ſuppoſed preſently to have met armed troops to withſtand them, but contrary to their expectation, they find both cities, towns and villages uninhabited: the terror of their coming ſtriking ſuch an amazement to the inhabitants, that they hid themſelves in the moſt obſcure places they could find: wherefore they marched to king Ptolemy's court, intending firſt to burn that, and then afterwards the reſt of the city into cinders. But whilſt they were in theſe thoughts, and being come near thereto, they were met by Ptolemy and his chiefeſt Peers, all in mourning, bearing broken weapons, ſhivered lances, and torn ancients, with many thouſands of women and children wearing cypreſs leaves about their heads, all with one voice crying for mercy, and to ſpare their country from utter ruin, king Ptolemy the foremoſt of them all, addreſſing himſelf to the Chriſtian Champions, in theſe words:
"Moſt noble Knights and renowned Champions, whoſe names are enrolled in the book of fame, let my grey hairs move you to pity, and my bended knees that never bowed to any till now, cauſe compaſſion in you: but if no mercy be reſerved for me, let me plead for pity for my poor commons, who are altogether ignorant of the injuries offered to the Engliſh champion, occaſioned by the treachery of that wicked Almidor working upon my eaſy nature: O let me fall a ſacrifice for their ſafety, and ſtain not your hands in their guiltleſs blood, but ſpare them and us, and we ſhall not only become your ſervants, but forſake the belief of our falſe prophets, and henceforth believe in the Chriſtians'God."
This ſorrowful lamentation and requeſt of king Ptolemy, made the heart of the Engliſh Champion to relent, ſo that he not only granted mercy to the whole land, but alſo life to king Ptolemy upon the conditions before promiſed; which gracious grant was ſo welcome both to king and commons, that all on a ſudden the people returned from their lurking places to their former habitations. Bone-fires were made in every place,
