and brought him into so weake estate as the learned Phisitions coulde not deliuer the cause of his sicknes to the no small gréefe of the Emperour but especiallie of Caniano yet for all this woulde not the Empresse at anie time visite him because shee woulde hinder the occasion of her Daughters séeing him remembring what spéeches had past betwéene him and the Emperour And albeit Griana made no outward shewe thereof yet in her harte shee was greatlie displeased at her Mothers dealings so that one day when her Brother Caniano came to sée her to recount vnto her in what extreamitie he had left his fréendlie coÌ„panion and what gréefe it would be to him if he died as he greatlie doubted What my Lord quoth she it is not so I hope Yes certainlie quoth he and I feare he will very hardlie escape this day At which wordes the water stoode in her eyes yet so well as she coulde shee dissembled her passions neuerthelesse she could not holde it in but said I meruayle much that the Empresse my Mother makes so slender account of him as since his sicknes shee woulde not vouchsafe once to visite him I feare she hath forgotten what good hée 〈◊〉 for vs that day when he valiantly slew the Turke Gamezio Beléeue me my good Lord and Brother I am harâ—â—lie sorrâ—e for his sicknes for if he die as heauen forbidde quoth shee secretlie the Emperour my Father shall loose more then hée thinketh on the great seruice hee hath doone for him already may giue instaunce of my words and more he béeing the Sonne of so great a Prince as he is By this time had such extreame gréefe ouerburdened her hart as she was constrained feigning to goe to the Empresse ChaÌ„ber to leaue her Brother that she might alone by her selfe bemoane her fréends hard fortune CHAP. V. Howe Griana sent a Ring to the Prince Florendos by Cardina her Mayde desiring him as he loued her to comfort himselfe and of the aunswere he sent her SO soone as Griana hadde left her Brother she went into her chaÌ„ber where more and more shee lamented for the sicknes of Florendos and with her teares shee coupled these discourses May it be that anie liuing creature can deserue so gréeuous punishment as I doo that endaunger the life of the woorthiest Knight in the worlde Unhappy that I am that loue yea the loue he beares to mee should bring so braue a Gentleman to so hard an exigent but if he die such iust vengeaunce will I take vpon my selfe as I wyl not remaine one howre aliue after him and let our ghostes seeke their owne quiet in death that Fortune would not affoorde vs in life Yet will I thus farre first aduenture and that before any sléepe enter these eies of mine try if it consist in my power to ease his extreamitie that buyes my loue at too déere a price And in this anguish of minde she called one of her Damoselles the Daughter of her Nurse named Cardina whom aboue the rest she trusted most and to her she began in manner following Cardina thou knowest the loue I alwaies bare thy Mother and for her sake howe well I haue thought of thée I haue knowne thée long time a true and faithfull Seruaunt but nowe Cardina is a time beyonde all other to make tryall of thy truth and to witnesse thy loyaltie to me onelie as thou art sure so to bee secrete and so secrete as I must put my life and honour into thy secrecie Cardina who was wise and of good gouernement hearing Griana vse such earnest spéeches imagined that she would commit no commoÌ„ matter to her trust with such coniuration whereuppon she modestlie returned thys aunswere Madame rather had I be torne péecemeale in sunder then anie thing you commaunde for secrete shoulde by me be reuealed without your licence and so assure your selfe that while I liue you shall finde mee as faithfull in déede as I promise in worde I neuer hitherto quoth the Princesse had other opinion of thée listen nowe therefore what I shall commaunde thée I haue vnderstoode for certaine Cardina that the gréeuous sicknes of the Prince Florendos is caused by verie earnest loue which hee beares to me for I account it great pittie to loose so good a Knight doo so much as take the paines to goe to him from me and saie I desire him to bee of good chéere and if there bee any thing in my power may doo him good I will gladlie accomplish it as she that loues him as her own selfe and to assure him thereof saie I sende him this Ring which I wyll him to kéepe as a pledge of my loue Madame answered Cardina Fortune spéede me so well as my paines may giue ease to both your passions and might my sentence like you Madame I knowe no Knight so worthy your loue as Florendos Goe then sayd Griana and returne againe so soone as thou canst So went Cardina straite to the lodging of the Prince Florendos at the entraunce whereof shee met the Prince Caniano so heauie and pensiue as might be because he perceiued his Fréend to consume awaie euerie day more and more But Cardina who had well learned her lesson stept aside and would not be séene of Caniano who beeing gone shee went vp to the Chamber where when shee was readie to enter she hearde the Prince coÌ„plaine in this sort Ah poore wretch must thou néedes die without anie hope of remedie And as he would haue procéeded on Cardina stepped to him and after she had saluted him said to him secretelie that the Princesse Griana had sent her to him to vnderstand of his health and beléeue me good Prince quoth she I neuer sawe Ladie so sorrowfull for your sicknes as she is She commendeth her selfe to your honour most hartilie and hath sent you this Ring as an earnest of the looue she beares you desiring you to bee of good chéere and comfort your selfe because she desires to sée you to confer with you of matters that concerne you bothe néerelie These wordes so rauished the spirit of Florendos as a good while he doubted whether he dreamed or that hee might giue credite to what he hearde for albeit he knewe the messenger so well as anie in the Courte yet coulde he not perswade himselfe that hee was so fortunate At length betwéene hope and dispayre he tooke the Ring which he entertained with manie deuoute kysses and embracing Cardina so well as hee coulde thus answered Alas my swéete fréende may it bee possible that my Ladie hath such regard of him who neuer was able to doo her anie seruice Doubt not thereof my Lorde aunswered Cardina and if you will declare your loue answerable to hers in vertue you must giue testimonie thereof by comforting your person that she may sée you so soone as may be Ah fayre Uirgin quoth he let my whole life be imployed in what shall like her diuine nature to coÌ„maunde
no Knight whatsoeuer came into his Court without verie honourable receite and bountifull rewardes expressing the good nature of a vertuous Prince whose déedes were helde of no small reckoning amongst his verie enemies He maried with the King of Hungarias Daughter a Princesse for witte and beautie equall with any of her time which caused her to be so especiallie loued of her Lord the Emperour as hee altogeather gaue ouer y◠exercise of Armes notwithstanding his Court did not diminishe one lote of the former glorie for good and hardle Knights but dailie increased in such sort as he tooke great delight to haue yong Princes Knights and Gentlemen nurtured and educated from their verie infancie in his Pallace especiallie after the Empresse had brought him a Sonne which was named Caniano at whose birth was no little reioycing through the whole Empire Within two yéeres after she was likewise deliuered of a goodlie Daughter named Griana who growing to fourtéene yéeres of age was of such rare beautie and singuler good grace as those that behelde her estéemed her for the chiefest péece of workmanshippe that euer nature framed Héereupon it chaunced that Tarisius Sonne to the King of Hungaria who had béene brought vp in company with the yonge Prince Caniano fell into such amorous conceite of the yong Princesse as hee deuoted him selfe onelie to her seruice béeing vnable to conceale the obiect of his affections but that time made her acquainted with the cause of his alteration Manie meanes he founde to entise her good opinion towards him but she carrying a religious zeale to loue in some other climate made no reckoning of his imporunate and dilligent seruice which drewe a Hell of tormentinge thoughts vppon Tarisius séeing his sute and seruice so déeplie despised Neuerthelesse to compasse his intent he desired his Cozin Caniano to cause a Tryumphe bee published whereunto all Knights might be summoned as well straungers as others not doubting but hee should spéede so well in déedes of Armes as thereby hee might deserue the loue of the faire Griana and so afterwardes make meanes by the Empresse to demaunde her in mariage all which hée concealed from his Cozin Caniano who verie gladlie didde consent to what Tarisius had requested watching oportunitie to finde the Emperour his Father at leysure when he made his highnesse acquainted with the whole enterprise of himselfe and his Cozin Tarisius desiring him that all Knights might haue warning for preparation against a day the next Moneth appointed for the purpose The Emperour was verie well pleased with his Sonnes requeste accounting himselfe highlie honoured by his demaunde whereuppon he caused Heraulds of Armes presentlie to bée dispatched to signifie his intended Tournament through al Countries farre and néere In the meane while Tarisius coulde not rest daie nor night but still endeuoured to doo what he iudged might please the Princesse Griana to whō as yet he had not vttered the effect of his longing desire albeit by exteriour actions he dailie made shewe sufficient of his tormenting passions But it so fell out not long after that one daie in her walking he had sorted her alone from al the other Ladies Gentlewomen in a place commodious for a Louers discourses where falling from one argument to another the furie of his oppressions imboldened him so far that at length he brake with her in manner folowing Madame you are not ignoraunt of the honourable assembly that is appointed at the feaste ensuing when I hope to receiue the order of Knighthoode and if it shall like you to thinke so well of mee as to graunt mee one request easie enough for you to affoorde me perswade your selfe that I shal imagine my fortune equall with the happiest Knights that euer liued in that it may be the onelie meane whereby I shall enioy the prize and honour of the Triumphe Griana knowing assuredlie that Tarisius bare her great affection as I haue before rehearsed returned him this aunswere In sooth Cozin it would please me meruailous well to bee the meane of so good fortune as you promise your selfe Neuerthelesse I haue not learned so little modestie as to grant anie thing before I knowe what is desired When Tarisius vnderstoode her modest excuse he perswaded himself that he should nowe obtaine that of her whereof vntill that instant he had liued in despaire whereuppon the teares standing in his eyes he began in this manner I humblie beséech you good Madame to take in worth what I am to acquaint you with for when I determined to smoother my gréefe in secrete the extremitie of my affection grew to such a surplusage as it brake the stringes of my thoughts almost vowed for euer silent to reueale that to you which my selfe dare but reuerentlie thinke such is my feare to displease you otherwise I knowe no meane canne warrant me from suddaine and cruell death so setled is y◠vnspotted loue I bare you which when I striue to ouercome and my selfe also the more I would decrease it the more it augmenteth and that so strangelie as while you are in presence my spirite forsaketh euerie part of mée to liue in you onelie For which cause I haue determined if you thinke it good to request you of the Emperour your Father for my Wife and if he regarde me with so much honour the Realme of Hungaria may well challenge and my selfe likewise the highest roome in earthlie felicitie hauing a Mistresse of such vnspeakable qualitie In the meane time if you please to bestowe on me anie Iewell or fauoure commaunding mee to weare it as your Knight and Seruaunt you shall wel perceiue how aduenturous loue will be in defence of my right by the aduantage I shall recouer in the vertue of a gifte so acceptable Griana who made but slender account of his passions and béeing not well pleased that he held her with such vaine discourses modestlie returned him this aunswere If you had such regarde of me as I well deserue you woulde not attempt me with spéeches so vnfitting my hearing for if your desire be such as you giue me to vnderstand you ought to make it knowne to the Emperor or Empresse who haue greater authoritie ouer me then I haue my selfe Therfore I desire you hencefoorth not to aduenture the like on perill of your life otherwise I shall let you knowe howe highlie you offend me on which cōdition I am cōtent for this time to pardon your want of discretion in that I perceiue my selfe to be the onelie cause thereof in graunting you time and leysure thus priuatlie to assaile me for which ouersight I repent mee at the verie harte With which wordes shee floong away and left him alone declaring by her countenaunce to be offended with his request in that shee desired rather to die then accept him for her Husband or to allowe him the name of her fréende If then Tarisius was driuen into a quandarie wee néede not meruaile wherefore troubled as he was and not caring greatlie
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
Frisol had recouered his health Chap. LX. Howe Palmerin Hermes and Colmelio returned to London and the good entertainment the king of England made them AFter that Frisol was returned from the Combate Palmerin after many embracings of Colmelio went with him to the fountaine where hee left Hermes all thrée togither making no little ioy Colmelio for his happie finding of Palmerin and he for the loue of his supposed brother and Hermes for the comfort hée shoulde bring the King his Maister béeing able nowe to acquaint his highnesse with Palmerins name which hée was loath any in the English Court shoulde knowe wherefore he sayde Nowe can you not my Lord hereafter bide your name though you haue béene daintie of it all this while It is true Syr quoth Palmerin albeit I little thought to be discouered so soone but séeing it is so come to passe my hope is in yâ— highest who wil defend me in all mine attempts now tell me Colmelio what newes in Greece Truly my Lord quoth he the discourse will be long and tedious therefore if you pleasâ— to mâ—unt on horsebacke it will serue well to shorten the thought of our iourny So as they rode towards London Colmelio began to discourse in how many places he had â—â—â—ght him in Greece and how at length he heard of him at Macedon by report of his coÌ„quest of the serpent at the mountaine Artiâ—aeria which was the meane that broâ—gâ—â— the King of Macedon to his former health Afterward how he left Greece trauailing into Allemaigne and froÌ„ thence into England at what time the Emperors power was discomfited and hearing great fame of Frisol his late Maister he spent some time in his seruice not doubting but by his meanes to find the man he looked for Palmerin was somewhat mooued hearing Colmelio so commend Frisol wherefore he demaunded of him if he knewe any thing of that Knights linage No my Lord quoth he but I can assure ye that he is one of the most gentle Knights in the world and he concealeth his parentage very secretly which makes me iudge he is disceÌ„ded of royal birth After Colmelio had ended his discourse he repeated to him some parte of his fortunes in the end perswading him that hée would remunerate his paines in séeking him and in time manifest the loue he bare him By this time they were come to the Citie of London Hermes riding before to the pallace where he aduertised the king how Palmerin was returned to yâ— Citie which newes so highly contented the king as oftentimes he imbraced Hermes for bringing the man he long desired to sée but Trineus and Ptolome excéeded him in ioy and mounted presently on horsebacke to go méete theyr fréend when so many embracings courteâ—â—es and kinde gratulations had passed betwéene them as is vsuall at the méeting of long absent louers Ah my Lord and fréend quoth Trineus how long hath Fortune kept you from me why did you depart not vouchsafing a farewel What earnest occasion might cause such an vnking departure trust me I perswaded my selfe in respecte of the long continuaunce of our amitie that death could not procure such a seuere enterprise My Lord quoth Palmerin it séemeth you haue some cause to complain of mée but wheÌ„ you vnderstand how matters haue happened you will not condemne me altogither For at the time of my departure I thought verely to return the next day following but such importunate affaires continually fell out as I could not return till this very instant Ptolome said as much as Trineus did notwithstanding this fortunate meeting forbad all further accusations and they became as good friendes as euer they were So rode they to the Pallace where the king attending theyr comming perceiued at length they were entred the Hall when Palmerin falling on his knée kissed his highnesse hand who very honourably embracing him saide Where hath my noble friend béene so long What crooked fortune hath caused your so long absence you departed from vs in blacke Armour I pray you tell vs where did you conquere these sumptuous Armes by the loue you beare to chiualrie and to mee satisfie me in my demaund Palmerin séeing the king coniured him so straightly reported the truth of all his aduentures howe he had that armour of the Ladie whose daughter hee deliuered and left his owne there broken in péeces The king embracing him againe saide I cannot be perswaded but all especiall aduentures high good fortunes and chéefest honours in the world are onely reserued for you and among all the rest most maruailous is this of the Castle in the enchaunted Lake which many knights haue heretofore attempted but returned with the losse of their horses Armour and with great dishonour Thrise welcome are you for these happy tydings as also for your gentle courtesâ—e to Erisol who is a knight of most honourable reputation But in regarde of your wearisome trauailes it is verie requisite that you nowe go rest your selfe therefore lette some body helpe to disarme you and betake your selfe on Gods name to your Chamber Palmerin reputed the kings councell most expedient and therefore did as hee commaunded him so hauing reposed himselfe a while hee came to sée howe the Quéene and her daughter fared who would not suffer him to departe before hee hadde likewise acquainted her with all his fortunes especially the whole circumstaunce of his traâ—â—ile at the Caâ—â—le of the Lake But night being come and euerie one betaking themselues to rest Palmerin demaunded of the Prince how hee â—â—llâ—wed his desires and what hee had concluded as concerning his loue Ah dâ—â—re fréende sayd Trineus why aske you mée that question doo you not thinke that hauing so lost you I likewise was disappointed of any meane to helpe mee know then that at this instant I am in the middest of all my misfortunes for so badly hath it happened that I am now further from Agriola then euer I was and I shall tell you how Not many dayes since as I was familiarlye deâ—ising with my Ladye the Duke of Gaules daughter chaunced to hearâ— such amorous spéeches as passed betwéene the Princesse and mée wherby she gathered that Agriola made some estimation of me whereupon shée laboured to cause my Mistresse in shorte time mislike what I hadde so long trauailed to perswade her with as thus That it ill beséemed a Princesse of her account of so gracious discent and Daughter to such a mightie King to conferre with straungers or vouchsafe a listening to any thing they sayde for they were none such as she reputed them but after they hadde brought a Ladyes honour in daunger they then were satisfied as they vsed it for a custome among theyr companions And so well could shée féede the Princesse humour with these suborning and spightfull detractions which séemed to her as swéete and freendlye perswasions that in stéede of the little loue I latelye conquered I finde nothing but frownes and disdaine that she will scant affoord mée a
by and sée not the Pillar send one of the Ladies to them to let them vnderstande that they may not passe before one of them haue 〈◊〉 with the Prince and his Knights If they be vnhorssed by him the Ladie must be deliuered to him yet with this condition that he refuse not to graunt her one demaunde By Mahomet sâ—yd Drumino husband to the Lady I will not meddle in this matter he may be such a one as if he hap to winne my Wife he will be loth to restore her backe againe Feare not that quoth the Magitian hee is so courteous and hath so faire a Fréend himselfe as he neyther may or will with-holde her By heauen said Tomano I will cope with him and to morrowe let the Pillâ—r and Pauillions bée erected there will I with my companions stay his comming Sée heere the cause why the King Aâ—imar commaunded the Princesse Zephira and her Knights to be so honourablie entertained By this time is the Princesse come within a daies iourney of Romata and Tomano with his Brother Sister Ladies and knightes betake themselues to â—he pauillions hearing that Zephira was come so neere and being themselues Armed their sister decked likewise in most sumptuous ornaments they vowed to breake many launces for her sake Chap. XLVIII How Palmerin Iousâ—ed against Tomano Drumino and their knights whome he all dismounted and what entertainment the king Abimar and the wise Nigromancer Muzabelino made them BY this time is the princesse with Palmerin and her companie come to the place where the pauillions were erected and not séeing the Piller they passed on wherefore Tomano sent a Damosell to declare the conditions of the passage Palmerin feigning himselfe somewhat wearie made this answer Damosell you may saye to the Prince and his knights that the Princesse Zephira is not in our guarde as the Lady he fights for abideth with him Nor comes she hither to he fought for rather doth she intreat him to spare vs the Ioust in that it will be small honor to him to conquer knights ouerlaboured in trauaile and whose horses are not able for that exercise The Damosell certifying the Prince of this aunswer he grew into anger swearing they should not passe before they tryed their fortune wherefore hee sent the Damosell againe who thus spake to Palmerin Sir knight your excuses may not serue you you must eyther Ioust or leaue the Princesse behind you Trust me Damosell answered Palmerin sorrie woulde I be to accompanie her so far and leaue her in the custody of one I know not did your Prince shewe more courtesie if woulde agrée much better with his order but because he shall not think that we refuse the Iouste through feare or cowardise say hee shall haue his desire both he and all his shall try their fortune ere wee passe further This answer returned to the Prince Drumino first shewed himselfe in the Fielde and by importunate intreatie certaine of the Princesses Knights would first try their valour but such was their ill fortune as Drumino vnhorsed them one after another Zephira somewhat offended heereat intreated Palmerin eyther to win them passage or else with his successe she was content to staye Prisoner I goe Madame quoth Palmerin and Fortune spéede mee as I regard the safetie of your honor Muzabelino hauing acquainted the King with this pastime they came in habits disguised to beholde it at what time the Prince Drumino encountred Palmerin But not to hold you with tedious discourse considering which way the victorie is intended the twe Princes and all their knights were manfullye foyled by Palmerin The Ioust béeing ended and the king returned again to the Cittie Muzabelino came to Palmerin and hauing saluted him with great reuerence thus spake Woorthie Lord who onelie deseruest the name of chiualrie let mee intreate you to excuse the kings Son who to make proofe of your valour by my meanes attempted this noble aduenture from which you haue escaped with great honour and to their shame that made the challenge What are you Syr said Palmeiin that know me so well and the cause why I came into this Countrey Your Fréend Muzabelino quoth he whome you haue taken such paines to finde and who knowing you to be a Christian will kéepe you from all dangers among these Mahumetistes Palmerin suddainlie allighting from his Horsse came and embraced him saying Noble Fréend suffer mée to kisse your hand as a witnesse of my reuerence to your honourable age Not so my Lord answered Muzabelino rather suffer me to doo my dutie to that incomparable person by whose meanes ere sixe Monethes be past the greatest nobilitie in the world shall receyue incredible honour While these courteous ceremonies endured the conquered Princesse with her Ladies came from the Pauillion and saluting Palmerin with great courtesie sayde Sée héere Sir Knight the Lady who trusting in your honourable benignitie commeth to submit her selfe at your disposition béeing woonne with more choyse chiualrie then euer any other Ladie was Notwithstanding I hope that you will not refuse to graunt me one demaund according to the conditions agréed in the Ioust Palmerin séeing her so discréet and modest so sumptuous in apparell and accompanied with so manie Ladies iudged that she was the Kings Daughter and Wife to the Prince Drumino wherefore entertaining her verie graciously hée thus replyed Unfitting it is faire Ladie that a Princesse of so high and speciall qualitie shoulde bée subiect to a poore and vnknowne Knight and though the agréement of the Ioust bee such yet do I humblie thanke you for this honour bequeathing you to your former libertie and restoring you to him that hath best right to you A thousand thankes worthie Lorde said the Princesse now I se'e the words of Muzabelino to my father are true that the Knight who conducted Madame Zephira as in chiâ—alrie hée surpasseth all other so in sranke ininde and ltberalitic hée hath not his seconde which was the chéefest cause why I aduentured my selfe in this hazarde of Fortune Madame quoth Palmerin if the wise Muzabelino hath vsed any speach of mée in mine absence and to my honor it procéeded not by my vertue but his good will in so â—â—â—ing which if I liue I will one day acknowledge Right welcome are you saide the Princesse and faire Zephira the rather for your sake and such be the houre of your arriuall héere as you may obtaine the ende of your desires Zephira humblie thanked the Princesse Tomano Drumino and all the rest embracing Palmerin thinking it no dishonour to bâ— conquered by him they mouâ—ted all on horsebacke and comming to the Cittie founde the King there readie with an honorable traine to receiue them who saluting the princesse Zephira verie kindly said No maruell Madame if you durst vndertake so long a iourney hauing yâ— only knight of Fortune in your companie as my Sonnes haue good occasion to witnesse and shée that ommits her selfe to his charge may bée well assured of 〈◊〉
sorting vs so commodiouslie togeather that I may shewe you before I enter the Lystes royall the occasion why I left the Realme of Macedon to visite my Lord the Emperor I sweare to you vpon my knightlie faith that your gracious selfe was the onelie cause of my iourney and while I liue I shall euermore aduenture my selfe in ought that may stand with your fauour and liking and the first argument of my happinesse I should account if you would commaunde mee this daie to arme my selfe for your Knight otherwise I must be content to absent my selfe béeing assured that with out your regard it is vnpossible for me to doo any thing that can returne me estimation or honour And albeit I haue not as yet doone anie seruice to you whereby I shoulde deserue to be so accepted yet such is the hope I repose in your vertuous nature as you will not refuse my honest request beeing the first I euer desired of you and not the last I truste shall doo you honour Nowe as you haue heard before Griana earnestlie affected Florendos neuerthelesse as a modest and well aduised Princesse doubting leaste hee faigned those spéeches of course dissembling her selfe to be somwhat displeased returned this aunswere I did not thinke my Lord Florendos that you woulde so farre forget your selfe to holde mee with spéeches not beséeming the Daughter of so great an Emperour as I am neuerthelesse knowing you are a Stranger and ignoraunt it may be of the modestie which shoulde defende Knights deuising with Ladies I will not vse such rigour towards you as I ought yet must I tell you that I finde my selfe offended You desire that as my Knight you may enter the Tourney for that I graunt ye to the ende I may perceiue the effect of the prowesse which each one so much commendeth in you the rest it is my pleasure that you forbeare Madame quoth he if I haue vsed anie such spéeches as agree not with your patience for Gods sake in my excuse accuse my small compasse of libertie which remaineth onelie at your disposition What quoth she thinke you that I wil loue anie but he that must and ought be my Husbande Ah swéete Ladie said Florendos that is it I so earnestlie desire and thinke not that I sollicite you with anie other kind of loue but onelie to make you the Mistresse of my self and altogeather to dispose of me and mine for proofe whereof I will héereafter imploy my selfe in the Emperours seruice in such sorte as if you like it I hope to purchase his consent Truelie Sir quoth she that onelie appertaines to the Emperor and not to mée to whom you are to make known what you intende for hee hath authoritie to commaunde and I am bounde by duetie to obey At which wordes the Empresse called her awaie when Florendos making her courteous reuerence departed to his Chamber to arme him selfe for manie Knights were entred the Lystes and he in short space came thether for companie where hee behaued himselfe with such valoure as he not onelie got the honour of the first daie but of the foure daies folowing while the Tourneie endured and wonne the prize which Caniano had prepared for him that best deserued it which made him bee greatlie estéemed of the Emperour and of the whole Court ingenerall espeâ—iallie of the faire Griana whose harte by little and little Loue brought in subiection to the no small content of Florendos which doubtlesse had the Prince Tarisius beheldâ— I imagine hee woulde haue hardlie liked it But nowe during the time of these great Feastes and Triumphes Fortune the sworne enemie to all quietnes presented the Emperor with other occasions to cut off these pastimes and courtlie deuises for after many of the Knights assembled at his Courte had taken leaue to returne into their Countries Gamezio Sonne to the Soldane of Babilon who was on the Seas with a mightie Armie intending to conquer Alexandria was by extreamitie of winde and weather driuen into the straights before Constantinople Which when the Pilots and Marriners perceiued not onâ— amongst theÌ„ but greatlie reioyced at this good fortune but chéefelie Gamezio who perswaded himself yâ— his Gods had sent him thether that the moste noble florishing Cittie of the world might fall into his handes whereupon the windes somewhat appeased and the Seas calmed he assembled the chiefe and principall Captaines of his Armie and thus began My good fréendes I beléeue assuredlie yâ— our great Gods would not suffer vs to arriue in Alexandria because wee went against them of our owne Law and Religion but rather it liked them better that we should addresse our selues to this Countrie of Christians either to ruinate it altogeather or at least to bring it vnder our obeysance Therefore I am determined for this time to defer the reuenge of the iniurie which the King Calameno did to the Soldane and as much as in me lyes imploy my forces in conquest of this Countrey for which cause I desire that each of you would particularlie encourage your people assuring them if wee can conquer this Cittie the riches thereof will counteruaile their paine and trauaile The Captaines failed not to accomplish their charge to the vttermost summoning euerie one presentlie to Armes so prouiding their Shippes their Ensignes all thinges els néedefull for their defence they hoysed their sailes making towards yâ— Shoare where with such prouision as they had they tooke landing making such a noyse with their Drummes Trumpets Clamors as was heard with no small feare in euerie part of the Cittie Neuertheles they were receiued with better resistance then they looked for as following the discourse of the Historie you shall at large vnderstand CHAP. III. Of the battayle fought before the Cittie of Constantinople betweene the Emperours power and the Armie of Gamezio IMmediatlie was this huge Armie on the Sea discouered by the Sentâ—rnelles of the Cittie whereupon the rumour arose so greate as the people ranne on heapes to defende the Hauen where the Moores thought to haue made their first entrie In the meane while Caniano Tarisius and the other principall Knights with their men of Armes put themselues in equipage doraynning their Armie in such warlike maner as nowe they marche forth of the Cittie to succour those places where the Moores gaue most eager assault The Prince Florendos béeing left behinde made no little haste to gather his companie and as he galloped with them by the Emperours Pallace hee espied the Princesse Griana standing at her Chamber windowe casting manie a ruefull looke towardes the 〈◊〉 of the Cittie which so déepelie peirced the gentle Princes harte as immediatlie hee saide within himselfe By Heauen swéete Ladie either will I die this day or remooue the gréefe that séemeth so néere to touche you And with this resolution he gaue the spurres to hys Horse when it was not long before hee got among the thickest of the Moores where he behelde the enemie so strong and the
me and I assure you that these tydings hath breathed such newe life into my verie soule as alreadie I finde my selfe wonderfullie chaunged yea and that in such sorte as before thrée daies bee past I shall attende her gracious will with seruiceable dilligence In the meane while I shal desire you faire Fréend to let my soueraigne Mistresse vnderstand that I kisse her highnesse hande in humble duetie and had ere this giuen farewell to this life hadde not her swéete regard called me againe from death Thus parted Cardina from the Prince taking her way spéedily towards Griana who longed not a little to heare from Florendos whom she had made Lord of her gentle affections CHAP. VI. Howe Cardina recited to the Princesse Griana what speeches had past betweene her and Florendos and of the counsell shee gaue her Mistresse to conferre with him in the Garden so soone as he was recouered CArdina thus dispatched from Florendos made no little haste towardes the Princesse who remained all this while silent in her Chamber and no sooner perceiued she Cardina to enter but she demaunded if Florendos receiued her token in good part or no. Beléeue me Madame answered Cardina I thinke you neuer did anie thing in all your life whereby you coulde obtaine more honour and applause then by that you vouchsafed to doo at this instant for in my iudgment you haue performed a miracle in giuing him life that was in the very iawes of death Then from point to point shee recounted the talke passed betwéene them first howe she founde him in yâ— midst of his regrets and lastlie what message hee had sent by her Thus while Cardina continued her discourse euery worde tooke hold on the gentle hart of the Princesse and wounded her with such pittifull regarde of the Prince his torments as what she desired inwardlie shee shaddowed with modestie as lothe to receiue shame in her loue hauing caryed her selfe with such honour all her life quoth shee to Cardina Howe might I good Seruaunt ease this waightie oppression Uerie well said Cardina wheÌ„ Fortune alloweth opportunitie But thou knowest quoth Griana a Princesse as I am to be séene secrete with so braue a Gallant dooth greatlie hazard my life and honour As for that Madame saide Cardina my Sister can better aduise you then I or any that I know by her meanes may you speake with your Knight the brauest Gentleman in the world and one whoÌ„ I knowe is so farre deuoted yours as hee will rather loose his life then impeache your honour anie waie and otherwise then in loyaltie to make you his Ladie and wyfe I am well assured he loueth not which loue Madame you may well entertaine Returne then Cardina quoth the Princesse to my Lorde Florendos and assure him that so soone as he is recouered I wyll come and speake with him in such place where we may well aduenture and desire hym as he loueth me that it may bee with all conuenient spéede Cardina without anie further delay weÌ„t with this message to the Prince Florendos who hartened himselfe so well vpon these spéeches as within sixe dayes he found himselfe thorowlie amended whereof the Emperour and Caniano hys Sonne was not a little glad but Tarisius was scant well pleased thereat for he had coÌ„ceiued a secrete iealousie because he was so earnest in affection towards Griana who by her Mayd Cardina had warned Florendos that yâ— night following he should come into the Garden whereâ—nto her Chamber had a secrete entraunce and there woulde he and she conferre of their loue without suspicion of any Florendos séeing these affayres sort to so good ende purposed what euer happened not to fayle the time place which made him thinke this day a yéere in length so long hee looked and desired for the night But nowe the wished howre is come when Florendos with his Cozin â—renato who was priuie to the Princes secrete loue departed from their lodginges and comming to the Garden they sawe the wall was verie high and harde to climbe notwithstanding greater thinges are possible to Louers chéefely when a cause of such waight is in hand so that in short time Florendos had gotte the top of the Wall and afterward went to the place where Griana â—tayed his comming who had no bodie with her but Lerina Sister to Cardina to whom likewise she thorowly bewrayed her secrets He hauing espied them came and fell on his knee before the Princesse but she tooke him vppe in her armes embracing him so swéetlie as Lerina withdrew her selfe amongst the Trées not with anie intent of feare to displease them but with a certaine kinde of gréefe which ouercame her that shee wanted a Fréende to participate with her in loue as her Mistresse hadde before whâ—m Florendos béeing on his knée sayd Madâ—me by vertue of your commaundement I am thus bolde to enter your presence yéelding my whole abilitie to you as to the diuine Goddesse that hath shéelded me from death which grace séeing your princelie nature hath affoorded me my life for euer héereafter remaines at your soueraigne pleasure the vnfeigned promise whereof I binde to you by irrâ—uocable vowes but especiallie by my faith yâ— onelie ornament of a true Knight that I desire no longer to breathe this ayre then to honour your name with my continual seruice for life without yâ—ur grace and fauour is more yrkesome to me then a thousande deathes But by your fauour my Lorde answered Griana howe or from whence hath this hote loue sprunge let mee knowe I desire you Madame ê™ he as I haue heretofore so at this time I assure you that in my nature Countrie of Macedon I hearde the renowne of your excelling beauty at which verie instant I dedicated my selfe onelie yours and euer since continuing in this religious seruice I haue so confidentlie set downe my rest in gracious regard of your swéete selfe as béeing yours in seruice I liue if otherwise I die In sooth said said the Princesse I sée theÌ„ you haue giuen your selfe wholie mine and so I am well centented to accept you Then Madame quoth he to seale yâ— assuraunce of this diuine fauour you haue doone me 〈…〉 intreate to kisse those swéete lippes that deliuered the 〈◊〉 I haue long looked for Which to grant though for modesties sake at first she séemed daintie yet at length looue had so supprâ—zed her as he néeded not striue when no resistaunce was offered Thus with feares and solemne kysses they breathed into eache others soule the mute arguments of their loue and faire Cynthia amiablie fauouring this delicate encounter added such courage to the minde of this louâ—lie Champion as breaking his Launce in the face of Venus hee bequeathed the successe of his dâ—uoire to the gracious aspect of that Planet And among a number of soft and sweete loue spéeches he discoursed to her his talke with the Emperour her Father howe he had requested her in marriage
death but that the Quéene and the Lordes of hys Counsel founde meanes to quallifie his displeasure declaring what discredite his highnes shold receiue if he did not suffer them to be openlie conuicted of their offences All this while good Princes were they ignoraunt of this detection till at length the King discoursed the whole matter to theÌ„ and likewise who was their accuser nor did the Countie faile to maintaine his wordes openlie offering to make it good in fight against any that durst say the contrary and because he had two Cozins hardie and valiant Knights conspirators likewise in this faction there could be none found that would enter the Combat against them Which when the noble Prince Adrian vnderstoode very gréefe had well néere slaine him in respect he had no Child but this Dyardo as also for yâ— hee was accused with yâ— hee neuer thought Héereupon he went presently to the King his Nephew and preuailed so well with him as he obtained the space of two Monethes to bring with him one or two that might maintaine the innocencie of him his Sonne Dyardo and the Princesse Cardonia against the Traytour Domarto and his Cozins And this is the cause he sent mee to seeke you foorth in hope that you are as much his Freende as hee is yours which you may somewhat perceiue by the freendlie presents he sent you by mee to Macedon So helpe mee God saide Palmerin you haue reported a most strange dyscourse and neuer did I think that such treason could enter the thoughts of any Knight or other inferior person All this is true quoth the Damosell and it is appointed yâ— the Prince Dyardo with his aged and crazed Father shal defend their owne causes without séeking helpe of anie other but he neuer as yet receiued the order of Knighthoode and therfore is constrained to desire your assistaunce And that shall I doo with all my hart saide Palmerin would God we were there where he expecteth vs for the desire I haue to sée him as also to vnderstande what he knowes of my following fortunes Those matters are hid from mee quoth shee yet this haue I hearde him say diuers times being in talk of you that he accounted you the most honorable Knight in the worlde and that if he euer chaunced to sée you he wold aduise you to goe to the Emperour of Allemaignes Courte to be the knightly Seruaunt to the Princesse Polinarda When Palmerin heard the name of Polinarda he remembred that it was her name whome hee had so manye times séene in his fraunces for which cause he asked of the Damosell what the Lady was of whom shee spake My Lord quoth the Polinarda is Daughter to the Emperour and Niece vnto my Lorde Adrian the most beautiful Princesse that euer eye behelde By my faith saide Palmerin yâ— more easily may I be induced to graunt her my seruice and thether intend I to trauaile when I haue finished your Lords busines So rode they with much more haste theÌ„ before tyl at length they came to the Cittie of Almedya where the King remained and the Prince Adrian expecting Palmerins comming which when he hearde hee came to meete him eache embracing other with meruailous courtesie and the good olde man with the teares in his eyes thus saide Ah good Knight what may counteruaile this your exceeding paines to maintaine the right of my Sonne and mee who are falselie accused of such villainous treason as on the perill of my soule we neuer did imagine Thereof am I certainlie perswaded aunswered Palmerin and therfore am I come to enter the Combat with him that dare affirme otherwise Mine olde age quoth Adrian might excuse mee henceforth from bearing Armes but béeing vnable to endure so vile a slaunder so long as life and soule will holde togeather shal I doo my deuoire so please your companion to make the second as olde as I am I will be the thirde for the trayterous CouÌ„tie hath two of his Cozins yâ— take part with him And if my fortune so fall out as I die in this tryall I shall receiue my lot very contentedlie if mine eyes might first beholde mine iniurie reuenged I pray you said Palmerin goe presently to the King to the ende that hys highnesse may graunt vs the fielde for my Freende and I thinke long till we haue made your accuser knowe his trecherie Adrian immediatly went to the King and on his knées thus began My Lorde you knowe that the Countie of Ormeque hath accused mee my Sonne Dyardo and Madame Cardonya of the cryme of Lesae Maiestatis and in that we all are innocent I am readie to maintaine that he hath falsely and malliciously belied vs which I my selfe will approoue vpon him or two more with me against him and his Cozins if they dare enter the fielde with him in this quarrell where we will either make known their villainie or receiue the reward belongs to disloyall Traitors As for the wrong which you my Lord haue doone me béeing your Uncle and my Sonne Dyardo your Cozin germaine that I referre to God to recompence and to the better knowledge you shall receiue of mee héereafter béeing â—owe too olde to bee a Traytour and my Sonne too louing to proue disloyall The King was abashed to heare his Uncle speake so audaciously doubting nowe whether he should giue credite to what had béene reported especially against him so neere his highnes in bloode who so liberally offered to enter the Combat notwithstanding his white heade and aged body made him vnfit for such actions wherefore hee thus aunswered Good Uncle impute not mee any thing faultie in your accusation and that the proofe shall manifest that must be made The Countie beeing present was strooken in a quandarie at these wordes and gladly he wold haue demed this former slaunder but he could find no waie cleanlie to doo it wherefore seeing of force he must néedes enter the Combat he boldly fell on his knées before the King with these wordes My Lorde what I haue saide is verie certaine and most true it is that by the counsell of Prince Adrian héere present his Sonne practised with Lady Cardonya to poison you that he might be King which to make good there is my gadge on the behalfe of my selfe and my Cozins Thou lyest Traytor in thy throate said olde Adrian I take thine offer and as he woulde haue gone on with further spéeches Palmerin stept before the King saying Worthy Lorde séeing the effect of the wordes must be put in execution which haue béene heere spoken on bothe sides before your Maiestie may it please you the Prince Dyardo and Lady Cardonya may be sent for to take with vs their oathes as in such cases is required and in meane time let eache one goe put himselfe in equipage for the Combat Good reason said the King and presently hee commaunded the Princes to be brought who beeing come Palmerin demaunded where they were that tooke part with the Countie whereupon he
himselfe and tormented with so manie passions as euerie howre his death is expected What will ye Ladie that I say hee complaines hee sighes and daie by daie is in such dispaire for his Ladies loue as happie might I haue accounted him had he neuer séene her or that his daies were as short as his desires If then Polinarda were in doubt not iudging herselfe to bée shée it may easilie bee imagined and presently was shee brought into such perplexitie as the vermillion couller in her chéekes began to change such suddaine feares possessed her and so manie sundry opinions thwarted her conceite as faine she woulde haue spoken but coulde not of long time wherby the Dwarffe discerned the cause of her alteration yet he dissembled what he sawe and thus continued on his discourse Nowe considering faire Madame the high deserts of my Lorde may she be estéemed happy as you saie that shall cause the losse of the best Knight liuing this day Ah Mistresse if he die as God forbid farwell the flower of all noblenes and the most assured Freâ—nde to distressed Ladies Wherefore I beséeche you pardonâ— mee if I shall name her vnto you and let mee intreate you to dealé with her so farre that the courtesie wherein she is indebted to so gooâ— a Knight as my Master is may be shewed effectually as that she would loue and fauour him as he dooth hath verie well deserued Trust me Vrbanillo aunswered the Princesse when I knowe the Ladie I will and beside if she doo not regarde his passions as she ought I will intreate her at my request to be more pittifull These wordes procured a suddaine iealouzie in her that shee shoulde promise to another what she desired her selfe yet earnest to bee resolued she vowed to fulfill her promise and therefore desired him to tell her name So you will giue mee your worde Madame quoth the Dwarffe not to take in ill parte what I shall saie I will satis-fie your request presently Be léeue me saide the Princesse I will not rather perswade thy selfe that héerein thou doost me great pleasure Ah fayre Princesse quoth the Dwarff it is for you and no other that my Lord is thus tormented it is for you that heé liues and dies a hundred times a daie swéete Ladie haue pittie on him and séeke not the losse of so good a Knight who looues you déerer then his owne life At which aunswere shee was supprized with incredible pleasure yet feigning the contrarie she saide Is it I and howe long I praie you By my faith Madame quoth he that can I not well tell yee but I haue hearde him say of long time more then foure yeeres before he was Knighted hee vowed himselfe yours since which time all his honourable actions hath hee onely dedicated to your praise So that to finde you hee left the King of Macedon and his Sonne Florendos of whom hee was estéemed as no man the like yet that honour hée forsooke to doo you seruice and for your loue he yéelded himselfe as vassaile to the Emperour your Father and gaue himselfe your Knight if you deigne to accept him When Polynarda had well hearde the Dwarffe albeit her harte floted in ioyes yet could she so well commaunde her thoughts as shee seemed to make smal account of his words notwithstanding she returned him this aunswéere I promised thée Vrbanillo not to conceiue ill of ought thou shouldest tell me nor doo I yet wold I haue thee to regard my calling béeing daughter to so great a Prince as is the Emperour But if it bee so that Palmerin thy Lorde beares me such speciall affection I must let him knowe by thée that it would haue â—éene farre more séemelie himselfe to haue told me then to make thée Ambassadour in such secrete affaires neuerthelesse I not mislike his honourable loue and good will whereof I shall thinke better when I knowe the effecte is conformable to thy protestations Madame quoth the Dwarffe so you would please to vouchsafe him time and place hee will acquaint you with strange matter concerning bothe your destinies which courtesie can no waie impeache your honour Why tell him saide the Princesse he shall haue mee dailie héere in the Chamber of presence where he may saie his pleasure with safetie in meane space I accept him as my Knight charging him that he doo not depart the Court without my licence if hee desire to doo mee pleasure The Dwarffe well pleased with so good an aunswere on hys knee kissing the Princesse hande tooke leaue of her to returne towardes Palmerin who méeting him by the waie in place conuenient saide Howe nowe Vrbanillo what newes hast thou brought me life or death So good newes Maister aunswered the Dwarffe as you haue good occasion to repute your selfe the moste fortunate Knight that euer bare Armes Then Palmerin embracing him saide Ah tell me what they are hast thou spokeÌ„ with diuine Polinarda takes shee anie pittie on my consuming cares That dooth she my Lorde quoth the Dwarffe and commandes you by me if you be so vowed hers as I haue perswaded yâ— hence foorth you depart not the Emperours Courte without her leaue Then recited he the whole talke betwéene them and lastlie the pleasure she conceiued in so good tydings so that she accepted him onelie for her Knight While yâ— Dwarffe continued this discourse Palmerin was rauished with such inwarde ioy as with a great sigh he said Oh heauens how doo you fauour me nowe sée I well that my seuerall apparitions on the Mounts of Oliues and Artifaeria are predestinations ordeyned to mee by your gracious prescience I beséeche you therefore humblie that what you haue promised may soone come to effect for the regarde of incomparable Polinarda Then demaunded hee by what meanes he might attaine to speake with the Princesse She sayth ê™ he that you shall dailie haue her in the presence or in the Empresse Chamber and there may you safely impart your whole minde vnto her But I haue other newes to tel yee for I vnderstand certainlie that the Emperour intendes a matter greatlie for your aduauntage he minds to morrow to visite one of his Castelles neere at hande and there to passe the time in honour of the Ladies will haue a Tourney There better then any where els may you and Polinarda conferre togeather therfore courage your selfe and goe keepe comanie with my Lorde the Emperour it may bee himselfe will acquaint you with this enterprise Now credite me Vrbanillo saide Palmerin thou hast doone so much for mee as I shall neuer recompence thée while I liue but I pray thée tell mee did shee not at the first take my message strangelie That did she quoth the Dwarffe when I perswaded her that you loued a Lady in such sorte as hardlie coulde you liue without her fauourable regarde then she thinking it was some other and not herselfe changed couller meruailous passionatlie but let it suffise you that she is as deepe in loue as you
as Prince Lewes was throwne betwéene his horsses féete and he for England lost his stirrops but recouered himselfe well enough by the mayne of his Horse then he séeing his enemie not vppe againe cast himselfe out of his saddle to haue taken his aduauntage but Lewes preuented him and came marching against the Duke with his Sworde drawne who staied him thus Me thinks Prince of Fraunce before any worse befall thée thou wert best to yéelde thy selfe and remember that our Combatte beginnes for the excellencie of beautie By God man of England aunswered Lewes thou canst not perswade me to a thing so farre from my thought therfore goe too and he that hath the fairest Fréende shall soone be knowne In this great choller he reached the Duke such a stroke on the head as made him sette one knée to the ground but recouering himselfe quicklie and both thorowly angry they laid on eache other so cruellie as the very hardiest of the beholders feared the successe Thus fought they for matter of speciall value the defence of theyr owne reputations and honor of their Ladies whose loue was more precious in their harts then their owne lines So long these eager charges continued on bothe sides as Prince Lewes hauing receiued more then twentie woundes on his bodie feeling himselfe fainte fell downe before his enemie saying O noble hart of Fraunce the true succéeder of thy famous predecessours The victorious Englishman setting his foote vpon him saide Lorde Lewes if now thou declarest not my Lady to excel thine in beautie it câ—sts thée thy life a matter nothing pleasing to me in respect of the chiualry and singuler prowesse I haue founde in thée as also this magnaâ—â—â—ious enterprise of thine which in despight of thy foyle and death it self shall make thée liue for euer But Lewes made no aunswere eyther for his weakenes or sorowful conceite of his mis-fortune wherefore the Iudges came who granting the Duke victorie desired him to procéede no further which he honourably graunting was as ioyfull of the conquest as the Duchesse sad and pensiue thinking Prince Lewes had béene slaine outright wherfore the floong away to her lodging not tarrying for the King or any of the Ladies who likewise departed the fielde in maruailous sorow séeing theyr Sonne so pittifully wounded but aboue al the Duchesse made more lamentation then shee woulde haue doone for the death of her Husbande yet fearing what shee thought secretly shoulde by her gréefe bee openly suspected comforted herselfe so well as she coulde and béeing by herselfe with one of her trusty Gentlewomen shee thus breathed foorth her mones Ah trecherous Fortune enemye to all actions of regarde why hast thou suffered the man thou most fauoured thus to be vanquished and which is most to be pittied without hope of life Ah deceitfull tremperesse séeing thou hast offered him so much wrong doo mee the fauour to beare him company in death that liued and died so honourably for my loue Ah death let it suffise thée yâ— Loue hath wounded him and make not thou experience of thyâ—e ineuitable stroke vnlesse thou wilt doo as much for mee Ah false and flattering Sonne of Venus is this the guerdon thou rewardest them withall that serue thée faithfully So ceasing her complaint awhile in great impatience she thus began againe Alas neyther the one or other are cause héerof but my most vnhappy selfe when prouoked by my beautye he tooke in hand this enterprise but if it bee so déere Fréende that enuâ—ous fate deale so harde with thée soone mayst thou be reuenged on her that caused it And wyth these wordes she sell betwéene the armes of one of her Ladyes present whom she specially trusted who thus spake to her Why howe nowe Madame wâ—l you perswade your selfe no otherwise beléeue me there is no remedy but you must change this conceite What wyll you forgette your selfe it is no time if you remember your selfe well for if he whom you loue and endure these paynes for shoulde vnderstande héereof in stedde of séeking his health you wyll shorten hys dayes if as you say hee liue not without your welfare More requisite is it that you goe coÌ„fort him wyth your chéereful presence then thus to bee the argument of bothe your deathes Beside Madame if my Lord suruiue as no doubt he shall what may he presume trust me matter sufficient if you gouerne not your selfe better that you séeke to discouer what most of all beséemes you to conceale Alas my Fréende aunswered the Duchesse I knowe you speake the trueth but howe is it possible for me to content my selfe séeing what estate he is in onely for my loue But if he dye small reckoning will I make of my life for let my honour bee blamed or otherwise let all aduersities and mis-fortunes goâ— togeather Yet will I somewhat bee aduised by thee and I wyll goe sée if my presence wyl any thing comfort him To breake off this talke came an Esquire from the Queene to intreate her come to her Maiestie which she did and went with the Quéene to the Princes lodging who beholding the Duchesse so pale and full of greefe with this conceit his woundes opened and blâ—dde 〈◊〉 for which cause his Chirurgions who imagined the occasion to proceede by shame the Prince conceiued that any one should see what woundes he tooke by the Duke of Gaule wherfore they forbad any to enter his 〈◊〉 vntill the peril of death was better passed ouer which was within short time when the Duchesse by her ofteÌ„ visiting him coÌ„uerted his sorowes into many ioyful coÌ„ceits But because our History appertaines not onely to hys deedes or the loue of the Duchesse we will returne to the Duke of Gaule who after he had thus conquered Prince Lewes followed the conditions of the fielde taking the portraite of his Ladye Agriola and placed it where the Duchesse picture stoode setting it among the other conquered Ladyes That day dyuers other Knights came on behalfe of their Ladies whoÌ„ the valiant Englishman entertained with such valour as all his paines tourned to the honour of his Mistresse Agriola who nowe was seated as paragon of the fielde CHAP. XXXVI Of the Combatte betweene Palmerin and the Duke of Gaule with the successe thereof ON the same daie that the Prince of Fraunce was vanquished by the Duke of Gaule arriued at Paris Palmerin Trineus and theyr trayne but the Combat was first ended wherefore they commaunded their Squyres to prepare theyr Tent. Palmerin vnderstanding yâ— the Duke was conquerer greeued not a little in yâ— he came no sooner to winne the honour of the Prince yet knowing if nowe he coulde conquer the Duke more glory shoulde arise to him then by the Prince Lewes he contented himselfe passing that night in his Tent with the Prince Trineus in diuers arguments of the Combat between Lewes of Fraunce and the Duke yet was Lewes highly commended to Palmerin though he were ouercome because hee had so brauely doone the
my Lord Palmerin well and in good health but chéefely my Lorde who since you sawe him hath wunne the greatest honour that euer Knight did Afterward he reported the manner of the Combats to her and what gréefe his Maister sustained in his sicknes when he coulde not be reuenged on the Knight that lost her counterfeit which the Duke of Sauoye placed at the féete of Lucemania and last of all the perillous Combat betwéene his Maister the Knight of the Sun Which she tooke such delight to heare as she made him repeate one thing manie times and could not satis-fie herselfe sufficientlie with these worthy reports Which the Squire perceiuing delighted as much to itterate euerie thing and said Beléeue me Madame the loue my Maister beares to her for whose beautie he entered the Combat in my opinion is incredible for he is much more hers then his owne and I haue séene him in such sort thinking on her as one coulde hardlie iudge him aliue or deade fearing least anie other shold rob him of his loue such is the iealousie of his vnspotted affection albeit my Maister reputes his Ladie immouable Polinarda changing countenance oftentimes at yâ— Squires wordes aunswered The Ladie shoulde be very ill councelled béeing honoured with the looue of so good a Knight as Palmerin to make refusall of his worthie seruice and I promise thée by the faith of a Princesse that if I knew her for the vnwillingnes I haue to heare him coÌ„plaine I wold endeuour to cause her like none but him and therein to thinke herselfe the most happie among Ladies Wherfore if thou maist bee so bolde tell thy Maister at his returne that I will be a meane to aide him towardes her he loues and therewithall present him my fauourable salutations in that I euermore desired the fortunate ende of his enterprise not so much for the lyking of his Ladie béeing beloued of the best as for the renowned chiualrie that harbours in his hart These spéeches ended the Squire returned to méet the Prince Trineus and his Maister to whom he reported his talke with Polynarda which Palmerin reioycing at let fall all iealousie estéeming her nowe the truest Lady liuing The men of Gaunt for ioy of his returne that so worthilie deliuered them from the oppressions of the enchaunted Knight went foorth in seuerall companies according as honor yéeres and office directed them to méete him and so conueied him with signes of ioy to the Pallace where the Emperour so much abased himselfe as he came downe into the open Court to entertaine him and glad likewise to see the safe returne of his Sonne Tryneus saying My Sonne right happie is thy returne you Sir Palmerin perswade your selfe so welcome as hart can deuise assuring you that your successe hath not a little pleased me And needes must I account the Ladie especially bounden to you for whose loue you haue past so manie dangerous Combats good reason hath she to loue you in respect of your trauailes for her renowning her so much by your knightlie chiualrie so that if she recompence you not according to your merits woorthilie may she be condemned of ingratitude Alas my Lords quoth he her beautie commaundeth higher matters then all my labours Polynarda béeing in presence remembred well her Fathers words and therfore she intended to shun that condemnation saying to herselfe He that deserues honour ought to were it and he that commaundes the soule may easilie ouer-rule the passions of the minde let my Knight then be rewarded as he hath rightly deserued All this while the eyes of these two louers so well discharged their office as Palmerin wished that Iuno had graunted him so much as she did somtime to Argus her shéepehearde that he might haue more ease in his afflictioÌ„ for he thought it not enough onelie to behold the beautie of so rare and excellent perfection Againe he was not a little tormented because Polynarda to couer what she woulde gladlie none should discerne cast her lookes on the ground which sometimes shee likewise compelled him to doo but her presence whom he estéemed aboue all other things would not allow him that consideration The Emperour at length commanded that all the figures of the Ladies which he had wunne in CoÌ„bat should be brought before him but when hée sawe so manie and of so contrarie qualitie hee coulde not but coÌ„mâ—ndâ— Sir Palmerins victorie Then were diuers iudgments giuen of the beauty of the portraits eache one of the beholders after their seuerall opinions Ptolome made description of whom they were and who did enter Combatte on their behalfe omitting at no tune the honour of Palmerin whereat they all admired some commending their complexions others their swéete yong yéeres and altogeather the prowesse of him that brought the conquest with him whereupon the Emperour said In good faith Sir Palmerio I blesse the time that Fortune sent me so good a Knight and thinke not to carrie awaie all the glory of your victorie your selfe for I meane to haue part because you gaue your selfe mine And woulde the Ladie you loue were in thys Courte or in my Realme to the ende I might so assist you in your sute as you might both be mine My Lord quoth Palmerin the victorie is wholie yours béeing gotten by your Knight and if the Ladie I loue were not vnder your regiment then shoulde I complaine of a greater matter then abyding with you béeing obedient to your highnes as your humble subiect and Seruaunt With which aunswere the Emperour was highlie contented and Tryneus comming to his Sister Polynarda saide Trust mee faire Sister you are more indebted to Palmerin then to anie other Knight in the worlde beside and rather accept of him then of the Duke of Lorrayne who maintaining your beautie was ouercome by the Duke of Sauoy and your picture placed at the féete of Lucemania where yet it had remained but that Palmerin conquering the Duke remooued the figure of the French Princesse in obeysaunce to you Polynarda not content with the vndiscréete enterprise of the Duke of Lorrayne aunswered In sooth good Brother the Duke of Lorrayne is none of my Knight and I repute Palmerin to haue more bountie and valour then the Duke can haue of wit or courage therefore great meruaile that hee was not slaine The Emperour seeing Polynarda was offended with the Duke of Lorrayne aunswered You cannot Daughter forbid men to execute their owne pleasure and if the Duke liked to enter the Combat for your beautie it was for the honourable good will he bare you and albeit hée could not reache his desire yet haue you no cause to thinke the worsse of him Polynarda béeing a Princesse of rare wit and iudgment as anie of her time would multiply no more words but continued silent neuerthelesse Palmerin remembring her aunswere to Tryneus intreated her to kéepe all the portraits of the Ladies determining to sende them to whom they belonged according to their degrées in birth and honor
comming then did the Cittizens sende word to the Duke that by yâ— breake of daie they would yéelde the keyes of their Gates to him whereuppon Frysol was Lieuetenant generall for yâ— Duke of Gaule and entred honorably the Cittie of Tomar where the Englishmen rested themselues for two or thrée dayes to recompence their paynes with profit and pleasure The enemie was no sooner departed vnder sayle but there arose such a terrible tempest as the most part of their vessels perished in the Sea and the other were so scattered as they had lost the sight of one another yet was some small number remayning with the King as well of Allemaignes as his own Countreimen so getting safe to shore in his kingdom he determined a reuenge for his great ouerthrowe but hee could not compasse his intent as you shall reade héereafter CHAP. XLVI Howe after the Prince Trineus Palmerin Ptolome were arriued in England they went to the Court and what torments the Prince endured for his looue to the fayre Lady Agriola TRineus Palmerin and Ptolome béeing landed within 4. dayes iourney of the Kinges Campe which was prouided against the King of Scots were aduertised that the King stayed but yâ— comming of yâ— Duke of Tintriel and then he meant to bid his enemie battaile that had so boldlie presumed vpon part of his Realme The garders of the porte where they landed séeing they were strangers woulde suffer them passe no further till they knewe their names whether they went and what they came for Palmerin answering on the behalfe of them all said Good fréendes we are Grecian Knightes and trauaile strange Countries to séeke aduentures and because we heard that your King menaceth warre against his auncient and maleuolent enemie the King of Scots wee come to offer our selues and our seruice to him so please his Maiestie to accept it This aunswere so well contented the Officers as by their meanes they were conducted to the Court where they were honorably entertained and two daies togeather were there feasted with the King in which time Trineus vnderstood that that the Quéene and her Daughter were aboue twentie miles thence whereupon the next morning they tooke their iourney thither and by dinner time came where the Queene laie But it fell out so happilie for Trineus as before they came to the place where the Court aboade they mette the Quéene and her traine who dailie went to a Chappell not a quarter of a mile from the Cittie to heare diuine seruice as she kept it for a continuall exercise and with her was faire Agriola her Daughter The Quéene and all her Ladies alighted from their Palfrayes they entred the Chappell the Prince well regarding the Goddesse of his hart who belike making her prayers more bréefe then her Mother came foorth with her wayting Ladies to walke vnder a companie of gréene Trées néere adioyning Trineus séeing her a creature so rare and excellent made doubt in a matter of assuraunce least he should bee surprised as Acteon was when he found Diana bathing among her Nimphes He being thus caried away with meruailous conceit of her beautie saluted not the Princesse as shee passed before him nor heard Palmerin who reprooued him for omitting his courtesie but wading further further into this amorous furie spake so loude as he was easilie hearde in this manner O heauens will you suffer the perfections of a Ladie so diuinelie accomplished to be the cause of my vndeserued death when may the time come for me to let her vnderstand my desire to doo her seruice or howe might she know the loyal affection I beare her One of the Ladies of honor attending on the Princesse reputing his wordes vnwise ouer-bolde answered Why Sir Knight where learned you so little courtship as when the fairest in the Westerne world passeth before you you make no gentle gesture or salutation I doubt that what is counted honestie vertue among men of quallitie with you is â—â—â—eemed harsh and vnciuill which makes me repute you more méete for the Kitchen then to beare the honorable office and rich Armes of a Knight as you doo Trineus as it were awaked out of a traunce saide Ah swéete Ladie pardon me for by my faith I can neither tell what you said nor well where I am my selfe for euen as you ended I felt such a passion strike me to the very hart as death will soone arrest me without remedie The Ladie who knewe not his meaning checked him againe thus Were it not better then for you to be in the field then héere in this foolish and vndiscréete pensiuenes It is true Lady quoth the Prince that at this time I haue shewed my selfe vnmannerlie and a slender Courtier yet is not the blame altogeather to be throwne on me ignoraunt who the Lady was which you speake of for wee are strange Knightes and are come farre from this Countrey with intent to aide and succour the King in his warres with our vttermost endeuours Notwithstanding because we haue with no more regard doone our duetie to your Mistresse may it please you to entreate her on our behalfe to pardon this offence for satis-faction wherof we wil goe serue the King her father in battell where we doubt not so wel to behaue our selues as shall deserue our pardon if so be she will not at this instant so fauour vs. And I gladlie woulde faire Ladie that such seruice shoulde bee doone by her commaundement for our strength and vertue by her perfections augmented will attribute the honor to her that so graciously assisted vs 〈◊〉 fore so please you to make known our good intent towards her we shall for such kindnes remain indebted to you The Ladie tooke pleasure in hearing Trineus especially perceiuing the zeale of him his companions to imploy theyr valour on the Kings behalfe which caused her immediatlie doo this message to the Princesse who at that instant as a thing fatall to her was wounded with loue whereuppon she sent them answere by her Gouernesse that shee entertained them as her Knights and as her Seruants desired them to goe aide the King her Father yet woulde shee not consent to pardon them till the renowne of their exploites might shewe them to deserue it Trineus tooke this answer for better aduantage then the Princesse thought on accounting himselfe happy by such a good beginning and therefore saide to the Ladie I think my selfe faire Ladie one of the most fauoured by Fortune hauing the meane to obey your Mistresse in her commaund and hope to execute her charge in such sort as I shall deserue the grace she dooth nowe denie me yet with all humilitie on our behalfe I intreate you to yeelde thankes for her princelie kindnes The Ladie returning to Agriola accomplished what Trineus desired her wherupon she turned herselfe and gaue them a countenaunce of fauour which was answered by Trineus Palmerin and Ptoleme with great reuerence and yâ— Princesse shewing herselfe not too statelie towardes the
friendly commers in all which time there wanted no sports delights as such times rnd occasions do necessarily require Nowe came all the Princes Lords and renowned Knights in England to the Court except the Duke of Gaule who excused himselfe by the warre in his owne prouince which yet was not the chéefest cause of his absence but the shame hée reputed to himselfe for his foyle in Fraunce when hée entred the Combatte for the beautie of the fayre princesse Agriola These knights thus worthily intreated they were at no time denied entrance into the King and Quéenes Chambers by which meanes Trineus might when himselfe pleased conferre with the Princesse till this instant among all other the prince thus began to his Ladie and Mistresse You may easily presume swéete madam what secret Conbattes I continually endure for your loue and no helpe is expected but the onely hope of your fauour which as you haue promised to my especiall friend Sir Palmerin I doubt not but you will perseuer in that gracious opinion and what promise hee hath made of my seruice to you thinke not but I obserue with religious care deuotion though not sufficient to equal your deserts yet because ingratitude shal not insult against me So many thanks quoth the Princesse I returne you my Lord as good opinions can bee imagined betwéene vs both and accounting you for my friende which is a higher degrée I héere discharge you of my seruice and mine honour guarded from blame I shall iudge my selfe happie to yéelde you any content which I will fulfill notwithstanding any daunger towardes mee But I praye you tell mée my Lord what is the intent of your loue in this action Madame quoth the Prince Syr Palmerin who is nowe come to beare vs companie shall crediblie enforme you so please you to rest contented therewith Palmerin thus entred and imagined theyr talke was not about affayres of Merchandise wherefore hée sayde to the Princesse God spéede you Madame pardon mée I should call you Ladie and Wife to the Prince of Allemaigne for I doubt not but you haue chosen him your Husband in heart Agriola blushing and smyling â—eereat made no aunswere Wherefore Palmerin went forward in this manner In faith Madame if you haue doone so I would counsell you to accomplish it presenâ—lie and prouide to go with vs to Allemaigne where the Emperour will entertaine you with such gracious fauour as you will not loose if you beare the minde of a Princesse beside you shall be the meane of euerlasting peace betwéene the King your Father and his Maiestie To which wordes Agriola thus discréetly answered I promise you my Lord there is no Prince thys daye lyâ—ing whome I would more gladlie accept for my Husband then the Prince Trineus notwithstanding for mée to departe without the knowledge of the King or Quéene my Parents is an acte in mine opinion farre dissenting from duetie and honest reporte Therefore my Lord louing myne honour as you say you doo I pray you let our behauiour be with better wisdome least we both fall into dangers not râ—couerable Palmerin perceyuing Agriola contrary to the most necessary occasion vsed such arguments and played so well the Oratour that the poore Princesse had no power to resist considering the great loue shee bare the Princâ— Trineus which made her yeelde more easily to his perswasions so that shée agréed to accomplish their determination and depart with them towards the Realme of Allemaigne Tâ—ineus ioyes nowe excéeded measure and Palmerin for his sake was no lesse contented in respect hee should the sooner sée his mistresse Polinarda whose very rememberaunce gaue him life as the ayre doth the Camelion But fortune beholding each thing prosper as liked their fancies woulde nowe néedes beginne to play her Pagant crossing them with the vnhappiest stratageme that euer could happen to so noble Princes as in the sequell shall bée laxgely discoursed They little expecting such a chaunce are earnestly following their serious enterprise which was secretly to carrie Agriola with them into Allemaigne for which purpose they prouided shippes and skilfull Pilots to conduct them conueying all their necessaries abroade at what time this aduenture following happened in the Court of England Chap. LIII Howe in the time of this pleasant and great assembly there came a Damosell to London who desired the king to do her iustice against a knight of his owne Court DUring the time that this royall company continued at London minding nothing but pleasures pastimes and courtly recreations there came a â—amosell so faire as might be accompanied with two auncient knights and a lustie Champion brauely armed with sixe Squires attending on him The Damosell entring the Pallace came before the King and on her knee beganâ—e in this manner Dreade Lorde hauing long time hearde your good iustice towardes your Subiects without any fauour or exception of persons I am the more bolde albeit he that hath iniuried mee is reputed for a Man of good quallity and holdeth place of authority in your Court humbly to craue of your highnesse one request against the most false and disloyall Knight that euer was whom when I but remember more weightie and gréeuous oppressions fall vpon my soule then this wretched body of mine is able to endure Damosell saide the King I shall right gladly reléeue your heauines if it ly in my power to doo it therefore tell mée the cause of your offence and what hée is that hath so wronged you Knowe my good Lorde quoth shée that I loued a Knight so déerelye as contrary to the lyking of my Parents and Fréendes and two much forgetfull of mine owne selfe I tooke him to my Husband thinking he loued mée so faithfully as his shewes and behauiour gaue demonstration But the Traytour had no other meaning then to beguile and falsely deceyue mee for after I hadde made him Lorde of mee mine and brought him to a Castle of mine so strong and fayre as anye in your highnesse dominions the Traytour expulsed mée thence violently pretending that wée were so néere allyed as he might no longer account mee for his Wife Since which time notwithstanding all the humble intreaties I haue made hée will neither restore mée my goods and possessions againe nor yet accepte mee as his espoused Wife Therefore I beséeche you my Lord as becomes a good vertuous Prince for the honour of nobilitie and regarde of womanhoode you will take pittie on a poore distressed Ladye and that in such a rightfull demaunde you woulde doo mée iustice which I had sooner demaunded but coulde not by the occasions of your troublesome warres Ladye sayde the King as yet you haue not named the man that hath offered you this surpassing iniury My Lord quoth shée this is the man in your presence name Miseres a vile Traytour and publique adulterer And if he dare affirme that I haue spoken vntruth I haue héere brought a Knight with mée who by Combatte shall make him confesse his
falshood and treason so please your Maiestie to fauour my request Miseres quoth the King how answere you this accusation and offence wherewith this Lady chargeth you Miseres béeing suddainly driuen into this dumpe knewe not well what to saye yet at length with humble reuerence hée thus beganne My soueraigne Lorde if credite may be giuen to the first countenaunce of accusations without hearing howe the partye accused can iustifie himselfe I doubt not but your Maiestie will presentlye condemne mee but when the matter is well debated and discided they which séemed at first vnreprooueable are found malicious and slaunderous persons and the accused innocent and frée from blame as heere your highnesse shall most plainely beholde The matter whereof this Ladye detecteth mée is forged and most villainously inuented for to mée belonged the Castle shée quarrelles for discended from my Predecessours to whom I am the true lawfull and legitimate inheritour True it is that this dissembling Womanne by swéete spéeches feminine guiles and secrete deceits oftentimes practised to winne mée for her Husbande but knowing her behauiour such as beséemed not a Woman of modestie and vertue I would not héere her much lesse consent to match with her And this is the cause of her complaint in hope that you béeing aboue all other Princes most bâ—nigne and honourable will constraine mée to wedde her in respecte of your absolute authoritie as the duetifull obedience wherein I am bounde When the Knight which came with the Lady heard Myseres blame her in this sorte hee stepped before the King with these words It is great follie my Lord in Miseres to deny a matter so apparantly knowne although if it were put to the iudgement of honeste personnes his common good reporte might cause him be beléeued but the poore Ladye desires that her right may bée cleared by Combatte wherein let him confounde her if hée can or else receiue rewarde for his notorious offence On her behalfe therefore my Lorde I saye and will maintaine that Myseres is a most disloyall Traytour and his mouth shall confesse it or this day will I take his heade from his bodie Myseres feeling himselfe somewhat touched grewe into great anger and albeit the shame he did the Ladie deliuered him culpable and made him doubt the issue of the Combatte yet in meruaylous choller hée aunâ—wered the Knight that hée falselye belyed him and was readie to make proofe thereof in Combatte if it pleased the King so to appoint it And I doubt not quoth hée to make thée paye for thy rashnesse and force thée confesse thy lacke of discretion in giuing credite to the trothlesse complaints of this deceitfull Woman Then was it ordained that this difference should bée tryed by Armes wherupon the Ladies Knight spake thus to the King Séeing it hath pleased your Maiestie to graunt the Fielde to Myseres and mée may it please you as it is the custome to commaunde that he deliuer hostages to the ende if hée bee vanquished the Castle maye bee deliuered into your handes to deliuer it in iustice where it appertaines Good reason saide the King and therefore Myseres you must before you enter the Fielde accomplishe what the Knight in equitie hath demaunded Then Myseres called one of his Brethren whom he required to stande as his hostage and doubt not before the Sunne be sette but I will discharge my selfe my pledge with which wordes hee departed the Hall to arme himselfe but because the daye was too farre spent the matter was deferred till the next morning The King his Lords séeing the Ladies Knight in such resolute assurance merueiled of whence and what he was for none there knewe him but Palmerin who neither coulde gesse assuredly what he was but by the golden Sunne in the Azure sheeld which made him remember that at the Ioustes in Fraunce the perillous Combate without victorie on either side was fought betwéene him and this knight Palmerin being glad to sée the man he long looked for and purposing now to bee fully reuenged on him secretly went forth of the hall commaunding one of his Squires to conuey his horse and armour the next morning out of the Citie because if he vanquished Miseres at his returne be intended to fight with him or if Miseres had the better yet he should not depart thence againe with life Nowe you must vnderstande that this Knight which came with the Ladie was the Knight of the Sunne named Frysoll who euer since the Combatte betwéene Palmerin and him remained with the Duke of Gaule and was of him highly honoured for his woorthie chiualrie Of whom when this distressed Ladie heard shée made her complaint to him of the wrong Myseres had done her and Frysol pittying her case promised to ayde her in recouerie of â—er right and so came with her to the King of Englands Court to the great gréefe of the Duke of Gaule who made Frysol promise him to returne againe after the Combatte but Frysol was more desirous thereof then the Duke in respect of his fayre Syster because hée was specially beloued of her Thus Palmerin following his enterprise feared to bée preuented because the Féeld was appoynted by the King in the same place where hée intended to méete with Frysol and beside Palmerin and the Duke of Norgalles were ordained Iudges of the field which hée would not willingly haue taken vpon him doubting by that meane to bee hindered of his other determination The time being come that the Knights should to the Combatte the King and the Ladyes came to their Scaffolds and the two Iudges were placed in their Tent accompanied with many Princes and honourable persons After that the Heraulds bad commaunded the Champions to doo theyr deuoyre then they clasped their helmets and fetching their carrire mette with such puissaunce as Miseres brake his Launce on Frysols Shéelde not mouing him in his Saddle but Frysol driuing his Launce through Miseres bodie caused the Traytour to fall deade to the earth Then he allighting and opening Miseres Helmette sawe no life in him came to the Iudges saying You may nowe perceyue my Lordes whether hee that offered this Ladie such villanie hath receyued his due desert or no if there yet remaine any thing else to do for recouering of her right I am here ready to maintaine her cause Palmerin who was not verie well pleased with this victorie answered Knight you haue done enough at this time pray that other affayres may proue as prosperous to you héereafter and in anger went forth of the field commaunding the bodie of Miseres to be brought thence which was afterward interred with great honour Frysol hauing thus vanquished Miseres the Ladie for whom he entred the Combatte fell on her knées before the King desiring him to surrender the castell which Myseres vniustly detained from her In sooth Ladie quoth the King it is reason you should haue iustice and your owne deliuered you but know you his name that defended your
onelye excepted who euermore hath beene my most trustie Seruaunt and fetcheth my necessaries at a village néere adioyning and by his honest perswasions hath manie times with-helde mee from committing violence on my selfe Thus haue you heard in bréefe the cause of my sorrowe the depth whereof cannot bée considered or valued but by such as haue in like manner tryed and suffered the disdayne and ingratitude of vnconstant Ladies Palmerin hauing heard the fortunes of the Knight repeated to him the graces and fauours of his Ladye Polynarda what honour shée did him in her Fathers Court and how hee was in daunger to receiue the like rewarde as the Knight did of his Valerica and fearing indéede that his mishappe woulde sorte to that issue he fell down at the féete of this poore refused Louer The Knight perceiuing that the reputitioÌ„ of his misfortune was cause of this alteration breâ—thing foorth a vehement sighe hee sayde Alas wretched â—atife that I am hath my destâ—ny made mee so vnhappie that enduring an extreamitye worse then death I cannot dye and yet hée that did but heare my miserie hath lost his life I will not liue any longer to preiudice any other men but will now make waye to the ende of mine owne troubles So drewe â—ée foorth Palmerins Sworde and â—ffered to thrust it into his bodye but Palmerin receiued his former estate started suddainlye vppe and catching him in his armes sayde How now my Fréende will you bée so incâ—nsiderate that for a little temporall paine which your body endureth to condemne your soule to euerlasting perdition And though your passions touch you so seuerelye as you will affoorde no pittie to your selfe yet lâ—t trée intrâ—ate you to forbeare this humour For not without reason haue I sustained this suddaine motion remembring the vnspeakable comfort I receiued by one who by false suggestions or slaundreous reports which woundeth more déepe then the fatall weapon may in like sorte be chaunged into such conceit as her iudgement may excéede a hel of torments Yet canne I not denye your Lady hauing with such shame refused you but you haue great occasion to gréeue thereat yet not to stretch the extreamily so farre as to dispayre or worke iniurie to your â—elfe calling to memory how light the opinion of a Woman is how suddaine shée will alter and howe prompt shée is to iealousie especially where shee loueth effectually And if héeretofore shée loued you feruentlye it is impossible but shee should féele some part of your anguish and more violently I thinke then your selfe can Trust then in him that hath all hearts at commaunde repose your self constantly on his prouidence for hée will not leaue you frustrate of your honourable intent standing with iustlâ—e and perfect integritie As Palmerin continued these comfortable perswasions the Dwarfe couered the Table and sette before them such a small pittaâ—nce as he had prouided when they hadde refreshed themselues Palmerin tooke his leaue of the Knight promising him if hée coulde by anye meanes to giue some ease to his oppressions Varnan returned him many thankes commanding his Dwarfe to conduct him to the high waye béeing not a little sorrowfull to leaue his compaâ—ie who had so well aduised and comforted him Palmerin being come into his ready way sent backe the Dwarfe and rode on till he was gâ—t out of the Forrest intending to finde out the Castlâ— where Valerica remained because he would somewhat sollicite the cause of sollitarie Verman Ryding along in this determination hée espyed a Knight and two squires before him yâ— knight thus speaking to one of his squires I knowe not whether it be time as yet to enter the Garden or if Madame Valerica be as yet come thither Go sée if she be there and returne quickly to mée againe Palmerin hearing the name of Valerica knewe well it was shée for whome the solitarie Knight liued in such pensiuenes wherefore mooued with pitty of his miseries hee sayde to himselfe Sée héere the trecherie of a trothlesse Woman so vnhonorablie to forsake the man that loues her so déerely and preferre the villanie of this intercepting Traytour but I shall teach him ere I go what a penalty belongs to the preuenting of a loyall knight and so comming to the knight hee sayâ—e Art thou a man villaine that wouldest forest all the loue of the best Knights in England by my Sword thou shalt déerely pay for thy disloyalty With these words he gaue him such a stroake on the head as he cleft it therewith to the very téeth The Squires séeing theyr maister slaine beganne to haste away but Palmerin caught him that was sent to the Garden to whome he sayde Come on Sirra if thou louest thy life bring mée to the Lady if thou doost not thou shalt neuer followe thy trade any longer The Squire durst doo no otherwise so he brought him to the little gate where Valerica was wont to receiue in her louer and knocking with his finger as his Master was accustomed Valerica opened the doore and thinking it was her Fréend cast her armes about Palmerins necke who brought her in his armes forth of the Garden commanding the Squire presently to followe him Valerica abashed hereat sayde Howe nowe swéete fréende whether will you carry mee Knowe you not if my father heard héereof that neyther of vs durst approch before him Tush Madame sayde Palmerin these are but wordes there is no remedy but you must go with mée So neyther with teares nor requests would hee be intreated but mounting on horsebacke caused the Squire to helpe the Lady vppe before him because he would be sure shée should not escape from him and riding on towardes the Forrest because the night drew on he left the rode way séeking some place where they might coÌ„ueniently repose themselues for that night At length hee founde out a little thicket where they alighted and hee returning his Horse to pasture tooke off his Helmet and came to the Lady desiring her to bée content with such hard lodging for that night but when shée behelde that it was not her fréend wringing her handes she thus exclaimed Alas vnhappy wretch that I am how trecherously am I deceiued What mishappe may be comparable to mine hauing lost my fréende and abyding at his pleasure that hath cruelly murdered him Ah Fortune why art thou so inconstant to chaunge my former pleasure into this gréeuous stratageâ—â—e Palmerin hearing her so impatient sayde You must thinke Lady that what hath happened is by diuine permission who hath thus appoynted to punish your loosenesse and your excéeding disloyalty towardes him who loues you dearer then his owne soule and for your loue leades a most austere life in the very desolate and vncomfortable place of the worlde If hée haue thus long endured such hardnesse for your sake it is good reason that you should participate a little with his misery Feare not therefore for I speake nothing of him but what I haue séene and by great chaunce haue
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
thy beautie of such value that the Knight to whome my Father and I haue doone so great honours would leaue vs and depart with thée trust meâ— thou art farre from thine account for if thou vauntest to doo him such honor in thy Fathers Courte as his nobilitie deserueth it consisteth in my power to exalt him more in one howre then thou canst doo in a thousand yéeres mightest thou liue so long I did neuer thinke that such audacious and incontinent tempting a man could any way enter thy heart but if such bee thy disposition thou oughtest rather to abide in thy Fathers Courte where thou maist haue leysure to followe thy base affection with some of the 〈◊〉 or youthes attending on thy Father then to offer the 〈◊〉 héere in my Chamber Hence hence foorth of my presence for I will not kéepe company with such an intemperate Woman What regard hadst thou of thy great linage or the place from whence thou art discended Yea what comfort will it be to me when I shall heare that a Ladie issued of the blood royall should bée more shamelesse and impudent then a 〈◊〉 a villaine or an high way begger Many other such like hard spéeches vsed Alchidiana all which gréeued her not so much as to 〈…〉 of him whom she reputed as passionate for her loue as shée was for his These high words of the Princesse caused the Ladies attending on Ardemia to enter the Chamber which maâ—e her then breake off because she woulde not haue euerie one knowe the matter and they séeing their Mistresse so sad and discomforted brought her to her owne Chamber where on her bedde shee sorrowed so impatiently as each one 〈◊〉 she would 〈◊〉 her selfe and faine shée woulde but that their presence hindered her therefore shee deferred it till better opportunitie And because shee had spent the most part of her yonger yéeres in reading the workes of 〈◊〉 as wel Greekes as Arabians she remembred the mouâ—nfull Tragedie of Biblis which caused her to frame a Dittie that shée had translated from the Greeke 〈◊〉 of Sapho into her vulgar spéech and turning towardes her Ladies and Gentlewomen she began in this maner The lamentable Dittie of Ardemia dying for loue MVsenot fayre virgins at Ardemia Although her end be hard and dolorous For death is pleasant as mine elders say To any Ladie sometime amorous For as the Swan in cold Meander glide By mournfull notes foretelles her speedy death So my complaint doth bid me to prouide For sweetest loue makes hast to stop my breath The ill that endlesse and vncessantly Torments my heart is fayre and choysest beautie And this vnhappie awkwarde desteny Falles to my lot through spotlesse loyaltie For fond conceit that ouer-rulde my wit More wretched then fayre Biblis maketh me And he I loue more stony hard is knit Then Caunus who could ken no courtesie Yet Bibliâ— oftentimes could ease her heart By sweete deuising with her louely freend But he I honor recks not of my smart Nor will vouchsafe one gracious looke to lend And as her sorrowes cheefely did arise Because the secrets of her loue were knowne So I reueald each one will me despise VVhich death can stint ere it too farre be blowne Vnhappie wretch that could not this foresee And be more chary of so choyse a thing But all too late I wish the remedie Therefore my folly doth due guerdon bring if loue that is esteemde a power diuine Vnto his Seruaunts giue so sharpereward VVhat merit may vile hatred then resigne Vnto his vassayles that his Lawes regard Oft haue I heard mine auncient elders say That such as loue not are vnwoorthie life Yet doth my loue imagine my decay And throwes my hope into whole worlds of strife And yet the paynes I wish for my mischaunce May not be valued with my present woe For to compare them is meere dalliaunce And neither sence or reason should â— shoâ—e Life is to me lothsome and burdenous All pleasure seemes to mee tormenting hell Ah poore refused and abused thus Must thou needes die for louing all too well O sacred Venus patrâ—nesse of loue In this distresse wilt thou not pittie me And thy fayre Sonne that thus his shaft did proue VVill he forsake me in this ieopardie If you forsake me in this iust request And will not fauour what you did procure Giue leaue to him that bringeth all to rest And he will ease the torments I endure You fatall Sisters that haue spunne my thred And now thinke good it should be cut in twaine Fulfill the taske as you are destenied And let my heart abide no longer paine Come sweetest death expected too too long Ende all the euils vnhappie loue begun If thou delay I challenge thee of wrong Hast then good death that loue and life were done Her complaints thus finished shée commaunded her Ladies to depart the Chamber and being alone by her selfe shee againe began to consider the rigorous refusall of Palmerin the conceit whereof gréeued her so extreamely as also the reproachfull wordes of her Cozin that making a conscience of her sorrowes and raging with extreamitie of this despight brake the vaines of her heart in sunder and the artiries of her bodie as the bloud issued foorth at many places aboundantly and therewithall in short time she was strangled The nxet morning her chéefest Lady that attended on her and loued her excéedingly came to the bedde side to sée how shée fared but finding her dead and so 〈◊〉 with her owne bloud gaue such a loude shrieke as Alchidiana and her Dâ—moselles affrighted at the noyse ranne in all haste to the Chamber The Princesse knowing the cause of this mischaunce was maruellous sorrowfull assuring her selfe that the wordes shée spake in her anger occasioned this bloudie 〈◊〉 And the â—umor of this mishop was so soone spread through the Palace as all the Ladies Damoselles Knightes Squires and other câ—me to beholde the harde fortune of Ardemia What lamentation was made on all sides is not to be expressed especially the Ladies attendant on Ardemia and her Brothâ—r Guâ—â—haran who brought her with him thither but her Gouernesse not able to endure the burthen of her heauinesse without feare of dread of any thus openly complained Ah swéete Princesse Aâ—demia the flowre of beautie howe deare hast thou bought this precious gift for I knowe assuredly that for this cause onely thy death happened vnhappie was the houre when thou didst leaue thy Fathers Court to accompanie the Princesse Alchidiana After her mones and the funerall pompe accomplished the Soldane erected for her a most beautifull Tâ—mbe with a sumptuous Coronet on the toppe thereof being vpheld by two inestimable Pillâ—rs of engrauen and guilded Alablaster the like whereof were neuer séene since the first King of Greece Yet was hée ignorant in the cause of her death and Palmerin not imagining whence this inconuenience did arise was so sorrowfull for the death of the Princesse as day and night hee mourned for her and
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
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
sorrow hée conceiued for his Ladie knowing him to bée the same man indéede was so excéeding ioyfull as infinit embracings and kissings woulde not serue to bewraye his comfort for such gracious welcomes reuerence and courtesie he vsed as Palmerin bashfull to bee vsed with such honour said Unseemelie is it my Lord that you should thus much abase your selfe to mee for vnder correction it ill agrees that the Maister should honour the Seruaunt The poore Prince could not but still holde him in his armes and with teares and meruailous affection thus aunswered Ah Palmerin mine onelie hope and comfort in trouble where hast thou beene what fortune hath kept thee so long from mee My déere Fréende howe manie yrkesome thoughts haue I endured expecting thy comming so that when I saw thou didst not returne and I could no way heare what was become of thée the verye conceite of thy absence had néerâ—â—laine me Then carelesse what became of my selfe being depriued of my loue and honour of my life I am fallen into these miseries farre excéeding death which Fortune I sée hath permitted because I am perswaded that thou must deliuer me from all mishappes and by thée shall I attaine my chéefest desires Ah happie and fortunate hower well worthie for euer to be celebrated with tryumphâ—s finding thée the onely cause of my good whome long since I feared was consorted with the dead but séeing thou art now so happilie come acquaint me with the fortunes that â—raied thée thus long for very desirous am I to knowe them Palmerin was so gréeued to sée him in such weake sicklie estate as hée could hardlie make any aunswere yet striuing with himselfe said My noble Lord the time requireth now other occasions héereafter shall I tell you the whole discourse Graunt mée I beséeche you without further intreating that I may enter the Combat in your name against one of those Traitours who haue accused you for such is my hope in God that I shall spéede luckilie and bring him to the end such a villaine deserues With all my heart quoth the Prince I am contented assuring my successe so well in your vertues as if fiue hundred of my Knights did enter the fielde for mée And to the ende that without feare or doubt you maye take my cause in hand I sweare to you by the liuing God that since Tarsius espoused Griana I neuer sawe her till when the King came and found me with her which was so short a time as she had not the leysure to make mée any answer True it is that I kild the King but howe I did it in respect hée was mine enemie and abused my Lady and lawful wife What though they were espoused togither the mariage was not to be allowed in that it was doone against her will she béeing as I haue said my Wife by solemne spéeches before God married to me It suffiseth said Palmerin I haue enough You shall likewise vnderstande my Lord that I haue brought with me another Knight who will gladlie aduenture the Combate on the Quéenes behalfe and such a one he is as the other accuser will scant dare to stande against him wherefore let mée intreate you to comfort your selfe expecting our happy and fortunate successe Florendos falling on his knée gaue thanks to Heauen for this luckie euent and hauing an indifferent while conferred togither after Palmerin had aduertised Frenato of his Sonne Ptolomes health and that in short time hee had good hope to finde him he returned to the Emperour to whome making great reuerence he saide Now my gracious Lorde I come to vnderstand your answer I pray you sir Knight quoth the Emperour holde me excused if I haue not welcommed you as your nobilitie bountie and highe Chiualrie deserueth but after the Combat is ended which for my part I graunt ye what hath wanted now shall bée supplyed so that your selfe shall rest contented I thanke your Maiestie for this extraordinarie fauour said Palmerin and séeing the Prince hath committed his cause to my fortune I beséech you send for the Kings Nephewes that the appointed daye may not bee preuented by any further delayes And if the Quéene your Daughter be not prouided of a Champion this Knight poynting to Frysoll my vowed Fréende and companion shall vndertake her cause in that he came hither for no other businesse and such good experience haue I made of his valour and hardinesse as if by knightlie Chiualrie her right may be defended assure your selfe my Lord this is the man I thinke said the Emperor she is not as yet determined of anie one albeit full manie haue made offer of themselues and for wee will expect no further this Knight shall be preferred before all that come I humbly thanke your Maiestie for this fauour aunswered Frysoll yet would I bee loth to presume too farre before I vnderstand the Quéenes pleasure The Emperour caused him to be conducted to the Quéenes Chamber and his two companions with him who desired to sée the Ladies where béeing entred Frysoll humbly vpon his knée began in this manner Right noble and excellent Quéene so far through Christendome is spread the report of your rare vertuous and integritie of life especially your innocencie in the crime wherewith you are accused as from farre Countreyes I am come to be your Knight if you will vouchsafe me such honour as to accept me Assuring you that vnder your commaundement and in the companie of my noble Fréend who vndertakes the Combat for my Lord Florendos right willing am I to aduenture life and credit Alas Gentle Knight quoth the Quéene this offer procéedeth from your courtesie and bountie not by any vertue on my parte deseruing for too contrarie hath Fortune euermore sette her selfe against me But verie ingratefull might I bee accounted and neuer be reckoned among Ladies of regard if hauing taken such paines for me I shoulde not accept you for my Knight especiallie in so vrgent occasion Therefore I entertaine you into this seruice and I desire of God that you may be as easilie deliuered from the charge you take in hand for me as my conscience is cléere from the faulte wherwith I am accused I hope Madame quoth Frysoll that my Lord your Father shall ere long perceiue your loyall perfect and pure nobilite which neuer can kéepe companie with seruile anâ— detestable treason All this while Palmerin beholding the Quéene séeing her swéete face so stained and blubbered with teares mooued with naturall remorse was constrained to turne his head aside to hide the teares that trickled down his chéekes The Quéene likewise regarded him so earnestlye as when â—he behelde him wéepe she imagined that one gaue a violent pull at her heart which shee dissembled so well as she could determining not to demand the cause thereof vntill such time as the Combatte were finished So taking their leaue of the Quéene and the Princesse Armida they returned to their lodging till the next morning when the Emperour
hee would conferre with you and haue your wounds attended by his owne Chirurgions So turning again to the Pallace they entred the Hall where the Emperour méeting them said Right welcome are ye my noble Fréendes who hauâ— so happilie defended my Daughters honor for whose sake I shall make ye such recompence as shal be hencefoorth an encouragement to all Knights to aduenture the Combat on the behalfe of anie distressed Ladye Imediatlye in theyr presence by sounde of Trompet hée caused to bee declared that the Prince Florendos and the Quéene Griana were innocent of the trayterous accusation and therefore in open Fielde bad they should bee deliuered commaunding likewise his most expert Chirurgions to giue diligent attendaunce on the wounded Knights causing them to be lodged in the most statelie Chambers of his Pallace Afterwarde hée suffered the bodies of the vanquished to bee buried giuing expresse charge on paine of death that none of the knights of Hungaria should depart from Constantinople without his leaue because hée woulde while they stayed there prouide for the gouernment of the kingdom as appertaining to his yong Daughter the Princesse Armida The Empresse was so ioyfull for the deliueraunce of Griana as shee had soone forgotte her Nephewes misfortune the Quéenes Ladies likewise were not a little glad but aboue all the yong Princesse Armida her comfort could not be expressed that her Mother was so graciouslie defended and now the Duke of Pera who hadde the Prince Florendos in custodie fetching him foorth of prison said My Lord thanke God and the Knights that fought the Combat for you for by theyr meanes the Emperour declareth you absolued and set at libertie The Prince lifting his eyes to Heauen thus began Ah my God how happie is the man that trusteth in thy mercie doubtlesse he that beléeueth in thy promises shall neuer perish Noble Duke in all mine afflictions I haue euermore founde your speciall fauour but if God prolong my life I will not be vnmindfull of your gentlenesse In sooth my Lord quoth the Duke for so good a Prince any honest minde would gladlie endeuour himselfe and if I haue pleasured you in anie thing I did no more then my dutye which christian amitie requireth of each other So taking him by the hand hée brought him before the Emperour when falling on his knées the Prince thus spake If héeretofore dread Lord both I and my people gaue our selues to â—rauaile and aduentured desperate hazard in your defence at this time I count my selfe sufficientlie recompenced séeing your displeasure qualified and the hard opinion you conceiued against me chaunged into princely and honorable iustice Syr Florendos aunswered the Emperour when I remember the wrong you did my Daughter leauing such a scandalous report of her at the first time you came to this Cittie I thinke you woorthie of the sharpest death But placing mercie before rigorous iustice I am desirous to let you knowe that it liketh me better to be loued then feared forgetting quite the offence against our person the murder of our Sonne without any regard to the murmur of the people whose ignoraunce cannot consider of Princes mercie Nor will I stayne mine aged yéeres with mine owne proper bloud or the death of a Prince so noble whereby I shoulde leaue to my following posteritie as a Trophe of my life an endlesse memorie of tirannous crueltie but rather shall my chéefest aduersaries stop their mouthes with remembrance of my clemencie and princelie bountie as your owne conscience shall well witnesse with me You therefore my Lorde the Duke of Pera see that the Prince Florendos be lodged in the best place in our Cittie and kéepe him companie vntill his traine shall come from Macedon With great humilitie the Prince kissed the Emperours hande acknowledging his manifolde and princelie courtesies desiring the Duke likewise before his departure that hee might speake with the two Knightes Frysoll and Palmerin Béeing brought to their Chambers the embracings and gracious courtesies hée vsed to them I am not able to vtter and verie loth was hee to parte from them but that hée woulde no way preiudise theyr health wherefore giuing them the good night he was conducted to his lodging leauing Palmerin verie sadde and pensiue remembring what the Quéene of Tharsus had saide to him howe hée should deliuer his Father from death before he could know him which was likewise confirmed by the apparition of the Ladie to him vnder the name of his best and déerest Fréendes O that the Heauens did so fauour me quoth he that I were the Sonne of the Prince Florendos and Quéene Griana then woulde I imagine my selfe the happiest man in the world Yet can I not forget that the Fayries tolde mée on the Mountaine Artifaeria that one daie I shoulde bée Lord of all Greece but God is my witnesse that I couet not such honor and preferment were it not for the loue of my Ladie to the ende her Father might not dislike of our contract And hence will I not depart before I vnderstand the truth héereof and to what ende this aduenture will happen Frysoll on the other side he deuised how to make himselfe knowne to the Emperour and Empresse because he had good hope when himselfe might bée knowne that his Father Netrides shoulde enioy the Kingdome of Hungaria The Prince Florendos likewise coulde take no rest for his great desire to recouer the Quéene Griana Such were the passions of these thrée Princes eache one liuing in hope of good successe which happens according to their expectations as you shall reade héereafter Chap. XXXII How the Queene Griana with the yong Princesse Armida went to visit Palmerin and Frysoll and howe the Queene knew Palmerin to be her sonne to the no litle ioy of the Emperour and the Prince Florendos TWo daies after the deliueraunce of the Prince Florendos the yong Princesse Armida deuising with the Quéene her Mother said Me thinks gracious Madame we are to be reprooued of ingratitude in that we haue not as yet visited the poore wounded knights considering how greatly we are beholding to them I beséech you let vs this morning go sée how they fare Alas Daughter aunswered the Quéene hast thou the heart to bring me among such persons when I am saide to bee the cause of thy fathers death Then the Princesse breaking foorth in teares replied Beléeue me Madame if you remember your selfe well you are in as little faulte as Iam and so hath an honorable victorie declared but had you béene anye way culpable therein yet nowe you ought to comfort your selfe hauing had such a famous proofe of innocencie In signe whereof and to declare your thankfulnesse to those gentle Knights it will bée counted a speciall point of courtesie to visite them that ventured for you Go we then said the Quéene séeing you thinke it so necessarie and are so desirous So accompanied with manie Ladies clothed all in mourning blacke they went first to Frysoll greatlie thanking
Palmerin hearing either fearing to offend them or induced by modest bashfulnes he went to his Sister the Princesse Armida whose thoughts hée sounded by such subtilties and dissimulations as he found the effect of her desires which was to enioy Sir Frysoll to her Husband He not a little contented héerewith confirmed her choyse to be commendable sealing the assurance thereof with an honourable report of his knightly déedes of Armes Then the Emperour called for the Duke of Mecaena and the Counte of Reâ—foâ—t as also his principall Secretarie whom hee commaunded to write to the Emperour of Allemaigne touching the marriage of the Princesse Polinarda and his sonne Paâ—merin shadowing the secret agréement betwâ—ene themselues and committed tâ—e rest to the discreâ—ion of the Ambassadours The Letters sealed with his great Signet was deliuered to them that had the charge of this message who could not so spéedily departe from Constantinople because the winde and weather was not nauigable Now had Palmerin promised Frysoll that he would speake to the Princesse his sister and solemnely resolue vpon their marriage wherefore méeting with this earnest Lâ—uer hee thus laboured to please him Trust me Cozin I haue so surely imprinted your especiall generositie in my Sisters minde as the carracters can neuer be defaced but remaine more perfect by your spéedie marriage Frysoll reuiued with these newes as all pretenders of loue may well imagine offered to kisse his hande which Palmerin would not suffer whereupon hée thus procéeded Ah my Lorde howe am I more and more indebted to you right wise was hee which saide that affabilitie and liberalitie are continuall companions with noblenesse and magnanimitie And though by al my seruices I cannot deserue the honour you do mee in accepting me for your Brother yet am I so faithfully vowed yours as the honours of my Father nor loue of the Princesse your Sister can seperate mee from your companie vntill you haue founde your long desired Friende Trineus And for this cause my Lord I earnestly intreate you to hasten Apolonio towards my Father for I will sende him to 〈◊〉 place where he shall be assured to finde him Palmerin accorded thereto immediatly and so labored with the Emperour that the Letters were deliuered and the oathes taken of all the Hungarians they were sent home into theyr Countrey with a Lieutenant appointed to gouerne them vntill the comming of Netrides to whom Frysoll wrote the truth of all his fortunes with earnest request of his spéedie presence And to enduce him to the greater haste hée feigned that many Princes laboured for the Crowne of Hungaria and were in likelihood to obtaine it all which was but to enioy the faire princesse Armida The same day Florendos sent to the King his Father at Macedon that hée should send the cheefest states of his Realme against the day that Palmerin should be sworne the Prince of Greece Chap. XXXIIII How Câ—tdyna the Gentlewoman attending on the Queene accompanied with her Brother and diuers other Squires brought Gerrard his wiâ—e and daughter to the Court and what entertainment Palmerin made them CArdyna with those that were commaâ—ded to kéepe her company in short time came to Gerrards house whom shee found sitting at dinner with his familie The good man was at first amazed séeing such courtly personages enter his house a matter estéemed rare among yâ— persons dwelling on the mountaine but séeing they came in decent and modest sort not proffering any discourtesie he entertained them very friendly when Cardyna taking him by the hande said Good Father are you the man that is called Gerrard I am the same quoth he gentle mistresse You are then the man aunswered Cardyna that I séeke and therefore I pray thée tell me what thou didst with a Childe that twentie yéeres and more since thou foundest in swadling clothes vnder a Palm Trée on this Mountaine for certaine I am that thou didst take him home with thée to thy house Ah mistresse quoth the good old man you haue killed my heart in remembring me of him whom I loued déerer then any of mine owne The infant of whom you speake I founde not farre hence vnder a Palme Trée for which cause at his Baptisme I named him Palmerin From that time forwarde I nourished him as hée had béene mine owne Sonne till hée rame to tall stature and as he grew in yéeres so did hee in vertuous and noble qualities which made him not a little beloued in these parts for when hee attended my Cattell he tooke pleasure to course the Wolfe Hart Beare Bore and Lion and oftentimes would kill them when him listed which none of mine owne Children durst at any time aduenture Ah swéete Mistresse when I remember his many seruices the dutifull reuerence and loue hee bare mée I am readie to die with conceite of gréefe that it was my ill hap so soone to loose him Yet came not this misfortune alone for mine eldest Sonne who loued him as he had béene his owne Brother immediately went after him and yet could I neuer heare any tidings of them Notwithstanding Mistresse if you know of whence hée was I can shewe you all the clothes wherein I founde him I shall be contented to sée them quoth Cardyna but what will ye giue the partie that can tell ye whee he is Cerrard at these wordes fell on his knée before her and with the teares trickling downe his graie beard saide By my troth mistresse if it shall like you to doo me so great pleasure of all my substance I will giue yée the one halfe or all my heard of Beastes which ye saw féeding on the Mountain as ye came beside my continuall seruice while I liue Gramercies Father sayd Cardyna but call for your Wife and Daughter and then shall I tell ye newes that well content you As for him whose friendly Parentes you were so long time hée is nowe at Constantinople and is the Sonne of Madam Griana daughter to the Emperour who commaundeth you thrée to come to the Court that she may content ye for nourishing so well the noble young Prince The olde man excéeding ioyfull without ordering his affaires or appointing his Seruaunts their course of labour saide to his Wife and Dyofena his Daughter Make ye readie presently in your best garments and let vs goe sée that noble Gentleman for all the Golde in the world cannot make me staie nowe I haue heard so happie tidings The good woman and her daughter trickt vp themselues in their countrey fines and taking the rich swadling clothes sette forward to Constantinople so merely as sometime did the foster Father of Paris Alexander his Wife and their Daughter Pegasis when they brought the Cradle and acoustrements of the infant royall to the Cittie of Troy after he was knowne by his Father King Priam and Quéene Hecuba his Mother Palmerin being aduertised by one of the Ladies of Honour attending on the Empresse that Cardyna had brought Gerrard to prouoke greater contentation he would
as in short time he arriued in Allemaigne where hee was graciously welcommed by the Emperour and especially by the Princesse his Daughter to whome he reported the honorable behauiour of Palmerin and howe he was sworne Prince of Greece and Macedon Héereof was she so ioyfull as neuer coulde shée be satisfied with the discourse making many demaunds to the Duke as well of the Tryumphes Tourney and disports as also of the marriage celebrated at Constantinople whereto the Duke returned such fitte aunswers as nothing wanted to extoll her Fréendes honor yet without anye occasion of iealouzie to the Princesse wherto amorous Ladies are commonlie subiect But nowe returning where wee left before you must note that Palmerin béeing departed the confines of the Empire entred his Fathers Realme where in euery Cittie he was entertained with great tryumphing especiallye in the Cittie of Hermida where the Merchaunt dwelt that was Palmerins Maister for whom he sent but hée was aduertised by his Wife that her Husband was gone to the Sea and his two Sonnes with him wherefore he gaue her manie rich gifts and Letters for his Maisters frée enfranchise and libertie At his departure from thence he came to the place where Vrbanillo his Dwarfe was borne whose father was there liuing a poore auncient Knight and his Sister of as tall stature as Vrbanillo whom Palmerin at her Brothers request sent to Constantinople to his Mother And for the honor of the order his Dwarfes Father had receiued hée gaue him the Uillage wherein he dwelt and in the presence of the Macedonians put him in possession thereof who not a little commended the discréete and liberal mind of the Prince From thence he iourneyed to the chéefe Cittie of Macedon where remained the aged King his Grandfather but how the Cittizens entertained him and what honorable Tryumphes were made at the Court I list not héere sette downe because it would be more tedious then benificiall As for his Aunt the Princesse Arismenia shée at his comming mette him in the base Court with all her Ladies and as Palmerin fell on his knée before her to kisse her hande she stayed him in her armes saying God forbid Sir Palmerin that the Knight of the greatest fame in the world should reuerence so simple a Damosell as my selfe but rather am I bound by duetie to honor you as the man by whose especiall vertues our linage is this daie crowned with perpetuall memorie Fayre Aunt answered Palmerin if before I knewe you to be my Fathers Sister I deuoted my selfe to your seruice with much more affection shall I desire to followe it nowe wherefore suffer me swéete Madame to kisse your hand as being the Ladie to whome I rest continually bounden I beséech you my Lord quoth the Princesse to pardon me for neuer shall Macedonian Maiden be so repâ—â—â—ued but that she well knowes her dutie to her betters At these spéeches came the King of Sparta the Dukes of Pontus and Mecaena and the Prince Eustace whom the Princesse welcommed with excéeding honor After all courtesies ended Palmerin said I vnderstand Madame that the king your Father is crazed and sicklie if it be so I am verie sorrie I praye you therefore let vs goe sée howe his Maiestie fareth When you please my Lord quoth the Princesse for I thinke if héeretofore hee receiued health by you Fortune may at this time affoord the like and yet as I haue read there is no remedie for troublesome age but onelie death it selfe which is the Gate to immortalitie and endeth all diseases whatsoeuer So entred they the Kings Chamber and the Princesse going to the bed side to her Father saide My Lorde sée héere the good Knight Palmerin your Nephew may it please you to speake to him and bid him welcome Well know I that he is right welcome to your Maiestie were there no other cause then the happye recouerie of your former health which his aduenturous trauaile héeretofore brought ye The good olde King whome the palsie caused to shake and tremble raysed himselfe vppe a little and beholding Palmerin with weake and féeble voice thus spake Come néere my noble Sonne that these armes halfe deade may embrace thée and my lips now drie and withered may once kisse thée before I die So holding him betwéene his armes and lifting his eyes to Heauen said O my God for euer be thy name honored and praysed in vouchsafing me to sée my Sonne before my death Ah swéete death the ende of all miseries and beginning of felicitie now art thou welcome forbeare not thy stroke in that I haue now séene the honorable defence of my Subiests héereafter yea such a worthie Fréende for them as neuer had they the like Ah my Son howe déerelie ought I to loue thée how gracious hath thy remembraunce béene of mee yet féele I my selfe so weake and feeble as nature cannot prolong my life thrée daies Alas I knowe not which of vs twaine hath greatest cause to reioyce eyther the Father seeing his Sonne euen when he is readie to leaue him or the Sonne finding his Father attending his comming before he giue vp the ghost I hope my good Lord said Palmerin that you shall not leaue vs so soone therefore take a good heart and that no doubt will prolong your life Alas my Sonne quoth the King vnweldie age hath so weakened my body and euen dried vp my vitall blood as longer I may not liue and had not hope to sée thée lengthened my languishing daies thou hadst found my bodie breathlesse which yet sustaineth féeble life onely by thy presence Now that I may leaue this worlde with content and trauaile with better quiet to mine ende tell mée good Sonne the whole matter concerning thy Father Florendos with the perfect discourse of thine owne fortunes Then Palmerin rehearsed euery circumstaunce both of his Fathers deliuerie howe hée had maried the Quéene Griana and in what estate he left them both at his departure Chap. XL. How the aged King Primaleon of Macedon graundfather to Palmerin dyed and how the King of Spaâ—ta espoused the faire Pâ—incesse Arismen Sister to the prince Florendos NOt two dayes had Palmerin stayed in the Court of his Graundfather but the aged king resined his life to the celistiall powers for which cause all the triumphes ceased and generall sorrow entertained for the losse of their good king Arismena who so reuerently loued her father as in his life time she would not match in mariage with any one because it was his will it should be so neuer shewed her selfe disconted therewith but her Father béeing now dead shee committed the whole affayres of the Realme to the Counte Roldin one appointed for that office by generall good liking With such honorable pompe was the funerall obsequies executed and the Princesse gracious behauiour therein so especially commended as the young King of Sparta became amorous of her discouered his mind to Palmerin intreating him so to fauour the cause as he might make
his companion know thereof it may arise to further inconuenience And because Palmerin should not misdoubt this treason all Supper-time the Soldane held him in familiar talke he hoping by this fetch to staie them still in his Courte but it fell out afterward to bâ—e the cause that manie of his best and chéeâ—est Knightes were slaine Not long had the ambushed Knightes waited where they were appointed but the Princesse Aurecinda opened the doore and came foorth with her Fréendes as she was accustomed where they were suddainlie taken Tryneus not hauing the leysure to drawe his sworde so was hee caried prisoner to one of the strongest Towers in the Pallace and Aurecinda at the same time to another Tryneus sâ—eing himselfe thus betraide fell into these lamentable discourses Unfortunate wretch that I am haue I so lately escaped by my fréende the cruell enchauntments of the hellish Malfada wherein I endured so manie paines and torments and am now come to the place where they shall be redoubled Ah Palmerin my good Brother and companion what wilt thou say when thou hearest of my taking but most of all when thou vnderstandest the cause thereof Miserable wretch how often did my Fréend warne mee of this inconuenience yet had not I the grace to credite his Cousaile doubtlesse my very conceit of shame when thou shalt bee acquainted with my soule offence will bee more gréeuous to me then death What dishonour paine torment and punishment shall bee sufficient for my misdéede Forlorne and despised Catife could not the feare of God which hath hitherto so graciously protected thée nor the loyaltie of Agriola who forsooke Parents Fréendes and all for thée haue kept thée from this monstrous acte O eternall God the man that forsaketh thee is vile and abhâ—minable When I had thy feare before mine eyes I was at rest and quiet in conscience estéemed and beloued of all men but when thou gauest mée raynes of libertie I became dissolute and forgetfull of thée as also of them that honoured me so much Ah miserable occasion and those deceits entisements and subtill perswasions howe mightie are they in operation neither men nor diueâ—â— could bring mée into such daunger as you haue plunged mée in vp to the eares Ah villainous Page that first brought mée thither and thou the falsest LadÃe in the world art cause of my euill Nor are they to be accused but my wretched selfe who séeking mine owne hurâ— â—ound it and hauing found it continued in it Thus sorrowfully wayled Tryneus where on the contrarie side Aurecinda reioyced for when shée considered the estate of her Fréende shée perswaded her selfe by this meane that the Soldane her Brother woulde enforce him to marrie her which hope made her as ioyfull Tryneus was sadde and pensiue When the Captaine had imprisoned Tryneus and Aurecinda he came to the Soldan sitting at the Table saying Will your Maiestie commaund me any further seruice I haue enclosed the knight Tryneus in one Tower and your sister Aurecinda in another Why quoth the Soldane did you find them togither I did my Lord quoth the Captaine your sister leading him by the hande out of the Ladies hote-house By Mahâ—met quoth the Soldane but that you speake it hardly coulde I beléeue it what shamefull villainie is this committed in our Pallace by the greatest God the facte shall be so worthiâ—y punished as it shall remaine for a perpetuall memorie At these spéeches Palmerin was not a little amazed and dissembling his anger so well as he could said to the Soldane I cannot be perswaded my Lord that Tryneus would commit so vile an acte without entisement thereto by your sisters treason shée béeing vnder your Maiesties correction the most shamelesse Girle that euer I sawe for twentie and twentie times haue I séene her followe him with gestures farre vnfitting one of her calling Then starting from the Table quoth he Consider what hée is and what thou intendest against him for neuer was imprisonment so dearely bought as this will be and before thou puttest him to death it shall cost mee my life and the liues of an hundreth thousand Knightes beside in reuenge of his wrong Béeing thus enflamed with ire hée could not so giue ouer but thus beganne againe By God Soldane thy treason is so manifest as thou canst not hide it full well doo I vnderstand thy flatteries whereby thou hopest to kéepe vs in thy seruice but farre art thou from thy reckoning for rather will I be torne in a thousande péeces then endure the reproach of such a mans seruice who vnder colour of friendship imprisoneth his Knightes and afterward threatneth them with death Tomano Drumino Corax and many other knights belonging to the King Abimar séeing Palmerin in such a rage as it séemed the fire did sparkle from his eyes endeuoured to perswade him and Tomano thus spake to the Soldane My Lorde vnder my safe conduct and your faith promised are these two Knights come with vs to your Court and yoâ— haue now imprisoned one of them aduise your selfe of spéedie iustice for this shame doone him is against all right and foreuer shall you be noted with breache of faith beside I repute his iniurie as done to my selfe The Soldane séeing the Princes thus mooued although himselfe procured those fifâ—â—e Armed knights to take Tryneus yet with smooth countenance hée thus answered Content your setues my friends Tryneus in right shall be defended and if I finde my Sister culpable shee shall be punished as she were a straunger More I demaund not said Palmerin for I am assured that by her flatteries Tryneus hath bene seduced So departing to his Chamber he met his two Squires Bellechino and Colmelio of whom he demaunded if they at any time perceiued the loue betwéene Tryneus and the Princesse Aurecinda They answered that they did perceiue it and diuers nightes they sawe him goe to the Princesse Chamber And why did you not reueale it to me quoth he worthilye haue you deserued death in concealing the shame of your Maisters Fréende wherein my selfe cannot escape vntouched Héereupon he Armed himselfe and sending for the Prince Tomano said to him I thinke it best my Lord that you kéepe your ordinarie guarde about your person till we knowe how the soldane will deale with Trineus As for my selfe I intende if your Brother Drumino and the Prince Corax will ioyne with mee to keepe the Fielde with the thousand Knightes that came hither with vs that none may enter into the Cittie without our licence In meane while you may sende a Courtier to the King your Father that he presentlye sende vs what helpe he may Sir Palmerin answered Tomano not onelie my Knightes shall enter the Fielde for you but my selfe likewise so please you to commaund mee and what you thinke best for the deliueraunce of your Fréende Tryneus I will bee willing to accomplishe to my vttermost Presentlye will I send a Horseman to Grisca and conferre with my Brother Drumino that his Knights
it Sée then the power of that Maiestie which can 〈◊〉 and conquerâ— where he lift and I swearâ— to you by my Crowne that the good fortune of Palmeriâ— contenteth me as well as if he were mine owne sonne Mightie Soldane answered the Duke of Mensa if you resolue to loue the worthie Prince Palmerin both hée and his will performe the like to you and on his behalfe we promise faithfully that against all your enemies Christendome excepted you shall be assured of his succour and assistance I request no better assurance quoth the Soldane then this that he hath sent and that you may witnesse I am his faithfull Friendes at this instant shall the peace be ratified by all the Lordes and Princes here present and to seale the same as he requested I giue my daughter to the Prince Olorico Great ioy was generally made for this good agréement and the two louers were espoused together within few dayes after and the time being come for the Ambassadours returne to Constantinople Alchidiana sent diuerâ— rich gifts to Palmerin and Polinarda the like did the Soldane and the Prince Olorico Chap. LX. How Palmerin Trineus and Agriola accompanied with many great Lords and princes went to the Emperor of Allemaigne at Vienna where great triumphs were made at the celebrating of the marriage between Trineus and the princesse Agriola SOone after the Prince Olorico and the Ambassadours of Greece were gone towardes Assiria Palmerin although the aged Emperour very much disswaded him made prouision for his spéedy voyage to Allemaigne and hauing conducted the King of Sparta and his Aunt Arismena some parte of their way homeward at their returne to the Cittie of Constantinople hée came to the Duke of Pontus saying I remember the time when you did cutte off the great Turks head an acte deseruing good and especiall recompence and that you thereby deliuered vs and performed it at the motion of the Princesse Laurana her haue you loued euer since both on lande and Sea and her Countrey is not farre hence will ye now make her your Ladie and Wife I promise ye my assistance so farre as I can My Lord aunswered the Duke fearing to offend you I still deferred to mooue you in this cause but seeing wee are nowe so happily fallen into these tearmes I will not conceale the truth from you In sooth my Lorde when first I sawe her I loued her and haue euer since continued in this hope that time at length would fauour my intent It sufficeth saide Palmerin and presently hée acquainted the Emperour therewith who thinking the match very méete and conuenient they were the next day married by the Achbishop of Constantinople and in short time after went to take possession of their Duchie of Durace where they were receiued very honourably and the whole state yéelded vp into the Dukes hande When Palmerin sawe that the most parte of his companions were departed at the earnest intreataunce of the Prince Trineus and Agriola he set forward to Allemaigne accompanied with Frysoll and Armida whome hée conducted into the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll was crowned King by reason of his Fathers decease there went with him like wise Diardo of Bohemia the Prince Eustace Ptolome and other Lords of great account 〈◊〉 good speed they made in theyr iourney as in short time they arriued at Vienna where the Emperour béeing aduertised of their comming by the Dwarfe came with his courtly trayne to méete them and taking his Sonne Tryneus in his armes said I sée it is the will of God my Sonne that héere after I shall haue as great ioy by thée as in thy long absence I haue had gréefe and sorrow all which I patiently put vp for the loue of thy brother the noble Prince Palmerin and faire Agriola of England that well deserues it But in good â—â—â—th my Children had you not come in so happie time I should haue bene driuen to meruailous fears For the King of Fraunce perceiuing that I would not giue my daughter in marriage to his eldest sonne demaunded the King Recinde of Spaine his daughter who graunted his request so that they twaine with the aide of the King of England haue leueyed such an Armie on the Sea as neuer was the like séene to passe the Rheine But séeing you returned in so good disposition the lesse account I make of their angrie menaces yet are they the thrée principall Kings of Christendome My Lord answered Palmerin be not you dismaide at their enterprise for ere manie dayes bee expired I hope to sée all matters quietly pacified and that without anie effusion of blood The lesse is my doubt quoth the Emperour in that with such good fortune you haue finished your intentions for nothing you begin but comes to luckie ende Witnesse héerof appeareth in the search of my Sonne Tryneus whom the best Knights in Christendome haue laboured to finde but all their trauaile I sée hath béene spent in vaine By this time they were come to the Pallace where they were graciously receiued by the Ladies Alas my Fréendes said the Empresse which of you shall I first embrace Ah my Sonne Tryneus howe sorrowfull hast thou made mée since thy departure from England iust cause hast thou to thanke the Heauens who protected thée still in so manie daungers and forget not thy Brother Palmerin who hath endured such trouble for thy sake Faire Daughter quoth she to the Princesse Agriola welcome are you indeed God send you better fortune héereafter then you haue had alreadie which yet hath bene a Touch-stone of your loyaltie But while these spéeches continued howe the other two Louers with piercing regard beheld eache other and how many gracious signes passed as secrete Ambassadours betweene them Polynarda was clad in such costly 〈◊〉 for the pleasure she conceiued since the Dwarffes 〈◊〉 at the Court as shee seemed anothâ—r Iuno when shée stood to abide the arbitrâ—ment of 〈◊〉 or like Voluptas fâ—llowing her Mother Venus But fearing least this amiable encounter should decipher some part of her former courtesies to her friend which as yet was vnknowne to any but Bryonella she locked vp all secrets with so swéet a kisse as would haue contented the rudest of the Gods had it bâ—ne Vulcan or Neptune themselues And comming to salute the Princesse Agriaâ—a sayd No meruaile faire sister if your loue wrought wonders in my brothers minde for vnfainedly I speake it your exquisite graces deserue the greatest seruice in the world Alas Madame aunswered Agriola if nature or they that had the charge of me in my youth could haue painted me with such beautie as I see in you or enriched me with wisedome able to deuise with my Lord when he came to sée mee then could I haue said somewhat of the paines he hath taken for mée but I know my selfe so full of imperfections as the loue hée beares me procéedeth of his owne good nature not by any merit he can behold me Then Palmerin kneeling before the