of his armour and the hotness of the weather sweat so abundantly that it ran into his eyes and quite blinded him Sir Alexander taking the best of the opportunity gave him such a blow â—n the head as made him to stagger and redoubling his stroak at the next blow fetcht him down headlong who in his fall gave such a hideous â—â—ll as made a noise like to the Cataracts of Nilâ—s This overthrow of the Gyant in whom they put so much confidence so discouraged the Souldiers that notwithstanding Predo and Pandaphilo did what they could to perswade them they would no longer abide by it so that they were forced to retreat unto their Castle for shâ—â—ter whom the Siciliansbeing over-wearied with fighting did not instantly persue but contented themselves at present with what they had gotten Sir Alexander after the flight of the Thracians cut off the Gyant Brandamores head and dispoyling him of his Armour sent it as a â—rophy to the City of â—arissa to be presented to his Lady the Princess Mariana who received the same very joyfully wondring at the large proportion thereof and causing it to be hanged up in one of the principal Temples of their City as a monument to posterity and having richly rewarded the Messenger she returned Sir Alexander thanks by him in this following Letter Most Dear Knight THat good Fortune is always attendant upon Vertue your actions demonstrate and for your Valour shewed against my Enemies I shall over stand obliged to you For the Present you sent me I could not but view it with admiration as by the same having a porspect of the vast bulk of that unweildly Monster and therein your invincible courage to encounter with him and happy success in his overthrow May the Heavens prosper your future endeavours with good success and that your actions may be crowned with victory which to effect shall be the hearty Prayers of Your Dearest Lady and Mistress Mariana But to return again to speak of the Army After they had sufficiently refreshed themselves and taken care of the wounded Souldiers they marched up to the Inchanted Castle wherein now the Desendants had strongly enclosed themselves trusting more to the strength of the place then to their own supposed invincible valour which now they saw was overmatcht by the three victorious Knights And now no opposition was made till they came to the Castle-gate on the top of which were two Gyants with massy stones in their hands to tumble on the heads of any who should ofâ—er to scale the Walls The three Brothers approaching near thereunto espyed the Brazen Pillar as also the Rock of Alabaster and having read the several Writings enscribed on them with an undaunted resolution resolved to try the adventure and first the undaunted venturous Knight Sir Guy putting his hand to the Pummel of the first sword he drew it out with much ease notwithstanding he had no sooner laid his hand thereon but he was encountred with a terrible Griffin but Sir Guy so nimbly behaved himself that having déeply wounded the Griffin he flow from him and immediately was heard a sound out of the Inchanted Castle as if it had been noise of Thunder The thrée Brothers were much amazed at this terrible noise expecting some dreadful encounter to ensue presently thereupon but having waited a time and séeing nothing follow they proceeded on in the adventure and next Sir Alexander attempted to draw â—â—t the second Sword but ere he could well fasâ—en his hand â—n the pummel there came flying against him a most dreadful burning Dragon which sinote him with such a force that he could hardly stand upright on his Legs but having once drawn the sword the Dragon immediately vanished away and at that instant proceeded a more terrible noise from the Castle which made the very foundation thereof to shake and the walls to sâ—agger and toâ—ter about This terrible noise being ended the valiant and undaunted â—â— Sir David went to pull out the third Sword but in his passage was assailed by a most furious dreadful Sagitary betwixt whom began a cruel combat which lasted long but in the end Sir David cutting off one of the Sagitaries Legs he then nimbly stepped to the sword and as nimbly drew it out which was no sooner done but presently the Heavens seemed to be rent asunder with dreadful claps of Thunder entermixed with terrible flashes of Lightening the earth quaked and terrible groans and yells were heard of damned Spirits then fell a horrible stinking smoak and all on a sudden the Castle together with the Brazen Pillar and Alabaster Rock were vanished away The two Gyants which before appeared so terrible now down on their Knées to the three Brothers begging for mercy The Negromancer Soto who knew by this that his Charms were at an end sought to fly from his deserved veâ— geance but all in vain for his spells now would do him no good but was forced to yield up his loathed Carcass to the mercy of the Conquerors The Thessalian King who had slept for so long a space now awaked wondring at what had happened not knowing whether he were in the hands of friends or foes Also the Messenger that came from the Princess Urania who as we told you before was sent in Embassage to the Byant Predo With them also awaked many others who by the Negromancers charmes coming within the compass of the Castle were there cast into this lasting sleep The first thing the three Princely Brothers did was by the help of some of the Thessalians then in the Camp to find out their King which being known he was entertained with all respects due to so Princely Majesty The two Gyants were committed unto safe custody under a Guard of valiant Souldiers but as for the Negromancer Soto notwithstanding he pleaded with much Rhetorick to have his Life saved his practices were so notorious and diabolical as would admit of no pardon whereupon by the Commandment of the three Brothers he had his head dissevered from his Body At which instant appeared a great number of Fiends come from Hell some of which siezed upon his Body and some upon his Head which they carried away with them leaving behind them such an intollerable â—â—ink of Sulpher and Brunestone as was able to have suffocated all that were near them had they not ran from the place as falt as their Legs would bear them All things being thus ordered for the present and no enemy appearing against them they left this accursed place where the Castle stood which had for a long space been the Habitation of Devils and wicked persons and marched to the City of Galata there to refresh their wearied Army from whence they sent Letters both into Thessaly and also to Sicily to certifie them of their good success and intention to return as â—â—on as opportunity would permit them Amongst others which by finishing this Inchantment were awaked out of their long sleeping there was only one Gentlewoman
strength that he would sieze on a wild Bull or any other Beast though never so fierce and strong At his first approach unto the Camp he was welcomed with a great shout of the Souldiers being a goodly person and having his Head adorned with a Plume of Ostrich Feathers He pitched his Camp next to the Scottish Army having a Tent of green intermixed with scarlet and richly 〈◊〉 with Gold fringe In his streamer was pourtrayed a Kiâ—â—â— hovering with a Chicken in her claws with these words T is common seen the weakest they Unto the strong become a prey Scarcely were the Irish well settled in their Tents when there arrived the like number of VVelshmen conducted by a valiant Knight damed Sir Owen of the Mountains the Son of the Renowned Champion St. David of VVales begotten on the beautiful Estrild Daughter of the King of Powis Land who had been bread up in all Warlike affairs by the appointment of his Grandfather so that for Martial Prowess he was accounted as valiant a Knight as most in Christendom He was likewise received with the usual Ceremonies by the other Captains and pitched his Lents next to the Irish. His Pavilion was of a blood red colour fringed with white signifying peace to the yielding and blood and destruction to the obstinate the words were these The doom of either Life or Death Consisteth in the Conquerours breath Next came the English Army consisting of fourscore thousand experienced Souldiers They were divided into three Battalions whereof Sir Alexander led the vaward Sir Guy the main battle and Sir David brought up the Rear Of these were twenty thousand Horsemen armed in rich Corllets of Steel to desend themselves and Lances and Darts to offend their enemies There was of the Foot thirty thousand stout Archers having Bowes of the strongest â—ew and Arrows of a full yard long headed with Steel with which they would shoot a full half mile in length Also twenty thousand Pikemen with Pikes of the strongest Ash headed with Steel as sharp as Spanish Needles to defend the Archers from the Enemies Horse and to oppose an Army in a strait passage The rest of the Army were Pioneers Waggoners Uictuallers and such others as are commonly attendant on an Army At their first landing they were entertained by the other Commanders with such a shout of joy as the Earth rang with the sound thereof and the hollow Caverns of the Hills reverberated with such an Eccho as if Jupiter had spent his thundering Artillery to welcome these English Heroes They pitched their Camp near unto the Army of the Italians Sir Guys Pavilion being of watchet embroydered with silver and fringed with gold and to distinguish it from others it was adorned with the red Cross the ancient arms of England His two Brothers were not far different in their devices and for the Motto of them all it was to this effect Armed with a just cause we fear no foe No foil nor flight much less an overthrow Divers Captains of other Nations came also in aid of the Christians Army as Sir Lando the Warlike with five thousand stout Swedish Souldiers Sir Pandrasus the Dane having in his Company a Gyant named Wonder for his unmatchless strength which was such that he would lift a weight which twelve ordinary men could hardly stir besides divers others too many to enumerate the whole sum amounting to thrée hundred thousand After they had consulted a while together it was concluded unanimously among them all that every Captain should have the command of those Souldiers he brought out of his own Country but that in difficult matters and wherein diversity of opinions might breed confusion it should be referred to Sir Guys ordering who was made Generalissimo of the whole Army And now having nothing else to do but to march against their Enemies Sir Guy to incourage them the more being all the chief of them assembled together made unto them this following Oration Fellow Souldiers and Brethren in Arms I think I shall not need many words to stir you up to Magnanimity the justness of our Cause being such as rightly considered is enough to make a coward valiant I hope you are not so forgetful that you now go to fight for your Parents your Wives your Children your Country and what should be most dear unto you the Christian Religion against Pagans Infidels and Miscreants enemies to God and goodness whose delight is only in Blood and Rapine whose trade and practice is the burning and destroying of Towns and Villages murthering of Matrons ravishing VVives and Virgins tossing of sprawling Infants on the tops of their mercyless Pikes In sum such people as act all what barbarism and cruelty prompts them to Therefore if ye are not willing to see these miseries fall upon ye be valiant and couragious and so let us willingly go on armed with a just cause and doubt not in the least but the just God will give us victory No sooner had he ended his Oration but it was received with a general Acclamation each one vowing to live and dye in such a Cause and under the conduct of such a General Being thus resolved they prepared to dislodge and having furnished themselves with store of Provision which was freely given them by the Neapolitan King Besides to the number of five hundred Waggons for carriage of their Ammunition and other necessaries they embacked in several Gallies and cutting the bring face of Neptune After about a â—ortnights prosperous Sailing they came upon the fruitful Coasts of Asia where soon they heard tidings of the Pagans Army and how they were advanced as far as Galatia within a hundred Leagues where the Christians were landed And now having brought the Armies thus near together we will look back again into Europe and shew you by what a wonderful miracle the Christians Army were 〈◊〉 with an unexpeâ—ted assistance CHAP. VII How the seven Champions being raised from their Graves are solved to follow the Christian Army How by Tempest they were cast upon the Coast of Thessaly The great Battle fought betwixt the Thessalians and Thracians how afterwards they went to the Christian Army and of the great battle fought betwixt the Christians and Pagans NOW notwithstanding this great preparation to withstand the Pagan Army a great fear and consternation still continued in the hearts of the people for the report of the vastness of the Pagans Army was spread abroad in each place so that it was deemed so numerous as not to be encountered withal The best remedy therefore as they thought was by Prayers to God to crave his assistance against such potent Enemies so that in every place intercessions were sent up to Heaven for succour in this origeney of time Now it so chanced that at the same time there lived in the North Country a certain Holy Hermit nam'd Sylvanus To this man it was revealed in a Dream how that the seven famous Champions were not wholly dead but that for
to arms Next morning no sooner had Phoebus with his refulgent beams enlightned the Hemisphear but St George arose from his drowzy bed and relating his vision to the other Champions they agréed with all speed to hasten to the Christian Army and having acquainted the King of Thessaly with their determination they prepared to be gone being accompanied to the Sea-side with the chiefest of the Thessalians At their entering into the Ship the King presented each of the Champions with a rich Diamond King and to St. George he gave over and above a rich Colleâ— of Esses having hanging thereon a Medal of Gold beset with precious Stonesâ— and in it the picture of an Elephant for his Elephant and Gyâ—nt like valour shewed in his defence The Princess Mariana at the same time sent unto Sir Alexander a Signet made of polisht Iasper wherein was engraven a heart wounded with a sword and crowned with a wreath with this word Amarete So taking their solemn leaves of each other the wind standing fair they set sail Where we will leave them for a while to speak of what beâ—el the Christian Army in the mean time Whom you may remember we leâ—t upon the Coasts of Asia who hearing the Pagan Army were so near provided themselves both to assail and withstand their enemy and so by leisurely marches drew nearer to them And now did Sir Guy send out twenty of his nimblest Horsemen to discover what they could of the enemy who returning back brought with them six Persians whom they had taken Prisoners by whom they understood that the whole Army was encamped on a spacious Plain not far off dreadless of an approaching Foe whereupon it was determined that that very night somewhat before the break of day they should fall upon them which accordingly they did in this manner First in the Uaiâ—â—e marched the valiant Knight Sir Alexander with the choicest of the English Horsemen On his Right hand the famous French Knight Sir Turpin with the flower of the French Cavalry On the Left-hand Sir Pedro commanded a gallant party of Spaniards mounted on such speedy paced Gennets as for their swiftness were said to be engendred by the wind And that their Army might spread the further least they should be surrounded with the numerous Forces of their enemies they had for out wings oâ— the one side the five thousand Swedes conducted by Sir Lando the VVarlike and six thousand Germans on the other side lead by a valiant Knight named Count Primaleon The main Battle was conducted by the matchless Knight Sir Guy with thirty thousand foot of Bows and Pâ—kemen whose warlike resolutions carried victory in their very looks On his Right-hand marched the warlike Danes commanded by Sir Pandrasus having in his company the Gyant VVonder On his Left-hand was placed the valiant Scottish men conducted by their Heroick Leader Sir Ewin The Reaâ— was brought up by Sir David with the rest of the English having on his Right-hand the stout Sir Phelim with his nimble Irishmen and on his Left Sir Owen with the hardy VVelch Being thus marshalled they set forward but ere they came to the 〈◊〉 the Enemies had notice of their approach who thereupon instantly armed themselves and put themselves in as good a posture as on the sudden they could The first that encountred each other was the valiant Knight Sir Pedro with his resolute Spaniards against the Bassa of Aleppo betwixt whom was fought such a terrible battle that the Earth resounded with the noise of their blows Next did the magnanimous Knight Sir Alexander encounter with the Soldan of Babylon sending him such a flight of Arrows as would have darkened the Sky in a clear day The Babylonians on the other side laid on load with great courage seeking with their Horse to trample them under foot but that the Pikemen kept them off with such courage as cast many Riders to the ground and put their Troops in great disorder On the other side Sir Turpin with his French gave a lusty charge on the King of Egypt insomuch that he was in great danger of a total rout had he not been timely succor'd by the King of Morocco who stoutly interposing drove the French back in much confusion whereupon Sir Lando the Warlike set upon them with an undaunted courage which gave a check to their procéedings which with his warlike Swedes he so stoutly followed that coming up to the King of Morocco after a fierce encounter betwixt them two in which Mars himself might have been a looker on at length the King of Morocco being deadly wounded surrendred up his Life and Body to the Uictors disposal And now the main Battle came forwards by which time the Sun with his Beams had guilded the Hemisphear so that they could see to fight with more eagerness than they did before The valiant Sir Guy charged strongly upon the Persians who with great courage and skill defended themselves Count Primaleon with his Germans encountered the Arabians and now generally both Armies were fully engaged so that death began to appear in its greatest horrour Then was cutting hacking and flashing on every side The Renowned Christian Captains dealing such blows with their swords and giving so many Mahumetans their deaths as if they intended to overcharge Charons boat in ferrying them over the Stygian River The Infidels on the other side held out with great obstinacy not shrinking for any danger although they were ready to be carried away in streams of their own blood Thus with great obstinacy continued they fighting until the fable night parted their fury when each side retired to their Camp Next Morning no sooner had Aurora usher'd in the day but both armies met again in the Field and as if their stock of Ualour were afresh renewed fell to it with more eagerness and earnestness than before unto their work of Mankinds destruction the thundring Drums beat alarums of Death and the shrill Trumpets sounded forth many thousands that day their knell horrour death and destruction surrounded the Pagans on every side yet still their fresh number made more work for the Christians valour In the heat of this Fight it was Sir Guys chance to meet with the Horse-faced Tartar whom we told you of in the first Chapter of this Third Part whom he resolved to encounter but the sight of him so frighted the other Horses that not one of them would endure to come near him whereupon Sir Guy alighted from his Stood and with his Cuttle axe approached the Monster whose very looks would have affrighted any but such a one whose heart was fraught with true Magnanimity The Monster was readier to assail then be assailed so that betwixt them two began a most fierce and terrible Combat The Monster was so nimble and laid on load so strangely that Sir Guy was never so put to it all the days of his Life at last spying his advantage he gave the Monster such a Wound on his Thigh that sending
his desires were directed but it happened clean contrary to his expectations the scene of actions was quite alter'd there for soon after his departure from thence to his expedition against the Instdels the King of Sicily dyed whereby the Crown came to the Princess Urania but one Nefario a potent Nobleman of that Country and who had many Dependents belonging to him of great worth and quality raised a strong Rebelliâ—n against her pretending as is the custom of Rebels the ill management of the affairs of the Kingdom and so well had Fortune hitherto favoured his endeavours that he had gained from the Queen several strong places insomuch that many of her Captains seeing his success revolted from her and sided with him Sir Guy understanding the badness of her affairs prepared all he could for her spéedy relief and taking with him three hundred of his stouteff Souldiers he marched with them towards the City of Syracâ—â—a wherein he was informed she was besieged by a great Army of her Enemies Willingly he would have given her notice of his arrival but all places were so stopped that he could not possiâ—ly do it whereupon dividing his Men into two Companies he gave the one of them to the Command of Captain Bolus and the other he led himself and so in the dead of the Night set upon the Enemies who not in the least dreaded any danger and now was nothing but cutting hacking and â—â—ashing throughout the Camp so that in every place you might see a throng of Carcases whose liveless Eyes were closed with dust and death Sir Guy remembring that he was now rescuing his dear Lady and Mistress out of the hands of Rebels did with his Sword do wonders striking so thick and deadly as if he meant the wounded Souldiers should â—ow to Charons Boat in streams oâ— their own blood And now had the cryes and shrieks of the Souldiers alarum'd Nefaâ—io who put himself forward to withstand this Inundation which he perceived was ready to overwhelm all his former successâ—s In the mean time Captain Bolus had taken an eminent Commander Prisoner by whom he understood the state of the Army whereupon joyning with Sir Guy they with united Courage set upon Nefario and that with such fury that he not able to withstand them was forced to give ground whom Sir Guy did not eagerly persue but sent a Messenger to the City to enform them of what was done who thereupon presently issued out killing many and bringing in more Prisoners But when the Queen Urania understood how Sir Guy was come to her aid her joy was so great that she was transported therewith into an extasie sending the chief of her Nobles presently unto him for to conduct him to her presence whom she no sooner beheld but she ran to him and embracing him said Thrice welcome to me my most Honoured Knight who wer 't born for the good of our Country O how are we bound to the immortal powers for thy preservation and sending thee in this very nick of opportunity to do 〈◊〉 Most Gracious Princess replyed Sir Guy I do 〈◊〉 greatest happiness that I can in any wise serve you though I wish it had not been upon this occasion but since it is so let not this opportunity be slipped but whilst the Enemy is in a maze let us fall upon him with a resolution worthy the justness of our Cause This proposition being with great reason applauded the Souldiers were ordered to have a sudden refreshment having been wearied in the late Fight the Quéen her self entertaining Sir Guy who whilst he â—ed on those viands she brought him she â—ealâ—ed her self in the contemplation of his admirable perfections Whilst they were thus at their repast they heard from a far the sound of Trumpets at which they much marvelling sent a Messenger to know what was the matterâ— who 〈◊〉 with this answer that there were six thousand The 〈◊〉 come to the Quéens aid For King Alexander â—oâ—n â—ter his Corâ—nation hearing how the Quéen Urania was oppressed by her Rebellious Subjects resolved to succour her and to that end sent these six thousand Souldiers first resolving if they would not do to follow himself with a sufficient Army Sir Guy hearing 〈◊〉 News sent word to them instantly to refresh themselves and he would joyn his Forces with them to set upon the Revels whilst this general fear and consternation was upon them and having joyned to him four thousand of the choicest Sicilians he was marching to them but behold a sudden change put a stop to his proceedings for in their way they met with about a hundred of the adverse party who hearing that Sir Guy was come to the Queens rescue knowing his manhood not only by former exploits but also by dear bought experience in the last Battle to secrue their Lives and Fortunes at the Queens hands they siezed on Nefario and as a Peace-Dffering intended to present him a Prisoner to the Queen Sir Guy understanding what they had done sent a Herald to the residue promising them the Queens Pardon if they would lay down their Arms and submit to her which undoubtedly they had done but that at the very instant of time Grimaldo Brother to Nefario was come to enforce his Army with ten thousand Souldiers more which he had gotten up out of the adjoyning Countries there about but when he heard how his Brother was carried away by his own party and of the defeat they had received the last night he was very much troubled in mind but that his Army might not take any notice of it he encouraged them in the best wise he could telling them such defeats were but the chance of War and for his Brothers Imprisonment it might be made good by taking some of the chiofest of the other side Prisoners That now they had so far drawn their Swords there was no other course to take but too throw away their Scabberds all hope of reconcilement with the Queen being clean taken away and therefore no other means but to use their utmost Manhood either to conquer or dye honourably â— With these and the like speeches did he so encourage the Revels that when the Messenger came to them with the Queens pardon it was rejected with scorn which being mades known unto Sir Guy he presently ioyned with the Thessalians and having Complemented the chief Com 〈◊〉 〈…〉 encouraged the Souldiers in such a pithy Oration tha◠〈…〉 their Caps they gave such â— hollow as the earth 〈…〉 the sound of the same And now 〈…〉 faced each other when presently began such a terrible fight that Mars himself might have been a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thereof In one place stood a well ordered Body of erected 〈…〉 a young Leaâ—-less Wood to oppose the invading hoâ—se In another place were banns of Archers whose feathered Arrowes out-run the piercing Eye and cut a passage through the flitting air repelling the Brains of the insulting Foe Here stood Horses prancing with their feet
The Famous HISTORY OF THE Seven Champions OF Christendom St. George of England St. Denis of France St. James of Spain St. Anthony of Italy St. Andrew of Scotland St. Patrick of Ireland and St. David of Wales SHEWING Their Honourable Battels by Sea and Land Their Tilts Justs Turnaments for Ladies Their Combats with Gyants Monsters and Dragons Their Adventures in Foreign Nations Their Enchantments in the Holy Land Their Knighthoods Prowess and Chivalry in Europe Africa and Asia with their Victories against the Enemies of Christ. Also the true manner and places of their Deaths being Seven Tragedies and how they came to be called The Seven Saints of CHRISTENDOM The First Part. LONDON Printed for Ric. Chiswell M. Wotton G. Conyers and B. Walford 1696. To all Courteous Readers RICHARD JOHNSON wisheth increase of Vertuous Knowledge GEntle Readers in Kindness accept of my Labours and be not like the chattering Cranes nor Momus's Mates that Carp at every thing VVhat the simple say I care not what the Spiteful speak I pass not only the Censure of the Conceited I stand unto that is the Mark I aim at whose good likings if I obtain I have won my Race if not I faint in the first Attempt and so lose the quiet of my happy Goal Yours in Kindness to Command R. J. The Author's MUSE upon the HISTORY THE Famous Facts O Mars deriv'd from thee By weary Pen and painful Authors toyl Enroll'd we find such Feats of Chivalry As hath been seldom seen in any Soil Thy Ensigns here we find in Field Display'd The Trophies of thy Victories erected Such Deeds of Arms as none could have essay'd But Knights whose Courage Fear hath ne'er dejected Such Ladies saved such Monsters made to fall Such Gyants slain such Hellish Furies quell'd That Humane Forces few or none at all In such Exploits their Lives could safely shield But Virtue stirring up their Noble Minds By Valiant Conquest to enlarge their Fames Hath caus'd 'em seek Adventures forth to find Which Registreth their never-dying Names Then Fortune Time and Fame agree in this That Honour's Gain the greatest Glory is THE Honourable HISTORY OF THE Seven Champions OF CHRISTENDOM CHAP. I. Of the Wonderful and strange Birth of St. George of England How he was cut out of his Mothers Womb and after stoln from his Nurse by Kalyb the Lady of the Woods Her Love to him and her Gifts And how he enclosed her in a Rock of Stone and Redeemed Six Christian Knights out of Prison AFter the angry Greeks had Ruined the Chief City in Phrygia and turned King Priam's Glorious Buildings to a Waste and Desolate Wilderness Duke Aeneas exempted from his Native Habitation with many of his Distressed Countrymen like Pilgrims wandred the World to find some happy Region where they might erect the Image of their subverted Troy but before that labour could be accomplished Aeneas ended his dayes in the confines of Italy and left his Son Ascanius to Govern in his stead Ascanius dying left Silvius to Rule Silvius Deceasing left the Noble and Adventurous Brutus which Brute being the fourth Descent from Aeneas first made Conquest of this Land of Britain then inhabited with Monsters Gyants and a kind of Wild People without Government but by Policy he overcame them and established good Laws where he found the first Foundation of New Troy and named it Troynovant but since in process of time called London Thus began the Isse of Britain to flourish not only with Sumptuous Buildings but also with Couragious and Ualiant Knights whose Adventureus and Bold Attempts in Chivalry Fame shall describe what Oblivion buried in Obscurity After this the Land was Replenished with Cities and divided into Shires and Countries Dukedome Earâ—doms and Lordships were the Patrimony of high and Noble Minds wherein they lived not then like Cowards in their Mothers Bosoms but merited Renown by Martial Discipline For the Famous City of Coventry was the place wherein the first Christian of England was born and the first that ever sought for Foreign Adventures whose name to this day all Europe highly hath in regard and for his Bold and Magnanimous Deeds at Arms gave him this Title The Valiant Knight St George of England whose Golden Garter is not only worn by Nobles but by Kings and in Memory of his Uictories the Kings of England Fight under his Banner Therefore Calâ—ope thou Sacred Sister of the Muses guide so my Pen that it may write the true Discourse of this worthy Champion When Nature by true Consanguinity had recreated him in his Mothers Womb she dreamed to be conceived of a Dragon which should be the cause of her Death Which Dream she long concealed and kept secret untill her painful Burthen grew so heavy that her Womb was scarce able to endure it so finding opportunity to reveal it unto her Lord and Husband being then Lord High-Steward of England she revealed her Dream after this manner My Honourable Lord you know I am by Birth the King of England's Daughter and for these one and twenty years have I been your True and Lawful Wife Yet never was in hope of Child till now or that by me your Name should survive Therefore I conjure you by the pleasure of your Youth and the dear and natural Love you â—ear to the Infant conceived in my Womb that either by Art Wisdom or some other Inspiration you Calculate upon my troublesome Dreams and tell me what they signifie For these thirty Nighâ—s past my â—ilent slumbers have been greatly hindred by grievous Dreams for night by night no sooner could sweet sleep take possession of my Senses but methought I was conceived with a Dreadful Dragon which would be the cause of his Parents Death Even as Hecuba the Beauteous Queen of Troy when Paris was in her Womb Dreamed to be Conceived of a Firebrand which indeed was truly verified For Paris having Ravished the Paragon of Greece and brought Helena into Troy in Revenge thereof the Grecians turned the Towers of Ilium into Blazes of Fire Therefore most dear and well beloved Lord prevent the like danger that I be not the Mother of a Viperous Son These words struck such terrour to his heart that for a time he stood speechless but having recovered his lost Senses he answered her in this manner My most dear and beloved Lady what Art or Learning can perâ—orm with all convenient speed shall be accomplished for never shall Rest take possession of my Heart nor Sleep close the Closets of mine Eyes till I understand the signification of these thy troublesome Dreams So leaving her in her Chamber in company of other Ladies that came to comfort her in her Melancholy Sadness he took his Iourney to the Solitary Walks of Kalyb the Wise Lady of the Woods without any Company except another Knight that bore under his Arm a white Lamb which they intended to Offer unto the Enchantress So travelling for the space of two days they came to a Thicket beset
Powder and that St. George might at pleasure discern the Noble and Magnanimous Champion of Wales who as then rode upon a milk-white Hobby in Silver Armour guarded with a Train of Knights in purple Uestures but he greeted St. David with kind Courtesies and accompanied him to the English Tent. which they had erected close by the Port-side where for that night these two Champions remained spending the time with unspeakable pleasure And so upon the next day after St. David departed to his own Tent which he had caused to be pitched a quarter of a League from the Englsh Army The next that arrived on the fruitful Banks of Portugal was St. Patrick the Noble Champion of Ireland with an Army likewise of Fifty thousand attired after a strange and wonderful manner Their Furnitures were of the skins of Wild-beasts but yet more unpierceable than the strongest Armour of Proof They bore in their hands mighty Darts tipp'd at the end with pricking Steel which the Couragious and Ualiant Irish Soldiers by the agility of their Arms could throw a full flight shot and with forcible strength would strike three or four Inches into an Oak and with such a certain aim they would not miss the breadth of a Foot These adventurous and hardy Soldiers no sooner arrived on the Shore but the English Musqueteers gave them a Princely Entertainment and presently conducted the noble-minded Champion St. Patrick to the English Tent where the three Champions of England Wales and Ireland passed away the time with exceeding great Royalty laying down Plots how to pitch their Camps to the most disadvantage of the misbelieving Enemy and setting perfect directions which way they were best to March and such like Devices for their own safeties and the benefit of Christendom The next that Landed on the Banks of Portugal was St. Andrew the worthy Champion of Scotland with threescore thousand of well-approved Soldiers His Horse-men the old adventurous Gallowaâ—s clad in quilted Iackâ—ts with 〈◊〉 of the Turkish fashion thick and short â—earing upon their Beâ—â—ers the Arms of Scotland which was a corner Cross supported by a 〈◊〉 Uirgin His Pikemen the sâ—iff and hardy Men o◠〈◊〉 which conâ—â—nually lye upon freezing Mountains the Iâ—â— Roâ—k and the Snowy Uallys his shot the light-â—ooted 〈◊〉 that if occasion be can climb the highest Hill and for nimbleness in running over-go the swift-sooted Stag. These bold adventurous Scottish Men in all forwardness deserved as much Honour at the Engâ—iâ—â— Champion's hands as any other Nations before therefore he commanded his shot on their first entry on Land to give them a Noble Entertainment which they performed most Royally and also conducted St. Andrew to the English Tent where after he had given S. George the Courtesie of his Countrey departed to his Tent which was distant from the English Tent a Mile The next that arrived was St Anthony the Champion of Italy with a Band of Fourscore thousand brave Italian Souldiers mounted on warlike Coursers every Horsman attended on by a naked Negro bearing in his hand a Streamer of watchet Silk with the Arms of Italy thereon set in Gold every Footman furnished with approved Furniture in as stately a manner as the English-men who at their Landing received as Royal an Entertainment as the other Nations and likewise St. Anthony was as highly Honoured by the English Champion as any of the other Christian Knights The next that arrived was S. Denis the Uictorious Champion of France with a Band of Fourscore thousand After him Marched Dukes of twelve several Dukedoms then under the Government of the French King every one at his own proper Cost and Charges maintained two thousand Soldiers in these Christian Wars their Entertainments were as Glorious as the rest The last of the Christian Champions that arrived upon the fruitful Banks of Portugal was the Magnanimous Knight St. James of Spain with a Band likewise of Fourscore thousand with him he brought from the Spanish Mines ten Tun of Refined Gold only to maintain Soldiers in the Defence of Christendom who no sooner Landed with his Troops but the Six Champions gave him the honourable welcome of a Soldier and ordained a solemn Banquet for the general Armies whose number justly surmounted Five hundred thousand which Legious they enjoyned into one Camp-Royal and after placed their Wings and Squadrons Battel-wise chiefly by the direction of St. George being then chief General by the consent of the Christian Kings who after he had over-viewed the Christian Armies his Countenance seemed to prognosticate a Crowned Uictory and to foretell a fatal Overthrow to the misbelieving Potentates Therefore to encourage his Princely Followers to persevere in their wonted willingness pronounced this Princely Oration You Men of Europe said he and my Countrey-men whose Conquering Fortunes never yet have feared the Enemies of Christ you see we have forsook our Native Lands and committed our Destinies to the Queen of Chance not to fight in any unjust Quarrel but in the true Cause of Israel's Anointed not against Nature to climb to the Heavens as Nimroâ— and the Giants proffered in former time but to prevent the Invasion of Christendom the Ruine of Europe and the intended overthrow of all Christian Provinces the Bloody-minded Infidels have Mustered up Legions in numbers like blades of Grass that grow upon the flourishing Downs of Italy or the Stars of Heaven in the coldest Winters night protesting to fill our Countries with Seas of Blood to scatter our streets with mangled Limbs and convert our Glorious Cities into Flames of quenchless Fire Therefore dear Country-men live not to see our Christian Uirgins spoiled by Lustfull Rape nor dragged along our Streets like guiltless Lambs to a bloody Slaughter nor to see our harmless Baâ—es with bruised brains dashed against hard Flinty stones nor to see our unlusty Age whose hair resembles silver Mines lye bleeding on the Marble Pavements but like true Christian Soldiers fight in the Quarrel of your Countries What though the Pagans be in number ten to one yet Heaven I know will fight for Christendom and cast them down before our faces like drops of April showers Be not dismayed to see them in ordered Ranks nor fear not when as you behold the streamers hovering in the waving wind when as their steeled Pikes like to a Thorny Forrest will overspread whole Countreys Thousands of them I know will have no heart to fight but flie with cowardly fear like Flocks of Shéep before the greedy Wolf I am the Leader of your noble Minds that never sought in vain nor ever entred Battel but returned with Conquest Then every one with me build upon this Princely Resolution For Christendom we Fight For Christendom we Live and Dâ—e This Soldierlike Oration was no sooner finished but the whole Army with a general voice cried to Arms to Arms with Uictorious George of England Which Noble Resolution of the Soldiers so reioyced the English Champion and likewise encouraged the other Christian Knights
of Morocco with his scattered Troops of Moors and Negroes returned from Hungary and by Fire and Sword had wasted many of their chiefest Towns and Forts whereby the Countrey was much weakned and the Commons compelled to sue for Mercy at the Champions hands who bearing true Christian minds within their hearts continually pity harboured vouchsafed to grant mercy to those that yielded their Lives to the pleasure of the Christian Knights But when St. George had intelligence of Almidor's approach with his weakned Troops he presently prepared his Soldiers in readiness to give the Moors a bloody Banquet which was the next Morning by break of day performed to the high honour of Christendom but the night before the Moors knowing the Countrey better than the Christians got the advantage both of Wind and Sun whereat St. George being something dismayed but yet not discouraged imboldned his Soldiers with many Heroicat Speeches proffering them frankly the Enemies Spoils and so with the Sun 's uprising entred Battel where the Moors fell before the Christians Swords as ears of Corn before the Reapers Sickles During this Conflict the Seven Champions still in the fore Front of the Battel so adventurously behaved themselves that they slew more Negroes than a hundred of the bravest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intended to make St. George's Prowess to shine brighter than the rest singled out the Morocco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long and dangerous Fight But St. George so Couragiously behaved himself with his trusty Sword that Almidor was constrained to yield to his Mercy The Army of the Moors séeing their King taken Prisoner presently would have fled but that the Christians being the lighter of foot overtook them and made the greatest slaughter of them that ever hapned in Barbary Thus after the Battel ended and the joyful sound of Uictory rang through the Christian Army the Soldiers furnished themselves with the Enemies Spoils and Marched by St. George's direction to the City of Tripoly being then almost unpeopled through the late slaughter which was there made In which City after they had rested some days and refreshed themselves with wholesome food the English Champion in Revenge of his former proffered Injuries by the Morocco King gave this severe Sentence of Death First He commanded a brazen Cauldron to be filled with boiling Lead and Brimstone Then Almidor to be brought to the plâ—â—e of Death by twelve of the Noblest Peers in Barbary therein to be consumed Flesh Blood and Bones which was duly performed within seven days following The brazen Cauldron was erected by the appointment of St. George directly in the middle of the chiefest Market-place under which a mighty hot fire continually burned for the space of eight and forty hours whereby the boiling Lead and Brimstone seemed to sparkle like fiery Furnaces in Hell and the heat to exceed the burning Oven at Babylon Now all things being thus prepared in readiness and the Christian Champions present to behold the woful spectacle the Condemned Blackmoor King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of fine Indian Silk his hands pinioned together with a Chain of Gold and his face covered with a Damask Scart his Attendants and chief Conductors twelve Moors Peers claâ— in sable Gowns of Taffaty carrying before him the Wheel of Fortune with the Picture of an Usurper climbling up with this Motto on his Breast I will be King in spite of Fortune Upon the top of the Wheel the Picture of a Monarch vaunting with this Motto on his Breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheel the Picture or perfect Image of a Deposed Potentate falling with his head downwards with this Motto on his Breast I have been a King while it pleased Fortune Which plainly signified the Chance of War and of inconstant Destiny His Guard was a hundred Christian Soldiers holding Fortune in disdain after them had attended a hundred of Morocco Uirgins in black Ornaments their hair bound up with Silver Wyres and covered with Ueils of black Silk signifying the Sorrow of their Countrey for the loss of their Sovereign In this mournful manner came the unfortunate Almidor to the boiling Cauldron which when he came near his heart waxed cold and his tongue devoâ—d of utterance for a time at last he brake forth into these earnest Protestations proffering more for his Life than the whole Kingdom of Barbary could perform Most Mighty and Invincible Champion of Christendom quoth he let my Life be Ransomed and Thou shalt yearly receive ten Tuns of tryed Gold Five hundred webs of woven Silk the which our Indian Maids shall sit and Spin with Silver Wheels an hundred Ships of spices and Refined Sugar shall be yearly paid thee by our Barbary Merchants an hundred Waggons likewise laden with Pearl and Jasper stones which by our cunning Lapidists shall be yearly chosen forth and brought thee home to England to make that blessed Country the richest within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will deliver up my Diadem with all my Princely Dignities and in company of these Morocco Lords like bridled Hories draw thee daily in a silver Chariot up and down the circled Earth till Death give end to our Lives Pilgrimage therefore most admired Knight at Arms let these salt tears that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtain one grant of comfort at thy hands for on my bended knees I beg for life that never before this time did kneel to Mortal Man Thou speakest in vain reply'd St. George not the Treasures hidden in the deepest Seas nor all the golden Mines of rich America shall redeem thy Life Thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practices in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereave me of my life through thy Treachery I endured a long Imprisonment in Persia where for seven years I drank foul Channel-water and sufficed my hunger with Bread of Bran Meal My Food was loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismal Dungeon where neither Sun nor the chearful light of Heaven lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered injuries the Heavens inforce me to a speedy Revenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Torment prepared for thy Death this brazen Cauldron filled with boiled Lead and Brimstone wherein thy accursed Body shall be speedily cast and boiled till thy detested Limbs be consumed to a watry substance in this sparkling liquor therefore prepare thy self to entertain the violent stroke of Death and willingly bid all thy Kingly Dignities farewell But yet I let thee understand that Mercy harbours in a Christian's heart and where Mercy dwells there faults are forgiven upon some humble penitence though thy Trespass deserves no pity but severe punishment yet upon these considerations I will grant thee liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy Gods Tarmagant and Apollo which
shall for ever acknowledge But to love and so to love as to make you a promise of being my Husband for I hope you mean no other thing but what tends to my Honour you must excuse me having no other assurance of your reality but only your own verbal expressions besides you being a Stranger and I am Heiress to a Crown were your Estate answerable to your I must confess excellent Qualifications yet could I not be so at my own disposal to conclude of what you desire seeing not only my Parents but my Country have so great aâ—share in me She would have proceeded further but Sir Alexander and the Lady Alsatia having finished their dance the Cornets and other Wind-Musiek sounding aloud they were called away to beheld another Scene of fresh Maskers which in this sort entertained the beholders First entered the likeness of a stately Fabrick made of Paste-board and adorned with many golden streamers which represented the Temple of Honour this was drawn to the further side of that spatious Room wherein being placed soon after entered another Fabrick but more lower and not so richly adorned which represented the Temple of Vertue and was so placed that none could enter the Temple of Honour but must first pass through the Temple of Vertue After entered several persons who attempted to get into the Temple of Honour but were loath to go through the Temple of Vertue therefore they missed of their aim Those who went through the Temple of Vertue were richly adorned and rewarded and greatly honoured of the people But those who would climb up to the Temple of Honour and not enter it by the Temple of Vertue it was made so slippery on the top that with the least treading awry they fell down and brake their Necks This shew being ended and the Cornets and other loud Musick ceasing the Uâ—llâ—nâ— and Renowned Knight Sir David taking a most beautiful Damsel by the hand named Artesia and Niece to the King of Sicily by his Sister Redolentia whose Husband was a Renowned Knight at Arms and Master of the strong Castle of Angelo This Noble Lady who had not her superiour for Beauty on the face of the Earth most willingly gave her hand to Sir David and so with as much portly Majesty as the God of War led the stately Venus they danced a Galiard which whilst they were doing Sir Guy having a further opportunity to speak to the Goddess of his affections accosted her in this manner Most Excellent Lady Do not entertain a Heart more hard then Flint which the tears of my true love cannot mollifie nor think my affections to you to be like breath on Steel soon on and soon off No I protest by all the Sacred Oaths of Religion and by your self that is by all that is good my Love shall be as durable and firm as whatsoever is most permanent Nor do not think because some have proved treacherous and disloyal to their Loves that once so unworthy a thought should ever enter into my Heart No although Aeneas proved false to Dido yet will Guy be as true to his Urania as ever was Pyramus to his beloved Thisbe or Leanâ—er to Hero what though Iason basely forsook his Medea by whose means he obtained the Golden Fleece yet shall my Faith alwayes remain firm and be as constant to thee as was Ulysses unto his Penclope The Princess hearing these asseverations and being willing he should not be too much dejected but that some beams of comfort should reflect on him she told him that time the Mother of Truth would prove the reality of his affections in the mean time that he should not despair since being a Souldier he must needs know that the strongest Castles by continual Batteries are forced to yield By this time the Night was so far spent as summoned them all to go to their Beds where no sooner they were laid but Morpheus the god of Sleep closed up their eyes in Golden slumbers Next morning no sooner did Aurora from the glowing East display her purple doors and that Hiperion with his ruddy Kayes began to guild the Horizon with his Radious Beams when the shrill noise of a Silver Trumpet sounding at the Court Gates raised them from their Beds to know what was the meaning of it when they were quickly informed that it was a Knight of Thessaly attended on by a Squire and a Trumpeter who desired to speak with the King of Sicily who being admitted into the Kings presence delivered himself in these words Most Noble Prince my coming hither to you is to desire of you assistance for our distressed Country of Thessaly opprest and almost desolated by the Encroachments and Tyranny of the King of Thrace The cause of which quarrel he pretends to be for that our King having but one Daughter named Mariana the Heiress to his Crown and dominions Being a Lady not only endued with excellency of Natures gifts but withal so vertuous affable and every way compleat in knowledge that she may well be said to be the darling of her Sex and admiration of all that know her This Peerless Princess the King of Thrace who is famed a Man given over to all licentiousness and so far degenerate from Royalty that he commits actions unbeseeming a Peasant desired of her Father to have in Marriage but she loathing to link her self in such Marriage Bands where Love and true Honour did not mutually embrace each other refused so leathsome a proffer and that with such indignation that upon his Embassadors return and acquainted with his slighting he resolved to do that by force which he could not obtain by favour and to that end mustered up a most puissâ—nt Army which was done in such an instant that he was marched into the midst of our Land before we were provided to méet him on the Borders Nay his Horse consisting of Ten Thousand well approved Souldiers excellently armed both with offensive and defensive Weapons had by their incursions so affrighted our people that our strongest Cittadels were not held sufficient to safeguard them from danger but all left to the spoil of the enemy At last this news arriving to our King who held himself secure by reason there was a mutual league of peace betwixt them which at that time was not half expired that he was altogether unprovided for the present a great fault in Princes as to think any Estate so permanent which may not be soon overturned But upon the news hereof he bestirs himself fortiâ—ies his chief City of Larissa where he kept his Court and raises as puissant an Army as could in so short a time be provided with which he marches against his Enemies The King of Thrace had with him a mighty Gyant named Predo in whom he put great confidence This Gyant had the strength of ten ordinary men and was for stature and shape very terrible to behold In the Ualley of Tempe they joyned battle where notwithstanding our men did
were acting in Thrace the Sieilian Army being jonyed with the Thessalians and making in all to the number of forty thousand men armed with a just cause marched in great confidence of an assured Uictory And now being entered into the Territories of Thrace the first that marched against them was Count Brandamil with an Army of fifty thousand Thracians where joyning Battel together it was fought with much eager Courage on both sides each of them striving to outvie the other in Ualour the one side to defend their Native Country the other to revenge the losses they had sustained by their enemy Uictory thus for a long while stood hovering over the heads of both Armies till in the end the valiant Knight Sir David who had the honour that day to lead the Uaunt-guard encountering with Count Brandamil by main strength overthrew him bearing him with his Lance quite over the Crupper of his Horse whereby his fall was so great that the blood gushed forth of his mouth whereupon the Sicilians gave such a shout that the Earth rang with the sound thereof and the Thracians courage was quite cast down for the loss of a General is a general loss And now the Thracians began to turn their backs and flee when in the instant came to their rescue the two Gyants Brandamore and Pandaphilo with the Forces they had which though but few yet gave such proof of their valour that they almost routed Thracians rallying again set so fiercely upon the Sicilians that in great disorder they began to give back And now did Sir Guy bestir himself encouraging those who were about to flee to stand to it manfully himself doing such execution upon his enemies that they flew from before his conquering sword as a flock of Shéep from the devouring Wolf Whilst thus he drove the Thracians before him he at last met with the Gyant Brandamore to whom he cryed defend thy self thou mishapen Fiend whose bulk is a weight too heavy for the Earth to bear and therefore prepare thy self for I intend that thou shalt this night â—up with thy Master grim Pluto The Gyant making little account of his person and less of his words thought to snap him at one morsel and coming up to Sir Guy intended to take him Horse and Man under his Arm and carry him away but ere he laid hold of him Sir Guy lent him such a blow on his head that had not his Helmet béen of approved Mettal he had â—left him down unto the middle however it made him to stagger and to recoil two or thrée steps backwards And finding by this he had a stronger Foe to encounter withal then he thought for he waxed more wary not only to assail but also to defend himself And now the Gyant began to use his Club which was of a wondrous length and withal so weighty that had it lighted on Sir Guy it would at one blow have crushed him to pieces After long fighting the Gyant being angry to be thus repulsed which never before in his life he had béen â—e struck at Sir Guy with all the strength he had but missing his blow he struck his Club so deep into the Earth that he could not readily draw it out again which advantage Sir Guy espying spurred up his Horse and with his Lance gaâ—e such a violent punch on the Gyants breast that he tumbled backwards over the dead Carcases of two or three slaughtered Souldiers Then Sir Guy nimbly alighting from his Horse intended with his Sword to have smitten off the Gyants head but at that instant Pandaphilo the other Gyant came running in to his Brothers rescue and undoubtedly had done Sir Guy much prejudice being then almost spent with fighting had not Sir David timely succor'd him who searching out for Pandaphilo finding his Brother so hard bestead he coupled with him in fight which was performed with such Manhood on both sides that I want Art to describe the same Pandaphilo trusting to his strength laid on load with great fury which blows Sir David nimbly avoided and withal gave his adversary ever and anon such lusty knocks that he well perceived he had a valiant Foe to encounter withal In the mean time the Gyant Brandamore was scrambled up and began a fresh encounter with Sir Guy Whilst these four were thus busied in fighting the valiant Knight Sir Alexander had made such havock amongst the Thracians that they began to turn their backs and â—â—â—e The two Gyants seeing their Army in this running posture ran also to keep them company whom the thâ—ee Brothers hotly Persued dealing such blows with their trusty Fauchions that they made Arms and Legs complain to the Earth how ill their Masters had kept them The Gyant Predo who was at the time of the battle in the Inchanted Castle hearing how hardly his Brothers fared hasted with all the speed he could to their relief whose coming put a stop to the Sicilians being almost weary with persuing of them â—o thâ—â— a retreat being sounded the Gyants had time with the remainder of their broken Army to secure themselves in their Castle cursing their fortune and invâ—cating their false Gods for their future success Sir Alexander presently dispatched a Messenger to the Princess Mariana giving her an account of their success in this following Letter Most Gracious Princess GUarded by the Almighty Power and influenced by your divine beauty we have given the Thracians a great overthrow which we do not impute so much to the strength of our Arms as to the justness of our Cause and sighting under the Banner of such a perfection of Excellencies As for the King your Father of whom I know you are impatient to hear all we can understand oâ— Him is by some Prisoners we have taken that he is confined in the Inchanted Castle from which we hope ere long to free Him Till then most Dear Princess rest in hope assuring your self for the effecting thereof there shall not be wanting the at most endeavours of Your Most True and Loyal Knight Alexander The Army having refreshed themselves for the space of two days they then marched against the Inchanted Castle but before they were come within a quarter of a mile of it they were encountred by the Gyant Predo and his two Brothers with what Forces had escaped from the Battle and now began a most terrible fight insomuch that the Earth was changed from a verdant green to a crimson dye and the heaps of slaughtered Carcases overspread the Fields In the heat of this fight it was Sir Alexanders fortune to meet with the Gyant Brandamore betwixt whom began a most fierâ—e 〈◊〉 in which art and valour strived who should have the 〈◊〉 for the Gyant being of an incredible strength was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over match for Sir Alexander and he on the other 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 and skilful that he returned him blow for blow with advantage thus continued they sighting for some space till in the end Brandamore what through the weight