the bells rang day and night, and ſo much banqueting, dancing and maſquing was uſed, as exceeded that which the Trojans made, when Paris returned from Greece, with the conqueſt of the Spartan Queen.
But this ſun-ſhine weather was ſoon overſhadowed with a cloud of ſorrow; for, in the interim of all their joy, there arrived at the court an English knight, who thus delivered himſelf to St George.
"Renowned Champion of England, if ever you expect to ſee your beloved lady again, make all the haſte you can unto her, who is adjudged to be burned to death at a ſtake, for murdering the Earl of Coventry; who, by gifts, entreaties, and allurements, fought to betray her of her honour, and by luſtful acts to ſtain her name with infamy, which your virtuous lady always withſtood: but at laſt, he finding her alone, and renewing his ſuit, with threatning of force upon her denial: ſhe, with kind words, lulled him asleep, and then ſheathed his own poinard in his breaſt, which on a ſudden bereaved him of life; for which fact ſhe is condemned to die the death aforeſaid: yet this favour is granted her, that if in two years ſpace, a champion be found, that for her ſake will venture his life; if he overcome the challenger, her life ſhall be ſaved, but if not, then ſhe muſt die."
Theſe words ſtruck a wonderful aſtoniſhment and ſorrow to all that heard them, eſpecially to king Ptolemy, who, in a deſperate mood, caſt himſelf from the top of a high pinnacle, and broke his neck. Whereupon St. George was immediately proclaimed, and ſoon after crowned king of Egypt; and then, leaving the Chriſtian Champions, he went into England, where he combated with the Baron of Cheſter, who was champion against the Lady Sabrine, whom he overcame in battle, to the great joy of the Engliſh knight and his beloved Sabrine, with whom he afterwards ſpent his life in much joy and felicity.
F I N I S.
