The famous history of the seven champions of Christendom St. George of England, St. Denis of France, St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, and St. David of Wales. Shewing their honourable battels by sea and land: their tilts, justs, turnaments, for ladies: their combats with gyants, monsters and dragons: their adventures in foreign nations: their enchantments in the Holy Land: their knighthoods, prowess, and chivalry, in Europe, Africa, and Asia; with their victories against the enemies of Christ. Also the true manner and places of their deaths, being seven tragedies: and how they came to be called, the seven saints of Christendom. The first part.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the preparation that the Knight of the Black Castle made by Magick Art, to withstand his Enemies, and how the Seven Champions en∣tred the same Castle, where they were Enchanted into a deep Sleep so long as seven Lamps burned, which could not be quenched but by the Water of an Enchanted Fountain.

THe wicked Leoger, as you have read of before, being the Knight of the Black Castle, and one that for Wealth and Treasure; surpassed mo•••• of the Potentates, when he grew de∣tested and abhorted in every Company, as well by Noble Knights

as Gallant Ladies, for ••ne spoil and murther of those three Uirgin Iames, whose pitiful Stories you heard in the two former Chapters, and fearing sudden Uengeance to fall upon his Head, he fortified himself strongly in his Castle, and with his Treasure hired many fu••••o••e Giants to defend it? wherein if they failed, and should chance to be overcome, he consorted with a wicked Necromancer, that he with Charms and Spels should work wonders in his Castle, which Magical accomplish∣ments we will pass over till a more convenient time, because I purpose to explain the History in good order to the Reader.

First, speak we of St. George with the other Christian Knights that came in revenge of the Shepherd and his unfortunate Daughter, who with good Success arrived upon the shore of the Island, where this wicked Leoger and the M••g••can had fortified their Black Castle in which Country the Champions like the invincible Followers of Mars, fearing no danger, nor the ••rowns of unconstant Fortune, betook themselves to the readiest way towards the Castle; in which Iourney they were almost ra∣vished with the pleasure of the Island, for entring into a narrow and straight Lane, g••rnishe•• on both sides with Trees of divers sorts, they heard how the Summer Birds recorded their plea∣sant Melodies, and made their sweet and accustomed Songs without fear of any Man to molest them. In which row of plea∣sant Trees that delighted them on both sides, there wanted not the green Lawrel, so much esteemed of learned Scholars, nor the sweet Myrtle tree, loved by Ladies, nor the high Cypress, so much regarded of Lo••ers, nor the stacely Pine, which for his flourishing height is called the Prince of Trees: whereby they judged it to be rather an habitation for Gods, and Goddesses, than a terrestial Country, for that the Golden Sun with his glister∣ing Beams did pass through those green and pleasant Trees without any hindrance of black Clouds, for Skies were clear as tryed silver: likewise the Western Wind did softly shake the shivering Leaves, whereby it made as sweet a Harmony as if they had been Ce••e••tial Cherubins: A thousand little stream∣ed Brooks ran upon the enameled Ground, making sundry fine Works by their ••rooked Tu••nings, and joyning one Water with another, with a very gentle meeting, making such silver Musick, that the Champ ons with the pleasure thereof were al∣most ravished, and smally regard••d whether their Horses went right or no, and travelling in this sort, they rode forward till they came into a marvelous great and wide Meadow, being

of such exceeding fairness, that I am not able with a Pen to paint out the exceliency thereof; whereas were feeding both wild and tame Harts, adorned with great and cragged Horns: like wise the furious wild Bore, the fierce Lyon, and the sim∣ple Lambs, were altogether feeding with so great Friendship, as on the contrary, by Nature they were Enemies.

Whereat the noble Champions were almost overcome in their own Conceits, and amazed in their Imaginations, to see so strange Love, clean contrary unto Nature, and that there was no difference betwixt the love of wild Beasts and tame, in this manner they travelled along, till upon a sudden they arrived be∣fore the Buildings of the Black Castle; and casting their Eyes towards the same, they beheld near unto the principal Gate, right over the Castle, twelve marble Pinacles, of such an ex∣ceeding height, that the Pyramids of Aegypt were very low in comparison of them; in such sort that whosoever would look upon them, was scant able with his sight to comprehend the height thereof, and they were all painted most gorgerously with several Colours. Down below under the Castle there was an Arch with a Gate, which seemed to be of Diamonds, and all was compassed about with a great Moat or Ditch, being of so great a depth, that they thought it to reach to the midst of the Earth, and it was almost two hundred Paces broad, and eve∣ry Gate had his Draw-bridge, all made of red Boards, which seemed as though they had been bathed all in Blood. Af∣ter this the Champions rode to the other side of this goodly Castle, wondring at the curious and sumptuous workmanship, where they espyed a Pillar of beautiful Iasper-stone, all wrought full of precious Stones of strange Works, the which Pillar was of great value, and was garnished with chains of Gold, that were made fast unto it by Magick Art, at which Pillar like∣wise hung a very costly silver Trumpet, with certain Letters carved about the same, the which contained these Words following:

If any dare attempt this place to see, By sounding this, the Gate shall opened be; A Trumpet here enchin'd by Magick Art, To daunt with fear the proudest Champion's Heart; Look thou for blows that enterest in this Gate, Return in time, Repentance comes too late.

The which when St. George beheld, and had understood the meaning of those mystical Letters, without any more tarrying, he set the Silver Trumpet to his Mouth, and sounded such a

vehemen•• bl••st, that it seemed to Eccho in the foundation of the Castle; whereas the principal Gate presently opened, and the D••aw bringe was let down, without the help of any visible hand, which made the Champions to wonder, and to stand amazed at the strange Accident; but yet intending not to return, like Co∣wards 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with a past of Wind, they alighted from their warlike 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and delivered them into the old Shepherd's han••s, to be fed upon the fragrant and green Grass, till they had performed the adventure of the Castle, the which they vow∣ed either to accomplish, or never to return: so lacking down their Beavers, and drawing forth their Keen edged Fauchions, they entred the Gates, and being safe within, the Champions looked round about them to see if they could espy any body, but they said nothing but a pair of winding Stairs, whereat they descended, then had not gone many steps, out therein was so great a darkness, that scarce they could see any light, so that it rather seemed the similitude of Hell, than any other worldly place, yet groping by the Walls, they kept their going down those nar∣row and turning Stairs, which were very dark, and at such length, that they thought they descended in the middle of y^e Earth.

They spent a great time in descending those Stairs, but in the end they came into a very fair and large Court all compassed with Iron Gates like unto a Prison, or a Pallace provided to keep untamed Lyons, wherein casting their Eyes up to the top of the Castle, they beheld the wicked Knight walking with the Ne∣cromancer upon a large Gallery, supported with huge Pillars of Brass; likewise there were attending upon them seven Giants cloathed in mighty Iron Coats, holding in their hands Bats of Steel, to whom the bold and venturous Champion of Eng∣land spake with an undaunted Courage and loud Uoyce in this manner, saying, Come down thou wicked Knight, thou spoyl of Virginity, thou that art invironed with these monstrous Giants, these the wondring works of Nature, whose daring Looks seem to scale the Clouds, much like unto the Pride of Nimrod, when he offered to build up Bavel's confused Tower. Come down I say, from they brazen Gal∣lery, and take to thee thy Armour, thou that hast a Heart to commit a Virgin's Rape, for whose Revenge we come; now likewise have a Courage is thy Defence, for we vow never to depart out of thy Castle, till we have confounded thee, or by thy Force be discomfited.

•••• which words he held his peace, expecting an Answer, where∣••••he wicked Knight when he heard these heroical Spéeches of St. Gorge, began to fret and fume like to a starved Lyon, famish∣•••• with hungar, or the cruel Tyger m••s••ing in humane Blood,

with a great desire to satisfie his Chirst, or like the Wrath of dogge•• Cerberus when as he feasted with Alcide's Flesh; even to raged Leoger the Knight of the Black Castle, throatning sorth fu∣ry from his sperkling Eyes, and in this ••••••e manner re-answered the noble Champion of England: Proud Knight (quoth be) or Pea∣sant, whatsoever thou art, I pass not the smallest Hair of my Head, for thy upbraiding me with thy unruly Tongue, I will return thy Speeches on thy self, for the Pavements of my Castle shall be sprinkled with thy cursed Blood, and the Bones of those thy unhappy Followers shall be buried in the sinks of my Channels. If thou hadst brought the Army of Crasar, that made all Lands to tremble where he came, yet were they but as a blast of wind unto my force; seest thou not my Giants which stand like Oaks upon our brazen Gallery? they at my Commandment shall take you from the places where you stand, and throw you over the Walls of this my Castle, in such fort, that they shall make you flee in∣to the Air, more then ten Fauchions high. And for that thou hast upbrai∣ded me with the disgrace done unto a Virgin, I tell thee, if I had thy Mother here, of whom thou tookest first the ayr of Life, my hand should spilt her Womb, that thou mightest see the Bed of thy Conception, as Nero did in Rome: or it thy Wife and Children were here present before thy face, I would al ridge their Lives, that thy accuried Eyes might be witnesses of their bloody Murthers, so much Wrath and Hare rageth in my Heart, that all the Blood in thy Body cannot wa•••••••• thence.

At which words the Giants, which he had hired to desend him from his Foes, came unto him very througly a••med with stur∣dy Weapons in their hands, and requested him to be qu••er, and to ab••••e his so intenled Anger, and they would fetch unto his presence all those braving Knights that were the occation of his Disquietness and Anger; and so without carrying for an answer, they departed down into the Court, and left the Knight of the Castle with the Magician, standing still upon the Gallecy to be∣hold the following Encounters. But when the Giants ap∣proached the Champions presence, and saw them so well por∣portioned and furnished, Knights of so gallant Statures, they flourished about their knotty Clubs, and purposed not to spend the time in Words but in Blows.

Then one of y^e fiercest and cruellest Giants of them all (which was called Brandamond) seeing St. George to be the forwardest in the Enterprize, and judged him to be the Knight that had so braved his Lord, he began with a stern Ceuntenance to speak un∣to him in this manner: Art thou that bold Knight (said the Giant) that with thy witless Words hast so anger'd the mighty Leoger the Lord of this Castle? If thou be, I advse thee by Submission to seek to

appease his furious Wrath before Revengement be taken upon thy Person. Also I do charge thee (that if thou wilt remain with thy Life) that thou dost leave thy Armour and yield thyself with all these Followers, with their hands bound behind them, and go and ask Forgiveness at his Feet: To which St. George with a smiling Countenance answered, Gyant (said he) thy Counsel I do not like, nor thy Advice will I re∣ceive, but rather do we hope to send thee and all thy Followers without tongues to the infernal King of fiery Phlegeton, and for that you shall not have any more time to speak such folly and foolishness, either re∣turn your ways from whence you came, and repent of this which you have said, or else prepare yourselves to a mortal Battle.

The Giants when they heard the Champions Resolutions, and how slightly they regarded their Proffers, without any lon∣gir tarrying they straight way fell upon St. George and his Com∣pany, intending with their knotty Bats of Steel to beat them as small as flesh unto the Pot, but the Quéen of Chance so smiled upon the Christian Champions, that the Giants smally prevail∣ed, for betwixt them was fought a long and terrible battle, in such danger that the victory hung wavering on both sides not know∣ing to whom it would fall; the Bats and Fauchions made such a noise upon one another's Armour, that they sounded like to the blows of the Cyclops working upon their Anvils: and at every blow they gave, fire flew from their s••etled Corllets, like spar∣kles from the flaming Furnaces in Hell, the Skies resounded back the ecchoes of their Strokes, the Ground shook as though it had been oppressed with an Earth-quake: the pavement of the Court was over spread with an intermixing of blood and sweat, and the Walls of the Castle were mightily battered with the Giants Clubs; by the time that glistering Sol, the days bright Candle, began to decline from the top of Heaven, the Giants (wearied in fight) began to faint, whereat the Christian Knights with more Courage, began to encrease in Strength, and with such vi∣gour affayled the Giants, that before the golden Sun had dived to the western World, the Giants were quite discomforted and ••••ain•• some lay with their Hands dismembred from their Bodies, weltring in purple gore; some had their Brains sprinkled against the Walls; some lay in Channels with their Intrals trailing down in streams of Blood; and some Ioyntless, with Bodies cut in pieces, so that there was not one left a live to withstand the Christian Champions.

Whereat St. George with the other six Knights fell upon their knees, and thanked the immortal Rector of all good Chance for their Uictory, But when the Knight of the Black Castle

which stood upon the Gallery during all the time of the Encoun∣ter, and saw how all the Giants were stain by the Prowess of those strange knights, he raged in great Wrath, wishing that the Ground might gape and swallow him, before he were delivered into the hands of his Enemies, and presently would have cast himself headlong from the top of the Gallery, thereby to have dasht out his Brains against the Pavement, had not the Necroman∣cer, who like wise beheld the event of the Encounter, intercepted him in his intended Drift, promising to perform by Art what the Giants could not do by Force. So the Necromancer fell to his Magick Spells and Charms, by which the Christian Champi∣ons were mightily troubled and molested, and brought in dan∣ger of their Lives, by afearful and strange manner, as shall be hereafter shown: For as they stood after their long Encounters, unbuckling their Armours to take the fresh Ayr, and their bloo∣dy Wounds received in their last conflict: the Magirian caused by his Art a Spirit in the likeness of a Lady of a marvellous and fair Beauty, to look through an Iron Grate, who seemed to lean her fair Face upon her white Hand very pensively, and distilled from her crystal Eyes great abundance of Tears. When the Cham∣pions saw this beautiful Creature, they remained in great Ad∣miration, thinking with themselves that by some hard Misfor∣tune she was imprisoned in those Iron Grates: at which this Lady did seem to open her fair and crystaline Eyes looking earnestly upon St. George, and giving a grsevous and sorrow∣ful Sigh, she withdrew herself from the Grate; which sudden departure caused the Christian Knights so have a great desire to know who it should be, suspecting that by the force of some En∣chantment, they should be overthrown: but casting up their Eyes again to see if they could see her, they could not, but they saw in the very same place, a Woman of a great and prince∣ly Stature, who was all armed in silver Plates, with a Sword girded at her Waste, sheathed in a golden Scabberd, and had hang∣ing at her Neck an ivory Bow and a gilt Quiver: this Lady was of so great Beauty, that she séemed almost to excéed the other, but in the same sort as the other did, upon a sudden she vanish∣ed away, leaving the Champions no less troubled in their thought than before they were. The Christian Knights had not long time bewailed the absence of the two Ladies, but that without seeing any body, they were stricken with such furious blows up∣on their Backs, that they were constrained to stoop with one Knee upon the ground; yet with a trice they rose again, and looking then to see who they were that struck them, they percei∣ved

them to be the likeness of certain Knights, which in great hast seemed to run in at a Door that was at one of the corners of the Court, and with the great Anger that the Champions re∣ceived, seeing themselves so hardly catrented, they followed with their accustomed lightness after the Knights, in at the same Door: wherein they had not entred three steps, but that they fell down into a day Cave, which was covered over in such sub∣••••le sort, that whoever did tread on it, straightway fell into the Cave, except he was advertized thereof before. Within the Cave, it was as dark as the silent Night, and no light at all appeared: but when the Champions saw themselves treacherously betray∣ed in the Trap, they greatly feared some further Mischief would follow, to their utter overthrow; so with their Swords drawn, they stood trady charged to make their Detence, against what∣soever should after happen: but by reason of the great darkness that they could not see any thing, neither discover wherein they were fallen, they determined to settle themselves against some∣thing, either Post, Piller, or Wall, and stoping about the Cave, they searched in every place for some other Door that might bring them forth out of the darksome Den, which they compa∣ted to the Pit of Hell.

And as they went groping and feeling up and down, they found that they did tread upon no other things but dead Mens Bones, which caused them to stand still, and not long after they espyed a secret Window, at the which entred a little clearness and gave some light into the Den, where they were, by which they espyed a Bed most richly furnished with Curtains of Silk, and golden Pendants, which stood in a secret Room of the Cave, be∣hung with rich Tapestry of a sable colour; which Bed when the Champions beheld, and being somewhat weary of their long fight which they had with the Giants in the Court of the Castle, they required some rest, and desired to sleep upon the Bed, but not all at one instant, for they feared some Danger to be at hand, and therefore St. George as one most willing to be their Watch-man, and keep Sentine•• in so dangerous a place, caused the other Cham∣pions to take their repose upon the Bed, and he would be as wake∣ful as the Cock against all dangerous Accidents, so the six Chri∣stian Knights repaired to the Bed, whereon they were no sooner laid, but presently they fell into a heavy inchanted Sléep, in such sort that they could not be awaked by any manner of violence, not all the warlike Drums in Europe if they were sounding in their Ears, nor the ratling Thunder-claps of Heaven where sufficient to recal them from their Sleeps: for indeed the Bed

was inchanted by the Necromancer's Charms in such manner that whosoever but sat upon the sides, or but touched the furni∣ture of the Bed, were presently cast into as heavy a sleep, as if they had drunk the juyce of Owaile, or the seed o•• Pop••••: where we will leave them for a time like Men cast into a Trance, and speak of the terrible Adventure that hapned to St. George in the Cave, who little mistrusting of their Enchantments, stood like a careful Guard, keeping the furious Wolf from the spoyle of the silly Sheep; but upon a sudden his Heart began to throb, and his Hair to stand upright upon his Head, yet having a Heart fraught with invincible Courage, he purposed not to awake the other Knights, but of himself to withstand whatsoever hapned; so being in these princely Cogitations, there appeared unto him as he thought, the shape of a Magician, with a Uisage lean, pale and full of wrinkles, with locks of black Hair hanging down to his shoulders, like to wreaths of envenomed Snakes, and his Body seemed to have nothing upon but Skin and Bones, who spake unto St. George in this despightful manner: In an evil Hour (said the Magician) camest thou hither and so shall thy▪ Lodg∣ings be, and thy Entertainment worse; for now thou art in a place where thou shalt look for no other thing but to be Meat unto some fu∣rious Beast, and thy surmounting Strength shall not be able to make any Defence.

The English Champion whose Heart was oppressed with ex∣tream Wrath, answered, O false and accursed Charmer (said he) whom ill Chance confound for thy condemned Arts, and for whom the Fiends have digged an everlasting Tomb in Hell, what fury hath incenst thee, that with thy false and devillish Charms thou dost prastise so much evil against travelling and adventurous Knights? I hope to obtain my Li∣berty in despight of all thy Mischief, and with the strength of this Arm to break all thy Bones in sunder.

All that thou dost and wilt do I suffer at thy hands, replyed the Necromancer; only for Revengement that I will take of thee for the slaughter of my Master's Giants, which as yet lie Murthered in the Court, and that very quickly: and therewithal he went invisibly out of the Cave: So not long after at his back he heard a sud∣den noise, and beheld as it were a window opening by little and little, whereas there appeared a clear light, by the which St. George plainly perceived that the Walls of the Cave were dasht with Blood, and likewise that the Bones whereon they did tre••d at their first entry into the Den were of humane Bodies, which appeared not to be very long since their Flesh was corn oft with hard and cruel Teeth; but this consideration could not long

endure with him for that he heard a great rushing, and look∣ing what it should be, he saw coming forth of another Den a mighty Serpent with wings, as great in Body as an Elephant, he had only two seet, which appeared out of that monstrous bo∣dy but of a span length, and each foot bad three claws of three spans in length, she came with mouth open, of so monstrous and huge bigness, and so deformed, that a whose armed Knight, Horse and all might enter in thereat: she had upon her jaws two tusks, which seemed to be as sharp as needles, and all her Body was covered with sharp scales of divers colours, and with great fury she came with her wings all abroad: St. George al∣though he had a valliant and undanted mind yet could he not choose but be troubled at the sight of so monstrous a Beast. But con∣sidering with himself, that it was then time and great need to have cour••ge, and to be expert and valliant for to make his De∣fence, he took his good cutting Sword in his hand and shroud∣ed himself under his hard and strong Shield, and carryed the com∣ing of that ugly Monster. But when the furious beast saw that there was a prey whereon she might employ her sharp teeth, she struck with her invenomous Wings and with her piercing Claws she griped, and laid fast hold upon St. George's hard shield, pretending to have swallowed whole this couragious Warriour, and fastning her sharp Tusks upon his Helmet, which she found so hard that she let go her hold, and furiously pulled at his Tar∣get with such a strength that she drew it from his Arm; With that the English Knight struck at her head a mighty and strong blow with his Sword, but in no wise it could hurt her by rea∣son of the hard Scales wherewith it was Covered, and though he gave her no Wound, yet for all that she felt the blow in such sort, that it made her to recoyl to the ground, and to fall upon her long and hideous Tail: then this valliant Knight made great hast to redouble his force to strike her another blow, but all was in vain, for that upon a sudden she stretched her self so high, that he could not reach her head: but yet kind Fortune so fa∣voured his hand, that he struck her upon the Belly, whereas she had no Defence with Scales, nor any other thing but Fea∣thers, whereout Issued such abundance of black Blood, that it sprinkled all the Den about.

This terrible and furious Serpent, when she felt her self in sore Wounded, struck at St. George such a terrible blow with her Tail, that if he had not seen it coming it had béen sufficient to have parted his body in pieces, the Knight to clear him self from the

blow, fell flat upon the ground; for he had no time to make any other defence: but that terrible blow was no sooner passed over him, but straight ways he recovered his feet, at such time as the furious Serpent came towards him. Here Saint George having a great confidence in his strength, performed such a valiant Exploit, that all former Adventures that have been ever done by any Knight, may be put in oblivion, and this kept in perpertual memory: for that he threw his Sword out of his hand, and can unto the Serpent, and caught her betwixt his Arms, and did so squeeze her, that the furious Beast could not help her self with her sharp Claws, but only with her wings she beat him on every side. This valiant Cham∣pion and noble Warriour would never let her loose, but still remain∣ed hoseing her betwixt his Arms concinuing this perilous and dan∣gerous sight, till all his bright Armour was imbrued with her be∣stial blood, by which occasion she lost a great part of her strength, and was not able long to continue.

Long indured this great and dangerous Encounter, and the in∣fernal Serpent remained fast unto the noble and valiant brest of the English Knight, till such time as he plainly perceived that the Monster began to wax faint, and to lose her strength. Likewise i•• could not be otherwise, but Saint George wared somewhat weary, considering the former sight he had so lately with the Gyant. Not∣withstanding, when he felt the great weakness of the Serpent, he did anima••e himself with courage, and having opportunity by reason of the quantity of Blood that issued from his Wounds, he took his trusty Sword and thrust it into her heart with such violence, that he clove it in two pieces: so this infernal Monster fell down dead unto the ground, and carried the Christian Champion with her, for that they were fast closed together; but by reason that the Serpent lacked strength, he quickly cleared himself of her Claws, and recovered his Sword. But when he ••aw certainly, he was clear from the Monster, and that she had yielded up her detested breath into the brittle Air, he kneeled down, and gave thanks to the happy Queen of Chance for his Delivery.

The venom was so great, that the Serpent threw out to infect the Knight, that if his Armour had not been of a precious vertue, he had been impoysoned to death.

After the Uictory was obtained, and the Monster dead, he grew very weary and unquiet, and was constrained to sit and cool himself by a Well, which was full of water, standing in a corner of the Cave, from whence the Monstrous Serpent first appeared and came ••orth. And when he found himself refreshed, he repaired to the Encham∣ed

bed, whereupon the other six Champions lay sleeping, and dream∣ed of no such strange accident that had hapned unto him, to whom he purposed to reveal the true discourse of all dangers that had befallen him in that accident.

But no sooner approached he unto that enchamed bed, and set him∣self down upon the one end thereof, and thinking to begin his dis∣course, but he presently fell into a heavy and dead slumber.

There will we leave them sleeping and dreaming upon the Eu∣chanted bed, not to be wakened by any means, & return to the Necro∣mancer, that was busied all the time of the Serpents encounter with Leoger, in burying of the dead Gyants, but he knew by his Art that the Serpent was slain, and likewise Saint George oppressed with a charmed sleep in company of the other Champions upon the Enchanted bed, from whence he purposed that they never more should awake, but spend the rest of their Fortunes in eternal sleeps.

Whereupon by his devilish Arts he caused Lamps to burn continually before the entry of the Cave, the properties whereof were so strange, that so long as the Lamps continued burning, the Cham∣pions should never be waked, and the fires should never be quench∣ed but by the water of an enchanted Fountain, the which he like∣wise by Magick Art had erected in the middle of the Court guarded most strongly with Sprights: and the water should never be ob∣tained but by a Uirgin which at her birth should have the form of a Rose lively pictured upon her breast.

These things being performed by the secrets of the Magicians skill, added such a pleasure to Leogers heart, that he thought him∣self elevated higher than the Towers of his dwelling; for he accoun∣ted no joy so pleasing unto his Soul, as to see his mortal Enemies captivated in his power, and that the Magician had done by his Art, than all the Knights in Asia could perform by Prowess. We will not now only leave the Champions in their sleeps, dreaming of no Mishap, but also the Magician with Leoger in the black Castle, spending their time securely, careless of all ensuing danger, and speak now of the old Shepherd whom the Champions at their first entering in at the Eates of the Castle, left to look unto their warlike Palfries, as they fed upon the green Grass: which old man, when he could hear no news of the Champions return, he greatly mistrust∣ed their confusion, and that by some treachery they were intercepted in their vowed revengement; therefore he protested secretly with his own Soul, if that for his sake so many brave Champions had lost their lives, never to depart out of those Fields, but to spend

his days in such sorrow as did that hapless King of Babylon, that for seven parching Summers, and as many freezing Winters was con∣strained to feed upon the flowers of the Fields, and to drink the dew of Heaven, till the hairs of his head grew as stiff as Eagles feathers, and the Nails of his Fingers like unto birds claws, the like extre∣mity he vowed to endure until he either re-obtained a wished sight of these invincible Knights (the Flowers of Chivalry) or else were constrained by course of nature to yield up his loathed life to the fury of those fatal Sisters. In this deep distress will my weary muse like∣wise leave this old Shepherd mourning for the long absence of the English Champion, and the other Christian Knights, and turn un∣to S. George's valiant Sons, whom we left travelling from the Queen of Armenia's Grave with her unhappy Daughter Rosana, to take revengment of her distoyal Land, being the Knight of the Black Castle, of whose villanies you have heard so much before.