The extraordinary adventures of the seven champions of Christendom

II

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St. George of England.

t m&

STATIONERS HALL COURT.

V

THE

EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES

THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS

CHRISTENDOM.

BY RICHARD JOHNSON.

NEW EDITION, CAREFULLY REVISED.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDWARD H: CORBOULD.

GRIFFIN, BOHN & COMPANY,

STATIONERS' HALL COURT.

GLASGOW :

Preface

No Work, perhaps, has been more extensively read, and more generally appreciated, than " The Famous

HlSTORIE OF THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS OF ChRISTEN-

dome;" indeed, it is impossible to tell how much this extraordinary production of a comparatively unknown author, may have influenced the early literature of the country. It undoubtedly inspired the poet Spenser, — the first book of whose "Faery Queen" is founded on the first part of the " Champions ;" and it is generally believed that Shakspeare was as familiar with < this work of Richard Johnson as with those of Plutarch or Chaucer.

In the absence of any particulars of his life, we can only gather from the works attributed to him, that

VI PREFACE.

Richard Johnson was an author of repute, towards the end of the sixteenth or beginning of the seventeenth centuries. Although the " Seven Champions " is the work by which he is best known, he wrote or compiled several volumes of ballads and romances. The first part of the " Seven Champions " was probably published in 1576, and the second part some time before 1580.

The materials which Johnson has so skilfully worked up into a history, equally poetic and romantic, he doubtless found in the traditional tales and knighterrantry common in his day throughout Europe, and which have been largely drawn upon by the romance writers of other countries. There are occasional details and allusions in the original version, which, although, if judged by the standard of the period, they could not fairly be objected to, have been omitted in the present edition, as perhaps too coarse for the more sensitive modern reader ; and the work generally has been slightly condensed, where this could be done without affecting the continuity of the narrative.

It is believed that, in its present form, the "Famous Historie " will be acceptable to many who have but a

PREFACE. Vll

dim recollection of the fascination of its pages before the existing phalanx of modern novels had almost driven it from the field, and will be welcome reading to the youth of both sexes who have had no farther opportunity of making the acquaintance of its heroes than that afforded by the exploits of St George and the Dragon in the arena of an amphitheatre.

London, November, 1861.

CHAPTER I. Page

The strange and wonderful Birth op St George of England. His being Stolen from his Nurse by Kalyb, the Lady op the Woods. Her Love to him, and her Gifts. He encloses her in a Rock of Stone, and redeems six Christian Knights out of prison, 1

CHAPTER LT.

St George slays the Burning Dragon in Egypt, and redeems Sabra, the King's Daughter, from death. Is betrayed by Almidor, the Black King of Morocco, and sent to the Soldan of Persia, where he slew two lions, and remained seven years in prison, 9

CHAPTER ILL V St Denis, the Champion of France, lives Seven Years in the shape of a Hart; and proud Eglantine, the King of Thessaly's Daughter, is transformed into a Mulberry Tree. They recover their former shapes by means of St Denis's Horse, and travel to the Thessalian Court, ... 29

CHAPTER IV.

How St James, the Champion of Spain, continued Seven Years ~ Dumb for the Love of a fair Jewess, and how he would have been Shot to Death by the Maidens of Jerusalem ; with other thing3 which happened in his travels, . . 38

CHAPTER V.

V The terrible Battle between St Anthony, the Champion op — Italy, and the Giant Blanderon ; and afterwards op his strange Entertainment in the Giant's Castle by a Thracian Lady, and what happened to him in the same Castle, 48

CHAPTER VL V

How St Andrew, the Champion for Scotland, travelled into - a Vale of walking Spirits ; and how he was set at liberty by a moving fire. of his journey into thracia, where he restored the Six Ladies to their Natural Shapes, that had lived Seven Years in the likeness of Milk-white Swans; with other accidents that befell this most noble Champion, 61

CHAPTER YIL

How St Patrick, the Champion of Ireland, redeemed the Six ~ Thracian Ladies out of the hands of Thirty bloody-minded Satyrs, and of their purposed travel in a pursuit after the champion of scotland, , . . .71

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VIIL Page

How St David, the Champion of Wales, slew the Count Palatine in the Court of Tartary; and, after, how he was sent to the enchanted garden of ormandine, wherein, by magic art, he slept seven years, 75

CHAPTER IX.

How St George escaped out of prison in Persia, and of his fierce Battle with a giant ; also, how he redeemed the Champion of Wales from his Enchantment; with the tragical tale of the necromancer, Ormandine, 81

CHAPTER X.

How St George arrived at Tripoli, in Barbary, where he stole away Sabea, the King's Daughter of Egypt, from the blackmoor klng ; and how her fidelity was known by the means of two llons ; and what happened to him in the same adventure, 94

CHAPTER XI.

How the Seven Champions arrived in Greece at the Emperor's NUPTIALS, WHERE THEY PERFORM MANY NOBLE ACHIEVEments ; and how, afterwards, open war was proclaimed against Christendom by many knights, and how every Champion departed into his own country, .... 106

CHAPTER XII.

How the Seven Champions of Christendom arrived with all their troops in the bay of portugal. the number of the Christian Host. And how St George made an Oration to the Soldiers, 113

CHAPTER XIIL

Of the Dissension and Discord that happened amongst the Army of the Pagans in Hungary. The Battle between the Christians and the Moors, in Barbary ; and how Alhidor, the Black King of Morocco, was Scalded to Death in a Caldron of Boiling Lead and Brimstone, . . . 121

CHAPTER XTV.

How the Christians arrived in Egypt, and what happened to

THEM THERE. THE TRAGEDY OF THE EARL OF COVENTRY.

How Sabra was bound to a Stake to be Burned ; and how St George released her. Lastly, how the Egyptian King cast himself fp.om the top of a Tower, and broke his neck from grief for Sabra, , 131

CHAPPER XV.

How St George, in his Journey towards Persia, arrived in a

COUNTRY INHABITED ONLY BY AMAZONS, WHERE HE ACHIEVED MANY STRANGE AND WONDERFUL ADVENTURES, .... 157

CHAPTER XYL

How St George and his Lady arrived in Egypt; of their royal entertainment in the clty of grand cairo j and also how Sabra was crowned Queen of Egypt, . . . 167

CONTENTS. x i

CHAPTER XVII.

The Bloody Battle betwixt the Christians and Persians; and how the necromancer, osmond, raised up, by his magic art, an army of spirits to fight against the chris- TIANS ; how the Six Champions were enchanted, and

RECOVERED BY St GEORGE ; THE MISERY AND DEATH OF THE

Conjurer ; and how the Soldan dashed his brains against

a marble pillar, 168

CHAPTER XVIII.

t

How St George and his Companions were entertained in the Famous City of London ; and, afterwards, how Sabra was Slain in a Wood by the Pricks of a Thorny Brake. St George's Lamentation oyer her Bleeding Body ; her Solemn Interment, and the Costly Monument erected by St George. And likewise of the Journey the Seven Champions undertook to Jerusalem, to visit the Sepulchre of Christ, 186

CHAPTER XIX.

Of the adventure of the Golden Fountain in Damasco. How six of the Christian Champions were taken Prisoners by a Mighty Giant; and how, afterwards, they were Released by St George. And, also, how he redeemed fourteen Jews out of prison. With divers other strange accidents that happened, 191

CHAPTER XX.

Of the Champions' arrival at Jerusalem, and what befell them there; and afterwards, when they were almost Famished in a Wood, how St George obtained them Food in a Giant's House by his valour : with other matters of interest 205

CHAPTER XXL

What happened to the Champions after they had found an Image of fine Crystal in the form of a Murdered Maiden ;

when St George had a Golden Book given him, wherein

was written the True Tragedies of Two Sisters. And likewise how the Champions purposed a speedy revenge upon the Knight of the Black Castle for the Death of the two Ladies, 212

CHAPTER XXIL

Of the preparations that the Knight of the Black Castle made by Magic Art to withstand his Enemies; how the Seven Champions entered the Castle, and of their Furious Encounters therein ; how they were Enchanted into a Deep Sleep; afterwards, how the Castle was Surrendered to the Champions, 221

CHAPTER XXITL

how, after the christian knights were gone to bed in the Black Castle, St George was awakened from his sleep in the dead time of the night, after a most fearful manner ; and likewise how he found a knight lying upon a Tomb that stood over a Flaming Fire; as also of the Sorrowful Lady that came from under the tomb, . . 237

XU CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Of the Tragical Discourse pronounced ey the Lady tn the Sepulchre, and how her Enchantment was finished ey St George ; and how the Seven Champions of Christendom restored the Babylonian King unto his Kingdom, . 241

CHAPTER XXV. I

Of the Triumphs, Tilts, and Tournaments, that were solemnly held in Constantinople by the Grecian Emperor; of the honourable adventures that were there achieved by the Christian Champions, . 252

CHAPTER XXVI.

Of tre Praiseworthy Death of St Patrick; how he Buried Himself; and for what cause the Irishmen to this day wear a Red Cross upon St Patrick's Day, . . . .260

CHAPTER XXVII.

Of the Honourable Victory won by St David in Wales; of his Death, and the cause why Leeks are worn on St David's Day by Welshmen, c 263

CHAPTER XXVLTL

How St Denis was Beheaded in his own Country; and how, by a Miracle shown at his Death, the whole Kingdom of France received the Christian Faith, 267

CHAPTER XXIX.

Of the Splendid Church built by the Spanish Champion, St James, and of the Tyrannous Death the said Champion

ENDURED, 269

CHAPTER XXX

Of the Strange Sights beheld by the Italian Champion, St Anthony, and his honourable and worthy Death in the Chapel dedicated to him, .272

CHAPTER XXXI.

Of the Martyrdom of St Andrew, the Scottish Champion; and how the King euilt a Monastery at the place where he suffered, 274

CHAPTER XXXLL

Of the adventure performed by St George, and how he received his Death by the Sting of a Venomous Dragon. Of his honourable interment in the City of Coventry ; and how the King decreed the Patron of the Land should be named St George, 276

THE

SEVEN CHAMPIONS

CHRISTENDOM.

CHAPTER I.

The strange and wonderful birth of St George nf England. His being stolen from his nurse, by Kalyb, the Lady of the Woods. Her love to him, and her gifts. He encloses her in a rock of stone, and redeems six Christian knights out of prison. *

After the angry gods had ruined the capital city of Phrygia, and turned king Priam's glorious buildings to a waste and desolate wilderness, duke iEneas, driven from his native habitation, with many of his distressed countrymen, wandered about the world, like pilgrims, to find some happy region, where they might erect the Palladium, or image of their subverted Troy ; but before that labour could be accomplished, iEneas ended his days in the confines of Italy, and left his son Ascanius to govern in his stead. Ascanius dying, left the sovereign power to Sylvius ; from whom it descended to the noble and adventurous Brute, who being

2 BIRTH OF ST GEORGE.

the fourth in lineal descent from ^Eneas, first conquered this island of Britain, then inhabited with monsters, giants, and a kind of wild people, without any* form of government.

Thus began the island of Britain to flourish, not only in magnificent and sumptuous buildings, but in courageous and valiant knights, whose most noble and adventurous attempts in the truly heroic feats of chivalry, Fame shall draw forth, and rescue from the dark and gloomy mansions of oblivion.

The land was now replenished with cities, and divided into shires or counties ; dukedoms, earldoms, and lordships were the rewards of merit and noble services performed in martial fields, and not bestowed as bribes to enslave the state, or given to indulge the slothful pride and effeminacy of the flatterers of the prince.

The ancient city of Coventry gave birth to the first Christian hero of England, an%the first who ever sought adventures in a foreign land ; whose name is to this day held in high esteem through all parts of Europe, and whose bold and magnanimous deeds in arms gave him the title of " The valiant knight, St George of England, 5 ' whose golden garter is not only worn by nobles, but by kings, and in memory of whose victories the kings of England fight under his banner. It is the history of this worthy champion of our native country, that, by the assistance of the heavenly muse, divine Calliope, I have undertaken to write.

Before his birth, his mother dreamed that she had i conceived a dragon, which should cause her death. | This frightful dream she long kept secret, till the paL

ST GEORGE'S FATHER VISITS KALYB. O

ful thought grew so heavy, that she was scarce able to endure it ; so taking an opportunity to disclose it to her lord and husband, then lord high steward of England, sne struck such terror to his heart, that for a time he stood speechless ; but having recovered his lost senses, he answered in this sort :— w My dearest and most beloved lady, what art and science can perform, with all convenient speed shall be essayed ; for never will I close my eyes till I have found some skilful person, who will undertake to unfold the mystic meaning of these terrific dreams."

This noble lord, leaving his delightful partner in company with other ladies, who came to comfort her in her melancholy condition, took his journey to the solitary walks of Kalyb, the wise lady of the woods, attended only by a single knight, who bore under his arm a white lamb, which they intended to offer as a sacrifice to the enchantress. Thus travelling, for the space of two days,'4fcey came to a thicket beset about with old withered and hollow trees, wherein they were terrified by such dismal croakings of the night raven, hissing of serpents, bellowing of bulls, and roaring of monsters, that it seemed to be rather the habitation of furies than a mortal dwelling ; here was the dark and dreary mansion of the enchantress, Kalyb, lady of the woods, in the midst of which she took up her abode, in a lonely cave, which had a strong iron gate at its entrance, whereon there hung a brazen trumpet for those to sound who wanted audience.

The lord and knight, first offering their lamb with all humility before the postern of the cave, then casting off all fear, blew the trumpet, the sound of which seemed

4 KALYB STEALS ST GEOEGE.

to shake the very foundation of the earth. After which, they heard a loud and hollow voice utter the following words :

44 Sir Knight, from whence thou cam'st return; Thou hast a son most strangely born; A champion bold, from thee shall spring, Who'll practise many a wondrous thing; Return, therefore, make no delay, For all is true that here I say."'

This dark riddle, or rather mystic oracle, being thrice repeated in this order, so much amazed them, that they stood in doubt whether it were best to return, or sound the brazen trumpet a second time; but the lord high steward, being persuaded by the knight not to move the impatience of Kalyb, rested content with the answer she had given them, and, quitting the enchanted cave, made all the speed he could to his native habitation. In the mean time, his lady, being over-anxious with extreme pain and anguish, gave up her own life, to save that of her infant. On his breast Nature had pictured the lively image of a dragon ; upon his right hand a blood-red cross, and a gold garter on his left leg. He was named George, and three nurses were provided for him ; one to nurse him, another to lull and rock him asleep, and the third to prepare his food. But not many days after his birth, the fell enchantress Kalyb, being an utter enemy to all true nobility, by the help of charms and witchcraft, found means to steal away the infant from his careless nurses.

The lord high steward of England at this time returning, how were his expectations frustrated! he

DEATH OP ST GEORGE S FATHER. O

found his wife in her cold grave, and his son carried he knefr not whither. The news of these disasters for a yhile bereaved him of his wits, and he stood senseless.

He mourned many months for his loss, and sent messengers into every corner of the land to make inquiry after his son ; but no man was fortunate enough to return with happy tidings. He, therefore, storing himself with gold and many precious jewels, resolved to travel the world over, to find what he wanted, or to leave his bones in some remote rqpon. So leaving his native country, he wandered from place to place, without success, till, through care and age, his locks were turned to silver grey, and his venerable beard became like down upon a thistle: at length, quite wearied out with grief and fruitless toil, he laid himself down close by the ruined walls of a decayed monastery in the kingdom of Bohemia, and there finished his inquiry and his life together. The common people of the country, coming to the knowledge of his name by a jewel he wore in his bosom, caused it to be engraven on a marble stone, right over the place where he was buried. And there we will leave him to sleep in peace, and return to his son, still kept by Kalyb, the lady of the woods, in her enchanted cave.

And now twice seven times the sun had run his annual course since Kalyb had first in keeping the noble St George of England, whose mind often thirsted after honourable adventures, and who many times attempted to set himself at liberty; but the fell enchantress, regarding him as the apple of her eye, appointed twelve sturdy Satyrs to attend his person, so

6 KALYB FALLS IN LOVE WITH ST GEORGE.

that neither force nor policy could further his intent. She kept him not to insult over as a slave, nor triumph in his wretchedness, but daily fed his fancy with all the delights that art or nature could afford; for she placed her whole felicity in him, and loved him for his beauty. But he, seeking glory from martial discipline and knightly achievements, utterly refused her proffered love, and highly disdained so wicked a creature. Whereupon she, seeing how much he neglected her, drawing him to a private part of the cave, began thus to court him :

" Thou knowest, divine youth, how eagerly I have sought thy love, and how I doat upon thy manly charms; yet thou, more cruel than the Lybian tiger, dost reject my sighs and tears. But now, my dear knight, if thou wilt but love me, for thy sake I will show all the power of my magic charms, move heaven, if thou requestest it, to rain down stones in showers upon thy enemies: I will convert the sun and moon to fire and blood, depopulate whole regions^ and lay the face of nature waste."

Our noble knight St George, considering that love might blind the wisest, and guessing, by these fair promises, that he might find an opportunity to obtain his liberty, made her this answer:

"Most wise and learned Kalyb, thou wonder of the world, I will condescend to all thy heart desires upon these conditions: That I may be sole governor and protector of this enchanted cave, and that thou discoverest to me my birth, my name, and parentage."

She very willingly consented to these terms, and be<ran to answer his demands as follows: "Thou art

KALYB ARMS ST GEORGE. 7

by birth," said she, "son to the lord Albert, high steward of England; and from thy birth to this day have I kept thee, as my own child, within these solitary woods." So taking him by the hand, she led him into a brazen castle, wherein were imprisoned six of the bravest knights of the whole world. " These," said she, " are six worthy champions of Christendom: the first is St Denis of France, the second St James of Spain, the third St Anthony of Italy, the fourth St Andrew of Scotland, the fifth St Patrick of Ireland, the sixth St David of Wales; and thou art born to be the seventh, thy name St George of England, for so shalt thou be named in times to come."

Then leading him a little farther, she brought him into a magnificent building, where stood seven of the most beautiful steeds that ever eye beheld. " Six of these," said she, " belong to the six champions, and the seventh, whose name is Bayard, will I bestow on thee." Then she led him to another apartment, where hung the richest armour in the world ; there choosing out the strongest corslet from her armoury, she with her own hands buckled it upon his breast, laced on his helmet, and dressed him in the armour : afterwards bringing forth a mighty falchion, she likewise put it in his hand, and said to him : " Thou art now clothed in richer armour than Ninus the first monarch of the world. Thy steed is of such force and invincible power, that whilst thou art mounted on his back, no knight in the world shall be able to conquer thee. Thy armour is of the purest Lybian steel, that no battle-axe can bruise, nor any weapon can pierce. Thy sword, which is called Ascalon, was made by the b ST CxEORGE PUNISHES KALYB.

Cyclop?; it will hew in sunder the hardest flint, or cut the strongest steel ; and in its pummel there lies such magic virtue, that neither treason, witchcraft, nor any other violence can be offered to thee so long as thou wearest it.

Thus the enchantress, Kalyb, was so blinded by the love she had for him, that she net only bestowed all the riches of her cave upon him, but gave him power and authority, by putting a silver wand in his hand, to work her own destruction. For coming by a huge rock of stone, he struck it with this enchanted wand, whereupon it immediately opened, and exposed to view a vast number of young infants, whom the enchantress had murdered by her witchcraft and sorceries. "This said she, " is a place of horror, where nought is heard but shrieks and groans of dying men and babes ; but if your ears can endure to hear, and eyes behold them, I will lead you that way." So the lady of the woods, boldly stepping in before, and little suspecting any danger from the secret policy of St George, was deceived in her own practices ; for no sooner had she entered the rock, but he struck the silver wand thereon, and it closed in an instant ; and there confined her to bellow forth her lamentable complaints to senseless stones, without any hope of being released.

Thus this noble knight punished the wicked enchantress, Kalyb, and likewise set the other six champions at liberty, who rendered him all knightly courtesies, and gave him thanks for their safe deliverance. So providing themselves with all things suiting their generous purposes, they took their journey from the enchante.d grove. Their proceedings, fortunes, and heroical adventures, shall be shown in the chapters following.

Chapter II

St George slays the burring dragon in Egypt, and redeems Sabra, the king's daughter, from deaih. Is betrayed by Almidor, the black king of Morocco, and sent to the Soldan of Persia, where he slew two lions, and remained seven years in prison.

After the seven champions departed from the enchanted cave of Kalyb, they made their abode in the city of Coventry for the space of nine months ; in which time they erected a sumptuous monument over the remains of St George's mother. And at that time of, the year when Flora had embroidered the green mantle of the spring, they armed themselves like knights-errant, and took their journey to seek for foreign adventures, accounting nothing more dishonourable than to spend their time in idleness, and not achieve somewhat that might make their names memorable to posterity. So travelling thirty days without any adventures worth noting, at length they came to a broad plain, where stood a brazen pillar, and where seven several ways met, which the worthy knights thought a proper place to take leave of each other, and every one went a contrary road ; we will, for this time, likewise take leave of six, that we may accompany the fortunes of our English knight, who, after many months' travel by sea and land, happily arrived within the territories of Egypt, which country was then greatly annoyed by a dangerous dragon. But before he had journeyed far in that kingdom, the silent night outspread her sable wings, and a still horror seemed to cover every part of nature. At length, he came to a poor old hermitage, wherein he proposed to seek some repose for himself and

10 ST GEORGE ARRIVES IN EGYPT.

horse, till the rosy-fingered morning should again relaminate the vault of heaven, and light him on his destined course. On entering the cottage, he found an ancient hermit, bowing under the weight of age, and almost consumed with holy watching and religious tears, to whom he thus addressed himself :

"Father, may a traveller, for this night, crave shelter with you for himself and horse; or can you direct me to any town or village to which I may proceed on my journey with safety."

The old man, starting at the sudden approach of St George, made him answer :

" That he neednot to inquire of his country, for he knew it by his burgonet," (for indeed thereon were engraved the arms of England.) " But I sorrow," continued he, " for thy hard fortune, and that it is thy destiny to arrive in this our country of Egypt, wherein those alive are scarce sufficient to bury the dead ; such cruel devastation is made through the land by a most terrible and dangerous dragon, now ranging up and down the country ; the raging appetite of which must every day be appeased with the body of a virgin, whom he swalloweth clown his envenomed throat ; and whenever this hoi\ rid sacrifice is omitted, he breathes such a pestiferous stench as occasions a mortal plague. And this having been practised for twenty-four years, there is not now one virgin left throughout all Egypt but the king's daughter; and she, to-morrow, is to be made an offering to the dragon, unless there can be any brave knight found who shall have courage enough to encounter him, and kill him; and then, the king hath promised to give such a knight his daughter.

ST GEORGE COMFORTS SABRA. 11

life he shall have saved, in marriage, with the crown of Egypt after his decease."

This royal reward so animated the English knight, that he vowed he would either save the king's daughter, or lose his own life in so glorious an enterprise. So taking his repose that night in the old man's hermitage, till the .cheerful cock, the true messenger of day, gave him notice of the sun's uprise, which caused him to buckle on his armour, and harness his steed with all the strong caparisons of war, he took his journey, guided only by the hermit, to the valley, where the king's daughter was to be offered up in sacrifice. When he approached within sight of the valley, he saw at a distance the most amiable and beautiful virgin that ever eyes beheld, arrayed in a pure white Arabian silk, being led to the place of death, accompanied by many sage and modest matrons. The courage of the brave English knight was so stimulated by this melancholy scene that he thought every minute a whole clay till he could rescue her from the threatened danger, and save her from the insatiable jaws of the fiery dragon ; so advancing towards the lady, he gave her hopes that her deliverance was at hand, and begged her to return to her father's court.