C H A P. IV
THE renowned Spaniſh champion, in his progreſs in ſeeking out adventures, after many worthy acts by him atchieved, came to the magnificent city, of Jeruſalem, juſt at ſuch a tine as Nebuzarad, the King thereof was going out on a royal hunting, having made proclamation, That whoſoever ſlew the firſt wild beaſt in the foreſt, ſhould have is reward a corſlet of ſteel worth a thouſand ſhekels of ſilver.
Thirst of honour, and hope of gain, the two ſpurs that prick men forward to worthy enterprizes, cauſed St. James to join himſelf to this honourable company, yea, to outgo them in noble reſolutions; for ſcouring over the plain before the hunters, he came into a ſpacious foreſt, where his valour quickly had an object to work upon, being a mighty wild boar, lying before his moſſy den, of ſuch a wonderful, bigneſs and proportion, as is almoſt incredible to declare, but the magnanimous champion St. James, nothing daunted, couragiously ſet upon him, dealing ſuch blows with his keen falchion that ere the reſt of the company came in, he overcame that monſtrous boar, cutting off his head, and preſenting it to the king of Jeruſalem, who accordingly gave him the reward promised: but, having intelligence immediately, that he was a Spaniſh Chriſtian, his mind was altered, that immediately he condemned him to die; yet, for his good ſervice in killing the boar, gave him leave to chuſe his own death. St. James ſeeing it would be no otherwiſe, deſired to be bound to a pine tree, and, after an hour's reſpite to make his peace with heaven, to be shot to death by a true virgin.
But, when the ſame came to be put is execution, not one maid could be found that would undertake it:
