Th’old woman nought, that needed, did omit; lviii But all things did conueniently[931] puruay: It fortuned (so time their turne did fit) A band of Britons ryding on forray Few dayes[932] before, had gotten a great pray Of Saxon goods, emongst the which was seene A goodly Armour, and full rich aray, Which long’d to _Angela_, the Saxon Queene, All fretted round with gold, and goodly well beseene. The same, with all the other ornaments, lix King _Ryence_ caused to be hanged by In his chiefe Church, for endlesse moniments Of his successe and gladfull victory: Of which her selfe auising readily, In th’euening late old _Glauce_ thither led Faire _Britomart_, and that same Armory Downe taking, her therein appareled, Well as she might, and with braue bauldrick garnished. Beside those armes there stood a mighty speare, lx Which _Bladud_ made by Magick art of yore, And vsd the same in battell aye to beare; Sith which it had bin here preseru’d in store, For his great vertues proued long afore: For neuer wight so fast in sell could sit, But him perforce vnto the ground it bore: Both speare she tooke, and shield, which hong by it: Both speare and shield of great powre, for her purpose fit. Thus when she had the virgin all arayd, lxi Another harnesse, which did hang thereby, About her selfe she dight, that the young Mayd She might in equall armes accompany, And as her Squire attend her carefully: Tho to their ready Steeds they clombe full light, And through back wayes, that none might them espy, Couered with secret cloud of silent night, Themselues they forth conuayd, and passed forward right. Ne rested they, till that to Faery lond lxii They came, as _Merlin_ them directed late: Where meeting with this _Redcrosse_ knight, she fond Of diuerse things discourses to dilate, But most of _Arthegall_, and his estate. At last their wayes so fell, that they mote part:[933] Then each to other well affectionate, Friendship professed with vnfained hart, The _Redcrosse_ knight diuerst, but forth rode _Britomart_. FOOTNOTES: [904] Arg. 2 _Arthegall_ _1590_ [905] i 1 Most] Oh _1609_ [906] iv 3 Thou _1590_ [907] 7 auncestie _1596_ [908] 8 pretence _1596_, _1609_ [909] xv 3 to _om. 1609_ [910] 6 let _1590_, _1596_ [911] xvi 8 remedee, _1590 &c._ [912] xix 1 longer _1609_ [913] xxii 9 _Greece_ _1596_, _1609_ [914] xxv 5 partake _1590_ [915] xxix 1 With] Where _1596_, _1609_ [916] xxxiv 6 autrage _1596_ [917] xxxv 1 thy] the _1596_, _1609_ [918] xxxvi 6 hire _1596_ [919] xxxvii 7 their] the _1596_, _1609_ [920] xliii 9 from th’earth _1590 &c._: _corr. F. E._