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heaven_n	gain_v	good_a	kind_a	2,607	5	13.8900	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A46926	The famous history of the seven champions of Christendom St. George of England, St. Denis of France, St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, and St. David of Wales. Shewing their honourable battels by sea and land: their tilts, justs, turnaments, for ladies: their combats with gyants, monsters and dragons: their adventures in foreign nations: their enchantments in the Holy Land: their knighthoods, prowess, and chivalry, in Europe, Africa, and Asia; with their victories against the enemies of Christ. Also the true manner and places of their deaths, being seven tragedies: and how they came to be called, the seven saints of Christendom. The first part.; Most famous history of the seven champions of Christendome. Part 1	Johnson, Richard, 1573-1659?	1696 (1696)	Wing J800; ESTC R202613	400,947	510

and other timber-work of the purest Ebony the covering thereof of pure Silk cross-barr'd with pure staves of Gold likewise an hundred of the Noblest Peers of Egypt Attired in Crimson Uelvet Mounted on Milk-white Coursers with Rich Caparisons attended the coming of St. George Thus were all appointed for his Honourable Entertainment which they performed in such Solemn Order that I lack Eloquence to describe it for when he first entred the Gates of the City he heard such a melodious Harmony of Heavenly sounding Mulick that it seemed in his conceit to surpass the sweetness of all that ever he had heard before Then they most Royally Presented him with a sumptuous and costly Ball of Gold and after invested him in that Ebony Chariot wherein he was Conducted to the Palace of King Ptolomy where this Noble and Princely-minded Champion surrendred up his Conquest and Uictory to the hands of the Beauteous Sabra where she with like Courtesie and more Humility requited his Bounty For at the first sight of the English Knight she was so Ravished with his Princely Countenance that for a time she was not able to speak Yet at last taking him by the hand she led him to a Rich Pavillion where she Unarmed him and with most Precious Salves imbalmed his Wounds and with her Tears washed away the Blood which being done she furnished a Table with all manner of Delicates for his repast where her Father was present who enquired of his Country Parentage and Name After the Banquet was ended he enstalled him with the Honour of Knighthood and put upon his feet a pair of Golden Spurs But Sabra who fed upon the Banquet of his Love conducted him to his Nights Repose where she sate upon his Bed and warbled forth most Heavenly Melody upon her Lute till his Senses were overcome with a swéet and silēnt sleep where she left him for that Night after his late dangerous Battel No sooner did Aurora's Radiant Blush display the Beauty of the East and the Sun shew his Morning Countenance but Sabra repaired to the English Champion's Lodging and at his first uprising presented him with a Diamond of most rare and excellent Uertue the which he wore upon his finger The next that entred his Lodging was the Treacherous Almidor the Black King of Morocco having in his Hand a Bowl of Graekish Wine which he offered to the Noble Champion St. George of England but at the receit thereof the Diamond the Lady gave him which he wore upon his finger waxed pale and from his Nose fell three drops of Blood whereat he started which sudden Accident caused the King's Daughter to suspect some secret Poison compounded in the Wine and thereupon so vehemently shrieked that a sudden Uproar presently overspread the whole Court whereby it came to the King's Intelligence of the proffered Treachery of Almidor against the English Champion but so dear was the Love of the Egyptian King to the Black King of Morocco that no belief of Treachery could enter into his mind Thus Almidor the second time was prevented of his practice whereat in Mind he grew more enraged than a chased Bore yet thinking the third should pay for all he expected a time wherein to work his wicked purpose which he brought to pass in this manner Many a day remained St. George in the Egyptian Court sometimes Revelling among the Gentlemen Dancing and Sporting with Ladies other times in Tilts and Tournaments with other Honourable Exercises Likewise long and extream was the Love that Beauteous Sabra bore to the English Champion of the which this Treacherous Almidor had Intelligence by many secret practises and many times his Ears were witnesses of their Discourses So upon an Evening when the Gorgeous Sun lay level with the Ground it was his Fortune to wander under a Garden Wall to take the coolness of the Evenings Air where unseen of the two Lovers he heard their Amorous Discourses as they sate dallying under a Bower of Roses Courting one another in this manner My Soul's delight my Heart 's chief comfort sweet George of England said the Love-sick Sabra Why art thou more obdurate than the Flint whom the Tears of my true Heart can never mollifie how many thousand sighs have I breathed for thy sweet sake which I have sent to thee as true Messengers of my Love yet never wouldst thou requite me with a smiling Countenance Refuse not her dear Lord of England that for thy Love will forsake Parents Country and Inheritance which is the Crown of Egypt and like a Pilgrim follow thee throughout the wide World On therefore knit that Gordian knot of Wedlock that none but Death can afterwards untie that I may then say The Sun shall lose his brightness the Moon her splendant beams the Sea her tydes and all things under the Cope of Heaven grow centrary to Kind before Sabra the Heir of Egypt prove Unconstant to sweet George of England These words so fired the Champion's heart that he was almost intangled in the snares of Love which before-time only affected Martial Discipline he yet to try her Patience a little more made her this Answer Lady of Egypt Can'st thou not be content that I have ventured my Life to free thee from Death but I should link my future Fortunes in a Woman's Lap and so bury all my Honours in Oblivion No no Sabra George of England is a Knight born in a Country where true Chivalry is nourisht and hath sworn to search the World so far as ever the Lamp of Heaven doth lend his Light before he tie himself in the troublesome State of Marriage therefore attempt me no more that am a Stranger and a Wanderer from place to place but seek to aim at higher states as the King of Morocco who will attempt to climb to Heaven to gain thy Love and good Liking At which speeches she suddenly replied in this manner The King of Morocco is as bloody minded as a Serpent but thou more gentle then a Lamb his Tongue as ominous as the screeching Night Owl but thine more sweet than the Morning Lark his kind embracings like the stinging Snakes but thine more pleasant than the creeping Vine What if thou beest a Knight of a strange Country thy Body is more precious to mine Eves than Kingdoms to mine Heart There stay Reply'd the English Champion I am a Christian thou a Pagan I Honour God in Heaven thou Earthly Shadows here below therefore if thou ●●ilt obtain my Love and Liking thou must forsake thy Mahomet and be Christned in our Christian Faith With all my Soul answered the Egyptian Lady I will forsake my Countrey Gods and for thy Love become a Christian and therewithal she burst a Ring in twain the one half she gave to him in pledge of Love and kept the other half for her self and so for that time departed the Garden During all the time of their Discourse the Treacherous minded Almidor stood listning to their speeches and fretted inwardly to

now to mind the long and weary Travels of Saint Denis the Champion of France endured after his departure from the other Six Champions at the Brazen Pillar as you heard in the beginning of the former Chapter from which he wandred through many a Desolate Grove and Wilderness without any Adventure worthy the noting till he arrived upon the Borders of Thessaly being a Land as then inhabited only with Wild Beasts wherein he endured such a penury and scarcity of Uictuals that he was forced the space of seven years to feed upon the Herbs of the field and the Fruits of Trees till the hairs of his ●e●d were like Eagles Feathers and the Nails of his Fingers to Birds Claws his drink the dew of Heaven the which he licked from the Flowers of Meadows the Attire he cloathed his Body withal Bay-leaves and broad Docks that grew in the Wood his Shoes the barks of Trees whereon he Travelled through many a Thorny Brake but at last as it was his Fortune or cruel Destiny being over-prest with the extremity of hunger to taste and feed upon the Berries of an inchanted Mulberry Tree whereby he lost the lively Form and Image of his Humane substance and was Transformed into the shape and likeness of a Wild Hart which strange and sudden transformation this Noble Champion little mistrusted till he espied his mishapen form in a clear Fountain which Nature had erected in a cool and shady Ualley but when he beheld the shadow of his deformed substance and how his Head late honoured with a Burgonet of Stéel now dishonoured with a pair of Silvan Horns his face whereon the countenance of true Nobility was lately charactered now covered with a Beast-like similitude and his Body late the true Image of Magnanimity now over-spread with a hairy hide in colour like to the follow Fields which strange alteration not a little perplexed the mind of Saint Denis that it caused him with all speed having the natural reason of a Man still remaining to ●epair back to the Mulberry tree again supposing the Berries he had eaten to be the cause of his Transformation under which Tree the distressed Knight laid his deformed Limbs upon the bare ground and thus wofully began to complain What Magick Charms said he or other bewitching Spells remain within this cursed Tree whose wicked Fruit hath confounded my future Fortunes and converted me to a miserable estate O thou Coelestial Director of the World and all you pitiful Powers of Heaven look down with a kind Countenance upon my hapless Transformation and bend your browsto hear my woful Lamentation I was of late a Man but now a horned Beast I was a Soldier and my Countrey 's Champion but now a loathsome Creature and a prey for Dogs my glistering Armour is exchanged into a Hide of Hair and my brave Array more baser than the low Earth henceforth instead of Princely Palaces these shady Woods must serve to shrowd me in wherein my Bed of Down must be a heap of Sun-burn'd Moss my sweet recording Musick the blustering Winds that with Tempestuous Gusts do make the Wilderness to tremble the Company I daily keep must be the Silvan Satyrs Driades and Airy Nymphs which never appear to worldly eyes but in twilights or at the prime of the Moon the Stars that beautifie the Crystal Veil of Heaven shall henceforth serve as Torches to light me to my woful Bed the scowling Clouds shall be my Canopy my Clock to count how Time runs stealing on the sound of hissing Snakes or else the croaking of Toads Thus described he his own Misery till the watry Tears of Calamity gushed out in such abundance from the Conduits of his Eyes and his scorching Sighs so violently forced from his bleeding Breast that they seemed as it were to constrain the untamed Bears and merciless Tygers to relent his moan and like harmless Lambs sit bleating in the Woods to hear his woful exclamations Long and many days continued this Champion of France in the shape of an Hart in more distressed misery than the unfortunate English Champion in Persia not knowing how to recover his former likeness and humane substance So upon a time as he lamented the loss of Nature's Ornaments under the branches of that Enchanted Mulberry-Tree which was the cause of his Transformation he heard a grievous and terrible groan which he supposed to be the induction of some admirable Accident that would ensue so taking Truce for a time with sorrows he heard a hollow voice breath from the Trunk of that Mulberry-Trée these words following The Voice in the Mulberry-Tree Cease now to Lament thou Famous man of France With gentle Ears come listen to my moan In former Times it was my fatal Chance To be the proudest Maid that e'er was known By Birth I was the Daughter of a King Though now a breathless Tree and sensless Thing My Pride was such that Heaven confounded me A Goddess in my own conceit I was What Nature lent too base I thought to be But deem'd my self all earthly things to pass And therefore Nectar and Ambrosia sweet The Food of Heaven for me I countedmeet My Pride contemned still the Bread of Wheat But purer food I daily sought tofind Refined Gold was boiled in my Meat Such self-conceit my Fancies fond did blind For which the Gods above transformed me From humane substance to this senseless Tree Seven years in shape of Hart thou must remain And then the purest Rose by Heaven's Decree Shall bring thee to thy former Shape again And end at last thy wofull misery When this is done be sure you cut in twain This fatal Tree wherein I do remain After the Uoice had breathed these speeches from the Mulberry Tree he stood so much amazed at the strangeness of the words that for a time his sorrows bereaved him of his speech and his long appointed Punishment constrained his thoughts to lose their natural understanding But yet at last recovering his Senses though not his humane likeness he bitterly complained of his hard Misfortunes O unhappy Creature said the woful Champion more miserable than Progne in her Transformation and more distressed than Acteon was whose perfect Picture I am made His misery continued but a short time for his own Dogs the same day tore him in a thousand pieces and buried his transformed Carcass in their hungry Bowels mine is appointed by the Angry Destinies till seven times the Summers Sun hath yearly replenished his radiant Brightness and seven times the Winters Rain hath washed me with the Showers of Heaven Such were the Complaints of the Transformed Knight of France sometimes remembring his former Fortunes how he had spent his days in the honour of his Country sometimes thinking upon the place of his Nativity Renowned France the Nurse and Mother of his Life sometimes treading with his foot as for hands he had none in sandy ground the print of the words the which the Mulberry-Tree had repeated and many times

took any rest untill he was likewise departed in the pursuit of his sworn Friend which was the next night following without making any acquainted with his intent Likewise when the six Ladies understood the secret departure of the Scottish Champion whom they asserted dearer than any Knight in the World they stored themselves with sufficient Treasure and by stealth took their Iourneys from their Father's Palace intending either to find out the Uictorious and approved Knight of Scotland or to end their Lives in some Foreign Region The Rumour of whose Departure no sooner came to the King's Ears but he purposed the like Travel either to obtain the sight of his Daughters again or to make his Tomb beyond the circuit of the Sun So attiring himself in homely Russet like a Pilgrim with an Ebon staff in his hand tipt with Silver took his Iourney all unknown from his Palace whose sudden and secret departure struck such an extream and intolerable heaviness in the Court that the Palace Gates were fealed up with sable mourning-cloth the Thracian Lords exempted all pleasure and like Flocks of sheep strayed up and down without Shepherds the Ladies and Courtly Gentiles sate sighing in their private Chambers where we will leave them for this time and speak of the success of the other Champions and how Fortune smiled on their Adventurous Proceedings CHAP. VIII How St. Patrick the Champion of Ireland Redeemed the Six Thracian Ladies out of the hands of thirty bloody-minded Satyrs and of their purposed Travel in a Pursuit after the Champion of Scotland BUT now of that Ualiant and hardy Knight at Arms S. Patrick the Champion of Ireland must I speak whose Adventurous Accidents were so Nobly performed that if my Pen were made of Steel I should wear it to the stumps to declare his Prowess and worthy Adventures When he departed from the Brazen Pillar from the other Champions the Heavens smiled with a kind Aspect and sent him such a Star to be his Guide that it lead him to no Courtly pleasures nor to vain delights but to the Throne of Fame where Honour sate enstalled upon a Seat of Gold Thither Travelled the Warlike Champion of Ireland whose Illustrious Battels the Northern Isses have Chronicled in leaves of Brass Therefore Ireland be proud for from thy Bowels did spring a Champion whose Prowess made the Enemies of Christ to tremble and watered the Earth with streams of Pagans Blood witness whereof the Isse of Rhodes the key and strength of Christendom was recovered from the Turks by his Martial and Invincible Prowess where his dangerous Battels fierce Encounters bloody Skirmishes and long Assaults would serve to fill a mighty Uolume all which I pass over and wholly discourse of things appertaining to this History For after the Wars of Rhodes were fully ended St. Patrick accounted idle ease the Nurse of Cowardise bad Rhodes farewell being then strongly Fortified with Christian Soldiers and took his Iourney through many an unknown Country where at last it pleased so the Queen of Chance to direct his steps into a solitary Wilderness inhabited only by Wild Satyrs and a People of inhumane Qualities giving their wicked minds only to Murder Lust and Rapine wherein the Noble Champion Travelled up and down many a weary step not knowing how to qualifie his hunger but by his own industry in killing of Uenison and pressing out the blood between two flat stones and daily roasted it by the heat of the Sun his Lodging was in the hollow Trunk of a Blasted Tree which nightly preserved him from the dropping showers of Heaven his chief Companions were sweet resounding Ecchoes which commonly re-answered the Champions words In this manner lived St. Patrick the Irish Knight in the Woods not knowing how to set himself at Liberty but wandring up and down as it were in a maze wrought by the curious workmanship of some excellent Gardiner it was his chance at last to come into a dismal shady Thicket beset about with baleful Mistletoe a place of horror wherein he heard the cries of some distressed Ladies whose bitter Lamentations seemed to pierce the Clouds and to crave succour of the hands of God which unexpected cries not a little daunted the Irish Knight so that it caused him to prepare his Weapon in readiness against some sudden encounter so crouching himself under the Root of an old withered Oak which had not flourished with green leaves many a year he espied afar off a crew of bloody-minded Satyrs haling by the hair of the head six unhappy Ladies through many a thorny brake and bryar whereby the beauty of their crimson cheeks was all besprent with purple gore and their eyes within whose clear Glasses one might behold the God of Love dancing all to be rent and torn by the fury of the Bryars whereby they could not see the light of Heaven nor the place of their unfortunate abiding which woful spectacle forced such a terror in the heart of the Irish Knight that he presently made out for the Rescue of the Ladies to Redeem them from the fury of the merciless Satyrs which were in number about some thirty every one having a Club upon his Neck which they had made of the Roots of young Oaks and Pine-trees yet this Adventurous Champion being nothing Discouraged but with a Bold and Resolute Mind let drive at the ●●●rdiest Satyr whose Armour of Defence was made of a Bulls hide which was dried so hard against the Sun that the Champion's Curtle-Ax prevailed not after which the fell Satyrs encompassed the Christian Knight round about and so mightily opprest him with down-right Blows that had he not by good fortune leapt under the Boughs of a spreading Tree his Life had been forced to give the World a speedy farewell But such was his nimbleness and ●●●ve Policy that e'er long he sheathed his sharp-pointed Faulchion in one of the Satyr's Breasts which woful sight caused all the rest to flie from his presence and left the six Ladies to the pleasure and disposition of the most Noble and Couragious Christian Champion Who after he had sufficiently breathed and 〈◊〉 himself in the chill Air being almost windless through the long Encounter and bloody Skirmish he demanded 〈◊〉 of the Ladies Travels and by what means they hapned into the hands of those merciless Satyrs who Cruelly and Tyrannically attempted the Ruine and endless Spoil of their unspotted Uirginities To which courteous demand one of the Ladies after a deep-fetcht sigh or two being strained from the bottom of her most sorrowful heart in the behalf of her self and the other distressed Ladies replied in this order Know brave minded Knight that we are the unfortunate Daughters of the King of Thrace whose Lives have been unhappy ever since our Births for first we did endure a long Imprisonment under the hands of a Cruel Gyant and after the Heavens to preserve our Chastities from the wicked desire of the said Gyant transformed us into the shape of

which always kneeled down untill she had ascended the Saddle and likewise her Eunuch was mounted upon another Steed whereon all their rich Furniture with costly Iewels and other Treasures was born So these three worthy Personages committed their Travels to the Guide o● Fortune who preserved them from the dangers of pursuing Enemies which at the King's return from hunting sollowed a main to every Port and Haven that divided the Kingdom of Barbary from the Confines of Christendom but kind Destiny so guided their steps that they Travelled another way contrary to their expectations for when they looked to arrive upon the Territories of Europe they were cast upon the fruitful Banks of Grecia In which Countrey we must tell what hapned to the three Travellers and omit the vain pursuit of the Morocco Knights the wrathful Melancholy of the King and the bruited Rumor that was amongst the Commons at the Queens departure who caused the Larum Bells to be Rung out and the Beacons set on Fire as though the Enemy had entred their Countrey But now Melpomene thou Tragick Sister of the Muses report what unlucky Crosses hapned to these three Travellers in the Confines of Grecia and how their smiling Comedy was by ill hap turned into a weeping Tragedy for when they had journeyed some three or four Leagues over many a lofty Hill they came nigh unto a Mighty and Uast Wilderness through which the way seemed so long and the Sun-Beams so exceedingly glowed that Sabra what for weariness in Travel and the extream heat of the Day was constrained to rest under the shelter of a mighty Oak whose Branches had not been lopt in many a year Where the had not long remained but her heart began to faint for hunger and her Colour that was but a little before as fair as any Ladies in the World began to change for want of a little drink Whereat the most famous Champion St. George half dead with very grief comforted her as well as he could after this manner Faint not my dear Lady said he here is that good Sword that once preserved thee from the burning Dragon and before thou shalt die for want of Sustenance it shall make way to every corner of the Wilderness where I will either kill some Venison to refresh thy hungry Stomach or make my Tomb in the Bowels of some Monstrous Beast Therefore abide thou here under this Tree in company of thy faithful Eunuch till I return either with the flesh of some wild Deer to else some flying Bird to refresh thy Spirits for a new Travel Thus left he his beloved Lady with the Eunuch to the mercy of the Woods and Travelled up and down the Wilderness till he espied a Herd of fatted Deer from which company he fingled out the fairest and like a tripping Satyr coursed her to Death then with a keen-edged Sword cut out the goodliest Haunch of Uenison that ever Hunters eye beheld which Gift he supposed to be most welcome to his beloved Lady But mark what hapned in his absence to the two weary Travellers under the Tree Where after St. George's departure they had not long sitten discoursing one while of their long Iourneys another while of their safe Delivery from the Blackamoor King spending the stealing time away with many an ancient Story but there appeared out of a Thicket two huge and monstrous Lions which came directly pacing towards the two Travellers Which fearful spectacle when Sabra beheld having a heart over-charged with the extream fear of Death wholly committed her Soul into the hands of God and her Body almost Famished for want of Food to suffice the hunger of the two furious Lions who by the appointment of Heaven proffered not so much as to lay their wrathful paws upon the smallest part of her Garment but with eager mood assailed the Eunuch until they had buried his Body in the empty Uaults of their hungry Bowels Then with their Teeth lately imbrued in Blood rent the Eunuch's Steed into small pieces Which being done they came to the Lady which sate quaking half dead with fear and like two Lambs couched their Heads upon her Lap where with her hands she stroaked down their bristled hairs not daring almost to breathe till a heavy sleep had over-mastered their furious Senses by which time the Princely-minded Champion St. George returned with a piece of Uenison upon the point of his Sword Who at that unexpected sight stood in a Maze whether it was best to flie for safeguard of his Life or to venture his Fortune against the Furious Lions But at last the Love of his Lady encouraged him to a forwardness whom he beheld quaking before the dismal Gates of Death So laying down his Uenison he like a Uictorious Champion sheathed his approved Faulchion most furiousty in the Bowels of one of the Lions Sabra kept the other sleeping in her Lap till his prosperous hand had likewise dispatched him Which Adventure being performed he first thanked Heaven for Uictory and then in this kind manner saluted his Lady Now Sabra said he I have by this sufficiently proved ●●iy true Virginity for it is the Nature of a Lion be he never so furious not to harm the unspotted Virgin but humbly to lay his bristled Head upon a Maidens Lap. Therefore Divine Paragon thou art the World 's chief wonder for Love and Chastity whose honoured Vertues shall ring as far as Phebus sends his Lights and whose Constancy I will maintain in every Land where I come to be the truest under the Circuit of the Sun At which words he cast his eyes aside and beheld the bloody spectacle of the Eunuch's ●●agedy which by Sabra was wofully discoursed to the grief of St. George where sad sighs served for a doleful Knell to bewail his untimely death But having a noble mind not subject to vain Sorrow where all hope of Life is past ceased his grief and prepared the Uenison in readiness for his Ladies Repast which in this order was dressed He had in his Pocket a Firelock wherewith he struck fire and kindled it with Sun-burnt Moss and encreased the Flame with other dry wood which he gathered in the Wilderness Against which they Roasted the Uenison and sufficed themselves to their own contentments After which joyful Repast these two Princely Persons set forward to their wonted Travels whereby the happy Guide of Heaven so conducted their steps that before many days passed they arrived in the Grecian Court even upon that day when the Marriage of the Grecian Emperor should be solemnly holden Which Royal Nuptials in former times had been bruited into every Nation in the World as well in Europe as Africa and Asia At which honourable Marriage the bravest Knights then living on Earth were present For Golden Fame had bruited the Report thereof to the Ears of the Seven Champions In Thessaly to S. Denis the Champion of France there remaining with his beauteous Eglantine into Sevil to St. James the Champion of

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 desir●●● Many other circumstances this Lustful Gar●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 ●ond sant●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 ●u●● b●●e as though a Troop of ●hastly 〈◊〉 did encompass his L●●ging which was an evident ●●gn that some strange and unhappy Mu●●●r should worthily follow All which could not withdraw the ●ust●ul Earl from his wicked Enterprize nor con●●●● 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

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 wa●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 the● 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 no●ing till at last riding thorow a mighty Fortess standing on the Borders of L●sitania they hea●d as at off as it were the ruful cries of a distressed Woman which in this manner filled the Air with ●●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 R●ins of their B●●ole● 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 pi●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 B●shfulness imbrewed in floods of Tears at one instant they ran upon the Negroes and sheathed their angry Weapons in their loathsome Bowels the Leacher● 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 ●ra●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 B●d of my Virginity then with furious and dismal Countenance more black than the 〈◊〉 Garments of sad Me●ponis●it when she mourn●ully writes of bloudy Frage●hes and with Hearts more cruel than was Nero 's the tyranous Roman Emperour when he beheld the Entrails of his natural Mother la●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 unrelen●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

And applying her self more particularly to the Princely Knight Sir Alexander Sir said she how much I am bound to the Immortal Powers for your preservation my Heart is not able to conceive much less my Tongue for to express Now as Heaven has been kind to me in hearing my Prayers for your safe return so shall I account it my farther happiness that leaving off Arms you now come to enjoy the fruits of our Amours and instead of following the Camp of Mars we solace our selves in the Tents of Cupid Mistake me not Dear Sir I mean not by spending out time in wanton dalliance but in the Honourable State of Matrimony that being joyned in Hymens bands we may have our joyes crowned with the issues of an unfeigned love Most Gracious Princess replyed Sir Alexander your speeches are the sole effects of my thoughts and your desires to me absolute Commands being such as tend only to my profit and welfare wonder not then most peerless Madam if I willingly embrace what I so earnestly covet and so sealing his Love on the red Wax of her Lips they hand in hand paced it into her Palace accompanied with the Seven Champions as also with many of the chief Lords and Ladies of the Land where was provided for them a sumptuous Dinner of such costly Uiands as might teach the satiate Palate how to eat and those placed so thick and plentiful as if the Table would crack with the pile of such weighty dishes All the while they were at Dinner melodious Happs and Songs saluted their Ears which was breathed forth in such a curious harmony as charmed their very souls to an extasie After Dinner they fell to dancing tripping it so nimbly as if they had been all Air or some lighter Element In these delights they wasted about eight or nine days but the Seven Champions soon grew weary of such pastimes and desirous to go home to their Native Countries was minded to take their leaves of the Queen Mariana but Sir Alexander and she having concluded their Nuptials should be celebrated very suddenly they were with much entreaty perswaded to stay until they were over The prefixed day being come early that Morning by such time as Aurora the blushing Goddess which doth sway the dewy confines of the day and night began to appear but both Bridegroom and Bride were saluted with most sweet sounding Musick which being ended their Ears were accosted with this Epithalamium Sol thy Beams no longer hide Call the Bridegroom to the Bride Let each one rejoyce and sing Make the Air with Hymen ring May all Pleasure and Delight Crown your Day and bless your Night And the warm embrace of Love Be soft as Down or Uenus Dove May your oft repeated kisses Bring with them as many blisses And these Joys remain in state Till your end and that come late These Solemnities being over and the Bridegroom and Bride risen from their Beds they prepared themselves to go to Church the Bridegroom was apparelled in a suit of flame coloured Tabby to signifie how he burnt in the flames of a chast Love the Bride was attired all in white to denote her unspotted Uirginity and Maidenly Modesty Sir Alexander was led by two Dukes Daughters and the Princess Mariana by two of the chiefest Barons of the Realm having her Train born up by four Ladies of Honour Thus did they walk in great state unto the Temple where the Priest joyned them together in Hymens Holy Kites which being done they returned again in the same order to the Palace all the way the people showing such great demenstrations of joy as was wonderful to behold To rehearse the great Chear prepared for this Royal Dinner the Maskings Revellings and other costly showes which were solemnized by the Lords and Ladies and other Courtiers would tire the Pen of an industrious Writer The next day was appointed for the Coronation of the Prince Alexander and the Princess Mariana which was performed in great splendour the multitude of Spectators that came to behold it being so many that not withstanding great store of Money was thrown about in other stréets to divert the people from thronging so thick at the Coronation yet the people regarded the Money not at all for the great desire they had to behold their new King After the usual Ceremonies were ended which appertain to such Solemnities the Trumpets sounded and the People with a very loud shout cryed out Long live Alexander and Mariana King and Queen of Thessaly The Knights and Barons to honour the Solemnity the more appointed the whose Afternoon to be spent in Iusting and Turneying wherein was shown very much skill and valour but above them all Duke Orsin a near ●insman to the Quéen Mariana carried the chief credit having unhorsed fiftéen Knights that day for which King Alexander presented him with a rich Chain of Gold and St. George in reward of his Ualour gave him a costly Diamond Ring And now King Alexander being thus solemnly Crowned was fulfilled that Prophecy which was by the Faiery Queen predicted of him as you may read in the 14 Chapter of the first Part of this Honourable History which contained these words This Child shall likewise live to be a King Times wonder for device and Courtly sport His Tilts and Turnaments abroad shall ring To every Coast where Nobles do resort Queens shall attend and humble at his feet Thus Love and Beauty shall together meet After some few days passed in Royal Trumphs the Seven Champions resolved to stay no longer but to hasten to their own Countries in pursuance of which their resolution they acquainted King Alexander and Queen Mariana of their intentions who were very loth to have parted from their Companies but the Seven Champions were so resolute in their determinations that no perswasions could induce them to stay any longer The King and Queen seeing them so fully bent to be gone with a great Train of Lords and Ladies attended them to their Ships where they had caused a stately Banquet to be provided for them and so after many rich Presents and mutual Embracements passed betwixt them the Seven Champions took Ships and having a gentle gale of Wind had soon lost the sight of the Thessalian shore so sailing along on Neptunes watry front the wanton Mearmaids sporting by the sides of their ship and not scarce a wrinkle seen on Thetis face but the Sea as calm as when the Halcyon hatcheth on the sand they saw before them a ship all whose sails and streamers were black having black Flags and Penons s●uck round the sides of the ship The sight of this ship so strangely thus attired in black made them have a longing desire to know what it should mean so making up to it they halled them according to the Sea phrase when a Gentleman appearing on the Deck gave them to understand that they were of Italy and were come from Scandia bringing with them the dead Body of the Duke Ursini