%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Seven Champions of Christendom: / Being a Compendious History of their Lives and Actions, &c. 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 03/19/2016 35493

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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

NOw of the Seven Champions here, / my Purpose is to write; Houghton Library Hazlitt EC65 Editor none none none none Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 94 1: 95 The Seven Champions of Christendom: / Being a Compendious History of their Lives and Actions, &c. The Seven Champions of Christendom: Being a Compendious History of their Lives and Actions, etc. The Seven Champions of Christendom: Being a Compendious History of their Lives and Actions, etc. Printer C. Brown, and T. Norris ?-? C. Brown, and T. Norris

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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 3/19/2016 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America country/ nation folklore monstrosity race/ ethnicity religious figures violence Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 3/19/2016 4:39:11 PM XBallad King, Joyce Created XML Version of Ballad 3/19/2016 4:39:11 PM Transcription Supervisor Palmer, Megan Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/19/2016 4:39:11 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Levinson-Emley, Rachel Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/19/2016 4:39:11 PM Transcriptionist Two Lazzarin de Morais, Rebecca Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/19/2016 4:39:11 PM Transcriptionist One Chung, Daniella Transcription of ballad manuscript 3/10/2016 Checker Katie Adkison Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/26/2015 Checker Rachel LevinsonEmley Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/24/2015 Bibliographer Rachel LevinsonEmley Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created 12/1/2015 Checker Joyce King Edited Ballad Catalogue Record
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="bold"><hi rend="italic">The Seven Champions of</hi></hi> <hi rend="italic">Christendom:</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Being a Compendious History of their Lives and Actions, <hi rend="bold">etc.</hi></hi></seg> <lb/> <seg n="3" rend="left"><hi rend="italic"><hi rend="bold">To the Tune of the</hi> Christian Warriours.</hi></seg>
NOw of the Seven Champions here, my Purpose is to write; To shew how they with sword and spear, put many Foes to flight: Distressed Ladies to release, and Captives bound in Chains; That Christian glory to encrease, which evermore remains. First, I give you to understand, that Great St. George by Name, Was the true Champion of our Land, and of his Birth and Fame; And of his noble Mother's Dream, before that he was born, The which to her did clearly seem her Days would be forlorn: This was her Dream, That she did bear a Dragon in her Womb; Which griev'd this noble Lady fair, Death must be her Doom. This sorrow she cou'd not conceal, so dismal was her Fear, So that she did the same reveal unto her Husband dear: Who went for to enquire straight of an Inchantress, When knocking at her Iron Gate, her Answer it was this: 'Thy Lady shall bring forth a Son, whom, in Tract of Time, 'Great noble Actions shall be done; will to Honour climb:
he shall be in Banners wore, Truth I will maintain; 'Your Lady she shall die before see her Face again. His Leave he took, and home he went, his Wife departed lay; But that which did his Grief augment, the Child was stole away. Then did he travel in Despair, where soon with grief he dy'd, While the young Child, his Son and Heir, did constantly abide With the wise Lady of the Grove, in her enchanted Cell; Amongst the Woods he oft did rove, his Beauty pleas'd her well. Blinded with Love she did impart, upon a certain Day, To him her conning magick Art, and where six Champions lay, Within a brazen Castle strong, by an enchanted sleep, And where they had continued long, she did the Castle keep. She taught and shew'd him e'rything, through being free and fond, Which did her fatal Ruin bring; for with a Silver Wand He clos'd her up into a Rock, by giving one small stroak; So took Possession of her stock, and the Inchantment broke.
Those Christian Champions being freed from their inchanted state, Each mounted on his prancing steed, and took to Travel strait; Where we will leave them to pursue kind Fortune's favours still, To treat of our own Champions, who did Courts with Wonders fill: For as he came to understand, at an old Hermit's Cell, How all the vast AEgyptian Land a Dragon, fierce and fell, Threatn'd the Ruin of them all, by his devouring Jaws; His sword releas'd them from that thral, and soon remov'd the Cause. This dreadful Dragon must destroy a Virgin e'ry Day, Or else with Stinks he'll them annoy, and many thousands slay. At length the King's own Daughter dear, for whom the Court did mourn, Was brought to be devour'd here; for she must take her turn. The King by Proclamation said, If any hardy Knight Could free this fair young Royal Maid, and slay the Dragon quite, Then should he have her for his Bride, and, after Death, likewise, His Crown and Kingdom too beside: St. George he won the Prize. When many hardy stroaks he had dealt, and could not pierce his Hide, He run his sword up to the hilt, in at the Dragon's side; By which he did his Life destroy, which cheer'd the drooping King; This caus'd a universal Joy, sweet Peals of Bells did ring. The Daughter of a King for Pride transform'd into a Tree Of Mulberries, which Dennis 'spy'd, and being hungry, Of that fair Fruit he eat a part, and was transform'd likewise Into the fashion of a Hart, for seven Years precise. At which he long bewail'd the Loss of manly Shape, then goes To him his true and trusty Horse, and brings a blushing Rose, By which the magick spell was broke, and both was fairly freed From the inchanted heavy Yoak; they then in Love agreed. Now we come to St James of Spain, who slew a mighty Boar, In hopes that he might Honour gain, but he must die therefore; Who was allow'd his Death to choose, which was by Virgins Darts; But they the same did all refuse, so tender was their Hearts. The King's Daughter at length by Lot, was doom'd to work his woe, From her fair Hands a fatal Shot out of a golden Bow, Must put a Period to the Strife, at which, Grief did her seize;
She of her Father beg'd his Life, upon her bended Knees: Saying; My gracious Sovereign Lord, and honoured Father dear, He well deserves a large Reward, then be not so severe: Give me his life: He grants the Boon: and then without delay, This Spanish Champion e're 'twas Noon rid with her quite away. Now come we to St. Anthony, a Man with valour fraught, The Champion of fair Italy, who many wonders wrought: First he a mighty Giant slew, the Terror of Mankind: Young Ladies fair, pure Virgins too, this Giant kept confin'd Within his Castle Walls of Stone, and Gates of solid Brass, Where seven Ladies made their Moan, but out they could not passe Many brave Lords and Knights likewise to free them did engage; Who fell a bleeding Sacrifice to this fierce Giants Rage. Fair Daughters to a Royal King, yet Fortune after all, Did our renowned Champion bring to free them from their thral; Assisted by the Hand of Heaven, he ventur'd Life and Limb; Behold, the fairest of the Seven, she fell in Love with him. That Champion good St. Andrew, the famous Scottish Knight, Dark gloomy Deserts travell'd through, where Phebus gave no Light, Haunted with Spirits, for a while his weary Course he steers; Till Fortune blest him with a smile, and shook off all his fears. This Christian Champion travell'd long, till at the length he came Unto the Giant's Castle strong, Great Blanderon by Name, Where the King's Daughters were transform'd, into the Shape of Swans: Though them he freed, their Father storm'd, but he his Malice shuns: For though five hundred armed Knights did straight beset him round, Our Christian Champion with them fights, till on the Heathen Ground Most of those Pagans bleeding lay; which much perplext the King, The Scottish Champion clears the way, which was a glorious thing. St. Patrick of Ireland, that noble Knight of Fame, He travell'd as we understand, till at the length he came Into a Grove were Satyrs dwelt, where Ladies he beheld, Who had their raged Fury felt, and was with sorrow fill'd. He drew his sword, and did maintain a sharp and bloody Fray, Till the Ring-leader he had slain; the rest soon fled away.
This done, he ask'd the Ladies fair, who was in silks array'd, From whence they came, and who they were? they answer'd him and said, We are all Daughters to a King, whom a brave Scottish Knight, Did out of tribulation bring: he having took his Flight, Now after him we are in Quest, St. Patrick then replies, He is my Friend, I cannot rest till I find him likewise: So Ladies, if you do intend to take your Lot with me, This sword of mine shall you defend from savage Cruelty: The Ladies freely gave Consent to travel many Miles: Through shady Groves and Woods they went, in search of Fortunes smiles. The Christian Champion David went to the Tartarian Court, Whereat their tilt and turnament, and such like royal sport, He overthrew the only Son of the Count Palatine; This noble Action being done, his Fame began to shine. The young Count's sad and sudden Death, turn'd all their joys to grief; He bleeding lay, bereav'd of Breath, the Father's Son in chief. But Lord and Ladies blaz'd the fame, of our brave Champion bold, Saying, They ought to write his Name in Characters of Gold. Here have I writ a fair Account of each heroick Deed, Done by these Knights, which will surmount all those that shall succed. The ancient Chronicles of Kings, e're since the World begun, Cann't boast of such renowned Things, as these brave Knights have done. St. George he was for England, St. Dennis was for France; St. James for Spain, whose valiant Hand did Christian Fame advance; St. Anthony for Italy, Andrew for Scots ne'r fails, Patrick to stand for Ireland, St. David was for Wales. Thus have you those stout Champions Name in this renowned Song; Young captive Ladies bound in Chains, confin'd in Castles strong, They did by Knightly Prowess free, true Honour to maintain: Then let their lasting Memory from Age to Age remain.
By S.M. LONDON: Printed by and for C Brown, and T. Norris, and sold by the Booksellers of Pye-corner and London-bridge.