%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> [A most excellent Ballad of S. George for England and the Kings daugh- / ter of Aegypt, whom he delivered from death, and how he slew a mighty Dragon.] University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/04/2016 35440

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

R41516 FOr with a Lance that was so strong, / as he came gaping in his face Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 21 [A most excellent Ballad of S. George for England and the Kings daugh- / ter of Aegypt, whom he delivered from death, and how he slew a mighty Dragon.] :[A most excellent Ballad of S. George for England, and the Kings daugh- ter of AEgypt, whom he delivered from death, and how he slew a mighty Dragon.] [A most excellent Ballad of S. George for England and the King's daughter of Egypt, whom he delivered from death, and how he slew a mighty Dragon.] ?-? F, Coles. T. Vere, and W. Gilbertson

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol Americas animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/4/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America folklore love monstrosity religious figures royalty violence Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/4/2016 2:22:46 PM XBallad King, Joyce Created XML Version of Ballad 4/4/2016 2:22:46 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/4/2016 2:22:46 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Levinson-Emley, Rachel Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/4/2016 2:22:46 PM Transcriptionist Two Bell, Erik Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/4/2016 2:22:46 PM Transcriptionist One McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/28/2016 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/12/2015 Bibliographer Rachel LevinsonEmley Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 11/30/2015 Checker Erik Bell Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left">[<hi rend="italic">A most excellent Ballad of S. George for England<hi rend="bold">,</hi> and the Kings daugh-</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">ter of <hi rend="bold">AEgypt,</hi> whom he delivered from death, and how he slew a mighty Dragon. The tune is flying fame.</hi></seg>
OF Hectors deeds did Homer sing. and of the sack of stately Troy, What grief fair Hellen did them bring, which was Sir Paris only joy. And with my pen I must recite. St. Georges deed an English Knight, Against the Sarazens full rude, fought he full long and many a day, Where many Gyants he subdu'd, in honour of the Christian way. After many adventures past To AEgypt 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 opprest. Who by his poysoned breath each day Did many of the City slay. The grief whereof did grow so great throughout the limets of the land That they their wise men did intreat to shew their cunning out of hand, Which way they might this Dragon stroy That did ther 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 would invent His skin more hard then brass was found That sword or spear can't pierce or wound, When this the people understood, they cryed out most piteously, The Dragons breath infected their blood, that they in heaps each day did dye. Amongst them such a plague it bred, The living scarce could bury the dead, No means there was that they could find for to appease the Dragons rage. But by a Virgin pure and kind whereby they might his fury swage. Each day he should a Maiden eat, for to allay 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 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 thou hast been blest and thou hast sav'd thy life 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 feel the Dragons 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 Dragons prey, It may be for my sake alone, This plague upon the land was shown. Tis 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 feel the grief no more
What hast thou done my daughter dear for to deserve this heavy scourge, It is my fault it shall 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 all 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 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 Vertue famous been, so let me cloath 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 mothers mind, Unto the stake then did she go to which they did this Virgin bind, Who being bound to stake and thrall, She bad farewel unto them all. Farewel dear father then quoth she, and my sweet mother meek and mild, Take you no thought nor weep for me, for you may have another child. Here for my Coutnryes good Ile dye, Which I receive most willingly. The King and Queen with a[l]l their train with weeping eyes went then their way, And let their daughter there remain, to be the hungry Dragons prey: But as she there did weeping lie, Behold St. George came riding by. And seeing 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 sweet Maiden then quoth he. What person thus abused thee. And lo by Christ his crosse I vow, 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 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 espy'd, 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 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 then he slew. The savor of his poysoned breath could do this Christian Knight no harm Thus did he save the Lady from death and h[o]me he led her by the Arm Which when Ptolomy did see There was great mirth and melody Whenas the famous Kt. Saint George had slain the Dragon in the field And brought the Lady to the Court whose sight with joy their hearts fild He in the AEgyptian Court then staid Till he most falsly was betray'd The Lady Sabrine lov'd him well he counted her his only joy, [B]ut when their love was open known it provd to Georges great annoy The Mor-occo King was in the Court Who to the Orchard did resort [D]ayly to take the pleasant Ayre for pleasures sake he us'n 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 the Christian Knight away With Letters him Embassador they straitway sent to Persia And wrote to Sophy him to kill, And Traiterously his blood to spill Thue they for good did him reward with evil and most subtily, By much vile means they did devise to work his death most cruelly, While he in Persia abode He quite destroy'd 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 waile and weep. [Ye]t like a Knight of courage stout, [Fo]rth of the Dungeon he got out [A]nd in the night three horsekeepers [th]is valiant Knight by power slew [Al]though he fasted many a day [a]nd then away from thence he flew [On] the best Steed that Sophy had [Wh]ich when he knew he was full sad [T]hen into Christendom he came [a]nd met a Gyant by the way [Wi]th whom in combate he did fight most valiantly a Summers day, [W]ho yet for all his bates of steel [W]as forc'd the sting of death to feel.
From Christendom this valiant Knight then with warlike Sou[l]diers past Vowing upon those Heathen Lands to work revenge which at the last E'r thrice three years were gone & spent, He did unto h[i]s great content, Save only AEgypt Land he spar'd for Sabrine bright her only sake, And ere his rage he did suppress, he meant a tryal kind to make. Ptolomy did know his streng[t]h in field And un[t]o 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 l[e]ad her 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 Eunuch also came with him, in whom the Lady did delight. None but these three from AEgypt came Now let me print St Georges fame. When they were in a Forrest great the Lady did desire to rest And then St Gerrge to kill a Deere to feed thereon did think it best Left Sabrine and the Eunuch there While he did go and kill a Deer The meantime in his absence came two hungry Lyons fierce and fell And tore the Eunuch presently. in pieces small the truth to tell Down by the Lady then they laid, Whereby it seems she was a maid But when St George from hunting came and did behold this heavy chance Yet for this lovely Virgin pure 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 dismay'd 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 truely know, this Lady was a Virgin pure His doleful thoughts that ere was dumb began most firmly to renew He set her on a palfry steed, And towards England came with speed. Where he arrived in short while unto his Fathers dwelling place Wherewith his dearest Love he liv'd 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.