consideration I doubt not but shall bring vnto thee much pleasure and delight being for the quantitie thereof nothing inferiour to the best that hath beene written of the like Subiect I meane of Knights aduentures and Ladyes beloued I therefore dedicate this to thy reason knowing that this old Prouerbe may confirme my expectation which is That good Wine needs no Bush nor a pleasing Historie craues no shelter Farewell R. I. The second part of the famous History of Tom a Lincolne the Red-rose Knight c. CHAP. I. How Tom a Lincolne knew not his Mother till forty yeares of his age nor whose Sonne he was Of King Arthurs death and his dying speeches and of what hapned thereupon WHen Arthur that renowned King of England being one of the nine Worthies of the World had by twelue seuerall set Battailes conquered the third part of the Earth and being wearied with the exploytes of Marti all aduentures in his olde dayes betooke himselfe to a quiet course of life turning his Warlkie habiliaments to diuine Bookes of celestiall meditations that as the one had made him famous in this World so might the other make him blessed in the World to come Seauen yeares continued quiet thoughts in his breast seauen yeares neuer heard he the sound of delightfull Drums nor in seuen yeares beheld hee his thrice worthy Knights of the Round Table flourishing in his Court by which meanes his Pallace grew disfurnished of those Martiall troupes that drew commendations from all forraigne Kingdomes In this time most of those renowned Champions had yéelded their liues to the conquering Tiranny of pale Death and in the bowels of the Earth lay sléeping their eternall sléepes the royall King himselfe laden with the honour of many yeeres and hauing now according to nature the burthen of death lying heauie vpon his shoulders and the stroke lifted vp to diuide his body from his soule he called before him all the chiefen of his Court but especially his own Quéene the Red-rose Knight and his Lady Anglitora with the faire Angellica the Nunne of Lincolne whom hee had so many yéeres secretly loued and being at the poynt to bid a wafull farewell to the world with Countenance as Maiestical as King Priam of Troy he spake as followeth First to thée my loued Queene must I vtter the secrets of my very soule and what wanton escapes I haue made from any nuptiall Bedde otherwise cannot this my labouring life depart from my fading body in quiet Long haue I liued in the delightfull sinne of Adulterie and polluted our mariage Bed with that vile pleasure pardon I beseech thee and with that forgiuenesse which I hope will proceed from thy gentle heart wash away this long bred euill the Celestaill powers haue grauated me remâ—ssion Then turning to Angellica the Nunne of Lincolne hee said Oh thou my youths delight thou whose loue hath bereaued my Quéene of much mariage pleasure thou and but onely thou haue I offended withall therefore diuine Angellica forgiue me I like a rauisher spotted thy Uirginitie I â—râ—pt thy sweet budde of Chastitie I with flattery won thy heart and ledde thee from thy Fathers house that good Earle of London to feede my wanton desires by thee had I a Sonne of whom both then and I take glory of for in his worthynesse remaine the true Image of a Martialist and this renowned Knight of the Red-rose is he He liues the fruit of our wanton pleasures borne at Lincolne and there by a Shepherd brought vp few knowing till now his true Parente Maâ—â—aile not deere Sonne thinke not amisse sweete Queene for thou my louely Angellica Be not dismayde you honourable States heere attending my dying houre for as I hope presently to enter into Elizium Paradise and weare the Crowne of disertfull Glory I haue reuealed the long secrets of my heart and truely brought to light those things that the darknesse of obliuion hath couered Now the Mother knowes her Sonne the Sonne the Mother Now may this valiant Knight boast of his Pedegrée and a quiet content satisfie all your doubts Thus haue I spoke my minde thus quieted my soule bids the world farwell Adue faire Quéene adue déere son farwell louely Angellica Lords and Ladyes adue vnto you all you haue seene my life so now behold my death as Kings doe liue so Kings must die These were the last of Kings Arthurs words And being dead his death not halfe so amazed the standers by as the strange spéeches at his liues farwell The Quéene in a raging ielousie fretted at her Marriage wrongs protesting in heart to be reuenged vpon the Nunne of Lincolne The Nunne of Lincolne séeing her wantonnesse discouered tooke more griefe thereat then ioy in the finding of her long lost Son supposing now that the King being gone she should be made a scandall to the world The Red-rose Knight knowing himselfe to be begot in wantonnesse and borne a Bastard tooke small ioy in the knowledge of his Mother Anglitora Tom a Lincolnes Wife excéeded all the rest in sorrow bitterly sobbing to her selfe and in heart making great lamentation in that she had forsaken Father Mother Friends Acquaintance and Countrey all for the loue of a Bastard bred in the wombe of a shamelesse Strumpet therefore she purposed to giue him the slip and with her owne Sonne a young gallant Knight named the Blacke Knight in courage like his Father to trauaile towards the Kingdome of Prester Iohn where she first breathed life and her Father reigned In this melancholy humour spent they many dayes troubling their braines with diuers imaginations The Court which before rung with Delights and flourished in gallant sort now thundred with Complaints euery one disliking his owne estate Discontent as a proud Commaunder gouerned ouer them and their Attendants were idle Fancies and disquiet Thoughts and to speake troth such a confused Court was seldome séene in the Land for no sooner was Kings Arthurs Funerall solemnized but the whole troupes of Lords Knights and Gentlemen Ladyes and others were like to a splitted Shippe torne by the Tempest of the Sea seuered euery one departed whither his Fancie best pleased The Red-rose Knight conducted his Mother Angellica to a Cloyster in Lincolne which place she had so often polluted with her shame there to spend the remnant of her life in repentance and with her true Lamentations to wash away her blacke spottes of sinne that so grieuously stayneth her Soule and from a pure Uirgine made her selfe a desolute Strumpet Likewise King Arthurs widdowed Quéene like to irefull Hecuba or the tealous Iuno kept her Chamber for many dayes pondering in her minde what reuenge shee might take vpon Angellica her Husbands late fauorite On the other side Anglitora Lady and Wife to the Red-rose Knight with her Sonne the Blacke Knight made prouision for their departure towards the Land of Prester Iohn where shée was borne so vpon a night when neither Moone nor Star-light appeared they secretly departed the Court
conducted by what chaunce the Heauens has allotted him not one steppe hée knew aright nor what course to take to finde the direct way but it hapned that aâ—igniâ— fatuus as hee thought or a goeing Fire led him the right way out of the Forrest directly to the Castle where his dishonest Mother made her abode But comming néere vnto the Gates hée found all close and neere vnto the Castle the Black-moore set halfe way quicke into the earth hauing for want of foode eaten most part of the flesh from his armes whom the Blacke Knight soone digged vp and kept aliue to be a furtherance to his intended reuenge The poore Indian being thus happily preserued from dâ—ath reuealed all that had happned in the said Castle how his Mother liued in adultery how his Father was murthered why himselfe was set quicke in the earth and lastly for the loue of his dead Master hée protested to conduct him through a secret Uault into the Castle that in the dead of the night they might the easier accomplish their desired reuenge Thus lingring secretly about the Castle till the middle of night a time as they imagined to bée the fittest for thée tragicall businesse at last the midnight houre came and through a secret Cell they entred vnder the Castle into the Lodging where his Father was murthred This is the place quoth the Negar where my sad eyes beheld thy Father both aliue and dead so goeing from thence into the Chamber which by chaunce and as ill lucke had appointed was through negligence left open hée shewed him the Bedde where these Adulterers lay secretly sléeping in each others Armes Oh dolefull sight This lust hath made mée fatherlesse and ere long this Weapon shall make me motherlesse â—o kneeling downe vpon his knées in a whispering manner hee said vnto himselfe Yée lowring Destinies now weaue vp the Webbe of their two liues that haue liued too long You infernall Furies draw néere Assist me thou reuengefull God Nemesis for on this Sword sits now such a glorious Reuenge as being taken the world will applande mee for a louing Sonne Hauing spoken these words hee sheathed his Sword vp to the hiltes in the boosome of the Knight of the Castle who lying in the armes of Anglitora gaue so deadly a groane that shée immediatly awaked first looking to the Knight that was slaine in her Armes thou percciuing her Sonne standing with his weapon drawne yet wreaking in the blood of the dead Knight meanacing likewise her death with â— wofull shrike she breathed out these words Oh what hast thou done my cruell Sonne Thou hast â—laine the miracle of humanitie and one whom I haue chosen â—o be my hearts Parramour and thy second Father Oh Lady quoth the Blacke Knight for Mother is too proud a title for thée what Furie driueth thee to lament â—he deserued death of that lewde blood shedder and not rather choose with heart-renting sighes to bewaile the death of my Father thy renowned Husband whose guiltlesse body euen dead thou didst dispise by buring him whâ—â—anly vpon a â—ounghill but Heauen hath graunted and Earth hath agréed â—etesting both thy misdéedes and hath sent mée to sacrifice thy blood vnto the Soule of my murthered Father Whilst hée was speaking these words Anglitora arose from her bed and in her smocke which was of pure Cambrâ—â—ke shée knéeled to her sonne vpon her bare knées saying Oh thou my deare Sonne whom once I nourisht in my painefull wombe and fedde thée with mine owne blood whom oft I choycely dandled in my armes when with lullababyes and swéet kisses I rocked asléepe Oh fatre bée it from thée my louing Sonne to harme that breast from whom thou first receiuest life Of thée my Sonne thy Mother begging life Oh spare the life that once gaue thée life with bléeding teares I doe confesse my wanton offences I doe confesse through mee thy Father dyed Then if confession of faults may merit mercie pardon my life Obscure not thy renowne with cruelty making thy selfe unkind and monstrous in murthering of thy Mother I charge thée by thy dutie that thou owest mee by all the bondes of loue betwixt a Mother and a Sonne by all the kindnesse shewed to thée in thy infancy let thy mother liue that begs life vpon her bare knées Doe not thou glory in my miseries let not my teares whet on thy cruellnesse let not thy minde bée bent to death and murther bee no â—â—â—age Monster bee not vnnaturall rude and brutish let my intreates preuaile to saue my life wound not the wombe that fostred thée which now I tearmed wicked by onely fostring thee what childe can glut his eyes with gazing on his Parents wounds and will not faint in beholding them Hereupon the Blacke Knight not able to indure to suffer his Mothers further intreaties least pittie and remorse might mollifie his heart and so graunt her life which to Heauen to take away hée had déepely sworne hée cut her off with these deadly words Lady I am not made of Flint nor Adamant in kinde regard of calamitie I am almost strucke with remorce but dutie must quite vndoe all dutie Kinde must worke against kinde all the powers of my body bée at mortall strife and séeke to confound each other Loue turnes to Hatred Nature turnes to wrath and Dutie to Reuenge for mée thinkes my Fathers Blood with agroning voice cryes to Heauen for Reuenge therefore to appease my Fathers angry spirit here shalt thou yéeld vp thy déerest blood Here was hee ready to strike and with his sword to finish vp the tragedie but that his grieued soule in kinde nature plucked backe his hand whereupon with a great sigh he sayd Oh Heauens how am I grieued in minde Father forgiue mee I cannot kill my Mother And now againe mée thinks I sée the pale shaddow of my fathers Ghost glyding before mine eyes mée thinkes hée shewes me the manner of his murther mée thinkes his angry lookes threatens mée and tels how that my heart is possest with cowardice childish feare Thou doest preuaile O Father euen now receiue this sacrifice of blood and death this pleasing sacrifice which to appease thy troubled soule I heare doe offer And thus in speaking these words with his Sword hée split the deare heart of his mother from whence the blood as from a gushing Spring issued Which when hee beheld such a sodaine conceit of griefe entred his minde considering that hée had slaine his owne Mother whom in duty hee ought to honour aboue all liuing women that hee rather fell into a frenzie theÌ„ a melancholy and so with a pale countenance and gastly lookes with spartling like to a burning Furnace began to talke idlely What haue I done Whome hath my bloody hand murthered Now woe vnto my soule for I am worse then the Uiperous brood that eates out their Dammes wombe to get life vnto themselues they doe but according to nature I against all Nature for I haue digged vp the boosome that
harborest and in thy wombe deliuereâ—st them as a food vnto Wormes Therefore thou cruell Earth howle andmourne for thou art vnworthy of such blessed bodies And now oh you pittifull Heauens heare my complaints conuey them to the Soules of my deceased Parents for my lamentations by the gentle Windes are blowen from the East vnto the West the dry Land and the Watry Seas are witnesses to them Therefore no day shall rise but it shall heare my complaints no night shall come but it shall giue eare vnto my moâ—nes neither day nor night shall be frée from my heart-breaking cryes If that I groane mée thinkes the Trees are bended as though they pittied my teares The very Ground for griefe I sée alters her complexion All that I heare all that I see all that I feele giues fresh increase to my sorrow I will neuer hencefoorth come in peopled Towne nor inhabited Cittie but wander all alone vp and downe by low Uallyes and sleepy Rockes or I will dwell in darke Dennes frequented onely by Wilde Beastes where no path of man was euer séene or to the Woods I will goe so darke and beset so thicke with shaddow branches that no Sunne may shine there by day nor no Starre by night may be seene whereas is heard no voyce but the outcryes of horrible Goblings the balefull shrikes of Night-owles the vnlukie sounds of Rauens and Crowes there shall mine eyes bee made watry Fountaines there will I make such plaints as Beasts shall mourne to heare them such plaints will I make as shall rend and riue strong trees make wilde Panthers tame and mollifie hard flinty stones And if by chance that sléepe oppresse mee on the bare and cold Ground shall these wofull limbs rest the gréene turffe shall serue as a Pillow for my head boughs and branches of trées shall couer me and then I hope some venemous Serpent wil spéedily giue mee my deaths wound that this my poore soule may be released from flesh and blood by which meanes I may passe to those Fields those faire Elizium Fields whereas my murthered Parents daily resort In this manner complained the Blacke Knight vpon his Parents graue thrée dayes and nights together still knéeling vpon the cold ground and could not by any imagination bee comforted euery thing his eyes beheld renewed fresh sorrow and drew on new lamentations but at last the Powers of Heauen intending to graunt him some ease cast his distressed Senses into a quiet slumber where lying vpon his fathers graue wee will let him for a time rest CHAP 8. How the Fayerie Knight came to be called the Worlds Triumph Of his ariuall in England of the two Knights deaths and of the Proue rbe vsed of three Cities in England YOu haue read in the first part of this Historie how the Fayerie Knight the Sonne of Caelia begot by the Red-rose Knight was committed by his Mother at her death to the keeping of the Ladies of the Land for then was there but few Men liuing being a Countrey onely of Women and now being of lusty age and a Knight of renowned valoure he betooke himselfe to trauell the onely cause to finde his Father or some of his kindred whom he had neuer seene Many were the Countries he passed but more the dangers hee indured all which for this time wee omit onely a little speake of thrée guifts giuen him by an Hermite that had thrée excéeding Uertues For comming to an Iland to séeke aduentures it was his chance to saue a young beautifull Mayden from rauishing by a satyricall Wild-man for he hauing tyed the golden locks of her Hayre to two knoity brambles and being ready to take his venerall pleasure vpon her the Fayerie Knight comming by and séeing that dishonour and violence offered to so young a Uirgin with his Sword at one blow paired away the Wild-mans head and so went with the Mayden home to her Fathers house which was an Hermitage some mile distant off where being no sooner come but the good old man hauing a Head more white then Siluer but a heart more heauier then Lead by reason of the want of his daughter so cruelly taken from him began at her sight to be so cheered that he had not the power for ioy to speake a good space but at last taking the fayerie Knight by the hand he led him to an inward roome where hee banqueted him with such chéere as his Hermitage afforded and after in â—â—ew of his daughters reschew hee gaue him thrée such Gifts and of thrée such Uertues as the like seldome had Knight The first was a King which whosoeuer did weare should neuer dye by treason The second a Sword that on what Gate soeuer it strucke it would presently fly open The third and last a viall of such Drinke that whosoeuer tasted should sodainely forget all passed sorrowes Hauing receiued these thrée Gifts of the good old Hermite he departed and trauelled without any aduenture till he came and found the blacke Knight afléepe vpon his fathers Graue which when the Fayerie Knight had awaked in countenance they were so alike as Nature had made them both one for indéed they were Brothers by the Fathers side the one true borne the other a Bastard yet at the first sight such a secret affection grew betwixt them that they plighted their â—aythes to each other vowing neuer to part friendships But when the Blacke Knight had reuealed his birth parentage his Fathers name and place of birth the Fayerie Knight resolued himselfe that he had found a Brother as well in nature as condition But when hee heard the story of his Fathers life and the manner of his death with the murther of Anglitora his vnchast wife hee could not choose but shed teares whereof plenty descended from his faire eyes whereupon hée tooke occasion to speake as followeth Heauen rest thy swéet soule my vnknowne Father and may the fruite of thee proue as famous in the World as thou hast been but more fortunate in their Mariage choyse As for my Stepmother though her vnchast life baue made her in famous to all Womankinde yet this in charitie I desire that when shee comes to Plutoes Realme that Proserpine may send her to the blessed fields of Elizium in remembrance of whom in this world if euer we ariue in that noble Countrey of England where my Knightly Father was borne wee will there erect her a stately Tombe yet no Epitaph shall show her disloyall life nor the cause of her death onely in Letters of beaten Gold shall remaine ingrauen vpon her Tombe the name of Anglitora Daughter to Prester Iohn and Wife to the worthy Red-rose Knight Hereupon hee gaue his new-found Brother the Blacke Knight his Wall of Drinke which the Hermit had giuen him who no sooner had tasted but all former gréefes were forgotten hee remembred not the death of his Father nor the murther of his Mother nor what sorrow hee had sustayned in the Wildernesse but like a ioconde
Knight gyrt his Sword round about him and stood on Thornes till hee was set forward to seeke Martiall aduentures Hereupon these two Knights departed toward England and performed many noble deeds of Chiualrie by the way But amongst all others being in the Turkish Court this is worthy to bée noted for with one Boxe of the eare the Blacke Knight killed the Turkes Sonne starke dead for which cause by treason were their liues conspired and the following night had their Lodging entred by twelue of the Turkes Guard with an intent to murther them but by reason of the inchaunted Ring in the which they put both their little fingers the Guard of a sodaine fell all fast in a traunce hereupon the two Knights departed the Turkish Court But no sooner were they out of the Citie but a troupe of armed Knights pursued them and followed them so néerely that they were forced to enter a Castle that stood by the Sea side wherein no creature had abyding comming to the Gate the Fayerie Knight with his Sword strucke thereat an it presently opened wherein being no sooner entred but the armed Knights of the Turkish nation closed them fast in and caused the Gates to bée walled vp with Free Stone and so departed Now were these two Knights in more danger of death then euer they had beene in all their liues and sure they had starued had not good pollicie preserued their liues for the Castle walles were so high that none durst venture downe without great danger As in greatest extreamity mans wit is the quickest for inuention so the two Knights cut off all the Hayre from their heads which were very long and therewithall made along â—ooâ—sted Line or Cord with the which they slid from the top of the Wall to the Ground But this mischaunce hapned as the Fayerie Knight glyded downe the Coard broke and his body tooke such a violent blow against the stonie Ground that it strucke the breath quite out of his body no life by the Blacke Knight could bee perceiued but that his soule was for euer diuided This of all misfortunes was held the extreamest therefore in great griefe hee breathed foorth this lamentation Oh you partiall Fates quoth hee Oh you vniust Destinies Why haue you reft two liues by wounding one Now let the Sunne forbeare his wonted light Let Heate and Coulde let Drought and Moysture let Earth and Ayre let Fire and Water be all mingled and confounded together let that old confused Chaos returne againe and heere let the World end And now you Heauens this is my request that my Soule may presently forsake this flesh I haue no soule of mine owne for it is the soule of the Fayerie Knight for but one Soule is common to vs both then how can I liue hauing my Soule departed which spightfull death hath now separated Oh thou my Knightly brother though the Fates deny to giue thée life yet in spight of them I le follow thée You Heauens receiue this halfe soule of my true Friend and let not life and death part vs with Eagles wings will I flye after him and in Ioues celeâ—â—iall Throane ioyne with him in friendship We two in life were but one one will one heart one minde one Soule made vs one one life kept vs both aliue one being dead drawes the other vnto death therefore as wee liued in loue so will we dye in loue and with one Graue wee may interre both our bodyes How glorious and happy were my death to dye with my beloued friend Now doe I loath this life in liuing alone without my deare Brother whereupon drawing his Sword from his side hée sayd Oh thou wofull Weapon euen thou shalt be the meane to ridde my soule from this prison of body Oh faith vnfaigned Oh hand of sacred friendship I am resolued both with the force of Heart Hand and Armes to giue my Heart deaths deadly wound for now my noble Fayerie Knight this blood I offer vp vnto thy Soule But being ready with his Sword to pierce his owne heart hée saw a liuely blood spread in his friends face and those eyes that were so dolefully closed vp began now to looke abroad and the countenance that was so pale and wan receiued a fresh complexion whereupon the Blacke Knight stayed from his desperate resolution and from a bloody tragedian became the recouerer of his brothers life who after a while began to be perfect sencible so binding his bruzed bones together they went a Shipboard on a Shippe that lay at anchor at the next Port making for England so the next morning the wind serued well the Pilots hoysted sayle merily floting on the waters Ten wéekes had not passed toward the finishing of a yéere before they ariued on the Chaulkie cliftes of England vpon which they had no sooner set footing but with their warme lippes they gently kissed the cold earth This is the Land of promised glory said the Fayerie Knight to finde this Land I haue indured many miseries to find this Land I haue passed many Countries and in this Land must I seale vp the last quittance of my life here shal my bones rest for I am lawfully descended from the loynes of an English Knight peace bee in my ende for all my dayes haue béene spent in much trouble In such like discourses left they the shore side trauayling further into the Land they met with one of King Arthurs Knights named Sir Launcelat Dulake so old and lame that through his bruises in chiualry hée séemed rather an impotent creature then a Knight at Armes yet at the sight of these two aduenturous Knights his blood séemed to grow young and hée that before could not march a mile on foote for a Kingdome now went as tiuely as any of the two other Knights did First came they to London where for their fathers sake they were by the Gouernours most gallantly entertained the stréets were hung round with Arras hangings and Tape strie workes Pagiants were builded vp in euery stréet the Condâ—nts ran with Wine and a solemne Holy-day was then proclaimed to be kept yearely vpon that day To speake of Banquets prepared for them the Tilts and Turnaments and such honourable graces I thinke néedlesse In London in great content stayed they some twenty dayes in which time came noble messengers from the Court to conduct them to the King that then raigned for since the Blacke Knight and his mother departed the Land hapned thrée changes euery one maintaining the ancient honour of King Arthurs Knights of the Round Table whereof these two in presence of all the Nobilitie were in Knightly sort created After this the King ordained a solemne Iusting to be kept in his Court held in great honour for fortie dayes to which Knightly sports resorted the chiefest flowers of Chiualrie from all Countries as Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses â—arles Lords and Knights and for chiefe Challenger and Champion for the Countrey was the Fayerie Knight who for his matchlesse man-hood therein showne had this title giuen him by a generall consent to bee called The Worlds Wonder After this being desirous to sée the Citie of Lincolne where the Red-rose Knight was borne hee in company of his Brother true friend the Blacke Knight and old sit Lancelat Dulake rod thither at whose comming into the Citie the great Bell called Tom a Lincolne was rung an houre which as then was seldome showne to any excepting Kings and renowned warriours returning victoriously from bloody â—attles Here builded they a most sumptuous Minster which to this day remaines in great magnificence and glory Likewise here builded they a most stately Tombe in remembrance of their Parents the like as then no place of England afforded Thus hauing left the noble feats of Chiualry they liued a life zealous and most pleasing to God erecting many Alms-houses for poore people giuing thereto great Wealth and Treasure And when nature ended their dayes they were buried in the same Minster both in one Tombe which likewise was so richly set vp with Pillars of Gold that aboue all otâ—er Cities it grew the most famous whereupon since that time hath this old Prouerbe of thrée Cities grâ—wn common which is vsed in these words Lincolne was London is and Yorke shall be FINIS R. I.
first gaue mee life Oh wicked wretch where shall I nowe hide my head for I haue slaine my selfe in killing her I haue staynde this Chamber héere with humane blood The Heauens abhorre me for this déed The World condemnes mée for this murther and Hell Furies will follow mee with shame and terrour The Gods are grieued Men me thinks â—â—ie my company dead Ghosts arise in my distresses I see my Mother comes with a brest bléeding threatning confusion to my fortunes Oh thou vgly Spirit cease to follow mée torment me not aliue for the wrath of Heauen is fallen vpon my head Dispaire where art thou I must finde thée out I will goe seeke thee through the world and if in the world I finde thee not I le saddle winged Pegasus and scale he mantion place of loue I will ransake all the corners of the â—kie I will throwe downe the Sunne the Moone and Starres then leauing heauen I will goe seeks for Despaire in the loathsome poole of Hell there in Plutoes Court will I binde blacke Cerberus vp in Chaines the triple-headed Helhound that Porter of Hell gates because hee let Despaire passe from thence In this frantike sort ranne he vp and downe the Chamber and at last with the nayles of his fingers hée fell to graue vpon the Stone walles the picture of his Mother imitating Pigmalion hoping to haue life breathed into the same Meane while the poore Indian with fleshlesse armes heaued vp towards Heauen and on his bare knées made his supplication to the Gods for the Blacke Knights recouery of his wittes Oh you angry Heauens quoth hee reuoke your heauy doomes forget this crime forgiue this vnnaturall murther pittie the state of this distressed Knight and send some meanes to recouer his senses Thou bright Lampe of Heauen thou eternall light although in iustice we haue deserued thy wrath yet let my prayers my neuer ceasing Prayers my heartes renting Sighs my déepe inforced Teares worke some remorce from thy incensed ire that either this Knight may recouer his lost senses or set him frée from death Thus in a zealous manner prayed the poore Negar desiâ—ing God to lay the Knights fault vpon his head and reclaime his vnbridled rage which Prayer was soone regarded by Heauen for the Blacke Knight had immediatly his madnesse turned into a sad melancholly and in a more gentle manner made his sad lamentations as you shall heate in the next Chapter But now the Negar that all the time of Anglitoras murther stood in a traunce beganne now a little considering the fright hee tooke at the Blacke Knights madnesse to summon againe together his naturall senses and perceiuing the vnchast Lady dead cold pale wanne lying weltering in her goare and the blood of her false heart shed by her owne child all besprinckled about the Chamber sayd as followeth Now quoth the Negar betwixt life and death haue you showne your selfe a dutifull Sonne and nobly reuenged the death of your Father These were the last words of the poore Indian which as then sâ—nke downe and neuer after breathed Thereupon came fâ—orth the Dwarffe of the Castle with great store of treasure proffering the same to the Blacke Knight who nothing thirsting after couetousnesse refused it and withall tooke the Dwarffe in satisfaction for the Negars death and crammed the treasure downe his throate and after buryed the two Seruants together in one Graue This being done he digged vp his Fathers body from the Dunghill and brought it to the Chamber where his mother lay and after in an Abby yard belonging to the Castle he buryed them both likwise in one Graue This being done hee knéeled thereupon and made his complaint in this manner CHAP. 7 Of the Black Knights melancholy lamentations ouer the graue of his Parents and of other things that hapned OH thricâ— happy for euer-more bee this ground that containes the bodyes of my vnfortunate Parents for this Earth hath receiued the swéete Darling of Nature and the onely delight of the whole World the Sunshine of Christendome and the glory of Mankinde Oh thrice happy be the grasse that from hencefoorth shall grow vpon this Graue let neuer Sithe touch it nor crafty â—urking Serpent with venemous breath or deadly poyson hurt it Let no Lyons pawes nor Beares foot tread vpon it Let no Beasres Horne in any manner abuse it Let no Birds with pecking nor créeping filthy Uermine no winters nipping Frost no nightly falling Dewes no rage of the parâ—hing Sunnes heate nor Starres haue power from Heauen nor fearefull Tempest nor horrible Lightning in any manner annoy it Let no Plough-man driue hither his weary Oren nor Shepheards bring hither their Shéepe least by the Bulls rage it bee harmed or by the harmelesse Shéepe it be eaten but let it for euer grow that the displaying thereof may reach to Heauen and may from hencefoorth this Graue be euer accounted sacred and may the Grasse bee euer sprinkled with swéet Waters Some good man vpon this Graue set a burning Taper that then for euery anguish of my heart I may beate my Breasts till my Fistes haue strucken the winde from my body and that my Soule may beare them company into Elizium Come you wanton fleshly Satyres Come you friendly Fawnes Come you Fayries and Dryades and sing swéet Epitaphes lift vp your voyces to Heauen and let your prayses bée in the honour of my Parents my selfe like a wan pale and dead man will beare you company I will wearie the World with my complaints I will make huge Streames with my Teares such Streames as no Banke shall barre such Streames as no Drought shall drye But alasse what doe I meane to repeate these seuerall lamentations since my deare Parents bée dead since from the world they are parted since they are buried without solemnitie since my delights are all inclosed in the Grounde yet will I still here make my complaints though no good ease comes thereby adding teares to teares and sorrowes to sorrowes Oh frowning Fortune Oh vnlucky Starres Oh cursed day that euer I did this déed for now no sence nor knowledge takes their vnsensible bodyes of my griefes in this Graue there is no féeling in Death there is no pittie taken Oh thou Siluannus thou commander of these Mountaines helpe mee poore helpelesse soule to shed teares for my religion for my deuotion and Countries sake helpe mee either let me haue some comfort in my sorrowes or let me in Death beare my Parents company Thou séest what Torments I suffer how my heart trembles how my eyes flow with teares how my head is with teares possest how my Soule is full of horrible anguish all this thou séest and yet it little grieues thée to sée it Oh thou churlish ground from hencefoorth cease any more to beare Fruit cease to be deck't with Flowers cease to be mantled in Gréene for the purest Flowers are withered Thy Garlands are decayed my deare Parents are too vntimely bereft of life their sweete bodyes thou
the English Knight and perceiued that he was firme in his purpose shée tooke leaue of him and departed for that time the Red-rose Knight likewise withdrew himselfe into his Chamber pondring in his minde a thousand imaginations But shée for her part was so troubled in mind and so wounded with the Darts of blinde Cupid that when the mistie darknes of night had couered the earth shee layd her downe vpon her bed where betwixt Shame and her Heart began a ferrible Battell Her Heart was incouraged that shée should goe and be with him but shame began to blush and withstood that perswasion by which meanes the battell was great and indured a long time but at last the Heart was conquerour and shame vanquished and put to flight in such sort that the faire Quéene arose from her bed and went and layd her downe by her beloued Knight where hée slept and being in the bed shée began fearefully to tremble for shame still followed her vnlawfull practises where after her quiuering heart began a little to be qualified with her trembling hand she awaked him and after spake in this manner My most deare and affectionat friend though like a carelesse wretch I come vnto thée apparelled with Shame yet let my true Loue colour this my infamous presumption for your Princely person and Kingly demeanours like Adamants haue drawne my stéeled Heart to commit this shamefull acte yet let not my feruent Affection be required with Disdaine and although you will not consent to be my wedded Lord and Husband yet let me bée thy Loue and secret Friend that a poore distressed Quéene may thinke her selfe happy in an Englishmans loue When the noble Knight heard the faire Caelias voyce and felt her by his side all naked hee was so sore abashed that hée wist not what to doe but yet at last hauing the nature and courage of a man hée turned to her vsing many amorous spéeches imbracing and kissing each other in such manner that faire Caelia was conceiued with Child and waxe great of a right faire Sonne of whom she was in processe of time safe ly deliuered as you shall heare discoursed of large in the following History But to be short during the space of foure Monethes the Fayery Ladyes lay with the English Knights and many of them were conceiued with their séede in such sort that the Countrey was afterward repeopled with male Children and what happened amongst them in the meane season I will passe ouer for this time for the dayes and nights that haue no rest passe on their wonted course in which time their Shippe was replenished with all necessaries and the Red-rose Knight summoned together Sir Launcelot and the rest and being assembled he sayd vnto them My good Friends and Countreymen you know that long time we haue soiorned in this Countrey spending our dayes in idle pastimes to the reproach of our former glories now my intent is within these thrée dayes to depart this Countrey therefore let euery man make himselfe in readines for there is no greater dishonour to aduenturous Knights then to spend their dayes in Ladyes bosomes When sir Lancelot and the other English Gentlemen heard the forward disposition of the Red-rose Knight they were all excéeding ioyfull and answered him that with great willingnesse they would all be ready at the time appointed But now when the Fayerie Ladies perceiued the preparations that the English Knights made for their departure they grew excéeding sorrowfull and complained one to another in most grieuous manner but amongst the rest the Quéene was most displeased who with a sorrowfull and sad heart came vnto the Red-rose Knight and in this manner complayned to him Alas alas my deare Lord haue yée that tyrannous heart to withdraw your selfe from me and to forsake me before you sée the fruit of your Noble person which is nourished with my bloud Deare Knight behold with pitie my wombe the chamber and mansion of your bloud Oh let that be a meanes to stay you that my Child as yet vnborne be not fatherlesse by your departure And in speaking these words shée began to wéepe and sigh bitterly and after to whisper secretly to her selfe in this order Oh you immortall heauens how may mine eyes behold the departure of my ioy for being gone all comfort in the world will forsake me and all consolation flie from me and centrariwise all sorrow will pursue mee and all misfortune come against me Oh what a sorrow will it be to my scule to sée thée floting on the dangerous Seas where euery minute perils doe arise ready to whelme thée in the bottomlesse Ocean and being once erempted from my sight my heart for euermore lie in the bed of tribulation vnder the coueriure of mortall distresse and betwéene the shéetes of eternall hewaylings Yet if there be no remedy but that theu wilt néedes depart sweare vnto me that if euer thou doest accomplish thy pretended boyage what it is I know not that thou wilt returne againe to this Country to tell mée of thy happy fortunes and thatmine eyes may once more be hold thy louely countenance which is as delectable to my soule as the Ioyes of Paradise When the Noble English Knight vnderstoode that the Quéene condescended to his departure vpon condition of his returne to which he solemnly protested if the Gods gaue him life and good fortune to performe her request whereby the Fayrie Quéene was somewhat recomforted And hauing great hope in the returne of her deare Loue thée ceased her lamentations And now to abridge the Story the time came that the valiant English-men should goe a Ship-boord vpon which day the Red-rose Knight and his followers tooke leaue of the noble Quéene and her Ladies thanking them for their kinde entertainements and so went to the Port of the Sea where they entred their Ships and so departed from the Fayrie Land After this when Caelia had borne her Babe in her wombe full forty wéekes she was deliuered of a faire Sonne who came afterward to be called the Fayrie Knight which for this time wée will not touch but referre it to the second part of this History CHAP. V. What happened to the English Knights after their departure from the Fayrie Land WIth a prosperous Winde sayled these English Knights many a League from the Fayerie Land to their great content and hearts desire where euery thing seemed to Prognosticate their happy Aduentures so vpon a day when the Sunne shone cleare and a gentle calme Winde caused the Seas to lye as smooth as Christall Ice whereby their Ship lay floating on the Waues not able to remooue For whilest the Dolphins daunc'd vpon the siluer Streames and the red gild Fishes leapt about the Shippe the Red-rose Knight requested Sir Lancelot to driue away the time with some Courtly Discourse whereby they might not thinke their Uoyage ouer long Unto which the good Sir Lancelot most willingly agréed And although hee was a Martiall Knight delighting to heare
the relentlesse sound of angry Drummes which thunders threats from a Massaker yet could hee like an Dratour as well discourse a Louers History therefore requesting the Red-rose Knight and the other English Gentlemen to sit downe and listen to the Tale that followeth The pleasant History which Sir Lancelot du Lake told to the Red-rose Knight being a Ship-boord AT that time of the yeare when the Birds had nipt away the tawny leaues and Flora with her pleasant Flowers had enricht the earth and encloathed with Trees Hearbs and Flowers with Natures Tapistrie when the golden Sunne with his glistering Beames did glad mens hearts and euery Leafe as it were did beare the forme of Loue by Nature painted vpon it This blessed time did cause the Grecian Emperour to proclaime a solemne Turnament to bee holden in his Couet which as then was replenished with many worthy and valiant Knights but his desire chiefely was to beholde his Princely Sonne Valentine to try his Ualour in the Turnament Many were the Ladies that repayred thither to beholde the worthy Triumphes of this young Prince amongst which number came the beautifull Dulcippa a Mayden which as then wayted vpon the Empresse being Daughter to a Countrey Gentleman This Dulcippa like Apollos Flower being the fayrest Uirgin in that company had so firmely setled her loue vpon the Emperours sonne that it was impossible to expell it from her heart Likewise his affection was no lesse in feruencie then hers so that there was a iust equality in their Loues and liking though a difference in their Birthes and Callings This Princely Valentine for so was the Emperours Sonne called entred the Listes in costly Armour most richly wrought with Orient Pearles his Crest encompassed with Saphire Stones and in his hand a sturdie Launce Thus mounted vron a milke-white Stéede hee vaunted foorth himselfe to try his warlike force and in prauncing by and downe hée many times thorow his Beuer stole a view of his sayre Dulciopas face at which time there kindled in his Breast two sundry Lampes the one was to winne the honour of the day the other to obtaine the loue of his Mistresse On the other side Dulcippa did nothing but report the valiant arts of his prowesse and chiualrie in such sort that there was no other talke amongst the Ladies but of Valentines honourable attempts No sooner was the Turnaments ended and this loue begun but Dulcippa departed to her lodging where sighes did serue as bellowes to kindle Leues fire Valentine in like manner being wounded to death still rometh vp and downe to finde a salue for his stanchlesse thirst so séekes Dulcippa to restore her former liberty for she being both beloued and in loue knew not the meane to comfort her selfe Sometime she did exclaime against her wandring eyes wished they had bin blind when first they gazed vpon the beauty of Princely Valentine Some times in visious the beheld his face chéerefull smiling vpon her countenance and presently againe shée thought she saw his martiall hands bathed all in purple blood scorning her loue and former courtesies With that shee started from her dreaming passion wringing her tender hands till flouds of siluer dropping teares trickled downe her face Her golden haire that had wont to be bound vp in thréeds of gold hung dangling now about her Iuory necke the which in most outragious sort she rent and tore till that her haire which before lookt like burnisht Gold were died now in purple and Uermillion bloud In this strange passion remained this distressed Lady till the Golden Sunne had thrée times lodged him in the Westerne Seas and the siluer Moone her shining face in the Pallace of the Christall Cloudes At this time a heauy slumber possessed all her senses for she whose eyes before in three dayes and as many nights had not shut vp their Closets was now lockt vp in silent sléepe lest her heart euer burthened with griefe by some vntimely manner should destroy it selfe But now returne wee to the worthy Valentine who sought not to pine in passion but to court it with the best considering with himselfe that a faint heart neuer gain'd faire Lady therfore hée purposed boldly to discouer his loue to the faire Dulcippa building vpon a fortunate successe considering that she was but Daughter to a Gentleman and he a Prince borne so attiring himselfe in costly Silkes wearing in his Hatte an In dian Pearle cut cut of Ruby red On eyther side a golden Arrow thrust through a bleeding Heart to declare his earnest affection In this manner went he to his belooued Lady whom he found in company of other Ladies waighting upon the Empresse who taking her by the hand he led her aside into a Galery néere adioyning where he began in this manner to expresse the passion of his loue Sacred Dulcippa quoth hee in beauty brighter then glittering Cinthia when with her beames shee beautifies the vales of Heauen Thou art that Cinthia that with thy brightnesse dost sight my clowoy thoughtes which haue many dayes been ouer cast with stormy showers of Loue Shine with thy beames of mercie on my minde and let thy light conduct me from the darke and obscure Laberinthe of Loue. If feares could speake then should my tongue kéepe silence Therefore let my sighes bee messengers of true Icue And though in words I am not able to deliuer the true meaning of my desires yet let my cause beg pitty at your hands Other wise your deniall drownes my soule in a bottomlesse Sea of sorrow one of these two most beautious Lady doe I desire either to giue life with a chéerefull smile or death with a fatall frowne Valentine hauing no sooner ended his loues oration but she with a scarlet countenance returned him this ioyfull answere Most Noble Prince thy words within my heart hath knit a gordion knot which no earthly Wight may vntie for it is knitte with faithfull Loue and Teares distilling from a constant minde My heart which neuer yet was subiect to any one doe I fréely yeeld vp into thy bosome where it for cuermore shall rest till the Fatall sisters cut our liues asunder And in speaking these words they kissed each other as the first earnest of their loues With that the Empresse came thorow the Gallerie who espying their secret conference presently nursed in her secret hate which shée intended to practise against the guiltlesse Lady thinking it a scandall to her Sonnes birth to match in mariage with one of so base a parentage Therefore purposing to crosse their loues with dismall stratagems and dryerie Tragedies shee departed to her Chamber where she cloked her treacheries vp in silence pondred in her heart how she might end their loues and finish Dulcippas life In this tragicall imagination remained she all that night hammering in her head a thousand seueral practises But no sooner was the deawy earth comforted with the hote beames of Apollos fire but this thirsting Empresse arose from her carefull bed
thy bounds and with the spoyles of forraigne Countries made thee the onely Prince of Kingdomes yet thou repayest me with disgrace and load'st mée with more contempt then my neuer conquered Heart can inture so kissing the ground with his warme lippes that had so long fostered him and with many a bitter teare and deepe sobbe like a Pilgrime as I said before hée tooke leaue of his natiue Countrey and so went to the Sea side where hee heard of his Wife and his Sonnes departure after whom as soone as the Wind conueniently serued hée tooke shipbord Where wée will now likewise leaue him to his fortune vpon the Sea and speake of the professed malice the Quéene prosecuted against Angellica the mother of the Red-rose Knight CHAP. 3 Of the wofull death of Angellica Mother to the Red-rose Knight and of the death of the iealous Queene and others THe beautious Angellica béeing left by her Sonne the Red-rose Knight at his departure in a Monestarie at Lincolne there to bewaile her former offences and for her youths pleasure in age to taste the bitter food of sorrow the day time shée spent in grieued passion 〈…〉 night shée wasted with sâ—ghs and heart-breaking sobbes shée fed on carefull thoughts her drinke was streames of salt teares her companions thoughts of her passed wanton pleasures her bed no better then the cold earth her sléepes were few but her comforts lesse her continuall exercise was with a Néedle to worke in silke vpon the Hangings of her Chamber how shée was first woed then won to King Arthurs pleasures in what manner their meetings were their wanton daliances his imbraces her smiles his Princely gifts her courteous acceptance and lastly the birth of her thrice worthy Sonne his bringing vp his honours in the Court and his strange discouerie all which shee had wrought as an Arras worke with silke of diuers collours in a peece of the purest Holland cloath In doing this twise had the golden Sunne runne his circumference about the world twise had the pleasant Spring beautified the Earth with her changable mantles twise had nipping Winter made the Fields barren and the Woods leafelesse and twise had the yeere shewed himselfe to all mankind in which time of twise twelue moneths euery day made shée a sorrowfull complaint for the wracke of Honour and her Uirginities losse which so willingly she surrendred in this time so greatly had sorrow and griefe changed her that her eyes which had wont like twinckling Diamonds to giue light to all affections were now sunke into their Cels and séemed like a hollow Sepulcher new opened her Face wherein Beautie her selfe dwelt and her Chéekes the true die of the Lillie and the Rose intermixt now appeared old and writhen like to the countenance of Hecuba when her husband King Priamus and all her Princely Children were slaine at Troyes destruction and her tresses of Gold-like Hayre which like to Indian Wyers hung ouer her shoulders were now growne more white then Thistle downe the Isickles of frozen Ice or the white mountaine Snow all these griefes of Nature had not age changed but the inward griefe of her carefull heart But now marke the wofull chance that hapned euen vpon the day which by computation she had in former times yéelded vp her Maydens pride and lost that Iewell that Kingdomes cannot recouer vpon that haplesse day came there a Messenger from the Quéene to bid her make preparation for death for â—â— that day should bee her liues end and her fortunes period which she most willingly accepted of and tooke more ioy thereat then to be inuited to a Princely Banquet Be not dismayde said the Messenger for you shall haue as honourable a death as euer had Lady seauen seuerall Instruments of death shall be presented to you for a choyse and your owne tongue shall giue sentence which of them you will die by whereupon this Messenger set this sorrowsull Lady at a round Table directly in the middle of a very large roome whereinto he had led her hung all about with blacke where being placed as to a Banquet or some solemne Dinner of State there entred seauen Seruitours in disguised shapes like vnto Murtherers with seauen seuerall deadly seruices in Dishes of siluer Plate The first brought in Fire burning in a Dish if shée would to consume her body to ashes The second brought in a Dish a twisted Ceard to strangle her to death The third a Dish full of deadly Poyson to burst her body withall The fourth a sharpe edgd Rayzor or Knife to cut her throat The fifth an Iron wracke to teare her body into small péeces The sixth a Dish full of liue Snakes to sting her to death And the seuenth an impoysoned Garment being worne that will consume both flesh and blood These seauen deathfull Seruitours hauing set downe their Dishes the least whereof brings present death shée was commanded by the Messenger which of them she should choose to die withall and to make spéedy choyce for he was sworne to the Quéene on whom he attended to sée it that day accomplished At these his words shée fell presently vpon her knées and with a courage readier to yéeld to deaths furie then to the mercie of the liuing Quéene said as follloweth Oh thou guider of this earthly Globe thou that gauest my weake nature ouer to a wanton life and from a Uirgin chast hast made me an infamous Strumpet thou that sufferedst only a King in Maiestie to preuaile against mée and with the power of greatnesse worme mée to lewdnesse for which I am now doomed to a present death and forced by violence to bidde this tempted world aâ—ue Inspire mee with that happy choyce of death as my Soule may haue an easie passage from my body First to dye by Fire to an earthly imagination séemes terrible and farre different from nature secondly to die with strangling cord were base and more sitting for robbers théeues and malefactors thirdly to die by deadly poyson were a death for Beasts and wormes that féeds vpon the bosome of the Earth fourthly to die by cutting kniues and slicing razors were a death for cattle fowles and fishes that dies for the vse of man fitly by an iron wracke to end my life were a barbarous death and against mans nature but seuenthly to die a lingring death which is a life consuming by wearing of impoysoned garments where repentance may still bée in company will I choose therefore swéet Messenger of my death doe thy office attyre me in these robes and the manner of my death I beséech thée make knowne vnto the Quéene tell her I pray thée I forgiue her and may my death bée a quiet vnto her soule for my life is to her eares as the fatall sound of night Rauens or the Mermaides tunes Uaine world now must I leaue thy flattering intisements and in stead of thy pompe and glory must shortly treade the dolefull march of pale death and this body that hath béene so pleasing
Womanhood Marriage Loue was forgotten their passed ioyes were as things neuer been not any thought of remorse remayned within her but shee more cruell then the new deliuered Bear or the Tyger starued for meate by the helpe of the Knight of the Castle tooke the Scarffe of Iewells sent her from him the same euening and by violence thrust them downe the Palmers throat by which meanes they bereaued him of life and without any solemnity due to so braue a man they buried him in a Dunghill without the Gate not shedding so much as one teare for his death so great was the 〈…〉 of this his 〈◊〉 full Lady The poore Negar they set vp to the middle in the ground so surely fastned that by any meanes he could not stirre from thence where wée will leaue him wishing for death The Red-rose Knight or rather the vnhappy Palmer in his vnchristian like Graue and the Knight of the Castle with the murtheresse Anglitora to their surfetting Banquets of sinne and returne to the Blacke Knight which had lost himselfe in the Woods CHAP. 6. How the Blacke Knight being lost in a wildernesse became a wild man how his Fathers Ghost appeared vnto him and in what manner hee slew his owne Mother BY this time the Blacke Knight grewe so naturall a Wilde-man as though hée had béene bredde in the Wildernesse for day by day hee sported with Lions Leopards Tygers Elephants Unicornes and such like kinde of Beasts playing as familiarly with them as in King Arthurs Court hée had done with gallant Gentlemen But marke how it hapned one day aboue an other Hee chaunched to walke downe into a Ually where hee set himselfe downe by the Riuers side and in humane complaints bewayled his owne estate how beeing borne and breed of a Princely Race discended royally should thus consume his dayes in sauage sort amongst Wilde beasts and by no meanes could recouer his libertie or frée himselfe from that solitary Wildernesse Being in this distresse of mind a suddaine feare assayld him his heart shiuered his haire stood vpright the Elements seemed to looke dimme a terrible Tempest tore vp huge trees the Wilde Beastes roared and gathered on a heape together Birdes fell liuelesse from the ayre the Ground as it were trembled and a sodaine alteration troubled each thing aboue him in this amaze sate hée a good time maruelling what would ensue at last there appeared as hée imagined the Ghost of his Faâ—heâ— newâ—y murthered with a countenance pale and wan with hollowe eyes or none at all gliding vp and downe before him casting such fearefull frownes as might make the stoutest heart in the world to tremble and at last setting himselfe before the Blacke Knight spake as followeth Fearenot my Sonne I am the Ghost of thy murthered Father returned from Plutoes hollow Region I came from that burning Kingdome where continually flames an euerlasting Furnace from the fearefull Pitte come I to thee for reuenge Oh thou my Sonne if euer gentle Nature were plyant in thy boosome if euer thou tookest pleasure to hearethy Fathers honours spoken of if euer thou desirest to haue thy life meritorious in this world take to thee thy neuer failing Courage and reuenge my death vpon thy adulterous Mother thy Mother now liuing in the filthinesse of shame making the Castle where shee now remaines in a lustfull stewes there was I murthered and there buried in a stincking Dunghill no man gaue mee Funeral teares nor any sorrowed for my death I that haue dared Death in the face and purchast Honour in many Kingdomes was slaine by my owne Wife by my néerest Friend by my second selfe by Anglitora by her whom the whole world admired for vertue Rise deare Sonne rise and hast thée to that Castle polluted with the shame of thy wicked Mother Rise I say and let the Pauements of that Castle be sprinkeled with their detested blood the blood of that Monster that hath not onely dispoyled my marriage bedde of honoured dignities but like a tyrant to her owne flesh hath murthered mee Sée how the angry Heauens as it were doe threaten my Reuenge hearke how Hell-Furies doe howle and roare for Reuenge my Wiues Adulterie at the hand of Heauen deserues Reuenge My bléeding soule Oh my Sonne wandreth in vnquiet paths till thou workest Reuenge my death and murther cries for Reuenge then feare not Sonne to act it for duty loue and nature bindes thée to it By Heauen and by that great immortall Throane of happinesse By that low Kingdome of eternall paines By the huge watrey Seas I past to follow her By Earth and by the Soules of all the mortall men that euer dyed I commaund â—haâ—ge and constraine thée to perseuere in this Reuenge Hence to that foule defamed Castle defamed by Adulterie defamed by Murther there to my Soule doe thy latest dutie there wound thy cursed Mothers breast there sacrifice her liues blood there appease thy Fathers Ghost insenst with furie so shall my Soule in ioy enter the Fields of faire Elizeum But if thou prouest coward-like and through feare deny to execute my glorious Reuenge from this day hence-forth shall my pale wan leane and withred Ghost with gastly lookes and fearefull steps pursue and follow thee These were the words of his Fathers Ghost and hauing spoken these words with a grieuous groane hee vanished At this his sodaine departure the Blacke Knight cryed with a loud and fearefull voyce saying My noble Father stay Oh stay thy hasty steppes once more let mee heare thee speake Whether flyest thou Oh let me heare thy voyce againe It will not be He is vanished and my Mother liues as a shame to all our generation Oh thou staine of woman-hood Oh thou bloody Lionnesse Oh brutish act Oh beastly desires Where shall I now finde a place to shed teares in for my heart is rent into tenne thousand pieces and the terrour of this déed is too intollerable Rest thou in peace sweete Father thou in thy life wert both wise and valiant thy vertue wisedome and manhood made the very enemies to loue thée Oh then what fortune hadst thou to die by the friendly trust of thy owne Wife my disloyall Mother thy neerest friend proud thy greatest enemie and by a Womans mallice that heart was killed that millions of Foes could neuer daunt Oh sweete Red-rose Knight most happy hadst thou been to haue dyed â—â— the Fields of bloody Warre and seal'd thy liues quittance â—moâ—est renowned Souldiers then had thy death béene more honorable my wicked Mother had not murthered thée nor I béen inforst to take such bloody vengeance as I intend deare Father for thy sake for let mée neuer breath one day longer nor view the next Mornings rising Sunne let mée neuer liue imprisoned in this Wildernesse let nothing prosper that 〈◊〉 I â—ake in hand and here let the worlde end if I cease to prosecute a mortall Reuenge as the soule of my Father hath commaunded Hereupon hée set forward toward the Castle