At last the Nourse in her foolhardy wit lii Conceiu’d a bold deuise, and thus bespake; Daughter, I deeme that counsell aye most fit, That of the time doth dew aduauntage take; Ye see that good king _Vther_ now doth make Strong warre vpon the Paynim brethren, hight _Octa_ and _Oza_, whom he lately brake Beside _Cayr Verolame_, in victorious fight, That now all _Britanie_ doth burne in armes bright. That therefore nought our passage may empeach, liii Let vs in feigned armes our selues disguize, And our weake hands (whom need new strength shall teach)[928] The dreadfull speare and shield to exercize: Ne certes daughter that same warlike wize I weene, would you misseeme; for ye bene tall, And large of limbe, t’atchieue an hard emprize, Ne ought ye want, but skill, which practize small Will bring, and shortly make you a mayd Martiall. And sooth, it ought your courage much inflame, liv To heare so often, in that royall hous, From whence to none inferiour ye came,[929] Bards tell of many women valorous Which haue full many feats aduenturous Performd, in paragone of proudest men: The bold _Bunduca_, whose victorious Exploits made _Rome_ to quake, stout _Guendolen_, Renowmed _Martia_, and redoubted _Emmilen_. And that, which more then all the rest may sway, lv Late dayes ensample, which these eyes beheld, In the last field before _Meneuia_ Which _Vther_ with those forrein Pagans held, I saw a _Saxon_ Virgin, the which feld Great _Vlfin_ thrise vpon the bloudy plaine, And had not _Carados_ her hand withheld From rash reuenge, she had him surely slaine, Yet _Carados_ himselfe from her escapt with paine. Ah read, (quoth _Britomart_) how is she hight? lvi Faire _Angela_ (quoth she) men do her call, No whit lesse faire, then terrible in fight: She hath the leading of a Martiall And mighty people, dreaded more then all The other _Saxons_, which do for her sake And loue, themselues of her name _Angles_ call. Therefore faire Infant her ensample make Vnto thy selfe, and equall courage to thee take. Her harty words so deepe into the mynd lvii Of the young Damzell sunke, that great desire Of warlike armes in her forthwith they tynd, And generous stout courage did inspire, That she resolu’d, vnweeting[930] to her Sire, Aduent’rous knighthood on her selfe to don, And counseld with her Nourse, her Maides attire To turne into a massy habergeon, And bad her all things put in readinesse anon.