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 SEVEN CHAMPIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 CHRISTENDOM. 
 
 (Illustrated with Coloured Plates.) 
 
 St. Georgs encounters and kills a terrific dragon. 
 
 
 $© 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 Printed hv W. S. FORTE Y, Monmouth Comt. Bloomabury, W.C. 
 
 
HISTORY OF THE 
 
 SEVEN CHAMPIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 CHRISTEND ORT. 
 
 \St. George encounters and kills a terrific dragon. 
 
 In former times, very great while since, when there were giants, enchanters, 
 and magicians, who had power to do wicked actions, it was fortold, that seven 
 champions would arise in Christendom, whose renown for good and valiant 
 deeds should be spread through the whole earth. — The first of these heroes was 
 to be St. Denis of France, the second St. James of Spain, the third St. An- 
 thony of Italy, the fourth St. Andrew of Scotland, the fifth St. Patrick of Ire- 
 land, the sixth St. David of Wales, and the seventh, and moat famous of all 
 the valiant St. George of England. 
 
 Calyba, a great and most wicked enchantress, now trembled for the downfall 
 of her power, so she sent the evil spirits under her command to steal six of 
 these heroes while ihey wero yet in their cradles, and bring them to her brazen 
 castle. But she thought she would herself make sure of St. George, who was 
 born in Coventry, and son to the lord high steward of England ; for she was 
 much more afraid of him than of the others, as George had at the time of his 
 birth the marks of a green dragon on his breast, a red cross on his right arm, 
 and a golden garter mi his left leg. Galyba then made her aolf invisible, enure/ 
 
3 THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS. 
 
 the miriery ©f the lord high steward, and bore away the lovely sleeping babe, 
 leaving his parent* to die of grief for the loss of him. 
 
 Calyba kept all these youths in her castle till they grew to be men ; and 
 then the beauty of St. George's person, his manly figure, and pleasing manners, 
 won the heart of Calyba and she used all her arts to make him marry her. 
 
 One day she led him into a lofty stable, almost grand enough to be taken 
 ior a palace, where seven of the finest horses that ever were seen, stood in 
 seven stalls made of cedar wood, inlaid with silver ; one of them was even 
 finer and larger than the rest ; his hoofs were of pure gold, and his saddle and 
 bridle were adorned with precious stones. Calyba led this from the stall, aud 
 gave it to St. George: its name was Bucephalus. She then led St. George 
 into an armoury, where she buckled a noble breastplate upon him, placed a 
 helmet, with a lofty plume of waving feathers, upon his head, and gave him a 
 fine and sharp sword. When the young champion was thus armed for battle, 
 he looked so very handsome, that Calyba Gould set no bounds t© hci- love for 
 hira : so at last she put into his hand the silver wand which gave her all her 
 power, and told him to use it just as he pleased. 
 
 St. George knew, and hated the wicked actions of Calyba, so he took the 
 wand with a pleasure which he could hardly conceal. It was then about the 
 hour that Calyba used tn retire to a cave dug in the solid rock, to feast upon 
 the bodies of children that she had killed. St. George watched her, and when 
 he saw her enter the cave, he waved the watid three times and the rock shut 
 upon the wicked wretch for ever. 
 
 He then set ou<; fer Coventry along with the other six champions; and in 
 that time he built a grand monument to the memory of his beloved parents. %# 
 
 Early in the next spring, the seven heroes bade each other farewell, and they 
 all took different roads in search of adventures ; and St. George of England, 
 after some tiresome voyages and travels, came into Egypt. That country was 
 then in a most wretched state, on account of a dreadful fiery dragon, which 
 tainted the air with his breath in such a manner, that a plague raged through 
 all the land, and there were hardly people enough left alive to bury the dead. 
 For this reason the king had made it known, that if anv valiant knight would 
 come forward to fight with the fiery dragon, he should receive the hand of the 
 princess royal in marriage, and on the king's death should reign over Egypt. 
 
 When St. George heard this, he declared that he would Inmself fight the 
 the dragoo, for the sake of the princess and whole kingdom. 
 
 Early the next morning St. George set out to find the fiery dragon. He 
 had not gone far before he saw the princess Sabra, with some of her women, 
 who were loudly weeping for the cruel state of the country. Our hero rode up 
 to them, and told them he was resolved either to kill the dragon, or to perish 
 in the trial. The fair Sabra was struck with surprise on finding that a stran. 
 ger would engage in an attempt of so much danger, which the stoutest of the 
 Egyptian champions had shrunk from with fear: but she thanked him in a 
 proper manner, and, by St. George's advice, she went hack to her palace, to 
 wait for the issue of the great event. 
 
 As soon as our hero had reached the cave, the dragon seni forth such a 
 dreadful roaring as seemed to shake the earth, and at the first onset St. 
 George's spear was broken to pieces, and he himself was thrown from his 
 iorse. He then boldly drew his sword, and though almost stilled by the 
 monster'* noisome ereatb, he fought with such fury, that he soon felled bis 
 e nemy beneath his feet. At this moment the dragon spread his wings in order 
 
THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS. 
 
 St. Denis releases the lady from the mulberry- tree., 
 
 to take flight : but by so doing 1 , he showed a soft part of his skin, and S 
 George at ©nee stabbed him to the heart, The monster died with a horrid 
 groan, and St. George, having CHt off his head, rode back in triumph toward 
 the palace. 
 
 He had hardly reached the city, when he was basely set upon by twelve 
 armtd men, whom the king of Morocco (who courted the princess Sabra) had 
 hired to kill him. St. George *oon put these villains to flight; and when he 
 came to the court, he was treated with all sorts of honours, and the lovely 
 Sabra gave him a diamond ring, as a small mark of her esteem. 
 
 In spite of this failure, the Moorish prince still vowed to destroy or ruin St. 
 George. Jor this purpose he asked a private audience of the king-, and told 
 him, that St. George was an open foe to the religion of Egypt, and had tried 
 t« make the Princess a Christian. The king was so angry when he heard this' 
 that he declared St. George should not live any longer j but as it might no? 
 have been safe to put him to death in Egypt, where he had done such a great 
 service to the people in killing the dragon, he wrote a letter to the sultan oi 
 Persia, begging him to put the bearer, St. George, to death, as he was an ene- 
 my to the religion of Persia and Egypt. 
 
 St. George little thought of this deceit, so he took this letter to the sultan j 
 but as soon as he came into Persia he wai taken up, and brought before the 
 sultan, who had him thrown into a deep dungeon till a day should be fixed for 
 his death. 
 
 At the end of three days, two fierce and hungry lions were put into the dun- 
 geon ; but St. George having prayed to Heaven for strength, burst the cords 
 whieh he was bound with, and finding an old broken rusty sword in a corner 
 «>f the dungeon, he laid both the lions dead at hi* feet. 
 
 The sultan of Persia was amazed at this ; ard was a/raid ta put to death in 
 public the noble champion, so he kept him in prison, where we will leave him 
 at present, to look after the other champions. 
 
 St. Denis of France took his journey through Are&it. One day he sat down 
 » refresh himself under a mulberry-tree, and being v«ry hungry he plucked 
 
'■— ™ !■■■■—■ ■'■"--'»"— -—THMJmw—wimfflHHmamM 
 
 THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS. 
 
 St. James kills the largest boar that was ever seen. 
 
 some of the fruit; as soon as he tasted it he became very faint, dropped on 
 his hands and knees, and in a few minutes he found himself turned inte a 
 stag. This dreadful change filled him with great trouble he burst into a flood 
 ©f tears, and lifted his eyes to Heaven to beg relief in this bitter distress, think- 
 ing he should never get his proper shape again; when a mournful voice, like 
 that of a woman, came from the mulberry-tree, and spoke toh«rs in this man- 
 ner : — 
 
 " Brave Knight, like mine, your easei* hard, 
 
 Yet patiently endure; 
 Oh, trust in Heav'n, who will regard, 
 
 And sen »! atle ethacure. 
 Seven years are number'd as your doom, 
 
 All full of bitter woes; 
 Then shall you human shape resume, 
 
 By eating of a rose." 
 
 The champion of France was amazed at this, and felt his courage retun 
 He listened some time longer, but the voice spoke no more; and when he 
 thought of the long ^riod in seven years that must pass before he should have 
 his eun form again, deep sighs and groans burst from his bosom. His faith- 
 ful horse seemed to share his sorrow : he walked round and round his grieving 
 master; and even tore down some branches from the trees, to shield him from 
 the heat of the noon-day sun. 
 
 In this manner seven tiresome years passed away and on the morning when 
 the seventh was ended, St. Denis saw hi-s horse climb a steep rock, and bring- 
 down from the top three full-blown roses in his mouth. His master now 
 thought of the voice that had come from th« mulberry-tree, and he straight 
 ate one of the roses; immediately on which he found himself in his proper 
 shape While he w is givwie thanks to Heaven for this happy change, he heard 
 the orournfial voice in the mulberry-tree begging for liberty. St. Denis seized 
 his sword, and with one blow cnt the tree lo the «rott>iid, when he saw a hand- 
 some young ladr there, who told hian she was daughter to the king of Thessaly, 
 and that an enchanter had kept her in that place. St. Denis placed her . etaiud 
 him on horseback, and took her to her father's court, where she was treated 
 with «Twjr mark of gladness and lev*. 
 
THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS. 
 
 ' St. Anthony attacks and destroys a monstrous giant. 
 
 St. James of Spain, in the mean time, passed through Sicily, where he had 
 a dreadful fight with a fiery griffin, which lasted seven days and seven nights 
 but at last he killed it. He then continued his journey till he came to Jerusa- 
 lem As he drew nigh, he heard the sound of drums and trumpets, and beard 
 that the king and all his nobles were making ready to hunt the wild beasts, 
 with which the country was troubled ; and that the king would give a noble 
 reward to him who should kill the first boar. 
 
 St. James straight rode off to the forest, and before the king and his nobles 
 came, he had slain one of the largest boars that Was ever seen. The king got 
 down from his horse to salute him, and owned him worthy of the reward- but 
 when he heard that the stranger was both a Spaniard and a Christian, he' said 
 he should surely die, but gave him leave to choose his own death. He chose 
 to be shot by the hands oi" a virgin. 
 
 The Spanish champion was then bound to a tree, and his breast laid bare 
 to receive the blow; but none of the virgins who were called would do the 
 cruel deed. The princess royal above all was so much moved by the courage 
 of the gallant stranger, that she threw herself at her father's feet, and begged 
 him to repeal his dreadful sentence. The king granted her request, but de- 
 clared that if he ever should attempt to enter Palestine again, he should suffei 
 death. The princess then untied St. James; and gave him a rich diamond 
 ring as a token of her esteem. He took it with thanks, and got ready to 
 leave the kingdom of her erucl father. 
 
 After riding some miles, he alighted off his horse, to rest, in a shady forest 
 and there began to think that he ought not to have left a princess who 1W 
 saved his life. He at length resolved-to return, and to enter the palace as* 
 stranger, in want of employ. He did so, and was straight taken into the ser. 
 vice of the princess ■ and found means to male himself known to her, and to 
 persuade her to go away with him to Spain, where these faithful lover' 
 arrived in safecy. 
 
 Meantime St. Anthony of Italy pursued his journey till he came to a strong 
 «**tl«, m which a giant lived. In this eastle were seven daughters of the king 
 
6 
 
 TF1E SEVEN CHAMPIONS. 
 
 St. Andrew restores to their proper shapes the daughters of the king of Thrace, who had 
 
 been transformed into swans. 
 
 of Thrace, six of whom were changed into swans, and the other was forced to 
 sing the giant to sleep. St Anthony killed the giant and then made haste to 
 Thrace, to give the king news aboht his daughters. 
 
 St. Andrew of Scotland, in the course of his travels, came at length to this 
 castle, and found the king of Thrace calling to heaven in behalf of Ms daugh- 
 ters. St. Andrew toll the king, that if he would become a Christian, his 
 daughters should again appear in their own forms. The king was m a rage 
 at this offer, and ordered his knights tc attack the stranger, but he showed 
 such valour that he made them all submit to him. On this the king agreed 
 to become a Christian, and his daughters got their own shapes again. When 
 the king went back to his palace, St. Andrew left the country, and the six 
 young ladies set out to follow him, out of respect for the service that he had 
 
 done to them. 
 
 These royal ladies came to Ireland, where they met with thiny cruel wild 
 men, who dragged them through thorns and briers till the woods rung with 
 their cries. St. Patrick, who happened to be in this part of the country, 
 rushsd upon the wild men with such fury, that he killed many of thew, and 
 forced the others to save their lives by flight. 
 
 St. David of Wales went to the court of Tartary ; and showed such proofs 
 of his strength and courage, that the emperor made him his champion. The 
 emperor's son at length happened to be killed by the Welch champion in one 
 of the warlike games, which put the emperor into finch a rage against St. 
 David, that he resolved to destroy him, but thought it would be safest to do 
 this slily; so he told him to go through an enchanted garden, and bring him 
 the head of Ormandine the enchanter. St. David went boldly to the enchant- 
 ed garden where he found a sword chained to a rock, and on its handle was 
 written, " He that caw lift me up shall conquer all." St. David at once 
 grasped the sword, but in a moment he sunk upon the ground, and by the «rt 
 of the enchanter was thrown int© a sleep. 
 
 While the other champions were doing these great •xp.wte, St. Uforte et 
 
THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS. 
 
 7 
 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^3^, 
 
 mtrick rescues the daughters of the king of Thrace from t/u wild men of the woods t 
 
 England, after beiDg kept seven in prison, found means one night to break 
 out of his dungeon, and then went onward till he arrived at the garden of Or- 
 ruandine, where St. David had at that time slept seven years. Wken St. 
 Geo?g-e saw the enchanted sword, he seized it, and pnlled it up : the castle 
 then sunk into the ground, and the wicked enchanter was carried away with 
 it. After this, St. David went back to the court of Tartary, and St. George 
 went to Barbary. 
 
 St. George heard on his journey, that the king of Morocco and his nobles 
 were gone to enjoy the pleasure of hunting. He then put on a hermit's 
 gown, made haste to the palace, where a number of beggars were waiting to 
 receive alms from the fair Sa'-ra. St, George mixed with the crowd ; and 
 when he saw the princess, he slipped the diamond ring, which she had given 
 him, into her hand : she then led him into the hall, and gladly agreed to escape 
 before the tyrant should come back, who had long tried to force her to marry 
 him. Towards the evening of the same day, the princess and a Moorish sej- 
 vant contrived to meet St. George at the hermit's cave, where our champion 
 put on his armour. Then taking the fair Sabra behind him, and being attended 
 by the Moor, he gallopped off as quickly as he could, till he had got quite out 
 of the kingdom of BarDary. 
 
 After a tiresome journey, they found themselves near a large forest; and as 
 they were faint with hung-er, St George left his lady with the Moor, and went 
 boldly into the forest to procure so me food. He had the good fortune soon to 
 kill a deer, and returned with a haunch of venison ; but how greatly was he 
 shocked to fiud the Moor torn in pieces by two lions, and the creatures asleep 
 on Sabra's lap ! After getting the better of his first ahrm, he ran them through 
 with his sword, and gave thanks to Heaven for the safety of his beloved 
 princess. 
 
 St. George and his lady at length came to Constantinople, where a great 
 feast was held in honour of the emperor's marriage. In this city they had 
 the good fortune to meet the other six champions, who, after many strange 
 idrenturee, bad alto arrived at ConatarrtinopU with their ladies. *H«e the 
 
THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS. 
 
 St. David seizing the enchanted sword in the garden of Ormandine 
 
 Christian champions showed wonders of courage in war- like games, with the 
 knights of Greece, Hungary, and Bohemia. On the last day of these sports, 
 St. Georg"e of England came into the field on a beautiful black steed ; while the 
 lovely Sabra sat in a car of triumph, to be a witness of his noble exploits. 
 There was hardly any knight who would engage against the hero of England ; 
 and when at last some of them made trial of his strength, he threw down men 
 and horses with such ease, that the field was soon cleared, The heralds 
 crowned him with the garland of victory, and Sabra felt the highest pleasure 
 in hearing the shouts of all the people. 
 
 But while the Christian champions were happy in the friendship of the 
 emperor, and the enjoyment of their charming brides, the king of Morocco 
 and the pagan princes, whose daughters had followed these champions, de- 
 clared war against Christendom. On this the emperor of Constantinople 
 made peace with his other foes, and then begged the champions to depart from 
 his country. The Christian heroes and their ladies now left Constantinople ; 
 and agreed that every one should repair to his own land, and raise forces to 
 subdue their enemies. 
 
 When the cause of their return was known, such numbers of people flocked 
 to join them, that by the next spring they had an army ©1'five hundred thou- 
 sand men ; who chose St. George to be their leader. 
 
 The pagans got together an army still greater than that of the Christians; 
 but when they came to choose a general, they could not agree among them 
 selves, and the dispute rose to such a height, that the kings^of Persia, Etrypt, 
 and Jerusalem, soon drew off their armies, and went back into their own coun- 
 tries. Those who staid with the king- of Morocco, split into parties, and 
 fought a dreadful battle among themselves, with such fury, that the field* were 
 covered with dead bodies, and the rivers stained with blood. 
 
 The Christian army at last came to the borders of Ey*^>t; and when they 
 marched into the inner parts of that country, they found V>e villages and most 
 of the towns empty. St. Georgs was fearful that this vva« «nly a plan laid 
 to deceive him so he told his soldiers to remain in their ranks, and to have 
 

 ^66 
 
THE SEVEN CHAMPIONS. § 
 
 Aeir arms ready in case of a sudden attack. They then marched to the capi- 
 tal in perfect order, til. they came near the palace, when the gates were thrown 
 open on a sudden; and the king of Egypt, in deep mourning, walked forth at 
 the head of his nobles, and the great officers of the kingdom, with broken 
 swords and lances. On their coming near the Christian champions, they all 
 fell upon their knees, while the king in humble terms begged for peace. 
 
 St. George said he would freely forgive him, if he and all his nobles should 
 become Christians. The king gladly agreed to this, and made a promise of 
 his own free-will, that the crown of Egypt should belong to St. George and 
 Sabra after his death. 
 
 An English knight now arrived, and told St. George that his Sabra, who 
 had been left in England, was condemned to be burnt, unless some chan pion 
 •heuld appear to take her par 4 against her false accuser. 
 
 When St. Ge»rge heard this he set out for England, where he arrived on 
 the very iay fixed for Sabra's death. 
 
 The king of England caused the heralds to summon the accuser who came 
 forward on n proud steed, adorned with gold and precious stones. The laay's 
 champion was then called, and St. George rushed through the crowd, de- 
 manding that he might fight in her defence. 
 
 The heralds sounded a charge, and the two knights engaged. At the first 
 uoset, their spoars were broken into pieces, and men and horses were thrown 
 to the ground. The accuser leaped up, and struck so fiercely, that he cleft 
 his enemy's shield in two. St. George then put forth his strength, and smote 
 •ff the accuser's right arm, so that he sank to the earth, and died. 
 
 St. George now set sail with his beloved Sabra for Persia, which on reach- 
 ing, he found the other six champions had conquered. After completing their 
 conquest, the seven champions took shipping for England, where they were 
 received with every mark of joy. 
 
 WThe six champions t?hen embraced St. George ; and then set out u^ether 
 to return to their native countries, where they lived honoured and beloved, and 
 after their deaths their name* were enrolled among the saints of Christendtm,