thy ruin be the effects of thy over-daring who thinkest to encounter with me in single Combat from whose presence whole Troops have run as dreading to come within the compass of my invincible Arm therefore before thou urgest me too far let me advise thee to dismount and humble thy self at my feet which may be a means to obtain the more favour at my hands Sir Owen smiling at the words of the Gyant returned the Braggadoâ—io this answer following Gyant leave thy proud boasting for know it will behove thee more to use thy hands then thy Tongue VVhen thou hast me in thy power use me as thou wilt and since thou wer 't so courteous as to advise me I shall also be so kind as to warn thee to have a care of thy self least with my Sword I so belabour thy Jacket as shall make thee to promise less except thou couldst perform more And now Sir Owen seeing the Gyant on foot alighted from his Horse that it should not be said advantage added any thing to his Uictory then drawing their swords they laid on load with great courage dealing such blows that to the beholders sight the least of them would leave death behind
England said St. George never let me buckle on Armour if I make not one in this enterprize so likewise said the other six Champions each striving who should have the honour so accompany St. George in so noble an enterprize wherefore that emulation might not cause any strife they agreed to cast Lots amongst the sir which of the three should accompany him so accordingly they did and the Lots tell upon the three famous Champions St. Anthony of Italy St. James of Spain and St. Patrick of Ireland who glad of their good Fortunes propared themselves against the next day to try the adventure and on the Morning no sooner did Aurora â—sher in the day and from the glowing East display her purple doors but the four Champions mounted on their Warlike Stoods who glad of such a burthen pranced under them in as great state as did the famous Bucephalus when he was bestâ—id by the Warlike Alexander And taking a Guide with them from the Palmer they traced to the Golden Cave where they alighted and gave the Guide their Horses to lead resolving to try the adventure on foot where approaching the Gate they were met by a Dwarf who spake to them in these words Proud Knights presume not to come within the compass of these Gates least you repent your folly and with the loss of your lives pay for your presumption To whom St. George answered Dwarf go tell your Masters we come to try our skills with them to prove which of our Sword cuts sharpest That shall you soon see said the Dwarf and returning to the Cave told the Gyants what St. George said who presently came marching out to them with each an Oak upon his Shoulder which when they came near unto the Champions they brandisht over their heads as if they had béen Hazel twigs â—udacious Uillains said the Gyants do you desire to try the strength of our Arms you shall soon féel to your cost what we can do and therewithal struck at the Champions with such fury us the Earth shook with the force of their blows who would have seen the Picture of Alecto or with what manner of Countenance Medea killed her own Children needed but take their faces for the full satisfaction of their knowledge in that point The Champions nimbly avoided their blows and getting within the Compass of their Oaks made up to the Gyants whose sides they so thwacked and were so liberal of their blows that the Gyants feeling the weight of them betook them to their heels and left their knotty Clubs behind them to be viewed by the Champions with wonder and admiration at the strength of those that could wield such massy Weapons but minding to prosecute the adventure they followed the Gyants who were gotten out of sight and the Champions found themselves at a loss in following them the multiplicity of paths leading each way making them doubtful which to chuse at last they resolved each of them to take a several path and if they met not together at the Cave then to return each to the same place again Now it so chanced that as they were going in those paths each of them to meet with an opposer and first St. George met with one of the Centaurs being of a terrible shape and incredible strength betwixt whom began a most fierce combat with great Courage and Magnanimity insomuch as St. George was never so put to it in all the battles he had ever fought before for the Centaur was both nimble and strong and fought with great skill and courage but St. George having with a side blow given him a deep wound on the Ribs he sent forth such a hideous yell as was like the loud rattle of the drumming wind or Canons when they disgorge their fiery vomits and nimbly turning him about fled amain towards the Cave The Renowned Champion St. Anthony of Italy had not gone far in his path but he met with one of the Gyants who came now armed in a Coat of Mail with a great Bar of Iron on his shoulders with whom St. Anthony encountered with great courage Nor was the Gyant backwards of his endeavours in obtaining the Conquest dealing such blows each to other that who so should have beheld them would have thought each blow had death attendant on it This Gyant was of twelve foot height so that St. Anthony with the point of his Sword could hardly reach his Crown which advantage he supplyed with nimbleness so that the Gyant spent his blows in vain and being now wearied with the weight of his Armour the Sun also shining in his greatest glory he sweat so exceedingly that it entering into his Eyes he was almost blinded therewith and endeavouring to wipe it off with his hand St Anthony taking the advantage with a sudden blow cut his hand off by the wrist whereupon the Gyant yielded himself and craved mercy In like manner St. James the Noble Spanish Champion as he walked along in his path met with the other Gyant betwixt whom was fought a most terrible Battle striking so thick and fast at each other as if every blow would strive to be forâ—most The Noble Champion behaving himself so gaâ—lantly with his Bilbo Blade made of the purest Spanish Steel that he cut deep furrows in the Gyants flesh from whence issued such abundance of Blood as changed the Grass from a verdanâ— green to a crimson-red so that the Gyant through the loss of such abundance of Blood began to faint which St. James perceiving inforced himself with all his strength gave him such a â—low as brought him headlong to the Ground when smiting off his Head he left his dismembred Carâ—ass and proceeded further in his path towards the Golden Cave Lastly the Renowned Champion St. Patrick of Ireland whose breast still thirsted after honourable adventures he also proceeding forwards in his path met with the other Centaur betwixt whom began so fierce a combat that to describe the same to the Life would wear my Pen to the stumps although it were made of refined Brass or the purest Lydian Steel Here on each side was strength matched with skill fury with fortitude and true valour with matchless magnaâ—â—â—â—ty The Centaur was nimble and armed with a Pole-axe struck at St. Patrick with great fury which he awarded with the greatest skill he could and with his keen Fauchion returned the Centaur his blows with interest The fight as it was sharp so it endured long when being both willing to take Breath they paused from fighting for some time when St. Patrick spake to the Centaur in these words Monster of Nature let me advise thee to yield thy self and not to oppose â—â—any farther in the Conquest of the Golden Cave since it is refâ—dred by the Destinies that I and my follows should be the persons that by finishing the Adventure should restore the People to their Humane Shapes The Centaur feeling himself déeply wounded was ready to yield whom St. Patrick commanded to
his desires were directed but it happened clean contrary to his expectations the scene of actions was quite alter'd there for soon after his departure from thence to his expedition against the Instdels the King of Sicily dyed whereby the Crown came to the Princess Urania but one Nefario a potent Nobleman of that Country and who had many Dependents belonging to him of great worth and quality raised a strong Rebelliâ—n against her pretending as is the custom of Rebels the ill management of the affairs of the Kingdom and so well had Fortune hitherto favoured his endeavours that he had gained from the Queen several strong places insomuch that many of her Captains seeing his success revolted from her and sided with him Sir Guy understanding the badness of her affairs prepared all he could for her spéedy relief and taking with him three hundred of his stouteff Souldiers he marched with them towards the City of Syracâ—â—a wherein he was informed she was besieged by a great Army of her Enemies Willingly he would have given her notice of his arrival but all places were so stopped that he could not possiâ—ly do it whereupon dividing his Men into two Companies he gave the one of them to the Command of Captain Bolus and the other he led himself and so in the dead of the Night set upon the Enemies who not in the least dreaded any danger and now was nothing but cutting hacking and â—â—ashing throughout the Camp so that in every place you might see a throng of Carcases whose liveless Eyes were closed with dust and death Sir Guy remembring that he was now rescuing his dear Lady and Mistress out of the hands of Rebels did with his Sword do wonders striking so thick and deadly as if he meant the wounded Souldiers should â—ow to Charons Boat in streams oâ— their own blood And now had the cryes and shrieks of the Souldiers alarum'd Nefaâ—io who put himself forward to withstand this Inundation which he perceived was ready to overwhelm all his former successâ—s In the mean time Captain Bolus had taken an eminent Commander Prisoner by whom he understood the state of the Army whereupon joyning with Sir Guy they with united Courage set upon Nefario and that with such fury that he not able to withstand them was forced to give ground whom Sir Guy did not eagerly persue but sent a Messenger to the City to enform them of what was done who thereupon presently issued out killing many and bringing in more Prisoners But when the Queen Urania understood how Sir Guy was come to her aid her joy was so great that she was transported therewith into an extasie sending the chief of her Nobles presently unto him for to conduct him to her presence whom she no sooner beheld but she ran to him and embracing him said Thrice welcome to me my most Honoured Knight who wer 't born for the good of our Country O how are we bound to the immortal powers for thy preservation and sending thee in this very nick of opportunity to do 〈◊〉 Most Gracious Princess replyed Sir Guy I do 〈◊〉 greatest happiness that I can in any wise serve you though I wish it had not been upon this occasion but since it is so let not this opportunity be slipped but whilst the Enemy is in a maze let us fall upon him with a resolution worthy the justness of our Cause This proposition being with great reason applauded the Souldiers were ordered to have a sudden refreshment having been wearied in the late Fight the Quéen her self entertaining Sir Guy who whilst he â—ed on those viands she brought him she â—ealâ—ed her self in the contemplation of his admirable perfections Whilst they were thus at their repast they heard from a far the sound of Trumpets at which they much marvelling sent a Messenger to know what was the matterâ— who 〈◊〉 with this answer that there were six thousand The 〈◊〉 come to the Quéens aid For King Alexander â—oâ—n â—ter his Corâ—nation hearing how the Quéen Urania was oppressed by her Rebellious Subjects resolved to succour her and to that end sent these six thousand Souldiers first resolving if they would not do to follow himself with a sufficient Army Sir Guy hearing 〈◊〉 News sent word to them instantly to refresh themselves and he would joyn his Forces with them to set upon the Revels whilst this general fear and consternation was upon them and having joyned to him four thousand of the choicest Sicilians he was marching to them but behold a sudden change put a stop to his proceedings for in their way they met with about a hundred of the adverse party who hearing that Sir Guy was come to the Queens rescue knowing his manhood not only by former exploits but also by dear bought experience in the last Battle to secrue their Lives and Fortunes at the Queens hands they siezed on Nefario and as a Peace-Dffering intended to present him a Prisoner to the Queen Sir Guy understanding what they had done sent a Herald to the residue promising them the Queens Pardon if they would lay down their Arms and submit to her which undoubtedly they had done but that at the very instant of time Grimaldo Brother to Nefario was come to enforce his Army with ten thousand Souldiers more which he had gotten up out of the adjoyning Countries there about but when he heard how his Brother was carried away by his own party and of the defeat they had received the last night he was very much troubled in mind but that his Army might not take any notice of it he encouraged them in the best wise he could telling them such defeats were but the chance of War and for his Brothers Imprisonment it might be made good by taking some of the chiofest of the other side Prisoners That now they had so far drawn their Swords there was no other course to take but too throw away their Scabberds all hope of reconcilement with the Queen being clean taken away and therefore no other means but to use their utmost Manhood either to conquer or dye honourably â— With these and the like speeches did he so encourage the Revels that when the Messenger came to them with the Queens pardon it was rejected with scorn which being mades known unto Sir Guy he presently ioyned with the Thessalians and having Complemented the chief Com 〈◊〉 〈…〉 encouraged the Souldiers in such a pithy Oration tha◠〈…〉 their Caps they gave such â— hollow as the earth 〈…〉 the sound of the same And now 〈…〉 faced each other when presently began such a terrible fight that Mars himself might have been a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereof In one place stood a well ordered Body of erected 〈…〉 a young Leaâ—-less Wood to oppose the invading hoâ—se In another place were banns of Archers whose feathered Arrowes out-run the piercing Eye and cut a passage through the flitting air repelling the Brains of the insulting Foe Here stood Horses prancing with their feet
made each place they came at a stage of slaughter so that they might be followed by the tracts of mischief which every where they did and though Sir David and the other pursuers were oftentimes very near them yet could they not fasten on them nor hinder them from doing an extraordinary deal of mischief It happed at that very same time that Sir Pandrasus with his warlike Danes having been a long time tossed about on the Sea and relieved at some of the Islands where those Pagans had been plundering before they in requital of such courtesies promised to persue after the Instdels and to revenge the outrages they had done them and hearing they made towards this Island they followed after not knowing that Sir David or any Englishman was upon the Coast. Great was the wonder both of the English and Danes to see one another so unexpectedly but the English informing the Danes of their chase after the two Monsters they resolved to joyn with them in the persuit The Danes had at that time in their Ship a Scythian Dog more stouâ—er of courage then an English Mastiff and far swifter then an Irish Greybound This Dog being fetched from the Ship they led in a string until they came within view of the Monsters who were still practising their old Trade of mischief The Dog being let loose ran with as nimble speed as shafts fly from a Parthian Bow or as if his flight were supplyed by wings and now the Monsters were to seek in their shifts for the Dog seen overtaking them siezed on the Sagittary who roared like a Bull striving but in vain to disentangle himself of the Dog In the mean time the Horse-faced Tartar â—â—â—dded away as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a well driven Javeelin flies or as a 〈◊〉 persued the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir David with some others 〈◊〉 on the Sagit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commanded him to be hanged upon the next Tree and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir Pandrasus and those others who were nimblest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persued after the Tartar who now more wary by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stayed not in any place that they should not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him never ceasing till he came to a Rock near to the 〈◊〉 in which espying a hollow 〈◊〉 or Cave he crope therein 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sheltered himself for a time Escaping 〈◊〉 their hands after much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in rain for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking order for a watch 〈…〉 the World that he might do no further mischief 〈…〉 the Court who went along with him accompanied with several Dares of great rank and quality and were most courteously received by Queen Rosetta who thought her self the happyest Woman and most favoured of Lady Fortune that had sent her such a noble Hero to her Husband who had doubly rescued her Country from destruction After two or three days spent in feasting and no news heard of the Tartar it was judged by all that he had drowned himself in the Sea and therefore they began to cease watching more after him And therefore that Sir Pandrasus with the flower of the Daâ—ish Commanders were there it was concluded on to Crown Sir David King of Ancona and all those Islands which belonged to it which Antenor was the most forward to do seeing in Sir David such excellent accomplishments both of Body and Mind as showed him to be rather descended of the Gods then the off-spring of a humane Creature The day prefixed for the Solemnity being come before the Palace Gate a stately show was presented performed by three English Knights three Danish and six Ancona Ladies who in a kind of Warlike Dance seemed to contend the Knights amongst themselves which of their Ladies was the most beautiful and the Ladies which of their Knights was the most Ualourouâ— This was done in a kind of a double Matachin Dance for every single one had two Enemies at last there issued to them a Shepherd and a Nymph who were to decide all the Controversiâ—e which they did in a Dialogue Song of which this was the Conclusion of every Uerse Valour doth Beauty honour and regard And Beauty is to Valour a reward Many other devices they had with other stately Pageants and shows all the way they went to be Crowned where ascending a Scaffold prepared for that purpose and Sir David and Rosetta placed on two rich Thrones after some set Speeches and Ceremonies used two Boys in the shape of Angels descended from the Battlement with each a Crown in his hand which they placed on the Heads of Sir David and Rosetta which was no sooner done but the people gave a shout crying Long live David and Rosetta King and Queen of Ancona with all the Islands belonging thereto Then did the Trumpets sound and several sorts of Instruments play which being finished they marched back again in great state unto the Palace where was provided a most sumptuous Banquet in which neither Art nor Cost was wanting to please the Appetite of each several Guest In the Afternoon was a Iusts held betwixt an English Knight and a Dane which was performed with such valour and resolution as gave great satisfaction to the beholders and gained great honour to themselves And thus Sir David being Crowned King was fulfilled the third Prophesie which the Fairy Queen had predicted on him being this which follows The Muses darling for true sapience In Princes Courts this Babe shall spend his dayes Kings shall adimre his Learned Eloquence And write in brazen Books his endless praise By Phallas gift he shall atchieve a Crown Advance his Fame and list him to Renown The rest of the Afternoon of this Coronation day was spent in variety of pastimes each one studying some quaint device to set forth the glory of so magnificent a triumph and thus they continued until such time as the midnight Bell with his Iron Tongue and Brazen Mouth proclaimed the night was â—â—r spent which summoned every one to their Beds where we will leave theis for the present and afterwards present to you what happened the next Morning CHAP. XVI The taking of the Horse-faced Tartar as also of the Negromanâ—er Orpine the Relation of Sir Pandrasus concerning his strange Adventures after his departure from the Seven Champions of Christendom NExt Morning no sooner had Aurora kissed the perfumed Cheeks of dainty Flora and that the Sun had taken repossession of the Hemisphear heaving his Golded Locks from of the Pillow of his Saffron Bed but they were alarum'd with the dreadful outeryes and shrickings of several Women who in great multitudes came running towards the palace for the Tartar constrained by hunger to come out of his hole ranged up and down for sustenance and finding none to resist him but fooble Women he fell again to his occupation of rapine and mischief This being made known to those Noble Commanders they presently armed themselves for the encounter but only with offensive not defensive Weapons as knowing their enterprize to consist more in persuing then fighting They took also
in a strait pipe of Lead Whilst we were thus fighting the Lyon with like â—â—erceness assailed Sir VVonder who was but newly awaked from his sleep hearing the clattering which the Gyant and I made with fighting but the Gyant did not long endure my blows but made towards the Fountain to have tasfed some of the Fruit the vertue whereof he know to be such that it would have cured him of all his wounds in an instant but ere he had gotten half way thither I run him in at the back with my Sword whereupon turning him towards me he gave me such a blow on my Wrist which so numbed my hand as my sword was ready to drop out of it but I having the use of one hand as well as the other quickly recovering my sword gave him such a déep gaâ—h on the Ham as he came tumbling down liketo a great Timber log enough to shake the ground and make an Earthquake when runing my sword into his Bowels I left him as I thought for dead and returned to the succour of Sir VVonder who by this time had overcome the Lyon and laid him for dead and was coming towards me at our meeting we kindly embraced each other thanking the divine powers for ours so notable a Uictory Returning back towards the Gyant we found he was not quite dead who before his expiring confessed unto us his Treason that if we had eaten of the poysonous Fruit as soon as we had fallen asleep he would have digged a deep pit and therein have buried us alive so near we were to the jaws of destruction By this time the Gentleman that conducted us to the Island attended with some few resolute Soldiers came but not without much doubting to see what was become of us intending with their best aid in helping us to the obtaining of the Uictory but finding the work done to their hands they rejoyced exceedingly at our good Fortune And now being thus happily met together we resolved to try an experiment of the poysonous fruit upon three Dogs which our Gentleman Condvctor had brought with him and in order there unto we gave to one Dog two Apples to the second three Apples and to the third four when in an instant they all presently fell asleep but we resolving to find whether the effects were answerable to what the Gyant had told us staid to see what would be the event Now it so happened that the first dog which had eaten two Apples at six hours time awaked and as it suddenly arised from a trance like to one frantick ran away from us whether we could never see him after The second dog having â—ain about the space of seven hours giving great groans began to iâ—â—r and tumble about but came not to himself till about an hour after still continuing very sick but we giving him one of the precious Apples he presently revived and became well but the child dog who had taken three Apples never came to himself again by which we experimented the nature of that poysonous fruit thanking the Immortal Powers for our escaping so â—minent a danger This being done we went all of us to the Fountain where we carâ—used of the Wine very fréely and soon after came to us divers of the Nobles and Knights from Barcona who beholding the Bodies of the Gyant and Lyon highly applanded our Courage in the attemp and with a general consent proffered us the government of the Fountain with all the Island thereunto which Sir Wonder freely accepted of but I being desirous to return home as I had faithfully promised to those of my followers which remained having furnished my self with what necessaries I wanted took Ship and after many difficulties arrived in this Island CHAP. XVII How Sir Pandrasus in his return homewards came to an Island where Sir Phelim and Sir Owen had killed a great Gyant and taken his Castle and what torments the Gyant inflicted on his Prisoners SIR Pandrasus having finished his story they all very much marvelled at the vertues of that rare Fountain each one censuring of it according as his â—ancy led him King David resolving after some time to go and see it with a desire also to visit his old Friend Sir VVonder But Sir Pandrasus being desirous to return home furnished himself with all necessaries thereunto which were freely given him by King David and his Queen Rosetta and so taking his solemn leave of them both he with the rest of the Danes took Ship and with a prosperous galâ— cut the briny face of Neptune not meeting with any 〈◊〉 remarkable until they came to an Island called Miâ—omicon where they landed and leaving some of the company to guard the Ship Sir Pandrasus with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 marched up into the Country and came to a high 〈…〉 was beautified with many stately Trees whose curiâ—◠〈…〉 to brave the Skyes at the foot of this Mountain 〈…〉 Gyant newly killed of a marvellous size his 〈…〉 foot halls his Mouth sixteen foot wide his 〈…〉 emptyed it would hold five pecks of Wheat his 〈…〉 in length his whole Body full eight and twenty 〈…〉 very much marvelled at the vast proportion of 〈…〉 much more at the unmatchable strength of him that 〈…〉 him â—nd being desirous to be further informed they saw a plain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 path leading up to the top of the Hill by which they ascended and found on the top thereof a Castle of a curious Building beautified with all the cost and cunning that the height of fancy could express upon the Front whereof was a large Table of Brass wherein these Lines were written VVithin this Castle lives the scourge of Kings The Gyant Briomart of wondrous might That to his power he doth subdue all things VVho ever dares encounter him in sight As hundreds by their deaths have plain made known VVho by his Martial might have been overthrown Let none then dare to enter in this Gate Lest for his folly he repent too late Pandrasus having read the Writing notwithstanding he saw the Gyant slain yet not knowing what danger might ensue commanded all his Company to arm themselves before they entered into the Castle which being done he himself went foremost with his Sword drawn when from the Battlements a Knight called to him to know what he was and for what business he came thither to whom Pandrasus made answer that he was of the Country of Denmark and being necessitated of Provisions at Sea was come thither for succour and that shall you have freely said the Knight please you to stay whilst we come down to you when presently they were met with several persons unarmed who with a smiling Countenance came unto them two of which company chanced to be Sir Phelim of Ireland Son to St. Patrick and the Ualiant VVelsh Knight Sir Owen of the Mountains Son to St. David who after their return from Cyprus being separated from Sir Turpin of France and Sir Pedro of Spain chanced to arrive in this Island
to chear up her heart overburdened with grief the King made a most sumptuous Banquet to which were invited all the Lords Knights and chief Captains then present against which time divers pastimes were devised and costly showes performed with most excellent Musick rare Dancing and other delights to provoke her to mirth but all was as Water spilt on the Ground it took no Impression upon her Soul such indelible Characters of sorrow had grief engraven on her heart And now these Warlike Knights being minded to go into their own Country took their solenm leave of the King who rewarded them with many rich gifts and presents giving them many thanks for their Ualours showed in his defence so taking Ship they lanched from shore when 〈◊〉 the Sails grew big bellyed with the wanton Wind and the 〈◊〉 glided safely on Neptunes briny face capering for joy upon the silver Waves until such time they each of them arrived in their own Countries where there wâ—re received with much joy and where we will leave them for the present to relace what beâ—el to Sir David in going to see Sir VVonder at the Fountain of Health CHAP. XIX How Sir David failed to the precious Fountain and rescued Sir Wonder How he put to death the Tyrant Almantor and setled Aged Pamdion in his Estate THE Ualourous and Renowned Champion Sir David being now well settled in his kingdom of Ancona as you heard in the fifteenth Chapter was very desirous to see Sir VVonder and to experiment the effects of the precious Fountain as Sir Pandrasus had declared unto him wherefore selecting out a choice number of approved Soldiers and taking his leave of the Quéen Rosetta he took Ship and having a prosperous Wind he in few dayes arrived in that fertile Island but quite contrary to his expectation instead of being received with great friendship and acclamation of joy no sooner was he landed but a number of Knights and armed Soldiers came marching against him bidding him either to depart the Land or to yield up his Arms into their hands or else to abide what their force could compel him to for so it was that soon after the departure of Sir Pandrasus that those of the VVarlike Island understanding the rare vertues of the Fountain and the fruit that grew on the Banks of it that they resolved to become Masters thereof and to that purpose in fâ—â—endly manner visited Sir VVonder seeming to applaud his happy fortune in being possest of so rare and precious a Iewel as was that Fountain and so far did they insinuate into his favour that he trusted them with all his secrets which they wrought unto his ruine for by a wile they locked him into an inner room and siezed on his servants by a party which they secured in a private place and to that time while Sir David landed had kept them close Prisoners But now was the time of their deliverance come about for Sir David understanding there was no way to be used but force setting his men in order gave them such lusty charge as put them all to the rout the greatest part of them being slain in the chase the residue of them that escaped flying to the Fountain raised all their whole Force who having arme dthemselves speedily marched against Sir David and now began a most terrible fight betwixt them with such a cruel slaughter of Men that the Earth which was wont to bury the dead was new its self buried with dead Bodies the clashing Armour rang the knell of many of those that wâ—re it and crimson paths of War paved all with slain Corps Sir David with hie keen Fauchion hewed his way through his Enemies until he came unto their General with whom he encountered hand to hand and after many blows exchanged betwixt them slew him out-right whereupon the residue sought to save themselves by slight but were so eagerly persued that very few of them escaped not above three persons reserved alive And then giving thanks to the Immortal Powers for this great Uictory they went the next way to the Fountain and released Sir VVonder and the rest of his men from their Captivity Great was the joy at this their meeting for Sir VVonder notwithstanding his vast strenght and invincible Courage yet was so storngly imprisoned that he despaired of ever regarding his former liberty which being so unexpected made him the highlyer for to prize it Then did Sir David with his Soldiers drink of the Wine of the Fountain when presently they felt the powerful vertue thereof being in an instant as fresh and lively as when they first began the fight Afterwards Sir Wonder banqueted them with the Fruits of the Trees thâ— grew upon the Banks thereof which were of such various tastse and yet all of them so delicious as gave great satisfaction to the most indulging Pallat. But they were not only delightful to the taste and pleasant to the appetite but also of that superexcellent vertue that who so tasted of them was immediately cured of all the hurts and wounds he had about him were they never so déep and deadly That night they slept soundly and the next Morning went forth to behold the rarities of the Country In every place they came they heard the Birds the Airs winged Choristers warbling forth their ditties most harmoniously as if with their chirping they sung Carrols to the rosie Moon and with their Musick courted the sullen Wood and invited Mortals to walk abroad The Earth was beautified with Natuers choicest Tapestry so that it seemed an Elizium or Earthly Paradise Here grew Muskmillions sweet William Time Maiden-blush Peagles Cowslips Tulips Oxlops Lady-smock sops in Wine start up and kiss me sweet Basil Marjerum tufted Daizy six leaved Primrose true love Lillies and Uiolets In another place was the Ground bedeckt with azure Hare-bell Roses yellow King-Cups tawny columbines Orange tawny Marigolds Pansies Hony-suckles Piony Monks-hood Bugloss and Pinks In a third place was Bears-foot Batchellors-Buttons Burrage Crows-foot Crows-toes Daffadils Dendelyon Priest-crown Eglantine Gelly-flowers Flowerdeluces Hearts ease London-buttons Lady-gloves Rose-parsly Liricumphancy Wake-Robin Rosemary Prick-Madam Rokcet-gallant Capons-tail Shepherds-pouch Tansie Yarrow Nose-bleed Woodbine Kiss me at the Garden-gate and a thousand other sorts of Flowers which I want both art and skill to describe At every walks end were shady-scréen Arbours whose shadows seemed to woe the Love-sick Passenger to câ—me and sit and view the beauties Nature bestowed on them Besides the singing-Birds named before there was an infinite number of Partridges Pheasants Quails and Phenixes which are not to be found in other Countries were here very plentiful all which were so tame that you might take them up in your hands and being killed and held up against the Sun would be instantly roasted needing no basting but their own fat but in the eating they were so delicious that the choicest Uiands which your curious Cooks with much art prepare came far short of their goodness There
was great store of Beefs Muttons Hares Conies and other sort of Beasts so gentle that when they had any mind to take them they would come to them at their first call never making any resistance but submiting to any thing you would do to them and of every thing such plenty as was sufficient to maintain a multitude of people Being thus extraordinarily well satisfied in beholding the curiâ—sities of this incomparable Island they drew down to the Sea side where they sat beholding how the Oceans frie were playing on the briny face of Neptune and casting their Eyes a little further they might behold a Boat come rowing towards them wherein sat an old man whose hairs did wear the sober hue of gray and whose wrinkled Countenance did seem to cast the account of many cares They came rowing directly towards them and being landed the old Gentleman desired to speak with the chiefest of their Company and being brought unto Sir David he spake to him in this manner Most worthy Knight whose Fame resounds as far as Phoebus darts his Golden Rayes and whose valiant Acts are memorized all the world over let melting pity creep into your heart to give some comfort to my Calamity Know then most worthy Chieftain that in my Native Country being an Island hard by there liveth a cruel Tyrant one whose will is his Law and who seldom sleeps soundly unless he hath Blood for his Bolster thinking no thing unlawful that makes for his advantage and to that intent keeping a constant kennel of Blood-Hounds to accuse whom he pleaseth and who are so desperately wicked for his purpose that they will dispose whatsoever he would have them by these men was I accused to have conspired against his Life and though there were neither plain Evidence nor and circumstance conducible thereunto yet being Judge in his one Cause I was condemned and presently had my Estate siezed on which indeed was the main cause of my Accusation I was then blest with a Beautiful Daughter named Tremelia of whom this Tyrant burned in Lust who took her from me pretending to keep her as a pledge of my fidelity but having her in his keeping sought to deflower her but she resisting his unchaste desires and giving him some opprobrious words he in a great rage stuck her to the heart with his Dagger I having notice of what was passed thought it high time to provide for my self and daring trust no body I lay hid for two or three dayes and nights amongst Bushes Thorns and Brakes when disguising my self I went to a village hard by where I heard of your notable Atchievments in conquering this Island the Garden of Ceres and Orchard of Pomona hoping according to your former favours to others in distress that you will afford me some succour in redressing my wrongs Sir David hearing this sad Relation of the ancient Gentleman was moved to great pity towards him so that he vowed by the Honour of Knighthood to which all that bear Arms are sworn unto either to revenge him of the Tyrant or to lose his Life in the attempt and so giving the ancient Gentleman some of the water of the Fountain to drink and some of the Apples to eat which to that purpose they alwayes carried about them he was so refreshed as he seemed to forget his former sorrows and to have new life and vigour inspired into him as had old Eson when the sage Medea infused young Blood into his aged Ueins Next they began to consult which wayes to accomplish this enterprize for should they take too great a strength along with them they might endanger the losing of the Island for well they wist that when the fellows of those who were slain came to hear of it they would endeavour not only to revenge their Friends blood but also if possible to recover again so fruitful an Island they therefore agréed to send for more succour to Sir Davids Country intending to stay there until their return but in the mean time this ambitious Tyrant whose name was Almantor having heard how this Island was conquered by a few persons and of the rare qualities belonging thereunto he thought in an instant to surprize it and to that purpose manned out what force he could make and with great bravery and ostentation sailed towards this fruitful Island having conquered it in conceit before he came thither Sir David séeing this Fleet of Ships which upon a smooth Sea danced Levalto's on the briny Main not tossed by any rage of Eolus he therefore having laid an ambush to surprize them upon their first landing séemed to sly until he had brought them into the Net prepared for them when turning head he gave them such a brisk charge as gave them a total rout not sparing any in the chase but by several wayes of deaths made passages for their Souls into the other World so that all the way as they were chased the spectacle was ugly and griefly to behold here lay Bodies torn in pieces mangled Limbs cut and hackt in divers manners so that a man beholding such a sight might say that War is an eâ—ercise not of Manhood but of Inhumanity Almantor himself fought most valiantly doing what in him lay to have obtained the Uictory and as if he had had a spirit that durst War against the Fates seemed to dread no danger but with an undaunted Courage to meet pale Death with triumph in a Tomb but all his Ualour would not bear him out against the unresistable force of Sir David who coming up to him with handy blows after a smart fight took him Prisoner few was saved alive besides for the Soldiers were so enraged against them that all compassion was for the present banished their Breasts The Uictory being thus clearly obtained and the Soldiers swords glutted in blood they led Almantor towards the Fountain where first they refreshed themselves with some of those healing Fruits and afterwards sat in Iudgment upon him where was laid to his charge all the Tyrannâ—ea Cruelties Murthers and Rapines which he had committed all which he could not excuse nor very well deny and therefore he was adjudged for his crimes to be put to death And now did the horrour of a guilty Conscience plainly appear in Almantor repenting not so much for his crimes as exclaiming against the punishment of them and yet in that punishment might he behold what cruelty he used to others although the greatest smart to him was to think that he justly deserved it whereas they suffered innocently And now to save his Life what did he not promise what Protestations use what Nows what Oaths what Asseverations that he would hereafter use Iustice mixed with Clemency not doing nor suffering any wrong to be done by others that he would deliver up to the ancient Gentleman his former Cstate and repossess him in all his Inheritance with many other flattering speeches to move their hearts to be inclinable to pity but his crimes were of too