the same high way where hée went a great number of Knights which seemed vnto him that they were in battaile they so beesturred themselues and therewith hée did amend his pace to know what it should meane and when he came nigh vnto them hée saw that it was more them twentie knights who had compassed about one alone Knight who was a of a very big stature and armed with blackarmour who made battaile with them all and did defend himself verie stoutly and strongly and had ouerthrowen wounded to the ground sixe of them so that hée séemed to bée a valyant Knight and of good estimation When the Knight of Cupide had well marked him and saw him so valiantly defend himselfe he receiued great contentment and determined to succor him in that conflict perswading him that the truth and right was on his part for that there was so manie against one and without any more tarrying hée set spurres to his Horse sides and with his Sword in his hand hée put himselfe in the middest of them that had compassed him about and before that hee stroke any blow hée sayd Knights holde your handes and bee in quyet a while and let mée vnderstand what is the occasion of this battaile that so manie Knights are against one All of them did well heare and vnderstand what he sayd but the answere which they made vnto him was that they all stroke at him as they which made no reckoning of him which was a sorrowfull houre for some of them for that when the knight of Cupid dyd sée their villanie his anger dyd presently increase and he lift vp his strong arme and stroke one of them vpon y e healme that â—…e cloue his head downe to his shoulders so that he fel from â—…is horse dead to the earth he was scarce downe when the stroke another vpon y e shoulder so that hée cloue him to the breast and besturred himselfe amongst them with so great fury that béefore they did perceiue their losse and harme hée had ouerthrowen halfe of them to the ground When this mightie knight who first made battaile with them all saw himselfe succoured and aided in that time as hee thought his life to bée lost hée receiued great ioy and contentment and was very much amazed to sée the straunge curtesie of that Knight and the furious strokes which hee gaue vnto his contraries the which was such that if hée had not seene it with his owne eyes hee would neuer haue beeléeued it and with that new and vnlooked for aide succour his strength and courage did so increase that he stroke such a blow vpon the arme of one of them that was next him that hee cut it cleane a sunder and it fell to the ground holding his shéelde fast and hée stroke another vpon the head that hée cloue it to the eyes and ouerthrew him from his horse to the ground so that afterward they could not strike any more blows for that the rest of the Knights séeing the great slaughter and effusion of blood which those two Knights made thought their liues in small securitie and fled away with all the hast they could béeing to the number of sixe or seauen knights so that these two valiaunt knights were left alone when the knight with the black armour saw himselfe cléere from his contraries hée lift vp his beauer and went vnto the knight of Cupide saying O gentle knight the best that euer was séene for I beleeue that in all the world is not thy like wherewith she bée able to greatifie this good turne which you haue done vnto mée I cannot surely with lesse then to offer my life so that next vnto God by you I haue my life at least wayt deliuered mée that I was not carried away prisoner whiâ—… would haue béene vnto mée more grieuous then my deaâ—… Sir knight saide Rosicleer your great valour doth deserâ—… far more then this and I doo account my selfe verie wâ—… satisfied for that I haue done dooing it for so worthie knight as you neuerthelesse I desire you to tell mée if yâ—… are of this Country what is the occasion that you had this battaile against so many knights To whom this Knight replied This question which you doe demannd of me doth require long time to declare and for that these Knights belongeth vnto the King of this Countrie whom we haue had this controuersie with I doe beleeue that when these that be run away shall come before him he will send a number more of knights after vs therefore me thinkes it shall doe well that we apart our selues out of this way goe vp towards the mountaine there we shall be sure not to meete with them and riding by the way I will declare vnto you the whole effect of this that you doe demaund These words which he spake liked well the Knight of Cupid therewith they departed from that place and went towards certaine mountaines which were towardes the right hand then the knight with the blacke armour began to make relation vnto the knight of Cupid and said Sir Knight you shall vnderstand that I am called Sacridoro not long since was King of Antiochia as rich and prosperous as any other king could bée but Fortune hath pursued me in such sort shewed hir selfe so rigorous vnto me that in a very short time I haue lost my Kingdome and am left all alone bannished from a great number of very good knights which I had continually with me some of them â—…e dead slaine other some in prison the occasion of all this hath bâ—…n that the king Polidarco lord of this country hath a daughter whose name is Oriselua a very faire damsell endurd with many good graces Princelike conditions to whom I did do at this present beare great loue which was the occasion that I did demaund hir in mariage of the king hir father who would not giue hir vnto me in consideration that in times past he had certaine controuersies with the king my Father for which cause I did moue wars with him thinking by force to get that which by â—…he way of request I could not obtaine Wherevpon either of vs did ioyne and gather together the greatest armie that possible we could so that in the end we ioyned in battaile wheras my cruell fortune destinie would that all my campe was broken destroyed I escaped out of the field by great aduenture by reason that I had no people knights nor souldiers for to defend my kingdome in few daies they made a conquest of all without leauing me either towne or village wherein I might rest my selfe yea although I doe sée my selfe so destroyed ouerthrowen yet the loue is so great that I haue vnto the princesse Oriselua that I cannot goe out of this country for that I would euery day heare some newes of hir although I haue procured to goe in all the
¶ THE SECOND part of the first Booke of the Myrrour of Knighthood IN WHICH IS PROSECVTED THE ILLVSTRIOVS déedes of the knight of the Sunne and his brother Rosicleer Sonnes vnto the Emperour Trebatio of Greece With the valiant deedes of armes of sundry worthie Knights very delightfull to bee read and nothing hurtfull to bee regarded NOW NEWLY TRANSLAted out of Spanish into our vulgar tongue by R. P. LONDON Printed by Thomas Este. 1599. TO THE RIGHT worshipfull Master Thomas Powle Esquire Clarke of the Crowne in hir Maiesties high Court of Chauncerie COnsidering right Worshipful that such men as haue excelled others in vertue or anie excellent quallitie doe shine through perpetuall fame all abroad and are like the bright Sunne beames surmounting without comparison the small and speedie decaying candles of the rude ignoble and seeing that this brightnesse of fame hath and doth not onely shine in men by vertuous studies and contemplatiue exercises but also in most worthie feats of chiualrv and martiall prowesse the knowledge practise whereof Cicero that most wise and learned Senator deemed as necessarie as learning and other good gifts of the minde to maintaine an orderlie common weale Considering also that as well the spirit of God hath by the hands of Moses and of many good men since published and that greatly commending them the valiaunt acts and puissant exploits of sundrie both good and mightie men at armes as did Homere Titus Liuius Salust with many mo the right martiall and euer memorable acts of the Greekes the Romans c. All which records of Chiualrie â—ending to animate others vnto imitating the like and beeing â—s a spur to instigate and prick vs forwards vnto prowesse who â—lse would bee idle and lie in obscuritie I haue thought it â—ot fruitlesse to publish this Mirrour of Knighthood also inâ—ented and set forth rather to encourage dastards and to teach â—he readie minded what excellencie is in puissant and inuinciâ—le mindes passing common iudgement then to feede the reader with an vntruth Now sithens custome hath made it to bee as a law in mens hearts obserued that they account bookes published not to haue sufficient warrant except they bee dedicated to some worthie personage of authoritie I am bolde to present vnto your Worship this Booke entituled The second part of the Mirrour of Knighthood done out of Spanish and now newly printed beeseeching your Worship rather to accept of my good will shewed than to respect the simplenesse of the gift Thus ceasing to be tedious I commit you to the tuition of the Almightie who blesse you and all yours Your VVorships most assured T. E. To the Reader I Haue good Reader according to my forepassed promise prosecuted the Second part of the first Booke of the Mirrour of Knighthood after which likewise beefore the second part alreadie Printed followeth another booke which is intituled in the Spanish worke The third part of the first Booke c. Which with as much expedition as may bee shall bee published wherby both the quaint beginning and the quoy abruption shall bée brought to a concord though no conclusion Yet shall the whole story bée concluded with diligent spéede if thou accept with thy wonted curtesie these passed impressions Desiring thée not to think the fulnesse of the history to bée deferred of malice but by euill luck wherefore good Reader I beséech thée beare with the abruptnesse of the translation the errours of the impression and the good meaning of the Authour and thinck not euerie Actor a right Grecian Lord no more then euery Chremes a Corinthian churle but contrary that as Terence shewed the figure that then was so our Author shadoweth the forme that should be in all Nobilitie to wit Chiualrie and curtesie Committing therefore the consideration of this worke to thy acceptance I conclude Thine to vse T. E. G. G. To the Reader IF learned Maro merited such prayse for penning downe Aeneas trauayles strange Or if to heauen they Nasoes name doe rayse that writ of men and beasts trans form'd by change Then shall our Spaniards toile I trust obtaine Though no such praise yet pardon for his paine For as their pens did paint the rare euents of things succeeding fitting for their time Euen so doth hee declare in his contents the verie meanes to Honours top to clime Accept his will doe not disdaine his worke In simplest shew doth truest meaning lurke FINIS ¶ THE SECOND PART of the first booke of the Mirrour of Knighthoode in which is prosecuted the illustrious deedes of the Knight of the Sunne and his brother Rosicleer sonnes to the Emperour Trebatio of Greece OF ALL THAT HAPPEned vnto the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana in their way vnto the Grecian Empire CHAPTER I. WIth great ioy and contentment the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana trauailed towardes the Grecian Empire as well for the fruition of hir contented ioy as the pleasure and ease which she hoped to haue at such time as shée should come vnto the Empire And if it had fallen out that their departure should haue bene knowen yet at their ease they could not follow them for that most of their trauaile was by deserts and vninhabited places and not by peopled townes vilages and this was the occasion that they could not come so seene vnto Grecia as they might if they had taken the frequented waye And so in great peace and quietnesse they trauailed certaine daies without any accident happaning that is worth the noting till such time as they had passed through y e kingdome of Hungaria entered among certaine mountaines which wer very craggie troublesome to trauaile in where they chaunced vpon the skirt of the mountaine Sarpedo which is verye great and was inhabited with very furious and vnciuile people This was the cause which made them to trauaile by the lowest part of the mountaine where they continued on their iourney till the third day at such tyme as the Sunne was in the extreamest of his parching heate which caused them to haue an earnest and great desire to drinke for that they were thyrstie by reason that all that daye and the other day past they could finde no water nor any other thing to drinke And béecause the great thirst which the Empresse sustayned was more griefe vnto the Emperour then his owne hée diligentlye searched in euery place where he came to sée if hée could by any meanes finde any Towne Uilage or Fountayne where they myght haue water to quench theyr thirst And hée as trauayled in this care and sorrow within a whyle after hée discouered a certayne valley which entred in by the one side of the Mountayne in the middest thereof there was as it were a sluce which procéeded out of the Mountayne and it séemed vnto him that it could not hée without water for that the ground about it was very fresh and pleasant And presentlye leauing theyr way that they then followed they tooke
people doth permit many continuall persecucions done by the vnbeléeuers vpon the Christians to make them the better to know him to leaue all their euill wickednesse 〈◊〉 to returne vnto him Yet for all that hée neuer doth so abhorre leaue them for to bring the Christians vnto vtter confusion end as it hath apeared in the old and ancient times amongst the lawes customes of men nor neuer will so long as this world shall endure You doe well remember how that in this history hath â—…en told you that at such time as the worthy knight of the Sunne did first sée the Princesse Lindabrides hee did partly vnderstand of the mighty power of the emperour Alicandro hir father how that he was king ouer the Scithians emperour ouer the Tartarians Lord ouer all the Indians Regions orientals from whence it grew that he was had in reputation of the greatest mightiest prince in all the world Likewise he was lord of the great Cataya wheras is that mighty citie which is of one hundreth miles compasse of all the rest that is in the Orientall India in that part wheras amongst all his subiects he was called the mightye king of kings Emperour of the Tartarians the Lord of the Orientall Indians son heirs vnto the high Gods This title they gaue vnto him because the people of these countries had it for a law custome amongst them alwaies had in reuerence his predecessours which were Emperours before the emperour Alicandro to be sons heires of their false gods in whom they did all beléeue worship Besides all this this mighty emperour had in his subiection all the kings lords that were in the orientall part of the Indians vnto the meridionall which are nine kingdomes all very great mighty and full of great riches so that with great reason they might say that he was the mightiest emperour king in all the worâ—…h Heere the History saith that many â—…e deceiued to thinke that this mightie empire should be christians for although they haue amongst them some part of the law which God gaue vnto that great Captayne Moses yet theyr law doeth differ very farre from the true and perfect law of Iesus Christ for that they bee all Idolaters and euery one of these kings doeth béeléeue in that which seemeth vnto him best for that there is no law nor commaundement to make them incline to anye kinde of goodnesse for the sauegarde of their owne soules So it happened on a time as this mightie Emperour Alicandro was in his great city of Neptaya which is in Cataya the great very pensiue sad for that hee could héere no newes of the children y e Prince Meridian the Princesse Lindabrides reprehending himselfe very much for hee had so sent them foorth into the world One day béeing accompanied with all his mightye Knights lords his subiects he receiued so great sorrow and griefe in the remembring of his children that it caused him to wéepe And leaning his chéeke vpon one of his hands hée shed forth many salt teares which ran down vpon his white face The which being séene by those péeres his subiects they were all very much amazed what should bee the occasion that the Emperour should wéepe So before that any did arise vp to demaund of him the occasion ther arose vp amongst them a king who was king of Gedrosia an old man of more then one hundreth yeares who amongst all the rest present was estéemed to be the wisest in Astrologie deuination that could be found in all Asia And all they did giue so great credit vnto that which he did tell them should happen as though it had ben all ready accomplished the which king dyd wéepe very bitterly with so great sorrow that almost he could not speake but yet he said Oh high mighty king of the Scythians Emperour of the Tartarians if you had as good iudgement of the knowledge of things to come héere after as now to conceiue in matters present then woâ—…ld you leue of this great wéepings for your children who are very well in health in place whereas they are very much honored and had in estimacion as they doe deserue For that the time will come y t thou shalt wéepe and bewaile thine owne losse and desteâ—…ction of all thy vassalles and subiectes with whose blood all the féeldes of the mightie Empire of Greece I doe see be sprinkled and yet I cannot atchiue to know how nor the occasion therof but onely I doe sée by great signes and notable tokens of the colestiall influences and my knowledge doth so farre extend that I doe know that my daies doth draw vnto an end and I cannot endure long In the grecian Empire he that is the most mightiest king Emperor greatest Lord in all the world shall loose his great strength haâ—…ing lost his owne liberty the most valiantest worthyest knights that shall be ther at that present shall loose their liues and the quantitie shall be so great that the waters of Inno shall loose their christallyne colour and shall be changed into red blood which shall giue testimony of the greatest destruction of Knights that euer hath bene in the world The which I cannot by my knowledge atchieue nor thinke to fall vpon any other but vpon thée for that at this present thou art the most mightiest Emperour in all the world And if it bée so that vnto my words you or any of yours do giue any credit procure out of hand with great wisdome to seeke remedy to preuent the same and to cut off so great an euill as is prognosticated against vs. And if vnto these my words you will giue no credite the time it selfe will giue a perfect testimonie of this that I haue said when that you shall haue no time nor space for to giue any remedy at all vnto the same Without saying any more this old king of Gedrosia did set himselfe downe againe in his place leauing this mighty emperour all the other kings and Knights that were in that great hall very much amazed at the words which hee had spoken knew not what to say but being amazed they did looke one vpon another spake neuer a word But this mighty Emperour who alwaies found the prognosticating deuining of this old king to be true yet he thought this to bée a thing impossible not to giue any credit thervnto but yet to heare farther what he would say after a certaine space that he had bethought himselfe he said The great wisedome which I doe know to bée in you good king of Gedrosia and the truth which you haue sayd that the cause of my wéeping was the remembraunce and talâ—…ing to minde my louing children and the great sorrow and griefe which I doe receiue by their absence is a sufficient peswasion that I all that be heere present should giue wholy credit
no other thing but to rob Ladyes and Gentlewomen with no lesse perâ—…ll then paynes and yet all this time haue I not met with one that so much doth content mée as this Lady and in deliuering these words he approched vn to the Emperour and sayde Tell mee thou vnhappy Knight by what euill fortune art thou come hether vnto this place The Emperour who at that time was very angry to heare his diuellish words and againe to see the Princesse so changed with a stout courage and wrathfull countenaunce answered him Tell mée thou brute beast wherfore doest thou in this manner extoll and prayse thy selfe of so euill and diuellish a custome knowing that there is a God in heauen that will punish thée for these thy euill workes which thou doest vse The Gyant was excéeding wrathfull when the Emperour speake thus so that he made no reckoning to answere him but giuing a terrible hoarse cry he threw that great and big Boare Speare which hée brought at the Emperour with so great strength in such sort that if it had chanced a right with the broad end and steely point I doubt whether his Magicall armour had béene sufficient to haue made resistance but it would haue pearced thorough his body but the Emperour foreséeing that perlilous blow mith great lightnesse cléered hmiselfe from the fury thereof by leaping on the one side so that the Boare speare stroke the ground and with the great strength wehrewith it was throwen it entered more then halfe the length therof into the earth Which when the valiaunt and couragious Emperour saw and finding himselfe to bee so nigh vnto daunger the Gyaunt béeing on horsebacke and considering the great aduantage which hee hadde straight wayes layde holde vppon the bridle of the Horse and with his strong armed fist stroke the horse such a vlow vpon the head that he made the braynes flye out hée fell to the ground master and all The Gyant seeing that with great hast cléered himselfe from his horse being on soote drew out a mightie broad faulchon which hung at his girdle and approched vnto the Emperour striking him so great and mightye a blow vppon his healme that he could not otherwise choose but that hée was constrained to stoope with both his knees to the ground which did somewhat trouble his remembraunce but this mightie Emperour quickly bée thought himselfe agayne and tooke his sharpe sword in both his hands and stroke the Giant such a blow vpon his thigh that although his armour was a finger thicke of hard Stéele besides a skirt of maile which he had hanging downe neuerthelesse he cut all a sunder entered through the flesh vnto the hard bone wher he made a sore wound from whence great abundance of bloud ran out The Gyant féeling himselfe thus wounded seeing so great resistaunce to be made with one alone Knight reared as though it had béene a Lyon At which noise together with the rushing of theyr harneys and the sound of theyr mighty blowes there appeared out of the windowes of the Rocke another Gyant which vnto his seeming was no lesse furious and vglie of semblaunce then the other who seeing that mighty and well foughten battaile betwéene the Emperour his brother 〈◊〉 as great hast as was possible for him he went and armed himselfe In the meane time the other Gyant and the Emperour made theyr battale with so great and heauie blowes that the noyse thereof did sound throughout all those mountaynes And the more that this Gyaunt did force himselfe to strike the Emperour so much the more did the Emperour prouide to cléere himselfe with great lightnesse from his terrible strokes for that hée knew very well it would be very perâ—…llous if hée should fasten on him but one full blow neuerthelesse the Emperour at all times did wounde him at his pleasure in such sort that what with the strength of the Giaunt and the great pollicie and lightnesse of the Emperour the battayle was brought into great doubt although the Gyaunt had lost very much bloud by these woundes which the Emperour had giuen him For when hée saw his bloud in such sort scattered vpon the ground hee was more furious then béefore and with great wrath hée béesturred himselfe with his Fauchon cursing himselfe and blaspheming against his Gods in that hée could not in any wise fasten one full blow vpon his enimie and that one Knight should bring him into so great a perplexitie All this while the Empresse and hir Gentlewomen did very well behold that wonderfull battayle had great feare to sée the hugenesse of the Gyant and perill in which the Emperour was and so amazed they were that they could not mooue themselues out of the place whereas they abode but euery one of them on their knées very earnestly prayed vnto God with many teares to deliuer them from that great agonie wherein they were And being in this agonie they heard within the Rocke â—… great noyse rushing of armour wherewith they looked about saw descending downe the stayres another Giant all armed of no lesse bignesse dreadfull countenance then the other who came downe in great hast with a mightie maâ—…e of Stéele in his hand When the Princesse and hir Gentlewomen saw him they were more afraid then at the first yéelded themselues vnto destruction therwith gaue meruaylous grieuous shrikes cries which was the cause that the Emperour was in a great feare of some misfortune and looking about him to sée what it might be he perceiued another monstrous Gyaunt that discended downe his stayres with his mase in his hand although hée did sée the great danger and perill at hand yet did not his hart faile him one â—…ot but with a noble and stout stomacke his strength the more increased so that forgetting all the traâ—…ayle against that Gyant with new strength hee strâ—…k the Gyaunt with both his hands such a blow ouerthwart the wast that the thicke armour and skirt of maile had not sufficient strength to make defence against his mightie and strong arme but that the sharp cutting sword must needes execute his fury which diuiding both armour and bones entered into the bowells wherewith the Gyant with grieuous pangs of death straight waies â—…ell downe to the ground and with his fall made all the earth to shake At which time the other Gyaunt was come downe the stayres and seeing that terrible and cruell stroke hee lyft vp his eyes to heauen and with à loude voyce hée saide Oh cruell and cursed Gods in whome I béeléeue and worship which of all you is it that hath coÌ„sented vnto the death of my brother Argentaria in what sort or how shall I bee reuenged of so great an outrage done vnto mee you béeing aboue in the heauens and I héere vpon the earth And in saying these and such lyke wordes hee came towards the Emperour with his mightie mase raysed in the ayre in such
forme that it was most dreadfull to béeholde but this valyaunt Greeke whose strength was nothing inferiour vnto his predecessors the mightie Achilles Pyrrhus and Molosso for when hée saw the Gyaunt comming towards him in that terrible sort and so fiercely in great hast hée went whereas the Boare Speare stuck and with excéeding strength hée pulled it out of the ground and tooke it fast in his hand about the middest of the staffe and therwith hée stayed and abode the comming of the Gyaunt who as soone as hée was come within eyght or nine paces of him euen as one would throw a dart at a â—…aighted Bull so dyd this mightie Emperour lyft vp his rygorous arme and with great strength threw that Boare Speare at the Gyaunt and stroke him in the middest of the breast with so great strength that passing through armour and flesh the broad and Stéely poynt of the Boare Speare appéered at his back all bloody And the staffe thereof by reason of the great streangth wherewith it was throwen dyd shake in the Gyants body till such time as hée fell downe dead to the ground The force of this strong and mightie blow gaue great contentment vnto the Princesse and hir Gentlewomen and also on the other side those men that came with the Gyant were no les amazed when they saw their Lords dead whom they thought to bee the mightiest and strongest in all the world and although they were many in number yet had they no courage to withstand the fury of the Emperour and despayring in themselues of theyr securitie they all left their prisoners and euerie one of them procured to saue himselfe by running away and hiding them in the thickest of that Mountayne Then the Emperour séeing that there was no more to bée done but that all was finished with that blow hée reioyced very much and went vnto the Princesse whereas shee stoode who had lost the Roseall coulour of hir face and with a gladde and chéerefull countenaunce hée sayde vnto hir thus Lady now assure your selfe that these people shall no more trouble you Then the Princesse who was almost in an extasie with the great pleasure shée receiued when shée saw the Emperour returne vnto hir without any wound or hurt and the wonderfull strength that shée saw in him with great pleasure and delyght shée saw in him in hir armes and sayd My Lord I haue great cause to confesse this my security hauing so strong and mightie a Knight in my companie but for all that my heart could not but receiue great feare to sée you in such daunger with those terrible and vglie Monsters and I assure you that many dayes will passe beefore I shall bée able to clâ—…re my selfe of the great feare which by them I haue conceiued so that these and many other lyke amorous words passed béetwixt the Emperour and the Princesse Then the Emperour remembred himselfe of the prisoners that they brought with them and left the Princesse and went towardes them and dyd vnloose them of the bondes wherewith they were fast bound and saw that the two Ladyes were very fayre and meruailous richlie apparayled and the two Knights very well armed and of a good proportion although theyr armour in many places was broken and cut and they themselues sore wounded whereby issued from them very much blood These Knights and Ladyes dyd béehold all that passed and saw with what valoure the Emperour dyd deale with those Gyaunts and were greatly astonyed meruayling who it should bée that beeing but one alone Knight hée should by his great myght and force ouercome two so mightie Gyaunts as those were and in so short time as that And séeing themselues set at libertie by the noble and valyaunt prowesse of this Knight they knew not how to gratifie that great benefit which they had receiued of him but onely in gieuing him ceaselesse thanckes for the same The Emperour commaunded the Ladyes to bynde vp the wounds of the two Knights that they myght loose no more blood who dyd it with a very good will for that they were theyr Husbands And the Emperour asked of then who they were and what was the occasion that the Gyaunt brought them prisoners in that sort Then one of the Knights sayd vnto him Sir you shall vnderstand that this Knight which you sée héere and I are bretherin and Lords ouer the seauen valleyes if at any time you haue heard speaking of them And they are scituated béetwixt Danubia and Transiluania and are vnder the subiection of the mightie King of Hungarie and these Gentlewomen which are with vs are our wyues and are lykewyse two sisters And as wee were for our recreation passing away the tyme with pleasure and delyght in the company of many Knights and Gentlewomen in one of the sayd valleys high adioyning vnto this Mountayne Sarpedo béeing in the shadow vnder a Forrest side hauing least care vpon any daunger or trouble vpon a sodaine wee were beeset with this Gyant that you first slew and with his men we defended our selues against theÌ„ as well as wée could but in the ende hée slew the most part of the Knights that were in our company and the rest fled so that wée remayned all alone and not beeing able to make any longer resistaunce against him hée tooke vs ioyntly with these two Gentlewomen and brought vs in this sort as you haue séen And this is not the first robberie that these Gyaunts haue committed For that of long time they haue done great harme throughout all the Prouinces that are adioyning vnto this Mountayne And as I haue heard reported of them the meate which doth most content them is humane flesh which doth make vs to béeléeue verely that if your soueraigne bountie had not succoured vs in this great extremitie in a short space wée had béene eaten vp by these two Gyants and his people and they vse most commonly to haue their habitation and dwelling in this Rocke which you sée héere for when they are within it if all the world should come against them they are able to make a long resistance And the Knight concluding with these words the Emperour was very glad and ioyfull that hée had rescewed and â—…t them at libertie from so great a danger for they séemed 〈◊〉 him to be persons of no small estimation giuing great 〈◊〉 to almightie God for that hée had taken away the 〈◊〉 of so great an euill from that land And therewith they went all together vnto the Princeâ—… who receiued them very curâ—…eously And straight wayes shée was knowen by the Knights for that many times before they had séene hir where at béeing very much amazed they looked one vpon the other not knowing what to say When the Emperour perceiued that those Knights dyd know the Princesse in bréefe wordes bee gaue them to vnderstand how hée was the Emperour Trebatio and how the Princesse was his wife and that they were going towards the Grecian Empire and came vnto
haue parted and made peace betwixt them but the tumult was such and so farre out of order that by no meanes they could reforme it till such time as the King Tiberio heard that great rumour and noyse in the hall he came forth out of his closet and tooke his royall Septer in his hand and pressed in amongst the thickest of them very furiously and with great anger And when he came where as the Knight of the Sunne was and saw round about him so many dead persons and amongst them the Troyan Earle with great anger hée layde hold on him and sayd what is this O Knight that in such order thou dâ—…st disquiâ—…t my court and hast slaine my Knights so all the rest when they saw the King they immediatly dyd retyre backe and were in quiet Then when the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne knew him to be the King and heard what hee sayd hée forthwith dyd moderate his anger all that euer hee could and sayde it is your Knights that doth disquiet your Court and not I and if I haue slaine any it is in defending my self from the death which they doe procure to giue me Of this sayde the King I will informe my selfe punish them that hath bene the occasion héereof And in saying these words he demaunded of him his sword which he gaue him more for curtesies sake then for any other thing hauing it he also tooke the sword of Florinaldus and of all the rest that he suspected to be on his partye and straight wayes called beefore him all his Knights gard commaunded them to take the knight of the Sunne prisoner to carry him into a strong Tower which was on the one side of the Pallace likewise to take Florinaldus all those that were on his side to carry them vnto another Tower that was on the other side of his Pallace so that both the one the other were put in good kéeping but if the Knight of the Sunne had bene armed before he would haue ben taken prisoner he would haue made the King to haue giuen eare to hearkeâ—… vnto that hée would haue said in discharging himself but by reason that he was as it were naked he yeelded and had patience with all that which the King commaunded so they lead them vnto the Tower which was very high well walled And when hée was therin they made fast a very great chaine to his leg and for to kéepe him there was put thirty armed Knights and as many mo other men Then the Dutchesse of Panonia did send vnto him a very good Surgion to heale him of his woundes At this time the death of the Troyan Earle was published throughout all the Court and there was made for him great lamentacion for that the most noblest Princes and Knights that were there were of his kinsfolks So both the one the other complayned very much vnto the King of the Knight of the Sunne in such sort that hée was verye much inflamed agaynst him At this time there entered into the pallace the Countesse Lady and wife vnto the Troyan Earle in mourning appareâ—…l bringing with hir two young sonnes who entering into the Hall whereas the King was beeganne to powre foorth sorrowful complaynts destring iustice agaynst them that had slayne hir Husband and seeing him lye dead vppon the floore shee threw hir selfe vpon him and made such lamentation that it was a heauie thing to béehold at which sight if the King béefore were inflamed against the Knight of the Sunne his indignation dyd the more increase against him in béeholding the great sorrow of the Countesse and determyned in himselfe to doo iustice vpon the death of the Earle and hée ioyned vnto his indignation the great authoritie that hée had to bée called an executer of iustice which vnto manie yea very mightie Monarches oftentimes is very hurtfull the ende of those extremities obtaine them the infamous names of Tyrants Then the King commaunded that the dead bodyes should bee carryed out of the hall and buryed and the Troyan Earle was buryed with great honour and accompanyed with the most noble and principall Knights of the Court. Now hee béeing very sorrowfull for the death of the Earle many Knights that had affection vnto the Knight of the Sunne dyd labour with him for his discharge of béeing in any fault of that tumult and dyd informe him of the great cause that he had to do that which he did in his owne defence but there was nothing that dyd profit at all with the King but rather hée dyd shew himselfe very angry and wrathfull against them that dyd speake vnto him in the Knights béehalfe which was a great griefe vnto many which dyd know the valure and desert of the Knight of the Sunne for it séemed vnto them no reason that hée should bée intreated in that sort And béecause that the King Tiberio was daylie and hourely vrged on all parts the one crying and asking iustice and the other gayne-saying the same hée was for certaine daies very doubtfull not knowing how co determine what was best to bee done but aunswered them all to their little delyght By this tyme the â—…night of the Sunne was healed of his wounds and the Dutchesse of Panonia prouided for him all things necessarie in the prison performing it with as great care and diligence as myght bée But when hée knew the King was doubtfull of his determination and of the great iudignation hee shewed against him it dyd repent him that hée suffered himselfe so to be taken And hée immagined with himselfe what meanes might best be wrought sor to cléere himselfe of that imprisonment for that the nobilitie of his valyant courage could not abide to bée so shut vp and abyde the curtesie and pleasure of the King So in this order the storie doth leaue him till the tyme serue How the Knight of Cupido dyd take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa and entred into the kingdome of Rusia where he found a strange aduenture Chap. 4. THE mightie déedes of the Emperour Trebatio and the worthy knighthood of the valiant Alphebo hath put almost in obliuion that excellent and worthy Knight Rosicleer whose amorous loue and inuincible deedes doo deserue a more eloquenter writer then my vnskilfull pen can performe Now if you doo remember in the Historie past how that one way Fortune caused him to be the most saddest and sorrowful Knight that euer was seene so full of bitter heauinesse that whatsoeuer thing hée dyd accomplish and bring to passe was not sufficient to make him merry And on the other side Fortune dyd show him very 〈◊〉 in putting beefore him marueilous and wonderfull things and aduentures of so great strangenesse that ouer comming them by his surmounted valoâ—…r in all the world was spred a broad the fame of the Knight of Cupido So after that hée had slaine that valyant 〈◊〉 from all the parts of Thesalia and the confines
trée and he went a foot towards that wonderfull caue When hée came nigh vnto it hée saw towards the right hand ingrauen in the hard Rock certaine Letters very fayre which séemed to bée of great antiquity and hée read them finding them to be as followeth This is the caue of the wise Artidon who dyed for the loue of Artidea daughter vnto king Liberio the onely heyre of this Kingdome who in recompence of hir cruelty doth and shall remaine héere giuing true aunsweres vnto all that shall bée demaunded of hir till such tyme as a Knight shall come who with his great bounty and force can ouercome the terrible kéepers of the entrie héereof and set hir at lybertie and then shall this entrie bée frée vnto all those that will know any thing of the wyse man When the Knight of Cupide had well read these Letters and vnderstood them hée very much meruayled at that straunge aduenture and strayght way it mooued in him a great good will and desire to prooue the same both to sée and know what was within the caue and euen as one that dyd abhor his owne lyfe so hée delyghted not in any other thing but in great and perillous aduentures indeuoured to giue the attempt vnto them when hée had opportunitie but by reason it was late and that it waxed dark he determined to let the enterprise alone till the next morning for that the night might be a hinderance vnto him for the performance And therewith hée pulled off his Horse Bridle to let him féede vpon the grasse there abouts and he as one that had no care of himselfe layde him a long vpon the gréene grasse and then his minde béegan a new to bée troubled with his accustomed thoughts not remembring that in all the day béefore hée had not eaten any thing neyther dyd he know where to get any meat to refresh himselfe at that tyme of the nyght and calling to his remembraunce the cruell words in the Letter of the Princesse Oliuia his heart suffered so great gréese and passions that tumbling himselfe vpon the grasse from the one side to the other hee sayde Oh earth that for all mortalytie thou openest thy selfe and receiuest them into thy bosome wherefore doost not thou now at this present open thy bowells and receiue mée into thée for béeing buried I should receiue great contentment I know not wherefore I lyue any longer or wherefore I am suffered in this world for that I haue lost all hope to sée any more the Princesse Oliuia Oh that this aduenture which I meane to prooue might bée the last and that I might dye héere within this caue although the occasion of my death bée neuer knowen nor heard of So these and many other words of great lamentation hée vttered that it was most gréeuous to heare and passed away a péece of the first part of the night with great sorrow And the nyght béeing very darke vppon a sodayne hée heard a noise and murmuring of people which caused him to aryse vp to sée what it should bée and hée saw at the foote of the Rock a great fire and round about the same there were a company of Shepheards and those were they which made that noyse And béeing desirous to know what they could say more of that caue hée determined to goe whereas they were and when hée came vnto them hée saluted them with very curteous words When the Shepheards saw him of so goodly a stature and armed with so precious and rych armour they receiued him as a Knight of estimation and gaue him very good intertainment and dyd inuite him to theyr supper which they had in a readinesse and after that hée had surrendered vnto them thankes for theyr courtesie hée sat downe amongst them by the sier Then one of the shepheards who séemed to be the chéefe among them and that had more vnderstanding and was of a better conuersation then all y e rest did demand of the Knight of Cupide what aduenture had brought him at that tyme of the night to that place The Knight aunswered and sayde I am a straunger in this Countrie and now it is three dayes since I first entered into this Kingdome and for that I dyd not know nor yet doo this countrie my fortune hath brought mee hether this euening and séeing that the night drew on fearing to bée intangled in vnaccustomed wayes I determined to remaine there hard by the Court till the morning pretending to prooue that aduenture when the day was come And afterward when I saw you together héere I thought it best to come into your cōpany as well to eate somewhat for that I am very hungrie as also to informe my selfe of you touching the aduenture of this caue of Artidon for till this euening that I did come hether and sée it I neuer béefore heard any mention therof Then the shepheards sayd sir Knight séeing that you haue given vs to vnderstand the occasion of your comming hether wee will now giue you to vnderstand what wée know and what at any time we could learne of the aduenture of this cause possiblie after you vnderstand it it will withdraw you from this great good will and determinatyon that you haue to giue the proofe and enterprise And in the meane time that which wée haue for our supper shall be made ready of such as wée haue with a very good will you shall eate your part for that your person and presence doth deserue no lesse Now that which wée doo know and of long time past haue heard say touching this Caue is that in time past almost out of memorie there was in this Kingdome of Russia a Knight called Artidon who being a Knight of great courage and high lynage and gentle of disposition was also the wysest in the magicall art that could bée found in many countries And in the chiefest time and flower of all his Knighthood and science this Kingdome was gouerned by a Ladie called Artedea who at the death of the King hir father was very yong but when shée came vnto the state of marryage thée was so fayre and of so great beautie that many Princes and Knights desired to haue hir for wife but among all those that in their seruice dyd most indeuour to obtaine hir loue there was not one of them that in so noble and valyaunt manner did demeane himselfe as Artedon dyd for not alone in déedes of armes but also by his science he dyd mighty wonderfull things in hir seruice But his fate misfortune was such that the quéene did not onely withdraw hir loue from him but did also hate abhorre him to the death all that euer he did in hir seruice did moue hir to be melancholike very angry This worthy Artidon had his loue so intirely fixed vpun hir that he would doe any thing for hir delight but all that he dyd was not estéemed of the Quéene which was the occasion that after he
met by the way in great admiration and especially when they vnderstoode that one alone Knight had done that deede There were some of the Knightes that were in the gard and keeping of the Quéene strayght way when they saw the assault which the Gyant and his companions made in the monestary and seeing that they were many and that all their power was not sufficient to make resistaunce they straight way departed in â—…ost with as great hast as was possible for to giue the King Tiberio to vnderstand thereof with the great hast which they made the next day in the morning they came before the 〈◊〉 and told vnto him all that passed saying that if out of hand he did not with his Knights giue aide succour the Queene all hir Gentlewomen should be carried away prisoners When the King vnderstood these newes he was very much troubled and fearing that the Queene should receiue some harme he commaunded that his Knights should arme themselues with all the speed that might be which 〈◊〉 they departed to the number of two hundred Knights and tooke their way towards the Monestary of the Riuer After that they were departed there were many other Knights that were arming themselues for to follow those that wer gone before being all in a readinesse with as great hast as euer tâ—…eir horses could run they followed the other in this sort they continued their trauaile till it was somewhat late at which time those Knights which went formost did discouer a far of comming towards them the Queene all hir gentlewomen Knights bringing before them the coach when they were satisfied that it was the Quéene with great excéeding ioy they went told the King who was very heauy and full of sorrow supposing that his succor should come too late by reason of the great distance that was betwixt the one and the other but straight way when he vnderstood the newes that his knights gaue him he receiued so much comfort that it seemed to reuiue him from death to life therewith he passed forwards rode before them all wheras hée saw the Quéene all hir Gentlewomen knights comming the coach before them wherin was the bodies of the giant and of the two dead Knights being nigh it they staâ—…ed and with great admiration beheld those terrible wonderfull wonâ—…ds and could not imagine with themselues what it should be but being halfe amazed at that wonderfull sight they remained till the Quéene came whom the King dyd embrace receiue with as great ioy as if they had not séene one another a long time before Then the King demaunded how and in what sort she was set at liberty To whom the quéene said My Lord you shall vnderstand that I and my gentlewomen being in the monestary of the riuer we wer assaulted by this Gyaunt two Knights that we doe bring heere dead who had in their company more then twentye Knights which came with them who killing wounding the most part of the knights that were of my gard they toke vs caried vs away prisoners in this coach that we bring héere according vnto the great hast swift course wherwith we were carried I am certaine that all your succour had come too late but God was so pleased my good fortune that this night past trauailing by the edge of a forrest there was a knight sleeping who afterward I knew to be the knight w t the deuise of the Sun which made the battaile with Aridon of the black wood who being sodainly awaked by our great shrikes sorrowfull lamentations came forth into the high way to see what it should be he alone had battell with the Gyant these two knights hath intreated theÌ„ in this sort as you doe sée besides all this he slew and wounded all the rest of the knights that came with them himself remaining whole sound wâ—…thout any wound or hurt we set at liberty with great ioy pleasure especially when we knew who hee was afterward came vnto y t place certain of my knights that did follow the coach wherin we were by one of their knights that were wounded and lay on the ground we did vnderstand who they were that did carry vs prisoners for what cause they did assalt vs ther the Quéene declared vnto the King all that euer the Knight of the Sun had done for them in that battaile rescew how he departed from hâ—…r how she could not by any meanes cause him to returne vnto the court for to receiue his reward for that worthy and valiant déede which he had done for hir When the King vnderstoode that it was the Knight of the Sunne who in the deliuerie of the Queene had done so high and worthy acts one way hée receiued great pleasure another way hée suffered great griefe for that he had not dâ—…ne him being in his court the honour that vnto so noble and valiâ—…nt a Knight appertayned and was very angry with the Queene for that she did suffer him to depart go away in 〈◊〉 order and thought that if it were possible to ouertake â—…nd finde him hée himselfe in person would follow him But when all the Knights which came in company with the king Tiberio vnderstood that the Knight of the Sunne had done all this they greatly meruailed beholding those wonderfull wounds which the gyant knights had they thought it a thing vnpossible that any humane Knight should doe it wondering therat they had inough to doe to looke one vpon the other Straight way in this sort the king the quéenâ—… returned tooke their way towards the Citie of Ratisbona with all their Knights carying with them the Coach the dead bodies the fame of the Knight of the Sunne increased in such sort that neuer after his memory was lost in those parts for long time after they had inough to doe to communicate therof wheras this History doth leaue them for to tell you what happened vnto the Knight of the Sunne ¶ How the Knight of the Sunne came vnto a castle whereas hee did deliuer a Gentlewoman and recouered two Pages whom hee carried with him Ca. 10. AFter that the high and mightie Alphoebo was departed from the Queene Augusta 〈◊〉 would not stay in any place for to rest himselfe although he had great néede thereof because if the king and his Knights should follow him they should not ouertake him so he continued his iourny pretending to passe into Grecia to goe sée his great friend the Emperour Trebatio with this pretence hée trauailed passed away the rest of the night which remayned the morning being come he chaunced into a very large plaine field all couered with pleasaunt 〈◊〉 gréene hearbes in which he trauailed a good while for that it was somewhat long toward the end therof at the footâ—… of
say to see one knight of so great bountie and force to attempt the battaile against a Gyaunt and so manye Knights and with a good will they would haue giuen all that euer they were worth to haue bene loose and at libertie for to haue holpen that Knightâ—… But at that time there was no néede of their succour for that in lesse then halfe an houre the sonne of Trebatio had ouerthrowen to the ground dead and â—…erie sore wounded the most part of all his enimies and the rest that remained seeing so great slaughter thought themselues in no securitie but tourned their Horse bridiâ—…s fled that way which they came as fast as their Horses could run and neuer forgot the â—…eare which they receiued neither did they looke backe till such time as they came into the camp afore the king some with their faces cut and some their armes they told him that one alone knight came against them in the high way and slew the giant and all the rest sauing they which saued themselues by flight The King and all those that were with them verie much meruailed at that sodaine misfortune and thought it a thing impossible that any humane creature should giue such an enterprise goe through therewith neyther to haue so much hardynesse and courage of heart The King receiuing great sorrow and griefe for the death of the giant did out of hand commaund a companie of knights to be armed in a readinesse returne vnto the knight of Cupide When hée saw himselfe cléere and at libertie from his enimies determined to set the thrée Princes at libertie and not to make himselfe to bée knowen vnto them for two causes the one for that hée departed from them out of England without giuing them to vnderstand thereof and the other for that they should not carrie anie newes of him to the Court of King Oliuerio for that the Princesse Oliuia commaunded him in hir Letter to depart thether whereas she might neuer heere any newes of him and for these causes hée would not make himselfe knowen onto y e three Princes but came onto them and did vnbince them and câ—…t a sunder the cords wherewith they were bound and counterfaiting his speach â—…nd voyce in the best wise hée could hee asked of them who â—…hey were and what was the occasion that they were carriâ—…d away in that sort Then they who were no lâ—…sse amazed 〈◊〉 his great bountie then glad to see themselues at libertie â—…aue hartie thanckes for that which hee had done for them and the Tartarian Zoylo declared vnto him of whence they were and likewise tolde him of all that happened vnto him and his companions since the time that they first entered into the kingdome of Lusitania vntill that houre that they delyuered them When the knight of Cupide vnderstood all the whole effect he receiued great ioye within himself for that he had succoured his friends in so great a necessitie And beeing demaunded of them who hée was for that they might know him of whom they had receiued so great a benefit hée answered them that hée was a strange knight of that Country and that he could not discouer nor tel vnto them his name till such time as hée had finished a iourney which he had taken in hand but if they were desirous to returne and aide the quéene Lauinia hée would goe with them and beare them company and doe for hir all that lay in his power When the thrée Princes heard him say those words they were very glad and ioyfull for that theyr whole desire was to returne vnto the Cittie as well for the succour of the Quéene Lauinia and hir daughter as to bee reuenged on their aduersaries as of the king of Balachia for that they were verie angrie and wrathfull against him and béeholding often and verie much that knight how hee was adorned with all bountie they said one vnto another that in all things hée resembled Rosicleer as well in his great valour as in the gentle disposition of his body and in all the rest of his behauiour and calling him to remembraunce and how that they could not heare any newes of him the teares ran from the eyes of either of them for the loue they bare vnto him And beeing asked by the knight of Cupide the occasion wherefore they should shed those teares they tould him that they all thrée went in the demaund of a Knight that in all thinges as well in béehauiour as in proporcyon of body was lyke vnto him and how that the remembraunce of him was the occasion of those teares for that many dayes a gone hée departed from them and since that time they could neuer heare any newes of him At this present the Knight of Cupide receiued great sorrow and griefe in séeing that those thrée Princes béeing of so great valour went in his demaund and that occasion did so serue that hée could not discouer himselfe vnto them Héere may you plainely perceiue what the discurtesie of the Princesse Oliuia did cause for that it caused him to withdraw froÌ„ him the great pleasure and contentment that hée should receiue in discouering himselfe vnto his friends So after that they had talked of these and other like things the thrée Princes tooke each of them a horse o those knights that were slaine and they foure together tooke their way towards the Citie although by the counsaile of the tartarian Zoylo they went not the right way suspecting that when the king of Balachia should vnderstand of the death of the Gyant hee would send some people against theÌ„ but their determination was not to be séene til such time as they were come nigh vnto y e camp and then put themselues into the Citie if neede so required and in this sort although the King did send his power they should not meete with them but that they might much more at their plesure come nigh the camp of their contraries and consulting amongst themselues what was best for them to doo they determined to giue the assault vpon their enimies sodainely and to prease through them till such time as they might get the Bridge and béeing there they were very certaine that when those of the Cittie should sée them they would issue foorth and succour them or at the least waies they would open the gates that they might enter in and looke as they had determined they did put in practise and all these foure together dyd enter into the Camp of theyr enimies cutting wounding and killing that it was a wonder to see the great effusion which they made amongest them and neuer rested til such time as they came vnto the bridge whereas they dyd defend themselues very valiaâ—…ntly from them that followed them where those of the Cittie did sée all that passed And when they knew that those worthy Knights were their friends they were very glad and reioyced to sée them and did open vnto them the gates of the Citie very much
thereof was garnished with very fine golde and precious stones wrought very strangelie beside that they were of much more force then if they had bene of fine steele and tempered by art magicke they were so straunge and faire in shew that any king or Emperour of high estate would gladlie desire to haue the like Hée hadde also a swoord at his girdle girt vnto him the hangers and the scabbard were all of fine golde and the pommell and ball was of a fine Emeraude He hadd vppon his head a Hat of gréene Silke all full of small Rubies and hadde a very faire brouch in it And for that hée was white and faire of face it did béecome him meruaylously well he carried his arme vppon the chaire leaned his head on his hand lookeing downewards w t his eies somewhat with a sad countenaunce that â—… seemed â—…ee had some care and at the feete of this knight of the Damsell that sat by him ther sat siâ—…e Gentlewomen all apaâ—…ailed in cloth of sâ—…uer brodered with very straunge rich worke of gold stones who were crowned with crownes of gold vpon their heads like vnto Queenes had in their hands certaine instruments in forme of Lutes with the which they made very swéete musicke And before this Chariot came on foote twelue Gyants of a meruailous great huge staâ—…ure all armed with very fine shining stéele and euery one of them had a hatchet of armes in his hand and according vnto the fierce furious figure which they shewed it was a wonderfull terrible sight to behold Likewise behinde this Chariot ther came other twelue Gyants in such order as the first did but these came all mounted vpon great mightie horses had in their hands heauie clubbes they came riding two two together In this sort did this triumphant Chariot passe by the knight of the Sun with so great a maiestie and high estate that it was very meruailous straunge to beholde When the knight of the Sunne had well behelde all that passed by him and had contemplated himselfe in beholding that faire Damsell which sate by the knight hée thought verily that he had ioyed in some celestiall and dinine vision So when the Chariot was passed by and out of sight he remayned as one blinde and astonied euen as the Sunne vppon a sodaine should loose hir light or as if the day should bée tourned to night Euen so didde hée remaine as one halfe amazed for a while and as one that had not knowen what had passed and for that hée would the more better satisfie himselfe of that which he had séene as one which still remayned in a great doubt hée broched his Horse with the spurs and rode before the chariot and staied himselfe till such time as they should passe by him againe Now when he saw that Damsell had contemplated on that strange soueraigne beautie straight way his hard strong hart that neuer was ouercome by loue was in such sort wounded that of long time after many difficult remedies were sought to heale that cankering wound and he that no humane power was sufficient to moue out of his saddle was by the shew of that faire sight so troubled in his vnder standing that his strength failed him in such sort that if his Page Bynnano had not ben who did very well perceius his perturbation and staied him otherwise as one without anie remembraunce he had fallen downe to the ground but his Page Bynnano very quicklie came to his Lord the knight of the Sun held him fast in his armes with all his strength hee could saying What is this my Lord that before this faire company you doe shew your selfe so feeble weake Unto which the knight of the Sun did aunswere neuer a word but as one amazed astomed he knew not what to say In the meane time the damsells which rode before the Cahriot on their Unicornes did very much beehold the kinght of the Sunne he seemed vnto them that he was the best proportioned knight that euer they had seene one of these damsells who seemed to be more pittifull then all the rest 〈◊〉 his great alteration how his Page did sustaine him in his armes supposing that hée had beene in a sound she let the Chariot passe forward came where the knight of the Sunne was said vnto his Pages Bretheren I pray you tel me what is the sicknesse of this knight for that it seemeth to me he is in a sound The Knight of the Sunne when he saw the Damsell of whom he might informe himselfe of that which he so much destred comming somewhat vnto himselfe answered hir and sayde Fayre Damsell there hath happened vnto 〈◊〉 â—… sodayne sicknesse that I my selfe doe not know 〈◊〉 to name wherefore I cannot aduertise you thereof but now séeing it hath ben your pleasure to haue some care ouer me I doe most hartelie desire you to declare vnto me what they are that ride in that Chariot whether they are going in such triumphant sort for it may so fall out in the meane time that you doe giue me to vnderstand therof this my sicknesse will leaue me heerein I shall be much bound vnto you and if I may require that courtesie The damsell who receiued great contentment in his company said Of a truth sir knight although it will be somewhat tedious to declare vnto you all this which you doe demaund of me yet I will tell it you with a very good will for that your behauiour doth deserue that I accomplish this yea much more for you The knight of the Sun did giue hir great thankes for hir gentle offer she began to tell vnto him that which was his desire saying You shall vnderstand sir Knight that in the Gran Caâ—…aia within the Orient all Regions owelleth an high and mightie Lord called Alicandro who is Emperour of Tartaria the great and of the Scitiha and Lord ouer all the Ilands Orientales and Meridionales who by his mightie power hath brought in subiection almost all the kings mightie Lords of Asia for the which hee is called the mightie Emperour king of kings and Lord of Lordes and commeth of the linage of the diuine Gods whome we doe honour worship for which cause all we that by his vassals subiects haue him in more reputation then any humane creature This mightie Emperour when he was a young man was married vnto a damsell who for hir great bountie beauty was had in reputation for a deuine Goddesse and béeing with childe by the Emperour when hir time was come she was delyuered at one birth of a sonne and a daughter which be those two that are in the Chariot vnder the two rich arkes and the Damsell is called Lindabrides and the Knight Meridian and as you sée hir without comparison faire and beautifull so is he neither more nor lesse without comparison in
him by the wast and in spite of his hart hée lift him vp from the ground and carried him through the Quadran till hée came vnto the doore whereas the fayre Damsell did tarry for them and when hée had brought him thether the Prince beegan to make great resistance in his defence as one that were beeside himselfe and ignoraunt of the good that should come vnto him The knight of Cupide séeing that the Prince did set all his strength against him hée likewise inforced his strength and ouerthrew him downe to the ground out at the doore wheras straight way the Prince did finde himselfe at libertie â—…f that terrible fire and paine hée suffered And béefore hée â—…ould arise vp the knight of Cupide did pull off his Healme â—…nd said vnto him You are but dead Prince Don Lusindo 〈◊〉 you doo not acknowledge this Damsell to bée your wyfe â—…nd when the Prince saw the Damsell and dyd know hir â—…ée receiued great delyght to sée hir there and sayd Of a â—…uth gentle Knight for this thinge which you doo aske of â—…ée there is no néede to certifie mée with the feare of death 〈◊〉 that I haue very much repented mée of the great disloialtie I haue vsed towards hir and there is nothing that I desire more then to take hir vnto my spouse and wyfe as surely shée already is In saying these words the knight of Cupid did a part himselfe from him and gaue the prince his hand helping him to arise from the grouÌ„d And being on foot hée did imbrace the fayre Pinarda with great loue for so the damsel was called And the prince returning vnto the knight of Cupid hée gaue him harty thanks for that which hée had done for him and requested him to giue him to vnderstand of whom hée had receiued so great a benefit and hée tould him that hée was called the knight of Cupide and how that he was of the kingdome of Hungarie And when the Prince saw that he made no more declaration of himselfe he would not be importunate with him for that he perceiued wel how hée was vnwilling to bée knowen and for that it grew to be very late the faire Pinarda did request them to take theyr rest that night in that habitation whereas they were both of them very well serued and ther grew béetwixt theÌ„ great friendship So the next day they all thrée together descended out of that habitation by y e same staires wherby the knight of Cupide did goe vp and descending downe into the gréene valley they saw comming towards them a knight of bigge stature and very well armed whereat they were all much amazed but straight waies when they drew nigher hée was knowen to be that valiant and worthy king Sacridoro who as it hath béene tould you did throw himselfe into the depth of the fountaine whereas hée found himselfe in that gréene and flourishing medow and hée went to séeke out the knight of Cupide greatly amazed at that which hée saw for that it séemed hée was in a new world And wheÌ„ the knight of Cupide knew him with the greatest pleasure and delight iâ—… all the world hée went towards him and there they did imâ—… brace one another as though they had not seene one anotheâ—… a long time and there they declared the one vnto the otheâ—… what had happened vnto eyther of them And straight waâ—… the knight of Cupide made knowen vnto the Prince Lusindo his friend the king Sacridoro and gaue him to vnderstand that by his occasion and for his cause hée came vnto that fâ—…taine of the Sauages and that hée ought to thank him for his libertie The Prince who had knowen him béefore and knew of the great loue that hée bare to his sister Oriselua with great ioy and pleasure hée dyd imbrace him and promised him that he wold doo so much with his father that they should bée friends and giue him the Princesse for his wife with the which the King Sacridoro was so ioyfull that he was as one beside himselfe with the great pleasure which hée receiued and gaue thanks vnto God for that benefit shewed vnto him in méeting with that good knight of Cupid who was the occasion of his remedie So after that béetwixt them there had passed very much talke they determined to goe vnto the court of the king Polidarco and they departed from that place hauing in their company the faire Pinardo went through the famous caue of Phenicia wher of hath béen spoken so much there they did vnderstand the occasion of that terrible fearefull noyse which continually was there heard for the which there was none that durst giue the enterprise to goe into the caue and was by reason of the valley which the knight of Cupid found himselfe in at such time as he was taken into the fountaine of the Sauaâ—…es was so déepe and compassed about with such high and â—…ightie rocks so that neuer any man could enter in neither â—…ould they climbe vp vnto the top of those mountaines nor â—…ome to the knowledge of any such valley that was in that â—…ace amongst those rocks and vnder those rocks and mouÌ„â—…ines there was a caue that passed through which was veâ—… obscure and darke and also narrow by reason whereof â—…gether with other open parts in the same Rock the ayre â—…d enter in passing through from the one side vnto the â—…her and the noise was so great that it made in the same â—…ue and by cliffes thereof that it was very timeâ—…s and fearefull to béehould in such sort that there â—…s none durst enter in there at wherevppon it was â—…led the terrible Caue of Phenicia So the Knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro and the prince Don Lusindo with the princesse Pinarda went foorth of the caue and all foure together went vnto the court of the king Polidarco Who when hée vnderstood of the comming of the Prince Don Lusindo his sonne the great ioy and pleasure which hée and the Quéene did receiue cannot bée expressed and the honour which was done vnto them for the time that they remained there In which time the king Sacridoro was made sure vnto the princesse Oriselua for whose sake he had passed great misfortunes and troubles And the prince don Lusindo was married vnto the faire Pinarda at which marriage ther was made great feasts and triumphs in all the kingdome And héere the Historie doth leaue them till time doo serue How the three Princes Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo went vnto Constantinople whereas they gaue vnderstanding of the death of Rosicleer FUL of sorrow and heauinesse departed the princes Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Taâ—…tarian Zoylo out of the kingdome of Feniciâ—… for y e losse of their great and especiall frienâ—… Rosicleer as those who certainely béeléeuâ—… that hée was dead And without receiuiâ—… any comfort or consolation they trauayled many daies 〈◊〉 Sea till in the ende they ariued in the Empire of Grecia whereas
better will did offer vnto him friendship And although at time he did refuse his company yet time did come afterward that it was very necessary profitable vnto him as hée reafter shall bee tolde you in this History And for that the king Sacridoro did know the great desire the Knight of Cupid had to depart talking on a time with the king Polidarco and the Quéene his wife hée gaue them to vnderstand how that the Knight of Cupid was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio and of the Empresse Briana and how that hee would depart toward Grecia to make himselfe knowen vnto his Father for which cause hée could not but beare him company for the great obligation in which he was bound vnto him and did desire them that they would thinke well thereof And although his departure grieued them very much yet seeing the great reson that he had they answered that he might doe as he thought best for that it séemed vnto them he had great reason therein they much meruailed that the Knight of Cupid should be so high and mightie a Prince At length when they had taken their leaue of them and of the Prince Don Lusindo who was also very sorrowfull for their departure they went out of the citie trauailed vnto the sea coast wher they did imbarke themselues toke the way towards Grecia wherâ—… that happened vnto them which shall be told you in this Chapter following Of a verie fierce and perillous battaile which the Knight of Cupid had with a famous giant in the Grecian Empire Chap. 31. THe sorrow griefe was very much which was in the whole empire of Grecia by reason of the newes touching the death of Rosicleer for the Emperour did commaund that for the space of one moneth all mirth pastimes which were made in the great citie of Constantinople whereas were so many excellent knights that it was a strange thing to behold Which knights not hauing any thing to doe some departed into their owne countries other some went out of the court to séeke their aduentures in the Empire till such time as the month was passed In the end of which the Knight of the Chariot should returne to defend the beautie of the faire princesse Lindabrides so that at that time the citie of Constantinople was left voide and all the land of the Empire full of Knights as well strangers as naturalls amongst whom there did not lacke to bee euerie day great contentions It fell out in this time that ther came into Grecia a mightie great famous giant called Mandroco who was Lord of Achia which was an Iland ioyning vnto the grecian empire of so great force strength that he was inuinsible of long time the whole countrie of Grecia did not like well of him for that he greatly harmed them as well by land by sea and as this mightie Giaunt heard the report of the high déedes of chiâ—…alrie done by the Knight of the Chariot in the great citie of Constantinople and likewise of the great safe conduct granted by the Emperour with the great desire he had to proue himselfe with him and to make manifest his mightie force and strength in that Court he passed into Grecia and came thether two daies after the demaund of the Knight of the Chariot and béeing determined to remaine there till the moneth was accomplished hee trauailed in the Empire and with what knight so euer hée met hée should not depart but first proue himselfe with him and oâ—… all such as he did ouerthrow to the ground he would take their Horsses from theÌ„ and wheÌ„ hée had ioyned a great number together hée would send them into his Iland So hée béehaued himselfe that in space of twelue daies hée had euer throwen more then two hundâ—…ed Knights and all their Horses were his and for that they did finde themselues agreeued many of those Knights did make theyr complaint vnto the Emperour of their misvsing who receiued so great sorrow and griefe that hée him selfe would haue gone in person to haue proued himselfe against him if the Empresse had not hindred him And againe calling to remembrance the safe conduct that hée had graunted vnto all Knights hée woâ—…ld not send any people against him for that hee would not break his promise So that hee receiued great griefe for that which euery day was tolde him of that gyant And his great name and fame was spread throughout all that Countrie in such sort that many Knight did procure to apart himselfe out of that way wheras hée went and vnto all Knights his name was terrible and they said that in all the world there was not a Gyant so mighty and strong And trauayling in this sort it so fell out that in the same time there came into the Countrie of Grecia the Knight of Cupide and the good King Sacridoro and straight waies there was giuen them to vnderstand of the high déedes of the Knight of the Chariot and how that hée remained in Constantinople till such time as the month was accomplished for to returne and defend the beautie of the fayre Princesse Lindabrides Likewise they heard the great complaints which was made of the mighty Gyaâ—…nt Mandroco The Knight of Cupide hauing great desire to méete with him did direct his way toward that way wheras it was tould him that hée went And it fell out one day that as hée and y e king Sacridoro did passe through a mighty and great vsed way they saw the giant comming the same way with more then thirty of his owne knights which bare him company and he was of so high and big stature that he did appeare aboue all the rest from the brest vpwards and when these two Knights came nigh vnto them the Gyaunt dyd béehould them and liking well both of the Knights and theyr Horsses 〈◊〉 straight waies sayd that they should prepare themselues vnto the iust with him one to one or both together which their pleasure was and best liked them Then the Knight of Cupid who had a great desire to proue himself with the giant requested the King Sacridoro that he would let him haue the first battell To whom he answered that hée should doo his pleasure although hée would haue béen very glad first to haue proued his owne fortune so y e Knight of Cupid without answering any word went and put himself in one part of the high way And when the Gyaunt saw him so big and well made it liked him well and laughed vnto himselfe béecause hée would iust alone with him and might profit himselfe with his companion The gyaunt had vnder him a very fayre and mighty Horse called Rondarte that next vnto the Horse Cornerino was the best in all the world and for that hee was so mighty and strong hée trauailed on him for if hée had not beene such a one ther were no horse that were able to sustaine and suffer him for that hee was
pleasure In this time it was published throughout all the pallace these good strange newes the noise rushing was so great amongst them with the hast they made for to goe see their new princes that all the whole citie was in a rumour tumult suspecting that it had ben some other thing was the occasion that there resorted much people vnto the Pallace in so great abundance thaâ—… he pallace was full coulâ—… no more enter Likewise the stâ—…s had so great prease that one could scarce passe by another But when it was knowen vnto all people of the acknowledging of their new princes ther was so great plesure amongst them that in a short time all the whole Citie was so lightsome as at noone daies with the great light of Bonefires Torches that was in euery street therof with many pastimes new inuentions of so great mirth that it séemed that ther were ioyned together all the pastimes and pleasures in the world The royall Princesse Claridiana was not the last that came for to see these new Princes for that so soone as she heard of the great ioy which was caused by this new and straunge newes shée arose ont of hir bed and couered hir selfe with a precious and rich robe lined with Martines furre which was brought hir by hir Damselles and hir golden hayre hanging downe with so great beautie that shée was estéemed rather for some diuine Goddesse then any humane creature She went vnto the place whereas the Emperour and the Empresse with their sonnes were embracing one another And for that hir Gentlewomen went béefore hir with lyght Torches in theyr handes euerie one dyd giue place vnto hir and did receiue hir with great honour and curtesie But with a gratious and smiling countenance accompanied with great seuerity shée left them all and went and did embrace the worthy Knight of the Sunne and saide If that by the force of my armes worthie valiant Prince did cause you to receiue any anger and griefe when I made you to be knowen for the knight of the Sunne with the same armes I wil now make satisfaction of my fault in embrasing of you as the son of the Emperour Trebatio and of my Lady the Empresse Briana The great pleasure which the worthie Knight of the Sunne receiued of this embracing ought not to bée compared vnto that which was the occasion that hée came vnto the knowledge of his father and brother But this may well bée saide that hée could not receiue greater pleasure and contentment if at that time the whole world and all the riches therin had béen giuen vnto him for when he felt himselfe touched with those delicate armes warlike hands hée thought verily that in al his life hée could not receiue the like glorie and humbling himselfe very much with a méeke voice he said As it was perillous vnto the knight of the Sunne that rigorous encounter which by your strong arme worthy princesse he receiued yet this soueraigne and great benefit which as son vnto the Emperour Trebatio I haue receiued I doo acknowledge my selfe to bee fully satisfied and paide of that high recompence although it was not so small the harme which I receiued by that encounter that I think to receiue any satisfaction but will rather put mée in farther perill and daunger The Princesse Claridiana dyd very well vnderstand the last words that were spoken by the knight of the Sunne but dissembling with him she left him and went vnto the knight of Cupid said Let it be in good time the acknowledging of the knight of Cupid for that ther was no cause sufficient being lesse theÌ„ this for to make peace with him who in this battell did shew so much enmitie And for the part that I haue therin if that by any other knight the knight of the Sunne should be put into so great extremitie I say I am very glad for y t it happened to be done by you For to conclude it was gods plesure that all bounty and goodnesse in the world should consist in the blood of the Emperor Tiebatio wherin the knight of Cupid is pertaker with the knight of the Sun so that it is not much to be merâ—…ailed at that the bounty of the one and of the other should bee equall So after that Rosicleer had answered the royall Princesse Claridiana straight way came vnto them the two worthie Princes Brandizel and Clauerindo who when they heard the newes almost froÌ„ themselues with the great â—…oye which they receiued they came in great hast for to see their good friend the Knight of the Sunne whom they did embrace with so gret loue as though they wold neuer haue separated themselues The Knight of the Sun gaue vnderstanding vnto the Emperour and to all that were present who and what these Princes were Of the which they did al greatly reioyce and the Emperour with great ioy and pleasure said Oh what great wrong hath béene done vnto mée hetherto that béeing in this my Court such and so high and mightie Knights and I could neuer haue any knowledge thereof for to doo vnto them the honour that vnto such personages doth appertaine And now haue I my ioy and contâ—…nt fully accomplished for that I haue so high and mightie Princes and Knights that bee pertakers with mée therein At this time was the reioyeings and pleasures so great in the Pallaiâ—…e as also in the Citie that one could â—…carce heare an other with the great noyse y t was amongst them And as the Knight of Cupid looked round about him on euerie side and could not sée his faythfull friend the King Sacridoro being somwhat troubled therwith he did enquire after him and there lacked not them which did tell him that when the battaile was concluded béetwixt him the knight of the Sunne that hee was seene to go foorth of the Citie very sorrowfull and comfortlesse but they knew not whether hee wae gone The Emperour by and by when hee vnderstood what was the occasion of his sonnes alteration reioycing very much that hée had so high and mightie a king in his Court. Foorthwith hée commanded certaine Knights to goe seeke him out towards that way which hee was seene to depart Who in a small time they found him out wheras hee lay a long in the gréene fielde almost from himselfe with great sorrow and weeping that hée séemed to bee dead And when they had brought him to himselfe againe one of the Knights saide What doo you make héere sir Knight that you doo not goe and help to celebrate this great mirth ioy which is made for the acknowledging of the new princes of Greece What feasts and reioycings bée these saide the King Sacridoro I for my part am more fitter to command to make preparation for my buriall then to celebrate any Feastes Then the knights saide may it please you to arise vp for you shall vnderstand that the knight of Cupid
the emperour Trebatio did inuite to dyne with him all princes Knights of fame as well strangers as of his countries that were in the court And with the great importunance of him and of the Empresse Briana of force ther must remaine with them that day the faire princes Lindabrides who with a better good will would haue remained in the place whereas she had little securitie of hir loue in the princesse Claridiana and for that as then it was not a time to take any armour the emperour princes knights did aparell adornat themselues with cloth of gold and silk of great valour and was conformable vnto their high estates At which time y e princes Claridiana did not forget the rich apparell the which hir damsels brought for hir from Trapisond the which in contention of the princes Lindabrides she did put on and was so well garnished that it might well be said that the stones pearles that was on it to be worth halfe some kingdome So likewise the Empresse who was as braue and aâ—… gallant as the other two came forth and all thrée on horsâ—… backe they went to heare diuine seruice at a Monestarâ—… that was without the Citie in a faire fresh and gréenâ—… féelde with whom there went out â—… great a number oâ—… knights for to beare them company that the stréetes of thâ—… great citie could not hold them so that the most part of theÌ„ were constrained to remaine in the field yet the Emperour the princes were not come of the pallace But before him ther came forth all those princes knights of greatest estimaâ—…ion of Greece so gallantly apparailed and furnished that it did augment very much his great estate So after them came the good Emperour in the midst béetwixt his sons all mounted vpon great mighty horses so gallant well proporsioned that it might well be said that in all the world ther were not thrée knights of so gallant a semblance as they were And the contentment was so great which all their louing subiects did receiue that they did contemne with an other to put themselues in places where as best they might recreate themselues in the séeking of them Likewise all the windowes of the Citie were full of damsels gentlewomen not a little wondering at their strange big proportions giuing great thankes praise vnto God for that in all this time he did preserue defend kéepe them And by reason that the Emperour was in the inchantment of Lindaraza in the prime of his yéeres they all thrée did so much resemble the one the other that they could scant bée knowen the one from the other but that his sons were somwhat bigger of body then their father was So after them came the faire Empresse Briana vpon a Moyle very richly garnished betrapped And the king Sacridoro did lead him by the bridle the empresse was so gallant faire that in all the whole empire of Greece could not be found neither lady or damsell that being put before hir but that she had great vantage ouer them except it were the excellent beautie tho two faire ladies princes who went the one on the one side and the other on the other of the empresse One of them was â—…nounted vpon a white Unicorne the other vpon a white â—…awfery and the two Princes Clauerindo and Brandizel dyd lead them by their bridels And they were of as gentle dispositions of their bodies as they were faire and beautifull in their faces that like the beames of the Sun they did dimme the sight of all them that behold them And amongst the people there was not a little contempt strife which of these two should be most fairest of best proporsion although much more greater was the contention that either of them had in their harts for the knight of the Sun for they knew not to which of them he would yéeld himselfe prisoner but the force strength of the presence of eyther of them was such that it could not be iudged but to be a continuall contention without hope of any victory although ther was some vantage in the perillous sight surmounted grace of the royall princesse more then in the faire Lady yet considering the long time and great conuersation that she had with the knight of the Sunne was the occasion that ther was such attension within his hart that he had not so much vnderstanding for to acknowledge the small vauntage that was betwixt them by reason whereof hée was brought into that estate that the knight of the Sun should neuer haue ben by any of them ouercome except the presence of one of them had lacked So in this order they went towards the monestary with the Gyants of the princesse hindermost of all them their Damsels very strongly armed for their sauegard So they issued out of the Citie into the field wheras the monestary was and there the Knightes of Greece as well as the straunge Knight did make a great triumph and gallaunt shew with their Horses and for that they were all lustie and valiaunt knightes and meruâ—…ylonslie richly apparailed and it was a great comfort ioy and pleasure vnto all those people which did béeholde them When they came vnto the Monestarie the Knight of the Sunne did alight from his Horse with a trise and for that he knew not which of his Ladies he might be bold first to take downe from their Horse he left them both and went vnto the Empresse his mother toke hir in his armes lifted hir from hir Moile wheron she was riding sate hir downe vpon the greene grasse the Emperour Rosicleer did alight the Princes Then they altogether entred into the monestary whereas they heard diuine seruice with great solempnitie yet the two sons did not so much reioyce themselues therat as the Emperour their father did for that the presence of those faire Ladies did cause Rosicleer to call vnto remembraunce the great beauty of the Princesse Oliuia who was no lesse in degree then any of them so that there could no ioy nor pastime enter into his hart that was suffient to take away that great heauinesse that so long time was rooted in him but rather the conuersation of his parents of the princes Knights did cause in him the more sorow for that he could not occupy himselfe in those déepe and profound thoughts as he was to doe and was very desirous to find some meanes how with reason he might leaue that life which he then lead very much against his will séeke some other way which was more agreeble vnto his vnfortunate estate In this day the knight of the Sun more by diuine inspiration then for any duty vnto his parents did receiue the holy sacrament of baptisme did confesse that all those gods in the which he did beléeue to be false liers did returne vnto the law faith of Christ with
manifest your high and mightie power wherfore did you not onely make mée and no other to bée the deseruer of him that onely doth deserue to inioye my great beautie and fayrenesse Wherfore did you make another so equall vnto mée which is the occasion that I doo sustaine this great griefe I would it were your diuine pleasure that séeing alone I doo deserue the Knight of the Sunne that the Princesse Claridiana might hée shée for that shée beeing the onely deseruer of him will bée the occasion to excuse béetwixt vs a great iealousie and cruell contention for that I had rather to account my selfe vnworthie of such a Knight then to inioy him with so equall a companion for that neither of vs in this sort can liue in any securitie but will rather bée a continuall dying for béeing vnto one alone the remembraunce of the other will bée the occasion of great daunger and shée which should bée forgotten in remembring the victorie of the other would cause in hir a cruell and mortall griefe Oh I am without all good Fortune what shall I dooe considering that I am none but my selfe whether shall I goe béeing a prisoner What comfort shall I take séeing that I am whithout all remedy What counsaile shall I take hauing no vnderstanding neither is there any power to perswade mée to reason but will rather the more increase my sorrow and griefe What shall I doo if I doo remaine héere I shall lack reson to sustaine my selfe considering my high estate will cause a farther griefe againe the sight of the knight of the Sunne cannot bee so ioyfull vnto mée as the presence of Claridiana will bée hurtfull And if I depart out of this Countrie and returned vnto mine owne it will be no other thing but to separate the life and soule from the body And to liue without the presence of the Knight of the Sunne will bée a life vnto mée as vnto those who are in the darke and see no light But alasse what do I say although they receiue nor sée no light yet the paine doth not trouble them but it I do finde my selfe banished out of the presence of the knight of the Sunne there can bée no paine in the world compared vnto that which I shall suffer Oh Knight of the Sunne how mightie and straunge is your Fortune that onely in your haÌ„ds doth remaine the whole remedie of the Princesse Lindabrides shee who in beautie and fairenesse is excellent and doth excéede and amongst all Ladies is the most highest and yet will let to giue hir remedie but rather condempne hir vnto cruell death Wherefore haue I so many Lordshippes and kingdoms with so many thousaads of people which the diuine Gods hath giuen vnto mee when that with all those ioyntly with my straunge exquisite beautie I cannot subiect the will of one alone Knight The sorrowfull Princesse Lindabrides had scarce made an ende of saying these words when that voyde of all memorie and vnderstanding shée remayned vpon hir bed as one that were dead whereas shée remained all that night without comming againe to hir selfe With no lesse sorrow and griefe the worthie Knight of the Sunne passed away the night without sléepe calling to minde all that had passed béetwixt him and the Princesse Lindabrides and the great loue which vnto that day he bare vnto hir ioyntlye with his meruailous surpassing beautie which was in such sort figuâ—…ed in his hart that it made great resistance against the loue which he had vnto the princesse Claridiana in especiall when she was not in presence But being both present y e great liking he had of the royall Princes did almost ouer come him who at that time neither more nor lesse did take as little caÌ„se as the others did sléepe For that the great loue which she had vnto the knight of the Sun did not let but put some doubt in that which hir wounded hart so much desired And although the highnesse of hir estate the excellency of hir beauty did almost wholy perswade hir of securitie that the knight of the Sun would not forget hir Yet the sight of the princes Lindabrides and hir remaining in the court did cause in hir some Ielosie not knowing what would bee the end of that hir demaund Likewise she had great doubt in hir hope For that at such time as the princesse should returne into hir owne country the knight of the Sun could not doe â—…o the contrary but to beare hir company so that the continuall conuersation of them two together would be the occasion of that which being in hir presence might be excused So with these such like thoughts they passed away the night â—…n the which the good knight of Cupid neither more nor lesse did not sléepe very much whose passions are not to be accouÌ„ed nor compared with the rest For if I should héere declare â—…ll that euer he passed for his lady mistresse the faire prinâ—…es Oliuia all this history were not sufficient to hold it alâ—…hough it were very much bigger It is sufficient that he pasâ—…ed away the night with no lesse care then the others that â—… haue told you of although his passions were not so strauÌ„ge â—…nto him as it was vnto the other their griefes But the fuâ—…e of his sorow was somewhat apeased with the hope that â—…e had for to be reuenged on him who was the occasion of â—…ll his euill mortall paine So at that time it was â—…oysed 〈◊〉 the great Citie of Constantinople and in all the whole Empire of Greece the great army that was making in a redinesse in england the occasion wherfore they did ordaine the same Which was the occasion that the sorowfull knight of Cupid did thinke euery day a whole yeare with the great desire he had to sée himselfe with the prince don Siluerio not for that he would haue any recompence at his hands for that it séemed vnto him that he was in no fault but onely to giue to vnderstand vnto the princes Oliuia the small reason that she had so for to cast him off So in this sort they passed away all that night very conformable in their sléeping rests but very different in their variable and pensiue thoughts Who the valiant Rodaran was and the Damsell and the occasion wherefore they came vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio Cap. 28. THe comming of this valiant knight Rodaran vnto the court of the Emperour Trebatio was not so voide of occasion but that there was comprehended there in great discâ—…ipt mischiefe treason an euill preiudiciall vnto all Christendome hurtfull vnto the best princes Knights therin All the which came in such order knit put together that it lacked but little all to be lost if it had not ben by the diâ—…ine prouidence who forgetting the offences 〈◊〉 his people did by his infinit mercy goodnesse prouide a remedy although many times for the sins of the
â—…nto an ende this my enterprise which I haue vndertaâ—… And if the battell which I had with the Prince Meridian in your kingdome of Carmania doth cause you to suspect or haue any doubt in mée You doo well vnderstand that the occasion doth grow by the Deitie that is in him of the immortall gods from whom hée all his progenitors doth desend and would not consent nor suffer that by any humane knight he should bée ouercome so that our battell was separated without any victorie of eyther of our part The which was no small fauour and honour vnto mée that the Gods would make mée equall vnto their diuine bountie And séeing that the Prince Meridian is hée who onely is pertaker of the diuine Deitie and no vauntage betwixt vs two for very certaine sure I may account the victorie of my part against the Gréekish Knights without thinking of any néede of help in the bataile that I shall haue with them The Quéene was very discréete and wise and with hir amorous and sweet words dyd pacifie him in such sort that the net dyd still remaine as shée had commaunded it to bée put for a farther effect then shée dyd giue Rodaran to vnderstand And although at that time it did cause in him great anger and griefe yet béefore many daies had passed hée receiued great contentment and pleasure therein so that this was the occasion that mooued this valiant Rodaran and the Quéene of Carmania to come vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio and the occasion of this their demaund How the Prince Rodamarte went vnto the bridge of Iaspe for to combat with the valiaunt Rodaran Chapter 39. WIth great care and small rest the â—…alyaunt Prince Rodamarte did passe away the night thincking long till the morning was come for to depart vnto the bridge of Iaspe for to combat with Rodaran for that the day béefore he liked him very well séemed to be a knight of great valour Yet for all that he was of so valiant a courage that he had no feare of his might big proportion but very early in the morning before that the sun had couered the earth he was armed with very strong armour his horse trymmed dressed very richly with cloth of gold which did signifie vnto all people his high estate So in this sort he went foorth of Constantinople with but onely one page which did carry his speare his shéeld And hauing his minde occupied on the loue of the princesse Analiria he trauailed so much that the next day he came vnto the bridge of the Iaspe But Rodaran the quéene with great quietnesse contentment did abide the comming of the gréekish knights So when Rodamarte came vnto the gate of the first tower he found that it was fast shut he commanded his page to call there at who with the ring that hong at the gate he gaue great and mighty blowes straight way apeared one of the kéepers out of a window somewhat high perceiuing that it was a Knight of the emperour Trebatio he willed him to tarrye a while the gate should be opened vnto him The kéeper straight way went told his Lord Rodaran who incontinently did arme himselfe with his strong rich armour and requested the Quéene that she would with hir owne hands help him said Lâ—…dy now shal you 〈◊〉 the difference that is betwixt the greekish Knights your 〈◊〉 and how euill shalbe accomplished the prouisâ—…es of that king of Gedrosia So when that all things was in very â—…ood order he commaÌ„ded that the gate of the first tower shâ—…uld be open so that y e Prince Rodamarte did enter in there at and comming on the Bridge in the space that was betwixt the first Bridge and the second which was as long as y e corse of a good horse might indure There he found Rodaran mounted on Horse backe with his speare in his hand who was so bigge and of so great stature that he lacked but little to be as bigge as a giant And at the farther end of the great space that was from the first tower vnto the middle tower vnder the vaut therof was the queene Carmania sitting in a chaire of estate with cushions pillowes of cloth of gold very richly curiously wrought with silk So when the prince came vnto the place wheras Rodaran was he did salute him very curteously said Thou shalt vnderstand Rodaran that I am a knight of the Emperour Trebatio one of them that thou didst disceiue openly in the great hall of his Court. And for the loue of a faire Lady whom I doe serue I am come hether for to chastise thée for thy great folly which thou spakest beefore the most fairest damsels most valiantest knights in all the world Therfore turne thy horse for to Iust with mée or els turne deny all that thou spakest ther. With great laughter disdaine Rodaran answered vnto the prince Rodamarte said of a truth knight if that my Lady the quéene of Carmania were not before me in presence possible it were better for me to deny that which I haue spoken then to iust w t you for that you doe seeme to be a gentill valiant knight But for so much as she is present I know not how to excuse my selfe but first consent to loose my life then to commit any such offence Therfore as reason doth require séeing that you do know who I am let me likewise know by whom I shall be ouercome I am said he Rodamarte prince of Cypres vassayle vnto the emperour Trebatio Therfore leaue of these thy words let vs come to the effect of déedes y t thou maist beléeue of certainty that which thou hast now spoken in mockage gesting Unto the immortall gods I doe giue great thanks said Rodaran for that so far as I can perceiue by your gentil semblance that you do seme to be a knight of great estimation if my iudgement doe not disceiue me And therewith all these two valiant knights did depart the one from the other Rodamarte toward the foote of the bridge whereas he entred in Rodaran toward the place whereas the quéene was And when he came nigh vnto hir with great pride hée saide Lady I pray you to giue very good entertainment vnto this prisoner for that he is the prince of cypresse And therewith all the one moued against the other with so great fury that it séemed the bridge did shake vnder them And in the midst of their swift course these two made their encounter in such sort that their sâ—…aues were sheuered in péeces they passed forwardes on without any mouing by the force thereof till such time as they iustled together with their bodies horse man And by reason that the valyant Rodaran was bigger of body of more force strength he stroke the prince in such sort that he ouerthrew him horse all to
Balisea Great thanckes doe I giue vnto the high and immortall Gods for that I was fully certified within my selfe that so valyant a knight as thou art could not bée borne in this Countrie therefore héere once againe I doo desire thée that thou wilt tell mée the occasion that so mightie a Prince as thou art and beeing a Pagan that thou dooest abide and recreate thy selfe in straunge Countries and to shew thy selfe so great a friend vnto Christians Tell mée I pray thée if thou hast receiued their lawes and customes and left the law of the Pagans Thou doost demaund of mée great account sayd the Prince but for that thou shalt not béeléeue all that which thou hast saide I will bee briefe giue thée to vnderstand in few words I doo béeléeue that thou doost know or at the least wayes hast heard of the great battailes and contentions that passed betwixt my Father the King Florion and the mightie Africano who had vsurped and taken away my Fathers kingdome I haue heard the same said Rodaran and I was called vnto the sayd warres and for that I did sée that Africano had neither reason nor iustice I dyd refuse the iourney and would not goe with him Then the Prince sayde you shall vnderstand that in these warres my Father got the victorie and recouered all his lands the which hée had lost but especially by the great force strength and bountie of the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne and Sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio who at this present remayneth in his Court and by the prowesse of the Prince Clauerindo sonne vnto the king Oristeo of Fraunce both the which béeing verie young were lost and both found at the Sea by the king my father who carried them with him whereas they two and I were brought vp all thrée together and from that time there dyd grow so great loue and friendship béetwixt vs which was the occasion ioyntly with the dutie which I owe vnto them that I am come in theyr company into this Countrie cannot certifie my selfe neither am I at quyet but when I am with them and in their companie and conuersation This is the occasion wherefore I am come into this countrie béecause you are so desirous to know héere I meane to remaine so long as these princes abide in y e Emperours Court Oh Prince Brandizel saide Rodaran now I plainely sée and perceiue how that the high Gods are very angrie with the Pagan people and will plague and punish vs by the hands and power of the Christians for that wée haue now at this present more then at any time héeretofore so great confidence in them Oh Prince of Persia if the losse and destruction of thy naturall Countrie doo cause in thée any sorrow or the destruction of the Pagan people doo cause any griefe then would thy hart lament and cause thée to leaue off this great friendship which thou hast with the Christians and take vpon thée mortall warre against them for héere I doo giue thée to vnderstand béefore the great Cane king of the Cambalos and Emperour of Tartaria and béefore all Kings and Lords his subiects and vassals the King Gedrosia who is one of the wisest in deuination and Astrologie that is to bée found in all the world to whom at that present I gaue but small credit hee dyd declare and pronounce that in our dayes and times should be stayne and destroyed the most part of all the Pagan people in the fields of Greece by the mightie force and power of the Knights that bée therein and that there the greatest and mightiest Kings in all Asia shall loose theyr gouernment estates Unto whose words I made no contradiction for that it séemed vnto mée to bée a thing impossible And moreouer hée said that in the Empire of Greece there were such Knights that if meanes were not found by one way or other to disturbe them that they alone were sufficient to accomplish and bring to passe all this which I haue sayd And for this occasion I departed out of my Kingdome and Countrie and dyd promise the Emperour Alycandro neuer to retourne againe vnto the same till such time as I came vnto the Empire of Greece and there with my power and force to take prisoners the best Knights that bée in all the Empire and to carrie them away with mée vnto the Emperour Alycandro now séeing that you doo know my determination and purpose and the great profit that will grow thereof vnto all Asia I doo desire thee by the seruice and dutie which thou dost owe vnto the high Gods that leauing the great friendship which thou hast with the Christians let vs two procure to take and carrie them prisoners into our Countrie that by them wée may raunsome and set our selues at libertie from the great destruction which is prognosticated to bée done vnto vs by them which by no meanes can bée excused except first wée doo this which I haue tolde thée Then the Prince Brandizel answered and saide Let the Pagans remaine in their Countrie and let the Christians alone in theyrs for that this remedie which thou hast taken in hand Rodaran will verie little profit to excuse the harme which thou hast spoken of béeing a thing determined by the high powers And héere I dooe giue thée to vnderstand that there doth remaine many Knights in the Citie of Constantinople and such as ten such knights as thou art be not sufficient to take one of them and to bring him vnto prison And héere I doo advise thée to take good héede and béeware of the furie of the Knight of the Sunne béefore whom there is no humane â—…reature able to make any resistance And in that thou â—…oost request mée to leaue of theyr friendship and to béeâ—…ome theyr enimie speake no more thereof vnto mée for I â—…oo more estéeme their friendship and loue and to bée friend â—…nto the sonnes of the Emperour Trebatio and his friends â—…hen to bée a Prince yea more then to bée Lord ouer all Aâ—…ia And if thou wilt leaue off this demaund which thou bringest with thée and goe vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio and become a brother in our friendship there shall bée done vnto thee the honour that to such a knight belongeth and if not let vs returne againe vnto our battell and hée which of vs two shall bée ouercome let him doo all that the other who winneth the victorie shall commaund and so shall bée excused all the requestes that are béetwixt vs two Héere Rodaran was very sorrowfull béecause hée found so small comfort of the Prince in this his determination and beléeuing that onely in the ouercomming of that knight dyd consist the accomplishing of his aduenture and that it might so fall out by the victorie of him to end his demaund for that which the Prince had tould hée could not béeleeue neyther giue credite that those knights which dyd remayne béehinde in the court should bée
remembraunce hée lay along vpon the ground without moouing hand or foote but as one that were dead The occasion thereof was for that hée was so big membred and footed withall that the rigorous fall was more perillous vnto him then vnto the king Sacridoro But when the Quéene Carmania saw all that had passed shée arose vp from the place wheras shée sat in companie with all hir Ladies and came whereas these two Knights were on the ground and tooke of Rodarans healme and gaue him aire so that hee came againe to himselfe presently and arose vp on his féete and was greatlie amazed at the great strength of the king Sacridoro went towards him who with very anger was readie to burst to sée himselfe in that great extremitie and could not help himselfe Rodaran pulled of his healme from his head and tooke his swoord from him and made fast a mightie great chaine vnto his legge and put a payre of manacles vpon his hands and so carried him prisoner whereas the other Princes were with so great sorrow and griefe for that which had happened that if it had not béene for the losse of his soule hée would haue slaine himselfe And when the other Princes did know the valyaunt king Sacridoro their sorow and paine dyd double increase And when eyther of them had tolde him all that they had passed with Rodaran hée and all the rest were very sad and heauie for that they did béeléeue of certaintie if God did not put remedie therein it were not possible that there should remaine any good knight but bee brought all to prison So there they remayned all foure together very sorrowfull til their fortune did procure to the contrarie but their sorrow and griefe was not so much to sée themselues so in prison as Rodaran receiued ioy and pleasure for the good fortune that hée had with the King Sacridoro for that according vnto y e great encounter that hée receiued of him hée should haue passed great extremitie if hée had ioyned with him in battaile with theyr swoords so that at this time hée made little account of the rest of the knights which remained because hee had brought into his power these other past who were very valiant and of great prowesse The Page of the King Sacridoro when hée saw his Lord carried to prison and his healme from his head after hee had made that great encounter he would tarrie no longer but with great sorrow returned vnto Constantinople whereas hée gaue the Emperour to vnderstand â—…ud all the Knights that were there present the heauie newes of all that had passed which caused such an admiration in all them that heard it that they knew not what to say but that Rodaran was the most valiauntest and strongest knight that was in all the Pagan land And the sorrow and griefe was so much that the Emperour receiued that hee wold haue armed himselfe and haue gone and prooued himselfe with Rodaran but that his sonne Rosicleer who receiued greatest griefe for the imprisonment of the king Sacridoro and was the fifth to whom the lot dyd fall out to follow the demaund Without any more tarrying hée asked lisence of his Father who committing him vnto God dyd graunt it vnto him saying My welbeeloued and good sonne vse thy selfe in such sort that thou maist reuenge the iniurie done vnto thy friends And in this thing I doo acknowledge the great benefit that God hath done vnto mée in that I doo know thée and thy Brother to bée my sonnes which is the occasion that my court is so greatly honoured with so many valiant knights and now in this time that Rodaran hath put vs into this great extremitie which would haue fallen out very euill if wée should haue lacked you But whereas your highnesse is said Rosicleer we might bée well forborne for if it were so that wée were all prisoners vnto Rodaran wée should receiue great comfort and haue our libertie very certaine if you alone did remaine God deliuer you from this said the Emperour for although ther should be no lack in my good will to receiue death to set you at liberty yet my force strength should want for to supplie the lack of such knights And therwith Rosicleer dyd humble himselfe vnto the Emperour and departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging for to arme himselfe leauing the Emperour and all the rest very ioyfull bée leeuing of a certaintie that for his great bountie mightie power ther was not a Knight in all the world setting a part his brother the inuinsible Knight of the Sunne that might bée compared vnto him In the which they were not deceiued although it happened not so well vnto Rosicleer in the 〈◊〉 which he had with Rodaran as they thought as in the chapter following shall bée declared vnto you Of the strong and well foughten battaile that the valiand Rosicleer had with that stout Pagan Rodaran and of all that happened vnto them therein Chapter 42. THE valyaunt and well estéemed Rosicleer departed out of the Citie of Constantinople carryeng vpon his sheeld the deuise of Cupid by the which hee was knowen and looked on of all people Likewise the windowes were full of Ladies and Damsels who prayed vnto God for the victorie of theyr Prince as though hee had beene their owne brother who trauailed with so déepe and profound thoughts mixed with sorrow which were vnto him as much care as to sée himselfe with Rodaran in battell and to bring him prisoner vnto the Emperour In this sort did the Prince trauaile towards the Bridge of Iaspe and béeing sore troubled within his thoughts oftentimes hée had lost his way if his page which went with him had not put him in remembrance which was the occasion that hée made the time long before hée came vnto the bridge and for that the remembraunce of Don Siluerio dyd cause vnto him great sorrow and griefe that many times hée sayd vnto himselfe Oh if God were so pleased that in satisfaction of the great trauayle which the Princesse Oliuia hath caused mée to haue that this knight were Don Siluerio hée that I doo now goe to seeke and although the great fauour which hée hath is sufficient to defend him from all the world yet the great reason which I haue to complaine my selfe is sufficient that I dooe execute vpon him this my great anger wrath And in this thing alone the Princesse Oliuia must pardon mée for although I would rather suffer death then in any thing to cause hir to receiue anger yet cannot I let to dooe that and much more to giue hir vnderstanding of the small reason that shée had to forget mée and receiue another And héere I doo protest that if death doth not cut mée off first I will reuenge this my bloody wrath and then perhaps shée will wéepe and lament hir errour And althought this is not sufficient to make satisfaction vnto this my vnhappie Fortune neyther can
as so many knights as well in vertue as in prowesse was not wholie forgotten of God as appeared héere at this present for that hée did ordaine theyr fortune in such sort that the ship in the which they were carried and dyd ariue in the Kingdome of Phrigia and for that it was the right way to goe vnto Tartaria Rodaran and the Quéene went a land and commaunded that the prisoners lykewise should bée taken out of the ship who were all bound in chaynes so that they were carryed very strongly and in good order So in this sort they trauailad fiue daies without happening any thing vnto them worth the telling in the ende of the which they came into the Kingdome of Lidia and came in the sight of the camp of the King of Arcadia and Rodaran demaunded whose armie that same was and it was declared vnto him the truth thereof who receiued great ioy and contentment therat for that the king of Arcadia was a very great friend of his for béeing in the Court of the Emperour of Tartaria and a trauailing knight he had great acquaintance and frequentation with him and hauing great desire to sée him and giue him vnderstanding of his pray the which he carried hée sayd vnto the Quéene Carmania that hée would goâ—… vnto him for to sée him and shée thought it good and consented thervnto So they went and carried their prisoners béefore the king and when they came vnto the tent of the king of Arcadia they alighted from theyr horses and entered in â—…herat and as soone as hée knew that it was Rodaran with â—…reat curtesie pleasure he receiued them for that this was he greatest friend he had in all the world And wheÌ„ hée vnderstood the occasion wherfore he came into those parts and â—…f the prisoners hée brought with him the King very glad â—…nd ioyfull caused them to bée brought into his tent wherâ—… hée honoured them very much and gaue Rodaran to vnderstand of all that euer he had passed and done in the kingâ—… of Lidia how that hée had brought his enterprise vnâ—… that estate that hée had almost taken that last citie and â—…w that there was come to help them a Knight the most â—…liantest strongest that euer in all his life hée had séene and gaue to vnderstand of all that hée hath done in thrée times that hée came foorth to battaile with his people at the which Rodaran was greatly amazed and as one that all rancour and mallaice was not cleane rooted out of him hée had great desire to sée that knight and to combat with him beleeuing that he should conclude and make an ende of that which the whole armie béefore could not dooe So Rodaran remayned till the next day hoping therein to sée that valyant Knight Whereat the King of Arcadia receiued great ioy contentment thincking that if hée and Rodaran might haue the knight of the Sunne béetwixt them that hee could not by any meanes escape but either be slaine or taken prisoner In this sort they passed away that day and the night with great pleasure although it was vnto the prisoners ouer much sorrow and griefe alwaies with patience abiding the good houre of Fortune How the Knight of the Sunne went out the third time into the camp of the king of Arcadia what happened therein Chapter 50. THE next day after that Rodaran came into the Kings Camp the knight of the Sun was determined to go out into the field with the great desire he had to cléere himselfe of that enterprise for to returne again into Greece as well to combat with Rodaran as to recreate himselfe with his Ladies the absence of whom was vnto him no small griefe likewise hée was put in great perplexity and care for that according vnto the great number of people which the king of Arcadia had with him in his Camp it was not possible for him to cléere himselfe so soone as hée thought hée should which was the occasion that very earely in the morning béefore the Sunne did shew hir selfe this valiant warriour béeing armed with his rich strong armour and mounted vpon his great and light horse with a mighty sâ—…eare well steeled in his hand hée went out of the Citie and very much against the will of the King Lyseo whom hée caused to tarrie within the Citie in a readinesse for to come foorth to ayde and help him if any cause of necessity did call him and to giue him his whole contentment hée would not say any thing agaynst him that his pleasure was to dooe So when this couragious Knight came vnto the Camp hée blew his horne with so great strength that it was heard throughout all those wide and broad fields and put great feare in the most part of all them that wer in the Campe for that there were very few of them that had any securitie salling into his hands Then the King of Arcadia vnderstanding the demaund of the Knight dyd straight wayes commaund the most valiauntest and strongest in all the armie to arme themselues and commaunded to set thayres without the doore of his tent whereas hée and Rodaran sat downe to sée and beehold from thence all that the Knight of the Sunne should doo It was not long after that there went out of the Camp a valiaunt Pagan called Alriâ—…o who was mounted vpon a mightie great Horse and armed with guilt armour â—…ull of rich precious stones which certified them that he was of high estate and went towards the Knight of the Sun and with a great speare in his hand with the which hée gaue him a verie strong encounter in such sort that his speare was sheeuered all to péeces and the Knight of the Sunne thereat made no mention of moouing 〈◊〉 his saddle but he made his encounter so strongly against â—…is enimie that by reason of the stiffenesie of his Speare â—…nd the fineneste of the others armour that would not content to bée broken with the force of that blow hee was hoiâ—…d out of his saddle and throwen ouer the horse crouper to â—…e ground tenne pâ—…ces from his horse and the blow chaunâ—…ed vnder his breast in such sort that béefore hée came vnto â—…e ground his breath was gone and hée starke dead and though at this blow all the Pagans wondered greatâ—… yet for all that came foorth another Knight no lesse arâ—…gant and proude then valiant who at the first encounter 〈◊〉 beare Alrifo companie Then after him came foorth ten knights together of the valiantest and strongest that were in all the whole armie all the which this valiant and worthie warriour dyd ouerthrow to the ground some starke dead and other some so euil intreated and brused with theyr falls that afterward they would serue to vse no armour And this béeing done there was not one Knight in all the camp that was of so great force that durst go foorth to combat with him so that he was there tâ—…rrieng a good while to
shewing hir selfe pleasant many times they asked of hir the occasion offering to doe all that was possible whereby she might receiue ioy And she answered them with great dissâ—…mulatton saying that ther was nothing that caused hir to be so sad but onely because shee could neuer heare any newes of hir brother the prince Meridian since his departure from hir Then the Emperour beleeuing it to be as she had told him presently sent abroad knights into all parts to seeke him dailye did comfort the princesse 〈◊〉 that beefore long hir brother Meridian would come thether Likewise at this time the good knight Rosicleer was not altogether at his ease for that idlenesse and eass was the occasion that he called to remembrance things passed in such sort that the old wound of his loue began to renue feaster againe so that within few daiâ—…ee that he had remained in Constantinople his owne naturall country habitation waxed 〈◊〉 vnto him the â—…onuersation of his father mother brother for that he could not receiue any pleasure or delight did cause vnto him great 〈◊〉 griefe did abâ—…orre their companie all his delight â—…as to be alone to any place wher mirth pastime was â—…e could not abide All the which increased in him so much that in the end he determined with himselfe to doe that as â—…eereafter shall bée told you ¶ How the Empresse Briana was deliuered of a sonne and of the great feasts that were made at his birth Chapter 52 IT is said in this famous history that the mightie emperour Trebatio had another and the third son by the faire empresse Briana of whom is made great mencion in the second part of this history for that was one of the most mightiest famous knights in all the world that next vnto his singuled bretheren the knight of the Sun Rosicleer ther was none equall vnto him many times combatting with his bretheren vnknowen he put theÌ„ in great hazard with either of them he hath maintayned battaile almost a whole day in the end it was very small the vantage they had of him so that this valiant knight did finish so many mortall déedes that they deserue to be spoken of to be put in the number of his bretheren in all other things as in body stature he was conformable equal vnto them did resemble so much the knight of the Sun in his face that many times he was taken for him if it were not that he was of fewer yéeres with great difficulty might you know the one from the other This valiant fortunat prince as the wise Artemidoro saith was borne straight after the emperour and all his company came from the kingdome of Lidia for that when that stout Pagan Rodaran came into Greece the empresse was very big with child It doth apéere that the wise Lirgandeo doth make difference for hée doth make no mencion of this yong gentleman till the conclusion of the great battailes which they passed betwéene the emperour Alicandro of Tartaria and the Emperour Trebatio of Greece from which time he doth declare meruailous wonderfull things done by him I doe beléeue that the occasion of this is because that the wise Lirgandeo did not sée him till such time as he came into Greece made no mention of him till all the battaile was finished at such time as the emperour all the rest tooke their rest with great ioy pleasure after the great trauaile which they receiued in the wars past for that at this time the young gentleman was verye tender of yeares passed not sixe yéeres of age so that till that time ther is no more mention made of him then is in this chapter but afterwards these two wise men doe begin to writ of him meruailous great wonderfull déeds doo both agrée in their writings When the time was come that this royall empresse should be deliuered ther chaunced a thing of great admiration meruaile which did shew declare a very high and great mistery in the birth of this â—…hild which was that night and very moment that he was borne the Moone did shine so bright cleere threw from hir such glistering beames of light that it seemed to bee the Sun the most part of all the earth was so cléere as commonly it is in the morning when the Sunne doth spred hir beames abroad This was seene iust at midnight did endure for the space of halfe a quarter of an houre iâ—… it put all those that saw it in great admiration those which afterwards heard tell thereof greatly meruailing thereat they demaunded of the wise men what that strange token might singnifie ther was none that could declare the signification therof but onely the wise Artemidore who was at that present in Constantinople who did tell them plainly that it did proâ—…nosticat shew that the features deedes of that yong prince should so cléerely shine in the obscure dark regions of the barbarous people as the moone did shew hir shining light in the obsure darknesse of the night And time did come that it was perfectly seene proued to be true all that this wise man had told them for that by his occasion the most part of the orientall regions were turned into the christian faith and true beléefe in Iesus Christ. After this which the wise man had told him as also for that the child was borne very faire The Emperour and the empresse his sons were very glad ioyfull all the knights of the court the citizens began to make great feasts and pastimes for the birth of the new prince the which endured in the Citie for the space of one moonth afterwards as the child did increase in yeeres so did he increase in bounty and bignesse of body in such sort that all men meruailed greatly ther at and said that according vnto the wonderfull tokens séene at the birth of that child it could not be but that hee should recouer as great fame be as singuler in bounty as his bretheren And many times the princesse Claridiana the faire princesse Lindabrides did take him in their armes and shewes him great ioy loue for that he was brother vnto the knight of the Sun said that neuer in all their 〈◊〉 they saw a childe of so great perfection but this was nothing to that which they would haue done if they had knowen how that be should quench the fury perillous discord that was betwéene them for certaintie if it had not ben done by him neither the oue nor the other should haue liued in security and for that this history shall make perfect relation in his time at this time ther shall be no more said till such time as the wise men in their writing of this happy prince shall agree in one be conformable which shall be at
in the aide succour of the king Priamus quéene of the Amazons named Pantasilla who hauing heard many times in hir owne Countrye to praise extoll the great strength valiantnesse of Hector more for his loue then for any zeale she had to defend Troy she came together with very many people of hir for to sée him in the time of that siege the queene declared vnto Hector the great loue shée bare vnto him he who was no lesse affectioned vnto hir granted hir all that euer she would demand so that the quéene was begotten with child by Hector was deliuered of a son whom they called Pireo the troyan who very secretly not knowen to any body was giuen vnto a nurse borne in that citie to be brought vp as hir owne child So after the death of king Priamus all his sons the destruction of the citie ther remained certaine citizens of a base sort such as y e greekes made no account of amongst whom it chanced the nurse who brought vp Pireo was one of them who knowing whose son he was did bring him vp with great care till such time as he was a man by nature he was enclined to the exercise of armes so he gaue himself onely thervnto had delight in no other thing for that it was manifest vnto him whose sonne he was for to sustaine some memory of the citie of Troy of his father he caused this bridge to be made this castle and ordained a custome that no knight might passe that way but first to combatte with him to leaue héerein his shield his name saying that he was ouercome by him in the time of his life he ouercame so many knights that they are without number when he died hee left beehinde him a young sonne and commaunded that all those that did discend from him should maintaine that custome which of long time hath beene maintained at that bridge so that all those which haue succeeded in this Countrye from him vntill this time hath maintayned kept that order custome and hath ouercome so great a number of knights that in all that great forrest which you doo sée there is no roome almost to hang their sheelâ—…es And in saying these words he shewed vnto theÌ„ the forrest whose trées were all full of shéelds which dyd hang vpon the boughes branches some of them were glistering other some with great antiquitie had lost their colours ther were so many of them that without great difficultie they could not be told proceeding forwards Oristedes said This is the occasion why wherefore this custome is kept maintained at this bridge And I will keepe and defend the same so long as I doo liue for that my lineall descent doth come from that noble stock of Pireo his father Hector for that ther hath remained no other remembrance of Troy this shal remain for a memory of the noble blood that was ther spilt The knight of the Sun reioyced very much at that which Oristedes had told him did estéeme him little for that hée came of that royall blood of Troy séemed vnto him according to his disposition that he could not but be like in valiantnes vnto his predecessours giuing him great thankes for that which he had told him of his life custome hée sayd vnto him Well gentle knight séeing it is so that you cannot choose but kéepe maintaine this your custome neither I nor all these that dooe come with mée cannot passe this bridge without making battaile or els to returne agayne the way which we haue come Let vs if you please procure to do all that in vs doth lie vnto him that doth lack fortune let him doo all that the other doth commaund And in saying these words the knight of the Sun descended out of the chariot commaunding his horse to be brought foorth he mounted vpon him with his speare in his hand he went put himselfe at the entry of the bridge of the which Oristedes was very much amazed and séeing him comming with so great maiestie in the company of so faire a damsell hée did verily beléeue him to be some knight of high estate of great bountâ—…e of armes although he was a very valiant knight his mightie demeanour did not cause in him any faintnes although he had had perfect intelligence that he had ben the most valiantest knight in all the world yet he had no doubt to combat with him for that he had kept maintained that bridge more then eight yéeres in which time he had ouercome more then one thousand knights yet he neuer met with knight that by very much might compare himself with him And then with as valiant a courage as appertayned vnto his progenie he went put himselfe right against the knght of the Sun and both of them at one time did broach their horses with their spurs and with so great fury that the bridge seemed to be ouerthorwen both the Knights to be on fire with the great quantitie of sparkes that came foorth of that paued pauement and in the midst of the bridge they made their encounter in such sort that their speares were shée uered all to péeces they passed the one by the other as though they had done nothing and with a trise they turned about their horses with their swoords in their hands they assalted one another the first blowes that were striken it séemed that all that valley was full of the sound thereof béeing stâ—…iken vppon their inchaunted healmes whereas all those were executed and beeing nothing amazed nor astonied therwith but with great furye and wrathâ—…ulnesse they did assalt each other with their sound blowes and being meruailousâ—…ie ouercharged with the great force of them it made them to decliâ—…e their heads to their breasts so that eyther of them did feele the great force of his aâ—…uersarye and Oristedes said vnto himselfe that neuer in all the daies of his life did hée combat with a more valiaunter and worthyer Knight but beeing determined to giue to vnderstand his great force and strength without any feare or dread hee béeganne to charge the knight of the Sunne with his terrible blowes and with so great force and strength that he made him to bestur himselfe from the one part to the other because that he should not fasten a full blow vpon him this valiant knight of the Sun said vnto himselfe that not without iust cause great reason the fame of that worthie Hector endured so long in the world and now prouing that knight who doth proceede of that ancâ—…ent stock he doth finde him doo beleeue that ther is not a more valianter knight then he is to be found in all the world seeing that it was necessary stood him vpon to vse against him all his power strength he presently charged him
Rosicleer dyd thinâ—…ke eueâ—…y day to bée 〈◊〉 whole yéere passed through many countries wheras happened vnto them many 〈◊〉 things worthy to be kept in memorie Yet the historie dooth let them passe for shortning of time But in the end of much trauaile they came vnto a port hauen of Holand whereas they found a ship that was readie to depart for England And being very glad for that they found so good oportunitie they entred into the saide ship wherein they found many Ladies and damsels accompanied with certaine knights who declared that they went vnto the Citie of London vnto certaine triumphs and feasts which was made at y e marriage of the Princesse Oliuia with the Prince of Lusitania for that in many 〈◊〉 bordering there about it was commanded to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when Rosicleer heard that hée was very much 〈◊〉 not knowing what it should meane but the damsel 〈◊〉 who did very well know the determined wil of the Priâ—…cesse did straight way fall in the reckoning thereof 〈◊〉 â—…ir knight feare not and doo not dismay your selfe for without all doubt ther is no other thing in this matter 〈◊〉 bée 〈◊〉 but this which I will tell you and is that â—…he prince 〈◊〉 Siluerio hath very much importuned the king 〈◊〉 this marriage And he séeing the great necessitie that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in for to maintaine these wars against the 〈◊〉 Trebatio and hauing néede of his aide and help will 〈◊〉 vâ—…to him his daughter in marriage although it bée against hir will But this one thing you shall vnderstand 〈◊〉 mée to bée for certayne and to builde vpon the Princesse â—…liuia that at such time as hir father will compell hir to doo 〈◊〉 thing perforce that first she will kill hir owne selfe theÌ„ 〈◊〉 vnto the same And so it â—…ell out true as the damsell â—…elia dâ—…d coniecture for that the sorrow and paine of the â—…nce Don Siluerio did so much increse seeing the little good â—…ll that the Princesse Oliuia dyd beare vnto him vpon a 〈◊〉 such time as the King was occupyed in preparing â—…ldiers in a redinesse and other things necessary and conâ—…ient for the warres the Prince finding him selfe all 〈◊〉 with him bée sayde That for so much as it was not 〈◊〉 vnto him of his promise made to giue 〈◊〉 the Princesse Oliuia for his wife hée destred him for to accomplish the same and to giue hir vnto him for his spouse if hée would that hée should performe that which hée had promised him of people for the warres for that to the contrarie hée would retourne againe into his owne Countrie with his Knights Then when the King saw with what determined will hée spake vnto him hée was very sorrowfull for the same and remayned a good space with-out makeing him any auns were in which time hée remembred how many and sundrie times hée had procured that marriage of his daughter and like wise how often hée had importuned hir for the same who alwayes dyd apart hir selfe by diuerse excuses as though shée had no great desire therunto So that if hée should grant vnto the Princes desire it must of force bée done contrarie against the will of his daughter wherein hée did hope of no good successe of that Marryage to bée done agaynst hir will for that in such cases the principall to bée considered amongst men as well in high estate as in meaner sort is to vnderstand thâ—… good will 〈◊〉 their daughters for that onely in them doth consist the forcâ—… of Matrimonie And if there bée lacking this poynt therein they may better say that it is violence then Marriage Anâ—… agayne the wound in his heart was so fresh for the death 〈◊〉 the Prince Edward his sonne that hée little estéemed to 〈◊〉 uenture his estate and lyfe for to bée reuenged for the samâ—… and as these grieuous passions after that once they bée 〈◊〉 ted in man dooth shut vp all their sences vnderstanding that they cannot haue any iudgement within themselues to consider any thing with reason Euen so the 〈◊〉 griefe which the King conceiued for the death of his sonne dyd so shut vp his vnderstanding that hée desired no 〈◊〉 thing but reuengement So hée determined for to force 〈◊〉 constraine his Daughter vnto that Marriage onely for satisfie his appetite and euill desire not hauing béefore 〈◊〉 eyes neither consideration that after that all should bée nished and done according as hée would haue it that 〈◊〉 sonne should remaine dâ—…ad and his daughter lost and 〈◊〉 away for that hée married hir against hir will and 〈◊〉 séeing that if he should deny to accomplish his promise vnto the prince he would returne againe into his owne country with all his people without him he could not doo that which he so greatly doth desire So after a while that he was trobled with these thoughts he returned vnto the prince said Worthy prince of Lusitania if I haue withdrawen my selfe in giuing you my daughter to wife according as you haue demanded hir of mee doo not you thinke that it hath beene neglected or that ther hath lacked in me any good will for that rather more then you I doo desire the same but the detraction héereof hath ben for two causes the one in part of my daughter for that she is young tender of age she hath no good will to be maried so soone the other in consideration of the great wars which we doo looke for and the great hast that we doo make for the same I would that first all these wars should be fiâ—…ished made an end of then afterwards with a great deale more quietnesse should your mariage bée celebrated with that honour highnes as is requisit vnto so high princes But now seeing it is so that you cannot suffer so long delay I wil accomplish performe all your request 〈◊〉 promise you to giue you my daughter for wife will diliuer hir vnto you as I haue promised before these wars begin I will at the celebrating of this mariage for that the princesse is the onely heyre vnto these kingdomes that tâ—…er be made great solempne feasts that it be proclaymed in all the kingdomes prouinces ioyning héereabouts for that this day two moonths I will haue it agréed concluded Wherae the prince Don Siluerio was very glad ioyfull thy force did kisse the kings hands offred vnto him all his knights his estate at all times when he would commaund them then the prince did take his leaue of the king straight waies it was knowen throughout all the citie the feasts were proclaimed But when the newes came to the eares of 〈◊〉 Oliuia hir sorrow griefe was so great that many times she was at the point of death was fully determined within hir selfe that at such time as hir Father would vse that force vnto hir that first before she would consent ther vnto shée would kill
wherein to exercise themselues for to appeare valianter then others Therefore séeing that God hath made you more valyaunter then any in the world you ought for to put your person in aduenture to put remedie in this matter with reproach and perill vnto your â—…erson such as neuer hath béene séene in Knight séeing that â—…he Princesse Oliuia is so fast locked in that to take hir out from thence it is a thing impossible and it is now requisit that you doo pacifie your altered minde that you may the better abide time and season to worke oùr feate And my iudgement is this that wée doo waight the time that the king shall command the Princesse to bée taken out of the Tower to carrie hir vnto the pallace for to celebrate the Marriage with Don Siluerio at which time there will bée little memorie of armour but all occupied in apparayling themselues and to seeke out new inuentions then wée to enter in and to take the princesse from them and paying with your rigorous arme him who shall withstand vs for that at that time they shal not haue so great strentgh for to cause vs to stay and if once wée get well out of the Citie wée haue the sea at hand wheras wée cannot lack a ship all furnished and readie for to make Sayle wée béeing once within and betwixt this and that place our horse be so good that I béeleeue there is not any that can ouertake vs of all remedies impossible this is one amongst them that is possible to bée done therefore now my Lord consider with your sâ—…lfe what is best to bée done in this extremitie Then Rosicleer who was meruaylous attentiue vnto these words which the King Sacridoro had sayde hauing his hart so valiant and couragious for such like attempts and likeing the counsaile of that inuention very well béefore that the King had fully ended his iudgement when that hée would haue put himselfe in that enterprise and finding this to bée the best remedy they concluded and straight wayes therewith they all thrée departed to the sea side which was not far of and when they came thether they procured to seeke out and to prouide for to serue theyr turne a good Ship and amongst a great number of strangers that were come thethey with people for to sée theyr feasts they chaunced to enter into one which séemed vnto them to bée the strongest and the best sayler amongst them all And talking with the master or patron thereof they found him to bee of the Empire of Greece and Rosicleer knowing him by hiâ—… speech to bée of Greece hee tooke him a part and dyd discouer vnto him who hée was and tolde him what great necessity hee had of him and of his shéep promising him excellent payment with the aduantage if so bée that they did well escape with their enterprise and without reproch Then the Maister of the Ship béeing a Grecian and hauing heard of Rosicleer was very glad and ioyfull for that hée had so good opportunitie to serue him would haue kissed his hands as the hands of his Lord and Prince and offered him not onely his ship but also his lyfe to serue him at that and all other times Then Rosicleer with great loue embraced him and gaue him great thankes and all the rest of the day that remayned they were in the Ship with him putting in order all things necessary as vnto so perilâ—…ous an enterprise was requisit So the next day drew on of the marriage as it was agréede which should bee the third day in the which time these two perfect friends did peruse and mend their armour and fortified theyr ship for it séemed according vnto the great necessitie into the which they were driuen that it was all néedefull So the next day béeing come Fidelia tookâ—… hir leaue of them and went vnto the citie straight waies vnto the king who commaunded that the Tower should bee opened willing hir to doo his hearty commendations vnto his daughter and to tell hir that shée should make hir selfe in a readinesse for the next day shée should come foorth to see the great feasts triumphs which the Prince Don Siluerio hath ordayned for hir sake With this Fidelia tooke hir leaue of the king and departed and the gates of the Tower béeing opened shee entered in therat the gates were shut againe â—…s beefore When shée came vnto the Princesse they two toâ—…ether entred into hir closet all alone and there Fidilia deâ—…lared vnto the Princesse all that euer shée had passed with â—…he King hir Father and what was concluded with the two â—…ights And when the Princesse vnderstood the great perill â—…nd daunger in the which shee should put hir selfe hir heart 〈◊〉 hir to think thereof and waxing pale of coulour shée 〈◊〉 as though shee had béen dead not knowing wheâ—…her shée were in Heauen or in the earth At which time Fidelia dyd comfort hir saying What is this my Lady and mistresse at such time as his death was most published and you enuironed with most mortall anguish at that time you had a good hart for to suffer all courage for to discemble And now you that haue your knight so nigh at hand with hope quickly for to sée him you doo lacke force for to suffer and your hart doo faile you for to enioy him that more then your owne lyfe you haue desired For Gods loue doo it not my Lady but rather animate your salfe and do you reioyse for that in such great necessitie the great valour of noble courage is knowen and in especiall whereas no euill may chance vnto you but rather a further benefit and contentment of minde more then hetherto it hath béene vnto you And if once Rosicleer haue got you into his power then is there nothing that can bée hurtfull vnto you for to â—…ourne you to any griefe for that you haue recouered for your husband the most high and worthiest Prince in all the world as well in his estate as of his person Then the Princessâ—… sayde with a great sigh ah Fidelia I haue no dread nor perill of my owne part for that I dyd choose rather to kill my selfe then to doo any other thing to the contrarie So that I haue little feare in any other thing touching my selfe but my feare is onely for Rosicleer for that this his enterprise the which hée dooth take in hand is great his life must needs bée in great perill if God for his 〈◊〉 mersie do not maruaylously delyuer him For this cause sayde Fidelia hath God made him of such force aboue all other for thaâ—… hee hath deliuered and cleered himselfe in greater daungers then this is so if God permit hée will cléere himselfe oâ—… this And I doo béeleeue that God hath not forgot you buâ—… will deliuer you with your honour out of this rebuke anâ—… will not permit that your father the king shuld do so greaâ—… outrage in forcing you to marrie against your
did first take reuengement for the iniurie done vnto his Knightes and for that it waxâ—…d late againe there were no knights left for to iust there béegan straight waies a great noise of sounding of Triumpets and other instrumentes of musick which was done in such sort that all the whole Citie dyd ring thereof and héere with the iusts were made an end the Tents taken out of that great place and the Prince Don Siluerio with great honour accompanied with many Princes and knights was brought vnto the mightie pallace wheras hée was very well receiued by the king â—… was carried into a Chamber which was on the one side of the great hall wheras he was vnarmed The Princesse Oliuia beefore this time knew Rosicleer for Fidelia when shee saw him aduertised hir wherat shee receiued great contentment dyd esteeme all hir trauailes sorrows which shee had receiued well bestowed although when she remembred y e great hurly burly that shuld bée that night hir hart was very much out of quyet and full of anguish and could not by any meanes bée merry but with great sighs and bitter teares she desired God to deliuer hir well out of all those daungers How that at such time as the King Oliuerio and the mightie Princes and knights of the Court were ioyned together that the Princesse Oliuia and the Prince Don Siluerio should take handes Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro entered into the mightie pallace and what happened therin Chapter 60. AFter that Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro were departed out of the place whereas the iusts were made they both put theÌ„selues into a Forrest which ioyned nigh vnto the Citie whereas they remayned till the night was come béeing fully determyned what they should doo for that they had left their ship at the coast all in a redinesse very wel appointed considering in what great peril danger they did put themselues they praied vnto god with all their harts for to deliuer theÌ„ well out of that great reproch hauing a very good hope y t god wold aide succour them for that which they went about was in a iust right cause for to set frée the great wrong harme done vnto the Princesse The day béeing past and the night come they issued out of the forrest and entered into the citie for that ther were so many knights as well strangers as Countrie men they could not be perceiued for the stréets were full of them likewise the night being darke theyr armour could not be discouered neither was ther any account made therof for that it was a time void of suspition so they drew nigh vnto the pallace at such time as the Princesse Oliuia the Prince Don Siluerio should ioyne hands together vowing matrimonie the pallace being cléere light with the great number of torches and candles that were ther lighted that it seemed to bée mid day and there were so great a number of people that they could scarce mooue by one another All this time went Fidelia very diligently vp and downe the pallace and when shée saw the houre draw néere that theyr pretence should be put in execution she went out of the pallace and taking with hir a bundle of things necessarie for the princesse she went towards the sea side and put hir selfe in the ship abiding the time to sée what fortune would doo for hir Lady and mistres and for those worthy and valiant Knights and was in so great feare that for any thing shée would not bée put in the like againe All this time was the Princesse Oliuia so full of anguish and alteration that shée knew not whether shée were aliue or dead and béeing in a quadran nigh vnto the great hall accompanied with all hir Ladies damsels readie to bée taken foorth to ioyne hands with the Prince shée many times fell in a sound and béeing very much comforted by the Princesses Rodasilua Siluerina yet all that euer they could doo did profit very little neyther could shée recouer any force nor receiue any comfort for that the houre was come that she shuld passe that great affliction and in remembraunce thereof shée thought verily that hir hart would haue leapt out of hir dody At this present time Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro came vnto the pallace and by a false doore which Rosicleer knew very well they entered into a chamber wheras the princesse was leauing their Horses with a Page of the kings who put them vnder a portall where they could not bee séene of the people so they went vp a narrow payre of stayres till they came into the great hall whereas they found the King Oliuerio with all those mighty Princes and knights in a fayre Quadran in company with the prince Don Siluerio abiding the comming of the Princesse Oliuia to take hir to his spouse Lykewise on the other side of the hall in another Quadran was the Princesse Oliuia accompanied with all hir Ladies and Damsels and with the Princesse Rodasilua and Siluerina who had hir in the midst beetwixt them and when they would haue gone whereas the King was the Princesse Oliuia could not step one foot forwards but fell in a sound in the armes of the other Princesses Then when these two valiant knights saw it was time they entered both together into the quadran and the king Sacridoro carryed his Swoord drawen in his hand and his shéeld on his arme the which put a great teare amongst all the Ladyes and Damsels and Rosicleer went straight vnto the Princesse Oliuia his Lady and tooke hir in his armes lifting hir from the ground all which time shée was in a sound and by reason at theyr entering in all those Ladyes and damsells gaue great shrikes and out cryes there came presently to that place many Knights and béeing without armour they drew out theyr Swoords and doubled theyr cloakes about theyr armes and went to rescue and take away the Princesse from Rosicleer who carried hir in his armes but for that the good King Sacridoro was at hand in a redinesse with foure blows which hée gaue hée ouerthrew foure Knights dead to the ground of them that first approched wher they were the which did put so great feare in all the rest that they durst not come nigh him so that Rosicleer had roome to come vnto the narrow stayres which descended downe to the false doore Then the King Sacridoro put himselfe in the face of all the people and dyd so much that Rosicleer came vnto the place whereas his horse was and findeing none for to disturbe him hée mounted forthwith vpon his Horse and tooke the Princesse in his armes béefore him and hée had the Page to tarrie for his Lord and setting spurres vnto his good horse Rodarte which hée had of the Gyant Mandroco and one of the strongest and lightest that was in all the world within a short time hée found himselfe out of the Citie and with so great
arise a great storme at the sea and at midnight the winde began to blow so terrible and the Sea to worke so far out of all order that sometimes they thought that the waues carryed the ship vp into the cloudes and other tymes they thought the Ship to fall downe to the deapth thereof and the Ship receiued such a leake that whatsoeuer the marriners could doo with the Pompe and otherwise yet might they goe vp to the knees in water aboue the balest for the which cause these two good knights made no other reckoning but to bée lost which caused them with all theyr harts to praye vnto God to haue mercie on them and to forgiue them theyr sinnes and also if it were his diuine pleasure to delyuer them out of that great torment When the day was come those boysterous windes dyd so beate the Ship tumbling and tossing it from one part to another in such fort that it could no longer indure but opened a sunder in the midest so that these two Knights had no other refuge but eyther of them to take holde of the first planke that came vnto theyr hands Then God who dyd reserue them for a greater effect did deliuer them that they were not drowned in that torment for that they had not fully halfe an houre sustained themselues vpon their planks in the water when that those mightie high and great waues dyd carrye them vpon the shoare The Prince Brandizel in Polonia and the Prince Clauerindo vpon an Iland that séemed to bée full of thick and gréene trées who when hée was vpon the shoare and saw himself cléere of that great torment he gaue great thanckes vnto almightie God for his wonderfull benefits shewed vnto him in that his deliuerance dyd very much lament the losse of his friend Brandizel not knowing what was béecome of him And béeing very desirous to know in what Countrie hée was finding a narrow and small vsed way hée followed the same and trauayling therein a mile hée meruayled very much that hée could sée no people neyther anie towne or inhabitaunce the Countrie béeing so fresh and full of Trées that it séemed vnto him neuer in all his lyfe to haue séene a Countrie so delightsome So after a great while that hée had trauayled by that narrow path at such time as the Sun béegan to waxe hot and found himselfe out from amongst those trées hee entered into a great and wide plaine in the midst of the which hée saw a mightie high and well towred Castle the which was of Lyndaraza the sight wherof put him in great admiration and it séemed vnto him y t it could not bee wrought by any humane hands and beeing very desirous to know who it shuld be that was Lord of that meruaylous Castle hée hasted his pace more then béefore and went towards the same and the nigher hee came to it the more hée meruayled So when hée came and saw that wide and déepe ditch and that there was no other entrie into the Castell but onelie by the bridge hée went thether and found that the gate was shut and hauing at the ring thereof a very fayre and rich horne of Iuorie with a scroule vpon it which sayde Thou Knight whose fortune hath brought thée hether if thou art determined to know anie thing of this great and strong Castle blow this horne and thou shalt not lacke one to make thee aunswere and haue a great care in defending thy selfe from the Porter for that hee will put thy lyfe in great perill The Prince heereat was very much amazed and could not imagine what it should bee but hauing a great desire to know what should bée within without any longer tarrying and with a valiant courage hée tooke the horne and put it to his mouth béegan to sound it with so great strength that the sound was heard throughout all the Castell and hée had not scarce pulled the Horne from his mouth when that with a great rushing and noyse the gates were open and there issued out at the gate a furious beast called Brama and the most horrible and euill fauouredst that euer was séene formed by nature for that his body was as big as two good horses and his legges more bigger then a buls legge and each legge had fiue clawes and the least of them was a span long and as bigge as a mans finger and his mouth so bigge that a man might well goe in thereat and was all furnished with very big tuskes and as sharp as a rasour and hée threw out at his mouth great abundaunce of fire and smoake in such sort that it séemed to bée Hell mouth and hée came foorth with so great brauenesse that there was no man but onely at the sight of hir would haue receiued great feare And as soone as this Brama was come foorth it went strayght wayes towards the Prince and in his hastynesse hée would haue gored him with his sharp tuskes but the Prince who was polytike and very lyght gaue a leape on the one side and cléered himselfe from the fury thereof and passing by him with his swoord hée thrust so terrible a foyne at that monster that chancing béetwéene two ribs it entered into his body vp to the hilts and pulling the sword out there followed great abundance of blood out at the wound Then when the furious Brama felt himselfe hurt with as great fury as euer was séene he returned vnto the Prince who bearing his head very lowe in such sort that by no meanes hee could defende himselfe but must of force abide his fury who stroke him with his tuskes so terrible a blow that hee threw him from the ground tenne paces from him backwards so that if his armour had not béene made by that wise man Lyrgandeo at that blow hée had parted him a sunder in the midst yet for all that the Prince was so euill intreated with the mightie fall that if hée had not béene of so valiant a courage it had not béene possible for him to haue risen agayne from the ground but by reason that hée was one of the most valiantest Knights in all the world with a trise hée arose vp agayne and at such time as this furious Brama camē towards him againe for to claspe him béetwixt his cruell and sharp clawes hée firmed himselfe sure vpon his féete and tooke his sword in both his hands and determined to put his lyfe in aduenture in striking of one blow and so hee dyd for at such time as this Brama came vnto him hée stroke him so stronge a blow with both his hands vppon his monstrous head and for that his Swoord was very good and sharpe and stroke with so good a will of the Prince that it cloue it cleane asunder and the sword entered into the ground a good span so that the monstrous beast fell downe dead to the ground beefore the Prince who praysed God greatly for that victorie which hee had and remayned a good