A most excellent Ballad of S. George for England and the King's daughter of AEgipt, whom he delivered from death, and how he slew a mighty Dragon. The tune is flying fame.  
 depiction of George slaying the dragon  

〈…〉 ectors deeds did Homer sing.  
〈◊〉 of the Sack of stately Troy,  
〈…〉 fair Helen did them bring  
〈…〉 Paris only joy.  
〈…〉 st recite.  
〈…〉 knight  
 
〈…〉 ny a day,  
 
〈…〉 way.  
〈…〉 res past  
〈…〉 at last.  
〈…〉 doth tell,  
〈…〉 there did rest.  
〈…〉 Dragon fierce and fell  
〈…〉 were full sore oppressed.  
〈◊〉 by his poisoned breath each day  
●id many of that City slay.  
●he grief whereof did grow so great  
〈…〉 oughout the limets of the land.  
〈…〉 wise men did entreat  
〈…〉 out of hand.  
〈…〉 might this Dragon stroy  
〈…〉 Country so annoy.  
〈…〉 all before the King,  
〈…〉 matter incontinent,  
〈…〉 to death might bring,  
〈…〉 would invent  
〈…〉 hard than brass was found  
〈…〉 spear can pierce or wound,  
●hen this the people understood,  
〈…〉 out most piteously,  
〈…〉 breath infected their blood,  
〈…〉 heaps each day did die.  
〈…〉 such a plague 〈◊〉 bred,  
〈…〉 scarce could bury the dead.  
〈…〉 was as they could find  
〈…〉 this Dragon's rage.  
〈…〉 Virgin pure and kind  
〈…〉 reby they might his fury suage.  
〈…〉 he should a Maiden eat,  
〈…〉 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 King's commission still,  
Took up to serve the Dragons will.  
Thus did the Dragon every day,  
a Maiden of the town devour.  
Till all the Maids were worn away  
and none were left that present hour.  
Saving the King's fair daughter bright,  
Her father's joy and hearts delight.  
Then came the Officers to the King  
this heavy message to declare,  
Which did his heart with sorrow sting,  
she is quoth he my Kingdom's heir.  
O let us all be poisoned here,  
Ere she should die that is my dear.  
Then risen the people presently  
and to the King in rage they went,  
Who said his daughter dear should die  
the Dragon's fury to prevent,  
Our daughters all are dead quoth they  
And have been made the Dragon's prey.  
And by their blood we have been blest  
and thou hast sa 〈…〉 thy li●e thereby.  
And now in justice it doth rest,  
for us thy daughter so should die  
O save my daughter said the King  
And let me feel the Dragon's sting,  
Then fell fair Sabrine on her knee  
and to her father then did say,  
O father strive not thus for me,  
but let me be the Dragon's prey,  
It may be for my sake alone,  
This plague upon this land was shown.  
'tis better I should die she said,  
than all your Subjects perish quite,  
Perhaps the Dragon here was laid,  
for my offence to work this spite.  
And after he hath sucked my gore,  
Your land shall feel the 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 th●● the people cried  
thy death to us can do no good,  
Our safety only doth abide,  
to make thy daughter Dragon's food.  
Lo here am I & come quoth she,  
Therefore do what you will with me.  
Nay stay dear daughter quoth the Queen  
and as thou art a Virgin bright.  
That hast for Virtue famous been,  
so let me  thee all in white.  
And crown thy head with flowers sweet,  
An Ornament for Virgins meet.  
And when she was attired so,  
according to her mother's mind,  
Unto the stake than did she go.  
to which they did this Virgin bind,  
Who being bound to stake and thrall,  
She bad farewell unto them all.  
Farewell dear father than quoth she,  
and my sweet mother meek and mild,  
Take you no thought nor weep for me,  
for you may have another ch●ld.  
Here for my Country's good I'll die,  
Which I receive most willingly.  
The King and Queen withá●l their train  
with weeping eyes went then their way,  
And let their daughter there remain  
to be the hungry Dragon's prey,  
But as she did there weeping lie,  
Behold St. George came riding by.  
And seeing there a Lady bright,  
fast tied to the stake that day.  
Most like unto a valiant knight,  
strait unto her did take his way,  
Tell me sweet Maiden than quoth he,  
What person thus abused thee.  
And lo by Christ his cross I ●ow,  
which here is figured on my breast,  
I will revenge it on his brow,  
and break my lance upon his crest.  
And speaking thus whereas he stood,  
The Dragon issued out of the wood.  
The Lady that did first espy  
The Dreadful Dragon coming so  
Unto St. 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  
St. 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 〈◊〉 his horse feet.   

FOr with a Lance that was so strong  
as he came gaping in his face,  
In at his mouth he thrust it long  
the which could pierce no other place.  
And there within this Ladies view  
This Dreadful Dragon than he slew.  
The savour of his poisoned breath  
could do this Christian knight no harm  
Thus did he save the Lady from death.  
and home he led her by the arm.  
Which when Ptolemy did see,  
There was great mirth and melody.  
When as the famous knight St. George,  
had slain the Dragon in the field,  
And brought the Lady to the Court  
whose sight with joy their hearts filled.  
He in the Egyptian Court then stayed  
Till he most falsely was betrayed.  
The Lady Sabrine loved him well  
he counted her his only joy.  
But when their lov● was open known  
it proved to George's great annoy.  
The Morocco King was in the Court,  
Who to the Orchard did resort,  
Daily to take the pleasant Air,  
for pleasure's sake he used to walk,  
Under a wall whereas he heard  
St. George with Lady Sabrine talk.  
Their love he revealed to the King,  
Which to St. George great woe did bring.  
These kings together did devise,  
to make this Christian knight away,  
With letter's him Ambassador  
they strait way sent to Persia.  
And wrought to Sophy him to kill,  
And tra●●erously his blood to spill.  
Thus they for good did him reward  
with evil and most subtly,  
By much vile means they did devise  
to work his death most cruelly.  
While he in Persia abode,  
He quite destroyed each Idol God.  
Which being done he strait was cast  
into a Dungeon dark and deep  
But when he thought upon his wrong,  
he bitterly did wail and weep.  
Yet like a knight of courage stout,  
Forth of the Dungeon he got out.  
And in the night three housekeepers  
this valiant knight by power slew,  
Although he fasted many a day.  
and then away from thence he flew.  
On the best steed the Sophy had,  
Which when he knew he was full sad.  
Then into Christ●ndome he came  
and met a Giant by the way,  
With whom in combat he did fight,  
most valiantly a Summer's day,  
Who yet for all his bats of steel,  
Was forced the sting of death to feel.  
From Ch●istendome this valiant knight  
then with 〈…〉  
Vowing upon those heathen Lands  
to work revenge which at the last  
E'er thrice three years was gone and spent  
He did 〈…〉 great 〈◊〉.  
Save only AEgipt land he spared,  
for S●brine bright her only sake  
And ere his rage he did suppress,  
he meant a trial kind to make,  
P●olomy 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 St. George did lead his life.  
Who by the Virtue of her chain,  
Did still a Virgin pure remain.  
To England then St. George did bring,  
this gallant Lady Sabrine bright,  
An Eunuch also came with him  
in whom the Lady did delight.  
None but those three from AEgipt came,  
Now let me print St. George's fame.  
When they were in the Forest great  
the Lady did desire to rest,  
And then St George to kill a Dear.  
to feed thereon did think it best,  
Left Sabrine and the Eunuch there,  
While 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 than they laid,  
Whereby it seems she was a Maid.  
But when St. George from hunting came,  
and did behold this heavy chance,  
Yet for his lovely Virgin pure.  
his courage than he did advance.  
And came into the Lion's sight.  
Who ran at him withal their might.  
But he being no whit daymaid,  
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 there like a Virgin pure,  
Then when St. George did truly know  
this Lady was a Virgin pure,  
His doleful thoughts that ere was dumb  
begins most firmly to renew,  
He set her on a paltry steed,  
And towards England came with speed  
Where he arrived 〈◊〉 short while,  
unto his Father's dwelling place,  
Where with his dearest love he lived,  
when fortune did their Nuptials grace,  
They many years of joy did see,  
And led their lives at Coventry,    

printed for F. Coles, T. Vere and W. Gilbertson.