were in yâ— same predicament for he knowing her to be of the noble and auncient ligne beside sole heyre to the house of Saxon might count himselfe highly honored with such a Wife and therefore the like coniunction was made betwéene them so that nowe these Knights and Ladies were espoused before God there wanted nothing but the ceremonie of yâ— Church to confirme it But nowe comes Vrbanillo and hee breakes of this pleasure because yâ— time was so farre spent as they must néeds depart which with much a doo they did leauing their Ladies examining theyr content the Princesse soone after thus conferring with Brionella Alas faire Fréende it is doubtfull what danger maie arise because you haue contracted your selfe to Ptolome without the Emperors consent howe will you answer when you are charged with the fault Brionella who now feared nothing but the preuenting of her loue aunswered In sooth Madame you speake with great reason you nowe giue counsell when the déede is doone and cannot bee reuoked till it be dispatched woulde you haue all the good fortune your selfe and suffer your Freende to enioy no part with you trust mee that is vnconscionable dealing for he that made you to loue framed me of the selfe same mettall But I sée you make the occasion to me to learne howe to aunswere your owne déede let vs referre all to him Madame that appointed your choise by destinie and mine by mine owne lyking Manie other pleasaunt spéeches passed betwéene them and diuers times their Knights came to visite them till Fortune who will neuer suffer thinges long in one estate sent an occasion to hinder this delight of theyr loue for there was a Messenger come to the Courte from the King of Norvvay Nephew to the Emperour who beeing admitted audience thus deliuered his message Woorthie Lord the King of Norvvay my Maister requires your assistaunce in his great distresse against the King of England who with a mightie and puissaunt Armie is entered his dominions where he hath made great wast slaughter of his people in diuers skirmishes and conflicts passed betweene them so that he neuer had likeâ—néede as at this instant Trust me quoth the Emperour I will assiste him with right good will and his mis-fortune dooth not a little gréeue me but I will take order for it immediatlie and my power shall be with him so soone as possiblie maie be with which aunswere the Messenger departed Nowe as concerning the cause of these warres betwéene the Kings of Norway and England it was procured by displeasure of succor that the King of Norway gaue to the King of Scots his Brother who helde warre with England about the taking of certaine Shippes the Emperour likewise his heauie enemie and for that cause he promised helpe so soone to yâ— King his Nephew Which when Trineus vnderstoode that his Father declared himselfe displeased with the Father of his beloued Agriola whose loue no occasion coulde alter hee was greatlie discontented yet dissembling his conceit determined rather to aide the King of Englande then his Cozin and therefore intreated Palmerin to accompanie him to his Chamber where hee woulde acquaint him with some part of the sorrow he conceiued by the succour his Father would sende to the King of Norvvay against her Father whose Seruant he had vowed himselfe and therfore quoth he let me desire you to conceale a request I shall make to you You knowe my Lorde said Palmerin that I will no lesse obey you then the Emperour your Father commaund therefore what you please and be it in my power it shal be executed So it is quoth Trineus that I woulde haue you not accompanie the power my Father sendes by Sea but doo so much for me that you Ptolome my selfe vnknown to anie may assist the King of England in his warres by which meanes I doubt not to compasse the thing I most of all desire And this I dare tell you that my life is only dedicated to her seruice and so well doo I hope to imploye my paines that she shall haue cause to loue me and regard the paine I suffer for her sake and but I gaine the fortune to to purchase my loue right soone suddaine shall you heare of my death You that haue felt the like torments can censure of mine which I dare not impart to the Emperor my Father because of the hatred hee beares the King of England aduise mee therefore good Fréende what I shall doo These spéeches were nothing pleasing to Palmerin seeing he must nowe againe depart from his Ladie but because he earnestly affected Trineus and knew how wel he might helpe him in his loue answered Assure your selfe my Lord that I will labour dissigentlie for your good and shall assist you to my vttermost in that you beare such loue to yâ— Princesse And I am of the opinion that hauing receiued the order of knighthood which the Emperour your Father wyll not denie it woulde auaile you much to tell your Father howâ— you desire vnknowne to aide the King of Norway For my part if he demaunde my aduise I will like it so well as because the Annie cannot bee readie so soone your honor Ptolome and my selfe will ryde before towards the King and so may we accomplish what you so earnestlie desire This counsell pleased so well Trineus as he intended on the morrow to request his order of the Emperor as also how gladlie he wold assist yâ— King of Norway and howe necessary it was for him to goe before the Armie as Palmerin and he had deuised togeather CHAP. XLIIII Howe Triâ—eus was knighted and what happened to him afterward ON the morrow this yong Prince seeing that to accomplishe his intent it was ecessarie hee shoulde be knighted he gaue attendaâ—ce to finde the Emperour at leysure when he might sollicite his highnesse with his sute and vnderstanding that hee was walking in his Gallerie hee went to him and on his knée thus began Dreade Lâ—rd and Father so pleased your Maiâ—stie it is nowe time I shoulde receiue my order of Khighthoode and more necessâ—â—y now then at any of her time in respecte of my earnest desire to aide the King of Norway my Gozin in his warres The Emperour meruailing whence this humour shoulde procéede answered Why Trineus doo you thinke your selfe able to take so waightie a charge in handâ— truely such honor is soone receiued but to maintaine it as it ought to be and preuent the dangers incident therto is more hard then you weene and maketh proofe of the most couragious 〈◊〉 in that neither paine â—eare or danger must hinder what a matter of so great consequence dooth command And perswade your selfe that such as councelled you thereto knowe â—â—aut theÌ„selues their duetie in those affayres wherefore for a 〈◊〉 haue patience and referre it 〈…〉 abilitieâ— for I wil send good store of other Knights in this expedition who shall well excuse you to yâ— King my Nephew 〈◊〉 not contented with this
that he 〈◊〉 spâ—ken 〈◊〉 of her in the presente of the 〈…〉 with maruailous anger and disdaine returned him this aunswere Amarano the most rash and 〈◊〉 Knight that euer I sawe I wonder howe thy folly could make thée so audacious to come and accuse me of treason against all truth before my Father and his 〈◊〉 But thy spéeches well noted and considerâ—â— shew nothing but carelesse youth 〈◊〉 and too vaâ—nglorious conceit chiefly in this that thou armed 〈◊〉 and accompanied with so many well appoynted Knights commest in this sort to molest a poore maiden who neuer to thée or thine committed any offence but all seruiceable honour especially to her on whose behalfe than offerest the combat As for the valour thou reputest in thy selfe that 〈◊〉 which this slaunder doth encourage thée withall 〈◊〉 thy hartinesse and resolution of heart thou oughtest rather oppose against a Knight able to aunswere thée then a siely Uirgin who hath no weapon but her â—onour wherewith to defende her selfe I confesse I am a Ladie but not traiterous or false as thou auouchest yet of so noble courage as were I of thy sexe thou neuer shouldest depart this Hall before I had that conspyring head from thy shoulders to witnesse thy falshoode and maleuolent spirit Notwithstanding as I am so please my Lorde and Father with a Kitchin cudgell I shall let thée know that thou dotest in thy spéeches and against thine owne conscience chargest me with the murder of my Cozin Examine thy thoughts what likely reason might induce mée to such an offence If shée was fayre thanks to our Gods mine owne talent is so good as I néede not enuie her beautie If shée made account of her rich dowrie I béeing sole heyre to the Signories of the Soldane might iudge my selfe farre beyond her being desired in mariage by many Kings and Princes whereof I am well assured shée neuer had the like I knowe not then what cause should anie way induce me to request her death But what néede I make such prâ—â—estations to thée séeing that by some one of my Fathers 〈◊〉 thy pride will bee abated and I reuenged of the iniurie thou hast doone me Amarano not aunswering her a 〈◊〉 spake to the Soldane in this sort It is not decent my Lord that a Prince or Knight of qualitie should stay on the wordes of a Woman so little considerate who more by anger then vertue thinkes to reprooue and annihilate a 〈◊〉 accusation Wherefore according to the agréement 〈◊〉 determined cal for the knight that dare vndertake the quarrell of your daughter to whom I will manifest in plaine Combat that what I haue said is trueth and if hée bée vanquished your Daughter Alchidiana and he shall bée burned togither as the greatnesse of the offence well deserueth contrariwise if Fortune denie mée successe I will request no other iustice then what shall please you to appoynt for me Maulicus séeing that well he could not denie the Prince though to his gréefe pronouced the sentence that his Daughter that day shoulde present a Knight to sustaine her cause according to his conditions alleaged This hard prescription made neuer a Knight willing to aduenture the Combatte so much they feared Amarano for the great report they heard of his prowesse but stoode all silent as though themselues were condemned to death Alchidiana séeing the courage fayle of so manie Knights whom shée estéemed for men of great account knewe not to whom shée should haue recourse and therefore ouercome with excéeding sorrowe but that her Ladies assisted her had twise or thrise swouned before her Father Palmerin beholding her and knowing that his refusall was greater cause of Ardemiaes â—eath then the iniurious wordes of Alchidiana pityed her estate and hauing before his eyes the loue she bare him the great honours was done him for her sake and the pustillanimitie oâ— the Soldanes Knights was so mooued 〈◊〉 forgetting all daunger and his dissembled dumbnesse which hitherto hée had so cunningly obserued as though he had béene borne in that Countrey hée thus began in the Arabian tongue 〈…〉 vnwoorthie hencefoorth the name of Knights how can your hearts endure that a proude and presumptuous Prince shall come into your 〈…〉 to accuse your Ladie and Mistresse and not one of you daring to defende her right By the celestiall powers 〈◊〉 may you bee accounted heartlesse men and in suffering this wrong to be depriued of all noble titles and to bee solde in the market as slaues and villaines Thinke you the Prince Amarano is come hither for anie other intent then to make tryall of his great hardinesse Can you be destitute of reason and so easily abused as to thinke 〈…〉 Princesse Alchidiana whom nature hath so worthily 〈◊〉 with beautie and with whom no other may make comparison could be prouoked to murther Ardemia for this onely occasion because she was faire And you Lord Amarano for a matter so slender haue you enterprised to blame a Ladie so vertuous as is the Princesse Alchidiana I accept the Combat on her behalfe auouching that shamefully and without reason you haue accused her behold me readie likewise to maintaine in open fielde that falsely and maliciously thou lyest in thy throate in witnesse whereof there is my gage and I beseech your highnesse affoorde vs presently Iudges that may discerne the issue of our Combat I take thy offer quoth the Prince and before the Sun set will giue thée the payment that belongs to such a frollickâ— companion Who can nowe imagine the ioy of Maulicus and his Daughter séeing him whome they reputed 〈◊〉 by nature thus to recouer his spéech assuredly they were all so amazed that they thought Mahomet had come from the 〈◊〉 to performe this myracle The Soldane thus surprised with vnspeakeable comfort forgetting the maiestie of his person 〈◊〉 Palmerin in his armes saying Ah 〈◊〉 Knight hâ—we may this bée dreame I or dooth but my fancie delude me with your spéech O Mahoâ—et for euer bée thou praysed for this great grace By the highest God I am more ioyfull of this good fortune then 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 the fayrest Island in the Mediterâ—â—â—ean Sea Nowe will I dismay â—o longer 〈…〉 Daughters fortune séeing that you take her quarrel in hand and for her sake wil comâ—at with Amarano with all my heart I graunt you the Fielde and thinke that my Daughter will not denie it But tell mée noble Fréend howe you haue so happily recouered your speech Palmerin abashed that hee had so forgotten himselfe knewe not what excuse to make neuerthelesse â—éeing nowe there was no remedie and that the 〈◊〉 throwne could not bée recalled imagineâ— some likely â—â—militude of his suddaine spéech saying I promise you my Lord that the cerâ—itude of your Daughters iâ—â—ocencie and the great griefe I conceyued séeing your Knightes so cowardly and faint in courage mooued mée into such choâ—ler as the Catarrâ— which of long time hath hindâ—red my spéech dissolued it selfe and â—â—th giuen my tongue libertie
for Florendos could not finde him the bruite and rumor was qualified and the Emperour went againe to his Chamber till the morning when the Empresse hearing yâ— her daughter was in prison tooke it verie heauilie and knéeling be-before the Emperour desired him that she might fetch her foorth but he was so angrie as her wordes coulde doo nothing with him yet he graunted that shee shoulde goe see her and tooke her the Key when she entering the Tower founde her sitting on the ground so blubred with teares as was lamentable to beholde but when she behelde her Mother she arose and dooing her reuerence coulde not speake her teares so ouercame her The Empresse that loued her déerelie séeing her in this gréeuous estate had much a doo to dissemble what she thought how beit after a fewe light wordes passed betwéene them she said I am â—orie daughter that you haue so lightlie throwne your affection vpon a Straunger and that you forget your duetie in following your Fathers counsell and mine who well knâ—we the loue Tarisius beares you and no otherwise Daughter then to take you to his wife But you carried awaie with yâ— loosenes which ill agrées with your credite and calling haue rather thought best to grant Florendos enterance by your Garden at such a suspected howre as while you liue your honour will be hardlie thought on for two of Tarisius his Knights who thought to take the Traytour are slaine and my Nephew himselfe daungerouslie escaped Griana hearing him called Traitour whom shee so highlie looued and that shee herselfe was accused by that which ought to excuse her answered Madame and my gracious Mother as yet I am ignoraunt of the cause that hath mooued the Emperour in such choller against me and be it for this you speake of in soothe I am offered verie great iniurie for I knowe not whether Florendos or anie other haue entred my Garden well I am assured hee came not where I was These are straunge newes to me Madame I â—old rather haue thought him on his waie towards Macedon in respect of the solemne leaue he tooke in the Courtâ— For my part I would that the Traytour which was the cause hereof had long since béene buried in the bottome of the Sea then he should so abuse the honor of Florendoâ— with a matter of such villanie wherein I cannot iudge him faultie but were it he Madame I am at a point let him die yâ— death as he hath well deserued for my duetie to you my Parents hath taught me better nurture and loue canne be no priuiledge to me to offende Then good Mother twit not mee with impeache of honour in so innocent a cause for defence whereof were the death present before mine eyes I haue sorrowed as much as I would and am more readie to embrace then liue in suspecte so shall my Father and you bee eased of prouiding me a Husband As for the prison wherein I am I will not denie his fauoure when it shall please him to deliuer me but I coulde take it farre more contentedlie to spende the remainder of my following daies thus solitarie then to liue abroade misdéemed on by anie Faire Daughter said the Empresse doo not discomfort your selfe in this sort the Emperour had some reason in regarde of the loue he beares you and the outragious tumult which happened to doo as he hath doone but I hope in the end all will sort to the best and that you your selfe shall remaine contented Manie other spéeches passed betwéene them till at length the Empresse left her and departed for she thought long till she was with the Emperour to let him know the talke betwéene her and Griana which shee didde without omitting anie thing notwithstanding hee was more seuere to his Daughter euerie daie after Then sent hee for the Ambassadours and thus he began with them My Lordes at this time I am aduised that you shall returne to your King my Brother for in respect of the accidents which you haue séene to happen I will craue pardon for this tyme referring matters ouer till some other time when thinges shall fall in better disposition The Ambassadours vnderstanding the Emperours pleasure the next daie tooke their leaue towarde the King their Maister to whom they declared the whole in generall whereat hee conceiued such dyspleasure as he presentlie sent for his Sonne Tarisius who had not as yet recouered his health But he was so enamered on yâ— yong Princesse as he would not obey his Fathers commaund but so soone as he was indifferentlie amended he intreated the Emperour to pardon his Daughter accusing his owne men who vndiscreetlie had raised this false rumour of her and Florendos By this meanes the Empresse and her Ladies obtained libertie dailie to accompanie Griana but all the night time he caused her to bee locked vp as closelie as before committing her to the charge of an aged Gentlewoman named Tolomestra whom hee commaunded on paine of death not to bee a minute of an houre forth of her companie CHAP. VIII Howe Florendos arriuing on the frontiers of Macedon made manie sorrowfull complaints for not bringing Griana away according to his enterprise NO sooner had Florendos Frenato ouertane their companie but they rid on in such hast fearing to be followed as at length they got the Frontiers of Macedon And because Florendos imagined himselfe without life not hearing anie tydinges from his Mistresse Griana he concluded to rest at the first Towne he came too there to expect the returne of the Esquire he sent to Constantinople who returned towards his Maister sooner then he looked for by reason of the little aboad he made in the Emperours Court for he staied not when he hearde that Griana was imprisoned and that Tarisius was not slaine as his Maister was perswaded These newes did wonderfullie afflict the Prince as well for the harde vsage of his swéete Fréende as that he had fayled in killing him by whose death he well hoped to recouer his losse all the whole daie would he receiue no sustenance but locked himselfe close in his Chamber and tombled on his bedde as a man halfe desperate But Frenato who would not be long absent from him fearing least his furie woulde cause him worke some violence on himselfe made such meanes yâ— hee got into the Chamber at what time the Prince was thus lamenting Alas swéete Madame was I borne in such an vnhappie houre that without desert you must indure imprisonment for me What satis-faction maie your Florendos liue to make in requitall of this iniurie When didde you euer merit to be so hardlie intreated for him Beléeue me coulde you bee discharged so soone as I coulde wyshe it bolts locks nor walles coulde holde you a thought whyle yet wyshing is no action euerie thing is contrarie to me al helpes refuse me and death likewise denies me but by my sworde and therewith he started vp in spight of whatsoeuer I will deliuer you Frenato
maist be deceiued but God is alwaies fréende to iustice and equitie and enemie to such as goe against them But because you shall know the occasion why these foure Knights would haue taken the glass from Vrbanillo you must note that they were all Sonnes to a great Lorde of a Castell which was a daies iourneie off the Mountaine Artifaeria who hauing intelligence by Shéepe-heards and other pesants what good fortune had befallen Palmerin to kill the Serpent and bring away the fatall water repined greatlie thereat for the Lorde did highlie mallice the King of Macedon because he had enforced him to surrender a Manour which he against all right held froÌ„ one of his Sisters and for this cause knowing that by the vertue of that water the King shold recouer his health hée sent his foure Sonnes to take it from Palmerin whose successe in their attempt fell out as you haue heard Now Palmerin by this time is come to Macedon to the King whom with great reuerence he saluted on his knée when yâ— King embracing him so well as he could saide Trust me my good Fréende next God I must néedes estéeme you dearest for that as he by his Godhead hath made me breath this ayre though weake and sicklie by diuine prouidence hee hath sent you to restore me my bodilie health from hencefoorth therefore I shall intreate you to commaund mee and mine at your pleasure My gratious Lorde saide Palmerin the heauens giue me successe to doo you seruice for I knowe no Prince liuing this daie for whom I would more gladly aduenture my life I thank you good Sir quoth the King but the gréefe I haue sustained for the sorrow of my Sonne Florendos brought me into such a long and lingering extreamitie as well may I blesse the time that by your good successe am so happilie deliuered let me therefore entertaine you as my seconde Sonne and perswade your selfe of such a Father who wil loue you as if you were his owne naturall Childe in that I and the greater part of my Kingdom shal be at your disposition Woorthy Sir saide Palmerin woorthilie might I be reputed amongst the worst in the world refusing the honour you please to offer mee especiallie in such an extraordinarie kinde of fauour for the rest beeing thus accepted in your princely grace I haue sufficient béeing furnished with Horse and Armour to doo me seruice With these wordes the King embraced him and méere ioy caused the teares to trickle downe his chéekes so that Palmerin staied longer with him then he made account to doo till the Duke of Durace sent for him as you shall reade in the discourse following CHA. XIX How Duke Astor of Durace sent to the King of Macedon desiring him to sende him the Knight that had slaine the Serpent on the Mountain Artifaeria to ayde him against the Countie Passaco of Mecaena who laide straight siedge to one of his Citties SO farre was spread the fame of this victory which Palmerin in had against the Serpent on the Mountaine Artifaeria as at length the Dake Astor of Durance hearde therof against whom the Countle Passaco of Mecaena wargeâ— battaile and seeing himselfe vnable to resiste his enemic minded to sende to the King of Macedon requiring ayde of teh Knight that slewe the Serpent at the enchaunted Fountaine and heereuppon he dispatched one of his Gentlemen towards the King who made good haste till he came thither when dooing his reuerence and deliuering his Letters of credite to the King he saide Dreadâ— Lorde the Duke of Durace my Maister most huÌ„bly salutes your Maiestie by me The King hauing read the Letters and noting the contents bad the Messenger discharge the rest of his message It is so Sir said the Gentleman that of long time my Lord and maister hath béene assaulted by the Countie Passaco and in such cruell sorte hath warred on him as he hath well neere destroyed his whole Countrie for he hath taken the Cittie of Mizzara and againste all right dooth challenge it for his owne After this the Duke my Maister raysing his siedge to bid him battaile Fortune hath béene so contrarie to my Lorde as his noble Sonnes are slaine and the greater part of his worthyest Gentlemen Yet not contented with all this the Countie pursues him sâ—il to his very Cittie of Durace which he hath begirt with siedge so stronglie as hee is doubtfull of a further daunger But within these eyght daies he vnderstood that your highnesse hath heere a Knight that slewe the Serpent on the enchaunted Mountaine in whose valour my Lorde reposeth such confidence as woulde you graunt him licence to come thither my Lorde will accompany him with so manie hardie men at Armes as he doubts not to enforce the Countie to leaue his Country and for that the matter requireth expedition he desires your assistaunce with all possible spéede I am sorrie quoth the King that the Duke my Nephew is in such extremitie and I promise you I did not thinke as yet to part with Palmerin but séeing the necessitie is so vrgent I will intreate him to goe with you and so manie approued Knights with him as the Countie shal perceiue I am not well pleased with his hard dealing towardes my Nephew Nowe was Palmerin present when the Gentleman deliuered his message which pleased him not a little because he would gladlie leaue the King to followe his fortune and was thus held from his desire by importunate requestes but seeâ—g the King had graunted to sende him to the Duke he fell on his knées vsing these spéeches In respect my good Lord that the Duke your Nephew hath vrgent occasion to imploy me and in that his sute is onely for me without any other of your people I beséeche you suffer me to goe alone to him for my hope is so good in a cause of trueth and 〈◊〉 that wee shall bee sufficient there to ende the controuâ—â—ie Not so my good fréende Palmerin said the King you 〈◊〉 not haâ—arde your selfe alone but take such companie 〈…〉 with you My Lord quoth Palmerin he demaundes me without any other companye and therefore let mee perswade you to satisâ—fie his request so turning to the Gentleman he bid him prepare to set forward for he was readie Worthie Sir answered the Messenger with what expedition you please for neuer was Knight expected with more earnest longing for then you are This suddaine resolution of Palmerin displeased Florendos wherefore taking him aside he said I sée then my déere Fréende you will needes bee gone albeit your companie hath giuen mee greater sollace delight then any thing els since I lost mine onelie content yet is my regarde of your honor such yâ— I feare more to heare your mis-fortune then I pittie the necessitie of my Cozin the Duke of Durace Yet let me intreate you that finishing your intent with fortunate successe you make your present returne to the King my Father whose loue and whose liberalitye you neede not
time on the other side Ptolome had so canuazed the Counties Brother as he sealed him a quittaunce with his sword for his life Then began the Counties Souldiours to dispayre of their successe and Palmerin with his traine to follow them so closelie as they were glad to take themselues to flight leauing theyr Maister ouerthrowne in the Armie where hee was troden to death with the trampling of the Horses Thus did the victorie remaine to the Duke his enemies scattering in flight gladde to saue their liues whom Palmerin commanded to follow no further least gathering themselues togeather againe and espying aduauntage they might so endanger them for oftentimes the vanquished too narrowly pursued recouer courage daunte the pride of the conquerers For this cause he returned with his men into the Citty the Duke vnderstanding the foyle of his enemie which made him with a great number of woorthy Cittizens to goe méet Palmerin and Ptolome whome embracing hee thus entertained Ah good Knights by you is my estate recouered and the death of my Sonnes reuenged on the murderer therefore dispose of me and myne as you shall thinke beste to which words Palmerin thus answered My Lord let heauen haue the honour of our victory as for me I haue doone and will héereafter what I can for the great kindnesse of the King of Macedon your Uncle who hath honored mee in sending me to you and other recompence I neuer did or will séeke As they thus parled togeather the Duke perceiued by the blood on Palmerins Armour that he was wounded in manie places wherefore quoth he I sée you are sore wounded let vs make haste to our Pallace where a Ladye attending on the Duchesse and well séene in chirurgeri◠shall giue attendaunce on you till you are recouered So mounting on horsebacke they rode to the Pallace where Palmerin was lodged Béeing brought into his Chamber the Duchesse and her Daughter holpe to vnarme him when the Ladie dressed his wounds perswading him there was no daunger in them to be feared Thus each one departing Laurana the Duchesse Daughter called Vrbanillo the Dwarsse saying to him My Fréende desire thy Mayster to make bolde of any thing he wants and that for my sake he will dispayre of nothing Madame said y◠Dwarffe you haue good reason to wish my Maister well as well for the good assistaunce he gaue the Duke your Father as also in respecte of his deserts which are as honourable as any that euer came in this Court These words Palmerin verie well hearde hauing his eye continually on her wherefore when shee and all the other were departed hee called Vrbanillo demaunding what talke he had with the Princesse which he reported and his answere also Gramercies said Palmerin I pray thée find the meane to let her knowe that I am her Seruaunt and Knight ready to accomplishe anie thing that she shal commaunde me Referre this matter to me Sir quoth the Dwarffe I knowe what Saint must patronize these affaires and what offering must bee layde on his Altar CHAP. XX. Howe Palmerin became highlie enamoured with the beautie of the Princesse Laurana thinking her to bee the Lady that sollicited him in his visions VRbanillo the Dwarffe not forgetfull of his Maisters commandement the next day when Laurana came with her Mother to visite Palmerin shee tooke the Dwarffe aside demaūding what reste his Maister tooke the night past Madame quoth he indifferent I thanke God and you for in you two consists the disposition of my Maisters health As howe quoth shee Thus Madame said Vrbanillo the first day that he behelde you hee gaue the whole possession of himselfe so firmely to you as day night he meditates on your diuine perfections doubting in requital of his seruice to my Lord your Father and his Countrey whose liues and yours he hath defended him selfe shal be repayed with suddaine and cruel death for had he not come for your safetie well had he escaped this daungerous extreamitie Then séeing fayre Madame that his valour hath béene the meane of your deliueraunce doo not so degenerate from gentle nature as to kill him that gaue you life Why my Freend quoth she what wouldest thou haue me doo To loue him swéete Madame quoth he as hée doth you Alas sayd she thou mayst assure thy selfe y◠none can wysh thy Maister better then I doo béeing my duetie and his desert with which wordes shee chaunged colour with such modest bashfulnes as it might be perceiued shee could hardly master her affectiōs Which when y◠Dwarffe behelde as one not to learne his lesson in this arte perswaded himselfe by the very lookes of Laurana that his Maysters loue would sort to happy ende and thereuppon he followed the matter thus I thinke Madame that you wysh my Maister as well as anie but that is not enough vnlesse your wysh agrée wyth his in this poynt that you graunt your selfe his onely Lady and Mistresse as hee hath vowed himselfe your Knight and Seruant If it may please you to wysh this good to my Maister vouchsafe this fauour as a president of your lyking that so soone as he shall finde himselfe better in health you wyll but consent to speake with him alone in some such conuenient and vnsuspected place as hee may haue liberty to acquaint you with the secrets of his thoughts Alas quoth she how should I so doo without offering too much impeache to mine owne honour Madame saide the Dwarffe the night giues fauour to loues swéete enterprises By this time the Duchesse was ready to depart which Laurana perceiuing sayd to the Dwarffe Assure thy Maister from me that I am more his thē myne owne and I will doo for his welfare what I may with modestie By reason of their departure the Dwarffe coulde not make her answere but shaddowing the matter as hee had doone before went about his Maisters busines till hee came and found him alone when he discoursed all that had past betwéene the Princesse and him which so well contented Palmerin as nothing coulde more because he perswaded himselfe as I haue saide alreadie that this was shee which the thrée Sisters promised him by whom he shoulde receiue the honour that destinie allowed him For thys cause thence forwarde he was verie desirous to knowe her name commaunding Vrbanillo very straightly to enquire it which hee did informing his maister that her name was Laurana whereupon he well sawe that hee was deceiued in that the Sisters had named his Mistresse Polinarda and therefore he resolued to withdraw his affection and to depart thence so soone as he should be able to beare Armor But it may be easilie presumed that when one hath so far ventured in loue that he perceiues himself beloued as the Dwarffe perswaded his Maister hardly can hee giue ouer so faire a beginning yet héere it fell out contrary as you shall well perceiue that the ende was more suddaine then the beginning Palmerin now knowing the Princesse name began to vse other
thing was so desired no man coulde bee better contented especially the Damosell who leaping froÌ„ her Palfray came and kissed Palmerins féete saying And may all happines repay this gentle déede faire Knight for but by you my death had béene best welcome to me Dâ—mosell quoth hee sée héere the Casket according as I sounde it I know not whither they that tooke it from you haue abused it or no. No no saide shee they could no way wrong it the Sword béeing heere that belongs to the best Knight I praie you quoth Ptolome let mee make tryall of my strength albeit I know my selfe no such man as you speake of so taking the Casket offered to begin when the Damosell desired him to forbeare for quoth shee you must first graunt me one request What ere it be saide Ptolome I graunt it and so set all his might to his intent but coulde not accomplish it wherefore quoth he to the Damosel Beléeue me Lady he that wrought this enchauntment dyd more by his arte then I can by my cunning and in my opinion you may trauaile long enough before you finde him that shall quit your expectation The more wil be my trouble quoth the Damosell béeing tyed by necessitye to such a Knights fortune When Palmerin sawe that his companion had failed he doubted whether he should take it in hand or no yet séeing hee coulde spéede no worse then other had doone he said to the Damosell will you any thing with me before I aduenture my selfe for my Fréende shall not bee mal content for a fellowe Gentle Knight quoth she I wyll nothing but that you make me the like promise your fréend did Of that doubt you not saide Palmerin so laying hande valiantlie on the Sword without any great labor he drew it foorth béeing the richest and goodliest Sworde that euer was séene Ah good Knight sayde the Damosell happy bee the day of thy natiuitie for thou hast deliuered me from incredible labour The Sword is yours but by your promise you stand bound to goe with me where I shall conduct you to doo that shall please my Lady to commaund you Leade the way Damosell quoth Palmerin and be sure we wil not leaue thy company So mounted the Damosell on her Palfray and tooke the way towardes Rome where she that deliuered her the Casket remained in deuotion and with such spéede they dispatched their trauaile as they arriued at the Gate of a strong Castell where the Damosell alighted desiring Palmerin and Ptolome to expect her returne awhile The Gate being opened she went straight to her Mistresse and her Sister who béeing gladde of her comming demaunded if she had found the man shée went to séeke Ladies ê™ she I haue and hither he is come with me but this I daâ—e assure you before hande that a more goodlie and valiant Gentleman liues not this daie for in my presence he vanquished three Knights who perforce tooke the Casket from me and for the Sworde he drew it foorth so easilie as it had béene that he weareth by his side Goe said the Lady and cause him come néere and come Sister let vs goe to the Gate to entertaine him Then was the Draw bridge let downe when Palmerin and Ptolome riding to the Gate met there the Ladies whom they saluted with great reuerence and each Ladye leading a Knight in by the hande conducted them to their Chambers to be vnarmed CHAP. XXII How the Lady of the Castell declared to Palmerin what mooued the Gyant Darmaco to take from her her Daughter and her goods whereuppon Palmerin promised to enter Combat with the Gyant as much for pittie as to acquite his promise made to the Damosell that brought the Casket and the enchaunted Sword OUr two Knightes béeing thus entered the Castell and vnarmed the Lady brought each of them a rich Mantle of Crimson Damaske imbroydered with Golde and pearle to couer them and so came with them into the Hall to meate where wanted no choyse of dainty delicates so after yâ— Tables were withdrawne and manye other spéeches passed betweene them the Ladie thus began to Palmerin Sir Knight as nowe I am a poore and disinherited Gentlewoman that sometime was Wife to one of the welthiest Knights in this Countrey with whome I long time remained not hauing anie Childe till at length it pleased God to sende me a Daughter so faire a creature as euer nature framed who at my Husbands death was left with me but fiue yéeres aged My Lorde and Husbande learned in the arte Magicke and for his skill renowmed in this Countrie the daie before his death hee called mee to him vsing these spéeches Déere Wife let if suffise thée that I knowe what shall happen to thée after my death and that one shal take perforce from thée not onelie such goods as I leaue thée but also thy faire Daughter to helpe which extremity I haue somewhat prouided for thée before my departure Thou shalt finde in my Cabinett a Sworde which I my selfe haue enclosed in a Casket and haue sette so manie inchaunted spels on that Sword as no man shal be able to drawe it out of the scabbard vnlesse he be the best approued Knight in the worlde and he it is that must giue thée succour and helpe to recouer againe thy losse Too true fel out my Husbands spéeches for soone after Darmaco the Gyant came hither and as his custome was to abuse whome hee listed so tooke he from me the best of my Castelles and in despight of me tooke my Daughter from me saying that he would giue her to one of his Sonnes in marriage a villain far more vicious then the Father so deformed as nature standes ashamed at her owne workmanship Nowe in respect I would not consent to this vnséemely marriage such goods as was left me hee violentlie tooke from mee thys Sworde onelie excepted which you haue worthilie conquered and that had gone with him too but that my Sister hid it verie secretlie Now woorthie Knight if euer pittie tooke place in thy gentle hart reuenge me on the villaine the hath thus robde me of my goods and my Daughter whose youth béeing as yet but tenne yéeres olde is the cause that the Giant hath not consumated the marriage And if it shal like you to doo thus much for me you shall not onelie fulfil your promise to the Damosell that brought you hither but you shall doo a déede acceptaple to God profitable to me comfortable to my poore Childe and honorable for euer vnto your owne selfe Madame aunswered Palmerin it is no meruaile if Darmaco haue doone you this wrong in yâ— Giants doo take a habit in trecherous dealinges wherefore did not my promise binde me to your Damosel I would not passe so lightlie out of this Countrie ere I compelled him somewhat to recompence this iniurie and this shall I God willing doo to morrowe so please you I may bee conducted to him Ah gentle Knight saide the Ladie what I am
presently he marched towards his enemie who held in his hande a Persian Bowe with an arrow in it readie to shoote hauing a great sorte more at his backe in his Quiuer he was of vnreasonable stature yet with a countenaunce sterne and couragious all which could not dismay Palmerin but called to him in this maner Proud Knight that by the ayde of deuils and euill spirits hast committed monstrous cruelties it is nowe time that hee whom thou seruest should haue his pray which is thy soule into endlesse perdition And so without staying for any aunswer hee ran valiantly against him but the enchaunted Knight taking his aduauntage shot an arrowe at him so violently as if pierced through his Armour to the bare flesh Palmerin hauing broken his Launce with an yron Mace he had he reached such a stroke to the Knight as hee brake his Bowe in two peeces and the blowe falling on the head of his Horse made him therewithall fall deade to the grounde The Knight hauing recouered himselfe tooke a Mace that hung at his saddle Bowe and came against Palmerin who was nowe on foote likewise so layd they on loade terribly with their Maces that the Emperour and his Lordes and Ladies hearing the strokes came to the windowes to see the CoÌ„bat little thinking that any one durst presinne to meddle with his enemie yet all this while the Knights neuer breathed though theyr Sheeldes and Armour were very much mangled and their bodies wounded in many places And because Palmerin sawe the sight endure so long wyth the Mace he threw it downe and tooke him to his Sword wherewith he did so bumbaste him about the heade as hee could scant tell where to strike againe but the Knight on a suddaine lifting vp his Mace gaue Palmerin such a stroke betwéene the head and the shoulders as made him reele to and fro amazedly yet comming to himselfe and seeing the Knight faint with his great expence of bloode closed with him and casting his legge behinde him threw him to the grounde when setting his foote on his brest to kéepe him downe with his sworde he parted hys head from his bodie What question were it whether the Emperour reioysed hereat or noâ— who for his whole Empire wold not he were aliue againe béeing so well deliuered from his onely enemy in the worlde that coulde so molest him and his Countrey with such crueltie And to say sooth the enchaunted Knight was altogeather inuincible nor could Palmerin haue thus preuailed against his wonderfull enchauntments but that the thrée Magicall Sisters of the Mountaine Artifaeria highly fauoured him as you hearde before what promises they made him The Combat béeing thus ended and the enchaunted Knight dead the Emperour giuing thanks to God for this victory let open the Gates of the Castell and came foorth himselfe to welcome Palmerin who kneeling on his knee before the Emperour thus spake Mighty Prince such renowne haue I hearde through the worlde of your excéeding honour and bountie as I haue trauailed many straunge Countries to come offer you my seruice desiring your highnes if my sute may seeme reasonable to accept me hence forth amongst your Knightly Seruaunts Ah faire Knight aunswered the Emperour it is for me to know of you how I may reâ—â—â—erate this vnspeakable courtesie for but by you mine enemie had triumphed in my spoyle so much theÌ„ is my selfe my Children and Countrey bounde to you as no satis-faction is sufficient to regratiate So taking him by the hand and perceiuing his body wouÌ„ded in many places he conducted him into one of the fayrest Chambers in hys Castell where he was vnarmed commaunding his Chirurgions to take dilligent care of him because in truth they much doubted his life Wherfore getting him into his bed all néedefull things for his health were applyed to him and no cost was spared to saue his life that preserued the wholâ— Countrey CHAP. XXVII Howe the Empresse came to visite Palmerin who kept his Chamber because he had receiued such daungerous woundes in the Combat with the enchaunted Knight and of the speech he had with the fayre Princesse Polinarda THe Empresse with her fayre Daughter Polinarda gladde of the death of the enchaunted Knight came to Palmerins chaÌ„ber to visite him who hearing of their comming cast a night Mantle about him which the Emperor had sent him came with greate reuerence to welcome them so desirous was he to sée her for whom he had trauailed so manie strange Regions In this place it is necessary that you remeÌ„ber what gratious gifts the thrée fatall Sisters bestowed on him in the Mountaine Artifaeria one of them graunting him this speciall fauour that he should be highlie estéemed of her to whom he was destenied so soone as she behelde him which came tâ— passe as héere shall be declared Palmerin expecting the entrance of the Empresse her Daughter in his Chamber méeting them at the dore falling on his knée did with great humilitie kisse their handes but the Empresse taking him vppe in her armes saluted him with these spéeches Gentle Knight right happy may we count our selues by your comming hether the Realme béeing more desolate then it hath béene séene héeretofore and not without cause in respect of the great iniurie the Knight did vs whâ—m you haue slaine he hauing sworne the death of my children that neuer offended him but God bee thanked the lot hath fallen on himselfe which he determined to inflict on other for which great grace they stand so déepelie bound to you as to their Father that first gaue them life which by your prowesse you haue happilie preserued this second gift béeing of no lesse account then the first worthelie may you bee called their seconde Father Palmerin giuing eare to the Empresse salutations had his minde more busied in beholding Polinarda whose daintie regarde so maistred his opinions as heade hart thoughts and all were nowe sette to work yet couertly he shaped this answere to the Empresse Madame what I haue doone for you and yours is nothing in respecte of my great good will for since the time I first had knowledge of my selfe and before I receiued the order of knighthoode vnderstanding of my Lord the Emperour and what honourable entertainment was in his Court I dedicated my seruice to him onelie and for this cause Madame came I hither But howe is it possible Sir saide she that you can content your selfe to be one of his Knights your deserts bein so great Very well Madame quoth he and yours too so please your highnes to affoorde me such fauour With all my hart Sir said she shall I entertaine you towardes the Emperour and on mine owne behalfe will prouide better for you then I will speake of and did it like you I woulde accept you for a Uirgins Knight héere and none other Whereuppon shee called her Daughter Polinarda saying Faire Daughter this Knight as yet hath little acquaintance in the Court I praie you sée his entertainment
Ladie to be this daie liuing then your owne for mine own part I am not so troubled in conceit as you are to quarrell for such a fabulous matter yet dare I tell yee that my Ladie is much more beautifull then yours which if you will denie I am readie by the strength of mine arme to make you confesse it Lewes féeling himselfe gréeued with these iniurious spéeches of the Countie answered Proude Knight I am ashamed to heare thy iudgment so simple as to thinke I am come hether for a matter of so light moment as though I would not iustifie against thée and all other what I haue promised but let that passe before we part I will cause thée know thy folly by that time thy pate and thy bodie is thorowly bumbasted looke to thy selfe for I intende to doo it So mounting on horseback and prepared as it had béene to a warre mortal encountred eache other with such furie as their Launces flying in shiuers vppe in the ayre they met together so terriblie with their bodies their Shéeldes their Horsses and their heads as they were bothe dismounted to the grounde But earnest desire to vanquish they béeing beside stronge and will disposed Knights made them quicklie beginne the second assault with their Swords which was so dangerous and handled with such dexteritie as it was harde to iudge who should haue the honour of the Combat Bâ—t Lewes beholding the representation of his Ladie and considering her so excellent and fauourable to him tooke hart a fresh and as it were inspired with newe vigor so laide on the Countie Dâ—â—cell as in short time he brought him vnder the mercie of his Sworde when holding it against his threate he said Peremptorie Knight if nowe thou confesse she not my Lady to 〈◊〉 thine in beautie thy vndiscréete heade shall raunsome thy sollâ—e The Countie for all this woulde not aunswere one worde by reason of the debilitie he felt himselfe in hauing lost so much of his blood as for the gréefe hee conceiued to be thus vanquished whereat Prince Lewes not content would haue taken his heade from his shoulders but the Iudges of the fielde canie to him saying My Lorde you ought to forbeare hauing brought your enemie beyonde his owne defence your victory â—éeing sufficient to content you forbids his death The Prince perswaded entred his Pauillion and ioyfull of his conquest commaunded two Gardants of the field to take the figure of the Princesse of Arragon and place it at the féete of the Duchesse counterfeit which was doone immediatlie and the Countie Durcell brought into his owne Tent where his Chirurgions tooke dilligent care for the curing of his woundes Soone after came a Knight of Myllaine who giuing such defiances as the other dyd was in the ende constrained with great shame to confesse vnder the conquering Sworde of Lewes the imperfections of his Ladie and her stature placed by the Princesse of Arragon The same daie were fiue great Lords of Italie brought in like subiection and so the tryumphe ended till the next daie when the first that came into the fielde was a braue Gallant of Spayne a Knight of good estimation and specially reputed who after a dain-glorious Oration made as the nature of the people is that way affected put hys fortune to the triall of his Launce where hee sped so ill as he was vnhorssed and in the following Combat likewise receiued the foile After him seauen other Knights of Castile prooued as vnfortunate their Ladies pictures all reuerencing the Duâ—hesse who béeing not a little proude of her Knight and the memorable renowne he witnessed of her beautie I leaue to your considerations both of her conceite that waie as also in loue towards the Prince who séeing no more readie to enter the quarrell returned thence to the Pallace to conferre with his swéete Mistresse of his high good fortunes CHAP. XXXV Of the Combat betweene Prince Lewes of Fraunce and Crenus the Duke of Gaule GReat pleasure did the King conceiue and all the nobilitie of the Court at the â—otten victories of Prince Lewes against so manie woorthie Knights so that they altogeather accounted him most fortunate And nowe the thirde daie when hee was entred his Tent an English Knight no lesse braue in termes then the former defied the Prince and betwéene them began a dangerous conflict in the midst whereof the King with manie Princes Barons and Lordes as also the Quéene and the Duchesse of Burgundie came to their standing and vnhappily behelde the foyle of the English Knight the Duchesse hearing him confesse her beautie and behelde his Ladyes portrait placed vnder hers But now the couragious Duke of Gaule named Crenus came brauelie mounted into the fielde dooing his duetie to the King Quéene and Ladies who not knowing him by his Armour iudged him some great Lorde in that no Knight before caused so good opinion generallie nor came with brauer countenaunce into the field he béeing indéede a Prince of wonderfull possessions and a Knight at Armes woorthilie approoued The Duke as all the other had doone caused his Ladies counterfeite to bee placed where it ought by his Squires to the no little admiration of all the beholders noting what rare and excellent beautie it was adorned withall the workman hauing performed such exquisite perfections as it had béene the Ladie herselfe naturallie liuing while the Squires were thus placing it on the monument the Duke aduaunced himselfe to Lewes in this manner The ouermuch selfe conceite Lorde Lewes of mindes but easily acquainted with matters of difficultie hath often béene and yet is the cause to plucke great personages more lowe then they expecte so that men haue séene them deceiued of their intents and rewarded with ridiculous shame and confusion This speake I to you hauing héere begun a busines the ende whereof will bee more harde to you then as yet the beginning hath béen for Europe is sufficientlie stored with hardy Knights to asswage your presumptuous opinion and Ladies much more faire and excellent then she whom you contende for And this by the fauour of Fortune gracious regarde of my Ladie and Mistresse and helpe of my good Sworde will I enforce you to confesse that incomparable Agriola daughter to the King of England for vertue for beautie and all diuine perfections excéedeth yours whatsoeuer she be Before such a leasing quoth the Prince shall passe the lippes of a Sonne of Fraunce rather will I consent to bee péecemeale torne in sunder and before fayre Phaebus haue paced one howres iourney I doubt not to make thée repent thy pride and arrogancie By the soule of King Arthur said the Duke looke thou garde thy selfe well for I haue with my courtelaâ— abated the pride of a brauer man then thy selfe and ere we two part I meane to trie if I can doo it againe therefore resolue thy selfe to thy best defence for by my life I will not fauour thee Without any further spéeches they encountred with such violence togeather
had not foyled the Duke of Lorraine had not his Horse fallen on him and maimed him otherwise hee brought the Combatte to so good a iudgment as he had wunne the honour of the fielde Wherat Palmerin was more offended then before because himselfe was not able to reuenge this mis-fortune héerewithall he conceiued a kind of iealousie of the Duke of Lorraine because hée hadde chosen his Ladie Polinarda for his Mistresse and on her behalfe had entred the Combatte and howe he durst place her picture on the Piller wyth her name without he had receiued some commandement from her which conceit so gréeued him as his woundes began to be as daungerous as at the first continually labouring in his thoughts nowe with the lightnes then againe with the constancie of Women neuerthelesse he could not iudge affecting earnestly the vertues of his Lady that she would be of such a double lyking and in this doubtful estate sayd Ah God I sée that Women winne lightly loose againe more easilie Then repenting his words followes on thus O heauens and what shall I say it is impossible that shee meaning Polinarda should be so forgetfull and neuer will I beléeue that a Princesse so wise and vertuous wold reward me with such treason which may not nay I dare sweare cannot once enter her thoughts Yet would not all opinions serue to allay thys newe iealousie but still it had power to confounde reason and al the night continued he in this variable conceit till the next morning when Ptolome so soone as the Sunne arose accoÌ„panyed with Trineus went to his Tent where béeing armed all sauing his Helmet hauing his Launce and Shéelde he came to the Duke saying Thou knowest Knight the cause of my comming stand vpon thy guarde for I sight for beautie The Duke suddainly at these words mounted on horseback and ranne against his enemie with such strength as Ptolome cast the Duke forth of his saddle and suddainly alighted wyth hys Sworde drawne but the Duke recouering himselfe entertained him in sharper sort then he expected Nowe beganne betwéene them a cruell and pittious Combat as their Armour sheeldes and swords â—lewe about in péeces and the blood trickling downe their bodies in manie places so that it was generally reputed how the fight could not end without the losse of both their liues Yet in the ende the Duke béeing of stronger constitution then Ptolome and gréedy of victory ouer his enemie ranne so violentlie vpon him as hée got him on the grounde and he béeing vppermost offered to take the aduauntage of his life but the Iudges forbidding it caused Ptolome to be carried into his Tent where the Prince Trineus staied not a little sorry for this great misfortune The Duke likewise sore wounded was carried into his Pauillion but first hee sawe the portrait of Brionella sette in the ranke of the conquered The same daie dyd the Duke fight with a Knight of Scotland at the Maâ—e who not nimble enough in vsing that weapon in the end had the foyle and thrée other Knights afterwarde at seuerall weapons so that it was admirable to beholde the exploits of Armes the Duke did in that no Knight as yet medled with him but departed with shame and their Ladies pictures placed as vanquished And nowe was Palmerins Combatte against the Duke of Gaule not talked on for the Duke of Sauoy was accounted the onely Knight in the world to the no small ioy of the Princesse Lucemania who perswaded herselfe now that her beautie was most excellent But she was not so pleasant as Palmerin was pensiue and â—nraged out of measure notwithstanding his weakenes and the often intreaties of Trineus he would néedes to the fielde saying Good my Lord perswade me not for I reckon not my life so I may take vengeaunce of the dishonour doone to my Ladie your Sister the manifolde courtesies of the Emperour your Father haue so bounde me to her and you as excéede my life farre and therfore I beséech you not to hinder me Trineus yet ouercame him by perswasions assuring him to haue time sufficient for his reuenge whereat greatlie displeased he feigned himselfe to be whole sooner then he was indéede for the great desire hee had to deale with the Duke And Prince Lewes angrie to sée the Duke hold the fielde longer then hee did not able to bee ouercome by anye Knight came to Palmerin saying I knowe not my Lorde whether you vnderstand the Duke of Sauoyes victories against so manie hardie Knights but belike his strength is much better then mine was or Fortune allowes him more fauour then she did to me In my conceit if you enter not the Combat you doo me wrong and your selfe too and if hee depart hence with victory then shall I haue cause to complaine of you in that his successe hath made him so braue and presumptuous as though no Knight is able to answere him in the field let me intreate you Sir Palmerin to abate his pride and as well hee deserues make him knowe his folly Palmerin hauing greater desire to execute this matter then thus to be intreated returned the Prince this answere My Lorde God giues honour and victory to whom he pleaseth without either regarde of the cause or the persons If according to bountie or nobilitie of minde he distributed such gifts then had you béene among the better sorte as furnished sufficientlie with valour and magnanimitie yet if your enterprise haue not sorted to your desire account this for certaine that it is for your good and for other reasons theÌ„ are to you known for such matters are his secrets and he dooth ballance them by his diuine wisedome Notwithstanding as well to satis-fie your request as ease mine owne minde to morrowe morning will I enter my Tent albeit my present estate would haue me stay awhile there will I Combat with the Duke not certaine how Fortune meanes to deale with me But happen what shall I goe with a minde to conquere and doubt not but the issue wyll be such as shall yéelde you content and me the victory so shall your sadnes mine be conuerted into pleasure With this aunswere the Prince satis-fied departed yet was hee ignoraunt of Palmerins intent which was farre otherwise then he imagined but pleased as he was he went into the presence Chamber where manie Knights were conferring of déedes of Armes past to whom hee opened the fantasie of Palmerin which caused a generall doubting of the Duke setting him downe for vanquished except Palmerins weaknes were his greater Fréende CHAP. XXXIX Of the perillous Combat between Palmerin and the Duke of Sauoye and the issue thereof SIxe daies togeather had yâ— Duke of Sauoye maintained this quarrell for the beautie of his Ladie Lucemania and no Knight as yet could get anie aduauntage of him vntil the seauenth daie when Palmerin prepared himselfe to the fielde and entred his Tent accoÌ„panied with Prince Lewes of Fraunce Trineus and many other Princes The King with
former promise not to râ—ueale the least matter that may be hurtfull to them Neuerthelesse in regard of the reuerent good will they beare you and that I would not haue you offended with such an abiect creature as I am I would gladly tell you some thing to your content so you will promise me on your princely worde that what I reueale shall neuer be disouered by you Perswade thy selfe thereof sayd the Princesse and looke what thou sayst by my honor shall neuer turne to thy after harme Then know fayre Madame quoth he that the gréene knight is of the most noble and illustrious house in Europe louing a Ladie as his proper life for whom he hath left his Countrey parents friends to come and do her seruice The blacke knight as I haue alreadie tolde you is my maister and further then this I may not tell you What am I the nearer my desire quoth shée by this aunswere eyther thou shouldest haue sayde nothing or else thorowly satisfyed mâ—e for now I can not bée quieted till thou tell me what Ladie it is that the gréene Knight loues so déerely let mée not make so many intreaties for I promise to thée againe by the faith of a Princesse that neuer shall any creature know it by my meanes You vrge me so farre quoth the Dwarffe and haue made mee such great promises as I am constrayned beyond yâ— charge giuen by my maister to acquaint you with the trueth in respect the fault wil be greater in you to make refusal then in yéelding Resolue your selfe therefore good Madame that the braue gréene Knight so rich in Armes but more in minde is the Prince Trineus Sonne to the Emperour of Allemaigne so passionate in loue and so depriued of liberty by deuout seruice to your excellent bountie as against both duetie and nature he hath deceiued his Father feigning to come ayde his Kinsman the King of Norway where contrariwise he hath shewed himselfe his mortall enemie And to no other ende hath he thus offended both Father and Cozin then to make known his long labourous desires to make you Lady and Mistresse of him and his and such is his fearâ— to be refused as he endures more torments then the martired bodye of poore Prometheus Bee not then the cause swéete Ladie that a Prince so famous and a Knight so gentle shall buy his great good seruice to your Father and CouÌ„trey yea the most loyal loue he beares to you with vntimelie vnfortunate and cruell death Thinke with your selfe is it not the highest among all honours to be Wife to such a Lord and Empresse in time of renowned Allemaigne Is it not perpetuall report to be Lady and commaundresse of the principall parte of Europe Let not him beare record that a bodie so adorned and countenaunce so milde and gracious can entertaine tirannie or crueltie yea Madam such crueltie as if you receiue him not into your fauourable conceit you shall procure the death of the truest Knight in loue that euer liued The blacke knight is the renowned Palmerin d'Oliua the wonder of the world for â—alour conquering in Fraunce the Duke of Sauoy in maintenaunce of his Ladies beautie fayre without compare conforming his Shéelde and Armour equall to his mourning thoughts for his absence from her that tryumphes in his loue The third knight so adorned with white Roses is called Ptolome loued by a Ladie well woorthy of him It now remaineth fayre Princesse that you make the Prince Trineus equall with them in felicitie for you haue the mayden heade of his loue which with honor you may entertaine into your chastâ— thoughtes Thus haue I acquainted you with such a secrete as no creature but your selfe could haue got of mée and the danger to fall into your misconceit hath made mée such a blab leauing all you haue heard to your gracious coÌ„struction Agriola méetelie farre enough in loue before but now vtterly denied of longer libertie hearing the wordes of Vrbanillo was surprised with such a strange alteration as a long time she was driuen to silence not able to vtter the secrete conceits of her minde yet al length to shadowe her suddaine change from the Dwarfe shée sayde Ah my Fréende thou acquaintest me with matter altogither incredible is it possible that Trineus Sonne to the Emperor of Allâ—â—â—aigne would venture into this Court considering the mortall enmitie betwéene our Fathers Trust mée my Fréende I cannot credit thée I renounce mine owne soule sâ—ide the Dwarfe if it be not as I haue told you then iudge Madame what acceptaunce shoulde be made of his seruice when loue to you excéedeth nature may it not bee termed loue surpassing all other eyther registred in antiquities or present memorie If it should be quoth she as then sayest it is beyonde my power to returne condigne recompence yet in respect of thy secrecie I dare assure thée mine owne opinion of him hath so ouer-maistered me as in honorable modestie he may commaund and I am not so well nurtured to disagrée But if eyther by my words thou hast gathered or by any chaunge of countenaunce perceiued the suddaine yéelding of a flexible nature interprete it in this good sort that Princes afflictions make each other melt as framed of one mettall which I charge thée conceale from him as thou regardest my word and his safetie Pardon mee Madame quoth the Dwarfe it standeth not with my allegeaunce to obey you héerein what a villaine might I bee accounted and vnworthy the name of a faithfull seruant if I shoulde â—ide these happy tydings from him to ease those torments that euerye houre threaten his death Yea Madame did my maister but thinke I would so abuse him well deserued I to be â—orne in péeces Well quoth she if thou findest time conuenient till him but no other I charge thée on thy life and withall certifie him that I woulde not for my Fathers Crowne he should be knowne Feare you not good Madame sayde the Dwarffe they are alreadie so well aduised as none but your selfe ran any way endaunger them It sufficeth that the Prince vnderstande your pleasure which I will impart to him when the King is returned so kissing her hande hée departed leauing her so highly contented in assurance of the loyall loue of Trineus as she neuer determined any other Husbande yet woulde shée not disclose her minde no not to Eufemia her secret companion thinking herselfe too much bewrayed because the Dwarffe knewe it Soone after the Quéene sent for her to walke in the coole shadowe of the Trées where not long they stayed before the King returned who reported what pastime they had all that morning The Knightes hauing saluted the Quéene and her Ladies Trineus saluting the Princesse Agriola was so transported as hée scant knewe where he was The Princesse likewise fixed with a stedfast eye on him as wounded both him and her selfe togither her complexion so aptly deciphering her sickenesse as the Prince perceyuing it sayd to
King and Palmerin with fifty Knights more came to assist them for Palmerin hauing slayne the Giant mounted on his horse because it was one of the goodliest yâ— euer he saw and espying the King comming with his trainâ— set on with him and found Trineus in great danger because so many of his side were slaine but this fresh assistance brought by the king was the meane that all the Giants knightes were slaughtered and they knéeling down thanking God for their victory The king alighting came and embraced the quéene saying Now happy may we thinke our selues Madame hauing so well preuented this trecherous villaine for neuer did I thinke to sée you againe but that God these knights so highlie befréended vs. The Quéene and her Daughter were as yet so dismayed in remembraunce of theyr former daunger as beholding so many lye slaine before them and ioyfull beside béeing so fortunatelye deliuered as betwéene these extreames they knew not what to say but desired spéedilie to sâ—t forward thence which they presently did yâ— king commaunding his Nephew Cerides to sée Franarco and his men burned to ashes and honorable Sepulture to be prouided for the other When the Quéene heard that Eranarco was dead Tell me my Lord quoth she who hath doone such a gracious acte to kill that monstrous villaine Euen hee Madame said the king that was cause of my victorie in battell the knight héere in blacke Armour to whome I am so far indebted as I cannot imagine any recompence sufficient for him and this can I not speak without great maruaile séeing so rare valour performed with so little danger on his behalfe Long may the good knight liue saide the Quéene that hath so defended vs and may they all thrée prosper in their affaires for their knightly seruice to the Realme of England While these spéeches endured Trineus béeing sore wounded was brought betwéen two squires and set vpon his horse but the king the quéene and chéefely faire Agriola was glad when she heard there was no such danger but he might well escape it Wherefore mounting al on horsebacke they rode to sée the Giants bodie which made Agriola repute Palmerin for no lesse then his Dwarfe commended him Then the king commaunded to vnarme the body and one of his knightes should bring away his Helmet and Shéelde which would be tokens sufficient for him to recouer the Castle of Garbones which he seised on and all other things belonging to the Giant he sent the Count of Bonneroy with fiue hundred men to confiscate and return to his Maiesties vse The Count well knowing such matters would not easily be accomplished if they in the Castle should make resistance therefore politikely he sent the Giants Targe and Helmet before as sent from Franarco who was with the king and they should open the gates because they were comming thither for witnes wherof they shewed the giants signet of arms The guard too crâ—dulous and thinking it vnpossible for any man to conquere the giant opened the gates wherupoÌ„ the Count presently entred with his power putting all to the sword not sparing any not so much as the giants yonger brother who escaping aliue from the battel was the cause who Franarco dealt thus villanously Thus did the Count yéeld the Castle into the Kings obeysance remaining Captaine thereof vnder the Kings authoritie the like hee did in many other places where the people aduertised of the Giants rebellion and that the Castle of Garbones was taken there was nonâ— would resist the kings commandement whereof the Count was not a little glad returning as soone as he could with the glad tidings of his successe to the Court certifying the King how all things happened Chap. LII Of the conference Palmerin had with the Princesse Agriola after he had slaine the Giant Franarco BY this time the King was come to his Pauillion where he caused his Chirurgions dilligently to attend the thrée knights for the curing of their wounds who found that the prince of Allemaigne was worst of al hurt yet the king vnderstaÌ„ding he was in no danger of life was the better pacified because he loued him déerely and intended to honour him so much as lay in his power promising not to depart thence till hee recouered his health and because he would preuent like mischances he caused dilligent watch to be made euerie night as though he hadde lien in field encamped with the enemie During the Princes sicknesse â—ee was oftentimes visited by the Quéene and fayre Agriola not vnthankfull of the courtesie receiued by him and his companions and for which they requited him with manifold thankes Trineus estéeming himselfe worthily recompenced séeing that heauenly spectacle whose presence healed a greater wound then any hee had receiued in fight desiring the continuance of the outward hurts for comforting of his inward oppressions And while the quéene thus conferred wiâ—â— Tâ—ineus Palmerin came to the princesse Agriola seeing the time so lawfull and commoâ—â—â—â—s that hee might thorowly acquaint her with matter long enough before premeditated but because shee was desirous to talke with him she first began in manner following I know not sir Knigâ—t how the king my Father will satisfie the great seruice you haue doone him in so many hazards to his Realme and himselfe but for mine owne part I think my selfe so bounden that after life which he gaue me by generation my deuoted soule shall remaine to honour you And if these occasions passed doo giue mée iust cause to thinke my selfe happie what lesse account may I make of that vertuous Prince Trineus your companion who came into this Countrey onely for my loue as I am perswaded yet doubtfull to be lightly carried away with report I should accept it for more sound assurance so please you to speake the truth herein Madame quoth Palmerin if I haue doone any seruice to the King or you it is rewarded with much more theÌ„ sufficient séeing it pleaseth you to make such account thereof and I promise you you haue two knights wholly at commaund for the loue of the third who is so confidently â—owed your friend and seruant as no man in the world can bee more this is he that lieth wounded in his bed the princely sonne and heire of the Emperor of Allemaigne in which report my Dwarfe hath not deceiued you And giue my word this credit Madame that since the time hee first heard of your excellent beautie béeing then in Fraunce he neuer had other determination but to spend his life in your gracious seruice and making refusall of many faire Ladies especially of Lucemania daughter to the most christian king of Fraunce set downe this princely and commendable resolution neuer to espouse any other but you so it may stand with your liking to accept him for your husband think then aduisedly swéete madam of the incomparable happines ordaiâ—ed for â—ou and stand not in your owne light to loose so good fortune In truth my Lord quoth the princesse I
so amorous of my Daughter as hee requested his mother to demaund her of me for his Wife but when I heard thereof you may well perswade your selfe that neuer woman disliked any thing more and yet to this time doo as much as I then did so that I made her answere howe I would rather desire my Daughters death then so to dishonour her because he was altogether vnworthie such speciall fortune Notwithstanding this sharpe repulse he continued his amorous desires to my Daughter so that he earnestly perswaded his mother to permitte him to take her from me perforce to which suite the vndiscréete mother consented either mooued with pittie or ouercome by the importunate solliciting of her so that one day vnder colour of a friend méeting me to be merry he robbed me of my Daughter This wicked traytor hadde long before that time intended this trecherie compacting the matter secretly with villaines and théeues by whose assistance he carried away my Daughter shutting her vppe in a strong Lower whereof I told you And because he feared I would gather some strength to reskew her considering how well I was beloued of my neighbours hee preuented mée by a strange enchauntment enuironing the castle and the tower with such a maruailous water as no knight shoulde enter vppon them without their consent Now that themselues might come forth and returne againe at their pleasure they deuised a little Boate which is guarded by two fierce Lions and a puissant knight that hath charge of them so that none comes to them but whome they list Since this vnhappie time did I neuer sée my Daughter whom this damnable villaine which most of all gréeues mée immediatly violated and rauished at his pleasure swearing now neuer to take her as his Wife but to vse her as his Concubine and beside all this the Traitour in despight of mee and to reuenge the words I gaue him doth monstrously abuse her and vnmanly whippeth her dayly with Roddes which my Sister hath often intreated to be spared but he by no meanes will be perswaded Thus séeing my selfe out of all hope to recouer her againe haue euer since continued in earnest inuocation to Heauen that some notable vengeance might punish this villaine and such fauour haue I founde in my deuout imprecations as first his mother was chastized with a disease called Saint Anthonyes fire in one of her legges which so gréeuously torments her as no remedie can bée founde to asswage the vexation Her Sonne vnderstanding héereof would haue slaine my sister accusing her to procure his Mothers infirmity by her learned knowledge whereuppon my Sister feariâ—g her life and watching time conuenient for her purpose escaped from the villaine hither to mée béeing sorrie that her Aunt should thus iniuriously deale with me and promised to worke the meane that I should recouer my Daughier These wordes not a little pleasing mée I would néedes knowe howe I should come by my Daughter againe whose misfortune had béene so yrksomâ— to me where to she thus answered It is so good Sister that I cannot nowe reuerse the enchauntments I haue alreadie made for your Daughter though gladly I would if it lay in my power wherefore you must attende the comming of a Knight who excéedeth all other in vertue and prowesse for he shall passe the water kill the Knight enter the Tower and deliuer my Niece your Daughter againe into your custody As concerning the Knight good Sister that shall so hardly passe the water without feare and fully accomplish my former enchauntment for him will I leaue with you a Sworde a very sumptuous armour and diuers other gifts to bestowe on him because my selfe shall not liue to sée him which came to passe for very shortly after my Sister died Nowe know you Sir Knight what matter is preordained for you therefore take pittie on mée a poore desolate Mother and aduenture your selfe in this cause of honour as bounde héereto by vertue and néedefull occasion Beléeue mee Madame saide Palmerin your discourse hath béene strange and good reason mooues you to request vengeance because your wrong is the greatest that euer I heard of which may sometimes perswade you that the offender cannot long escape without shame aunswerable to his villanie for Heauen will not suffer it by assistance whereof I hope to reuenge your Daughters rape And trust mee Lady I am sorrie I came not in your Sisters life time because shee coulde haue resolued mee in a doubtfull matter neuerthelesse I will doo so much for you as if she were liuing But I maruaile what is become of the knight that slewe my horse and the Damosell that conducted me hither As for the Damosell quoth the Lady she shall come anone to attend vppon you but the knight was onely a matter of enchauntment deuised by my Sister to discouer the man that should ende this aduenture And the Damosell whereof you speake hath brought hither many knights to the Lake but when their horses were slaine none of them durst be so hardy as to enter the water but onely you beeing predestinated of thâ—s aduenture In this and other such like talke they spent the day till Supper time and afterwarde was Palmerin câ—â—ducted â—o his Chamber and béeing in bedde hee could take no rest first for gréefe that he hadde not slaine Frysol then againe by the strange tale the lady tolde him wherefore rysing the sooner in the morning hee went with the Lady to seruice in her Chappell where hée dâ—sired of God that hée might preuaile against thâ—se coâ—â—uraâ—ions and vanquish the Knight that had so much abused his order Returning from the Chappell the Lady among other talke thus saide I sée Sir knight that your Armour is broken and much defaced that one may iudge you haue not kept it idle in your Armorie wherfore I thinke you met not with your friend when you were enforced to so dangerous tryall but as I vnderstande by the Damosell that was your guide hither you returned him good payment for his paines To supply your want I will bestow an Armour on you which my Sister long since prouided for you and with careful regard kept close in her Chest therfore let me intreate you not to refuse it in respect it was not prouided but for speciell purpose beeing néedfull for the present occasion you must nowe enterprise Palmerin would not refuse her offer wherefore opening the Chest there lay the Armour couered with white Taffata whereon was wrought in letters of Golde this inscription These Armes were made for the good knight Palmerin D'Oliua Sonne to the most royall King that â—his day liueth in all Greece That woorthie present greatly delighted Palmerin because héerein his desire was somewhat satisfied which was to knowe the estate of his Father wherefore in midst of this pleasing humour hee saide to his Lady I perceiue faire Madame that your sister knâ—w more of my destinie then any other for séeing she could so truely describe my name I néede
looke Which discourtesie hath well nere driuen me to dispayre in regarde of her slender opinion of mee as being so hindered onely through your absence Often I determined with Ptolome to leaue the Courte and followe you in trauaile but the King by no meanes woulde permit mée sending many of his owne Knightes because I shoulde not go yet was I resolued that had you not come no displeasure whatsoeuer shoulde haue helde mée héere but to finde you I intended or loose my life This falles out very harde quoth Palmerin for by these meanes we shall stay héere God knowes how long beside Hermes knowes my name which makes me doubt least we shal be reuealed the Emperour likewise may be offended at our long tarriaunce In regarde of all this good Prince I thinke it best that we sende your squire and Vrbanillo my Dwarffe to aduertise his Maiestie of our affaires and how by reason of the tempest we were cast quite out of course so far as we could not by any meanes assist his Armie not doubting but to sée his highnesse in very short time In the meane while we may practise meanes to win the Princesse fauour againe and so in good time departe hence with the honourable prize that we came for Trineus was newlye reuiued with these spéeches wherefore he desired that betimes in the morning hée would dispatche theyr Seruauntes towardes Allemaigne Which Palmerin fayled not to doo in respect of a dreame he had the night before for he imagined that he sawe his Lady Polynarda in meruailous heauinesse and that she sayde to him Alas my Lord what shall become of me for I am narrowly sought to be seperated from you This fearefull vision so discouraged him as he sent thence his Dwarfe to shewe her what trouble he hadde with his dreame and how constant he remained in his loue to her Chap. LXI How Palmerin promised the princesse Agriola to conâ—ay her out of England with his friendes which he performed to the speciall content of the prince Trineus EArly on the next morning Palmerin arose and wrote a letter to his Lady Polinarda wherin he secretly put a ring which shee gaue him when he departed from her straightly commaunding Vrbanillo that hee shoulde diligently attende on the Princesse till hee came which should bée with all the spéede hee could possible Ptolome likewise wrote to his Ladiâ— Brionella and these Letters dispatched the Messengers immediatly sette forwarde on theyr iourney From this time Colmelio was Palmerins Squire which pleased him very well because hee knewe that Palmerin was nobly borne so that by his meanes in time hee should rise to preferment This day the king would ride abroade a Hunting which gaue Palmerin occasion to sée the Faulcon fliâ— béeing reputed by the king and all his traine to be the best that euer flew In this time of recreation Hermes reported to the King that the knight so long absent was named Palmerin and the same knight that woonne so much honour in Fraunce which so well contented the king as he more and more desired his companie summoning all his Barons and Lordes to his Courte where hee made such feastes triumphs and other sportes for the honour of the noble Palmarin and his companions as the like had not béen of long time before At night when the Maskers Mumeries and Moriscoes were in presence that Palmerin espied conuenient time to talk with the princesse he tooke her aside to a window and thus began Madam before I begin what I haue to acquaint you withal I must giue you this ring as I was commanded by the lady of the castel in the lake the singular vertues thereof are such as I intreate you to kéepe it coÌ„tinually on your finger which Agriola receiuing with a curteous reuerence faithfully promised to accomplish his request then Palmerin with earnest affection on his friends behalfe thus continued his discourse I cannot but maruell fayre Princesse you being a Ladie of so speciall qualitie renowmed among the most vertuous creatures in the world for your rare integrity profound iudgemeÌ„t that you will be gouerned by the vnaduised perswasioÌ„s of other which I would not beléeue had not the Prince Trineus certenly assured me how since my departure in stéed of fauorable countenance and the intreatance beséeming so great a Lord he can haue nothing but frownes disdaine coy regard which is as easy for him to indure as a thousand deaths one after another Assure your self so farre beguiled as your councellers disswade you froÌ„ your chéefest good desirous to withhold you from the height of honour wherof you cannot faile being matched in mariage with the most vertuoâ—s Prince Trineus Make you no small account that he being one of the most noble states on the earth hath left his parents his friends and countrey hath past so many strange vncouth regions hath aduentured the iniurie of the seas bâ—aten with so many bitter blastes and raging billowes euerie minute in daunger of Shipwracke all for your loue Thinke you that he being son to the Emperour of Allemaigne attending euery day the rule of the Empire that he came hither to you in hope of your rich dowrie No trust me Madame and I thinke your own conscience doth so resolue you that néerer home he could haue found other endued with larger possessions then this Realme affords you But hearing the fame of your manifold vertues rare life choise beautie and all other good gifts he was willing wtout regard of his owne estate to thrust himselfe in daunger yea to forget himselfe for your loue which hitherto he hath with religious seruice intreated and except you intertaine him with more gracious fauour he is in danger of life Which if it should happen by your occasion for euer you shal be noted of monstrous ingratitude and Christendome should sustain a losse vnrecouerable How far such a thought ought to be froÌ„ you I leaue to your own coÌ„struction If hitherto you haue knowne me a knight readie to support the causes of Ladies far beneath your height thinke you I haue not greater reason to honour you yea not a moue you with any request but what may euery way aduance your credite And though my lord Trineus were not of the blood imperiall yet might his gentle heart vnfeigned loue and â—urpassing humanitie cause you to make choyse of him aboue all other whatsoeuer they be But séeing it so falles out that you will not regard good counsell following rather the perswasion of mean capacities whose iudgemeÌ„ts may not reach to so high occasions continue in your obstinacie and marke the end of such indiscréet consures I sée that our company is yrksome to you therfore sooner then you imagin we will remoue that occaâ—â—on I knowe well enough that you intend to match with the duke of Gaule who is but your fathers subiect so refusing yâ— degrée of an Empresse you shall tarry in England and be a Dutchesse Thinke you that if my
opinion that when the fayrest were present beautie would then bee most spleâ—dant For this cause hee sent to Prince Guilharaâ— Sonne to Polidia her mothers sistâ—r that he should bring his Sister Ardemia to the Court who was counted the Paragon through all the Monarchie of Babilon 〈…〉 and defende thy selfe so woorthily as thou hast done Then was shée certifyed by an auncient Knight that one of the squyres of her Chamber smote him as he lay a sleepe which he reuenged in such sort as she had séene Trust me quoth she the dumbe man did as well be seemed him wherefore in respect of his ciuilitie and that he can so well correct the ouerboldnesse of fooles I will intertaine him as one of our Court forbidding any to wrong him as they â—ender my fauour and their owne liues So commaunding buriall for the dead and prouision for the wounded shée went to her Pauilion which was not farre off willing Palmerin by signâ—s to go with her deliuering him his sword again and saying he should he her seruant Humble graces did Palmerin requiâ—e her withall and in signe of his obeysance offred 〈…〉 would not permit him and taking 〈…〉 Looke that hereafter thou go not from me whereto by signes be consented knowing that by heâ— meanes he 〈◊〉 be safely protected 〈…〉 Princesse Pauillion but the Greyhounde 〈…〉 pace as he caught her in the presence of Alchidiana 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 owne handes tooke her from the Dogge and gaue her in kéeping to one of her Pages By this tyme it 〈◊〉 towards night wherfore each one mounting on their Palfrayrs set forwarde to the Cittie the two Princesses hauing no other talke all the way but of the singuler behauiour of the 〈◊〉 Knight They riding faire and easily because Palmerin trauayled by them on foote Ardemia beholding his goodly Sworde demaunded of him if hée werâ— a Knight which he by signes made knowne vnto her wherof Alchidiana verie ioyfull sayde that shée woulde present him to the Soldane her Father and for this cause the more she beheld him the greater pleasure shée conceyued in him Beeing nowe come to the Gates of Calpha there stood manie Knights readie with lighted Torches to conduct the Ladies and their traine to the Pallace which was so rare and sumptuously edifyed as Palmerin was amazed to 〈◊〉 such royaltie All the way Alchidiana had the dumbe knight by her site giuing him her hand to alight from her Palfray which hée did with excéeding reuerence and nothing discontented with his office but manie Kings and Princes there present murmured thereat thinking him not worthie to come so néere her nor might he so be suffered but that the Princesse somewhat 〈◊〉 of him would suffer none to contrarie her pleasure and leaned on his arme al the while shée went vppe the stayres of the Pallace to giue the 〈◊〉 euen to the Soldane who stayed his Daughters returne in the great hall Still leaned shée on Palmerin till she came to her Father who 〈◊〉 in a magnificent Chaire of estate hauing the resemblaunce of the firmament ouer his heade after the Turkish maner so garnished with Rubâ—es and Dyamonds which with the lights of the Torches shined most gloriously whereat Palmerin wondered 〈◊〉 the Princesse with so braue gesture as many reputed 〈◊〉 some noble person and other 〈◊〉 thought the woorst of him The Soldane who loued his Daughter as you haue heard before arose from his Chayre to welcome her home demaunding what sport shée had on hunting and if shée had brought any venison home with her Certes my Lord quoth she we haue had better fortune then you thinke on but before I declare the manner thereof to you will it please you to giue mee what I haue found this day The Soldane not able to denie his Daughter any thing liberally graunted her request A thousande thankes good Father quoth shée this dumbe Knight hath your Maiestie giuen me who in his owne defence hath this day slaine certaine of your Knights and hereof you may assure your selfe that hee is one of the most hardy Gentlemen that euer came into these partes Séeing it is your request Daughter quoth hée I coulde hée well contented to graunt it but how shall I aunswere â—he Fréendeâ— of the murthered to whom I haue alreadie promised that for his offence he shall be deliuered to the Lions So which of these graunts ought best to bée kept yours béeing my Daughtâ—r wherein nature ruleth or theirs béeing my Subiects which the Lawe commaundeth I may not bée iâ—dge herein sayde the Princesse notwithstanding me thinkes vnder your highnesse correction that you haue béene but 〈…〉 to giue a sentence so cruell hauing not heard or séene the partie And albeit hée were guiltie of blame as heâ— is not yet before his condemnation hée ought to bée heard howe hée could cléere himselfe but if hée must die I hauing assured him life and taken him into my defence the disgrace is so great to mée as mine honour must remaine for â—uer condemned And you my Lord and Father whose authoritie may discharge me of this reproch if you refuse now to assist me the gréefe hereof will bée my death Thâ—se words she spake with such affection and so heauily wéeping as woulde haue mooued a 〈◊〉 heart to pittie her whereâ—â—â—â— Mâ—uliâ—us touched with naturall remorse sayd You shall peceyue Daughter what I haue deuised to the ende my worde may not bee impeached He shall be put into the Lyons Denne and suddenly taken out againe by this meane I shall kéepe my promise to his accusers and satisfie your earnest desire And the better to content you herein his enemies shall bee perswaded that he escaped the Lions with life and then will I giue him safetie thorow all my dominions The Princesse fearing the bloodthirstie desire of the Lions coulde not so content her selfe which Palmerin perceyuing that the Father and daughter thus contended for him fel downe on his knée before the Soldane making signes that hee should accomplish his promise for hee feared not the daunger of his life Maulicus maruailing hereat perswaded his daughter that being so hardie hee might escape therefore to content her selfe for thing should bee handled in such sort as the Knight should no way be endangered These words somewhat contented the Princesse causing Palmerin to be conducted to his chamber charging him that was appoynted to attend on him to sée that he were very honourably vsed and in the morning to bring him againe before her father The Soldane and his Knights spent all that euening in diuerse iudgements on the dumbe Knight each one being glad of the Soldanes sentence but Alchidiana was so pensiue considering the dangerous hazard he should passe as she 〈◊〉 to her Chamber refusing all sustenaunce and spending the time in â—oloroâ—s complaints desiring rather her own death then the dumbe knight should be any way harmed Chap. V. How Palmerin is put into the Denne among the Lions and Leopards and hauing killed three of them
many haue sent their Ambassadours to him presenting their Daughters and Kingdomes to him the greater part whereof he hath hitherto refused â—xcusing himselfe by his fathers age and his owne youth But as often times it happeneth Fortune enemie to all good endeuours not suffering him to remaine in quiet permitted that the quéene of Tharsus the fayrest of the Orientall paâ—ts a young Widdow and rich as is very well knowne after shee had sent him many presents of incomparable value intreated him to come and sée her shaddowing in this message the great desire shée had to matâ—h with him The Prince being benigne and courteous would not denie her but in short time after iourneyed to her The Quéene entertaining him with great royaltie and séeing in him farre more gracious and beautifull gifts then before she heard reported was so surprised with loue as in stéede of looking to be wooâ—d her selfe was constrained to demaund knowing so wâ—ll to declare her desirous and affectionate passions as the Prince mooued with amorous pittie granted what she requested without any further condition or promise presuming on himselfe in respect of her great and fauorable entertainment that hee would not leaue her for any other But herein was she deceiued for the yong Prince hauing staied with her tâ—nne or twelue dayes desired leaue to departe saying that hée had receiued Letters from his Father which commaunded his spéedy returne home againe promising her if so his father consented to take her in marriage and that with such expeâ—ition as might bée The Queene somewhat contented with this answere thinking hee would performe what hée promised let him depart He being come home into his owne Countrey forgot his loue to his newe Fréend and by his Fathers commaundement marryed with a yong Princesse Daughter to the King Lycomedes The Quéene hearing these newes was almost dead with conceit of gréefe and conceiued such hatred against my Lord Maurice as she determindd to be reuenged on him whatsoeuer came after And the better to compasse her intent shée sent to search out one of her knights a learned Magitian promising him if he would help her to be reuenged on him that so deceiued her shée would make him one of the chéefest in her Realme The Magitian who euermore was desirous to please her promised her to worke such a deuise that Maurice should endure such cruel torments as her selfe should be constrayned to pittie him And to accomplish this practise hée onely desired the King her Fathers Crowne which was one of the richest in the whole world which Crowne he coniured in such sort as the diuell himself could not imagine the like and comming therwith to the Quéen said Madame you must sende this Crowne to the Prince of Pasmeria desiring him for your sake hée will weare it on his head in the chéefest affayres of his estate which hée immediatly will accomplish but this I dare assure you that hereby hée shall suffer so many vexations as hee would endure a thousand deaths if hee could possible to be deliuered from this torment which he neuer shall be till the most loyall louer in the world take it from his head The Quéene so ioyfull hereof as could be sent the Crowne to the prince who receiued it thankfully and beholding it sumptuous sodainely put it on his head but presently flew out of his head such a flame of fire as it had béene the blaze that commeth from a discharged Cannon Then called hee for ayde and succour making the greatest lamentations that euer were heard but all was to no ende for no Knight or Lady there could do him any good and so all the whole day hée remained in this cruell martirdome burning aline yet not perishing resembling the Salamander in the extreame fire When his people saw that they could procure him no ease they sent two of the greatest Lords of the Realme to the Quéene who humbly intreated her to pittie the Prince and to recompence the fault he had committed hée should take her to his Wife and endow her with those honourable possessions belonging to him The Quéene entertained them very nobly and after she had vnderstood their message answered My Lordâ— the marriage betwéene your maister and me is intollerable and no way can hée nowe contract himselfe againe for I remembring his disloyaltie and hée the torments hée suffers by my meanes it were impossible that wée should louingly liue togither therefore in this matter you shall excuse me And let him know that séeing hée was so presumptuous contrarie to his faith and promise to refuse me for his Wife I now so much disdain and contemne him as my heart by no meanes can be induced to loue him And no other remedie is there for his torments but that hée séeke through Asia Europe and Affrica a louer so perfect who by his loyaltie may cease the paines he suffers for trecherie and treason With this short answere depart my Countrey for your Maister is so worthie of fauour as for his sake I hate his people The Ambassadours maruailing at this fatall destenie returned to their Lord to whom they reported the Quéenes answere and what remained to ease his affliction which more and more encreased his gréefe wherfore séeing what he was enioyned to doo the next day hée left the Court entending not to stay a day in any place till he should finde a Knight so vertuous and loyall Thus hath he trauailed Ethiopia India Tartaria the greater part of your realmes but as yet hee hath founde none to remedie his misfortune but if any other disloyall Knight in triall touch the crowne his vexations are far more greater then before For this cause most mighty Lord haâ—ing heard the great fame of valiant knights in your Court especiall of a stranger Knight being dumbe who came hither but of very late time he desires your maiestie his assurance graunted to suffer him trie his fortune heere if in your presence â—e may finde any helpe or else to seeke further in other Princes Courts These are the principall points of my charge may it please your highnesse to consider of mine answere how I shall returne and certifie my Maister that you may like wise sée an aduenture maruailous Chap. VII How the Prince Maurice came to the Court of the Soldâ—ne of Babilon where he was deliuered of his burning Crowne that tormented him by the loyaltie of Palmerin MAulicus wondering at this strange discourse thus answered the Moore You may my friend returne to your maister when you please and say from vs that hee shall be welcome to our court with as safe aâ—â—urance as our own pâ—rson as well for his valour and bountie which I haue heard greatly esteemed as for that wee are desirous to see so strange an aduenture ended in our presence And wee cannot sufficiently maruaile howe he could bee so forgâ—tfull of himselfe that after his faith so broken hee could extinguish her remembraâ—ce that loued him so vnâ—eigneâ—ly but heeâ—ein
crauing 〈…〉 〈…〉 well be coniectured prostrated himselfe at Palmerins féete and with vnspeakable ioy thus said Most noble and fortunate Knight how much am I bound and indebted to thée right happie was the howre of thy byrth but much more happie my iourney to see thée let my word suffise I so far deliuer my selfe yours as my selfe my Subiects my possessions or whatsoeuer else is mine I fréely offer to your disposition Palmerin who euer bare the most noble minde of a Knight was displeased that so great a Prince shoulde honour him with such reuerence wherefore with great humilitie hée tooke him vppe in his armes causing him to sit downe where before hée did but the Soldane and all his Lords greatly amazed not so much at his courtesie as his 〈…〉 Chap. VIII How the â—ayre Princesse Ardemia enduring extreame passions and torments in loue made offer of her affections to Palmerin which he refused wherewith the Princesse through extreame conceit of greefe and despight suddainly died EAâ—â—â—ye may be coÌ„iectured the great pleasure of the two Ladies Alchidiana and Ardemia beholding the man 〈◊〉 they loued as their liues to haue the honour of the enchaunted 〈◊〉 for eacâ— of them seuerally perswaded her selfe that he had thus aduentured in hoâ—or of heâ— loue And as they returned from the Hall to their chambers Alchidiana came and tooke Palmerin by the hand and walking on with him thus spake Ah gentle knight how are you to bee regarded aboue all other I knowe not why the 〈◊〉 should depriue you of speeche except that in all things this onâ—lie excepted you should be perfectly resembled to theÌ„ Oh how happie is shee that might aduenture to make you her Seruant doubtlesse if in her appeare so singuler perfections as apparantly shew themselues in you well might it be reputed a rare coniunction when the celeâ—tiall 〈◊〉 gouerning 〈…〉 affections hath vnited you in â—o amiable alliaunce The Gentlemen that attended on the Princesse greatâ—â—â— murmured at this priuate familiaritie but shée 〈…〉 in her affections as virginall 〈…〉 now forgotten and earelesse of regarde openly shewed her desires Thus were these two Ladies now much more amorous of the dumbe Knight then before so that they were not well but eyther in his companyâ— or thinking on him Alchidiana remaining iealous of her Cozin seemed not to loue her as she was woont but deuised all the meanes shée could that she might be sent to her Fathers Court againe yet she that little made account thereof sought opportunitie to bewraye her loue to Palmerin and by hap séeing Alchidiana in the Gallerie conferring with two of her Ladies shée entred alone into her Cozins Chamber where sitting downe on the bedde shée compassed many imaginations howe she might discouer to the dumbe Knight the secrete fire that was kindled in her breâ—â— So long shée staied there till Palmerin came because about that time hée was woont to visite the Prinâ—esse Alchidiana Ardemia so glad héereof as could be possible suddainlie started vppe and saluting him with more then common reuerâ—nce taking him by the hand and causing him to fit downe by her vpon the bedde Then enflamed with wonderfull passions surpassing Pasiphaes desire to the brutish Bull when shée mette him in the wood made by Dedalus shée beheld him with such a piercing countunaunce as the least glimse whereof was able to confounde the reason of the most constant person as the aspect of the Sunne in the 〈◊〉 of Leo dooth the eyes of the beholders and of force to warme the coldest complexion although it were an 〈◊〉 himselfe in her presence Then deliuering thrée or foure bitter sighes fetcht from the verye bottome of her heart as cruell as y◠〈…〉 she tooke a rich Diamond from her finger and put it on Palmerins with these words Swéete Fréends and onely comforte of my soule let me intreate you to weare this as an argument of my loue thereby to knowe howe well you estéeme of mée assuring you that I am so deuoted yours as if you vouchsafe to 〈◊〉 me the fauour and honour by iournying to the Court of my Father with mee I neuer will haue any Husband but you and there shall such account be made of you as wel beséemes a Knight so noble and vertuous Ah diuine defence of my life and more woorthie to bee loued then Loue himselfe misdéeme not of these spéeches so aduenturouslye vttered by a yong Ladie and vnmaried for the loue I beare you is such as I am constrained forgetting the decent regard of a bashfull Uirgin who naturallie is shamefasâ—e to estéeme of you honestlye and as is conuenable to 〈◊〉 estate Then séeing the Gods the place the occasion and the time permits me to bewraye that which I dare not otherwise manifest haue then faire Knight some pittie on mee and let mée enioy assuraunce of grace for which I 〈◊〉 in ceaselesse torments With which wordes shée embraced him and sealed so many swéete kisses on his hand as apparantly deciphered her earnest affection Palmerin amazed at this strange accident because shée was a Pagan and contrary to him in faith that making 〈◊〉 aunswere but following the example of chaste Ioseph who refused Zephira Wife to Putiphar great prouâ—st to the King of Aegipt started from her suddainlie and mooued with displeasure departed the Chamber thinking in himselfe that such occasions more ouer-rule the hearts of men then all other matters that might bée deuised and 〈◊〉 the practises of â—ellish Pâ—uto Then calling to his Ladie for assistance said to himselfe Ah swéete Mistresse succour now your seruant for I rather desire a thousand deathes then to violate the chaste honor of my loue or to giue that fauour to this Lady which is onelye yours Alchidiana by chanceâ— séeing Palmerin when he entred her Chamber and 〈◊〉 him now to depart againe imagined presentlie the 〈◊〉 of the cause wherefore entring the guarderobe which was adioyning to her Chamber shée closely stood and 〈◊〉 all that had passed and at his comming foorth staied him in this maner Notwithout great cause good Knight 〈◊〉 thou take the fatall Crowne from the head of Maurice for in thée is more â—â—rmnesse and continencie then is in the disloyall Ardemia vnchaste desires and villainie but in vnfitte nine did shée rip open her vnmaidenlike affections for I will publish her shame to euery one and cause her to be lesse estéemed then a knowne offender Palmerin fearing that in her choller she would doo no lesse then she said fell on his knée before her intreating her by signes to forbeare otherwise it would be his death She seeing him so faire and gracious and thus to humble himselfe at her feete quallified her displeasure promising to kéepe it in secret So Palmerin withdrewe himselfe to his Chamber leauing the two Ladies nowe togither but Ardemia agréeued at the dumbe Knights refusall woulde not reueale her wrong to Alchidiana who so soone as Palmerin was out of hearing thus began Why shamelesse Ardemia thinkest thou
at length remembring her wordes to him and doubting his vnkindnesse to be the cause of her death sayd within himselfe Alas faire Princesse must I at the first motion driue thée to dispaire had I dissembled a little or temporized the matter thou hadst not fallen into this extremitie but my onely wilfull indiscretion is cause of thy losse O Female sexe howe are you subiect to casuall passions Yet néede I not wonder at this present mishappe for from the beginning of the worlde the Woman hath béene so suddein and voluntarie to the effect of her desires were they good or euill but especially in the action of loue as neyther feare honor shame torments no nor death could diuert her from her vndiscreâ—te fantasies Hereof beare record Hypâ—â—mnestra Myrrha Deianira Scylla 〈…〉 Phyllis Salmacis Hero and Dydo whose deatheâ— were procured onely by lauish loue O diuine wisedome that hast suffered me to fall into this lucklesse accident protect mée from any further disaduauntage séeing thou hast taken her hence who gaue some ease to mine 〈…〉 that so liuely shée resembled my swéete Mistresse 〈…〉 desire to serue with continuall loyaltie I nâ—we 〈◊〉 my selfe that this loue was not accompanied with vertue and that for my good it hath so chaunced forgette 〈◊〉 not then but so enable me as in such badde occasions 〈…〉 not from my duetie And such is my confidence in thy promises as no teâ—ptation shall preuaile against mée but this â—aptiuitie once discharged I hope to direct my course pleasing in thy sight and to 〈◊〉 such gracious seruice as thy name 〈…〉 and glorified for euer So long continued he in this silent contemplation as Alchidiana perceiued him which greatlie displeased her but fearing any way to 〈◊〉 Palmerin shée durst not saye what shée thought liuing in hope that her Cozin being dead she should now compasse the effecte of her desires Ardemia enterred in her honourable Tombe Guilharan her Brother with his traine and the Ladies that attended on his Sister returned into Armenia where great sorrowe was made for the death of the Princesse and the renowne of her beautie blazed the report of her death through euery region Chap. IX How Amarano of Nigrea eldest son to the king of Phrygia vnderstanding the death of the faire Princesse Ardemia who was newly promised him in mariage made many greeuous lameÌ„tations for her losse And how Alchidiana discouered her amorous affections to Palmeâ—in SO farre was spread the reporte of the strange death of the Princesse Ardemia as 〈◊〉 came to the hearing of 〈◊〉 eldest sonne to the king of Phâ—ygia the most valiant redoubtâ—d knight of y◠〈…〉 as wel for his great 〈◊〉 and déedes of Armes which he before that time accompliâ—â—â—d in Asia as for his affable nature vertue and courtesie This yong Prince being in the King his fathers Court and hearing commended beyond al other Ladies of the East the faire Ardemia Daughter to the King of Armenia at the verye sounde of the Trompe of this blazing Goddesse and setting the newes downe for true from her affecting spéech he became so amorous of her as he had no content but in thinking on her Héereupon he sent his Ambassadours to her Father to request her in mariage wherto right willingly he condiscended and nowe at the instant when he intended to go visite her newes came to the Court of her admirable death which for a while was 〈◊〉 from him because each one doubted the conceit 〈◊〉 would cause his death For they knowing the loue he 〈◊〉 her to be so vehement as hée vnderstanding her strange kinde of death they thought it impossible but it would 〈◊〉 to very scandalous inconuenience yet in the ende he 〈◊〉 thereof but to sette downe héere the gréefe teares and complaints of this yong Prince is more then I am able 〈◊〉 it therefore suffise you that his sorrowes were such as euery houre his death was likewise expected It was likewise told him howe through the enuie of Alchidiana shée dyed and that for certaintie shee was one of the chéefest causes thereof which mooued him then into such an alteration as hée swore by the great Prophet Mahomet to reuenge her iniurie so that the Soldaâ—e shoulde for euer remember the daunger in suffering so great a treason In conclusion hée intended to take with him two hundred chosen Knights all clad in mourning for the gréefe of their Maister and â—oure of his Brethren Knights of great hardinesse and so well they iourneied as they â—ame within twentie miles of the 〈◊〉 Courte But that wée may not too farre 〈◊〉 from our intent Alchidiana ioyfull as you haue hearde for the departure of Guilharan and his 〈…〉 Palmerin 〈…〉 to all louers such account she made of her beautie and riches as she imagined that Palmerin would not disdaine her but rather would repute himselfe happy to haue that at his pleasure whereof so many Kings and great Lordes had béene denyed And in this opinion the next time that Palmerin came to her Chamber she beganne with him in this manner Now Syr Knight what thinke you of the death of Ardemâ—a who so falselye would haue seduced you to goe with her hence did shée not commit great treason against mee if shée had preuailed but right well is shée rewarded and as I desired Thinke then no more of her presumptuous follie or the ridiculous conceit of her vaine loue which shée made her pretence to cause you forsake my Fathers Court where you haue receiued so many speciall honours chéefelie of his Daughter who loues you déerelie and inâ—â—nds to make you Lord ouer all her possessions Beléeue mee Sir Knight if hitherto I deferred to acquaint you héerewith it was in respect I doubted her but now shée being gone estéeme henceforth of me as your owne and to begin this alliaunce I honour you with all that is mine and my selfe to be disposed at your pleasure For my heart which is onely subiect to you applyes it selfe to your lyking and can wish nothing but what you will 〈◊〉 How long haue I desired this happie day howe often haue I contemned and despised my selfe in not daring to breake the seale of my affections which nowe I 〈◊〉 aduentured to your knowledge As for that which now troubleth mee is the want of your spéech which the Gods haue depriued you off being enuious of your manifolde perfections Alas my Lord why did they not endue â—hée with that benifit that in declaring my desires thy answeres might returne reciprocall pleasure Some in their loue delight themselues with embracing kissing and such ceremoniall behauiour as for mée amoâ—rous priuate and 〈…〉 I repute a 〈◊〉 content Yet hath Loue one shaft in his 〈…〉 then all these béeing the onely argument of each others resolution in respect whereof I commit my honour into your protection prizing estéeming and chusing you aboue all men in the world beside Palmerin exceedingly abashed at these vnséemelye spéeches knewe what signes to make for his aunswere
you are For I sweare to you by the honour of a Princesse that the guerdon you shall receyue in so dooing is my heart hauing once conquered those desires that long haue tormented me intending to make you Lorde of my selfe and all the possessions of the Soldane my Father without anie sinister meaning you may beléeue mée Consider therefore good Knight that without feare or dissimulation I haue tolde you what néerest concerneth mee if then you desire not my present death make aunswere as honourable dutie requireth ballancing in your owne thoughts howe vehemently the impressions 〈◊〉 loue haue touched me in respect that now I haue twise for your sake excéeded the limits of mine owne regar◠〈…〉 of my passions But séeing our Gods haue béene so fauourable as to restore the thing was earst taken from you and likewise hath brought you into her companie who loues you dearer then her owne life shew not your selfe so hard of nature to flie the howre that Loue and Fortune presents you withall Therefore â—y onely beloued Lorde in recompence of your sharpe Combat with proud Amarano receyue me as your wife whom you haue woorthily deserued Palmerin séeing himselfe assayled by so faire an enemie who coulde sooner bring in subiection an other Hercules then euer did Iole and as easily giue life to a statue of Marble as Venus sometime did at thâ— request of Pigmalion the Caruer was in maruellous affliction hauing before him on the one side feare to offende God on the other the loyaltie he ought his Mistresse and then the 〈◊〉 death of Alchidiana if he denied her In the ende remembring what the Soldan had spoken concerning his voyage to Constantinople hée deuised by this meane to 〈◊〉 her such aunswere as she should rest contented and neither God nor his Mistresse be offended he thus began 〈◊〉 and most excellent Princesse 〈◊〉 I am assuredly peâ—waded that there is not any Monâ—rce or Prinâ—h so noble in all Asia but might reckon himselfe among the happiest in respect of your perfections and vnualuable riches to espouse you as his wife By farre greater reason I that am poore a Knight errant vnknowne and whose life you haue saued may say and name my selfe aboue all other in fortune But knowing my selfe to simple and of so slender deseruing towardes you I estéeme it impossible for the Gods and nature likewise to lift mée to so wonderfull 〈◊〉 of happinesse Wherefore séeing the cause such and greater then I can desire or imagine likewise that it is 〈◊〉 to your commaundement 〈◊〉 I were 〈◊〉 any fauour of Fortune and to bée 〈◊〉 among the most vngratefull Knights in the worlde iâ— may any thing I should disobey your pleasure My reason is that you béeing reckoned as chéefe among the most perfect and accomplished Ladies deigne so much to abase your selfe as to make mée Lord of your loue which hath béene desired by so many worthie personages For these causes most gracious Mistresse I am bound to loue you aboue all other Ladies liuing which henceforth I hope to doo and loyally to serue you with my vttermost endeuours And as I ought swéete Madame to loue none but you so is my dutie to hold your regard in chéefest commendation therefore will I with such secrecie as so honourable a conquest will permit conceale this extraordinarie graâ—e And had I not this morning made promise to your Father to accompanie his power Constantinople there to reuenge the death of your deceassed vncle Gamezio soone should our loue sort to wished effect and I gather that swéet flower which aboue all other would beautifie my Garland Notwithstanding my hope is such that in this voyage I shall do such seruice to the Soldane your Father as at my returne hée will recompence mee to your content and good lyking of his Princes and Subiects which may no way nowe bee mooued least his minde otherwayes busied should conceyue displeasure against me and so all our fortune for euer squandered In this respect swéete Madame if euer hereafter I shall doo you seruice let me intreate you to patience till my returne resoluing your selfe in the meane while that I am more yours then mine owne and dedicate my life to your gracious seruice As concerning the rest of 〈◊〉 demaund my name is Palmerin d'Oliua and what my Parents are the Quéene of Tharsus within these thrée daies will tell me more then hitherto I could vnderstand by any when you shall vnderstand more of my estate and Country also but so farre as I yet gather by mine owne knowledge my â—iscent is from Persia. This excuse hée made because Alchidiana should not suspect him to bée a Christian and with this aunswere shée was so ioyfull and contented as nothing was able to inspyre more chéerefull life into her languishing soule which Palmerin perceyuing and the better to continue her in this opinion verie often he kissed her hande in signe of his affectionate obeysaunce and in this sort hee departed to his owne Chamber leauing the Princesse triumphing of her conquest He was no sooner come into his Chamber but solicited with the remembraunce of his Ladie Polinarda hee imagined how she blamed him with mournfull complaintâ— for his late promises which thought so diuersly afflicted him as he spent all the rest of the day in teares and as shée had béene present humblie requesting her to pardon what had past him in respect hée did it not willingly nor gaue anie consent with his heart thereto but dissembled the matter least the Princes by his deniall shoulde fall into despayre and rather then he would violate his solemne vow to his gracious Goddesse hée woulde aduenture on infinitâ— dangers Yet did this feigned answere to Alchidiana greatlie auaile him and caused him to bée more honoured then euen hée was before as also to bée continually accompanied with her presence whose onely delight was in dayly beholding him Chap. XV. Howe the Soldane hauing determined to send his armie to Constantinople would elect Palmerin his Lieutenant generall which he refused intreating him to giue the charge to the olde King of Balisarca NOw was the Soldan continually mindfull of the promise hée made to his deceassed Father Misos to reuenge the death of his Brother Gamezio wherefore séeing all his dominions in peace and that hée had with him the valiaunt Palmerin hee concluded to leuie a mightie Armie to 〈◊〉 that which dutie daylie called for And hauing prouided a huge number of Galions 〈◊〉 Gallyes and other vâ—ssels hée sent abroade to aduertise all the Kinges Princes Califfes and Toborlanes his Subiects of his will and pleasure who likewise gathering their forces togither were numbred to bée aboue an hundred and fiftie thousand fighting men All this while the Soldane so fauoured Palmerin as he had bestowed on him 〈…〉 which he made but slender account of 〈…〉 continually expected time to sée his Polynarda Alchidinia likewise building on his passed promises daylie presented him with many rich gifts and practised all
you faire sir to tell me howe the Quéene of Tharsus intreated you and what is your opinion of her In good faith Madam aunswered Palmerin shée is one of the most honest and vertuous Ladies that euer I came in companie withall and to whom I greatly desire to do any seruice You haue good reason quoth the Princesse in that she came so farre to sée you and discouer her loue which other coulde as well accomplish as good or rather in honor beyonde her if they might hope of anie ease in their passionate desires Palmerin feigning to vnderstand her meaning entred into other kinde of talke vntill supper time which finished each one returned to their Chamber when the Prince séeing himselfe alone with his Fréend thus sayd Ah my déere Fréende Palmeâ—in howe worthily may you be sayde to bee without coâ—pare in all perfections that a Knight ought to haue loue onely excepted yet héerein if I be not deceyued you doe for mée agaynst all reason for a thousand times are you more beloued then your selfe can loue anie Notwithstanding for this default if so it may bée named and for 〈◊〉 wordes this day vsed in my presence to Achidinia I remaine vowed to your seruice for in trueth you know not the good you did me supporting my imperfection of speech when I was before my Mistresse Yet know I not whence such imbecilitie should procéede if not by béeing rauished with regarde of her celestiall countenaunce my ouer laboured spiriâ—e forsooke me and béeing too much tormented in this languishing bodie abandoned all the partes sensatiue placing it selfe onely in mine eyes which neuer could imagine themselues satisfied contemplating beautie of so rare and especiall estimation And were it not that my hope onely consisteth in you comparing my small desert and the excellencie of my Ladie long ere this had my soule forsooke her infortunate habitation which so indiscreetlie fell into these oppressing passions And this I earnestly intreate you to let her vnderstand in that I feare least shée impute my happie alteration to want of wisedome and ciuilitie Trust me quoth Palmerin I promise you my vttermost abilitie and so much will I do as one Friend may for another to discharge my selfe of the promise which héeretofore I made you And let me intreate you on mine owne behalfe to remooue that opinion of speciall loue which you report the Princesse beares me béeing not such as you doe imagine for noble Prince and my deare Fréende you néede not despayre of the benefit whereof I haue so solemnely assured you After many other speeches they slept till the next morning when clothing themselues in their richest garments they went and gaue the good morrow to the Soldane who verie honourablie thanked them and Palmerin espying conuenient occasion thus began My Lord you haue sufficient experience that by the bountie and great fauour of the Gods you haue obteyned victory against your enemies to the no little content of your Subiects all which béeing so happily finished base were the thought to feare the perfection of higher enterprises Therefore my Lord I thinke it expedient so it may stand with your good liking considering your prouision for the sea is in such readinesse your people likewise acquainted with your intent before we meddle with the Brethren of Amarano came daily in troupes to offer their seruice that now you send your Armie to Constantinople for your answere once heard right soone will we embarke our selues and set forward on our voyage For the rest I pray you deliuer these prisoners to be vsed as your slaues but as for the Princes I thinke hauing séene the fortune of theyr Brethren and their owne badde successe in Armes that they will serue you with continuall loyaltie My Sonne quoth the Soldane let all bée doone as you haue appointed for such is my confidence in you that your intent cannot but sort to good ende wherefore my Gallies and al things readie furnished depart when you please hauing first sent your Souldiers abroad The Prince Olorico beeing present offered againe to go in this voyage with like number of men as he brought against the Brethren of Amarano for which the Soldane greatly thanked him promising him such satisfaction at his returne as should agrée with his owne content Alchidiana taking in ill part the words of Palmerin on the Prince Oloricos behalfe sent for him to come speake with her which hée did and finding her very sad and melancholy hée demaunded if any one had doone her displeasure and what the cause might bee of her pensiuenesse Ah my déere friend quoth shée how can I but be agréeued séeing no one Lady in the world hath so many contrarie fortunes as my selfe Alas my heart hath chosen you for my onely Lords and Friend thinking to finde place woorthy my conceite and that your loue would answere me with the like but in ought I can perceiue I am too much beguiled for you either as ingratefull or carelesse vse affecting spéeches to me importing no other ende but that in leauing you I should take the Prince Olorico for my Husband Do you imagine me so mutable and inconstant that I will or can loue anie other but you or that my affection intirely setled so high can brooke such a downefall as to like the man so much inferiour to mée And which most of all offendeth me not contented to mocke me in disdaining my knowne loue so discourteously would perswade me to choose another Let all our Gods be iudge if I haue not iust cause to complaine of you albeit I haue greater cause to hate and despise my owne selfe for in that I haue more then deserued your loue yet as too much vnwise I cannot consider that in the heart of an ingratefull person loue hath no place of certaine abyding But seeing our gods haue in such sort subiected mee as against my will I am constrained to loue mine enemie in vaine were it for me to resist against them that they beholding the vnspotted loue of the one may in the ende punish the ingratitude of the other Thâ—s thinking to continue longer spéech so many violent sighs intercepted her as she was not able to proffer one word more whereby Palmerin enforced thus answered I beséech you Madame crosse me not with these néedelesse words for although the Prince is so worthie to be loued as any man that euer I saw yet were I very much vnprouided of witte and a méere stranger of good consideration if I would refuse that speciall felicitie then which I can desire no greater I knowe swéete Lady that you loue mee intirely perswade your selfe then that my loyaltie is no lesse nor can death make mee gainesay the promises I haue made you and were it not to the great disaduantage of mine honour to leaue the honourable warre your Father hath intended which might procure each one to misconceiue of mee assure your selfe that I would forsake dignities Armes and all to do you the seruice you
shee could vnderstand no tydings albeit she had trauailed her verie vttermost endeuours which forced her to so manie extreame imaginations as the very least was worse then death it selfe The Emperours trayne lodging each way about the Castle hindered our two Knights from any good hostage so that they were constrained to abide in a little simple house where they demaunded of a Courtier that lay there what time the Emperour would depart thence who aunswered that his highnesse was minded that day to returne to Gaunt to conferre with the Princes electours of speciall affaires concerning the Empire Palmerin ioyfull heereof caused his Horse to bée brideled and accompanied with Olorico went and ambushed themselues in a little thicket néere the high way where the Emperour must needes passe to the ende he might beholde his Ladie Polynarda Palmerin attending her comming who was the onely support of his life his heart leapt with conceite of his ioy to come yet trembled likewise because hee durst not present himselfe before the imperiall maiestie without the noble Trineus Soone after by the Guarde of Archers that came formost hee well perceiued the Emperour was at hand when remembring the honors and faâ—ours he had receiued in his Court the teares trickled downe his chéekes chéefely for want of his highnesse sonne who was so especially committed to his trust then followed the Empresse and with her the faire Princesse Polynarda clothed all in black witnessing by her outwarde habit the secret sorrowes of her heart Her thoughts still hammering on her priuat gréefes yet assailed with a sodaine motion shee gaue such a sigh as Palmerin easily heard it which troubled him in such sort as without the assurance of Olorico hee had fallen downe from his Horse Polynarda beholding his sodaine alteration without any regarde of her Mother called Vrbanillo the Dwarfe to her who since his comming from England neuer boudged from her and to him she sayd Hast thou héeretofore Vrbanillo séene these two Knights which shaddow themselues in the wood side while wee passe by No trust mee Madame quoth the Dwarfe I neuer sawe them to my remembrance I pray thee said she ride to them so fast as thou canst and demaunde of thâ—m from me of whence they are and if they can tell any tydings of thy maister and my Brother Trineus The Dwarfe who was more then a Doctor in such affaires dissembling that his Horse would stale suffered the traine to passe by and then rode towards the knights who were deuising on the Princesse beautie Palmerin well knowing Vrbanillo and séeing him come in such hast was not a little glad thinking now he should heare some newes of his Mistresse wherefore he saide is Olorico I pray you let vs goe méete this Horseman for I thinke his returne is onely to vs. Nowe was the Dwarffe come to them and hauing humbly saluted them said I beséech you faire Knights to tell me whether you belong to the Emperour or are straungers for the Ladie whome I serue is verie desirous to knowe and that for matters néerely concerning her whereof if you can any way truely resolue her your rewarde shall aunswere your owne contentment What Vrbanillo quoth Palmerin lifting vp his Beuer didst thou not knowe thy Maister Oh Heauen quoth the Dwarffe praised by thy maker for euer for this aduenture And moued with extreame ioy he fell at this Maisters féete saying Ah my Lord what comfort will this be to the Princesse Polynarda when shée shall vnderstande your presenâ—â— and not without iuste cause for by this meane is shée deliuered from the greatest torments in the worlde And that nothing may want to furnish this long expected ioy tell me if the Knight in your companie be the Prince Trineus or no It is not hée quoth Palmerin for it is more then a year since that of him and faire English Agriola after that I vnfortunate lost them heard anie certaine report For this cause Vrbanillo it behooues thée to be faithfull and secrete not discouering my béeing héere to any but my Ladie of whome thou must learne by what meanes I may best come to sée her The Dwarffe taking his leaue of his Maister turned his Horse to be gone but comming backe suddainlie againe saide Is this Sir Ptolome that is with you Madame Brionella will not be a litle glad to hear of him likewise Nor is it he quoth Palmerin I lost him in company with the rest God will restore them one day againe saide the Dwarffe so giuing the spurres to his horse he galloped till he came to the Princesse who séeing him returned in such haste knew not well what to think 〈◊〉 fearing to be discouered by a kâ—ight that accompanied her determined not to request his tidings vntill shée came home into her Chamber But neuer was poore Louer in greater agony when she expected her friend in some priuat place then was the faire Princesse at this present wherefore so soone as shée came to her Chamber shée called for the Dwarffe who being come shée said I pray thée Vrbanillo by the reuerend dutie thou owest mée whence are the two Knights and what answere did they make thée They are such swéet Madam quoth the Dwarffe as when all the men in the world could tell no tydings of my selfe by happie fortune haue found for by them I bring you the Key of Paradise if your self wil but find the meane to enter Tush I pray thée quoth the Princesse iest not with me in this sort for now is no time of sport or meriment tell mée who they are I desire thée Know then fair Madam quoth he that one of them is my Maister Palmerin who thus concealeth him because he hath not brought the Prince your brother with him and he humbly kissing your hand commends him to your gracious fauour desiring you to send him answer how he may secretly speak with you because he wold not be knowne to the Emperor or any other of yâ— Court How welcome these long expected newes were to the Princesse I leaue to the opinion of long absent friends O heauens quoth she doth Palmerin liue and is so near at hand now hath my hart his only desired comfort and such is my hope that séeing he is come my brother by his meanes shall not be long hence to such good fortune are all his actions destenied Presently she ran to tell Brionella these newes who likewise was excéeding ioyfull because she imagined Palmerins companion to be her Ptolome Whereupon they concluded togither that Palmerin should the night following come to the Gardein where first his swéet Amours were sollicited and by a Lâ—dder of Cords he should ascend their Chamber This resolution set downe the Dwarffe departed to execute his charge when Polinarda thus began to Brionella Ah my deare friend how impossible is it for me to hide the ioy my heart conceiueth that was so late in such surpassing heauinesse What will my Ladies now thinke when they behold their Mistresse so
his departing time being come when the Prince attiring her selfe in her wâ—nted mourning garments and shaping her countenance to her former sorrow throwded her pleasures past and thus we will leaue them returning to our Affirianâ— sayling on the Sea Chap. XXIIII How after the tempest was past the soldans Armie assembled togither came against Constantinople where by the Emperours power they were discomfited the King of Balisarca his sonne Gueresin and 〈◊〉 other great Lords of Turkie slaine THe tempest which had thrown Palmerin on Hercuâ—es pillars after many loÌ„g and contagious stormes began nâ—w to cease the Sea béeing faire and calme and the windes very quiet whereupon the king of Balisarca General of the Armie in short time assembled togither the most part of his Fléete and came vpon the Coast of Natolia where hée attended the rest of his Foystes and Galleyes And hauing there â—â—ayed about fifteene dayes among all the Shippes that came hée could heare no â—â—dings of Palmerins Carrick the long slay wherof caused him to doubt least he had vnhappily 〈◊〉 in the Sea and ouercome with excéeding gréefe hee thus began Ah gentle Palmerin the flower of all Chiualrie in lucklesse howre didst thon betalâ—e thy selfe to the Sea what answere shal I make the Soldane for the 〈…〉 the Prince Olorico béeing so especially committed to my trust Nowe cannot Fortune 〈◊〉 so fauourable to vs as she would for by thy losse I vtterlye despayre of expected victorie To cut off these 〈◊〉 complaints he was counselled by the Lords Knights and auncient Captaines to sette forward to CoÌ„stantinople to discharge themselues of their promise to the Soldane least in returning without dealing with the enemie they should be reputed for fearefull faint-harted â—owards Setting their sailes to the wind at length they came to the Bosphor Now was the Emperour veriâ— aged and sickly hauing altogither committed the superintendaunce of the Empire to his sonne Caniano who had a son aged â—eaurntéene yéeres named Cariteos And being aduertised of the comming of so manie Assiriâ—ns Turkes and Moores hée sent to all the Christian Princes for succour the greater parte whereof was there as nowe arriued with resolute determination to welcome these Infidels When the Emperours scoutes had espied the enemiâ— to enter the straight yong Cariteos beholding the Knightes on all sides some on the walles and other in the Fielde came and knéeled before his Graundfather earnesâ—lye desiring him to graunt him his Knighthood For my Lord quoth he a better time and occasion cannot be then newe The aged Emperour graunted his request and with the teares in his eyes said In the name of God my Sonne maist thou receiue thy order and to the glorious maintenaunce of the Christian faith albeit thy youth forbids thée to venture so soone Presentlye arose the yong Knight Cariteos and clasping on his Helmet was the first that went foorth of the Cittie accompanied with tenne thousand Horsemen and twentie thousand Footemen to hinder the landing of the enemies which a great while hee did with such valour as the Hauen was channged with the bloud of the slaughtred The King of Balisarca hearing thereof commaunded his Archers to their taske 〈◊〉 shafts 〈◊〉 so thicke in such multitude as it were the Hayle that falleth from the Cleudes and on the other side hée gotte thiâ—tie thousande men on land who assayled the Christians so 〈◊〉 as yong Cariteos was slaine and a great 〈◊〉 of noble personages which was the cause that the Christians retired to the verie Gates of the Citie The Prince Caniano aduertised of his sonnes death and the great daunger wherein the 〈◊〉 issued foorth of the Cittie with eight thousande Horsmen and foure thousand hardie Archers who like hungry Tygers ranne vpon the Turkes beating them to the earth in such heapes as twelue thousand of them were slain at this encounter and the rest repulsed backe to their ships where many entred for sauegard of their liues and a great number were miserably drownâ—d in the Sea At this mishap the King of Balisarca was greatly eâ—â—ged who with his power presently went on shore the fight enduring so cruell and bloudie thrée howres space as neyther side could be reputed likeliest of victorie In this encounter ended their liues the King of Balisarca his Sonne Gueresin and a great number of Cailiffes and Taborlanes of Turkie and of the Christians the Prince Caniano with diuers other great Princes and Lords whose deathes are to this day lamented in Greece yet were the Pagans and Christians so animated one against another as darke night was the cause of their seperation When the Emperour vnderstood the death of his Sonne and Nephew hée was readie to die with conceit of griefe but séeing the necessitie of the time required other matter then sorrowing teares and vnprofitable lamentations hée presently dispatched Postes and Messengers to hasteâ— the succour was comming from Christendome In short time arriued a mightie Christian power and despight of the Turkes entred the Cittie when the Emperour presently sent tenne thousand into the Field and prouided a signall for the other to set fire among the Turkishe Fléete at what time they receiued the signe from the Cittie The Infidelles séeing the Christians to sallie abroad left their Shippes and came to méete them whereupon the Christians diuided themselues into squadrons and running furiously on the Moores Arabies and Assirians made such hauocke and slaughter of them as happie was he coulde best defend himselfe Then suddainly was the signall of fire made on the highest stéeple in Constantinople to the Emperours power wasting on the Sea which immediately launching among the Turkish Fléete suncke the greater part of them and burned the rest with their wilde fire When the Turkes beheld this stratageme and that they were now destitute of any helpe they beganne to faint so that at the comming of the Emperour who came himself vpon them with a fresh sallie of fiue thousand men they were all slaine except a fewe that escaped into Galleyes that brake from the rest vpon fight of the pollicie Great was the spoyle gotten by this conquest which the Christians taking with them entred Constantinople where they gaue God thankes for their happie victorie But although the Emperour sawe his enemies vanquished after the Princes were departed that came to his succour right gréeueus was the losse of his Sonnes to him wherefore his Lordes aduised him to send for his daâ—ghter the Quéene Griana and King Tarisius her husband and to commit the gouernment of the Empire to him For the accomplishment of this generall determination the Duke of Pera was appointed Lord Ambassadour being one of the most auncient Princes of Greece who accompanied with many noble Gentlemen made such expedition in his iourney as hée arriued in Hungaria before the King and his Quéene Oriana whose sorrowes may not be expressed for the death of her brother When they vnderstood the Emperours pleasure they resolued on their obedience which caused the
giue the better credite to the Princes wordes Yet notwithstanding all their excuses these two Pilgrims were taken into sure custodie and shut vp both togither in a strong Towre which was verie long before they could accomplish because in leading them thither many sought meanes to kill them and they had done it but that the Duke verie strongly defended them Chap. XXVI The sorowfull complaints made by the Queene Griana seeing her Huâ—band dead and her friend taken And howe the Duke of Pera conueyed her to Constantinople causing Florendos and Frenato to be brought thither by fiue hundred armed Knights VErie sorrowfull was the Quéene Griana séeing so manie misfortunes succéede one another as euerie houre her death was expected and saâ—s she woulde haue committed violence on her selfe but that Cardyno with diuerse Knights attended on her that none of the Kinges kindred shoulde offend her while the Duke of Pera led Florendos and Frenato to the Tower At whose return as he thought to comfort her shée fell on her knées before him saying Ah noble Duke of Pera if euer pittie had place within your heart for Gods sake make an end of my vnfortunate life and execute on me without any fauour the sharpest rigour of equall iustice not suffering longer life to a woman so dispised and miserable O God doost thou permit a happie life to enioy so bad an end Thou that onely knowest the inward secrets of the heart séeing I stand suspected in this treason let my spéedie death deliuer mine innocencie Ah inconstant Fortune that in my yonger yéeres was so aduerse to mee how might I credite thy continuall mallice but by this strange and vnexpected accident Ah gentle Prince Florendos it was not for loue that thou camest to sée mée but for a secret hatred more then deadly séeing that by thée and that with great shame I shall remaine for euer defamed Where was that loyaltie and the great feare to offend mée which sometime thou séemedst to haue Knowest thou not that in a royall and noble minde one onely note of infamie is an extreame torment Doubtlesse if thou wouldest well consider the wrong thou hast done me thou shalt finde it to excéede all other worldly iniuries But I may perswade my selfe that my destinie was such for being long since by thée dishonoured it must fall out for a finall conclusion that by thée also I shall receiue death In this maner the Quéene complained with such effuse of teares and bitter sighes as the Duke pitying her case sayd I beséech you Madame to endure this mishap paciently séeing now it cannot be recalled and consider that these teares and lamentations can yéelde yée no amendes but rather threaten daunger and will in the ende not onely weaken your bodie but hazard desperation The King is dead he must be buried Florendos hath offended hée shall be punished your people are wounded they must be cured Offende not then your selfe with these bootlesse regrâ—â—tes but commaund that the proofe of your innocencie be followed Hereupon the Duke caused preparation for the funerall pompe and brought the king to the bed of honor not without many teares and lamentations of his Subiects When the obsequies were finished Promptaleon and Oudin came and exclaimed on the Duke because hée brought not the Quéene and Florendos to open punishment My friends quoth the Duke haue I not heretofore tolde you that wée must not inconsiderateâ—y put such persons to death let the Councell bee called togither and as they determine I will procéede Then were all the Princes and Lordes assembled among whome the Duke was intreated to speake his opinion which hée did in this maner I thinke it conâ—enient vnder correction of you my noble Lords that the Prince Florendos and the Queene ought to bée sent to my Lord the Emperour and there to haue iustice extended on them as well for the sureâ—ie of your owne persons as for the conseruation of the Realme For except iustice and by probable causes you condemne the Prince Florendos hardly may you perswade the Macedonian Princes beside the Lordes may say that without hearing hee was cut off and likewise by his open enemies Againe thinke you that the Emperour will let passe in silence so great a wrong to punish his Daughter and not arquaint him with her offence Considering this indifferently you shall finâ— your selues on eyther side endangered your goods will be spoyled your liues endamaged for hardly can you resist agaynst such power So well coulde the Duke sette foorth his discourse with confirmation of Hystories both auncient and moderne that in despight of the Kings Nephewes it was concluded how the prisoners should be sent to Constantiople If they were hereat offended it is not to bee doubted but hearing the Counsuâ—les resolution prepared themselues to goe to the Emperour determining a sharpe and seuere accusation trusting so much in their strength and prowesse that if the Emperour for proofe of the cause shoulde committe it is the Combat they easily thought to compasse their intent So were the two Pilgryms committed to the Dukes Nephew with an hundred Knights of Greece for their guard and foure hundred Hungarians who would néedes followe for the loue they bare the Quéene she béeing maruellousâ—â—â— fauoured in her countrey for her many vertues and chiefly charitie The Quéene her selfe with the yong Princesse Armida her Daughter and all her Ladyes and Gentlewomen were committed to the Duke of Pera his charge and the rest of the traine that came with him in the Ambassade When the Quéene vnderstoode shée should be caried to the Emperour shée 〈◊〉 further out of pacience then shée was before rather desiring a thousand deaths then is come with this reproach before her Father yet notwithstanding all her intreaties shee was conueyed into a Litter and not so much as a pinne left about her for feare of inconuenience To comfort her her Daughter Armida was placed in the Litter without whose companie such was her gréets to come before her Parents as shée was diuerse times in daunger of death by the way But the yong Princesse béeing twelue or thirtéene yeares of age coulde so well comfort her sorrowfull mother as her talke expelled many bitter imaginations If the Quéene was in heauinesse wée must thinke Florendos griefes nothing inferiour séeing his Ladie led in such sort and accused of a crime wherein none but himselfe was culpable yet made hee no account béeing reuenged of his auncient enemie so the Quéene were deliuered though himselfe endured the death But nowe are they come to Constantinople yet not so soone but the Nephewes of the deceassed King were before them where they had blazed a false and most shamefull reporte And but for the aduise of certaine noble Princesse that fauoured Florendos and the Quéene Griana vpon the trothlesse spéeches of these twaine the Emperour had concluded to burne his Daughter and the Prince so soone as they came such horrible slaunders had these traytours spread of
them Namely that the King was murdered finding Griana committing adulteris with Florendos At which words the Emperour was so enraged that like a man depriued of reason he violently pulled himselfe by the heard saying Ah wreâ—ched and infortunate olde man haue the heauens suffered 〈◊〉 thus long life that after the death of thy sonnes Caniano and yong Cariteos thou must sée thy daughter conuicted of treason adulterie and murder If I haue had some comfort by my Sonnes lying now in the Hearse of honour for maintenance of the Christian faith doubtlesse this iniurie is so great and enorme as no ioy or comfort can now abide in mée Ah my louely Daughter Griana whom I had good hope would bee the onely support of mine age and for that cause sent to haue thy companie commest thou now with such shame and monstrous report Florendos if héeretofore against the Turke Gamezio thou didst me seruice with great wrong hast thou now reuenged thy selfe taking from mee that good which thou canst neuer restore againe But let it suffice that knowing the truth of thy disordered dealing such shall bee thy punishment as shall remaine for perpetuall memorie The Empresse likewise forsaking her Chamber came and knéeled before the Emperour desiring him to put Florendos to the first councell and be to be dispatched with dilligence At which words the choler of olde Remicius augmented hee answering Madame for Gods sake getâ—e you gone for you are the onely cause of my dishonour and then you beganne it when you would not suffer the Prince Florendos of Macedon to match with our daughter but gaue her to your Nephew perforce and contrarie to her owne liking The Prince séeing him so offended intreated her to depart perswading her that the accusers of Griana were her cheefest enemies and that might easily be gathered by their proude and maleuolent detractions which happily would proue false rather then truth For if they might heerein spéede of their purpose and theyr accusation passe for currant the princesse Armida should be disinherited and themselues be the onely heyres of the Kingdome This was their principall drift not any deuotion to reuenge their Uncles death as they in outward shew declared and hereupon all opinions were set aside vntill the next day when the prisoners arriued Chap. XXVII How Florendos and Griana were brought to Constantinople and there were appointed by the Emperours Councell to purge themselues of their accusation by the combate of two knights against their accusers Promptaleon and Oudin THe Duke being arriued at Constantiople immediately caused the Queene Griana and Armida her daughter to be conducted to the Pallace by manie noble Lords and Gentleman When Griana saw shée must néedes go before her father she began again her wonted pittifull complaints notwithstanding shee was so comforted by the Lordes of Greece by theyr solemne promise to defende her right as shee encouraged her selfe and comming before her Father fell on her knées and thus beganne My gracious Lord and father inconstant fortune euermore hath beene and still will continue a most cruell enemie of them of highest calling and no further néede I speake for proofe of my words then the History of your last warres against the Turks and the present slaunder of mine enemies against mée I cannot likewise forget that twentie yéeres and more are nowe expired since to my great gréefe I was seperated from you but with much more excéeding heauines am I now returned if by my misaduenture you receiue any impeach or I deserue to loose the name of your Daughter Therefore my Lord forgetting the name and office of a Father let naturall regarde be exempted from me and exercise on mée tyrannous â—orments with the greatest rigour that may be deâ—ised Yet all too little in respect of my deserts not for any offence in this matter as God is my witnesse but for the suspition of the common and vulgare people more credulous of the faults of Princes and noble Ladies then of their discréete and sober vertues Neuerthelesse receiuing death for a matter neuer committed and with patience despight of mine enemies it will redound to my immortall honour Upon these spéeches the Princesse Armida making great reuerence to the Emperor and with the teares trickling downe her chéekes saide Dread Lord my chéefest desires euermore haue béene to sée your maiestie but so it falleth out nowe that in stéede of ioy and pleasure it is with gréefe teares and tribulation Yet gracious Lord for the first request that euer I made to your highnesse I beséech you to credit me that my mother hath committed no treason or any dishonour to the deceased King my Father neither euer permitted any man entrance into her Chamber but hee whom now the question cencerneth and at that time I with these other Ladies were present and are credible witnesses of the whole action Such efficacie wrought her words in the Emperours minde as he beganne to defie the accusation perswading himselfe that it was nothing but falshood and louingly taking the yong Princesse vp by the hand addressed his spéeches in this manner to the Quéene Well hast thou sayde that Fortune hath béene too contrarie towards thee for when my whole hope remained in thée and that the Crowne of mine Empire should haue béene placed on thy head thou hast fallen into such wounding reproch as both thou and I shall be for euer dishonoured My Lorde quoth Griana vnder correction and sauing the reuerence of your imperiall Maiestie neuer imagine the case any thing to your defame if you credite not mine enemies or common report from whence is engendred all vntruth This speake I not to excâ—se my death which I know to be the refuge for the desolate and ende of al afflictions but to declare mine owne innocencie and that mine honour shall at length be founde vnspotted But now consider good Father with what violence you enforce mee to match with the King Tarisius my heart being still against it and the néerenesse of linage betwéene vs forbidding it Nor were you ignorant of my loue to the Prince Florendos the most gentle Knight of Greece and whose only trauaile hither was to make mee his Wife all this will I not denie nor can my heart permit to passe in silence Notwithstanding by your commaundement I was constrayned to forsake my best beloued and take the man I was not borne to fancie After I sawe it must néedes be so acknowledging him my Lord and Husband and my selfe his Wife and Subiect neither in word or déede nor so much as very thought did I dispose my selfe to any disobedience but liued in most loyall and hâ—nourable dutie Uerie truest is that he founde Florendos talking with mee but I protest before Heauen that it was with such chaste and modest regarde as the Sister might conferre with her Brother And so little time our talke endured as I had not the meane to answere the Prince for the King comming in and prâ—uoked with
frenzie or wicked iealousâ—ie woulde haue slaine him whereby such fortune fell out as the King receiued what he would haue giuen Nor can Florendos hée worthily blamed for comming to sée me in respect of the long time since our last companie beside hauing not forsaken his Pylgrims wéede wherein hee trauailed to the holie Lande he came to acquaint me with the maruailes in his iourney Sée héere in bréeâ—â— the whole truth of his Historie and if the Kings Nephewes auouch otherwise I say my Lord they lie falsely In this respect as well to proteâ—t mine owne honour as the Princes I humbly desire your Maiestie that our innocencie may be discided by Combate for such is my hope in a rightfull cause as I shall find some Knight to fight for me The Lords of the Empire were altogether of the same opinion and instantly desired the Emperour to graunt his Daughter her lawfull request whereto hee answered that he would take counsell thereon and iustice should be doone her as it ought Héereupon the Emperour went into his Chamber and the Quéene was brought to the Empresse her Mother where the poore Lady was assaulted afresh for shée was no sooner entred the Chamber but her Mother thus beganne I knowe not Daughter how badly thou hast béene counselled that since the day of thine espousall to the Prince Tarisius who loued thée so déerely thou hast continued such hatred against him that at length thou art become the onely cause of his death Madame quoth the Quéene you speake your pleasure but in regarde of my reuerence to you I aunswere that I neuer though it Wherefore I intreate you to forbeare such spéeches and if you consider all things well your selfe will be founde in greater fault then I. For conâ—rarie to my solemne promise which I had made to the Prince of Macedon you compelled mee to marrie with him and if Florendos had the opportunitie and in defence of his owne person hath slaine him ought you then to impute the crime to me With these words the Empresse held her peace and sate conferring with the yong Princesse Armida in meane while came the Duke of Pera who had the Quéene in charge and conducted her to her Chamber and afterward by the Emperours commandement he shut Florendos into a strong prison The next day Promptaleon and Oudin came to the Pallace where with great and audacious impudencie they came before the Emperour saying Why haue you not my Lord prouided the fire to burne your Daughter and her adulterer Florendos Soft and fayre aunswered the good Remicius bee not so hastie I finde them not so faultie as your accusation deliuereth for no other harme was committed then talking together and because Florendos was disguised is that a consequence my daughter must die Nor will I encurre with infamous report in putting such a Prince to death without hearing how he can answere for himselfe you therefore my Lord of Pera go fetch Florendos that hee may answere to their propositions The Duke obeyed his commandement and brought the Prince so spent with extreame gréefe because hee had caused the Quéene into such danger as hardly he could sustaine himselfe but after he had with great humilitie prostrated himselfe before the Emperour he began in this manner Most mightie Loed and Emperour of Greece maruaile not that with such heauinesse I come before your maiestie when in stéede of dooing you seruice according as my dutie commandeth me I bring you cause of offence and displeasure Neuerthelesse I repose my self on your benignitie and princely iustice wherein I must intreate you to haue regard on the Quéene your Daughters innocence for the fault that is committed if it deserue to be called a fault was doone without the Quéenes knowledge or so much as a thought of the matter on her part before it happened Moreouer there is none of so harsh iudgement or reason but will consider what familiaritie and friendship both passe betwéene Princes and Ladies in occasions of honour Which may serue to answere the cause of my comming to sée the Quéen being thereto bound by dutie and honest loue wherewith in my yonger yéeres I faithfully serued her And this I did without any iniurie to her honor much lesse occasion of offence to the King which hee would néedes interprete in that sort when with so good indiscretion hée came and assailed me These are fables quoth Promptaleon for the conspiracie and treason betwéene thée and the Quéene is so manifest as euerie one knowes it And if the Emperour doo not this day consumate your liues both together in one fire he offereth the greatest iniurie that euer Prince did and before the whole world wee will héereafter accuse him Darest thou maintaine by Combate in fielde saide Florendos what thou with such brauerie affirmest in this Hall that will I by mine honour quoth Promptaleon and let the Knight come that dares aduenture on this condition that if I be the conquerour the Quéene and thou may beâ— burned as ye haue deserued and the Princesse Armida declared not legitimate and so disinherited of the Kingdome Now hast thou reuealed thy villany saide Florendos and for the last condition doost thou follow the cause so earnestly rather then by any matter of truth and equitie but thou art deceiued in thine intent and thy death villaine shall deliuer assurance of her succession So please my Lord the Emperour of his grace to prolong the day of Combate till I haue recouered some health my selfe alone against thée and thy Brother will prooue ye false Traytours and that maliciously yée haue accused the Quéene The Emperour seeing the Prince so weake and sickly and yet with so good courage willing so defence his Daughters wrong resolued himselfe that shee was innocent Remembring then his noble seruices in defende of his Empire and how 's iniuriously he denied him his Daughter he was mooued in such sort as he could not refraine from teares thinking for vengeance of that offence that heauen had iustly permitted the death of Tarisius wherefore beholding Floâ—eâ—dos with pittifull lookes pronounced the sentence in this manner You Promptaleon and Oudin Nephewes to our deceased déere and beloued sonne the King of Hungaria shall mainteine your words in open Fielde against two such Knights as my Daughter and the Prince Florendos can deliuer on their behalfe and that within twelue dayes after this instant one of which the Prince himselfe shall bée if he be not furnished with another to his liking alwayes prouided that the vanquished shall be declared Traitors and attainted of the crime of Lese Maiestatis and so punished according to the exigence of the case The two Brothren accepted these conditions béeing so farre ouercome with their owne pride as they reputed themselues the most valiant Knights of the world Florendos féeling himselfe so weake of body would gladly haue demaunded a longer day but the sentence being giuen the Emperour likewise promising to appoint another knight in his
stéede hée was contented and committing all to the Emperors pleasure was carried backe againe to prison in such pensiuenesse as he was iudged not able to liue til the combat day The Quéene likewise was kept in sure guarde despayring howe she shoulde finde a Knight that would aduenture on her behalfe in fight because the strength and prowesse of the Challenger was so renowmed Leauing thus these two louers in doubts and feares let vs returne where we left before to noble Palmerin that hee may bring them some better comfort Chap. XXVIII How Palmerin hauing staid with his Ladie fiue dayes in so great pleasure as his heart could desire fearing to be discouered to the Emperour tooke his leaue of her promising to begin the search of Trineus and Ptolome POlynarda hauing her Fréend in her custodie would not presume so farre vpon her selfe or the faithfulnesse of her Ladies as shée would suffer him to stay there in the day time and doubting likewise least his comming in the night should be espyed committed the whole matter in such trust to Bryonella as they performed their ioyes without any impeachment During these delights and amourous contentments which these timorous Louers passed togither the Princesse among other talke rehearsed to her Fréend how the King of Fraunce sent his Ambassadours to the Emperour to treate on the marriage betwéene her and his eldest Sonne as also her Brother Trineus with his Daughter Lucemania And howe importunate the Empresse had béene with her discouering what honour and felicitie it should bée to her to bée Quéene of so great a Kingdome as Fraunce is And trust mée my Lord quoth shée I know my Parents are so affected to this alliaunce as if my Brother Trineus were come I know no meane whereby to excuse my selfe Alas Madame quoth Palmerin herein you may consider if the Emperour by violent force constraine you héereto what continuall gréefe it will bée to your Seruaunt Palmerin What torment What tyrannous paines of strange conceit may equall themselues with the verie least of my passions nor can I any way bee able to endure them The doubtfull feares of this misfortune strooke to his heart with such an impression as hee fell in a swoune betwéene his Ladies armes shée embracing him with such ardent affection as the soule of the poore tormented Louer séeling with what equall desire his Ladie requited him receiued fresh strēgth into his languishing bodie and béeing come to his former estate the Princesse said Alas my Lord at the time I supposed to be in assuraunce with you and to thinke on no imaginations but new pleasures and delights forgetting the regarde you haue long continued in expectation of the wished fortunate houre will yée bée nowe the cause of my death Thinke you that if loue bée so violent on your behalfe it excéedeth not a thousand times more in mée Beléeue me you men make your vaunts of the great passions feares and doubts you haue to offende your Ladyes whom to serue loyally you haue especially chosen but in no wise may these oppressions be compared to ours Where is hée among ye who hath experimented howe great the paine of dishonor is and can couer his extreame loue with dissimulation What a death is it to constraine violence agaynst it selfe to containe the piercing eye and subdue an heart so affectionate as bringeth death to the rest of the bodie if shee shewe not some part of her desire by lookes the faithfull and secrete messengers to him she hath chosen loueth and wisheth The torment of the will like wise when one dare not come in presence nor behold her fauoured to languish and yet may séeke no meane of helpe all these insupportable miscries we poore Ladies must endure béeing giuen by nature or forced for a custome Wherefore my Lorde present not me with your passions considering each thing as it ought they may not be compared to the least of mine for loue who hath ouermaistred me reigueth with such resolute authoritie as I must sooner die then offer you anie wrong séeing that as my Lord and Husband I haue elected you and bestowed those fauours on you which are most desired to wit willing obedience and that then which nothing is more precious Hauing then made you soueraigne of my selfe the Prince of Fraunce cannot enioy an other mans right And if my Father vsing his authoritie shall enforce mée although it be gréeuous to mée I will tell him what hath happened and no menaces whatsoeuer shall alter mine opinion Palmerin séeing his Ladie so firme and loyall was not a little ioyfull thus answering Doubtlesse my deare and most gracious Mistresse hitherto I durst presume on my selfe that by my manifolde loyall seruices I shoulde one day deliuer recompence for some part of the honours you haue done mée but nowe I perceiue that abounding in your graces you depriue me of all meanes to acknowledge your bountie which commonly men desire to shew by their obedience nor shall I be able to deserue the inestimable value contained in the simplest worde of your last most honorable promise Nowe the Princesse discerning by the Window that Aurora Phoebus his faire Porter began to let foorth the morning light and prouide way for his Maisters iourney withdrew her selfe to her Chamber and quicklie layde her downe by Brionella who the better to hide her Ladies affayres dissembled that she had a feuer Quotidian by which meaue shée compassed to kéepe her Chamber and entertained Palmerin as her selfe desired All this while Vrbanillo brought newes from the Prince Olorico who was so desirous to sée the Princesse againe as hée vowed not to depart the Cittie before hée accomplished what hée intended Palmerin who loued him as his Brother was in great doubt howe hée shoulde safelye bring it to passe till Bryonella whose deuises were euer readyest sayde My Lord the man béeing no way able to hurt you of the lesse importance néede you make the matter will yée sée howe we will a little iuggle with the Emperour Let it be sayd that the Prince is Cozin to Vrbanillo and the cause of his comming into his Countrey was to séeke you then because he vnderstandes how my Ladie loues the Dwarffe 〈◊〉 Maiestie without anie doubt will suffer the two Cozins to take their leaue of her will not this deuise then shadow his séeing the Princesse Without question quoth Palmerin I shoulde neuer haue inuented such a subtiltie be it then as you haue determined but with great politie that the Emperour misdoubt nothing for if he discouer vs we are shamed for euer Referre it to me sayd Brionella if I discribe not their kindred cunningly neuer beléeue that a Woman can inuent a lie without studie Brinella conferring with the Dwarffe layde downe the platforme in such order as the next day the Prince came before the Emperour when Vrbanillo on his knée desired leaue that hée might depart with his Cozin there present to séeke his Maister in whose search he woulde
sending for them to the Pallace where Promptaleon and Oudin staied their comming the Emperour himselfe thus began Now Promptaleon héere maist thou behold two yong Knights who speake the contrarie of that thou hast reported wilt thou yet maintaine that my daughter hath committed treason and hath béene disloyall to her Husband thy deceased Unckle I will my Lorde quoth he and sweare by my Baptisme for that cause she shal die the death and if anie dare vndertake the contrarye I am readie to prooue it by force of Armes I thinke it conuenient said Palmerin my Good Lord that no Combat should be graunted without the presence of the accused Immediatelie Florendos and Griana were sent for and being come before the Emperour Palmerin said to the Prince How saye you my Lorde doo you permit in maintenance of your right that I giue these false accusers such discipline as their wicked and treacherous dealings deserue I doo quoth the Prince and Heauen prosper thée in thine enterprise What saye you Madame quoth Frysoll to the Quéene doo you affoorde the like to me Shee aunswered as Florendos before had doone whereuppon Palmerin thus spake to the accusers We two Knights will maintaine that you both are Traitours and that by couetous and gréedie desire of rule and to enioy the Kingdome you woulde against all right disinherit the yong Princesse Armida for which cause you haue shamefullie accused the Quéene her Mother to haue committed murder and more then that charge her with disloyall lubricitie For if the Prince Florendos talked with her when the King founde him in her Chamber it was in no other sort then honor allowed and according to â—he dutie of honest loue wherein all Princes are bounde to their Ladies Beside if your King was slaine by the Prince if was in defence of his owne life and in repelling the iniurious spéeches he gaue him to approoue what I say wée present our gadges to the Emperour so please him to receiue them The like did the too Brethren desiring his highnesse to appoint the Combat presentlie in the wide and necessarie place before the Pallace For quoth they wée will teache these vaine-glorious Strangers the price of such iniurious spéeches spoken to those that know how to correct them I thinke quoth Palmerin thou shalt néede to teache thy selfe but if thou hast learned anie newe dexteritie practise it well thou art best for I can tell thée the time will require it The good Emperour Remicius commaunded silence and taking the gadges of these foure Knights bad them goe arme themselues saying hée woulde sée the ende thereof before he tooke any sustenaunce The Duke of Mensa and the Counte of Redona auncient Princes of Greece were appointed to bee Iudges of the Fielde who commaunded two hundred knights to Arme themselues for assurance of their owne persons Chap. XXXI Of the noble Combat in the Cittie of Constantinople by Palmerin and Frysoll against the two Nephewes of the deceased King of Hungaria whome they vanquished by which meane the Prince Florendos and Queene Griana were deliuered PRomptaleon and Oudin being departed the Hall Palmerin and Frisoll taking their leaue of Florendos and the Quéene whom the Emperour caused to be shut vppe in their prisons againe went to their lodgings to Arme themselues The Duke of Mecaena an honorable prince discended of yâ— most ancient race in al Greece with many other great Lords went after them and when they were Armed the Duke would néedes beare Palmerins Launce and the graund Squire attending on the Emperor caried Frysols In this maner came they to the place appointed for the Combat where the two Brethren were alreadie staying for them the eldest thus beginning in mockage Beléeue mée Knights for men that shewed themselues so hardie in a Hall mée thinks you haue béene very long Arming your selues I thinke you came on your footcloth Mules to the Fields entraunce for feare of felling to hurt your selues but soone shall ye be taught better horsemanshippe I warrant ye If there were in thée so much wisdome and exercise of Armes aunswered Frysoll as are high words and brauing behauiour it would bée a little better discerned then it is notwithstanding ere wee haue doone I thinke they that came first into the Fielde will tarrie last héere vnlesse some bodie for pittie carrie them out before Héerewith the Trompets sounded and the Heraldes commaunded the Champions to doo their deuoire which was the cause that these hotte words were chaunged into déedes and running fiercelie against eache other they encountred with such puissaunce as Palmerin cast Oudin foorth of his saddle with a verie great wound on his left side and Promptaleon was receiued by Frysoll so roughlie as he fell backwarde on the crupper of his Horse because hée was lothe his Brother should fall without companie The two Brethren enraged to bée thus foyled at the first came with their swords drawn to kill their aduersaries Horsses so that they were constrained quicklie to alight when they assayled each other with meruailous furie for either side expected victorie the one in hope of a kingdome the other to saue their Freends liues Strange was it so beholde this violent fight yet the two Brethren seemed vnable long to holde out for theyr Armor was so cut and mangled and themselues so driuen foorth of breath as hardly they coulde sustaine themselues so that Promptaleon desired Frysoll to rest a while who mooued with anger thus aunswered Nay Traytor now shall I teach thée how to defende thy selfe and not one minute will I graunt thee to trauerse with mée but will send thy soule to the Father of thy villaine vnlesse with spéede thou denie thy slaunder With these words he laid so many sounde strokes on him as at length hee fell downe deade at his féete which when Oudin perceiued hee threwe his Sworde at Palmerin and caught him fast about the middle thinking that way to get him downe but Palmerin striking away his féet caused him fal on his backe and without attending for his reuolt noblye stroke his head from his shoulders So comming to Frysol he asked if he were wounded No my Lord quoth he I thanke God the greatest wound I haue cannot with-holde me to doo you further seruice if so be you haue anie néede Then putting vp their Swords they demaunded of the Iudges if any thing else remained to be doone for deliueraunce of the prisoners Nothing worthy Lords answered the Iudges and them will the Emperour nowe deliuer with all possible spéede The good Remicius heartilie thanking God for his victorie sente a Knight to the Champions with request to come and lodge in his Pallace as also that they should presently come speake with his Maiestie yet could not the Messenger make such haste but they were come foorth of the Fielde the Duke of Mecaena and the Prince Olorico bearing them companie When the Knight had ouertaken them hée saide Returne woorthie Knightes to my Lord the Emperour for
I to match with him then any other you named heretofore And this one speciall cause that he laboureth to bring home my noble Brother which Heauen graunt hee may otherwise can I not marry without verie great impeach to mine honour The Emperour well perceiued by the grace of her answere and her countenance nowe nothing sadoe or melanchollie that shee was nothing offended with this motion wherfore he said Happie may I count my selfe faire daughter that among all the Christian Princes you haue chosen such a Husband therefore apparrell your selfe to morrow in the best sort you may for then shall my Lordes the Ambassadours see you So departed the Princesse to her Chamber and no more spéeches were vsed till the next day when the Emperour sent for the Ambassadours of Constantinople and in the presence of the principall estate of the Empire ratefied the mariage betwéen Palmerin and his daughter And for further confirmation thereof promised to send his owne Ambassadours with them to satisfie on his behalfe the Emperour Florendos and Palmerin For which excéeding gentlenesse the Duke of Mecâ—ena in the Emperours name thanked his Maiestie earnestly entreating him to dispatch them thence so soone as might bee because their charge was to returne with all possible spéede This resolution absolutely sette downe the Emperour for the greater honour caused them to dine with him at his owne Table and grace being said by the Lord Almoner the Duke of Mecana desired his Maiestie that hée might sée the Princesse Polynarda whereof hée made promise so soone as Dinner was done when taking the Duke of Mecaena by the one hande and the Countie of Reifort by the other brought them to the Empresse Chamber where they founde the Princesse in such sumptuous ornaments and accompanied with such rare grace and exquisite beautie as they iudged her rather an Angell then anie earthly creature And greatly was the Duke abashed at such a singular spectacle not knowing how to frame his opinions but hauing humbly saluted the Empresse came to the Princesse and on his knée reuerently kissed her hand with these spéeches Let it not displease ye faire Madame that I vse this honourable dutie to you for I doo it in this respect as to the gracious Ladie and Empresse héereafter of Constantinople By this meane hée secretly conueyed Palmerins Letter into her hande for which the Princesse gaue him many deuout thankes which were coupled with such magesticall gestures as neither to Nero or Galba were done the like no not by Constantine himself to the Pope And though the Dukes words had raised a swéete blush in her chéekes yet could she with such choyse answeres excuse the same as gaue greater countenaunce to all her behauiour Then turned the Duke to the Emperour and smiling saide Trust me my Lord nowe doo I verely beléeue what hath heretofore bene told me of the Prince Palmerin that hée is an especiall Iudge of the beautie of Ladies for in mine opinion hée hath chosen one without a second and of her may truly be affirmed what the Poets described of Helena tearming her the Goddesse of beautie With this rare Princesse to be matched an Husband so famous well may be saide the couple to be without compare for the faire formed Paris may not be equalled with Palmerin So the Ambassadours departing the Princesse withdrewe her selfe to her Chamber where reading her friends Letter her ioyes and pleasures redoubled because shée might now boldly credite her fortune And before she would forget the inuention her spirite offered â—hée presently wrote an answere earnestly entreating him to hasten his returne to abreuiate her languishing desires which nowe made her life but a shadow of death Hauing close sealed her Letter shée sent it to the Duke by one of her most trustie Ladies with diuers other rich gifts and presentes The Duke of Lorraine and his companie readie departed thence with the Ambassadours and winde and weather seruing so well they arriued at Constantinople the day before Florendo's his nuptialls Newes being brought héereof to the Courte Palmerin accompanied with many Princes and Knightes went to the Hauen and at the landing of the Ambassadours Palmerin embraced the Duke of Lorrâ—ine and the Marquesse of Cicena and so ryding to the Pallace beguiled the time with diuers discourses where among the Duke of Lorraine thus spake Syr Palmerin I alwayes did imagine that those straunge aduentures aâ—chiued by you during the obscuritie of your yonger yeares would in the end reueale your honourable parentage and make your name for euer immortall and were the Prince Tryneus with you nowe for the verie best condition in the world would I not leaue your companie Gentle Duke answered Palmerin if I did not perswade my selfe how greatly I should comfort your minde by recouering your Prince Tryneus I should account my life so vnhappie as presently I would â—â—sire my death God graunt quoth the Duke that you may finde him againe for that will bee the greatest good that euer came to our Empire considering the vertues magnanimitie and speciall chiualrie which is as currant in our yong Prince as in any other And thus they spent the time till they came to the Pallace where the Duke of Lorraine after hee had saluted the Emperour and the Princes deliuered the message committed to his charge Wherewith Palmerin was not a little pleased considering what he had read in his Ladies Letter which discouered the sorrowes shee endured for his absence but being assured of her firme loyaltie as also that shée was now promised him in marriage his cares were the lesse commaunding the Duke to be lodged neare his owne Chamber that he might the better conferre with him of his Mistresse whom he loued as deare as his owne life Chap. XXXVII Howe after the Prince Florendos and Queene Griana were espoused togither Palmerin was sworne Prince and heire of Greece and Macedon by the consent of the Lords of the Empire and the Realme THe Ambassadours of Allemaigne being now come the Emperour was aduertised thereof and considering that the Princes of Thrace and Macedon had expected their presence for the space of sixe dayes it was appointed that on the morrow the Prince Florendos Griana should be married And the day being come of this long desired wedding shée was cloathed in such rich and costly garments as though she had bene still a virgine But héere to set downe the sumptuous vestures of her her husband the Emperour the Empresse with diuers other Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen also the solemnitie and ceremonies both at the Church and at the Pallace would waste a great deale of time in vaine and without any pleasure or profit to the Readers and therefore I will let it passe vnder your conceit and speake of such things as are most néedfull After that the Prince Florendos and Griana were espoused by the Patriache of Constantinople the whole traine returned to the Pallace where before the Gate was erected a goodly Theater hanged
should be maried to one of the best Knights of the world Wée néede not doubt that the Quéene was héereat amazed yet the loue of the Mother to her infant cannot conquer the loue of the Wife to her Husbande which among all loues is the most honest and loyall so that in hope to frée him againe on whom depended her health and welfare shée gaue her Childe to the Damosell intreating that shée might be vsed as beséemed the Daughter of a King and as the swéete beautie of the infant deserued Shée returning to Carderia with the Childe made her Sisters verie ioyful by her comming who there nourished the infant till shée was three yéeres olde when the beautie of the yong Princesse beganne to shewe it selfe as fayre Cynthia dooth among the Starres Nowe did the Sisters inclose her in a strong Tower made of purpose for young Francelina wherein was the most goodly Garden in the worlde there was shee attended by her Nursses and sixe waiting Gentlewomen and such enchauntments were imposed on the Tower as no man should euer sée her vnlesse he were the best Knight of his time The entraunce into the Tower was verie strayte and narrowe barred vppe with a great Gate of yron and guarded with two furious Lyons Ouer the gate stoode a huge Image of Copper holding a mightie Mace of Stéele wrought by such cunning as if anie Knight but he that was destenied to end the aduenture should assay to enter hardly might he escape to returne againe Moreouer the conquerour should not demaund the first demaund of the princesse which was the deliuerance of her Father and for this cause the Sisters enchaunted the faire Francelina whose Historie wée must yet forbeare procéeding where wee leâ—t before Olimaell béeing thus on the Sea laden with Christian spoyles and prisoners at length entred the port of the great Cittie of Tubant where hée made such a chéerefull noyse of Droms Trumpets Clarions and Cornets as though the greatest Monarch in the worlde had come to take landing The great Turke maruailing at this sodaine melodie sent one of his Knights to vnderstand the cause who béeing certified by Olimaell what great victories hee had obtained against the Christians and the number of prysoners he brought with him returned to the Pallace where he told his Lord that the Admirall Olimaell was come and had brought with him great spoyles from the Christians where among quoth hee is a Christian King in person many worthy Knights and Gentlemen and a young Princesse of incomparable beautie Not a little ioyfull was the Turke at these newes wherefore comming into his great Hall where the imperiall seates of maiestie were erected himselfe fate downe in the â—one and faire Agriola of England in the other expecting the comming of Olimaell who in tryumphant manner set forward with his prize brauely mounted on a lustie Coâ—rser sumptuously caparasoned and aduauncing his sword drawne in signe of victorie Béeing come to the Pallace Olimaell saluted his Lorde with great reuerence standing by him to make report of his conquest and make present of his prisoners after their estate and calling First he caused all the riches to be brought and all the meanest captiues one after another to kisse the great Turks foote then commaunding them to be carried thence he began in this manner It is not to be doubted most high and mightie Monarch that this victorie gotten on the Christians enemies to our Gods hath beene obtained onely by your fauour therefore it is good reason that the principall head of this enterprise the great and chéefest honour should be doone The witnesse héereof are the treasures present and these prisoners abyding your mercie who from the very meanest to the highest shall humble themselues at your maiesties fâ—â—te When very many had doone theyr reuerence and the King of Thessaly shoulde next follow who though his handes were pinniond behinde him yet had a Crowne of Gold on his head to shewe what hée was although he sawe himselfe in the Traitours power and Olimaell had commaunded him to kisse his Maisters foote boldly made this answere Nor will I so much displease my God vncircumcized Tirant as thou art in such sort to abase my self being a king and administratour of iustice to faithfull Christians to kisse the foote of the mostâ—nastie and vncleane creature in the world profaning the worship which I onely owe to my maker It is in thy power to take my life from mee but not to constraine me do the thing wherein consists my damnation and a thousand deathes I will endure before I yéelde so much as in thought to thée Uillaine quoth the Admirall darest thou speake so vnreuerently in the presence of my Lorde did not my regarde of him withholde mée soone should I seperate thy cursed heâ—d from thy shoulders With these words he gaue the King such a blow on the face as made him fall on his knées to the ground Ah Traytour quoth the King well hast thou shewen the nature of a villaine that without commaunde strykest a King captiue and vnprouided of Armes but might it so please thy Lorde in open Fielde will I prooue thée a disloyall and vnchristened Curre that thus abusest the bloud royall The great Turke séeing the King so moued and angrie the bloud likewise trickling from his nose and mouth commaunded him to be carried thence to one of the strongest Castles in Nacolia where he should be enclosed without any companie that his captiuitie might be the more gréenous to him When the King of Thessaly was departed Palmerin approched leading the Princesse Laurana by the hande hée and his fiue companions beeing Armed except theyr Helmets Gantlets and swords whereat the great Turke maruailing demaunded of Olimaell why hée suffered them to be armed My Lord quoth hee these sixe Knights were the first prize I tooke who after they had giuen me theyr oathes haue done such seruice to your Maiestie especially this poynting to Palmâ—rin one of the best knights that euer I saw as full well do they deserue libertie which in recompeÌ„ce of aduenturing their liues in your seruice vnder your highnesse correction I promised them By Mahomet answered the great Turk for thy sake I likewise confirmâ— it and if héereafter they will abide with mée I will make them greater then euer they were While the Turke was making these promises Agriola hauing well noted Palmerin knew him and with the sodaine conceit thereof was readie to swoune but staying her selfe on her Chayre said O sole bountie who is this are not mine eyes deluded and my thoughts be guiled At these wordes Palmerin knewe her which before hee did not by reason of her strange disguysed apparrell yet thought hee best to conceale his inward ioy least crooked fortune should now againe preuent him The great Turke séeing Agriola looke so pale and wan started from his Chayre and taking her in his Armes said Alas Madame hath any sodaine ill befallen yée hath any one in this companie
his head from his shoulders In bréefe he was so fauoured of Fortune as hauing vanquished all the tenne Knights he passed the tenne Rocks and no sooner was he mounted on the foremost but a darke Clowde compassed him about so that the two Princes Zephira and their Knights to theyr great amazement lost the sight of him yet his former victorie exempted all feare from them of bad successe There 〈…〉 Palmerins returne till Sunne setting when the two Princes demaunded of Zephira if shée woulde depart thence or stay there all night Depart quoth shée no by my life héere will I abide the good knights returne from the Castell wherupon her seruants hauing erected theyr pauillions they there tooke vp their lodging for that night By this time Palmerin was come to the Castell Gate where looking on his Armour which was â—acked in péeces his flesh cut and mangled in manie places breathing foorth a bitter sigh sayd If yet this trauaile may availe the Prinâ—esse and my noble companions that are enchauâ—ted let happe to mée what please the Heauens for theyr libertie is more déere to mée then life Then looking on his Dog who all his while held the Horses bridle in his mouth hée remembred that he had not demaunded of Muzabelino anie thing concerning him wherefore he said Ah gentle dog yet no Dog I thinke but rather some Knight thus transformed howe forgetfull haue I béene of thy seruice in my necessitie why did I not demaund the trueth of Muzabelino what thou art But mayst thou prooue to be my good Fréend Trineus when all the enchauntments of this Castell shall bée ended thy former shape I hope shall bee restored So striking at the Castell Gate to sée if anie way hée could get it open at length hée looked vppe to the battlements and beheld an auncient Knight with a long beard so white as snowe who furiously thus spake to him Proude Knight who made thée so bolde thus to beate on the Gate enter vnto thy further ill I hope with these wordes the Gates opened of themselues when presently Palmerin with his Dog entred and the olde man who séemed ouer-spent with yéeres and weaknesse méeting him in the Gate taking him by the arme threw him violently agaynst the ground saying Thou that hast ouercome the ten Knights yong and armed what canst thou doo to an olde man without defence Wretched villaine aunswered Palmerin wherefore hast thou strooken me by the liuing God did not thine age excuse thée soone should I lay the breathlesse at my foote Soft and faire said the olde man thou shalt haue work enough to defend thy selfe So catching Palmerin about the middle he wroong him so cruelly as one might heare his bones cracke O my God cried Palmerin defend me against this cursed diuell At length hee forced the olde man to let goe his holde when began such a furious fight betwéene them as neuer was Palmerin in such daunger in that eueriâ— blowe was giuen him hée thought did breake all his bones in péeces The â—og séeing his Maister in such extremitie caught the olde man by the throate and neuer left tugging till he got him downe when suddenly he vanished away and was no more séene afterward For this victorie Palmerin thanked God and hauing cherished his Dog entred further into the Castell Where he behelde most stately Galleries erected on great colombes of Porpherie and Alabaster as neuer did hée beholde a more sumptuous spectacle In the middest of the Court was a goodly Tombe enclosed with barrâ—s of beaten Golde and ouer it stoode a goodly Table of Christal vphelde by foure Satyrs of Agatha and on the Table was pictured the personages of a Ladie drawne by such curious arte and woorkmanship as hardly could it bée equalled through the world Palmerin approched to behold the counterfeit which helde in the one hande a Booke fast shutte and in the other a Key of Golde poynting with the Key towarde the Gate of the Pallace whereupon he imagined that this was the Tombe of the Ladie Enchauntresse whereof Muzabelino had told him before and putting his hand betwéene the golden Barres the Image presently offered him the Key Héereat béeing some what abashed he iudged that this happened not without great cause wherefore taking the Key hée went and opened the Pallace Gate and entering the great Hall hée founde it so richlie paued and garnished rounde about with such costly Tapistrie as the greatest Monarch in the world had not the like Looking behinde him for his Dog he beheld him suddainlie chaunged to his former shape and running to embrace Palmerin said Happie be the houre of thy comming déere Fréend to whom I remaine for euer bounde in acknowledging the speciall graces and fauours receiued But Palmerin deceiued with so manie illusions before woulde hardlie giue credite to what he now behelde reputing him rather sâ—me he 〈◊〉 furie so disguised onely to entrap him with further danger which Trineus perceiuing spake againe Ah my noble Friend Palmerin for Gods sake doubt no more I am thy Brother Tryneus who since thy comming from Elain followed thée in the enchaunted forme of a Dogge reioyce then with me for since thy long desired hope hath now so good an ende doubt not but the residue of thine affaires will prooue as fortunate Palmerin béeing nowe thorowly resolued I leaue to your iudgements the kinde gratulations betwéene them who well can conceiue the wonderfull ioy of longabsent Friendes especally of such as liue and die for each other Ah my Lord quoth Palmerin why did I not sooner acknowledge thee the great succour thou gauest me by theâ—way might well haue perswaded me yet though I still imagined thee my friend transformed hardly could I resolue thereon till further experience Aâ— fortune if héeretofore thou hast béene enuious towardes mée yet now hast thou recompenced me in such sort as now I haue no cause to exclaime on thée So sitting downe together Trineus reuealed the manner of his taking and all that befell him till his transformation Which Palmerin to requite discoursed the knowledge of his Parents how he was betrothed to his Lady Polynarda and howe he recouered the Princesse Agriola who afterwardâ— was likewise enchaunted in the Isle of Malfada 〈◊〉 at these newes was readie to die with gréefe but Palmerin perswaded him of the wise Muzabelinos promise that shortly hee should returne againe to the Isle and there finish all the enchauntments whatsoeuer While they thus conferred together they sawe sodainely sette before them a Table furnished with all kinde of meates and a hand holding two great Golden Candlesticks wherein burned two faire waxe Tapers beside they heard a trambling of their féete that brought the meate to the Table but they could not discerne any liuing creature Trust mee quoth Palmerin I thinke some bodie knowes I haue an hungrie appetite â—itte downe with me good friend for these two moneths had I not a better stomacke After they had well refreshed themselues the table was
honoured with so high a present which I will kéepe so charie as mine owne person but that the name of Muzabelino may for euer be imprinted in my heart giue mée some one of your name or kindred who â—uermore may bée néerest to my person My Lord quoth Muzabelino to you will I giue one of my Sonnes begotten by me on a Christian Ladie agréeing with you in faith and oâ—inion whereof I am not sorie yet feare I that the King should knowe so much least his religion might cause his death Déere fréend said Palmerin for Gods sake giue him me presently and him will I loue as hee were my brother Your request quoth he can I not yet satisfie till wée goe to my Castle where he is kept which because I will no longer deferre to morrow will I perswaâ—e the King to iourney to his great Cittie of Grisca there to take view of his Armie when I shal compasse the meane to giue him you vpon this conclusion they departed to their cambeâ—s Chap. LII How Muzabelino gaue Palmerin his Sonne Bellechino entertaining the King and all his companie royally at his Castle and how the two Armies of the King Abimar and the Soldane of Persia encountred with the successe therof MVzabelino perceiuing by his art that the Soldane of Persia with his power was néere at hand thinking to ruinate the great Cittie of Grisca aduertised the King thereof willing him with all spéede to muster his Armie and preuent the soldanes determination The King not misliking his aduise set forward presently to Grisca and by the way at the earnest intreatie of Muzabelino the King with all his courtly companie lay at his Castle where many rare deuises were showen them by enchauntment which I passe ouer as matter altogether impertinent There did the Magitian giue Palmerin his Sonne Bellechino one of his Daughters likewise to the Quéene and another to the Princesse Zephira Afterward they iourneyed to the Cittie of Grisca where all his armie was ranged in readines béeing numbred an hundred thousand fighting men the auantguarde he committed to the two Princes Palmerin and Trineus consisting of twentie thousand horsemen his two battailes of 30000. Archers on horsebacke the two Princes Tomano and Drumino had in charge and the rereward was gouerned by the two Kinges of Seuata and Garara The Soldanes power béeing ordained in battailewise within few dayes after the fight beganne which continued with such danger on either side as the victorie hung very long in suspence In the ende after a mightie massacre made of the Persians among whom was Donadel Prince of Siconia slaine with many other great Califes and Lords the Soldane himselfe was taken prisoner by Palmerin sent bound with â—etters of Gold to the Princesse Zephira The Messenger comming to the Princesse Chamber declared how Palmerin had sent her that prisoner to entreate him as her selfe liked best In sooth my Lord quoth the Princesse to the Soldane you are right welcome for his sake that sent you héere shall your entertainement be as fittes your calling and miâ—like not your mishap in that the knight who sent you is wont to conquere where himselfe pleaseth The Soldane angrie at his hard fortune yet séeing hée was prisoner to a Lady so beautifull was immediately so surprised with loue as hee was not able to answere the Princesse one word But she perceiuing he was very sore wounded caused him to bée conducted to a goodly Chamber commaunding her Chirurgions to attend him dilligently On the morrow shee came to sée how hee â—ared when Loueouer mastering all his senses made him forgette his hatred to the King Abimar resoluing to become his friend by marriage of the Princesse and vnable longer to suppresse his waighting passions which more troubled him then his dangerous wounds hee thus beganne Fairest among the daughters of men tell me I desire you if you bée the Childe of the King Abimar or els of whence you are to the ende I may one day acknowledge this fauour which your milde nature affoordes your prisoner Heereunto the Princesse answered howe shée was Daughter to the King Onodius of Nabor coupling therewith all her passed fortunes concluding in the ende that in all actions agréeing with honour shée remained his humble Seruant Fortune quoth he neuer constant but in vnconstancie once yesterday was I the greatest Prince in the worlde and now none in my Kingdome so miserable as my selfe béeing brought in subiection to my inferiour and snared in loue with my vassailes Daughter Wisely sayd the Poet That badlie doo loue and Maiestie agree togither for though the height of mine estate forbids my desire yet loue and mine owne lyking are two such seuere enemies as I must not nowe stand to dispute the cause Happie is the Knight in whose power remaines a Ladie so excellent but much more happie is the Ladie that can commaunde so great a person by whom such honours are this day affoorded you fayre Princesse as wel may you vaunt to bée the greatest in Persia. If by a Knight surpassing in prowesse I was conquered in battaile by one in beautie and curtesie incomparable am I againe ouermaistred so that I am enforced to present you my heart and all the signories I possesse to vse at your pleasure vowing for your sake perpetuall peace with Abimar mine enemie The Princesse abashed at this vnexpected offer a swâ—ete blush colourer her daintie chéekes and fearing to be imputed too indiscréete shaped her answere to the last poynt of the Soldanes spéeches as thus In sooth my Lord well could I like that peace were concluded betwéene the King and you though not by any meane in mée but by the omnipotent power of the Goddes who letting you know the weaknesse of your owne strength would not haue any warre betwéene you and the King Abimar And if it like you so much to abase your selfe as to like the simple Daughter of a King who while hée liued was your highnesse Subiect well may I with modestie giue consentâ— for if my Father all his life time obeyed you as his Lorde vnséemely were disobedience in his Daughter By the holâ—e Alcaron of Mahomet aunswered the Soldane your benigne humilitie hath more conquered me then the proudest enemie in the worlâ—e coulde doo doo you therefore appoynt the Articles of our peace and I as vnpartiall will agree thereto Thus began the peace and the promise of mariage betwéene the Soldane and the Princes Zephira which béeing thorowlie agréed vppon the King Abimar Palmerin Tryneus and all the states subscribing thereto the Camps on either side were discharged and the Soldane with his great Seneshall openly in the Citie of Grisca protested peace in this manner That the Soldane shoulde espouse Zephira and Tomano the Princesse Belâ—ina the Soldanes Daughter Beside hee renounced all pretended rights to the Realmes of Grisca and Romata nor would he demaund anie tribute of them afterward or enter his confines with anie violence but assist the King continually against
their health quoth he how are they called The one said the Quéene is named Palmerin the other Trineus And I quoth he am Orzadine King of Galappa to whome fortune hath béene more fauourable in loue then in riches making me Fréende to the faire Oronia Daughter to the Calife of Siconia and Sister to the Prince Donadell who was slaine in the battaile against the King Abimar shée in my iudgement not hauing her second in beautie at whose request I haue trauailed the greatest part of Asia to spread her name and honorable reputation which I haue doone â—o her perpetuall fame and returning to her when my labours were finished in sted of ioy and pleasure I found her sad and pensiue for the death of her Brother These newes were worse to me then death and to comfort her I promised to reuenge her Brothers misfortune and this is the onelie cause of my comming for hauing Combatted with him that slâ—w the Prince her loue to mee will be the greater and mine honour shall be spread with more aduantage I belâ—eue well quoth the Quéene if you escape with life from the Combat but tell me Sir Knight why beare you such ill will to him that slâ—w the Prince considering that it was doon in plaine battaile and he his enemie who would haue doone as much to him if he could Not for this cause alonâ— will I enter the Combat said Orzodine but for I am desirous to let him knowe that I am more fauoured in loue then hee and as I am one of the most happie Louers so am I the best Knight in the world which I will maintaine against anie that dare gain-say it Happy louer Dieu Vous gard said Trineus If the Poets had hetherto spared the discription of Cupid Sonne to the Goddesse of loue now might they iustly haue sette him downe for blind yet is hée worthilie to be condemned that hee would vouchsafe anye fauour to the most foolish among men hée hauing dedicated me to the seruice of a Ladie to whom your gentle Ironia Oronia I should saye dooth not deserue the name of her seruant For the rest where you vaunt your selfe to bée the best Knight in the world your follie is too apparaunt for there are manie Knightes errant in the worlde who can giue you a braue caâ—uazado at the Launce and after they haue foyled you in the Ioust bestowe a little paines to take your gréene head from your grosse shoulders My selfe that flew the Brother to your Goddesse of beautie will doo you so much pleasure as to heale the incurable disease wherewith you are day and night tormented O diuine spirites cryed the Pagan fauour me so much that this Knight may but dare to enter the Fielde with mee Yes I dare sayde Tryneus and before we part I doubt not but to make thée quiet enough Ozodine presentlie threwe his Gauntlet as his gage and Tryneus a Golden bracelet which Aurecinda had giuen him entreating Zephiâ—a to kéepe them which she refused to doo fearing the daunger of the Prince Tryneus Héereupon the Soldane entred the Hall leading Palmerin by the hand but when they sawe the Armed Knight thus contend with Trineus they meruailed greatly what might be the occasion thereof When Orzadine sawe the Soldane was sette he entred into these spéeches Soldane I am hither come to accuse thée of a villainous act which thou hast committed harbouring in thy Court the man that â—lewe the the valiant Donadell whose murther thou canst not so cunningly couer but thy treacherie shall be openly discouered What art thou said the Soldane that darest speake thus presumptuously in our presence Orzodine King of Galappa quoth he of whom thou hast heard heretofore and now haue I presented my gage against this Knight which I will maintaine in despight of the proudest The Soldane abashed at this euent sought to disswade them from the Combatte because hée had heard great spéeches of the Kings prowesse but all was in vaine for Orzodine was so obstinate and Tryneus so earnest to reuenge the Turks proud blasphemie against his Ladie as they would not be pacified till the Fielde was graunted them Let vs haue Iudges presently quoth Orzodine and the Fielde assured for our Combat that I may discipline this glorious straunger Make not such haste sayd Tryneus for I feare thou wilt thinke thy comming too soone Immediately were the the two Combattants Armed the Iudges placed in their Tent when the Soldane and Palmerin with manie Princes went to beholde this exployt But such a mightie man was the King of Galappa as Palmerin feared his fréends successe The Trâ—mpets souâ—â—ding the Knights brake their Launces brauelie and mette togither so furiouslye with their bodies as they were both throwne out of their Saddles but they quickly recouering themselues drâ—we theyr swordes and marched against eache other with lyke courage as did Achilles against noble Hector Long continued the fight with danger on either side but the king of Galappa strooke such peasant strokes béeing a man of equall stature with a Giant as hée wounded Trineus in manie places and such was his ill fortune after long trauersing about hee sette his foote vnwarilye on the Trunchion of a Launce whereby he fell downe backward to the ground Orzodine taking aduauntage of this fall sette his foote on the Princes breast striuing to pull his Helmet from his head but God knowes in what agonie Palmerin was newe when he breathed foorth these spéeches to himselfe Ah Heauens quoth he haue I taken such paine and trauaile to finde my Fréend and must he now die among his enemies Aureeinda likewise readie to yéeld vp her ghost with gréefe seeing Palmerin readie to swoâ—ne as he stood Alas quoth she is it not enough that my Fréend must die but his noble câ—mpanion will beare him companie While this doubtfull feare was among the Courtiers Tryneus had so well scufled with Orzodine as he laye along by him likewise when drawing a pocket dagger he stabbed it through his Helmet into one of his eyes so that he nailed his head to the ground Orzodine féeling himselfe wounded to the death gaue a very loude cry when Tryneus hauing gotten his Helmet off presentlie smote his heade from his shoulders If the Knights of Galappa were now dismaide and the soldane Palmerin Zephira Tomano and all the rest ioyfull I leaue to your iudgements especially Palmerin who reioycing that Trineus had thus conquered his enemie entred the Lystes and embraced him and bringing him foorth of the Fielde â—he was welcommed to the Pallace with wonderfull honor The bodie of the dead King was giuen to them that came with him with meruailous reprehension of theyr Maisters audacious challenge and so with great heauinesse they returned home againe Nor would the Soldane longer stay in his Court the Assirian Ambassadour But excused himselfe to the Babylonian Mysos that he could not giue him anie assistaunce couering this aunswer vnder his vnfortunate battaile against the King Abimar Maucetto
of so straunge and variable fortunes said I thought my Daughter had learned more modestie then leauing her Fathers Court to followe a Knight vnknowne to her in straunge Countries but séeing the ende hath fallen out so well hencefoorth I shall remaine in better contentment séeing a Prince of so great renowne hath now espoused her While this conference endured the Duke earnestly beheld the Princesse Sabinda Daughter to the Prince of Sansuega and Néece to the Quéene and of such excellent grace and beautie he estéemed her as forgetting the death of his Father who deceased since his departure from Allemaigne hée became so amourous of her that he demaunded of the Quéene if shée were her Daughter Shée is not my Daughter quoth the Quéene but the Daughter of my Brother the Princes of Sansuega Right glad was the Duke thereof and resolued to request her of the King in marriage who knowing the honourable place he held among the Prince of Greece and what account Palmerin made of him consented thereto so that within fewe dayes after they were espoused togither Herevpon to accompany the Princesse and to confirm the peace the King sent the Duke of Gaule and another great Lorde with them into Allemaigne the Quéen likewise sent twelue English Ladies to attend on her Daughter Thus returned the Duke of Mecaena to Vienna where 〈◊〉 was worthily welcommed by the Emperour Palmerin and Tryneus especially the yong Duchesse and the Ambassadours of England by whom the peace was faithfully ratified and confirmed Chap. LXII How Palmerin and Polinarda departed from Vienna toward Constantinople where after the decease of the aged Emperour Remicius Palmerin was crowned Emperour of Greece and what ioy was made at the byrth of Polinarda her first sonne AFâ—â—er the Ambassadours of England were returned home Palmerin pereciuing the Empire of Allemaigne was in quiet tooke his leaue of the Emperor minding to conduct his Polinarda to Constantinople not without manie sorrowfull lamentations of the mother to forgo her daughter and faire Agriola her new acquainted sister yet the Emperour pacified them well inough by shewing what benefit this contract would be to Christendome and so procéeded to his daughter in this maner Thou goest Polinarda to the séate of a great Empire but more pleaseth mée the péerelesse name of Palmerin d'Oliua thy husbands then the regiment of such a mightie Monarche Farewell faire Daughter continue in faithfull loue and obedience remembring the reuerende honour a Wife oweth to her Husband Polinarda hearing with what earnest affection her Father spake was so ouercome with modest duetie of a Childe to her Father as shée was not able to aunswere one word which Palmerin beholding kissed the Emperours hande embraced Tryneus and tooke a courteous farewell of all the Ladies commaunding the Pages presently to bring away the Princesse 〈◊〉 saying to her Madame the longer you staie héere the greater will be your conceit of sorrow by absence the griefe will be forgotten let vs then merely iourney to the Cittie of Constantinople where they that neuer sawe you wil reioyce more at your comming then all the Allemaignes can sorrow for your departure With like comfortable spéeches Palmerin frequented his Ladie by the way till at length they entred the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll with his chéefest Lords attended their comming to whom Palmerin in iesting said Brother I haue aduentured to bring your Sister Polinarda into your Kingdome take héede if you laie claime to her now as sometime yée did for I am readie to defende her against whosoeuer dare I perceiue my Lorde quoth Frysoll that you will haue my follie generally knowne I pray 〈◊〉 let no such youthfull pranckes be nowe remembred for as you are the chéefest in chiualrie so haue the destenie giuen you a Ladie whome no one in the whole world may paragon Well may it be said that God and Nature fore-pointed this match nothing inferiour to louelie Paris and faire Helena or puissaunt Hector and wise Andromacha Frysoll accompanied them so farre as Alba where courteously parting from each other Frysoll returned to his Kingdome and Palmerin soone after came to Constantinople where no litle ioy was made for his safe arriual especially for the Princesse Polinarda who was a right welcome Ladie into Greece the olde Emperour prouiding such deuises and tryumphes as the Chronicles to this daye recorde the memorie thereof About tenne or twelue Monethes after Polynarda was deliuered of a goodly Sonne who was named Primaleon whereat the good olde Emperour so inwardly reioyced as his spirit onely comforted in the good fortune of his Sonnes and fearing afterwarde to sée anie sinister chaunce fall to them departed this fraile and transitorie life whose death was signified thrée dayes before by the enchaunted Bird. His Funerall was performed as beséemed so great an estate and faine woulde Palmerin haue had his Father the King Florendos crowned Emperour earnestly labouring the Princes in the cause But he desiring them to holde him excused returned them this answere Great offence were it to God my Friendes that the honour due to him who gaue me libertie defended my renowne and saued my life shoulde bee taken from him and giuen mée for if vertue authoritie and good fortune are the properties whereby to make choyse of an Emperour Palmerin is verie many degrées before me As for his generositie it is so well knowne to you that it were but lost labour to make report thereof For his authoritie the â—arbarous nations among whome hée hath liued and conqueringly controlled deliuer sufficient testimonie And for his high good fortune in all his enterprises where is the man that may bee equalled with him or what hath hée at anie time attempted but he hath finished the same with wonderfull honour I could name Kings and Princes that raign onely by his meanes To speake of the victories he hath obtained either in battell or single Combate your eyes haue beheld and the whole worlde apparantly witnesseth This dare I boldly say and some of you doo know it better then I that his onely name will be more feared in Greece then all your fore-passed Emperours haue bene by their greatest puissance So well did the people like what the King Florendos had sayd as immediately was the Prince Palmerin proclaimed Emperour of Constantinople and the same day he was crowned according to the accustomed rites and ceremonies Not long afterward did the King Florendos stay with his Sonne but returned with his Quéene to Macedon where hée goueâ—ned in loue and iustice among his Subiects daily sending Messengers to Constantinople as well to vnderstand the health of the Emperour and Empresse as also of yong Prymaleon who daily increased in strength and beautie Chap. LXIII How the Prince Olorico and Alchidiana thinking to trauaile to Constantinople to see the Emperour Palmerin and the Empresse Polinarda strayed on the Sea And what sorrowful mone she made and how she was found by Palmerin IN one of the Chapters before you
great Turke the Calâ—â—â—â— of Siconia and the heyres to the Prince Amarano of Nigrea not much inferiour in this condition is the Soldane of Babylon whose daughter with her Husband I héere beholde The victorious Ambimar King of Romata and Griscâ— the worthie Maulerino and the puiâ—â—aunt Soldane of Persia my Maister Husbande to the vertuous Quéene Zephira who with their Brother haue sent your highâ—esse thrée Shippes laden with the most wealthie riches their Countreyes can yéeld My Lord and they humbly kisse your Maiesties hande desiring you to forget his disceurâ—â—sie to the gentle Knight Tâ—yneus when hee became â—â—amoured on the Princesse Aurecinda But if their loue then sorted to a philosophicall trope or figure it hath sithence prâ—ued effecâ—â—uall in procreation to the no little ioy of my Lorde and Maister The Princesse was deliuered of a goodly Son growing in such exquisite forme and feature as it is expected hée will one day resemble his Father in châ—ualrie as he dooth alreadie his Mother in amiable perfection Ambassadour quoth the Emperour for the great vertue and nobilitie I haue founde as well in the Princesse Zephira as also her noble Brother I graunt the fréendly allâ—ance thou demaundest Yet heereof am I sorie that the Son to the Prince Tryneus should be nourished and spend his youth among Maâ—umetists without knowledge of hiâ— God and Redéemer for in such sort should hée be instructed after he is come to the yéeres of vnderstanding that all the Alchoran is tales anâ— fables and doubtlesse God will so deale with him in time as hée shall imitate the steppes of his noble Father As for the presents sent Vs by the King Maulerino the Solâ—aâ—e and his Queen Zephira we accept them as from our Fréenâ—s and will returne them some remembraunce of our thankfulnesse His Maiestie commaunded the Persians to bée lodged in his Pallace and continued still their former ioyes and tryumphs but to alter those Courtly pastimes and delights this misfortune happened which héereafter followeth Chap. LXV Howe the great Turke refused to assist Lycado Nephewe to the Admiral Olimaell against the Emperor Palmerin and what trouble happened to Constantinople by the Traitor Nardides Nephew to the King Tarisius Lycado Meuadeno and their father SUch was the humanitie and pittie of Palmerin when hee finished the enchantments at the Isle of Malfada as he gaue libertie to all the Turks and Christians which were before transformed as you haue heard among whom was Lycado Nephew to the Admirall Olimaell hée that at the taking of Agriola had the Prince Tryneus for his prisoner This Lycado séeing himselfe in his owne Countrey and out of daunger where he heard howe the great Turke was slaine and his Uncle likewise hée came before the Sultane that then raigned saying Worthy lord as men are naturallie inclined to bemone their losses so are Subiects bound to aduertise their Soueraignes of any shame or iniurie done to their Maiesties This speak I my Lord because you haue not as yet reuenged the death of your deceassed Brother now sléeping in the Armes of Mahomet albéeit traytâ—rouslie slaine by Palmerin and his Companions at which time my noble Uâ—cle was likewise murthered with many Knights of cheefe and especiall account And least you should be ignoraunt in the truth of the déede and who also â—arryed hence the Princesse Agriola I haue credibly vnderstood that Palmerin is Nephew to the Emperour of Greece one of his companions is the Emperours Sonne of Allemaigne and all the rest were Princes and Lords of Greece onely sent as spyes into Turkie Wherefore séeing you now holde the state in such peace and quietnes it were necessarie you should leauie a mightie Armie and please you to commit the charge thereof to mée I will loose my life or make an absolute destruction of all Greece I remember said the great Turke that your Unckle made like entraunce into my decâ—ased Brothers Courte as you by your spéeches now labour to doo but I will so warilie looke to such intrusions as no Traytors shall rest héere if I can hinder theÌ„ Your Unckle vexed the Christians what followed thereon the death of his maister and a daungerous confusion By you likewise may â—nsue as bad fortune departe you therefore from the Court and but that we are loth to bee noted with tyrannie thou shouldest presently be drâ—wne in péeces with Horses False Traytour thou that commest to counsaile vs in a matter wherein we cannot meddle but with great dishonour it behâ—ues thée first to regard the end of thy intent and what he is that gouerns in Greece Go villaine go and on perill of thy life neuer presume before our presence againe Lycado was greatly astonied at this sharpe answere and séeing he could haue no better successe hee went to his Father the Brother to Olimaell béeing one of the chéefest Magitians in all Turkie to him he made his complaints saying he would die in that resolution but he would cause the Turke to knowe that hee was no Traytour and this quoth he shall be the meane whereby I will compasse it I meane to disguise my selfe and trauaille to the Cittie of Constantinople where priuily I wil murder the Emperor Palmerin so 〈◊〉 my Lorde the great Turke tâ—uch mée with no further suspition but will reward me with greater benefits then euer my Unckle had My Sonne answered his Father thinkest thou that thy deuise will sort to effect thy Brother Menadeno would helpe thée héerein but hée is too yong yet when time serueth for thy departure I will not onely tell thée but conduct thee my selfe I beséech you good father saide Lycado further me in what you may for neuer will my hart be at rest till I haue paid Palmerin with the selfe same coyne the great Turke was In meane while do you studie and search all our Bookâ—s of 〈◊〉 Diuination Magique and Nigromancâ—e as Zabulus Orpheus Hermes Zoroastres Ciroes Medea Alphonsus Bacon Aponius and all the rest that write of the blacke speculatiue reade them againe and againe deuiâ—e such spâ—lles exorcismes and coniurations as the very â—pirits may speaâ—e of the feast I will make at the Cittâ—e of Constantinole Héereupon the olde man made his Sonne Menadeno Knight and with Lycado betooke themselues to Sea saying My Sonnes I will bring ye to Constantinople where by vertue of mine arte we will arriue before thrée dayes be expired remember your vnckles death and behaue your selues in such sort as you may be Registred for euer The time doth nowe fauour you with sufficient reuenge and therein shall you be assisted by a Christian Knight whome we shall finde readie landed there for the same cause Their Ankers being wâ—yed they launch into the déepe and cut through the waues with such violence as if the deuill himselfe were in their sailes so that they tooke landing at the selfe same houre as Nardides arriued at Constantinople As concerning what this Nardides was you remember the two Traytors Promptaleon and Oudin Nephewes