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
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
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
theyr time and retourneth to tell you of all that passed in the Court of King Tiberio when hée knew of the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and of the Princesse Briana How the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana was knowen in the Court of King Tiberio and what passed about the same Chap. 3. THe Historie sayth for that the Gentlewomen of the Princesse Briana were fully certified that theyr mistres kept hir Nouena in hir chamber as shée was wont to 〈◊〉 and as I béefore tould you they neuer haâ—… any occasion to mistrust hir departure foâ—… that at any time béefore they neuer could perceiue the leaâ—… presumption thereof till such time as the nyne dayes were past and the tenth day come séeing not the chamber dore of the Princesse open they were all in a confusion not knowing what it should meane So in this doubt they remayned vntill the eleuenth day at which time not séeing the chamber dore opened they determined to goe thether and began to call knocke at the dore but ther was none that answered them whereat béeing more amazed they knocked hard and stroke mightie and great blowes at the dore neuer thelesse there was none that aunswered them although they were there a great whyle knocking and being much amazed thereat they straight way gaue the Quéene of Augusta to vnderstand thereof who was in the Citie of Buda béeing very much amazed at that sodayne newes she called certayne of hir Knights Gentlewomen and in their company departed to the monestary And when she came vnto the chamber dore of the Princesse found none to answere hir for all their great knocking shee strayght waies commaunded hir Knights to breake open the dore and hatchets and other things being brought for the purpose they broke open the dore which done the Quéene with hir Knights and Gentlewomen entered the chamber and not finding the Princesse nor any other person therein were very sore troubled amazed she sat hir selfe downe vpon the floore and knew neither what to say or doe but onely to lament and to make great sorrow And as they were in this confusion they found the Letter that was written lying vppon the Table and directed either to the King Tiberio or vnto the Quéene the which Letter they gaue strayght waye vnto the Quéene Augusta who with great anguish did open the same and saw thereon written all the whole Hostorye of the mightie Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana with the true relation thereof till such time as they departed and in the end of the Letter they craued pardon for that they went away in such sort as they had done without giuing them to vnderstande thereof alleadging the reason to bée for the death of the Prince Edward for that the King Oliuerio father vnto the Prince should not with any reason haue cause to quarrell with the King Tiberio neyther account him as pertaker in the death of the Prince So when the Quéene vnderstoode the effect of the Letter shée remayned all astonied and amazed not knowing whether she might giue credit vnto so strange a thing as this was although to the contrary shée receyued exceeding great ioy and pleasure for the good fortune of the Princesse hir Daughter that in all hir life she felt not in hir selfe so much pleasure gaue great thanks vnto God for his excéeding benefit which hée had done vnto hir At that time the King Tiberio was in the Citie of Ratisbona and the Quéene Augusta strayght wayes sent messengers such as shée thought could well declare all that had happened and by them she sent the Letter that the Emperour had left written behinde him in the chamber of the Princesse and the Quéene remained with hir owne Gentlewomen and with the Gentlewomen of the Princesse in the monestary of the Riuer for that it was a place of great quietnesse pleasure and sent all hir Knights and the rest of hir seruantes vnto the Citie remayning onely with a fewe Knights for hir gard other seruantes such as were néedefull for hir seruice The messengers which went with the Embassage vnto the King Tiberio came vnto the Court before him at such time as the King was accompanied with all his high Princes and Knights amongest whome there was that excellent and worthie Knight of the Sunne carrying to heare when the departure of the Emperour and the Princesse should bée declared in the Court. And when the messengers came béefore they King the strayght wayes declared vnto him theyr Embassage and gaue him the Emperours Letter which at his commaundement was read openlye in the hearing of all the Court. And when they vnderstoode all that this History hath told you the great admiration that all people receyued was wonderfull when the King heard the contentes thereof hée remayned a great while as one being in a maze and speake neuer a word At last calling to his remembraunce the mightinesse of the Emperour the great maiesty of his estate the worthinesse of his person the excellencie of his royall descent hée thought within himself that God had done much for him in giuing him so worthy mightie a sonne in law and that his Daughter was the most happiest Princesse then liuing in the world that in the end of all hir sorrow shée had found so noble excellent a husband All this and many other things did greatly delight his hart but considering how much he was in charge for the Prince of great Britayne hée did not make any outward shew of his inward contentment but demeaned himselfe as one 〈◊〉 in thought and very much troubled And after that he had a great while remayned in that traunce without speaking anye thing hée sodainly arose vp from the place whereas hée sate and leauing all his Knights and Noble men in the great hall hée intered into his closet and béeing there alone hee béeganne again to call to his remembraunce the noble and mighty déedes of the worthy Emperour Trebatio and the more ioy and pleasure he séemed to receiue giuing great thankes vnto God for that all thinges by the working of his mightie hand were brought to so good and ioyfull an ende And thus all thinges well considered hée determined to make an outward shew of great anger agaynst the Emperour till such time as he might vnderstand how the King Oliuerio did take the matter at such â—…ime as hée should heare newes thereof Likewise at that time came to his remembrance the mighty déedes that the Emperour declared of the Knight of the Sun musing with himselfe who that Knight should be that was of so great strength and power and was very gladde and ioyfull that he had hin in his Court. And at this time all the nobles and Knights which remayned in the hall did talk one with another and very much meruayled at the mighty deedes of the Knight of the Sunne and all people did béehold him giuing him great
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
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
such as hée dyd report them to bée but with the great anger which his words did cause in him with a couragious stomacke hée tooke his swoord in both his hands and went against the Prince and stroke him such a right downe blow vppon his fine and precyouâ—… healme that with the noyse and force thereof it thundered in his eares and so dazeled his eyes that hée was constrayned to fall with his hands vpon the ground not in such sort that hée lost his remembrance neither did his couragious hart fayle him but was set in such a heate with the anger of that mightie blow that with great lightnesse hée arose vp againe and with his sword in both his hands hée stroke so terrible a blow being ouerthwart vpon the strong helme of Rodaran that hée made him to fall on the other side with the force of all his body vppon the wall of the Bridge the which did sustaine him that hée fell not to the ground neyther into the riuer although whereas hée receiued the blow with the sworde it dyd grieue him in such sort that hée thought verily the eare and the iaw on that side had béene broken all to péeces Lykewise the blow which hée receyued vppon the wall dyd grieue him very much that if it had not béene by the great fury that hée receiued which dyd sustaine him he could not haue kept him vpright on his féet but his anger fury was such that as one that had not receiued any hurt nor harme with great lightnesse returned vpon the prince began to strike at him such terrible thick blowes as though the battaile wer but then new begun At the which the prince was very much amazed did force him selfe all that euer he could to strike at Rodaran the mightiest blowes that it was possible for him to giue in such sort that the battaile was at that time in the greatest fury that euer it was And the noise of their terrible thicke blowes vpon their fine helmes was so great that the towers gates of the bridge did séeme to tremble Then the squier of the prince who was without was very much amazed that the battayle did so long endure fearing that Rodaran dyd not make the battaile with the prince alone for that it did so long indure which caused him to goe from one place vnto an other procuring wher he might be to sée what passed betwixt them to certifie the truth therof And as he went alongst the waters side he went so far that he might discouer the space of the bridge that was betwixt the two towers although the walls or battilments of the bridge were somwhat high yet for that the knights were both very bigge of theyr persons that hée might from their brestes vpwardes discerne them so that part of their battaile hée might perceiue And when this squier did sée that they were alone and the great heate and fury of their battaile which seemed at that time to be but new begun hée was greatly astonâ—…ed and as one halfe amazed and could not perswade with himselfe that in two knightes could bée comprehended so great force and strength So these two knightes continued in the second battaile more then one hower and no vauntage could bée knowne béetwéene them although both of them had done to the vttermost that was in their power force strength And for that they were both of them of very bigge bodies and the trauaile great which they had passed and the terrible and mighty blowes by the one and the other receued did so much torment them that they were brought vnto the estate that their strengthes did faile them in such sort that eyther of them was at that estate and thought verely to be ouercome So when that Rodaran saw that his contention did little profit him could not help himselfe in the battaile he then called to remembrance that which the quéene Carmania had aduised him off was that in that place wheras she was he should finde ease at such time as hee found himselfe in the greatest necessitie in the battaile which caused him little litle to retire backwards towardes the place whereas shee was giuing receiuing blowes as the time did serue The Prince Brandizel likewise at that time was in that perplexitie that he was ready to yeelde himselfe for to be ouercome but when he saw that Rodaran did begin to retire with the great ioy pleasure which hée receiued to see him so vpon a sodaine to fainte that he began a new to recouer his force strength followed him striking at him with all the might he could but his faintnesse and warinesse was so great that he could scarce life one leg after an other for to follow him the which when Rodaran did perceiue he would with a very good will haue returned to haue made resistance for that it seemed vnto him that in a small time hée should ouercome him for that the prince was so weary and féeble But when he would haue forced himselfe thervnto hée feared that he was wholy depriued of his strength his armes so sore with wearinesse that he was constrained still to retire backwardes till such time as he himselfe the prince were wholy vnder the uaut or arch of the second tower of the bridge wheras the queene Carmania nigh vnto the same sate in hir estate Who when she saw that these two knights were so weary that almost they could not stand vpon theyr feete She pulled a corde of Silke which hanged by hir came downe from the height of the arch which caused that artificiall net of yron to fall down vpon both those knights in such sort that their heades were fast in the net their legs and armes so fast bound with all their body and with so great strength that they were not able to turne them selues on the one side nor on the other but were taken prisoners in such sort that if they were not made loose by other it were a thing impossible to be loosed So when this was done the quéene arose vp from the place wheras she sat commanded a great chaine to be brought the helme of the prince to be taken off the chaine to be put about his neck likewise they made his hands fast with manakils that he was not able to moue nor to doe any thing Then she commanded a gentlewoman that a key should be brought wherewith she did open a lock that the not was made fast with all cleered out of the net both the prince Rodaran They being out the cord was pulled the net carried vp againe into the place whereas it was before But when this valiant prince Brandizel saw himselfe betraied prisoner he thought verily to haue burst with anger with great yre wrath he said vnto Rodaran Oh false traiterous knight what reason hath moued thée being a knight of so great power strength in
out of their wittes not knowing what to say but looking the one vpon the other and séemed vnto them as though it had ben a dreame But when these newes came to the hearing of the Empresse hir sorrowfull greefe was so great that as one dead shée fell down into the lap of the princes Claridiana who sat next vnto hir procured with all hir force to bring hir to hir selfe againe and did comfort hir saying that she had no reason so much to set vnto hyr hart the imprisonment of Rosicleer how that she was fully perswaded that it was a thing impossible except it wer by treason requested hir to pacifie hir selfe for that there remained such knightes behind who very quickly would discouer the secret therof when that this will not serue Rodaran is still in your country out of the which you néed not let them to depart and carry away their prise At which time the knight of the Sun without any more tarrying arose out of the place whereas hée was with so great anger that his faire and white coulour was turned into sanguine and black And asking licence of the emperour he departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging armed himselfe with his strong and bright armour mounting vpon his strange light horse he departed out of Constantinople toke his way towards the bridge of the Iaspe with as great desire to sée himself with Rodaran as to returne wheras he might comfort and reioyce himselfe with the sight of his Ladies without whose sight in such like passions it séemed that it was not possible that he could liue who at this present this History doth leaue for to tell you of other things that passed in the meane time in England ¶ How the Prince Don Siluerio returned and demaunded of the king his daughter the Princesse Oliuia to wife and because she would not marrye with him shee returned with hir knights and of all that chanced therin Chap. 43. YOu haue heard what great sorrow griefe the newes of the death of Rosicleer did cause in the Court of the King Oliuerio likewise how ioyfull the prince Don Siluerio was for that the king had giuen him his word promise that the princesse Oliuia should marrye with him but he did not so much desire it as the princes did hate him For although that the heauy newes of the death of Rosicleer did touch hir very neere yet she repented hir selfe so much for that crueltie which she had vsed vnto him the great loue that the remembrance of him did cause in hir that rather she would consent to death then agree vnto that which the king hir father had requested of hir diuers and sundry times And for that the prince Don Siluerio dyd many times importune the king to performe his promise which was the thing he most desired Who answered him that till such time as he had ended the wars which hée had with the emperour Trebatio hee could not by any meanes conclude with the princes which was the occasion that continually he passed the time in grieuous passions supposing that it was for no other thing but a pollisie to cause the princesse to giue hir father such an answere as should be contrary to his will desire And because the time to giue case and remedy vnto his desire was so long and he not able to endure his sorrow and griefe was such the delay thereof Upon a day at such time as he found the princesse Rodasilua all alone he did verye earnestly desire hir that by all wayes and meanes possible she should learne to know of the Princesse Oliuia the truth of the aunswere which shée made vnto the king hir father at such time as he tolde hir that he would marry hir with him whether it was with good will and determined purpose to accomplish the same at the time appointed or whether she did it to prolong the time being moued by some hatred towards him for that according vnto hir answere he would determine what were best for him to doe Then the princesse Rodasilua who had great desire to vse remedy and to case the sorrowfull passions of hir brother did promise him to doe all that euer in hir power was possible to be done so tooke hir leaue departed from him waited hir time It chanced afterward vpon a day at such time as the princesse Oliuia was alone in hir closet she went knocked at the doore being knowen who she was the doore was opened straight waies she went in found the princesse with hir countenance very heauy sorrowfull and hir eyes swollen with continuall wéeping hir faire chéekes which before were wont to be rudy full was now so leane wan as though she had ben new risin out of some great sicknesse or infirmity And finding hir in this order being moued thereby vnto great compassion she said What is this my lady mistres is it not sufficient the time wherin I serued you for maid of honor the great good will that continully I had in any thing that did appertaine vnto your seruice in the which I was alwaies faithfull true do I not now deserue to know the occasion wherefore and from whence doth procéede that wheras at other times you were wont to be very merry ioyfull giuen to pleasure pastimes now vpon the sodaine to be so sorrowfull sad for that I haue séene your great beauty fairenesse to snrmoūt all other damsels gentlewomen in the world now I doe sée all lost in a mortall hew Tell me the occasion for gods sake wherfore it should grow that I might do my good will and therin shew the great loue that I doe beare vnto you in séeking remedy for the same And héere I do protest that if you will not giue me to vnderstand the occasion héereof that forth with I wil depart from hence vnto mine own country for that I do not determine to serue any more those that so euill doe reward them that doe trauaile in their seruice At which words of the princesse Rodasilua the princesse Oliuia receiued no ioy nor pleasure but rather did the more increase hir paine griefe for that she knew not what to answere vnto such an importunat demaund although after a while that she held hir peace with great desire that she had to turne hir of to send hir away shée said Lady it is very doubtfull and hard to thinke that any person in the world can perseuer in their great pleasure contentment neuer to receiue any sadnesse nor griefes in their liues no for sure it is a thing that onely is receiued for those happy creatures who doe reioyce themselues in the celestiall glory if at this present that I am so sad discontented as you do sée me it is not a thing to be meruailed at for y t it
béefore him the fayre Princesse Claridiana not hée alone who loued hir as his owne soule dyd receiue contentment but likewise the Emperour the other princes knights did reioyse very much had hir in that reputation as hir high estate deserued So in this sort they passed away all that night in great pastimes pleasure till the next day in the morning in the which the king Liseo went vnto the â—…mperour and vnto the Knight of the Sun asked of them what their pleasures was to doo with the king of Arcadia Rodaran for that they were their prisoners To whom the Emperor said that those prisoners did béelong vnto y e knight of the Sun and how that hée would giue order what should bée done with theÌ„ The knight of the Sun when that he heard that he would very faine haue excused himselfe therof but it did little profit him his excuses but that generally it was concluded that all should be done as he would command it So hee seeing their determination coÌ„manded to bee brought before him Rodaran and the king of Arcadia vnto whom hée said The high estates great riches soueraine gifts which fortune yéeldeth in this world by the wil of god is departed amongst men often times is the occasion that pride doth increase the more in them hauing cleane forgotten that they are mortal and subiect vnto any misfortune Contrary vnto all reason they put themselues in exercises to comprehend things of great waite and no lesse perilloâ—…s as though there were not a god to withstand theÌ„ thinking themselues to haue power ouer all fortune from whence doth proceede that wheÌ„ they thinke theÌ„selues most surest and most highest in their throne lacking the chiefe and principall ground of reason and iustice the whéele of their hope being very swift and of no securitie turneth about and throweth downe vnto the ground that which is most highest in such sort that ther is no humaine creature able to resist so great force And so it hath happened vnto you for being made Lords and kings ouer great and mightie Kingdomes and likewise endewed with force and strength yet there increased in you so great pride that all séemed little the which you had of your owne but against all reason iustice you came to séeke that which at such time as you thought all concluded and ended then were you farthest of and brought in that estate that you doo well vnderstand know how little the power of men is wheÌ„ in wrongfull causes you apply your selues Now in the behalfe of the Emperour my lord these knights I require you to sweare to be true to King Liseo and his kingdome but returne vnto your owne Countries Kingdomes and procure to defend them and kéepe your selues therein and not to giue from hence forwards any such attempts as hetherto you haue done for if you doo you can looke for no â—…ther thing but losse of your liues or else shame vnto your persons And first béefore all other things to make satisfaction vnto the King Lyseo of all such hurts and damages as hath béene done in his kingdome and likewise to surrender and yéelde vp all such things as you haue taken from him lands and otherwise without any delay At which words of the knight of the Sunne the two Kings receiued no great contentment for they were so rooted in pride mischiefe that it could not be rooted out till such time as they were vtterly ouerthrowen and lost in the fields of Grecia but now seeing in what estate they were how that it did behoue theÌ„ to shew more patience then they had they swore before the Knight of the Sunne to performe fulfill all that he would demand them for theyr libertie which they receiued at their hands they gaue great thanks And so they with the Quéene Carmania taking thir leaue of all theÌ„ they departed thence and went towards their owne Countries and kingdomes wheras they had inough to doo to tell of the knights of the Emperour Trebatio so that in the most part of all the Pagan Countrie his name was feared Whom at this present this historie dooth leaue till time dooth serue How the Emperour Trebatio with all his Princes and knights departed out of the Kingdome of Lidia towards Constantinople Chapter 51. THrée daies after the departure of the King of Arcadia and Rodaran remayned the Emperour in Lidia with all the rest of the Princes and Knights in great myrth and pastime with the King Lyseo and all his nobles in the ende whereof they thought it time to goe and sée the Empresse and the rest of Greece whom they were well assured to bee very sad and sorrowfull for theyr absence So concluding together they determined the fourth day in the morning to depart The time beeing come they all dyd take theyr leaue of the Quéene who shed many teares to sée them depart and the king Liseo went to beare them companie till they came to the sea side for they could not by any meanes cause him to abide in the Citie So they trauailed seauen daies in the ende whereof they came vnto the Sea whereas the king did take his leaue of them embracing them all offering himselfe at their commaundement at all times when occasion should serue And after that hee was departed froÌ„ them hee found himselfe very solitary without their company and in especiall without the companie of the Knight of the Sunne for that hee esteemed more his company and friendship then all his whole Kingdome The Emperour and all those that went with him dyd imbarke themselues in a very good Shippe and tooke their way towards Constantinople and hauing the winde and weather very fayre and prisoners they made theyr nauigation whith great ioy and pleasure generally amongst them all but in especially the knight of the Sunne who finding himselfe alwayes in presence of the royall Princesse Claridiana hee was as pleasant and ioyfull as euer hee was in all his life and although many times all the rest that were in the ship were at the ship side sporting themselues when that hee had opportunitie to speake and vtter his minde yet for all that hee had so great respect vnto hir that â—…t seemed vnto him that hee lacked bouldnesse to vtter vnto â—…ir his paine and griefe and for that the royall Princesse â—…either more nor lesse then hée was troubled with â—…morous â—…assions dyd not let at all tymes to make some outwarde â—…ew thereof which was the occasion that it caused him so â—…ake heart at grasse and speake vnto hir who with no â—…sse curtesie and 〈◊〉 as the Pagans 〈◊〉 vse when â—…ey doo 〈◊〉 and worship theyr false Gods in such sort hée béegan to speake and said Excellent and royall princes of Trabisond your soueraigne highnesse and the diuine excellencie of your royall person béeing by the Knight of the Sunne séene and knowen how far it dooth extend dooth make him not to bee