Report from Rome did tidings daily bring, Who stood in feare of th’heathen’s bold assay, How mightie _Saladine_ the Pagan king, Had proudly purpos’d Palestine’s decay, To glut the gulfe of his vnsaciate pray, Wishing vs hasten to the christian aid, Who ouer-matcht with power, were much dismai’d. 27. The warre-god rouz’d with ratling drumme’s alarme, Rose vp and left his louely lemman’s bed, Himselfe he for the field did brauely arme, Tooke vp his mightie launce, and boldly led Our battels forth, with crosse-fam’d ensignes spred, On which as marching we infixt our eies, We hastned on to meet our enemies. 28. Leauing my kingdome’s state beneath the sway Of foure estates, in peace to keepe the same, I crost the seas and tooke my readie way To Lyons that French towne: where when I came The king I met, then _Philip_ call’d by name, Who for this great affaire had vow’d to goe With his support against the common foe. 29. Our armies being ioyn’d, we marched on, Where that strong bridge that ouerlookes the waue Of Rhodanus, beneath our feet did grone, And brake, where many, whom no helpe could saue, In that blacke strugling streame did find their graue: At which dismai’d, to part we did agree, And after both to meet in Scicilie. 30. From hence ore aged Tython’s purple bed, For Scicilie thy muse must take her flight To mount Pelorus, on whose loftie head, Let her insist and view our nauall might Afloat vpon those seas, so faire a sight King _Philip_ on the shore with his French powers Did then admire from off Messanae’s towers: 31. There do behold my men in thickest throng, Scaling Messanae’s walles, and beating downe The citie gates in wreake of that foule wrong Done gainst vs all by that iniurious towne, Who with first conquest did our sword renowne: Vpon whose walles our banners we did pight, Which did the false French _Philip_ much despight. 32. In spight of hate the cause we did protect Of our queene sister, _Ioan_ of Scicilie, Whose husband dead, prince _Tancred_ late elect To sway the scepter of that emperie, Did with vnfit repulse her due denie, Till now at length he by our power compell’d, Did yeeld her dowrie, which he long withheld. 33.