THE FIRST BOOKE OF PRIMALEON of Greece Describing the knightly deeds of Armes as also the memorable aduentures of Prince Edward of England And continuing the former Historie of Palmendos brother to the fortunate Prince Primaleon LONDON Printed for Cuthbert Burby and are to be solde at his shop by the Roiall Exchange 1595. The first Booke of Primaleon of Greece Describing his Knightly deedes of Armes as also the memorable aduentures of Prince Edward of England And continuing the former History of Palmendos Brother to the fortunate Prince Primaleon c. CHAP. I. How the Ambassadours of Fraunce came to Constantinople where they were Honourablie receaued by the Emperour who hauing heard the effect of their Ambassage and conserred theron with the Prince Arnedes affianced him immediatlie to his Daughter Philocrista by whose hand the Ambassadours presented the Letters of credence from the King their Maister IN the Historie of Palmendos after which this Booke of Primaleon followeth you haue hearde of the Loue betweene the Prince Arnedes 〈…〉 Philocrista Daughter 〈…〉 Emperour Palmerin and 〈◊〉 a Courtier was sent to aduertise the â—ing his Father thereof That hee might â—nâ—ay the like good fortune â—s Palmendos had done with his mistresse Francelina and thereby confirme a generall reioysing The messenger béeing carefull to dispatch this businesse made such haste in his iourney as in short time be arriued at the famous Cittie of Paris where the King vnderstanding the will of his Sonne quicklie resolued to conclude these assures Electing as chiefe in this Ambassage the Duke of Orleaunce a verie wise prudent Lord commanding also that the Marquesse of Oliuet the Countie Peter one of the bost knightes in his Court should be are him companie with manie other Barrons so sumptuouslie accoustred as euidentli declared how far the French excéeded al other Nations in magnificence and good partes whereof at this time wee haue no leysure to speake The King hauing giuen them his Letters of credence and instructions concerning the summe of their charge he deliuered them sundry precious gifts which he sent to Philochrista and the Prince Arnedes But before their departure there came a Knight to the Court from the King of Castile to aduertise Recinde howe his Brother béeing deceased without issue all the people verse much reioyced that the Scepter of the Kingdome should fall to a Prince so valiant When the King of Fraunce heard these newes by the gentleman of Spaine named Pinedo be made answere how Recinde was gone with his Son Arnedes to Constantinople where as hee heard by credible intelligence hee daylie wonne great honour and renowne Hereupon Pinedo determined to passe into Greece with the Ambassadors and comming to Tolloain Prouence they embarqued them selues on the Mediteranean Sea where sayling with winde at will it was not long before they arriued at Constantinople euen at such time as Arnedes was in his wonted passions of loue No sooner were they entred the Porte and bad cast Anker but the Duke of Orleaunce commaunded a generall iouysance in applauding heauen for their happie nanigation whereof the Emperour béeing aduertised he sent to know the cause of this reioysing When he heard the arriuall of the French Ambassadors he was right glad thereof hoping Arnedes woulde now recouer health by some good tidinges and therefore sent spéedily to acquainte him therewith intreating him to bee of good courage séeing the Lordes of his Countrie were come so happilie It were needlesse to demaund if Arnedes were wel pleased with these tydinges considering the present cure hee found in one moment hée reby which shewed that herein consisted the onelie medicine for his malladie this made him leaue his bed and goe with Primaleon to the Emperour who séeing him come so 〈…〉 was not a little glad of his good recouerie and said Me thinks Sir Arnedes that the arriuall of these French Gentlemen hath reuiued and verie well strengthened you Well haue you saide my Lorde answered Arnedes because it is the onlie meanes of my restoring Philocrista who knew full well the depth of his amorous desiers reioyced maruellouslie at this fortunate occurrence so that by outward view of her countenance might easilie bee discerned the inward content of her bart and whence procéeded this alteration wherein by silence shee bewrayed to the French Prince what boldlie she durst not vtter in spéech and whereof he néeded no interpreter but with like signes returned thankfull requitall minding to goe presentlie to the Porte to sée by whome the King his Father had sent this long expected message The Emperour commaunded manie of his Barrons with him for more Honourable accompanying the Ambassadors to the Pallace and in signe of greater fauour Primaleon himselfe went with Arnedes who sent his divarse before to let them vnderstand his comming to the Porte Whereupon the Duke of Orleaunce with his company immediatly laÌ„ded where first beholding their yong Prince they ran hare-headed to kisse his hand when he haning seuerallie embrased the thus spake to the Duke of Orleaunce My noble Cosen how many pleasures hath your art shall héere inriched me withall in sooth farre more than you can easlie thinke on But tell mee I pray yée ere we passe any further how sares the King my Noble Lorde and Father So well as your heart can desire my Lord answered the Duke and as one wounderfull longing spéedilie to sée you wherefore his will is that making so little stay héere as possible you can you vse some hast in returning to your Countrie of Fraunce Herein shall I most gladlie obey him replyed Arnedes ere many dayes after this hée expired in meane space giue honour to Primaleon here the Emperours Sonne who hath vouchsafed to come in person to welcome yée Primaleon maruelled that these French Lords and Knights so humbled themselues to Arnedes which made him imagine that he was Sonne to their King in regard whereof vsing the greater kindnes to the Duke of Orleaunce and the other Ambassadours he desired theÌ„ to resolue him concerning the estate of Arnedes who hitherto had not disclosed himselfe to anie one My Lord said the Duke this yong Prince is out Soueraignes Sonne who in respect of his earnest desire to be seruice to the Emperour your Father thought it méetest for him to come vnknowne to this Court and héere to remayne so concealed till hee should perceiue his priuate deseignes fall out to his owne contentment Concerning which the present message committed to our trust by the King his Father I hope will sort to good and successefull end with the help of him whome I pray so spéed vs as herein our enterprise may not be disappointed In good faith said Primaleon turning himselfe to the French Prince I haue very great reason to complaine of you Arnedes that you would thus long hide yourself from me for although you resolued in comming hither that no one should know ye yet you might haue exempted me from that vniuersall number considering the
thou hast taken to come so farre to this place Verie glad was the Giant 〈◊〉 séeing Primaleon readie to enter the Barriers with him Into which the Emperor commaunded the Duke of Pera the Earle of Redon to conduct him and to assure him from all men except from his enemie in the meane time there remayned not almost any person within the Cittie which came not thither to beholde this Battaile euery man deuoutly praying him in whose handes are all victories to shew fauour to their Prince for whome they should bée in great dispaire were it not for the confidence they haue that hee will neuer forsake him in this necessitie as in him who neuer abandoneth nor reiecteth those who Arming themselues with true saith doe build their rain part on his refuge The Giant then after hee had laced and buckled the strings of his headpéece tooke a strong launce in his hand and seeing hys enemie come Armed conceaued so great pleasure that flourishing his Launce he thus began This staffe imbrâ—ed to day in the bloud of my aduersarie shall take vengeaunce on that 〈◊〉 who hath with his pearced the bosome of mine auncestors â—old thy tongue for shame great animall quoth Primaleon holde thy tongue and cease to vaunt thy presumptâ—ous 〈◊〉 till thou seest thy selfe banquisher for their is the houre to bragge and not before Then the Iudges séeing these two Combatants in good will euerie one to do his best for him selfe they departed the Barriers and presently the signe of the assault beeing sounded by the Trumpets the Knightes encountred with such furie that they 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 For the height of Lurcon constrayning him to carrie his Launce lower against Primaleon than if he had béene of his â—oulenes so that he could attaint him but on the â—ippe where peareing his Armour he scracht his skâ—â—e a little But the Constantino Politane who came full vpon him with a right carriere with his Launce 〈◊〉 him cleane through the cuirace into the 〈◊〉 so they dasht their shâ—elds and rusht their bodies together in such sorte that they both smoked at it In this â—â—counter the Giants Horse had such a shouldering that hee could goe afterwardes but vpon thrée legges by meaneâ— whereof feeling the heauie burden which hee had vppon his backe he kept such a capering rearing and flinging that hee laid his loutish Master vppon the bare ground who in falling did so entangle one of his feete in his stirroppe that his horse tâ—aâ—ld him a long time from place to place Which Primaleon seeing ranne vppon him with his naked sword in his hand and before he could get up againe he gaue him so sound a blow vppon his legge that he cut the bone almost quite a two whereat he cast out so horrible a noyse that hee â—erristed all the assistants but not him who he 〈◊〉 him with the Cemitorie which the Knight of the Closed-Ile had sent him which hee so be laboured then with all his might vppon hys Helmet that cutting a two the stringes that hee shewed quicklie his bare head Whereuppon Lurcon entred into so intollerable a phrenzie that béeing vnable to defende himselfe from the fell blowes of his aduersarie hee purposed to gripe him by the bodye thinking to dispatch him that waye But for all that Primaleon kept himselfe at the point of hys sworde and with a backe stroke vppon the Mazzard felde him as dead as a Dogge to the ground saying It is now that thou mayest exeâ—te thy Trophies to Pallaâ— and Mars for the victories they haue sent thee and not before thou haste Combatted as not long since thou didst vaunte to doe It were verie difficult to recount the ioy and gladnesse that euerie one conceauâ—d seeing the happie successe of this spectacle The which to the ende to make it publikely knowne abroade the Iudges and Martials of the fielde perceauing the Giant to haue breathed his last did accompany Primaleon with victorious acclamations vnto the pallace where they presented him to the Emperor who receaued him with great ioy Then came forth the Empresse and her Daughters to entertaine him as if he had béene newly arriued from some forâ—en Countrie praysing and blessing God for so signall a 〈…〉 torie the which beganne to bring some comforte and reioycing to the Court which was before all in 〈◊〉 verie sad and mournefull for the death of King Florendos his Quéene Griana Father and Mother to the Emperour Afterwards there arriued manie Knights to Combat Primaleon vppon the same quarrell but it cost them all deare as béeing those who defended a wrong quarrell the Prince behauing himselfe euerie day more valiantly than other wherof the Greekes reputed themselues most happie men to haue after the Emperour so sage valiant a Prince for their Seigneur wherefore from diuers Countries were presented him manie good offers to marrie a wife the which he would accept of in no wise for the little desire hee had to marrie so young But let vs discourse a little of the great perrils and traualles that another Knight made him endure who came to Constantinople to defie him vppon the same pretended treason of the Polonians death as you shall in the next Chapter heare more at large CHAP. XVIII Howe Prince Edward the eldest Sonne to the King of England was inamoured of faire 〈◊〉 seeing her picture against a wall and hovve hee was afterward conducted by a strange aduenture into a Monasterie of Nunnes and what befell him there in the meane time he was within the Nunnerie KIng Fredericke of England brother to Agriâ—la Empresse of Almaine had by his wife manie Male Children the eldest whereof called Prince Edward was no lesse accomplished excellent in the exercise of Armes than verie well 〈◊〉 in most ciuill and good manners and in all other laudable vertuous and honest thinges So that hauing receaued the order of Knighthood he held daylse Ioustinges Tournyes to exercise and make himselfe skilfull in militarie profession And for asmuch as hee delighted also in hunting one of the brauest Knights called Robert sent him a faire dog which he recouered of a woman who was a great Magâ—rian as you shall vnderstand hereafter This Knight Robert being in the prime of his youth had a great desire to see the aduentures of the world by meanes whereof embarking himselfe among other Marchants who went to trafficke and to fall Armes in Turkie beeing tossed by tempest and foule weather on Sea come to an anker in the Iland of Malfada where they were all enchaunted except him onely who pleased much the Ladie of the Ile Whereuppon â—â— fortuned that hee liued there in verie great pleasure about the space of two yeares at the ende where of calling to minde vppon a time his owne countrie he fetcht a great â—igh from his breast so that this Fayrie who neuer was far from him desired to know the cause of that sigh vnto whome hee reuealed the whole matter In good faith faire sir
vnto them the whole discourse of their History after that they had all supped most daintely The morrow morning Prince Edward rose at the point of day-breake and departed alone with the Damosell leauing the two brethren among the Nunnes in the Conuent where the Abbesse made them good cheare for his sake and kept very carefully the sword which he gaue her whereuppon it fortuned afterward that he being King he augmented much the reuenues of this Nunnerie remembring the promise which hee had made to the Abbesse and to all the religious Nunnes her sisters CHAP. XX. How Prince Edward was brought by the Damosell into the house of the Duke of Borsa where her sister thought to enchaunt him to make him marry a Niece of hers beeing Daughter to the Duke who was inamoured of him onely by the great fame which was bruted of his valour and what ensued there upon THis Damsell who guided the English Prince wayted in the house of the Duke of Borsa Nephewe to her for whom her father enchaunted the two brethren within the Sepulcher the which was afterward married with the Earle of Brabant vnto whom he had promised her as ye haue read before But this Duke had onely one sonne and one Daughter which was his eldest excelling farre in beauty all others of that country for which cause hir father loued her a great deals the dearer so that more carefully to haue her nuctured in all feminine ciuility hee caused her to bee brought vp in the house of a sister of his being a widdow a most prudent Lady beeing well aduized and verye well seene in the Arte of Magicke and secret Philosophie a Profession very peculiar to the most part of their familie This Dukes Daughter called Rene hearing the famous report of the generous valour of Prince Coward so publikely talked of in the mouth of all men tell so farre in loue with him without euer séeing him that she became wonderfull pensiue and melancholly and by reason of the continuall teares and complaints which without ceasing shée powred out to the winde when she could secretly retire her selfe into her Chamber apart to ease the passion of her minde a little shee so defaced her beauty in fewe dayes that the Duke her father was aware thereof Whereupon seeing her sometimes to fetch déepe sighes déerely requested his sister for he loued his Daughter entirely to sound by some subtle meanes from whence this her melancholly sadnes might proceede Whereunto the good Lady made reply how she had not as yet perceiued any such matter notwithstanding shée woulde worke so wisely that shée woulde learne the truth And from thence going strait to her Néeces Chamber shée found her continuing her daily complaints So that sitting downe by her she began to pray and to coniure her that shee would no longer conceale from her the cause of her griefe then the young Damsell with a bashfull and blushing countenance answered to her with these words Madame I knowe not what to answere you in this case but that I am the most wicked and most disastred Damosell that was euer borne vnder the celestiall Spheares séeing that I haue imprinted in my heart a thing which redoundeth more to my totall ruine than to the least lote of any contentment whose â—sâ—ue shall be my spéedy death which shall bring an ende to my detestable and too too languishing life Then shée proceeded to tell how she loued with a most vehement and excessiue flame Prince Edward of England who would be the onely cause that shee shoulde speedily sée her selfe dissolued to dust and ashes forasmuch it séemed altogether impossible euer to haue any fruition of her desire because the Prince and she were not of equall estates The Aunt who sawe her in such a pittifull taking would not prolong her furthee torment but presently began thus vnto her Deere Neere I pray you gouern your selfe with some constancie of minde in this passion and in the meane time blotte out of your minde this impossibilitie which you alledge for the principal point of your anguish for I promise you so to imploye my Art that the Knight who will loue ere long more than anie liuing creature shall arriue in this place to espouse you So great and vnspeakable was the ioy of Rene that taking her Aunt about the necke shee embraced and kissed her manie times saying O my swéete Aunt if you procure me now this blisse and felicitie inferiour to none in this world you may well vaunt and say you haue deliuered a sorrowfull and desolate Niece of yours out of the most inâ—â—icate Laborinth which euer was deuised in this earth yea if it were that which Dedalus inuented so artificially in Crete to include the infatiable Minâ—taure My louing Niece take you no care replied the Lady but haue a little patience that all things may be done in these due time With that shee departed from the Chamber to conferre this busines with the Duke her brother with out whose priuy consent she would in no wise begin to set this worke abroach and discoursing to him at large the whole matter told him what hope shee had to carrie this businesse to circumspectly that ere long Prince Edward shuld wed his danghter so that after their conclusion she went to turne ouer hir bookes of Negromancie where she found that the Knight was sure in loue already of Gridonia Notwithstanding hoping to crosse and reuoke his affection by her Magicke shée dispatcht away immediatly the Damosell of whome you haue vnderstood before to bring him vnto Borsa True it is shée commanded her not to leade him vnto the aduenture of the Cloyster but thether she conducted him her selfe because of a sister of hers who was a Nunne in that place from whence departing together as ye haue read before in the former Chapter in two dayes he arriued at the Citty of Borsa But before the Knight did enter into the Citty the Damosell prayed him to stay for her a while in a Hermitage neere the Suburbes till shée returned from dooing a message to her Mistrisse who was very willing so to doo And abiding with the Hermit shée went to the Infant Rene who right glad of his â—â—rsual trickt vp her selfe most richly to entertaine her Louer sending backe with spéede the messenger to conduct him secretely into her Chamber Shée being quickly arriued at the Hermitage sayth thus to the Knight Syr you must leaue your horse here and come on foote with mée who will bring you into a place whether you shall finde your selfe a glad man to bée arriued I pray God quoth the Prince then that I be not deceiued nor circumâ—uented by you in any thing Alas That God whom you haue innocated forbid that I should euer seeke to entrap my Liege and soueraigne in any Ambush I pray you onely come with mee assuredly and without any feare of ill encounter vpon condition if it shuld fall out otherwise by my meane I will bee reputed the most
the death of a knight whom he felloniously slew in his tourney Iesus Christ quoth the Emperour then being some what affended and when will this demand haue an end I tell ye knight that both you and all those who shall come to take this reuenge seeme vnto me rashly aduised since the truth of the act is so manifest and notorious But the Prince who saws him speake thus in choller maruelled at the manner of his answere for that he reputed him a little more modest and discreet than he seemed to be at that time so that being not able to containe within his heart the burning â—eale which prouoked him so farre he was forced to replie vpon his former purpose thus Sir I did not thinke to receiue so rigorous an answere from so benigue and curteous a prince as ye are neuertheles to vse no superfluitie of speech ye shall knowe from me that if Peregrim of Dugas haue not bin yet auenged tho small courage and cowardise of those who came hether for that purpose hath bin the cause thereof as I hopâ—â—rs long to shewâ— you plainly if ye will grant me the combat against your see I wil sée quoth the Emperor what you can doo more than others who haue entered the field vpon this quarrell whom I estéeme of more or at least of as great valour and as expert knightes as your selfe At that word prince Edward thought great scorne would talke no longer with him but being become saturnine and dreaming built castles in the aire when Primaleon Torques who lead betweene them faire Flerida by the hands ariued at the place where this protestation was made and comming in the same maner all three néerer vnto the knight Primaleon who knew what the matter was before sainteth him thus My frind I am Primaleon wold ye anie thing with me â— Nought but vengeance replyed the Englishman for the death of Perregrim of Ducas whom ye slew cowardly and not as an honourable and loyall knight It sufficeth quoth the Constantinopolitan hereupon ye shall haue the combat with me which shall not be deferred anie longer than till I come from arming my selfe For God forbid that such staines and reproaches imputed to mine honour should euer for me be deferred or remitted vnto farther dispute and longer processe of time to decide them Oh my God gan the infant Flerida what vnreasonable destances are these I neuer heard of anie demand more impudent and more inconsideratly propounded than this since that so often the truth ther of hath bene tryed as euerie one can tell and I cannot imagine what other guerdon those knights pretend to haue who come to reuenge this death vpon my brother but onely to and my daies without anie shew of other honest reason These spéeches vttered she with so great a stomacke that the verie griefe which her heart apprehended caused the faire superficies of her angelicall face to shew so perfectly that there is no man liuing but would haue remayned marueliously a bashed to beheld her so naturall and accomplished beautie She enoing her exclamation turned towards prince Edward her wit in eyes â—â—dewed with teares which distilled from her braine thorough the vehemencie of the anguish which she felt in her brest séeing her brother whom she loued as her owne soul so chafed and so peruerse against her to performe the battell The gracious and pittifull regard of these two glistering starres wounded in a moment the heard of the knight in such strange manner that loosing almost all sense hee clean forgot Gridonia also and the passion of this his grâ—â—ne and newe wound was so vehement that hee found no phisition nor surgion who could vnderstand the method of his cure except the verie same from whome his wound was inflicted Alasse what might hee then doo Surely willingly would bee haue desisted with his honour from this battell onely to haue done some acceptable seruice to the Princesse Flerida whereby to haue gotten some accesse to be neere her But what Primaleon his a aduersarie departed to goe arme himselfe and the infant more than his mortall enemie for without dying all her forces failed her and her verie fine weâ— dyd shrinke for â—â—ard she retired herselfe incontinent with the Empresse into hâ—r sent Alasse the poore desolate louer remayned as it were rauished and in a trance thinking on the dreame he had within the caue of Osmaguin and on the words which Olymba tolde him lykewise he called to mind the two figures pictured vpon his shield and of that which the Duke of Borsaes sister and the ye sent in the wood had forewarned him of All these thinges comming into his imagination made him so perplexed and irresolute as he could not tell what to doo it séeming vnto him that for some one of these thinges whereof he was so many times sorewarned began to be true in déede And on the other side considering the high valour of Flerida and 〈◊〉 whence shee descended hee sawe many reasons which did inuite him to loâ—â— her about Gridonia whom he had not as yet euer séene nor promised any other thing but onely by his Letter to combat Primaleon to doe her seruice so that hee sayde within himselfe O God of Gods how great and admirable are all thy iudgementes Who is able to ouerthrowe the things which are by thée established Surely no liuing creature Then if I may acchieue the fruition of mine vnhoped for desire which hath now assayled my soule I shall haue none ocsion to complaine of Fortune Wherein to make my first aâ—saie eyther I will suffer my selfe to be vanquished in this combat or else I will imploy all the forces which God and nature haue lent me to ouerthrow Primaleons and it behoueth me to do my best least I appears to be of small valor in presence of so faire a Ladie for if it be in my power to kill her brother and I for her loue saue his life shall I not therby purchase her grace amity Meane while the knight of the Dog had these imaginations it his head Primaleon who had taken post to go arme himselfe in Constantinople returned mounted vpon a puisant courser whoÌ„ the Emperour mitigating his sodaine indignation against the knight began to view him better and iudging by his very looke some excellent thing in him coÌ„mended him highly in his opinion Bellagor likewise who accompanied him thether then cesting his â—is toward Claudius and his saire Dog Maiortes maruelled much more what hee was so that Primaleon beeing ariued the Emperour his father vsed this speech vnto him Sonne take ye heed ye behaue your selfe valiantly in this battell for your enemie seemeth to be both magnanimious and generous My gracious Lord Father replied Primaleon it shall stand him then in good stead seeing he commeth to sustaine a quarrell so vniust repugnant to all reason Then the Emperour who saw them both in a readynes to do their deuoires commanded the Earle of Rhedon
quoth Malfada then séeing you finde it not best to dwell any longer with me I am of aduise that you depart assoone as it shall please you to the end to take your â—ourney where you may find better entertainment than here And for that I haue loued you extreamely I will present â—ou a shippe verie well rigged with all that is néedfull for your commodious nauigation vnto your own Countrie Ten thousand thankes I giue you Madame replyed Robert for the good will you beare me and albeit I do not merâ—ie the least part of this fauour yet will I not cease to remayne your perpetuall bounden and a great deale the more if you refuse not to giue mee this Dog which I woulde craâ—â— at your handes Surely I should bee verse ingrately and little curteous quoth the Fayrie if I should denie you so small a thing albeit that heretofore this beast hath beene a Giant Lorde of the Ile of Escania who that I may in thrée words count you his History desiring at eighteene yeares of age when he receaued his Knighthood to doo some seates of Armes in the world embarqued him selfe néere his owne house for the same purpose And such was his fortune that a great storme which rose vpon the Sea cast him a shore in this Iland where presently hee found himselfe inchaunted vnder the forme of this Beast that you sée which I giue you also fréely as a thing wherewith you may helpe your selfe at you néede and shall be peraduenture sometime occasion for you to call to minde the remembrance of mée which I recommende vnto you as much as you haue knowne the singular and perfect loue I too heare you After many accustomed embracinges Robert tooke his leaue of Malfada thanking her againe for his Dogge to whom for that the Giant of whom hee had once the forme was called Maiortes and for that he was also the greatest of all that Iland he gaue the same name of Maiortes and afterwardes setting sayle towardes England passed by hard passages where his Dogge stood him in good stoode But in the meane season whilest Prince Edward was so highly estéemed in his fathers Kingdome the Knight Robert fell sicke who knowing the ende of his dayes were at hand purposed to make him inheritour of his Dogge as the person of all the English Nation whom he knewe worthy of such a present and sent the Dogge to him by a Squier of his beseeching him to take him alwaies with him in company and that he would not neglect him in that hee shoulde make great account of him one day when he knew his quallities better The young Prince was woonderfull glad of this Dogge when making as much of him as might be hée shewed him selfe so louing and gentle as if hee had brought him vp from a little whelpe therefore he sent in recompence of this Dogge great riches to the Knight Robert who in the meane season passed out of this world into the other Euer the Prince would haue Maiortes at his side whome he loued as a humane creature But facre more he estéemed him knowing the wondrous thinges hee did in hunting to which sport he lead him forth almost euery day During which idle and pleasant life it befortuned him vppon a day to see a thing which caused him afterward to haue iâ—â—umerable trauels For that the Knight his Father delighting much to build as well Castels as other pleasant and delightfull houses for aboue all his most sumptuous buildings hee caused to be builded with all magnificency one sumptuous Pallace whither he was woont to goe to take his disport with the Quéene his wife It fortuned that amongst many maister workemen who did worke in this new building there was a Painter of Ormeda who by chaunce was present at the Fountaine when Gridonia was met there by the Lyon who to the ende hée might at his ease fully behold the fauour of the Princesse hée followed her into the Castell with others that were there for those of that profession are very desirous to sée the Idea of so perfect beauty with whose lineament and perfect feature they may helpe themselues in their portraitures And for that hee founde not any store of worke to employ himselfe in the City of Ormeda he resolued to goe séeke in other Countries So that being arriued in England after hée had gotten acquaintance to bee knowne hee tooke charge to paint this goodly Pallace which the King caused to bee built néere his chiefe Citty Wherein among many excellent things which hee inuented there by his Art and skill hauing as yet fresh in his memory the beanties of Gridonia hée pourirayed her so naturall that shée séemed a liuing creature séeming euer to them which behelde her that shée woulde open her mouth to speake vnto them and there hee set her in a place as it were in a prison seiâ—â—ate vpon a Rocke and a Lyon couched vppon the sky it of her Coate holding his heade betwéene this Ladies handes who did gently stroake his heade and all the rest of hys body Prince Edward who went much abroade to hunt 〈◊〉 oftentimes so make his mâ—â—ing in this place where beholding vpon a time the worke of this Painter sawe there amongst other thinges Gridonia paynted as you haue heard And woondring in himselfe at so admirable beauty especially to sée a Lyckrepayre so peaceably néere a woman coulde not cheese but â—all for the Paynter vnto him saying I pray thée interprete vnto me a little the meaning of this picture and how a Lyon may be made so tame that one may sée him couched so still 〈◊〉 a Damosell for that it so mâ—th to me to be a thing fit rather for little Dogges than for such sauage animals which are cruell and indâ—mptable by nature You say very true quoth the Paynter but knowe yée my Lorde that in the world are many strange thinges a among the which I sweare vnto you by him that giueth vs life to haue séene with mine owne proper eyes the true Modell of this my poore among liuing creatures Thou he began to make discourse vnto him of the Estates and perfections of this Princesse Whereat the Knight remayned much amazed and troubled uâ—minde but answered him thus It is a very rare example that a beast without reason as this especially hath so much foresight as to knowe the valour and bounty of a Lady so well accomplished and that shée presumeth in her selfe to recouer the heade of Primaleon for the earnest of her marriage The Painter affirmed to him againe it was as true as hée had in euery word recounted to him Whereupon Prince Edward began to beholde a little better than he did before his busines and because he reputed him one of the best Artists that as yet hee had euer seene to handle Pensill hee researched with such dilligence and remarked so exactly many times the lineature and grace of Gridoniaâ—s countenance disputing in himselfe whether shée might bee so faire a