scoffes at my greate follie in so sone relentyng to you vpon the requeste whiche you make to me For well I knowe that you menne haue your affections so light that there needeth not but one small blaste of winde or any other obiect although lesse then that whereof you talke of to make you chaunge and transporte theim thether and hether to serue their presente tournes and commoditie accordyngly as you now pretende of vs Wherefore I hartly praie you not to take it straungely if for the conscruation of my Honour which I haue in greater price not onely then of your passions and distresses but also of my proper life you bée denied and suffer the repulse of the thynges whereof you demaunded me For I loue better that with myne Honour I be demed as you determine seuere and ceurll then with myne infamie losyng that whiche so charely I should keepe to bee had in the reputation of an disordinate Damozell and a Maide of infamous life Whiche replie when she had so finished the poore Paciente hearyng so harde a sentence on hym pronounced stove so troubled with yre and annoye that if the maiden had not taken hym by the hande and ledde hym into her chamber to repose hym self I beleue he would haue sodainly sounded before all the Companie But while these thynges were a doyng I must tell you that the king was no lesse idle in kissyng his Queene Bellizenne For as he daunced with her thei so mutually beheld and cast such glauncing lookes the one to the other with such fine swéete countenaunce that the dimmest of sight might well haue deemed what desire they had of that ioye which so lōg had been reiourned In such forte that the Kyng beyng in the first course of the daunce more lusty braue wel disposed then he had béen since his deliueraunce or long afore retired secretly without semblaunce of any thyng into his chamber whither full sone after the Quéene hauyng followed hym I leaue you to ponder if in suche libertie as thei had to contēt the one with the others appetites beyng enflamed as thei were the swete daliance and amourous embracementes were in any wise spared For why as telleth vs the Historie thei so forgotte theim selues in their delightes and plaies that thei remained more then an whole hower afore they retourned too ende the daunce in the Hall déeming that of the chamber better Whiche was chief cause that shortly after the Queene felt her beallie so bigge that her garmentes were too little for her For she conceiued a daughter whom she awhile after bare and brought foorth so perfecte of feature that many braue Knightes were enflamed with her loue and she was named Polydame of whom wee will make more ample discourse hereafter And on this wise eche one for his parte applied hymself to pleasure and to contente his mynde the beste he could as when wee see a faire and Sunne shine daie to bee obscured with a sodaine shadowe of a darke and duskie cloude which couering the Sunne sheweth such sadde cheere that we poore soules are quite depriued of the pristinate pleasure and comfortable clearnes therof their ioyes were interupted by the arriuall of a certaine Page attired in yeallowe blewe Veluet Who entryng the halle made enquirie for the Prince Dorian of Spaine to whō when he had a sight of hym and eche one was placed to heare what he would he thus spake High Prince the faire Ladie Amarille daughter to the kyng Belligent of Fraunce hath sente me to you for that she vnderstoode that you were in this Courte to present vnto you on her behalfe cōmendations condigne to your highnesse and also this letter saied he giuyng hym a paper whiche he helde in his hande the whiche beyng read I praie you to dispatche me right sone that I maie with diligence returue accordyng to her commaundement Then the Prince Dorian not without chaunge of coullour and countenaunce hauing taken and read the letter to hymself founde it thus in tenour and effecte The Ladie Amarillas letter I would neuer haue thought Lorde Dorian that so much infidelity and discourtesie as I knowe now to consist in you had found place of residence or dwelled in a knight so noble and valiaunte as I haue still reputed and estemed you vntill this tyme that seeyng euidently twoo imperfections so greate to bee possessed in you that forgettyng the feruente amitie whiche you to mee professed and likewise the faithe whiche you to mee promised you haue beene bolde so impudentely to vse the same towardes me without euer giuyng you any occasion thereof that I maruaile that the heauens dooe not waxe redde and ashamed at this so greate lightnesse and inconstauncie whiche proceadeth from the imperfection of your iudgemente The which feelyng too sodainly and violently a certaine apprehension of loue that you haue so oftē preached how beauty wherof the soner to deceiue mee you saide I was furnished had so sore enflamed you that as you made semblāt you could rest neither night nor daie But sone is the same flowen awaie and the tractes therof defaced out of your memory by the sight possible of some obiecte whiche hath been more agreable vnto you And this length of tyme by you protracted and neglected without seyng me after your departure whē you went towardes her whiche is cause of your long absence maketh me to thinke and suppose and vnderstande that you feinyng to séeke out wherewith as with a sacke you would couer your self Floridamant kyng of Greate Britaine are presently in his court Wherevpon I haue with greate diligence and at the decease of the kyng my Father addressed this messenger to bryng vnto you this letter thereby to burden you with the fault wherein not vnrightly you are culpable if incontinentely you come not towardes her who resteth attendaunt for your arriuall that then she maye heare your excuses and iustifications in this case Yours more then her owne Amarille de Gaule The readyng of this Letter so pinched the Prince Dorian that he could not abide to staie the reste of the daie in the court of king Floridamant but incontinently mountyng on Horsebacke and takyng leaue of the King and Quene who fain would but could not staie hym he iourneyed straight to Gaulewarde to her whom he so loued accompanied onely with the Page whiche had brought hym the Letter and his Squire But in this point the Historie speaketh not any more of hym but that in a while after he espoused the Ladie Amarille by whom the firste yere of his Mariage he had a Daughter named Angeliana the beste featured in singularitie of beautie that was of her tyme in the worlde excepte faire Porphiria Daughter to the Emper our of Constantinople and shortely after was crouned kyng of Spaine by the decease of his father Wherefore we lette hym reste and raigne in his kyngdome peaceably and kyng Floridamant also vntill suche tyme as occasion shall put vs in mynde to speake more
a malicious harte full of furie and rage There is no meane waie nor thing in humaine puissaūce nether as I beléeue in the enimie of Nature that he whiche hath conceaued thys foresayde hate against another doeth not inuente or dare not attempte to satisfie his will and wishe as maye let vs vnsterstande the example of the Necromancian whom I doe meane to mentionate in this Chapter Therefore it is to be vnderstanded that in greate Britaigne there was an Itande adioyning to the saied Realme which men called the gréene I le Whereof a knight named Mynofol was Lorde and ruler who from his infancie had so bestowed his tyme in the arte of Necromancie and supernaturall Magicque that by the same he atchiued many marueilous Matters and impossible to many others who dealed there with to be lesse expert then he in his arte In maner that by his enchauntmentes and diabolicall charmes hee had builded in his Ile a Castell the most sumptuous and magnificent that with mans eyes was euer seen For the Sonne thereon gleamyng his bright Rayes and Beames from morning till euening one would verily iudge so great was the force of his enchauntmentes that in stead of Stones there were placed greate Rubies the moste faire and beautifull of the worlde And with reuerberatiō of the same the Aire Trées of the I le appeared as red as Fire for a Miles compasse aboute And it was to bee marueiled greatly how the knight Mynofol could build any so sumptuous and stately an Edifice as the red Castell so did the vulgar sorte cōmonly name it seyng that it was not in puissaunce of the greatest Monarque of the whole earth to reare and constructe another whiche in perfection and sumptuositie of matter exquisite miraculous or artificiall was thereto comparable And for what occasion he made the same full many also were ignoraunt but it is to bee presupposed that it was not without cause why For it behoueth you to vnderstande that the predecessour of Minofoll whiche was somewhat akinne and of alliaunce to the vertuous and mightie kyng Brandismel pretendyng some right to the Realme of greate Britaine out of the whiche by his auncetours he had been repudiate and reiected for takyng to wife the sister of Grandowine kyng of Cornewalle and Irelande whiche then as yet helde the Pagan lawes and beleued on Mahounde had wrought and before had tended many meanes and treasons againste the Father of valiaunt King Floridamant whiche neuer laye in his power to execute as he pretended without daunger of the totall ruine both of hym and his whiche was the cause that his Sonne Minofol beyng as then yong and of tender age he caused him to learne with greate heede and diligence the Artes of Necromancy by studiyng the bookes of Medea Circe Morgue and other suche To the intente to reuenge hymselfe of king Brandismel by suche meanes as Medea tooke vengeaunce of the iniurie doen to her by her vnfaithfull and periured freende Iason But God whiche by his bountifulnesse doth still regarde those whiche followe the right waies and Pathes whiche he hath appointed for them with a piteous and mercifull eye to take awaie all meanes and waies from the traitour Lorde of the greene I le of annoiyng the kyng of great Britaine suffered that death should sende hynt doune to helle there to serue in the boatman Charons Barge afore he euer sawe his sonne Minofol well experimented in his arte to bryng to an ende his peruerse pretence and wicked wil. This same Minofol notwithstandyng beeyng once acertained by his Mother for what occasion his father had caused hym frō his tender yeres so curiously to be endoctrined taught in this diuelishe Arte in the whiche since hee was arriued to good age hee was so skilfull and experte that fewe like to hym were as then to be founde As one that was of his Fathers nature and disposition that is to wit a Traitour wicked and reuengeatiue hee imagined in his fantasie too put in execution the purposed pretence of his predecessour And for to bring to passe the same he still had taried till after the death of the good kyng Brandismel seyng no meanes duryng his life to finishe his conspiracie and vengeable falshodde that hauyng builte the redde Castle whereof I haue afore spoken he addressed the Damosell towarde the Kyng Floridamant to require hym of that you haue harde aboue recited knowyng hym prompt and hardie to giue succour and aide to Dames and Ladies wronged and offended And for that he knewe he had often tymes searched for Nabot to combate with hym to the ende to entrappe and withdrawe hym more easely to hym he appointed hym the message whiche you haue fully seen in the Chapiter precedent For that the Damzell doughter to the knight Minoberis whiche Nabot had in prison had sone perceiued hym to put in practise to deliuer her Father whiche thyng he denied her And so makyng his profite of her request instructed the Damosell his cousin of the Plot before specified who plaied so well her part that she brought the Kyng alone after her which pursued her so as is afore saied as faste as his horse could galoppe without euer atteinyng to her For she had a palfrey possessed with a Deuill whiche the Magician there had by his enchauntmentes put for that he went so swifte that of all that daie nought did he but trot without ceassyng or restyng and the Damosell rapped hym excessiuely feinyng to haue greate haste vntill suche tyme as the nocturnall darcknesse had chased farre into the Weste the shinyng chariot of Phaeton then she ariued in a Foreste thicke and darcke beyng obscured by the manifolde braunches of mightie Dakes which there were innumerable in so much that one could see there no more I thinke then within the moste darcksome denne of the profounde and infernall hell Wherein beeyng entered farre afore the Kyng who still pursuyng her as nere as possiblie he could at laste lost sight of her and not knowyng where she was become he staied somewhat his horse to harken if he could any whit vnderstand the tramplyng of her Palfreis féete therby to follow her trace but that was in vaine For he heard nothyng els but an infinite noyse and yellyng of sauage beastes as Beares wilde Bores Lyons and suche like whiche made so greate a yelling that there scarce one could haue heard the bounsing clapps of soundyng Thunder Whereof I leaue you to thinke if the kynge had occasion or no to bee astonished and greatly abashed In that I déeme none so sure and stable whiche would not haue been afraied at that tyme to approache and enter a place so daungerous Notwitstandyng he was of so magnanimious and haughtie a courage that that seemed to hymself lesse then nothing sauing that he could no more finde out his guide and conductresse But endeuouring hymselfe to searche for her it was vnpossible to make his horse either to go forward or backward what blowes or spurres soeuer he
occision of their people they were enforced to take landing at an other place difficult and vntowarde inough liyng more then a Myle distaunte from the Citie where immediatly vppon their ariuall without anie stoppe or impedimente because the Inhabitauntes of the Citie perceiued theim selues not of sufficient force to pursue or assaile theim any further they descended from their Vesselles and went a Lande with a greate noyse and Tintinare of Trompets Shalmes Drommes Fifes and other like melodious Instrumentes of Warre at sounde wherof the Pagans that first tooke Lande did nought els but daunce and triumphe iolily whiche brauerie of theirs endured but for a shorte season For presently after that the kynges Grandowin Angrafolt Brandissant and the rest with their Souldiers and all their traine whom they had conducted to assaulte the Citie of London whiche they imagined to take within three or fower daies at the moste were descended from their Shippes they marched on meanyng to encampe in a faire and verie wide plaine which as then was situate not farre from the Citie In the middest wherof a manne mought haue seen the stately and magnificente Pauilions of the mightie Heathenishe Kynges and the others whiche resembled an high Groue enuironed with a multitude of lopte Trees among whiche there was erected one farre surmountyng all the reste in length and breadth whiche serued the vse of these kynges in steede of an huige Halle to consulte and deliberate touchyng their affaires the same as a sumptuous and braue Castle with Towers was hemde in with Pauilions of the Kynges Angrafolt and Brandissant on bothe sides wherevnto did closely adioyne on the one parte to the lodgyng of Brandissant the Pauilions of kyng Salazard Zorlot Cambarel and Phagotrof on the other appeared the lodgynges richely besene of the puissaunt Tauladas kyng of Canada and Guitarde lorde of the I le of Baccaleos together with those of the old kyng Grandowin Barant and Marton the strong of Cantabrie All whiche on the morrowe as sone as their whole traine and furniture were sette in order failed not to assemble theim selues in the greate Pauilion to take deliberation and aduise what were beste to bee doen where vnto all the principall knightes that is to saie Dukes Erles and Barons were called of whom there was a greate number The old kyng Grandowin for that by occasion of hym the assemblie was made sittyng on the highest Seate of all whiche was verie sumptuouslie prepared and adorned hauyng his twoo Sonnes Angrafolt on the right and Brandissant on the left hande and all the other kynges with Lordes of greate power stoute and braue knightes aboue sixe hundred begann to speake vnto them in this maner Moste mightie and excellente Kynges Princes Dukes Erles Barons and knightes if the greeuous sorowe and extreeme heauinesse wherewith through the remembraunce of the losse and death of my twoo Sonnes my hart is burdened and tormēted had stirred vp my courage alone with an inflamed desire to take suche straunge and dreadful vengeaunce as vnneth hath been heard of vpon the murderer of theim and of the chief parte of my lignage certes I would haue had no slender regard as one lothe to seme importunate vpō your Maiesties excellencies honours in requiryng your aides and succours in this enterprise well weighyng that my merite to you wardes is of no suche cōsequence that of so many mightie Lordes as in this assemblie are presente to offer and aduenture their gooddes and liues vpon the hazarde of Fortune and of death also should emploie theim selues in this attempte for my sake seeyng that for the accomplishment of the same I my self am of power sufficience with the aide of these my twoo sonnes who are no lesse bounde to take vehemente indignation at the shedyng of their blood and myne then myne owne self But sith the case so standes that the deuotion of the Goddes and the desire to augmente our Lawe and Religion ought to embolden and inspire our courages with an vnaccustomed valiauncie and prouoke our stomackes with bloudie rage not onely to bryng to vtter ruine the moste traiterous and mischeuous Tiraunte that euer did weare Croune hym I meane of Greate Britaine but also wholie to extermine and roote out this cursed ofspryng of Christians who in comparison of vs that hold in subiection Asia Afrique and the greater parte of Europe are but an handfull and yet if wee suffer theim to reigne in peace thei maie receiue suche encrease that as it happeneth not seldome the lesser augmente and the greater decrease in conclusion thei maye dispossesse and depriue vs of our Countries and Dominions ▪ the Inhabitauntes whereof to the greate dishonour of our God Mahomet thei will infecte with the contagion of their false belief to our singuler dammage and confusion of our Successours For whiche cause perceiuyng that the destruction of this accursed kyng Floridamant of Greate Britaigne who is one of their proppes and pillers of their Faithe is an acte in myne opinion verie necessarie for me to atchieue it semes also to bee a verie good and easie enteraunce by meanes of your assistaunce into the residue of our exploites remainyng behinde that is by our prowesse to deface and abolishe the vniuersall race and cable of Christians whose wealth and Seignories wee maie afterwardes diuide emong our selues as in our Iudgementes shall seme reasonable Behold ye noble wightes the chief occasion that hath moued me to assemble so many powers at one instaunt borrowing also your aides the whiche as I thinke should encourage you muche more chen if the enterprise were onely attempted in my behalfe consideryng that it cōcerneth and toucheth you well nigh so muche as my self Wherefore this is myne aduise that wee prosecute earnestly our enterprise vndertaken and begonne since that wee are here readie to put the same in execution doe plie the Iron whiles it is hotte and that without delaie if you iudge it beste to enter forcibly or by other practizes into the citee whiche in respecte of the goodly buildynges and monumētes therof we will neither burne nor raze but it shall suffise that we onely put to the edge of the Sworde all the people whiche wee shall finde within the same as well the small as greate bothe Women and Children murderyng and stayng theim in suche sorte that there shall not reste one to carry tidynges and to hym that can take the kyng Floridamant aliue and hym deliuer into our handes to bee doen to vile and ignominious death wee promise to giue in lieu of his deserte twoo thousande Talentes and so to aduaunce his estate that he maye accompte hymself a fortunate persone but the Dames and Gentlewomen suche as are endowed with singuler beautie shall bée saued to serue for our share and to bee disposed after our likyng Immediatelie after this Saracen had belched out these woordes out of his malicious mouthe and stinkyng stomacke all the other Pagan kynges saied with one voice that he had spoken passyng well and
Gerileon doe aduaunce W. M. THE FIRST BOOKE of the Hystorie of Gerileon After the death of the most puissaunt and vertuous king Brandismell King of greate Britaine there succeeded hym in the gouernement of the said Realme a Sonne of his called Floridamant The whiche beyng in hys Pallace at London feastyng his Lordes and Barons and making preparatiō one afternoone to go course an Harte in the company of the Princes Huberte of Scotlande and Dorian Sonne to the Kyng of Spaigne which Harte he had seen in a wood neere to the Castle of Mirandoll There entered into the Hall a Damsell who hauyng recounted to hym a certaine aduenture had hym away with her The first Chapter THOSE whiche haue been curious in readyng of auncient Histories are nothing ignoraunte howe amongest those Realmes whiche for their fertilitie and worthinesse haue in tymes paste merited any Commendations Brittaine the Greate hath not only matched but also farre surpassed them all As well because of naturall beauty goodnes therof as in that it is the country vnder heauen which of all Antiquity hath bene more populous better stoared of strong and valiaunt Knightes then any other whatsoeuer thether drawen and allured partlie by the excellent and deuine beautie of the Ladies there inhabityng partly by the merueilous and straunge aduentures there accustomably found In so much that for this occasion it hath béen often called the Lande aduenturous Neither might any one of forraine Coastes or Countries name hym selfe a true and valiaunt knight if in it hee had not made proofe of his worthines there atchiuyng some straunge aduentures But especially in the tyme of the moste Puissaunt and vertuous king Brandismel whiche hauyng by his prowesse and valiauncy conquered many Realmes and Prouinces as Norwaie Swethlande and Denmarke instituted also the order of the twelue couragious knightes of greate Britaine beyng suche and endued with so greate force and valiauncie that fewe their likes were as then to bee founde in the whole worlde Amonge whom for moste valiaunt was the kinge Ferrande of Norwaie Dom Grandilaor and Dom Murcibel king of Denmarke The rest also because of their bounty dexteritie and bouldnesse in matters of Armes were greate praise worthy For this occasion was king Brandismel much feared and redoubted of his neighboures and borderers yet no lesse beloued of them for his courtesie liberalitie lenitie and humanitie with other vertues infinite whiche were resplendisaunt in hym And in suche forte that there was not hee whiche doyng hym the most toylesome and agreable seruice hee coulde did not yet estéeme himself most happy to be insinuated into his good grace and fauour so to gaine his gratious amitie But the fatall Sisters most impious and enuious of the good successe and felicitie of humaine kinde and of those especially whiche retaine a singular contentment and pleasure to bee in the fellowship and acquaintaunce of a Prince so vertuous and debonaire bereft them the shinyng gleames of noblenesse and myrour of Chiualry out of this worlde shreading a sonder the last thréede of this so vertuous a king the yere of grace after the death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ 418. the 66. yere of his age and 32. of his raigne Whervppon I can not rightly expresse the dolour sorrow that the couragious knightes his Subiectes receiued with his most priuate and best frendes In so muche that as recounteth vs the Historie there were suche of them as remained twoo or three Monethes without power to refraine themselues from weeping and lamenting most bitterlie when as it came to them in minde of the Bountie and Vertue of that noble Prince And chieflye the worthy olde Candior Duke of Normandy a Prince surelie amongest the Sage and hardy muche commendable Neuerthelesse as there is noe griefe so greate whiche in course of tyme a quite consumer of all thinges is not put foorthe of remembraunce So for iuste cause this good Lorde of Normandy together with the reste whiche were moste dolefull for the losse of a King so debonaire and vertuous at laste made ende of their plaintes and lamentations And for iuste cause saye I in that he lefte them for successour a Sonne of his begotten by his deere and loyall Spouse and Wife Florixe whiche not many yeres before had departed this life whiche saide sonne after the death of his Father was Heire not onely of his terreine Dominions and Possessions but also of his most rare and singuler vertues For besides that he was a good knight prudent and hardy past measure beeyng of a large stature his members well made formed and proportioned in equality the one with the others of sixe or seauen and twentie yeres of age ▪ or there aboutes he was also had in reputation for the most sage modest courteous Prince of his tyme In so much that to make briefe no man could require or wish any thing proper or conuenient for so great a personage as his whereof his valiauncie and inuincible prowesse was not beautified and adorned This same was called Floridamant the which did neuer finde man of what force or puissaūce soeuer he were who daring to Iust with hym hadde not geuen plainly to feele and vnderstande that he was peerelesse and not matcheable For this cause there was no knight in all Brittaigne the Greate whiche at his newe arriuall to the Crowne did not deliberate and determine to conuerte and tourne the lamentations and weepinges of his Fathers death into ioyes and gladnesse for hauing after the losse of a good Lorde and Master recouered and receaued a better kyng To whom there lacked so litle that he should degenerate from the bountie and goodnes of his predecessour that by his vertue whiche rather more then lesse did hym illustrate he did in suche sort striue and endeuour in equalitie of valiauncie and good behauiour to imitate and counteruale hym that his Knightes Princes and Barons with other of his Vassailes and Seruauntes thought in no wise to haue chaunged their Maister who vnwillyng to omit anye iote of his greate magnificence a while after his Coronemente made and gaue so many faire and Godly Giftes and Presentes not onely to the couragious knightes his Subiectes but also to such straungers as were come to visite him and to make offer to hym of their seruice beeyng nothyng ignoraunt that liberalitie rendreth men subiect and bounde towardes those whiche vse it that there was not he whiche pricked and prouoked with a desire to doe him agreable seruice so muche his lenity and liberality had charmed and enchaunted their affections would not willinglie haue put his life in hazarde for the maintenaunce conseruation of his honour And for that that a little afore the decease of the good king Brandismel his Father he had espoused the daughter of king Barrachen of Scotlande named Bellizenne a Princesse as sage and vertuous as faire and gracious for fewe there were who then for beauty good grace durste compare with her There were come to visite
Gerileon to be nourished and taught and of his childishe gentilitie and noble actes in youthe Duryng whiche tyme Prince DORIAN of Spaigne which was gone to seeke after Kyng Floridamant his frende was driuen by Tempeste into the Greene I le where he vnderstoode that the Traitour Mynofoll did leuie an Armie too inuade the Realme of Greate Britaine Wherefore beeyng gone thether he slewe the say de Minofoll at one stroke with a Speare and with the ayde of the couragious Knightes of greate Britaine discomfited all his Hoast Duryng whiche while the yong Gerileō lost hymself in the Forest by pursuyng a Phaisaunte whereby the Queene through grieues and sorrow outraged had slaine her selfe but for the sodaine arriuall of kyng Floridamant who disturbed her in the Acte ¶ The fift Chapter THE Iustynges and Tourneys solemnized in the Citty of London for ioye of the late child birth of the Queene Bellizenne dured the space of fiue daies In which season the Princes Ferrand and Grandilaor made suche proofe of their valiaunt prowesse haughtie chiualrie that they still rested victours to the great cōtentment of the faire Antiziliane To whom Grandilaor gaue all the Iewels by hym conquered whiche he had wonne of the vanquished knightes But at th ende thereof the vertuous Quene hauyng abandoned and lefte her childbed caused them to cease not able wholie to forget the sorrow and anguishe whiche the long absence of her loyall spouse brought vnto her but onely at suche tymes as she takyng her little Infant betwene her armes to yelde some release to her dolour she embraced hym with a multitude of beholdinges kisses coming of natural loue Not knowing whether she ought to waile the long and yrkesome absence of her Husband although not wholy voyde of hope to see hym once againe or rather to reioyce and content her selfe with so luckie a burthen And in this perplexitie she remained more then twoo yeres now sad nowe somewhat merie liuyng still and sustainyng her self by the foode of a certein hope whiche yet sometyme fed her with some consolatiō During whiche tyme she was so curious and tooke so great hede well to nourishe brauely to bring vp the yong Gerileon that at two yeres endes he was so big and ioyly that already he could both goe and run and prattled so pretily that he could demaund and aske for what ere he would haue In so muche that eche one cōiectured muche of his future boūtie and valour by his yong childishe actes accompagnied with such a naturall gentilitie and magnanimitie whiche in hym within processe of tyme had suche an encreasement that they seemed to surpasse the selfe same course of his tender and yong yeres For scarsely had he arriued to the fourth yere of his age but that if by chaunce he sawe any one beyng dolefull and sad to lament he had therof so greate compassion that knowing the cause of his dolour he endeuoured to recomfort him the best that he could offering him all that he had for his contentmente and especiallie to the Queene his Mother to whom on a daie when she heald hym on her Lappe hearing her geue a profounde sigh he spake moste gentlie on this sorte and saied Madam what ayleth you I praie you tell mee why you sigh Is there any that hath geuen you occasiō of being angrie For if it bee so I assure you it shall not bee vnreuenged The Queene hearyng hym speake with so good a grace began to smile at his childishe wordes who with suche and other like matters yelded often most great lightnyng to her passions and distresses Moreouer he neuer remained idle and moste commonly one should finde hym either neere to some horse wherevpō leadyng him to some blocke or suche like thing he set him self with so good a grace that at sight thereof a man would haue iudged hym to haue been the moste dexterious squire or knight of all greate Britaine or els takyng a Staffe he wente to assaile some one or other to trie hym self that wayes againste hym to whom albeit he surpassed hym in bignesse of bodie yet he raught hym some tymes by his nimblenesse and actiuitie suche harde blowes that commonly he was forced to plaie double or quitte with hym For in the science of Defence thei trained and brought hym vp so curiouslie that at laste he was therein as experte not onely as his teachers but also as any other in the world in his tyme Then againe with a Darte in hande he wente tracyng through the Forest to finde some wilde beastes without feare of the whiche no more then if thei had been Dogges if perchaunce he recountred any he pursued theim so faste in the Forest that often tymes the Quene whiche neuer was at ease he beyng out of sight sette and sent folkes euery waie to seeke hym But what should I thus muche striue to discourse vpon this point seyng that as it is found by the writinges of the Chronicler Galarx one can not recite any thyng fitte and cōuenient to an harte fraight with noblenesse and generositie to whiche this little prince applied not his minde and behaued hym self so well in all his childly enterprises that makyng them tende to some gentle ende he semed rather a man of ripe iudgemente then a skillesse Child and Infant Duryng the tyme that the yonge boye Gerileon thus encreased bothe in ago vertue strengthe and gentlenesse of Spirite the Queene his mother had made enquirie on all partes as well for her brother Hubert of Scotlande whose losse brought muche annoye to many as also for the good knightes Candior Grandilaor Acciall of Surrye Sylban of Flanders Melcior and many others of the couragious of Greate Britaine to knowe the cause of the long abode which so muche anoied her of king Floridamant who being sent out to seke him towardes al partes of the earth could in nowise heare any newes of him Whiche thing beyng come to the eares of Prince Dorian of Spain he was by reason of the feruent loue he had to him so distressed for his losse that he vowed and sware neuer to slepe quietly or in good reste vntill suche tyme as he might heare some newes of hym in so muche that makyng inquirie for hym he wēt first into Thrace where hauyng heard nothyng of hym he put hym self on the sea to returne to Greate Britaine or to some other countrie farther of But he was surprised by a marueilous and horrible tempeste whose blastes after a while caused his Barke to be cast on shore in the Grene Ile where by a Cloune of the same coast he was assured that for certaintie the traitour Necromancien Minofol helde and had hym in his prison of the Redde Castle enchaunted and caused hym daiely to bee whipped and beaten by fiue or sixe villaines with greate and bigge coardes all to make hym miserably languishe till the ende of his daies and he knew moreouer that he addressed a greate Armie by Sea traitorously to
Necke most finely wrought and wrapped in a Scarffe with riche Chaines of Golde there rowsed a fierce Lion which at the noyse of the horne issued out of a Thicket whom he hauing seen endeuoured to strike hym with a mightie Dart which he helde in his hande but the Lyon whiche is the most noble and gentle of all other beastes began in signe of humilitie to encline his head doune to the earth pacyng softly towardes hym came to kisse hym with greate fauour to licke his feete and to fawne vppon hym as though hee had been euer accquainted with hym The Youth without anye astonishment seeing hym so meeke and humble without doyng hym any harme tooke hym by the eare and led hym towarde the Castle to the place where the Faierie was to whom hee saide Madame see I praie you what a kinde of Dogge I haue founde in the Forrest O my Sonne saide the Faierie that is neither Dogge neither Lion whereof he hath the forme but certes it is the Squire whiche I meane shal serue you when you shall be a knight And how can that be saide he seeyng he hath neither feete nor handes would you haue hym serue mee with these gripes and perilous Pawes I will soone make hym finde replied he Fairie both feete and handes when tyme shall serue to vse them Then the youth without saiyng to her any more retourned into the Forrest where hee had left his Houndes whom he founde deuouring a greate Harte which they had taken and had welnéere eaten vp but the Lyon whiche followed him then and euer after terrifiyng and making them flee from about the praie deuoured the reste in lesse then an hower Such was the life which the yoūg youth Gerileon led in his Infancie in the compagnie of the Fairie Oziris and her Nimphes Naiades with all the honest entertainement and exercise méete and decent to a young Infant wel borne issued from so noble a stocke as he was whom we will let passe there in such sort certeine yeres of his Adolescencie to recompt vnto you that which happened to king Floridamant his father after that he was deliuered from Prison and by what meanes he escaped thence By what meanes the Kinge Floridamant was deliuered from prison in the red Castell for cause of whose deliuerance and ariuall were apointed Iusting Tourneis wherein the King himselfe bare awaie the price whervpon the Image of the Fairy Oziris which was before the Portall of the Pallace gaue him the Oliue braunche whiche she helde in her hande than vanished away incōtinently And how the king made a sumptuous feast during the whiche the Prince Grandilaor moued many amorous matters to the Maiden Antiziliane whiche thinges beeyng in doyng there entred into the Hall a Page whiche brought a Letter to Dorian Prince of Spayne who sttaight waies after departed the Courte ¶ The seuenth Chapter YOV haue heretofore hearde howe the Queene Bellizenne vppon the intollerable paine she suffered as well for the absence of the king Floridamant as for the losse of her litle Sonne Gerileon was at pointe to kill her self where she was disturbed and letted of her enterprise by the ariuall of king Floridamant Who seyng her come comfortlesse and sad for sorrow through the Forrest helde hym self hid behinde a bushe to marke what she would saie and to sée what she pretended to perpetrate And not to giue cause of abashment to the Reader in this aduenture but to giue hym to vnderstande how she should come then thether with suche oportunitie seyng that as we haue afore said he was in the prison of the traitor Minofoll how it came to passe we will shewe It is to be vnderstanded that the redde Castle wherein he was emprisoned was builded as you haue afore hearde by the Enchauntmentes and diabolicall coniurations of the Necromantian Minofol wholie to woorke this feate the whiche Enchauntmentes could neuer take ende but by the onely beath of the Enchaunter hymself Wherevpon the valiant Prince Dorian sonne to the Kyng of Spaine encountered the saied Minofoll in a mightie Battaile whiche you haue seen so sufficientely written in the fifte Chapiter and so transperced his body with his spere that he then and there fin shed both his life and enchauntmentes Wherupon the king felyng hymself deliuered from so miserable a Prison after hauyng secretly seised vpon some Harnesse whiche he founde in the chamber of the Magicien without staie made suche a spoile and staughter of those which he could encoūter that it was terrible to be tolde Then taking his waies toward Greate Britain wherin he found aduēture worthy recitall he had deliberated before his goyng to the Citie of London to soiourne certaine daies at Mirandoll but as he approached neere thervnto he encountred the Quéene Bellizenne in th' estate as you haue afore heard with whō after his abode there about the space of fiftene or sixtene daies not without great Ioy of all his Barons Knightes and other Subiectes and chiefly also of the Princes Hubert of Scotlande and Dorian of Spaine who were at London when he ariued he went to the Citie into the whiche he entred moste roially and magnificētly where were in signe of ioye adressed Iustinges Tourneis for the loue of ladies wherin it is not to be doubted if the Scottish Spanishe Pruices gaue not cleare testimonie to the Worthies of Greate Britain of their haughtie chiualrie in that there was none whom thei pitched not out of their Sadelles to take their measure on the grounde and that was the kyng Ferrand of Norwaie whom the valiant Prince Hubert dishorsed after the breache of vj. Speares and at the vij threwe him to the ground howheit not without streinyng hymself to forsake the Stiropes And the younge Grandilaor also after hauyng hardelie assaied to abbate and beate doune the Prince of Spaine was forced to kisse the grounde hym self in his owne proper persone to the no small griefe of the Damozell Antiziliane who was thereof noe lesse abashed then the Queene Bellizenne was glad and ioyous when as she sawe the kyng Floridamant Who beholdyng all the knightes so beaten doune by twoo straūgers came in Habite and harnes vnknowen to assaie them bothe the one after the other neuerthelesse not without greate difficultie and breaking of many speares Which knightes not knowyng him whiche had them so hardly handled desired to come to combate at the sharpe excusing them selues by the feeble wearines of their Horses But the king of whose passing prowes thei were nothyng ignoraunte beyng discouered and knowen thei ceassed and moderated their maruaile and greate Melancholy And the Iustinges beyng thus ended thei ledde hym to reste and refreshed hym self in his Pallace But so as hee marched before all the reste hauyng the Princes Hubart and Dorian the one on his right side the other on his lefte he was altogether astonished when entryng by the greate porte of the Pallace he aperceiued the triumphant Pillers of Marble whiche
Fayries arriued in a village where he had tydinges of the vnknowen Knight who bare his Armes and had his Horse ¶ The. xviij Chapiter THe slow ariual of the Youth of the Fairies towardes the place where the cruell and daungerous Combate had bene betweene the twoo good Knightes vnknowen and Pharisor was occasion and let that hee founde hym not as hee had thought to haue done and that because it was very loÌ„g ere he could ariue at the place where hee was lefte for dead through the aboundaunce of bloud whiche he had lost beyng so wounded in the Combate For a while afore the good Giaunt Ergoferant who was gone to séeke for the vnknowen knight to reuenge his death goyng through the Forest heard hym who reuiued froÌ„ sound and yet liyng on the Grasse not able to arise complained and lamented right dolourously for his deare frend and fellow the Youth of the Fairies and going where he was yet not thinking it to haue bene hym hee found hym in so pitifull miserable an estate that if then presentlie hee had not had succour he must haue yelded vp the Ghost not so much for the grieuousnes of his woundes whiche were not mortall as for the yrke somnes hee had of his frendes absence whom he thought to haue fled of purpose to leaue hym as dispising his companie But the good Giaunt not without great maruell of so good a reencouÌ„ter tooke hym vp softly betweene his armes and as one wonderous strong caried hym easely towardes the Towne of Constantinople not without telling hym along by the way the sorrow and dole wherein he had lefte his sister Dinamya with the Empresse and her Damozelles and consequently all the Emperours Courte because of his death which they had heard by the selfe same Knight who so had wounded hym demaunding hym in like maner the cause of their combatyng whiche he tould vnto hym at large vntill suche tyme as approachyng néere to a certaine village whiche was but fiue or fixe Furlonges froÌ„ the Citty the night also approaching they were constrained to retire into a certeine Inne where the were honestlie and honourably entertained by the Hoste of the house who knewe the Giaunt and the Knight also to be of the Emperours Court and there were some Salues and Plaisters laide to the woundes of Pharisor by a certaine Chirurgian whiche dwelt in that Towne whiche notwithstandyng when they ariued the Morowe after at Constantinople were taken awaie by Maister Rabalon who puttyng in their place precious Oyntementes wherof he had alwaies store he did so well that to the great contentment of the Emperour Empresse and Dynamia with all the other Knightes Dames and Damozelles hee recetued his perfecte health in the space of fiue daies And for this cause though the renouation of an vnspeakable ioye the thicke Myste of forepassed sorowes whiche afore had holden their heartes with infinite number of Anguishes and Teares remained as vanished and dissolued especially with Dynamia Who hauyng recouered the obiect of her griefe was reduced into her pristine forme of ioye and felicitie contrary to the Lady Prrphyria who seeyng her selfe depriued of hym who on her had fatally fixed his fancie not able to giue any releasement to her Passions and grieuous mallady what comforte or consolation soeuer either the Emperour or Empresse gaue vnto her bringyng her in mynde of her Cosines retourne the feare and suspition of whose death was cause of her Mallady as they deemed and therefore should now cause their opinion beyng false and vain her sinall recouery of health But beyng wholy ignoraunt where the Thorne pricked her they could no ways worke but that she waxyng still worse and worse hastened still towardes the blacke Stygian Lake had it not beene for the comforte whiche the Damozelles Marcella and Harderine who knowyng the full occasion thereof recomforted her with the hope they had that his Death was noe lesse true then Pharisors and that the vnknowen knight whiche had caused those Nouelles had not done it but onlie to bragge and boaste hym selfe thereof or els to couer the dishonour he had gotten at the Iustes whereat she was somewhat released of payne yet not able altogether to leaue her Feuer and become whole and sounde In this wise remained the poore languishyng Princesse full of sorowe and paine for the loue of hym who beeyng noe lesse greeued through the equalitie of their Disease if hee had knowen their affections and alterations of the Spirite to bee reciprocate rather then to liue in continual thought and anguish as afterwardes he did he would otherwise and sooner haue put hym selfe in endeuour to salue and pacisie this amourous wouÌ„d which so pained them But as one who thought hymselfe so vnfortunate and smally fauoured of loue that he thought hym to haue made their woundes quite contrarie and otherwise then they were could neuer bee in anye place but that thinking on his estate and newe loue hee entered into deadlye dispaire of hope euer to attaine the Typpe of his desire In suche wise that where he then was to wit in the Forest where we lefte hym seekyng the vnknowen Knight to reuenge the deathe of his deare frende Pharisor accompanied with his Squire Geliaste he so conuerted the care he had of findyng hym into cogitations and contemplations of her passing beautie whom aboue all others he praised and esteemed that in steede of holdyng the right waie out of the Forrest to finde a place to embarcke hym selfe and go into some straunge Countrie he came towardes Constantinople which he thought to be most farre of whereof the Squire aduised who was somwhat more ioconde then the day before asked hym whether he would or if he thought to finde his Enemye in the Cittie from whence the daie before he had sworne to separate hym selfe a farre of so to shunne the daungerous heate of the Fyre â—…gence to ouertake hym as ye saye ye will I am sure that betweene this and that place you may doe it easely But seyng it is now late I counsaile you to go and take your rest for this Night that to Morrowe you maye bryng to passe your pretended purpose as luckelie as I would wishe you After the man of the House had made this promise to the Youth to set hym in the ready waie wherein he might ouertake the knight of whom he thought himself more iniuried theÌ„ he was to thintent he might arise betymes in the Mornyng he went therupoÌ„ straightwaies to slepe in a faire bed whiche the Host had purposely prepared for hym where we let hym rest for chaunge of matter till the next morrowe How Grandowyne Kyng of Hybernia and Cornewaile Vncle to the Nigromantian Mynofoll addressed a greate and puissaunt Armie ro reuenge the death of his two Children Mawgarde and Vaspazell whom King Floridamant had slain And how goyng towardes LoÌ„don he was encouÌ„tred by a little Flete of christians the Captayne whereof were the Princes Ferrand of Norwaie Grandilaor of Swethland