[A Mo]st excellent ballad of S. George for England and the kings daugh[ter of] Ægyipt, whom he delivered from death, and how he slew a mighty dragon. The tune is Flying fame.

A most excellent Ballad of S. George for England and the Kings 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 déeds 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 opprest . 〈◊〉 by his poysoned 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 intreat 〈…〉 out of hand . 〈…〉 might this Dragon stroy 〈…〉 Country so annoy . 〈…〉 all before the King , 〈…〉 matter incontinent , 〈…〉 to death might bring , 〈…〉 would invent 〈…〉 hard then brasse was found 〈…〉 spear can pierce or w●und , ●hen this the people understood , 〈…〉 out most pitteously , 〈…〉 breath infected their blood , 〈…〉 heaps each day did dye . 〈…〉 such a plague 〈◊〉 bred , 〈…〉 scarce could bury the dead . 〈…〉 was as they could find 〈…〉 this Dragons rage . 〈…〉 Virgin pure and kind 〈…〉 reby they might his fury swage . 〈…〉 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 degrée . 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 Maids were worn away and none were left that present hour . Saving the Kings fair daughter bright , Her fathers 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 Kingdomes heir . O let us all be poysoned here , Ere she should dye that is my dear . Then rose the people presently and to the King in rage they went , Who said his daughter dear should dye the Dragons fury to prevent , Our daughters all are dead quoth they And have bin made the Dragons prey . And by their blood we have béen blest and thou hast sa 〈…〉 thy li●e thereby . And now in justice it doth rest , for us thy daughter so should dye O save my daughter said the King And let me féel the Dragons sting , Then fell fair Sabrine on her knée 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 this land was shown . T is better I should dye she said , then all your Subjects perish quite , Perhaps the Dragon here was laid , for my offence to work this spight . And after he hath suckt my gore , Your land shall féel 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 dye to stint the strife , And to preserve thy happy life . Like mad men th●● the people cry'd thy death to us can do no good , Our safety only doth abide , to make thy daughter Dragons food . Lo here am I & come quoth she , Therefore do what you will with me . Nay stay dear daughter quoth the Quéen and as thou art a Virgin bright . That hast for Vertue famous béen , so let me cloath thée all in white . And crown thy head with flowers swéet , An Ornament for Virgins méet . And when she was attired so , according to her mothers mind , Vnto the stake then 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 then quoth she , and my swéet mother méek and mild , Take you no thought nor wéep for me , for you may have another ch●ld . Here for my Countryes good I le dye , Which I receive most willingly . The King and Quéen withá●l their train with wéeping eyes went then their way , And let their daughter there remain to be the hungry Dragons prey , But as she did there wéeping lye , Behold St. George came riding by . And séeing there a Lady bright , fast tyed to the stake that day . Most like unto a valiant knight , straight unto her did take his way , Tell me swéet Maiden then quoth he , What person thus abused thée . And lo by Christ his crosse I ●ow , which here is figured on my brest , 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 Dreadfull Dragon coming so Vnto 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 espy'd , And like a knight of courage stout , against him he did fiercely ride . And with such blows he did him gréet , That he fell 〈◊〉 his horse féet . 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 Dreadfull Dragon then he slew . The savor of his poysoned breath could do this Christian knig●t no harm Thus did he save the Lady from death . and home he led her by the arm . Which when Ptolomy did sée , 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 fil'd . He in the AEgyptian Court then staid Till he most falsly was betraid . The Lady Sabrine lov'd him well he counted her his only joy . But when their lov● was open known it prov'd to Georges great annoy . The Morocco King was in the Court , Who to the Orchard did resort , Dayly to take the pleasant Ayre , for pleasures sake he us'd 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 wo did bring . These kings together did devise , to make this Christian knight away , With letters him Ambassador they straight 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 evill and most subtily , By much vile means they did devise to work his death most cruelly . While he in Persia abode , He quite destroyd each Idoll God . Which being done he straight was cast into a Dungeon dark and deep But when he thought upon his wrong , he bitterly did wail and wéep . Yet like a knight of courage stout , Forth of the Dungeon he got out . And in the night thrée house-kéepers this valiant knight by power slew , Although he fasted many a day . and then away from thence he flew . On the best stéed the Sophy had , Which when he knew he was full sad . Then into Christ●ndome he came and met a Gyant by the way , With whom in combate he did fight , most valiantly a Summers day , Who yet for all his bates of stéel , Was forc'd 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'r thrice thrée years was gone and spent He did 〈…〉 great 〈◊〉 . Save only AEgipt land he spar'd , for S●brine bright her only sake And ere his rage he did suppresse , he meant a triall kind to make , P●olomy did know his strength in field , And unto him did kindly yéeld . 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 Vertue of her chain , Did still a Virgin pure remain . To England then St. George did bring , this gallant Lady Sabrine bright , An Enuch also came with him in whom the Lady did delight . None but those three from AEgipt came , Now let me print St. Georges fame . When they were in the Forrest great the Lady did desire to rest , And then St George to kill a Déer . to féed thereon did think it best , Left Sabrine and the Enuch there , While he did go and kill a Déer . The mean time in his absence came , two hungry Lyons fierce and fell , And tore the Enuch presently in peices small the truth to tell . Down by the Lady then they laid , Whereby it séems 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 then he did advance . And came into the Lyons sight . Who ran at him withall their might . But he being no whit d●●maid , but like a stout and valiant knight , Did kill the hungry Lyons 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 dolefull thoughts that ere was dumb began most firmly to renew , He set her on a paltry stéed , And towards England came with spéed Where he arrived 〈◊〉 short while , unto his Fathers dw●lling place , Where with his dearest love he liv'd , when fortune did their Nuptials grace , They many years of joy did sée , And led their lives at Coventry ,