Saint George for England, allegorically described: by Gerrard De Malynes merchant

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR THOMAS EGERTON KNIGHT, LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEALE OF ENGLAND, Chamberlaine to the County-Palatine of Che∣ster, and one of her Maiesties most honorable priuy Counsell, G. de M. wisheth all health, increase of honor, and euerlasting happinesse.

THE inuented historie of S. George (right honorable and my singular good Lord) howsoeuer heretofore abused, may conueniently be applied to

these our dayes of her Maiesties most happy gouernement, wher∣in the beames of the Orientall starre of Gods most holy word appeare vnto vs most splendent and transparent, to the singular comfort of all faithfull. For wher∣as vnder the person of the noble champion Saint GEORGE our Sauiour Christ was prefigured, deliu••ring the Virgin (which did signifie the sinfull soules of Chri∣stians) from the dragon or diuels power: So her most excellent Maiesty by aduancing the pure doctrine of CHRIST IESVS in all truth and sincerity, hath (as an instrument appointed by diuine prouidence) bene vsed to per∣forme

the part of a valiant cham∣pion, deliuering an infinite nūber out of the diuels power, wherun∣to they were tied with the for∣cible chaines of darkenesse. In which sēse retaining S. GFORGE for England, not onely as the pa∣tron of the noble order of the garter, but as the head & patron of our eternall glorie, both those that be knights of that noble or∣der, and all other of what degree or calling soeuer, haue iust cause to reioyce, & to expect their de∣liuerance purchased by the spil∣ling of his most precious bloud, following him as our generall, & hearing only his voice sounding in his most holy word. For euen

as right soldiers hauing the signe of marching forwards giuen thē, do take vp all their trinkets: but hearing the note of battell, lay them downe againe, prepa∣ring and making themselues rea∣dy with heart, eyes, and eares, to execute whatsoeuer is by their generall commanded: So ought al Christians alwaies to be ready to abandon all worldly goods & honours, for to follow their said generall IESVS CHRIST chear∣fully & with courage, for they do heare the note of battell daily preached vnto them, vnder the most peaceable gouernement of her most excellent Maiesty. The due consideration of which pre∣paration

is the only & principall point that the noble knights of this renowned order are to study wearing the liuery of the holy crosse imprinted in their minds, as being true knights of Malta, to defend and aduance true reli∣gion, & the welfare of their coū∣trey: the prosperity of both being ouermuch hindered by the meanes of a cruell dragon, hath giuen me cause to explaine the same, and to describe the history of Saint GEORGE Allegori∣cally in this treatise, the dedi∣catiō therof properly belonging vnto your honor, whom her Ma∣iesty by diuine inspiration hath bene pleased to aduance to the

authoritie of that honorable place, where the crueltie of this dragō is qualified, & in some sort bridled: his operations & effects are tending to the ouerthrow of equality & concord, two things required in euery well gouer∣ned comonwealth; which being neglected, all policy of gouern∣ment is broken, concord within the realme amongst the seuerall mēbers of the same, and equality in the course of traffike between the realme and other countries. Pardō (my good Lord) my bold∣nes in publishing this testimony of good will and duty vnto your honor in these few words, seeing that so many are the honorable fauours receiued at your Lord∣ships

hands, that an Epistle dedi∣catory vnto a treatise cannot cō∣taine the same, vnlesse I would seeme to build a high steeple vn∣to a litle cotage. VVherefore hū∣bly commending this treatise to your iudicial eies & protectiō, & crauing pardō for my presūption proceeding from an affectionate desire to your honours seruice, whereunto before all men I ac∣knowledge my selfe bounden, I beseech the eternall God to in∣crease his graces in your L. that his glory may more thereby appeare, & multiply your daies as the dayes of heauen. London this 24. of May. 1601.

Your Lordships most humble and in all duty bounden, GERRARD DE MALYNES.