to provide for the Pagans Entertainment So after due considerations the Champions departed in company of their betrothed Ladies who chose rather to live in their Husbands Bosoms than with their misbeliving Parents Where after some few days they arrived in the spacious Bay of Portugal in which Haven they Uowed by the honour of true Knighthood to meet again within six Months ensuing there to conjovn all their Christian Armies into one Legion Upon which plighted Resolution the worthy Champions departed one from another St. George into England St. Denis into France St. James into Spain St. Anthony into Italy St. Andrew into Scotland St. Patrick into Ireland St. David into Wales Whose pleasant Banks they had not beheld in many years before Where their Entertainments were as honourable as their hearts desired But to speak of the Mustring up of Soldiers in every Christian Kingdom and what strength arrived at the appointed time in the Bay of Portugal shall be discoursed in the sequel of this History and how troublesome Wars overspread the whole Earth where the Heroical Deeds of these Noble Champions shall at large be described Also the Overthrow of many Kings and Kingdoms Ruines of Towns and Cities and the decay of many flourishing Common-weals Likewise of the bloody Tragedies of many Unchristian Princes Whereat the Heavens will mourn to see the effusion of Blood trickle from the breasts of murthered Infants the heaps of slaughtered Damsels trampled to pieces by Souldiers Horses and the streets of many a City sprinkled with the blood of Reverend Age Therefore gentle Reader accept of this my Labour with a smooth Brow and kind Countenance and my weary Muse shall never rest till I have finished the pleasant History of these Heroical Champions CHAP. XIII How the Seven Champions of Christendom arrived with all their Troops in the Bay of Portugal the number of the Christian Armies and how St. George made an Oration to the Soldiers AFter the Seven Champions of Christendom arrived in their Native Countries and by true Reports had blazed abroad to every Princes ear the bloody Resolution of the Pagans and slow the Provinces of Africa and Asia had Mustred up their Forces to the Invasion of Europe All Christian Kings then at the entreaty of the Champions appointed Mighty Armies of well approved Soldiers both by Sea and Land to intercept the Infidels wicked intention Likewise by the whole consent of Christendom the Noble and Fortunate Champion of England St. George was appointed chief General and principal Leader of the Armies and the other six Champions were Elected for his Council and chief Assistants in all Attempts that appertained either to the benefit of Christendom or the furtherance of their Fortunate Proceedings This Honourable War so fired the hearts of many youthful Gentlemen and so encouraged the minds of every common Soldier that some Mortgaged their Lands and at their own proper Charges furnished themselves some sold their Patrimonies to serve in these Honourable Wars and other some forsook Parents Kindred Wife Children Friends and Acquaintance and without constraint of Pressing offered themselves to follow so Noble a General as the Renowned Champion of England and to spend their Blood in the just Quarrel of their Native Country To be brief one might behold the Stréets of every Town and City throughout all the Dominions of Europe beautified with Troops of Soldiers which thirsted after nothing but Fame and Honour Then the joyful sound of thundring Drums and the Ecchees of silver Trumpets summoning them to Arms that followed with as much willingness as the Grecians followed Agamemn on to the woful overthrow of Troy For by that time the Christian Champions had sported themselves in the Bosome of their kind Mistresses the forward Captains taken their Courtly Pastimes and the willing Souldiers bad adieu to their Friends and Acquaintance the Spâ—ing had covered the Earth with a nâ—w Liveâ—y which was the appointed time the Christian Armies should meet in Portugal there to joyn their several Troops into one Legion which Promise caused the Champions to bid adieu to their Native Countrys and with all speed to â—uckle on their Furnitures to hoise up Sails where after a short time the wind with a calm and prosperous Gale cast them happily into the Bay of Portugal The first that arrived in that spacious Haven was the Noble Champion S. George with an hundred thousand Couragious English Soldiers whose forwardness betâ—kened a fortunate success and their willing minds a joyful Uictory His Army set in Battel-aray seemed to countervail the number of the Macedonian Soldiers wherewith worthy Alexander Conquered the Western World his Horsemen being in number twenty thousand were armed all in black Corssets Their Launces bound about with Plates of Steel their Steeds covered with Mail three times double Their Colours were the sanguine Cross supported by a Golden Lyon His sturdy Bow-men whose Conquering grey-Goose wing in former times hath terrified the circled Earth being in number likewise twenty thousand clad all in red Mandilians with Caps of the same colour bearing thereon likewise a sanguine Cross being the true Badge and Honour of England Their Bows of the strongest Yew and their Arrows of the soundest Ash with forked heads of Steel and their Feathers bound on with green War and twisted Silk His Musqueteers being in number ten thousand their Musquets of the widest bore with Firelocks wrought by curious workmanship yet of such wonderful lightness that they required no rest at all to ease their right aiming Arms. His Caliver shot likewise ten thousand of the smaller timbred Men but yet of as Couragious minds as the tallest Soldiers in his Army His Pikes and Bills to guard the waving Ensigns thirty thousand clad all with glistring bright Armour likewise followed ten thousand labouring Pioneers if occasion served to undermine any Town or Castle to intrench Forts or Sconces or to make a Passage through Hills and Mountains as worthy Hannibal did when as he made a way for his Souldiers through the lofty Alps that divide the Countreys of Italy and Spain The next that arrived within the Bay of Portugal was the Princely-minded Champion St. David of Wales with an Army of Fifty Thousand true born Britains furnished with all Habiliments of War for so Noble and Ualiant a Service to the high Reâ—own of his Countrey and true Honour of his Progeny Their Armour in richness nothing inferiour to the English mens Their Colours were a Golden Cross supported by a Silver Griffin which Escutcheon signified the ancient Arms of Wales for no sooner had St. George a sight of the Ualiant Britain but he caused his Musqueteers presently to entertain them with a Uolley of Shot to express their happy and joyful welcome to Shoar which speedily they performed so couragiously with such a ratling noise as though the Firmament had burst in â—under and the Earth made eccho to their thundring Melody But no sooner were the Skies cleared from the smoak of the reaking
sanguine a dye to be forgiven and all his repentance and sorrow only â—ained they therefore concluded he should be put to death and gave him his choice of eight several sorts of ways whereby to dye Viz. 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet 2. To be put into a sack and thrown into the Sea 3. To have his head smitten of 4. To be poysoned 5. To be burned to death 6. To be stung to death with snakes 7. To be cast down headlong from a high Tower Or 8. To be shot to death with Arrows Sad is the choice said the wretched Almantor chuse which I will For 1. To be hanged on a Gibbet is to dye the death of a Dog 2. To be put into a sack and drowned is to be devoured by Fishes and want decent Burial 3. To have my Head smitten off is indeed the death of a Nobleman but which no Nobleman would willingly have 4. To be poysoned is to be a stinking Carcase before I am scarce cold in my Grave 5. To be burned is of all deaths most cruel 6. To be stung to death with snakes is a painful lingring death 7. To be cast down from a high Tower an uncertain death What then remains but the last kind of death to be killed with Arrows and that is the death of a Soldier which I shall soonest choose come then seeing you think me not fitting to live quickly dispatch me out of the World Then rending open his Doublet he tyed a Handkerchief before his Eyes and leaning his Back against a Trée he cryed out now do your worst whereupon immediately some Soldiers who were planted on purpose sent a flight of Arrows into his Breast so that in an instant he fed down and dyed Then digged they for him a Grave into which he being put they covered the same with a heap of stones and on one broad one which lay on the top they inscribed this Epitapb Who in his life time still for Blood did crave Was at the last sent bloody to his Grave Whilst this was in doing the Soldiers which Sir David had sent for arrived in the Island whereupon Sir David leaving some few of them for the guarding of the Island under the conduct of the Gyant VVonder he with the residue sailed towards the Island where Almantor lived taking along with him the ancient Gentleman for his guide and sailing thither in the same Ships wherein Almantor came which they of the Island espying seeing their own Ships afar off began to rejoyce but when they perceived strangers in them they began to arm themselves with all the spéed they could and to put themselves in a posture to resist their landing But Sir David nothing daunted at their appearance landed in desâ—igâ—t of all the 〈◊〉 they could make and being on land he with his sword quickly made waâ— for his Soldiers to follow him who encouraged by his example as soon made 〈◊〉 of their 〈◊〉 Enemies that fled before their conquering swords like flocks of Sheep before the devouring Wolves But now the fury of their rage being over Sir David scorning to â—â—ult over a vanquished party caused a retreat to be sounded and sent Messengers after them that he would parley with them to which they willingly condelcended and to that Purpose sent 3 or 4 of the chiefest of than to whom Sir David spake as followeth The cause of my sending to you is to offer you Peace and Liberty Liberty from the Tâ—raldom of an insulting Tyrant to whose insatiable avaâ—ice your Bodies and Estates were made thrall one who not only delighted in Crueety but took delight in the several forms of executing the same who hath now paid his just desots by the â—â—oke of Justice being shit to death for his cruel Tyranny in stead of whom we shall 〈◊〉 for your Governor one well known unto you and here he presented to them the Ancient Gentleman whom if you refuse to accept then expect no other â—â—t what the Sword and a conquering Arm well inforce you to do The Messengers having heard these words with a loud voice cryed out long live our Lord Pandion for so was the ancient Gentleman called and thereupon they desired leave to go immediately to acquaint the rest with their determination which when they had done there was such an acclamaâ—on and shout of the People as surpassed that which Thracian Boreas makes a mongst the Pines of Ossa or as when the Artillery of Heaven are discharged along the cleaving Sky And thereupon coming all to Sir David they submitted themselves promising faithful Obedience to the Aged Pandion which he most lovingly embraced giving them many wholesome admonitions and desiring Sir Pandion to be a Gracious Lord unto them And thus having setled him in the Tyrant Almaâ—ters place he returned to the island of the precious Fountain where leaving a sufficient Guard with Sir Wonder and taking with him some store of the Fruit as also some Vessels of the healing Wine of the Fountaln he returned back to his owâ— country where he was very welcome to his Queen Rosetta and joyfully entertained by the rest of his Subjects CHAP. XX. Now the three Sons of St. George Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David met at a great Justs at Constantinople as also Sir Turpin of France Sir Pedro of Spain Sir Orlando of Italy Sir Ewin of Scotland Sir Phelim of Ireland and Sir Owen of Wales where they obtained the Victory voer all that Juste awith them being richly rewarded by the Emperour for their high Valour LOng had not Sir David been in his Kingdom of Ancona but there Arrived an Herald who by sound of Trumpet proclaimed a solemn Justs to be held by the Emperour of Constantinople in honour of his Sons Nuptials who was contracted to the King of Tribizonds Daughter the Beauteous Lucinda whose Fame resounded all the world over These Justs were proclaimed in all the Kingdoms of the Earth so that at the time appointed there arrived at his Court the most approved Knights for Valour and prowess that were then living Amongst others were St. Georges three Renowned Sons Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David Thiâ—her also had Fames Trumpet invited the Valiant Sir Turpin from France Sir Fedro from Spain Sir Orlando from Italy Sir Ewin from Scotland Sir Philiâ— from Ireland and Sir Owen from Wales Being come to the Emperours Pallace they were by him most kindly entertained and having had knowledg that they were the Sons of the seven Renowned Champions of Christendom whose Valiant Acts had eternized their never dying Memories he thereâ— on commanded them all to be lodged in one Chamber wherein were provided for them nine most sumptuous Beds adorned with the riehest Furniture that could be procured and because the Justs lasted only nine days he appointed each of them to be Champion his particular day But before the Justs began the Prince Rofinda Son to the Emperour was with great state and magnificence Married to the beauteous
one thing sometimes another so molested him that he must needs make his Adventure to follow them Whereupon calling his three Sons together he went to the Grecian Emperour and requested that they might all four depart with his leave and likeing for Knightly Adventures had challenged them all to appear in some foreign Region where Noble Atchievements were to be performed but where and in what Countrey his Destiny had not yet revealed to him So furnishing them all four in Habiliments of shining steel they left Constantinople as it were guided by Fate until they came into England then called Brittain whose chalky Clifts S. George had not seen in twice twelve years and now coming with a sweet embracement of his Native Countrey he gave his three Sons thereinto a most joyful Welcome shewing them to their great comfort the brave Situation of the Towns Cities the pleasant prospects of the Fields as they passed until they came within the sight of the City Coventry where he was born and received his first being upon whose glistering Pinacles no sooner casting his eye-sight but the Inhabitants interrupted his pleasure delights with a doleful Report how upon Dunsmore-Heath as then remained an infectious Dragon that so annoyed the Countrey that the Inhabitants there abouts could not pass the Heath without great danger how that fifteen Knights of the Kingdom had already lost their lives in adventuring to suppress the same Also giving him to understand of a Prophecy That a Christian Knight never born of a Woman should be the Destroyer thereof and his Name in after Ages for Accomplishing the Adventure should be holden for an eternal Honour to the Kingdom Saint George no sooner hearing thereof and what Wrongs his native Country received by this infectious Dragon and knowing himself to be the Knight grew so encouraged that he purposed presently to put the Adventure in tryal either to free his Country from so great danger or to finish his days in the attempt so raking leave of his Sons the rest there present he rode forward with as noble a spirit as he did in Aegypt when he there combared with the burning Dragon So coming to the middle of the Plain where his infections Enemy lay couching the ground in a deep Cave who by a strange instinct of Nature knowing his death to draw near made such a yelling Noise as if the Element had burst with Thunder or the Earth had shook with a terrible Exhalation so coming from his Den and spying the Champion he ran with such fury against him as if he would have devoured both Man and Horse in a moment but the Champion being quick and nimble gave the Dragon such way that he mist him and with his sting ran full two foot into the Earth but covering he returned again with such rage upon Saint George that he had almost born his Horse over and over but that the Dragon having no stay of his strength fell with his back downward upon the ground and his feet upward whereat the Champion taking advantage kept him still down with his Horse standing upon him fighting as you see in the Picture of St. George with his lance goring him through in divers parts of the Body and withal contrariwise the Dragons sting annoyed the good Knight in such sort that the Dragon being no sooner stain and weltered in his venomous Gore but Saint George likewise took his Deaths Wound by the deep stroaks of the Dragons sting which he received in divers parts of his Body and bled in such abundance that his strength began to enfeeble and grow weak yet retaining the true Nobleness of Mind valiantly returned Uictor to the City of Coventry where his three Sons with the whole Inhabitants stood without the Gates in great Royalty to receive him and to give him the honour that belonged to so worthy a Conqueror who no sooner arrived before the City and presented them with the Dragons Head which so long had annoyed the Country but what with the abundance of Blood that issued from his deep Wounds and the long bleeding without stopping the same he was forced in his Sons Arms to yield up his breath for whom his three Princely Sons long lamented making the greatest mone that ever was made in any Kingdom and again they were so seconded with the grief of the whole Country that all the Land from the King to the Shepherd mourned for him for the space of a Month which heavy time being ended the King of this Country being a vertuous and Noble Prince advanced Saint George's three Sons to Noble â—ssices First the eldest of them named Guy to be Earl of Warwick and high Chamberlain of his Houshold The next named Alexander according to his Name to be Captain General of his Knights of Chivalry And the youngest named David to be his Cup-bearer and Controler of all his Revels and Delights And likewise in remembrance of their Noble Father the Christian Champion he ordained for ever after to be kept a solemn Procession about the Kings Court by all the Princes and chief Nobility of the Country upon the 23 day of April naming it St. George's Day upon which day he was most solemnly interred in the City where he was born and caused a stately Monument to be erected in Honour of him though now by the ruines of time defaced and abolished He likewise decreed by the consent of the whole Kingdom that the Patron of the Land should be named Saint George our Christian Champion in that he had fought so many Battles in the Honour of Christendom All which we see with many more Honours to this day here maintained in remembrance of this good Knight who no doubt resteth in eternal peace with the other renowned Champions of Christendom So God grant we may do all Amen FINIS Advertisement of Four Books THe History of the Seven Wise Masters The History of the Seven Wise Mistresses The History of Dorastus and Faunia The Garland of Good Will All Printed for George Conyers at 〈…〉 Ring in 〈…〉 Brittain over against Bartholomen-Close Gate The 〈◊〉 HISTORY OF THE Seven Champions OF Christendom The Third PART SHEWING The Valiant Acts and Renowned Atchievements of St. George's three Sons Sir Guy Sir Alexander and Sir David AS ALSO The Warlike Exploits and Martial performances of Sir Turpin Son to St. Denis of France Sir Pedro Son to St. James of Spain Sir Orlando Son to St. Anthony of Italy Sir Ewin Son to St. Andrew of Scotland Sir Phelim Son of St. Patrick of Ireland and Sir Owen Son to St. David of Wales Their strange Fights and Combats with Gyants Monsters and Dragons their Tilts and Turnaments in Honour of Ladies their Battles with Miscreants and Tyrants in defense of the Christian Religion and relief of distressed Knights and Ladies their punishing of Negromancers and puting to an end their Inchantments with other their Knightly Prowess and Chevalry AS ALSO How St. George's three Sons came all
highly thou wer 't prized in my Affections In this manner did the woful Queen spend her dayes until sickness coming on put the harmony of Nature out of tune in her Body which by little and little languished away in such sort that she became a meer Skelleton or Anatomy and now finding that Death by degrees began to sieze on her Uital parts she called her Nobles unto her and spake to them these words My Lords I am now taking my last leave of you the spent Hour-glass of my Life is near at hand and now at my parting ghost I do adjure ye as you will answer it before the Higher Powers whither I am now going to appear that ye invest Euphemius King when I am dead and gone and though I doubt not of your performance herein yet for my more assurance and that my ghost may quietly rest hereafter I shall desire you to take an Oath to do it which if you should fail in the performance know assuredly you will both wrong your selves and him him in depriving him of his Crown and your selves of a good King he being a Prince kind wise just and merciful and only unkind unto me The Nobles to satisfie her request freely took their Oaths to be true to Euphemius and now the Queen being fully satisfied with what was done willingly yielded up the ghost whom the Nobles buried in most sumptuous manner which being done they sent an Honourable Messenger to Euphemius to certifie him of the Queens death and how she had bequenthed her Crown to him which Messenger set forth Artemia's love in such pathetical words as wrought in him a strange alteration for when he thought upo nher unalterable affection towards him the constancy of her love her matchless beauty rare endowments and superexcellent parts he began to reflect upon himself his unkindness to her his vile ingratitude that could wrong her which dyed for love of him These considerations made him to like where before he loathed and to loath where before he loved for whereas before he used to give many private visits to my Daughter protesting all constancy and loyalty towards her now the poyson of hatred entred into his heart against her as taking her to be the chief obstacle which hindred him from the enjoyment of the Quéen and might be also the same of the Kingdom if it should be known he were married unto her wherefore he departed along with the Messenger never so much as bidding her farewel or sending any Messenger unto her The Nobles entertained him very splendidly and with great solemnity Crowned him King In the mean time the poor Praxeda was well near distracted with discontent finding her self to be with Child fearing to discover it unto me and finding such an alteration of love from him Her case being thus desperate knowing it impossible to be long concealed she sent to him this following Letter My Dear Euphemius MEN do tax our Sex for being unconstant but now I must apply that fault to you I say to you whose Oaths did give so great a Testimony of your fidelity that I duâ—st not doubt them for fear of injuring my self Ah Euphemius doth Honours change Manners can you so soon forget Praxeda whom you swore so firmly to love Now if thou hast no pity for me take some compassion on the fruit of my Womb the seal of our loves wherein thy lively Image is implanted and if thou hast any thing of Nature in thee thou canst not but deplore its condition and provide a remedy for the same we still hoping thou wilt remain constant I rest Thine own Praxeda Euphemius received this Letter with great indignation vowing revenge the Rhamnusian Nemesis possessing his vengeful breast in all her blackest formes and now his enraged blood being tickled with the thoughts of a pleasing himself for as he thought his disgrace in claiming him to be her Husband he intended the destruction not only of she but of all her Kindred and that to be pâ—â—formed as soon as he could find any pretended cause of aquatâ—◠〈◊〉 her In the mean time to deterr her from any proâ—â—â—â—tion â—â— her 〈◊〉 he returned â—o her this invective answer HAth your impudence no other person to Father your Pastard brat but upon me whose known reputation is such as will free me in the Consciences of all honest persons from the known calumnies of such a vile Strumpet was it not my vertue preferred me by a general consent to a Kingdom and do you think by detraction to bespatter my good name Cease then perverse Monster of Women-kind to prosecute any further claim unto me lest it prove the deserved destruction of thee and thine Thy deserved Enemy Euphemius But before she received this Letter feeling the burthen of her Womb to grow great she desired leave to go visit an Aunt of hers named Milesia pretending indisposition of Health to which I readily granted knowing my Sister very careful over her for her good To this her Aunt she discovered all what had passed betwixt Euphemius and she desiring her aid and secresie therein and indeed it was but high time for within three days after her coming thither she was delivered of a goodly Boy whom her Aunt named Infortunio and put him out to Nurse to one of her Tenants Soon after she received the Letter from Euphemius which when she had read her grief and sorrow were so great that she deemed her self the very Map of misery and falling into a swound it was long ere her Aunt and the other attendants could recover her to life such a sudden grief had her soul contracted that who so had beheld her would have thought her Spirit ready to descend into Charons Boat to be transported into the Elizian fields but coming a little to her self she thus began for to exclaim And is it possible such Perjury can remain in men do they think Oaths are not binding or that divine vengeance doth not follow upon breach of promise Ah Euphemius can thy heart prove so disloyal were all the protestations thou so often didst reiterate unto me only feigned baits to entrap me to my destruction Then glory in thy triumph but know accursed Caitiff my soul shall haunt thee after death as did the ghost of Queen Dido follow the Body of Perjured Aeneas and saying these words she stabbed her self to the heart with a Bodkin which she had hidden within the Trammels of her Hair and â—etching only two or three deep groans she presently dyed Praxida having acted this woful Tragedy on her self put all the Houshold in a great uproar especially my Sister Milesia who fared like to one of Bacchus frantick raging Nuns or like a Tartar when in a strange habit he prepares himself to a dismal Sacrifice Ah Praxida said she how hath thy actions straid from Reasons center thus to give thy soul a Goal-delivery Abhorred Euphemius accursed mayst thou be that wer't the causer of all this mischief Hast thou a heart more
the Champion of Spain in the City of Sicily with Celestine the fair Lady of Jerusalem St. Anthony the Champion of Italy Travelling the World in the company of the Thracian Maiden attired in a Page's Apparel St. Andrew the Champion of Scotland séeking after the Italian St. Patrick the Champion of Ireland after the Champion of Scotland St. David of Wales sleeping in the Enchanted Garden adjoyning to the Kingdom of Tartary and St. George the Famous Champion of England Imprisoned in Persia of whom and whose Noble Adventures I must a while Discourse till the honoured Fame of the other Champions compels me to report their Noble and Princely Atchievements CHAP. X. How St. George escaped out of Prison at Persia and how he Redeemed the Champion of Wales from his Enchantment with other things that happened to the English Knight with the Tragical Tale of the Necromancer Ormandine NOw seven times had Frosty Bearded Winter covered both Herbs and Flowers with Snow and behung the Trees with Crystal Isicles seven times had Lady Ver beautified every Field with Natures Ornaments and seven times had withered Autumn Robbed the Earth of Spring Flowers since the unfortunate St. George beheld the chearful Light of Heaven but lived obscurely in a dismal Dungeon by the Souldan of Persia's commandment as you heard before in the beginning of the History his unhappy Fortune so discontented his restless thoughts that a thousand times a year he wisht an end of his Life and a thousand times he cursed the day of his Creation his Sighs in number did countervail a heap of Sand whose top might seem to reach the Skies the which he vainly breathed forth against the Walls of the Prison many times making his humble supplications to the Heavens to Redéem him from the vale of misery and many times seeking occasion desperately to abridge his days and so Triumph in his own Tragedy But at last when seven years were fully ended it was the Champion's lucky Fortune to find in a secret corner of the Dungeon a certain Iron Engine which time had almost consumed with Rust wherewith with long Labour he digged himself a passage through the Ground till he ascended just in the middle of the Souldan's Court which was at that time of the night when all things were silent The Heavens he then beheld beautified with Stars and bright Cynthia whose glistring Beams he had not seen in many hundred nights before seemed to smile at his safe delivery and to stay her wandring course till he most happily found means to get without the compass of the Persian's Court where danger might no longer attend him nor the strong Gates of the City hinder his flight which in this manner was performed For now the Noble Knight being as fearful as the Bird newly escaped from the Fowlers Net gazed round about and listened where he might hear the voice of People at last he heard the Grooms of the Souldan's Stable furnishing forth Horses against the next Morning for some Noble Atchievement Whereupon the Noble Champion St. George taking the Iron Engine wherewith he redeemed himself out of Prison he burst open the Doors where he slew all the Grooms in the Souldan's Stable Which being done he took the strongest Palsrey and the Richest Furniture with other necessaries appertaining to a Knight at Arms and so rode in great comfort to one of the City Gates where he saluted the Porter in this manner Porter Open the Gates for St. George of England is escaped and hath murdered the Grooms in whose Pursuit the City is in Arms. Which words the simple Persian believed for truth and so with all speed opened the Gates whereat the Champion of England departed and left the Souldan in his dead sleep little mistrusting his sudden Escape But by that the purple spotted morning had parted with her grey and the Sun 's bright countenance appeared on the Mountain tops S. George had Ridden twenty Miles from the Persian Court and before his departure was bruted in the Souldans Palace the English Champion had recovered the sight of Grecia past all danger of the Persian Knights that followed him with a swift pursuit By this time the extremity of Hunger so sharply tormented him that he could Travel no further but was constrained to sustain himself with certain wild Chesnuts instead of Bread and sower Oranges instead of Drink and such faint Food as grew by the way as he Travelled where the necessity and want of Uictuals compelled the Noble Knight to breath forth this pitiful complaint Oh hunger hunger said the Champion more sharper than the stroke of Death thou art the extreamest punishment that ever Man endured If I were now King of Armenia and chief Potentate of Asia yet would I give my Diadem my Scepter with all my Provinces for one shiver of brown Bread O that this Earth would be so kind as to open her Bowels and cast up some Food to suffice my want Or that the Air might be choaked with Mists whereby feathered Fowl for want of breath might fall and yield me some Succour in this my Famishment and extream Penury Or that the Oceans would out-spread their branched Arms and cover these Sun-burnt Ualleys with their Treasures to satisfie my hunger but Oh! now I see both Heaven and Earth Hills and Dales Skies and Seas Fish and Fowls Birds and Beasts and all things under the cope of Heaven conspire my utter overthrow Better had it been if I had ended my days in Persia than here to be famished in the broad World where all things by Nature's appointment are ordained for Man's use Now instead of Courtly Delicates I am forced to eat the fruit of Trees and instead of Greekish Wines I am compelled to quench my thirst with Morning-dew which nightly falls upon the blades of Grass Thus complained St. George till glistring Phoebus had mounted the top of Heaven and drawn the Misty Uapours from the Ground whereby he might behold the Prospects of Grecia and which way to Travel most safely And as he looked he espied directly before his face a Tower standing upon a chalky Cliff distant from him some three miles whither the Champion intended to go not to seek for Adventures but to Rest himself after his weary Iourney and get such Uictuals as therein he could find to suffice his want So setting forward with a speedy pace the Heaven seemed to smile and the Birds to Ring chirping Peals of Melody as though they did prognosticate a fortunate event The way he found so plain and the Iourney so easie that in half an hour he approached before the said Tower where upon the Wall stood a most Beautiful Woman attired after the manner of a distressed Lady and her looks heavy like the Queen of Troy when she beheld her Palace on Fire The Ualiant Knight St. George after he had alighted from his Horse gave her this courteous Salutation Lady said he for so you seem by your outward appearance if ever you
two Ladies weltring in their own gore which woful spectacle presently so bereaved him of his Wits that like a frantick man he raged up and down and in this manner bitterly complained Oh immortal Powers open the wrathful Gates of Heaven and in your justice punish me for my unconstant Love hath murdered two of the bravest Ladies that ever Nature framed revive swéet Dames of Scythia and hear me speak that am the wofullest Wretch that ever spake with a tongue if Ghost may here be given for Ghost dear Ladies take my Life and live or if my heart might dwell within your Breasts this hand shall equally divide it but words I see are vain and my proffer cannot purchase life nor recover your breathing spirits yet Uengeance shall you have this hand shall untwine my fatal twist and bereave my bloody Breast of Life whereby my happy Ghost shall follow you through Tartar Gulfs through burning Lakes and through the lowring shades of dreadful Cocytus gape gape sweet Earth and in thy Womb make all our Tombs together Which woful Lamentation being no sooner breathed from his sorrowful Breast but he finished his days by the stroke of that same accursed Bodkin that was the bloody Instrument of the two Sisters death the which he found still remaining in the remorsless hand of Castria Thus have you heard most worthy Knight the true Tragedy of thrée of the most goodliest Personages that ever Nature framed but now with diligent ears listen unto the unfortunate discourse of my own Misery which in this unhappy manner fell out for no sooner came the flying news of the Miâ—â—dered Princesses to my ears but I grew into such a discontented Passion that I abandoned my self from company of People and sate for seven Months in a solitary passion â—ainenting the loss of my Children like weeping Niobe which was the sorrowfullest Lady that ever lived During which time the Report of Floridon's unhappy Tragedy was bruited to his Father's ears being the sole King of Armenia whose grief so exceeded the bounds of Reason that with all convenient speed he gathered the greatest strength Armenia could make and in Revenge of his Son's Murder entred my Territories and with his well approved Warriours subdued my Provinces slaughtered my Soldiers Conquered my Captains slew my Commons burnt my Cities and left my Country Uillages Desolate where when I beheld my Country overspread with Famine Fire and Sword three Intestine Plagues wherewith Heaven scourgeth the sins of the wicked I was forced for the safeguard of my Life to forsake my Native Habitation Kingly Government only committing my Fortune like a Banish'd Exile to wander in unknown passages where Care was my chief Companion and Discontent my only Solicitor at last it was in my Destiny to arrive in this unhappy place which I supposed to be the Walks of Despair where I had not remained many days in my melancholy Passions but methought the many â—aws of deep Avernus opened from whence ascended a most fearful Devil that enticed me to bequeath my Fortune to his disposing and he would defend me from the fury of the whole World to which I presently condescended upon some assurance then presently he placed before my face this Enchanted Sword so surely closed in stone that it should never be pulled out but by the hands of a Christian Knight and till that Task was performed I should live exempt from all Danger although all the Kingdoms of the Earth assailed me which task most adventurous Champion thou hast now performed whereby I know the hour of my Death approacheth and my time of confusion is at hand This Discourse pronounced by the Necromancer Ormandine was no sooner finished but the worthy Champion St. George heard such a ratling in the skies and such a lumbring in the Earth that he expected some strange event to follow then casting his eyes aside he saw the Enchanted Garden to Uanish and the Champion of Wales to awake from his long sleep wherein he had remained seven years who like one risen from a swoon for a time stood speechless not able to utter one word till he beheld the Noble Champion of England that stedfastly gazed upon the Necromancer who at the vanishing of the Enchantment presently gave a most terrible groan and died The two Champions after many Courteous imbracings and kind greetings revealed each to other the strange Adventures they had passed St. David told how he was bound by the Oath of Knighthood to perform the Adventure of Ormandine whereupon S. George presently delivered the Enchanted Sword with the Necromancer's Head into the hands of St. David the which he presently dissevered from his Body But here must my weary Muse leave St. David Travelling with Ormandine's Head to the Tartarian Emperor and speak of the following Adventures that hapned to St. George after his departure from the Enchanted Garden CHAP. XI How St. George arrived at Tripoly in Barbary where he stole away Sabra the King's Daughter of Egypt from the Blackmoor King and how she was known to be a pure Virgin by the means of the Lion and what hapned to him in the same Adventure SAint George after the Recovery of St. David as you heard in the former Chapter dispatched his Iourney toward Christendom whose pleasant Banks he long desired to behold and thought every day a year till his Eyes enjoyed a sweet sight of his Native Country of England upon whose Chalky Cliffs he had not Rode in many a weary Summer's day therefore committing his Iourney to a fortunate Success he travelled through many a dangerous Countrey where the People were not only of a bloody disposition given to all manner of wickedness but the Soil greatly annoyed with wild Beasts through which he could not well Travel without danger therefore he carried continually in one of his hands a Weapon ready Charged to encounter with the Heathen People if occasion should serve and in the other hand a bright blaze of Fire to defend him from the fury of wild Beasts if by violence they assailed him Thus in extream Danger Travelled the Noble and Adventurous Champion St. George till he arrived in the Territories of Barbary in which Countrey he purposed for a time to remain and to seek for some Noble Atchievement whereby his Fame might be encreased and his honoured Name King through all the Kingdoms of the World and being encouraged with this Princely Cogitation the Noble Champion of England climbed to the top of a huge Mountain where he unlocked his Bever which before had not been lifted up in many a day and beheld the wide and spacious Countrey how it was beautified with losty Pines and adorned with many goodly Palaces But amongst the number of the Towers and Cities which the English Champion beheld there was one which seemed to exceed the rest both in Situation and brave Buildings which he supposed to be the chiefest City in all the Countrey and the place where the King usually kept his Court
Spain where he remained with his lovely Celestine To St. Anthony the Champion of Italy then Travelling into the Borders of Scythia with his Lady Rosalinde likewise to St. Andrew the Champion of Scotland to St. Patrick the Champion of Ireland and to St. David the Champion of Wales who all Atchieved many Memorable Adventures in the Kingdom of Tartary as you have heard before discoursed at large But now Fame and smiling Fortune consented to make their Knightly Atchievements to shine in the Eyes of the whole World therefore by the Conduction of Heaven they generally arrived in the Grecian Emperor's Court Of whose Tilts and Tournaments therein performed to the honour of his Nuptials my weavy Muse is bound to discourse CHAP. XII How the Seven Champions Arrived in Grecia at the Emperor's Nuptials where they performed many Noble Atchievements and how after open Wars were Proclaimed against Christendom by the Discovery of many Knights and how every Champion departed into his own Countrey TO speak of the number of the Knights that Assembled in the Grecian Court together were a Labour over-tedious requiring the Pen of Homer Therefore will I omit the honourable Train of Knights and Ladies that did attend them to the Church their costly Garments and glistring Ornaments exceeding the Royalty of Hecuba the Beauteous Queen of Troy And also I pass over the sumptuous Banquets the Honourable Services and Delicious Chear that Beautified the Emperor's Nuptials with the stately Masks and Courtly Dances performed by many Noble Personages and chiefly discourse of the Knightly Atchievements of the Seven Champions of Christendom whose Honourable Proceedings and Magnanimous Encounters have deserved a Golden Pen to relate For after some few days spent in Chamber-sports to the great pleasure of the Grecian Prince the Emperor presently Proclaimed a solemn Iusting to be holden for the space of seven days in the Honour of his Marriage and appointed for his chief Champions the seven Christian Knights whose Names as then were not known by any one except their own Attendants Against the appointed day the Turnaments should begin the Emperor caused a wonderful large Frame of Timber-work to be erected whereon the Empress and her Ladies might stand for the better view of the Tilters and at pleasure behold the Champions Encounters most Nobly performed in the Honour of their Mistresses likewise in the compass of the Lists were pitched seven Tents of seven several Colours wherein the Seven Champions might remain till the sound of the Silver Trumpets summoned them to appear Thus every thing prepared in readiness fitting so great a Royalty the Princes and Ladies placed in their Seats the Emperor with his new Married Empress invested on their lofty Thrones strongly Guarded with an hundred Armed Knights the King's Heralds Solemnly Proclaimed the Turnaments which in this most Royal manner began The first day S. Denis of France was appointed chief Champion against all Comers who was called by the Title of the Golden Knight who at the sound of the Trumpet entred the Lists his Tent was of the colour of the Marigold upon the top an artificial Sun framed that seemed to Beautifie the whole Assembly his Horse of an Iron-grey graced with a spangled Plume of Feathers Before him rode a Page in purple silk bearing upon his Crest three Golden Flower-de-â—uces which did signifie his Arms. Thus in this Royal manner entred St. Denis the Lists where after he had traced twice or thrice up and down to the open view of the whole Company he prepared himself in readiness to begin the Turnament Against whom ran many Grecian Knights which were foiled by the French Champion to the wonderful admiration of all the beholders But to be brief he so worthily behaved himself and with such Fortitude that the Emperor applauded him for the bravest Knight in the World Thus in great Royalty to the exceeding pleasure of the Emperor was the first day spent till the dark Evening caused the Knights to break off Company and repair to their Nights Repose And the next Morning no sooner did Phoebus shew his splendid brightness but the King of Heralds under the Emperor with a noise of Trumpets awaked the Champions from their silent sleep who with all speed prepared for the second days Exercises The chief Champion appointed for that day was the Uinorious Knight St. James of Spain Which after the Emperor and Empress had seated themselves with a stately Train of Beautiful Ladies entred the Lists upon a Spanish Gennet betrapt with a rich Caparison Directly over against the Emperor's Throne his Tent was pitcht which was of the colour of Quick-silver wherein was pourtrayed many fine Devices Before the Tent attended four Esquires bearing four several Escutcheons in their hands whereon were curiously painted the four Elements Likewise he had the Title of the Silver Knight who behaved himself no less worthy of all Princely Commendations than the French Champion the day before The third day St. Anthony of Italy was chief Challenger in the Turnament whose Tent was of the Colour of the Skies his Steed furnished with costly Habiliments his Armour after the Barbarian manner his Shield plated round about with Steel whereon was painted a Golden Eagle in a Field of Blue which signified the ancient Arms of Rome Likewise he had the Title of the Azure Knight whose matchless Chivalry for that day won the Prize from all the Grecian Knights to the great rejoycing of the Lady Rosalinde the King of 〈◊〉 Daughter that still remained in Pages Attire wherein â—or the dear Love she bore to S. Anthony disguisedly she stole from the Court whose discovery shall hereafter be expressed The fourth day by the Emperor's appointment the Ualiant and Worthy Knight St. Andrew of Scotland obtained the Honour as to be chief Challenger for the Turnament His Tent was framed in the manner of a Ship swimming upon the Waves of the Sea invironed about with Dolphins Tritans and many strange contrived Mermaids Upon the top stood the Picture of Neptune the God of the Seas bearing in his hand a Streamer whereon was wrought in Crimson Silk a corner Cross which seemed to be his Countrey 's Arms He was called the Red Knight because his Horse was covered with a bloody Ueil his worthy Atchievements obtained such favour in the Emperor's Eyes that he threw him his silver Gauntlet which was prized at a thousand Portagues where after his Noble Encounters he enioyed a sweet Repose The fifth day St. Patrick of Ireland as thief Champion entred the Lists upon an Irish Hâ—bby covered with a veil of green attended on by six Silvane Knights every one bearing upon his Shoulder a blooming Tree His Tent resembled a Summer's Bower at the entry whereof stood the Picture of Flora beautified with a wreath of sweet smelling Roses He was named the Green Knight whose worthy Prowess to daunted the Defendants that before the Turnament began they gave him the Honour of the Day Upon the sixth day the Heroical and
be the vain imagination of men and believe in our True and Everliving God under whose Banner we Christians have taken in hand this long War Secondly Thou shalt give Commandment that all thy Barbarous Nations be Christened in the Faith of Christ. Thirdly and lastly That thy three Kingdoms of Barbary Morocco and India swear true Allegiance to all Christian Kings and never to bear Arms but in the true Quarrel of Christ and his anointed Nations These things duly observed the Life shall be preserved and thy Liberty obtained otherwise look for no mercy but a speedy and most terrible death These words more displeased the unchristian King of Morocco than the Sentence of his Condemnation whereupon in these brief Speeches he set down his Resolution Great Potentate of Europe reply'd Almidor by whose Mightiness Fortune sits fettered in the Chains of Power my Golden Diadem and Regal Scepter by constraint I must deliver up But before I will forsake my Country-gods I will endure a hundred Deaths and before my Conscience be reformed to a new Faith the Earth shall be no Earth the Sea no Sea the Heaven no Heaven Thinkest thou now proud Christian by thy threatned Torments to make me forget my Creator and believe in thy God the supposed King of the Jews and basely born under an Ox's Stall No no accursed Christians you Off-spring of Cain you Generation of Ismael you Seed of Vipers and accursed through the World look for a speedy shower of Vengeance to Rain from Heaven upon you wicked Nations Your bloody practices have pierced the Battlements of Iove and your Tyrannies beaten open the Gate of Mighty Mahomet who had provided Whips of burning wyre to scourge you for your Cruelties proffered to and against his blessed Worshippers Now with this deadly Curse I bid you all farewell The Plagues of Egypt â—ight upon your Kingdom The Curse of Cain upon your Children the Famine of Ierusalem upon your Friends and the misery of Dedipus upon your selves This wicked resolution and baleful Curse was no sooner ended by the desperate minded Almidor but the impatience of St. George was so highly moved that he gave present commandment to the appointed Executioners to cast him into the bolling Cauldron which incontinently they performed to the terror of all the Beholders To see this woful Spectacle the Battlements of the Temple were so thronged with People the Houses covered with Women and Children and the Streets filled with Armed Soldiers that it was a wonder to behold amongst which multitudes there were some particular Persons that at the sight of Almidor's death fell down and brake their Necks but the general number as well of Pagans as Christians cryed with chearful voices Honour and Victory follow St. George of England for he hath Redeemed Barbary from a miserble Servitude Which joyful hearing so delighted the Seven Champions of Christendom that they caused their Conduits to run with Wines the Streets to be beautified with Bonefires and a sumptuous Banquet to be proclaimed through the City which after continued for the space of seven days in more magnificent Royalty than the Banquet of Babylon when the Macedonian Monarch returned from the World's Conquest The Champions Liberty procured such faithful Love in the hearts of the Morocco Peers that with a general Consent they chose S. George for their Lawful King where after they had invested him in the Princely Seat of the Morocco Pottentate they set the Crown upon his Head and after presented him with an Imperial Pall which the Kings of Barbary usually wore upon their Coronation-day protesting to forsake their Profane Religion and be Christened in the Faith of Christ. This promised Conversion of the Infidels more highly delighted the English Champion than to have the whole World's Honour at Command for it was the chiefest point of his Knightly Oath to advance the Faith of Christ and to enlarge the Bounds of Christindom After his Coronation was so solemnly performed the other six Champions conducted him to a Princely Palace where he took true Allegiance of the Morocco Lords by â—â—ighted Oath to be true to his Crown After this he established the Christian Laws to the benefit of the whole Country then he commanded all the Ceremonious Rites of Mahomet to be trodden under Foot and the true Gospel of Christ to be Preached likewise he caused all that did remain in Barbary to be Christened in the new Faith but these Observations continued but for a time as hereafter shall be discovered at large For Fame not intending to let the worthy Champion long to remain in the idle Bowers of Peace summoned them to pâ—rieveâ—e in the Noble Atchievements and to Muster up anew their Soldiers whose Armour Caukered Case had almost stained with Rust Therefore St. George committed the Government of the Country to four of the principal Peers of Morocco and Marched towards the Country of Egypt where lived Treacherous Ptolomy the Father of his beloved Lady Sabra whom he had left in the Kingdom of England In which Journey and happy arrival in Egypt we will leave the Seven Champions for a time and speak of the Faithless Infidels in Barbary after the departure of the Christians whose former Honours they slightly regarded For no sooner had St. George with his Martial Troops bidden their Country adieu but the Faithless Moors reconciled themselves to their formed Gods and purposed a speedy Revenge for the Death of Almidory against all Christians that remained within the Limits of that Hâ—aâ—hen Nation For there were many Soldiers wounded in the 〈…〉 likewise a number oppressed with sicknesâ— which the Christian Champions had left behind for their better recoveries upon whom the Barbarous Moors committed their first Tyranny for they caused the distressed Soldiers to be drawn upon Sleds to the uttermost parts of the City and there put them into a large and old Monastery which they presently set on fire and most inhumanely burned the Christian Soldiers and after converted the place into a filthy Lestall Many Women and succourless Children they dragged up and down the Streets till their Brains were dashed against the stones and the blood had covered the Earth with a purple hue Many other Cruelties were committed by the wicked Infidels against the distressed Christians which I purpose to pass over and wholly discourse of the woful and bloody murder of an English Merchant and his Wife in the same City of Tripoly The report whereof may force even merciless Tygers to relent and those eyes to shed springs of Tears that never wept before The bloody-minded Negro's violating both Oaths and Promises before plighted to St. George by violence set upon the Merchant's House where first they made a Massacre of his Servants and before his face cast their dead Bodies to hunger-starv'd Dogs Then coming to the Merchant they bound him fast with hempen Cords to the strongest post in his House and after took his Children being seven of the goodliest Boys that ever Nature framed
the Misery and Death of the Conjurer and how the Souldan Brained himself against a Marble Pillar NOw must we return to the Christian Champions and speak of their Battels in Persia and what happened to them in St. George's absence for if you remember before being in Aegypt when he had news of his Lady's condemnation in England for the Murther of the Earl of Coventry he caused them to march into Persia and incouraged them to revenge his wrongful Imprisonment upon the Souldan's Provinces in which Country after they had marched some fifty Miles burning and spoiling his Territories they were intercepted by the Souldan's Power which was about the number of three hundred thousand fighting Men but the Muster-rolls of the Christians weâ—e likewise numbred and they amounted not to above one hundred thousand able Men at which time betwixt the Christians and Pagans happened a long and dangerous Battle the like many Age was seldom fought for it continued without ceasing for the space of five days to the great effusion of bloud on both Parties but at last the Pagans had the worst for when they beheld their fields bestrowed with mangled Bodies and that the Rivers for twenty Miles comâ—ass did flow with crimson Blood their hearts began to fail and incontiâ—ently fled like Sâ—eep before the Wolf Then the vaâ—â—ant Christians thirsting after revenge speedily pursued them sâ—aâ—â—ng neither young nor old till the ways were strowed with liveless bodies like heaps of scattered sand in which Pursuit and honourable Conquest they burned two hundred Forts and Towns battering their Towers of Stone as level with the ground as Harvest-Reapers do Fields of â—â—pened Corn but the Souldan himself with many of his approved Souldiers escaped alive and fortified the City of Grand Belgor being the strongest Town of War in all the Kingdom of Persia before whose Walls we will leave the Christian Champions planting their puissant Forces and speak of the damnable practises of Osmond within the Town where he accomplisht many admirable Accidents by Magick Art for when the Christians Army had long time given assaults to the Walls sending their fiery Bullets to their lofty Battlements like Storms of Winters Hail whereby the Persian Souldiers were not able any longer to resist they began to yield and commit their lives to the mercy of the Christian Champions but when the Souldan perceived the Souldiers cowardise and how they would willingly resign his happy Government to forreign Rule he encouraged them still to resist the Christians desperate encounters and within thirty days if they had not the honour of the War then willingly to condescend to their Country's Conquest which princely resolution encouraged the Souldiers to resist intending not to yield up their City till Death had made triumph on their Bodies Then departed he unto a sacred Tower where he found Osmond sitting in a Chair studying by Magick how long Persia should remain unconquered who at his entrance drove him from his Charms with these Speeches Thou wondrous Man of Art said the Souldan whom for Necromancy the World hath made famous Now is the time to express the Love and Loyalty thou bearest thy Soveraign Now is the time thy charming Spells must work for Persia 's good thou seest my Fortunes are deprest my Souldiers dead my Captains slaughtered my Cities burned my Fields of Corn consumed and my Country almost conquered I that was wont to cover the Seas with Fleets of Ships now stand amazed to hear the Christians Drums that sound forth doleful Funerals for my Souldiers I that was wont with armed Legions to drink up Rivers as we marched and made the Earth to groan with bearing of our Multitudes I that was wont to make whole Kingdoms tremble at my Frowns and force imperious Potentates to humble at my Feet I that have made the Streets of many a City to run with Bloud and stood rejoycing when I saw their Buildings burnt I that have made the Mothers Wombs the Infants Tombs and caused Cradles for to swim in streams of Bloud may now behold my Country's ruine my Kingdom 's fall and mine own fatal overthrow Awake great Osmond from thy dreaming Trance awake I say and raise a Troop of black infernal Fiends to sight against the damned Christians that like swarms of Bees do flock about our Walls prevent I say my Land's Invasion and as I am great Monarch of Asia I 'll make thee King over twenty Provinces and sole Commander of the Ocean raise up I say thy charmed Spirits leave burning Acheron empty for a time to aid us in this bloudy Battel These words were no sooner ended but there ratled such a peal of Cannons against the City Walls that they made the very Earth shake whereat the Necromancer started from his Chair and in this manner encouraged the Souldan It is not Europe quoth he nor all the petty Bands of armed Knights nor all the Princes in the World that shall abate your Princely Dignity Am not I the great Magician of this Age that can both loose and bind the Fiends and call the black-faced Furies from low Cocitus Am not I that skilful Artist which framed the charmed Tower amongst the Amazonian Dames which all the Witches in the World could never spoil Therefore let Learning Art and all the Secrets of the Deeps assist me in this Enterprise and then let frowning Europe do her worst my Charms shall cause the Heavens to rain such ratling showers of Stones upon their Heads whereby the Earth shall be over-laden with their dead Bodies and Hell over-filled with their hateful Souls senceless Trees shall rise in humane shapes and fight for Persia. If wise Medea were ever famous for Arts that did the like for safeguard of her Father's State then Why should not Osmond practice Wonders for his Soveraign's Happiness I 'll raise a Troop of Spirits from the lowest Earth more black then dismal Night the which in ugly Shapes shall haunt them up and down and when they sleep within their rich Pavilions legions of fiery Spirits will I up-raise from Hell that like to Dragons spitting flames of Fire shall blast and burn the damned Christians in their Tents of War the Fields of Grand Belgor shall be over-spread with venemous Snakes Adders Serpents and impoysoned Toads the which unseen shall lurk in mossie Ground and sting the Colonels of warlike Horses down from the crystal Firmament I will conjure Troops of airy Spirits to descend that like to Virgins clad in princely Ornaments shall link those Christian Champions in the Charms of Love their Eyes shall be like the twinkling Lamps of Heaven and dazle so their warlike Thoughts and their lively Countenance more bright then Fairies shall lead them captive to a Tent of Love the which shall be articially erected up by Magick Spells their warlike Weapons that were wont to smoak in Pagans Bloud shall in my charmed Tent bâ— hung upon the bowers of Peace their glistâ—ing Armour that were wont to shine within
kind Friend hast graced my Name with many Titles of Honour and making me Famous in thy large circumference thou hast given me Uictories over all mine Enemies and weakned the boldness of all my withstanders that my Life and Name might be charactered amongst the rest of our Christian Champions for which I have thought my self predestinated to a lasting happiness in that the Title of my Fortunes challenge so long a Memory World I say fare thou well my life lingereth now to her last minute which as willingly I here deliver up as ever I brandisht Wrapon against powerful Pagan I need no Pompal Train of Princes to attend my Funeral nor solemn Chimes of Bells to Ring me to my Grave nor Troops of Mourners in Sable Garments to furnish out my Obsequy my self here buries up my self and all Offices of Lamentations belonging to so bad a business as my own hand Labour Earth I imbrace thee thou gentle Mould my Bodies covering with humility I kiss thee no difference is between thy cold Nature and my Life 's warm substance we are both one Emperours are but Earth so am I. Thou Earth gently do I yield my self into thy mouldy bosom I come I come sweet Comforter into thy hands I commend my Spirit These and such like were the last Words that ever this good Champion delivered so yielding to death the Earth of it self as it were buried up his Body in the Grave which his own hands had digged Thus being changed from a lively substance to a dead Picture his Attenders as their usual custom was came with Food to relieve him and calling at the hole where he had wont to receive it they heard nothing but empty ayre blowing in and out which made them conjecture presently that death had prevailed and the fatal Sisters finished up their labours so calling together more company they made an entrance thereinto and finding what had hapned how he had buried his own self they reported it for a wonder up and down the Country being an accident of much strangeness for before that time the like never chanced Whereupon by a common consent of the whole Kingdom they pulled down the aforesaid House or Tower and in the same place builded in process of time a most sumptuous Chappel casting it St. Patricks Chappel and in the place where this Holy Father had buried himself they likewise erected a Monument of much richness framed upon Pillars of pure Gold beautified with many artificial sights most pleasant to behold whereunto for many years after resorted distressed People such as were commonly molested with loathsom Diseases where making their Orisons at Saint Patricks Tomb they found help and were restored to their former Healths By which means the Name of Saint Patrick is grown so famous through the World that to this day he is intituled one of our Christian Champions and the Saint for Ireland where in remembrance of him and of his honourable atchievments done in his life time the Irish-men as well in England as in that Country do as yet in honour of his Name keep one day in the year Festival holding upon the same a great Solemnity wearing upon their Hats each of them a Cross of red silk in token of his many Adventures under the Christian Cross as you have heard in the former History at large discoursed Whose Noble Deeds both in life and Death we will leave sleeping with him in his Grave and speak of our next renowned Tragedy which Heaven and Fate had allotted to Saint David the Champion for Wales at that time entituled Cambro-Brittanus CHAP. XVIII Of the honourable Victory won by Saint David in Wales Of his Death and cause why Leeks are by custom of Welchmen worn on Saint Davids day with other things that hapned SOme certain Month after the departure of Saint Patrick from the City of Constantinople from the other Champions as you heard before in the last Chapter Saint David having a heart still sâ—r'd with Fame thirsted even to his dying day for honourable atchievements and although age and time had almost weared him away yet would he once more make his Adventure in the Field of Mars and seal up his honours in the records of Fame with a Noble farewell So upon a morning framing himself for a Knightly Enterprize he took his leave of the other Champions and all alone well mounted upon a lusty Courser furnished with sufficient Habiliments for so brave an enterprize he began a Iourney home towards his own Country accounting that his best joy and â—he soil of his most comfort But long had he not travelled ere he heard of the distresses thereof how Wales was beâ—eâ— with a people of a Savage nature christing for Blood and the ruine of that brave Kingdom and how that many Battels had been fought to the disparagement of Christian Knight-hood Whereupon arming himself with true resolution he went forward with a couragious mind either to redeem the same or to lose his best blood in the honour of the Adventure Whereupon all the way as he travelled he drew into his aid and assistance all the best Knights he could find of any Nation whatsoever giving them promises of Noble Rewards and entertainment as befitted so worthy a fellowship By this means before he came upon the Borders of Wales he had gathered together the number of five hundred Knights of such noble resolutions that all Christendom could not afford better the seven Champions excepted And these all well furnished for Battel entred the Country where they found many Towns unpeopled gallant Houses subverted Monasteries defaced Cities ruinated Fields of Corn consumed with Fire yea every thing so out of order as if the Country had never been inhabited Whereupon with a grieved mind he saw the Region of his Birth place so confounded and nothing but upâ—â—ars of murder and death sounded in his ears he summoned his Knights together placing them in Battel array to travel high up into the Country for the performance of his desired hopes But as they marched along with an easie pace to prevent dangers there resorted to them people of all Ages both young and old bitterly complaining of the Wrongs thus done unto their Country Where when they knew him to be the Champion of Wales whom so long they had desired to see their joys so exceeded that all former Woes were abolished and they emboldened to nothing but revenge The rest of the Knights that came with St. David perceiving their forces and numbers to increase purposed a present onset and to shew themselves before their Enemies which lay incamped amongst the Mountains with such strength and policy that hard it was to make an Assailment Whereupon the Noble Champion being then their General and Leader called his Captains together and with a bold courge said as followeth Now is the time brave Martialists to be canonized the Sons of Fâ—me this is the day of Dignity or Dishonour an Enterprize to make â—s ever live or to
end our Names in obscurity let not chill fear the Cowards companion pull us back from the golden Throne where the adventurous Souldier sits in glory deservedly we are to trample in a Field of death and dead mens Bones and to buckle with an Enemy of great strength a Pagans power that seeks to over-run all Christian Kingdoms and to wash our Cambrian Fields with innocent Blood To Arms I say brave followers I will be the first to give death the onset and for my Colours or Ensign do I wear upon my Burgonet you see a green Leek beset with Gold which shall if we win the Victory hereafter be an honour unto Wales and on this day being the first of March be for ever worn by the Welsh-men in remembrance hereof Which Words were no sooner spoken by the Champion but all the Royal Army of every degree and calling got themselves the like Recognizance which was each of them a green Leek upon their Hats or Bravers which they wore all the time of the Battel and by that means the Champions followers were known from the others This was not long a doing before S. David and his Companie beheld descending from the Mountains an Army of Pagans as it seemed numberless people of such mighty Statures whole sight might even have daunted their noble Resolutions had not the brave Champion still animated them forward with Princely incouragements Time stayed not long e're the Battels joyned and the Pagans with their Iron Clubs and Bats of Steel so laid about them that had not our Christian Army been preserved by miracle such a slaughter had been made of the Champion and the Knights that well might have caused the whole World to wonder at But the Queen of Chance so favoured St. David and his Followers that what with their nimble Lances keen Darts and Arrows shot from their quick Bows and Welsh Hooks in great abundance the Sun also lying in the Pagans Faces to their great disadvantage that in short time the Noble Champion won a worthy Uictory The ground lay all covered with mangled Carkasses the Grassie Fields changed from green into red colour with the mingled Blood that ran from Horse and Man thus murthered A Noble Policy was it for all our Christians in that Battel to wear green Leeks in their Burgonets for their Colours by which they were all known and preserved from the slaughter of one anothers Swords only St. David himself excepted who being Uictor in the highest pride of his Glory was at last vanquished O unhappy fate to cut off his honour that was the only darling of Honour Help me Melopemene to bewail his loss that having won all lost his dear life a life that 〈◊〉 whole World might well have miss of Oh fatal Chance for coming from the Battel over-heated in Blood a sudden cold congealed in all his lives Members that without Recovery he was forced to yield unto death to the great grief of all Knights and Followers who for the space of forty days mourned for him in great heaviness and after attended him unto his Grave with much sorrow Which being done in the honour of his Name they ordained a custom that the day of his Uictory should be canonized and called in all after Ages S. David's day being holden still upon the first of March and in remembrance thereof upon the same day should likewise he worn by all well-willers to the same Country certain green Leeks in their Hats or on their Bosoms in true honour of this Noble Martialist which is still a praise worthy Custom in these our Northern Climates which time beloved Souldier we will now leave sleeping in his Tomb in peace and go forward in our other intended Tragical Discourses CHAP. XIX How Saint Dennis was Beheaded in his own Countrey and how by a Miracle shewed at his Death the whole Kingdom of France received the Christian Faith SAint Denis being the third in this our Pilgrimage of Death was likewise desirous of the sight of his own Country which he had not seen in many years and purposing a toilsom Travel to the same took leave of the other Champions who not altogether willing to leave so Noble a Champion yet considering the desire of his mind they quickly condescended wishing him the best well-face of Knight-hood and so parting they to their Princely Pavillions and be to his restless Iourney as well mounted and as richly furnished with habiliments of Knight-hood as any Martialist in all Arabia in which Country he was then but leaving that place to satisfie his desires he travelled day by day toward the Kingdom of France without any Adventure worth reporting till he arrived upon the borders of that fair Country that he had so long wished to behold But now see how Fare frowned the welcome he expected was suddenly converted into a deadly hatred for there was remaining in the French Kings favour a Knight of St. Michaels Drder who in former times hearing of the hourable Adventures of this Noble Champion St. Dennis and thinking this same to be a disparagement to his Knight-hood and the rest of that Drder conspired to betray him and to bring all his former Honours with his life to a final overthrow Whereupon this envious Knight of Saint Michaels goes unto the King being as then a Pagan Prince one that had no true knowledge of the Deity and said There was come into his Kingdom a strange Knight a false Believer one that in time would draw the love of his Subjects from him to the Worship of a strange God and that in despight of him and his Country he would establish a falufyed Opinion and that he wore upon his Breast the Christian Cross With many other things contrary to the Laws of his Kingdom Upon these aforesaid false informations the King grew so enraged that without any more consideration he caused the good Knight Saint Denis to be attached in his Bed-chamber otherwise a score of the best Knights in all France had not been sufficient to bring him Prisoner to the Kings presence before whom being no sooner come but with more than humane sury without cause he adjudged him a speedy Death and by Martial Law without any further Tryal to receive the same The good Champion Saint Denis even in Death having a most noble resolution nothing at all dismayed and knowing his cause to be good and that he should suffer for the Name of his sweet Redeemer he most willingly accepted of the same Iudgment saying Most mighty but yet cruel King think not but yet this exceeding Tyranny will be requited in a strange manner thy censure I take with much joy in that I die for him whose Colours I have worn from mine Infancy and this my Death seals up the obligation of all my Comforts And thou sweet Country where I first took life receive it again a Legacy due unto thee for this my Blood which here I offer up into thy Bosom is the best gift I can
of them to be Kings according as the Fairy Queen had Prophesied of them LONDON Printed for John Back at the Black-Boy on London-Bridge 1696. TO His much respected Friend Mr. RALPH HARRISON OF NEWPORT POND IN ESSEX SIR BOokes without Patrons are they say like Orphan Children without Parents left to the wide World to shift iâ— wanting protection do oftentimes miscarry in the same Considering this their likenesâ— to each other I pondered with my self to whom I should dedicate this issue of my brain against snaâ—ling Criticks and carping Momussâ—s whom casting over the Catalogue of my chiefest Friends and Acquaintance I found your name in a principal place amongst them Emboldned wherewith I resolved to Dedicate these my labours unto you being much animated thereunto by the perswasions of our worthy Friend Mr. Daniel Rawlinson of Fenchurch-Street London as also your love to Books of ingenuity in general Thus hoping you will candidly receive the same since the second Part was kindly accepted of an Honourable Person wishing you as many happy day's as there are lines in the Book I take my leave resting Yours ever to his power VV. VV. To the Courteous READER THe general acceptance which the two first Parts of this Renowned History have received hath invited my Pen to the prosecution thereof in a third Part which I have raked out of the musty Records of old moâ—h eaten Authors almost worn out by length of time and indeed the two first Parts do seen imperfect without a third for there he speak of the Fairy Queen's Prophesie how St. George three Sons should come to be Kings but show not by which means they attained their Kingdoms all which are fully set forth in this Third Part. What my pains have been herein thoâ— who read with Judgment will easily discern and to such only I appeal not caring for the barking Zoilists of our times who carp â— what they cannot mend and like the Dog iâ— the Fable lying upon Hay will neither eat themselves nor suffer the hunger starved Oxe â—o eat thereof so these men will write nothing themselves yet are alwayes carping at the endeavours of others If I have soared above the height of the Language in the two former parts know that our speech is refined since they were writ Chaucer whose lines did excel for Eloquence in his days is now despized for plain â—nd rustick even by those who scarcely know what language is yet have we endeavoured herein not to coyn new phrases nor to mix words unintelligible but to use such a sâ—ile as night serve to embellish and illustrate the History but withal to be understood and easie â—o the capacity of the meanest Readers VVe have also endeavoured herein to write nothing improbable much less impossible such as are inserted in several Histories where they make nothing of cutting asunder two or three Gyants at one blow by the middle with many other things void both of sense and reason but in our undertakings we have related nothing but what to a judicious Reader may seem probable to be effected so that we doubt not â— our History had been in the Library of Doâ— Quixoâ— that famous Knight Errant it would have been preserved from the fire by the Barber and Licentiate And as we have been as careful to insert nothing incredulous so likewise have we been as careful to write nothing that is obscene for the corrupting of youth Books of that nature as Mr. Feltham saith iâ— his resolves being like that brutish sin of Adultery wherein two are equally culpable hâ— that writes them and he that reads them but in our History we have inserted nothing but what may be profitable as well as delightful sâ— that the chastest Lucrece may read herein with out blushing yet have we endeavoured to embellish it with such flowers of Rhetorick as wâ— could pick out of Apollo's Garden the betteâ— to entertain the Reader with delight which iâ— he kindly accept of as our hope is notwithstanding this censorious age we shall continue the History in a Fourth Part and shew you â—he Loves and adventures of the other six Vaâ—ant Knights having in this Part chiefly insisted upon those of St. Georges three Sons In the mean time daigne kindly to accept of what â—s already done and then expect the other to â—ollow soon after Farewel On the BOOK YOU whose stout heart to valiant Acts are bent This Book unto your view will represent â—hat you desire fell Monsters put to pain Gyants and Dragons overcome and slain The Negromancer with his damned spell â—is charms overthrown and he sent down to Hell â—astles and Towers taken in by force The Pagan Hosts overthrown both Man and Horse â—uch numbers of them kill'd Charon might well â—â— streams of their own blood row them to Hell â—uch were the Acts these worthy Sons have done â—f the Seven Champions of Christendom â—howing themselves true Sons of such brave Sires â—hose valiant deeds the World throughout admires â—ead then and thank the Author for his pains â—is was the labour thy delight the gains M. Y. The Famous HISTORY OF THE Seven Champions OF CHRISTENDOM The Third Part. CHAP. I. The great Joy of the Infidels for the Death of the Seven Champions the Soldan of Persia his Letter for the Mustering up of an Army with the Effects thereupon SOon had wide mouth'd tatling Fame dispersed the News of the Seven Champions deaths into all the Countries and Kingdoms of the Earth which caused a Universal Ioy and Rejoycing amongst those Miscreants and Infidels which had felt the weight of their victorious Armes insomuch that they Published a day of Thanksgiving to praise their Gods Mahomet Termagant and Apollo for the deliverance of their Countries out of the hands of such mortal enemies Next they provide for the invasion of Christendom and by a mutual consent to muster up such an Army as should â—â—tirpate Christianity and to root out those seven famous Nations from off the Earth whereof those Worthies were the Heroical Champions and to this end the Soldan of Persia wrote this ensuing Letter to those Kingdoms and Nations which were therein 〈◊〉 To all those Potentates and Followers of the Sect of Mahomet the High and Mighty Emperour the Soldan of Persia sendeth Greeting KNow ye that our Gods have now at last sent the Messenger of Death which hath arrested and clapt up into the Graves those terrors of our People the seven Champions of Christendom by whom we have sustained so much harms and dammages by which means a gap is left ope whereby we may revenge our wrongs and injuries To this purpose we therefore desire ye to meet us with what power of Men ye can make on the Plains of Babylon there to joyn with the Forces of other Kings and Princes to be revenged on the Christians by slaying their people burning their Towns and Cities and utterly destroy them from off the face of the Earth The Copy of this Letter being sent into several