St. George I mean is her true and lawful Husband the honour of whose Bed she will not violate for all the Kingdoms of the World Tush faint-hearted fool that I am Sabra is beautiful and therefore to be tempted She is a Woman and therefore easie to be won her Husband he is sporting in the Fields of Mars then why may not she take pleasure in the Chamber of Venus I will use my flattering glosses many kind speeches and many sweet imbraces but I will crop that Bud which but to taste I would give my whole Lands and Revenues I will tell her St. George is a wanderer and one that will never return whereas I am a mighty Deer in England and one that can accomplish whatsoever she desirâ—â—â— Many other circumstances this Lustful Garâ—used to flatter himself in this vain conceit At last the scowling night with pitchy Clouds began to overspread the brightsome Heavens whereby he was forced to repair homewards and to smother up his Love in silence no quiet sléep that night could enter into his eyes but fond and restless dreams sometimes be thought he had his lovely Mistress in his Arms daslying like the 〈◊〉 Queen upon her Minions knee but presently awaking he found it but a gilded shadow which added new grief to his Love-sick passions then by and by he thought he saw how the wrathful Champion with his dreadful and bloody Fauchion came to revenge his Lady's Ravishment whereas the troubled Earl started from his Bed and with a loud voice cried to his Chamberlain for help saying That St. George was come to Murder him Which sudden Outery not only awaked the Chamberlain but the whole house which generally came to hear him company They set up Camphire Tapers to give Light and made him Musick to comfort him and to drive all â—ond santâ—fies from his mind But no sooner ceased the Musick but he 〈◊〉 into his former Cogitations pondering in his mind which way he might obtain his purpose Whereat a dismal Night-Raven beat her wings against his Chamber windows and with a harsh voice gave him warning of a sad success 〈◊〉 presently began the Tapers to â—uâ—â— bâ—â—e as though a Troop of â—hastly 〈◊〉 did encompass his Lâ—â—ging which was an evident â—â—gn that some strange and unhappy Muâ—â—â—r should worthily follow All which could not withdraw the â—ustâ—ul Earl from his wicked Enterprize nor conâ—â—â—â— his mind from the spoil of so sweet a Lady In this manner spent he the night away till the Sun 's bright conuienance summoned him from his restless Bed From whence being no sooner risen but he sent for the Steward of his House and gave him a charge to provide a most sumptuous and costly Banquet for he intended to invite thereunto all the principal Ladies in Coventry What bountiful cheer was provided I think it needless to repeat but to be short at the time and hour appointed the invited Ladies repaired the Banquet was brought in by the Earl's Servants and placed upon the Table by the Earl himself Who after many Welcomes given began thus to move the Ladies to delight I think my House most highly honoured said he that you have vouchsafed to grace it with your presence for methinks you beautifie my Hall as the twinkling Stars beautifie the Ueil of Heaven But amongst the number of you all you have a Cynthia a glistring silver Moon that for brightness exceeded all the rest for she is fairer than the Queen of Cypress lovelier than Dido when Cupid sate upon her knee wiser than the Prophetess of Troy of Personage more comely than the Grecian Dame and of more Majesty than the Queen of Love So that all the Muses with their Ivory pens may write continually and yet not sufficiently describe her excellent Ornaments of Nature This Commendation caused a general smile of the Ladies and made them look one upon another whom it should be Many other Courtlike discourses pronounced the Earl to move the Ladies delight till the Banquet was ended which being finished there came in certain Gentlemen by the Earl's appointment with most excellent musick other some that danced most curiously with as much Majesty as Paris in the Grecian Court. At last the Earl requested one of them to choose out his beloved Mistress and lead her some stately Corants Likewise requesting that none should be offended what Lady soever he did affect to grace with that Courtly pastime At which request all them were silent and silence is commonly a sign of consent therefore he emboldned himself the more to make his desires known to the beholders Then with excéeding courtesie and great humisity he kissed the beauteous hand of Sabra who with a blushing countenance and bashful look accepted his courtesie and like a kind Lady disdained not to dance with him So when the Musicians strained forth their inspiring Melody the Lustful Earl led her a first Course about the Hall in as great Majesty as Mavors did the Queen of Paphos to gain her Love and she followed with as much Grace as if the Queen of Pleasure had been present to behold their Courtly Delights and so when the first Course was ended he found fit opportunity to unfold his secret Love and reveal unto the Lady his extream Passion of mind which were in these Speeches expressed Most Divine and Peerless Paragon said he thou only Wonder of the World for Beauty and excellent Ornaments of Nature know that thy two twinkling Eyes that shine more brighter than the Lights of Heaven being the true Darts of Love have pierced my heart and those thy crimson Cheeks as lovely as Aurora's Countenance when she draws the Curtains of her purple Bed to entertain her wandring Lover those Cheeks I say have wounded me with Love therefore except thou grant me kind comfort I am like to spend the remnant of my Life in Sorrow Gare and Discontent I blush to speak what I desire because I have setled my Love where it is unlawful in a bosome where Kings may sleep and surfeit with delight thy Breast I mean most Divine Mistress for there my Heart is kept Prisoner Beauty is the Keeper and Love the Key my Ransome is a constant Mind Thou art my Uenus I will be thy Mars thou art my Helen I will be thy Mahomet thou art my Cressida I will be thy Croilus thou art my Love and I will be thy Paramour Admit thy Lord and Husband be alive yet hath he most unkindly left thee to spend thy young years in solitary Widow-hood He is unconstant like Eneas and thou more hapless than Dido He marcheth up and down the world in glistring Armour and never doth intend to return He abandoneth thy presence and lieth sporting in strange Ladies Laps therefore dear Sabra live not to consume thy youth in singleness for Age will overtake thee too soon and convert thy Beauty to wrinkled Frowns To which words Sabra would have presently made answer but that the Musick called them to Dance
almost equally with the King for which there ingendered in the Kings heart a secret rancour and hatred towards him The Magician cast his love upon the young Princess Angelica and it was ordained by destiny that she should repay him with the same affection so that both their hearts being wounded with love the one to the other they indured sundry great Passions Then Love which continually seeketh occasions did on a time set before this Magician a Waiting Maid of Angelica's named Fidelia the which thing seemed to be wrought by the immortal power of the Goddess Venus Oh in what fear the Magician was to discover unto her all his heart and to bewray the secrets of his love-sick Soul but in the end by the great industry and diligence of the Waiting-maid whose Name was answerable unto her mind there was order given that these two Lovers should meet together This fair Angelica for that she could not at her ease enjoy her true Lover she did determine to leave her own natural Country Father and with this intention being one night with her Love she cast her Arms about his neck and said Oh my sweet and well-beloved Friend seeing that my Destinies have been so kind to me as to have my heart linked in thy Breast let no man find in thee ingratitude for that I cannot live except continually I enjoy thy sight and do not muse my Lord at these my Words for the intire love that I bear to you constreineth me to make it manifest And this believe of a certainty that if thy sight be absent from me it will be an occasion that my heart will lack his vital recreation and my soul forsake her Earthly habitation You know my Lord how that the King my Father doth bear you no good Will but doth hate you from his soul which will be an occasion that we cannot enjoy our hearts contentments for the which I have determined if you think well thereof to leave both my Father and my native Country and to go and live with you in a strange Land And if you deny me this you shall very quickly see your loving Lady without life but I know you will not deny me for thereon consisteth the benefit of my welfare and my chiefest prosperity And therewithal sheding a few tears from her Crystal Eyes she held her peace The Magician as one half ravished with her earnest desires answered and said My Love and sweet Mistress wherefore have you any doubt that I will not fulfill and accomplish your desire in all things therefore out of hand put all things in readiness that your pleasure is to have done for what more benefit or contentment can I receive than to enjoy your sight continually in such sort that neither of us may depart from the others company till the fatal Destinies give end to our lives Or if it so fall out that Fortune frown upon us that we be espied and taken in our enterprize and suffer death together what more glory can there happen unto me than to die with thee and to end my life betwixt thy arms therefore do not trouble your self dear Lady and Mistress but give me leave for â—o depart your presence that I may provide all things in readiness for our departures And so with this conclusion they took leave one of the other and departed away with as great secresie as might possibly be devised After this within a few days the Magitian by his Enchantment caused a Chariot to be made that was drawn by the flying Dragons into the which without being espyed of any one they put themselves together with their trusty Waiting-Maid and in great secresie they departed out of the Kings Pallace and took their journey towards the Country of Armenia into the which Country in a short time they arrived and came without any misfortune unto a place where as deep Rivers did continually strike upon a Rock upon the which stood an old ancient building wherein they intended to inhabit as a most convenient place for their dwelling whereas they might without all fear of being found live peaceably enjoying each others love Not far from that place there was a small Uillage from whence they might have necessary provision for the maintaining of their bodies Great joy and pleasure these two Lovers received when they found themselves in such a place whereas they might take their fill of each others loves The Magician delighted in no other thing but to go a hunting with certain Country Dwellers that inhabited in the next Uillage leaving his sweet Angelica accompanied with her trusty Fidelia in that house so in this order they lived together four years spending their days in great pleasure but in the end time who never â—ested in one degree did take from them their â—est and repayed them with sorrow and extream misery For when the King her Father found her missing the sorrow and grief was so much that he received that he kept his Chamber a long time and would not be comforted of any body Four years he passed away in great heaviness filling the Court with Ecchoes of his beloved Daughter and making the Skies to resound his lamentations sorrow was his food salt tears his drink and grief his chief Companion But at last upon a time as he sate in his Chair lamenting her absence with great heaviness and being over-charged with grief he chanc'd to fall into a troublesome dream for after quiet sleep had closed up the closers of his Eyes he dreamed that he saw his Daughter standing upon a Rock by the Sea-side offering to cast her Body into the Waves before she would return to Babylon and that he beheld her Lover with an Army of Satyrs and Wild-men ready furnished with habiliments of War to pull him from his Throne and to deprive him of his Kingdom Out of this Uision he presently started from his Chair as though it had been one frighted with a Legion of Sâ—irits and caused four of the chief Peers of his Land to be sent for to whom he committed the Government of his Country certifying them that he intended a Uoyage to the Sepulchre at Memphis thereby to qualify the fury of his Daughters Ghost whom he dreamed to be drowned in the Seas and that except he sought by true Submission to appease the angry Fates whom he had offended he should be deposed from his Kingdom None could withdraw him from his Determination though it was to the prejudice of the whole Land therefore within twenty Days he furnished himself with all necessaries as well of Armour and Martial Furniture as of Gold and Treasure and so departed from Babylon privately and alone not suffering any other though many desired it humbly and very earnestly to bear him company But he travelled not as he told his Lords after any Ceremonious Order but like a Blood Hound searching Country after Country Nation by Nation and Kingdom by Kingdom that after a barbarous manner he might be
highly thou wer 't prized in my Affections In this manner did the woful Queen spend her dayes until sickness coming on put the harmony of Nature out of tune in her Body which by little and little languished away in such sort that she became a meer Skelleton or Anatomy and now finding that Death by degrees began to sieze on her Uital parts she called her Nobles unto her and spake to them these words My Lords I am now taking my last leave of you the spent Hour-glass of my Life is near at hand and now at my parting ghost I do adjure ye as you will answer it before the Higher Powers whither I am now going to appear that ye invest Euphemius King when I am dead and gone and though I doubt not of your performance herein yet for my more assurance and that my ghost may quietly rest hereafter I shall desire you to take an Oath to do it which if you should fail in the performance know assuredly you will both wrong your selves and him him in depriving him of his Crown and your selves of a good King he being a Prince kind wise just and merciful and only unkind unto me The Nobles to satisfie her request freely took their Oaths to be true to Euphemius and now the Queen being fully satisfied with what was done willingly yielded up the ghost whom the Nobles buried in most sumptuous manner which being done they sent an Honourable Messenger to Euphemius to certifie him of the Queens death and how she had bequenthed her Crown to him which Messenger set forth Artemia's love in such pathetical words as wrought in him a strange alteration for when he thought upo nher unalterable affection towards him the constancy of her love her matchless beauty rare endowments and superexcellent parts he began to reflect upon himself his unkindness to her his vile ingratitude that could wrong her which dyed for love of him These considerations made him to like where before he loathed and to loath where before he loved for whereas before he used to give many private visits to my Daughter protesting all constancy and loyalty towards her now the poyson of hatred entred into his heart against her as taking her to be the chief obstacle which hindred him from the enjoyment of the Quéen and might be also the same of the Kingdom if it should be known he were married unto her wherefore he departed along with the Messenger never so much as bidding her farewel or sending any Messenger unto her The Nobles entertained him very splendidly and with great solemnity Crowned him King In the mean time the poor Praxeda was well near distracted with discontent finding her self to be with Child fearing to discover it unto me and finding such an alteration of love from him Her case being thus desperate knowing it impossible to be long concealed she sent to him this following Letter My Dear Euphemius MEN do tax our Sex for being unconstant but now I must apply that fault to you I say to you whose Oaths did give so great a Testimony of your fidelity that I duâ—st not doubt them for fear of injuring my self Ah Euphemius doth Honours change Manners can you so soon forget Praxeda whom you swore so firmly to love Now if thou hast no pity for me take some compassion on the fruit of my Womb the seal of our loves wherein thy lively Image is implanted and if thou hast any thing of Nature in thee thou canst not but deplore its condition and provide a remedy for the same we still hoping thou wilt remain constant I rest Thine own Praxeda Euphemius received this Letter with great indignation vowing revenge the Rhamnusian Nemesis possessing his vengeful breast in all her blackest formes and now his enraged blood being tickled with the thoughts of a pleasing himself for as he thought his disgrace in claiming him to be her Husband he intended the destruction not only of she but of all her Kindred and that to be pâ—â—formed as soon as he could find any pretended cause of aquatâ—◠〈◊〉 her In the mean time to deterr her from any proâ—â—â—â—tion â—â— her 〈◊〉 he returned â—o her this invective answer HAth your impudence no other person to Father your Pastard brat but upon me whose known reputation is such as will free me in the Consciences of all honest persons from the known calumnies of such a vile Strumpet was it not my vertue preferred me by a general consent to a Kingdom and do you think by detraction to bespatter my good name Cease then perverse Monster of Women-kind to prosecute any further claim unto me lest it prove the deserved destruction of thee and thine Thy deserved Enemy Euphemius But before she received this Letter feeling the burthen of her Womb to grow great she desired leave to go visit an Aunt of hers named Milesia pretending indisposition of Health to which I readily granted knowing my Sister very careful over her for her good To this her Aunt she discovered all what had passed betwixt Euphemius and she desiring her aid and secresie therein and indeed it was but high time for within three days after her coming thither she was delivered of a goodly Boy whom her Aunt named Infortunio and put him out to Nurse to one of her Tenants Soon after she received the Letter from Euphemius which when she had read her grief and sorrow were so great that she deemed her self the very Map of misery and falling into a swound it was long ere her Aunt and the other attendants could recover her to life such a sudden grief had her soul contracted that who so had beheld her would have thought her Spirit ready to descend into Charons Boat to be transported into the Elizian fields but coming a little to her self she thus began for to exclaim And is it possible such Perjury can remain in men do they think Oaths are not binding or that divine vengeance doth not follow upon breach of promise Ah Euphemius can thy heart prove so disloyal were all the protestations thou so often didst reiterate unto me only feigned baits to entrap me to my destruction Then glory in thy triumph but know accursed Caitiff my soul shall haunt thee after death as did the ghost of Queen Dido follow the Body of Perjured Aeneas and saying these words she stabbed her self to the heart with a Bodkin which she had hidden within the Trammels of her Hair and â—etching only two or three deep groans she presently dyed Praxida having acted this woful Tragedy on her self put all the Houshold in a great uproar especially my Sister Milesia who fared like to one of Bacchus frantick raging Nuns or like a Tartar when in a strange habit he prepares himself to a dismal Sacrifice Ah Praxida said she how hath thy actions straid from Reasons center thus to give thy soul a Goal-delivery Abhorred Euphemius accursed mayst thou be that wer't the causer of all this mischief Hast thou a heart more
in exorable as this Monster of Mankind whose Adamantine hearts will not hearken to my request Come Gentle Death O come come for it is thou alone who canst ease my misery When they had opened the door he seeing the Keys in Sir Owens hand thinking they were come to forment him a fresh with a wrathful Countenance thus spake unto them Monsters of Nature whose wanton cruelty knows no end and who please your selves in making others to feel the effects of your Tyranny now satiate your selves in cruelty for you shall not be readier to inflict then I to suffer what the utmost of your malice can lay upon me Whilst thus he was proceeding in his exclamation the young man who was taken Prisoner with him came towards him as fast as his trembling Legs would carry him and falling on his knees he said Most Gracious Soveraign blame not these matchless Heroes whose invincible Manhood hath gained our freedom and whose peerless Prowess hath overcome our insulting Enemy making his Carcase become food for hungry Ravens who used to feast his Eyes in beholding our miseries VVhat Thanks can we render to those Persons equal to the benefits they have bestowed upon us The King seeing young Clodius for so was the Gentleman named was in a strange kind of amaze not thinking any Humane Power possibly able to overcome the Gyant but being by them assured that he was slain to confirm their words they carried him to a Window out of which he might behold his dead Carcase and at that time it was when as Sir Pandrasus came unto them Great was the joy amongst these valiant Knights for their so happily meeting together but being informed by the King that there were many more Prisoners behind they resolved not to take any repast until they had set them all at liberty and so entering into several Rooms and setting free divers Prisoners they came at last to a Room alone by it self wherein was enclosed a beautiful Uirgin whom grief had almost made distracted who at their entrance into the Room took no notice of them but like to an intranced soul stood as one with ghosts affrighted The miseries said the King that this Uirgin hath endured might move a heart of stone to pity and cause the most obdurate soul to lament She is the only Daughter of a Wealthy Knight endued as you see with Natures chiefest Ornaments so that before gaief had made a transmigration of her the Quéen of Love might have served as a foyl unto her It was her chance a fatal chance to fall in Love with a young Gentleman that waited on her Father one answerable to her in all respects had his Estate been equal with his parts and he answering her love with like reciprocal affection but as it is incident to Lovers to meet with crosses so did these at the very beginning thereof for her Father coming to have knowledge of it this young Gentleman whose name was Matheo was soon turned away and forbid ever after front coming near unto the House and she confined to a Chamber without any other liberty but as Love will creep where it cannot go so did he find means to persue his suits in Love unto her and as he thought in a safe way and that in this manner There was growing just by the Chamber window where she lay a stately Tree upon which in the dead of the night he used to ascend and there had parly with his Love This they continued for some time to their great content and satisfaction but it so chanced upon a night he was espyed by one of the Servants who immediately informed his Master thereof which when he heard he was so transported with rage as if all his humours had turned choller and kindled up in agonies as hot as flames of burning Sulpher like to the chased Boat whom eager Bounds have at a Bay and being thus transported with rage he takes a Cross-bow and aided with a glimmering light by Madam Cynthia the pale faced Lady of the night he sent a Bullet into his Belly which wrought such effect that tumbling from off the Tree he only said my dearest I dye for love of thee and presently expired But when the Lady saw what had happened she fared like unto mad Orestes or like unto Progne when she knew of her Sisters rape impatience louring in her Face so that had she not been prevented by a Maid that came into the Chamber at that present she had by a knife given her self a period to the race of her loathed Life but being hindered of her design she fell into such a swound as if her Soul had made a total separation from hea Body Lying in this trance the Maid who came to her ran and cryed out for more help but not withstanding all the means they could use it was long before her sullen Soul would reenter her Body or that any hopes of Life was perceived yet could not all this mitigaâ—e the rage of her incensed Father but commanded she should be confined still to her Chamber and not any one suffered to remain with her wherefore in the night she uncorded the Bed and tying the Line to a Piller of the Window by the help thereof the slid down to the ground and wandring she cared not whither so she were out of the reach of her Fathers cruelty she chanced to come near to this Castle whom the Gyant spying caught her flying from his loathed sight and brought her into the Castle where ever since she hath remained in this deplorable condition which you see CHAP. XVIII How Sir Phelim and Sir Owen with Sir Pandrasus fought with the Gyant Curlo who came to be revenged for the death of his Brother Briomart How they flew him and all the rest that came with him with other things which happened THE King having ended his Discourse it wrought great compassion in all them that heard it especially Sir Pandrasus who muth pityed her sad condition and therefore to comfort her he having brought a bottle of the healing Wine from that precious Fountain whereof Sir Wonder was now Governour he gave her some part thereof to drink which she no sooner had received but her Spirits revived and her colour came to her as if fresh Roses budded in her Cheeks so that she seemed of so divine a feature that Envies self could not but dote upon her and now as it were revived out of a Trance she breathed forth these words Am I awake or is this only some santastical vision Can Fortune afford one smile unto me or may I hope to see one serene day in my Life Oye Immortal Powers that Govern the affairs here below give me one spoonful of sweets to those many Gallons of bitterness which I have swallowed But they telling her that now all danger was past that the Gyant was killed and she at freedom joy began by little and little to enter in at the crannies of her heart And now
glorious Attempts not only for hope of gain but for the desire of honour at which his illustrious and undaunted mind aimed to eternize his Deeds in the memorable Records of Fame and to shine as a Crystal Mirror to all ensuing Times So closing down his Bever and locking on his Furniture he scoured over the Plains before the Hunters of Jerusalem in pace more swift then the winged Winds till he approached an old unfrequented Forrest wherein he espied a huge and mighty Wild Boar lying before his Mossy Den gnawing upon the mangled joynts of some Passenger which he had murthered as he travelled through the Forrest This Bore was of wonderful length and bigness and so terrible to behold that at the first fight he almost daunted the Courage of the Spanish Knight for his Monstrous head séemed ugly and deformed his Eyes sparkled like a fiery Furnace his Tusks more sharp than pikes of Steel and from his Nostrils fumed such a violent breath that it seemed like a tempestuous Whirlwind his Bristles were more hard than seven times melted Brass and his Tail more loathsome than a wreath of Snakes near whom when St. James approached and beheld how he drank the blood of humane Creatures and devoured their flesh he blew his Silver Horn which as then hung at the Pummel of his Saddle in a Scarf of gréen Silk whereat the furious Monster turned himself and most fiercely assailed the Noble Champion which most nimbly leaped from his Horse and with his Spear struck such a violent blow upon the breast of the Boar that it shivered into twenty pieces Then drawing his good Fauchion from his side he gave him a second encounter but all in vain for he struck as it were upon a Rock of Stone or a Pillar of Iron nothing hurtful to the Boar but at last with staring Eyes which sparkled like burning Steel and with open Iaws the greedy Monster assailed the Champion intending to swallow him alive but the nimble Knight as then trusted more upon policy than to fortitude and so for advantage skipped from place to place till on a sudden he thrust his keen-edged Cuttle-ax down his intestine throat and so most valiantly split his heart in sunder The which being accomplished to his own desire he cut off the Boar's head and so presented the honour of the Combat to the King of Jerusalem who was then with his mighty Train of Knights but now entred the Forrest who having graciously received the gift and bountifully fulfilled his promises demanded the Champion's Country his Religion and place of his Nativity who no sooner had intelligence that he was a Christian Knight and born in the Territories of Spain but presently his patience exchanged into a great fury and by these words expressed his cankered stomach toward the Christian Champion Knowest thou not bold Knight said the King of Jerusalem that it is the Law of Iudah to harbour no uncircumcised Man but either to banish him the Land or end his days by some untimely Death Thou art a Christian and therefore shalt die not all thy Country Treasures the Wealthy Spanish Mines not if all the Alps which divide the Countries of Italy and Spain were torn'd to Hills of burnisht Gold and made my Lawful Heritage they should not redeem thy Life Yet for the honour thou haâ—â— done in Iuda I grant thee this favour by the Law of Arms to choose thy Death else hadst thou suffered a vigorous Torment Which severe Iudgment so amazed the Champion that desperately he would have killed himself upon his own Sword but that he thought it a more Honour to his Country to dye in the Defence of Christendom So like a true ennoâ—led Knight fearing neither the Threats of the Iews nor the impartial stroke of the fatal Sisters he gave this Sentence of his own Death First he requested to be bound to a Pine-tree with his Breast laid open naked against the Sun then to have an hours respite to make his supplication to his Creator and afterwards to be shot to death by a true Uirgin Which words were no sooner pronounced but they disarmed him of his Furniture bound him to a Pine-tree and laid his Breast open ready to entertain the bloody stroke of some unrelenting Maiden but such pity meekness mercy and kind lenity lodged in the heart of every maiden that none would take in hand or be the bloody Executioner of so bravea Knight At last the Tyrannous Nabuzaradan gave strict Commandment upon pain of Death that Lots should be east betwixt the Maids of Juda that were there present and so whom the Lot fell she should be the fatal Executioner of the Condemned Christian. But by chanee the Lot fell to Celestine the King 's own Daughter being the Paragon of Beauty and the fairest Maid then living in Jerusalem in whose heart no such deed of cruelty could be harboured nor in whose hand no bloody Weapon could be entertained Instead of Death's fatal Instrument she shot towards his Breast a deep strained sigh the true messenger of Love and afterwards to Heaven she thus made her humble supplication Thou great Commander of Coelestial moving Powers convert the cruel motions of my Father's mind into a spring of pitiful tears that they may wash away the Blood of this innocent Knight from the habitation of his stained purple Soul O Iudah and Ierusalem within whose Bosoms live a Wilderness of Tygers degenerate from Nature's kind more cruel than the hungry Cannibals and more obdurate than untamed Lions what merciless Tygers can unrip that Breast where lives the Image of true Nobility the very Pattern of Kinghthood and the Map of a noble Mind No no before my hand shall be stained with Christians Blood I will like Scilla against all Nature sell my Country's safety or like Medea wander with the Golden Fleece to unknown Nations Thus and in such manner complained the beauteous Celestine the King's Daughter of Jerusalem till her sighs stopped the passage of her Speech and her Tears stained the natural Beauty of her Rosie Cheeks her Hair which glistred like to Golden Wires she besmeared in dust and disrobed her self of her costly Garments and then with a Train of her Amazonian Ladies went to the King her Father where after a long suit she not only obtained his Life but Liberty yet therewithall his perpetual Banishment from Jerusalem and from all the Borders of Judah the want of whose sight more grieved her heart than the loss of her own life So this Noble and Praise-worthy Celestine returns to the Christian Champion that expected every minute to entertain the Sentence of Death but this expectation fell out contrary for the good Lady after she had sealed two or three Kisses upon his pale Lips being changed through the fear of Death cut the bands that bound his Body to the Tree into many pieces and then with a flood of salt Tears the motives of true Love she thus revealed her mind Most Noble Knight and
Drums and Trumpets should be heard therefore he took Rosalinde by the hand being then in a dump for want of her Father to whom the Noble Knight in this manner expressed his secret intent My most devoted Lady and Mistriss said the Champion a second Dido for thy Love a stain to Uenus for thy beauty Penelope 's compare for Constancy and for Chastity the wonder of all Maids the faithful Love that hitherto I have found since my arrival for ever shall be shrined in my heart and before all Ladies under the cope of Heaven thou shalt live and die my Love 's true Goddess and for thy sake I 'll stand as Champion against all Knights in the World but to impair the Honour of my Knighthood and to live like a Carpet Dancer in the Laps of Ladies I will not though I can tune a Lute in a Princes Chamber I can sound a fierce Alarm in the Field Honour calls me forth dear Rosalinde and Fame intends to buckle on my Armour which now lies rusting in the idle Court of Thrace Therefore I am constrained though most unwillingly to leave the comfortable sight of thy Beauty and commit my Fortune to a longer Travel but I protest wheresoever I become or in what Region soever I be harboured there will I maintain to the loss of my Life that both thy Love Constancy Beauty and Chastity surpasseth all Dames alive and with this promise my most Divine Rosalinde I bid thee farewell But before the honourable minded Champion could finish what he purposed to utter the Lady being wounded inwardly with extream grief not able to endure to keep silent any longer but with tears falling from her eyes brake off his speech in this manner Sir Knight said she by whom my Liberty hath been obtained the Name of Lady and Mistress wherewith you entitle me is too high and proud a Name but rather call me Hand-maid or servile Slave for on thy Noble Person will I evermore attend It is not Thrace can harbour me when thou art absent and before I do forsake thy company and kind fellowship Heaven shall be no Heaven the Sea no Sea nor the Earth no Earth but if thou provest unconstant as Ninus did to Scilla who for his sake stole her Fathers Purple Hat whereof depended the safety of his Countrey or like wandring Aeneas forsake the Queen of Carthage these tender and soft hands of mine shall never be unclasped but hang on thy Horse-bridle till my Body like Theseus 's Son be dashâ— in sunder against hard flinty Stone Therefore forsake me not dear Knight of Christendom If ever Camina proved true to her Sinatus or Alstone to her Lover Rosalinde will be as true to thee so with this plighted Promise she caught him fast about the Neck from whence she would not unclose her Hands till he had vow'd by the Honour of true Chivalry to make her sole Companion and only Partner of his Travels and so in this order it was accomplished They being both agreed she was most trimly attired like a Page in green Sarsenet her Hair bound up most cunningly with a Silk List artificially wrought with curious knots that she might Travel without suspition or blemish of Honour her Rapier was a Turkish Blade and her Ponyard of the finest fashion which she wore at her back tied with an Drange-tawny coloured Scarf beautified with Tasseis of unknown Silk her Buskins of the smoothest Kid-skins her Spurs of the purest Lydian Steel in which when the Noble and Beautiful Lady was attired she seemed in Stature like the God of Love when he sate dandled upon Dido's Lap or rather Animede Love's Minion or Adonis when Venus shewed her white skin to entrap his eyes to her unchast desires But to be brief all things being in readiness for their departure from Thrace this Famous Worthy Knight mounted on his eager Steed and the magnanimous Rosalinde on her gentle Palfrey in pace more easie than the winged Winds or a Cockâ—oat floating upon Crystal streams they both bad adieu to the Countrey of Thracia and committed their Iourney to the Queen of Chance Therefore smile Heavens and guide them with a most happy Star until they arrive where their Souls do most desire The bravest and boldest Knight that ever wandred by the way and the loveliest Lady that ever eye beheld In whose Travels my Muse must leave them for a season and speak of the Thracian Mourners which by this time had watered the Earth with abundance of their Ceremonious Tears and made the Elements true witnesses of their sad Laments as hereafter followeth in this next Chapter CHAP. VII How St Andrew the Champion of Scotland Travelled into a Vale of Walking Spirits and how he was set at Liberty by a going Fire after his Journey into Thracia where he recovered the Six Ladies to their natural shapes that had lived seven years in the likeness of milk-white Swans with other Accidents that befell the most Noble Champion NOw of the honourable Adventures of St. Andrew the famous Champion of Scotland must I discourse whose seven years Travels were as strange as any of the other Champions For after he had departed from the brazen Pillar as you heard in the beginning of the History he travelled through many strange and unknown Nation beyond the circuit of the Sun where but one time in the year he shews his brightsome Beams but continual darkness overspreads the whole Country and there lives a kind of People that have heads like Dogs that in extremity of hunger do devour one another from which People this Noble Champion was strangely delivered where after he had wandred some certain days neither seeing the gladsome brightness of the Sun nor the comfortable countenance the Moon but only guided by duskye Planets of the Elements he hapned to a Uale of walking Spirits which he supposed to be the very Dungeon of burning Acheron there he heard the blowing of unséen Fires boyling of Furnaces ratling of Armour trampling of Horses â—ingling of Chains â—umbring of Iron roaring of Spirits and such like horrid noises that it made the Scottish Champion almost at his wits end But yet having an undaunted Courage exempting all fear he humbly made his supplication to Heaven that God would deliver him from that discontented place of terror and so presently as the Champion kneeled down upon the barren ground whereon grew neither herb flower grass or any other green thing he beheld a certain flame of Fire walking up and down before him whereat he grew into such an extasie of fear that he stood for a time amazed whether it were best to go forward or to stand still but yet retaking his Senses he remembred himself how he had read in former times of a going Fire called Ignis fatuus the fire of Destiny by some Will with the Wisp or Jack with the Lanthorn and likewise by some simple Countrey People The fair Maid of Ireland which commonly used to lead wandring Travellors out
the second Course which being ended she replyed in this manner Most Noble Lord said she for our bounteous Banquet courteous Entertainment I give the humble thanks of a poor Lady but for your Suit and unlawful desire I do detest as much as the sight of a Crocodile and your flattering Glosses I esteem as much as doth the Ocean of a drisling shower of Rain your Syrens Songs shall never enrice me to listen to your fond Requests but I will like Ulyffes stop my ears and bury all your flattering inticements in the Lake of Forgetfulness Think you that I will stain my Marriage-Bed with the least spot of Infamy that will not proffer me one thought of wrong for all the Treasures of the wealthy Seas Surely the gorgeous Sun shall lose his light by Day and the silver Moon by Night the Skies shall fall the Earth shall sink and every thing shall change from Kind and Nature before I will falsifie my Faith or prove Disloyal to my beloved George attempt no more my Noble Lord to batter the Fortress of my good Name with the Gun-shot of your Flattery nor seek to stain my Honour with your Lustful desires What if my Lord and Husband prove Disloyal and chose out other Loves in Foreign Lands yet will I prove as constant to him as Penelope to her Ulysses and if it be his pleasure never to return but spend his days among strange Ladies yet will I live in single Solitariness like to the Turtle Dove when she hath lost her Mate abandoning all company or as the mournful Swan that swims upon Meander 's Silver Streams where she records her dying tunes to raging Billows so will I spend away my lingering days in grief and die This Resolution of the vertuous Lady so daunted the Earl that he stood like a senseless Image gazing at the Sun not knowing how to reply but yet when they had danced the third Course he began anew to assault her unspotted Chastity in these terms Why my dear Mistriss have you a heart more hard than flint that the tears of my true Love can never mollifie Can you behold him plead for grace that hath been sued unto by many worthy Dames I am a Man that can Command Countries yet can I not command thy stuboorn heart Divine Sabra if thou wilt grant me thy Love and yield to my desire I will have thee clad in Silken Robes and Damask Vestures imbost with Indian Pearls and rich Refined Gold perfumed with Camphire Biss and Syrian sweet Persumes by day a hundred Virgins like to Thetis tripping on the silver Sands shall usually attend thy Person by night a hundred Eunuchs with their strained Instruments shall bring thy Senses into a golden slumber If this procureth not thy sweet content I will prepare a sumptuous Chariot made with Gold wherein thou shalt be drawn by sable sported Steeds along the Fields and gallant Pastâ—res adjoyning to our City Walls whereas the Evening Air shall breathe a coolness â—ar more sweet than Balm upon thy Cheeks and make thy Beauty glister like the purple Pillar of Hyperion when he leaves Aurora blushing in her Bed whereby the Heavens and all the Powers therein shall stand and wonder at thy Beauty and quite forget their usual Courses All this my dear Divine and dainty Mistriss is at thy command and more so that I may enjoy thy Love and Favour which if I have not I will discontentedly end my Life in Woods and Desart places Tygers and untamed Beasts being my chief Companions These vain Promises caused the beauteous Sabra to blush with bashfulness and to give him this sharp Answer Think you my Lord with Golden Promises to obtain the precious Gem the which I will not lose for Europe's Treasury Henceforth be silent in that Enterprize and never after this attempt to practise my dishonour which if you do I vow by Heaven to make it known to every one within the City and to fill all places with the rumour of thy wilful Lust A troop of modest Maids I will procure to haunt thee up and down the streets to wonder at thee like an Owl that never comes abroad but in the darkest night this I am resolved to do and so farewel Thus departed Sabra with a sad Countenance whereby the rest of the Ladies suspected the Earl had attempted her dishonour by secret conference but they all assuredly knew that she was as far from yielding to his desires as is the aged man to be young again or as the Azure Firmament to be a place for Silvane Swains to inhabit In such like Imaginations they spent away the day till the dark night caused them to break off Company The Earl smothered his Grief under a smiling Countenance till the Ladies were every one departed whom he courteously caused his Servants to conduct homewards with Torch-lights because it began to be very dark After their departure he accursed his own Fortune and like a Lyon wanting food raged up and down his Chamber and filling euery corner with bitter exclamations rending his Garments from his back tearing his hair beating his breast and using all the violence he could against himself In this manner spent he away the night suffering no sleep to close the windows of his body His melancholy and extream passion so discontented his mind that he purposed to give end to his sorrows by some untimely death So when the morning appeared he made his repair to an Drchard where Sabra commonly once a day walked to take the Air. The place was very Belancholy and far from the noise of People where after he had spent some certain time in exclaiming against the unkindness of Sabra he pulled his Poimard from his back and prepared his Breast to entertain the stroke of death but before the pretended Tragedy with his Dagger he engraved these Uerses following upon the bark of a Walnut-tree Oh heart more hard then bloody Tygers fell O Ears more deaf than sensless troubled Seas O cruel foe thy rigour doth excell For thee I die thy anger to appease But time will come when thou shalt find me slain Then thy Repentance will encrease thy pain I here engrave my Will and Testament That my sad grief thou may'st behold and see How that my woful heart is torn and rent And gor'd with bloody blade for love of thee Whom thou disdain'st as now the end doth try That thus distress'd doth suffer me to die Oh Gods of Love if so there any be And you of Love that feel the deadly pain Oh Sabra thou that thus afflictest me Hear these my words which from my heart I strain E're that my Corps be quite bereav'd of breath Here I 'll declare the cause of this my death You Mountain Nymphs which in the Desarts Raign Leave off your chase from savage Beasts a while Prepare to see a heart opprest with pain Address your ears to hear my doleful stile No strength nor Art can work me any weal Sith she
of Flowers whose Lap he made his Pillow whereupon he laid his head intending as he thought to increase desire but Women in extremity have the quickest wits so Sabra busied her self by all means possible either now or never to remove the cause of her deep distress by practising his death and so quit her self from her importunate Suitor one while she told him pleasant Tales of Love in hope to bring his Senses to a slumber the better to accomplish her desires other while she play'd and sported with his hair that hung dangling below his Shoulders like to threds of Silk but at last when neither tales discourses nor dallying pastime with his hair could not bring him asleep she strained forth the Organs of her Uoice and over his head sung this woful Ditty Thou God of Sleep and Golden Dreams appear That bring'st all things to Peace and quiet Rest Close up the glasses of his eyes so clear Thereby to make my Fortune ever blest His Eyes his Heart his Senses and his Mind In Peaceful sleep let them some comfort find Sing sweet you pretty Birds in tops of Trees With warbling tunes and many a pleasant note Till your sweet Musick close his watchful eyes That on my Love with vain desires doth dote Sleep on my dear sleep on my Love's delight And let this sleep be thy eternal night You gentle Bees the Muses lovely Birds Come aid my doleful tunes with silver sound Till your inspiring melody records Such Heavenly Musick that may quite confound Both Wit and Sense and tire his eyes with sleep That on my Lap in sweet content I keep You silver streams which murmuring Musick make And fill each dale with pleasant harmony Whereat the floating Fiâ—h much pleasure take To hear your sweet recording melody Assist my tunes his slumbring eyes to close That on my Lap now takes a sweet repose Let whispering Winds in every sensless Tree A solemn sad and doleful Musick sing From Hills and Dales and from each Mountain high Let some Inspiring sound or Eccho ring That he may never walle from sleep again Which sought my Marriage Bed with Lust to stain This delightful Song rocked his Senses to such a careless slumber that he slept as soundly upon her Lap as on the softest Bed of Down whereby she found a fit opportunity to deliver her undefiled Body from his Lustful Desires So taking the Poiniard in her hand which he had cast a little aside and gazing thereon with an ireful look she made this tad Complaint Grant you Immortal Powers of Heaven said she that of these two Extreams I choose the best either must I yield my Body to be dishonoured by his unchaste desires or stain my hands with the trickling streams of his heart-blood If I yield unto the first I shall be then accounted for a Vicious Dame but if I commit the last I shall be guilty of a wilfull Murther and for the same the Law will adjudge me a shameful death What shall I fear to die or lose my Vertue and Renown No my heart shall be as Tyrannous as Danaus his Daughters that slew their Fifty Husbands in a night or as Medea 's Cruelty which scattered her Brother's bloody Joynts upon the Sea Shore thereby to hinder the swift pursuit of her Father when Iason got the Golden Fleece from Calcos Isle Therefore stand still you glistring Lamps of Heaven stay wandring Time and let him sleep eternally Where art thou sad Melpomene that speakest of nothing but of Murders and Tragedies where be those Dames that evermore delight in Blood Come come assist me with your Cruelties let me exceed the hate of Progne for her Ravishment rage heart and take delight in Blood banish all thoughts of pity from thy breast be thou as merciless as King Priam 's Queen that in Revenge of five and twenty Murdered Sons that with her own hands stained the Pavements of Agamemnon 's Court with purple Gore These words were no sooner ended but with a wrathful and pale Countenance she sheathed the Poiniard up to the Hilt in the closure of his Breast whereat he started and would have got upon his feet but the streams of blood so violently gushed from his Wound that he declined immediately to the Earth and his Soulwas forced to give the World a doleful Adieu When Sabra beheld the Bed of Uiolets stained with blood and every Flower converted to a crimson colour she sighed grievously but when she saw her Garments all to be sprinkled with her Enemies blood and he say â—allowing at her feet in purple gore she ran speedily unto a flowing Fountain that stood in the farther side of the Orchard and began to wash the Blood out of her Cloaths but the more she washed the more it encreased a Sign that Heaven will never suffer wilful Murder to be hid for what cause soever it is done This strange Spectacle or rather wonderful Accident so amazed the sorrowful Lady that she began anew to complain Oh that this wicked Murder had never béen done said she or that my hand had been struck lame by some unlucky Planet when first it did attempt the déed whither shall I flye to shrowd me from the company of Uertuous Women which will for evermore shun me as a detested Murderer If I should go into some foreign Country there Heaven will cast down Uengeance for my guilt if I should hide my self in Woods and solitary Wildernesses yet would the Winds discover me and blow this bloody Crime to every corner of the World or if I should go live in Caves or dark Dens within the deep Foundations of the Earth yet will his Ghost pursue me there and haunt me day and night so that in no place a Murderer can live in rest such discontented thoughts shall still oppress his mind After she had breathed forth this comfortless Lamentation to the Air she tore her blood-stained Garment from her back and cast it into the Fountain where it turned the water into the colour of blood so heinous is Murder in the sight of Heaven Thus being Disrobed 〈◊〉 her Petticoat she turned to the slaughtered Earl whose face she â—ound covered with Moss which added more grief unto her Soul for she greatly feared her Murder was descryed but it fell not out as she mistrusted for it is the nature and kind of Robin Red-breast and other Birds always to cover the face of any dead man and those were they that bred this fear in the Ladies heart By this time the day began to shut up his bright windows and fable night entred to take possession of the Earth yet durst not the woful distressed Sabra make her repair homewards left she should be descryed without her upper Garment During which time there was a general search made for the Earl by his Servants for they greatly suspected some danger had befaln him considering that they heard him the night before so wofully complain in his Chamber At last with Torch-lights
corner of the Grove It was I that left her carelesly within the danger of the Gyant whom I little mistrusted therefore I will meet her in Elysium shades and crave remission for my committed Trespass for on this Oak I will abridge my Life as did the worthy Knight Melmeropolion for the Love of Sillara Which Lamentation being no sooner ended but he took the Chain of Gold and fastned one end to the Arm of a great Oak and the other end to his Neck intending presently to strangle himself but Heaven prevented his desperate intent after a strange manner for under the same Tree the brained Gyant lay not yet fully dead who in this manner spake to St. George O stay thy hand most Noble and Invincible Knight the World 's chief Wonder for admirable Chivalry and let my dying Soul convert thee from so wicked a Deed Seven Virgins in this Thicket have I Ravished and buried all their Bodies in my accursed Bowels but before I could deflour the eighth in a strange manner her bright Beauty was changed into a loathsome Leprosie whereby I detested her sight and left her Chastity undefiled but by her sad complaints I since have understood how that she is your Lady and Love and to this hour she bath her Residence within this Thicket And thereupon with a doleful groan which seemed to shake the Ground he bad adieu to the World Then St. George being glad to hear such Tydings reverted from his desperate intent and searched up and down the Grove till he had sound Sabra where she sat sorrowing under the branches of a Mulberry-tree betwixt whom was a sad and heavy greeting and as they walked back to the Queens Pavilion she discoursed to him the truth of this bloody stratagem where she remained till the Amazonian Queen had cured her Leprosie by the secret vertue of her skill of whom after they had taken leave and given her thanks for her kind courtesies St. George with his Lady took their Iourney towards Persia where the Christian Armies lay Encamped at whose arrival you shall hear strange and wonderful things the like was never done in any Age. CHAP. XVII How St. George and his Lady lost themselves in a Wilderness where she was Delivered of three goodly Boys The Fairy Queen's Prophecy upon the Children's Fortunes Of St George's return into Bohemia where he Christened his Children and of finding his Father's Grave over which he built a stately Tomb. SAint George having Atchieved the Adventure of the Enchanted Tower and Sabra the Fury of the Lustful Gyant they took their Iourney towards Persia where the Christian Champions lay Encamped before the Souldan's great City of Belgor a place most strongly Fortified with Spirits and other ghastly Illusions by the Enchantment of Osmond whom you heard before in the last Chapter to be the rarest Necromancer in the World but as the English Champion with his Lady Travelled thitherward they hapned into a Desart and mighty Wilderness overgrown with lofty Pines and Cedar Trees and many huge and mighty Daks the spreading branches whereof seemed to with-hold the light of Heaven from their untrodden passages and tops for exceeding height to reach into the Elementsâ— the Inhabitants were Silvanes Satyrs Fairies and other Woody Nymphs which by day sported up and down the Forrest and by night attended the pleasures of Proserpine the Fairy Queen The Musick of silver-sounding Birds so chearfully resounding through the Woods and the whistling Wind made such Melody amongst the Leaves of Trees that it ravished their Senses like Harmony of Angels and made them think they had entred the shades of gladsome Elysium one while they wondred at the Beauty of the Woods which Nature adorned with a Summers Livery another while at the grown and fragrant grass drawn out in round Circles by Fairies Dances so long till they had lost themselves amongst the unknown passages not knowing how nor by what means to recover the perfect Path of their Iourney but were constrained to wander in the Wilderness like solitary Pilgrims spending their day with weary steps and the night with vain imaginations even as the Child when he hath lost himself in a populous City runneth up and down not knowing how to return to his native dwelling even so it hapned to these two lost and disconsolate Travellers for when they had wandred many days one way and finding no end of their Toils they retired backward to the place of their first setting forth where they were wont to hear the noise of People resounding in Country Uillages and to meet Travellers passing from place to place but now they heard nothing but blustring of wind ratling in the wood making the Brambles to whistle and the Trees to groan and now and then to meet a speckled Beast like to the Rain-bow weltring from his Den to seek his natural sustenance in their Travel by night they were wont to hear the crowing of the Cock recording glad tydings of the chearful days approach the neighing of Horses in Pasture-fields and the barking of Dogs in Farmers Houses but now they were affrighted with the roaring of Lions yellowing of Wolves the croakings of Toads in roots of rotten Trees and the ruful sound of Progne's Ravishment recorded by the Nightingal In this solitary manner wearied they the rowling time away till thrice three times the silver Moon had returned her borrowed Light by the which time the burthen of Sabra's Womb began to grow painful and the Fruit of her Body ready to wax ripe the hour of her Delivery drew on wherein she required Lucinas's help to make St. George the Father of a Princely Son time called for Midwives to aid and bring her Babe into the World and to make her a happy Mother but before the painful hour of her Delivery approached St. George had provided her a Bower of Uine-branches which he erected betwixt two pleasant Hills where instead of a Princely Cabinet behung with Arras and Rich Tapestry she was constrained to suffice her self with a simple Lodging covered with Roses and other fragrant Flowers her Bed he made of green Moss and Thistle-down beset cutiously round about with Olive-branches and the sprigs of an Orange tree which made it seem more beautiful than Flora's Pavilion or Diana's Mansion but at last when she felt the pain of her Womb grow intolerable and the Seed ready to be reaped and how she was in a Wilderness void of Womens Company that should be ready to assist her in so secret a matter she cast her self down upon her Mossie Bed and with a blushing Countenance she discovered her mind in this manner to St. George My most dear and loving Lord quoth she my true and only Champion at all times and seasons except at this hour for it is the painful hour of my Delivery therefore depart from out of the hearing of my Cryes and commit my Fortune to the pleasures of the Heavens for it is not convenient for any man's eye to behold
the Misery and Death of the Conjurer and how the Souldan Brained himself against a Marble Pillar NOw must we return to the Christian Champions and speak of their Battels in Persia and what happened to them in St. George's absence for if you remember before being in Aegypt when he had news of his Lady's condemnation in England for the Murther of the Earl of Coventry he caused them to march into Persia and incouraged them to revenge his wrongful Imprisonment upon the Souldan's Provinces in which Country after they had marched some fifty Miles burning and spoiling his Territories they were intercepted by the Souldan's Power which was about the number of three hundred thousand fighting Men but the Muster-rolls of the Christians weâ—e likewise numbred and they amounted not to above one hundred thousand able Men at which time betwixt the Christians and Pagans happened a long and dangerous Battle the like many Age was seldom fought for it continued without ceasing for the space of five days to the great effusion of bloud on both Parties but at last the Pagans had the worst for when they beheld their fields bestrowed with mangled Bodies and that the Rivers for twenty Miles comâ—ass did flow with crimson Blood their hearts began to fail and incontiâ—ently fled like Sâ—eep before the Wolf Then the vaâ—â—ant Christians thirsting after revenge speedily pursued them sâ—aâ—â—ng neither young nor old till the ways were strowed with liveless bodies like heaps of scattered sand in which Pursuit and honourable Conquest they burned two hundred Forts and Towns battering their Towers of Stone as level with the ground as Harvest-Reapers do Fields of â—â—pened Corn but the Souldan himself with many of his approved Souldiers escaped alive and fortified the City of Grand Belgor being the strongest Town of War in all the Kingdom of Persia before whose Walls we will leave the Christian Champions planting their puissant Forces and speak of the damnable practises of Osmond within the Town where he accomplisht many admirable Accidents by Magick Art for when the Christians Army had long time given assaults to the Walls sending their fiery Bullets to their lofty Battlements like Storms of Winters Hail whereby the Persian Souldiers were not able any longer to resist they began to yield and commit their lives to the mercy of the Christian Champions but when the Souldan perceived the Souldiers cowardise and how they would willingly resign his happy Government to forreign Rule he encouraged them still to resist the Christians desperate encounters and within thirty days if they had not the honour of the War then willingly to condescend to their Country's Conquest which princely resolution encouraged the Souldiers to resist intending not to yield up their City till Death had made triumph on their Bodies Then departed he unto a sacred Tower where he found Osmond sitting in a Chair studying by Magick how long Persia should remain unconquered who at his entrance drove him from his Charms with these Speeches Thou wondrous Man of Art said the Souldan whom for Necromancy the World hath made famous Now is the time to express the Love and Loyalty thou bearest thy Soveraign Now is the time thy charming Spells must work for Persia 's good thou seest my Fortunes are deprest my Souldiers dead my Captains slaughtered my Cities burned my Fields of Corn consumed and my Country almost conquered I that was wont to cover the Seas with Fleets of Ships now stand amazed to hear the Christians Drums that sound forth doleful Funerals for my Souldiers I that was wont with armed Legions to drink up Rivers as we marched and made the Earth to groan with bearing of our Multitudes I that was wont to make whole Kingdoms tremble at my Frowns and force imperious Potentates to humble at my Feet I that have made the Streets of many a City to run with Bloud and stood rejoycing when I saw their Buildings burnt I that have made the Mothers Wombs the Infants Tombs and caused Cradles for to swim in streams of Bloud may now behold my Country's ruine my Kingdom 's fall and mine own fatal overthrow Awake great Osmond from thy dreaming Trance awake I say and raise a Troop of black infernal Fiends to sight against the damned Christians that like swarms of Bees do flock about our Walls prevent I say my Land's Invasion and as I am great Monarch of Asia I 'll make thee King over twenty Provinces and sole Commander of the Ocean raise up I say thy charmed Spirits leave burning Acheron empty for a time to aid us in this bloudy Battel These words were no sooner ended but there ratled such a peal of Cannons against the City Walls that they made the very Earth shake whereat the Necromancer started from his Chair and in this manner encouraged the Souldan It is not Europe quoth he nor all the petty Bands of armed Knights nor all the Princes in the World that shall abate your Princely Dignity Am not I the great Magician of this Age that can both loose and bind the Fiends and call the black-faced Furies from low Cocitus Am not I that skilful Artist which framed the charmed Tower amongst the Amazonian Dames which all the Witches in the World could never spoil Therefore let Learning Art and all the Secrets of the Deeps assist me in this Enterprise and then let frowning Europe do her worst my Charms shall cause the Heavens to rain such ratling showers of Stones upon their Heads whereby the Earth shall be over-laden with their dead Bodies and Hell over-filled with their hateful Souls senceless Trees shall rise in humane shapes and fight for Persia. If wise Medea were ever famous for Arts that did the like for safeguard of her Father's State then Why should not Osmond practice Wonders for his Soveraign's Happiness I 'll raise a Troop of Spirits from the lowest Earth more black then dismal Night the which in ugly Shapes shall haunt them up and down and when they sleep within their rich Pavilions legions of fiery Spirits will I up-raise from Hell that like to Dragons spitting flames of Fire shall blast and burn the damned Christians in their Tents of War the Fields of Grand Belgor shall be over-spread with venemous Snakes Adders Serpents and impoysoned Toads the which unseen shall lurk in mossie Ground and sting the Colonels of warlike Horses down from the crystal Firmament I will conjure Troops of airy Spirits to descend that like to Virgins clad in princely Ornaments shall link those Christian Champions in the Charms of Love their Eyes shall be like the twinkling Lamps of Heaven and dazle so their warlike Thoughts and their lively Countenance more bright then Fairies shall lead them captive to a Tent of Love the which shall be articially erected up by Magick Spells their warlike Weapons that were wont to smoak in Pagans Bloud shall in my charmed Tent bâ— hung upon the bowers of Peace their glistâ—ing Armour that were wont to shine within
Champions with entiring delight whom he purposed to keep as Prisoners therein then fell he again to his Conjuration and bound a hundred Spirits by due obedience to transform themselves into the likeness of beautiful Uirgins which in a moment they accomplished and they were framed in form and beauty like to the Darlings of Venus in comliness comparable with Thetis dancing on the silver Sands and in all proportion like Daphne whose Beauty caused Apollo to descend the Heavens their Lâ—mbs were like the lofty Cedars their Chéeks to Roses dipt in Milk and their Eyes more brighter then the Stars of Heaven also then seemed to carry in their hands silver Bows and on their baâ—ks 〈…〉 of goâ—den Arrows likewise upon their breasts tâ—ey had 〈◊〉 the God of Love danâ—â—â—g upon Mars his knee Thus in the â—hape of beauteous Damâ—selâ— caused he these Spâ—â—â—ts to enter the Câ—râ—stianâ— Army and with the golden Bait of their entiring Smiles â—o tangle the Champions in the snares of Love and with their sinning Beauties led them from their Souldiers and to bring them Prisoners into his enchanted Tâ—nt Which Commandment being no sooner given but these Uiâ—gins or rather internal Furies â—â—ore swift then the Winds glideâ— into the Christians Army where their gâ—istering Beauties so dazled the Eyes of the six Christian Champions and their sâ—ber Countenances so entraâ—ped their Hearts with desire that their princely Ualours were aâ—â—ted and they stood gazing as their excellent proportions as though Medusa's shadow had been pictured upon their faces to whom the inticing Ladies spake in this manner Come princely Gallants come away with Arms forget the sounds of bloody War and hang your angry weapons on the power of Peace Uenus you see hath sent her Messengers from Paphos to lead you to the paradise of Love there Heaven will rain down Nectar and Ambrosia sweet for you to feed upon and there the melody of Angels will make you Musick there shall you fight upon beds of Silk and encounter with inticing Kisses These golden promises so ravished the Champions that they were enchanted with their Loves and vowed to take their last farewel of Knighthood and magnanimous Chivalty Thus were they led from their warlike Companies to the Necromancer's enchanted Tent leaving their Souldiers without Guiders in danger of confusion But the Queen of Chance so smiled upon the Christians that the same time St. George arrived in Persia with a fresh supply of Knights of whose noble Atchievements I purpose 〈◊〉 to speak For no sooner had he entred the Battel and placed his Squadrons but he had intelligence of the Champions misadventures and how they say Enchanted in a Magick Tent sleeping in pleasure upon the laps of internal Furies the which Osmond had transformed by his Charms into the likeness of beautiful Damosels which unexpected news conâ—â—rained St. George to breathe from his sorrowful heart this woful Lamentation Unconstant Fortune quoth he why dost thou entertain me with such bitter news Are my Fellow-champions come from Christendom to win immortal Honour with their Swords and lie they now bewitcht with Beauty Come they from Europe to fight in coats of Steel and will they lye distraught in Tents of Love Came they to Asia to purchase Kingdoms and by bloody War to ruinate Countries and will they yield their Victories to so foul Disgrace O shame and great dishonour to Christendom O spot to Knighthood and true Chivalry this news is far more bitter to my Soul than was the poysoned Dregs that Antipater gave to Alexander in his Drunkenness and a deadsier pain unto my Heart than was that Juice that Hannibal suckt from his fatal King Come Souldiers come you Followers of those cowardly Champions unsheath your warlike Weapons and follow him whose Soul hath vowed either to redeem them from the Necromancer's Charms or die with honour in that Enterprize If ever mortal Creatures warred with damned Furies and made a passage to enchanted Dales where Devils dance and warlike Shadows in the Night Then Souldiers let us march unto that Pavilion and chain the cursed Charmer to some blasted Oak that hath so highly dishonoured Christendom These resolute speeches were no sooner finished but the whole Army before daunted with fear grew so couragious that they protested to follow him through more dangers than did the Grecian Knights with noble Jason in the Ifle of Colcos Now began the Battle again to renew and the Drums to sound fatal Knells for the Pagan Souldiers whose Souls the Christians Swords by numbers sent to burning Acheron but St. George that in valour exceeded the rest as much as the golden Sun Turpasseth the smallest Stars in brightness with his Sword made lanes if slaughtered Men and with his angry Arm made passage through the thickest of their Troops as though that Death had been Commander of the Battel he caused Crowns and Scepters to swim in Blood and headless Stéeds with joyntless Men to fall as fast before his Sword as drops of Rain before Thunder and ever in great danger he encouraged his Souldiers in this manner Now for the Fame of Christendom fight Captains be now Triumphant Conquerors or Christian Martyrs These words so encouraged the Souldiers hearts with invincible Ualour that they neither feared the Necromancer's Charms nor all the flaming Dragons nor-flerce Drakes that filled the Air with burning Lights nor daunted at the strange encounters of â—estish Legions that like to armed Men with burning Fauchious haunted them so fortunate were their Proceedings that they followed the invincible Champion to the enchanted Tent whereas the other Champions lay surfeting in â—â—â—ve whilst thousands of their Friends fought in Coats of Steel and merited Renown by their noble Atchievements for no sooner arrived St. George with his warlike Followers before the Pavilion but he heard as it were the melody of the Muses likewise his ears were almost ravished with the sugered Songs of the enchanted Uirgins which like the Musick of Orpheus's Harp caused the Stones and Trees to dance and made the Elemeâ—ts to shew more brighter than the morning Beauty with drops of Honey trickling down their crystal Cheeks the Doves did kiss when they began to sing the running Waters danced and every senceless thing did seem to breath out Sighs for Love so pleasant and heavenly were the sights in the Tent and so delightful in his Eyes that he had been enchanted with their Charms if he had not continually born the honour of Knighthood in his Thoughts and that the dishonour would â—edound to Christendom's Reproach therefore with his Sword he let drive at the Tent and cut it in a thousand pieces the which being done he apparently beheld where the Necromancer sat upon a block of Steel feeding his Spirits with drops of blood whom when the Champion beheld he caused his Souldiers to lay hold upon him and after chained him fast to the root of an old blassed Oak from whence neither Art nor help of all his Charms nor all the
Champions ears they profered no violence to his liveless Body but in tombed him in a sumptuous Sepulchre and after that St. George took upon him the Government of Persia and there established good and Christian Laws also he gave to the other six Champions six several Kingdoms belonging to the Crown of Persia and six named them six Uiceroys or petty Kings This being done he took Trute with the World and triumphantly marched towards Christendom with the Conquest of three imperial Diadeuis that is to say of Aegypt Persia and Morocco in which Iourney he erected many stately Monuments in remembrance of his Uictories and heroical Atchievements and through every Country that they marched there flocked to them an innumerable company of Pagans that desired to follow him into Christendom and to be christened in their Faith protesting to forsake their Gods whose Worshippers were none but Tyrants and such as delighted in nothing but shedding of Blood to whose Requests St. George presently condescended not only in granting them their Dellres but also in honouring them with the favour of his princely Countenance This Courtesie of the English Champion mecited such a glistering Glory through the World that as far as ever the golden Globes of Heaven extended their Lights St. George's Honour was bruited and not only his marchless Adventures charactered in brazen Tables but his martial Exploits painted in every Temple so that the Heathen Poets 〈◊〉 Histories of his Deeds and famoused his Name among the Worthies of the World In this Princely manner marched St. George with his warlike Troops through the Teritories of Aâ—â—ica and Asia in greater Royalty then did Darius with his Persian Souldiers towards the Camp of Alexander the Great But when the Christian Champions approached the watry World and began to go aboard their Ships the Earth seemed to mourn at their farewels and the Seas to rejoyce at their presence the Waves couched as smooth as crystal Iâ—â— and the Winds blew such gentle Gales as though the Sen Gods had been the Directors of their Fleet the Dolphins danced above the Water and the lovely Mair-meâ—â—s in multitudes lay vallying amidst the Streams making them delightful Pastime the Skies seemed to smile and the Sun to show a gliitering brightness upon the crystal Waters that the Sea seemed to be siiver Thus in great Pleaâ—uce they passed the time away committing their Fortunes to the mercy of the Winds and the Waters who did so savourable serve them that in short time they arrived upon the Eanks of Christendom where being no sooner come on shore and past the dangers of the Seas but Saint George in presence of thousands of his Followers kneeled down on the ground and gave God praise for his happy Arrival by these words following O thou Omnipotent God of New Ierusalem we not only give thee condign Praise for our late atchieved Victories against the Enemies who by their Wickedness seek daily to pull thee from thy celestial Throne but also do render thee hearty Thanks that hast delivered us safely from the fury of the raging Seas that otherwise might have drenched us in her devouring Gulf as thou didst Phaâ—aoh with his golden Chariots and his invincible Legions therefore great King of Iuda under whose Name we have taken many things in hand and have atchieved so many Victories grant that these true Obligations of our thankful Hearts may be acceptable in thy sight which be no sained Ceremonies but the inward Devotions of our Souls And there withal letting a showr of Tears from their Eyes and discharging a valley of Sighs from their Breasts as a signification of the integrity of their Souls he held his peace then gave her Commandment that the Army should be discharged and every one rewarded according to his defect which within seven Weeks was performed to the honour of Christendom After this St. George earnestly requested the other six Champions that they would honour him with their presence home to his Country of England and there receive the comfort of ioyful Ease after the bloody Encounters of so many dangerous Battles This Motion of St. George not only obtained their Consents but added a for wardness to their willing Minds so incontinently they set forward towards England upon whose chalky Cliffs they in a short time arrived and after this took their Iourney towards the City of London where their Entertainments were so honourably performed as I want the Eloquence of Cicero and the Rhetorick of Calyope to describe it Thus gentle Reader hast thou heard the first of the princely Atchievements noble Adventures and honourable Lives of these renowned and worthy Champions The Second Part relates the noble Atchievements and strange Fortunes of St. George's Three Sons the Loves of many gallant Ladies the Combates and Turnaments of many valiant Knights and Tragedies of mighty Potentates Likewise the rest of the noble Adventures of the renowned Seven Champions also the manner and place of their honourable Deaths and how they came to be called the Seven Saints of Christendom FINIS The Famous HISTORY OF THE Seven Champions OF Christendom The Second Part. LIKEWISE Shewing the Princely Prowess Noble Atchievements and Strange Fortune of St. GEORGE's Three Sons the lively Sparks of Nobility The Combates and Turnaments of many Valiant Knights the Loves of many Gallant Ladies the Tragedies of Mighty Potentates ALSO The Manner and Places of the Honourable Deaths of the Seven Champions being so many Tragedies and how they came to be called the Seven Saints of CHRISTENDOM LONDON Printed by W. Onley for Ric. Chiswell M. Wotton G. Conyers and B. Waisord MDCXCVI To the Right Honourable the Lord William Howard Richard Johnson wisheth Encrease of all Prosperity AS it hath Right Honourable of late pleased your most Noble Brother in kindness to accept of this History and to grace it with a favourable Countenance so am I now enboldned to Dedicate the Second Part unto your Honour which here I humbly offer to your Lordship's Hands not because I think it a Gift worthy the Receiver but rather that it should be as it were a Witness of the Love and Duty which I bear to your Right Noble House And when it shall please you to bestow the Reading of these Discourses my humble Request is That you would think I wish your Honour as many happy Days as there be Letters contained in this History Thus praying for your Honour 's chief Happiness I remain your Honour 's in all dutiful Love To his poor Power â— I. TO THE Gentle Reader I Have finished The Second Part of the Seven Champions of Christendom for thy Delight being thereto encouraged by thy great Acceptance of my First Part. I will not boast of Eloquence nor Invention thereby to invite thy Willingness to Read only thy Courtesie must be my Buckler against the carping Malice of mocking Jesters that being worse able to do well scoff commonly at that they cannot mend censuring all things doing nothing but Monkey-like make Apish
this Tragical Accident drowned their Friends in a Sea of Sorrow for the news of her untimely Death was no sooner bruited abroad but the same caused both Did and Young to lament the loss of so sweet a Lady The silver-headed Age that had wont in scarlet Gowns to meet in Counsel sat now in discontented Griefs the gallant Youth and comely Uirgins that had wont to beautifie the Streets with costly Garments went drooping up and down in mournful Uestures and those remorseless Hearts that seldom were oppressed with Sorrow now constrained their eyes like Fonutains to destil floods of brinish and pearly Tears This general Grief of the Citizens continued for the space of thirty Days at the end whereof St. George with his Sons and the other Champions interred her Body very honourably and erected over the same a rich and costly Monument in sumptuons State like the Tomb of Mausolus which was called one of the Wonders of the World or like to the Pyramids of Greece which was a stain to all Architects for thereon was portrayed the Queen of Chastity with her Maidens bathing themselves in a crystal Fountain as a witness of her wonderous Chastity against the lustful Assailments of all lastivious Attempts Thereon was also most lively pictured a Turtle dove sitting upon a Tree of Gold in sign of the true Love that she bore to her betrothed Husband Also a silver coloured Swan swimming upon a crystal River as a token of her Beauty for as the Swan excelleth all other Fowls in Whiteness so she excelled all the Ladies in the World for Beauty I leave to speak of the curious Workmanship of the Pinacles that were framed all of the purest Ieat enamelled with Silver and Iasper-stanes and I omit the Pendants of Gold the Escutcheous of Princes and the Arms of Countries that beautified her Tomb the Discourse whereof requires an Oratour's Gloquence or a Pen of Gold dipt in the Dew of Helicon flowing from Parnassus's Hill where all the Muses do inhabit Her Statue or Picture was carved cunningly in Alabaster and laid as it were upon a Pillow of green Silk like to Pigmalion's Iuory Image and directly over the same hung a silver Tablet whereon in Letters of Gold was this Epitalph written Here lies the Wonder of this Worldly Age For Beauty Wit and princely Majesty Whom spiteful Death in his imperious Rage Procur'd to Fall through ruthless Cruelty For as she sported in a fragrant Wood Upon a thorny Brake she spilt her Blood Let Ladies fair and Princes of great might With silver-pearled Tears bedew this Tomb Accuse the fatal Sisters of despight For blasting thus the Pride of Nature's Bloom For here she sleeps within this earthly Grave Whose Worth deserves a golden Tomb to have Seven Years she kept her pure Virginity In absence of her true betrothed Knight When many did pursue her Chastity Whilst he remained in Prison day and night But yet we see that things of purest Prize Forsake the Earth to dwell above the Skies Ladies come Mourn with doleful Melody And make this Monument your setled Bower Here shed your brackâ—â—h Tears eternally Lament both Year Month Week Day Hour For here she rests whose Like can ne'r be found Here Beauty's Pride lies buried in the Ground Her wounded Heart that yet doth freshly bleed Hath caus'd seven Knights a Journey for to take To fair Ierusalem in Pilgrims Weeds The fury of her angry Ghost to slake Because their Silvane Sport was chiefest guilt And only cause her Blood was timeless spilt Thus after the Tomb was erected and the Epitalph engraven on a silver Table and all things performed according to Saint George's direction he left â—is Sons in the City of London under the Government of the English King and in company of the other six Champions he took his Iourney towards Jerusalem They were attired after the manner of Pilgrims in russet Gaberdines down to their feet in their hands they bore Staves of Ebon wood tipt at the ends with silver the pikes whereof were of the strongest Lydian Steel of such a sharpness that they were able to pierce a Target of Tortoys-shell upon their Breasts hung Crosses of crimson Silk to signifie they were Christian Pilgrims travelling to the Sepulchre of Christ. In this manner set they forward from England in the spring-time of the year when Flora had beautified the Earth with Nature's Tapestry and made their Passages as pleasant as the Gardens of Hesperides adorned with all kind of odoriferous Flowers When as they crossed the Seas the silver Waves seemed to lie as smooth as crystal Ice and the Dolphins to dance above the Waters as a sign of a prosperous Iourney In travelling by Land the ways seemed so short and easie and the chirping melody of Birds made them such Musick as they passed that in a short season they arrived beyond the Borders of Christendom and had entered the Confines of Affrica There were they forced instead of Downy-beds nightly to rest their weary Limbs upon heaps of sun-burnt Moss and instead of silken Curtains and curious Canopies their had the Clouds of Heaven to cover them Now their naked legs and bare Féet that had wont to stride the stately Steeds and to trample in Fields of Pagans Blood were forced to climb the craggy Mountains and to endure the torments of pricking Bryers as they travelled through the desart Places and comfortless solitary Wildernesses Many were the Dangers that happened to them in their Iourny before they arrived in Judea Princely their Atchievements and most Honourable their Adventures which for this time I pass over leaving the Champions for a time in their travel towards the Sepulchre of Christ and speak what happened to St. George's three Sons in visiting their Mother's Tomb in tâ—â— City of London CHAP. II. Of the strange Gifts that St. George 's Sons offered at their Mother's Tomb and what happ'ned thereupon how her Ghost appeared to them and counselled them to the pursuit of their Father also how the King of England Installed them with the Honour of Knighthood and furnished them with Habiliments of War THe swift footed Steeds of Titan's fiery Car had almost finished a Year since Sabra's Funeral was solemnized in which time St. George's three Sons had visited their Mother's Tomb oftner than were Days in the Year and had shed more sorrowful Tears thereon in remembrance of her Love than are Stars in the glistering Horizon but at last these thrée young Princes fell at a civil Discord and mortal Strife which of them should bear the truest Love to their Mother's dead Body and which of them should be held in greatest Esteem for before many Days were expired they concluded to offer up their several Devotions at her Tomb and he that devised a Gift of the rarest Price and of the straugest Quality should be held worthy of the greatest Honour and accounted the Noblest of them all This Determination was spéedily performed and in so short a time accomplished
that it was wonderful to Discourse The first thinking to exceed his Brothers in the strangeness of his Gift made repair unto a cunning Enchantress which had a biding in a secret Cave adjoyning to the City whom he procured through many rich Gifts and large Promises by Art to devise a means to get the Honour from his Brethren and to give a Gift of that strange nature that all the World might wonder at the report thereof The Enchantress being won with his Promises by Art and Magick Spells devised a Garland containing aâ—l the diversity of Flowers that ever grew in earthly Gardens and though it were then in the dead time of the Winter when as the silver Iâ—cleâ— had diâ—â—obâ—d both Herbs and Flowers of their Beauties and the Snow lay freezing on the Mountain tops yet was this Garland contrived after the fashion of a rich Imperial Crown with as many several Flowers as ever Flora plated upon the Towns of rich Arcadia in diversity of colours like the glistering Rainbow when it shineth in greatest Pride and casting such an odoriferous Scant and Sanour as tho the Heavens had rained down showers of Champhire Biss or sweet smelling Ambergâ—eece This rare and exceeding Garland was no sooner framed by Enchantment and delivered in his hands but he left the Enchantress sitting in her Ebon-Chair upon a block of Steel practising her fatal Arts with her Hair hanging about her Shoulders like wâ—eaths of Snakes or invenomed Serpents and so returned to his Mother's Tomb where he hung it upon a Piller of Silver that was placed in the middle of the Monument The second Brother also repaired to his Mother's Tomb and brought in his hand an Ivory Lute whereon he plaid such inspiring melody that it seemed like the harmony of Angels or the celestial Musick of Apollo when he descended Heaven for the Love of Daphne whom he turned into a Bay-Tree the Musick being finished he tyed his Lute in a Damask-Scarf and with great humility he hung it at the West-end of the Tomb upon a knob of a Iasper-stone Lastly The third Brother likewise repaired with no outward Devotion or worldly Gift but clad in a Uesture of white Silk bearing in his hand an Instrument of Death like an innocent Lamb going to Sacrifice or one ready to be offered up for the love of his Mother's Soul This strange manner of repair caused his other Brothers to stand attentively and with diligent Eyes to be hold his purpose First After he had submissively and with great humility let fall a showre of silver Tears from the â—isters of his Eyes in remembrance of his Mother's timeless Tragedy he prick'd his naked Breast with a silver Bodkin the which he brought in his hand from whence there trickled down some thirty drops of Bloud which he after offered to his Mother's Tomb in a silver Bason as an evident sign that there could be nothing more dear nor of more preâ—ious price than to offer up his own Bloud for her Love This ceremonious Gift caused his two other Brothers to swell in hatred like to chased Lyons and run with fury upon him intending to catch him by the hair of the Head and drag him roâ—nd 〈◊〉 their Mother's Tomb till his Brains were dashed against a Marble Pavement and his Bloud sprinkled upon her Grave but this wicked Enterprize moved the Majesty of Heaven that e'er they could accomplish their Intents or stain their hands with his Bloud they heard as it were the noise of dead Mens Bones ratling in the ground whereupon looking fearfully about them the Tomb seemed of itself to open and thereupon to appear a most terrible gastly Shape pale like unto ashes in Countenance resembling their Mother with her Breast besmeared in Bloud and her Body wounded with a number of Scars and so with a dismal and ruful look she spake unto her desperate Sons in this manner Oh you Degenerate from Nature's kind why do you seek to make a Murther of yourselves can you indure to see my Body rent in twain my Heart split in sunder and my Womb dismembred Abate this fury stain not your Hands with your own Blouds nor make my Tomb a Spectacle of more Death Unite yourselves in Concord that my discontented Soul may sleep in Peace and never more be troubled with your unbridled Humours Make hast I say arm yourselves in steel Corslets and follow your valiant Father to Ierusalem he is there in danger and distress of Life away I say or else my angry Ghost shall never leave this World but hunt you up and down with gastly Visions This being said she vanished from their sight into the brittle Air whereat for a time they stood amazed and almost distraught of Wits through the terrours of her Words but at last recovering their former Senses they all vowed a continual Unity and never to proffet the like Iniury again but to live in brotherly Concord till the dissolution of their earthly Bodies So in haste they went unto the King and certified him of all things that had hapned and falling upon their Knées before his Majesty â—eâ—uelled at his hands the honour of Knight hood with leave to depart in pursuit of their Father and the other Champions that were fallen into great â—isteess The King purposing to aâ—complish their Desires and to fulfil their Requests presently condescended and not only gave them the honour of Knight-hood but furnished them with â—iâ—h Habiliments of War answerable to their magnanimous Minds First be frankly bestowed upon them three stately Palsâ—yes bred upon the bright Mountains of Sardinia in colour of an Iron-gray beautified with silver Hairs and in â—ate switer than Spanish Iennets which are a kind of Horse ingendred by the Winds upon the Alpes certain cragged Mountains that divided the Kingdoms of Italy and Germany for boldness and courage like to Bucephalus the Horse of Alexander the Macedonian or Caesar's Steed that never danted in the Field and they were trapped with rich Crapyings of Gold After the Morocco Fashion with Saddles framed like unto Iron-chairs with backs of Steel and their Fore-heads were beautified with spangled Plumes of purple Feathers whereon hung many golden Pendants the King likewise bestowed upon them three costly Swords wrought of purest Lybian Steel with Lances bound about with Plates of Brass at the tops where of hung silken Streamers beautified with the English Cross being the crimson Badge of Knighthood and Honour of Adventurous Champions Thus in this royal manner rode these three young Knights from the City of London in company of the King with a train of Knights and gallant Gentlemen who conducted them to the Sea-side where they left the young Knights to their future Fortunes and returned back to the English Court. Now are St. George's Sons floating upon the Seas making their first Adventures in the World that after Ages might applaud these Atchietements and enroul their Fames in the Records of Honour Fate prosper them successfully and gentle Fortune
recovered his decayed Senses he gladly conducted them into thâ—iâ— several Lodgings and there they were presently unarnied and their Wounds washed in White wine and new Milk and after banqueted them in the best manner he could devise at which Banquet there wanted not all the excellency of Musick that the Iews seven younger Sons could divise exâ—olling in their sweet sonnets the excellent fortitude of the English Champion that had not only delivered their captivated Brethren but restored by that ugly Giant 's deserved Death their aged Father to the repossession of his Golden Fountain Thus after Saint George with the other six Champions had soiourned there for the space of thirty days having placed the Iew with his Sons in their former desired Dignities that is in the government of the Golden Fountain they cloathed themselves again in their Pilgrims Attire and so departed forward on their intended iourney to visit the holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem Of whose noble Adventures you shall hear more in the Chapter following CHAP. V. Of the Champions return to Ierusalem and after how they were almost famished in a Wood and how St. George obtained them Food by his Valour in a Giant 's House with other things that hapned The Champions after this Battel of the Golden Fountain never rested travelling till they arrived at the holy Hill of Sion and had visited the Sepulchre the which they found most richly Built of the purest Marble garnished curiously by cunning Architecture with many Carbuncles of Iasper and Pillars of Ieat The Temple where in it was erected stood seven Degrees of Stairs down within the Ground the Gates whereof were of vurnisht Gold and the Portals of refined Silver cut as did seem out of a most excellent beautified Alabasset Rock But in it continually burned a sweet smelling Taper always maintained by twelve of the noblest Uirgins dwelling in Judea attending still upon the Sepulchre clad in silken Druaments in colour like to Lillies in the flourishing pride of Summet the which costly Attire they continually more as an evident sign of their pure and unspotted Uirginities Many days offered up these worthy Champions their ceremonious Devotions to that sacred Tomb washing the Marble Pavements with their true and unfained Tears and witnessing their true and hearty Zeal with their continual Ualleys of discharged Sighs But at last upon an evening when Titan's golden Beams begin to descend the western Element as those princely minded Champions in company of these twelve admired Maidens kneeled before the Sepulchre offering up their evening Drizons an unseen Uoice to the amazement of them all from a hollow Uault in the Temple uttered these words You magnanimous Knights of Christendom whose true Nobilities hath circled the Earth with Reports of Fame whose bare Feet for the love of our sweet Saviour have set more weary steps upon the parched Earth than there be Stars within the golden Canopy of Heaven return return into the bloudy Fields of War and spend not the Honours of your time in this ceremonious manner for great things by you must be accomplished such as in time to come shall fill large Chronicles and cause Babes as yet unborn to speak of your honourable Atchievements And you chast Maidens that spend your time in the Service of God even by the plighted Promise you have made to true Virginity I charge you to furnish forth these warlike Champions with such approved Furniture as hath been offered to this Royal Sepulchre by those traveling Knights which have fought under the Banner of Christendom This is the pleasure of high Fates and this for the redress of all wrong'd Innocents in Earth must be with all immediate dispatch forthwith accomplished This unexpected Uoice was no sooner ended but the Temple in their conceits seemed strangely to resound like the melody of celestial Angels or the holy Harmony of Cherubins as a sign that the Gods were pleased at their proceeding whereupon the twelve Uirgins arose from their Contemplatidus and conducted the seven Champions to the further side of Mount Sion and there bestowed frankly upon them seven of the bravest Steeds that they ever beheld with martial Furniture answerable thereunto befiâ—ting Knights of such esteem thus the Christian Champions being proud of their good Fortunes attyred themselves in rich and sumptuous Corslets and after mounted upon their warlike Coursers kindly bidding the Ladies adieu betook them to the World 's wide journey This Travel began at that time of the Year when the Summer's Queen began to spread her beautious mantle among the green and fresh Boughs of the high and mighty Cedaâ—s when as all kind of small Birds flew round about recreating themselves in the beauty of the day and with their well-tuned Notes making a sweet and heavenly Melody at which time I say these mighty and well esteemed Knights the seven Champions of Christendom took their way from Jerusalem which they thought to be most used in which they had not many days travelled through the Desarts and over many a Mountain-top but they were marvelously feeble for lack of their accustomed Uictuals and could not hide nor dissemble their great Hunger so that the War which they sustained with Hunger was far greater than the Battles they had fought against their Enemies as you heard discoursed in the first Part of this History So upon a Summer's Evening when they had spent the day in great extremity and night grew on they happned into a Thâ—cket of mighty Trees when as the silver Moon with her bright Beams glistered most clerly yet to them it seemed to be as dark as pitch for they were very so etroubled for lack of that which should sustain them and their Faces did shew and declare the perplexities of their Stomachs So they sat them down upon the green and fresh Herbs very pensive of their extream Necessity providing to take their rests that night but all was in vain for that their corporal Necessities would not consenâ— the eunro but without sleeping for that night till the next day in the morning that they turned to their accustomed Travel and Journey thinking to find some Food for the cherishing of their Stomachs and had their Eyes always gazing about to spie some Uillage or House where they might satisfie their Hunger and take their Rests Thus in this helpless manner spent they away the next day till the closing of the Evening-light by which time then grew so faint that they fell to the ground with seebleness Oh what a sorrow it was to St. George not only for himself to see the rest of the Champions in such a miserable case being not able to help themselves and so parting a little from them be lamented in this manner following Thou that hast given me many Victories thou that hast made me Conquerour of Kings and Kingdoms and thou by whose invincible Power I have tamed the black fac'd Furies of dark Coritus that mask abroad the World in Humane shapes look down sweet Queen
giving me to understand that he would carry her to his Wife for whose sight she had so much desired and at whose coming she would receive so great Ioy and Contentment her suddain Departure bred such Sorrows in my Heart being the only Stay and Comfort of my declining Agâ— that the fountains of my Eyes rained down a showre of saâ—â— Tears upon my aged Breast so dear is the Love of a Father unto his Child but to be short when this lustful minded Câ—â—tiffe with his pompious Train came in sight of his Castle he commanded his Followers to ride forwards that with my Daughter he might secretly coutec of serious Matters and so staâ—d lingring behind till he saw his Company almost out of sight and they two alone together then he found opportunity to accomplish his Iustful Desire and so rode into a â—ittle Grove which was hard at hand close by a River's side where without any more carrying he carried her into the thickest part thereof where he thought it most conveâ—ent to perform so wicked a Deed. When â—e beheld the Branches of the thick Tree to with-hold the Light of Heaven from them and that it seemed a place as it were over-spread with the sable mâ—ntles of Night he alighted from his Horse and willed my well-beloved Daughter that she would likewise alight she in whose Heart reigned no kind of suspision presently alighted and sat her down by the River siâ—e and washed her fair white Hands in the Streams and refreshed her Mouth with the Crystal Waters Then this dissembling Traytor could not longer resâ—ain but with a Countenance like the lustful King of Thrace when he intended the Ravishment of Progne or like Tarquinus of Rome when he defloured Lucretia he let her understand by some outward Shews and dark Sentences the kindâ—ed fire of Love that burned in his Heart and in the end he did wholly declare his devillish Pretence and determined Purpose So my unmarried Daughter being troubled in mind with his Iustful Assailments began in this manner to reprchend him Will you said she destle my Sister's Bed and stain the Honour of your House with Lust will you bereave me of that precious Iewel the which I hold more dear than my Life and blot my true Uirginity with your false Desires brought you me from the comfortable sight of my Father to be joy unto my Sister and will you flourish in the spoiling of my true Chastity Look look immoderate Knight I will not call thee Brother look I say how the Skies blush at thy Attempts and see how chaste Diana sits upon the winged Firmament and threatens Uengeance for her Uirgin's sake wash from thy Heart these lustful Thoughts with showers of repentant Tears and seek not in this sort to wrong thy Marriage bed the which thou oughtest not to violate for all the Kingdoms in the World Then this accursed Knight seeing the chaste and vertuous Maiden to stand so boldly in the defence of her Uirginity with his rigorous Hand he took fast hold by her neck and with a wrathful Countenance he delivered these Words Do not think stubborn Damsel to preserve thy Honour from the purpose of my Desires for I swear by the Crystal Tower of Jupiter either to accomplish my Intents or put thee to the cruellest Death that ever was devised for any Damsel or Maid At which Words the most sorrowful and distressed Uirgin with a shower of pearled Tears trickling down her seemly blushing Cheeks replyed in this order Think not false Traytor quoth she that fear of Death shall cause me to yield to thy filthy Desires no no I will account that stroak ten times more happy and welcom to my Soul then the joys of Wedlock then might I walk in the Elizian Fields among those Dames that died true Uirgins and not live to hold the bud of my Maiden's Glory whithered with the nipping Frosts of thy unnatural Desires Those Words being well understood by the lustful Knight who with a Countenance more furious then savage Lyons in the Deserts of Libia took her by the slender wast and rigorusly dasht her Body against the ground and there withal spake these Words Understand said he and be well perswaded thou unrelenting Damsel that eithere living or dead I will perform my Will and intended Purpose for in my heart there burns a fire that all the Waters in the Seas can never quench nor all the driâ—â—ing clouds of Rain if they should drop eternal Showers but it is the Water of thy sweet Uirginity that must quench my furious burning Love and thereupon in a madness he cut a great part of the Train of her Gown and bound it very fast to the Hair of her Head which glistered like golden Wyers and bragged her up and down the Grove till the Griâ—ss turned to a Purple colour with the Blood that issued from her Body by which trueâ—ty he thought to enforce her to his pleasure but she respected not his wicked Cruelty and she more he proceeded to â—orment her the more earnestly the defended her Honour When this cruel and inhumane Monster saw that neither slaâ—tering Speeches nor his cruel threats were of sufficiency to prevail began to forget all Faith and Loyalty he owed unto the honour of Knight-hood and the respect he should bear unto Women-kind and blasphemed against Heaven tearing her Cloaths all to pieces he stripped her stark naked and with the Reins of the Bridle of his Horse iâ—e cruelly whipped and scouâ—ged her white and tender Back that it was full of blew Spots and horrible circles of black and setled Blood with such extream cruelty that it was a very grievous and sorrowful sight to behold And yet this did profit him nothing at all for she continued in her former Resolutions He seeing that she still persevered in the defence of her Honour he straight-ways like to a bloody Monster heaped Cruelty upon Cruelty and so took and bound her well proportioned Legs crystalline Arms straightly unto a withered Tree saying Oh cruel and more cruel than any Woman in the World hath ever been why dost thou suffer thy self to be Tormented and not give consent to procure thy Ease Dost thou think it better to endure this torment than to live a most loving sweet and contented Life and therewith his Anger so encreased that he staring on her Face with his accursed Eyes fixed in such sort that he could not withdraw them back The which being perceived by this distressed Uirgin as one far more desirous of Death than of Life with a furious Uoyce she said Oh Traytor thou wicked Monster thou utter Enemy to all Humanity thou shameless Creature more cruel than the Lyons in the Desarts of Hircania thou stain of Knight-hood and the bloodiest Wretch that ever Nature â—ramed in the World wherein dost thou contemplate thus thyself thou fleshly Butcher thou unmerciful Tyger thou leâ—herous Hogg and dishonourer of thy Progeny make an end I say of these my Torments for now
the Amazonian Lady took forth the Letter from her naked Breast where so long time she had kept it and she delivered it into his hands and said Is it that thou art that forgetul and disloyal Knight which left the unfortunate Queen of Armenia with so great pain and sorrow big with child among those unmeriful Tyrants her Country Men which banished her out of her Country in revenge of thy committed Crime where ever since she hath been companion with Wild Beasts that in their natures have lamented her Banishment Leoger when he heard her say these Words began to behold her and although his eyes were all to be blubbred and weary of waeping yet he most earnestly gazed in her face and answered her in this manner I will not deny to thee gentle Amazonian said he that which the very clouds do blush at and the low earth doth mourn for Thou shalt understand that I am the same Knight whom thou hast demanded after tell me therefore what is thy Will My Will is said she thou most ungrateful Knight that thou read here this Letter the last Work of the white hand of the unhappy Armenian Queen At which Words the Knight was so troubled in thought and grieved in mind that it was almost the occasion to dissolve his Soul from his Body and therewithal putting forth his hand somewhat trembling he took the Letter and set himself down very sorrowful upon the green grass without any power to the contrary his grief so abounded the bounds of reason No sooner had he opened the Letter but he presently knew it to be written by the hands of his wronged Lady the Armenian Queen and with great alteration both of heart and mind he read the sorrowful Lines which contained these Words following The Queen of Armenia her Letter TO thee thou disloyal Knight of the Black Castle the unfortunate Queen of Armenia can neither send nor wish salutations for having no health my self I cannot send it unto him whose cruel mind hath quite forgotten my true love I cannot but lament continually yea and complain unto my Fates incessantly considering that my fortune is converted from a Crowned Queen to a miserable and banished Caitiff whereas savage Beasts are my chief Companions and the mournful Birds my best Solicitors Oh Leoger Leoger why didst thou leave me comfortless without all cause as did Eneas his unfortunate Dido what second love hath bereaved me of thy sight and made thee forget her that ever shall remember thee O Leoger remember the day when first I saw thy face which day be fatal evermore and counted for a dismal day in time to come both heavy black and full of foul mischances for it was unhappy unto me for in giving thee joy I bereaved my self of all and lost the Possession of my liberty and honour although thou hast not esteemed nor took care of my sorrowful Fortunes yet thou shouldest not have mockt my perfect love and disdained the servent affection that I have born thee in that I have yielded to thee that precious Jewel the which hath been denyed to many a Noble King O love cruel and spiteful love that so quickly didst make me blind and deprived me of the knowledge that belonged to my Royal Highness Oh uncourteous Knight being blinded with thy Love the Queen of Armenia stained her honesty which she ought to have kept and preserved it from the biting canker of disloyal Love Hadst thou pretended to meck me thou shouldst not have suffered me to have lost so much as I did forgo for thy sake Tell me why didst thou not suffer me to execute my Will that I might have opened my white Breast with a piercing Sword and sent my Soul to shady Banks of sweet Elizium Then had it been better for me to have dyed than to live still and daily die Remember thy self Leoger and behold the harm that will come hereof have a care to the Pawn which thou hast sealed in my Womb and let it be an occasion that thou mayst after all thy violent Wrongs return to see me sleeping on my Tomb that my Child may not remain Fatherless in the Power of Wild Beasts whose hearts be fraughted with nothing but cruelty Do not consent that the perfect love which I bear thee should be counted vain but rather perform the Promise which thou hast made to me Oh unkind Leoger O cruel and hard heart is falshood the firm love that so unfeignedly thou didst profess to me What is he that hath been more unmerciful than thou hast been There is no furious Beast nor lurking Lyon in the Desarts of Lybia whose merciless paws are all besmeared in blood that is so cruelly hearted as thy self else wouldesâ— thou not leave me comfortless spending my days in solitary Woods whereas Tygers mourn at my distresses and the chirping Birds in their kinds grieve at my lamentations the unreasonable torments and sorrows of my soul are so many that if my Pen were made of Libian Steel and my Ink the purple Ocean yet could I not write the number of my Woes But now I determine to advertise thee of my desired Death for in writing this my last Testament the Fates are cutting asunder my thread of life and I can give thee knowledge of no more but yet I desire thee by the true love which I bear thee that thou wilt read with sorrow these few lines and now I desire the Destinies that thou mayst die the death that for thee I now do and so â—end By her which did yield unto thee her Life Love Honour Fame and Liberty WHen this sad and heavy Knight had made an end of reading this dolorous Letter he could not restrain his Eyes from distilling salt tears so great was the grief that his heart sustained Rosana did likewise bear him company to solemnize his heaviness with as many tears trickling from the conduits of her Eyes The great sorrow and lamentation was such and so much in both their hearts that for a great space the one could not speak unto the other but afterwards their griefs being somewhat extenuated Leoger began to say Oh Messenger from her with the remembrance of whose wrong my heart is wounded being undeservedly of me evil rewarded tell me even by the nature of true love if thou dost know where she is shew unto me her abiding place that I may go thither and give a discharge of this my great fault by yielding unto Death Oh cruel and without love answered Rosana What discharge canst thou give unto her that already through thy Cruelty is dead and buryed only by the occasion of such a forsworn Knight This penitent and grieved Knight when he understood the certainty of her Death with a sudden and hasty fury he struck himself on the Breast with his fist and lifting his Eyes unto the Clouds in manner of Exclamation against the Fates giving deep and sorrowful sighs he threw himself to the ground tumbling and wallowing from one
to place the King again in his Kingdom CHAP. XIV How the seven Champions of Christendom restored the Babylonian King unto the Kingdom and after how honourably they were received at Rome where Saint George fell in love with the Emperors Daughter being a professed Nun of the mischief that ensued thereby and of the desperate end of young Lucius Prince of Rome THE valiant Christian Champions having as you heard in the Chapter going before performed the Adventure of the Enchanted Monument accompanied the Babylonian King to his Kingdom of Assyria as they had all solemnly promised him But when they approached the Confines of Babylon and made no â—ucstion of peaceful and Princely entertainment there was neither sign of peace nor likelihood of joyful and friendly Welcome for all the Country raged with intestine War four several Competitors unjustly striving for what unto the King properly and of right belonged The unnatural Causers and stirrers up to this Blood-devouring Controversie were four Noble men unto whom the King unadvisedly committed the Government of his Realm when he went in the Tragical pursuit of his fair Daughter after his dreamed illusion that caused him so cruelly to seek her Death And the breaking our into this hurliburly grew first to head in this manner following Two years after the Kings departure these Deputies governed the publick State in great peace and with prudent Policy till after no tydings of the King could be heard notwithstanding so many Messengers as were into every quarter of the World sent to enquire of him then did Ambition kindle in all their hearts each striving to wrest into his hand the sole possession of the Babylonian Kingdom To this end they all made several Friends for this had they contended in many fights and now lastly they intended to set all their hopes upon this main chance of War intending to fight till three fell and one remained Uictor over the rest whose Head should be beautified with a Crown But to Traytors and Treason the end is sudden and shameful for no sooner had S. George placing himself between the Battels in a brief Oration shewed the Adventures of the King and he himself to the People discovered his reverend Face but they all shouted for joy and hauling the Usurpers presently to Death they re-installed him in his antient Dignity their true lawful and long-lookt for King The King being thus restored married Fidelia for her faithfulness and after the Nuptial Feasts the Champions at the earnest request of S. Anthony departed towards Italy where in Rome the Emperor spared no cost honourably and mòst sumptuously to entertain those never-daunted Knights the famous Wonders of Christendom At that time of the year when the Summers Queen had beautified the Earth with interchangable Ornaments S. George in company of the Emperor with the rest of the Champions chanced to walk along by the side of the River Tybur to delight themselves with the pleasant Meads and beautiful prospect of the Country Before they had walked half a mile from the City they approached unto an ancient Nunnery which was very fair and of a stately Building and likewise encompassed about with Chrystal streams and many green Meabows furnished with all manner of beautiful Trées and fragrant Flowers This Nunnery was consecrated to Diana the Queen of Chastity and none were suffered to live therein but sâ—â—h chast Ladies and Uirgins as had â—owed themselves to a single Life â—aild so keep their Uirginities for ever unsported In this place the Emperors only Daughter lived as a proâ—â—ssed Nun and exempted her self from all company except it were the fellowship of chast and religious Uirgins This vertuous Lucina for so was she called having intelligence before by the Dverséers of the Nunnery how that the Emperor her Father with many other knights were coming to visit their Religious Havitation against their approach she attyred her self in a Gown of white Satin all laid over with gold Lace having also her golden locks of Hair somewhat laid forth And upon her head was knit a Garland of sweet smelling Flowers which made her seem like some Celestial or Divine Creature Her beauty was so excellent that it might have quailed the heart of Cupid and her bravery excéeded the Paphiâ—n Quéens Never could nature with all her cunning stream more beauty in any one Creature than was upon her Face nor never could the flattering Syrens more beguile the Traveller than did her bright countenance enchant the English Champion for at his first entrance into the Nunnery he was so ravished with her sight that he was not able to withdraw his eyes from her beauty but stood gazing upon her rosie coloured Cheeks like one bewitched with Medusi's shadows And to be short her beauty seemed so Angelical and the burning flames of love so fired his heart that he must either enjoy her company or give end to his life by some untimely means Saint George being wounded thus with the Dart of Love dissembled his grief and revealed â—t not to any one but departed with the Emperor back again to the City leaving his heart behind him closed in the 〈◊〉 Moâ—astert with his lovely Lucina All that ensuing night he could not enjoy the benefit of sléep but did contemplate upon the Divine Beauty of his Lady and slaughted his mind with a thousand several cogitations how he might attain to the love being a chast Uirgin and a professed Nun. In this manner spent he away the night and no scouer appeared the mornings brightness in at the Chamber Window but he arose from his restless Bed and attyred himself in Watchet Uelver to signifie his true Love and wandred all alone unto the Monastery where he revealed his deep affection unto the Lady who was as far from granting to his Request as the Skies from the Earth or the deepest Seas the highest Elements for she protested while life remained within her Body never to yield her Love in the way of Marriage to any one but to remain a pure Uirgin and of Diana's Train No other resolution could Saint George get of the chaste Nun which caused him to part in great discontent intending to seek by some other means to obtain her love so coming to the rest of the Christian Champions he revealed to them the truth of all things that had hapned who in this manner counselled him that he should provide a multitude of Armed Knights every one bearing in their hands a Sword ready drawn and to enter the Monastery at such time as she little mistrusted and first with Promises and fair and kind Speeches to seek her love but if she yielded not to fill her ears with cruel threatnings protesting that if she will not grant to requite his love with like Affections he would not leave one Stone of that Monastery standing upon another and likewise make her a bloody offering up to Diana This Policy liked well Saint George though he intended not to prosecute such Cruelty so the
next morning by break of day he went unto the Nunnery in company of no other but the Christian Champions armed in bright Armour with their glistering Swords ready drawn which they carryed under their side Cloaks to prevent suspition But when they came to the Monastery and had entered into the Chamber of Lucina whom they found kneeling upon the bare ground at her Ceremonious Orisons Saint George first proffered her kindness by fair Promises but finding that thereby he nothing prevailed he then made known his pretended unmerciful Purpose and thereupon all of them shaking their bright Swords against her vertuous Breast they protested though contrary to their intents that except she would yield to Saint George her unconquered Love they would bathe their Weapons in her dearest Blood At which Words the distressed Uirgin being overcharged with fear sunk down presently to the ground and lay for a time in a dead Agony but in the end recovering her self she lifted up her Angelical Face shrouded under a cloud of pale sorrow and in this manner declared her mind Most Renowned and well approved Knight said she it is as difficult to me to climb up to the highest top of Heaven as to persuade my mind to yield to the fulfilling of your requests The pure and chast Goddess Diana that sits now crowned amongst the goâ—ven Stars will revenge my perjured promise if I yield â—o your dâ—â—ires for I have long since deeply vowed to spend my days in this Religious House in honour of her Deity and not to yield the flower of my Uirginity to any one which Uow I will not infringe for all the Wealth of Rome you know brave champions that in time the watery drops will mollifie the hardest Diamond and time may root this resolution out of my heart Therefore I request you by honour of true Knighthood and by the loves you bear to your Native Countries to grant me the liberty of seven days that I may at full consider with my heart before I give an answer to your demands and to the intent that I may make some publick Sacrifices as well to appeafe the Wrath which the chast Goddess Diana may conceive against me as to satisfie my own Soul for not fulfilling my Uow These Words were no sooner ended but the Champions incontinently without any more delay joyfully consented and moreover proffered themselves to be all present at the same sacrifice and so departed from the Monastery with exceeding great comfort The Champions being gone Lucina called together all the rest of the Nuns and declared to them the whole discourse of her assailment whereafter amongst this Religious company with the help of some other of their approved Friends they devised a most strange Sacrifice which hath since been the occasion that so many inhumane and bloody Sacrifices have been committed The next morning after six days were finished no sooner did bright Phoebus shew his golden Beams abroad but the Nuns began to prepare all things in readiness for the Sacrifice for directly before the door of the Monastery they hired cunning Work-men to erect a Scaffold all very richly covered with Cloth of Gold and upon the Scaffold about the middle thereof was placed a fair Table covered also with a Carpet of Cloth of Gold and upon it a Chasing-dish of Coals burning all this being set in good order the Emperor with the Christian Champions and many other Roman Knights being present to behold the Ceremonious Sacrifice little mistrusted the doleful Tragedy that after hapned The Assembly being alent there was straight-ways heard a sweet and harmonious sound of Clarions and Trumpets and sundry other kinds of Instruments these entered first upon the Scaffold and next unto them were brought seven Rams all adoâ—ned with fine white Wool more soft in feeling than Arâ—bâ—â— Silk with huge and mighty charged Horns bound about with Garlands of Flowers â—â—â—er them followed a certain member of Nuns aâ—â—yled in black Uestmâ—â—â— singing their accustomed Songs in the honour of Diana after them followed an ancient Marton drawn in a Chariot by four comely Uirgins bringing in their hands the Image of 〈◊〉 and on either side of her two ancient Nuns of great estimation each of them bearing in their hands rich Uessels of gold full of most precious and sweet Wines then after all this came the beautiful Lucina apparelled with a rich Robe of Estate being of a great and inâ—â—â—â—able Uaâ—â—e Thus ceremoniously she ascended the Scaffold where the Matron placed the Image of Diana behind the Chasing dish of Coals that was there burning and the rest of the Nuns commned still singing their Songs and drinking of the precious Wines that were brought in the golden Uessels This being done they all at once brought low the necks of the Râ—ms by â—â—â—tting their Throarâ— whose blood they sprinkled round about the Scaffold â— opened their bowels and burned the inward parts in the Chasing diâ—â— of Coals Thus with the slaughter they made Sacrifice to the Queen of Chastity at the sight whereof was present the surfeiting Lover S. George with the other six Christian Knights aâ—med all in bright Armour were all very attentive to this that I have here told you This Sacrifice ended this Lucina commanded silence to be made and when all the company were still she raised her self upon her â—â—eâ— and with a heavy Uoice distilling many salt Tears the said O mâ—â—t excellent and chast Diana in whose blessed bâ—â—om we undetiled Virgins do recreate our selves unto thy most Divine excellency do I now 〈◊〉 this my last Sacrifice calling to record all the Gods that I have done my best to continue a spâ—tless Maiden of thy most 〈◊〉 Train O heavens shall I consent to deliver my Uirginity willingly to him whose Soul desires to have the use of it Or shall I my self consent my utter ruine and sorrowful destruction which proceedeth only by the means of my flourishing beauty I would it had been as the night Ravens or like to the tawny tanned Moors in the farthest Mountains of India O Sacred Diana thou blessed Queen of Chastity is it possible that thou â—ost consent that a Uirgin descended from so Royal a Race as I am should suffer the worthiness of her Predecessours to be sported by yielding her Uirgin honour to the conquest of Love without respecting the chast Uow I made unto thy Deity Well seeing it is so that I must neeâ—s viâ—â—me my self against all humane nature â— beseech thee to receive the soâ—eâ—nity of this my death which I offer up in Sacrifice to thy Diâ—ine Excellency for I am here conâ—trained with mine own trembling hâ—nd to cut off the flourishing Branches of these 〈…〉 For this I swear before the 〈◊〉 of Diana that I 〈…〉 the society and sâ—cced Bosom of that great Goddeâ—s than â—o 〈◊〉 the Caâ—â—â—e of my Chaâ—â—â—â—y to the Conquest of any â—nigâ—â— in â—â—e Woâ—ld And now to thee I speak thou valiant knight of 〈◊〉 beâ—oâ—d here I â—ield unto
bestow upon thee Farewel Knighthood farewel honourable Adventures and Princely Atchievments Never may this dauntless arm brandish Weapon more in honour of the Christian Cross For death awaiteth at my back to cut off all such noble hopes and I by Tyranny am betrayed thereto These Speeches being uttered he was forced to stand silent and in the presence of the King with many hundreds more was constrained to yield his Body to the fatal stroak where his Head being laid upon the Block was by a base Eâ—ecutioner quickly dissevered from the rest of his manly Members Which being no sooner done and the Champion lifeless but the Elements beset with cloudy exhalations sent down such a terrible Thunder-clap that struck presently dead the Knight of Saint Michael that accused him the Executioner with others that were at his Attachment at which strange and fearful spectacle the King himself grew so amazed that he deemed him to be a blessed Creature and that he had suffered wrongfully and how his cause for which he so willingly rendred up his life was the true cause which all must have a desire to die in Wherefore incontinent from a Pagan the King turned Christian and caused the same to be proclaimed through all his Provinces ordaining Churches to be built in remembrance of this great Man And likewise in the place where he suffered he caused with all speed to be built an Hermitage of relief for poor Pilgrims to find succour in and such as travelled in the honour of that God in whose Name this good Champion dyed Thus received France the true Faith in which we leave it flourishing and speak of Saint James the Spanish Champion and how he dyed CHAP. XX. Of the Tyrannous Death that the Spanish Champion was put unto and how God revenged the same in a strange manner and of other things that hapned HEre gentle Reader with a sad eye prepare to give Entertainment to the dolorous manner of the Spanish Champions Death who by Tyranny and cruel Dealing of the Intidels was likewise made away For Age and Time as upon the former grew upon him and so enfeebled his strength that he was no longer able to manage the Adventures of Chivalry nor sight the Battels of his Saviour Wherefore resolving to spend the remnant of his days in peace he desired leave likewise to commit his Fortunes to the Queen of Chance which as the other did he quickly obtained and so leaving Constantinople he put himself to travel towards the Country of his first Being not decked in his shining Armour nor mounted on his Spanish Gennet but poor and bare in outward habit though inwardly furnished with Gold and Jewels of an inestimable value which he had sowed up in the patches of a russet Gaberdine the better to travel with where instead of a bright shining Curtle-Axe his Pilgrims Staff served him to walk with and for his Burgonet of glistring Steel he covered his head now as white Thistle-down with Age with a Hat of gray colour broached with a broad Scallop-shell his Princely Lodgings were changed to green Pastures and his Canopies to the Skies azured covering where the Nightingale and Lark told the times passage These were now his best contents and comforts that time and age bestowed upon him In which manner travelling many days and nights giving still as he went the poor and needy such small pieces of Silver as he well could spare he arrived at last upon the Consines of Spain Where in honour of that God for whom he had fought so many Battels he builded up at his own charge a most sumptuous Chappel to this day bearing the Name of Saint Jacque's Chappel and for the maintenance thereof purchased divers Lands adjoining with Quiristers to sing a Day and Night therein Allelujah to his Redeemer This Celestial gift and glorious customs so prepared begot such love of the meaner sort of People that they esteemed him more than a Man with a reverence of such regard bestowed upon him that the very Name of this Noble Champion won greater admirations than the high Tilts of their Countries King who being then a cruel Tyrant and proud King maintaining Atheism by his Government grew so envious thereat that he caused good Saint Jacques with the whole Quire of his Celestial Singers to be closed up together in the Chappel which the Champion had erected so starved them to death Oh bloody butchery and inhumane cruelty a death of more terrour than ever was heard of Nero in ripping up his Mothers Womb to see the Bed of his Creation was not half so cruel But to be short hunger prevailed and they dead their Bodies purrified and in time consumed away to dust and mould whereupon the Lord to shew how they died in his favour and the love of Heaven inflicted such a light in the Chappel that it shined Day and Night with such a glorious brightness as if it had been the glorious Palace of the Sun and likewise continually was heard therein though no Creature remaining such a Quire of melodious Harmony as if it had been the sound of Celestial Musick Which strange pleasures both to the eyes and ear bred so great an amazement to the whole Countrey that all with the common consent accused their King for the tyrannous putting to death of these good men so cruelly murthered but especially the noble S. Jacques that they purposed to hold him for their Countrys Saint and Champion till the Worlds dissolution The proud King perceiving now his own rashness and his common hate against him for this deed doing took an inward conceit of grief that without taking any food ever after he languished away and died Thus have you heard the Tragedy of the Spanish Champion whom we likewise commit to the sweet sleeps of Eternity and pass on further to more dreadful Accidents CHAP. XXI Of the Honourable and Worthy Death of the Italian Champion how in the height of pleasure in his own Countrey death by a Prophecy seized upon him AFter all these aforesaid Proceedings Nature the common Nurse of us all so wrought in the heart of Saint Anthony the Champion for Italy that he undertook the next Tragical Enterprize and leaving Saint George with Saint Andrew resting their crazed Bones in the Emperours Court of Constantinople where they lately atchieved so many Praises of Knighthood he took his Journey towarns Italy and knowing by the course of Nature that his Days were not many he purposed there to set up his lives rest and in Death to finish up all Earthly Troubles So coming after a long Journey to the City of Rome where the Emperour Domitian kept his Court and the City being then in her chiefest Pomp and Glory won great desire in the Champions Mind to see the Monuments of the same So upon the Morning going from his Lodging he walked up and down the streets with admiration and fed his eyes with many delightful Objects First with great wonder he stood gazing upon
of them to be Kings according as the Fairy Queen had Prophesied of them LONDON Printed for John Back at the Black-Boy on London-Bridge 1696. TO His much respected Friend Mr. RALPH HARRISON OF NEWPORT POND IN ESSEX SIR BOokes without Patrons are they say like Orphan Children without Parents left to the wide World to shift iâ— wanting protection do oftentimes miscarry in the same Considering this their likenesâ— to each other I pondered with my self to whom I should dedicate this issue of my brain against snaâ—ling Criticks and carping Momussâ—s whom casting over the Catalogue of my chiefest Friends and Acquaintance I found your name in a principal place amongst them Emboldned wherewith I resolved to Dedicate these my labours unto you being much animated thereunto by the perswasions of our worthy Friend Mr. Daniel Rawlinson of Fenchurch-Street London as also your love to Books of ingenuity in general Thus hoping you will candidly receive the same since the second Part was kindly accepted of an Honourable Person wishing you as many happy day's as there are lines in the Book I take my leave resting Yours ever to his power VV. VV. To the Courteous READER THe general acceptance which the two first Parts of this Renowned History have received hath invited my Pen to the prosecution thereof in a third Part which I have raked out of the musty Records of old moâ—h eaten Authors almost worn out by length of time and indeed the two first Parts do seen imperfect without a third for there he speak of the Fairy Queen's Prophesie how St. George three Sons should come to be Kings but show not by which means they attained their Kingdoms all which are fully set forth in this Third Part. What my pains have been herein thoâ— who read with Judgment will easily discern and to such only I appeal not caring for the barking Zoilists of our times who carp â— what they cannot mend and like the Dog iâ— the Fable lying upon Hay will neither eat themselves nor suffer the hunger starved Oxe â—o eat thereof so these men will write nothing themselves yet are alwayes carping at the endeavours of others If I have soared above the height of the Language in the two former parts know that our speech is refined since they were writ Chaucer whose lines did excel for Eloquence in his days is now despized for plain â—nd rustick even by those who scarcely know what language is yet have we endeavoured herein not to coyn new phrases nor to mix words unintelligible but to use such a sâ—ile as night serve to embellish and illustrate the History but withal to be understood and easie â—o the capacity of the meanest Readers VVe have also endeavoured herein to write nothing improbable much less impossible such as are inserted in several Histories where they make nothing of cutting asunder two or three Gyants at one blow by the middle with many other things void both of sense and reason but in our undertakings we have related nothing but what to a judicious Reader may seem probable to be effected so that we doubt not â— our History had been in the Library of Doâ— Quixoâ— that famous Knight Errant it would have been preserved from the fire by the Barber and Licentiate And as we have been as careful to insert nothing incredulous so likewise have we been as careful to write nothing that is obscene for the corrupting of youth Books of that nature as Mr. Feltham saith iâ— his resolves being like that brutish sin of Adultery wherein two are equally culpable hâ— that writes them and he that reads them but in our History we have inserted nothing but what may be profitable as well as delightful sâ— that the chastest Lucrece may read herein with out blushing yet have we endeavoured to embellish it with such flowers of Rhetorick as wâ— could pick out of Apollo's Garden the betteâ— to entertain the Reader with delight which iâ— he kindly accept of as our hope is notwithstanding this censorious age we shall continue the History in a Fourth Part and shew you â—he Loves and adventures of the other six Vaâ—ant Knights having in this Part chiefly insisted upon those of St. Georges three Sons In the mean time daigne kindly to accept of what â—s already done and then expect the other to â—ollow soon after Farewel On the BOOK YOU whose stout heart to valiant Acts are bent This Book unto your view will represent â—hat you desire fell Monsters put to pain Gyants and Dragons overcome and slain The Negromancer with his damned spell â—is charms overthrown and he sent down to Hell â—astles and Towers taken in by force The Pagan Hosts overthrown both Man and Horse â—uch numbers of them kill'd Charon might well â—â— streams of their own blood row them to Hell â—uch were the Acts these worthy Sons have done â—f the Seven Champions of Christendom â—howing themselves true Sons of such brave Sires â—hose valiant deeds the World throughout admires â—ead then and thank the Author for his pains â—is was the labour thy delight the gains M. Y. The Famous HISTORY OF THE Seven Champions OF CHRISTENDOM The Third Part. CHAP. I. The great Joy of the Infidels for the Death of the Seven Champions the Soldan of Persia his Letter for the Mustering up of an Army with the Effects thereupon SOon had wide mouth'd tatling Fame dispersed the News of the Seven Champions deaths into all the Countries and Kingdoms of the Earth which caused a Universal Ioy and Rejoycing amongst those Miscreants and Infidels which had felt the weight of their victorious Armes insomuch that they Published a day of Thanksgiving to praise their Gods Mahomet Termagant and Apollo for the deliverance of their Countries out of the hands of such mortal enemies Next they provide for the invasion of Christendom and by a mutual consent to muster up such an Army as should â—â—tirpate Christianity and to root out those seven famous Nations from off the Earth whereof those Worthies were the Heroical Champions and to this end the Soldan of Persia wrote this ensuing Letter to those Kingdoms and Nations which were therein 〈◊〉 To all those Potentates and Followers of the Sect of Mahomet the High and Mighty Emperour the Soldan of Persia sendeth Greeting KNow ye that our Gods have now at last sent the Messenger of Death which hath arrested and clapt up into the Graves those terrors of our People the seven Champions of Christendom by whom we have sustained so much harms and dammages by which means a gap is left ope whereby we may revenge our wrongs and injuries To this purpose we therefore desire ye to meet us with what power of Men ye can make on the Plains of Babylon there to joyn with the Forces of other Kings and Princes to be revenged on the Christians by slaying their people burning their Towns and Cities and utterly destroy them from off the face of the Earth The Copy of this Letter being sent into several
been done by a just hand that did it But see how divine vengeance persues wicked actions Sir Vylon now revelling in all excess without controul was stricken with a sudden Phrensie his Limbs also being taken from him so that he lay raving and cursing in a most fearful manner in one of which fitts he discovered all the circumstances I have related unto you and soon after in a desperate horrour of Conscience yielded up the Ghost This mournful Story moved all the company to great compassion whereupon it was determined that the Knight who had related this story and who had been taken Prisoner by the Sicilians should have his freedom and accompany the Lady to her habitation who in mournful manner took her leave of the Thessalian King and the thrée English Knights and returned homewards In which Iourney we will leave her for the present to relate the further atchievements of those Renowned Sons of Mars Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David CHAP. V. How Sir Guy conducted the Army of the Sicilians into their own Country and Sir Alexander that of the Thessalians how hearing of the great preparation of the Infidels they returned into Christendom to raise Forces to withstand them SOon after the departuer of Sir Vylons Widow and that the Army were sufficiently refreshed being highly satisfied for all the pains they had taken with the rich booties which they had gained The Thessalian King and the three English Brothers thinking themselves revenged with advantage on the Thracians they determined to march home into their own Countries and having setled their affairs in Thrace Sir Guy with his Brother David marched with the Army of the Sicilians back into that fruitful Country to which Sir Guy longed to come to enjoy the company of his beloved Urania in which journey we will leave them for a time to accompany Sir Alexander home which the Thessalian Armâ— Who had as great a desire to sée his beloved Mariana and therefore having secured the chief Forts of the Kingdom they took their march carrying with them the two Gyants Predo and Pandaphilo Prisoners who for their huge stature and vast proportion were gazed on by the people with admiration wheresoever they came multitudes from all places flocking to see them Before they came to the City of Larissa where the Princess Mariana resided they were met by the Chief Magistrates of the City in their Scarlet Gowns Gold Chains and their Horses trapped with foot-cloaths of black Uelvet besides multitudes of the common people who all with one voice â—cchoed forth Long live the King of Thessalia and the Renowned Knight Sir Alexander of England The Bells rung the Bonfires blazed the Conduits ran pure Gréekish Wine the streets were hung with rich suits of Tapistry and all the windows along as they passed filled with abundance of Spectators to behold the return of their King and to have a sight of the Noble Champion Sir Alexander whom they stiled the deliverer of their Country the flower of Chivalry the darling of Mankind with all the Epithets which might conduce to his Praise and Magnanimity At the Pallace Gate they were met by the Princess Mariana who in all dutyful manner welcomed home her Royal Father and with many expressions of love and affection entertained her noble Champion Sir Alexander Here did they spend several days in feasting â—â—nqueting and all the delights that art and coâ—â— could invent but in the midst of all this jollity there came news to the Court of the great preparations which were made by the Infidels against the Christians as you heard in the first Chapter of this most excellent History This news struck a sudden damp unto their mirth for the love of his Native Country was so dear unto Sir Alexander that notwithstanding the intire affection he bare to the Princess Mariana he resolved to give what succour he could unto the place wherein his Father received his first breath and from whence his own Honour was derived So making his mind known to the Thessalian King and taking his solemn leave of his beloved Mariana with great asseverations of his fidelity to her and promise of return when those Wars were finished he prepared for his Iourney to Sicilia to aâ—quaint his two Brothers with his resolution being accompanied therein by divers of the prime Thessalian Nobility who resolâ—ed to spend their lives in the company and under the conduct of so noble a Champion In which Journey we will leave them for a time and return to speak of Sir Guy and Sir David Who having conducted their Army back to Sicily were entertained with all demonstrations of joy imaginable especially of the Pâ—â—rless Princess Urania in whose heart the love of Sir Guy was so deeply engraven that nothing but death was able to bâ—ot â—â—ouâ— But here likewise as well as to Thessaly soon câ—me news of the Infidels great preparation for the Invasion of Christendom which when Sir Guy heard he resolved â—o send to his Brother Alexander to prepare to march homewards but ere the messenger was fully dispatcht Sir Alexander with the Thessalian Lords were arrived at the Sicilian Court to the great joy of Sir Guy Sir David and other Martial Spirits only the Princess Urania was deeply melancholly that now she should part with her dear Knight whose company she prized far above all the 〈◊〉 of the Mines of America wherefore retiring her self to her Chamber taking her Lute in her hand she warbled forth this mournful ditty My mourning Mind doth crave some sweet delight And fancy sain would lend me some I see But Fortune frowns and sends me foul despight And care doth keep all comfort quite from me Such Passions strange do still perplex my mind As I despair of any ease to find But let me see I must not yet despair Dame Fortunes wheel may hap to turn again When storms are past the weather may be â—air And pleasure comes unlookt for after pain Things at the worst the Proverb saith will mend VVhy should not then my sorrows have an end But old said-saws are not yet Scripture all For things at worst are past all mending quite To pining hearts all pleasure seemeth small VVhat mirth can do the pining heart delight VVhen Fates do frown and Fortune is our foe Nought can be thought to rid the mind of woe Scarcely had she ended her Song when Sir Guy came to take his leave of her finding her sitting in such a given over manner one would have thought silence solitariness and melancholly were come under the ensign of mishap to conquer delight and drive him from his natural seat of Beauty But now to describe the grief of these two Lovers at their parting I must implore the help of Melpomene the mournfullest of the nine Muses to guide my Pen the sorrow of Orpheus for his beloved Euridice Andromache for Hector Aegens for his supposed dead Theseus Antigone leading her blind Father Oedipus or that of weeping Niobe for the loss
of her Children compared to this deserve not the names of grief At last having vented their sorrows through the Conduits of their Eyes and that a lovely beauty began again a little to dress her self in her Face the Peerless Urania brake silence and said My Dearest Guy I must confess the excess of my sorrow doth scarce give way to the relief of words being anchored down with cares in the Seas of woe so that I am in effect but a living Coarse for which I can only blame your unkindness Hath my Prayers prevailed so far with the Divine Powers to bring you unto me again in safety and now will you leave me to enter again into fresh dangers Did you not swear by all that is Divine and Humane sooner should Phaebus cease to shine by day or Luna lend us her light by night then that your heart should be separated from mine which then you pretended to be dearer unto you then victuals to the almost famisht Soul or drink to those whose Throats are parcht with thirst If my Love was so dear unto you then what change have you found in me that after the accomplishment of your Thessalian Journey we should not then enjoy the fruition of our Loves but that you will adventure again on new engagements preferring your honour and desire of Fame before my unstained Love which hath been as true and constant to you as ever was that of the chast Penelope to wandering Ulysses Sir Guy after many protestations of his constant affection and how nearly this imminent danger wherein all Christendom was involved concerned his honour which would be for ever stained should he decline such an honourable action at last drew her consent although with much reluctancy So giving her a sweet kiss for a farewel leaving her in tears for his departure he went to accompany his two Brothers and those other Martial Heroes who were now ready prepared to joyn with him against the enemies of Christendom and having with great Ceremony taken their leave of the Sicilian King they took Ship and Coasting along the fruitful banks of Italy befriended both by Neptune and Eolâ—s they in short time arrived in England the happy Port whereto their desires tended At that time of their arrival the whole â— and was in mourning hearing of those vast Forces prepared against them whom the three Brothers comforted in the best manner they might and with what expedition they could make went to the Court where the Noble King Edgar then resided who entertained them in most sumptuous manner being overjoyed for their arrival at such an exigent Then having consulted together they sent Messengers unto all the rest of the Countries of Christendom to raise what Forces they could make and to be ready to joyn together in the Country of Naples against the common enemy and this to be done within one Moneth at the farthest who accordingly raised great Forces in each Country and with them marched into Naples at the time appointed But now Calliope the sacred Sister of the Muses assist my Pen in setting forth the Ualiant Acts of these Renowned Knights which they performed to their own Eternal Fame and Honour and the general good and benefit of all Christendom CHAP. VI. How the Christians Army Assembled together in Naples The Oration of Sir Guy unto the Souldiers and how they marched against the Pagan Army YOU heard in the last Chapter how Messengers were sent into all Countries of Christendom for the raising of Forces against the Infidels which severally arrived at the place of Randezvous in the fruitful Country of Naples and first as being nearest was an Army of thirty thousand Italians conducted by the valiant Knight Sir Orlando whom the Renowned Champion St. Anthony had begotten on the Princess Rossalindo Daughter to the King of Thrace This Martial Knight marching before his Companies in as much state as Hector when he traced the fields of Ilium pitched up his Tent in a large Plain near unto the City of Nicosia His Pavilion was of a silver colour adorned with a silken streamer waving in the Air wherein was pourtrayed a Lyon rampant beating his back with his tail and from his mouth proceeded these Uerses Incensed with an anger just For Victory we hope and trust The very next day after these Italians had thus encamped themselves came marching into the field twenty five thousand Spaniards conducted by a valiant Knight named Sir Predo Son unto St. James the Champion of Spain whom he begat on the Princess Celestine the beautiful Daughter of the King of Jerusalem After courteous embracements betwixt him and Sir Orlando he pitched his Camp on the West side of the Italians His Pavilion was blew and for his device he had a Griffen siezing on his prey with this Motto Thus Griffen-like I do oppose Defend my self offend my foes The third Nation that appeared in these Warlike preparations was twenty thousand gallant Frenchmen mounâ—ed on Warlike Horses and most bravely accouÌ„tered with offensive and defensive Weapons They had for their Commander a most Heroick Knight named Sir Turpin begotten by St. Denis the Renowned Champion of France on Eglantine the Kiâ—gs Daughter of Thessaly and who for her pride was transformed into a Mulberry-Tree He was with more then ordinary Complements entertained by Sir Orlando and Sir Pedro and pitched his Camp on the East-side of Sir Orlando His Pavilion was oronge tawny embroidered with a purple and for his device he had the Lillies the arms of France with this Motto The Lilly's glory of the Field Unto the Lilly all must yield The fourth Nation that engaged in this quarrel for the honour of Christendom was the hardy Scottish-men who to the number of fifteen thousand arrived on the fruitful Banks of Naples conducted by that valiant and renowned Knight Sir Ewin Son to St. Andrew the famous Champion of Scotland and by him begotten on Artesia one of the six Daughters of the King of Thrace who were transformed into the likeness of Swans as you may read in the first part of this Honourable History At his first arrival he was highly entertained and feasted by the other Captains and pitched his Camp next to the Spaniards His Pavilion was of a red colour fringed with blew whercout hung a golden streamer in which was pourtrayed the Effigies of Mars looking with a stern countenance and breathing forth these words Armed for Victory The next that arrived on the fruitful Banks of Naples were a Band of valiant Irishmen to the number of ten thousand attired in quilted Fackets and slops of blue Cotten being so swift of fâ—â—â— that few Horses could out run them These were conducted by a valiant Knight named Sit Phelim whom the Irish Champion St. Patrick begat on another of the six Thracian Ladies whom he had redeemed out of the hands of thirty bloody Satyrs as is declared in the first part This couragious Knight was of stature somewhat more than ordinary and withal of such
ordered to endure until such time two worthy Chiestains from the Confines of Christendom shall put an end unto the Inchantment which two worthy persons ordained by the Fates to put a period to their torments shall have the one of them a Cross the other a Star depicted on their left Shoulder by which they may know themselves ordained to be those for whom this adventure was allotted And having uttered these words the Tryton again sunk into the Sea leaving all the people in the two ships in great wonder and admiration The Tryton being thus vanished the two Noble Captains Sir Orlando and Sir Ewin for the better encouragement of their Souldiers stripped off their doublets and showing them their Conquest there was visible thereon the two signs of an â—ssured Souldier which was promised unto them whereupon the Souldiers gave such a shout as sounded like to the Cataracts of the River Nilus and seemed to rend the Clouds in sunder The noise being ceased the Island which before seemed to move now became fixed so that with case they approached near unto it but attempting to Land they were often put by by Spirits in the likeness of Dragons and fiery Serpents which so frighted the Souldiers that no words could induce them to joyn with them in battle whereupon Sir Orlando and Sir Ewin in whose Breasts were sown the seeds of true Magnanimity to show them an example of undaunted resolution leaped on shore and with their strong Curtle-axes made of the pureuÌ„ Lydian Steel they laid about them with as great strength and courage as did Alcides when he encountered with the Cyclops or the magnanimous Hector fighting against the Greeks in the Plains of Ilium Whilst they were thus occupied in these Martial Adventures the Magician Bandito knowing by his spells that he must quickly render up his Body a loathed Carcase to the disposal of the Infernal Furies was resolved in the mean time to do what mischief he could and first he raised up a Spirit in the likeness of a flaming fire which encompassing the two Knights so heated their Bodies as if they had been fighting in the scorching Desarts of Africa Next appeared a terrible Monster in the shape of a Lyon having Eyes as big as saucers and Teeth longer than the Tusks of a Boar bred up in the Caledonian Woods who assaulted the two Knights with great fury In the mean space the souldiers landed themselves and in a Warlike posture came to the rescue of the two Champions who by this time through the scorching heat of the fire and the strength of the Monster began to faint Wereupon a selected party of the cheifest of them being armed with Coats of Mail and haveing in their hands steeled Iavelins which would penetrate and strike through any Armour although as strong as that which Vulcan by the request of Venus made for Anchises These with a valiant resolution ran towards the Monster but coming at him he vanished away leaving behind him such a horrible stink as if it had proceeded from the Lake Avernus one of the poysoned Rivers of Hell In the mean time the loud Artillery of Thunder sent forth such loud noises as rent the Air and made the Ground whereon they stood to shake attended with dreadful flashes of Lightening when presently followed a screne Sky and a seeming Castle which stood before them immediately vanished whither approaching they found the dead Carcase of the Magician his Ioynts all dislocated and the Trunk of his Body as black as the sooty Moor or Cimerian darkness The Duke and the two Lovers were freed from their torments whom they congratulated for their happy deliverance These three persons though much amazed at what had happened yet could hardly believe themselves delivered from their persecuting Tormentors but being made sensible of their preservation by the two Noble Captains their joy was inexpressible the Duke returning thim his grateful thanks in these words Most Magnanimous Heroes to whom Iam indebted for the remainder of my unfortunate Life you have so far obliged me for this favour and that so perfectly that I must be your debtor all the days of my life All that I can offer unto you is that you would employ me in your service that I might testifie unto you in some part a requital of your favours which I acknowledge you have so undeservedly conferred upon us Most Courteous Prince replyed Sir Orlando all the requital we shall desire at your hands is that you will pardon what is past and freely bestow your Daughter on this Gentleman whose deserts did far transcend Bandito's Wealth for know we have heard all the story of their Loves and in so doing we shall think our selves sufficiently requited for that we have undertaken and performed for your fréedom Sir said the Prince your words like Musick please me so well that it shall be the greatest joy of my heart to have it so and thereupon embracing Sir Dyon as also his Daughter who humbly kneeled at his feet desiring forgiveness for what she had done Dear Daughter said he may thy joys with him hereafter be as comfortable and more during then thy troubles and afflictions have been hitherto and know it repenteth me for my unkindness to thee which forced thee unto what thou hast done After these words spoken with many other expressions of Love and forgetfulness of what is past they all went to view the Body of the Magician which they found so fearfully dismembred as cannot without horrour be expressed here lay his Brains in one place in another an Eye there a piece of his Iaw-bone here an Arm there a Leg in another place a piece of his Buttocks wrapped up with some of his rotten Guts and all stinking so abominably as the smell thereof was not possible to be endured And now there being no entertainment in that Island for so many people as they had with them they resolved upon their departure but before they went they Erected up a high Pillar near to the place where the Magician was rent in pieces on which Pillar these Uerses were inscribed VVicked Bandito bent unto all evil VVho for revenge did sell his Soul to th' Devil VVhose whole delight was Bloud and Cruelty And as he liv'd in Blood in Blood did dye VVho ere thou be that dost this writing read Of Magick Arts and wicked Acts take heed Least like Bandito that same bloody wretch The Devil for thy deeds thy Soul do fetch And a little underneath was this Written Wretched Bandito near unto this place was by the Devil all in pieces torn Thou that read'st this learn for to have more Grace or better far it were thou ne'er wert born The Pillar being Erected the two valiant Captains Sir Orlando and Sir Ewin with the Duke of Candy the Princess and Sir Dyon took Ship and having a prosperous Wind in few days arrived on the Fruitful Coast of Candy and with speed marched to Cydonia the chief City thereof where they
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 â—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 sâ—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
Lord of the fruitful Land of Campania which when St. Anthony understood this Duke Ursini having formerly béen his loving Friend he declared unto them who he was and what were his Companions and also how they were bound for Italy whereupon there was great rejoycing on both fides and the Gentleman and Captain and Master of the Italian ship were invited into the other where after some Complements past on both sides and a short Collation the Sea being calm and like a standing Pool no Waves nor Billows to arise they intreated the Gentleman now that their ships lay thus at Hull to declare unto them the manner of Duke Ursini's death and how he came to dye in so remote a Country To which the Gentleman willingly condescended and spake as followeth It is not now fully two years since that the Renowned Prince Oswy Duke of Ferrara at the Celebration of his Marriage with the famous Lady Lucinda of Mantua kept solemn Iusts and Turnaments with Royal Entertainment for all comers which invited thither not only the prime Nobility and Gallants of the Italians but also the news being spread abroad into Forreign Countries several persons of great Quality resorted thither amongst others was â—iâ—ian the Daughter of Lampasco Prince of Scandia a Lady of such glorious eye surprizing Rays that in her Faâ—e Love seemed to sit enthroned in full Majesty nor wanted 〈◊〉 theâ—â— with the helps of Art to set forth her natural perfâ—â—â—ens so that she seemed rather a Divine Goddess then a humane creature These her admirable Endowments was looked on by Duke Urâ—â—ni through a multiplying glass which rendered her to him the moll admirable of all Creatures captivating his heart such a shâ—alâ— to her Beauty that he vowed himself a servant to her vertues and to endear himself the more in her Respects by some Atchievments of Honour he entered the Lists as chief Challenger against all comets being mounted on a milk white Barbary Courser trapped with Capparisons of Silver and on his Burgonet a plume of goodly Feathers His Armour was blew resembling the Azure Firmament spangled with stars of Gold with this word for his device Vertue like the clear Heaven is without Clouds He encountered with sundry Knights of great worth against atl which he had much the better which gained him both great applause and envy Nor was he less skilful in the intrigues of Love than in the management of Arms and to court a Lady as well as encounted with an Enemy which he with much artificial Eloquence demonstrated in an address to the Lady Jilian who seemed much affected with his person and so far the matter went that there seemed nothing wanting to the consummation of their Marriage but only the consent oâ— her Parents which to obtain he sailed with her unto Scandia where he was most nobly entertained and his suit very well liked on Now it was so that a young Baron of that Country named Lamptido had formerly born a great affection unto the Princess Jilian and had so far prevailed with her that he was in great hopes of obtaining her Love but his means not being answerable to her high Dignity it was kept very close from Prince Lampascoes Ear yet hoped he in time that either by the death of Lampasco or some secret stratagem he should compass his eâ—â—s but now seeing Prince Ursini in so great â—avour he began utterly to despair in his suit unless by some means he could find a way to deprive him of his Life It happened not long after that Prince Lampasco proclaimed a general hunting of the wild Bore to which Princely exercise resorted all the flower of the Nobility and every one whose 〈…〉 â—ired with desire of glory and renown amongst others none was more forward to this Royal sport then Prince Ursini who at the appointed time came into the field armed with his Bore-â—pear and mounted on a Spanish Gennet who for their swiâ—â—ness are said to be ingendred of the Wind. Being come within view of the place where they were to hunt each man was ordered according to his â—and when a Brace of lusty Beagles were let loose to rouse the Bore In the mean time every man prepared himself for the â—antling of his Weapons and with a nimble Eye to catch all advantages that might be taken It was not long before the Beagles haâ—â—ouzed the Bore out of his 〈◊〉 who seeming to regard no danger nimbly turning round aboâ—â—â— with a kind of a wallowing running pace ran where he could see any company The first that struck at him was an Italian Knight who accompanied Prince Ursini in his Uoyage to Scandia who brake his Spear but wounded him not for his Skin was scarcely penetrable being as hard as a Bulls hide when it is tanned Leaving this Italian he ran against a valorous Knight named â—â—iastâ—r who encountered with him very couragiously yet could not his courage strength nor skill aâ— which he was in a full ineasâ—â—â— Master of prevail any thing yet was his performance so much that giving him a small wound on the Leg feeling the smart he ran towards Baron Lamprido who used his utmost strength and skill to withstand him but the smart of his wound in his Leg so exasperated him that he ran with such fury against Lamprido as turned him Horse and Man to the ground and undoubtedly had slain him had not Duke Ursini come to his rescue who with undaunted courage set upon the Bore and with great strength guided by skill so followed his blowes that he made the Bore begin to stagger who yet with open mouth came towards him which advantage Duke Ursini spying thrust his Bore Spear down his Throat and therewith rest his Heart in sunder yielding unto him the absolute Uictory By this time divers Knights were come in to him amongst others Lamprido having recovered his fall came in with the thickest but when he saw that the Bore was killed and by the hands of Ursini his blood boiled within him for anger out of envy that he had done it which he knew would more endear him in the affections of the Lady Jilian as also that his own overthrow would much lessen her opinion of him Hereupon a desire of revenge entering into his heart his study was how to effect it with privacy not only for danger of the Law but dread of Duke Ursini's valour whom he knew he could not match in single combat he therefore concluded to do it by treachery which not long after he brought to pass in this manner Amongst other exercises which Duke Ursini much delighted in one was the Art of Angâ—ing in which he would oftentimes spend many hours and that with as much privacy as he could because multitude of persons was a hinderance to the sport It to chanced one day that he accompanied only with one servant and having no other Armour but his Sword went in a Boat unto a spacious River a fishing which being known unto Lampridi he