CHAP. IX. How King Arthur (and his Knights) sayled to subdue Ireland, which he performed with great honour, converting that, and the adja∣cent Lands, to Christianity, and obedience to him and the British Monarchy.
GReat Spirits cannot be idle, the thoughts once fixed on honoura∣ble atchievements, and cherished with happy success, are ever bu∣sied in finding out this iewel, where ever it lie hid in the world: This is evident in our Christian Worthy, and his gallant Knights, who loathing to be backward in putting forwards Gods glory in the en∣largement of Christendom: and hearing that Ireland, and other people thereabout lived in heathenish Idolatry, and blind worship, not having the light of the Gospell as yet revealed to them; he raised an army to reduce them to the Law of Christ (and obedience to him,) with happy success this voyage goeth on, King Arthur and his Royal army, consi∣sting of no more but ••0000. depending on divine Auxiliaries, adventure upon this great enteprise, and arive happy in Ireland, where they find great opposition, yet overcome with small difficulty: The people by Nature rude and savage, as hardy as their Country is cold; yet these cold comforts nor the peoples frozen conscience, dismay not our undaun∣ted Britains, whose zealous fire is of force both to warme themselves, and to thaw their enemies hearts: a furious encounter they found at their entrance; for the barbarous Islanders were upon a sudden ranged into a body of above forty thousand, their King Malvasius (a renow∣ned and hardy Knight, famoused for many victories against the Laplan∣ders, and Finians) came himselfe in person before his souldiers boldly demanding a sight of, and speech with King Arthur, which (to his happy unhappiness) he soon attained.