Lucinda great were the Triumphs performed that day by Pageants Fire-works and other costly devices far surpasting the skill of the most elaborate Writer to describe all which we shall overpass and come to speak of the Warlike Acts performed by our nine Renowned Heroes which was celebrated in order as followeth On the first day of the Justs entered that valiant knight at Arms the Renowned Sir Guy king of 〈◊〉 mounâ—ed on a Barbary Sâ—eed who pranced on the ground in as great state as Bucephalâ—s the Horse of King Alexander his Armouâ— like the colour of his Horse was of a dark brown and for his device on his Shield was an Anchor with this word Aâ—châ—â—a spl Against him entered a Phrygiaâ— Knight named Dorosus upon a sorrel Horie of an Epirian breed with flaming Nostrils his Armour was green and for his device he had in his Shield a Laurel-Tree with this word ever 〈◊〉 At the Trumpets sound they encountered each other with great skill and violence breaking their slaves that the splinters flew into the Air But at the third course Sir Guy ran against him with such might that both Horse and Man sell to the ground With like Valour did he that day overcome twenty 〈◊〉 Knights and was with great Triumph conducted home unto his lodging The next day Sir Alexander entered the Lists as chief Challenger against all comers His Horse was of a Morocco Race with Tusks out of his mouth like to a Boar His Armour was red and for his device in his Shield was an Oxe bleeding with this word such to Opposers The first that ran against him was a Macedâ—â—ian Lord named Lentulus of Gygantick stature and approved Manhood but by the Valour of Sir Alexander he was overthrown as also nineteen other Knights of Prowess and Fortitude The third day Sir David appeared in the Lists chief Champion against all Opposers His Horse was of a Chesnut colour his Armour azure and on his shâ—eld was painted a serene Sky with this word without Clouds This Valian Knight behaved him self so well that day that he brought to ground thrty four Knights to his great Commendation and Honour being conducted to his lodging by the Prince Rosinda with sound of Trumpets and other Musical Instruments On the fourth day appeared for chief Champion against all comers the Renowned and Valiant Knight at Arms Sir Turpin of France mounted on an Aâ—ahian Courser of a Strawberry colour and so lively were the red spots on him intermingled with white like unto Scrawherries in a dâ—â—h of Crem that it seemed rather natural then artificial His Armour was of a tawny colour and on his shield was painted an Orange Tree with this word fruitfully comforting This valiant Knight behaved himself so gailantly that day that the Emperour in reward of his magnanimity threw unto him a Gold Chain at the end whereof hung a rich Meddal all beset with Pearls and Diamonds and so with great Acclamations of the people he was conducted to his Lodging On the fifth day the most Heroick and Invincible Knight Sir Pedro of Spain entered the Lists mounted on a Spanish Genner his Armour was of a flame colour so artificially wrought that to a not skilful Eye his Body seemed to be all on a fire for so well had the Artist contrived the same that by the moving of his Horse the Wind seemed to fan up the flames to a greater blaze His device in his shield was a Salamander living in the fire with this word not so consumed This Renowned Knight by his Martial Prowess overthrew no less then 34 Champions that encountered with him insomuch that the Princess Lucinda gave him her Glove to wear and commanded that thereafter he should be called her Knight Upon the sixth day as Sir Orlando of Italy was entering the Lists there met him a Squire who spake to him in these words Sir Knight my Master by me advises ye to make the best defence you can that by your stout resistance he may obtain the greater Honour in your overthrow To whom Sir Orlando replyed Go tell thy Master I am prepared for him and that it is not good to sell the Lyons Skin until he be dead Accordingly hereâ—â—â—o encountering each other they fought with so much skill and valour that Mars himself might have been a spectatour of their worthy Atchievments being Men of such Prowess as not to know fear themselves and yet to teach 〈◊〉 others that had to deal with them long time did Victory equally Play upon their dancing Banners but at last Conquest displayed her silver Wings on Sir Orlando's Head and his Antagonists brags vanished in smoak his Body with his Honour being laid in the dust With the like success did he overcome eighteen Knights more that day whereby he won the reputation of a most valiant Knight On the seventh day the Renowned Knight Sir Ewin of Scotland was chief Champion who entered the Lists mounted on a Scottish Galloway who though but small of stature was of strength comparable to an Elephant his Armour was black as also his shield with these Letters in white hoping for day His success was such that he foiled no less then threescore Knights gaining to himself Immortal Fame by such their overthrow The eighth day was managed by Sir Phelim of Ireland as brave a Knight as ever trod the Field of Mars he was mounted on an Irish Hobby decked with a Plume of Peacocks Feathers His Armour was so contrived as if it had been made up of several pieces yet all joyned together in a loving confusedness On his shield was pourtrayed a red Breast with this word innocently harmless He encountered that day with 25 Knights all whom oy his Manly Prowess he overcame On the ninth and last day there entered the Lists that Heroick undaunted Knight Sir Owen of the Mountains mounted on a stately English Palfrey His Armour was milk white his attiring else all cut in Stars which made of Cloth of Silver and Silver Spangles each way seemed to cast many aspects In his shield was a sheep feeding in a pleasant Field with this word without fear or envy This valiant Knight Sir Owen behaved himself so gallantly and dismounted so many Knights that day that the Prince Rosinda entituled him the mirrour of Chevalry and pattern of true Magnanimity After the Justs were finished the Emperour entertained these nine worthy Knights in most sumptuous manner spending several days in their company with great Feasts Masks and other stately showes and in reward of their Martial performances gave unto them 9 most rich precious stones each of them valued at a Kings Ransom besides other most rich Presents from the Prince and Princess and so taking their solemn leave of the Emperour and other High Estates then present with great honour and applause they returned each to his own Country FINIS
Swans in which likeness we remained seven years but at last recovered by a worthy Christian Knight named St. Andrew the Champion of Scotland after whom we have Travelled many a weary step never crossed by any Violence until it was our angry Fates to arrive in this unhappy Wilderness where your eyes have been true witnesses of our Misfortunes Which sad Discourse was no sooner finished but the Worthy Champion thus began to comfort the distressed Ladies The Christian Champion after whom you take in hand this weary Travel said the Irish Champion is my approved Friend for whose Company and wished for Sight I will go more weary miles than there be Trees in this vast Wilderness and number my steps with the Sands hidden in the Seas Therefore most excellent Ladies true Ornaments of Beauty be sad Companions in my Travels for I will never cease till I have found our Honourable Friend the Champion of Scotland or some of those brave Knights whom I have not seen these seven Summers These words so contented the sorrowful Ladies that without any exception they agréed and with as much willingness consented as the Champion demanded So after they had recreated themselves eased their weariness and cured their Wounds which was by the secret Uertues of certain Herbs growing in the same Woods they took their Iourneys anew under the Conduct of this Worthy Champion St. Patrick where after some days Travel the obtained the â—ight of a broad beaten way where committing their Fortunes to the Fatal Sisters and setting their Faces toward the East they merrily Iourneyed together In whose Fortunate Travels we will leave them and speak of the seventh Christian Champion whose Adventurous Exploitâ— and Knightly Honours deserve a Golden Den dipt in Ink of truâ— Fame to Discourse at Large CHAP. IX How St. David the Champion of Wales slew the Count Palatine in the Tartarian Court and after how he was sent to the Enchanted Garden of Drmandine wherein by Magick Art he slept seven years SAint David the most Noble Champion of Wales after his departure from the Brazen Pillar whereat the other Champions of Christendom divided themselves severally to seek Foreign Adventures he atchieved many memorable things as well in Christendom as in those Nations that acknowledged no true God which as for this time I omit and only discourse what hapned unto him among the Tartarians for being in the Emperor of Tartary's Court a place very much honoured with Ualorous Knights highly graced with a Train of Beautiful Ladies where the Emperor upon a time Drdained a Solemn Iust and Tournament to be holden in the honour of his Birth-day whither resorted at the time appointed from all the Borders of Tartary the best and the hardiest Knights there remaining In which Honourable and Princely Exercise the Noble Knight St. David was appointed Champion for the Emperor who was Mounted upon a Morocco Stéed betrapped in a rich Eaparison wrought by the curious work of Indian Women upon whose Shield was set a Golden Griffen rampant in a Field of Blue Against him came the Count Palatine Son and Heir apparent to the Tartarian Emperor brought in by twelve Knights Richly furnished with Habiliments of Honour who paced thrée times about the Lists before the Emperor and many Ladies that were present to behold the honourable Tournament The which being done the twelve Knights departed the Lists and the Count Palatine prepared himself to Encounter with the Christian Knight being appointed chief Champion for the Day who likewise prepared himself and at the Trumpet 's Sound by the Herald's appointment they ran so fiercely each against other that the Ground séemed to shake under them and the Skies to resound Ecchoes of their mighty strokes At the second Race the Champions ran St. David had the worst and was constrained through the forcible strength of the Count Palatine to lean backward almost beside his Saddle whereat the Trumpets began to sound in sign of Uictory but yet the Ualiant Christian nothing dismayed but with a Courage within whose eyes sate Knightly Revenge ran the third time against the Count Palatine and by the Uiolence of his Strength he overthrew both Horse and Man whereby the Count's Body was so extreamly bruised with the fall of his Horse that his heart-blood issued forth by his mouth and his vital spirits pressed from the mansion of his breast so that he was forced to give the World Farewell This fatal Overthrow of the Count Palatine abashed the whole Company but especially the Tartarian Emperor who having no more Sons but him caused the Lists to be broken up the Knights to be unarmed and the murdered Count to be brought by four Esquires into his Palace where after he was despoiled of his Furniture and the Christian Knight received in honour of his Uictory the woeful Emperor bathed his Son's Body with Tears which dropped like Crystal Pearls from the congealed blood and after many sad sighs he breathed forth this woful Lamentation Now are my Triumphs turned into Everlasting Woes from a Comical Pastime to a direful and Bloody Tragedy O most unkind Fortune never Constant but in Change why is my Life deferred to see the downfall of my dear Son the Noble Count Palatine Why rends not this accursed Earth whereon I stand and presently swallow up my Body into her hungry Bowels Is this the use of Christians For true Honour to repay Dishonour Could not base blood serve to stain his deadly hands withall but the Royal blood of my dear Son in whose Revenge the face of the Heavens is stained with Blood and cries for Vengeance to the Majesty of Mighty Jove The dreadful Furies the direful daughters of dark Night and all the baleful company of burning Acheron whose Loins shall be girt with Serpents and Hair be hanged with Wreaths of Snakes shall haunt pursue and follow that accursed Christian Champion that hath bereaved my Country Tartary of so precious a Jewel as my dear Son the Count Palatine was whose Magnanimous Prowess did surpass all the Knights of our recovery Thus sorrowed the woful Emperor for the Death of his Noble Son Sometimes making the Ecchoes of his Lamentations pierce the Elements Another while forcing his bitter Curses to sink to the deep Foundations of Acheron One while intending to be Revenged on St. David the Christian Champion then presently his intent was crossed with a contrary imagination thinking it was against the Law of Arms and a great Dishonour to his Country by Uiolence to Oppress a strange Knight whose Anions had ever been guided by true Honour but yet at last this firm Resolution entred into his Mind There was adjoyning upon the Borders of Tartary an Enchanted Garden kept by Magick Art from whence never any returned that attempted to enter the Governour of which Garden was a Notable and Famous Necromancer named Ormandine to which Magician the Tartarian Emperor intended to send the Adventurous Champion St. David thereby to Revenge the Count Palatine's Death
whom they likewise tyed round about him then one of the Moors being crueller than the rest proffened to desloue the Merchant's Wife before his face but she in Chastity like Camma choosing rather an honourable death than an infamous life spit in the Negro's â—ace and most bitterly reviled him yielding neither to his force nor his bloody threats but snatching a Knife from his Girdle vowed to sheath it in her Bosom before the would lose her precious Gem of Honour that once being gone could not be recovered for all the Worlds Treasure This Resolution of the English Merchant's Wife caused the stern Negro to exceed in Cruelty but the Principal of that wicked company being a bloody and merciless Tyrant stabbed one of the silly Children before the Mother's face Now stubborn Dame quoth he wilt thou yield to my desires and preserve the lives of the other six Children Otherwise shalt thou behold them Butchered in the same manner To sell my Honour for the lives of my Children replyed she will be an Offence to God and a continual corrosive to my Husband's heart if we live together Therefore accursed Monster prosecute your Tyranny it is not all your threats and bloody dealings shall convert my chaste mind nor once enforce my thoughts to give any consent thereunto These words being no sooner ended but the lustful Moor took another of her Children and stabbed before her Husband's face thinking thereby to force the Merchant to intreat his Wife to consent to the wicked Negro's determinations but he being as resolute as his vertuous Wife spake in this manner O you cursed black Dogs of Barbary more worse in quality than bloody Tygers and more merciless than wicked Canibals think you that the Murder of our Children shall enforce our hearts to yield to your Lustful desires No no persevere in your Tyrannies Iâ— I had an hundred Children twice the number of King Priam's yet would I lose them all before I would endure to see my Wife's Dishonour Children may be begotten again but her honour never recovered These words pricked the Negro's to the gall and caused them to commit the wickedest Deed that ever was practised under the Celestial Globe of Heaven First they sheathed their Poniards in the Breasts of all the Merchant's Children whose guiltless blood stained all the Chamber with a crimson colour then with their Faulchions did they cut their Bodies in sunder and caused seven Pies to be made of their flesh and after served in a Banquet to their woful Parents whom the merciless Moors set at a square Table the Merchant placed directly opposite against his Wife where they were constrained either to feed upon their own Children or starve for want of other Sustenance This woful spenacle struck such a Grief into the English Merchant's heart that he could scarce endure to speak for weeping his Wife when she beheld the heads of her lovely Sons lying upon the Table as it were looking to Heaven for Revenge breathed forth this dying Lamentation O silly Babes would you had been strangled in my Womb at your first conception then should not these accursed Infidels have triumph'd thus in your unhappy Tragedies nor your unfortunate Parents beheld this luckless day whereon I pray that never Sun may shine again but be accounted an ominous day throughout the whole World for Heaven I hope poor Babes will Rain a showre of Uengeance on their heads that have caused this our untimely death and with this Prayer I bid the Word farewel At which words her Grief so exceeded the bounds of Reason that it stayed the passage of her breath whereby she was forced to yield her Soul to the Paradice of Peace She being no sooner dead but the sorrowful Merchant likewise bitterly exclaimed against the Injustice of Fortune and the Tyranny of the Barbarous Moors accounting his Destiny more hapless than the Thracian Kings that buried his Children in his own Bowels and the cruelty of these Infidels to exceed the Tyranny of Nero that caused his Mother's Womb to be opened that he might behold the place of his conception But when the Merchant had sufficiently bewail'd the murder of his Children the Death of his Wife and his own Misery he yielded his Soul to the furious stroke of Death The end of whose long languishments when the wicked Moors had intelligence of they caused their dead Bodies to be carried to the top of a high Mountain and there left for the prey of hungry Ravens But the Sun consumed them like the morning dew And by the wonderful Workmanship of Heaven in the same place sprung a Bower of Roses to signifie the unspotted honour of the Merchant and his Uertuous Wife which Miracle we leave to the wonder of the Moors and speak of the Christian Champions Proceeding that by this time were arrived in the Kingdom of Aegypt CHAP. XV. How the Christians arrived in Egypt and what hapned to them there The Tragedy of the Lustful Earl of Coventry How Sabra was bound to a Stake to be burnt And how St. George Redeemed her Lastly How the Egyptian King cast himself from the top of a Tower and broke his Neck DUring the time of the bloody Murder wrought by the Barbarous Moors upon the English Merchant and his Wife with his seven Children as you heard in the former Chapter the Champions of Christendom arrived upon the Territories of Egypt where they supposed to have adventured their lives upon the chance of War but all things fell out contrary to their expectations they found the Gates of every City set open and every Uillage and Town unpeopled for the Commons at the report of the Christians arrival secretly hid their Treasure in the Caves of the Earth in deep Wells and such like obscute places and a general fear and extream terror assailed the Egyptians as well the Peers of the Land as the simple Country People Many fled into Woods and Wildernesses and closely hid themselves in hollow Trees many digged Caves in the Ground where they thought best to remain in safety and many fled to high Mountains where they long time lived in great extremity fooding upon the Grass of the Ground so greatly the Egyptâ—ans feared the Army of the Christians that they expected nothing but the Auine of their Countrey with the loss of their own lives and the murder of their Wives and Children But to speak of the Christian Champions who finding the Countrey desolate of People suspected some deep policy of the Egyptian thinking them to have Mustred their Warlike Forces to bid them Battel Therefore St. George gave commandment through the whole Camp that not a Man upon pain of Death should break his Rank but March Advisedly with their Weapons ready prest to encounter Battel as though the Enemies had directly placed themselves opposite against them Which special charge the Christian Soldiors duly observed looking neither after the Wealth of Cities nor the Spoil of Uillages but circumspectly Marched according to their
Leaders directions along the Countrey of Egypt till they approach'd the sight of King Ptolomy's Court Which when the Noble Champīon of England beheld in this manner encouraged he his Followerss Behold said he you invincible Captains of Christendom yonder those cursed Lowers where wicked Ptolomy keeps his Court Those Battlements I say were they as richly built as the great Pyramids of Greece yet should they be subverted and laid as level with the Ground as the City of Carthage there hath that accursed Ptolomy his Residence that for preserving his Daughter from the burning Dragon Treacherously sent me into Persia where for seven years I lived in great extremity in a dismal Dungeon where the Sun did never give me light nor the company of People comfort In Revenge whereof my heart shall never rest in quiet till I see the Buildings of his Palace set on fire and converted into a place of Desolation like to the Glorious City in Phrygia now over spread with stinking weeds and loathsome puddles Therefore let all Christian Soldiers that fight under the Banner of Christendom and all that love George of England your chosen General draw forth your Warlike Weapons and like the angry Greeks overturn those glistring Battlements leave not one stone upon another but lay it as level with the ground as the Narvest Keapers do Fields of ripened Corn let your wrathful Furies fall upon these Towers like drop◠of April Showers or like Storms of Winters Nail that it may be bruited through the whole World what just Uengeance did light upon the Pride of Egypt Leave not I say as you love your General when you have subverted the Palace one Man alive no not a sucking Babe but let them suffer Uengeance for the wickedness of their King This is my Decree brave Knights of Christendom therefore March forwards Heaven and Fortune be your good speed At which words the Soldiers gave a general shout in sign of their willing minds Then began the silken Streamers to flourish in the Air the Drums chearfully to sound forward the Silver Trumpets recorded Ecchoes of Uictory the barbed Steeds grew proud of this Attempt and would stand upon no Ground but leapt and danced with as much Courage as did Bucephalus the Horse of the Macedonian Alexander always before any notable Uictory yea every thing gave an evident sign of good success as well senseless things as living Creatures With this Resolution marched the Christians purposing the utter confusion of the Egyptian and the woful Ruine and Destruction of Ptolomy's sumptuous Palace But when the Soldiers approached the Gates with wrathful Weapons ready to assault there came pacing out thereat the Egyptian King with all the chiefest of his Nobles attired in black and mournful Ornaments bearing in their hands Olive-branches Next them the bravest Soldiers in Egypt bearing in their hands broken Weapons shivered Launces and torn Ancients Likewise followed thousands of Women and Children with Cypress Wreaths about their heads and in their hands Olive-branches crying for Mercy to the Christians That they should not utterly destroy their declining Countrey but shew mercy to unhappy Egypt This unexpended fight or rather admirable wonder caused St. George to sound a Retreat and gave commandment through the Christian Army to with-hold their former vowed Uengeance from the Egyptians till he understood what they required Which Charge being given and duly observed St. George with the other six Champions came together and admitted the Egyptian King with his Nobles to their Presence who in this manner began to speak for his Countrey You unconquered Knights of Christendom whose worthy Victories and Noble Atchievements the whole World admires let him that never kneeled to any Man till now and in former times disdained to humble himself to any Potentate on Earth let him I say the most unfortunate Wretch alive crave mercy not for my self but for my Countrey my Commons Blood will be required at my hand Our Murthered Infants will call to Heaven for Revenge and our slaughtered Widows sink down to Hell for Revenge so will the Vengeance of Heaven light upon my Soul and the Curse of Hell upon my Head Renowned Champion of England under whose Custody my dear Daughter is kept even for the love of her be merciful to Egypt The former Wrongs I proffered thee when I sent thee like a guiltless Lamb into Persia was contrary to my Will for I was incensed by the slattery of that accursed Black-moor King whose Soul for ever be scourged with whips of wyre and plagued with the punishment of Tantalus in Hell If my life will serve for a just Revenge here is my naked Breast let my heart-blood stain some Christian's Sword that you may bear the bloody Witness of my death into Christendom or let me be torn into a thousand pieces by mad untamed Steeds as was Hippolitus Son of Theseus in his charmed Chariot Most Mighty Controulers of the World command the dearest things in Egypt they be at your pleasures we will forsake our Gods and believe in that God which you commonly adore for he is the true and living God ours false and hateful in the sight of Heaven This penitent Lamentation of the Egyptian King caused the Christian Champions to relent but especially St. George who having a heart beautified with a well-spring of Pity not only granted Mercy to the whole Country but vouchsafed Ptolomy liberty of Life upon condition that he would perform what he had promised which was to forsake his false Gods and believe in our true God Christ Iesus This kindness of St. George almost ravished Ptolomy with joy and the whole Land both Peers and Commons more rejoyced at the friendship of the Christians than if they had been made Lords of the Western World The News of this happy Union was bruited in all the parts of Egypt whereby the Commons that before fled for fear into Woods and Wildernesses Dens and Caves Hills and Mountains returned joyfully to their own Dwellings and caused Bonefires to be made in every City Town and Uillage the Bells of Egypt rung day and night for the space of a week in every place was seen Banketting Dancing and Masking Sorrow was Banished Wars forgotten and Peace Proclaimed The King at his own Charges ordained a sumptuous and costly Banket for the Christian Champions wherein for Bounty it excéeded that which the Trojans made when Paris returned from Greece with the Conquest of Menciaus's Queen The Banquetting-House was built with Cypress wood covered with the pure Adamant stone so that neither Steel nor base Iron could come therein but it was presently drawn to the top of the Roo◠As for the variety of Services which graced forth the Banquet it were too tedious to repeat but to be brief what both the Land and Sea could afford was there present The Servitors that attended the Champions at the Banquet were attired in Damask Uestments wrought with the purest Silk the Indian Uirgins spun upon their silver Wheels
to our Friends such Glory to God consists in recovering Right to the Wronged and punishing rightfully the Wrongers of the Oppressed and that there be no Contention among us who shall begin this Adventure for I know all you thirst after Honour therefore let Lots be made and to whomsoever the chief Lot falleth let him be foremost in Assayling the Giant and so good Fortune be our Guides The exceeding Ioy which the old Iew conceived at the spéeches of St. George had near-hand bereft him of the use of Sense for above measure was he over-joyed but at length recovering use of Speech he thus thankfully brake forth How infinitely I find myself bound unto you you famous and undoubted Christian Champions all my Ableness is not able to express only Thankfulness from the depth of a true Heart shall to you be rendred The Champions without more words discoving themselves from their Pilgrims Attire every one elected forth an Armour fitting to their portly Bodies then ready in the Iew 's House instead of their Ebon Staves tipt with Silver they wielded in their Hands steeled Blades and their Feet that had wont to indure a painful Pilgrimage upon the bare Ground were now ready drest to mount the lofty stirrop but as I said they purposed not generally to assail the Giant but singly every one to try his one Fortune thereby to obtain the greater Honour and their Deeds to merit the higher Fame therefore the Lots being cast among themselves which should begin the Adventure the Lot fell first to St. Dennis the noble Champion of France who greatly rejoyced at his fortune and so departed for y e night to get things in readiness but the next morning no sooner had the golden Sun displayed his Beauty in the East but St. Dennis arose from his sluggish bed and attired himself in costly Armour and mounted upon a Steed of Iron-gray with a spangled Plume of purple Feathers on his Butgonet spangled with Stars of Gold resembling the Azure Firmament beautified with glistering Stars Where ofter he had taken leave of the other Champions and had demanded of the Iew where the Giant had his residence he departed forward on his Iourney and before the Sun had mounted to the top of Heaven he approached to the Giant 's presence who as then sate upon a Block of Steel direct â—â— before the golden Fountain satisfying his hunger with raw Flesh and quenching his thirst with the Iuce of ripe Grapes The first sight of his ugly and deformed proportion almost daunted the valour of the French Champion that he stood in amaze whether it was better to try the Adventure or return with dishonour back to his other Fellow-knights but having a heart furnished with true magnanimity he chose rather to die in the Encounter then to return with Infamy so committing his Trust to the unconstant Queen of Chance he sâ—urred forth his Horse and assailed the Giant so furiously that the strokes of his Sword sounded like a weighty blow hammered upon an Anvile But so smally regarded the Giant the puissant force of this single Knight that be would scarce rise from the place where he safe but yet remembring a strange Dream that a little before he had in his Sleep which revealed unto him how that a Knight would come from the Northern Climates of the Earth which should alone end the Adventure of the Fountain and vanquish him by Fortitude therefore not minding to be taken at an advantage he suddenly started up and with a gâ—iâ—n countenance he â— an upon St. Dennis and took him Horse Armour Furniture and all under his left arm as lightly as a strong Man would take a sucking Infant from his Cradle and bore him to a hollow Rock of Stone bound about with Bars of Iron standing near unto the Fountain in a Ualley betwixt two mighty Mountains in which Prison he closed the French Champion amongst fourteen other Knights that were Sons to the courteous Iew as you heard before discoursed and being proud of that Attempt he returned to the block of Steel where we will leave him sitting glorying in his own Conceit and speak of the other Champions remaining in the Iew 's house expecting the French Knight's fortunate return but when the sable Curtains of Darkness were drawn before the crystal Windows of the Day and Night had taken possession of the Elements and no news was heard of the Champion's Success they judged presently that either he was slain in the Adventure or else discomfitted and taken Prisoner therefore they cast Lots again which of them the next morning should try his Fortune and revenge the French Knight's Quarrel so the Lot fell to St. James the noble Champion of Spain whereat his princely Heart rejoyced more than if he had been made King of the western World So in like manner on the next morning by break of day he attired himself in rich and costly Armour like the other Champion and mounted upon a Spannish Gennet in pace most swift and speedy and in portly state like to Bucephalus the proud Stéed of Macedonian Alexander his Caparison was in colour like to the Waves of the Sea his Burgonet was beautified with a spangled Plume of sable Feathers and upon his Breast he bore the Arms of Spain Thus in this gallant manner departed he from the Iew 's habitation leaving the other Champions at their divine Contemplations for his happy Success but his Fortune chanced contrary to his Wishes for at the Giant 's first Encounter he was likewise born to the Rock of Stone to accompany St. Dennis This Giant was the strongest and hardiest knight at Arms that ever set foot upon the Confines of Damasco his Strength was so invincible that at one time durst encounter with an hundred Knights But now return we again to the other Champions whom when night approached and likewise missing Saint James they cast Lots the third time and it fell to the noble Champion of Italy St. Anthony who on the next morning attired himself in costly habiliments of War and mounted upon a Babarian Palfrey as richly as did the valiant Jason when he adventured into the Isle of Colcos for the golden Fleece and for Medea's Love his Helmet glistered like an try Mountain deck'd with a Plume of ginger-coloured Feathers and beautified with many silver Pendants But his shining glory was soon â—lemished with a cloud of mischance for although he was as valiant â—s ever brandisht Weapon in the Fields of Mars yet he found a disability in his fortitude to withstand the furious blows of the Giant in such sort that he was forced to yield himself Prisoner like the former Champions The next Lot that was cast chanced to St. Andrew of Scotland a Knight as highly honoured for Martial Discipline as any of the rest his Steed was clad with a Caparison after the manner of the Grecians his Armour varnished with green Oyles like the eâ—lour of the Summer fields upon his Breast he
of Chance I say from thy Imperial Seat shew me some favour and do not consent that I and my Company perish for Hunger and want of Victuals make no delay to remedy our great Necessity let us not be meat for Birds hovering in the Air nor our Bodies cast as a Prey for the ravenous Beasts ranging in these Woods but rather if we must needs perish let us die by the hands of the strongest Warriors in the universal World and not basely lose our Lives with cowardly Hunger These and such like Lamentations uttered this valiant Champion of England till such time as the day appeared and the sable curtains of coal black night were with drawn Then turned be to the rest of his Company where he found them very weak and feeble but he encouraged them in the best manner he could devise to take their Horses and try the Chance of their utâ—aâ—t unkind Fortune Altho St. George as they travelled was ready to Die by the way and in great trouble of Mind for want of Food yet rode he first to one then to another comforting them and making them ride a-pare which they might very well do for that their Horses were not so unprovided as their Masters by reason of the goodly Grass that grew in these Woods wherewith at pleasure they filled them every night By this time the golden Sun had almost mounted to the top of Heaven and the glorious prime of the Day began to approach when they came into a Field very plain where in the midst of it was a little Mountain out of the which there appeared a great smoak which gave them to understand that there should be some Habitation in that place Then the princely minded St. George said to the other Champions Take comfort with yourselves and by little and little come forward with an calle pace for I will ride before to see who shall be out Host this ensuing night and of this brave Knights and Champions be all assurâ—â— whether he be pleased or no be shall give us Lodging and Entertainment like travelling Knights and therewithal he set spurs to his Horse and swiftly scoured away like to a Ship with swelling Saâ—is upon the marble coloured Ocean his Beast was so speedy that in a short time he approached the Mountain where at the noise and rushing of his Horse in running there arose from the ground a mighty and terrible Giant of so great height that he seemed to be a big grown Tree and for hugeness like to a Rock of Stone but when he cast his staring Eyes upon the English Knight which seemed to him like two brazen Plates or two Torches ever flaming he laid his hand upon a mighty Club of Iron which lay by him and came with great lightness to meet St. George out when he approached his presence he thinking him to be a Knight of but small Ualour and Fortitude he threw away his Iron Bat and came towards the Champion intending with his fists to buffet and beat out his Brains but the courage of the English Champion so exceeded that he forgot the extremity of Hunger and like a couragious Knight raised himself in his stirrops otherwise he could not reach his Head and gave him such a blow upon the Fore-head with his keen edged Fauchion that he cut his Head half in sunder and his Brains in great abundance raiâ—down his deformed Body so that amazed he fell to the ground and presently died his fall 〈◊〉 to make the ground to shake as though a stony Tower had been overturned for as he lay upon the Earth he séemed to be a great Oak blown up by the Roots with a tempestuoâ—s Whirle-wind At that instant the rest of the Champions came to that place with as much joy at that present as before they were sad and sorrowful And so when St. Dennis with the other Knights did sée the greatness of the Giant and the deformity of his Body they advanced his Ualour beyond imagination and déemed St. George the fortunatest Champion that ever Nature framed holding that Adventure in as high Honour as the Grecians held Jason's Prize when he turned from Colchos with Medea's Golden Fleece and with as great danger accomplished as the twelve fearful Labours of Hercules but after some few Speeches passed St. George desired the rest of the Champions to go and see what store of Uiauals the Giant had prepared for him Whereupon they concluded and so generally entered the Giant 's House which was in the same manner of a great Barn cut out of hard Stone and wrought out of a Rock therein they found a very large Copper Cauldron standing upon a Trevet of Steel the feet and supporters thereof were as big as great Iron Pillers under the same burned such a huge flaming Fire that it sparkled like the fiery Furnace in burning Acheron Within the Cauldron were boiling the flesh of two fat Bullocks prepared only for the Giant 's dinner the sight of this ensuing Banquet gave them such comfort that every one fell to work hoping for their Travel to eat part of the Meat one turned the Béef in the Cauldron another encreased the Fire and others pulled out the Coals so that there was not any idle in the hope of the benefit to come The Hunger they had and their desire to eat caused them to fall to their Meat before it was half reaâ—y as though that it had béen over sodden the two Knights of Wales and Ireland not intending to dine without Bread and Drink searched in a secret hollow Cave wherein they found two great Lâ—aves of Bread as big in compass as the circle of a Well and two great Flagons full of as good Wine as ever they tasted the which with great joy and pleasure they brought from the Cave to the great and exceeding contentment of the other Champions Instead of Knives to cut their Uictuals St. George used his Curtle-axe which had lately been stained with the hateful Giant 's detested Blood and imbrewed with his loathsome Brâ—ins Thus and after this manner qualified they the pinching pains and torments of Hunger whereof they took as joyful a repast as if they had vanqueted in the richest King's Palace in the World So being joyful for their good and happy Fortunes St. George requested the Champions to take Horse â—nd mounted himself upon his Palfrey and so they travelled from thence thorow a narrow Path which séemed to be used by the Giant and so with great delight they travelled all the rest of that Day till Night closed in the beauty of the Heavens at which time they had got to the top of a high Mountain from whence a little before Night they did discover marvelous and great Plains the which were inhabited with fair Cities and Towns at which sight these Christian Champions received great contentment and joy and so without any staying they made haste onward on their Iourney till such time as they came to a low Ualley lying
it is too late to repent thee gore my unspotted Breast with thy bloody Weapon and send my Soul into the bosom of Diana whom I behold sitting in her celestial Palace accompanied with numberless Troops of vestal Uirgins ready to entertain my bleeding Ghost into her pleasant Mansion This merciless Knight seeing the steadfastness that she had in the defence of her Honour with a cruel and infernal Heart took a silken Scarf which the Damsel had girded at her Waste and with a brutal anger doubled it about her neck and pinched it so sâ—râ—it that her Soul departed from her teriestial Body O you valiant Knights that by your Prowess come to the reading of this dismal Tragedy and come to the hearing these bloody â—ineâ— contained in this Golden Book consider the great Constanâ—y and Chastity of this unfortunate Malden and let the Grief thereof move you to take Vengeance of this Cruelty shewed without any Desert So when 〈…〉 that the was Dead he took 〈…〉 and in a 〈◊〉 he overtook them and looked with 〈…〉 a Countenance that there was 〈…〉 to ask him where my Daughter was 〈…〉 that bore me great affection for the 〈◊〉 and coâ—â—â—elie I offered to him at his Lady's my Daughter's Nuptials whoÌ„â—aving a suspition by the great alteration that appeared in his Master and being very desirous to know what was becâ—me of the Damsel for that he came alone without bringing the Damsel with him neither could he have any sight of her he then presently withdrew himself back and followed the footings of the Horse and ceased not until he came to the place where this cruelty was wroth whereas he found the Maiden Dead at the view whereof he remained almost beside himself in such sort that he had well nâ—ar fallen to the Ground the sorrowful Squire remained thus a good while before he could speak but at last when he came again to himself he began with a dolorous Complaint to cry out against Fortune because she had suffered so great Cruelty to be committed upon this Damsel And making this sorrowful Lamentation he unloosed her fâ—om the Tree and laid her naked Body upon part of her Apparel the which he found lying by all beâ—â—eared in Blood and afterwards complained in this pitiful soâ—t O cruel Knight quoth he what infernal Heart remained in thy Breasts or what hellish Fury did bear thee Company that thy Hands have committed this inhumain Sacrifice was it not possible that this her surmounting Beauty might have moved thee to pity when it is of power to move the bloody Canibal to remorse and constrain even savage Monsters to relent So with these and other like sorrowful Words the woful Squire spake unto the dead Corpse he cut down Branches from the Trees and gathered Grass from the Ground for to cover the Body and left it laying so that it seemed to be a Mountain of green Grass or a Thicket of springing Trees and then determined with himself in the best manner that he could to dissemble the Knowledge of the bloody Fat so he â—ook his Horse and rode the next way towards the Castle in which he rode so fast that he overtook the Knight and his Company at the entring of the Gates whereas the lustful Tyrant alighted and without speaking to any Person entred into his Closet by reason whereof this kind and courteous Squire had time to declare all things he had seen to the new married Lady and the dolorous End of the constant Damsel her Sister This sudden and unlooked for Sorrow mixed with Anger and Wrath was such in the Lady that she caused the Squire not to depart from the Castle until such time as moâ—e occasion served and to keep all things in secret that he had seen she herself remained very sorrowful making mavellous and great Lamentation to herself all in secret as if she would not be perceived yet with a soft Uoice she said Oh unfortunate Lady Born in a sorrowful Hour when some blazing and unlucky Comet raigned oh unhappy Destinies that made me Wife unto so cruel a Knight whose foul Misdeeds have made the very Elements to blush but yet I know that Fortune will not be so far unkind but that he will procure a strange Revenge upon his purple stained Soul Oh you immortal Powers Revenge me on this wicked Homicide if not I swear that I will with mine own Hands put in practice such an Enterprize and so stain my unspotted Heart with Willful murther that all the Fates above and all the bright celestial Planets shall sit and look from their immortal Palaces and tremble at the Terrour of my Hate This being said she took in her hand a Dagger of the Knights and in her Arms her young Son being but of the Age of forty Days saying Now do I wish so much Evil unto the World that I will not leave a Son of so wicked a Father alive for I will wash my hands in their accursed Bloods were they in number as many as King Prsam's Children And so in this ireful order entred she the Chamber where the Knight her Husband was and finding him tumbling upon his Bed from one side to the other without taking any rest but in his fury rending and tearing the silken Ornaments where with a sorrowful Weeping and terrible Uoice she called him Traytor and like a steâ—ce Tygress with the Dagger that she brought in her hand before his face sâ—e cut the Throat of the innocent Babe and threw it to him on the Bed and therewithal said Take there thou Traytor the Fruit that thy wieked Seed created in my Body and then she threw the Dagger at him also in hope to have killed him but Fortune would not that it should take effect for it struck against the Tâ—stern of the Bed and rebounded back unto her hands which when the Lady saw that it nothing prevailed she returned upon her self her out ragious fury so taking the bloody Dagger she thrust it into her Heart in such sort that it parted in two pieces and so she â—ell down dead betwixt his Arms that was occasion of all this bloody Cruelty The great Sorrow hereat that this false and unhappy Knight received was so strange that he knew not what Counsel to take but thinking upon a severe Uengeance that might succeed these cruel Acts he straight-ways devised that the Body of the Lady should be secretly Buried which being done by himself in the saddest time of the Night in a soiltaâ—â— Garden under his Castle Wall he heard a hollow Uoice breath from the deep Uaults of the Earth this manner oâ— spâ—ech â—â—â—loâ—â—ing For the bloody Fact which thou so lately hast committed thy Life draws near to a shameful End and thy Castle with all thy Treasure therein shall be destroyed or fall into the hands of him whose Daughters thou hast so cruelly Murthered Upon this he determined to use a secret Policy which was to set watch and wâ—rd in euery passage near
furiously pulled at his Target with such a strength that she drew it from his Arm With that the English Knight struck at her head a mighty and strong blow with his Sword but in no wise it could hurt her by reason of the hard Scales wherewith it was Covered and though he gave her no Wound yet for all that she felt the blow in such sort that it made her to recoyl to the ground and to fall upon her long and hideous Tail then this valliant Knight made great hast to redouble his force to strike her another blow but all was in vain for that upon a sudden she stretched her self so high that he could not reach her head but yet kind Fortune so favoured his hand that he struck her upon the Belly whereas she had no Defence with Scales nor any other thing but Feathers whereout Issued such abundance of black Blood that it sprinkled all the Den about This terrible and furious Serpent when she felt her self in sore Wounded struck at St. George such a terrible blow with her Tail that if he had not seen it coming it had béen sufficient to have parted his body in pieces the Knight to clear him self from the blow fell flat upon the ground for he had no time to make any other defence but that terrible blow was no sooner passed over him but straight ways he recovered his feet at such time as the furious Serpent came towards him Here Saint George having a great confidence in his strength performed such a valiant Exploit that all former Adventures that have been ever done by any Knight may be put in oblivion and this kept in perpertual memory for that he threw his Sword out of his hand and can unto the Serpent and caught her betwixt his Arms and did so squeeze her that the furious Beast could not help her self with her sharp Claws but only with her wings she beat him on every side This valiant Champion and noble Warriour would never let her loose but still remained hoseing her betwixt his Arms concinuing this perilous and dangerous sight till all his bright Armour was imbrued with her bestial blood by which occasion she lost a great part of her strength and was not able long to continue Long indured this great and dangerous Encounter and the infernal Serpent remained fast unto the noble and valiant brest of the English Knight till such time as he plainly perceived that the Monster began to wax faint and to lose her strength Likewise iâ— could not be otherwise but Saint George wared somewhat weary considering the former sight he had so lately with the Gyant Notwithstanding when he felt the great weakness of the Serpent he did animaâ—e himself with courage and having opportunity by reason of the quantity of Blood that issued from his Wounds he took his trusty Sword and thrust it into her heart with such violence that he clove it in two pieces so this infernal Monster fell down dead unto the ground and carried the Christian Champion with her for that they were fast closed together but by reason that the Serpent lacked strength he quickly cleared himself of her Claws and recovered his Sword But when he â—aw certainly he was clear from the Monster and that she had yielded up her detested breath into the brittle Air he kneeled down and gave thanks to the happy Queen of Chance for his Delivery The venom was so great that the Serpent threw out to infect the Knight that if his Armour had not been of a precious vertue he had been impoysoned to death After the Uictory was obtained and the Monster dead he grew very weary and unquiet and was constrained to sit and cool himself by a Well which was full of water standing in a corner of the Cave from whence the Monstrous Serpent first appeared and came â—orth And when he found himself refreshed he repaired to the Enchamed bed whereupon the other six Champions lay sleeping and dreamed of no such strange accident that had hapned unto him to whom he purposed to reveal the true discourse of all dangers that had befallen him in that accident But no sooner approached he unto that enchamed bed and set himself down upon the one end thereof and thinking to begin his discourse but he presently fell into a heavy and dead slumber There will we leave them sleeping and dreaming upon the Euchanted bed not to be wakened by any means return to the Necromancer that was busied all the time of the Serpents encounter with Leoger in burying of the dead Gyants but he knew by his Art that the Serpent was slain and likewise Saint George oppressed with a charmed sleep in company of the other Champions upon the Enchanted bed from whence he purposed that they never more should awake but spend the rest of their Fortunes in eternal sleeps Whereupon by his devilish Arts he caused Lamps to burn continually before the entry of the Cave the properties whereof were so strange that so long as the Lamps continued burning the Champions should never be waked and the fires should never be quenched but by the water of an enchanted Fountain the which he likewise by Magick Art had erected in the middle of the Court guarded most strongly with Sprights and the water should never be obtained but by a Uirgin which at her birth should have the form of a Rose lively pictured upon her breast These things being performed by the secrets of the Magicians skill added such a pleasure to Leogers heart that he thought himself elevated higher than the Towers of his dwelling for he accounted no joy so pleasing unto his Soul as to see his mortal Enemies captivated in his power and that the Magician had done by his Art than all the Knights in Asia could perform by Prowess We will not now only leave the Champions in their sleeps dreaming of no Mishap but also the Magician with Leoger in the black Castle spending their time securely careless of all ensuing danger and speak now of the old Shepherd whom the Champions at their first entering in at the Eates of the Castle left to look unto their warlike Palfries as they fed upon the green Grass which old man when he could hear no news of the Champions return he greatly mistrusted their confusion and that by some treachery they were intercepted in their vowed revengement therefore he protested secretly with his own Soul if that for his sake so many brave Champions had lost their lives never to depart out of those Fields but to spend his days in such sorrow as did that hapless King of Babylon that for seven parching Summers and as many freezing Winters was constrained to feed upon the flowers of the Fields and to drink the dew of Heaven till the hairs of his head grew as stiff as Eagles feathers and the Nails of his Fingers like unto birds claws the like extremity he vowed to endure until he either re-obtained a wished sight
that I am where was my mind when I saw that fatal Dagger pierce thy tender Breast Whereon was my Thoughts Wherefore did I stand still and did not with courage make resistance against that terrible and fatal Blow If my strength would not have served me yet at the least I should then have born thee company You furious Beasts that are hid in your Dens and deep Caves where are you now Why do you not come and take pity upon my Grief in taking away my life doing so you shew your selves pittiful for that I do abhor this dolorous Life Yet all this while she did not forget the promise that she made him which was to give his Body burial in her Mothers Tomb Which was the occasion that she did somewhat cease her lamentation and taking unto her self more courage than her sorrowful grief would consent unto she put the dead Body under a broad branched Pine-apple Tree and covered it with leaves and green grass and withal hung his Armour upon the boughs in hope that the sight thereof would cause some adventurous Knight to approach her presence that in kindness would assist her to in tomb him This done here we will leave Rosana weeping over her Fathers Body and speak of the Necromancer after his flight from the Black Castle CHAP. XIII How the Magician found Leogers Armour hanging upon a Pine Tree kept by Rosana the Queens Daughter of Armenia betwixt whom hapned a terrible Battel also of the desperate-Death of the Lady and after how the Magician framed by Magick Art an Enchanted Sepulchre wherein he inclosed himself from the sight of all humane Creatures I Am sure you do well remember when the Christian Knights had conquered the Black Castle which was kept by Enchantment how the furious Necromancer to preserve his life fled from the same carried by his Art through the Air in an Iron Chariot drawn by two flying Dragons in which charmed Chariot he crossed over many parts and plains of the Eastern Climates At last being weary of his Iourney he put himself into the thickest of a Forrest wherein travelling with his whirling Dragons he never rested till he came unto a mighty and broad River the which seemed to be an arm of the Marble-coloured Ocean there he alighted from his Chariot for to refresh himself and took Water with his hands and drunk thereof and washed his face and as he found himself all alone there came into his mind many thoughts of his torepaised site and how he was vanquished by the Christian Knights for which with great anger he gave terrible sighs and began to curse not only the hour of his Birth but the whole World and all the generations of Mankind Likewise he remembred the great sorrow and travel that he ever since had induced and what toâ—l travelling Knights do endure In these variable cogitations spent he the time away till golden Phoebus began to withdraw himself into his accustomed Lodging to hide his light in the Occidental parts and therewith drew on the dark and tenehrous Night which was the occasion that his pain did the more encrease all that Night he passed away with such sorrowful lamentations for his late disgraces that all the Woods and Mountains did resound his woful Erclamations till that Sol with his glistering Beams began again to recover the Earth The which being seen by the Magician with a trice he arose up and intending to prosecute his Journey but lifting up his eyes towards the Elements he discovered hanging upon a high and mighty Pine-apple Tree the Armour of Leoger This Armour was hung there by Rosana in the remembrance of his death as you heard in the last Chapter And although it had almost lost the wonted colour and began to rust through the abundance of rain that had fallen thereon yet for all that it seemed of a great value and of a wonderful richness so without any further circumspection or regard he took down the Knights Armour and armed himself therewith and when he had lacked no more to put on but the Helmet he heard a voice that said Be not so hardy thou Knight as to undo this Trophie except thou prepare thy self to win it by the Sword The Magician at this unexpected Nosse cast his Head on the one side and espyed Rosana newly awaked from a heavy sleep most richly Armed with a strong Enchanted Armour after the manner of the Amazonians but for all that he did not let to make an end of arming himself and having laced on his Burgoner he went towards the Demanvet with his Sword ready drawn in his hand inviting her to a mortal Bartel Rosana who saw his determination did provide to defend her self and offend her Enemy O my Muse that I had but learned Eloquence for to set out and declare the noble Encounters of these two Gallant Warriours Rosana though she was but a Feminine by nature yet was she as bold in Heroical Adventures as any Knight in the World except the invincible Christian Champions But now return we to our History The valiant Amazonian when her Enemy came unto her she struck him so terrible a blow upon the visour of his Helmet that with the fury thereof she made sparkles of fire to issue out with great abundanee and forced him to bow his head unto his Breast The Magician did return unto her his salutation and struck her such a blow upon her Helmet that with the great noise thereof it made a sound in all the Mountains And so began between them a marvellous and fearful Battel Fortune not willing to use her utmost extremity enclined the foyl to neither party nor as yet gave the Conquest to any all the time of the Conflict the furious Magician and the valiant Amazonian thought on no other thing but either of them endeavoured to bring the other to an overthrow striking each at other such terrible blows and with so great fury that many times it made either of them senseless and both seeing the great force one of another were marvellously incenst with anger Then the valiant Lady threw her Shield at her back that with more force she might strike and hurt her Enemy and therewithal gave him so strong a blow upon the Burgonet that he fell quite astonished to the Earth without any feeling But when the Magician came again to himself he returned Rosana such a terrible blow that if it had chanced to hit right upon her it would have cloven her head in pieces but with great â—iâ—â—retion she cleared her Head in such sort that it was strucken in vain and with great lightness she retired and struck the Magician so furiously that she made him once again to fall to the ground all astonished and there appeared at the visour of his Helmet great abundance of Blood that issued out of his mouth but presently he revived and got up in a trice with so great anger that the smoak which came from his mouth seemed like a
Monks during all their lives sung Dirges for his Childrens Souls After this the Empero made Proclamations through all his Dominions that if any Knight were so hardy as to travel in pursuit after the English Champion and by force of Arms to being him back or deliver his head unâ—o the Empero he should not only be held in great estimation through the Land but receive the Government of the Empire after his deceâ—se Which rich proffer so encouraged the minds of many adventurous knights that they went from fundry Provinces in the pursuit of S. George but their attempts were all vain CHAP. XV. Of the Triumphs Tilts and Turnaments that were solemnly held in Constantinople by the Grecian Emperor and of the honourable Adventures that were there atchieved by the Christian Champions with other strange accidents that hapâ—ed IN the Easâ—ern parts of the World the fame and valiant déeds of the Champions of Christendom was noised with their Heroical Acts and feats of Arms naming them the Mirrour of Nobility and the Types of bright honour all Kings and Princes to whose ears the report of their Ualours were bruited desired much to behold their noble Personages And when the Emperor of Grecia keeping then his Court in the City of Constantinople heard of their mighty and valiant deeds he thirsted after their sights and his mind could never be satisfied with content until such time as he had devised a means to Train them unto his Court not only in y e he might enjoy the benefit of their Companies but to have his Court honoured with the presence of such renowited Knights and therefore in this manner it was accomplished The Emperor dispatched Messengers into divers parts of the World gave them in châ—â—ge to publish throughout every Country and Province as the went of an honourable Turnament that should be 〈…〉 in the City of Constantinople within six months following therein to accomplish his 〈◊〉 and to bring the Christian Championâ— whose company he so much desâ—â—ed unto his Court. This charge of the Grecian Emperour as he commanded was speedily performed with such diligence that in a short time it came to the ears of the Christian Knights as they travelled betwixt the Provinces of Asia and Africa who at the time appointed came in great Pomp and Majesty to Constantinople to furnish forth the honourable Triumphs At the Fame whereof likewise resorted thither a great number of Knights of great valour and strength among whom was the Prince of Argier with a goodly company of Noble Persons and the Prince of Fez with many well proportioned Knights likewise came thither the King of Arabia in great state and with no less Maiesty came the King of Sicilia and a Brother of his who were both Giaâ—ts Many other brave and valiant Knights whose Names I here 〈◊〉 came thither to honour the Grecian Emperour for that he was very well esteemed of by them all And as they came to honour the Triumphs so likewise they came to prove their Foritudes and to get Fame and Name and the praise that belongeth to adventurous Knights It was supposed of all the company that the King of Sicilia would gain by his Prowess the Dignity from the rest for that he was a Giant of very big Limbs although his Brother was taken to be the more furious Knight who determined not to just for that his Brother should get the honour and praise from all the Knights that came but it fell out otherwise as hereafter you shall understand For when the day of Turnament was come all the Ladies and Damsels put themselves in places to behold the justing and attired themselves in the greatest bravery that they could devise and the great Court swarmed with People that came thither to behold the triumphant Turnament What shall I say here of the Emperours Daughter the fair Alcida who was of so great beauty that she seemed more like a Divine substance than an earthly Creature and sate glistering in rich Drnaments amongst the other Ladies like unto Phoebus in the Crystal Firmament and was noted of all beholders to be the fairest Princess that ever mortal eye beheld so when the Emperour was seated upon his Imperial Throne under a Tent of green Uelver The Knights began to enter into the Lists and he that first entred was the Knight of Arabia mounted upon a very fair and well adorned Courser he was armed with black Armour all to bespotted with silver knobs and he brought with him fifty Knights all apparelled with the same Livery and thus with great Majesty he rode round about the Palace making great obedience unto all the honourable Ladies and Damsels After him entred the Pagan Knight who was Lord of Syria and armed with Armour of Lions Colour accompanied with an hundred Knights all apparâ—lled in Uelver of the same Colour and passed round about the Pallace shewing unto the Ladies great friendship and courtesie as the other did Which being done he beheld the King of Arabia tarrying to receive him at the Iust and the Trumpets began to sound giving them to understand that they must prepare themselves ready to the encounter whereto these two Knights were nothing unwilling but spurred their Couriers with great fury and closed together with couregious Ualour The King of Arabia most strongly made his Encounter and strook the Pagan without missing upon his breast but the Pagan at the next Race being heated with fury strook him so surely with his Lance that he heaved him out of his Saddle and he sell presently to the ground after which the Pagan Knight rode up and down with great pride and gladness The Arabian King being thus overthrown there entred into the Lists the King of Argier armed with no other Furniture but with silver Mail and a Breast-plate of might steel before his Breast his pomp and pride exceeded all the Knights that were then present but yet to small purpose his pride and arrogancy served for at the first Encounter he was overthrown â—o the ground in like sort did that Pagan use fifteen other Knights of fifteen several Provinces to the great wonder and amazement of the Emperour and all the Assembly During all these valiant Encounters S. George with the other Christian Champions stood afar off upon a high Gallery beholding them intending not as yet to be seen in tho Tilt. But now this valiant Pagan after he had rode some siâ— Courses up and down the place and seeing none entred the Tilt-yard he thought to bear all the fame and honour away for that day But at the same instant there entred the noble minded Prince of Fez being for courage the only pride of his Country he was a marvellous well-proportioned Knight and was armed all in white Armour wrought with excellent knots of Gold and he brought in his company a hundred Knights all attyred in white Satâ—en and riding about the place he shewed his obedience unto the Emperour and to all the Ladies and thereupon the
Trumpets began to sound At the noise whereof the two Knights spurred their Coursers and made their Encounters so strong and with such great fury that the proud Pagan was cast to the Ground and so departed the Lists with great dishonour Straight way entred the brave King of Sicilia who was armed in a glistering Corslet of very fine steel and was mounted upon a mighty and strong Courser and brought in his company two hundred Knights all apparelled with rich cloth of Gold having every one a several Instrument of Musick in their hands sounding thereon a most delightsome Melody And after the Sicilian King had made his accustomed compass and courtesie in the place he locked down his Beavor and put himself in readiness to just So when the sign was given by the chief Herald at Arms they spurred their Horses and made their Encounters so valiantly that the first Race they made their Lances shivered in the air and the pieces therefore scattered abroad like aspen leaves in a whirl-wind At the second course the young Prince of Fez was carryed over his Horse buttocks and the saddle with him betwixt his Legs which was a great grief unto the Emperour and all the company that did see him for that he was well-beloved of them all and he held for a Knight of great estimation The Sicilian King grew proud at the Prince of Fezes overthrow and was so enraged and furious that in a small time he left not a Knight remaining on Horse-back in the saddle that durst attempt to Just with him but every one of what Countrey or Nation soever he unhorsed in the attempt so that there was no question among either Nobles or the Multitude but that unto him the undoubted honour of the Uictory in triumph would be attributed But being in this arrogant Pride he heard a great Noise in the manner of a Tumult drawing near which was the occasion that he stood still and expecting some strange accident and looking about what it should be he beheld St. George entring the Lists as then come from the Gallery who was armed with his rich and strong armour all of purple full of Golden stars and before him rode the Champions of France Italy Spain and Scotland all on stately Coursers bearing in their hands four silken streamers of four several Colours and there followed him the Champion of Wales carrying his shield whereon was portrayed a Golden Lion in a fable Field and the Champion of Ireland likewise carried his spear being of knotty Ash strongly bound about with plates of steel all which shewed the highness of his descent in that so many bâ—ave Knights attended upon him So when St. George had passed by the Royal seat whereon the Emperour sate invested in whose company were many Princes of great power he rode along by the other side whereas Alcida the Emperours fair Daughter sate amongst many gallant Ladies and fair Damsels richly apparalled in a Uesture of Gold to whom he Uailed his Bonner shewing them the Courtesie of a Knight and so passed by Alcida who at the sight of this noble Champion could not refrain her self but with an high and bold voice she said unto the Emperour Most mighty Emperour and my Royal Father this is the Knight in whose power and strength all Christendom do put their Fortunes and this is he whom the whole world admires for Chivalry Which Words of the lovely Princess although Saint George heard them very well yet passed he on as though he had heard nothing Now when he was come before the Face of his adversary he took his Shield and his Spear and prepared himself in readiness to Iust and so being both provided the Trumpets began to sound whereat with great fury these two Warlike Knights met together and neither of them missed their Blows at their Encounter but yet by reason that Saint George had a desire to extol his Fame and to make his Name resound through the World he strook the Giant such a mighty blow upon his Breast that he presently overthrew him to the ground and so with great State and Majesty he passed along without any shew of disdain whereat the People gave so great a Shout that it resounded like an Eccho in the Air and in this manner he said The great and furious Boaster is overthrown and his mighty strength hath little availed him After this many Princes proved their Adventures against the English Champion and every Knight that was of any estimation Iusted with him but with great ease he overcame them all in less than the space of two hours So at such time as bright Phoebus began to make an end of his long Iourney and the day to draw to an end there appeared to enter into the Lists the brave and mighty Giant being Brother to the Sicilian King with a mighty great Spear in his hand whose glimmering point of steel glistered through all the Court he brought with him but only one Squire attyred in silver Mail bringing in his hand another Lance. So this furious Gyant without any care or courtesie due unto the Emperour or any of his Knights there present entered the place which being done the Squire that brought the other Spear went unto the English Champion and said Sir Knight yonder brave and valiant Giant my Lord and Master doth send unto thee this Warlike Spear and therewithal he willeth thee to defend thy self to the uttermost of thy power and strength for he hath vowed before Sun-set to be either Lord of thy Fortunes or a Vassal to thy Prowess and likewise saith that he doth not only defie theâ— in the Turnament but also challenge thee to a mortal Battel This braving Message caused Saint George to smile and bred in his Breast a new desire of honour and so returned him this answer Friend go thy ways and tell the Giant that sent thee that I do accept his Demand although it do grieve my very Soul to hear his arrogant Defiance to the great disturbance of this Royal Company in presence of so mighty an Emperour but seeing his Stomach is gorged with so much pride tell him that George of England is ready to make his defence and also that shortly he shall repent him by the pledge of my Knighthood In saying these Words he took the Spear from the Squire and delivered him his Gauntler from his hand to carry to his Master and so putting himself to the standing awaiting for the Encounter At that time he was very nigh the place where the Emperour sate who heard the Answer which the English Knight made unto the Squire and was much displeased that the Giant in such sort would defie St. George without any occasion But it was no time as then to speak but to keep silence and to mark what event came to his great Pride and Arrogancy All this time the two Warriours mounted upon their Steeds tarryed the sign to be made by the Trumpets which being given they set forwards their
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
it and those laid on so thick as if that every blow would have been foremost Thus continued they for some time their Swords like Canons battering down the Walls of their Armour making breaches almost in every place for troops of wounds to enter At last the Gyant began to saint the weightiness of his great Iron Club together with the heat of the Sun which then shined forth in its brightest lustre made him so sweat as if he had been working at the Cyclops Forge or hammering at the sooty God Vulcans Anvile yet like the dying Taper willing to give one flash of valour before his fall taking his Iron Club in both his hands he struck at Sir Owen with all his might but his Eyes being blinded with the sweat he mist his blow and with the force thereof tumbled down upon his Face giving Sir Owen thereby a fit opportunity to finish his Uictory which soon he did by cutting off his Head from his Body The Cyprians seeing their Champion slain presently yielded up the Castle and the news being bruited abroad the Country they came from all places and submitted themselves unto these valiant Captains mercy who received their submissions with much gentleness and courtesie soon after they caused an Assembly to be made of the chiefest persons of all the Realm before whom the Usurper Isakius was brought where the Counsel being set one of the chiefest Advocates of the Land spake as followeth Right Honourable you may please to understand that this Isakius here before you the pretended King of Cyprus was Brother to Amadeus our Lawful King and whose Ancestors have for many descents enjoyed this Crown This Amadeus when he dyed left behind him one only Son a Child of two years old named also Amadeus to whom he bequeathed his Crown making his Brother Isakius a Guardian and Protector to him during his minority but he instead of a Guardian to defend proved a Wolf to destroy in stead of a Protector to nourish became a Tyger to devour for he having gotten into Authority and secured the chiefest strengths of the Realm in his hand he soon picked a quarrel with all the Nobility whom he thought in the least-wise favoured Amadeus and by surmized faults bereft them of their Lives and siezed on their Estates and that he might not be brought to account for these his lawless actions he gained to his support the assistance of the Gyant Guylon which by your unmatchable sorce hath been brought to his end And now being secured as he thought in his Tyranny he soon disposed of young Amadeus but how or which ways is to us unknown Our Request therefore is most Noble Captains that he may by force be made to confess what he hath done with him that if alive he may be restored unto us but if otherwise which the Gods forbid he may be punished for the same according to his deserts Then was Isakius called to answer for himself who trembling for fear having a load of guilt upon his Conscience with a pale Countenance and faultring Spéech made this reply If a fair acknowledgment may mitigate my Crime I shall hereby fréely give it you confessing the uttermost to my knowledge that by imparting the same I may in some measure unburthen my Conscience which doth now grievously oppress me Know then that an ambitious desire of sitting in the Throne made me make a Ladder of mischief to ascend thereunto in order hereof having level'd my way by destroying all those who I thought would oppose my designs yet thought I not my self sure until I had so disposed of the Heir that he might not be heard of knowing that people have always a great affection to the Lawful Successor yet resolved not to murther him that if afterwards I should be called to account by preserving his Life I might the better secure my own Therefore by the help of a trusty Servant I placed him with a Shepherd of this Country he not knowing him to be the Prince but the By-â—low of some Gentlewoman who was not willing to have her shaine known yet with this caution that he should being him up as his own Son and for so doing he was liberally rewarded with a considerable sum of Money Thus Gentlemen have I given you a true Relation of what I have done with the Prince which it you please to send to the Shepherd you will have the Truth confirmed by Eye-sight he being at this present in good health as I am informed by the same Servant which placed him there and who if you please shall conduct those whom you send unto the place where he now resides Isakius having ended his Speech it was concluded the Prince should be immediately sent for whereupon two Gentlemen of Quality were deputed to be the Messengers who being attended with divers servants and guided by Isakius Confident in a short space came unto the Shepherds house who seeing such a company before his door was in a Bodily fear but at last spying Beno for so was Isakius servant named his heart waxed more chearful but when he heard them demand where the Prince then was mistrusting by Beno's presence that young Ornus such had they named the Prince Amadeus to be the party they enquired for he was almost fallen into a swound expecting no other but that he should be hanged up but being a little come to himself he informed them that the Prince was at that present kéeping of shéep not past a half mile distant from that place whereupon two of the chief of them being guided by the Shepherd went to séek him now as they came near him being entered into a little Thicket they heard a voice which with great harmony uttered forth this Sonnet The little Lark that in the ground is hatcht And there bred up till Feathers make her fly No sooner she a flight or two hath catcht But up she mounts unto the lofty Sky Where if she see Sun-shine and VVeather fair How then for joy she twittles in the Air. But if she see the Wind begin to blow Or pour down Rain and Tempests do arise Within a Bush she keeps her self full low Where pretty wretch close to the ground she lyes Until such time as all the storms be past And then again she mounteth up in haste Which plainly shews the nature in the Lark Is still to seek to mount to lofty Sky And though perhaps you now and then may mark A Kistrel Kite to make a slight so high Yet all things weigh'd if each thing have his right A Lark will far be lik'd above a Kite The Prince having ended his Sonnet they went up to him doing him Reverence which put him into a â—ear and amazement wondring at what was done unto him yet was not his fear so great as was the old Shepherd séeing him with them whom he reputed to be his Father At last the old Shepherd acquainted him with the effect of their Message which could not at first
Lord of the fruitful Land of Campania which when St. Anthony understood this Duke Ursini having formerly béen his loving Friend he declared unto them who he was and what were his Companions and also how they were bound for Italy whereupon there was great rejoycing on both fides and the Gentleman and Captain and Master of the Italian ship were invited into the other where after some Complements past on both sides and a short Collation the Sea being calm and like a standing Pool no Waves nor Billows to arise they intreated the Gentleman now that their ships lay thus at Hull to declare unto them the manner of Duke Ursini's death and how he came to dye in so remote a Country To which the Gentleman willingly condescended and spake as followeth It is not now fully two years since that the Renowned Prince Oswy Duke of Ferrara at the Celebration of his Marriage with the famous Lady Lucinda of Mantua kept solemn Iusts and Turnaments with Royal Entertainment for all comers which invited thither not only the prime Nobility and Gallants of the Italians but also the news being spread abroad into Forreign Countries several persons of great Quality resorted thither amongst others was â—iâ—ian the Daughter of Lampasco Prince of Scandia a Lady of such glorious eye surprizing Rays that in her Faâ—e Love seemed to sit enthroned in full Majesty nor wanted 〈◊〉 theâ—â— with the helps of Art to set forth her natural perfâ—â—â—ens so that she seemed rather a Divine Goddess then a humane creature These her admirable Endowments was looked on by Duke Urâ—â—ni through a multiplying glass which rendered her to him the moll admirable of all Creatures captivating his heart such a shâ—alâ— to her Beauty that he vowed himself a servant to her vertues and to endear himself the more in her Respects by some Atchievments of Honour he entered the Lists as chief Challenger against all comets being mounted on a milk white Barbary Courser trapped with Capparisons of Silver and on his Burgonet a plume of goodly Feathers His Armour was blew resembling the Azure Firmament spangled with stars of Gold with this word for his device Vertue like the clear Heaven is without Clouds He encountered with sundry Knights of great worth against atl which he had much the better which gained him both great applause and envy Nor was he less skilful in the intrigues of Love than in the management of Arms and to court a Lady as well as encounted with an Enemy which he with much artificial Eloquence demonstrated in an address to the Lady Jilian who seemed much affected with his person and so far the matter went that there seemed nothing wanting to the consummation of their Marriage but only the consent oâ— her Parents which to obtain he sailed with her unto Scandia where he was most nobly entertained and his suit very well liked on Now it was so that a young Baron of that Country named Lamptido had formerly born a great affection unto the Princess Jilian and had so far prevailed with her that he was in great hopes of obtaining her Love but his means not being answerable to her high Dignity it was kept very close from Prince Lampascoes Ear yet hoped he in time that either by the death of Lampasco or some secret stratagem he should compass his eâ—â—s but now seeing Prince Ursini in so great â—avour he began utterly to despair in his suit unless by some means he could find a way to deprive him of his Life It happened not long after that Prince Lampasco proclaimed a general hunting of the wild Bore to which Princely exercise resorted all the flower of the Nobility and every one whose 〈…〉 â—ired with desire of glory and renown amongst others none was more forward to this Royal sport then Prince Ursini who at the appointed time came into the field armed with his Bore-â—pear and mounted on a Spanish Gennet who for their swiâ—â—ness are said to be ingendred of the Wind. Being come within view of the place where they were to hunt each man was ordered according to his â—and when a Brace of lusty Beagles were let loose to rouse the Bore In the mean time every man prepared himself for the â—antling of his Weapons and with a nimble Eye to catch all advantages that might be taken It was not long before the Beagles haâ—â—ouzed the Bore out of his 〈◊〉 who seeming to regard no danger nimbly turning round aboâ—â—â— with a kind of a wallowing running pace ran where he could see any company The first that struck at him was an Italian Knight who accompanied Prince Ursini in his Uoyage to Scandia who brake his Spear but wounded him not for his Skin was scarcely penetrable being as hard as a Bulls hide when it is tanned Leaving this Italian he ran against a valorous Knight named â—â—iastâ—r who encountered with him very couragiously yet could not his courage strength nor skill aâ— which he was in a full ineasâ—â—â— Master of prevail any thing yet was his performance so much that giving him a small wound on the Leg feeling the smart he ran towards Baron Lamprido who used his utmost strength and skill to withstand him but the smart of his wound in his Leg so exasperated him that he ran with such fury against Lamprido as turned him Horse and Man to the ground and undoubtedly had slain him had not Duke Ursini come to his rescue who with undaunted courage set upon the Bore and with great strength guided by skill so followed his blowes that he made the Bore begin to stagger who yet with open mouth came towards him which advantage Duke Ursini spying thrust his Bore Spear down his Throat and therewith rest his Heart in sunder yielding unto him the absolute Uictory By this time divers Knights were come in to him amongst others Lamprido having recovered his fall came in with the thickest but when he saw that the Bore was killed and by the hands of Ursini his blood boiled within him for anger out of envy that he had done it which he knew would more endear him in the affections of the Lady Jilian as also that his own overthrow would much lessen her opinion of him Hereupon a desire of revenge entering into his heart his study was how to effect it with privacy not only for danger of the Law but dread of Duke Ursini's valour whom he knew he could not match in single combat he therefore concluded to do it by treachery which not long after he brought to pass in this manner Amongst other exercises which Duke Ursini much delighted in one was the Art of Angâ—ing in which he would oftentimes spend many hours and that with as much privacy as he could because multitude of persons was a hinderance to the sport It to chanced one day that he accompanied only with one servant and having no other Armour but his Sword went in a Boat unto a spacious River a fishing which being known unto Lampridi he
obdurate then Dunces Tygers or the Panthers whelps whose healths are morning draughts in blood couldst thou be so unkind to her who loved thee so dearly and must thy revenge extend to blood O savage â—igour more cruel then a Turk or Troglodite In this manner complained the woful Milesia shedding forth abundance of tears which yet were but barren shadows to express the substance of her grief At last the extremity of her passion being over she sent me word of what had happened which into what a distracted grief it put me into let them be judge who are the Parents of an only Child My greatest comfort in this distressed condition was to study revenge against Euphemius but how to accomplish it there was the difficulty as knowing my self too weak to oppose him by open force whereupon I sent a Letter to the chiefest of the Nobles declaring how unworthily he had done by my Daughter and imploring their aid to revenge his disloyalty who greatly pitying my misfortunes and remembring how he had been the death of their good Queen Artemia they by a joynt consent banished him their Kingdom who by this means being implacably incensed against me accompanied with a crew of â—eilows of as desperate fortunes as himself he warred against me and quickly outed me of my Barrony I in vain imploring help from his Nobles who upon his extirpation were warring one against another for superiority Wherefore being destitute of Friends and hopeless of ever attaining my prâ—â—cine glory I betook my self to a Shepherds life the better to be shâ—euded in obscurity yet being assured by the wise Mededa that there should one day come a Knight out of a far Country who should restore me again to my Barony Sir Guy having heard the Shepherds discourse it wrought in him great ruth and compassion and turning himself to Captain Bolus he thus said now by the honour of my Knighthood and by the love I bear to my Country England I will not enter into my Ship until I have reseaâ—ed him again in his Barony and to make good his promise he took with him a hundred of his choicest Soldiers and being guided by the Shepherd Selindus they marched to Mompelior where they heard how Euphemius was lodged in a strong Castle and guarded with five hundred Souldiers having also in pay a certain Morisco of a wonderful stature and strength armed in a Coat of Mail and using a Bar of Iron of forty pound weight for his Club. Having approached within half a mile of the Castle Sir Guy sent a Messenger to Euphemius demanding him to restore the Castle with all that belonged to it to Selindus or else to expect the worst that should happen upon such refusal but Euphemius was so far from granting his request that he did the Messenger to charge his Master forthwith to depart his Territories or else his life would pay for his presumption in seeking to meddle with what he had nothing to do withal Hereupon both sides prepared themselves for fighting Euphemius himself with the Gyant Morisco accompanied with three hundred of his choicest Souldiers setting upon Sir Guy with such sury that had he not been of undaunted Courage and always watchful against such desperate onsets he had undoubtedly overthrown him but Sir Guy having with great Ualour stood the shock of their fury fell upon Euphemius and his men with such undaunted resolution that notwithstanding he made a notable resistance yet his Souldiers began to give back which the Morisco perceiving he singly set upon Sir Guy and with manly Conrage dealt about such blowes that who so should have beheld him would have thought the great Alcides had descended again upon the Earth to teach Mortals the way of Mankinds destruction but Sir Guy so nimbly avoided his blowes and with such dexterious skill set upon the Gyant with his never failing Sword that he made many wounds in his flesh whereby Death to enter in at which Euphemius perceiving he made up to Sir Guy to succour the Morisco but before he could get up to him he was set upon by Captain Bolus with so great Courage that he found he had enough to do to defend himself At last Sir Guy enforcing himself with all his might gave such a blow on the Gyants Helmet as piercing the same it came forth all embrued with his Brains who without speaking any word fell down dead to the ground Euphemius seeing his Friend the Morisco fall would have fled away but he was so inviron'd by Souldiers that all means was taken from him to escape whereupon he was forced to yield himself a Prisoner and was both by Sir Guy and Captain Bolus entertained with great Civility In the mean time Sir Guys Souldiers had persued their Enemies with such vigour that those who were in the Castle opening their Gaâ—es to entertain their flying Friends before they could shut them again Sir Guys Souldiers also entered with them And now within the Castle began a most desperate conflict neither Defendants nor Assailants expecting any mercy if overcome wherefore each one were busie in plying Deaths fatal task their Swords making such sad work that every place was over filled with slaughter and their mingled blood made a Purple flood that overflowed in each place they fought Whilest thus death was Inning his plenteous Harvest and the Souldiers so thronged as they could scarcely wield their killing hands Sir Guy and Captain Bolus coming amongst them soon turned the Scales on the Assailants side so that the Defendants being more overcome by valour then number yielded themselves and the Castle to the mercy of the Conquerours the possession whereof Sir Guy freely surrenderd into the hands of Selindus together with the disposal of all the Prisoners But Euphemius remembring how discourteously he had dealt by Selindus falling on his Knées desired of Sir Guy that he might remain still with him promising him faithfully to be his true Prisoner but his crimes were so notorious that Sir Guy would in no wise consent thereunto whereupon Captain Bolus begged him of him which was granted he having before presented the Captain with a Iewel of an inestimable price And now did the Friends of Selindus come flocking unto him whereby he was in a capacity to maintain his Barony against all Opposers Whereupon Sir Guy took his leave of him and returned to his Ship his Souldiers according to their merits having been before richly rewarded by Selindus CHAP. XIII How Sir Guy arrived in Sicily where he overcame the Rebels which after the King of Sicilies death had Rebelled against the Queen Urania How he was Married to her and afterwards Crowned King of Sicily SIK Guy having restored Selindus to his Barony as you heard in the last Chapter he took Ship together with Captain Bolus and his Prisoner Euphemius and having a prosperous wind they in a few days arrived on the Coasts of fruitful Sicily to the great joy of Sir Guy it being the happy Port whereto
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
to chear up her heart overburdened with grief the King made a most sumptuous Banquet to which were invited all the Lords Knights and chief Captains then present against which time divers pastimes were devised and costly showes performed with most excellent Musick rare Dancing and other delights to provoke her to mirth but all was as Water spilt on the Ground it took no Impression upon her Soul such indelible Characters of sorrow had grief engraven on her heart And now these Warlike Knights being minded to go into their own Country took their solenm leave of the King who rewarded them with many rich gifts and presents giving them many thanks for their Ualours showed in his defence so taking Ship they lanched from shore when 〈◊〉 the Sails grew big bellyed with the wanton Wind and the 〈◊〉 glided safely on Neptunes briny face capering for joy upon the silver Waves until such time they each of them arrived in their own Countries where there wâ—re received with much joy and where we will leave them for the present to relace what beâ—el to Sir David in going to see Sir VVonder at the Fountain of Health CHAP. XIX How Sir David failed to the precious Fountain and rescued Sir Wonder How he put to death the Tyrant Almantor and setled Aged Pamdion in his Estate THE Ualourous and Renowned Champion Sir David being now well settled in his kingdom of Ancona as you heard in the fifteenth Chapter was very desirous to see Sir VVonder and to experiment the effects of the precious Fountain as Sir Pandrasus had declared unto him wherefore selecting out a choice number of approved Soldiers and taking his leave of the Quéen Rosetta he took Ship and having a prosperous Wind he in few dayes arrived in that fertile Island but quite contrary to his expectation instead of being received with great friendship and acclamation of joy no sooner was he landed but a number of Knights and armed Soldiers came marching against him bidding him either to depart the Land or to yield up his Arms into their hands or else to abide what their force could compel him to for so it was that soon after the departure of Sir Pandrasus that those of the VVarlike Island understanding the rare vertues of the Fountain and the fruit that grew on the Banks of it that they resolved to become Masters thereof and to that purpose in fâ—â—endly manner visited Sir VVonder seeming to applaud his happy fortune in being possest of so rare and precious a Iewel as was that Fountain and so far did they insinuate into his favour that he trusted them with all his secrets which they wrought unto his ruine for by a wile they locked him into an inner room and siezed on his servants by a party which they secured in a private place and to that time while Sir David landed had kept them close Prisoners But now was the time of their deliverance come about for Sir David understanding there was no way to be used but force setting his men in order gave them such lusty charge as put them all to the rout the greatest part of them being slain in the chase the residue of them that escaped flying to the Fountain raised all their whole Force who having arme dthemselves speedily marched against Sir David and now began a most terrible fight betwixt them with such a cruel slaughter of Men that the Earth which was wont to bury the dead was new its self buried with dead Bodies the clashing Armour rang the knell of many of those that wâ—re it and crimson paths of War paved all with slain Corps Sir David with hie keen Fauchion hewed his way through his Enemies until he came unto their General with whom he encountered hand to hand and after many blows exchanged betwixt them slew him out-right whereupon the residue sought to save themselves by slight but were so eagerly persued that very few of them escaped not above three persons reserved alive And then giving thanks to the Immortal Powers for this great Uictory they went the next way to the Fountain and released Sir VVonder and the rest of his men from their Captivity Great was the joy at this their meeting for Sir VVonder notwithstanding his vast strenght and invincible Courage yet was so storngly imprisoned that he despaired of ever regarding his former liberty which being so unexpected made him the highlyer for to prize it Then did Sir David with his Soldiers drink of the Wine of the Fountain when presently they felt the powerful vertue thereof being in an instant as fresh and lively as when they first began the fight Afterwards Sir Wonder banqueted them with the Fruits of the Trees thâ— grew upon the Banks thereof which were of such various tastse and yet all of them so delicious as gave great satisfaction to the most indulging Pallat. But they were not only delightful to the taste and pleasant to the appetite but also of that superexcellent vertue that who so tasted of them was immediately cured of all the hurts and wounds he had about him were they never so déep and deadly That night they slept soundly and the next Morning went forth to behold the rarities of the Country In every place they came they heard the Birds the Airs winged Choristers warbling forth their ditties most harmoniously as if with their chirping they sung Carrols to the rosie Moon and with their Musick courted the sullen Wood and invited Mortals to walk abroad The Earth was beautified with Natuers choicest Tapestry so that it seemed an Elizium or Earthly Paradise Here grew Muskmillions sweet William Time Maiden-blush Peagles Cowslips Tulips Oxlops Lady-smock sops in Wine start up and kiss me sweet Basil Marjerum tufted Daizy six leaved Primrose true love Lillies and Uiolets In another place was the Ground bedeckt with azure Hare-bell Roses yellow King-Cups tawny columbines Orange tawny Marigolds Pansies Hony-suckles Piony Monks-hood Bugloss and Pinks In a third place was Bears-foot Batchellors-Buttons Burrage Crows-foot Crows-toes Daffadils Dendelyon Priest-crown Eglantine Gelly-flowers Flowerdeluces Hearts ease London-buttons Lady-gloves Rose-parsly Liricumphancy Wake-Robin Rosemary Prick-Madam Rokcet-gallant Capons-tail Shepherds-pouch Tansie Yarrow Nose-bleed Woodbine Kiss me at the Garden-gate and a thousand other sorts of Flowers which I want both art and skill to describe At every walks end were shady-scréen Arbours whose shadows seemed to woe the Love-sick Passenger to câ—me and sit and view the beauties Nature bestowed on them Besides the singing-Birds named before there was an infinite number of Partridges Pheasants Quails and Phenixes which are not to be found in other Countries were here very plentiful all which were so tame that you might take them up in your hands and being killed and held up against the Sun would be instantly roasted needing no basting but their own fat but in the eating they were so delicious that the choicest Uiands which your curious Cooks with much art prepare came far short of their goodness There
Nero did in Rome or it thy Wife and Children were here present before thy face I would al ridge their Lives that thy accuried Eyes might be witnesses of their bloody Murthers so much Wrath and Hare rageth in my Heart that all the Blood in thy Body cannot waâ—â—â—â— thence At which words the Giants which he had hired to desend him from his Foes came unto him very througly aâ—med with sturdy Weapons in their hands and requested him to be quâ—er and to abâ—â—e his so intenled Anger and they would fetch unto his presence all those braving Knights that were the occation of his Disquietness and Anger and so without carrying for an answer they departed down into the Court and left the Knight of the Castle with the Magician standing still upon the Gallecy to behold the following Encounters But when the Giants approached the Champions presence and saw them so well porportioned and furnished Knights of so gallant Statures they flourished about their knotty Clubs and purposed not to spend the time in Words but in Blows Then one of y e fiercest and cruellest Giants of them all which was called Brandamond seeing St. George to be the forwardest in the Enterprize and judged him to be the Knight that had so braved his Lord he began with a stern Ceuntenance to speak unto him in this manner Art thou that bold Knight said the Giant that with thy witless Words hast so anger'd the mighty Leoger the Lord of this Castle If thou be I advse thee by Submission to seek to appease his furious Wrath before Revengement be taken upon thy Person Also I do charge thee that if thou wilt remain with thy Life that thou dost leave thy Armour and yield thyself with all these Followers with their hands bound behind them and go and ask Forgiveness at his Feet To which St. George with a smiling Countenance answered Gyant said he thy Counsel I do not like nor thy Advice will I receive but rather do we hope to send thee and all thy Followers without tongues to the infernal King of fiery Phlegeton and for that you shall not have any more time to speak such folly and foolishness either return your ways from whence you came and repent of this which you have said or else prepare yourselves to a mortal Battle The Giants when they heard the Champions Resolutions and how slightly they regarded their Proffers without any longir tarrying they straight way fell upon St. George and his Company intending with their knotty Bats of Steel to beat them as small as flesh unto the Pot but the Quéen of Chance so smiled upon the Christian Champions that the Giants smally prevailed for betwixt them was fought a long and terrible battle in such danger that the victory hung wavering on both sides not knowing to whom it would fall the Bats and Fauchions made such a noise upon one another's Armour that they sounded like to the blows of the Cyclops working upon their Anvils and at every blow they gave fire flew from their sâ—etled Corllets like sparkles from the flaming Furnaces in Hell the Skies resounded back the ecchoes of their Strokes the Ground shook as though it had been oppressed with an Earth-quake the pavement of the Court was over spread with an intermixing of blood and sweat and the Walls of the Castle were mightily battered with the Giants Clubs by the time that glistering Sol the days bright Candle began to decline from the top of Heaven the Giants wearied in fight began to faint whereat the Christian Knights with more Courage began to encrease in Strength and with such vigour affayled the Giants that before the golden Sun had dived to the western World the Giants were quite discomforted and â—â—ainâ— some lay with their Hands dismembred from their Bodies weltring in purple gore some had their Brains sprinkled against the Walls some lay in Channels with their Intrals trailing down in streams of Blood and some Ioyntless with Bodies cut in pieces so that there was not one left a live to withstand the Christian Champions Whereat St. George with the other six Knights fell upon their knees and thanked the immortal Rector of all good Chance for their Uictory But when the Knight of the Black Castle which stood upon the Gallery during all the time of the Encounter and saw how all the Giants were stain by the Prowess of those strange knights he raged in great Wrath wishing that the Ground might gape and swallow him before he were delivered into the hands of his Enemies and presently would have cast himself headlong from the top of the Gallery thereby to have dasht out his Brains against the Pavement had not the Necromancer who like wise beheld the event of the Encounter intercepted him in his intended Drift promising to perform by Art what the Giants could not do by Force So the Necromancer fell to his Magick Spells and Charms by which the Christian Champions were mightily troubled and molested and brought in danger of their Lives by afearful and strange manner as shall be hereafter shown For as they stood after their long Encounters unbuckling their Armours to take the fresh Ayr and their bloody Wounds received in their last conflict the Magirian caused by his Art a Spirit in the likeness of a Lady of a marvellous and fair Beauty to look through an Iron Grate who seemed to lean her fair Face upon her white Hand very pensively and distilled from her crystal Eyes great abundance of Tears When the Champions saw this beautiful Creature they remained in great Admiration thinking with themselves that by some hard Misfortune she was imprisoned in those Iron Grates at which this Lady did seem to open her fair and crystaline Eyes looking earnestly upon St. George and giving a grsevous and sorrowful Sigh she withdrew herself from the Grate which sudden departure caused the Christian Knights so have a great desire to know who it should be suspecting that by the force of some Enchantment they should be overthrown but casting up their Eyes again to see if they could see her they could not but they saw in the very same place a Woman of a great and princely Stature who was all armed in silver Plates with a Sword girded at her Waste sheathed in a golden Scabberd and had hanging at her Neck an ivory Bow and a gilt Quiver this Lady was of so great Beauty that she séemed almost to excéed the other but in the same sort as the other did upon a sudden she vanished away leaving the Champions no less troubled in their thought than before they were The Christian Knights had not long time bewailed the absence of the two Ladies but that without seeing any body they were stricken with such furious blows upon their Backs that they were constrained to stoop with one Knee upon the ground yet with a trice they rose again and looking then to see who they were that struck them they perceived them to be the
likeness of certain Knights which in great hast seemed to run in at a Door that was at one of the corners of the Court and with the great Anger that the Champions received seeing themselves so hardly catrented they followed with their accustomed lightness after the Knights in at the same Door wherein they had not entred three steps but that they fell down into a day Cave which was covered over in such subâ—â—le sort that whoever did tread on it straightway fell into the Cave except he was advertized thereof before Within the Cave it was as dark as the silent Night and no light at all appeared but when the Champions saw themselves treacherously betrayed in the Trap they greatly feared some further Mischief would follow to their utter overthrow so with their Swords drawn they stood trady charged to make their Detence against whatsoever should after happen but by reason of the great darkness that they could not see any thing neither discover wherein they were fallen they determined to settle themselves against something either Post Piller or Wall and stoping about the Cave they searched in every place for some other Door that might bring them forth out of the darksome Den which they compated to the Pit of Hell And as they went groping and feeling up and down they found that they did tread upon no other things but dead Mens Bones which caused them to stand still and not long after they espyed a secret Window at the which entred a little clearness and gave some light into the Den where they were by which they espyed a Bed most richly furnished with Curtains of Silk and golden Pendants which stood in a secret Room of the Cave behung with rich Tapestry of a sable colour which Bed when the Champions beheld and being somewhat weary of their long fight which they had with the Giants in the Court of the Castle they required some rest and desired to sleep upon the Bed but not all at one instant for they feared some Danger to be at hand and therefore St. George as one most willing to be their Watch-man and keep Sentineâ— in so dangerous a place caused the other Champions to take their repose upon the Bed and he would be as wakeful as the Cock against all dangerous Accidents so the six Christian Knights repaired to the Bed whereon they were no sooner laid but presently they fell into a heavy inchanted Sléep in such sort that they could not be awaked by any manner of violence not all the warlike Drums in Europe if they were sounding in their Ears nor the ratling Thunder-claps of Heaven where sufficient to recal them from their Sleeps for indeed the Bed was inchanted by the Necromancer's Charms in such manner that whosoever but sat upon the sides or but touched the furniture of the Bed were presently cast into as heavy a sleep as if they had drunk the juyce of Owaile or the seed oâ— Popâ—â— where we will leave them for a time like Men cast into a Trance and speak of the terrible Adventure that hapned to St. George in the Cave who little mistrusting of their Enchantments stood like a careful Guard keeping the furious Wolf from the spoyle of the silly Sheep but upon a sudden his Heart began to throb and his Hair to stand upright upon his Head yet having a Heart fraught with invincible Courage he purposed not to awake the other Knights but of himself to withstand whatsoever hapned so being in these princely Cogitations there appeared unto him as he thought the shape of a Magician with a Uisage lean pale and full of wrinkles with locks of black Hair hanging down to his shoulders like to wreaths of envenomed Snakes and his Body seemed to have nothing upon but Skin and Bones who spake unto St. George in this despightful manner In an evil Hour said the Magician camest thou hither and so shall thy Lodgings be and thy Entertainment worse for now thou art in a place where thou shalt look for no other thing but to be Meat unto some furious Beast and thy surmounting Strength shall not be able to make any Defence The English Champion whose Heart was oppressed with extream Wrath answered O false and accursed Charmer said he whom ill Chance confound for thy condemned Arts and for whom the Fiends have digged an everlasting Tomb in Hell what fury hath incenst thee that with thy false and devillish Charms thou dost prastise so much evil against travelling and adventurous Knights I hope to obtain my Liberty in despight of all thy Mischief and with the strength of this Arm to break all thy Bones in sunder All that thou dost and wilt do I suffer at thy hands replyed the Necromancer only for Revengement that I will take of thee for the slaughter of my Master's Giants which as yet lie Murthered in the Court and that very quickly and therewithal he went invisibly out of the Cave So not long after at his back he heard a sudden noise and beheld as it were a window opening by little and little whereas there appeared a clear light by the which St. George plainly perceived that the Walls of the Cave were dasht with Blood and likewise that the Bones whereon they did treâ—d at their first entry into the Den were of humane Bodies which appeared not to be very long since their Flesh was corn oft with hard and cruel Teeth but this consideration could not long endure with him for that he heard a great rushing and looking what it should be he saw coming forth of another Den a mighty Serpent with wings as great in Body as an Elephant he had only two seet which appeared out of that monstrous body but of a span length and each foot bad three claws of three spans in length she came with mouth open of so monstrous and huge bigness and so deformed that a whose armed Knight Horse and all might enter in thereat she had upon her jaws two tusks which seemed to be as sharp as needles and all her Body was covered with sharp scales of divers colours and with great fury she came with her wings all abroad St. George although he had a valliant and undanted mind yet could he not choose but be troubled at the sight of so monstrous a Beast But considering with himself that it was then time and great need to have courâ—ge and to be expert and valliant for to make his Defence he took his good cutting Sword in his hand and shrouded himself under his hard and strong Shield and carryed the coming of that ugly Monster But when the furious beast saw that there was a prey whereon she might employ her sharp teeth she struck with her invenomous Wings and with her piercing Claws she griped and laid fast hold upon St. George's hard shield pretending to have swallowed whole this couragious Warriour and fastning her sharp Tusks upon his Helmet which she found so hard that she let go her hold and
furious Monster called the Two-headed Knight and he is so furious in his Tyranny that never any stranger could as yet escape out of his hand alive And for proof of his Cruelty no longer than yesterday he brought hither a Lady Prisoner who at her first coming on shoar he all to bewhipt and beat her in such sort that it would make the most tyrannous tyrant that is to relent and pity her distress swearing that every day he would so torment her till her life and body did make their separation Pollemus the Prince of Constantinople was very attentive to the old Mans Words thinking the Lady to be his Dulcippa after whom he so long travelled the grief he received at this report struck such a terrour to his heart that he fell into a swound and was not able to go any further but St. George's Sons who knew him to be a Knight of much valour encouraged him and protested by the honour of their Knight-hoods never to forsake his company till they saw his Lady delivered from her torments and he safely conducted home into his own Countrey So travelling with this resolution the night came on and it was so dark that they were constrained to seek some convenient place to take their rests and laying themselves down under a broad branched Oak Tree they passed the night pondering in their minds a thousand imaginations So when the morning was come and that the Diamond of Heaven began to glister with his beams upon the Mountain tops these martial Knights were not slothful but rose up and followed their Iourneys After this they had not travelled scarce half a mile when that they heard a pittiful Lamentation of a Woman whose voice by reason of her low shrieks was very hoarse so they staid to hear from whence that lamentable Noise should come And presently afar off they beheld a high Pillar of stone out of the which there came forth a spout of fair and clear Water and thereat was bound a Woman all naked her back fastned to the Pillar her arms backwards embracing it with her hands fast bound behind her Her skin was so fair and white that if it had not been that they heard her lamentation they would have judged her to have been an Image made artificially of Alabaster and joyned to the Pillar These Warlike Knights laced on their Helmets and came unto the place where she was but when the Prince of Constantinople saw her he presently knew her to be his Lady and lovely Mistress For by reason of the coldness of the Night and with her great Lamentation and Weeping she was so full of sorrows and affliction that she could scarce speak Likewise the Princes heart so yerned at the sight of his unhappy Lady that almost he could not look upon her for Weeping But yet at last with a sorrowful sigh he said O cruel hands is it possible that there should remain in you so much mischief that whereas there is such great beauty and fairness you should use such baseness and villany she doth more deserve to be loved and served than to be in this sort so evil intreated This woful Prince with much sorrow did behold her white skin and back all to bespotted with her blood and taking a Cloak from one of the Marriners he threw it upon her and covered her body and took her in his arms whilst the other Knights unbound her This unhappy Lady never felt nor knew what was done unto her till such time as she was loosed from those bands and in the Arms of her Lover But yet she thought that she had been in the Arms of the Monstrous Two-headed Knight and therefore she gave a terrible sigh saying Oh Pollemus my true betrothed Husband where art thou now that thou comest not to succour me and there withal ceased her Speeches The Prince hearing these Words would have answered her but he was disturbed by hearing or a great Noise of a Horse which seemed to be in the Woods amongst the Trees The rest of the Knights intending to see what it should be left the Lady lying upon the green Grass in the keeping of Prince Pollemus and the Marriners and so St. George's Sons went towards the place whereas they heard that rushing Noise and as they diligently lookt about them they beheld the Two-headed Monster mounted upon a furious and great Palfrey who returned to see if the Lady were alive for to torment her anew But when he came to the Pillar and saw not the Lady with an ireful look he cast his eyes looking round about him on every side and at last he saw the three Knights coming towards him with a slow and quiet pace and how the Lady was untied from the Pillar where he left her and in the arms of another Knight making her sorrowful complaint The Two-headed Knight seeing them in this order with great Wrath he came riding upon his furious Horse towards them and when he was near them he said Fond Knights what wretched folly and madness hath bewitched you that without any leave you have adventured to untye the Lady from the Pillar where I left her or come you to offer up your Blood in sacrifice upon my Fauchin To whom one of the three valiant Brothers answered and said We be Knights of a strange Country that at the sorrowful complaint of this Lady arrived at this place and seeing her to be a fair and beautiful Woman and without any desert to be thus evil intreated it moved us to put our persons in adventure against them that will seem farther to misuse her In the mean time that the Knight was speaking these Words the ugly deformed Monster beheld him very precisely knitting his brows with the great anger he had received in hearing his Speeches and with great fury he spurred his monstrous Beast that he made him give so mighty a leap that he had almost fallen on the English Knight who with great lightness did deliver himself and so drawing out his Sword he would have strucken him but the Beast passed by with so great swiftness that he could not reach him Here began as terrible a Battel between the Two-headed Knight and Saint George's Sons as ever was fought by any Knights their mighty blows seemed to rattle in the Elements like a terrible thunder and their Swords to strike sparkling fire in such abundance as though it had been from a Smiths Anvil During this Conflict the English Knights were so grievously wounded that all their bright Armour was stained with a bloody gore and their Helmets bruised with the terrible stroaks of the Monsters Fauchion whereat they grew more inraged and their strength began to increase in such sort that one of them struck an overthwart blow with his trusty Sword upon his knee and by reason that his Armour was not very good he cut it clean asunder so that Leg and all fell to the ground and the Two-headed Knight fell on the other-side to
the Earth and with great roaring he began to rage and stare like a Beast and to blaspheme against the Fates for this his sudden mishap The other two Brethren seeing this presently cut off his two heads whereby he was forced to yielded the mercy of imperious Death There was another Knight that came with this Monster who when he saw all that had passed with great fear returned the way from whence he came These Uictorious Conquerours when they saw that with so great ease they were delivered from the Tyrants Cruelty with joyful hearts they departed with Conquest to the Prince of Constantinople where they left him comforting his distressed Lady So when they were altogether they commanded the Marriners to provide them somewhat to eat for that they had great need thereof who presently prepared it for that continually they bore their Provision about them of this banquet the Knights were very glad and rejoiced much at that which they had archieved and commanded that the Lady should be very well looked to and healed of her harm received So at the end of three days when the princely Lady had recovered Health they left the Country of Armenia and departed back to the Seas whereas they had left their Ships lying at road that tarried there until their coming Whereinto they had no sooner entred but the Marriners hoised sail and took their way towards Constantinople as the Knights commanded The Winds served them to prosperously that within a small time they arrived in Greece and Landed within two days Iourney of the Court which lay then at Pâ—ru about a mile from Constantinople Being a Land the Prince Pollemus consulted with St. George's three Sons what course were best to be taken for their proceeding in the Court. For saith he unless I may with the Emperour my Fathers consent enjoy my dearest Dulcippa I will live unknown in her company rather than delight in the Heritage of ten such Empires At last they concluded that the Lady should be covered in a black vail for being known and Pollemus in black Arms and the other Knights all suitable should ride together which accordingly they did and about ten in the morning entred the Pallace where they sound the Emperour the seven Champions with many other Princes in the great Hall to whom one of Saint George's Sons thus spake Great Emperour and Noble Knights this Knight that leadeth the Lady hath long loved her in their Births there is great difference so that their Parents croft their affections for him she hath indured much sorrow and for her he will and hath suffered many hazards His coming thus to your Court is to this end to approve her the only desertful Lady in the world himself the faithfullest Knight against all Knights whatsoever which with your Imperial leave he my self and these two my Associates will maintain desiring your Majesty to give judgment as we shall deserve The Emperour condescended and on the Green before the Pallace those four overthrew more than four hundred Knights so that Saint George and three other of the Champions entred the Lists and ran three violent Courses against the Black Knights without moving them who never suffered the points of their Spears to touch the Armour of the Champions which the Emperour perceiving guessed them to be of acquaintance wherefore giving judgment that the Knight should possess his Lady at his request they discovered themselves To describe the delightful comfort that the English Champion took in the presence of his Children and the joy that the Emperour received at the return of his lost Son requires more Art and Eloquence than my tyred senses can afford I am therefore here forced to leave the Flower of Chivalry in the City of Constantinople Of whose following Adventures I will at large Discourse hereafter and how all these Famous Champions came to their Deaths and for what cause they were called the seven Saints of Christendom CHAP. XVII Of the renowned and praise worthy Death of Saint Patrick how he buried his own self and for what cause the Irish-men to this day do wear their red Cross upon Saint Patrick's Day HEre must you suppose gentle Readers that time had ran a long Race before these aforesaid thrice honoured Champions had purchased so many Right Worthy Uictories and being now wearied with Age Death with his gloomy countenance began to challenge an end of all their worldly Atchievements and to draw there Noble Names to a full perfection therefore preparing a black Stage for honour to act his last Scene out thus it followed The Ualiant Champion S. Patrick feeling himself weakned with Time and Age not able any longer to endure the bruises of Princely Atchievements became an Hermite and wandring up and down the World in poor Habiliments he came at last to the Country of his Birth which is now called Ireland but in former times Hibernia where instead of Martial Atchievements he offered up in the name of his Redeemer devout Orisons daily making petitions to the Deity of Glory in behalf of his desired peace a life more delightful to his aged Heart than all his former accomplishments And now willing to bid farewel to the World he desired a reclosure to be made and to be pent up in a stony Wall from the sight of all Earthly Oâ—jects To which request of this Holy Father now no Souldier but a man of Peace the Inhabitants wholly condescended and builded him a four-square House of Stone without either Window or Door only a little hole to receive his Food in wherein they closed him up never to be seen more alive by the eyes of mortal Men. Also appointing divers of the Country to bring him at convenient times Food to maintain Nature which they delivered in at the aforesaid hole which they thought to be a deed of more than common charity and he the receiver to be an honour to their Country by the severe and strict course of life he put himself to Thus lived he the servant of his God day and night kneeling on the bare ground till thrice the Winters cold had taken departure and as oft the Summers warmth had cheared up the cold Earth making his knees hard with kneeling and his eyes dim with Lamentations for his former offences In which time the Hairs of his Head were all over-grown and deformed and the Nails of his Fingers as it were seemed like the Talons and Claws of an old Raven with the which by little and little he digged his own Grave prepared against the hour of his death to be buried in the which by process of time came thus to effect as followeth When he had wasted as I said before thrice twelve months in Divine Contemplations by Inspiration as it seemed he laid him down in the Grave that his own Nails had digged and feeling his body weak and feeble ready to deliver up the ayre of Life he began to speak as followeth World quoth he thou hast been long my