quiet till I sée the buildinges of his Pallace set on fire and conuerted into a place of desolation like â—o the glorious Cittie in Phrigia nowe ouerspread withâ— stinâ—king wéedes and loathsome puddles Therefore let aâ— Christian Souldiers that fights vnder the banner of Christendome and all that loues George of England your chosen Generall draw forth their warlike weapons and like the angry Greekes ouerturne these glistring Battlements leaue not one stone vpon another but lay it as leuell with the ground as the haruest reapers â—at the fields of ripened corne let your wrathfull furies fall vppon these Towers like droppes of Aprill showers or like a storme of winters haile that it may be bruted through the world what lustful vengeance did light vpon the pride of Egipt Leaue not I say as â—ou loue your Generall when you haue subuerted the Pallace not one man aliue no not a sucking babe but let them suffer vengeance for the wickednes of their King This is my decrée braue Knights of Christendome therefore martch forward Heauen and Fortune bee your good spéede At which wordes the souldiers gaue a generall shoute in signe of their willing mindes Then began the sâ—â—ken streamers to flourish in the aire the Drums chearefully to sound forward the siluer Trumpets recorded ecchoes of victorie the barbed Stéedes grew proude of this attempt would â—â—and vpon no ground but leapt and daunâ—t with as much courage as did Bucephalus the horse of Macedonian Alexander alwaies before any notable victorie yea euery thingâ— gaue an euident signe of good successe as well sensles things as liuing creatures With this resolution martched the Cstristians purposing the vtter confusion of the Egiptians and the wofull ruine and destruction of Ptolomies sumptuous Pallace but when the Souldiers approached the gates with wrathfull weapons ready to assault there came pacing out thereat the Egiptian King with all the chiefest of his Nobles attired in blacke and mournâ—full ornaments bearing in their hands Oliue branches next them the brauest souldiers in Egipt bearing in their handes broken weapons shiuered Launces and tâ—rne Auncients Likewise followed thousands of women children with Lawrell wreathes about their heads in their handes Oliue braunches crying for mercie to the Christians that they would not vtterlie destroy their declining countrie but shew mercie to vnhappie Egipt This vnexspected sight or rather admirable woonder caused saint George to sound retreate and gaue commandement through the Christian Armie to withhold their former vowed vengeance from the Egiptians till hee vnderstoode what they required which charge being giuen and oâ—ely obserued saint George with the other six Champions came together and admitted the Egiptian king wiâ—h their powers to their presence who in this manner began to speake for hys countrie You vnconquered knights of Christendome whose worthie victories Noble atchiuements the whole worlde admires let him that neuer knéeled to any man tâ—ll nowe and in former times disdained to humble himsâ—lfe to the greatest Potentate on the earth Let him I say the most vnfortunate wretch aliue craue mercie not for my selfe but for my countrie my Commonâ— blood wil be required at my haâ—dâ— our murthered Infants will call to heauen for reuenge and our slaughtered Widdowes cryes sâ—nkâ— downe to hel for reuenge so will the vengeaunce of heauen light vppon my soule and the curse of hel vpon 〈…〉 renowned Champions of England vnder whose cuâ—todie my deare daughâ—er is kept eâ—â—n for the loue of her be mercifull to Egipt The former wronges I proffered thee when I sent thée like a guiltles Lamb into Persia was contrarie to my will For I was incenst by the flatterie of that accursed Blackamonâ—e King whose soule for euermore hee scourged with whips of wier and plagued with the punishâ—â—â—t of Tantalus in hell If my life will serue for a 〈◊〉 reâ—enge here is my naked breast let my hart blood stâ—ine some Christian-sword that you may beare the bloody wiâ—hes of my 〈◊〉 into Christendome or let me be tornâ— into a thousand pâ—eces by 〈◊〉 vntamed Stéeds as was Hippolitus the Son of Theâ—â—â—s in hys charmed Charriot Most mightie controulers of the worlde commaund the dearest thinges in Egipt they be at your pleasures we will forsake our Gods and beléeue in that God which you commonly adore for he is the true and liuing God ours false hatefull in the sight of heauen This penitent lamentation of the Egiptian King caused the Christian Champions to relent but especially Saint George who hauing a hart beautified with the welspring of pittie not onely graunted mercie to the whole Country but vouchsafed Ptolomie libertie of life vppon condition that he would performe what he had promised which was to forsake hys false gods beleeue in our true God Christ Iesus This kindenes of saint George almost rauished Ptolomie with ioy and the whole land both Pieres and Commons more reioyced at the friendshippe of the Christians than if they had béene made Lordes of the westerne world The newes of this happie vnetie was bruted into all the partes of Egipt whereby the commons that before fled for feare into woods and wildernesses dens and caues hils and mountaines returned ioyfully to their own dwellings and caused bonefires to be made in euerie Cittie Towne Uillage the Bels of Egipt rung day and night for the space of three monthes in euerie place was séene banquetting dauncing and masking sorrow was banished warres forgotten and peace proclaimed The King at his owne charges ordained a sumptuous costlie banquet for the Christian Champions wherein for bountie it excéeded that which the Troianes made when Paris returned from Greece with the conquest of Menalaus Quéene The banquetting house was built with Cipresse wood couered with the purest Adamant stone so that neither stéele nor bace Iron could come therein but it was presently drawen to the top of the rooffe as for the varietie of seruices which graced forth the banquet it were too tedious to repeate but to be briefe what both the Land Sea could afford bâ—â—re there present 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 that attendeâ— the Câ—ampions aâ— the banquet wer◠〈◊〉 in daâ—maske vestments wrought with the purest 〈…〉 Indian virgins spin vpon their siluer whéeles at euerie course the seruitâ—rs brought in a Consort of Egiptian Ladies vppon their Iuorie Luâ—es strayned forth such admired Harmonie that it surpassed Arions musicke 〈…〉 when hee was cast into the Seâ— caused the 〈…〉 himsaâ—e on the 〈…〉 swéetnes of Orpheus 〈…〉 which made both 〈◊〉 and trées to daunce or the melâ—odie of Apollos inspiring musicke when he descended from heauen for the loue of Dâ—aphne These pleasures so rauished the Christian Champions that theâ—â— forg of the sound of warlike Drummes that were wont 〈◊〉 call them forth to bloody battailes But these delightes continued but a short time for there ariued a knight from England that brought such vnexspected newes to saint George which chaunged his ioyes into extreame sorrowe for afâ—er this manner began
atchieued that Noble Conquest in vanquishing the Barron of Chester he was rauished with such ioy that he came running small hast to the Chamber and most kindly imbraced him and after he was vnarmed had washed his woundes in white wine and new milke the King conducted him with his Lady in his banquetting 〈◊〉 where they feasted for that euening and after he kept open Court for all commers so long as saint George continued there which was for the space of one month At the end whereof he tooke his Lady and one Page with him and had England 〈◊〉 and then he trauelled towards Persia to the other Christian Champions whose dangerous iourney and straunge aduentures you may reade in this Chapter following CHAP XVI How Saint George in his iournie towardes Persia ariued in a Countrie inhabited onely by maides where hee atchiued many strange and wonderfull aduentures Also of the rauishment of seauen Virgins in a wood and howe Sabra preserued her Honour from a tirrible Gyant AFter saint George with his vertuous Ladie departed from England and had trauailed through many Countries taking their direct courses towards Egipt and the Confines of Persia where the other siâ—e Champions remayned with their warlike Legions At last they ariued in the Country of the Amazonians a land inhabited by none but women In which Region saint George atchiued many braue and Princely aduentures which are most wonderful to rehearse as after shall bee declared For trauelling vp and downe the Countrie they found euery Towne and Cittie desolate of people yet very sumptuosly builded the earth likewise vntilled the pastures vncherished and euerie field ouergrowne with wéeds whereby he déemed that some strange accident had befalleÌ„ the country either by war or immortalitie of some grieuous plague for they could neyther let eye of man woman nor childe whereby they were forced to féede on Berries Roâ—tes and in stéede of braue â—asâ—â—ces they were constrained to lie in broad pastures vpon bankes of masse instéede of Curtens of silke they had the blacke and scowling 〈◊〉 to couer them In this extreamety they trauelled vp and downe for thirty dayes but at last it was theyr happy fortunes to ariue before a rich Pauillion scituate and standing in the open fields which seemed to be the most glorious sight that euer they beheld for it was wrought of the richest worke in the world all of gréene and crimson satten bordred with golde and azure the posts that 〈◊〉 was of Iuory the cordes of greene silke and on the toppe thereof there stoode an Eagle of gold and at the two corners two great siluer Griffons shining against the sunne which seemed in richnes to exceede the monument of Mausalus being one of the worlds twelue wonders They had not there remayned long admiring at the beauty of the workemanship but at the entry of the Pauillion there appeared a mayden Quéene Crowned with an imperiall Diademe who was the most fayrest creature that euer hee sawe on her attended twenty Amazonian Dames baring in theyr handes siluer bowes of the Turkish fashion and at theyr backes hung quiuers full of golden Arrowes vppon theyr heades they wore siluer Coronets beset with Pearles and precious stones theyr attire comelie and gallant theyr faces faire and gentle to behold theyr foreheads playne and white the tramels of theyr hayrelike burnisht golde theyr browes small and proper somewhat drawing to a browne colour theyr visages plaine neither too long nor too round but coloured like Roses and Lillies mixt together theyr noses long and strait their ruddy mouths somewhat smiling their eyes louely and all the rest of theyr parts and liniaments by nature framed most excellent who had made them in beauty without compare The Quéene her selfe was cloathed in a gowne of gréene straight gyrt vnto her body with a lace of gold so that somewhat her rounde and Lilly white breast might be séene which became her wonderfull well beside all this shee had on a crimson Kertle lined with violet veluet and her wide sléeues were likewise of gréene silk unbrothred with flowers of golde and with rich Pearles when saint George had sufficiently beheld the beauty of this mayden Quéene hee was almost intrapped in her loue but that the deare affection he bare to his owne Lady preuented him whome hee woulde not wrong for all the treasures betwixt the highest heauens and the lowest earth At last he alighted from his horse and humbled himselfe vnto her Excellence and thus curteously began to question with her after this manner Most diuine and fayer of all fayers Quéene of swéete beauty sayd he let a trauelling Knight obtaine this fauor at your hands that both himselfe and his Lady whome you behold here wearied with trauell may take our rest within your Pauillion for this night For wee haue wandred vp and downe this Country many a day neither séeing man to giue vs lodging nor finding foode to cherrish vs which made vs woonder that so braue a Country and so beautefied with natures ornamenes as this is should be left desolate of people the cause whereof is straunge I knowe and full of woonder This question beeing curteously demaunded by saint George caused the Amazonian Quéene as kindly to reply Syr Knight quoth she for so you séeme both by your behauiour and galiant stature what fauour my Pauillion may afford be assured of But the remembrance of my Countries desolation which you speake of bréedes a sea of sorrowe in my soule and makes me sigh when I remember it but because you are a Knight of a strange Land I will report it though vnto my griefe about some twelue yeares since it was a Nigromancers chaunce to ariue within this Country his name is Osmond the cunningst Artist this day liuing vpon the earth for he can at his call raise all the spirits out of hell and with his charmes make heauen to raine continuall showers of bloode my beauty at that instance tempted him to loue and drowned his senses so in desire that hee assayed by all perswasions that either wit or Art could deuise to winne me to his will but I hauing vowde my selfe to Dianaes chastetiâ— to liue in singlenes among the Amazonian maides 〈…〉 loue dispâ—sed his person and accounted his 〈…〉 as the hissing of vâ—nâ—mous snakes foâ— which hee brâ—ught the destruction of this my Realme and Kingdome for by hys Magicke 〈◊〉 and damned Charmes â—ee râ—ysed from the earth a mightie Tower the morter whereof hee mingled with virgins blood wherein are such Inchantmentes wrought that the light of the Sunne and the brightnes of the Skye is quenched and the earth blasted with a tyrrible vapour and blacke mist that ascendeth from the Tower whereby a generall darkenes ouerspreades our Land the compasse of foure and twentie Leagues so that this countrie is cleane wasted and destroyed and my people fled out thereof This Tower is haunted day and night with gastlie fâ—ends and at hys departure into Persia where hee now
ioyfull deliuerie of his Lady and a comfort of a Soâ—ne but his wished ioy was turned into a lasting sorrow for hee founde not onely his Lady dismembred aâ— her wombe but his yong Sonne wanting without 〈…〉 of his abode which wofull spectakle bereaâ—â—d 〈◊〉 of his wiâ—â— that for a time hee stood sâ—nceleâ— like weeping Nâ—obe but aâ— lâ—st brake into these bitter eâ—clamations O heauâ—nâ— why couer you not earth with euerlasting night or why doe these accursed eyeâ— bâ—hold the sunne O that the woâ—s of Oedipus might end my daâ—es or like an exile ioy in banishment where I may warble forth my sorrowes to the whispering woods thaâ— senceles trâ—â—s may record my losse vnâ—ameâ— beasts grieue at my want What monster hath berâ—audâ— me of my Childe or what Tyrant hath béene glutted with his Tragedie â— that the winde would be a messenger and bring me happie newes of his abode if hee bee drenched in the déepest Seas â—â—ether will I diue to fetch him 〈◊〉 hee bee hidden in the 〈…〉 earth thâ—ther will I digge to seâ— my sonnâ— or if he like a scathered foule lye houering in the ayre yet thether will I flie and imbrace him that neuer 〈◊〉 eyes beholdâ— But why doe I thunder foorth my exclaâ—ations thus in 〈◊〉 when neyther heauen nor earth nor seas nor 〈…〉 heauen in earth nor seas will leud mee comfort for 〈…〉 couerie Thus complayned he many monâ—hs for the losâ—â— of his sonne and sent messengers into euery Câ—rcuite of the Land but no man proâ—â—e so fortunate as to returne him happie tydings He then bâ—eing frustrate of all good hopes stored himselfe with Iewels and so intended to trauaile the wide world eyther to speed in his iournie or to leaue his bones in some forraine region Tâ—ns leauing his natiue Countrie wandred from place to place till the hairâ—s of his head were growne as white as siluer and his beard like to the thistle downe but at lâ—st he ended his trauaile in Bohemia where what for age and excessiue griefe laide him selfe downe vnder a ruinate Monasterie wall dyed the Commons of that countrie hauing knowledge of his name by a Iewel he wore in his bosome ingraued it in Marble stone right ouer his sepulchre where we leaue him sleeping in peace and returne to his sonne remayning with Kalyb the Lady of the woods in the inchaunted Caue Now twice seauen yeares were fully finished since Kalyb first had in kéeping the Noble Knight Saint George of England whose minde many times thirsted after honorable aduentures and often attempted to set him selfe at libertie but the fâ—ll inchantresse tendring him as the apple of her eye appointed twelue sturdy Satiers to attend his person so that neyther force nor pollicie could further hys intent shee kept him not to triumph in his Tragedie nor to spend his dâ—yes in slauerie but féeding his fancie with all the delightes and pleasures that Arte or Nature could 〈◊〉 For in him she fixed her chiefest felicitie and lusteâ— after his beâ—â—tie But he séeking to aduance his name by Martiall Discipline and Knightly attempts vtterly refused her preffered curtesies and highly disdainde to affect so wicked a creature who seeing her loue bestowed in vaine vpon a time beeing in the secretst corner of her Caue began 〈…〉 him in this manner â—hou knowest Sir Knight how worthily I haue deserued thy Loue and how for thy sake I haue kept my Uirginity vnstainde yet thou more cruell than the Tigers bréed in Libia reiectâ—th me Deare Knight fulfill my desiers and at thy pleasure my charmes shall practise woondrous thinges as to mooue the heauens to rayne a shower of stones vpon thy enemies to conuert the Sunne to fâ—re the Moone to blood or make a desolation of the whole world The Noble Knight Saint George considered in his mind that Loue would make the wisest blind Therefore by her faire promises he hoped to obtaine his liberty the which moouâ—e him to make her this answers Most wise and learned Kalyb the woonder of the world I condiscend to all thy desiers vpon this condition that I may be sole Proiector and Gouernour of this Inchaunted Caue and that thou discribe to me my birth my name and Parentage wherto she willingly consented and began her discourse in this manner Thou art by byrth said shee son to the Lord Albert high Steward of England and to this day haue I kept 〈…〉 within these solitary woods So taking him by the hand she led him 〈…〉 wherin remayned as prisoners fire of the 〈◊〉 kâ—â—ghts in the world These are sayd she six of the â—orthiest 〈◊〉 of Christendome the first is Sainâ— Dennis of France the second Saint Iames of Spaine the third Saint Aâ—hoâ—ie of Italie the fourth Saint Andrew 〈◊〉 â—cotland 〈◊〉 Pattricke of Ireland the sixt Saint Dauid of Wales 〈◊〉 of thou art borne to bee the 〈◊〉 and thy 〈◊〉 Saâ—â—t George of England for so thou shalt bee 〈…〉 to come Then leading hym a 〈◊〉 further she brouâ—â—t him into a large faire 〈◊〉 wheâ—â— sâ—ood seauen of the 〈◊〉 Stéedes that â—uer the world behold â—ixe of these sayd shée belong to the sixe Champions and the seauenth will bestowe on thée whose name is Baâ—ard likewise shee lead him to another roome where hung the richest Armour that â—uer eye beheld so choosing out the strongest Corâ—let 〈◊〉 Armorie shee with her owne handes buckled it on hys brest laced on hys Helâ—ne and attyred him with rich Caparison then fetching forth a mighty â—aâ—chion shée put it likewise in hys hand now sayd shée art thou Armed in richer furniture than was Ninus the first Monarke of the worlde thy stéed is of such force and inuincible power that whilst thou art mounted on hys backe there can be no Knight in all the world so hardy as to conquere thée Thy Armour of the purest Lidian stéele that neyther weapon can pearce nor Battail axe bruse thy sword which is called Ascalon is framed of such excellent mettle by the curious workmanship of the Ciclops that it will seperate and cut the hardest â—lint and how in sunder the strongest stéele for in the pummell lies such pretious vertue that neyther treason witchcrafts nor any violence can bee proffered thée so long as thou wearest it Thus the lustfull Kalyb béeing so blinded in her owne conceit that she not only bestowed the riches of her Caue vpon him but gaue him power and authoritie through a siluer wand which shee put in his hand to worke her owne destinâ—tion for comming by a huge great rocke of stone this valiant minded Knight stroke his charming râ—d thereon whereat it opened and shâ—wed apparantly before his eyes a number of sucking Babes which the Inchauntressâ— had mirthered by her witchcrafts and sorceries O said she this is â— place of horror where nought is heard but scrikes and 〈◊〉 grones of dead mens soules but if thy eares can indâ—reâ— heare them and thy eyes behold them I wil lead the 〈◊〉 So
fruite hath confounded my future fortunes conuâ—â—ted mée to the tipe of miserie O thou celestiall dirâ—â—ter of the world all you pitteoâ—s powers of heauen Looke downe with kindely lookes vpon my haplesse transformation and bende your bâ—owes to heare my wofull lamentation I was of late a man but now a â—orned beast I was a souldier my Countries Champion but now a loathsome creature and a pray for dogs my glistring Armour is exchaunged into a hidâ— of haire my braue array more baser than the lowlye earth henceforth in stéed of Princely Pallaces these shadie woods must serue to shrowde me in wherein my Bedde of downe must bee a heaâ—e of sunbuâ—nde mosse my swéete recording Musicke the blustering of the windes that with Tâ—mpestious gusteâ— doe make the Wildernes to tremble The voice in the Mulberâ—e tree Cease to lament thou famous man of Fraunce With gentle eares come listen to my mone In former times it was my fatall chaunce To be the proudest maide that ere was knowne By birth I was the Dâ—ughter of a King Though now a breathles tree and sensles thing Mâ— pride was such that heauen confounded me A Goddesse in mine owne conceit I was What nature lent too bace I thought to be But dead my selfe all earthly things to passe And therefore Nectar and Ambrosia sweet The food of heauen for me I counted meete My pride contemned still the bread of wheate Buâ— pure foode I day he sought to finde Refined gold was boiled in my meate Such selfe conceit my fancies foâ—d did blinde For which the Gods aboue transported me From humane substance to this sensles tree Seauen yeares in shape of Hart thou must remaine And then the purple Rose by heauens decree Shall bring thee to thy former shape againe And end at last thy wofull miserie When this is done be sure thou cut in twaine This fatall tree wherein I doo remaine After the 〈◊〉 had breathed these speeches from the Mulberie trée he stood so much amazed at the straungnes of the words that for a time his sorrowes bereaued him of 〈◊〉 spéech and his long appointed punishment constrayned hys thoughts to loose their naturall vnderstanding But yet at last recouering his senses though not hys humane likâ—nes bitterly complayned hys hard misfortunes O vnhappâ— creature said the wofâ—ll Châ—mpion morâ— miserable than Progâ—e in her transforâ—â—tion had more distressed than Acteâ—n was whose perfect imâ—tation I am made His miserie â—â—ntinued but a short season 〈…〉 owne dogges the same day tore him in a thousand péeces buried his transformed carkasse in their hungrie bowels mine is appointed by the angry destenies till seauen times the summers sun hath replenisht his radient brightnesse and seauen times the winters rayne hath washt mee with the showers of heauen Thus complained the transformed Knight of Fraunce sometimes remembring hys former fortunes and 〈◊〉 he had spent hys dayes in the Honour of hys countrey sometimes thinking vpon the place of hys Natiuity renowned Fraunce the Nurâ—e and Mother of his life sometimes treading with his feete as for hands hee had none in sandy ground the print of the wordes the which the Mulberie tree had repeated and many times numbering the minâ—utes of hys long appointed punishment with the Flowers of the field Ten thousand sighes heâ— dayly breathed from hys breast and when the blacke and pitchy mantles of darke nyght had ouerspred the azâ—rde firmamentes and drawne her sable Curtaines before the brightsâ—me windowes of the heauens all creatures tooke their swéet reposed rest and committed their tyred eyes to quiet â—â—â—â—pes All thinges were silent except the murmering of the running waters which sounding musicke was the chiefest comfort this distressed Champion enioyed the glistering Quéene of night â—lad in her christall robes three Hundred times a yeare was witnes of his nightly lamentations the wondring Howlaâ— that neuer singes but in the night sate yelling ouer his head the rufâ—ll wéeping Nightingale with mournefull mellodie chearefully attâ—â—ding â—n hys person for during the limitation of his seauen yeares miserie his truâ—tie Stéede neuer forsoke him but with all diligence and true loue attended vpon him day and night neuer wandring away but euer kâ—â—ping him companie Iâ— the extreamâ— heate of Summer were intollerable or the pinching colde of Winter violent his Horse woulde bee a shelter to defend him Thus when the tearme of seauen yeares were fully finished and that hee should recouer his former substaunce and humane shape his good Horse which he tendred as the Apple of hys eye clambered a high and steepy Mountaine which nature had beautified with al kinde of fragrant flowers as odorifferous as the garden of Hesperides from whence he pulled a braunch of purple Roses and brought them betwixt his téeth to hys distressed Master beeing in hys former passions of discontent vnder the Mulberie Tree The which the Champion of Fraunce no sooner beheld but he remembred that by a purple Rose hee should recouer hys former similitude and so ioyfully receaued the Roses from hys trustie Stéede then casting hys eyes vp to the celestial throne of heauen hee conuayed these consecrated flowers into his emptie stomackâ— After which he laid him downe vpon the bosome of his mâ—thers earth where he fell into such a sound sleep that all his senses and vitall spiriâ—s were without moouing for the space of foure and twenty houres In which time the windowes and the doores of heauen were opened from whence descended such a shower of rayne that it washed away his hairie forme and beastlike shape his horned head and long visage was turned againe into a liuely countenance and al the rest of his members both armes legges handes féete fingers toes with all the rest of natures giftes receaued their former shapes But when the good Champion awaked from hys sléepe â— perceauing the wonderfull workmanship of the Heauens in transforming him to hys humane likenes First gaue honour to Almightie God next kissing the ground whereon he had liued so long in miserie then beholding hys Armour which sâ—oode hard by hym best aâ—nde and almost spoild with rust hiâ— Burgonet and kine edged Curtlâ—-aâ—e beâ—indered ouer with dust then lâ—stlie pondring in his minde of the faithfull seruice his trustie Stéed had done him during the time of his calamitie whose sable coloured maâ—â— hung 〈◊〉 downe his brauny neck which before was wont to be pleyted curiously with artificiall knots and his foreheade which was wont to bee beautified with a tawnie plume of feathers â—ow disfigured with ouergrowne haire whereat the good Champion Sainâ— Dennis of Fraunce so much grieued that he stroaked downe his Iettie â—acke fill the haire of his body lay as smooth as Arabian silke then pulled he duâ— his trustie Faâ—châ—on which in many fierce assaults and dangerous Combats had béene bâ—thed in the blood of hys enemies which by the long continuance of idle time was almost consumed with cankâ—red 〈◊〉 but by his labour and industrious paines he recouered
earth and to rattle against the walles of the Castell like mighty thunder claps and had not the polliticke Knight continually skipped from the furie of his blow hee had béene brused as small as flesh vnto the potte for euerie stroke that the Giant gaue the roote of hys Oake entered at the least two or thrée foote déepe into the groundâ— But such was the wisedome and pollicie of the worthie Champion not to withstand the force of his weapon till the Giant grew breathles and not able through his long labour to lift the Oake aboue his head and likewise the heate of the Sunne was so intollerable by reason of the extreame haight of the Mountaine and the mightie waight oâ— hys Iron coate that the sweat of the Gyants browes ran into hys eyes and by the reason that hee was so extreame fat hee grewe blinde that hee coulde not see to indure Combat with him any longer and as farre as hee coulde perceiue woulde haue retired or runne backe againe into hys Castell but that the Italian Champion with a bold courage assailed the Giant so fiercely that he was forced to let his Oake fall and stand gasping for breath which when the noble Knight beheld with a fresh supplie hee redoubled his blowes so couragiously that they battered on the Giants Armour like a storme of winters haâ—le whereby at last Blanderon was compelled to aske the Champion mercie and to craâ—e at his hands some respite of breathing but his demaunde was in vaine for the valiant Knight supposed now or neuer to obtaine the honour of the day therefore neuer resting his wearie arme but redoubling blow after blow till the Gyant for want of breath and through the anguish of his deepe gashed wounds was forced to giue the world a farewell and to yéelde the riches of his Castell to the most renowned Conquerour S. Anthonie the Champion of Italie But by that time the long and dangerous encounter was finished and the Giant Blanderons head disseuered from his bodie the Sunne sate mounted on the highest part of the Elements which caused the day to be extreame hote and sulthie whereby the Champions Armour so extreamely scalded him that hee was constrained to vnbrace his Corslet and to lay aside his Burgonet and to cast his body on the cold earth onely to mittigaâ—e his ouerburthened heate But such was the vnnaturall coolenâ—s of the earth and so vnkindely to his ouerlabored hart that the melted grease of his inward parts was ouercooled sodainely wherby his bodie receiued such vnnaturall distemperature that the vapors of the cold earth stroke presently to hys heart by which hys vitall aire of life was excluded and hys body without sence or moouing wherein the mercie of pale death he lay bereaued of féeling for the space of an houre During which time faire Rossalinde one of the Daughters of the Thracian Kinges beeing as then Prisoner in the Castell by chaunce looked ouer the walles and espied the bodie of the Giant headles vnder whose subiection shée had continued in great seruitude for the time of seauen monthes likewise by him a Knight vnarmed as she thought panting for breath the which the Ladie Iudged to bee the Knight that had slaine the Giant Blanderon the man by whome her deliuerie should be recouered she presently descended the walles of the Castell and ran with all speed to the aduenterous Champion whome she found dead But yet béeing nothing discouraged of his recouerie féeling as yet a warme blood in euerie member retired backe with all spéede to the Castell and fetcht a box of pretious Balme the which the Giant was wont to poure into hys woundes after his encounter with any knight with which Balme this curteous Ladie chafed euerie part of the breathles Champions bodie one while washing his stiffe limbes with her salt teares the which like pearles fell from her eyes another while drying them with the tresses of her golden haire which hung dangling in the winde then chafing hys liâ—eles bodie againe with a Balme of a contrarie nature but yet no signe of life could she espie in the dead Knight which caused her to growe desperate of all hope of his recouerie Therefore like a louing méeke and kinde Lady considering he had lost his life for her sake shee intended to beare him companie in death and with her owne handes to finâ—â— vp her dayes and to die vpon his breast as This be died vpon the breast of her true Pyrramus therfore as the Swanne singes a while before her death so this sorrowfull Ladie warblâ—d foorth this Swan-like song ouer the bodie of the Noble Champion Muses come mourne with dolefull mellodie Kinde Siluane Nimphes that sit in Rosie bowersâ— With brackish teares commix your harmonie To waile with me both minutes monthes and houres A heauie sad and Swan-like song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Dead is the Knight for whome I liue and die Dead is the Knight which for my sake is slaine Dead is the Knight for whome my carefull crie With wounded soules for euer shall complaiâ—â—â— A heauie sad and Swan-like song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Ile set my breast vpon a siluer streame And swim vnto Elisium lillie fields There in Ambrosian trees Ile write a Theame Of all the wofull sighes my sorrow yeelds A heauie sad and Swan-like song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Farewell faire woods where singes the Nightingales Farewell faire fields where feeds the light foote Does Farewell you groues you hilles and flourish dales But fare thou ill the cause of all my woes A heauie sad and Swanlike song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Ring out my ruth you hollow Caues of stone Both birds and beasts with all things on the ground You sencsles trees be all assistant to my mone That vp to heauen my sorrowes may resound A heauie sad and swanlike song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die Let all the Townes of Thrace ring out my knell And write in leaues of brasse what I haue said That after ages may remember well How Rosalinde both liude and dide a Maid A heauie sad and Swanlike song sing I To ease my hart a while before I die This wofull Dittie béeing no sooner ended but the desperate Ladie vnsheathed the Champions sword which as yet was all besprinkled with the Gyants blood and béeing at the verie point to execute her intended Tragedie and the bloody weapon directly placed against her Iuorie breast but shee heard the distressed Knight giue a grieuous tâ—rrible grone whereat she stopped her remorcâ—les â—and with more discreation tendered her owne safetie for by this time the Balme wherewith she anoyntâ—d hys bodie by wonderfull operation recâ—uered the dead Champion insomuch that after some few gaspes and earnest sighes hee raised vp hys stiffe limbes from the cold earth where like one cast into a trance for
a time gazed vp and downe the Mountaine but at the last hauing recouered hys lost senses espied the Thracian Damsell standing by not able to speake one word her ioy so abounded But after some continuance of time hee reuealed to her the manner of hys dangerous Encounter and successefull victorie and she the cause of his recouerie her intended Tragedie Where after manie kinde salutations she curteously tooke him by the hand led him into the Castell where for that night he lodged hys wery limbs in an easie bed stuffed with Turtles feathers softest thistle downe the chamber had as manie windowes where he lay as there were dayes in the yeare and as many dores as there were minutes in a day and to discribe the curious architecture and the â—rificiall workmanship of the place wore too tedious and a worke without end But to be short the Noble minded Knight slept soundlie after his dangerous battaile without mistrust of Treason or such Rebellious cogitations till golden Phoebus â—ad him good morrow then rising from his slouthfull bed bee attired himselfe not in his wonted habilliments of warre but in purple garments according to the time of peace and so intended to ouerview the Nobilities of the Castell But the Ladie Rossalinde all the night was busied in looking to hys Horse preparing dilicates for hys repast and in making a fire against his vprising where after he had refreshed hys wearie spirites with a a daintie banket caroused downe two or thrée bowles of Greekish Wines hee after by the counsell of Rossalinde stripped the Giant from hys Iron furniture and lest his naked bodie vpon a craggie Rocke to bée deuoured of hungrie Rauens which béeing done the Thracian Uirgin discouered all the secrets of the Castell to the aduenterous Champion First shee led him to a leaden Tower where hung a hundred well approoued Corslets with other Martiall furniture which were the spoyles of such Knights as he had violently slaine after that shee brought him to a stable wherein stoode a hundred pampered Iades which daylie fed vpon nothing but humane flesh Against it was directly placed the Gyants owne lodging his bed was of Iron corded with mightie bars of stéele the testerne and couering of carued brasse the curtaines were of leaues of gold and the rest of a straunge and wonderfull substance of the colour of the Elements after this shee led him to a broad pond of water more clearer than quicksiluer the streames wherof lay continually as smooth as Christall Ice whereon swam six mike white Swans with Crownes of gold about their neckes O here saide the Thracian Lady begins the hell of al my griefe At which wordes a pearled shower of teares ran from the Conduits of her eyes that for a time they staide the passage of her tongue but hauing discharged her heart from a few sorrowfull sighes she began in this manner to tell her passed fortunes These sixe milke-white Swans most honoured Knight you behold swimming in this riuer quoth the Ladie Rossalinde be my naturall sisters both by birth and blood and all Daughters to the King of Thrace béeing now Gouernour of this vnhappie Countrie and the beginning of our imprisonment befell in this vnfortunate manner The King my Father ordayned a solemne hunting to be holden through the land in which Honourable pastime my selfe in companie of my sixe sisters were present â—o in the middle of our sportes when the Lords and Barrons of Thracia were in chace after a mightie shée Lyon the heauens sodainely began to lower the firmaments ouer cast and a generall darkenesse ouerspread the face of the whole earth then presently rose such a storme of lightning and thunder as though heauen and earth had met together-by which our mightie troupes of Knights and Barrons were seperated one from another and we poore Ladies forced by misfortune to séeke for shelter vnder the bottome of this high and steepie mountaine where when this cruell Gyant Blanderon espied vs as hee walked vpon his Battailements sodainely descended the mountaine and fetcht vs all vnder hys Arme vp into his Castell where euer since we haue liued in great seruitude and for the woonderfull transformation of my sixe sisters thus it came to passe as followeth Upon a time the Gyant béeing ouercharged with wine grew innamored vpon our beauties and desired much to enioy the pleasures of our virginities our excellent gifts of nature so inflamed hys minde with iust â—hat he would haue forced vs euerie one to satisfie hys sinfull desires but as he tooke my sisters one by one into hys lodging thinking to deflowre them their earnest praies so preuailed in the sight of God that he preserued their chasteties by a most straunge and woonderfull miracle and turned their comely bodies into the shape of milke-white Swannes euen in the same forme as heere you see them swimming So when this monstrous Gyant sawe that hys intent was crost and howe there was none left behinde to supplie hys want but my vnfortunate selfe hee restrained hys filthie lust not violating my Honour with any staine of infamie but kept mee euer since a most pure Uirgin onlie vvith svvéet inspiring muâ—sike to bring him to his sléepe Thus haue you heard most Noble Knight the true discourse of my most vnhappy fortunes and the wonderfull transformation of my sixe sisters whose losse to this day is greatly lamented throughout all Thrace and with that word she made an end of her Tragicall discourse not able to vtter the rest for weeping whereat the Knight being oppressed then with like sorrow imbraced her about the slender waste and thus kiâ—dely began to comfort her My most deare and kinde Ladie within whose countenance I see how vertue is inthronized and in whose minde liues true Magnanimitie let these few wordes suffice to comfort thy sorrowfull cogitations First thinke that the Heauens are most beneficiall vnto thée in preseruing thy chastity from the Giants insatiate desires then for thy deliuerie by my meanes from thy slauish seruitude Thirdly and lastly that thou remaining in thy naturall shape likenes mayest liue to bee the meanes of thy sisters transformations Therefore drie vp those Cristall pearled teares and bâ—d thy long continued sorrowes adue for griefe is companion with dispaire and dispaire a procurer of an infamous death Thus the wofull Thracian Ladie was comforted by the Noble Christian Champion where after a fewe kinde gréetings they intended to trauaile to her Fathers Court there to relate what had hapned to her sisters in the Castel likewise the Gyants confusion and her owne safe deliuery by the illustrious prowesse of the Christian Knight So taking the keyes of the Castell which was of a wonderful waight they locked vp the gates and paced hand in hand downe the stéeâ—ie mountaine till they aproached the Thraciâ—n Court which was distant from the Castell some tenne miles but by that time they had a sight of the Pallace the Sunne was wandred to the vnder world and
for hys departure and so trauailed westward till he approach to the sight of the Inchaunted Garden the scittuation whereof somewhat daunted his valiant courage for it was incompassed with a hedge of withered thornes and briers which séemed continually to burne vpon the toppe thereof sate a number of straunge and deformed thinges some in the likenes of night Owles that woondered at the presence of Saint Dauid some in the shape of Progines transformation foretelling hys infortunate successe and some like Rauens that with their harsh throuts ring foorth a balefull knell of some wofull Tragedie the elements which couered the Inchaunted Garden séemed to bee â—uerspread with 〈…〉 from whence continually shot â—â—ames of fire as though the skies had bin â—â—led with blazing Commets which 〈…〉 or rather the very patterne of hell stroke such a terror into the Champions hart that twice he was in minde to returne without performing the aduenture but for hys oath and Honor of Knighthood which he had pawnde for the accomplishment thereof So laping hys body on the bare earth beeing the first nurse and mother of his life her made hys humble petition to God that hys minde might be neuer opprest with cowardize nor his heart daunted with any faint feare till he had performed what the Tartarian Emperour had bound him to the Champion rose from the ground and with chearefull lookes beheld the elements which seemed at hys conceit to smile at the enterprise and to foreshew a luckie euent So the Noble Knight Saint Dauid with a valiant courage went to the Garden gate by which stoode a Rocke of stone ouerspread with mosse In which Rock by Magicke Art was inclosed a sworde nothing outwardly appearing but the hâ—â—t which was the richest to hys iudgement that euer hys eyes beheld for the steele worke was ingraued very curiously beset with Iasper and Saphier stones the pummell was in the fashion of a Globe of the purest siluer that euer the mines of rich America brought foorth about the pummell was ingrauen in Letters of gold these verses following My Magicke spels remaines most firmely bound The worlds straunge woonder vnknowne by any one Till that a Knight within the North be founde To pull this sword from out this Rocâ— of stone Then ends my charmes my Magicke Arts and all By whose strong hand wise Ormondine must fall These verses draue such a conceited Imagination into the Champions minde that hee supposed himselfe to bée the Northen Knight by whome the Nigromancer should bée conquered Therefore without anye further aduisement he put hys hand into the hilt of the rich sworâ—e thinking presently to pull it out from the Inchaunted Rocke of Ormondine But no sooner did hee attempt that vaine enterprise but hys valiant courage and inuincible fortitude fayled him all hys sences was ouer taken with a sodayne heauie sléepe whereby he was forced to let goe hys hold and to fall flatte vppon the barraine ground where hys eyes were so fast locked vp by Magicke Arte and hys waâ—ing sences drowned in such a dead â—â—umber that it was as much impossible to recouer himselfe from hys sléepe as to pull the â—unne out of the firmament For through the secret misterie of the Nigromancers skill hee had intelligence of the Champions vnfortunate successe who sent from the Inchaunted garden foure spirits in the similitude and likenes of foure beautifull Damsels which wrapped the drousie Champion in a shéete of the finest Arabian silke and conuayed him into a Caue directly placed in the middle of the Garden where they laide him vpon a soft bed more softer than the downe of Culuers where these beautifull Ladiâ—s through the Artes of wicked Ormondine continually kept him sléeping for the tearme of seauen yeares one while singing with sugered songes more swéeter and delightfuller than the Syrens mellodie another while with rare conceited Musicke surpassing the swéetnes of Arions Harpe which made the mightie Dolphins in the Seas to daunce at the sounde of hys swéet inspiring Melodie or like the Harmonie of Orpheus when he iournied downe into hell where the diuelles reioyst to heare hys admired notes and on earth both â—rées and stones did leap when he did but touch the siluer stringes of hys Iuorie Harpe Thus was Saint Dauids aduenture crost with a wâ—onderfull bad successe whose dayes trauailes was turned into a nights repose whose nights repose was made a heauy sléepe which indured vntill seauen yeares were fullie finished where wee leâ—â—e Saint Dauid to the mercie of the Nigromancer Ormondine sleeping and returne now to the most Noble and magnanimious Champion S. George where we left him imprisoned in the Sâ—ldans Court But now gentle Reader thou wilt thinke it straunge that all these Christian Champions should meete together agayne 〈◊〉 that they bee seperated into so many borders of the world For Saint Dennis the Champion of Fraunce 〈◊〉 maineth now in the Court of Thessalie with hys Ladie Eglantine Saint Iames the Champion of Spaine in the Citty of Ciuell with Celestine the faire Lady of Ierusalem Saint Anthonie the Champion of Italie trauailing the world in the companie of a Thracian maiden attired in a Pages apparrell Saint Andrew the Champion of Scotland séeking after the Italian Saint Pattricke the Champion of Ireland after the Champion of Scotland Saint Dauid of Wales sléeping in the Inchaunted garden adioyning to the Kingdome of Tartarie and Saint George the famous Champion of England imprisoned in Persia of whome and of whose noble aduentures I must a while discourse till the honoured Fame of the other Champions compelles mée to report their Noble and Princelie atchiuementes CHAP. X. How Saint George escaped out of prison at Persia and how he redeemed the Champion of Wales from his Inchauntment with other thinges that hapned to the English Knight with the Tragicall tale of the Nigromancer Ormondine NOW seauen times had frosty bearded winter couered both hearbes and flowers with snow behung the trées with Christall I sickles seauen times had Ladie Vir beautified euerie field with natures ornaments and seauen times had withered Autum robbed the earth of springing flowers since the vnfortunate Saint George beheld the chearefull light of heauen but obscurely liued in a dismall dungeon by the Soldan of Persias commaundement as you heard before in the beginning of the Historieâ— His vnhappy fortune so discontented hys restâ—es thoughtes that a thousand times a yeare he wisht an end of his life a thousand times he cursed the day of his creation his sighâ— in number did counteruaile a heape of sand whose topâ—â— might séeme to reach the skies the which he vainely breathed forth against the walles of the Prison Many times making his humble supplication to the heauens to redéeme him from that vale of miserie and many times séeking occasion desperatly to abridge hys dayes whereby to triumph in hys owne Tragedie But at last when seauen yeares were fully ended it was the Champions luckie fortune to finde in a secret
corner of the dungeon a certaine Iron Engin which time had almost coÌ„sumed with rust wherwith by long labor he digged himselfe a passage vnder the ground till he ascended iust in the middle of the Soldans Court which was at that time of the night when all thinges were silent the heauens hée then beheld beautified with stats bright Cinthia whose glistering beames he had not séene in many a huÌ„dred nights before séemed to smile at hys safe deliuerie and to stay her wandring course till the noble English Champion foundâ— meanes to get without the compasse of the Persian Cours where danger might no longer attend him nor the strongâ— Gates of the Cittie hinder hys flight which in this manner was performed For the Noble Knight bâ—â—ing as fearefull as the Birde newlie escaped from the Fowlers nets gazed round about and listned where he might heare the voice of people At last he heard the Groomes of the Soldans stable furnishing forth Horses against the next morning for some Noble atchiuement then the valiant Champion S. George taking the Iron Engin wherewith hee redéemed himself out of prison burst opeÌ„ the dores where he slew all the Groomes in the Soldans stable which béeing done hée tooke the strongest Palfray and the richest furniture with other necessaries appertayning to a Knight at Armes so rode in great maiestie to one of the Citty Gates where hee saluted the Porter in this manner Porter open thy Gates for S. George of England is escaped hath murdered his warders in whose pursute the Citty is in Armes which wordes the simple Persian beléeued for a truth and so with all spéede opened the Gates whereat the Champion of England departed and left the Soldan in hys dead sâ—éepe little mistrusting hys sodaine escape But by that time the purple spotted morning had parted with her gray and the Suns bright countenaunce appeared on the mountaine toppes Saint George had ridden twentie leagues from the Persian Court and before hys departure was bruâ—ed in the Soldans Pallace the English Champion had recouered the sight of Grecia past all danger of the Persian Knights that followed him with a swift pursute By which time the extreamity of hunger so sharpely tormented him that he could trauaile no further but was constrained to suffise himselfe with certayne wilde Chesnuts in stead of bread and sewer oringes in stead of drinke such fainte food that grew by the wayes as he trauelled where the necessity and want of victualles compelled the Noble Knight Saint George to breath forth this pittifull complaint O hunger hunger said the Champion thou art more sharper than the stroake of death and the extreamest punishment that euer man indured if I were now King of Armenia cheife Potentate of Asia yet would I giue my Diadem my Scepter with al my prâ—uinces for one shiuer of browne breade oh that the earth would be so kind as to rippe hir bowells and to cast vp some food to sustaine my want or that the ayre might bée choakt with mistes whereby the fethered foules for want of breath might fall and yeald me some succour in this my â—â—nishment and exstreame penurye or that the Oceans would outspread their braunched armes and couer those sunburnd â—â—llyes with their treasures that I might suffice my hunger but now I sée both heauen and earth the hilles and daâ—es the skyes and seas the fish and foules the birdes and Siluanâ— beastes all things vnder the cope of heauen conspires my vtter ouerthrow better had it béene it I had â—â—ded my dayes in Persia than to bee famishâ—â— in the broaâ—◠〈…〉 whâ—â—e all things by natures appointment is ordained for mans vse now in stéed of Courtly dillicates I am forced to eat the fruit of trées and in stéed of Gréekish wines I am compelled to quench my thirst with the moâ—nings dew that nightly falles 〈◊〉 the blades of grasse Thus complained Saint George vntill glistering Phoebus had mounted the top of heauen and drawen the mistie vapors from the ground where hee might behold the prospects of Grecia and which way to trauaile for most safetie he espied directly before his face a Tower standing vpon a chalkie clift in distance from him some thrée miles whether the Champion intended to goe not to séeke for any aduenture but to rest himselfe after hys long iournie to get such victuals as therein hee could finde to suffice his want So setting forward with an easie pace the heauens séemed to smile and the birds to ring such a cherping peale of mellodie as though they did prognosticate a fortunate euent The way he found so plaine and the iournie so easie that within halfe an houre hee approached before the saide Tower where vpon the wall stâ—â—de a most beautifull woman her attire after the manner of a distressed Ladie and her lookes as heauie as the Quéenes of Troy when she beheld her Pallace set on fire The valiant Knight S George after he had alighted from his horse he gaue her this curteous salutaâ—ion Lady said the Knight for so you séeme by your outward appearance if euer you pittied a trauailer 〈◊〉 graunted succour to a Chrstian Knight giue to mee one meâ— leâ— meate nâ—w almost famished To whome the Lady after a â—urst frowne or two answered him in this order Sir Knâ—ght quoth shée I aduise thée with all spéede to depart for here thou gets a cold dinner my Lord is a mightie Giant and beleeueth in Mahomet â— Terinagâ—unt and if he oncâ— vnderstand how thou art a Christian Knight â—t is not all the gold of higher India nor the riches of wealthy Babilon that can preserue thy life Now by the honour of my Knighthood replied Saint George and by the God that Christendome adores were thy Lord more stronger than was mightie Hercules that bore a mountaine on hys backe here will I either obtaine my 〈◊〉 or die by hys accursed hands These wordes so abashed the Lady that shee went with all speed from the Tower and told the Gyant how a Christian Knight remayned at hys Gate that had sworne to suffice hys hunger in dispite of hys will whereat the furious Gyant sodainely started vp béeing as then in a sound sléepe for it was at the middle of the day who tooke a bat of Iron in hys hand and came downe to the Tower Gate his stature was in haight fiue yeardes hys heade brisled like a Bores a foote there was betwixt each brow his eies hollow hys mouth wide hys lippes were like two flaps of steele in all proportion more like a diuell than a man Which deformed monster so daunted the courage of Saint George that he prepared himselfe to death not through feare of the monstrous Gyant but for hunger and féeblenes of body but God so prouided for him and so restored the Champions decayed strength that hee indured battaile till the closing vp of the Euening by which time the Gyant was almost blinde through the sweate that ran
an Inorie Charriot guarded by twelue coleblacke Negars wherein hys beloued Lady and Mistrsse Sabra sate inuested vppon a siluer Globe to beholde the Heroicall Encounters of her most Noble and Magnanimious â—hampion saint George of England his Tent was as white as the Swannes feathers glistring against the Sun supported by foure â—eyntles Elephants framed of the purest brasse about his Helmet he tied a wreath of Uirgins haire where hung his Ladies gloue which he worâ—â—â— maintaine her excellent gifts of nature to excéede al 〈◊〉 on the earth These costlie habilliments rauished the beholders with such vnspeakeable pleasure that they stood gazing at hys furniture not able to withdrawe their eyes from so heauenlie a sighâ— But when they beheld his victorious Encounters against the Graecian Knightes they supposed him to be the 〈◊〉 tamer of that seauen heaâ—ed monster that clambred 〈◊〉 the elements offring to pull Iupiter from hys throne His â—â—éede neuer gaue Encounter with any Knight but hee tumbled horse and man to the ground where they lay for a time bereaft of sence The Turnament endured for that day from the Suns rising till the cole blacke Euenings Star appeared in which time he conquered fiue hundred of the hardiest Knights then liuing in Asia and shiuered a thousand Launces to the woonderfull admiration of the beholders Thus were the seauen dayes brought to ende by the seauen worthy Champions of Christendome in rewarde of whose Noble atchieuements the Graecian Emperour being a man that highly fauoured knightly procéedinges gaue them a golden trée with seauen branches to be deuided equally amongst them Which Honourable Prize they conuayed to saint Georges Pauilion where in deuiding the braunches the seauen Champions discouered themselues each to other and by what good fortune they ariued in the Graecian Court whose long wished sights so reioyced theyr harts whereby they accounted that happy day of méeting the ioyfullest day that euer they behâ—ld But now after the Turnaments were fully ended the Knights resâ—ed themselues some few dayes recouering their wonted agillitie of body they fell to a new exercise of pleasure not appearing in glistring Armour before the Tilt nor following the loud sounding Drums siluer Trumpets but spending away the time in Courtly daunces amongst their beloued Ladies and Mistressâ—s in more Royaltie than the Phrigian knights whâ—n they presented the Paragon of Asia with an Inchanted â—aske There wanted no inspiring Musicke to delight their eares no heauenly Sonets to rauish their sences nor no curious daunces to please their eyes Sabra she was the Mistresse of the Reuels who graâ—â—e the whole Court with her excellent beautie which séemed to excéede the rest of the Ladies as farre as the Mâ—â—ne surpasseth her attending Stars in a frostie night when shee daunst shee séemde like Thetis tripping on the siluer sandes with whom the Sun did fall in loue and if shee chaunst to smile the cloudy elements would cleare drop downe heauenly dew as though they mournde for loue There likewise remayned in the Court the six Scythian Uirgins that in former times liued in the shape of Swans which were as beautifull Ladies as euer eye beheld also many other Laidies attended the Empresse in whose companies the seauen Champions daylie delighted sometimes discoursing of amorous conceits other times delighting themselues with swéete tuned Musicke then spending the day in banqueting reuelling dancing such like pastimes not once iniuring their true betrothed Ladies But their Courtly pleasures continued not long for they were sodainely dashed with a present newes of open Warres proclaymed against Christendome which fell out contrarie to the expectations of the Christian Knights There ariued in the Graecian Emperours Pallace a hundred Harrolds of a hundred seuerall Prouinces which proclaimed vtter defiance to all ChristiaÌ„ kingdomes by these words Wee the high and mighty Emperours of Asia and Affrica great commaunders both of land seas proclaime by generall consent of all the Easterne Potentates vtter ruine and destruction to the Kingdomes of Christendome to all those Nations where any Christian Knights are harboured First the Soldan of Persia in reuenge of a bloody slaughter done in hys Pallace by an English Champion Ptolomie the Egiptian King in reuenge of his daughter violently taken away by the sayd knight Almidor the blacke King of Moroco in reuenge of his Quéene likewise taken away by the sayde English Champion The great Gouernour of Thessaly in reuenge of his daughter taken away by a French Knight The King of Ierusalem in reuenge of his daughter taken away by a Spanish Knight The Tartarian Emperour in reuenge of his Sonne the Countie Palatine slaine by the vnhappy hand of the Champion of Wales The Sicillian Monarke in reuenge of hys vaine trauaile after his seauen daughters now in the kéeping of certaine Christian Knights in reuenge of which iniuries all the Kingdomes from the furthest part of Prester Iohns Dominions to the borders of the red Seas hath set downe their handes and seales to bee ayders in this bloodie Warre This Prolamation béeing no sooner ended but the Graecian Emperour likewise consented to their bloody determination and thereupon gaue spéedy commandement to muster vp the greatest strength that Graecia could afforde to ioyne with the Pagans to the vtter ruine and confusion of Christendome which bloody edict or rather inhumane Iudgement pronounced by the accursed Infidels compelled the Christian Champions to a spéedy departure and euerie one to haste into his owne countrie there to prouide for the Pagans entertainment So after due considerations the seauen Champions departed from Graecia in companie of their betrothed Ladies who chose rather to liue in the bosoms of their husbands than in the armes of their misbeléeuing Parents where after some few dayes they ariued in the spacious bay of Portingale in which Hauen they vowed by the Honour of true Knighthood to méete againe within sixe monthes insuing there to conioyne all their Christian Armies into one Legion vpon which plighted resolution the worthie Champions departed one from another Saint George into England Saint Dennis into Fraunce Saint Iames into Spaine Saint Anthonie into Italie Saint Andrew into Scotland Saint Pattrick into Ireland Saint Dauid into Wales whose pleasant bankes they had not beheld in many a yeare before where their entertainments were as Honorable as their harts desired But to speake of the mustring vp of Souldiers in euerie Christian Kingdome and what strength ariued at the appointed time in the bay of Portingale shall be discoursed in the sequell of this Historie and how troublesome warres ouerspread the whole earth where the Heroicall déedes of these Noble Champions shall at large be discribed Also of the â—uerthrow of many Kings and Kingdomes ruines of Townes and Citties and the decay of many flourishing Common weales Likewise of the bloody Tragedies of many vnchristian Princes whereat the heauens will mourne to sée the effusion of blood trickle from the breasts of murthered Infants the heapes of slaughtered Damsels
shall be no earth the sea no sea nor the heauen no heauen Thinkest thou now proud Christian by thy threatned tormentes to make mee forget my creator and beléeue in thy false God which was but the sonne of a Carpenter and bacely borne vnder an Oxe stall No no accursed Christians you ofspringes of Cayne you generations of Iesmaell you séede of Uipers and accursed through the world looke for a spéedie shower of vengeance to raine from heauen vppon your wicked Nations your bloodie practises hath pearst the Battlements of Ioue and your tyrranies beaten open the gaâ—es of mightie Mahomet who hath prouided whips of burning wier to scourge you for your cruelties proffered against his blessed worshippers and now with this deadlie curse I bid you all farewell the plagues of Egipt light vpon your kingdomes the curse of Cayne vpon your children the famine of Ierusalem vpon your friends and the miserie of Oedipus vppon yourselues This wicked resolution and balefull curse béeing no sooner ended by the desperate minded Almidor but the impatience of saint George was so highly mooued that he gaue present commandement to the appointed Executioners to cast him into the boyling cauldron which incontinentlie they performed to the terror of all the beholders to behold this wofulll spectakle the Battlements of Temples weâ—e so thronged with people the houses couered with women children and the stréetes filled with Armed Souldiers that it was a woonder to beholde amongst which multitudes there were some perticular persons that at the sight of Almidors death fell downe and broake their neckes But the generall number as well of Pagans as Christians cryed with chearefull voyces Honour and victory followe saint George of England for he hath redéemed Barbary from a miserable seruitude Which ioyfull hearing so delighted the seauen Champions of Christendome that they caused the Conduits to runne with wine the stréets to be beautefied with bonefiers and a sumptuous banquet to be proclaimed through the Citty which after continued for the space of seauen dayes in more magnificent Royaltie than the banquet at Babilon when the Macedonian Monarke returned from the worlds Conquest The Champions liberality procured such faithfull loâ—e in the harts of the Moroco Pieres that with a generall consent they chose saint George for theyr lawfull King where after they had inuested him in the Princely seate of the Moroco Potentates they set the Crown vpon his head and after presented him with an imperious Pall which the Kings of Barbary vsually wore vppon their Coronation day protesting to forsake theyr prophane Religion and 〈◊〉 christened in the fayth of Christ. This promised conuertion of the Infidels more delighted the English Champion than to haue the whole worlds honour at commaund for it was the chiefeest poynt of his Knightly oath to aduaunce the faith of Christe and to inlarge the boundes of Christendome after his Coronation was solemlie performed the other six Champions conductâ— him to a Princely Pallace where he tooke the true alegance of the Moroco Lordes by plighted oath to bee true to hys Crowne after this he established Christian lawes to the benefit of the whole countrie then he commaunded al the ceremonious rites of Mahomet to be trodden vnder foote the true Gospell of Christ to be preached likewise he caused all that did remaine in Barberie to be Christned in the new faith But these obseruations continued but a time as shall hereafter shall be discoursed at large For fame not intending to let the worthie Champions long to remaine in the idle bowers of peace but summoned them to perseuer in their Noble atchiuements and tâ— muster vp a new their souldiers whose Armour canckered ease had almost staind with rust therefore saint George committed the gouernment of hys countrie to foure of the principall Peares of Moroco and martched towardes the Countrie of Egipt where liued trecherous Ptolomie the Father of hys beloued Lady Sabra whome hee had left in the Kingdome of England In which iournie and happie ariuall in Egipt wâ— will leaue the seauen Champions for a time and speake of the faithles Infidels in Barberie after the departure of the Christians whose former Honours they slightly regarded For no sooner had saint George with hys martiall Troupes bidden their countrie adue but the faithles Moores reconciled themselues to their former Gods and purposed a spéedie reuenge for the death of Almidor against all Christians that remained within the limmets of that Heathen Nation For there were many souldiers wounded in the late battaile Likewise a number oppressed with sicknes had the Christian Champions left behinde for their better recoueries vppon whome the barberous Moores committed their first tyrranie for they caused the distressed souldiers to be drawen vpon â—lids to the outermost part of the Cittie and there put them into a large and old Monestarie which they presently set on fire and most inhumanely burned the Christian souldiers and after conuerted the place into a filthie leastall many women and succourles children they dragged vp and downe the stréetes till their braines were dasht against the stones and the blood had couered the earth with a purple hue Many other cruelties were committed by the wicked Infidels against the distressed Christians which I â—urpose to paâ—â—e ouer and wholie discourse of the wofull and bloody murther of an English Marchant and hys wife in the same Cittie of Tripolie the report whereof may force the merciles Tygers to relent and those eyes to shed a spring of teares that neuer wept before The bloodie minded Negars violating both oath and promise before plighted to saint George by violence set vppon the Marchants house where first they made a massaker of his seruants and before hys face cast their dead bodies to hunger starued Dogges then comming to the Marchant they bound him fast with hempen cordes to the strongest post in his house and after tooke hys children béeing seauen of the goodliest boyes that euer nature â—â—amed and likewise tied round about him Then one of the Moores béeing crueller than the rest proffered to deflowre the Marchants wife before hys face but she in chastetie like Camma chose rather an honourable death than an infamous life spit in the Negars face and most bitterly reuiled him yéelding neyther to hys force nor hys bloodie threates but snatching a knife from hys girdle vowed to sheath it in her bosome before she would loose that precious Gemme of honour that once beeing gone cannot bee recouered for all the worldes treasure This resolution of the English Marchants wife caused the sterne Negars to excéede in crueltie but the principall of that wicked companie béeing a bloody and merciles Tyrant stabbed one of the sillie Children before the mothers face Now stubborne Dame quoth he wilt thou yéeld to my desires and preserue the liues of thy other sixe Children otherwise shalt thou beholde them butchered in the same manner To sell my honour for the liues of my Children replied shee will be an
offence to God and a continuall corrasiue to my husbands heart if we liue together Therefore accursed monsters prosecute your tyrranie It is not all your threates and bloodie dealinges shall conuert my chaste minde nor once inforce my thoughtes to giue any consent thereunto These wordes béeing no sooner ended but the luâ—â—full Moore tooke an other of her children and stabed before hâ—r husbands face thincking therby to fore the Marchant to intreate his wife to consent to the wicked Nâ—gars determinations but he beeing as resolute as his vertuous wife spake in this manner O you cursed blacke Dogges of Barberie more worse in quallitie than the bloody Tygers and more merciles than the wicked Cannibals thinke you that the murther of our children shall inforce our hearts to yéelde to your lustful desiers Nâ— no perseuer in your tyrranies if I had a hundred children twice the number of King Priams yet would I loose them all before I will indure to see my wiues dishonor children may be gotten agayne but hir honor neuer recouered These words pricked the Negars to the gall and caused them to commit the wickedst déede that euer was practised vnder the celestiall Globe of heauen First they sheathed there Poniards in the breastes of all the Marchantes children whose guiltles blood stayâ—d all the chamber with a crimson colour then with there Fauchions did they cuâ— there bodies all in sunder and caused seauen Pâ—es to be made of there flesh and after serued in a banquet to there wofull Parents whome the merciles Moores set at a square table the Marchant placed directly opposite against his wife wher they were constrained either to féede vpon there owne children or starue for want of other sustenance This wofull spectakle stroke such a griefe into the English Marchants heart that hee could scarce indure to speake for wéeping hys wife when shee behold the heades of her louelie sonnes lying vpon the table as it were looking to heauen for reuenge breathed fortâ— this woful dying lamentation O sillie Babes I would you had béene strangled in my wombe at your first conception then should not these accursed Infidels haue triumpht thus in your â—nhappie Tragedies Nor your vnfortunate Parentes behâ—ld this luckles day whereon I pray that neuer Sâ—nne may shine againe but bee accounted an ominous day throughout the whole earth for heauen I hope poore Babes will raigne a showre of vengeance on their heades that hath caused this your vntimelie death and with this praier I bit the worldâ— faâ—â—well At which wordes her griefe so excéeded the boundes of reason that it stayed the passage of her spéech whereby she was forced to yéeld her soule to the Paradice of peace Shée béeing no sooner dead but the sorrowfull Marchant likewise biterly exclaimed against the iniustice of Fortune and the tyrranie of the barbarous Moores accounting his destenie more haâ—les than the Thracian Kinges that buried his children in hys owne Bowels and the cruelties of the Infidels to excéed the tyrranie of Nero that caused hys Mothers wombe to be opened that hee might beholde the place of hys creation but when the Marchant had sufficiently bewailed the murther of hys children the death of his wife and hys owne miserie he yéelded hys soule likewise to the furious stroke of death The end of whose long languishments when the wicked Moores had intelligence they caused their dead bodies to be carried to the top of a hiâ—h mountaine and there left for the pray of hungrie Rauens But God most miraculously preserued them both from the furie of Foules and the violence of rauenous beasts for the suâ— consumed their bodies like the morninges dew and by the wâ—nderfull workemanship of heauen in the sâ—me place sprung a bower of Roses to signifie the vnspotted honour of the Marchant and his vertuous wife which miracle wee leauâ— to the woonder of the Moores and speake of the Christian Champions procéedinges that by this time were ariued in the Kingdome of Egipt CHAP. XV. How the Christians ariued in Egipt and what hapned to them there the Tragedie of the lustfull Earle of Couentrie how Sabra was bound to a stake to be burned how Saint George redeemed her lastly how the Egiptian king cast himselfe from the toppe of a Tower and broake hys necke DUring the time of the bloodie murther wrought by the barbarous Moores vpon the English Marchant and hys Wife with his seauen Children as you hearde in the former Chapter the Champions of Christendome ariued vppon the Territories of Egipt where they supposed to haue met with Legions of Armed Souldiers and to haue aduentured their liues vpon the chaunce of Warre but all things fell out contrarie to their expectations for they founde the Gates of euerie Cittie set open and euerie Uillage and Towne vnpeopled for the Commos at the report of the Christians ariuall secretly hid their treasure in the Caues of the earth in déepe Welles and such like obscure places and a generall feare and extreame terrour assailed the Egiptians as well the Pieres of the Land as the simple countrie people Many fled into woods and wildernesses closelie hid themselues in hollow trées Many digged caues in the ground where they thought best to remaine in safetie and many fled to high mountaines where they long timâ— liued in great extreamity féeding vppon the grasse of the ground So greatly the Egiptians feared the Armie of Christians that they expected nothing but the ruine of their owne countrie with the losse of their owne liues and the murther of their wiues and Children But to speake of the Christian Champions who finding the countrie desolate of people suspected some déepe pollicie of the Egiptians thinking them to haue mustered their generall forces to bid them battaile therefore Saint George gaue commaundement through the whole Campe that not a man vpon paine of death shuld breake his ranke but martch aduisedlie with thrée weapons ready prest to enter battaile as though the enemie had directly plast themselues opposite against them which speciall charge the Christian Souldiers dulie obserued looking neyther after the wealth of Citties nor the spoyle of Uillages but circumspectly martched according to their leaders directions along the Countrie of Egipt till they approached the sight of King Ptolomies Court which when the noble Champion of England beheld in this manner incouraged hee hys followers Behold saide hée you inuincible Captaines of Christendome yonder cursed Towers where wicked Ptolomie kéepes hys Court those Battlements I say were they as richlie built as great Piramides of Greece yet shoulde they be subuerted and laid as leuell with the ground as the Cittie of Carthage there hath that accursed Ptolomie hyâ— residence that for preseruing his Daughter from the burning Dragon trecherouslie sent me into Persia where for seauen yeares I liued in great extreamie in a dismall dungeon where the Sunne did neuer lend me light nor the companie of people comfort In reuenge wherof my hart shall neuer rest in
her â—allying pastime with his haire could bring him a sléepe she strained forth the Organs of her voice and ouer his heade song this wofull Dittie Thou God of sleepe and golden dreames appeare That bringst all things to peace and quiet rest Close vp the glasses of his eies so cleare Thereby to make my fortune euer blest His eies his hart his senses and his minde In peacefull sleep let them some comfort finde Sing sweet you prettie birdes in top of Skyes With warbling tâ—nes and many a pleasant note Till your sweet Musicke close his watchfull eies That on my loue with vaine desires doth dote Sleepe on my deare sleepe on my loues delight And lâ—t this sleepe be thy eternall night You gentle Bees the Muses louelie birdes Come aide my dolefull tunes with siluer sound Let your inspiring melodie recorde Such heauenlie musicke that may qâ—ite confounde Both wit and sence and tier his eies with sleepe Thaâ— on my lap in sweet content I keepe You siluer streames which murmuring musicke makes Aâ—d filles each dale with pleasant Harmonie Where at the floting fish much pleasure takes To heare their sweet recording melodie Assist my tunes his slumbring eyes to close That on my lap now takes a sweet repose Let whispering windes in euerie sensles tree A solemne sad and dolefull Musicke sing From hilles and dales and from each mountaine â—ie Let some inspiring sound or eccho ring That he may neuer more awake againe Which sought my marriage bed with lust to staine This delightfull song rocked hys sences to such a careles and heauie slumber that â—e slept as soundly vpon her lappe as if he had béene couched in the softest bed of downe whereby she found a fit opportunitie to 〈◊〉 her vndefiled body from his lustfull desires So taking the Poyniard in her hand which he had cast a little aside and gazing thereon with an irefull looke she made this sad complaint Graunt you immortall powers of heauen said she that of these two extreames I choose the best either must I yeeld my body to bée dishonored by his vnchast desires or staine my handes with the trickling streames of his heart blood If I yéeld vnto the first I shall be then accounted for a viscious Dame in euerie place but if I commit the last I shall be guiltie of a wilfull murder and for the fame the law will adiudge me to a shamefull death What shall I feare to die and loose my vertue and renowne No my heart shall bée as tyrranous as Danaus Daughters that slewe their fiftie husbands in a night or as Medeas crueltie which scattered her brothers bloodie ioynts vpon the sea shore therby to hinder the swift pursute of her father when Iason got the golden Fléece from Calcos Ile Therefore stand still you glistring Lampes of heauen stay wandring time and let him sléepe eternally Where art thou sad Melpomene that speakst of nothing but of murthers and Tragedies Where be those Dames that euermore delights in blood Come come assist me with your cruelties let me excéede the hate of Progne for her rauishment rage hart and take delight in blood banish all thoughts of pitty from thy breast be thou as mercilesse as King Priams Quéene that in reuenge of fiue and twenty murthred sonnes with her owne hands staynd the pauements of Agamemnons Court with purple gore these words being no sooner ended but with wrathfull and pale countenance she sheathed the Poyniard vp to the hilts in the closure of his breast whereat he started and woulde haue got vpon his féete but the streame of blood so violently gushed from his wound that hee declined immediatly to the earth and his soule was forced to giue the world a dolefull adue But when Sabra behold the bedde of violets stainde with blood and euery flower conuerted to a crimson colour shée sighed grieuously but when she saw her garments all to be sprinckled with her enemies blood and he lay wallowing at her féete in purple goâ—e she ran spéedily vnto a flowing fountaine that stoode on the further side of the Orchard and began to wash the blood out of her clothes but the more shee washed the more it increased a signe that heauen will neuer suffer wilfull murder to be hid for what cause soeuer it is done This straunge spectakle or rather wonderfull accident so amazed the sorrowfull Lady that shee began a newe to complaine O that this wicked murther neuer had bin done said shée or that my hand had béene stroken lame by some vnluckie Plannet when first it did attempt the déede whether shall I flie to shrowde me from the company of vertuous women which will for euermore shun me as a detested murtherer If I should goe into some forraine Countrie there heauen will cast downe vengeance for my guilt If I should hide my selfe in woods and solitarie wildernesses yet would the winde discouer me and blow this bloody crime to euery corner of the world or if I should goe liue in Caues or darkesome Dennes within the déepe foundation of the earth yet will his Ghost pursue me there and haunt mee day and night so that in no place a murtherer can liue in rest such discontented thoughts shall still oppresse his mind After shée had breathed forth this comfortles lamentation to the aire she tore her blood stayned Garment from her backe and cast it into the fountaine where it turned the water into the colour of blood so heynous is murther in the sight of heauen Thus béeing disrobed into her Petticote she returned to the slaughtered Earle whome shee founde couered with mosse which added more griefe vnto her sorrowfull soule for she greatlie feared her murther was discried but it fell not out as she mustrusted for it is the nature and kind of a Robbin Red-brest and other birdes alwaies to couer the bodie of any dead man and them it was that brâ—d this feare in the Ladies heart by this time the day began to shut vp his bright windowes and sable night entred to take possession of the earth yet durst not the wofull and distressed Sabra make her repaire homewards lest she should bee discried without her vpper garment During which time there was a generall search made for the Earle by his seruauntes for they greatly suspected some daunger had befallen him considering that they heard him the night before so wofullie complaine in his Chamber At last with Torch light they came to the Orchard gate which they presently burst open wherein no sooner entring but they found their murthered Master lying by a bed of violets couered with mosse likewise searching to find out the murtherer At last they espied Sabra in her naked Petticote her handes face besprinckled with blood her countenance as pale as ashes by which signes they suspected her to be the bloody bereauer of their Lord Masters life therefore because she descended from a noble linnage they brought her the same night before the King which did then keepe
like vnto an Elephants hys nostrelles were verie large and bigge his heade little his breast some what broad well pitcht and so â—ard that no sword were it neuer so sharpe was able to enter in thereat The Champion was called the Barron 〈◊〉 Chester a hold and hardier Knight they thought liued not then vpon the face of the whole earth he so aduanced himselfe vp downe as though hee had béene able to Encounter with a hundred Knights then the King caused the Harrold to summon in the Defendant if there were any to defend her cause both Drums and Trumpets sounded thrée seuerall times vp downe the fieldes betwixt euerie rest was full a quarter of an houre but yet no defendant did appeare therefore the King commaunded the Executioner to set the stake on fire presently At which words Sabra began to grow as pale as ashes and hir Ioyntes to tremble like to Aspen-leaues hir toung that before continewed silent began to recorde a swanlike dying tale in this manner vttered she the passion of hir heart Be witnes heauen and all you bright celestiall Angells bee witnes sun and moone the true beholders of my â—act be witnes thou cleare firmament and all the world be witnes of my innocence the blood I shed was for the sauegard of my honor and vnspotted Chastety Great God of heauen if the praiers of my vnstained heart may assaile thy mighty Maiestie or my true innocence preuaile with thy immortall power Commaund that eyther my Lorde may come to be my Champion or sad beholder of my death But if my hands were stained with blood about some wicked enterprise then heauen shew present vengeance vppon me by fire or els let the earth open deuoure my bodie vp aliue At which instance she heard the sound of a shrill and lowd horne the which S. George winded for as then hée was néere which caused the Execution a while to bee deferred At last they beheld a farre off a stately Banner wauering in the Ayre the which the Knight carried before saint George then they espied nere vnto the Banner a most valiant Armed Knight mounted vpon a cole blacke Palfray with a mightie great Launce set charged in his Rest by which sodaine approach they knewe him to bée some Champion that would defende the distressed Ladyes cause Then the King commanded the Drums and Trumpets to sound whereat the people gaue a generall shâ—wâ— and the poore Lady halfe dead with feare began to reuiue and her blushing cheekes to be as beautefull as redde Roses dipt in milke blood mingled with snowe but when saint George approached the sight of his true and constant Lâ—dâ— whom he found chayned to a stake incompassed with many instruments of death his hart so relented with griefe that he almost fell beside his horse yet remembring wherefore hée came he recalled his courage and intended to try his fortune in the Combat before he would discouer himselfe vnto his Lady And so when the Trumpets sounded deaths Alarum the two Knights set spurres to their horses made them run so fiercely that at the first encounter they shiuered both theyr Launces to their hands then rushed they together so rigorously with their bodies and Helmets that they fell downe both to the earth But saint George who was the more lustier Knight nimbly leapt vppon his féete without any hurt but the Barron of Chester lay still with his hâ—ad downewards casting from his mouth abundance of blood he was so mightely bruised with the fall but when he reuiued from his traunce he tooke his shield drawing out a mighty Fawchion and with a wrathfull countenance ran at saint George Now prowde Knight quoth he I sweare by all the Saints in heauen to reuenge the blood which thou hast shed and therewithall he stroke so violently vpon saint Georges shield that it cleaued quite a sunder then began he to waxe angry and tooke his sword in great wrath and gaue the Barron of Chester such a stroke that he cut away arme and shoulder and all the flesh of his side to the bare ribs and likewise cut his legge almost cleaue a sunder in the thichest place of his thigh and yet for all that the sword entred halfe a foote into the earth then fell the Barron of Chester to the ground and breathed forth this lamentable cry Nowe frowne you fatall starres eternally that did predominate at my byrth for he is slaine and vanquished that neuer stâ—â—pt to any Knight before this day and thereuppon the blood stâ—pped the passage of his speech and his soule went flying to Elizium whereat the whole company reioyced and applauded saint George for the most fortunates Knight in the world then the King deliuered Sabra with his owne hands to saint George who most curteously receiued her and like a kinde Knight cast a scarlet Mantle ouer her body the which a Lady standing by bestowed vpon him yet he minding not to discouer himselfe but set her vpon his portly Stéede that presently grew prowde in carrying so rich a burthen and with his owne hands lead him by the brydle raynes so great was the ioy throughout the City that the belles rung without ceasing for thrée dayes together the Citezens thorough euery place that saint George should passe did hang forth at their windowes and on their walles cloth of gold and silke with rich Carpets Cushions and couerings of gréene veluet lay abroad in euery window the Cleargy in Copes of gold and silke met them with solemne Processions The Ladyes and beautefull Damsels strowd euery stréete where as hee past with Roses and most pleasant flowers and Crownd him with a wreath of gréene bayes in signe of his triumphant victory and Conquest In this manner went hee vnto the Kinges Pallace not known by any what he should be but that he was a Knight of a strange Country yet Sabra many times as they walked by the way desired to see his face and knowe his name in that he had aduentured so farre for her sake and that for her deliuery had vanquished the brauest knight in England Yet for all her perswasions hee kept himselfe vndiscouered till a troupe of Ladies in company of Sabra got him into a chamber richly hung with Arras cloth and there vnlaced his Beuer whose countenance when she beheld and sawe that it was her Lord and husband which had redeemed her from death shée fell into a deade sounde for very ioy But saint George sprinckled a little colde water on her face and reuiued her presently After this he gaue heâ— many a kinde and louing kisâ—e calling her the most truest and the most loyallest Lady that euer nature framed that to the very death would not loose one iote of her vnspotted honour Likewise she accounted him the truest Knight and the loyallâ—st husband that euer heauenly Hymen kneâ—â— in banâ—s of marriage with any woman But when the King had notice that it was saint George his Countries Champion which
shades and craue remission for my committed trespasse for on this Oake I will abridge my life as did the worthie Knight Melmerophon for the loue of his Ladie Sillera which lamentation béeing no sooner ended but he tooke the chaine of gold and fastned one ende to the Arme of a great Oake and the other end to hys own necke intending presentlie to strangle himselfe but heauen preuented his desperate intent after a straunge manner For vnder the samâ— trée the brayned Gyant lay not yet fully dead who in this manner spake to saint George O stay thy hand most Noble and inuincible Knight the worlds chiefe wonder for admired Chiualrie and let my dying soule conuerâ— thee from so wicked a deed Seauen virgins in this Thicket haue I rauished and buried all their bodyes in my accursed bowelles but before I could deflower the eighth in a straunge manner hir bright beauty was conuerted in to a loathsome leprosie whereby I detested hir sight and lost hir chastetye vndefiled but by hir sad complaynts I since haue vnderstood how that she is your Ladie and Loâ—â— and to this hower she hath hir residence with in the câ—â—uite of this thicket and thereuppon with a dolefull grone which seemed to shake the ground he had a due to the world then saint George being glad to heare such tydings reuerted from his desperate intent and searched vp and downe the Groue till he found Sabra where shee sate sorrowing vnder the braunches of a mulberie trée betwixt whome was a sad and heauie greeting and as they walked backe to the Queenes Pauillion shee discoused to him the truth of this bloody stratagem where shee remayned till the Amazonian Quéene had cured her leprosie by the secret vertue of her skill of whome after they had taken leaue giuen her thankes for her kinde curtesies saint George with hys Ladie tooke their iournie towards Persia where the Christian Armies lay incampt At whose ariuall you shall heare strange and woonderfull thinges the like was neuer done in any age CHAP XVII How Saint George and his Ladie lost themselues in a wildernes where she was deluered of three goodlie boies The Fayerie Queenes Prophecie vppon the Childrens fortunes Of Saint Georges returne into Bohemia where he christned his Children and of the finding of his Fathers graue ouer which he built a statelie Toombe SAint George hauing atchiued the aduenture of the Inchaunted Tower and Sabra the Furie of the lustfull Gyant they tooke their iournie towards Persia where the Christian Champions lay incamped before the Seldans great Cittie of Graund Belgor a place most straungely fortefied with spirits and other gastlie illusions by the Inchauntment of Osmond whome you heard before in the last Chapter to bee the rarest Nigrâ—mancer in the world But as the English Champion with his Ladie trauiled thetherward they hapned into a Dâ—sart and mightie Wildernes ouergrowne with loftie Pines Ceder trées and many huge and mightie Oakes the spreading braunches whereof séemed to withold the light of heauen from their vntroden passages and the toppes for exceeding height to reach into the Elements the Inhabitantes were Siluaines Satiers Faieries and other woodie Nimphes which by day sported vp and downe the Forrest and by night tended the pleasure of Proserpine the Fayrie Quéene The musicke of siluer sounding birds so chearefullie resounding through the woodes and the whistling winde made â—uch mâ—lâ—die amongst the leaues of trees that it rauished their â—eces like the harmonie of Angels made them thinke they had entred the shades of gladsome Elizian one while they wondred at the beautie of the Woods which nature had ornefied with a Sommers liuerie another while at the gréene and fragrant grasse drawne out in round circles by the Fayries daunces so long till they had lost themselues amongst the vnknown passages not knowing how nor by what meanes to recouer the perâ—ect path of theâ—e intended iournie but were constrained to wander in the Wildernes like solitarie Pilgrims spending the daie with wearie steps and the night with vaine imaginations euen as a childe when hee hath lost himselfe in a populous Cittâ—e runneth vp and downe not knowing how to returâ—e to his natiue dwelling Euen so it hapned to these two lost and disconsolate trauailers for when they had wandred many dayes one waie and finding no end to their toyles they retired backeward to the place of their first setting foorth where they were wont to heare the noyse of people resound in Countrie Uillages and to méete trauailers posting from place to place but now they heard nothing but blustring of windes ratling in the woods making the brambles to whistle and the trées to groane and now and then to méete a speckled beast like to the rainebow weltring from his Den to séeke his naturall sustenance In their trauaile by night they were wont to heare the crowing Cocke recording glad tydings of the chearefull dayes approach the naying of horses in pasture fields and the barcking of dogs in Farmers houses but now they were affrighted with the roring of Lyons yelling of Caues the crooking of Toades in rootes of rotten trées and the rufull sound of Prognies rauishment recoroded by the Nightingale In this solitarie manner wearied they the rouling time away till thrice thrée times the siluer Moone had renewed her borrowed light by which time the burthen of Sabraes wombe began to grow painefull â—nd the fruite of her bodie to waxe ripe the houre of her deliuerie drew on wherein she required Lucinaes help to make saint George the father of a Princely Sonne time called for Midwiues to aide bring her Babe into the world and to make her a happâ—e mother but before the painefull houre of her deliuerie approacht Saint George had prouided her a bower of 〈◊〉 braunches which he erected betwixt two pleasant Hilles where in steede of a Princely Cabbinet be hung with Arras and rich Tapestrie shee was constrained to suffice her selfe with a simple lodging couered with Roses and other fragrant flowers her bedde hee made of greene mosse and thistle Downe béeset curiously rounde about with Oliue braunches and the sprigges of an Orring trée which made it séeme more beautifull than Floraes Pauillion or Dianaes Mansion but at the last when shée felt the paynes of her wombe grow intollerable and the seed readie to be reaped and how she was in a Wildernes deuoyde of womens company that should be readie to assist her in so secret a matter shée cast her selfe downe vppon her mossie bed and with a blushing countenance she discouered her minde in this order to saint George My most deare and louing Lord quoth shée my true onely companion at all times and seasons except at this houre for it is the painefull houre of my deliuerie therefore depart from out the hearing of my cryes and commit my fortune to the pleasures of the heauens for it is not conuenient for any mans eâ—e to behold the secrets of a woman in such a case
stay not I say deare Lorde to sée the Infant now sprawling in my wombe to be deliuered from the bed of his creation forsake my presence for a time and let mée like the Noble Quéene of Fraunce obtaine the fauour of some Fayrie to be my Midwife that my Babe may be as happily borne in this Wildernes as was her valiant Sons Vallentine and Orson the one of them was cherrisht by a King and the other by a Beare yet both of them grew famous in their déedes My paine is great deare Lord therefore depart my Cabbinet and before bright Phoebus lodgeth in the Wâ—st I shall eyther be a happie mother or a liueles body thou a ioyfull Father or a sorrowfull Widdower At which wordes Saint George sealed agreement with a kisse and silently departed without any reply but with a thousand sighes he had her adue and so tooke his way to the top of a MouÌ„taine being in distance froÌ„ hys Ladies abyding a quarter of a mile there kneeled hee during the time of her trauailes with hys bare knées vpon the bowels of the earth neuer ceasing prayer but continually soliciting the Mâ—â—estie of God to graunt his Lady a speedy deliuerie at whose diuine orizons the heauens seemed to relent and all the time of her paine coâ—ered the worlde with a vale of darkenes whole flights of birdes with Troupes of vntamed beasts â—ame flocking round about the Mountain where he knéeled and in their kindes assisted his celestiall contemplations where I will leaue him for a time and speake what hapned to Sabra in the middle of her paynes and extreamitie of her trauailes for after saint Georges departure the furie of her griefe so raged in her wombe that it exceeded the boundes of reason whereby hys hart was constrained to breath so many scortching sighes that they séemed to blast the leaues of trées and to wither the flowers which beautefied her Cabbinet her burthened tormentes caused her star-bright eyes like fountaines to distill downe siluer drops and all the rest of her bodie to tremble like a Castle in a tyrrible earthquake so grieuous was her paynes and rufull was her cryes that shee caused the mercilesse Tygers to relent and vntamed Lyons with other wilde Beastes like sillie Lambes to sit and bleate her grieuous cryes and bitter moanes caused the Heauens as it were to bleede their vapours downe and the earth to wéepe a spring of teares both hearbes and trées did sâ—eme to droope hard stonie Rockes to sweate when shee complayned At last her pittifull cries pearced downe too the lowest vaults of direfull Diâ— where Proserpâ—â—e â—is Crowned amongst her Fayries and so preuailed that in all haste she ascended from her regiment to worlde this Ladies 〈◊〉 deliuerie and â—o make her mother of 〈…〉 who 〈…〉 the dutie of 〈…〉 her wombe and safelie brought her 〈◊〉 into the worâ—d At whose first sight the heauens began to smile and the earth to reioyce as a signe and token that in time to come they would proue thrée of the Noblest Knights in the world This â—urteous déede of Proserpine béeing no sooner performed but she laide the three boyes in three most rich and sumptuous Cradles the which she caused her Fayries to fetch inuicible from thrée of the richest kinges in the world and therewithall mantles of silke with other things thervnto belonging Likewise she caused a winged Sâ—â—â—er to fetch from the furthiest borders of India a couering of dammaske Taâ—â—â—tie imbrodered with gold the most richest ornament that euen mortall eye behelde for thereon was wrought and 〈◊〉 portraied by the curious skill of Indian 〈◊〉 how God created heauen and earth the wâ—ndring courses both of Sunne and Moone and likewise howe the golden Plannets daylie doe prodominate Also there is no Storie in anye age remembred since the beginning of the world but it was thereon most pâ—â—fectly wrought So excellent it was that Art herselfe could neuer deuise a cuninger With this rich and sumptuous ornament shee couered the Ladies Childe-bed whereby it seemed to surpasse in brauerie the gorgeous bed of Iuno Queene of heauen wheÌ„ first she entertained imperious Ioue After this Proserpine laid vnder euerie childes pillow a siluer Tablet wheron was written in letters of gold their good and happy fortunes Under the first were these verses caractered who at that time lay frowning in hys Cradle like the God of Warre A souldiâ—â—â—old a man of wondrous might A King likewise this royall babe shal diâ— Three golden Dâ—â—de 〈◊〉 bloody fight By this braue Prince shalâ— conquered be The Towers of fayâ—r 〈◊〉 and Roome Shall yeeld to him in happ◠〈◊〉 to come Under the pillow of the second Babe was caractered these verses following who lay in his cradle smilâ—â—g like Cupid vpon the laâ—â—e of Dido whome Vâ—nus 〈…〉 to the liknes of Asâ—â—nius This childe shall likewise liue to be a King Times wonder for deuice and Courtly sporâ— His Tilâ—es and Turniments a broad shall ring To euery coast where Knightes resort Queenes shall atend and humble at his feete Thus loue and bewtie shall together meete Lastly vnder the pillow of the third were these verses likewise caractred who blushed in his cradle like Pallas when her stroue for the golden aple with Venus and the Quéene of heauen The Muses darling for true sapience In Princes Court this Babe shall spend his dayes Kinges shall admire his learned eloquence And write in brazen bookes his endles praise By Pallas gift he shall atchiue a Crowne Aduance his fame and lift him to renowne Thus when the Fayrie Quéene had ended her Prophesie vpon the Children and had left their golden Fortunes lying in their Cradles she vanished away leauing the Lady reioycing at her safe deliuerie and woondred at the gifts of Proserpine which she coniectured to bée but shadowes to dazell her eyes and thinges of a vaâ—ing substance but when shée had laide her bâ—ndes vppon the riche couering of Dammaske Taffatie which couered her mossie bed and felt that it was the selfe same forme that it séemed shée cast her eyes with a chearefull looke vp to the Maiestie of heauen and not onely gaue thankes to immortall Ioue for her rich receaued benefits but for his mercifull kindnes in makeing her the happie Mother of three such goodly children but we will now returne againe to the noble Champion Saint George whome we left praying vppon the mountaine top and as you heard before the skies were ouerspred with Sable Cloudes as though they had béene mourning witnesses of hys Ladies torments but before the golden Sunne had diu'de into watry Theâ—is lap the â—lemen began to cleare to withdraw her former mourning Mantles by which he supposed that heauen had piâ—â—ied his Ladies paines granted her a safe deliuerie therefore in all hast he retired back to the Siluaine Cabbinet the which he found most strangely deckt with sumptuous habilllments hys Lady lying in her Child-bed as glorious as if shee had béene the greatest Empresse in the
world and three Princely boyes swéetlie sléeping in their seuerall Cradles At whose first sight hys hart was so rauished with ioy that for a time it with-held the passage of his tongue but at last when hee found the siluer Tablets lying vnder the pillows and had read the happie fortunes of his Children he ran vnto his Ladie imbraced her most louinglie and kindely demaunded the true discourse of that strange accident and by whose meanes the bower was beautefied so gorgeouslie and the propâ—under of his Childrens Prophesie who with a countenance blushing like the purple Morning replied in this manner My most deare and welbeloued Lord the paynes I haue indured to make you the happie Father of thrée louelie boyes hath béene more tyrrible than the strâ—ake of death but yet my deliuerie more ioyfull than the pleasures of Elizian the windes carried my groanes to euerie corner of this Wildernes whereby both trées and hearbes assisted my complaints beasts birdes and feathered foules with euerie sensses thinge that nature framed on this earth seemed to agrauate my mones but in the middle of my torments when my soule was readie to forsake this worldlie habitation there appeared to me a Quéene Crowned with a golden Diadem in state and gesture like imperious Iuno and in beautie to diuine Diana her garments for brauerie seemed to staine the Raine-bow in her brightest hue and for diuersitie in colours to surpasse the Flowers in the fieldes On her attended many beautifull Nimphes some clad in garments in colour like the marble Ocean some in attire as gallant as the purple Rose and some more glorious than the azurde firmaments her wisedome might compare with Apolloes her iudgement with Pallas and her skill with Lucinaes for no sooner entred she my presence but my trauailes ceased and my wombe deliuered vp her grieuous burthen my Babâ—s béeing brought to light by the vertue of her skill she prepared these rich and sumptuous Cradles the which were brought inuisible to my Cabbinet Likewise these Mantled this imbrothered Couerled she franckly bestowed vpon me and so immediatlie vanished away At which wordes saint George gaue her so many kinde imbraces and kissed her so louingly as though it had bin the first day of their Nuptials At last her hunger increased and her desires thirsted so much after foode that except shée receaued some comfortable sustenance her life were in danger This extreame desire of Sabra caused S. George to burkle on his Armour to vnsheath his trustie sword ready to gorge the intrails of some Deare who swore by the honor of true Knighthood neuer to rest in peace till he had purchased his hearts content My Loue quoth he I will aduenture for thy sake more daungers than Iason â—id for Medeas loue Ile search the thickest Groues and chase the nimble Doe to death the flying Foule Ile follow vp downe from tree to trée till ouer wearied they doe fall and die For loue of thee and these my tender Babes whome I estéeme more dearer than the Conquest of rich Babilon I will aduenture more daungers than diâ— Hercules for the loue of Dianaria and more extreames than Turnus did in hys blody battels thereupon with hys Fanchion readie charged he traced the woods leauing no thornie brake nor mossie Caue vnsearcht till he had sound a heard of fallow Deare from which number hee singled out the fattest to make hys Lady a bountifull banquet but in the time of his absence there hayned to Sabra a straunge and wonderfull accident for there came weltring into her Cabbinet thrée most wilde and monstrous beastes a Lyon a Tyger and a shée Wolfe which tooke the Babes out of their cradles and bore them to their secret Canes At which sight Sabra like one distraught of sence started from her bed and to her weake power offered to follow the Beastes but all in vaine for before shee coulde get without her Cabbinet they were past sight and the Childrens cryes without her hearing then like a discontented woman she turned backe beating her breasts reâ—ding her haire and raging vp and downe her Cabbinet vsing all the rigour she could deuise against her selfe and had not Saint George returned the sooner she had most violently committed her owne slaughter but at his returne when he beheld her face stayned with teares her head disrobde of ornaments and her Iuorie breastes all to bee rent and torne he cast downe his venison and in all haste asked the cause of her sorrow O said she this is the wofullest day that euer hapt to â—e for in the time of your vnhappie hunting a Lyones a Tygresse and a Wolfe came into my Cabbinet and tooke my Children from their Cradles what is become of them I know not but greatly I feare by this time they are intoombed within their hungry bowels O simple Monuments quoth he for such swéet Babes Well Sabra if the monsters haue bereaâ—ed mee of my children this bloody sword that diuâ—de into the intrailes of fallow Deare shall riue my wofull heart in twaine Accursed be this fatall day the Planets that predominate Sunne that shines thereon Heauen blot it from the yere and let it neuer more be numbred but accounted for a dismall day through all the world let all the trees bee blasted in these accursed woods let hearbes and grasse consume a way and die and all thinges perish in this Wildernes but why breath I out these curses in vaine when as me thinks I heare my Children in vntamed Lyons dens crying for help and succour I come swéet Babes I come eyther to redéeme you from the Tygers wrathfull Iawes or make my graue within their bowels then tooke hee vp â—â—s sword besméered all with blood and like a man bereauâ—e of wit and sence raged vp and downe the Wildernes searching euerie corner for hys Children but hys Lady remayned still in her Cabbinet lamenting for their losse washing their Cradles with her Pearled teares that trickled downe her stayned chéekes like siluer drops Many waies wandred saint George sometimes in vallies where Wâ—lfes and Tygers lurke sometimes on mountaine toppes where Lyons whelpes doe sporte and play and many times in dismall thickets where Snakes and Serpents liue Thus wandred S. George vp downe the Wildernes for the space of two dayes hearing no newes of hys vnchristened Children At last he approached the sight of a pleasant Riuer which smoothlie glided downe betwixt two Mountaines into whose streames be purposed to cast himselfe and so by a desperate death giue end to hys sorrowes But as hee was committing his bodie to the mercie of the waters and his soule to the pleasure of the heauens hee heard a farre off the rufull sâ—rike as he thought of a comfortles Babe which sodaine noyse caused him to refraine hys desperate purpose and with more discreation tender his owne safetie Then casting his eye aside it was his happie destenie to spie the thrée inhumane beastes lying at the foote of the hill
in the foreâ—runt of the battell so aduenturously behaued them selues that they slew more Negars than a hundred of the brauest Knights in the Christian Armies At last Fortune intending to make saint Georges prowesse to shinâ— brighter than the rest singled out the Moroco King betwixt whom and the English Champion was a long dangerous fight But saint George so couragiouslye behaued him with his trustie sword that Almidor was constrained to yeeld 〈◊〉 his mercie The Armie of the Moores séeing their King taken prisoner presently would haue fled but that the Christians béeing the lighter of foote ouertooke them and made the greatest slaughter that euer hapned in Barberie Thus after the battell ended and the ioyfull sound of victorie rung through the Christian Armie the souldiers furnished themselues with the enemies spoyles and martched by saint Georges direction to the Cittie of Tripolie being then almost vnpeopled through the late slaughter In which Cittie after they had râ—sted some few dayes and refreshed themselues with holsome food the English Champion in reuenge of his former proffered iniuries by the Moroco King gaue hys seuere sentence of death First hee commaunded a brazen cauldron to bee filled with boyling Lead and Brimstone then Almidor to be brought to the place of death by twelue of the Noblest Pieres in Barberie therein to be consumed flesh blood and bone which was duelie performed within seauen dayes following the brazen cauldron was erected by the appointment of saint George directlie in the middle of the chiefest Market place vnder which a mightie hot fire continually burned for the space of of eight and fortie houres whereby the boyling Lead and Bâ—imstone seemed to sparckle like the fierie furnaces in hell and the heate to eâ—ceede the burning Ouen at Babilon Thus all thinges béeing no sooner prepared in a readines the Christian Champions present to behold the wofull spectakle but the condemned Blackâ—more King came to the place of Execution in a shirt of the finest Indian silk his hands pinniond together with a chaine of gold his face couered with a Damske Scarfe his attendants chiefe conducters twelue Moroco Pieres clad in Sablâ— gownes of Taffetie carring before him the whéele of fortune with the picture of a Usurper climbing vp with this Motto on his breast I will be king in spite of Fortune vpon the top of the whéele the picture of a Monarke vaunting with this Motto on his breast I am a King in spite of Fortune Lastly on the other side of the Wheele the picture or perfect image of a deposed Potentate falling with hys head downewards with this Motto on hys breast I haue beene a King so pleaseth Fortune which plainelie signified the chaunce of warre and the constancie of destenie hys guard was a thousand Christian souldiers holding fortune in disdaine after them attended a hundred of Moroco virgins in blacke ornaments their haire bounds vp with siluer wiers and couered with vales of black silke signifiing the sorrow of their countrie for the losse of their Soueraigne In this mournefull manner came the vnfortunate Almidor to the boyling Câ—ulderne which wheÌ„ he beheld hys heart waxed cold and his tongue dâ—ueide of vtterance for a time yet at last he brake foorth into thesâ— earnest protestations proffering more for his life than the whole Kingdome of Barberie can performe Most mightie inuincible Champion of Christendome quoth he let my life be ransomed and thou shâ—lâ— yearely receaue ten tunnes of â—ried gold a hundred inchs of wouen silke the which our Indian maides shall sit and spinne â—ith siluer whéeles a hundred Arguses of spices and â—efined suger shal be yearely paid thee by our Barberie 〈◊〉 a hundred waggons likewise richly laden wit◠〈◊〉 aâ—d Iasper stones which by our cunning Lapidisies â—hall 〈◊〉 yearelie chosen foorth and brought â—hee home to England â—o make that blessed countrie the richest land within the Dominions of Europe Likewise I will â—eliuer vp my Diadem with all my Princely dignities and in companie of these Moroco Lordes like bridled Horses drawe thée daylie in a siluer Charriot vp and downe the serâ—led earth til death giues end to our liues Pilgrimage Therefore most admired Knight at Armes let these salt teares that trickle from the Conduits of my eyes obtaine one graunt of comfort at thy handes for on my bended knées I beg for life that neuer before this time did kneele to any mortallman Thou speakst in vaine replyed saint George it is not the treasures hidden in the déepest seas nor all the golden mines of rich America that can redéeme thy life thou knowest accursed Homicide thy wicked practises in the Egyptian Court where thou profferedst wrongfully to bereaue me of my life Likewise through thy treachery I endâ—red a long imprisonment in Persia where for seauen yeares I dranke the Channell water and suffizde my hunger with the breads of branne meale My foode the loathsome flesh of Rats and Mice and my resting place a dismall dungeon where neither sunne nor the chearefull light of heauen lent me comfort during my long continued misery For which inhumane dealing and proffered iniuries the hâ—auens inforceth mee to a spéedy reuenge which in this manner shall be accomplished Thou seest the Engine prepared for thy death this brazen Caldron fild with boyling lead and brimstone wherein thy cursed body shall be spéedily cast and boyled till thy detested limbs bee consumed to a watry sâ—bstance by this sparckling lickour therefore prepare thy selfe to entertaine the violent stroake of death and willingly byd all thy kingly dignities farewell But yet I let thée vnderstand that mercy harboreth in a Christians hart and where mercy dwels there faults are forgiuen vppon some humble penetence though thy trespasse deserues 〈◊〉 pitty but seuere punishment yet vpon these considerations I will graunt thée liberty of life First that thou wilt forsake thy false Gods Termagaunt Mahomet and Apollo which he but the vayne imaginations of man and beléeue in our true and euer liuing God vnder whose banner we Christians haue taken in hande this long warre Secondly thou shalt giue commandement that all thy barbarous Nations be christened in the faith of Christ Thirdly and lastly that thy thrée Kingdomes of Barbary Moroco India sweare true alleagance to all Christian Kings and neuer to beare Armes but in the true quarrell of Christ and his annoynted Nations These things duly obserued thy life shall be preserued and thy liberty obtayned otherwise looke for no mercy but a spéedy and most â—yrâ—ible death These wordes more displeased the vnchristian King of Morco than the sentence of his condemnation and in these briefe spéeches set downe his resolution Great Potentate of Europe replied Almidor by whose mightines fortune sits fettered in the chaines of power my golden Diadem and regall Scepter by constraint I must deliuer vp but before I forsake my countrie Gods I will indure a hundred deathes and before my conscience be reformed to a new faith the earth