that Don Edward our infortunate Prince Primaleon your noble Sonne and all the other captiue Princes in despite of her and the giant Dramusiande are reléeued from their long vnhappy imprisonment Then turning to the Princesse Bazilia he began courteously to salute her as thus It stood with good reason faire Lady that your presence should be partaker of these happy tidings insomuch as you I am sure haue suffered no small afflictions for the absence of your deare friend the Prince Vernar whom I can assure you to be in as good health as you can wish sauing that he is not here as you could willingly be content he himselfe as in short time he will I dare awarrant you Gridonia rauished with the report of Argolant was so suddenly ouercome with excéeding ioy that she caught the Princesse Bazilia in her armes either of them cured of one sicknesse that one could hardly iudge whether their present gladnesse excelled their passed gréefe or in what order they receiued these newes but it sufficeth they had good cause to be pleasant The Empresse came and took either of them by the hand conducting them into her Oratorie where in heartie and solemne deuotions they gaue thankes to God for this prosperous successe In the meane while the Emperour desired Argolant to rehearse the names of such noble Princes and Knights as were partners in this long captiuitie which when he had heard he greatly reioyced that the florishing noble mindes of all Christendome bare parts of the mishappes of the renowned English Prince a token of their great loue and friendship in that they disdained not the terrour of such hard misfortune to beare him company whom all hautie hearts did honour And the rather was his ioy the greater because the knight of Fortune contained the magnanimitie of courage as notwithstanding all bitter brunts to threaten the contrary he was the chosen Champion to accomplish this rare aduenture Now he called to remembrance the letter sent by the Lady of the Lake the same day as Polendos king of Thessaly deliuered him that royall present as also the message of the Sage Aliart which had now discouered the full effect of their promises Through all the Cittie was presently noysed the recouery of the Grecian Princes which caused euery one to make small account of the presumptuous brags of the Soldanes of Babylon and Persia in that they iudged themselues vnder the surest defence that might be now they had obtained those whom they euer estéemed The Emperour causing Argolant to be brought to his chamber went straight to the Closet of the Empresse where he rehearsed all that Argolant had declared as concerning the successe of the knight of Fortune Argolant departing on the next morning was desired by the Emperour to will the knight of Fortune make hast vnto Constantinople because he had a great desire to sée him And now the Emperour with all his court was indued with as great ioy as he conceiued sorrow at his departure which he had good cause to do hauing lost his chéefest defence in the absence of the Princes and knights that were kept prisoners in the Castle of Dramusiande by the accursed meanes of the Enchantresse Eutropa and now possessing the fréedome of his losse he might well estéeme the volour of this hardy knight But such are the changes and mutabilities of Fortune who when the heart is drowned in gréefe past any hope she sendeth a happy successe to requite the former mischance and likewise where most pleasure hath continuall residence there she soonest prouideth the greatest mishap CHAP. XLV How the English knights and the Grecian knights in honor of the Emperour Trineus and the faire Agriola enterprised a braue Tournament wherein each one behaued himself very valiantly And how three strange knights arriued there whose noble behauiour vrged the royall assembly to great admiration EIght dayes after that the Emperour Trinâ—us was arriued at Court the knights among themselues determined a triumph for which cause the Tiltyard had many scaffolds and galleries built about it that they might the better behold this hauty attempt When the Emperour with the fair Agriola the king Fredericke the Quéene the Princesse Flerida Don Edward Primaleon with the other noble Ladies and gentlemen of the Court were come to the place appointed for them to sée this Tournament the English knights entred the lists where they meant to manifest the affection they bare to their Ladies that in honour of their fauours they feared not to hazard the vttermost of their liues After them entred the Grecian knights euery one brauely mounted and attired in faire new complete Armour which graced with their persons maruellously the Prince Gracian by their generall consent was chosen Captaine to whom they referred the state of their conduct for that day because Palmerin of England would not enter the Ioust against his friends left his valour should turne to their disaduantage At the sound of the Trumpet they all prepared themselues encountring one another with such knightly courage that the Estates presents with such a whole multitude of people attributed great coÌ„mendation to this hardy exployt for that they dismounted one another on either side as it was doubtfull to say which company were likest of victory Gracian ran fiercely against Eutrope of Beltran an English knight of great strength and very well estéemed but Fortune turned her backe towards him that day so that he could not withstand the knightly puissance of the French Prince Platir encountred with Normant the Proude gaue him such a colde welcome that they were faine to carry him forth of the field In like manner Carlente sped at the hands of the Prince Berolde consequently the English knights albeit their déeds did iustly merite eternall commendations both at the Tilte and Tourney were vrged to the repulse because the Grecian knights were the stronger side Berolde breaking through the rankes vsing such singular behauiour in all his attempts as was greatly liked of the Regardants came to Clariball of Hungaria who setled themselues stoutly against ech other that they endured both a doutfull and a dangerous fight neither hauing the aduantage of the other but such an equall condition passing betwéene them as the Emperour with all the royall company were greatly affected therewith The king Recinde albeit the sharpe strokes his Sonne receiued vrged him to take it some what impatiently yet the generall applause which was giuen vnto him constrained him to thinke well of his valiant procéeding Eutrope came now to the assistance of Clariball accompanyed with Syr Pridos Archirin LaÌ„bert Roquendar Rugerald Flocandrisse Alberraz Lamonstrant and Brutamont against whom to maintain the quarrell of the Prince Berolde came Gracian Frisol Luyman Onistalde Dramâ—an Tenebrant Don Rousel and Bazilliarde all these behauing themselues very gallantly at Armes yet at this brunt was too weak to resist the hot assaults of the valiant English Princes which was stil maintained with fresh supply of noble
in short time was so blazed as it mooued a generall consent of gladnes not so much for the recouery of the Castles as that they were woon by the prowesse of the Prince Florian. The good King Fredericke for ioy of this good happe sent sir Pridos the Duke of Galles in all the spéede that might be to sée if he could méete with his noble Nephew who taking a Galley presently in short time arriued in the Coast of Ireland not very farre from the Hermits Cell Where finding the Prince and declaring the sum of his message the Prince concluded to depart thence notwithstanding his wounds were not thorowly healed so taking leaue of the gentle Hermit and desiring the other Knights to accompany him they committed themselues to the Seas whereon they had not long sayled but they arriued at the Cittie of London thorow which they were honourably conducted to the Kings Pallace When tydings being come to the King that they were arriued in the Court accompanied with his Sonne Don Edward hée came to méete them when casting his armes about the necke of the Prince Florian the teares ran downe his white beard for the inward ioy he conceiued in his presence as for his Father Don Edward he would not hide his earnest affection but welcommed his sonne with very great kindnesse and his mother the Princesse Flerida pittying his hurts but glad of his company shewed her selfe a louing mother vnto him and would not depart day nor night from him till she perceiued him to be thorowly recouered The King of England did very honourably entertaine the Knights which came with his Nephew and for that he would show he made estimation of them he accepted them into offices according to their degrées in his Court for which great bountie they witnessed themselues not vnthankefull but so behaued themselues as they did great credit to the King in his Court. The Prince Florian being in good estate of health newes came vnto the English Court of the imprisonment of the king Polendos and his companie in the Court of the great Turke which vnhappy tidings moooed the king and his whole Court to great gréefe considering withall the state of sorrow wheren the Emperour of Constantinople remained and the more extreame did they take the cause in respect of the small hope was to be had of their liberty againe in that the great Turke had sworne to put them all to death except the Emperour would send him the knight who so boldly carryed away his daughter the Princesse Targiana These newes comming to the eares of the Prince Florian he began to fall into these spéeches Far better it is for me to go render my selfe and suffer the extrame rigour of that cruell Infidell then that for me so many good knights should liue in danger for séeing by my occasion the cause did first arise no better meane to salue it vp againe then my selfe I cannot beléeue sayd the Prince Don Edward that the Turke is so forgetfull of himselfe as to séeke the death of so many for so small a matter by reason Albayzar one of his owne kindred should then stand in hazard of his life but if it be as the report goeth the Emperour ought to be carefull in the kéeping of Albayzer to the end that the safegard of his life might redéeme the other their woonted liberty whereto the Prince Florian thus replied I am perswaded good Father that the Turke will hardly be remooued from his determination which maketh me the greater to misdoubt the safety of those knights the absence of whom I am assure so gréeuously offendeth the good Emperour that I am perfectly resolued to goe and comfort him considering it is a part of dutie on my behalf not to be so farre from him at this time séeing he is depriued of them that should defend him The aged king Fredericke his Father Don Edward nor his mother the Priucesse Flerida could disswade him from his determination but contrary to their wils he departed from the Court taking his iourney toward Constantinople being armed after his accustomed maner and bearing in his Sheeld his vsuall deuise Thus the happy successe which may fall vnto him at this time we intend to leaue him because we will returne to the Prince Florendos who by his time is wel néere the castle of the giant Almarol hauing in his iourney done many noble déeds deseruing commendation but for that they are rehearsed in the English Chronicles it would séeme impertinent to this place to rehearse them neuerthelesse I must needs tell yée that Floraman the Prince of Sardignia in this iourney atchieued very great renowne and so continued till their arriuall at the City of Rioclaro which at this present is called Tamar Florendos séeing himselfe so neare the place where he had spent a great time in languishing afflictions entred into a thousand imaginations with himselfe first considering the beginning of his loue and then the happy continuance thereof enforced him to a number of sad coniectures wherein he passed that night as quietly as he could In the morning they rid on toward the Castle of Almaroll when Albayzar beganne to vse some doubt of his entertainement for that he iudged women were but slenderly acquainted with pittie especially hée looked for small fauour of the Princesse Miragarda who contrariwise was not so cruell towardes strangers as shée was toward her dearest and best beloued friendes Florendos had no sooner discouered the Trées which were planted about the Riuer Thesin and with all the walles of the Castle of Almaroll but his heart was immeasurably touched with suddaine feare remembring how many stormes he had endured and the perilles whereto he must now render himselfe againe afresh a spectacle certainely of woonderfull griefe wherein he somewhat bare the Prince Albayzar company who remembring that he was vanquished knew no other remedie for himselfe but to abide the mercy of Miragarda When they were come to the Castle they found all the gates fast locked wherevpon they went to the Trée where the Shieldes were hanging where well beholding them all Florendos at last espied his owne at the sight whereof he secretly sighed and imagined how he might be thankfull sufficient to his Esquire Armello who had since his departure so well garded it but in sooth he was not so much beholding to his Esquier as he did esteeme himselfe because Armello was fallen amorous of Lardemia the Damosell attendant on the faire Princesse Miragarda and stayed in that place to contemplate the beauty of his beloued Mistresse rather then for any care he had of his Maisters shéeld and Armor for he was gone so farre ouer shoes in loue as he had no other pleasure then the remembrance of the Damosell who tooke great delight to sée him so gréeuously attached for loue Armello shas so set on fire in affection as he could not know his Lord and Maister and some other cause there was to hinder him for that he was so
Fortune who preserued them to a greater conquest of honor caused at that very instant the noble Palmerin of England to arriue in that place who knowing Dramusiande supposed verily that he was slain wherefore he came to the other knight and taking his Helmet off and perceiuing that it was the noble Florendos he became so ouercharged with griefe that he could hardly sustaine himselfe from falling to the earth Then he commaunded Siluian to goe to the Citie and presently to bring Chirurgions with him because he thought verily they were almost past recouery and Siluian knowing that the death of these two knights might be an occasion to put his Maisters life in danger vsed such diligence that in short time hee returned with two very expert Maisters in Chirurgerie Palmerin desired them to manifest their knowledge at that present in recouering the health of those dangerous wounded Knights and his recompence should excéed in liberalitie so when the Chirurgians had searched their wounds they found them not so dangerous as their weakenesse and wearinesse wherefore they promised by the grace of God to bring them into as good estate of health as euer they were The Prince reioyced at their good answere and caused Siluian to fetch a Coach from the Citie wherein they were brought to the house of an ancient Gentleman and there Palmerin bare them company vntill they were able to trauaile againe CHAP. LXXXII How Albayzar came to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin and of the conditions he made there to begin his aduenturous intent VEry well prouided and full of renowned Knights was the Court of the Emperour Palmerin at such time as Albayzar hauing left Palmerin of England where hée slewe Bracandor arriued there when alighting from his Horse he came vy into the great Hal in very faire gréene Armour beset with golden Speares with two Esquires attending on him where finding the Emperour sitting with the prinoipall of his knights he thronged thorow them and reuerenced himselfe before the Emperour with these spéeches Most dread and puissant Emperor I haue béene constrained to visit your Court for two causes which I hold as especial the one to sée the noble mindes that are alwayes here abyding the other to try my selfe against them all on her behalfe that hath sent me hither Giuing you to vnderstād that for the loue of the fairest and most noble Lady in the world I haue béene at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where by force I haue obtained the Shield of the faire Miragarda which by force I beare onely to honour that Saint to whom I homage my heart and will enforce all knights to yeeld as vassailes So that if your Highnesse will licence me the Field I will compell all the Knights of your Court as also any other that dare auouch the contrary My Lady and Mistresse Targiana the onely Daughter to the great Turke my Lord and Soueraigne is she that shall beare the prize all for beautie And these conditions I doe require in mine attempt that the Defendant on his Shield shall bring the liuely Portayt of his Lady with her name to be verified at the foote thereof because it shall be the onely recompence the Conquerour shall gaine And there be any who will manifest themselues to be but indifferently fauoured of their Ladies they shall be sworne to giue in writing the name of their Mistresse As for him that hath the good hap to vanquish me he shall not onely be Lord of the shield of my Lady Targiana but shall haue likewise deliuered to him all the shieldes which Fortune shall allow me by my prowesse And furthermore to be granted that the knight dismounted in the Iust shall not haue the licence to fight with his Sword but as vanquished deliuer his Shield and so depart Now expect I your answere most redoubted Emperour as concerning the request of him that hath trauailed many a strange Countrey and now commeth to make triall of the valure and puissance of your knights if so be they can conceiue the courage to aduenture the combat on the behalfe of their Ladies When he hadde ended his spéeches a great tumult arose among the Knights and Ladies of the court who were very desirous to sée Albayzar in the field the Ladies to know the valour of their amorous seruants and the Knights to manifest the cause to deserue their loue euery one wishing to quallifie this presumptuous challenge The Emperour would make no answere to Albayzar till such time as he had conferred with his Councell when then he returned with this reply You haue sir knight attempted such a hauty enterprise as if wée should deny we should not onely grant our cowardise but also hinder you of many noble Exploits to the griefe of your selfe as also of such knights as haue a desire to shew themselues in the field Wherefore the fielde is licenced you at what time you please and your conditions allowed which were before specified but I desire you first to resolue me of one thing are you not allied to the Soldane Oloricque of Babilon because it séemeth you resemble him somwhat in fauour My lord answered Albayzar the curtesie you haue offered me moueth me in humility to kisse your gratious hand assuring you that I am the son of the Soldane Oloricque and am called by the name of Albayzar The Emperor arose immediatly and imbraced him saying I would gladly see you in my Court in another estate then you are at this present but loue shall now excuse your enterprise And then he commaunded a Chamber should be prouided for him but he made refusall thereof because he had sworne not to depart the field till he saw the issue of his hauty desire The Empresse and Gridonia sent vnto him desiring that he would suffer them to view the Shields of Targiana and Miragarda whereon they entred into iudgment that although Targiana was very faire yet was she nothing comparable to the Princesse Miragarda With seuerall suppose they went from hand to hand till at last they came to the Princesse Polinarda who was somewhat offended to see the princesse Miragarda so singular and faire which made her now to wish that the noble Palmerin of England would now arriue at the Court for shée perswaded her selfe that his worthinesse would aduance her to the glory of the Shields So that sometime she was minded to send for him but then by and by she altred her thought so that she ministred occasion to some disdainfull minde of that noble Sex how no stability or constancy is to be found in a woman Then was the picture of Altea brought which for a precious Iewel supplied a roome in the Empresse coffer and comparing her with the faire Miragarda she was found to differ very far in beautie Albayzar receiuing his Shields departed to the place appointed for the Turnament where the Emperour had commaunded two Tents to be erected and on a Pillar neare adioyning was placed the faire Portrayt of the
Ladies in beauty yet shew you your selfe excelling all other in that singular gift to ouercome him that hath conquered so many For I perswade my selfe you wil not fauor him that hath done you such wrong as disloyally to beare the Shield from your Castle but let me that am your true and faithfull seruant giue you the honour of this hautie attempt and afterward deale with this cursed carkase of mine euen as it shal stand with your gratious pleasure After this they fell to to the combate a fresh when the Emperor séeing the small defence they had for themselues supposed they could not long continue the fight and Primaleon through opinion which came by nature in griefe of mind receiued perfectly the cruell wounds of the Blacke knight as though he had felt them vpon his owne body because he supposed him to be of his linage And by the cruell behauiour they vsed to ech other the Empres Gridonia departed as not able to abide the grieuous sight of these two champions who after they had griped one an other by the closing their arms Albayzar â—s too weake to resist any longer fell to the ground whereat the Blacke knight reioyced and vnclosed his helmet to haue smiten off his head but the Emperour called to him to vse more mercy yet he makking as though he heard not lifted vp his sword when the Princesse Targiana fell before him on her knées with these spéeches Syr Knight first I desire you to strike off my head and afterward proceed in what shall please you for loth would I be to see him die that hath ventured his life in danger to do me such honourable seruice The Blacke Knight seeing the modestie of the Princesse was moued with pittie wherewith he granted Albayzar his liâ—e and then the iudges came into the field to haue the Blacke Knight honoured according as became a victorious conquerour But he would not depart out of the Field before the Portrait of the faire Miragarda was placed in the middest where against all reason the Princesse Targiana supplied the roome whom he led with him to be honoured according as her hie estate did deserue The Emperour commaunded Albayzar should be led into his Tent meane whiles the Blacke knight kissing his highnesse hand vpon his knee began in this manner Most dread and mighty Emperour I desire that this Princes may be regarded aboue all in your Court for you ought to shew more honor to her then to any other person that I know WheÌ„ the Emperour knew that the Blacke knight was his noble nephew Florendos his heart was supprised with an vnspeakable ioy and chiefely his Father the Prince Primaleon who caused Albayzar to be brought into the Palace vnderstanding that Targiana was the daughter of the great Turke lodged her with the faire Princesse Polinarda his daughter who greatly desired it at the hands of the Emperour and there was we as honorably serued as had she béene in the Court of the great Turke her Father the Prince Florendos and Albayzar had great care vsed to their dangerous wounds and the shield of the Princesse Miragarda was now held in chiefest estimation CHAP. XC How a Damosell of Thrace brought a strange aduenture to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin WHile Florendos and Albayzar remained at the cure of their wounds the Empresse and Gridonia as glad that the victory chanced to Florendos would often come and visit him reporting their iudgements on the singular forme of Miragarda which talke partly wrought as much for his health as the medicines that were applied to his wounds Likewise the Emperour and Primaleon would often visite Albayzar vsing comfortable speeches wherby he might forget the griefe he sustained because he was vanquished but Albayzar dissembled with a good countenance deuised with himselfe how he might worke iniury to Florendos which afterward he did as you shall perceiue at large in the second volume of this Historie In the meane while the Court of the Emperour was stored with the most renowned knights and Ladies of incomparable state of beautie in all the world so that there wanted no other thing there theÌ„ the two renowned Knights of England whose presence in the Court made the Emperor to thinke yâ— then no force might preuaile against him While they were in their triumphing the Empresse Gridonia Targiana and Polinarda sitting vnder the Cipresse Trées néere a very faire Fountaine a Lady of a maruellous and mighty stature presented her selfe before them whose séemly iestures and sumptuous shew in apparell made them beléeue shee was of great authoritie Her attyre was of Sattin cut and laide out with cloath of siluer a purple Robe compassing her bodie wheron was placed a number of rich and costly precious stones her long sleeues hanging downâ— were thicke beset with Birds Harts and other braue deuises of Foules and Beasts of gold that the eie could neuer be wearied beholding a thing of such inestimable value there attended on her two Knights the one hauing in his armes a very faire coffer which was closed with little Lockes of Gold and brauely garnished with Pearles and precious stones of maruellous cost and reputation When the Emperour and all were placed to regard the cause of her arriuall she receiued the Coffer of the Knight and with a little Key of Gold that hung about her necke she opened it whereout she tooke a curious and costly Cup which was so artificialle composed that beholding the outside might easily be discerned what was within which was nothing but water so hard congealed and frozen that it was impossible to moue any moity thereof After she had held it a while in her hand she deliuered the Coffer againe to the Knight whereon she set the Cup and looking wishly vpon all the company at last she began to vtter these speeches Most noble Emperour I haue been in so many Princes Courts to make triall of the strange aduenture contained in this Cuppe that not finding any to ende the same I am wearie to seeke auy further as also out of opinion of any good hap Except that now in your Highnesse Court which is most honoured and esteemed vpon the whole earth I may find such expected Fortune as of long time I haue failed in which doth encourage me somewhat considering there is not the like But first before the triall be attempted I will discourse the cause of this rare aduenture because each one of these noble gentlemen may be the better affectioned to her who holdeth his heart as chiefe Mistresse of his thoughts There was sometime ruling in Thrace a king who was name Sardamant so excellent well séene in the Art of Magique that for the qualitie of that gift he surpassed all other liuing in his time This King had a daughter of no lesse beauty then Courtly behauiour who was greatly beloued of two knights the one called Brandimar the other Artibel but they kept close their secreat loue from each other til
and the king Polendos seeing the knight of the Dragon had woūded Dramusiand so sore greatly doubted lest Berocant should now ouercome him but suddenly Dramusiand caused them to change their opinion for he followed his enemy with so great courage that he forced him to fall downe dead at his féete Then came the Iudges and with great honor conducted the thrée Conquerors forth of the field where the Emperor with his royall traine met them when Palmerin and Florian hauing opened their helmets came to the Emperour and with very great reuerence kissed his hand who receyued them with maruellous princely courtesie The Empresse Gridonia Bazilia and Polinarda attended the comming of the Emperour because they vnderstood that he brought with him the two English knights who when they came before them were receiued according to their knightly bounty When Palmerin came to humble himselfe before the princesse Polinarda such a sudden feare did ouercharge him that he could not withhold himselfe from falling to the ground and the Emperour supposing that it was caused through lesse of his blood commanded Primaleon Polendos Vernar and Berolde to cary him presently into a Chamber where he was respected with great diligence for his health Dramusiande and Florian were likewise honoured with very Princely vsage the Emperor remaining as ioyfull for this good hap as Albayzar was sorrowfull to sée the thrée Giants spéed so ill CHAP. XCV What happened in the Court of the Emperour after the combate of the Giants CErtaine dayes after this cruel Combat the prince Florendos seeing Dramnsiande and the English Princes out of any danger determined to restore the Shield of Miragarda in the place from whence the Prince Albayzar tooke it and to present him to her where he should abide the doome of her iudgement When he had well prouided himselfe of Armour and other necessaries he aduanced himselfe before the Emperour and his Father to desire their sufferance in this attempt but they were very loath he should goe least any danger should happen to him by the way through some treacherous meane deuised by Albayzar wherfore they gained of him to stay yet for eight dayes longer In the meane time the Emperour had concluded through aduise of his Councell to send the Princesse Targiana home againe to her Father accompanied with the King Polendes and diuers other Princes and Knights but first he would content the desire of her loue wherefore with great royalty he married her to the Prince Albayzar and to honour them the more he held open Court and caused many Triumphs and braue deuises to be accomplished to gratifie these honourable personages The Emperour ledde Targiana into the Chappell where he gaue her to the Prince Albayzar whose heart greatly reioyced to receiue the swéete content he had so long desired but the chiefest grief that eclipsed his ioy was because the Prince Florendos should present him to the faire Miragarda which thought made him not so pleasant with his beloued as otherwise hee would haue béene When time came for their departure Targiana humbly submitted himselfe to the princesse Gridonia and all the ladies but especially to the princesse Polinarda who had vsed her very graciously during the time of her abyding there The Emperour with all his Knights rode with her two miles from the Citie committing her to the charge of Polendos and the other Princes who could not perswade Florendos but he would needes present Albayzar at the castle of Almarol to witnes his vnfained faith to his Lady Mistresse Miragarda The Emperor taking leaue of Targiana returned with his traine to the Cittie endeuouring himselfe to change the mind of Florendos but all was in vaine for two dayes after he departed from Constantinople accompanied with Albayzar whom he would not suffer to weare Armour but permitted him one of the Esquires belonging to Targiana and himselfe tooke twaine one to carrie the Shields of Miragarda which was couered and the other to carry his owne thus in their iourney we intend to leaue them The Damosel of Thrace séeing the Prince Palmerin in good disposition of health in the presence of the Emperour she spake to him thus Worthy Sir I thinke you are sufficiently certified that I cannot depart from hence without your company séeing you haue finished that which of many yeares haue béene thought impossible wherefore most humbly I beséech you that you would imploy your selfe to ende likewise the miserable estate of the distressed and most infortunate princesse of Thrace whose enchantment can no way be be expelled but only by you whose renown shall be more then I can speake of for you that shal ioyne in marriage with her and so make your selfe king ouer all Thrace But if perchance the desire you haue to follow aduentures wil not suffer you to ioyn with her in this honourable estate then shall she stand at your appointment to marry with such a one as you shall thinke méetest for her wherfore I desire you to set a part all excuses and to enter vpon this iourney so soone as possible you may Faire Lady answered Palmerin I am so much vsed to trauaile that I know the better how to continue it and neuer did I refuse to aide any person whose intent might be no preiudice to her whom I am alwayes bound to obey and therefore assure your selfe that so soone as I shall be prouided of Armour because Albaroco hath so disappointed me I will not stay to accomplish your desire The Damosell was very well pleased with this answer of Palmerin but the Emperor who wished more good to him then any other of his Nephews conceiued great gréefe to leaue his company so soone wherefore he went to the chamber of the Empresse who also was very sorry when she heard these newes Likewise the Princes Polinarda hearing that Palmerin should so soone leaue the Court went to her chamber amated with great griefe and many passions of the minde which Dramaciana perceiuing knowing well the cause of her heauines caine to perswade her in this manner Faire mistresse I neuer thought that any misfortune could depriue you of discretion which you haue alwaies vsed but if your gréefe be grounded on the departure of Palmerin why do you not consider y◠his desire is euer to be where he may behold you◠though in truth he deserueth to enioy the most excellent princes on y◠earth yet dare I assure you that your beauty is sufficient to yéeld the heart of him vnder your obeysance who onely desireth to be your swéet friend in loue And without good hope in this desire I know he could not long enioy his life but that he perswadeth himself to enioy that gladsom and long expected felicity wherfore I desire you to vse such courteous fauour towards him as may vrge him the sooner to returne to the Court. Folinarda hauing receiued some content by the words of Dramaciana made her answer in this manner How can I well brooke the sudden
disguised in blacke Armour but when he perceiued the Prince Floraman and had likewise espyed the shéeld of the Princesse Miragarda he presently did coniecture that the blacke Knight was his Lord the Prince Florendos to whom he reuerently drew néere vsing these spéeches I hope my good Lord you haue no occasion to hide your self from him who hath such earnest affection to do you seruice and specially hauing recouered so rare a Iewel as is the Shéeld of the faire Miragarda at whose commandement you made your departure from this place and well worthy is she to be impeached of high ingratitude if she should not now fauourably entertaine you who hath so nobly and worthily deserued Florendos being not able to conceale himselfe any longer opened his helmet and then embraced his Esquire Armello to whom he deliuered the Shéeld of Miragarda willing him to set it in the place where it was woont to stand before that the Prince Albayzar so discourteously tooke it away and bad him also take the Shéeld of the Princesse Targiana and to set it at the féete of the portraiture of Miragarda which did not a little offend the Prince Albayzar to behold At length came foorth of the Castle the Giant Almarol very well Armed and gallantly mounted on a white Courser for he supposed that these thrée Princes came to demand the Ioust but when he beheld the Shéeld of Miragarda in the place where it was wont to be being suddainly abashed he knew not well what to say At last he knew the Prince Florendos by reason that he had lifted vp the Beuere of his Helmet whereupon he cast his Lance to the ground and with stretched out armes came and embraced the Prince Florendos entertaining him with these words I did alwaies perswade my selfe worthy and renowned Prince Florendos that you would bring to end that honorable exployte which I now perceiue you haue happily atchieued a desert so laudable and knightly as the Princesse Miragarda cannot otherwise chuse but requite you with better entertainment then she had done heretofore And if she continue her former obstinacy vse not that gratious acceptation towards you which your noblenesse doth worthily merite and her duetie commandeth she should fauour you with all I will so shake the honour of her name with spéeches of importance that the world shal be acquainted with her monstrous vnkindnesse who I hope will beare me company in iustly condemning her that can affoord such great disloyaltie to so good a Knight Thus breaking of his spéeches without staying to heare the answer of the Prince he presently ran into the Castle where he declared to the Princesse Miragarda the noble and Knightly returne of her loyall Seruant Florendos which newes enflamed her heart with vnspeakeable ioy neuerthelesse she dissembled the matter in such sort as though she had made no account thereof which the Giant perceiuing both how slender estimation she seemed to haue of Florendos as also of the 〈◊〉 bringing backe againe her Shéeld being not able to withhold his choller any longer he began to touch her very highly with the Princely seruice of Florendos how to her vniuersall praise and his owne renowne he had witnessed the true testimony of an inuincible minde which she countenancing with so small regard did notoriously impeach herselfe of ingratitude and too iniuriously requite him that had deserued so well All these words did séeme nothing to moue her resolute will but with a hardy countenance she gaue show to the Giant that she was the Lady and Mistresse of a selfe-willed conceit albeit within her selfe she remayned greatly affectionate of the Princes returne but because her modest shamefastnesse should not be discoured to the giant she made the matter to him of no regard at all The Giant being not a little vexed in a great fury 〈◊〉 foorth of her presence very much accusing her obstinate minde and comming to the Prince Florendos they could not hide the great discourtesie of Miragarda which the Prince contented himselfe withall because he was woont to haue no other entertainement but for that he would dispatch the cause of Albayzar he desired Almaroll to goe againe to his Lady and to know her pleasure as concerning him that caried away her Shield and whom he had brought backe againe The Giant presently returned to the princesse giuing her to vnderstand that the Knight which had caried away the Shield was brought thither backe againe by the noble Prince Florendos who desired to knowe her will what should be done with him Miragarda taking a little pause at last commanded that Albayzar should be brought into her persence and that Florendos should abide without When Albayzar was come before her she straitely charged him to goe yéeld himselfe prisoner vnto the king Recinde her especiall good Lord and that he should not faile to goe thither because he should remaine there as prisoner vntill the great Turke had set at liberty the king Polendos with al his knights She receiuing his oath that he would not faile to doe as she had commanded him willed him to depart whâ—â—â— he giuing her humble thanks for fauouring him so much considering his offence deserued greater punishment offered gently to kisse her hand but she would not suffer him and so he departed from her When he was come foorth againe from the Castle to take his leaue of the Prince Florendos he cast his 〈◊〉 on the protraiture of the princesse Targiana not without many a bleeding sigh from his heart and such countenance in iesture as bewrayed the extreamity of his suddaine paâ—â—ions A great while he stood rehearsing to himselfe these amorous conceits wherewith he was meruailously charged at last he desired Almaroll to doe him so much fauour as to goe intreate the Princesse Miragarda that it might stand with her pleasure not to suffer the shield of his best beloued Targiana to hang in the rancke among those that were conquered in respect she had deserued no such dignitie But in no case would shee agrée to this request so highly did she estéeme her selfe in superioritie aboue all other Ladies whereof Albayzar being certified he departed in choller and extreame melancholly the thirtéenth day after her departure from the Castle of Almaroll he arriued in the Court of Recinde King of Spaine who receiued him with very Princely Courtesie And after he vnderstood who had sent him and for what cause he was not a little pleased thereat because by him the King Polendos might haue libertie againe as also his Sonne who was prisoner amongst the other Knights of these newes he presently caused the Emperour of Constantinople to be aduertised that he should now set his former griefe apart and reioyce in that he had in his custody such a one as should bring home againe all the Knights that were prisoners to the Turke The Emperor greatly commended the pollicie of the Princesse Miragarda and wished if it might be possible to haue
excéeding pittie which I take to sée your grieuous sighes and manifold teares as I must néeds consent to your request but it were a great discredite to you that in a man of such an Ancient and goodly time as you are there shuld be found Forgerie or deceytfull dealing which my good opinion will not suffer mée to iudge so of you And this Knight which you sée standing by me is called the Prince Florian of the Forrest albeit some name him the hardie Knight of the Sauadgeman he is my Nephew and one in whome I put the greatest trust to giue ayde and succour in a matter of such importance and I sée hee prepareth himselfe to forsake the Court and to assist you with his Noble and approoued valour in any cause that you shall haue neede to vse him The Aged man séeing the maruellous courtesie of the Emperour fel down before him on his knées and after he had kissed his hand spake as followeth It is not in vaine I sée well most famous Emperour that both young and olde so thunder your surpassing Bountie for the occasion which my selfe receyueth at this time giueth me good cause to thinke that the vttermost I haue hearde in your noble Commendation hath rather beene sparing speech then sufficient to comprehend your Heroâ—call desertes and I shall thinke my selfe the most happiest aliue hauing séene that with mine Eye which hath bene so often bruted in mine Eare. The Knight of the Sauadge-man aduanced himselfe to kisse the Emperours hand in satisâ—action of the honourable spéeche he vsed of him to the Aged man who was still so earnest in his suite as the Prince Florian was constrained to arme himselfe presently and departed from the Court in such great haste as hee had not the leisure to take leaue of the Empresse and his other Friends The Emperour fell into questioning with the Knights of his Court if any of them did knowe that Auncient man in whose company his Nephew Florian was so suddenly gon but not one of them all could report of whence or what he was Primaleon was very much offended that the Emperour his Father would command his Nephew Florian to depart so soone with the aged man not knowing first into what place or to what aduenture he would conduct him wherevpon the very same day Berolde the Prince of Spaine Platir Blandidon Pompides Gratian Polinard Reccamon Albanis Don Resuel all the other most renowmed Knights of the Emperors Court departed to folow the Prince Florian for that they feared least any euill should happen to him vnder the guilefull dealings of this Aged man When the Emperour saw his Court left desolate in a manner of the noble Knights that was woont to kéep his company he found himselfe very grieuously perturbed in minde fearing least some finister chaunce should happen to his Nephewe Florian who rode on still in the company of his Aged Guide without resting in any place til the next day in the morning when of necessity they must stay to giue refreshing to their Horses and when they had suffered them to féede indifferently they mounted againe on Horsebacke and rested not all that day likewise till they were come within the sight of a fayre Castle which stood on the top of a fayre Rocke a Fortresse very delâ—ctable in the eyes of them that did behold it at the foote whereof a goodly Riuer had his course so déepe and dangerous as they that went vnto the Castle were constrained to passe ouer in a very small Boate wherein two men could hardly passe at one time The Aged man being very wearie with ryding and desirous to haue a little ease alighted from his Horse vsing his language in this manner to the Prince Florian. This is the danger Sir Knight wherin we must hazard our liues if we be so bold as to venture our selues both together in this little Boate therefore I pray you that you will alight and you for the more securitie shall passe ouer alone then your Esquyre and I will come one after another because we will bring ouer with vs the Horses You reason wel answerd the Prince Florian in respect of your Aged and vnweldy péeres as also in wishing me for my best auaile therfore I intend to follow your counsell for that I sée necessitie compelleth vs to doo as you say At these words he dismounted from his Horse and entred into the little Boate commanding him that had the charge thereof to passe him ouer but scantly had he attained the middle of the water when suddenly such a blacke and ougly clowde ouershadowed him as the Aged man and the Esquyre being on land had lost the sight of him which when the Esquire perceiued hée was about to leape into the water to followe his Lord but as he was in this desperate intent he espyed a great Hill suddenly before him which would not suffer him to passe any further Vpon this he turned to goe to the place where he left the aged man but he was so quickly rapt away and gone as the Esquire could not possiby imagine which way he had taken then the Esquire began to iudge that the teares which the Aged man shed in the presence of the Emperour was to no other end but only shadow the treason which he wretchedly weÌ„t about so there he stood musing a great while and after he had canuased out a thousand imaginations a he concluded to search his Maister about all those parts and if it were not his fortune to find him he would then return to yâ— Emperors court to make known the vnfortunate losse of his Lorde and Maister to the ende that the Princes who were his Friends might take vpon them to enquyre after him for such was the opinion of this loyall Esquyre that the diligent search of a great many Knightes might happily recouer his Lorde againe The Noble Prince Florian of the Forrest had no sooner gotten the further side of the Riuer but the Clowde conueyed away the Boate wherein he passed in such sort as hee could by no meanes haue a sight of it wherevpon hée began to aduance himselfe towardes the Castle that stood vppon the Rocke not fearing any daungers that might happen to him but because the Rocke was high and troublesome to climbe and the Armor hee had on very weightie withall hee was constrained to rest himselfe thrée or foure times by the way so that the Night had chased away the gladsome Day before hee could arriue at the Castle When hee came vnto the Castle Gate there came foure verie gallant Damozells to receyue him and after they had caused many Torches to be alighted they shewed themselues very dutifull to entertaine him into the Castle which courteous offer the Prince would not séeme to denye for that the Beautie of them did so much blinde him as he had no minde on the Daungers that might suddenly happen but hee fedde his Eyes with beholding them altogether as one that had his will
to me and for that she would so kindly pledge her selfe vpon the assurance she reposeth in my fidelitie Moreouer I promise you Sir I haue written to the King Recinde that he should not faile to send me the Prince Albayzar and I beléeue certainly it will not belong before he come hither wherefore I pray you to stay here till he come and in the meane time I will vse the matter so as the Turke your Lord shall be rid of his doubt and the Princesse Targian a satisfied to her owne contentment I am of the opinion said the Ambassadour that the Prince Albayzar will be here and that quickly for the Damosel who was sometime sent in secret to your mistresse was dispatched with her message twenty dayes before my setting forth that she should let the King Recinde and the Prince Albayzar vnderstand of my coÌ„ming and certifie them likewise of the liberty of our knights by meanes whereof they will not faile to come hither to your Court vntill which time I am determined by your licence to soiourne here but I will not declare my Lord the Turkes minde before I sée the Prince Albayzar neuerthelesse I here present you with his gratious letter and after you haue well vnderstood the contents thereof I will declare what I haue in charge There pausing he tooke forth of his bosom a letter written in pâ—rchment and sealed with the Armes of the great Turke the which he humbly presented vnto the Emperour who presently caused it to be opened and perceyuing thereby that the Turke willed him to giue faithfull credit to what the Ambassador said he desired him to report the cause of his arriuall whereto the Ambassador thus replyed My gracious Lorde I knowe you haue not forgotten the day when the Princesse Targiana came vnto your Court neyther the subtiltie wherewith she was entised and brought forth of her Fathers Courte by the guilefull dealings of your Nephew the Knight of the Sauadge-man who was hindered in such sort in his iourney as he could not bring the Princesse Targiana vnto your Court but she being here was entertained by your Excellencie the Empresse and the Princesse Polinarda in such gratious manner as she estéemeth her selfe during life bound to you for your manifolde courtesies And my Lorde the Turke in regard of your Noble fauour toward his Daughter would gladly in any thing hee could witnesse his beneuolent minde to you forgetting all iniuryes past for his faire Daughter Targianaes sake but with this condition by the way that your Maiestie offer him nothing against right or reason for if you doâ— hée shall be constrained by forcible strength to reuenge the shame and iniurie he hath receyued by the Knight of the Sauadge-man And for the substance of his minde it is thus in briefe he desireth you to send vnto him the Knight your Nephew because he would chastise him for his haynous offence And if you refuse to satisfie his request he commaundeth me to let you vnderstand he is your enemie and will so reuenge that Knights abuse as all the world shall take example by him I cannot belieue said the Emperor that the Turke your lord will seem to threaten him at whose hands he requireth nothing but Iustice the which I being very willing to doo cannot thinke well of your present procéedings for that in sooth you demaund no Iustice Besides it is not reasonable to graunt what your lorde requireth for if Florian be accused for bringing away his Daughter I answer that he did it at the earnest intreatie and desire of her selfe So that your lorde I perceyue trauelleth in vain after my Nephew the Knight of the Sauadge-man whom I will not send vnto him if I wist he should be as welcome to him as to my selfe And if I should seeme to content the will of your lord I cannot send my Nephew except he please himselfe and I am perswaded he will not consent vnto it much lesse his Father who is a Prince of great authoritie If this reason I haue made you will not content the will of your lorde the Turke I am willing to receyue whatsoeuer he please eyther to bring or send me but I am sorie I am so farre spent with yéeres that I cannot shewe him what I haue beene sometime Neuerthelesse for a sufficient witnesse of my selfe I will sende him the Knight whome hee demaundeth that hee may tell him what I would doo my selfe and let him be bolde that Knight will doo his errand to the vttermost As for other aunswere I wish you not to looke for at my handes wherefore I thinke it good you goe to rest your selfe and when the Prince Albayzar commeth if you â—inde the time so conuenient for you you may departe when you please and in the meane time I will honor you with such courteous entertainment as you shall thinke well off I was assured before answered the Ambassadour of the answere you would make me wherefore hauing fulfilled my charge I néede not for this matter henceforward vse any more words When the Ambassadour had thus concluded Pâ—lendos desired the Emperour that he would suffer him to entertaine the Turkish Infidell while he stayed there wherevnto the Emperour gladly consented and Polendos bringing him into his Lodging failed not to let him see that enimies were better welcommed in the Emperours Court then Friendes were to his lorde the great Turke Primaleon remained very well contented hauing heard the answer of the Emperor his father as also for that he had so defâ—ded the cause of the Knight of the Sauage man for the loue of whom the Princesse Leonarda was diuersely mooued fearing least he should fal into the great Turkes hands who would appease the anger of his stomacke in sacrificing the good and hardy Knight to his Gods The sudden dumps of this yong Princesse was well perceiued by her swéete friend Polinarda who hid her knowledge thereof for the present time vntill they had brought the Empresse to her chamber then they two walking together to their Lodging Polinarda demanded the cause of her griefe wherevpon the Princesse Leonarda being ignorant that Targiana had béene brought to Canstantinople by the noble Florian of the Forrest or how else the matter stood but she desired Polinarda if so it were her pleasure to declare how these occasions had happened When the Princesse had herein satisfied her minde shée remained in sorrow without measure as well by occasion of suspecting the beautie of Targiana as also to thinke on the ingratitude of the Knight of the Sauage man so that at that very instant she reputed him as a man without faith loue or regard of loyaltie and she would gladly haue deuised the meane whereby to banish the remembrance of him forth of her heart Which the Princesse Polinarda perceiuing and willing to preuent any mischance that should happen to her Couzin she began to vse her talke in this manner Madame thinke you the Prince Florian will be the same man
answered him thus I am content because you know me so well that you shall not take a surfeit by loosing your desire and if you will stay till my 〈◊〉 be brought hither I will breake this Lance on you because you presumed to refuse it and afterwards I will entertaine you with the Combate when I doubt not but to giue seuere chasticement to your proud and mallapart stomacke I would with all my heart aunswered the Damoselles Knight that thou weâ—t armed for my mallice is such against thee as I cannot tell it but thou shalt féele it Albayzar presently sent for his Armour and the King séeing their fury and noting the high wordes that had passed betweene them came down into the field to them to the end he would not that Albayzar should fall into any misfortune before he had bene first in the â—â—perours Court to which place the Turke had sent the imprisoned knights because he would recouer home again Albayzar 〈◊〉 for which cause the king Recinde would not permit them to trie the combate and scantly would he suffer them to ioust together so greatly he feared lest the Damoselles Knight would endaunger the person of the Prince Albayzar The Quéene was verie well pleased in that by the meanes of the Damosels knight she perceiued the valor of the knights of the Spanish Court and the Damosels albeit they reioyced not in their ill fortune which were vnhorsed yet they greatly commended the prowesse of their knight that had defended them so well And still they looked for the comming of the Spanish Ladies to them delighting that they had no better seruants to venter for them but the Ladies themselues gréeued to see their good friends so vnfortunately foyled CHAP. XXIII How the Damosels Knight and Albayzar Iousted together NOt long it was before the Prince Albayzars esquires returned with their maisters armour which was blacke and streamed all ouer with little stroakes of Gold and when the Prince of Babylon was armed and had taken the same Lance which Florian refused he came before the king speaking to him in this manner I desire you my gracious Lord that you would not disswade me from my enterprise because I know my selfe able to reproue this Knight that shewed himselfe so disdainfull towards him whom I am sure you would not haue receiue any shame in your Court to which words the king thus replyed Albayzar I am so earnest in regard of your well doing as I would be sorry any thing should happen to you here but well wherfore to grant you the Combate against the strange knight trust me I neither dare nor will consent to it as well for the care I haue of your person as for that I will giue no occasion to the Emperour Palmerin whereby he may thinke any ill by me Well then quoth Albayzar I hope this Lance shall do so much as I would haue it but if it do not I may well complain on your highnesse in that you will not suffer me to punish the pride of this knight Good Sir said the Damosels knight doe not thus waste the time in needelessé words it were good you prepared your selfe to the Ioust and if I be prouder then you would haue me punish me as you see occasion but yet doe no more then you dare do for if fortune so friend you as you remaine victor ouer me let my paiment be such as you shal please and there is an end I pray you quoth Albayzar do me so much fauour as to tell me who you are for I assure you I would gladly know for two causes the first that I might not be ignorant of the knight whom I shall vanquish the second if so be I speed not according to my desire that I may the better enquire after you as I trauaile abroade the answer of the Damosels Knight was this It is not my wil to satisfie thy honor so much but perswade thy selfe that I am the greatest enemy that euer thou hadst in all thy life and I gréeue that I may not haue libertie of the Combate against thee because I long haue wished to haue my fill on thee but since it is the pleasure of the King it shall not be I will not presume to exceede his highest will neuerthelesse I will awaite the time when I may deale with thee according to my desire If I be not deceiued answered Albayzar I think I know know you for I thinke I haue seene you sometime in the Castle of Dramorant the Cruell where you made your selfe so bold to vse such language as I haue not yet forgotten wherefore assure your selfe that the speeches thou diddest vse there the brauery thou seemest to haue at this present shall be the destruction of all such as dare afford their ayde in the iniury I haue receiued But for that I may a little ease my stomacke both in taking reuenge and quailing thy vsurping boldnesse which I cannot so deale with all as I would till fitter time serue or my purpose I desire that thou wouldest breake one Staffe with me vnder the name of some â—word Lady that I may see whether she deserue better in praise then my Lady whom I run for the â—aire Princesse Targiana I will take her said the Damosels Knight which is the sâ—mplest in beautie of all these in my company for my fauourite at this time in her seruice I am determined to ioust against you I would wish quoth Albayzar because the Lady I haue named is the gratious Mistresse of my fight is knowne to be of great and high authoritie that you would name your most fauoured to be such a one as may be thought worthy to equall her You presse me ouermuch answered the Damosels knight in that you would haue me reueale that which I will not but this I aduertise you that Fortune hath made me seruant of a Lady in whose gratious fauour I 〈◊〉 and will not let the soueraigntie of her name be shâ—wen in any 〈◊〉 but onely such as are of great importance yet since I see you afâ—ect so much I am content to breake one Lance with you for her sake And because your thoughts may be the better satisfied I assure you that she is tarre more excellent in beautie then the Princesse Targiana and so singular aboue her as her name is not worthy to be talked on in respect of my royall and incomparable Mistresse And I desire that you would not request to know her name because I haue vowed to keepe it in secret that I may the better make others maruaile what and who she should be I cannot suffer said Albayzar thy reproachfull spéeches especially when thou seemest to dispraise her whose beautie no Lady liuing can any way equall Then these two Knights departed to fetch their carâ—ire and ranne together with singular courage Albayzar hauing before his eyes the loue of his Lady Targiana and the miâ—â—ie that his enemie had offered him and the Damoselles Knight
pittifull Lamentations hée yéelded vp the Ghost leauing the Cittie so comfortlesse and dispayring within themselues as they desired to finish their liues forsaking quite all hope in them that were in the Fielde to whome happened what Fortune had ordained as you may read in the Chapter following CHAP. LXV ¶ Of the second Battell betweene the Christians and the Turkes and what happened therein THe darke cloud being gone out of fight and the Sage Aliart hauing brought the Empresse and her Ladies to the Perillous Isle the day began to waxe cléere againe and the Armie marched forward to méete together But as they were about to enter the skyrmish they heard a most lamentable and pittifull outcrye which made them staye their hands and looking about to sée the cause of this noyse they saw a great many of Ladyes and Damosells come foorth of the Cittie with their haire dispersed abroade ouer theyr shoulders and wringing their handes in very grieuous manner And for that they had lost the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart whom they knew were left for their succour and Defence they came into the Christian Campe to their Husbands Brethren Sonnes and Kinsmen For séeing they could promise themselues no assurance in the Cittie they would liue and die with them in the Fielde King Edward and Primaleon were so amazed at the clamor of these Women as they caused theyr Ensignes to stay and commanded the Horsemen not to breake theyr Array till they had vnderstood the cause of this disorder but when it was told them how that the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart had forsaken the Cittie they were both driuen into a great admyration with themselues whereupon they sent Pompides and Platir into the Cittie to bring them certaine tydings of this vnlooked for mischaunce When these two Knightes were come into the Cittie and heard after what manner the King Tarnaes dyed as also howe the Sage Aliart was gone no man could tell whether they beganne to thinke within themselues that both they and all theyr Traine were brought to such extremitie as Fortune had concluded to finish the memorie of theyr Knightly déedes by deliuering theyr liued to the swords of theyr enemies They did likewise perswade themselues that the Sage Aliart absented himselfe for no other occasion but onely because he perceyued theyr generall destruction was at hand in this respect they iudged hée had prouided some refuge for the Empresse and the Ladies that their Enemies might not triumph in theyr misfortunes to the great discontentment of theyr Lordes and Husbandes With these heauy Newes they returned to their Camp againe certifying King Edward and Primaleon how the Sage Aliart was departed Whervpon they concluded by generall determination to withdraw themselues into the Cittie to make prouision for the Defence thereof before they would enter the Battell with their Enemies But I assure you it was a pittifull sight to behold how the Men Women and Children came and fell down at the Princes féete yea the Ancient Citizens with their gray heads and white beards being so weake and féeble with Age as they were glad to support themselues with their staues they all made their humble requests that they might rather enter the Battell and thereto end their liues then to be destroyed at home with their Wiues and Children by the enemie King Edward Primaleon and all other Princes were not a little abashed finding the Pallace in such a desolate manner neyther the Empresse the Princesses nor any of the other Ladyes to be founde this vexed their mindes with vnexpressable griefe They went into theyr accustomed Chambers and not finding them there to whome they were most affectionate their very soules were ready to forsake theyr bodyes for the young Princes enioying theyr swéet Ladyes so short a time for whose sakes they had suffered so many bitter brunts they thought themselues not able to liue any long time being depriued of their company whom they honored with most pure and vnfained affection For now their paines were greater then euer they had béene before and this mishap was more irkesome to them then all the dangers past because their Ladies were the rewardes of their knightly victories but hauing thus lost them on such a sodaine they were out of hope to enioy the sight of them any more wherefore they séemed as men depriued of their sences looking gastly and fearefully one vpon an other knowing not which way to comfort or redrâ—sse their present heauinesse In this case the Christian Princes remained for the space of thrée daies hauing no minde at all to giue their enemies battaile during which time Primaleon maide conueiance of the aged men with their wiues and children in the night time to diuers of his Castles and Fortresses néere adioyning knowing them farre vnable to helpe in this extremitie and then he caused the wals of the Cittie to be beaten flat to the ground which was thought good by the aduice of euery one to bee so done and that for two especiall causes The first that it would more animate and imbolden the Christians in the time of battaile séeing themselues dispoyled of the place wherein they reposed their assurance of safety The other that the enemies should not vaunt how they had destroyed the City but that it was defaced by the Christians themselues if so be Fortune suffered them to enioy the victorie They of the citie séeing the walles so spoyled euen to the very first foundation thereâ—f conceiued such hatred against the Turkes whome they reputed to cause the subuersion of their strongest defence as they prepared themselues altogether to enter the Field to reuenge themselues on their proud and vsurping enemies and so they marched all with the Princes into the Field who went in the same manner as they did before when Aliart conueied the Empresse and her Ladies from Constantinople to the Perillous Isle Albayzar knowing well the intent of his enemies coÌ„manded his Captaines to place their men in aray afterward the Trumpets summoning them brauely to the Battaile he commanded the king of Aetolia to giue the onset with his Band to the enemy whereto the king presently obeyed and comming on gallantly with his troupe of men the Prince Primaleon prepared himselfe to receiue him and giuing his horse the spurres he preuailed so fortunately in the encounter as he made the King of Aetolia measure his length on the ground but hee was quickly succoured by his men otherwise Primaleon had giuen him his deaths wounde Palmerin of England ran against the Prince Argelao and met him with such puissance as his Launce pierced cleane thorowe his body so that he fell to the ground starke dead the like did the Knight of the Sauage man to a valiant Knight named Richard who was estéemed a singular Captaine amongst the Turkes the Prince Florendos Platir Gracian Berolde and the other knights slew them outright likewise that encountred them in the Ioust Dramusiande and Framustant brake their Launces
labouring to auoyde that motion that either might séeme to her person displeasant or by any sinister meanes to make shew of her disprofit destred him to appoint such prouision for her that there she emight discharge her heauy burthen and not to depart before she sawe the fruits of her labours To which reasonable request the Prince right courteously consented being right glad to fulfill that occasion that might be to her content and for that cause as yet he refused the gouerning of the kingdome appointing the whole affaires thereof to the wise discretion of King Fredericke his father vntill such time as he saw the Princesse in better estate of her health And in this order sought he ech vnfrequented place of passage and eche solitary habitation to remooue his Tents when pleased the Princes déeming those places to his better content then the youthfull delights of the King his Fathers Court But as the fayrest colours soonest fadeth the freshest flowre soonest withereth and the cleerest day quickly cloudy euen so the man to whom Fortune dooth anouch most fréendlinesse is soonest intrapped by he dissembling falshood and when least he thinketh of any secret doubt he is deceiued by sudden daunger So this valiant and renowned Prince whom Fortune had encouraged by his admirable conquests and aduaunced his name in respect of his Noblenesse new reclaiming her former and woonted courtesie causeth him to taste her present crueltie and where before she helde his Honor as best woorthie her fauour now in a chollericke humor breaketh of her fréendship causing him to knowe though she had holpen him long she was now minded to hurle him downe at last The time being come of her appointed treacherie and the meane deuised to accomplish her crueltie shée caused Don Edward to leaue the company of the Princes Flerida and all other his Lords and Ladies who were there present with her and walketh to the Sea side which was not farre distant Returning agaiue hée caused the tents to be pitched foure miles from the Forrest on a pleasant gréene platte by a little running riuer which delighted the minde of the Princesse the place was so fine and fitly chosen out On a sudden there was heard a great tumult in a thicket of trees neare adioyning to sée what it might be the Prince mounted on Horsebacke and rode to the place where casting his eyes aside hee espied a wilde and mighty Bore which sight the Prince was not a little glad of but with diuers of his noble Lords made present pursuite after Don Edward still rid after the game that the other had quite lost the sight of him which they sought againe to recouer but all was in vaine for the day being cleane spent and waxing somewhat darke caused them to retyre againe to the Princesse Who séeing her Lord Don Edward not returne with them fell into great dismaying and doubting of his safetie which she had iust cause to doe for that this his sudden departure was greatly lamented through the Realme of England and all kingdomes in Christendome before they had his presence againe The strayed Prince being thus allured by Fortune affecteth his game with such great delight that he neuer minded the Princesse distresse but gaue himselfe wholly to his present pastime not fearing for foreséeing what might be the perill His Stéede with tediousnesse of trauaile waxeth stract in his limines which caused the Prince to stay and alight for the darkesomnes of the night had lost his game and the fayning of his Horse required to haue rest Don Edward resting him at the foote of a Trée beganne at last to call to minde the desolate estate of the Princesse Flerida and the griefe his Lords would conceiue for want of his company Faine he would haue slept but could not for still the doubts that assailed his mind one while for the Princesse another while for his Péeres first to thinke how his absence would cause her to iudge somewhat of his vnkinde dealing then how his Lords would stand in feare of his danger these and a thousand more tristfull terrors with held him from receiuing that swéet rest he gladly looked for Alas thought he how hard is his hap to whom Fortune is aduerse how contrary his good lucke that awaiteth her liberality the one is a thing euer to be doubted and the other ought at no time to be desired The night is spent in these and such like cogitations and at the appearence of the day his eyes began to waxe heauy as commonly it happeneth vnto those whom conceiued sorrow denieth the required rest at last very griefe of it selfe constraineth them to slumber This carefull Prince hauing obtained such quietnesse as the extremitie of his paine would permit him stretching forth his armes calleth againe into question the retchlesse regard he had of himselfe so lighly to leaue his Lady and so vngently to forsake his company which although it happened against his will he iudged they would not accept it so in worth Then mounting vpon Horsebacke rode on to finde his company so vnaduisedly lost but Fortune still denying his pretended purpose by how much he estéemed himselfe néere to his comfort by so much the farder of she set him to the contrary yet hasting on in hope at last he arriued in a great Groue of Trées the thicknesse and height whereof caused him to fall into admiration with himselfe Through this graue ran a faire and cleare Riuer wherein he perceiued the resemblance of a Gallant and curious Castle as strongly fortified as rarely edified the sight whereof somewhat asswadged the egernes of his gréefe likewise the pleasant ratling of the gréene leaues with the mellodious harmony of the pretty chirping Birds exiled the former heauines of his heart and caused him to remember the gladsome time wherein he spent his labour to gaine his best beloued during the warres of the Emperour Palmerin where first he named himself Iulian. In these pleasant conceits hee rid along by the Riuer side so rauished with his inwarde delight that he little suspected the imminent daunger for vnto that place did he chéefest frame his desire which Fortune had appointed to worke his distresse Don Edward beholding the braue scituation of this Castle so curious in workemanship and costly in outward resemblaunce the Bridge at entring whereof was so large that foure knights might easily haue Combatted thereon no lesse insued at his suddē arriual then he meruailed at this his strange aduenture The Porter of the Castell with double diligence more then deserued thankes set open the gate to allure him in which the Prince perceiuing misdoubted no daunger or any secret guile in his gallant prospect because he neither sawe any to resist his entrye and the Porter being vnarmed made him doubt the lesse It last more on a youthfull courage then an aduised care he aduanced himselfe to the Gate of the Castle desiring to know the name of so pleasant a place who protected a thing of
Charriot bee brought into the Forrest to conuey the Princesse vnto the Court of her father K. Fredorick Who leaning in his chaÌ„ber window espied sir Pridos come ryding in great haste which caused him to cast a doubt of some euill newes approching in that he iudged a show of more sadnesse to be in him at that instant then before time hee could perceiue in him the like Whereof to be resolued he presently sent for Syr Pridos to know the cause of his so sudden arriuall whose griefe could not conceale the losse of Don Edoard but in teares laide open a discourse which grieued the Aged King tâ— heare it and galled his heart to recount it The King at these vnlooked for newes fell into such extreame passions both with the teares that bedeawed his Aged bearde and grieuous sighes that issued from his heart that Syr Pridos could hardly kéep life life in him or by intreaty vse any meanes of a patient perswasion for the Aged King was stroken into such a debility of hope that betwéene the impatient assaults of doubt and daunger hee thus began to vse spéeche with himselfe O my Don Edoard nature willes me to deplore thy losse and intire affection makes me dye for thy lacke whose presence was the staffe of myne Aged dayes and whose absence is the Sword that wounds me to the death But as no Grasse will hang on the héeles of Mercurie nor Mosse abide on the Stone Sisiphus so no certaintie can be looked for at the hands of Fortune whose sicklenesse is séene in chaunge and whose frowardnesse in chaunce Too long haue I trusted her and too late hath shee deceiued me the one my folly the other her fashion Yet doubt I not but if thou enioy thy life the substance of thy valure shall excéede the sharepnesse of her vengeance which will be no lesse welcome to thée then long wished of me But alas Well may 〈◊〉 hide my griefe but neuer heartily forget it well may I awhile brooke it but for no long time beare it for that the want of my comfort will cut off my dayes and the doubts I conceyue bring mee in greater distresse where if thou were present my minde would be satisfied and in spight of Fortune award all mischances While the King continued in this great agony of â—inde the Queene entred who likewise vnderstanding the losse of her Sonne began to adde another Stratageme of griefe bewraying her motherly affection both in teares and heauy complaints which to appease the aged King thus began Madame the honour of a noble minde is tried in aduersitie when as the extremitie of griefe is conquered by patience of the minde But the minde being impatient and not kept within the lymittes of a moderate gouernment the least Crosse that happeneth is too waightie in paine when the sence is farre too weake in reason It pleased the Almightie to giue vs a Sonne in whom wee receiued no little comfort and by whome our Fame hath béene Knightly aduanced And now to trie how we can brooke a moitie of his displeasure he hath caused some accident to happen to keepe him from vs whom we most of all desired yet not depriuing vs of hope but as to our griefe we haue lost him so to our comfort we shall see him againe In meane time let vs tollerate this sharpe affliction on his two Princely Children who till we enioy the fight of the Father againe shall with their noble Mother comfort our sorrowes and we also endeuour to abate their mones So one with another shal beare an equall share of aduersitie and be partners also in good Fortune if any chaunce to happen Thus the King and the Queene remained one while in a perswasion of patience an other while wholy vanquished with the force of their griefe whose Passions I referre to the iudgements of those that haue tasted the honour of Fame and hatred of Fortune Returne we now to Syr Pridos who in this time had caused his Brother to ride with a Chariot to the Forrest that the Princesse might be brought to the Court who being placed in the Chariot and ready to depart Shee gaue so heauy a farewel to the place as well for her Lord Don Edoard as misfortune of her Children that her attendaunts seemed as it were drowned in sadnes to see the Princesse ouercome with such sorrowe Being come to the Citie of London the Cittizens who at her comming from Greece did not onely excell in varietie of deuises but also discouered their ioy in singular Triumphes Now with a sorrowfull disposition they bewrayed the terrour of their losse and yet with an intermedled showe of ioy to assage the dolor of the Princesse When she came to the Court perceiued the great chaunge of woonted disportes both in the King and Queene as also in all the nobility who likewise vnderstanding the mishap of the two young Princes altogether begin a world of lamentations The king dismaying of any good hope the Quéene dispayring in double extremity the Lords and Ladies both in apparell and iesture wholly exclaiming on the cruelty of Fortune The Inhabitaunts throughout the whole Realme of England whose delight was many times to fit and conceiue maruailous opinions of the no lesse Knightly then famous aduentures of the Prince Don Edoard nowe sit sighing wringing their handes and pulling theyr bonnets ouer theyr eyes vsing as it were in a generall voyce amongst them Oh none but we vnhappy The King hauing thus passed this night in no lesse griefe of minde then sickly assaults of his aged person the Quéene and the Princesse Flerida equally considered on the morrow hée determined to send a Knight of his Court named Argolant Sonne to the Duke of Horten and Brother to Traendos who also had bin amourous of the Princesse Flerida to the Emperor Palmerin at Constantinople to let him vnderstand the late misfortune of England He being ready to depart as he rode thorow London the Stréetes were adorned with blacke and the Citizens arrayed in black and mourning manner bringing him to the Sea shore where he tooke shipping and departed The Princesse Flerida became very féeble of person insomuch that there was doubt of her good recouery but God not suffering her to ende as shee willingly would gaue her strength againe by little and little and comforted her selfe best when she was foorth of all company which caused many Knights to leaue the Court liue in search of the strayed Prince Don Edoard who pitied her case and his abscence Thus remained fayre Flerida as chast Penelope to her absent Lord Vlisses not fayling one iote in true and faithfull Loue though shée dayly contemned the aduerse estate of her life And hee likewise fayled not in constant loyalty but preferred the terror of death before the falsifying of his faith to his Lady Iustly fulfilling that neither distaunce of place nor extremity of Fortune could part in sunder their mutuall coniunction of spotlesse amitie CHAP. V. ¶ What the
puissant Kings in Christendome and himselfe as victorious as â—uer was any Wherefore let his entertainment be such as his honour doth deserue and his estimation according as his valure doth declare for he it is must needs defend the Diadem of thy domiminions when it shall remaine destitute of wished defence and he it is that shall make thee lauded of Fortune and loued of thy enemies as of thy dearest friends Likewise the two most infortunate Princes of the world shall enioy their libertie by him in which many haue and shall attempt but he alone is oidained to finish this Exployr for that he is aboue all in the Fauour of Fortune and he shall exell all in the Nobilitie of Knighthood Thus leauing the summe of my promise to your gratious triall I wish the noble Emperour of Greece may liue in eternall honour and felicitie By her who is more in dutie then by pen or words she can any way disclole The Lady of the Lake The Emperor no lesse amazed at this happy aduenture then contented at the glad newes of this noble yong Prince desired of the Damosel who might be the Lady of the Lake To whoÌ„ the Damosell replied Noble sir she is altogether vnknowne of me but thus much I dare boldly assure your Maiestie that what her Letter presenteth shall be performed in this worthy young Prince These spéeches ended the Damosell departed which the Emperor perceiuing sent for the yong Prince vpon whom vsing many chéerfull countenances he desired his noble Gentlemen standing by that he might be tearmed of all Palmerin after his owne name for that he thought he should be the better estéemed of his Lady Polinarda in whose fauor he was greatly estéemed as the wearing of his Ladies colors he might giue some cause of beliefe But the Empres and Gridonia still lamented the losse of Primaleon whose absence from the court was chiefest cause of their sorrow CHAP. IX Of that which happened to Vernar the Prince of Allemaign in his search of Don Edoard and of the controuersie betweene him and Belcar the Duke of Duras in the vnfortunate Forrest of England I Haue declared to you before how Vernar the Prince of Allemaigne and sonne to the Emperour Trineus and the faire Agrigola left the Court of Constantinople when Palmerin departed to séeke the Prince Don Edoard In which affaires this gentle Prince likewise behaued himselfe so worthily in many rare exploytes that his Fame remaineth as a perfect type of his hononr in the Allemaigne Chronicles for which cause I leaue to rehearse them returning to that which happened this Prince and is in my charge to speake of It fortuned that hee hauing spent no small labour in trauaile arriued at last in great Brittaine where he had good hope to heare some newes to end his labour And being entred into this vnfortunate forrest ryding very sadly for yâ— his mind was somwhat distracted with remeÌ„brance of his faire Bazilia at length there met him a comely Knight very brauely mounted attyred in gilt armour whereon was wrought many Leopards by Artificiall deuice yet crazed and broken by some rough encounter that he had béene in And in his Shéeld he bare a Serpent in a field of Siluer trauailing also in the search of the strayed Prince as likewise to méet with such who professed the magnanimitie of minde to combate in the honour of their owne good Fortune for which cause he left the Ladies in the English Court among whom he was called The Knight of the Serpent Passing by the Prince Vernar he vsed such courtesie vnto him as beséemed his Knighthoode and was méete for such a Noble person but he altogether vsing his thoughtes on his fayrest Bazilia had no leysure to beholde the Knights courtesie The Knight of the Serpent supposing that eythere hee willingly would not perceyue or séeing scorned the gentle Salutations he vsed reuiued the Prince Vernar with these spéeches Syr Knight mee thinkes it might stand with your Honour and profession and no blemish to you any way but bounty euery way to haue thought well of him who meant no ill to you and to haue gratified him like a Courtier that disdained to passe by you and not vse courtesie The Prince being driuen foorth of his dumps whereto hee had more pleasure then to the Knights gentle proffer betwéene Iset and earnest thus answered Sir I muy be offended without blame and iudge your behauior to be very bald that would constraine me to speake not hearing your spéeche when I had more matters in minde then would suffer me to sée you much lesse to heare you Syr quoth the Knight of the Serpent this excuse is farre too simple in denying both your Hearing and Sight for though statelynesse would not suffer you to sée me yet the leawdnesse of my spéech doth iustifie you might heare me Vernar hearing the large language of the Knight which might quickly mooue him to anger being before subiect to ouer much Melancholie thus shortly replyed Syr Knight you haue better licence to depart then leaue to stay here for that my minde is troubled with such metters as rather requireth your absence thea alloweth your presence Giuing you farther to vnderstand that your companie is so much to my heart that the strife which may arise betwéene vs will be to your great harme When the Knight perceyued what small estimation Vernar had of him thus roundly replyed Syr either your bringing vp hath bene ouer churlish or your present behauior scant currant in that you estéem courtesie more like a Carter then a Courtyer and Ciuile demeanour more fitte to holde the Ploughe then fine qualities to honour your person I estéeme it both méete and modest that you expresse such a Friuolous motion as doth represse abruptly the nature of Friendly manners for greater danger is in concealing what I desire then damage in concealing such a simple demand I desire rather quoth Vernar mine owne ruine then I should be so simple to graunt what you request In so much that it is expedient none should know my thoughts shee onely excepted that must be priuie to what I thinke Wherefore esteeming thy Manhoode as small to commaund as thy might to compell I will bury my Thoughts with my Death before I intend to satisfie thy desire So leauing off words they fell to their weapons where shiuering their Speares and Armour they Encounted with such Brauerie that they were glad to take breathing when the Knight of the Serpent beganne thus to charge him I belieue Sir you finde this Skirmish more hote then your concealed thoughtes may be estéemed wisedome and that your Estate standeth in a more sharpe hazarde then your mute conceyts are of force to yéeld you any sure helpe which I hope shall shew you the difference betweene a carelesse Groome and a Courtly Gentleman Syr aunswered the Prince Vernan your opinion is as yet farre beyond my purpose for that you are as wide from your hope as you are
down into hatred What regard haddest thou of a Princesse thy selfe being a poore Pesant Or what estimation hadst thou of modestie to mooue so great offence in thy gracious Mistresse whose loue was the only state of thy life and whose fauour was the flower of thy prosperitie Ah sweet Ladie on your courteous pitie let passe my presumption and what hath been more then dutie impute to may rude behauiour which your clemencie may both punish and pardon And yet my good Ladie if you respect my trusty seruice with the constant loyaltie I haue alway borne to your Soueraigntie my fault committed rashly deserueth no such repulse in that this ingratitude is too much for you to shew and more then I can any way suffer For if you regard your owne beauty with the stayed assurance of your seruants bountie you shall perceiue my words to bee for your honour and not worthie any hate in that I will preferre your name aboue all Ladies in noblenesse And yet am I contented to abide your hard doome and according to your pleasure wast my daies in distresse till either you will mooue you to recant or my spotlesse loyaltie to relieue my mishap which the longer you deserre the more is my dolor and you remaining obstinate my paines are helpelesse but that your gentlenes giueth me hope your displeasure shall end with my eternall delight Thus hauing finished his complaintes he drew neare to the Castle where by good hap he heard the sound of Musicke which gaue him occasion to enter further And comming to a great Hall he espyed in one of the corners one sitting all in blacke with a fair long Beard and a very graue countenance shewing by his sad complexion that he had more minde to moane then to any myrth Palmerin would not as yet enter any further least he should break off his quiet exercise which was in singing many sadde Dittyes to his Lute that himselfe had framed in the prayse of his Ladie Palmerin hauing heard what singular reports he gaue his Ladie as that none might compare with her for beautie and brauerie was very much offended in that hee esteemed all Ladyes as counterfeite to his fayre Polynarda wherefore hee brake off the Knightes Sonnet with this kinde of Salutation Me thinkes Syr you either want manners or modestie to glorie in your Lady as thought there were none her like Syr your late comparison hath vrged me to great choller for that my Ladie is aboue all in beautie and for honour of her Name beside beyond all in Noblenes of Nature and therefore worthie all praise because she is superiour to any The auncient Knight seeing one entred vpon him so suddenly and to correct his pleasures with such sharpe words aduanced himselfe towards him with this answer Syr Knight your bolde entraunce into this place with the great offence you haue offered my person may happe to be set at so deare a price as shal cost the Blood you would be loath to spare Is there anie to bee equall with my Lady who is not méete to beare the comparison of any whose very remembrance maketh me liue in vnspeakable tormentes If thou darest stay till I am Armed I will make thée eyther denye thy bragges or buye my Ladyes honour with the losse of thy life and breath And I will so reward this thy presumption as shall teach thée thy dutie and winne me my hearts desire Syr said Palmerin cease these words and execute your wrath if I haue spoken any thing to your displeasure reuenge your selfe and there an ende The auncient Knight withdrewe himselfe into a Chamber where as his Esquire presently Armed him Palmerin went foorth where he mounted on Horsebacke and attended his comming At length came foorth the Knight attired in blacke Armour bearing in his Shield the portraite of griefly Death lying on a Toomb couered all with blacke Vsing no more words they fell straite to fight eache of them behauing themselus very valiantly but the Knight of Death was at length throwne to the earth Then dealing a while togither with their Swoords Palmerins lucke was so fortunate that he ouercame his enemy then comming to him and taking off his Helmet he entred into these spéeches Loe Sir Knight contrary to your expectation you are become my Prisoner Now must you gainsay what before you haue boldly said in extolling your Lady aboue her whoÌ„ I honour or prepare your selfe to the extreame rigour of death To whom the Knight of Death replyed Syr well may you estéeme your valoure and make account of your victorie in that you haue foyled him who had good hope neuer to be dismayed by any But concerning the harde choyce you put me to eyther to denye my Ladie or to leaue my life Suffice your selfe in this that no rigor can constraine me no not the death it selfe may or shall compell me for I rather choose to abide your cruâ—lty then I will offer my Ladie so great discourtesie this is my answer take it as you please Palmerin comparing the loyaltie of the Knight with the constancie of his owne Loue and his affection to be as surely planted as was the earnest desire in himselfe satisfying himselfe with the Conquest called Syluian and departed The Knight of Death returning into his Castle where he was carefully tended and looked vnto by his Esqâ—yre greatly contemning his fortune in that he was so suddenly foyled CHAP. XIX ¶ Here shall you vnderstand who was the Knight of Death that the renowned Palmerin of England had conquered and what was the cause he remained in his solitary Castle IT is registred in ancient Hysâ—ories that in Sardignia sometime Raigned a King named Euandrin who espowsed Quéene Emeralda Daughter to the Duke Armian of Normandie and Sister vnto the Noble Duke Drapos This King had one onely Sonne who was named Floraman of no lesse expertnes of capacity then Knightly behauiour in courage which made him liked of all that saw him loued of all yâ— knew him It so chaunced that this Floraman growing to ripenesse of yeares became enamoured of Altea Daughter to the Duke Charles of Cicilia who was subiect to the King Euandrin so that betwéene these twaine was ioyned such a league of perfect good liking and such a mutuall consent of faithfull loue that they supposed neither any accident could hinder their determination nor any extreamitie â—euer their plighted promise But as Fortune is enemie to the hauty courage and prepareth her malice against the well meaning minde so this Loue could not please the King his Father but by all meanes he could thought still to preuent it When the King perceiued he could hardly reclaime his Sonne but that his affection still increased to faire Aâ—tea he sent her home to the Duke her Father meaning to matche his Sonne to Adriana the Quéene of Cicilia whom Floraman denied to loue or in this to grant to his Fathers minde but rather endeuoured to follow his Lady whose absence procured the
can not bee recounted for that all my life hitherto hath bin nothing but miserie and am threatned to spende all my life in infinite calamities which hath drawne my minde into such a debilitie that I can neither honour your Grace as I should nor behaue my selfe as gladly I would For first when I had appointed my minde to a quiet estate which I thought no mishappe could alter or any extreamitie chaunge but resolued my selfe on an infallible ioye Aye me one fling of Fortune ouerturned all and the Heauen of my happines became a hateful Hell When my youthfull yéeres allured me to Loue and fancie made choyce to mine owne good lyking I esteemed my self the happiest of any man aliue though my chance were more hatefull then my griefe can vnfolde For spight not onely berefte of my Ladie but allotted my poore selfe to exreame ill lucke when I forsooke all Courtly companie onely determining to waste my tune in a solitary kinde of life which I spent in remembrance of her who most regarded me and still lauding her Beautie which I estéemed aboue all there I remayned mee thought a merrie though indéede a mournfull time Yet was not Fortune satisfied but rubbeth a fresh gréefe vpon the gréene wound in sending a knight to breake off my silent deuotions who repining that I should extoll my Lady aboue his Saint that was vnknowne to me entred the fight which returned to my foile he bare away the victorie and I was vanquished Thus haue I bene euer indamaged euery way distressed and may say that no knight can say I am the onely man for mishap And because I will not be reputed so ingratefull to my Lady that one repulse shall make me forsake her swéete shrine I haue vowed in all Princes courts to extoll her beautie to whom referring comparisons I can estéeme none her equall And these Knights who honour their Ladies and dare contend with my Altea either for beautie or bountie I am ready to giue Combate to all for that I will allow the superioritie to none As concerning the order appointed in this fight which I would all to obey and none to break thus vnder your gratious leaue it is requested That those knights who esteeme their quarrell so good as to enter the field for the beautie of their Ladyes shall bring with them her Portrait for whose sake they aduenture which wil be to their own honour and fame of their Ladies Beside if my hap be so good as to gaine the victorie they must enter my tent to render their Armour and their names to be registred in my booke which I haue tearmed the Sepulchre of Louers But if my enemy preuaile contrary to my expectation he shall be Lord of the riches which remaineth in my tent beside my selfe as his vassaile to stand at his pleasure And this fauour I must request of your Grace that none shall not enter Combat with the sword with out he be able to mate me in the Iust This is the cause of my coming procured through the knight that gaue me the ouerthrow who protested himselfe to be of your Court for which cause I desire that I may here begin my knightly enterprise I will returne to my tent to expect the comming of him that dare first presume Thus with taking leaue he departed to his tent the Emperour remaining desirous to know of whence he was which was declared to him by some of his Court that he was Floraman Sonne to ancient King of Sardignia at which report the Emperour was very sorry that he had not entertained him according to his vallor and Nobilitie of birth On the next day the knights prepared themselues before the Tent of the Knight of Death and the Emperour with the Ladies of the Court standing ready to behold the Combate which was first enterprised the the prince Gracian for the loue of Claritia daughter to the king Polendos being gallantly mounted all in gylt Armour and in his shéeld bearing for his deuise a Damosell her face couered with a gréene shadow like vnto a Net The gentle Prince looking toward his Lady Claritia who stood in the window by the princesse Gridonia vnto himself vsed these spéeches Faire Mistres I desire you to continue your woonted affection toward me and not to let fal your fauour for that your loue doth encourage me to the fight in assurance whereof I shal cause mine enemy to know that his Altea is farre incomparable to my faire Claritia With these wards he ran against the knight of death encouÌ„tring one another with such knightly behauiour that both the Emperour and all the Ladies tooke great pleasure to behold them At their second pause the knight of Death turned him to the picture of Altea with these words Can my courage â—aint remembring you my good Lady or can any dismay me hauing embraced your fauour no the honour of your name hath called me to the field and your beautie is so perfect that none can cause me flye Then began they a fresh assault as doubtfull to the one as to the other but at length the knight of Death had vnhorsed the Prince Gracian to the great sorrow of his Loue and no lesse to himsefe Then was he ledde into the Tent wher he resigned his armor and his name was written downe in the Sepulchre of Louers Then approched Guerin brother to the Prince Gracian who for his Lady Clariana aduentured to the Combat whoÌ„ the knight of death brought likewise to the Sepulâ—hre of Louers After these came Flauian Rotandor and Emerauld the Faire whose strengthes were not to compare with the knight of Death and therefore were all vnarmed and brought to the Sepulchre of Louers The Emperour commanded the Tournament should end for that day and sent for the Knight of Death to a sumptuous banquet where the Ladies and gentlewomen made such estimation of him as his singular Prowesse and hauty courage deserued Which made him in sighes to thinke vpon his Altea whose commendation was euer best welcome to him yet hâ—eacute e dissembled his gréefe with a merry countenance because euery one should not be priuy to his extreame Passions So after the banquet was ended and their Dancing finished taking leaue of the Emperour as also the whole company he departed to his Tent and the Ladies to their Chambers CHAP. XXIII How the Knight of Death at his second Ioâ—st conquered the Prince Polinarda who aduentured himselfe in the behalfe of the faire Polynarda yet was he vanquished with diuers other knights And how Berolde Prince of Spaine and knight of the Sphere suddainly arriued there and maintained against the knight of Death the beautie of his Ladie Onistalda THe knight of Death on the next morning came foorch before his Tent attyped in blacke Armour whereon was painted in diuers places the resemblance of the faire face of Altea and in his Shéelde was figured a knight clasping his armes together in great heauinesse and by him stood yâ—
not contained a much larger quantity to which demand the Hermite thus answered Good Sir when first I came to inhabite this place which by computatioÌ„ of time I gesse to be about 34. yéers since I found this ancient Sepulchre in the same estate you now behold it But as I haue heard of many and therefore may be hold to report it when the Infidels did inuade this Land they did ruinate and spoyle this Tombe aboue all the rest Not sparing these other by it as you may perceiue wherein are inferred Don Grumedan and Don Cuillan the Pensiue beside other personages of no lesse nobilitie then knightly behauiour The Hermits talke vrged him to remember the discourse of the life of this noble Don Guillan comparing his haplesse life with his heauy estate which was in like manner procured as his Lady Polynarda was the original of his sorowful mourning At this remembrance falling into a great agony of mind he was constrained to leane on the irons that compassed this auncient Sepulchre vttering such rufull complaints within himselfe as the gréefe thereof caused the teares to run down his chéekes Standing a great while as it were in amaze the Hermite supposed he occupyed his mind about some euill intent but Sriuian stepped vnto him declaring that it was his wont to be often incumbred with Melancholy and therefore willed him to vse no more doubt in this matter At length he hapned forth of this mute study turning his head to hide his extreame griefe when Siluian went vnto him desiring he would noc forget his enterprise with the knight of the Sauage man and to leaue â—ch thoughts as would draw his estate into such debility as might greatly hinder his former determination With these words he was somewhat displeased saying I more doubt of that which my late studying hath called into remembrance theÌ„ either the feare or force my enemy can vse to me So taking his leaue of the Hermit he rode toward the Citty where he met the Gentleman his Host and the Damosell on whose behalfe he had enterprised the Combate then because he would not enter the Citty as yet he sent Siluian to the Court to manifest before the King his Maisters challenge and to vse great circumspection what answer the King returned Siluian well noting his Maisters commandement departed and in short time arriued at the Pallace where going vp into the great Hall he perceiued the King was newly risen from Diuner walking with his knights among whom was the knight of the Sauage man being well and perfectly cured of the wounds he had receiued when he fought against Gracian Francian and Polynarda who were there also in his company Siluian came into the presence of the king where on his knée with such duty as is required in that respect he began as followeth Most puissant Prince the knight of Fortune my noble Lord and Master by me in humility of his owne person yéeldeth the homage of his heart and knightly Sword at your Graces command Such was his intent as in your Courts he bowed to make proofe of his seruice but Fortune not so agréeing in stead of aquiet entry vnder your Graces leaue he meaneth to come by way of a challenge For as he trauailed he met a Ladie whose cause of misfortune shée doeth attribute to the Knight of the Sauage man and my Lord taking her distressed case in hand by me giueth challenge to him of Combat to méet him if he dare so that your Grace will allowe my Lord a safe entrance and returns without the disturbance of any to hinder his determination the Knight of the Sauage man onely excepted The king who had heard the fame of the knight of Fortune to be such as was extolled in all Princes Courts was very sory that his arriuall should moue such a request and would willingly haue denied the Combate but that the Knight of the Sauage man came before his Maiestie and vsed these words My gracious Soueraigne the Knight of Fortune is of such reputation as neither may your Grace denie his request nor my selfe refuse to enter Combate with him And albeit his puissaÌ„ce hath vrged him to a Challenge and the aduantage gotten in other countries maketh him the more earnest to haue his déedes knowne here yet can neither his gréeting dismay my courage nor his presence compell me to leaue the fielde Wherefore I desire your Grace to grant his request that he may haue libertie of the Iust according as hée ought otherwise will I goe to him as well to satisfie his desire as to compasse the affection I haue of my selfe The King séeing all excuses would not serue to hinder this matter but that the Knight of the Sauage man would néedes take on him the fight returned Siluian with this answere My Friend tell thy Lord I am both pleased and offended at his request yet séeing his demand standeth with law of armes which I can no way iustly denie I graunt him free leaue without contradiction of any But better would I haue iudged of him had his challenge béene to any other Knight where being as it is he will not so lightly escape as perhaps hee maketh account of With this message Siluian returned to his Maister who hauing heard the pleasure of the king came prnsently to the place appointed for the combat where the king with the Quéen and the Princesse Flerida with all the nobility were ready placed to behold this noble attempt The Citizens likewise repaired thither to see this combate which was so suddenly noysed abroade so that the place was filled with abundance of people The knight of Fortune entred and made his obeysance to the king and passed by then came the knight of the Sauage man accompanied with many knights noble gentlemen among which company was Argolant who brought him his speare Don Rosiran de la Bronde deliuerd him his shéeld so marching on by the king they left him vsing this talke with the knight of Fortune I know not sir knight what should be the cause of your so great challenge without it be to iniurie him that neuer offended you Sir answered the knight of Fortune behold the Ladie here present to whom you haue offered no small abuse which I will sée you recompence or constraine you to abide the doome of my mercy Trust me sir quoth the knight of the Sauage man the Lady is altogether vnknowne of me neyther haue I offended her or any body beside that I should deserue to be thus vngently accused but I sée the good opinion you haue of your owne manhood causeth you to be so earnest in this matter which I will not denym albeit I could yet giue no spot to my honour So departing themselues to fetch their caréere at the sound of the Trumpetst hey met brauely together breaking halfe a dozen Staues a péece yet neither able to stirre the other When they saw they could not dismount one another they tooke their swords and
place where these knights were assembled and entring into the Campe like an ancient olde man hauing a rodde in his hand where about was wound a Serpent he strooke vpon the ground with it when presently the knights fell all to the earth in such a strange and marueilous alteration that one would haue iudged they had béene depriued of their liues After he had there finished what pleased him he weÌ„t vp to the Castle of Dramusiande sending such a darke smoke ouer all the Valley wherein might be perceiued great flashes and flames of fire that the Princes in the Castle were marueilously affrighted This moued Eutropa to such great anger because shée could not gaine the knowledge how this had hapned no worke her will on â—he knights as she had certainly purposed that shée went raging all about the Castle mooued to such disquietnesse that no body could perswade her At last this great darknes vanished away and nothing could bee séene but the Knights that lay all grouelling vpon the ground which caused Dramusiande with his noble Prisoners to goe foorth and fetch them all into his Castle When they had taken off their Helmets the King Recinde knew his children and the king Arnedes his sonnes Polendos knewe Francian his sonne and Bazilliart and Don Rosuel were visited by the valiant Belcar Dridan was carried the armes of Maiortes and Platir was borne in by his noble Father Primaleon who because he had left him wheÌ„ he was somewhat yong did hardly knowe that it was his sonne In briefe they all lamented to sée their kindred and friendes in such great misfortune and conueyed them into the Castle where they were so honorably vsed that in short time they had good hope to recouer them from this danger When they had attained some part of their former health they reioyced greatly that they had happened into the company of their dearest friends and declared in what maner they were deluded by the two Damosels which was not strange to them who perceiued the daily practises of Eutropa to be grounded on such trecherous deceits Now did Dramusiande greatly commend his good Fortune in gaining so many couragious and well approoued knights as he was fnlly resolued he should now easily conquere the Isle of the Lake which as yet hee would not make knowne to any of the Knights but vsed himselfe so pleasant in their company and frequented them daily with such delightfull exercises that generally they bare him great good will and affection For this opinion he conceiued that vsing them with gentlenesse and shewing himselfe curteous in all attempts he should winne their good wils which hée made more account off then all the riches in the world As it is alwaies séene that friendship sooner winneth the gentle minde theu the rich promises and deliuery of Coyne can purchase any faithfull perswasion which craueth a more couetous interest then the persons estéeming vertue will straine their mindes to amount vnto CHAP. XXXIX How Eutropa after she had obtained all the Knights prisoneners in her Castle began a new trechery to bring to ruine the Emperour and Citie of Constantinople by sending Letters to the Soldan of Babylon declaring how the Emperour was destitute of his chief knights how he might easily ouercome the citie And how the noble knight of the Sauage man after he was healed of the wounds he had receiued by the knight of Fortune left the Court of England and trauelled to seeke the aduentures of great Brittaine in which endeuour he arriued at the castle of the Giant Dramusiand where he vnhorsed the Prince Primaleon and his noble Father the Prince Don Edward Likewise how he preuailed against the kings Arnedes and Recinde and foiled the Gâ—ants Pandare and Alligan so that he entred combate with the Giant Dramusiande each of them fore wounding the other yet neither could enioy the victory And how the Sage Aliart came againe and made such a maruellous darkenesse that the knight of the Sauage man was carried away no body could whither GLad was Eutropa that she had gotten these Knights her prisones whom she stood in great feare of and Christendome in most néed of and yet not contenting her selfe with this extreame crueltie would practise another mischiefe to bring to destruction all the noble knights on the earth It so fortuned that by politike meanes she was aduertised of the death of Olorique Alchediane the great Soldan of Babylon and deere friend to the Emperour Palmerin who had a sonne remaind aliue not of the gentle nature of his father but a great enemy to the whole estate of Christendome This seruing for fit her diuellish purpose she gaue him by Letters to vnderstand what great and gréeuous mischances his Progenitors had receiued by the Emperours of Greece in that many Princes of his blood and linage had béene cruelly slaine before the walles of Constantinople which naturall loue and dutie did inforce him to reuenge else should he be iustly contemned and reproched of the whole world where if now he would vexe his enemy vpon so iust occasion vrge him to the small defence he had left for his succour he might be Monarch of the whole world and haue more at command then all his Predecessours had As for a conuenient time he could with for no better then was at that present when if he would lay siege to Constantinople it had no other Rampier of defence then the aged Emperour whose yeares forbad him to enter the field and whose dominions lay ready at his owne appointment As for the noble couragious knights whom all the world feared and were the onely safegard to that famous City were in such place where they had more néed of succour themselues then come to defend the aged Emperour Yea and all other realmes were so vnprouided of those that were the meane to let this determination that neither could they helpe him or promise safety to themselues so that if he would he might bring vnder his obeysance the most of all Christendome There letters were conueyed to the Soldan of Babylon who prouide for the attempt which Eutropa had willed him where to his determination we will forsake him at this time till we gaine more fit occasson to discourse of procéedings The hardy knight of the Sauage man was purposed now to sée the aduentures of great Brittaine for which cause when his wounds were perfectly healed he tooke leaue of King Fredericke and the Princesse Flerida procéeding in his trauell till fortune brought him to the Valley of Perdition where he presently espoed the Castle of Dramusiande Not long had he stood to take view of this Castle but hee perceiued to issue forth a braue company of well appointed knights among whom were Giants of a monstrous stature which gaue him occasion to suppose that hée was arriued at the place where so many famous Knights were detained Prisoners yet was ge driuen into a great doubt in that such comely Knights should kéepe company with
Armour to the aged King Fredericke who caused it to be placed in the House of Ensignes amongst the Armour of many famous Knights THe renowed Knight of Fortune whom through occasion we left to speake of remained so long in the house of the ancient Gentleman his Hoste that his woundes were perfectly healed and his body well able to endure the bearing of Armor When Siluian had prouided him new Armor like his other and a shield with his vsuall deuise of Fortune vpon it he departed which way he thought soonest to finde the Castle of Dramusiande At last arriuing at the foote of a mountaine he espied a little Pauillion wherein were a great many of lighted torches which because the darke night was somewhat entred gaue a very great shewe of light to the place This strange sight moued him to take his way thither as well to sée what it might be as to driue other fancies away that greatly annoyed his mind When he was entred the Pauillion he perceiued two séemely Knights the one lying on a sumptuous Béere more like a dead then a liuing creature the other making great lamentations and pittious bemonings ouer him whom hee presently knowe to be Don Rosiran de la Bronde the Cousin of the aged King of England which made him suppose that the Knight on the Béere was some man of great authority estimation Comming to Don Rosian and saluting him very friendly he presently had knowledge of him that he was the noble Knight of Fortune to whom he began in this manner following Sir I sée that Fortune hath greatly fauoured you in permitting you to sée the dead body of the Knight of the Sauage man to whom you were alway a mortall enemy yet could not bée he that should vanquish him in fight The Knight of Fortune hearing the wordes of Don Rosiran was ouercome with such heauinesse that the teares trickled down his chéekes when he began to frame his answere thus Indéede neuer had I more desire to preuaile against any man then my minde laboured to conqure this hardy Knight whose prowesse is no lesse bruted euery where then his knightly behauiour deserued But now since death so hath cut off this famed Champion whom I laboured to know yet could neuer attaine my wish I will end the enmity that hath bin betwéene vs with so sharpe a reuenge of his vntimely death as were it possible for his ghost to imbrace my friendship himselfe should perceiue his enemy is become as deare a friend to him as euer was any Wherefore of all courtesie shew me the place where he hath receiued this misfortune and I wil die on him that hath bene the death of so good a knight Trust me Sir answered Don Rosiram my arriuall hath bene here so lately that I am ignorant how he happened to this mischance neuerthelesse I was aduertised by one who departed not long before you came that at the Castle of Dramusiande where all the knights remaine that haue bin so long lost he hath sustained this vnfortunate hap yet not without iniuring him and his traine as the memory of this knight shall remaine to him while he liueth albeit Fortune would not suffer him to end the aduenture The knight of Fortune greatly displeased to sée this knight brought into such extremitie began to conceiue better estimation of the aduenture then euer he did before albeit he was greatly abashed that so good a Knight had failed in that enterprise Then began he to behold the Armour that lay there by him being defaced and hacked in so many places which vrged him to commend them that had the strength to vse it so but more the man that had the might to resist such an extreme danger wherevpon he saye I may well perswade my selfe that the hope to end this adventure is altogether lost the Knight béeng dead who had the puissance to finish all other At these words he approched to the Béere to sée if he were cleane depriued of life when lifting vp the shéete of Silke he perceiued his countenance so grim and hardy as it was at the time he entred Cambate with him As he stood wishly beholding this noble Knight his heart began greatly to conceiue an inward ioy and his minde began to muse on a thousand matters But chéefly the lesse of his Brother was his greatest thought whom he suspected this knight to be by diuers markes he knew ie his face for the better assurance whereof he called Siluian willing him to behold the knight and report as his minde serued his answer was comfortable to his Maisters opiâ—ions giuing credite that it was Florian who returned not after he departed with the Lyons Vpon this perswasion the knight of Fortune desired Don Rosiran to certifie him of the name of the Knight of the Sauage man insomuch as it should neither disprofite the one nor the other but that he might resolue him in a matter which caused him to vse great suspition to which words Don Rosiran thus answered Sir Knight in what I may or can satisfie your desire assure your selfe I will do my best As concerning his name neither my selfe nor any other that I know were so happy as at any time to vnderstand it for that he vsed no other name then to call himselfe the Fatherlesse But in times past he hath often declared vnto me that the best friend he had remembrance off was a Sauage man who nourished him a long time and whom he supposed to be his Father but because he could not certainly assure himselfe thereof he termed himselfe as I haue told you The Knight of Fortune whose minde was maruellously reuiued at the words of Don Rosiran perswaded himselfe that the knight of the Sauage man was his Brother Florian for which cause he offered to embrace him as he lay but on a suddaine there entred foure men who lifting vp the Béere vppon their shoulders departed away with it in very great hast The Knight of Fortune endeuouring to follow them they willed him to the contrary giuing him to vnderstand that such good prouision should be vsed to him as if the Diuine bountie would agrée therto his life would be preserued his estate recomforted With this perswasion heâ— returned to Don Rosiran to know which way he intended to trauaile because he had determined himselfe to go séeke the place where this good knight had bene so ill handled and reuenge his cause though it were the losse of his owne life Sir quoth Don Rosiran I meane presently to take my way towards London where I will present the armour of my deare Friend to the king mine Vncle at whose hands he receiued the order of knighthood that it may be reserued in such a place where the remembrance of his déedes done in his life time may eternize the memorie of his infortunate death With this answere the knight of Fortune was very well pleased desiring if he could shewe him the way to the Castle of
bene giuen me in charge to accomplish These words moued them to looke on ech other doubting whether they might giue credance to the report of Floraman or no who séeing them al in such an amazement as though they did hardly beléeue what he had said began againe to perswade them as thus I trust your Grace doth not thinke that I would presume to manifest before you a tale of vntroth which to do might remaine a blemish to mine honour beside the offence vnto your Grace did deserue no pardon And therefore I desire you not to mistrust what I haue bene so bold as to disclose nor credite me your noble sonne Don Edward is a line and yesterday I left him with the other Princes for the causes which I haue already declared The king perceiuing the earnest protestations of the Prince Floraman came to him and imbraced him with these wordes I haue that opinion Sir Floraman in you that you wold not dalude vs with any false report yet blame not my hardnesse of beléefe because I haue béene so often certified of tydings which gaue an impossibilitie to what you haue declared so that for this cause I was filled with the more suspect Neuerthelesse yet such is the confidence I repose in you and such is the grauitie that accompanieth your dayly attempts that I am resolued of your ioyfull tydings and giue you a thousand thanks for your imployed pain then which nothing can be more acceptable to me nor any thing more welcome then these long desired tydings The Quéene and the Princesse withdrew themselues into a Chamber manifesting such ioyfall distourses to each other as might witnes their great contentation yea such were the seuerall motions of gladnesse that tooke place within their sorrowing mindes as themselues had not power to expresse it nor I the leysure to declare it The king was desirous to know by whom Don Edward and the other Princes had beene so long time kept Prisoners as also how the knight of Fortune behaued himselfe in that so many had ventured yet none so happie to preuaile as he Floraman rehearsed the whole state of their imprisonment from the first to the last with the continuance of accidents happening in that time but when he declared the last combate of the knight of Fortune against the Gyant Dramusiand the king was taken with a maruellous astonishment which vrged him to enter into these spéeches Certainly the war that the Gyant Frenaque made against my father hath bene the cause that all this mischiefe and aduerse mishaps hath chanced so that my life had likewise come into danger had not God in mercy vsed more respect vnto me but tell me Sir Floraman is the Gyant Dramusian de yet liuing Certes my good Lord answered Floman I left him in very grieuous and doubtfull estate of health and your sonne as carefull for his welfare as he is for his owne prospertie and he desireth your Grace at such time as he shall come to your court that you would entertaine him as gently as you will receiue himselfe so great is the affection of your son to him and surely his behauiour hath deserued no lesse The King well pleased with this report promised to fulfill the desire of his Sonne in any thing and so hée went to the Chamber of the Princesse Flerida to whom hee rehearsed all the talke that had passed betwéene him and the Prince Floraman These newes were so blazed thorow the Cittie of London that many came to welcome the Prince Floraman and many tooke the way to the Castle of the Giant Dramusiande shewing such ioyfulnesse for recouery of their lost Prince that the passed sorrowe was nothing thought vpon The gladnesse of the Citizens being vnderstood by the Princesse Flerida exiled from her heart all her former feare and made herb◠more conuersant with the Courtly company then of long time shee had béene and would sit talking with such as returned from the Giants Castle witnessing that the Prince Floraman had before declared The King thought good to giue knowledge of this happy chance to the Emperour Palmerin of Constantinople and calling Argolant who had béene Ambassador thither before gaue him his commaundement following Because you carryed tydings to the Emperour when the great mishap befell to my Sonne I am minded you shall now goe giue him a cause of as great ioy as then you did of heauinesse Declare vnto him how my Son Don Edward with his noble Sonne Primaleon and all the other knights that were lost are now deliuered from their Captiuitie and enioy their former libertie againe With this Message Argolant armed himselfe and departed spéedily towards Cōstantinople Within thrée dayes after the King desirous to sée his Sonne and the other Princes determined to ryde to the Castle of Dramusiande but the arriuall of Syr Pridos changed his minde presently certifying him that so soone as the Knight of Fortune and the Giant Dramusiande were able to abide trauaile they would not stay but come to the Court with all the spéede they might The King imbraced sir Pridos and conducted him to the chamber of the Princes Flerida who reioyced greatly to sée him but more gladly would haue had sight of her husband Don Edward whom till she sawe she thought all their words to be but tales and fables CHAP. XLIII How the Damosels hauing cured the wounds of the Knight of Fortune and the Giant Dramusiande tooke their leaue and departed to the ancient man againe And how Don Edward with all the Princes left the Castle and came to London where they were royally welcomed by the King Fredericke OFtentimes would the Prince Don Edward with his company of renowned Knights visite the Knight of Fortune vntill at last they had attained such strength as they could well endure to beare Armor when hee concluded to abandon the Foretresse but would appoint such a knight to gouernoit as should render it into his hands whē he were willing to receiue it And to Eutropa albeit her discourteous dealings deserued small fauour her Nephewe being vanquished hée would giue her another Castle as well to manifest his noble minde which had the power to pardon her extreame cruelty showne to him as also to cause her leaue that hellish abhominable exercise of life wherein she had not onely vexed him but a number of Princes of great reputation This granted and well estéemed by general consent the Prince Berolde was appointed to goe giue her knowledge therof but presently they heard such a noyse in the Castle as they supposed it would haue fallen downe on their heads beside there arose suddenly such a terrible darkenesse as they could neither behold one another nor had they power to abide there altogether At last in the aire as they iudged they heard a gréeuous crie which sounded in their eares after this manner Don Edward seeke not to pleasure her who shall requite thy fréendship with great vnthankefulnesse nor labour thy selfe toward her good
Princes out of the cruell Enchanted castle of Eutropa and Dramusiande ARgolant who by the commandement of the king of England was departed on his voyage towards Constantinople to declare vnto the Emperour Palmerin the good successe of his sonne Primaleon and the other Prince indeuoured himselfe so well in his iourney thorow the helpe of good wind and weather that at the last he attained the end of his trauaile And as he rode through the Citïe he espied the Emperour among a great many of Souldiours whose beard was growne so white with anguish of minde and his face so wanne by reason of his continuall mourning that he stood in doubt whether it were the Emperour or no but that he was certified thereof by the people which made their recourse thorow the stréetes Who told him that report was giuen abroade how the Soldans of Babylon and Persia had gathered a mightie Armie intending to besiege their Cittie which made the Emperour in his owne person to goe sée to the fortifying of the walles that his Rampiers of defence might bée readie to resist the enemie Argolant comming before the Emperour who presently knew him alighted and knéeling downe humbly kissed his hand to whom the Emperour thus spake You may sée Argolant in what necessitie the citie of Constantinople is now vnhappily falne which in times past hath vrged me to the opinion that neither warres could surplant it treasons inuade it nor any disloyall accident once vse spight against it But such is the alteration of times and so vncertaine the fauour of Fortune that the famous monuments of most honour and antiquitie are as soone subuerted as the weakest defence so that it remaineth to me to say which once I could iustly say I haue béene happy For such is the danger threatened to our estate and so doubtfull the mischance that may suddainely annoy vs as my Subiects stand euery houre in feare of their liues and my selfe in dispaire of mine own safety Because I want those whose names in the eare of mine enemy hath carried as great estimation of hot resistance as they now being absent doe ouercharge me with a cold comfort But how fareth thy Soueraigne Lord the king of â—ngland to demand for other tidings were as néedelesse as I suppose them helpelesse If it shall like your Highnesse answered Argolant the king my Soueraigne and Lord saluteth your imperiall estate with all happinesse that he can wish or you possibly desire as for my charge if you will vouchsafe the place where the Empresse Gridonia and the other Ladies may be present you shall all be certified I trust to your contentations The Emperour at these wordes rode straite to his Pallace not staying till he came where the Empresse Gridonia and the faire Polinarda were sitting altogether but Argolant missing Bazilia wife to the Prince Vernar began on this wise to intreate the Emperour Let it not be offensiue to your highnesse in that I trifle time so long because I want one here to be partner of my happy tydings which is the faire Bazilia whose heart I am right sure thought the absence of her Lord Vernar too long The Emperour supposing there was some glad tydings toward in that they concerned not one alone but all such as had long time béene oppressed with heauinesse and knowing likewise the Princesse Bazilia would hardly leaue her Chamber tooke the paines to gâ—e for her himselfe when being al set down together Argolant in this manner vttered his Ambassage As it is not vnknowen to you most mightie Emperour as also these gracious Ladies who since that time haue endured no small oppression of heauy conceits that at my last being in this place I brought the vnfortunate report which caused as you know ful well a grieuous mishap ensuing vpon the losse of our no lesse famous then redoubted Prince Don Edward which prouoked your noble sonne Primaleon with a number of valiant Princes and Knights of your court to pursue in his search So now I durst not present my selfe where my former newes caused such griefe without I might bring those tidings as shuld in recompence cause a mutuall and generall gladnesse which loath to conceale from you too long thus it is The knight of Fortune the myrrour of Chiualrie the onely Lampe and Load-stone to draw the aduenterous minde to all valiant attempts as his exploytes in your Court against Floraman who for his fayre Altea made the onely challenge for the supreame title of beautie may not onely remaine a witnes but as a perfect example of all worthinesse to such as shall ensue after him for his memory and their learning This worthy Champion attempted the aduenture of great Brittaine where by the Magique of Eutropa and might of Dramusiande sonne to the Giant Frenaque whom you slew before your departure forth of England our Prince Don Edward your sonne Primaleon with a number of Princes and noble Knights were all this while kept as prisoners onely to reuenge the death of the aforesaid Giant Frenaque Wherein he spedde so happily that notwithstanding the cruell enchantments dispersed ouer the whole forrest and retaining the knights in such a seruitude as they might doe nothing without the consent of this wicked Eutropa he withstood her helliâ—â— charmes the force of her nephew the giant fulfilled that hauty attempt which could be finished by no other And our Prince Don Edward chancing first into this mishap was appointed to endure the first Iust against all that came so that through the helpe of two Giants whom the Knight of Fortune hath valiantly foyled all the wandring Knights were caught captiue in this Castell In fine when this famous Conquerour had found the way to this Fortresse and behaued himselfe against the resistaance with singular magnanimitie hée entred the Combate with Dramusiande where a bloody and doubtfull fight was presently begun The Emperor suddenly staying Argolant at these words in a maze and great feare put forth this demand Good Argolant before you procéed any further resolue me of a doubt wherein the last report of your discourse hath brought me know you where as now the knight of Fortune remaineth and whether he be aliue as yet or no for if he fare otherwise then well my state cannot endure without bearing him company to which Argolant replyed At such time my gratious Lord as I departed from the Realme of England I left him in such good disposition as himselfe could wish or your Maiesty desire when euery one reioyced for the good successe he had against the Gyant Dramusiande But may I quoth the Emperor vpon your faith and knight heed assure my selfe of this report If it may please you my good Lord answered Argolant to giue credite to my Message then beléeue me that the knight of Fortune is in good estate of health and hath done what I haue manifested before this honourable assembly Likewise the Forrest of that disloyall Eutropa is subdued from all her Enchantments so
one another about the strange conceyts they perceiued in this Caue which made them to iudge that in times past it had béene the solitary dwelling of some noble man exiled from his Countrey but therein they were greatly deceyued For this ancient edifice was erected by the Enchantresse Mellia who kept that place a great while during the raigne of the king Armace her Brother Vrganda and she liued both at one time as it is rehearsed in the History of the Emperour Splandian Sonne to the valiant most magnificient king Amadis and the Princes Oriana his Wife Quéene of the great Brittaine When the Princes and knights had satisfied their mindes in beholding this place they returned to the Pauillions to their Ladies who welcommed them all very louingly and Primaleon sitting downe by his sister Flerida rehearsed to her the manner of the Caue where the two Princes were nourished which did not a little content her minde in that the place was not ruinated and put into obliuion This night they reposed themselues in the Forrest as honourably serued as if they had béene in the English Court and in the morning they prepared themselues towards the Castle being all the way delighted with such fiue deuises sent by the cunning of the Sage Aliart that euery one tooke great pleasure in this Princely iourney There were Hunters who pursued wilde Bores Harts Bucks and all such noble game and came wearily falling downe at the Ladies feete but when they offered to touch them they were presently skipping on the farder side of the Riuer these deuises so pleased the Emperor with all the company that they gaue great thankes to Aliart who frequented them with such pleasant pastime al the way as they rode At last they arriued at the Valley of Perdition where they had a sight of the Castle of Dramusiande which went somewhat to the heart of the Princesse Flerida séeing the prison wherein her louing Don Edward had so long remained The Emperour Trineus king Frederick fel into great commendation of the sumptuous building of the Castle then which they had not often séene a fayrer which mooued theÌ„ to intreate Dramusiande who was the founder of such a singular péece of workmanship to which demand Dramusiande presently gaue this reply My gratious Lords this Castle was first builded by mine Aunt Eutropa through her meanes it hath remayned thus long out of knowledge Trust me said the Emperour Trineus a Fortresse of such strength and beautie ought not to be in the hands of one who could imploy it to such great abuse but commonly we sée the wicked do thriue as well as the good and enioyas great account in this world as they that maintaine all their actions by iustice and equitie So riding on at last Dramusiande willed them to a suddaine stay where he began in this manuer to vnfold the cause Me thinks I sée at the entrance of the Bridge a séemly Knight ready appointed to the Ioust but I can perceiue no body that offereth him resistance which maketh me supose that he hath attempted to kéepe this passage At this vnlooked for accident they stayed to behold the Knight who was very well mounted on a gray Courser his Armour spotted with white and blacke which greatly pleased the eyes of the beholders In his shéeld he baâ—e the naked body of a Lady the beauty of whose countenance was so excellently figured that Altea for whom Floraman accomplished such chiualricus déeds at Constantinople might not séeme to offer comparison to this beautifull spectacle neither the faire Princesse Polinarda might not presume to equall her selfe with the braue shape of this Lady and at the lower end of this shéeld in letters of Gold was written Miragarda While Princes occupied their eyes in beholding the singular forme compacted in his shéeld they perceiued his Esquire come towards them who after he had done his dutie to them all began to salute them with these protestations Faire Lords and Ladies the noble knight my Maister whom you behold on the Bridge by me giueth you to vnderstand the cause of his trauailes vnto this place He is of a far countrey from whence he had aduentured himselfe in honour of his good fortune and at the command of his Lady whose humble seruant he remayneth at this houre to try his knighthood at this Castle which hath béene blazed abroad to be most infortunate But being here arriued he is aduertised how the Enchantment is fully finished and the strength of the Giant Dramusiande with all his retinew conquered by the valour and hautie Prowes of a knight named Palmerin of England who hath deliuered the Princes that were kept Captiue by the cruell meanes of the disloyall Eutropa which newes are most welcome vnto him in that he desired nothing more Yet for that he is loth to returne to his Lady being at the place where knighthood hath bene tryed and he to passe backe againe not approued of any he craueth to enter the Ioust with such as are disposed referring the Combate of the Sword because he will aduenture for pleasure This challenge encreased such courage in the knights that they entred into strife who should first runne with the strange knight which the king perceuing returned the Esquire with this answer My friend tell thy Lord his enterprise is worthy perpetuall renowne if he containe such courage in proofe as both his Message and himselfe giueth in show his Lady shall haue occasion to vse him according as his valiant attempt deserueth The Esquire receiuing the kings pleasure returned to his Lord to whom he had no sooner made it knowne but Tremoran shewed himselfe before the bridge inuiting the strange knight to the Ioust who stayed not to accomplish his desire but encountring him with such a pleasant charge that Tremoran was forced to leaue his saddle This chance somewhat displeased Luyman of Burgondie who thinking to reuenge the repulse of Tremoran was sent himselfe to kéepe him company Belcar being desirous to shew his prowesse among the young Knights couched his Speare against the strange Knight who sent both Horse and man to the ground when presently Don Rosuell tooke the cause in hand and was made pertaker of the same mishap In like manner Guerin Frisol Blandidon Floraman diuers other were serued which moued the King Polendos vnto such choller that he would haue ventured against the strange Knight had not the prince Don Edward perswaded him to the contrary Then there went a great murmuring amongst the knightes who supposed the Sage Aliart had brought this Champion by his Art to be a disgrace vnto all their attempts and that he had vsed such meanes vnto him as he might not be vanquished but herein they greatly deceiue themselues for it was onely the noble force of the knight which was continually animated by beholding the faire face of his Ladie which was so brauely proportioned in his shield Floraman being greatly bent against the Knight and
suspition of me I giue you to vnderstand that I am called Primaleon Sonne to the famous Emperor of Constantinople When the Tristfull Knight heard these wordes he was ouercome with such extreame sorrow and heauinesse because he had entred Combat with his Father Primaleon that he had much adoe to sustaine himselfe which the Prince séeing came to him with these words Florendos let no grieuous motions séeme to abate your courage for I had knowledge of you before we fell to the Combat as for what hath passed I franke and fréely forgiue being glad that I haue tryed your right to be of such reputation The Tristfull Knight knéeling downe and in great humility kissing his Fathers hand hée sustained him graciously in his armes and great were the salutations that passed betwéene them Pandritia being glad to sée the Prince Primaleon conducted them both into her House of Sadnesse where they were lodged in a goodly chamber and their wounds attended by the Ladies with very diligent and louing respect CHAP. LII How Primaleon and the Tristfull knight being healed of the wounds they had receiued in the combat by the courteous entertainment of the sorrowfull Lady Pandritia after they had staied there a little space and Primaleon certifying her of the happy deliuery of the Prince Don Edward they both departed from thence the Prince toward Constantinople and the Tristful knight in his iourney towards Spaine when Pandritia likewise for these ioyfull ridings left her House of Sadnesse and went to the Garden of Damosels And how after Primaleon and the Prince Vernar were arriued at Constantinople the Soldan Bellagris sent a Messenger to the Emperor who gaue him to vnderstand of the dealing of the Soldan of Babilon who had staid his army to contend with certaine Lords of his dominions that rebelled and entred into armes against him FLoredos the Tristfull Knight and his noble Father the Prince Primaleon made their abode for the space of certaine dayes in the carefull Castle of the solitary Pandritia where they were so carefully visited and their feeble estates so louingly tendered that in short time they recouered their perfect health In which time Primaleon had certified her of the prosperous successe of the Prince Don Fdward whom she verily supposed to be dead long before so that shée conceiued such great delight in this report as at the request of the Prince the left her House of Sadnesse and returned to her Mansion named the Garden of Damosels vsing more pleasant conceits then for a great while she might suffer to thinke on Primaleon hauing borne her company longer then willingly hee would and declared to her the the names of the Knights that were prisoners with Don Edward as also the manner of their happy deliuerance accompanied with the Tristful Knight he tooke his leaue of her she being loath they should depart so soone but perswaded by their earnest affayres gaue them the courtesie and so they left her They twaine thus ryding together the Tristfull Knight desired his Father that hée might leaue his company because the affection to his Lady directed his trauaile into Spaine who not denying his sonnes request because himselfe was minded to ryde alone to the ende hee might make the better proofe of his valour imbraced one another the Tristfull Knight riding towards her for whose swéete sake he liued in great affliction and anguish of minde where at this time wée will leaue him and returne to the Prince Primaleon who not encountring any aduenture by this time is come to Constantinople whereas full often he wished himselfe because he had heard of the Soldanes Army which was of such force that it caused the whole Empire to stand in great feare Primaleon being entred into the Citie kept close his Beuere because he would not be knowne to any but intended to come suddainly vpon his friends which wold make him to be the better welcome Being come to y◠Pallace hauing deliuered his Horse to his Esquire he went vp into the great Hall in the same Armour that he vsed against the Tristfull Knight which was very much defaced with the blowes he had receiued causing great astonishment to all that were present who gaue him way to come before the Emperour Then knéeling downe and desiring to haue the Empresse and the Ladies present he would discourse 〈◊〉 his Highnesse what had happened lately in England which the Emperour desirous to heare yet not knowing what or who he was all this while receiued him from the ground saying That the honour of the place from whence he came should make him a great deale the better welcome and so he conducted him to the Empresse chamber where by good hap the princesse Gridonia Polinarda and Bazilia were present when the Emperor tooke occasion to begin as thus Faire Ladies this Knight commeth from the Court of England and would not declare his message to me vntil such time as he might come to your presence before whom he desireth to shewe his Ambassage which I wish to be otherwise then I thinke for because of the tariance of my sonne Primalaon whose absence is no small cause of my heauinesse With that the Emperour sate downe by the Ladies whom Primaleon began to behold very earnestly because he perceyued them growne into great alteration especially the Emperour his Father whose countenance was much changed then when he saw him last and the Princes Gridonia had greatly offended his faire face with the continuall mourning shée vsed for the absence of her Lord so generally beholding them all and staying from speaking an indifferent long space to the great amazing of the Emperor as also the company of the courtly Ladies at last he vnclasped his Beuer began in this order I desire you my gratious father to pardon my long silence as also the great time of mine absence from your royall Court hauing no other Message to present you but the good health of your noble friends in England as also of your Sonne Primaleon who humbleth himselfe before your gratious presence The Emperor was suddenly wrapt with such an inward ioy y◠for a great time he remained as it were in a trance in like maner the Empresse Gridonia Polinarda al the Ladies who came running altogether imbraced him with such ioy as it is impossible for me to giue iudgement thereon After hée had vsed curtesie to them al the Princesse Bazilia came kissed his hand to whom he said Faire Sister feare you not your Lord Vernas will not long absēt himselfe frō you but you shal haue him here right soon I dare warrant you Then was he vnarmed when the Emperour could not satisfie himselfe till he heard the ioyfull newes lately chanced in England but when he vnderstood how Palmerin was sonne to the Prince Don Edward and his daughter Flerida he receiued great contentation in that he was nourished in the company of the princesse Polinarda who concealed her ioy from any one Dramacian
will so taking leaue of the Princesse Florenda and all her noble company he posted apace that way as the Prince Palmerin tooke standing in great feare lest any mischance should happen vnto him CHAP. LXVIII How the Damosell hauing brought Palmerin from the faire Florenda conducted him to the Castle of the Duke of Ronsillion where he enterprised the Combat to redeeme three Ladies whom the Duke kept as prisoners there to put them to death GReat hast made the Lady that conducted Palmerin all the way vsing no words till they came to a litle village in the Dukedom of Ronsillion where she desired the Prince to stay a while and she would go in the village where shée would not stay but returne to him presently In the meane while Palmerin tooke off his Helmet and sat him downe to rest him because he was somewhat weary with trauaile when the Damosell returning and beholding him to be so young and beautifull she despaired with herselfe that he was not able to fulfill her earnest desire for which cause she presently fell into teares Palmerin not knowing the cause of her sorrow desired her that she would expresse it to him whereupon she began to answere him thus Alasse Sir Knight no other cause haue I to lament in this order but that I am the onely infortunate woman in the world who haue trauelled through the whole kingdome of France thinking to find a valiant and renowned Knight but now I perceiue I am greatly deceiued For when I thought to intreat the Princesse Florenda to giue me one of her most strong and hardy Knights I finding you in the company of those who vnhorsed her Lords with great valiancie I had so good an opinion of you that I intreated you to follow me not rehearsing the perillous danger I should bring you too So that now being at the place where you should put your déedes in proofe I finde you so young and of such small force that I am voyde of all hope to haue any good successe Faire Lady answered Palmerin I shall not faile to doe as much as my power will permitte and perhappes cause you to haue a better opinion of me then I see as yet you are willing to vse Therefore I desire you to tell me to what intent you haue caused m◠to trauaile with you and doubt not but I will aduenture my life to doe you seruice in what thing soeuer O Sir quoth she how happy were I if the effect of your deedes would agrée with your wordes for in this Village there remaineth three Ladies Prisoners the Daughters of one of the most noble Lordes in this Countrey who because their Father would not giue them in Mariage to the Duke of Ronsilion and his two Brethren they found the meanes to murther him and these three Ladies they kept here in a Castle to whom they haue graunted the commodity to finde a knight that can preuaile in the Combat and then they shall be restored to their former libertie So that this is the prefixed and appointed day when the Combat must first be tried against Bramerin the chiefe gentleman belonging to the Duke and one of the most renowned knights in all this Countrey If it chance that he be vanquished then must you hazard your self against Cliaster and Alfarin his two kinsmen yet all these being conquere will not returne this victorie for then must you deale with the Duke and his two brethren who are knowen to be such stoute and noble Knightes that no one will conceiue the courage to deale with them Yet must the Ladies this day finde a knight to auenge their quarrell or else the Duke hath sworne they shall loose their heades and to put the Ladies in some hope I went and told them I had brought a knight who would vndertake to deale in their cause which the Duke no sooner hearing but hee began to be greatly offended Surely saide Palmerin I must néedes venture my selfe again those that will take vpon them to vse cruelty to any faire Lady and will alwaies disallow that a King or Prince should suffer any iniury to be vsed to a Lady within his Dominions and in token that my deeds shall agrée with my words I will goe presently to the abiding of the Duke where I will inuay so much against him that his owne wicked will shall worke his ouerthrow The Damosell perceiuing the noble minde of Palmerin and the little doubt he had to deale with his enemy vsed better affectition to him now thē she had before whereupon she broght him to the Castle where the Duke made his abode to sée the ende of this noble enterprise CHAP. LXIX How Palmerin being come to the Castle entred the fight on the behalfe of the three Ladies wherein hee vanquished Bramerin and slew Cliastar Alfarin And how he fought with the Duke and his two brethren against whom hee preuailed and restored the Ladies THe Prince and the Gentlewoman being come to the Castle where where were assembled a great multitude of people to sée the Combate the drawe-Bride was let downe by the Dukes commaundement when Palmerin prepared to enter the Castle but Bramarin being prouided and seeing his enemy before his face came vnto him with these wordes Abide Sir Knight and before you approach any farther you must deale with me but I belieue you haue made such an ill bargaine that when you see your ware you will not bragge of your peny worthes Trust me Sir answered Palmerin how euer it happen I must hold me content but I am of this opinion that to whom the right belongeth to them will returne the best aduantage and therefore I am fully determined to the fight because I feare I shall lacke day-light to finish mine enterprise Syr sayde the Knight you shall not néede to complaine on the lacke of time for I warrant you wee shall ende and that right soone at least wise if so be that I chance to faile you shall deale with such fellowes in the Castle as will be loth to prolong the time with you So giuing scope to their Horses they met with their speares so nobly together that Bramerin was throwne to the ground void of any féeling which Palmerin perceiuing alighted from his Horse and set his Sword to his throate with these words Yéeld Varlet and sweare henceforth neuer to iniury any oppressed Lady or by my Sword thou shalt die the death Bramerin séeing his life to stand in such a ieopardy deferred not to fulfill his desire When Palmerin mounting on Horseback again entred the Castle and in the Court espied Chaster and Alfarin each of them in a very faire gréene Armour thicke beset with Azure flowers who when they beheld Palmeria they ran both at once against him very fiercely but with his Sword hee saluted one of them so soundlie on the head that he made him sure enough for doing any more harme Which his fellow perceiuing came behaued himselfe with very great courage against
remaine in one Knight and he neuer to haue assayed a more perillous aduenture Often they staied and fell to it againe the Prince hauing slaine two of them and the Lady vsing reprochfull wordes vnto them that they fiue had not the power to preuaile against one which set the other in such a chafe that they began to charge him with vnmercifull blowes seeing they had no way to escape from him because on the one side the sea hindered them and into the Castell they could not retyre for the lady within had commanded the gate to be made fast Wherefore two of them fell downe dead before him when the last Knight séeing the danger he stood in tooke the point of his Sword in his hand and humbled himselfe before the Prince as thus Most worthy Knight since fortune hath allowed you the honour of this victorie and that you haue preuailed against all my companions let pitty enter into your heart to saue the life of him who most humbly submitteth himselfe to your mercy I grant thée thy life said Florendos because I will not bée thought of such a bloody mind to kill him that is not able to resist me Then sat he downe to rest himselfe the Lady vsing great care to bind vp his wounds when the Lady within the Castle standing in feare lest her stubbornnes might procure the greater iniury sent one of the damsels who opened the gate which Florendos séeing tooke the Lady by the hand and entred the castel where they met the Lord that had béen prisoner so long who imbraced his Lady with very great thankes for bringing the Knight that had won him his liberty to whom he began in this order Worthy sir your Knightly déedes haue gained such honour that I cannot make estimation of them according as they haue worthily deserued but if it shall please you to rest here a while we will yéeld you what courtesie we can and then we will depart together Florendos gaue him great thankes and stayed there to sée the Lady that kept the castle but he could not attaine to his desire because she had made her selfe fast in her Chamber so that no one might come to haue a sight of her Then went he to sée the place where the Lady vsed to imprison the Knights amongst whom he found the Prince Guerin who reioyced maruelously to see Florendos and knowing that he had finished this hard aduenture he accounted himselfe happy to be in his company After that eight daies were expired they departed in a Galley from thence to the house of the Knight and the Lady where Guerin and hee found themselues so gratiously vsed as if they had béen in the Court of Constantinople Within a while after they tooke their leaue of the Knight and the Lady who gaue to each of them a very good Horse and in their trauelling together they parted from one another because Florendos desired to iourney alone that he might better approoue the aduenture which Fortune had reserued for him CHAP. LXXV How Palmerin Florian and Pompides in their trauaile met with a Damosell who brought them to the Castle of Dramorant the Cruell where they found Albayzar with the shield of Miragarda who had vanquished twelue knights and slew Dramorant the Lord of the Castle PAlmerin and his brethren continuing in their trauaile towardes Constantinople riding thorow a Forrest saw a Lady come riding towards them in very great feare who being come somewhat neare them Florian staied her Palfray saying Faire Lady I pray you to shewe vs the cause of your feare Alas sir quoth she how can I stay to report any thing séeing I dare scant assure my selfe in your company for when I enterprised my iourney to the Court of the French Quéene two knights came and resisted me endeuouring them selues to abuse mine honour But Fortune was so fauourable to me that at my cry a Knight came who defended my cause and behaued himselfe so worthily against them that in open fight he slew them both Then passing by a Castle at the end of this stone wal he was assailed by twelue Knights who I feare me will be the death of him if he be not spéedily holpen by some good rescue and trust me Gentlemen the losse of him would be very great being one of the most hardy knights in al the world I pray you Lady said Florian bring vs to the Castle where the knight remaineth in such danger as you seeme to report for it were great pittie to suffer such a knight to die for lacke of helpe Although quoth she I was otherwise determined yet will I bring you to the place as well to try your worthinesse as also shew my good will to the Knight who in his owne danger hath pleasured me so much This said they rode on together in short time they heard the clattering of the weapons where they found the knight to haue slaine fiue or sixe of the Knightes behauing himselfe also very manfully against the other whereat the Prince fell into great admiration which the Lady séeing how they sate still and looked on began to enter into these wordes Why Gentlemen if you determined to doe nothing when you came it had béene more honour for you to haue kept on your iourney rather then to suffer so good a knight to be slaine in your presence and you stand by refusing to aid him which maketh me iudge that your weapons are very ill bestowed on you Faire Lady answered Palmerin the Knight doeth so well discharge his dutie that we should offer him great wrong if we presumed to aid him for so might we cut off the praise which he should worthily beare in the obtaining the victory which is the only cause of our stay Mary if we should perceiue the Knights to haue any dangerous aduantage ouer him then would we shewe him such ayde in their resistance that you should recall your words and haue a better opinion of vs. While they continued this Parle the Knight who was the famous Albayzar of the twelue knights had left but foure aliue which vrged Florian to this opinion in words I belieue that this knight is ordained to darkē the déeds of all Knights yours onely accepted déere Brother Palmerin wherevnto I know he neither can nor may approch neuerthelesse I know not any one that professeth knightly Armes but would striue to exalt his déeds seeing the behauiour of so noble a Champion In fine they perceiued all the Knights to be slaine except two who were constrained to yéelde themselues to this noble conquerour when presently came forth Dramorant himselfe very brauely mounted strongly armed which Albayzar seeeing mounted on his horse came to the prince Palmerin and his Brethren in this manner I pray you gentlemen to bestow one of your speares vpon me to receiue the knight that prepareth himselfe against me assuring you that I will not forget to remēber your courtesie in so doing Sir said Palmerin
approached the Coach and lifting vp the cloath he beheld a knight lying in gréene armor so imbrued with blood that one could hardly iudge of what colour it was This mooued Florian to great heauines and being desirous to know the cause of his misfortune he came to one of the Esquires willing him to report by what mischance the Knight was slaine The Esquire hauing small leisure to stay made him shortly answere in this sort If you desire to vnderstand the infortunate hap of this knight follow me and I shall bring you to the aduenture where you may atchieue such rare renowne that neither death nor time is able to extinguish out of memorie Surely quoth Florian I haue alwayes desired to imploy my selfe where I supposed to be the greatest danger yet could neither feare dismay me nor any doubt hinder me And thus concluding his spéeches he followed the Coach desirous to sée the ende of that the Esquire had told him Palmerin and Pompides séeing him gone so soone walked softly along the valley when in a while a Damosel presented her selfe before them mounted on a blacke palfray and saluted them in this manner I desire you gentlemen that one of you would so much fauour me as to goe with me to the succour of a Lady whom thrée knights endeuour to abuse to put herto death in most cruel maner Pompides hearing the coÌ„plait of the Damosell began as thus to the Prince Palmerin Séeing this present enterprse doth not require your force to be showne therein I pray you giue me leaue to accompany the Damosell that I may try how Fortune wil assist me in this cause Palmerin who desired to be alone in the company of Siluian was very glad that Pompides should assist the Damosell so taking leaue of each other Pompideâ— departed about his enterprise and Palmerin to the accustomed remembrance of his Lady Polinarda wherein he wasted so much time that he could not repaire to any place of lodging but was glad for that night to take his rest in a little thicket of trées Where he had sooner laid him downe but he heard one complaine in very doleful maner when drawing neare the better to heare him the night being so darke as they could not descrie one another he heard the heauy waight begin as thus O fond Florendos why doest thou thus complaine of thy griefe séeing thy Lady Miragarda doeth take such delight therein that she forceth not of his vtter ruine who submitteth himselfe chiefely vnder her gratious regard I knewe right well that all trauaile may be ended in the desire of one to doe you seruice but what shall he doe to whom you vse such entertainment that you may not permit him leasure that doeth you most honour nor will suffer him to be forgotten and depriued of life whereby hee might haue lesse occasion to complaine of your crueltie So ending his moâ—es with a grieous sigh he sate him down and fel asléepe then Palmerin perceiuing it was the prince Florendos determined oftentimes to make himselfe knowne but fearing to hinder him of his enterprise changed his minde bewailing as much the heauines of Florendos as he did the extreame case of his owne misfortune And when the day appeared hee departed as secretly as he could thence away desiring to attaine the Emperours court where he might conclude the seuerall motions of doubt and feare which Loue presented to his oppressed minde CHAP. LXXVII How Florian accompanying the Coatch with the dead knight met on the Seas with Arduramet the bastard Brother of the valiant Albayzar where they defied each other to the Combate And what haphened to Pompides following the Lady FLorian of the Desart kéeping company with with the Coach the three Esquires being a great way out of sight from his brethren one of them began thus to conferre with him Syr seeing you desire so much to knowe the Knight who is slaine and that you seeme affectionate to reuenge his wroÌ„g if neede were giue eare and I wil discourse thereof to you at large You shall vnderstand that this Knight is named Sortibran the eldest Brother of the famous King Frisol whose worthinesse hath 〈…〉 beene such that hée euer bare the name of the most 〈…〉 in all his kingdome So it is that Fortune very little 〈◊〉 to him as yester-day conducted an Esquire 〈…〉 who with wéeping teares desired Soâ—â—bran to 〈…〉 doubtful cause wherto he courteously gaue his consent not thinking on the trecherous intent of the Esquire who brought him into a place wherefoure of his enemies awaighted his comming and setling himselfe against them all in the ende Sortibran was there cruelly slaine We being aduertised of this great mishappe came to fetch him to his Castle where he might see his wounded body honourably interred meane while one of his young Sonnes is gone to the Court to sooke some knight that will reuenge his Fathers death Therefore if you desire to Dsisist and succour him in this case you shall not onely enlarge your eternall renowne but also shall worke such occasion that none may or dare presume to commit any such Treason Florian promising the Esquires to accomplish them request rid on with them till they came to the Sea coast where they entred a Galley that attended their comming and hauing there shâ—â—â—ed the body of Sortibran they sailed away with a pleasant gale of winde Not long had they been on the Seas but they were discouered by foure Turkish Galleyes 〈…〉 presently and borded them when 〈…〉 who was a Moore 〈…〉 into their vessell where beholding 〈…〉 Florian and iudging him to be a noble Knight he entertained him very courteously commanding the Esquires to cast the dead body of their Lord into the Sea and the next morning they heysed sailes to goe on their iourney This Arduramet was the bastard brother to the Prince Albayzar who was trauailing to seeke him to giue him to vnderstand that the Soldane of Babylon his Father was dead after whom it was his right to succeede his place Arduramet in talking with Florian demanded of him that any time he had heard of the Prince Albayzar and reported such marks and tokens to him that he knew well it was he that had vanquished Dramorant the Cruell Then bethinking him of the Combat assigned betwéen him and Albayzar to be performed in the Emperours Court and that his businesse had so chanced as he could not meete him there at the appointed time he begaÌ„ to be greatly offeÌ„ded with himself in so much that Arduramet desired him to shew the cause of his heauinesse But when he had vnderstood each seuerall clause in a great anger hée began this to rage Thinkest thou there is any Knight in the World that may or dare attempt against my Lord and Brother Albayzar certainely thou art much beholding to Fortune from deliuering thée from so great a danger Neuerthelesse if thou hast so great a desire to shew thy prowesse as here thou dost séeme to vse
began to be somewhat offended with himselfe wherefore the Damosell receiued it againe of him and to mooue him from sadnesse gaue him these spéeches My gratious Lord I sée that age hath decayed the force of your affection but had this aduenture béene deliuered you when time was I know it could not haue remained thus at this present Primaleon presently came and tooke the Cuppe but his Fortune was no more fauoured then the Emperor his Father which vrged him to some cause of anger fearing that Gridonia would haue giuen him but slender thankes Then came the Prince Vernar and in his hand the Cup receiued a little brightnesse whereby the Ladies knewe that the Damosell had reported nothing but the trueth After Vernar came the King Polendos and in his hand the Cup became as blacke againe as euer it was whereat the Ladies began to laugh and the Damosell of Thrace spake to him in this order Syr Polendos if the loue you beare your Lady be of no more effect then it séemeth at this present I iudge she hath cause to be but little beholding to you Gentlewoman answered Polendos it is so long time since amorous thoughts haue let me that it is no maruaile if Fortune séeme so aduerse to me now Then arose the prince Gratian thinking to end the aduenture by the faithfull loue he bare to his faire Claritia and in his hand the Cup receiued more brightnes then it did when the Prince Vernar had it whereat his heart was rauished with vnspeakeable ioy and giuing the Cup to his brother Guerin it became as blacke againe as euer it was The ladies greatly delighted to sée the variable quality contained in the cup so that they had an assured meane to sée which of their knights might excel in loyaltie of loue Berolde P. of Spaine the onely beloued of the faire Onistalda aduanced himselfe to take the cup vsing this silent opinion to himselfe Madame I haue euer desired your helpe in all mine affaires but at this present I craue no succour at your hands for that the merit of my constancy promiseth me a large title in this honourable aduenture Then taking the cup it seemed brighter then euer it had béene and the frozen teares began somewhat to melt which mooued the Princesse Onestalda to so great pleasure that she could not conceale it but the Ladies sitting by did perceiue it After him came the P. Platir the knight of Fidelia daughter to the king Tarnaes but albeit he bare her great good will the Cup was not so bright in the hands of Berolde but while he held it it became as black Then came Bellizart seruant to the faire Denisia Dramian the knight of Florian but both of them sped alike in their enterprise Francian who loued the faire Bernard tooke his turne next to trie the Cup but he sped so ill that he wisht himselfe out of the place for in his hand the cup lost all the brightnes that the other knights had brought it into whereat he was greatly agrieued and the Emperor laughing a good at him began merrily in these words Sir Francian you may cōmend your fortune to be in such libertie for the Ladies will not receiue any hastie occasion whereby they may thinke good to fal in loue with you and you may shape your selfe of like disposition at no time to be hastie in trusting them After him came Frisol Onestalde Estrellant Tenebrant Luyman of Burgondy Pompides Bla didon Germaine of Orleance Dridan Polinarde Tremoran Baromont Albanis of Freeze amongst which company the best fauoured were Polinarde Beromont and Germaine of Orleance yet none of them might be compared to the Prince Berolde The Damosel of Thrace was in great despaire thinking the aduenture would not be ended in the Emperours Court when presently came the sorrowfull prince Floraman at the Emperors request he tooke the cap saying My Lady remember the danger wherin you sée me as also the griefe I sustaine for your sake wherout you may deliuer me if you please set me once againe in my ioyfull state When he had ended his spéeches the Cup receiued such a maruellous brightnesse the congealed teares melted so suddenly that the whole assembly thought the aduenture to be fully finished but the Damosell knowing the contrary went to the Emperour who in her presence spake thus to the Prince of Sardignia I know well Sir Floraman that this aduenture was reserued for you because the firmenesse of your faith gaue mée a great deale more assurance then the experience I haue to report this enterprise and trust me I am very glad it is so fallen out because now all other will hold you in the estimation that my selfe of long time reposed in you The ladies who euer bare good affectiō to Floramá were now a great deal more vrged towards him which y◠damosell perceiuing that euery one supposed the aduenture to be ended to the Emperor she began in this maner My gratious Lord I desire you that all y◠knights may abide in this place for albeit the cup is brought into this good effect yet is not y◠brought to passe which must be finished I know said Floraman that fortune is wont to cause me begin euery enterprise with ioy but at the conclusion thereof she threatneth my death Then Don Rosuel diuers knights assaied the Cup some spéeding well some ill euē as their constancy did differ in quality At last whē the whole cōpany were minded to retire for y◠time they espied a knight in gréene Armour to present himself before him whose stoutnes of behauior caused al to feare that tooke occasion to behold him there was none y◠knew him but Primaleō who presently said that it was the giant Dramusiand wherfore he desired the Emperor to stay a while when aduancing himself to méet him Dramusiand came imbraced him with very great reuerence When he had opened his helmet Primaleon brought him before the Emperor where humbly vpon his knée he began in this maner I desire you my gratious Lord and Father that you wil receiue this knight with your accustomed honor for that his valiant and noble behauior hath made him as much renowned as any on the earth The Emperour knowing that it was Dramusiande would not suffer him to kisse his hand but imbracing him in his armes began as followeth Albeit your friendly dealing did long time detaine my life in an vnexpected danger yet the good report of your Prowesse and noble behauiour since that time hath vrged mee to forget all vowing my selfe your friend to command and so I pray you for euer to vse me Dramusiande very often thanked the Emperor and Primaleon presented him to the Empresse and Gridonia who albeit they made a shew of a friendly welcome yet could they not do it hartily considering the griefe they sustained for the imprisonment of Primaleon For they say it is the nature of women not to forget and forgiue their
his friends and companions The Quéene Carmelia sent a Coach to the Castle wherein the Princesse Leonarda was brought to the Pallace of her Vnckle who receiued her as became her high estate and dignity and the Prince Palmerin likewise they vsed great honour and Princely obeysance but when he came to the Camber he found there Siluian who was not a little glad to sée his Lord so sauely returned CHAP. CI. Of that which Palmerin did while he remaineded in the Court of Thrace NOw at the request of the Quéen Carmelia Palmerin granted to stay in the court of Thrace for eight dayes in which time the Lords to fulfill the commandement of their deceassed King went to the Camber of the Queene Carmelia in whose presence they charged the Duke Rialdo to giue the English Prince to vnderstand what their King Sardamant had commanded to be fulfilled On this they all came to the Princes Chamber where they found him talking with Siluian as concerning his speedy departure from thence which they knewe he had appointed as the next day following but they making themselues ignorant therof at last the Duke Rialdo entred into these spéeches My Lord as I thinke you haue not forgotten what commandement our deceassed king Sardamant left to be performed in the marriage of the Princesse Leonarda his Néece So it is that willing to accomplish his straight and heauie charge as also not to suffer such a noble Prince who hath merited so graciously to be ingratefully recompenced likewise on our parts that we cannot esteeme for ourselues a more happy felicity then such a King to rule vs whose déeds rightly deserue to be Monarch of the whole world these causes considered and nominated we humbly desire you to accept your owne by right and our dutie to sée faithfully accomplished which is to be our gratious King and Seueraigne so that our happy and tranquill estate remaine feared of the stranger and beloued of our friends and neighbours Except the increase of wealth doe alter the noble mind which had alwaies hitherto continued vpright as to some it happeneth but falling into so great mishap your estimation would be the lesse accounted of So that the honourable pains you haue bestowed to restore vs the princesse Leonarda our Queene should be blotted with such obliuous reports as though they had béene neuer séene or done I assure you Sir answered Palmerin the refuse which I make to accept a reward so happie and fortunate is onely because I verily iudge the Princesse Leonarda ought to be kept for such a one as may better my estate in wealth and worthinesse The Damosel of Thrace who had brought him thither standing by and hearing the answere he made came vnto him in this manner Sir Palmerin I know right well that loue hindreth you to enioy what your déeds hath deserued and causeth you to muse on such a one as peraduēture thinketh not so well of you which is the onely cause that you refuse the recompence of your honorable and famous labours The words of the Damosell séemed very reason able to the Duke and his company but séeing they could obtaine no other answere of Palmerin they returned againe to the Quéene Carmelia concluding that he should giue a noble Lord to enioy the Princessé Leonarda according as the King Sardamant had so ordained whereto Palmerin gladly agréed saying I account this honour worthy Gentlemen the greatest that euer fortune could sent me in suffering your Princesse to ioyne in Marriage according to my minde and therefore thus assure yourselues that I shall bestew such a Prince vpon her as both she and you shall be contented to receiue The Lords of Thrace gaue him very harty thankes reporting his answere to the Queene Carmelia who made such acceptation thereof as it worthily deserued but Leonarda was somewhat offended and would haue fallen into anger had not the Damosell of Thrace vsed these words vnto her Faire Princesse me thinkes you should not thinke so ill of the constant faith and loyaltie of the Prince Palmerin who wil kéepe his vowe he hath made to her which perhaps is nothing inferior to you in beauty and wealth and this I can assure you that Palmerin hath a brother a Prince so saire and vertuous in all his déedes as if he ioyne you in marriage with him I know you will gladly held your selfe content The Damosell vsed her perswasions so well that the Princesse Leonarda was very well pleased of whom Palmerin tooke his leaue that night because he would be gone somewhat early in the morning which the Quéene Carmelia seeing she tooke him aside and thus charged him I pray you Sir to remember my Couzin Leonarda and to send her such a Lord as her birth and worthinesse hath continually deserued And if you thinke it good that I might cause her to be brought to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin I should estéeme it the greatest honour that in all my life time might happen vnto me For that I perswade me he would so wel entertaine her as the faire Polinarda who is his Néece with whom she would likewise greatly delight her selfe Furthermore because all the chiefe knights of the world be at the Court of Constantinople I would gladly this kingdome should be ruled by such a Prince as hath bin trained vp by that famous Emperour Madame saide Palmerin I assure you the Emperour will estéeme this honour highly and entertaine her according as she doeth deserue therefore I wish you to send her so soone as may be because the sooner she commeth the better shall she be welcome I pray you quoth the Quéene how estéeme you of the Damosell that brought the Cup thither Truely answered Palmerin I know no one so conuenient by reason of the good spirit and wit she hath which doeth greatly grace her in reporting her message Presently the Quéene called for the Damosell giuing her to vnderstand what was determined Wherevpon there were letters of credit made for her which done Palmerin tooke leaue of the Quéene and the Princesse Leonarda being accompanied with most of the nobles foorth of the Citie where after many circumstances of friendly departing they left him and returned againe to the Citie Palmerin being very well armed still vsing his Shield to be called the Knight of the Tiger trauailed on in his iourney accompanied with Siluian yéelding his body to trauaile and his heart to his Lady and Mistresse as in the second part you shall sée very gallantly discoursed FINIS THus Gentlemen you haue heard the first part of our English Princes labors wherin if you find the Translation altered or the true sence in some place of a matter impaired let this excuse answere his default in that case A worke so large is sufficient to tire so simple a workeman as himselfe and beside the Printer may in some place let an error escape So betweene these two reasons let the Author passe vncontrowled which will hasten him the sooner to send
which he alighted speaking thus to the Damosell I sée well Damosell that you haue taken a place of small assurance to your selfe for that your knight will deliuer you into my hands which if he should not doe he should presently perceiue the estate of my displeasure whereto the knight of the Sauage man thus answered Trust me Syr you are deceiued as farre as I can perceiue for here is none that oweth you dutie much lesse any that will stand in feare of you and I doubt not but the disloyall tyrannie which thou vsest shall well enough be tempered ere thou and I part These wordes caused a sore Combate betwéene them the brauery whereof much delighted the aged Hermit who still prayed for good successe to happen to the Knight of the Sauage man but so gallantly did hee continue the fight that the Giant was enforced to take a breathing which was very acceptable to the Prince in that his Shielde was greatly defaced and himselfe surcharged with very much trauaile but yet he was in farre better state then the Giant who séeing his blood trickle downe his Armour so fast began to vse these spéeches How comes it to passe that one Knight hath the power to preuaile so much against me Certainly I feare me that the hope I haue alwayes had to vanquish those Knights that slew my Brethren by this one Knight will be brought into some doubt yet if I must néedes end my life I had rather it might be at one of their handes for that their valour carrieth so large commendation then by this Knight who is vtterly vnknown to me Thus concluding he began to charge the Knight of the Sauage man with very rough and forcible strokes who notwithstanding so duly awaited his oportunitie as at length he brought his enemie vnder his subiection when taking off his Helmet he presently parted his head from his shoulders the sight hereof was no small ioy to the aged Hermit as also to the Damosell who came and humbled her selfe to the Prince in this manner It is vnpossible for me Sir Knight to render you thanks according to your worthy deserts neuerthelesse I will report such laudable language of your Knightly déedes in the Court of Vernar the Emperor of Allameigne whither at this present I direct my course as your Fame shall remaine in continuall memory And very gladly would I bee acquainted with your name which I the more earnestly desire for two causes the one that I might the more exactly discourse your noble valour to the amazement of all other that cannot deserue so well the other that I might know the noble Gentleman whose gratious bountie I might repay with my contiuuall prayers Faire Damosell quoth the Prince if you desire to knowe my name that I may doe you seruice to the vttermost of my power I will declare it vnto you rather for that cause then any other but I assure you my déedes are of so small estimation as credite me you may more worthily cast into discountenance then giue them any such praise as it hath pleased you to vtter And let it not séeme in your eares as an vnaduised spéech which at this present of necessitie I must disclose because mine eye and my heart haue tasted both on fierie Plannet but rather let it obtaine such an acceptable opiniō of beliefe in your modest thoughts as I remaining captiue and at your mercy may finde you as ready to pittie me as your beauty was to wound me vpon these spéeches the Hermit tooke occasion to begin thus Sir Knight it is a déepe point of wisedome to flée the subtill temptatiō of beautie which is not so glorious in the eye as it is grieuous in the heart nor so swéete in conceite as it is sower in triall the reason is for that iealouzie frenzie beggerie murder with many other mischiefs are always waiting on her as yok-fellowes You haue already escaped one extreame danger and now are like to fall into a more greater for the one could haue béene but hnrtfull to the body the other hangeth more waity on the soule remember this my son for thy fall will be as grieuous to me as to thy selfe Father said the Prince Beautie is so familiarly welcome into the eyes of all men as you sée they haue no power to escape from her and her delights so agréeable in their hearts likewise as were they of flint she would mooue affection euen so if you did but contemplate the heauenly grace of this beautifull Damosell you could not otherwise chuse but offer your selfe as her humble seruant which if you did refuse to doe I should perswade my selfe that good nature had altogether forsaken you as also I might iudge him very colde in kindnesse that could not be moued by such a forcible motion I see well quoth the Hermit that the pleasure of the flesh makes thee forgetfull of the health of thy soule wherefore I will pray that thou maiest be conuerted in time least thou féele the punishment of thy follie when it will be too late for thée to helpe thy selfe whereto the Prince answered thus I pray you Father tell me can you conquere these earthly delights when you sit wresting many matters in your Study Or wil the looking on your booke abate the secret inflamations of your heart I haue heard of many of your calling and profession that haue laboured to kill that in other which for all their learning hath quickned in themselues and by seeking to draw a throne out of anothers heele haue prickt themselues therwith to the very heart tush father be religious in reason I haue seen an olde Billet burne fresher then a young Bauen and you for all your holinesse if I should inueigh against the secret delight of Loue would take me for an heretique but it is good that I argue to shew my folly and that you allow not to declare your wisedome Well quoth the Hermit I will betake my selfe to my Oratorie and you to your youthfull and worldly pleasure the desert whereof will no doubt in the end reward you And so he went into his Cel making such speed til he had shut the doore after him as if the Giant Brocalon had beene aliue againe and had followed him wherat the knight of the Sauageman laughed heartily then comming vnto the Damosell he began to salute her in these tearmes I could wish faire Lady to be seruant to so kiude a Mistresse if it might as shall like you to allowe me your seruice in sooth I iudge you would like of my behauiour if you doe not I will be content to auoide when it is your pleasure Worthy Sir answered the Damosell I cannot be so much ingratefull for your great good will in defending me when I was in greatest distresse but that to my power I must witnesse some shew of a thankfull minde in mean time I desire to haue your company for these two or thrée dayes till I be out of these places
occasion to content your selfe with this victory in so much as you haue woone it of those who are your especiall friends and we would haue you know that we are not offended at our mischance being vanquiwed by a Prince of so great and singuler prowesse And for that you may be the better perswaded of my words you shall vnderstand that he which is so earnest in prouoking you to the Combat is your déere friend the Prince Berold the other is your own brother the Prince Platir who to their great paines I thanke them haue honoured me in trauaile with their worthy company as for my selfe I am your humble Seruant the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley who had knowledge of you so soone as I did sée you yet would not I make any shew thereof being desirous my selfe to be vnknowne to the end that the faire Princesse Miragarda might yet once more behold your Knightly valour and then to esteeme of you according to your noble deserts The Prince Florendos tooke of his Helmet and comming to the Sage Aliart did embrace him very courteously giuing them to vnderstand how he was heartily sory that he had iousted against his Brother and his other two deare friendes whom he spared not to entertaine very gratiously and the like did the Prince Floraman for that they had witnessed their friendship to him in 〈◊〉 places so they sitting downe all together passed away the greatest part of the day in rehearsing their manifold and Knightly aduentures which they lengthened with large discourse because they would gladly get a sight of the Princesse Miragarda who was so dainty in shewing her selfe as very seldome would she come to the open window but looke forth at some priuy or secret place for that her greatest felicitie was when she might sée the fiield died with the blood of those who came to contend for the singularity of beauty in triall whereof she was not a little proud that the victory returned alwaies to her which made her take the greater deilght when she perceiued the liues of them that tried the Combats to stand in danger which she did oftentimes behold in the sundry Combats fought before the Castle These thrée knights continued still in talke at last they were told of the entertainment which the Princesse Miragarda afforded to the Prince Albayzar which did the better content them then any thing else for that they greatly desirad their liberty whom the great Turke did hold as prisoners and whose cruelty they knew would be seuere if it were not mittigated by this meane When they had spent all the day in hope to sée the Princesse and could not any way accomplish their desire knowing beside that the Princes Florendos and Floraman determined to stay there still at the Castle they friendly tooke their leaue of them taking their iourney toward the Cittie of Constantinople which was the cause why they left the King of Spaines Court. Thus the Prince Florendos accompanied with his beloued friend Floraman concluded still to guard the Sheeld of his faire Mistresse Miragarda against all those that durst come to vse any controuersie therewith and stil he bemoned his hard Fortune that his true and faithfull seruice could be no better estéemed CHAP. IX Of a strange aduenture which chanced before the Castle of the Giant Almarol and what happened to the Prince Florendos NOw our history reports the thrée knights which iousted against the Prince Florendos did not linger or loyter in any place til they came into Greece and not very farre from the cittie of Constantinople where by chance as they trauailed they met with Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace being worthily guided by many noble Gentlemen some that imployed themselues in knightly seruice to gaine the good opinion of Princesse and others that vttered many amorous conceits to inueigle her fancy towards them in marriage and so they passed away the time till they arriued at Conâ—stantinople where the Princesse was entertained with maruailous great honour but because the History doth make mention hereafter of her royall receiuing into the Citty I will now speake no more thereof but returne againe to the Prince Florendos who walking along the Riuers side to take the fresh aire the next day after the three knights departed from him he espyed two Boats well furnished with Oares in the foremost wherof sate foure Damosels attired in very sumptuous apparell and sitting about the poope end of the Boate sounding and tuning their Lutes whereto their voyces deliuered such pleasant ditties as they might well haue bene compared with the three Knights that had taken their way to Constantinople if so be they had stayed still at the Castle of Almaroll to haue made triall When they drew neare to the Castle the men besturred their Oars merily and the Ladies continued their pleasant song very often making signes of courtesie towards the other Boate which was couered with a Tilt of surpassing riches and there vnder a pauilion of inestimable value sate a Lady on pillows and Cushions of Veluet imbrodered 〈◊〉 with Gold whose countenance which in sooth was maruellous beautifull shewd her to be the Gouernes ouer all the other for she had on a light robe of Carnation Taffata cut and layd out with very beautifull Silks that it séemed of great costlines and value to the beholders by reason that there wanted not gold Pearle and precious Stones to set it forth to the vttermost and for that she might be the better discerned the heate of the day being past the Sunne declining to the neather Regions she gaue commandement that the Mantles of the Pauilion should be lifted vp when the Princes Florendos and Floraman might at will behold the exquisite perfection of her beautie and at her féete they might see sitting on a cloath of blacke Veluet two aged Gentlewoman betwéene whom sat a very faire Damosell and by her side lay a séemely Knight in gréene armour bearing in his shield for his deuice in a field of Sinople Cupid fast lincked in chaines of gold his bowe and arrowes lying before him broken in pieces and the knight himselfe séemed as a man altogether vanquished and ouercome for that the Damosell aduanced her selfe aboue him The Marriners were brauely decked with the colours of their Ladie whereof I may say to you they were not a little proude for that in behauiour they séemed so pleasant as no accident what soeuer could haue power to change them and in these great shewes of delight they brought their Boates to the side of the Castle continuing these swéete harmonie which by the Eccho of the water gaue an acceptable noyse to their eares who at the windowes of the Castle stoode to behold them The two Princes Florendos and Floraman thought the time too long till they might haue further knowledge of these Ladies but especially the Prince Florendos who being earnest in desire to knowe the Knight in the Boate casting his armes together thus
knight who all this while imployed himselfe to hinder our passage is now not onely contented to grant vs libertie but also will friendly beare vs company wherefore I am perswaded that we shall not againe be hindred in our iourney by any knight that dare attempt as much as he hath done for hauing my noble Nephew Florian in our company I imagine it a very hard aduenture which should in his presence séeme to impeach vs. CHAP. XI How the Emperour with his noble company entered the Citie of Constantinople and of the gratious entertainement which was made to Leonarda Princesse of Thrace at her arriuall there AFter the Iousts were ended which the noble and valiant Prince Florian had enterprised in guarding the passage the Emperour desirous to make knowne to the princesse Leonarda the magnificent entertainment he could affoord her in his Court set forwards on his way towards Constantinople the Princes Primaleon and Florian of the Forrest leading the way very brauely as hardy Champions to resist any dangerous aduenture that should forbid them the entrance into the Citie When they were come into the Citie they were receiued by the people maruellous triumphantly who had prepared Scaffoldes and Theaters 〈◊〉 was presented many strange Histories and rare inuentions for the entertainment of the young Princesse of Thrace as also to delight the aged Emperour which albeit he was indifferently contented withall yet there remained an especiall cause of griefe on his stomacke to wit the imprisonment of the King Polendos and the noble Princes in his company Belcar and diuerse other approoued Knightes at Armes rid on hastily before the Pallace to aduertise the Empresse and the Princesses Gridonia and Polinarda of the comming of Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace who came on feete a prettie way from the Pallace where they met the Princesse whom they failed not to entertaine with very gratious courtesie whereat the Princesse receiued great contentation thinking that they which receiued her with such great estimation at her first arriuall would continue her in fauourable iudgement while she stayed there After that the Empresse and Gridonia had ended their lâ—uing salutations the Princesse Polinarda did next aduance her selfe shewing very Princely and amiable gestures of courtesie towards the Princesse Leonarda whose beauty she iudged worthy of great commentation for I assure you that whosoeuer did indifferently beholde these two Ladies together could hardly iudge which of them surmounted the other in beautie The Princesse Polinarda aduisedly marking the diuine face of the faire Leonarda beganne to growe in great opinion of fauour towards the prince Palmerin commending maruelloussy his staâ—nesse and iustnesse in fidelitie in that he would not forget 〈◊〉 loyalty to her hauing offered him such an especiall treasure as was the Princesse Leonerda and for whom he had sufeâ—ed so great paine and trauaile yet could not be perswaded to accept her in choyce These two faire and beautifull Ladies holding one another familiarly by the hand followed the Empresse into her Chamber where her selfe Gridonia and all the other Ladies sate downe to contemplate the swéet and delicate faces of these two Princesses Florian was no sooner entred into the Chamber but hee humbled himselfe to kisse the Gmpresse hand who embraced him very louingly a great many times for that shee had bene alwayes more affectionate to his Mother the Princesse Flerida then to all the rest of her Children in respect of whom shee receyued maruellous contentment to behold her Sonne the Prince Florian of the Forrest who hauing done his dutia to the Empresse came and saluted the Princesse Gridonia offering the same manner of honour as before he had done vnto the Empresse but she would not suffer him to regard her so much wherefore she cast her armes about his neck giuing him such worthy entertainement as so Noble a Prince deserued to haue From her he went to the place where the Princesse Polinarda sate before whom he knéeled vpon one of his knées offering her the same maner of courtesie as he had before vsed to the Empresse and the Princesse Gridonia but shée very maidenly and modestly did interrupt him and taking him by the hand began thus to parley with him I sée now Syr Florian that at this present you come to make satisfaction for the offence which you haue this day giuen to the Princesse Leonarda by hindering her of the libertie of the way wherefore I my selfe would adiudge you first to be punished for offering such discourtesie if I did not perswade my selfe that you are able to make her recompence diuerse wayes by your Knightly seruice for the vnsufferable faulte which you haue this day committed To which wordes the Prince thus replyed I would that Fortune would make so good account of mee as that the Princesse of Thrace would abase her selfe so much to take in good parte my simple seruice if I might attaine to so great happinesse that any déede in me might deserue the good lyking of such a gratious Princesse I should thinke my selfe the most Fortunate vnder Heauen and that no hazard could be so daungerous as I should not for her sake easily ouercome Wherefore fayre Madame I heartily desire you that you should perswade the Princesse Leonarda to accept me as her Knightly seruaunt which honour if she doo affoord me the estimation I should account of my selfe would be such as my heart being encouraged by such a laudable cause I should worthily finish my aduenture which might like her to imploy mée in the Princesse Polinarda returned him this answer Woorthy Syr the Princesse Leonarda shall purchase to her selfe so great honour by your Noble Knightly behauiour in entertaining you for her vowed Seruant and Champyon and I perswade my selfe that long circumstance néede not to be vsed shee will so gladly accept your honest offer Wherefore if you doubt that shee will not so much abâ—â—e her selfe 〈◊〉 receyue your friendly motion I dare take the hazard here vpon my selfe so that I imagine she will not cause me to be deceyued Therefore in signe of your permanent loyaltie which shall bee to her and none else but her thinke not scorne to goe kisse her Princely hands which shall bee as the seale of a perpetuall bond that you shall bestow your Knightly seruice on her and she likewise shall admit you her continuall fauour The Princesse Leonarda swéetly blushing to beare Polinarda so pleasaunt in discourse turned to her with this affable aunswere Madame you cannot wish or commaund mee the thing that I would be so forgetfull of my selfe as to make refusall thereof and I estéeme my 〈…〉 honoured to receyue the Prince Florian for my 〈…〉 Champyon in that I vnderstand he is brother to the 〈◊〉 Palmerin of England towards whome I am so highly bound and indebted as comparing my regard of him with the good opinion I conceiue knowing Florian to be your beloued Kinsman I will not report the summe of my thought but desire I may be able
to requite your kindenesse Polynarda contented herselfe very well with the gentle aunswere of the fayre Princesse Leonarda as well to be resolued of the speciall entertainment which shee gaue to her Noble Couzin Florian as also to remooue the suspition shee had of her singular Beautie fearing least her most fauoured Friende the Prince Palmerin of England should fall into any lyking to matche with her because she reserued him altogether for her séemely selfe The Prince Florian was not a little prowd of his good fortune and the Emperor would haue called him to him but that he saw how familiar the two princesses were in talk with him whervpon he determined if good hap would so permit to make a marriage betwéene him and the Princesse of Thrace whom he gaue as bed fellow to his Néeâ—e Polinarda assuring you that these two vertuous Ladies liued and loued so intirely together as the one could neuer be without the others company and what occasions of secrete sorrow so euer hapned the one would not 〈…〉 of the other in reuealing their close conceits for they 〈◊〉 of this minde that it could not be called firme and faithful friendship when all kind of such causes should not passe common betweene them At length the Emperor accompanied with the Prince Florian withdrew himselfe into his Chamber where he quistioned with him about the prosperous estates of the King of England his Grandfather and his father the Prince Don Edward not forgetting his deare daughter the faire Princesse Flerida whom he desired if it might be possible to sée before he dyed and after he had communed with him about many matters hee caused the Prince to be brought into his Chamber where the good Knight could not â—â—sse the night so quietly as he was accustomed the 〈…〉 princesse Leonarda was so earnest in his thoughts as 〈◊〉 and tumbled but could not enioy any wished rest On the next day in the morning when the Emperour had béene at the Chappell to heare diuine Seruice the Table was couered in the Princesse Fleridaes Chamber where he dined in the company of the Empresse Gridonia Polinarda and the faire Princesse of Thrace but after that the Tables were withdrawne and they had â—â—tten a prettie while talking together there entered a Damosell attired all in blacke with two séemely Esquiers attending on her she humbled herselfe before the Emperour with kissing his hand and did the like to the Empresse Gridonia and Polinarda who very gently imbraced the Damosell for that she knewe her to be one of the wayting Gentlewomen vpon the Princesse Targiana at such time as she was there abiding in the Emperours Court and before the Empresse shee stayed still when the Emperor hauing knowledge of her came and demanded other as concerning the welfare of her Lady and Mistresse to which wordes she answered in this manner Dread Prince and my most gratious Lord I desire you that you will not receiue any displeasure for that you sée me rather inclined to the Empresse then to your excellencie because the Princesie Targiana commaunded me to addresse my selfe vnto her highnesse as to one whom she vnfainedly regardeth but for your grace desireth to vnderstand how the Princesse my good Lady â—aâ—eth it is so that she neuer came foorth of her Chamber since the day that the Prince Polendos your Sonne and the other Princes and Knights were committed to prison during all which time she hath not ceassed most gratiously to wéepe and lament insomuch as her faire beautie is maruellously altered and chaunged yet hath the Turke her Father laboured as much as may be to disâ—wade her from this mournefull kinde of life but all in vaine he wasteth his endeuor for she tooke her oath in his presence that she would neuer giue euer vexing her selfe with continuall waiting vntill your knights enioyed as frée libertie as they had when they came with her from Constantinople The Turke her father fearing lest her extreame griefe would be a cause of shortning her youthfull time hath promised to restore them for the libertie of the Prince Albayzar whom they of Babilon haue request of him that they may enioy him among them againe for this cause the great Turke hath sent hither an Ambassadour who will be here either this day or tomorrow morning when your Highnesse shall vnderstand the summe of the matter And for that the Princesse Targiana feareth least you should denie to graunt what he requireth which may mooue such an inconuenience as your Maiestie would repent the great honour you bestowed on her in your Court she put me faithfully in trust to bring these tydings vnto the Empresse in whose presence I haue made you acquainted with that I had in charge because it teâ—cheth you more then it doeth any other person Moreouer shee carefully pondering euery carâ—e with her selfe and doubting least the mallice which her father beareth to the Princesse of your Court will séeke a secrete reuenge some way as treason intended betwéene him and his Ambassadour towards your Highnesse to preuent the worst that may happen she desireth you to returne her Father good words but not forgoe the Prince Albayzar whom you know her lawfull husband before first your Knights be foorth of her fathers power and that they haue attained such a place of assurance as al deuises notwithstanding no harme may come vnto them but if after their libertie such misfortune happen them as she would be very loath your Maiestie may as you sée cause finde your selfe agrieued with the offenders Faire Damosell answered the Emperour I accept very gratefully the good aduice of the Princesse Targiana and I sée very well that the honour she receiued in my Court albeit it was but small is now double and double rewarded and perswade your selfe that I am determined to follow her counsell The Emperour concluding his minde the Damosell came againe to the Princesse Polinarda to present her with the gratious commendations of the faire Targiana but when she behelde the rare and singular beautie of the Princesse of Thrace which set by her the damosell tooke the hardinesse to demaund and if that Lady were not the Princesse Miragarda for whom and by whom the Prince Albayzar was vanquished In sooth faire Damosell answered Polinarda this is not the Princesse Miragarda but this is Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace whom the noble Palmerin of England deliuered out of the enchantment wherein she remained a long and tedious time at these wordes the Damosell tooke occasion to beginne thus By your fauour Madame I knowe now who this Lady is because I haue not forgotten the straunge aduenture of the Cuppe which was brought by a Damosel into his Court and I assure you that Palmerin of England was of a very strange nature that he could both make so small account of such a faire Princesse as also in refusing the stately gouernment of the Kingdome of Thrace Polinarda desirous to mooue the Damosell from talking in that matter willed that
content to depart hence euen as they came hither and being once gone from hence they will visite most of the Princes Courts in Christendome to trie if Fortune will be so fauourable to them as to knit vp their earnest desires to their contentment The king Recinde was greatly abashed at these sudden newes and the knights were moued much at this aduenture especially regarding the estates of them that would Combate for their Ladyes and for them thus much I can say that there were many among them who would gladly haue forsaken their old fauoured seruants on condition they might marrie with these three noble Princes The King and the Quéene allowing well their worthy enterprise they stayed a great while looking when some one knight or other of the court would be so venterous as to deale with them but séeing none would come they prepared themselues to depart at the very instant as the Damosels Knight arriued there This valiant and renowmed Knight was no sooner espyed but they that knew him came and met him letting him vnderstand the enterprise of the thrée strange Knights which being rehearsed to him the Damosels receiued very much ioy thereat for that they being wearie of him and hope to depart with these thrée knights and the Prince vnderstanding their intens said vnto them You shall now do what your selues imagine expedient and I will recempence my selfe by these meanes on these thrée knights for the great trauaile I haue taken dayly in your seruice I haue béene so greatly deceiued in your loue sayd Artesia as I am content to change your company And we are of the same minde said they whom he had woone from the Knights in the Forrest vpon this he sent them to the thrée knights who were preparing themselâ—es to the Ioust and willed them to come and deliuer them out of his handes who would compell them to stay in his company I â—â—are me quoth the King that these Knights wil not attaine the cheefe of their enterprise against the hardy Damoâ—sels Knight Artesia and her companions forsooke the company of Arlencea and put themselues apart from them which the Ladies of the Court perceiuing they could not chuse but maruell thereat knowing very wel the prowesse of the knight that had conducted them Some iudged the occasion to be the Damosels desire of themselues that they might be at their owne libertie others reputed the cause to some vnfaithfulnes they had found in their Knight Gradian séeing the day wast apace tooke the hardinesse to aduance himselfe foorth first making show of the Ioust which the Damosels Knight beholding he gaue his horse the spurs and encountred Gradian with so great force as he made him fetch an errand on the ground then hee came to Artesia with these words It is necessarie that once againe you come and obey that I shall command you Then he receiued another Launce which one of the Kings Pages brought him and with it he vnhorsed Arpian because he had not learned to sit fast in his Sadle Lustramar was very angry at the misfortune of his friends wherfore he encountred the Damosels Knight so nobly as he caused him to forsake one of his Stirrops but himselfe was sent to kéepe his fellowes company These thrée knights séeing the dishonour they had receiued in the Ioust offered to trie the Combate with the Sword and chiefly Lustramar did séeme most desirous of it but the Damosels knight excused himselfe séeing the day departing so spéedily and the darke night ready to ouercharge them yet would not Lustramar be content with his answere which when Poliphemia perceiued she came vnto him with these words I pray you Sir knight content your selfe and séeke no â—urther occasions at this time for I assure you that our guide is so litle woont to be conquered as they that deale with him are very well contented hauing felt him indéede to put vp the soyle of a fall I haue found so small assurance answered Lustramar in Womens words as for your counsell I will not forbeare to follow my enterprise Then I promise you said Artesia you will not boast of your bargaine in the end While these two knights prepared themselues to the Combate the king Recinde who was desirous to know the Damoselles knight came himselfe to the place where these two knights were offering to charge one another when hee caâ—sed them to be parted and they all â—oure were very honourably brought into the Pallace The Damoselles Knight humbly saluted the Quéene and hauing taken off his Helmet hée kneeled downe to kisse her hand but the King who knew him presently imbraced him very louingly speaking thus to the Queene Madame I pray you to make good account of the deedes of honour you haue receiued by this Knight for he hath finished as rare aduentures as euer did any assuring you that he is the prince Florian of the Forrest otherwise called the knight of the Sauage man Sonne to the Prince Don Edward and the Princesse Flerida your great friends The Queene hearing these wordes tooke him vp in her armes and imbracing him very gratiously charged him with his great discourtesie when he passed by the Court and would not suffer himselfe to be knowne Lustramar and his companions knowing that he which had vanquished them was the noble knight of the Sauage man they made no account of the foyle they had receiued but on the next morning when they had departed thence they desired the Prince to esteeme of them as his vnfeined friends Two dayes after the Knight of the Sauage man was desirous to leaue the Court of Spaine whervpon he tooke his leaue of the King and the Quéene leauing Siluian there in the court because she was well knowne as also Artesia and her companions who wept at their parting for the losse of that they could not recouer againe The Queene tooke her leaue friendly of the Giantesse Arlencea because the Prince Florian did make so good account of her and the King Recinde brought them foorth of the Citie where taking a courteous farewell on all sides with charging him to doe his commendations to the Emperor and his children in the Emperours Court the King returned againe into the Citie and the Prince rode on his iourney CHAP. XXIX Of that which happened to the knight of the Sauage man when he came to the Castle where Arnalte the Princesse of Nauarre made her abode FLorian of the Forrest not forgetting to take new armour when he departed from the King of Spaines Court yet kéeping his deuise in his shield of the Sauage man still because he had greater delight therein then in any other in this manner he trauelled atchieuing many rare and singular aduentures which for breuities sake I let passe because they were not of such importance as to be placed among his other knightly déeds After he had coasted along through diuers Countries it was his fortune at length to arriue in a very pleasant valley euen there
deliuered out of the grieuous passions wherein I haue long time remained for you shall vnderstand that the Knight whom you haue conquered is the very same that flew my brother Doriell for whose death the King my father liueth in extreame heauinesse The knight of the Tiger marking her words spake in this order to his friend Siluian I sée wel it is more dangerous to fall into the hands of a woman who is desirous of vengeance then to deale with a hundred good and hardy knights Wherefore I pray thée take my horse a while and I will goe sée if by my entreatance his life may be saued Then came he to the Bridge and desired the Knight of the Bull that would not offer the knight any more cruelty and turning to the Princesse Armisia he saluted her with these spéeches Madame if any anciant enmitie causeth you to desire the death of this Knight I pray you admit to memorie that a Lady of so great calling as you are ought not to be void of lenitie and pittie and chiefely at such a time when you haue most power to execute the extremitie of your will And if my reasons be not sufficient to appease your anger I pray you yet consider with your selfe that no persons vse crueltie where they may shew pittie but they repent themselues afterward when their collericke moode is ouerblowne and past The honest and vertuous language of the knight of the Tiger had not the power to mooue any pittie in the Princesse Armisia but she commanded the knight of the Bull that he should cut off the head of her enemie then the Prince gaue her these wordes I promise you Madame if neither pittie nor perswasion may preuaile with you I will stand such an eye-sore in your way my selfe as you shall not execute your malicious humour I would with all my heart said the Knight of the Bull that it might please the Princesse to grant this knight his life but since you presume so boldly to defend him I will not refuse albeit I am so sore wounded to let you vnderstand that you neither can nor shall hinder me in fulfilling what my Lady hath commanded The knight of the Tiger did not vse these wordes to the end that hee would enter the Combate with Pompides but onely to change the rigorous humour of Armisia and because he saw the Knight in such danger But such was the cruell minde of the Princesse as shée continued still in one song calling for the head of the vanquished knight Adraspe who with the great expence of his blood and griefe to sée the wreakefull will of Armisia ended his life while the knight of the Tiger and Pompides were preparing themselues to the Combat Armisia séeing Adraspes was dead could not be yet contented therewith because his head was not smitten off as she commanded Wherefore because Pompides did not accomplish what she willed him shée flang away in a furie and went into her Chamber Pompides who was brought into great extremitie for her loue did so grieue at her departure as he was constrained to set him downe vpon the bridge but the knight of the Tiger perceiuing his heauines tooke pitty on him and came to comfort him which Pompides séemed to disdaine because he iudged that his presence procured his misfortune Siluian séeing his maister not returne came walking with his horse before the bridge whom Pompides hauing espied he knew presently that the knight of the Tiger was the renowed Palmerin of England in which perswasion for the great ioy hee conceiued he came to him with these words I am well assured my gratious Lord that the comfort I receiued at this present instant will deface and extinguish all my former mishaps Palmerin tooke off his Helmet and hauing imbraced Pompides beganne to perswade him in good hope of his Lady who had no sooner forgotten her anger but shee reprooued her selfe of great vnkindnesse and then shee sent to intreate Pompides that he would pardon her and if so it were his pleasure to bring the knight into her house with him whoō she saw so familiar with him Pompides vnderstanding the will of the Princesse took his brother by the hand and walked into his Chamber where when they were vnarmed the Princesse came her selfe to visit them entring into these spéeches to the knight of the Tiger I beséech you Sir knight to excuse me in that I made no more account of your honest and courteous words for I assure you the great danger wherein I was at that instant would not suffer me to regard any perswasion whatsoeuer but onely to reuenge my selfe on my cruell enemy And because you shal not conceiue any ill opinion of me I will tell you for what cause I enuied the Knight so much You shall vnderstand Sir that I am the daughter of Meliadus the king of Scots in whose Court Adraspe the eldest son to the Duke of Sizana whom Pompides hath slaine beganne to waxe very amourous of me but because I knew him to bée one of very bad conditions I made no regard of his earnest suite Neuerthelesse he was so importunate and voyde of reason as he would not be answered Wherupon I was constrained to complaine to the Prince Doriell my Brother of whom when Adraspe perceiued himselfe to bee hated and despised he practised which way he might best be reuenged on him and following his secret trayterous intent it was not long after before he had the opportunitie for to execute his mallicious stomacke It so chanced that one day my brother and he had appointed to walke abroade together when Adraspe being priuily armed and hauing at hand such as prouided for his purpose he slew my Brother whose death the King my father could not accomplish to reuenge because hée should then deale with one of the chéefest Princes of his Realme and his best assured friend Yet was not his heart frée from continuall vexation in respect that nature could not otherwise chuse which I pittying and willing to assist my father to the vttermost I could I left the Court and caused this house to be erected in this place which being the chiefest passage in all this Realme I enterprised to haue some valiant Knight defend this Birdge promising to marry with him if he could be so happie as to kill Adraspe And he as he was alwayes accustomed bearing a proude and loftie minde would oftentimes come to show himselfe here onely to vexe me with the remembrance of my Brothers death and still hee would Combatte with my Knights being euermore so fortunate as to vanquish and kill them But after the knight of the Bull tooke this charge vpon him Adraspe who had heard of his noble prowesse remained two moneths before he could come hither againe yet at the last came to trie his Fortune against the Knight of the Bull who hath depriued him of his life as you sée and satisfied my wil that made me to ordaine this custome Madamy
Constantinople DVring the the time this great ioy was in the Court of Constantinople for the comming of the prince Palmerin the Emperour had tidings brought him how the Prince Albayzar had leuied a great and mighty Armie to come and besiege the Cittie and assure the Messenger that the Lord who was the Soldane Bellagris was preparing himselfe in a readinesse to come and aide him The Emperour being at this time ouercharged with age found himselfe farre vnable to deale in these affaires the consideration whereof did not a little displease him Neuerthelesse he fayled not to make prouision as wisedome willed to entertaine the enemy whereupon he writ to the Soldane Bellagris sending him heartie thankes for the good forwardnesse hâ— saw in him especially in a time so néedfull and when the messenger to the Soldane was dispatched the Emperour sent presently to informe of these newes Arnedes the King of France his Sonne in law Recinde the king of Spaine Don Edward the Prince of England the Emperour Vernar of Allemaigne Maiortes and many others The Armie of the Turkes was no sooner heard of but the Knights who followed their noble aduentures returned to Constantinople knowing they shuld make better trial of their valour there then in any other places and such was the rumour spread abroad to the Turks intention as in short time the Citie of Constantinople was furnished with many noble and redoubted knights where aduentures was presented to them day by day but the Emperour would not suffer them to pursue after such occasions because they were nothing else but deceite and villany wayting still for the time when he should be assaulted by Albayzar who was now setting forward on the Seas being accompanyed with diuers approoued knights at armes as also a number of cruell and bloody minded Giants intending to make a generall spoyle of all the Emperors Dominions But till we haue better occassion we will leaue them a while and returne to the Prince Palmerin who during the brute of the Turkes Army was aduertised of the death of Satrafort the gouernor of the Perillous Isle being taken by Trofolant the Fearefull who was descended to the giants kindred And as it is rehearsed in the first volume of this History that Trafolant was vanquished in the Tournament by the Prince Florendos and had the like mishap the day following by the prowesse of the Knight of the Sauage man who guarded the shéeld of the Palme Tree in the forrest of the Cleere Fountain which the Damosell from the Sage Aliart brought to the Emperour Palmerin that he might deliuer it to the Knight his Nephew who had woone the honour of the day in the Tournament It was likewise his fortune after when he trauailed to the Castle of the Giant Almaroll to be vanquished there by the Prince Florendos who guarded the shéeld of the faire Miragarda and returning thence he met with the Damoselles Knight when offering to take one of his Ladies from him they fell to the Combate and in the end was likewise vanquished The conceit of his so many and sundry foyles and all by the Knights of the Emperours Court caused him to deuise by what meanes he might worke some iniurie to them that belonged to the Emperour in respect he was so seuerely bent against them as he would take vpon him to reuenge the death of Calfurnien and his brethren But to the ende he might the better execute his treacherous enterprise hée tooke his way to the Profound Isle thinking there to inuent some treason by the aide of Collambra but his intent was there disapointed for it was told him that she was brought to the Emperours Court of Greece Then he determined to goe visit the Perillous Isle being accompanied with two Knights that were his kinsemen with whom he knewe well how to dissemble the treason on his stomacke and Satrafort thinking them to be of the Emperours Court of Constantinople entertained them very louingly into his Castle where when they had soiourned for certaine daies they murthered Satrafort and all his houshold But the pleasure of this victorie was very short to them for Argentao the gouernour of the Profound Isle came by a secret wile suddenly on them with his power and taking Trofolant in the Forrest sent him presently to the Emperours Court where was no little ioy of his comming in that he saued Palmerin a iourney who was taking his leaue of his friendes because he would goe to take the Traitors that had done such villanie Trofolant was condemned by the lawe and publiely executed according as his trecherous dealings deserued and Argentao was honourably recompenced that he might haue the better occasion to be carefull and circumspect in his office So soone as Trofolant was put to death the Sage Aliart arriued at the Court of Constantinople whose presence gaue greater assurance to the Emperour and his Knightes and he gaue them heartie thankes in that they were so ready to goe recouer the Perillous Isle After the Sage Aliart there came to the Court the Prince Floraman Albanis of Frieze Reccamon Leyman of Burgunuy beside many other princes and knights who had euery one forsaken their seuerall countries to assist the Emperour of Constantinople with their aide because they had heard of the Turks preparation The very same day was tydings brought to the Court how Fredericke the king of England was dead which newes caused â—o small griefe among the Princes especially to the Emperour himselfe who being as aged as King Fredericke was iudged himselfe not of long continuance behind him in that this was a speciall president for him to regard King Fredericke being one he made most chiefe and high account of Prince Edward was then crowned King of England to the great ioy of all his subiects he being such a vertuous and magnanimous Prince and the funerals of king Frederick was solemnized in Greece with very great state their Beacons burning and Bonfires made through the whole Empire according as it was the custome in that Countrey CHAP. XXXVI Of an aduenture which happened during the troubles at Constantinople in the Realme of France and after what manner it chanced THe History reporteth that certaine Ladies in the Realme of France enuying the renowned of Polinarda of Greece Miragarda of Spaine and Leonarda of Thrace whose beauties defaced greatly the Ladies in all other Countries began to complaine very much on the French knightes that either by the want of courage or their little regard of loue their beauties remained vnknowne in other Realmes Countries and Prouinces Vpon this occasion they found themselues somewhat agréeued and to the end they would remedie the cause foure Ladies of the king of France his Court thinking to excell all other in beauties enterprised to establish an aduenture to mooue the mindes of many Knights to come endure their triall against such as would maintaine their beauties The first of these Ladies was called Mansia the second Telanfia the third Latrania and tge fourth
her but the Knight of the Sphere made such account of her beauty as in his silent thoughts he vttered these words I would I were as fortunate and my déedes as worthy as I sée you coye in accepting of those who render their very soules subiect vnto you So breaking off he closed againe with the strange Knight who in troth was not slowe in receiuing him and I assure you their liues had béene in very great danger at this third triall if it had not beene for the arriuall of a damosell who being mounted on a white Palfray and her haire hanging ouer both her shoulders came to the strange Knight crying so loude as her voice brought an Eccho of the whole Forrest At this sight euery one was suddainely abashed and chiefely these two knights who separated themselues to knowâ—th cause of the Damosels lamentations which she came to vtter before the seure Ladies desiring them to let vs vnderstand for what reason these two knights entred the Combate Mansia tolde her how they fought for Madame Latrania wherevpon the Damosell approched to her entâ—ing into these spéeches Madam if life and honor ought to be preferred before vncertaine appetites afflictions I desire you humbly to allow aid and â—uccor to two distressed Damosels who not farre from this place are in great danger to loose their honour which they esteeme of greater price then their liues out of which trouble they shall be soone deliuered if it may please you to let mee haue one of these Knights who endure a hotte Combatte for your Loue. When she had thus spoken she shed such aboundaunce of teares and deliuered forth so many scalding sighes as Latrania was enforced to misse of her desire thinking to see the ende of the Combate betweene these Knights on which behalfe the King séeing Latrania make no answer spake vnto the Damosell in this manner Which of these two Knights faire Damosell doe you desire to haue with you because you shall perceiue my willingnes to intreate for you If it please your Maiestie answered the Damosel they are both so good Knights as I know not well which of them I should request neuerthelesse I will make choyse of the Knight that bereth his shéeld couered Latrania had no sooner heard the Damsells words but shee presently came betwéene the two Knightes giuing in shewe that the Straunge Knight should not suffer any refusall and wherevpon she spake to him thus Syr Knight if for the succour of the afflicted Armes were first inuented I pray you that the teares of Damosell and the loue you say you beare me may cause you to forsake this Combate and moue you to goe helpe the oppressed Ladies Madame saide the straunge Knight for me to obey you in this cause were very fond and vnaduised yet would I doe it if I were not busied about especiall matters for you may perswade your selfe that the Bond wherein I haue tyed my selfe doth defend me from satisfying your commaundement considered also Madame Torsia may finde her selfe offended that I should now in this manner slip from her and not giue her her due her Beautie worthily deseruing it I pray you sir quoth Torsia that you would witnesse your Seruice for my Loue in the place where this Damosell will conduct you I am coâ—tent to obey your commaundement answered the strange Knight if you likewife will goe in our companie for I haue taken this condition of you not to be depriued of your companie during my limitted time of guarding this Valley Madame said the damosel to Latrania the knight doth perfectly let you vnderstand that he is an obedient seruant to loue as your selfe may well perceiue séeing he preferreth his pleasure before your will Wherefore I desire you to intreate the other Knights to goe with me for I am of the opinion you shall finde him more affectionate to you then he whom yoâ— haue reposed so much hope in Latrania being willing to pleasure the Damosell beganne to intreate the Knight of the Sphere that it might stand with his pleasure to giue ouer the Combate and assist them with his ayde who were in great hazard Madame answered the knight of the Sphere I know it is no great harme for me to let alone the Combate mine enemy being such a noble and redoubted Knight yet would I not haue any one to thinke that in respect of feare or dismaying in my selfe I let this passe thus for that I know my selfe sufficient enough for a greater matter Marry as concerning your request the earnest loue I beare you is such and so great as I am content to suffer whatsoeuer you will lay vppon me onely to satisfie and content your will Then turning to the strange Knight he beganne againe in this manner I pray you Sir thus to imagine and think that my earnest desire to purchase the loue of Madame Latrania hath bene some hinderance to you of the victory albeit you made some assurance thereof in your owne conceit Indéede answered the strange Knight I sée it is very hard for a man to get any aduantage of you without putting his owne life in great danger for I assure your stroakes haue béene so well laid on me as they haue made me to conceiue so good opinion of your valour whereof since I am so well assured it doth not a little please me that so good a knight shall goe in this Damosels cause But ere you depart I would very gladly vnderstand your name to the end Latrania may haâ—e knowledge of him to whom of necessitie she must account her selfe greatly indebted The king himselfe who was no lesse desirous to know him then the strange knight desired him earnestly to reueale himselfe to him The knight of the Sphere séeing the kings great importunitie tooke off his Helmet and kneeled downe to kisse his Maiesties hand but he perceiuing him to be his friend Dramusiande would not so permit him but casting his armes about his necke embraced him with maruellous gratious courtesie being very sory that his suddaine departure would not suffer him to regard him as he willingly would And hee would not let him part before he had made him knowne to the Quéene and and the other Ladies who declare to the king what a benefite the knowledge of the strange knight would be to them Alasse quoth the King I would as willingly knowe him as any of you all and I am much out of quiet with my selfe that I haue not knowne him all this while Oh Syr saide Dramusiande I beséech you to expectt yet a little longer vntill his enterprise shall be ended for I am of the opinion that he will not then seeke to depart hence before hée make himselfe first knowne to your Grace The Damosell presented her selfe before him declaring it was high tâ—â—e they should be gone wherevpon he tooke his leaue of Latrania who esteemed her selfe aboue all the other Ladies in that she had the power to bring into her obeysance so good a
kinseman the Prince Florendos Palmerin of England did the like to the faire Florenda and Florian of the Forrest to the Princesse Graciaâ—a in briefe the Princesse and Knights led all the Lades Palfraâ—es till they came to the Pallace The Emperour was caried in his Chayre by foure Knights communing with the Princesse Miragarda all the way desiring her to fauour his Nephew Florendos and to thinke of him as one that had well deserued at her hands CHAP. XLIX Of the Conference which the Emperour had with the Princes And how the Marriages that he appointed were now accomplished in effect WHen the Princes that were thus arriued Constantinople had rested themselues for certaine dayes the Emperour desirous to content euery one before he died who had bestowed their seruice in honouring him reuealed his intent to the Emperor Vernar king Edward Arnedes Recinde and Primaleon how he would gladly sée his Nephewes married and the other Princes that had béene nourished in his court whom he would see all matched according as their affections serued them The Princes liked maruaellously the Emperours intent whereupon he caused the Sunday following a great feast to be ordained in the Quéene Fleridaes Chamber which place was the most conuenient in all the Pallace for their courtly disports and there the Ladies were euery one regarded in their degrées being more pleasant in the Ladyes of their sauoured seruants then all the costly iunckets prouided for the banquet Palmerin was so earnest in affection towards his Lady as he iudged her to surpasse all the other in beautie Florendos held the same opinion to the faire Miragarda and Florian made such estimation of the Princesse of Thrace as he feared not to Combate against any whatsoeuer that her beautie might carrie the credite aboue all the rest and the Prince Platir was not behinde him in conceite towards his swéete Ladie Sidelia daughter to the King Tarnaes The Empresse Bazilia Gridonia Flâ—rida Francellina because of their high estates were chéefe next the Empresse 〈…〉 the Quéene Flerida bare the price of beautie amongst them all because she was in the most swéete and delicate time of her yeares After the Tables were wishdraâ—e and all the 〈◊〉 departed the place the Emperour being weake and sickely 〈◊〉 King Edward to expresse before all the company what he had giuen him in charge King Edward willing to obey the Emperors commandement arose from the Table theâ—â— taking off his Hat and kissing the Emperours hand he saluted all there present and began thus Most gratious Empres as each of vs for his benefit honor hath receiued such Ladies in marriage as the Emperour from his owne Court hath pleased to bestow on vs some that are allied to his Excellency and others to the Princes and lords of his Empire wherby the renowme of Christendom is worthyly maintained and all causes expressing good nature continued in their florishing estate It may therefore séeme good to you at this present that I publickely open his gracious and Princely determination whereby may be knowne if your Highnesse with these Quéenes and Princesses in your company shall thinke well of that which by the aduice of his honourable councell he seeketh to put in practise It is so that his Maiesty hath set it downe for a decree that these young Princes and knights shal ioyne in mariage in â—ecompence of all their noble trauels with those to whom they are most affectionate And as for theÌ„ that are as yet vnprouided of Ladies his Maiesty will allow them continuance in his Court whereby no 〈◊〉 shall grew on any side but euery one shall be contented to their owne desires Here pausing a while he attended what the Empresse with the other Quéenes and Ladyes would say as also â—o bethinke himselfe on the names of the persons whom the Emperour had appointed to many but the young Princes and knights were somewhat abashed doubting whether they might giue credite to the kings words for their was not any of them but iudged his labors sufficiently rewarded if he might enioy his sweet Saint and Mistresse The Ladies that were in presence began to blush change their amiable countenance whereby they bewrayed the secret sudden ioy of their hearts which they receiued by the spéeches King Edward had vttered Polinarda very often cast her eyes on the Prince Palmerin being in as great feare as the offender that awaiteth the senteÌ„ce of the Iudge for she doubted least her Grandfather would bestow on her some other and not let her enioy him whom her heart desired And Palmerin was afflicted in the same manner such and so great was the vehemency of his sundry passions which betwéene hope feare he was constrained to suffer but while his thoughts were in this infinite deale of trouble his Father King Edward following his former intent began againe in this manner You shall vnderstand Sir Florendos that my gratious Lord the Emperour with the consent of the King Recinde enioyneth you to espowse the Princesse Miragarda who in my iudgement will not bée any thing offended to bee so matched and so shall you Syr Florendos thinke your selfe fully satisfied for all the trauailes you haue endured for her sake All the prince there present looked on Florendos when they might well perceiue that the words of king Edward had giuen him more ioy then if the richest Realme in the world were in his own possession but the princesse Miragarda kept her countenance so demurely as one could hardly iudge whether the loue of Florendos were acceptable to him or no. And for thée my sonne Palmerin said king Edward the emperour the prince Primaleon being very willing thou shouldest knowe the loue they beare thee doe giue thée to wife the Princesse Polinarda not doubting but thou shalt imagine all thy passed trauailes to be fully recompenced in so sweet a reward The Princesse Polinarda no sooner heard these wordes but the delicate Rosiall colour that dyed her daintie countenance witnessed the loue and good will she bare to the Prince Palmerin of England who likewise now abandoned all his former feare seeing he should enioy the felicitie hee had so long wished for Which when his Father King Edward perceiued he made as though he did not espie and procéeded on with his former determination giuing the Prince Gracian Sonne to the king of France to vnderstand that the Emperour did bestowe on him his Niece Claricias the Daughter to the King Polendos And you Syr Berolde for your vertuous behauiour must enioy the Iewel of your heart the faire Onistalda Daughter to the Duke Drapos of Normandie and Niece to the renowned King Frisoll whereof your Father I am sure will be very well contented And you sir Francian shall match with Bernada Daughter to the valiant Prince Belcar And you noble Prince Platir in that your déedes are worthy of perpetuall memorie you shall possesse the faire Sidelia Daughter to the King Tarnaes of Lacedemoniâ— who will