in the foreâ—runt of the battell so aduenturously behaued them selues that they slew more Negars than a hundred of the brauest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intending to make saint Georges prowesse to shinâ— brighter than the rest singled out the Moroco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long dangerous fight But saint George so couragiouslye behaued him with his trustie sword that Almidor was constrained to yeeld 〈◊〉 his mercie The Armie of the Moores séeing their King taken prisoner presently would haue fled but that the Christians béeing the lighter of foote ouertooke them and made the greatest slaughter that euer hapned in Barberie Thus after the battell ended and the ioyfull sound of victorie rung through the Christian Armie the souldiers furnished themselues with the enemies spoyles and martched by saint Georges direction to the Cittie of Tripolie being then almost vnpeopled through the late slaughter In which Cittie after they had râ—sted some few dayes and refreshed themselues with holsome food the English Champion in reuenge of his former proffered iniuries by the Moroco King gaue hys seuere sentence of death First hee commaunded a brazen cauldron to bee filled with boyling Lead and Brimstone then Almidor to be brought to the place of death by twelue of the Noblest Pieres in Barberie therein to be consumed flesh blood and bone which was duelie performed within seauen dayes following the brazen cauldron was erected by the appointment of saint George directlie in the middle of the chiefest Market place vnder which a mightie hot fire continually burned for the space of of eight and fortie houres whereby the boyling Lead and Bâ—imstone seemed to sparckle like the fierie furnaces in hell and the heate to eâ—ceede the burning Ouen at Babilon Thus all thinges béeing no sooner prepared in a readines the Christian Champions present to behold the wofull spectakle but the condemned Blackâ—more King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of the finest Indian silk his hands pinniond together with a chaine of gold his face couered with a Damske Scarfe his attendants chiefe conducters twelue Moroco Pieres clad in Sablâ— gownes of Taffetie carring before him the whéele of fortune with the picture of a Usurper climbing vp with this Motto on his breast I will be king in spite of Fortune vpon the top of the whéele the picture of a Monarke vaunting with this Motto on his breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheele the picture or perfect image of a deposed Potentate falling with hys head downewards with this Motto on hys breast I haue beene a King so pleaseth Fortune which plainelie signified the chaunce of warre and the constancie of destenie hys guard was a thousand Christian souldiers holding fortune in disdaine after them attended a hundred of Moroco virgins in blacke ornaments their haire bounds vp with siluer wiers and couered with vales of black silke signifiing the sorrow of their countrie for the losse of their Soueraigne In this mournefull manner came the vnfortunate Almidor to the boyling Câ—ulderne which wheÌ„ he beheld hys heart waxed cold and his tongue dâ—ueide of vtterance for a time yet at last he brake foorth into thesâ— earnest protestations proffering more for his life than the whole Kingdome of Barberie can performe Most mightie inuincible Champion of Christendome quoth he let my life be ransomed and thou shâ—lâ— yearely receaue ten tunnes of â—ried gold a hundred inchs of wouen silke the which our Indian maides shall sit and spinne â—ith siluer whéeles a hundred Arguses of spices and â—efined suger shal be yearely paid thee by our Barberie 〈◊〉 a hundred waggons likewise richly laden wit◠〈◊〉 aâ—d Iasper stones which by our cunning Lapidisies â—hall 〈◊〉 yearelie chosen foorth and brought â—hee home to England â—o make that blessed countrie the richest land within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will â—eliuer vp my Diadem with all my Princely dignities and in companie of these Moroco Lordes like bridled Horses drawe thée daylie in a siluer Charriot vp and downe the serâ—led earth til death giues end to our liues Pilgrimage Therefore most admired Knight at Armes let these salt teares that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtaine one graunt of comfort at thy handes for on my bended knées I beg for life that neuer before this time did kneele to any mortallman Thou speakst in vaine replyed saint George it is not the treasures hidden in the déepest seas nor all the golden mines of rich America that can redéeme thy life thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practises in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereaue me of my life Likewise through thy treachery I endâ—red a long imprisonment in Persia where for seauen yeares I dranke the Channell water and suffizde my hunger with the breads of branne meale My foode the loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismall dungeon where neither sunne nor the chearefull light of heauen lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered iniuries the hâ—auens inforceth mee to a spéedy reuenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Engine prepared for thy death this brazen Caldron fild with boyling lead and brimstone wherein thy cursed body shall be spéedily cast and boyled till thy detested limbs bee consumed to a watry sâ—bstance by this sparckling lickour therefore prepare thy selfe to entertaine the violent stroake of death and willingly byd all thy kingly dignities farewell But yet I let thée vnderstand that mercy harboreth in a Christians hart and where mercy dwels there faults are forgiuen vppon some humble penetence though thy trespasse deserues 〈◊〉 pitty but seuere punishment yet vpon these considerations I will graunt thée liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy false Gods Termagaunt Mahomet and Apollo which he but the vayne imaginations of man and beléeue in our true and euer liuing God vnder whose banner we Christians haue taken in hande this long warre Secondly thou shalt giue commandement that all thy barbarous Nations be christened in the faith of Christ Thirdly and lastly that thy thrée Kingdomes of Barbary Moroco India sweare true alleagance to all Christian Kings and neuer to beare Armes but in the true quarrell of Christ and his annoynted Nations These things duly obserued thy life shall be preserued and thy liberty obtayned otherwise looke for no mercy but a spéedy and most â—yrâ—ible death These wordes more displeased the vnchristian King of Morco than the sentence of his condemnation and in these briefe spéeches set downe his resolution Great Potentate of Europe replied Almidor by whose mightines fortune sits fettered in the chaines of power my golden Diadem and regall Scepter by constraint I must deliuer vp but before I forsake my countrie Gods I will indure a hundred deathes and before my conscience be reformed to a new faith the earth
blâ—w which fatall spectakle incouraged her to a spéedy performance and by the light of the two lamps shée vnbraced her vestures and stripped her selfe into her milke-white smock hauing not so much vpon her head as a Caule to hold vp her golden haire After this she tooke her siluer bodkin that before shee had secretly hidden in her haire and with a wrathfull countenance vpon whose browes sate the image of pale death shee came to her nâ—we married sister béeing then ouercome with a heauie slumber and with her Bodkin perced her tender breast who immediatly at the â—â—oke thereof started from her sléepe and gaue such a pittifull â—â—rike that it would haue wâ—kened the whole Court but that the Chamber 〈◊〉 farre from the hearing of all company except her bloody minded sister whose hand was ready to redouble her furie with a second stroke But when Marcilla beheld the shéetes and ornaments of her bed bestained with pâ—â—ple gaze and from her breast ran streames of Crimson blood which like to a fountains trickled from her Iuorie bosome shee breathed foorth thys earnest exclamation against the crueltie of Castria O sister said she hath nature harboured in thy breast a bloody minde What Furie hath incenst thée thus to commit my Tragedy In what haue I 〈◊〉 or wherein hath my tongue 〈…〉 What cause hath béene occasion that thy remorceles hand against true natiâ—â—â—y hath conuerted my ioyfull Nuptials to a wofull Funerall This is the cause replyed Castria and therewithall shewed her wombe growne big through the burden of her Childe that I haue bathed my handes in thy detested blood Sée see Marcilla said shée the vnhappie bed wherin thy accursed husband oath sâ—wen his séed by which my virgins honour 〈◊〉 foâ— euer stainde this is the spot which thy heart blood must wash away and this is the shame that nothing but death shall 〈◊〉 Therefore a swéete reuenge and a present murther will I likewise commit vppon my selfe whereby my loathed soule incompany of my vnborne babe shall wander with thy Ghost along the Stygiâ—n lakes Which wordes béeing no sooner finished but she violently pierced her owne breast whereby the two sisters 〈◊〉 were equally mingled together but now Marcilla beeing the first wounded and the nearer drawing towards death she wofully complained this dying Lamentatioâ— Draw nere said shée you blazing starres you earthlie Angels and imbrothered Girles you louely Ladies flourishing Dames of Scythia behold hir wofull end whose glorâ—â—â— mounted higher than the elements behold my marriage bed which is beautified with Tapestrie now conuerted to deaths bloody habitation my braue attire to earthly mould and my Princely Pallaces to Elizium 〈◊〉 being a place appointed for those Dames that liude and dide true virgins for now I feele the paines of death closing my liues windowes and my heart readie to entertaine the stroke of desteniâ— Come Floridon come in steed of armes get Eagles wings that in thy bosome I may breath my murthered Ghost world fare thou well I was too proud of thy inticing pleasures thy Princely pompe and all thy glistering ornaments I must for euer bid adue Father farewell with all thy masking Traine of Courtly Ladies Knights Gentlewomen my death I know will make thy Pallace â—â—aths gloomie regiment and last of all farewell thy Noble Floridon for thy swéete sake Marcilla nowe is murthered At the end of which words the dying Ladie béeing faint with the abundance of blood that issued from her wounded breast gaue vp the Ghost No sooner had pale death ceazed vpon her â—â—eles body but Castria likewise through 〈…〉 of her wound was readie to entertaine the stroke of the fatall sisters who likewise complained in this manner Harken you louing Girles saide shee to you I speake that knowes what endles griefe disloyall and false loue brâ—â—des inconstant mindes the thought whereof is so intollerable to my soule that it excéeds the torments of Danaus daughters that continually filles water into the bottomles tubs in hell Oh that my eares had neuer listned to â—â—â—fugered spéeches or neuer knowne what Courtly pleasures meant where beautie is a baite for euery lustfull eye but rather to haue liude a Countrie Lasse where swéete content is harboured and beauty shrowded vnder true humility then had not Floridon bereaued me of my swéet virginity nor had not this accuâ—sed hand committed this cruell murder but oh I féele my soule passing to Eliziâ—â— shades where Crusas shadow and Didos Ghost hath their abiding thither doth my spirit flye to bee entertained amongst those vnhappy Ladies that vnconstant loue hath murdered thus Castria not béeing able to speake any longer gaue a verie grieuous sigh and so bad adue to the world But when the morninges sun had chast away the darksome night FloridoÌ„ who little mistrusted the tragedy of the two sisters repayred to the chamber dore with a Consort of skillfull Musitians where their conspiring hâ—rmonye sounded to the walls and Floridons morninges salutations were spente in vayne for death so stopt the two Princes eares that no resound of thankes at all reanswered his wordes which caused Floridon to departe thinking them to be a sléepe and to returne with in an hower 〈◊〉 who with out any company came to the chamber dore where be a gain found all silent at which suspecting some further euent burst open the dore where being no sooner entred but he found the two Ladies wâ—ltring in purple â—ore which wofull spectackle presently so bereaued him of his wits that like a franticke man he raged vp and downe and in this maner bitterly complained Oh you immortal powers open the wrathfull gates of heauen in your Iustice punish me for my vnconstant loue hath murthered two of the brauest Ladies that euer nature framed reuiue swéetâ— Dames of Scythia heare mâ—e speake that 〈◊〉 the wofullest wretch that euer spake with tongue If Ghost may here be giuen for Ghost deare Ladies take my soule and liue or if my hart might dwell within your breasts this hand shal equally deuide it What are wordes vaine although my proffer cannot purchase life nor recouer your breathing spirits againe yet vengeaunce shall 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 shall 〈◊〉 my fatall 〈◊〉 and here 〈…〉 bloody brest of soule â—hereby my vnhappie Ghost shall followe you throug◠〈◊〉 Tartar gulfes through burning lakes through the low 〈◊〉 shades of dreadfull Coffitus gape gape 〈◊〉 earth 〈◊〉 wombe make all our toombes together 〈◊〉 wofull lamentation being no sooner brâ—athed 〈◊〉 hys sorrowfull brest 〈◊〉 finished his dayes by the sâ—â—â—ke of that same accursed â—â—â—kin that was the bloody instrument of the two sisters deathes the which he found shall remayning in the remorceles hand of Castria Thus haue you heard most worthie Knight the true Tragedy of thrée of the goodliest personages that euer nature framed but now with dilligent eares listen to the vnfortunate discourse of mine owne miserie which in this vnhappy manner fell out For no sooner came the â—lâ—ing â—â—â—sicke of
raging seas arriued in the vnhappy dominions of Iuda vnhappy by reason of the long and troublesome misery hee indured for the loue of a fayre Iew For comming to the rich and beautifull Citty of Ierusalem being in that age the woonder of the world for braue buildings Princely Pallaces gorgeous Monuments and time woondering Temples hee so admired the glorious scituation thereof being the richest place that euer his eyes behâ—ld that he stoode before the walles of Ierusalem one while gazing vppon her golden gates glistering against the Suns bright countenance another while beholding her stately Pâ—nnacles whose lofty péering tops seemde to touch the Clouds another while woondring at her towers of Iasper Iett and Ebony her strong and fortefied walles thrée times doubled about the Citty the glistering Spires of the Temples of Sion built in the fashion and similitude of two Piramides the auncient monument of Greece whose battlements were couered with stéele the walles burnished with siluer and the ground paued with tinne Thus as this inobled and famoused knight at Aâ—mâ—s stood beholding the scituation of Ierusalem there sodainely thundred such a peale of Ordinance within the Citty that it séemed in his rauished conceit to shake the vales of heauen and to mooue the déepe foundations of the fastned earth whereat his horse gaue such a sodaine start that he leâ—t forty foote from the place whereon he stood After this he heard the chearefull sound of Drums and the ecchoes of brazen Trumpets by which the good Champion exspected some honorable pastime or some great tâ—rnament to be at hand which indeede so fell out for no sooner did he cast his vigilant eyes toward the East side of the City but he beheld a troope of well appointed horse come marching through the Gates after them twelue Armed Knights mounted on Warlike Coursees bearing in their handes twelue blood red streamers wheron was wrought in silke the picture of Adonis wounded with a Bore after them the King drawne in a Charriot by Spanish Genets which be a certaine kind of Steeds ingendred by the winde The Kings Guard were a hundred nâ—ked Moores with Turkish Bowes and Darts feathered with Rauens quilles after them marched Celestine the â—ing of Ierusalems faire Daughter mounted on a tâ—me Unicorne in her hand a Iauelin of siluer Armed with a breast plate of gold artificially wrought like the skales of a Porcupine her Guard were a hundred Amazonian Dames â—lad in greene 〈◊〉 after them follâ—wed a â—umber of â—â—quiers Gentlemen some vpon Barbarian Stéeds some vpon Arabian Palfrayâ—s and some on foote in pace more nimbler than the tripping Dâ—are â— more swifter than the tameles Harts vâ—on the mountaines of Thessalie Thus Nâ—buzaradan great King of Ierusalem for so was he called solemnely â—unted in the Wildernes of Iuda bâ—eing a countrie verie much anoyed with wilde beasts as the Lyon the Leopard the Bore and such like In which exercise the King apointed as it was proclâ—imed by his chiefe Harrold at Armes the which he heard repeated by a shéepheard in the fieldes that whosoeuer sâ—ewe the first wilde beast in the Forrest shuld haue in reward a Corsâ—et of stéele so richlie ingraued that it shuld be worth a thousand sickles of siluer Of which Honorable enterprise when the Champion had vnderstanding with what liberall bountie thâ— aduentâ—rus Knights should bee rewarded his heart was â—â—angâ—ted with inuincible courage thirsting after glorious attempts not onely for hope of gaine but for the desire of Honour At which hys illustrious and vndaunted 〈◊〉 aymed at to internize his déedes in the memorable records of Fame and to shine as a Christall mirrour to all insuing times So closing downe his Beuer and locking on his furniture scoured ouer the plaines before the Hunters of Ierusalem in paâ—e more swifter than the winged windes till he aproched an olde solitarie and vnfrequented Forrest wherein he espied a huge and mighty wilde Bore lying before his mossie den gnawing vpon the mangled ioynts of some passenger which hee had murthered as hee trauailed through the Forrest This Bore was of a wonderfull length and bignes so tyrrable to behold that at the first sight hee almost daunted the courage of this Spanish Knight for his monstrous head séemed vgly and deformed hys eyes sparkeled like a â—irie furnace hys tuskes more sharper than picks of steâ—le and from hys nostrels fumed such a violent breath that it séemed like a tempestious whirle winde his brissels were more harder than seauen times milted brasse and his tayle more loathsome than a wreath of Snakes Nâ—re whomâ— when Saint Iames approched and beheld how he drank the blood of humane creatures and deuoured their fleshe hée blew hys siluer horne which as then hung at the pummell of hys saddle in a scarfe of gréene silke whereat the furious monster roused himselfe and most fiercely assailed the Noble Champion which most nimbly leaped from his horse with his speare stroke such a violent blow against the brest of the Borâ— that it shiuered into twentie péeces Then drawing hys good Fauchion from hys side gaue him a second incounter but all in vaine for hee stroke as it were on a Rocke of stone or a piller of Iron nothing hurtfull to the Bore but at last with staring eies which sparkled like burning stéele and with open Iawes the gréedy monster assailed the Champion intending to swallow him aliue but the nimble Knight as then trusted more vpon pollicie than to fortitude and so for aduantage skipped from place to place till on a sodaine he thrust his kéene edged 〈◊〉 aâ—e downe his intestine throate and so most valiantly split his hart in sunder The which beeing accomplished to his own desâ—ers he cut off the Bores head and so presented the Honour of his Combat to the king of Ierusalem who as then with his mightie traine of Knights were but now enâ—â—red the Forrest but haâ—ing gratiously accepted the giâ—t and bountifullie fulfilled his promises demaunding the Champions Countrie his Religion place of Natiuitie who no sooner had intelligence how he was a Christian Knight and borne in the territories of Spaine but presently his patience exchaunged into extreame furie and by these wordes heâ— expressed his cankered stomacke towardes the Christian Champion Knowst thou not bold Knight said the King of Ierusalem that it is the law of Iuda to harbour no vncircumsiced man but eyther bannish him the land or end his dayes by some vntimelâ— death Thou art a Christian and therefore shalt thou die not all thy countries treasure the wealthie Spanish mines nor if all the Alphes which deuide the countries of Italie and Spaine were turned to hilles of burnisht gold and made my lawfull heritage they shuld not redéeme thy life Yet for the Honour thou haste done in Iuda I grant thée this loue by the law of Armes to choose thy death els hadst thou suffered a timmerous torment which seuere Iudgment amazed the Champion that desperately he would haue gorgde
him selfe vppon his owne sworde but that he thought it an honour to hys countrie to die in the defence of Christendome So like a true innobled Knight fearing neyther the threates of the Iewes nor the impartiall stroake of the faâ—all sisters gaue this sentence of his own death First he requested to bee bounde to a pine tree with his breast laid open naked against the Sun then to hâ—ue an â—owers respite to make his suplication to his Creator and afterwardes to be shot to death by a pure Uirgin Which wordes were no sooner pronounced but they disarmed him of hys furniture bound him to a Pine trée and laide his breast open readie to entertaine the bloody strâ—ke of some vnrelenting maiden but such pittie mâ—â—ke mercy and kinde lenâ—ty lodged in the heart of â—â—rie maiden that none would take in hand to be the bloody Executioner of so braue a Knight At last the tyrranous Nabuzaradan gaue strickt commandement vpon paine of death that lotâ— shuld be cast amongst the maidens of Iuda that were there present and to whome the lot did fall should be the fatall executioner of the condemned Champion But by fortune the chaunce fell to Celestine the Kinges own Daughter beeing the Parragon of beautie and the fairest Maide then liuing in Ierusalem in whose heart no such deede of crueltie coulde be harboured nor in whose hand no bloodâ— weapon could be entertained In stéede of deathes fatall Instrument sheâ— shot towards his breast a déepe strained sigh the true messenger of loue and afterward to heauen she thus made her humble supplication Thou great commaunder of celestiall moouing powers conuert the cruell motions of my Fathers minde into a spring of pittifull teares that they may wash away the blood of this innocent Knight from the habitation of his stained purple soule O Iuda and Ierusalem within whose bâ—somes liues a Wildernes of Tygers degenerate from natures kinde more cruell than the hungrie Canibals and more obdurate than vntamed Lyons what merciles Tyger can vnrip that breast where liues the Image of true Nobilitie the verie patterne of Knighthood and the map of a Noble minde No no before my handes shall be stained with Christians blood I will like Scilla against all nature sell my countries safetie or like Maedea wander with the golden Fléece to vnknowne Nations Thus and in such manner complained the beautious Celestine the Kings Daughter of Ierusalem till her sighes stopped the passage of her spéech and her teares stained the naturall beautie of her Rosie Cheekes her haires which glistered like to golden wiers she bâ—smâ—â—de in dust and disâ—obed her selfe from her costly garments and then with a traine of her Amazonian Ladies went to the King her Father where after a long 〈◊〉 she not onely obtainde his life but libertie yet therwithall hys perpetuall banishment from Ierusalem and from all the borderâ— of Iuda the want of whose sight more grieued her hart than the losse of her owne life So this Noble praise worthie Celestâ—ne returned to the Christian Champion that expected euerie minnute to entertaine the sentence of death but his expectation fell out contrarie for the good Ladie after shee had sealed two or three kisses vpon his pale lips beeing exchaunged through the feare of death cut the â—andes that bound hys body to the trée in a hundred péeces 〈◊〉 with a â—â—oud of fault teares the motions of true loue she thus reuealed her minde Most Noble Knight and true Champion of Christendome thy life and libertie I haue gainde but therewithall thy banishment from Iuda which is a hell of horror to my soule for in thy bosome haue I built my happines and in thy hart I account the Paradice of my true loue thy first â—â—ght and louely countenance did so rauish mee when these eyes behâ—ld thée mounted on thy Princely Paâ—fray that euer since my hart hath burnde in affection therefore deare Knight in reward of my loue be thou my Champion and for my sake weare this ring with this posâ—e ingrauen in 〈◊〉 Ardio affectione and so giuing him a ring from her finger and there withall a kisse from her mouth shee departed with a sorrowfull sigh in companiâ— of her Father and the rest of hys Honourable traine backe to the Citty of Ierusalem béeing as then néere the setting of the Sunne But now Saint Iames the Champion of Spaine hauing passed the danger of death and at full libeâ—â—â—e to depart from that vnhappie Nation hee fell into a hundred cogitations one while thinking vpâ—n the tâ—ue loue of Celestine whose name as yet he was ignorant of another while vpon the cruelâ—ie of her father then â—ntending to depart into hâ—s his owne countrie but lâ—â—king 〈◊〉 to the Towers of Ierusalem his minde sodainely altâ—red for thither hee purposed to goe hoping to haue a sight of hyâ— Ladiâ— and Mistresse and to liue in some disguised â—ortâ—â— her presence and bee her loues true Champion against all 〈◊〉 So gathering certaine blackberies from the trées he coloured his body all ouer like a Blaâ—kamoore But yet considering that hys spéech would discouer him intended likewise to continue dumbe all the time of his residence in Ierusalem So all thinges ordered according to his desire he tooke his iournie to the Cittie where with signes and other motions of dumbnes he declared his intent which was to bée entertained in the Court and to spend his time in the seruice of the King But when the King beholdâ— his countenance which seemed of the naturall colour of the Moore little mistrusted him to be the Christian Champion whome before he greatly enuied but accounted him one 〈◊〉 the brauest Iudean Knights that euer his eye behelde therefore hee instauld him with the honouâ— of Knighthood 〈◊〉 â—ppointed him to bee one of his Guard and likewise his Daughters onlie Championâ— But whâ—â— Saint Iames of Spaine sawâ— himselfe inâ—ested in that honoured place his soule was raâ—ished with such excéeding ioy that he thought no pleasure comparable to hys no place of Elisium but the Court of Ierusalem and no Goddesse 〈◊〉 hys beloued Celestine Lâ—ng continued he 〈◊〉 casting foorth manie a louing sigh in the presence of his Ladie and Mistresse not knowing how to reueale the secrets of his minde So vppon a time there ariued in the Court of Nabuzaradan the King of Arabia with the Admirall of Babilon both presuming vpon the loue of Celestine and crauing her in the way of marriage but shée exempted all motions of loue from her chaste minde onlie building her thoughtes vpon the Spanish Knight which shée supposed to bee in hys owne Countriâ— At whose melancholie passions her importunate sutors the King of Arabia and the Admâ—â—all of Babilon 〈◊〉 and therefore intended vppâ—â—â—n Euening to prâ—sent her with some rare deuised Maske â—o choosing out fiâ— consorts for their Courtly pastimes Of which number the King of Arabia was chiefe and first leader of 〈◊〉 traine the great Admirall of Babilon was the second and
and inuincible prowesse where hys dangerous battailes fierce encounters bloodie skirmishes and long assaults woulde serue to fill a mightie volume all which I passe ouer wholly discoursâ— of things appertaining to this History for 〈…〉 warres at Rhodes were fully ended which continued some two yeares the worthy Champion saint Pattricke accounting idle ease the nurse of cowardise bad Rhodes farewell being then strongly fortefied with Christian Souldiers and tooke his iourney thorough many an vnknowne Countrey where at last it pleased so the Quéene of chance to direct his steppes into a solitary wildernesse inhabited onely by wilde Satyrs and a people of inhumane quallities giuing theyr wicked mindes onely to murther lust and rape wherein the noble Champion trauelled vp and downe many a weary steppe not knowing how to sustaine his hunger but by his owne industry in killing of wild venison and pressing out the blood betwixt two mighty stones dayly râ—sted it by the heate of the Sunne his lodging was in the hollow truncke of a blasted trée which nightly preserude him from the dropping showres of heauen his chiefe companion was the swéete resounding eccho which commonly reanswered the Champions wordes In this manner liued saint Pattrick the Irish Knight in the woods not knowing how to set him selfe at liberty but wandring vp and downe as it were 〈◊〉 a maze wrought by the curious workemanship of some excellent Gardner it was his chaunce at last to come into a dismall shady thicket beset about with balâ—full misselto a place of horror wherein he heard the cryes of some distressed Ladies whose bitter lamentations seemd to pierce the clowds and to craue succour at the hands of God which vnexspected cryes not a little daunted the Irish Knight so that it causde him to prepare his weapon in readines against some sodain incounter So couching himselfe close vnder the roote of an olde withered Oake which had not flourished with gréene leaues in many a yeare hee espied a farre off a crew of bloody minded Satyrs hauling by the hayre the sixe vnhappy Ladies thorough many a thorny brake and bryer whereby the beauty of theyr crimson chéekes was all to besprent with purple gore and theyr eyes within whose cleare glasses one might behold the God of loue dancing all to be rent torne by the fury of the bryers whereby they could not sée the light of heauen nor the place of theyr vnfortunate abyding which wofull spectacle forced such a terror in the heart of the Irish Knight that he presently made out for the rescue of the Ladies against the bloody fury of the mercilesse Satyrs which were in number about some thirty euery one hauing a mighty clubbe vpon his necke which they had made with roots of yong Oakes and Pine trées yet this aduenterous Champion being nothing discouraged but with a bold and resolute minde he let driue at the sturdiest Satyr whose Armour of defence was made of a Buls hide which was dryed so hard against the Sunne that the Champions Curtle-axe little preuayled after which the fell Satyrs incompassed the Christian Knight round about and so mightely opprest him with downe right blowes that had he not by good fortune leapt vnder the boughes of a mighty trée his life had béene forst to giue the world a spéedy farewell But such was his nimblenes and actiue pollicy that â—re long he sheathed his sharpe pointed Fauchion in one of the Satyrs breasts which wofull sight caused all the rest to fly from his presence and left the sixe Ladyes to the pleasure disposition of the most Noble and couragious Christian Champion Who after he had sufficiently breathed and cooled himself in the chill Ayre being almost windles through the long incounter and bloody Skyrmish he demaunded the cause of the Ladyes trauels and by what meanes they hapned into the handes of those mâ—â—cilessâ— Satyrs who most cruelly and tyrannically attemâ—â—ed the vtter ruine and endlesse spoyle of their vnspotted â—â—â—ginity To which curteous demand one of the Ladies aâ—â—er a déepe fetcht sigh or two being constrained from the bâ—â—tome of her most sorrowfull hart in the behalfe of her selfe and the other distressed Ladies replied in this order redéemed vs distressed Ladies from a double death the one in preseruing our chasteties from the lustfull desires of the Satiers the other in sauing our liues from the threatning furies of the monsters Know braue minded Knight that wee are the vnfortunate Daughters of the King of Thrace whose liues hath béene vnhappie euer since our creations For first wee did indure a long imprisonment vnder the handes of a cruell Giant and after the heauens to preserue our Chasteties from the wicked desires of the said Gyant transformed vs into the shape of Swans in which likenes we remayned seauen yeares but at last recouered by a worthy Christian Knight named S. Andrew the Champion of Scotland after whom we haue trauailed many a wery step neuer crost by any violence vntill it was our angry fates to ariue in this vnhappy Wildernes where your eyes haue béene true witnesses of our wofull misfortunes Which sad discourse béeing no sooner finished but the worthy Champion began thus to comfort the distressed Ladyes The Christian Champion after whom you take in hand this wearie trauaile said the Irish Champion is my approoued friend for whose companie and wished sight I wil goe more weary miles than there be trées in this accursed Wildernes and number my steppes with the multitude of sands hidden in the seas therefore most excellent Ladies true ornaments of beautie bee sad companions in my trauailes for I will neuer cease til I haue found our honorable friend the Champion of Scotland or some of those braue Knightes whome I haue not séene these seauen Sommers These wordes so contented the sorrowfull Ladies that without any exception they agréed and with as much willingnes consented as the Champion demaunded So after they had recouered their sights eased their wearines and cured their woundes which was by the secret vertues of certaine hearbes growing in the same woodes tooke their iournies anew vnder the conduct of this worthie Champion Saint Pattrick where after some dayes trauaile obtained the fight of a broade beaten way where committing their fortunes to the fatall sisters and setting their faces toward the east merrilie iournied together In whose fortunate trauailes we leaue and speake of the seauenth Christian Champion whose aduenterous exployts and Knightly Honours deserues a golden pen dipt in the inke of true Fame to discourse at large CHAP. IX How Saint Dauid the Champion of Wales slewe the Countie Palatine in the Tartarian Court and after howe hee was sent to the Inchaunted Garden of Ormondine wherein by Magicke Art he slept seauen yeares SAint Dauid the most Noble Champion of Wales after his departure from the brazen piller where as the other Champions of Christendome deuided themselues seuerally to séeke for forraine aduentures he atchiued many memorable thinges as well in Christendome as in
those Nations that acknowledge no true God which for this time I omit and only discourse what hapned vnto him amongst the Tartarians For béeing in the Emperour of Tartaries Court a place very much honoured with valerous Knights and highlie gracâ—e with a trayne of beauteous Ladies where the Emperour vpon a time ordayned a solemne Ioust and Turnament to be holden in the honour of hys birth day whether resorted at the time appointed from all the borders of Tartarie the best and hardiest Knights there remayning In which honorable Princely exercise the Noble Knight Saint Dauid was appointed Champion for the Emperour who was mounted vppon a Moroco Steede betrapped in a rich Caparison wrought by the curious workmanship of the Indian women vppon whose shield was set a golden Griffon rampant in a fielde of blew Against him came the Countie Palatine Sonne heire aparant to the Tartarian Emperour brought in by twelue Knights richly furnished with all habilliments of honour and paced thrée times about the Lists before the Emperor and many Ladies that were present to behold the honourable Turnament The which béeing done the twelue Knights departed the Lists and the Countie Palatine prepared himselfe to encounter with the Christian Knight being then appointed chiefe Champion for the day who likewise locked downe his Beuer and at the Trumpets sound by the Harrolds appointment ran so fiercely one against the other that the ground seemed to thunder vnder them the skies to resounde ecchoes of their mighty strokes At the second race the Champions ran Saint Dauid had the worse was constrained through the forcible strength of the Countie Palatine to fall backwarde almost beside hys saddle whereat the Trumpets began to sound in signe of victorie but yet the valiant Christian nothing dismayed but with a courage within whose eyes saie Knightlie reuenge ran the third time against the County Palatine and by the violent force of hys strength he ouerthrew both horse man wherby the Counties body was so exstreamly brused with the fall of hys horse that hys heart blood issued foorth from hys nostrels and hys vitall spirits pressed from the mancion of hys breast that he was forced to giue the world a timeles farewell This fatall ouerthrow of the Countie Palatine abashed the whole company but especially the Tartarian Emperour who hauing no more sonnes but him caused the Lists to be broken vp the Knights to be vnarmed and the murthered Countie to bee brought by foure Squiers into hys Pallace where after he was dispoyled of hys furniture the Christian Knight receaued it in the honour of hys victorie The wofull Emperour bathed the Tartarians bodie with teares which dropped like Christall Pearles vpon his congealed blood where after many sadde sighs hee breathed forth this wofull lamentation Now are my triumphs turnd to euerlasting woes from a commicall pastime to a dierefull and bloody tragedy O most vnkinde fortune neuer constant but in change Why is my life deferde to sée the downefall of my deare Son the Noble County Palatine why rends not this accursed earth whereon I stand and presently swallow vp my body into her hungrie bowels Is this the vse of Christians for true Honour to repay dishonour could no bace blood serue to staine hys deadly handes withall but with the precious blood of my deare Sonne in whose reuenge the face of the heauens is stained with blood and cryes for vengeaunce to the Maiesty of high eternall Ioue the dreadfull furies the direfull daughters of darke night and all the balefull companie of burning Acharon whose loynes be girt with Serpents and haire be hangde with wreathes of Snakes shall haunt pursue and followe thaâ— aâ—cursed Chrstian Champion that hath bereaued my Countrie Tartarie of so precious a Iewell as my deare Sonne the Countie Palatine was whose magnanimious prowesse did surpasse all the Knights of our Countrie Thus sorrowed the wofull Emperour for the death of his Noble sonne sometimes making the ecchoes of his lamentations pearce the elements another while forcing his bitter curses to sinke to the déepe foundation of Acharon one while intending to bée reuenged vpon Saint Dauid the Christian Champion then presently his intent was crost with a contrary imagination that it was against the Lawe of Armes and a great dishonour to his Country by violence to oppresse a strange Knight whose actions hath euer béene guided by true honour but yet at last this firme resolution entred into his minde There was adioyning vppon the borders of Tartary an inchaunted garden kept by Magicke art from whence neuer any returned that attempted to enter the Gouernour of which garden was a notable and famous Nigromancer named Ormondine to which Magitian the Tartarian Emperour intended to sende the aduenterous Champion saint Dauid thereby to reuenge the County Pallatines death So the Emperour after some fewe dayes passed and the Obsequies of his sonne being no sooner perfourmed but he caused the Christian Knight to be brought into his presente to whom he committed this heauy taske and weary labour Proude Knight sayd the angry Emperour thou knowest since thy ariuall into our Territories howe highly I haue honoured thee not onely ingraunting liberty of life 〈◊〉 making thée chiefe Champion of Tartarie which high honour thou haste repaide with great ingratitude and blemished true Nobilitie in acting of my deare sonnes Tragedy For which vnhappie déede thou rightly haste deserued death But yet know accursed Christian that mercie harboureth in a Princely minde and where honour sits inthronizeâ— there Iustice is not too seuere Although thou hast deserued death yet if thou wilt aduenture to the Inchaunted garden and bring hether the Magitians head I graunt thée not only thy life but therewithall the Crowne of Tartarie after my discease because I sée then haste a minde furnished with all Princely thoughtes and adornde with true Magnanimitie This heauie taske and strange aduenture not a little pleased the Noble Champion of Wales whose minde euer thirsted after straunge aduentures and so after some considerate thoughts in this manner he replied Most high and magnificent Emperour said the Champion were this taske which you inioyne me to as wonderfull as the labors of Hercules or as fearefull as the interprise which Iason made for the golden â—leâ—ee yet would I attempt to finish and returne with more triumph to Tartarie than the Macedonian Monarkâ— did to Babilon when he had conquered the Angels of the world Which words béeing no sooner ended but the Emperour 〈…〉 by hys oath of Knighthood and by the loue he beares vnto hys natiue countrie neuer to follow any other aduenture till he had performed hys promise which was to bring thâ— Magitian Ormondines head into Tartarie And so the Emperour departed from the Noble Knight Saint Dauid 〈…〉 â—â—uer to sée him returne â—ut rather â—eare his vtter confusion or euerlasting imprisonment Thus this valiant Christian Champion being bounde to a heauie taske within thrée dayes prepares all necessaries in readines
had not long remayned but her heart began to fainâ— for hunger and her colour that was but a little before as 〈◊〉 as any Ladies in the world beganne to chaunge for want of some drinke whereat the famous Champion Saint George halfe dead with griefe comforted her as well as hee could after this manner Faint not my deare Lady said the Champion here iâ— that goodsword that once preserued thée from the burning Dragon and before thou die for want of sustenance it shall make waâ— to euery corner of this wildernes where I will eyther kill some venisâ—n to refreshe thy hungry stomacke or make my toomb in the bowels of some monstrâ—us beast therefore abide thou here vnder this trée in company of thy faithfull Euenuke till I returne eyther with the fleshe of some wilde Deare or els some â—lying Birde to refreshe thy spirits to a new trauaile Thus left he hys beloued Lady with the Euenuke to the mercy of the woods and trauailed vp and downe the Wildernes till he espyed a Heard of faited Deare from which company he â—â—â—gled out the fayrest and like a tripping Satire coursed her to death then with hys keene edged sword cut out the goodlyest haunch of venison that euer Hunters eye beheld which giâ—t he supposed to bee most welcome to his beloued Lady But marke what hapned in his absence to the two wearie trauailers abiding vnder the â—ra where after Saint Georges departure they had not long sitâ—â—n discoursing one while of their long iournies another while of their safe deliuerie from the Blackamoore King spending the stealing time away with many an auncient storie but there appeared out of a thicket two huge and mâ—nstrous Lyons which came directly pacing towardes the two trauailers which fearefull spectakle whâ—â— Sabra beheld hauing a hart oueâ—charged with the extreame feare of death wholy committed her soule into the â—ands of God and her body almost famished for foode to suffâ—ce the hunger of the two furious Lyons who by the appointment of heauen proâ—â—â—red not so much as to lay their wrathfull pawes vpon the smallest part of the Ladies garment but with eger moode assailed the Euenuke till they had buried hys body in the emptie vaults of their hungry bowels then with their téeth lately imbrued in blood râ—nt the Euenukes Stéed 〈◊〉 a thousand péeces which béeing done they came to 〈◊〉 Lady which sate quaking â—â—lfe dead with feare like two Lambs couched their 〈◊〉 vpon her laâ— where with her handes she stroked downe their brisled haire not daring almost to breath till a heauie sleepe had ouer-mastered their refreshed sences by which time the Princely minded Champâ—on Saint George returned with a péece of venison vppon the point of hys sword who at that vnexpected fight stood in a maze whether it were best to flye for sauegard of hys life or to venture hys fortune against the furious Lions But at last the loue of hys Lady so incouragde him to a forwardnes which he beheld quaking before the dismal gates of death So laying downe hys vâ—nison he presently like a victorious Champion sheathed hys approued â—auchion most furiously into the bowels of one of the Lyons Sabra kept the other sléeping in her lappe till hys prosperous hand like wise dispatched him which aduenture béeing performed he first thanked heauen for the victorie and then in this kinde manner saluted his Lady Now Sabra said he I haue by this sufficiently prouâ—â— thy true virginitie for it is the nature of euerie Lyon be he neuer so furious not to harme the vnspotted virgin but humbly to lay his briâ—â—ed heade vppon a maâ—dens lappe Therefore diuine Paragon thou art the worldes chiefe woonder for loue and chastetie whose honoured vertues shall ring as farre as euer Phoebus lends hys light whose constancie I will mainetaine in euery Land where as I coâ—â— to be the truest vnder the cercuit of the Sunne At which word he cast hys eye aside and beheld the bloody speâ—takle of the Euenukes Tragedy which â—y Sabra was wofully discoursed to the great griefe of Saint George whose sad â—ighes serued for a dolefull knell to bewaile hys vntâ—â—eles death but hauing a Noble minde not subiect to vaine sorrow where al hope of life is past ceased his griefe 〈◊〉 prâ—pared the venison in readines for hys Ladies repast which in this order was dressed He had in hys pocket a fire-looke wherewith he stroke fire and kindled it with sun 〈…〉 and increased the 〈◊〉 with other drie 〈…〉 hee gathered in the Wildernes against which they rosted the venison and sâ—ffâ—â—ed themselues to their owne contentments After which ioyfull repast these two Princely persons set forward to their wonted trauailes whereby the happie guide of heauen â—o conducted their steppes that before manie dayes passed they ariued in the Graecian Court euen vpon that day when the marriage of the Graecian Emperour should bee solemnely holden which Royall Nuptials in former times had bin bruted into euery NatioÌ„ in the world as well into Europe as Affrica and Asia At which Honorable marriage the brauest Knights that euer liude on earth were present for golden fame had bruted the report 〈◊〉 of to the eares of the seauen Champions into Theslie to saint Dennis the Champion of Fraunce there remaining with hys beauteous Eglantine into Ciuillia to saint Iames the Champion of Spaine where he remained with hys louelie Celestine to saint Anthonie the Champion of Italie then trauailing in the borders of Scythia with hys Lady Rossalinde likewise to saint Andrew the Champion oâ— Scotland to saint Pattricke the Champion of Ireland and to saint Dauid the Champion of Wales who atchieued many memorable aduentures in the Kingdome of Tartaâ—ie as you haue heard before discoursed at large But nowe Fame and smiling Fortune consented to make their Knightlie atchiuementâ— to shine in the eyes of the whole world therefore by the conduction of Heauen they generally ariued in the Graecian Emperours Court Of whose Tilts and Turnaments there in performed to the honour of hys Nuptials my weary Muse is bounde to discourse CHAP. XII How the seuen Champions ariued in Graecia at the Emperours Nuptials where they performed many Noble atchiuements and how after open Warres was proclaimed against Christendome by the discouerie of many Knights and how euerie Champion departed into hys own Countrie TO speake of the number of Knights that assembled in the Graecian Court together were a labour ouer tedious requiring the pen of a second Homer Therfore will I omit the Honorable frame of Knights and Ladies that attended him to the Church their costly garmentes and glistring ornaments excéeding the Royaltie of Heccuba the beauteous Queene of Troy Also I passe ouer the beauteous banquets the Honourable seruices and delicious cheare that beautified the Emperours Nuptials with the statelye Maskes and Courtly daunces performed by many Noble personages and chiefely discourse of the Knightly atchiuements of the seauen Champions of Christendome whose honourable procéedings and
shall be no earth the sea no sea nor the heauen no heauen Thinkest thou now proud Christian by thy threatned tormentes to make mee forget my creator and beléeue in thy false God which was but the sonne of a Carpenter and bacely borne vnder an Oxe stall No no accursed Christians you ofspringes of Cayne you generations of Iesmaell you séede of Uipers and accursed through the world looke for a spéedie shower of vengeance to raine from heauen vppon your wicked Nations your bloodie practises hath pearst the Battlements of Ioue and your tyrranies beaten open the gaâ—es of mightie Mahomet who hath prouided whips of burning wier to scourge you for your cruelties proffered against his blessed worshippers and now with this deadlie curse I bid you all farewell the plagues of Egipt light vpon your kingdomes the curse of Cayne vpon your children the famine of Ierusalem vpon your friends and the miserie of Oedipus vppon yourselues This wicked resolution and balefull curse béeing no sooner ended by the desperate minded Almidor but the impatience of saint George was so highly mooued that he gaue present commandement to the appointed Executioners to cast him into the boyling cauldron which incontinentlie they performed to the terror of all the beholders to behold this wofulll spectakle the Battlements of Temples weâ—e so thronged with people the houses couered with women children and the stréetes filled with Armed Souldiers that it was a woonder to beholde amongst which multitudes there were some perticular persons that at the sight of Almidors death fell downe and broake their neckes But the generall number as well of Pagans as Christians cryed with chearefull voyces Honour and victory followe saint George of England for he hath redéemed Barbary from a miserable seruitude Which ioyfull hearing so delighted the seauen Champions of Christendome that they caused the Conduits to runne with wine the stréets to be beautefied with bonefiers and a sumptuous banquet to be proclaimed through the Citty which after continued for the space of seauen dayes in more magnificent Royaltie than the banquet at Babilon when the Macedonian Monarke returned from the worlds Conquest The Champions liberality procured such faithfull loâ—e in the harts of the Moroco Pieres that with a generall consent they chose saint George for theyr lawfull King where after they had inuested him in the Princely seate of the Moroco Potentates they set the Crown vpon his head and after presented him with an imperious Pall which the Kings of Barbary vsually wore vppon their Coronation day protesting to forsake theyr prophane Religion and 〈◊〉 christened in the fayth of Christ. This promised conuertion of the Infidels more delighted the English Champion than to haue the whole worlds honour at commaund for it was the chiefeest poynt of his Knightly oath to aduaunce the faith of Christe and to inlarge the boundes of Christendome after his Coronation was solemlie performed the other six Champions conductâ— him to a Princely Pallace where he tooke the true alegance of the Moroco Lordes by plighted oath to bee true to hys Crowne after this he established Christian lawes to the benefit of the whole countrie then he commaunded al the ceremonious rites of Mahomet to be trodden vnder foote the true Gospell of Christ to be preached likewise he caused all that did remaine in Barberie to be Christned in the new faith But these obseruations continued but a time as shall hereafter shall be discoursed at large For fame not intending to let the worthie Champions long to remaine in the idle bowers of peace but summoned them to perseuer in their Noble atchiuements and tâ— muster vp a new their souldiers whose Armour canckered ease had almost staind with rust therefore saint George committed the gouernment of hys countrie to foure of the principall Peares of Moroco and martched towardes the Countrie of Egipt where liued trecherous Ptolomie the Father of hys beloued Lady Sabra whome hee had left in the Kingdome of England In which iournie and happie ariuall in Egipt wâ— will leaue the seauen Champions for a time and speake of the faithles Infidels in Barberie after the departure of the Christians whose former Honours they slightly regarded For no sooner had saint George with hys martiall Troupes bidden their countrie adue but the faithles Moores reconciled themselues to their former Gods and purposed a spéedie reuenge for the death of Almidor against all Christians that remained within the limmets of that Heathen Nation For there were many souldiers wounded in the late battaile Likewise a number oppressed with sicknes had the Christian Champions left behinde for their better recoueries vppon whome the barberous Moores committed their first tyrranie for they caused the distressed souldiers to be drawen vpon â—lids to the outermost part of the Cittie and there put them into a large and old Monestarie which they presently set on fire and most inhumanely burned the Christian souldiers and after conuerted the place into a filthie leastall many women and succourles children they dragged vp and downe the stréetes till their braines were dasht against the stones and the blood had couered the earth with a purple hue Many other cruelties were committed by the wicked Infidels against the distressed Christians which I â—urpose to paâ—â—e ouer and wholie discourse of the wofull and bloody murther of an English Marchant and hys wife in the same Cittie of Tripolie the report whereof may force the merciles Tygers to relent and those eyes to shed a spring of teares that neuer wept before The bloodie minded Negars violating both oath and promise before plighted to saint George by violence set vppon the Marchants house where first they made a massaker of his seruants and before hys face cast their dead bodies to hunger starued Dogges then comming to the Marchant they bound him fast with hempen cordes to the strongest post in his house and after tooke hys children béeing seauen of the goodliest boyes that euer nature â—â—amed and likewise tied round about him Then one of the Moores béeing crueller than the rest proffered to deflowre the Marchants wife before hys face but she in chastetie like Camma chose rather an honourable death than an infamous life spit in the Negars face and most bitterly reuiled him yéelding neyther to hys force nor hys bloodie threates but snatching a knife from hys girdle vowed to sheath it in her bosome before she would loose that precious Gemme of honour that once beeing gone cannot bee recouered for all the worldes treasure This resolution of the English Marchants wife caused the sterne Negars to excéede in crueltie but the principall of that wicked companie béeing a bloody and merciles Tyrant stabbed one of the sillie Children before the mothers face Now stubborne Dame quoth he wilt thou yéeld to my desires and preserue the liues of thy other sixe Children otherwise shalt thou beholde them butchered in the same manner To sell my honour for the liues of my Children replied shee will be an
the messenger to tell hys woful tale Faire Englands Champion said he in stéede of Armes get Swallowes winges and flye to England if euer thou 〈◊〉 sée thy beloued Lady for she is iudged to bee burned at a â—take for murthering the Earle of Couentrie whose lustfull desires would 〈◊〉 stayned her honour with infamie and made her the 〈◊〉 of vertuous women Yet this â—ercie is graunted by thâ—â—ing of England that if within â—oure and twenty monâ—◠〈◊〉 Champion may be found that for her sake will ventuâ—◠〈◊〉 life and if it be his happie fortune to ouercome the chaâ—â—â—nger of her death she shall liue But if it bâ— his fatall destenie to bee conquered then must she suffeâ— the heauie iudgement before pronounced therefore as 〈◊〉 loue the life of your chaste and beloued Ladie haiâ—e into â—ngland delay no time for delay is dangerous her lifâ— in hazard to be loâ—â— This wofull disourse stroke such a terror to S. Georges hart likewise to the Egyptian King her father that for a 〈◊〉 they stoode gazingâ—â—◠〈…〉 face as though they had bâ—n â—â—raught of their witâ— nâ—t able to speak one word but at last saint George recouered his former sences and breathed forth this sorrowfull lamentation O England vnkinde England haue I aduentured my life in thy defende anâ— foâ— thy safety haue laynâ— in the fields 〈◊〉 Maâ—◠〈…〉 in many a partching 〈◊〉 day and maâ—â— a fréezing winters night when you haue taken your quiet sléepes in beds of Downe and will you repay me with this discurtesie or rather vndeserued wrong to adiudge her spotles body to consuming 〈◊〉 whosâ— blâ—â—d if it 〈…〉 before I coâ—e I vowe neuer to draw my trusty sword in Englands quarrell more nor neuer account my selfe her Champion but I will rend my warliâ—e colours into a thousand péeces the which I weare vpon 〈◊〉 Burgonet I meane the crimson Crosse of England and wander vnknowne Countries obscurely from the sighâ— of any Christians eye Is it possible that England is so ingratefull to her friend Can that renowned Country harbour such a lustfull monster to seeke to dishonour her within whose hart the fountaine of vertue springes Or can that Noble Citty the Nurse and Mother of my life entertayne so vile an Homeside that will offer violence to her whose chastety and true honour hatâ— caused tamelesse Lyons to sléepe in her lap In this sorrowfull mamâ—â— wearied saint George the time away vntill the Egypâ—ian King whose sorrowes being as great as his put 〈◊〉 from his complaintâ—s and requested the English Knight to tell the true discourse of Sabraes proffered violence and how she muâ—tâ—â—red the lustfull Earle of Couentry to whom after a bitter sigh or two the wofull messenger replyed in this manner Most Noble Princes and Potentates of â—he earâ—h prepare your eares to entertaine the wofulst â—ale that euer English Knight 〈◊〉 and your eyes to wéepe a sea of brackish teares I would I had no tongue to tell it nor hart to remember it But seeing I am compelled through the loue and duty I owe to the Noble Champions of Christendome to expresse it then thus it was It was the fortune nay I may say vnhappie destenie of your beloued Lady vppon an Euening when the Sâ—â—ne had almost lodged in the West to walke without the wals of Couentrie to take the pleasures of the sweet fields and flowring meadowes which Flora had beautefied in a Sommers liuerie but as she walked vp and downe sometimes taking pleasure to heare the mellodie of chirping Birdes how they strained their siluer notes other times taking delight to sée howe nature had couered both hilles and dales with sundrie sortes of Flowers then walking to sée the Christal running Riuers the murmuring Musicke of whose streames excéeded the rest for pleasure But she kinde Ladie delighting her selfe by the Riuers side a sodaine and strange alteration troubled her minde for the Chaâ—ne of gold that shée did weare about her necke presently chaunged colour from a yellow burnisht brightnes to a dimme palenes her Kinges flew from her fingers and from her nose fell three droâ—s of blood whereat her hart began to throb her eares to glow and euerie ioynt to tremble with feare This strange accident caused her spéedilie to haste homeward but by the way she met the noble Earle of Couentrie walking at that time to take the pleasure of the Eueninges Ayre with such a traine of worthie Gentlemen as though he had béene the greatest Piere in all England whose sight when shee behelde a farre off her heart begâ—nne to misgiue thinking that Fortâ—ne had alotted thâ—se Gentlemen to proâ—â—ar her some iniurie◠〈…〉 vppon her cheekes feare had set a vermillion 〈◊〉 whereby â—er beautie grew admirable which when the Earle beheld hee was rauished therewith and déemed her the excellents creature that euer nature had framed their méeting was â—â—lent shee shewed the hâ—militie of a 〈◊〉 Lady 〈…〉 â—he curtesie of a kinde Gentleman shee departed homewardâ—â— and 〈◊〉 into the 〈…〉 thinking all danger past but hâ—â—â—actised in his mind her vtter 〈◊〉 downefall for the dart of loue had shot from her beauteous chéekes into his heart not true loue but lust so that nothing might quench his desirâ— but the conquest of her chastetie such extâ—eame passion bewitched his minde that hee caused hys sâ—â—uants euâ—ry one to depart and then like a discontented man he wandred vp and downe the â—â—eldes beating in hys minde a thousand sundrie waies how to obtaine hys desire for without he inioyed her loue he was likelie to liue in endles languishment but â—t last heâ—â—ighed out this passion of loue O you immortall powers why haue you transported her from an earthly Lady to a heauenly Angell Sabra is no worldly creature but a diuine substance her beautie is a staine vnto the Queene of loue and her countenance of more maâ—eâ—â—ie than Iunos grace her twinckling eyes that glisteâ— like to flaming starres and her beautâ—ous chéekes more pleasant than Roses dipt in milke hath pâ—erst my hart with the prickes of loue and her loue I will enioy or loose my life O but there is a barre which thwartes kinde affections and hinders my desires Saint George I meane her true and lawfull husband the honour of whose bed she will not violate for all the Kingdomes in the world Tush faint harted foole that I am Sabra is bâ—autefull and therefore to be tempted shée is wise and therefore easie to bee woone Her husband he is sporting in the fields of Mars then why may not shée take pleasure in the Chamber of Venus I 〈…〉 many flattering gloseâ— many kind spéeches many 〈…〉 but I will croppe that budde which but to taste I would giue my whole 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 I will tell her saint George is a wandereâ— and one that neuer will returne where as I am a mighty Piere in England and 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 accâ—mplish whatso â—uer shée desiers 〈…〉 this lustfâ—ll 〈◊〉 vsed to flatter himselfe
therefore the gorgeous sunne shall loose his light by day the siluer Moone by night the skyes shall fall the earth shall sinke and euerie thing shall chaunge from his kinde and nature before I falseâ—â—e my faith or prooue disloyall to my beloued George attempt no more my Noble Lord to batter the fortresse of my good name with the Gunshot of your flatterie nor séeke to staine my honour with your lustfull desires What if my Lord and Husband proue disloyal and choose out other loues in forraine Lands yet will I proue as constant to him as did Penelope to her Vlisses and if it bee hys pleasure neuer to returne but spend hys dayes amongst straunge Ladies then wil I liue in single solitarines like to the Turtle Doue when shee hath lost her mate abandoning all companie or as the mournefull Swan that swimmes vppon Maeanders siluer streames where she recordes her dying tunes to raging bellowes so will I spend away my lingring dayes in griefe and die This resolution of the vertuous Ladie daunted so the Earle that he stoode like a sensles image gazing at the Sun not knowing how to replie but yet when they had daunced the third course he began a new to assault her vnspotted chastetie in these tearmes Why my deare mistresse haue you a heart more harde than Flint that the teares of my true loue can neuer molefie can you behold him plead for grace that hath beene sâ—de vnto by many worthie Dames I am a man that can commaund whole countries yet can I not command thy stubburne heart to yéeld Diuine Sabra if thou wilt graunt me loue and yéelde to my desier Ile haue thee clad in sliken Robes and damaske Uâ—stures imbost with Indian Pearles and rich refined gold perfumed with Camphier Bisse and Syrrian swéet perfumes by day a hundred Uirgins like to Thetis tripping on the siluer sands shall euermore attend thy person by night a hundred Euenukes with their strained Instruments shall bring thy sences in a golden slumber If this suffizeth not thy swéet content I will prepare a sumptuous Charriot made of gold wherein thou shalt be drawne by Sable spotted Stéedes along the fieldes and gallant pastures adioyning to our Cittie walles wheras the Euening ayre shall breath a coolenes far more swéeter than Balme vpon thy cheekes and make thy beautie glister like the purple Pallace of Hiperion when he leaues Aurora blushing in her bed whereby the heauens and all the powers therein shall stand and woonder at thy beautie and quite forget theyr vsuall courses All this my deare diuine and daintie Mistresse is at thy commaund and more so that I may enioy thy loue and fauour which if I haue not I will discontentedly end my life in woodes and desert places Tygers and vntamed beasts shall be my chiefe companions These vaine promises and flattering intiâ—â—â—ents caused Sabra to blush with bashfulnes and to giue him this sharpe answere Thinke you my Lorde with golden 〈◊〉 to obtaine that precious Gem the which I will not loose for Europes treasurie henceeforth be silent in that enterprâ—â—e and neuer after this attempt to practise 〈◊〉 dishonour which if you doe I vowe by heauen to make it knowne to euery one within the Cittie and fill all places with rumors of thy wilfull lust A Troupe of modest maidens I will procure to haunt thée vp and downe the stréetes and woonder at thee like an Owle that neuer comes abroade but in the darkest nights this I am resolued to doe and so farewell Thus departed Sabra with a frowning countenance whereby the rest of the Ladies suspected that the Earle had attempted her dishonour by secret conference but they all assuredly knew that she was as farre from yéelding to hys desires as is the aged man to become young againe or the azurde firmament to be a place for siluaine beastes to inhabit In such like imaginations they spent awaie the day till the darke night caused them to breake off companie The Earle smothering his griefe vnder a smiling countenance till the Ladies were euerie one departed whome hee curteously caused his seruants to conduct homewards with Torch lightes because it began to be verie darke After their departure he accursed his owne Fortune and like a Lyon wanting foode raged vp and downe his Chamber filling euerie corner with bitter exclamations rending hys garments from his backe tearing his haire beating hys breast and vsing all the violence he could deuise against himselfe In this manner spent hee away the night suffering no sléepe to close the windowes of his body such a melancholy and extreame passion discontented his minde that heâ— purposeâ— to giue an end to hys sorrowes by some vntimelie death So when the morning appeared hee made hys repaire to an Orchardâ— where Sabra commonlie once a daie walked to take the Ayre The place was verie melancholy and farre from the noyse of people where after hee had spent some certaine time in exclaiming against the vnkindnes of Sabra he pulled his Poyniard from his backe prepared hys breast to entertaine the stroke of death but before the pretended Tragedie with his dagger hee ingrauâ—d these verses following vpon the barke of a walnut trée O hart more hard than bloody Tyger fell O eares more deafe than senceles troubled seas O cruell foe thy rigor doth excell For thee I dye thy anger to appease But time will come when thou shalt finde me slaine That thy repentance will increase thy payne I here ingraue my will and testament That my sad griefe thou mayst behold and see How that my wofull heart is torne and rent And gorg'd with blooddy blade for loue of thee Whome thou disdayndst as now the end doth try That thus distrest dost suffer me to dye Oh Gods of loue if so their anie be And you of loue that feeles the deadly payne Or Sabra thou that thus afflictest me Heare these my wordes which from my hart I straine Ere that my corpes be quite bereaud of breath Let me declare the cause of this my death You mountaine Nimphes which in the desarts raigne Cease off your chase from sauage beasts a while Prepare to see a hart opprest with paine Addresse your eares to heare my dolefull stile No strength nor Arte can worke me any weale Sith she vnkinde and Tyrantlike doth deale You Fayrie Nimphes of louers much adorde And gracious Damsels which in Eueninges faire Your Closets leaue with heauenlie beautie storde And on your shoulders spread your golden haire Record with me that Sabra is vnkinde Within whose breast remaines a bloody minde Yee sauage Beares in Caues and Dens that lie Remaine in peace if you my sorrowes heare And be not mooued at my miserie Though too extreame my passions doo appeare England farewell and Couentrie adue But Sabra heauen aboue still prosper you These verses béeing no sooner finished and ingrauen about the Barke of the Walnut trée but with a grisly looke and wrathfull countenance he lift vp hys hand
hys Court in the Cittie of Couentrie who immediatly vpon the Confession of the murther gaue this seuere iudgment against her First to be conueied to Prison there to remaine for the tearme of twelue moneths and at the end whereof to be burned like a most wicked offender yet because she was the Daughter of a King and loyall Lady to so Noble a Knight his Maiesty in mercie graunted her this fauour that if she could get any Knight at Armes before the time were expired that would be her Champion and by Combat redéeme her from the fire she should liue otherwise if her Champion were vanquished then to suffer the former Iudgement Thus haue you heard the true discourse of all things which hapned till my departure from England where I left her in Prison and since that time fiue monthes are fullie exspired Therefore most renowned Champion as you loue the life of your Ladie and wish her deliuerie make no tarriance but with all spéed post into England for I greatly feare before you ariue vppon that blessed shore the time will be finished and Sabra suffer death for want of a Champion to defend her cause This doleful discourse draue saint George with the other Knights and Champions to such an eâ—tasie of minde that euery one departed to their lodging Chambers with dumbe signes of sorrow being not able to speake one word where for that night they lamented the mishap of so vertuous a Lady The Egyptian King her father he abandoned the sight of all companies and repayred to the toppe of an high Tower built of Marble stone wherein hee barred himselfe fast with yron bolts so that none could come within the hearing of his lamentations then raged hee vp and downe like franticke Oedipus tearing his eyes from their naturall Celles accusing heauen of iniustice condemning earth of iniquity and accursing man for such an execrable crime one while wishing his daughters byrth hower had béene her buriall day another while that some vnlucky Plannet would descend the firmament and fall vppon his miserable head being in this extreame passion hee neuer hoped to sée his daughters countenance againe and so about midnight being a time when desperate men practise their owne destructions he cast himselfe headlong from the toppe of the Tower and broake his necke and all besprinckled the flinty pauements with his blood and braines No sooner was the night vanished and bright Phoebus entred the Zodiacke of heauen but his bruised body liueles and senseles was found by his seruants lying in the Pallace yard all to be beaten in péeces against the grounde The wofull newes of this selfe-wild murtherer they presently told to certaine Egyptian Knights who tooke his scattered limbs and carryed them to saint Georges Chamber where they found him arming himselfe for his departure towardes England But at this wofull spectackle he tooke a seconde conceited griefe in such extreame manner that it had almost cost him his life but that the Egyptian Knights gaue him many comfortable spéeches and by theÌ„ consent of many Dukes Earles Lords and Barrons with many other of the late Kings priuy Councell they elâ—cted him the true succéeding King of Egipt by the marriage of Ptolomies daughter which Royall proffer saint George refused not but took vpon him the Regiment of the whole Country so that for that day his iourney toward England was stayed and vppon the third day following his Coronation was appoynted which they solemnely perfourmed to the high honour of all the Christian Champions For the Egyptian Pieres caused saint George to be apparralled in Royall Uâ—stures like a King he had on a sute of flaming greene like an Emerauld and a Mantle of scarlet very richly furd and wrought curiously with gold then the other sixe Champions lead him vp to the Kings Throane and set him in a Chayre of Ebony with pummells of siluer which stood vpon an Allablaster Elephant then came thrée of the greatest Lords in Egypt and set a Crowne of gold vpon his head then followed two Knights with a Scepter and a naked Sâ—â—â—rde to signefie that he was chiefe Champion of all the Râ—alme and Lord of all that appertained to the Crowne of Egypt This being performed in most sumptuous and stately manner the Trumpets with other Instruments began to sound wherat the generall company with ioyfull voyces cryed all together Long liue saint George true Champion for England and King of Egypt Then was he conducted to the Royall Pallace where for ten dayes he remayned amongst his Lords and Knights spending the time in great ioy and pleasure the which béeing finished hys Ladyes distresse constrayned him to a sodaine departure therefore he left the guiding of his Lande to twelue Egyptian Lordes binding them all by oath to redeliuer it at his returne likewise charging them to interre the body of Ptolomie in a sumptuous Tombe befitting the body of so Royall a Potentate Also appoynting the sixt Champions to rayse their Tents and muster vp anewe their souldiers and with all spéede march into Persia and there by dynt of bloody warre reuenge his former iniuries vpon the cursed Soldan This change being giuen the next morning by breake of day 〈◊〉 buckled on his Armour mounted on his swift footed Stéed and had hys friends in Egipt for a season adue and so in companie of the Knight that brought him that vnluckie newes hee tooke his iournie with all spéed toward England In which trauaile we leaue him for a time Also passing ouer the spéedy prouision made by the Christian Champions in Egypt for the inuasion of Persia and returne to sorrowfull Sabra béeing in priosn awayting each minute to receaue the finall stroke of impartiall death for now had the rowling Plannets brought their yeares trauailes to an end yet Sabra had no intelligence of any ChaÌ„pion that would defend her cause therefore shee prepared her dilicate bodie to receaue her latest breath of life the time beeing come shee was brought to the place of execution whether she went as willinglie and with as much ioy as euer shée went before time vnto her marriage for she had made her humble submission to the world and vnfainedly committed her soule to God She béeing at the stake where the king was present with many thousands as wel of Noble personages as of Common people to behold this wofull Tragedie the deaths-man stripped off her Garment which was of blacke sarceâ—et in her snow-white smocke bound her with an Iron chaine vnto the stake then placed they round about her tender body both Pitch Turpentine and Gunpowder with other merciles things therby to make her death the more easier and her paine the shorter Which béeing â—one the King caused the Harrold to summon in the Challenger who at the sound of the TruÌ„pet came trasing in vpon a Rone coloured Stéede without any kinde of marke and trapped with rich trappinges of gold precious stones of great price there came foorth at the Horse mouth two tuskes