CHAP. V.

How King Arthur besieged Copen-Hagen; and how at the intreaty of Geneura the Sister of the Danish King, he hearkened to an Accord.

THe Danes thus overthrown, the King incamped before the Ci∣ty, resolving to carry it by forte, and the next day prepared for the assault, resolving to march in the head of his Knights to win im∣mortal fame by his planting his Standard upon the Wall with his own hands, or to lose his Life; nor could the perswasion of his Nobles make him decline it: but as he approached the Wall, the Gates open∣ed, whereupon he supposed the foe intended to sally, but instead of armed men, there issued out a Troop of beautiful Ladies and in the front of them the beauteous Geneura Sister to Burnamissa the Danish King, whereat King Arthur much wondered, and commanding his men to stand in Battalia, with twelve Knights went to meet them, when as the Ladies approaching him, the fair and beauteous Princess fell at his feet, and bedewing the ground with tears, besought him to have compassion on her distressed Country▪ the King being moved at this unusual sight, in loving wise raised her in his Arms and had her be of good comfort, but the sorrowful Lady, whom tears made more lovely, refused all comfort unless he would grant her request, to which the King (overcome by compassion) consented, after a short pause if what she demanded might consist with his Honour; whereupon opening a Casket that one of her Ladies held, she first presented him with Iewels of great value set in Gold, and then intreated that an inter∣view might be had between him and her Brother; to which the King readily consented, as already feeling Loves pointed shafts pierce his high-prooffed Armour, and presenting the fair Princess with a Crown of Gold set with Pearls and Diamons, which he had taken in the Mercian War; as likewise her Lady with Iewels of great price; he dismissed them, and caused a Royal Tent to be pitched about a Furlong from the Uaunt-guard of his Army.