utmoſt aſſiſtance he could make appointing the bay of Portugal for their great rendezvous; and all with one general conſent, nominating St. George to be their general, whoſe valiant exploits and honourable performances, ſhall be diſcourſed of in the following chapter.
C H A P. IX.
AT the appointed time, the Chriſtian Champions with each one a well approved army, met in the bay of Portugal, the number of which joined together was about five hundred thouſand; unto whom St. George, their appointed general, made this following oration:
"Fellow ſoldiers and kind country-men, whoſe valour the world admires and dreads, we are now going into the field of honour, and to the work of manhood, the time is now at hand we have long looked and prayed for, and your work the nobleſt in the world pour forth, therefore, your utmoſt forces, that again to come may know what the lance, the ax, the ſword and the bow, can do in the hand of the valiant: fear not the numerous force of our enemies, whoſe number is rather a burthen than an advantage unto them, but know, your cauſe is the beſt, the defence of the Chriſtian religion, and your native countries, which will oppoſe all their vaſt numbers. Whoſoever therefore deſires riches, honours and rewards, know that they are all to be gotten by the overthrow of these miſcreants, who will fly before your valour, as flocks of ſheep before the greedy wolf."
This ſoldier-like oration put ſuch courage into the breaſts of the ſoldiers, that, with a general voice, they cried out, To arms, to arms, with the magnanimous Champion St. George of England,' in which gallant
