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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	duke_n	earl_n	george_n	16,478	5	9.4645	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04555	The most famous history of the seauen champions of Christendome Saint George of England, Saint Dennis of Fraunce, Saint Iames of Spaine, Saint Anthonie of Italie, Saint Andrew of Scotland, Saint Pattricke of Ireland, and Saint Dauid of Wales. Shewing their honorable battailes by sea and land: their tilts, iousts, and turnaments for ladies: their combats vvith giants, monsters, and dragons: their aduentures in forraine nations; their inchauntments in the holie land: their knighthoods, prowesse, and chiualrie, in Europe, Affrica, and Asia, with their victories against the enemies of Christ.; Most famous history of the seven champions of Christendome. Part 1	Johnson, Richard, 1573-1659?	1596 (1596)	STC 14677; ESTC S109165	135,141	216

hys Court in the Cittie of Couentrie who immediatly vpon the Confession of the murther gaue this seuere iudgment against her First to be conueied to Prison there to remaine for the tearme of twelue moneths and at the end whereof to be burned like a most wicked offender yet because she was the Daughter of a King and loyall Lady to so Noble a Knight his Maiesty in mercie graunted her this fauour that if she could get any Knight at Armes before the time were expired that would be her Champion and by Combat redéeme her from the fire she should liue otherwise if her Champion were vanquished then to suffer the former Iudgement Thus haue you heard the true discourse of all things which hapned till my departure from England where I left her in Prison and since that time fiue monthes are fullie exspired Therefore most renowned Champion as you loue the life of your Ladie and wish her deliuerie make no tarriance but with all spéed post into England for I greatly feare before you ariue vppon that blessed shore the time will be finished and Sabra suffer death for want of a Champion to defend her cause This doleful discourse draue saint George with the other Knights and Champions to such an e●tasie of minde that euery one departed to their lodging Chambers with dumbe signes of sorrow being not able to speake one word where for that night they lamented the mishap of so vertuous a Lady The Egyptian King her father he abandoned the sight of all companies and repayred to the toppe of an high Tower built of Marble stone wherein hee barred himselfe fast with yron bolts so that none could come within the hearing of his lamentations then raged hee vp and downe like franticke Oedipus tearing his eyes from their naturall Celles accusing heauen of iniustice condemning earth of iniquity and accursing man for such an execrable crime one while wishing his daughters byrth hower had béene her buriall day another while that some vnlucky Plannet would descend the firmament and fall vppon his miserable head being in this extreame passion hee neuer hoped to sée his daughters countenance againe and so about midnight being a time when desperate men practise their owne destructions he cast himselfe headlong from the toppe of the Tower and broake his necke and all besprinckled the flinty pauements with his blood and braines No sooner was the night vanished and bright Phoebus entred the Zodiacke of heauen but his bruised body liueles and senseles was found by his seruants lying in the Pallace yard all to be beaten in péeces against the grounde The wofull newes of this selfe-wild murtherer they presently told to certaine Egyptian Knights who tooke his scattered limbs and carryed them to saint Georges Chamber where they found him arming himselfe for his departure towardes England But at this wofull spectackle he tooke a seconde conceited griefe in such extreame manner that it had almost cost him his life but that the Egyptian Knights gaue him many comfortable spéeches and by thē consent of many Dukes Earles Lords and Barrons with many other of the late Kings priuy Councell they el●cted him the true succéeding King of Egipt by the marriage of Ptolomies daughter which Royall proffer saint George refused not but took vpon him the Regiment of the whole Country so that for that day his iourney toward England was stayed and vppon the third day following his Coronation was appoynted which they solemnely perfourmed to the high honour of all the Christian Champions For the Egyptian Pieres caused saint George to be apparralled in Royall U●stures like a King he had on a sute of flaming greene like an Emerauld and a Mantle of scarlet very richly furd and wrought curiously with gold then the other sixe Champions lead him vp to the Kings Throane and set him in a Chayre of Ebony with pummells of siluer which stood vpon an Allablaster Elephant then came thrée of the greatest Lords in Egypt and set a Crowne of gold vpon his head then followed two Knights with a Scepter and a naked S●●●rde to signefie that he was chiefe Champion of all the R●alme and Lord of all that appertained to the Crowne of Egypt This being performed in most sumptuous and stately manner the Trumpets with other Instruments began to sound wherat the generall company with ioyfull voyces cryed all together Long liue saint George true Champion for England and King of Egypt Then was he conducted to the Royall Pallace where for ten dayes he remayned amongst his Lords and Knights spending the time in great ioy and pleasure the which béeing finished hys Ladyes distresse constrayned him to a sodaine departure therefore he left the guiding of his Lande to twelue Egyptian Lordes binding them all by oath to redeliuer it at his returne likewise charging them to interre the body of Ptolomie in a sumptuous Tombe befitting the body of so Royall a Potentate Also appoynting the sixt Champions to rayse their Tents and muster vp anewe their souldiers and with all spéede march into Persia and there by dynt of bloody warre reuenge his former iniuries vpon the cursed Soldan This change being giuen the next morning by breake of day 〈◊〉 buckled on his Armour mounted on his swift footed Stéed and had hys friends in Egipt for a season adue and so in companie of the Knight that brought him that vnluckie newes hee tooke his iournie with all spéed toward England In which trauaile we leaue him for a time Also passing ouer the spéedy prouision made by the Christian Champions in Egypt for the inuasion of Persia and returne to sorrowfull Sabra béeing in priosn awayting each minute to receaue the finall stroke of impartiall death for now had the rowling Plannets brought their yeares trauailes to an end yet Sabra had no intelligence of any Chāpion that would defend her cause therefore shee prepared her dilicate bodie to receaue her latest breath of life the time beeing come shee was brought to the place of execution whether she went as willinglie and with as much ioy as euer shée went before time vnto her marriage for she had made her humble submission to the world and vnfainedly committed her soule to God She béeing at the stake where the king was present with many thousands as wel of Noble personages as of Common people to behold this wofull Tragedie the deaths-man stripped off her Garment which was of blacke sarce●et in her snow-white smocke bound her with an Iron chaine vnto the stake then placed they round about her tender body both Pitch Turpentine and Gunpowder with other merciles things therby to make her death the more easier and her paine the shorter Which béeing ●one the King caused the Harrold to summon in the Challenger who at the sound of the Trūpet came trasing in vpon a Rone coloured Stéede without any kinde of marke and trapped with rich trappinges of gold precious stones of great price there came foorth at the Horse mouth two tuskes

tumbling themselues against the warme Sunne and his thrée prettie babes sucking from their wombes their most vnkindly milke which spectackle so incouraged the Champion that without further aduisement with his single sword he assayled at one time the thrée Monsters but so furiously they pursued him that he little preuailed and being almost breathlesse was forced to leape into an Oringe trée else had hee béene buried in theyr mercilesse bowels but when the thrée wilde beasts perceiued him aboue theyr reaches and that by no meanes they could come néere him with theyr wrathfull iawes they so rent and tore the roote of the trée that if by pollicie hee had not preuented them the trée had béene puld in pieces for at that time it was so full of ripe Oringes and so ouerloden that the branches séemed to bend and the boughes to breake of which frute he cast such abundance downe to the beastes whereby they restrained theyr furies and fedde so fast thereon that in short time they grew drunke and quite ouercome with a dead and heauy sléepe this good and happy fortune caused S. George nimbly to leape from the trée and with his kéene edged sword deliuered theyr monstrous heades from theyr bodies the which being done he went to his children lying comfortlesse vppon a mossy banke who so pleasantly smiled in his face that they made him greatly to reioyce and to receiue as great pleasure in theyr sights as though hee had béene honoured with the Conquests of Caesar or the Royalty of Alexander therefore after he had giuen them his blessing he tooke them vp in his Armes and spake these wordes following Come come my pretty Babes your safe deliueries from these inhumane Monsters will adde long life vnto your mother and hath preserude your father from a desperate death from henceforth let heauen be your guides and send you as happy fortunes as Remus and Romulus the first founders of imperious Rome which in theyr infancies were nurced with the milke of a rauenous Wolfe and as prosperous in your aduentures as was that Persian Potentate which fed vppon the milke of a Bitch At the ende of which spéeches he approached the Cabbinet where he left his Lady mourning for the losse of her children but at his returne he found her almost without sence or moouing being not able to giue him a ioyfull welcome whereat hee fell into this extreame passion of sorrow O fortune fortune quoth hee how many griefes heapest thou vppon my heade wilt thou néedes inioyne me to an endles sorrow Sée Sabra see I haue redéemed our sonnes and freed them from the Tygers bloody iaws whose wrathfull countenance did threaten death Which comfortable speeches caused her presently to reuiue and to take the silly Infants in her Armes laying them sweetly vpon her yuorie bosome at which they seemed to smile as ●●easantly as Cupid vpon the lappe of Dido when Aeneas sported in the C●u●t of Carthage the kinde imbraces louing spéeches and ioyfull conference that past betwixt the Champion and his Lady were now too long to be discoursed But to be short they remayned in the wildernesse without fu●ther disturbance either of wilde beasts or other accident till Sabra had recouered hir Child-bed sicknes and then beeing conducted b● a happie starre they returned backe the readie way to Christendome where after some few dayes trauaile they ariued in the Bohemian Court where the King of that Countrie 〈◊〉 two other bordering Princes most Royally Christned 〈◊〉 Children The eldest they named Guy the second Alexa●der and the third Dauid the which being performed and the Triumphes ended which in most sumpteous manner continued for the space of one month then the Bohemian King for the great loue hee bare vnto S. George prouided most honourably for his childrens bringing vp First he appoynted thrée seuerall Embassadours with all things necessary for so Princely a charge to conduct the thrée Infants to thrée seuerall Countries the first and eldest whose fortune was to be a souldier he sent to the imperiall Citty of Rome being then the wonder of the world for Martiall discipline there by the Emperour to bee trayned vp The seconde whose fortune was to bee a Courtly Prince hee sent to the rich and plentifull Country of England being the pride of Christendome for all delightfull pleasures The third and last whose fortune was to prooue a Scholler he sent into Germany to the Uniuersity of Wittenberge beeing thought at that time to bee the excellenst place of learning that remayned throughout the whole world Thus were saint Georges Children prouided for by the Bohemian King For when the Embassadours were in a readinesse the ships for theyr passage furnished and their attendance appoynted saint George in the company of his Lady the King of Bohemia with his Quéene and a trayne of Lords gentlemen and Ladyes conducted them to shipbord where the winde serued them so prosperously that in short time they bid adew to the shore and sayled chearefully away But as saint George returned backe to the Bohemian Court it was his chaunce to come by an olde ruinated Monastery vnder whose walles in former time his Father was buried the which he knewe by certaine verses that was carued in stone ouer his graue by the Commons of the Country as you may reade before in the beginning of this History Ouer the same he requested of the King that hée might erect a stately Monument that the remembra●ce of his name might liue for euer and not be buried in the graue of obscurity To which reasonable demaund the King most willingly consented and in all hast gaue speciall commandement that the cunningest Architectors that remayned within his Dominion should forthwith be sent for and withall gaue a tun of gold forth of his owne treasury towards the performance thereof The sodaine report of this memorable déede being bruted abroade caused workemen to come from euery place of their owne accord with such willingnes that they in short time finished it The foundation of the Toombe was of the purest Marble whereon was ingrauen the frame of the earth and how the watry Ocean was deuided with woods groues hilles and dales so liuely portrayed that it was a wonder to behold the props and Pinacles of Allablaster beset with knobs of Iasper stone the sides and Pillers of the clearest Iette vpon the topp stoode foure golden Lions holding vp as it were an Elemen● therein was curiously contriued the golden Sunne and Moone how the heauens haue vsuall courses with many other excellent thinges wrought both in gold and siluer which for this time I omit because I am forced at large to discouer the Princely procéedings of saint George who after the Monument was finished he with his Lady most humbly tooke their leaue of the King thanking him for his loue kindnes and curtesie and so departed towards Egypt and Persia of whose aduentures you shall heare more in this Chapter following CHAP. XVIII How Saint George with his Ladie ariued in Egipt Of their Royall entertainements to the Cittie of Graund Cayer And also how Sabra was Crowned Queene of Egipt MAny straunge accidents and dangerous aduentures saint George with his Lady passed before they ariued within the territories of Egipt that I want memorie to relate them and A●te to discribe them But at last when fortune smiled which before had long time crossed their intents with her inconstant chaunces and had cast them happilie vpon the Egiptian shore being the nurse and mother of Sabraes first creation The twelue Pieres with whome saint George before time had committed the guiding of the Land and kéeping of his Crowne as you heard before discou●sed now met him and his Ladie at the Sea side most richly mounted vppon their costlie trapped Stéedes and willingly surrendred vp his Scepter Crowne and Regiment and after in companie of manie Princelie Estates both of Dukes Earles Lordes Knights Royall Gentlemen They attended th●m to the rich Cittie of Graund Caier being then vnder the subiection of the Egiptian Monarchie and the greatest Cittie in the world For it was in breadth and compasse full threescore miles and had by iust account within the walles twelue thousande Churches besides Abbies Priories and houses of Religion

of Pharo light vpon their countries the miserie of Oedipus vpon their Princes that they may bée eye witnesses of their d●ughters rauishments and beholde their Citties fl●ming like the burning ba●tail●mentes of Troy Thus lamented be the l●sse of his libertie accursing his birth day and houre of his cre●tion wishing that it neuer might be numbred in the yeare but coun●ed ●min●●s to all insuing ages His sighes exceeded the number of the Ocian landes and his teares the water 〈◊〉 in a raynie day and as one deminished ano●her pres●ntl● appearde T●us sorrow was his companion and dispaire his chiefe 〈◊〉 till Hiperion with his golden C●●ch had thirtie times rested in Thetis purple Pall●ce Ciniliia thirtie times daunst vppon the Christall waues which was the verie time his compleat mones should ende according to the seuere and cruell Iudgment of the Soldan of Persia Bu● by what extraordenary meanes he knew not So looking euery minnute of an houre to entertaine the wished messenger of death he heard a farre off the tirrable roring of two hunger starued Lyons which for the space of fourtéene dayes had beene restrayned from their foode and naturall sustinance onely to deuoure and staunch their hunger starued bowels with the bodie of this thrice renowned Chāpion which crie of the Lyons so terrified hys minde that the haire of his head gr●w stiffe hys browes sweat blood through anguish of hys soule so extreamely bee feared the remorceles stroke of death that by violence hee burst the chaines in sunder wherewith he was bound and rent the curled tresses from hys head that was of the colour of Amber the which hee wrapped about hys armes against the Assault of the Lyons for he greatly suspected them to be the ministers of hys Tragedie which indéede so fell out for at that same instant they descended the dungeō being brought thither by the Guard of Iam●saries onely to make a ful period of the Champions life But such was the inuincible fortitude of Saint George and so polliticke hys defence that when the starued Lyons came running on him with open Iawes he valiantly thrust hys sinnewed Armes into their throats beeing wrapped about with the haire of hys head whereby they presently choaked and so he pulled out their bloody harts Which sp●ctakle the Soldans Iannsaries beholding wer so amazed with feare that they ran in all haste to the Pallace and certified the Soldan what had hapned who commaunded euery part of the Court to be strongly guarded with Armed Souldiers supposing the English Knight rather to be some monster ascended from the Sea than any creature of humane substaunce or els one possessed with some diuine inspiration that by force of Armes hath accomplished so manie aduenterous stratagems such a terrour assayled the Soldans heart sé●ing hee had slaine two Lyons and slaughtered two thousand Persians with hys owne hands and likewise ha● intelligence how he slew● a burning Dragon in Egipt caused the dungeon to be closed vp with bars of Iron lest he should by pollicie or fortitude recouer his libertie and so indanger the whole countrie of Persia where he remayned in want pennury and great necessitie for the tearme of seauen winters feeding onelie vpon rats and mice with other créeping wormes which he caught in the dungeon During which time hee neuer tasted of the bread of Corne but of wheate branne and Channell water which daylie was serued him through the Iron grates where now we leaue Saint George languishing in great misery and returne againe into Egipt where wee left Sabra the C●ampions betrothed Lady lamenting the want of hys companie whome she loued dearer than any Knight in all the world Sabra that was the fairest maide that euer mortall eye beheld in whom both Arte and nature séemed to excell in ●urious workemanship her body béeing comlier than the stately C●der and her beautie purer than the Paphian Quéenes the one with ouer burthened griefe was quite alter●d and the other stayned with flouds of brackish teares that daylie trickled downe her christall chéekes wherby she found the very Image of discontent the nap of woe and the only mirrour of sorrow she accounted all companie loathsome to her sight and excluded the fellowship of all Ladyes onely betaking her selfe to a solitarie Cabbinet where shée sate sowing many a wofull storie vpon a crimson Sampler whereon sometimes bathing a wou●ded heart with luke warme teares that fell from the Conduits of her eyes then presently with her crisped lockes of haire which dangled downe her Iuorie necke dry vp the moysture of her sorrowfull teares then thinking vpon the plighted promises of her deare beloued Knight fell into these passionate and pittifull complaints O Loue said shée more sharper than the pricking Brier with what vnequallity dost thou torment my wounded heart not ●●●cking my deare Lorde in the like affection of minde O Venus if thou be imperious in thy Deitie to whom both Gods and men obay commaund m● wandred Lorde to returne againe or that my soule may flee into the clowds that by the winds it may be blowne into his sweet bosome where liues my bleeding hart But foolish fondling that I am he hath reiected me and s●uns my company like the Syrens else had hee not refused the Court of Egipt where hee was honoured like a king and wandered the world to seeke another loue No no it cannot be he beares no such inconstant minde for I greatly feare some treacherie hath bereaude me of his sight or els soone s●onny prison includes my George from me If it be so sweet Morpheus thou God of golden dreames reueale to me my loues abiding that in my sleepe his shaddow may appeare and report the cause of his departure After this pa●●●on was breathed from th● mansion of her soule she committed her watchfull eyes to the gouernement of sweete s●eepe which being no sooner closed but there appeared as she thought the shadow and very shape of her dearely beloued Lord Saint George of England not as hee was wont to bee flourishing in his grauen Burgonet of stéele or mounted on a stately Genet deckt with a watchet Plume of spangled ●eathers but in ouerworne and simple attyre with pale looks and leaue body like to a Ghoast risen from some hollow graue breathing as it were these sad and wofull passions Sabra I am betraide for loue of thee And logde in hollow Caues of dismall night From whence I neuer more shall come to see Thy louing countenance and beautie bright Remaine thou true and constant for my sake That of thy loue they may no conquest make Let tyrants thinke if euer I obtaine What now is lost by treasons cursed guile● False Egipts scourge I surelie will remaine And turne to streaming blood Morocos smile The damned dogge of Barbarie shall rue The balefull stratagems that will insue The Persian towers shall smoke with fire And loftie Babilon be tumbled downe The Crosse of Christendome shall then aspire To weare the proud Egiptian

triple Crowne Ierusalem and Iuda shall behold The fall of Kinges by Christian Champions bold Thou maide of Egipt still continue chaste A Tyger seekes thy virgins name to spill Whilst George of England is in prison plast Thou shalt be forst to wed against thy ●ill But after this shall happen wondrous thinges For from thy womb shal spring three mighty kings This strange and tragicall discourse b●●ng no sooner ende● but she awaked from her sléepe and presently ●each●● forth her séemely handes 〈◊〉 k●ng to 〈◊〉 him but shee catched nothing but the bri●●le 〈◊〉 which caus●d 〈◊〉 to renew her former c●mplaints O wherefore 〈…〉 in this my troubl●some dreame 〈…〉 that my Ghost might ha●e haunt●d th● 〈◊〉 m●nsters which falsely betr●yed the brauest Champion vnder the cope of heauen ●et for his sake will I 〈◊〉 ag●inst the ingratitude of Egypt and like t●e 〈◊〉 Philom● 〈◊〉 fill euery corner of the land with ecchoes of his 〈◊〉 any woes shall excéede the sorro●s of Dido qu●●ne of C●●tha●● mourning for the ingratitude of Aeneas with 〈◊〉 like passions wearied she the time away ●till twelue mont●s were fully finished at last her father vnderstanding what feruent affection she bore to the English Champion began ●n this manner to dilate Daughter saide the Egiptian King I charge shée by the hands of nature and the true obedience thou oughtest to beare my age to banish and ex●lude all fond affections from thy minde not to settle thy loue vpon a wandr●ng Knight that is vnconstant and without habitation thou séest hée hath forsaken thee and returnde into hys owne Countrie where hee hath wedded a wife of that Land and Nation Therefore I charge thée vpon my displeasure to affect and loue the blacke King of Moroco that rightfully hath d●s●rued thy loue which shall bee Honourably holden to the Honour of Egipt and so departed without any answere at all By which Sabra knew hee would not bee cro●t in hys will and pleasure therefore shee sighed out these lamentable wordes O vnkinde Father to crosse the affection of hys childe and to force loue where no liking is Yet shall my minde continue true vnto my deare betrothed Lord although my body be forst against nature to obay and Almidor haue the honour of my marriage bed Yet English George shall enioy my true Uirginity if euer he returne againe to Egipt and therewithall she pulled forth a chaine of gold and wrapt it seauen times about her Iuorie necke This said shee hath seauen dayes beene stéept in Tygers blood and seauen nights in Dragons milke whereby it hath obtainde such excellent vertue that so long as I weare it about my necke no man on earth can enioy my virginitie though I bee forced to the state of marriage and lie seauen yeares in wedlocks bed yet by the vertue of this chaine I shall continue a true virgin Which wordes being no sooner ended but Almidor entered her sorrowfull Cabbinet and presented her with a wedding garment which was of the pure vnspotted silke imbost with Pearle and rich refined gold perfumed with swéet Si●rian powders it was of the colour of the Lillie when Flora had be deckt the field in May with natures orniments so glorious and costly her vestures séemed and so stately were hir Nuptiall rights solemnized that Egipt admired the bountie of her wedding which 〈…〉 dayes was 〈◊〉 in the Court of King 〈…〉 remooued 〈◊〉 T●ipoli● the 〈…〉 Almidors forced Bride was Crowned Queene of Moroco at which Coronation the Conduits ra●ne with Greekish Wines and the streets of Tripolie were beauti●●ed with Pageants and delightfull showes The Court resounded such melodious Harmonie as though Apollo with his sil●er Har●e had de●cended from the heauen● such Tilts and Turniments were performed betwixt the Egiptia knights and the Knights of Barbarie that they exceeded the Nuptials of Hec●uba the beautious Queene of Tro● which Honourable procéedings wee leaue for this time to their owne contentments some 〈◊〉 some dancing some reuelling some Tilting and some banqueting 〈◊〉 the Champion of England Saint George 〈◊〉 in the Dungeon in Persia as you heard 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 to the other six Champions of C●ristendome which ●eparted from the brazen pille● euery one h●s s●ueral way whose Knightly and Noble aduentures if the Muses graunt mee the bountie of ●aier 〈◊〉 springes I will most 〈◊〉 discouer to the honour of Christendome CHAP. IIII. How Saint Dennis the Champion of France liued seauen yeares in the shape of a Hart and howe proud Eglantine the Kings Daughter of Thessalie was transformed into a M●lberie Tree and how they both recouered their former shapes by the meanes of Saint Dennis his horse CAlling now to memorie the long weary trauailes S. Dennis the Champion of Fraunce indured after his departure frō the other sixe Champions at the brazen piller as you heard in the beginning of the former Chapter from which he wādred through many a desolate groue and wildernes without any aduenture worthy the noting till he arriued vppon the borders of Thessalie béeing a Land as then inhabited with wilde beasts wherein he indured such a pennurie scarcitie of victualles that hee was forced for the space of seauen yeares to feede vpon the hearbes of the fields the fruits of trées till the haires of his head were like to Egles feathers and the nayles of his fingers to birds clawes his drink the dew of heaue● the which he licked from the flowers in the meadows the attire he cloathed his bodie withall bay leaues and broad dockes that grew in the woodes his shooes the barke of trées whereon hee trauailde through many a thornie brake But at last it was his fortune and cruell destinie béeing ●●●rpressed with the extreamitie 〈◊〉 hunger to taste féede vpon the berries of a Mulberie tree whereby he lost the liuely forme and Image of hys humane substance and was transformed into the shape and like●es of a w●lde Hart Which strange sod●ine transformation this Noble Champion little mistrusted till he espied his mishapen forme in a cleare fountaine w●i●h ●ature 〈…〉 in a toole and 〈◊〉 villey● but when he behelde the shadow of his deformed substaunce and howe hys heade late Honoured with a Burgonet of steéle no● di●●onoured with a paire of 〈◊〉 hornes his face whereon the countenance of true Nobilitie l●te car●●red now couered with a beastlike similitude and 〈◊〉 body late 〈◊〉 true Image of magnanimity now ouerspread with a hea●●e hide in colour like to the fallow fieldes which strange alteration not a little perple●ed the minde of S. Dennis that it ●am●d him with all speed hauing the natu●all reason of man still remaining to repaire backe to the Mulberie tree againe supposing the b●rries he had eaten to be the cau●e of h●s transformation vnder which tree the distressed ●night laid 〈◊〉 formed limbs ●pon the bare ground and thus wofully began to complaine What Magicke charmes said hee or rather bewitching spels remaynes within this accursed trée whose wicked

yeares his 〈…〉 George his fame I know thou hast heard reported in many ● country to bée the brauest Knight that ●uer buckled steeled He●●●t therefore for his sake will I grace thée with the chiefest honour in this Court In stéede of thy 〈…〉 I will cloth thée in purple sil●e and in stéede at thy ●ban staff● thy hande shall wielde the richest sworde that euer Princely eye behelde to whom the Noble Champion saint George replied in this curteous manner I haue heard quoth he the Princely atchieuements and magnanimious aduentures of that honoured English Knight which you so dearely affect bruted through many a Princes Court and how for the loue of a Lady he hath indured along imprisonment from whence he neuer looketh to returne but to spe●● the remnant of his dayes in lasting misery ● At which wordes the 〈◊〉 let fall from her eyes such a showre of Pearled teares and sent such a number of strained sighes from her grieued hart that her sorrow séemed to excéede the Quéenes of Carthage when sh●● had for euer l●st the sight of her beloued Lorde But the braue minded Champion saint George purposed no longe●● to continue secrete but with his discouery to conuert her sorrowfull meanes to smiling ●oy And so ●●sting off his Palmers weede acknowledged himselfe to the Quéene and therewithall shewed the halfe Ring whereon was ingrauen this Pos●e ardeo affectione which Ring in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as you may reade before they had most equally deuided betwixt them to be kept in remembraunce of their plighted faithes which vnsuspected sight highly pleased the beauteous Sabra and her ioy so excéeded the bounds of reason that she could not speake one word but was constrained through the new conceaued pleasure to breathe a sad sigh or two into the Champions bosome who like a true innobled Knight entertained her with a louing kisse But after these two louers had fullie disco●rsed each to other the secrets of their soules Sabra how shee continued for his loue a pure Uirgin through the secret nature of a golden chaine stéept in Tygers blood the which shee wore seauen times doubled about her Iuorie necke tooke him by the portly han● and led him to her husbands stable where stood hys approued Palfray which shée for seauen yeares had ●ed with her owne handes who no sooner espyed the returne of his master but hee grewe more prouder of his presence than Bucephalus of the Macedonian Monarches when he had most ioyfully returned in triumph from any victorious Conquest Now is the time said the excellent Princesse Sabra that thou mayest seale vp the quittance of our former louest therefore with all conuenient spéed take thy approued Palfray with thy trustie sword Askalon which I will presently deliuer into thy handes and with all celeritie conuay mee from this vnhappy countrie for the King my husband with all his aduenterous Champions are nowe rode forth on hunting whose absence wil ●urther ●ur flight But if thou stay till his returne it is not a hundred of the hardiest Knights in the worlde can beare mee from this accursed Pallace At which worde Saint George hauing a minde gra●●e with all excellent vertues replyed in this manner Thou knowest my diuine Mistresse that for thy lo●e I would indure as many dangers as Iason suffered in the Ile of Calcos so I might at last enioy the pleasures of true Uirginitie But howe canst thou remayne a pure m●ide when thou haste béene a Crowned Quéene for these 〈◊〉 yeares and euerie night haste entertained a King ●nto thy bed If thou findest me not a true mayde in all that thou canst say or doo ●end me backe againe hither vnto my 〈◊〉 whose bed I account more loathsome th●n 〈◊〉 ●f snakes and his fight more ●●inous than the Crocodiles As for the Moroco Cr●wne which by force of 〈◊〉 was set vpon my head I wish that it might be turnd into a blaze of quenchles ●●er so it might not indanger my body and for the name of Quéene I account it a vayne 〈◊〉 for I had rather be thy English Lady than the greatest Empresse in the world At which spéeches saint George willingly condiscended and with all speede purposed to goe into England and therewithall sealed an assurance with as sweete a kisse as Paris gaue to louely Hellena when shée consented to forsake h●r natiue count●y and to trauell from her husband Menelaus into Troy So loosing no time lest delay might breede danger Sabra furnished her selfe with sufficient treasure and spéedily deliuered to saint George his trusty sworde which she had kept seauen yeares for his sake with all the furniture belonging to his approoued Steede who no sooner receaued her pr●ffered gifts which hee accounted dearer than the Asian Monarchy but presently sadled his horse and beautified his strong limbes with rich caparison In the meane time Sabra through fayre spéeches and large premises obtained the good will of an Euenuke that was appoynted for her guard in the Kings absence to accompany them in theyr intended trauailes and to serue as a trusty guide if occasion required which with the Lady stoode ready at the Champions commandement who no sooner had furnished himselfe with sufficient habilliments of warre belonging to so dangerous ● iourney but he pla●●● his beloued Mistris vpon a gentle Palfray which alwaies knéeled downe vntill shée had ascended the saddle And likewise her Euenuke was mounted vpon another Stéede whereon all their rich furniture with costly Iewels and other treasure was borne So these thr●e worthy Personages committed their trauels to the guide of fortune who preserued them from the dangers of pursuing enemies which at the Kinges returne from h●●ting followed amayne to euery Port and Ha●●n that deuided the kingdome of Barbarie from the Confines of Christendome But kind destenie so guided their steps that they trauailed another way contrarie to their e●spectations for when they looked to ariue vpon the Territories of Europe they were cast vppon the fruitfull bankes of Graecia in which Countrie we must tell what hapned to the thrée traua●lers and omit the vaine pursute of the Moroco Knights the wrathfull melancholy of the King and the bruted rumour that was amongst the Commons of the Quéenes departure who caused the L●rum-belles to bée rung out and the Beacons to be set on fire as though the enemie had entred their Countrie But nowe Melpomine thou Tragicke Sister of the Muses report what vnluckie cro●●●s hapned to these three trauailers in the Con●●nes of Graecia and howe theyr smiling C●m●die was by ill fortune turned into a wéepin● Tragedie For when they had iournied some three or four● Leagues ouer many a loftieh●ll they approached into a mightie and fearefull Wildernes through which the waies séemed so long and the 〈…〉 excéedingly glo●ed that Sabra what for wearines in trauaile and the extreame heate of the day was constrained to res● vnder the shelter of a mightie Oake whose braunches had not béene lopt in many a yeare where shee

like vnto an Elephants hys nostrelles were verie large and bigge his heade little his breast some what broad well pitcht and so ●ard that no sword were it neuer so sharpe was able to enter in thereat The Champion was called the Barron 〈◊〉 Chester a hold and hardier Knight they thought liued not then vpon the face of the whole earth he so aduanced himselfe vp downe as though hee had béene able to Encounter with a hundred Knights then the King caused the Harrold to summon in the Defendant if there were any to defend her cause both Drums and Trumpets sounded thrée seuerall times vp downe the fieldes betwixt euerie rest was full a quarter of an houre but yet no defendant did appeare therefore the King commaunded the Executioner to set the stake on fire presently At which words Sabra began to grow as pale as ashes and hir Ioyntes to tremble like to Aspen-leaues hir toung that before continewed silent began to recorde a swanlike dying tale in this manner vttered she the passion of hir heart Be witnes heauen and all you bright celestiall Angells bee witnes sun and moone the true beholders of my ●act be witnes thou cleare firmament and all the world be witnes of my innocence the blood I shed was for the sauegard of my honor and vnspotted Chastety Great God of heauen if the praiers of my vnstained heart may assaile thy mighty Maiestie or my true innocence preuaile with thy immortall power Commaund that eyther my Lorde may come to be my Champion or sad beholder of my death But if my hands were stained with blood about some wicked enterprise then heauen shew present vengeance vppon me by fire or els let the earth open deuoure my bodie vp aliue At which instance she heard the sound of a shrill and lowd horne the which S. George winded for as then hée was néere which caused the Execution a while to bee deferred At last they beheld a farre off a stately Banner wauering in the Ayre the which the Knight carried before saint George then they espied nere vnto the Banner a most valiant Armed Knight mounted vpon a cole blacke Palfray with a mightie great Launce set charged in his Rest by which sodaine approach they knewe him to bée some Champion that would defende the distressed Ladyes cause Then the King commanded the Drums and Trumpets to sound whereat the people gaue a generall sh●w● and the poore Lady halfe dead with feare began to reuiue and her blushing cheekes to be as beautefull as redde Roses dipt in milke blood mingled with snowe but when saint George approached the sight of his true and constant L●d● whom he found chayned to a stake incompassed with many instruments of death his hart so relented with griefe that he almost fell beside his horse yet remembring wherefore hée came he recalled his courage and intended to try his fortune in the Combat before he would discouer himselfe vnto his Lady And so when the Trumpets sounded deaths Alarum the two Knights set spurres to their horses made them run so fiercely that at the first encounter they shiuered both theyr Launces to their hands then rushed they together so rigorously with their bodies and Helmets that they fell downe both to the earth But saint George who was the more lustier Knight nimbly leapt vppon his féete without any hurt but the Barron of Chester lay still with his h●ad downewards casting from his mouth abundance of blood he was so mightely bruised with the fall but when he reuiued from his traunce he tooke his shield drawing out a mighty Fawchion and with a wrathfull countenance ran at saint George Now prowde Knight quoth he I sweare by all the Saints in heauen to reuenge the blood which thou hast shed and therewithall he stroke so violently vpon saint Georges shield that it cleaued quite a sunder then began he to waxe angry and tooke his sword in great wrath and gaue the Barron of Chester such a stroke that he cut away arme and shoulder and all the flesh of his side to the bare ribs and likewise cut his legge almost cleaue a sunder in the thichest place of his thigh and yet for all that the sword entred halfe a foote into the earth then fell the Barron of Chester to the ground and breathed forth this lamentable cry Nowe frowne you fatall starres eternally that did predominate at my byrth for he is slaine and vanquished that neuer st●●pt to any Knight before this day and thereuppon the blood st●pped the passage of his speech and his soule went flying to Elizium whereat the whole company reioyced and applauded saint George for the most fortunates Knight in the world then the King deliuered Sabra with his owne hands to saint George who most curteously receiued her and like a kinde Knight cast a scarlet Mantle ouer her body the which a Lady standing by bestowed vpon him yet he minding not to discouer himselfe but set her vpon his portly Stéede that presently grew prowde in carrying so rich a burthen and with his owne hands lead him by the brydle raynes so great was the ioy throughout the City that the belles rung without ceasing for thrée dayes together the Citezens thorough euery place that saint George should passe did hang forth at their windowes and on their walles cloth of gold and silke with rich Carpets Cushions and couerings of gréene veluet lay abroad in euery window the Cleargy in Copes of gold and silke met them with solemne Processions The Ladyes and beautefull Damsels strowd euery stréete where as hee past with Roses and most pleasant flowers and Crownd him with a wreath of gréene bayes in signe of his triumphant victory and Conquest In this manner went hee vnto the Kinges Pallace not known by any what he should be but that he was a Knight of a strange Country yet Sabra many times as they walked by the way desired to see his face and knowe his name in that he had aduentured so farre for her sake and that for her deliuery had vanquished the brauest knight in England Yet for all her perswasions hee kept himselfe vndiscouered till a troupe of Ladies in company of Sabra got him into a chamber richly hung with Arras cloth and there vnlaced his Beuer whose countenance when she beheld and sawe that it was her Lord and husband which had redeemed her from death shée fell into a deade sounde for very ioy But saint George sprinckled a little colde water on her face and reuiued her presently After this he gaue he● many a kinde and louing kis●e calling her the most truest and the most loyallest Lady that euer nature framed that to the very death would not loose one iote of her vnspotted honour Likewise she accounted him the truest Knight and the loyall●st husband that euer heauenly Hymen kne●● in ban●s of marriage with any woman But when the King had notice that it was saint George his Countries Champion which

stay not I say deare Lorde to sée the Infant now sprawling in my wombe to be deliuered from the bed of his creation forsake my presence for a time and let mée like the Noble Quéene of Fraunce obtaine the fauour of some Fayrie to be my Midwife that my Babe may be as happily borne in this Wildernes as was her valiant Sons Vallentine and Orson the one of them was cherrisht by a King and the other by a Beare yet both of them grew famous in their déedes My paine is great deare Lord therefore depart my Cabbinet and before bright Phoebus lodgeth in the W●st I shall eyther be a happie mother or a liueles body thou a ioyfull Father or a sorrowfull Widdower At which wordes Saint George sealed agreement with a kisse and silently departed without any reply but with a thousand sighes he had her adue and so tooke his way to the top of a Moūtaine being in distance frō hys Ladies abyding a quarter of a mile there kneeled hee during the time of her trauailes with hys bare knées vpon the bowels of the earth neuer ceasing prayer but continually soliciting the M●●estie of God to graunt his Lady a speedy deliuerie at whose diuine orizons the heauens seemed to relent and all the time of her paine co●ered the worlde with a vale of darkenes whole flights of birdes with Troupes of vntamed beasts ●ame flocking round about the Mountain where he knéeled and in their kindes assisted his celestiall contemplations where I will leaue him for a time and speake what hapned to Sabra in the middle of her paynes and extreamitie of her trauailes for after saint Georges departure the furie of her griefe so raged in her wombe that it exceeded the boundes of reason whereby hys hart was constrained to breath so many scortching sighes that they séemed to blast the leaues of trées and to wither the flowers which beautefied her Cabbinet her burthened tormentes caused her star-bright eyes like fountaines to distill downe siluer drops and all the rest of her bodie to tremble like a Castle in a tyrrible earthquake so grieuous was her paynes and rufull was her cryes that shee caused the mercilesse Tygers to relent and vntamed Lyons with other wilde Beastes like sillie Lambes to sit and bleate her grieuous cryes and bitter moanes caused the Heauens as it were to bleede their vapours downe and the earth to wéepe a spring of teares both hearbes and trées did s●eme to droope hard stonie Rockes to sweate when shee complayned At last her pittifull cries pearced downe too the lowest vaults of direfull Di● where Proserp●●e ●is Crowned amongst her Fayries and so preuailed that in all haste she ascended from her regiment to worlde this Ladies 〈◊〉 deliuerie and ●o make her mother of 〈…〉 who 〈…〉 the dutie of 〈…〉 her wombe and safelie brought her 〈◊〉 into the wor●d At whose first sight the heauens began to smile and the earth to reioyce as a signe and token that in time to come they would proue thrée of the Noblest Knights in the world This ●urteous déede of Proserpine béeing no sooner performed but she laide the three boyes in three most rich and sumptuous Cradles the which she caused her Fayries to fetch inuicible from thrée of the richest kinges in the world and therewithall mantles of silke with other things thervnto belonging Likewise she caused a winged S●●●er to fetch from the furthiest borders of India a couering of dammaske Ta●●●tie imbrodered with gold the most richest ornament that euen mortall eye behelde for thereon was wrought and 〈◊〉 portraied by the curious skill of Indian 〈◊〉 how God created heauen and earth the w●ndring courses both of Sunne and Moone and likewise howe the golden Plannets daylie doe prodominate Also there is no Storie in anye age remembred since the beginning of the world but it was thereon most p●●fectly wrought So excellent it was that Art herselfe could neuer deuise a cuninger With this rich and sumptuous ornament shee couered the Ladies Childe-bed whereby it seemed to surpasse in brauerie the gorgeous bed of Iuno Queene of heauen whē first she entertained imperious Ioue After this Proserpine laid vnder euerie childes pillow a siluer Tablet wheron was written in letters of gold their good and happy fortunes Under the first were these verses caractered who at that time lay frowning in hys Cradle like the God of Warre A souldi●●●old a man of wondrous might A King likewise this royall babe shal di● Three golden D●●de 〈◊〉 bloody fight By this braue Prince shal● conquered be The Towers of fay●r 〈◊〉 and Roome Shall yeeld to him in happ● 〈◊〉 to come Under the pillow of the second Babe was caractered these verses following who lay in his cradle smil●●g like Cupid vpon the la●●e of Dido whome V●nus 〈…〉 to the liknes of As●●nius This childe shall likewise liue to be a King Times wonder for deuice and Courtly spor● His Til●es and Turniments a broad shall ring To euery coast where Knightes resort Queenes shall atend and humble at his feete Thus loue and bewtie shall together meete Lastly vnder the pillow of the third were these verses likewise caractred who blushed in his cradle like Pallas when her stroue for the golden aple with Venus and the Quéene of heauen The Muses darling for true sapience In Princes Court this Babe shall spend his dayes Kinges shall admire his learned eloquence And write in brazen bookes his endles praise By Pallas gift he shall atchiue a Crowne Aduance his fame and lift him to renowne Thus when the Fayrie Quéene had ended her Prophesie vpon the Children and had left their golden Fortunes lying in their Cradles she vanished away leauing the Lady reioycing at her safe deliuerie and woondred at the gifts of Proserpine which she coniectured to bée but shadowes to dazell her eyes and thinges of a va●ing substance but when shée had laide her b●ndes vppon the riche couering of Dammaske Taffatie which couered her mossie bed and felt that it was the selfe same forme that it séemed shée cast her eyes with a chearefull looke vp to the Maiestie of heauen and not onely gaue thankes to immortall Ioue for her rich receaued benefits but for his mercifull kindnes in makeing her the happie Mother of three such goodly children but we will now returne againe to the noble Champion Saint George whome we left praying vppon the mountaine top and as you heard before the skies were ouerspred with Sable Cloudes as though they had béene mourning witnesses of hys Ladies torments but before the golden Sunne had diu'de into watry The●is lap the ●lemen began to cleare to withdraw her former mourning Mantles by which he supposed that heauen had pi●●ied his Ladies paines granted her a safe deliuerie therefore in all hast he retired back to the Siluaine Cabbinet the which he found most strangely deckt with sumptuous habilllments hys Lady lying in her Child-bed as glorious as if shee had béene the greatest Empresse in the