S. GEORGE  woodcut of Saint George and the Dragon   

THE Life and Death of the Famous Champion of ENGLAND, S. GEORGE.  
 woodcut of Saint George and the Dragon  
Printed for F. coals, T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson.   

THE Life and Death of the Famous Champion of ENGLAND, S. George.  
IN the Famous City of Coventry, situated near unto the heart of the kingdom of England. Lord Albert had a stately and sumptuous Palace accommodated with all those other varieties and delights which might satisfy the generous disposition of so noble a person. He was lineally decended from a Noble Family, and a man of an undaunted and unconquered spirit, in-somuch that whosoever beholded him could not choose but conclude him to be what he seemed a Noble Péer of Englands Realm. He was also highly honoured of the King, who bestowed his only Daughter on him for his wife, these two were the worthy Parents of this most Noble, Famous, and Victorious Champion S. George.  
He was born a Champion, for no sooner had nature brought him into the world but he proved an unfortunate Champion, his birth causing her death who gave him life: which sad and heavy chance was agreeable to a former Dream which his Lady Mother apprehended, who dreamed often for many nights together before the time of her delivery, that she brought forth a Dragon into the world, that should be the death of her that bare him: which constant dream caused some destruction in the distressed Lady, insomuch that she could not be quiet until she had revealed and published it unto her Lord, & withall requested him to consult with these Sages and Wisemen then living, what her dream might pretend? her loving Lord unwilling to deny any request that she should make, did post hast unto the Oracle and requested an interpretatio● of the dream, and to be informed what should happen upon the birth of this child; The Oracle willingly entertained his Petition, and returned an Answer in this manner.  
A Brave young Son to thee is born;  
Victorious shall he be, and scorn  
His prouder Foes the world that sees  
M●st needs applaud his victories:  
A Dragon that shall split in twain,  
His Mothers womb with extreme pain,  
For she shall die, but he shall live,  
And many victories acchieve:  
Return you may from whence you came  
For I have published his famed.  
Lord Alber having heard this Report from the Oracle, departed very heavy, and full of grief. for the hearing of his beloved Ladies death, was as full of grief unto him, as the news of his son could be of joy: but no sooner had he set footing again within his own Palace, but found the Oracles report to be too true, for though he had a son, yet he lost his wife. Vpon the breast of this son. Nature had Pictured the lively image of a Dragon, & his right hand a bloody cross and on his left leg a Golden Garter, whom Lord Albert his Father name George.  
No cost was spared for his Education, net●her was Nature defective in bestowing on him Strength and Courage, in so much that he was the onely Champion of those times, and never failed of carrying away the prise at Tilts and tournaments, he quel'd Savage men, subdued Monsters, overcame giants, Slaughtered Beasts, accomplished many unheard of and almost uncredible Acts, who when he had lived many dayes, and got many Victories, was at last conquered by Death, whose Death was much deplored both by Kings and people.  
The last valiant Act of his, which crowned both himself, and his other most Noble enterprizes with deserved honour was his killing that horrid Egyptian Dragon, who greedy of human blood, could not be satisfied until he had devoured all the Virgins in Egypt.  
Thus did the Dragons fury daily make one or other childless, so that there was but one Virgin left, only Sabrian the Princes, and ●n●ly Daughter to the King, who hearing that the Monsters fury would not be appeased so long as she was living, willing so free her Comitry, and that it might be safe, voluntarily and willingly casts her self as a prey to that unmerciful Monster. But S. George being at the same time in Egypt, and hearing the sad speeches, and observing the mournful carriage of the Egyptians, because it was Sabrians turn to be delivered, resolves to hazard himself, and either be the Dragons destruction to free the Lady and her Country, or to lose his life.  
The horrid aspect of the Monster struck S. George with terror and amazement, but being of an undaunted spirit he ventures the encounter, and directs his tried and well proved lance against his well proved sides, but all too little or no purpose, for that being not to be pierced, S George was almost quiter out of hope to wound his craly sloes, till at the last it so fortuned that S George struck the Dragon on the back, and whilst the Monster was opening his jaws to cast a venomous flood of deadly poison upon the Knight, S. George letting no opportunity slip, strikes his Iavelin down his throat, who was not to be pierced in any other part. By which brave act the Lady was saved, the country freed; the Monster slain; and St. George deservedly honoured of all, as you may see more at large in this ancient, proper, and approved Ditty.   

THE Worthy Deeds of St. GEORGE of England, and how he married the Kings Daughter of Aegrpt, whom he delivered from death.  
The tune is, Qu en Dido.  

OF Hectors deeds did Homer sing.  
and of the Sack of stately Troy  
What grief fair Hellin did him bring  
which was Sir Paris only joy:  
And by my Pen I will recite  
S. George's deeds an English Knight.   

Against the saracens full rude,  
fought he full long and many a day  
Where many giants he subdued  
in honour of the Christian way:  
And after many advantures past  
To egypt Land he came at last,   

And as the Story plain doth tell,  
within that Country there did rest  
A dreadful Dragon fierce and fell.  
whereby they were full sore oppest:  
Who by his poisoned breath each day  
Did many of the City slay.   

The grief whereof did grow so great,  
throughout the limits of the Land.  
That they their Wise-men did entreat  
to show their cunning out of hand.  
what way they might this Dragon destroy  
That did their Country so annoy.   

The Wise-men all before the King,  
framed this matter incontinent  
The Dragon none to death might bring,  
by any means they might invent,  
His skin more hard then brass was found  
That sword or spear can pierce or wound.   

When this the people understood,  
they cried out most marvelously.  
The Dragons breath infected their blood  
that they each day in heaps did die,  
Amongst them such a plague it bread  
The living scarce could bury the dead.   

No means there were as they did find,  
to appease the Dragons rage,  
But by a Virgin pure and kind,  
whereby they might his fury suage,  
Each ●ay he would a Maiden eat,  
For to alloy his hunger great,   

This thing by art the Wise men found,  
which truly must observed be,  
Wherefore throughout the City round  
a Virgin pure of good degree,  
Was by the Kings Commission still  
Took up to serve the Dragons will.   

Thus did the Dragon every day,  
a Maiden of the Town devour,  
Till all the maidens were worn away,  
and none were left that instant hour:  
Saving the Kings fair daughter bright  
Her Fathers only hearts delight.   

Then came the Officers to the King,  
the heavy message to declare,  
Which did his heart with sorrow sting  
she is( quoth he) my Kingdoms heir,  
O set us all be poisoned here  
Ere she should die that is my dear.   

Then rose the people presently,  
and to the King in rage they went,  
Who said his daughter dear should die;  
the Dragons poison to prevent:  
Our daughters alla●re dead( quoth they)  
And have been made the Dragons prey.   

And by their blood we have been blessed  
and thou hast saved thy life thereby,  
And now in justice it doth rest  
for us thy daughter so shall die:  
O save my Daughter( said the King)  
And let me feel the Dragons sting.   

Then fell fair Sabrine on her knees  
and to her Father then did say,  
O Father strive not thus for me,  
but let me be the Dragons prey;  
It may be for my sake alone,  
This plague upon the Land was thrown,   

'Tis better I should die, she said,  
then all your Subjecte perish quiter,  
Perhaps the Dragon here was laid,  
for my offence to work his spite:  
And after that he hath sucked my gore  
Your Land shall féel she grief no more   

What hast thou done my daughter dear  
for to deserve this heavy scourge?  
It is my fault as may appear,  
which makes the gods our state to grudge  
Then ought I die to stint the strife,  
And to preserve thy happy life.   

Like Mad men then the people cried,  
thy death can do to us no good  
Our safety only doth abide,  
to make thy Daughter Dragons food:  
lo h●re I am, I come, quoth she  
Therefore do what you will with me.   

Nay stay dear Daughter quoth the Qu●en  
and as you are a Virgin bright,  
That hath for virtue famous been,  
so let me cloath thee all in white  
And crown thy head with flowers sweet.  
And Ornament for Virgins meet,   

And when she was attired so,  
according to her Mothers mind,  
unto the stake then did she go:  
to which they did the Virgin bind,  
Who being bound to stake and thrall,  
Who said fare well unto them all,   

Farewell dear Father( then quoth she)  
and my sweet Mother meek and mildred  
Take thou no thought nor weep for me  
for you may have another Child:  
Here for my Countries good Ile die,  
Which I receive most willingly.  
  

The King & Queen with all their train,  
with weeping eyes went then their way,  
And let their daughter there remain,  
to be the hungry Dragons prey:  
But as she did there weeping lie,  
Behold S. George came riding by.   

And seeing there a Lady bright,  
fast tied to a stake that day.  
Most like unto a valiant Knight  
streight unto her did take his way,  
Tell me sweet Maiden then quoth he,  
What person thus a●useth thee?   

And lo by Christ his cross I vow,  
which he●e is figured on my breast,  
I will revenge it on his brow  
and break my lance upon his Chest  
And speaking thus whereas he stood,  
The Dragon issued out of the wood.   

This Lady that did first spy  
the dreadful Dragon coming so,  
unto S. George aloud did cry,  
and willed him away to go,  
Here comes that cursed Fiend, quoth she  
That soon will make an end of me.   

S. George then looking round about  
the fiery Dragon soon espied.  
And like a Knight of courage stout,  
against him he did fiercely ride,  
And with such blows he did him greet,  
That he fell under his horses feet.  
  

For with his Lance that was so strong  
as he came gaping in his face,  
In at his mouth he thrust it along,  
the which could pierce no other place:  
And here within the Ladies view.  
This mighty Dragon straight he slay.   

The savout of his poisoned breath  
could do this Christian Knight no harm.  
Thus did he save the Lady from death,  
and home he lead her by the arm;  
Which when King ptolemy did see,  
There was much mirth and melody.   

When as the famous Knight S. George  
had slain the Dragon in the field,  
And brought the Lady to the Court,  
whose sight with joy their hearts then filled  
He in the Egyptian Court had stayed,  
Till he most falsely was betrayed.   

The Lady Sabrine loved him well,  
he counted her his only joy,  
But when their love was open known,  
it turned to Georges great annoy:  
The Morocco King was in the Court,  
Who to the Orchard did resort   

daily to take the pleasant Air,  
for pleasure sake he used to walk  
under a wall where oft he heard  
S. George with Lady Sabrine talk:  
Their love he revealed to the King,  
Which to S. George great wo did bring.   

These Kings together did device  
to make this Christian Knight away,  
With Letters him Ambassador  
they sent him straight to Persia;  
And wrote to the Sophy him ●o kill,  
And traitorously his blood to spill.   

Thus they for good did him reward  
with evil, and most subtly  
By much vile means to work his death,  
to work his death most cruelly:  
While he in Persia a●ode,  
He quiter destroyed each Idol god.   

Which being done he straight was cast  
into a dungeon dark and deep,  
Where when he thought upon his wrongs  
he bitterly did wail and wee●:  
Yet like a Knight of courage stout,  
Forth of that dungeon be got out.   

And in the night three Horse-keepers  
this valiant Lnight by power slay,  
Although he fasted many a day,  
and then away from thence he flew  
On the best stead the Sophy had,  
Which when he knew he was full mad.   

Then into christendom he came,  
and met a giant by the way,  
With whom in combat he did fight  
most valiantly a Summers day:  
Who yet for all his Bats of steel,  
Was forced the stin● of death to feel.   

From or fly doom this valiant Knight  
with hands of warlike Souldiers past,  
Vowing upon those Heathen Lands  
to work revenge; which at the last,  
Ere thrice three years were gone & spent,  
He did unto his great content.   

Save only egypt Land he spared  
for Sab●ine bright her only sake,  
And ere his rage and did suppress,  
he meant a trial kind to make:  
ptolemy did know his strength in field;  
And unto him did kindly yield.   

Then he the Morocco King did kill,  
and took fair Sabrine to his wife,  
And after that contentedly  
with her S. George did led her life:  
Who by the virtue of her chain  
Did yet a Virgin pure remain.   

Toward England then S. George did bring  
this gallant Lady Sabrine bright  
An Eunuch also came with them,  
in whom the Lady took delight:  
None but these from egypt came,  
Now let me print S. Georges name.   

Wh●n they were in the forest great,  
the La●● did desire to rest,  
And then S George to kill a dear  
to feed thereon did think it best;  
Lest Sabrine with the Eunuch there,  
Whilst he did go and kill a dear.   

The mean time in his absence came  
two hungry lions fierce and fell;  
And tore the Eunuch presently,  
in pieces small the truth to tell;  
Down by the Lady then they laid,  
Whereby it seemed she was a Maid.   

But when S. George from hunting came  
and did behold this heavy chance,  
Yet for his lovely Virgins sake,  
his courage then he did advance,  
And came into the lions sight,  
Who ran at him with all their might.   

But he being no whit dismayed,  
but like a stout and valiant Knight,  
Did kill the hungry lions both  
within the Lady Sabrines sight:  
But all this while sad and demure,  
She stood most like a Virgin pure.   

Then when S. George did surely know  
this Lady was a Virgin true,  
His doleful thoughts that ere were dump  
began most firmly to renew;  
He set her on a Palfc●y stead,  
and towards England came with speed.   

Where he arrived in short space  
unto his Fathers dwelling-place,  
Wherein with his dear Love he lived  
when Fortune did his Nuptial grace.  
They many years of Ioy did see,  
And lead their lives at Coventry.    
FINIS:  

 woodcut of St. George  
 woodcut of merry-making minstrels