where my men attended me vnknowing but that I was yet in bed because in the morning at my departure I had firmed my chamber doore and was issued without the knowledge of any one for euery man slept soundly Being thus returned to the Pallace after I had declared to my men who and what Alector was all of them receiued him with great ioy with admiration of his beautie and good grace dooing to him most great honor and reuerence yea more than to my selfe as many doo rather worship the Sunne rising than going down for the which I was neither sorie nor enuions for his great beautie vertue and honestie did well merit it hereupon the tables were couered and wee went to dinner most gorgiously And amongst other communications which were held at the table Alector declared to me the great grief that Priscaraxe had of my long tarrying and of the earnest desire which shee had of my returne for the accomplishing whereof she most affectuously required me by him which he also on his part most earnestly desired saying that hee had promised and sworne to the Quéene his Mother neuer to returne againe to her vnles he brought me with him beséeching me with humble reuerence to doo him the fauor to satisfie his promises Wherefore I who was no lesse affectionated towards the Mother and Sonne than they towards me deliberated and made him promise assuredly to depart the next day and for that cause I commanded my men to trusse vp harnesse and baggage to appoint and make readie my good horse Durat which they did with great and good diligence The whiles I and Alector went to take leaue of the King of Tangut rendering him thanks for his hospitalitie who on the contrarie thanked vs of the good succor which I and my people had done him with our great Hippopotame against a horrible monster of the Sea called Trolual so great as a little Isle in the Sea or a great mountaine on the earth who at euerie ful moone would cast himself into the hauens ports and créekes deuouring and destroying all that he met and swallowing vp men women and children aliue yea horses kine and other beasts This monster Trolual séeing our great Hippopotame going vpon the Sea and we mounted vppon him thrusting and breaking the waues before him lanched himself with terrible impetuositie against vs and our great horse where he thought to haue had aboundant pray but he found mauchat maurat or maurat mauchat A Prouerbe in France when one meeteth with his match for our Hippopotame who is the most hurtfull creature and greatest dooer of harme in all the world when he is puised thereto with violence as the Trolual opened his mouth so large as the arch of a gate to haue swallowed him vp and vs therewith hee caught him with his two great teeth before by the lip in raysing him out of the water so high as we were wherby presently I thrust my launce into his throate with the poynt sticking fastning in his roofe and the great end planted in his iawe belowe so as the monster found himselfe fast in the téeth of mine Hippopotame gagged with the launce and not able to shut his mouth for the paine of the yron piercing his sensible parts the which one of my men called Cetophon apperceiuing with a merueilous hardines and readines with his naked sword in his hand leaped into the deapth of the monsters throate so far that he found out his verie entrailes and heart which he hurt and wounded with so many blowes of his sword that he might féele the monster weakened wherefore sodainely he retired himselfe out of this monsterous body and rendred himselfe to vs againe The horse Durat in the meane while flinging with his féete and training with his téeth this monster vnto the shore who through anguish of death beating the water with his tayle had like a tempest moued and disquieted all the Sea boyling and dyed with the aboundance of bloud which hee shed so as three stades round about it séemed to bee the red sea betweene Arabia and Aethiopia when we were arriued at the shore Durat let goe the monster Trolual vppon the sands whome by reason of his waight hee could no longer draw because his life was fayled and through dead to the great Ioy of all the people dwelling about the Sea coasts And this was the cause why the King of Tangut and all his people rendred vs so many thankes with most rich and houourable presents This selfe same euening Alector stirred vp with a most ardent desire and impatience of longer tarrying with most earnest expostulation humbly prayed me for the first request of the Son to his Father that if I loued him at the selfe same houre I should make him Knight which I as one that could not refuse to do any thing for him easily yelded to his request for the accomplishment whereof going about to speake the solemne words and to lift vp mine arme to giue him the accolade all humaiue puissance failed me as though I had had the paisie of tongue arme and all the parts of my bodie and when Aleft off my puissance and force came againe to mee and as I would haue proued to reiterate the same twise or thrise so often this paisey came vpon me whereby I coniectured that either the time serued not thereunto or ets that I was not he ordained of the heauens that should giue Alector the order of Knighthood And therefore for that time I left off to make any more proofe deferring it till another time and place to my great shame and no lesse sorrowe of Alector in this fearefull confusion all of vs went to rest and the next day wée mounted vppon the great horse Hippopotame betaking our selues to the high Teptentrionall Seas where Durat stretched out his large stoating feete and reared his wings carrying vs away so lightly that he rather seemed to flye that goe Whereof Alector who neuer had ridden ouer the fishes was so much 〈◊〉 and glad as cóuld bee wherefore through great desire of discouering the furthest part of the immensall space of the Seas like a young greedy and nimble youth as he was he mounted now goe I 〈◊〉 my mortall griefes hee mounted alas hee mounted to the top of one of the wings of my horse Duraâ— armed alwaies with his sword and shield which hee would neuer abandone And as hee was perched in the highest beholding on the one side the mountaines of the region of Bator and the hils Anubies which seemed to flye from vs and on the other side the great Seas without bottome or shore and I feaâ—ing least he should fall called on him to descend But behold alas beholde a strong winde arose from the Hyperborian parts or rather a strong Steay and wicked trouble some spirit who taking him by the shield eleuated into the ayre my deer Soune Alector crying from the ayrie Region so loude as he could helpe 〈◊〉 my
fuerie of so villanous a shot that forgetting himselfe and the present perill wherein he was by ardant desire of reuenge and to recounter the murthering shooter and slayer of his Noëmia came out of his fort throwing himselfe like a wounded Lyon through the midst of the multitude breaking the preace beating downe all before him and with his strong shield repulsing all that he met furiously cried out Traiterous Archer murtherer o' Maidens where arte thou Why presentest thou not thy selfe before me Thou leaud coward and traitor to the end I may accompanie the most vnworthie of death that euer liued or that I may fill my selfe of reuenge with the cleerest of thy bloud Cruell Tiger lurking Serpent coward and wicked Crocadile that without offence hast giuen death to the liueliest vertue and after fliest away like a waspe leauing her venemous sting behinde her darest thou present thy selfe vnto mee So went Alector crying and furiously threatning striking and abating downe of men that no man how hardie soeuer he were durst stand against him vnlesse he ment to be slaine But whiles through desperate rage he layed so about him at randon striking vpon those whome were before him and taking no regarde to those who followed him soddainely hee founde himselfe assailed with sixe puissant men who by maine force toke from him his shield and so consequently one parte of his hardines and albeit hee made much resistance to the great hurt of his enemies yet neuerthelesse the multitude so oppressed and ouer charged him that his sworde fell out of his hand the which one of the brothers Gratians tooke vp with the shield So was Alector taken and led by force of people to the Potentate gouernour of the towne and chiefe Iustice called Diocles who seeing this faire young man of such a liberall countenance to bee accused by so many voyces speaking against him the one accusing him of Rape another of Treason another of fornication and others of many murthers To all which accusations he answered nothing neither demanded any thing but the death to accompanie his most deere and wofull Noëmia would not giue iudgemēt headlong but dooing the duetie of a Potentate like a most wise man knowing all these people to be passionated the one partie with furie and appetite of reuenge and the other with desperation griefe sorrowe enuie and contempt of life aduised himselfe to let both parties coole vntill the next morning when by their cold blood they might retourne to reason and their right sense whereupon adressing his speeche vnto the tumultuous people and chiefely to the two brothers complainants hee spake in this manner Lordes Gratians to morrow the parties being heard I will shew you right Meane while returne your selues in peace and I will keepe the offendor in sure custodie This saide they all retired themselues euill content enough Alector was then committed to the keeping and custodie of the Capitaine Palatine and the others departed to goe burie their dead amongst whome the foresaide faire Noëmia was founde slaine and buried with great lamentation of her brothers according to the vse of the countrie euen in the same place where she was slaine hard vnder the foresaid piller of the graces for the excellent giftes of spirite and bodie that in her life time beyond fortune they had ennobled her withall and in the stone was ingrauen this Epitaph Lo here Noëmia faire that constant Maide doth lie before these Graces who bewaile her want of breath That for Alectors sake her stedfast faith to trie hath felt the stroke of loue and dint of cruell death Of the accusation and processe against Alector and of his defence CAP. 2. THE next daie the Lorde Diocles Potentate and chiefe Iustice of Orbe sitting vpon the Tribunall seate in the great Basilicq caused to appeare and come before him the Gratian Lords complaināts and the Squire Alector defendant to vnderstand iudge of the commotion and slaughter happened by their cause in the assistance of all the Maiestrates Orders and Estates of the Citie of Orbe and of the greater part of the people there assembled and gathered together by reason of the case so new strange and of so terrible example The two brothers Gratians clothed in long garments of mourning cullour with visages sad and withered either for verie sorrowe or els by artificial cunning of some sulphurian smoke For oftentimes an Hegers mournefull cheere Through fained shewe dooth proue a laughter meere with shauen beardes haires rent and torne implored Iustice against Alector being there present a stranger a spie a foyler of maidenly beds a violator of hospitalitie a raptor of virginitie a theefe and breaker vp of noble houses a troubler of publique peace and a bloodie murtherer Declaring that at the perswasion of their late deceassed sister Noëmia Gratian a gracious maiden more peraduenture than was expedient for him vpon the recite of certaine valiant feates of Armes vnknowing whether they were truely or falsely giuen out they had receiued him into their house alwaies held noble of all antiquitie and estéemed a house of honour This fained and masqued Gentleman who vnder colour of a certaine courtlike ciuilitie wherein he seemed to haue been trained vp and by the allurement of a certaine beautiful youth in him by the giftes of nature shining had corrupted the good nurture manners of their sister being a simple and yong maiden and the best estéemed of this age and had tempted her honestie euen vnto the entring into her priute chamber at vnlawfull houres in the night abiding there the whole night alone with her wherby may be iudged the rest where after that by reuelation of some domestical and faithful seruants hee was discouered by breaking vp the dores he by fraction of the hospital lodging villainously violated polluted was leapt downe through a windowe into the lower court where againe hee hath committed many murthers aswell vpon the domestical seruants friends and familiers come to their succour as of their proper parents and alies yea and that hee had wickedly and cursedly slaine the yongest of the brothers Gratians and for that cause their so amiable sister by rage of furious loue had so lost her senses that she was come miserablie to be slaine in his armes neither was it knowne by whome vnlesse by himselfe who by holding her imbraced had slaine her as it is very likely And thereupon demaunded iustice to be giuen them aswel for the priuate interest of the persons of their brother sister parents friends and domesticall seruants as also for publique example of other such like disturbers of their publique peace stirers of ciuill discorde and corupters of good manners Concluding him to be worthie of the most ignominious death that could be adiudged The most wise and iust Potentate Diocles hauing in great and attentiue silence heard and vnderstood the action and complaint of the brothers Gratians only with his left eare and hauing alwaies held his right eare stopped with the palme
Pilgrimes which would ascend vp to the souereigne Temple whereunto the waye was verie difficile by reason of the obscure pathes verie hard to be kept without conduct and light going before For which cause these thrée fatall Sisters were there constituted in that office to furnish the Pilgrimes trauellers with cierges aswell to lighten them in the waye wherein they are to walke as also to offer their oblations to God in the souereigne Temple And they gaue and distributed them not after one fashion but after diuers sorts euen as by fortune or rather by secret ordinance they came to their hands some being great and long some lesse and others verie small The first fatall Sister resident in the inferior Stage gaue to euerie one his cierge the second lightened them and the third finally put them out either before or after they were offered vp Now these fatall cierges were like the Brand of Meleager and in them consisted the life and death of those who receiued them and they carried them with such determination that so long as they burned and gaue light the person carrying them liued and incontinentlie so soone as by the office of Termaine they were put out at the same instant ended the corporall life of those who carried them For by the ordinance of Anange it was necessarie that once they should bee extinguished either by default or violence to the end that in offering them their sauour might ascend to God who was worshipped in the ancient Temple to be receiued or reiected good or euill according to the matter whereof they were made and according as they had béen vsed and handled honestly and purely or foiled broken or polluted filthelie and villainouslie And none or verie few were offered at the sacrifice during their liuely light but necessarily they must be by the three fatall Sisters extinguished either in default of matter or violent accident And yet neuertheles after they wer once lightened they remained in the arbitriall conduct enterteinment gouernment of those who had them in their keping with expresse defence of putting them out but constantly and clearly to carrie them vntill such time as Termaine had put her hand thereto Notwithstanding some either by enuious disdaine desperation or other euill affection would put them out before the time and spitefully cast them to the ground together with their bodies dying others would cut breake them in péeces of despite Some thinking to make them burne more clearely than their substance and wyke would permit did trouble snofe reuerse trauerse and blowe them in such sort that in a while they cōsumed them so as they endured but a short space Some others going about to stuffe annoynt grease them with olde oyles and other fat liquours thinking to make them last longer and adioyne to their first making being a thing impossible haue clean contrarie to their opinion euflamed more aboundantly and consumed more hastely rendring moreouer a smoke of most filthie sauor but contrariwise others there were who held and carried their faire cierges in a constant rightnes highly eleuated whereby they rendred light more apparant longer shining aswell to themselues as to those who went before and folowed them Others also adioyned thereunto Balme Myrrhe incense other aromaticall gummes seruing not onely to their shining but also causing them to leaue a most good and gracious smell after their putting out and sacred offering in the Temple where by the Sacrist Termaine they were extinguished and gathered together Howbeit all of them came not to the terme of receiuing in the end of their peregrination and offring of their cierges by the third fatall Sister Termaine but the greatest part failed by the way either by reason that the matter of the light was of so small durance as being of pitch rosell or terpentine or for being too little or ouer small of substance or by reason their wyke ouer grose in respect of the waxe or for that oftentimes they were violently put out by casualties hapning by the way specially by the blustering of windes by hurts and embushments of euill encountrie by raynes waters tempests other like accidents which put out the lights and so consequently kill those who carrie them because they were fatalized as hath béen showed before whereby it commeth to passe that the greatest part of the Pilgrimes perish by the way and neuer arriue at the third station of the fatall Sister Termaine noryet to the Temple to offer and present the sanour of their cierges Thus were these thrée sisters resident in thrée lodgings within this great Tower furnishing to the Pilgrimes the cierges of their conduct way and life which the first and highest presented them the second and lower lightened and the third and last put out and offered in the Temple But as the Poet diuinely singeth By fatall sort all things doo fall to ruine and decay From ill to worse and at the last consume weare away Euen so commonly it falleth out that the first munistcences are larger and more liberall than those which followe as all naturall things are best at the first So commeth it to passe that the cierges which haue béen first presented haue béen fairer longer and greater better fashioned and of better waxe and so consequently of longer indurance cléerer light Likewise the first men who receiued them were found more greater stronger like Giants as they were to carrie and eleuate them yea and more wise and apt to conduct and mainetaine them as those who knewe well that their life and death depended thereupon which they would neither dispraise despite nor haue in sorrowe but estéemed honoured and kept them right dearlie as the gift and grant of the great King of all kings in whose honour they would render it againe to him in his Temple in offer of their last voyage and to the termination of the last fatall Sister Termaine to whom all in a manner happely arriued without anie mal-encounter trouble or hurt Of the Macrobians their vertue and great age of the long lift of Franc-Gal and causes thereof CAP. 13. BUt amongst all those great light bearers the most prudent most aduised of spirite and the most strong and durable of bodie haue shewed themselues to be the blood of the Macrobians who were children of a good sage rich and noble laborer called Kamat and of a vertuous and excellent Lady and singular good Huswife called Madame Sophroisne who accompanied not themselues with rascals but on the contrarie estéemed it great honour and noblesse to employ bodie members and spirite to all honest and fruitefull labor and excerior exercise of the bodie and interior and temperate moderation of the minde And thereby haue sprung of their bloods most mightie Kings Princes and valiant Knights Cyrus the most renowmed King of Persia from them descended and tooke therein great glorie Agathocles King of Sicilia thereof vaunted The good Romaine Consull Marcus Curius thereby held himselfe honoured
followed her alwaies vntil she was flowen verie farre of and reposed her selfe vpon a high trée attending him But the Archier Croniel who was vnder the trée seeing the foule at a faire aduantage bent his bow thinking to let flie an artowe to haue killed her but as hee was taking his marke with eager leuelling behold a Lionesse issued out of an olde ruined caue which was hard by where she nourished her yong and faire and softlie came stealing to assaile the poore Archier who gaue no béen at all sauing to his aforesaid marke and therewithal had strangled and carried him to her yong had not Franc-Gal who was not sarre off presently aduanced himselfe to the succeur of the poore Archier with his sword in his hand and the shield of azure with the Senue of golde in readinesse The Beast hearing the brute of the sounding harnesse for Franc-Gal was armed and the great noyse which he made in crying turned fiercelie against him and cast her mightie pawes vpon his shield with such a force that shee plucked it out of his hand but Franc-Gal so puissant as a Giant gaue her ouerthwart the sides such a stroke with his sword that he cut her bodie in two péeces wherewithall the beast dying gaue out such an horrible crie that two of her whelpes so yong that scarce they could créepe issued out of the ruined caue crying after their Dam. Franc-Gal séeing them said that of an euill beast no yong ought to be left and for that cause flewe them both and in terrour of others after the manner of Aphricke hung them vp by the tailes vpon a tree with the moities of the bodie of their Dam to the great astonishing of the Archier who being releeued out of the sodaine feare which he had by reason of the Beastes clawes greatlie meruailed of this readie sodaine and vnlooked for helpe and succour and of the valiauncie of this faire olde man for the which he thanked him right heartelie knowing for a certaine that it was hee which by the nighthe reuclation was showed him should saue his life And for that cause demaunded him what good fortune had brought him so happely to his rescue from the death and what hee sought in those Countreyes for by his personage armes and habit he knew him to be a stranger and promising him all aide and succour in anie thing wherein be might serue him I am come hether quoth Franc-Gal by following the augurie of a Bird prognosticating to me that shee would conduct me to the Sands at Orbe but thou by seeking to kil her hast caused me to lose her not regarding or taking heed thy selfe of the fierce and sauage beast which was behinde readie to deuoure thee whiles thou soughtest to eutrap and slay my guide which may be an example that oftentimes he which is a murtherer in will is murthered himselfe in déede the taker taken and the ender brought to an ende It is truth quoth the Archier and I acknowledge it and I confesse that without thy succour I had béen dead for the which most heartelie I thanke thée and in recompence of chasing away thy Birde which conducted thée I promise thee by the faith of an honest maÌ„ to lead thee whether thou wouldest goe and to aide thée in what I maye tell mee onelie whether thou meanest to goe I pretende quoth Franc-Gall to goe to the Sands at Orbe there to finde my faire and yong sonne Alector being wel brought vp and a valiant Squire whom the winde rauished and transported from me beeing vppon the Septentrion seas whom I shall neuer sée againe alas as the song of this auguring Bird hath presaged me Notwithstanding without him I neither can nor wil liue anie longer and therewithall Franc-Gall cast out great sighes from the bottom of his heart for with him he hath carried away my soule life as I haue foreseene in my dreame in Scythia vpon the Lyons skinnes O faire childe O meruailous infant fatallie engendered twice borne supernaturallie nourished growen vp before the time wise before age strong aboue nature hardy beyond humanitie adtienturouslie fortuned feared of the wicked beloued of the good yea of spirites who by iealouzie as I thinke haue rauished and carried thee I knowe not whether Must I for so small and briefe a time of enioying the presence of thine amiable person so long suffer the absence of thee that after my long and tedious peregrination heeretofore spent I must nowe againe trauerse the world to seek thee in feare and doubt whether euer to finde thee And at this word the bloudie teares departing from the depth of his heart enterrupted his speach insomuch that he remained a little space in silence and afterwards to begin his dolefull speach againe in this manner turning himselfe to the Archier And therefore my friend Archier I tell thee this that I haue lost a Sonne called Alector engendred of Priscaraxe Queene of Tartarie one of the wisest and fairest Dames vnderthe Heauens of the Moone whom I loue desire to see againe for I haue not seene her in moe than eight yeres neither is it lawfull for me to returne by reason of an othe which I haue taken before her without bringing her sonne made Knight either by my hand or by the hand of some other For the accomplishing whereof I haue alreadie assayed but alwaies failed yea and haue found my selfe impotent and forlorne of my members and tongue in going about it the cause thereof I cannot imagine vnlesse the Fates haue ordeined that his Knighthood shall hee giuen him by some other hand and not by mine the soueraigne graunt it may be of a better God grant it quoth the Archier but what are these Fates and Destinies whereof thou speakest are they anie puissances of Fortune which is nothing as I think No no quoth Franc-Gall I call the infaileable and immutable ordinances of souereigne God that ruleth al with his prouidence Fates It is right well spoken and most worthelie vnderstood quoth the Archier and so thou seest it is not the will ordained by the Souereigne that he shall be made Knight by thy hand it is to be vnderstood that it is reserued for a better without contrarying or being angrie therewith No more doo I quoth Franc-Gall neither am I sorowfull but for that I cannot finde my Sonne Aleâ—… without whom I cannot returne to the Queene Priscaraxe his mother neither can hee without mee by sworne promise which I doubt mee can neuer be accomplished of either of vs as my heart giueth me remembring the presages oracies visions and dreames which haue giuen me such significating And herevpon with greeuous sighing he helde his peace Which caused the Archier to imagine that the faire Esquier which hee vnderstoode was condemned to fight with the Serpent of the Sands might well hee the Sonne which this faire olde man went searchng and sorrowing for and therefore he said vnto him Thou strange man consolate thy spirit for I hope
to sing aloud cléere in the Scythicq language Cokolostis which is to say Victorious And thereupon the Fisherman led him to his cottage and washed his wounds in warme wine and Miske with sage applying thereto leaues of the hearb Peoesne with the skin cut from the Wolfes foote which hee flead off whiles it was hot wherewith hee couered his arme so iust as though it had been a sleeue made expressy for it In the meane while an olde wife which hee had put some fish into the pot to boyle and other some vppon the gridion to roast then spread shee on the ground a large Hearts skin cut round and set thereon Barlie Bread reasonable white baked vppon a tyle with dried Raysins and Apples with Wine made of Hony and water enuiting simplie their Guest to eate and drinke whereto hee accorded most willingly as one that had neede thereof Whereupon they sat downe with their leggs a crosse about this fayre table cloth without seame where the olde wift serued them with boyled and rosted fish and with store of fruite So they eate and dranke at their ease deuising of the adueuture and how the impetuous flood had carried him vnknowing in what country hee was The Fisherman tolde him that he was at the foote of the mountaines of Armenia Then Alector demanded of him if hee knewe no newes of mee giuing him tokens of my swimming and flying horse The Fisherman tolde him that aboue two yeares passed hee had seene mounting against the riuer such a great and huge horse carrying diuers persons and other things but amongst the rest a strong great and fayre personage armed with the skins of Lyons vpon a white harnesse carrying a great shield with a Sunne of gold in a fleld of Azure and afterwards that he had vnderstood how this great man had discomfetted and ouerthrowne a great companie of theeues which robbed and spoyled the whole Region for which cause the countrey had done him great honor As touching the fact hee spake troth for in my voyage by Sea coasting the riuages all the mouthes of the Riuers which I founde I was accustomed to enter them to sée and knowe the Townes and Countries lying there about in the continent whereby it happened that passing the Persian gulph alongest Arabia and viewing the mouthes of this fayre Riuer Tygre falling into the Sea I entred into the same and so mounted against the streames And by fortune apperceiuing a Carauanne of Arabian theeues and robbers who vnder the conduct of a puissant and valtant but a wicked Knight enfested the whole Countrey In so much that hauing vnderstood the popular complaints I landed with my men whereto those théeues had likewise fainedly enuited vs to rob and spoyle vs and so set vpon this Cauaille euill harnessed company with such hardines and exployt that of a great nomber of them there remayned but fiue who saued themselues by flight and wee pursued them to Mount Caucasus where wee ouerthrew them all together with the great Knight who bearing a shield with a Cock of gold defended himselfe so long as hee could and yet neuertheles would neuer render himselfe Wherefore with a great stroak of my sword I cloue his head in twaine and then hong I vp their armes the shield aboue them all vpon an old trée which was in that place in the forme of a Trophie caused the valiant Knight to be buried at the foote therof who through obstination to my great grief had caused himself to he slaine And so for that time we purged the countrie This done one night I returned into the Persian sea by the other mouth of Tygre for it emptied it self into the sea by two mouthes the one notwithstanding not far distant from the other tooke my way towards Madagascar Zanzibar and the Isles of the Grifons Alector hearing this news of me was wonderful glad wherefore rising frō the table he thanked his host hostis for their gentlenes And for that he had found the sléeues which was made of the skin of the Wolfes leg to be very fayre and wel beséeming him for hee had his armes naked for so much as the sléeues of his coate did not couer him but were open and hanging by like a coate of armes he required the fisherman to flea the other leg for his right arme and to flea and giue him both the skins of the Wolfes which the good man most willingly performed and Alector more willingly arcepted them and thereof made fayre bardes for his horse saying that he had well merited to haue part of the spoyle for that he had béen participate of the danger and done his dutie in the fight Wherein this yong youth well declared that he was come of a franke and noble nature and birth hauing thus harnessed and barded his horse with these fayre skins of the rauening Wolfe hee mounted vpon him and tooke leaue of his hoste hauing vnderstood that I had gained the heigth he determined to follow me and to mount vp against the impetuous riuer of Tygre not by the rauishing way which had so carried him away but by the surest way of the land And rode so long by many iournies that one day at Sonne going downe he found himselfe at the foote of one side of the mount Caucasus in a plaine deuided into thrée high waies where was a place of reasonable space ample enough and in the mids a Trophie erected vpon the body and branches of a great olde and dead tree charged with all sorts of harneys Launces swords and shields In contemplation whereof Alector who had a singular pleasure in armes alighted letting his horse feede on the fayre grasse which was about the trée and with great contemplation began to behold these sorts of armes hanging vppon the Trophie of the tree But aboue all the rest his eyes following his affection were most fixed vpon one fayre and great shield made in forme of an egge and couered with a plate of brasse whereon was eleuated a Cock of gold armed and spurred with Gules in a damasked field of greene synople the Cock being raised on his tiptoes beating his wings and looking vp a loft This shield so pleased this young Alector as youth is delighted with such pleasant pictures that he concluded to take it off and carrie it away for the couerture and ornament of his body as also he would haue done the other armes but that hee fame them ouer great for the corpulence of his age as also for that he had béen aduertised that to put on harnesse before he was knighted appertained not vnto him Wherefore considering that he was but an Esquire to whome it is lawfull to carrie a shield as armes of defence and not of offence and ignorant that the Trophies are inuiolable like to Sepulchres through simple affection and desire mounted vpright on his horse and reaching as high as he could with the poynt of his sworde tooke downe the shield which
the oath of a noble Esquire and committed fellony towards the order of Knighthood I haue not done it neither would doo it Truth it is I sought with my sword a foolish laugher and scoffer who as it séemed to me mocked at the fault which my horse made me which laugher I wel heard but I could neuer see nor finde him sauing that in a bush where me thought I heard him laugh with a strokeof my sword cast at aduenture I killed a fat Hare which there was set I knew not whether that Hares laugh in this countrey or no but this I am sure of that I was laughed and mocked at that I haue eaten her with a good appetite As for thy companions which thou saist I haue slaine and eaten I knowe not who they be for I neuer saw them vnlesse they bee Hares and that thou thy selfe art some Diuell of a Hare for thou séemest to me not much more hardy and the common saying is that Diuels doo wittingly transform theÌ„selues by the fields into hares Wherfore shew me thine eares and tel me what thou art whether thou be a Hare or a knight which are verie contrarie For a knight rideth on horsback and is armed hardy and valiant or at leastwise ought to be and the Hare goeth on foote is very searefull by nature vnarmed of al defence both of hornes teeth clawes poyson hardnes and all sauing of a certaine feareful legerity which is the cause that hee is the most fearefullest beast amongst all other creatures and a pray to the Eagles of the aire and dogs of the earth and Chamarins of the water yet should he not find it especially in the dog daies eleuatioÌ„ of the Eagle wherefore telme if thou be a knight or a Hare or a diuel or the laugher and mocker of whom I would willingly reuenge my self if I could méste with him I am no Hare ê™ the great black knight but the hare which thou hast slaine and eaten was my companion for he kept company with me in my sepulcher I am not fearefull for no man can doo mee more harme neither was I euer but haue béen in my time a worthie knight hardy enterprising great things of nature franck liberal extract out of the noble linage of the Macrobians called Gallehault as witnesseth my shield which thou bearest wherein is a Cock regarding high towards heauen whereby I would signifie my high enterprises and hardines and of such vertue is the shield that whosoeuer carrieth it shal neuer haue feare or doubt it is that which maketh thée now so assured against me Now it happened mee thus that for my great frankenesse and excessiue liberalitie which is called prodigalitie I became very poore and yet neuertheles I would alwaies maintaine my greatnes and magnificence for the atchiuing wherof I was constrained for want of mine own to take of other mens Wherefore hauing assembled to me a great company carrauanne of Arabinas wicked people apt to do euil I destroyedal this countrie with robberies assaults rauishments spoylings thefts kéeping with my men al the waies corners and passasses with the ports of riuers and seas taking away the armes horses rings iuels stuf apparrel gold siluer merchandize of such as we took selling their bodies for slaues or abusing theÌ„ luxuriously if they pleased vs. Neuertheles this life whereto proud pouertie had brought me pleased me not but I had it in abomination and for that cause I determined that after I should be gotten vp againe insubstance to haue killed all my companion théeues to the end they should doo no more euill and to retire my selfe and returne to my former honorable liberall and lesse prodigall life But of this paine one of my great vncles of the Macrobians called Franc-Gal which is thy Father deliuered mee whom I knowe thou goest to seeke and whom I will cause thee to sée to morrow in recompence of the pleasure which he did in deliuering mee from the wicked life which I led For being mounted vppon an Hypoppotame which is a great flying and swimming horse in the Riuer of Tygre with some companie of valiant men for so much as wee were many mo in nomber wherein wee trusted wee inuited them by fayned courtesie to take land and come and rest with vs which they did being aduertised before what people we were and for that cause they searched vs. Whereupon incontinently as they were descended well armed and weaponed they flong vppon vs with such fury and valour that notwithstanding the great resistance which I made all my Arabians were slaine and discomfetted by the great prowesse of Franc-Gal being halfe a Giant who stroke not a blowe without laying two or three on the ground So were the takers taken and the spoylers spoyled except foure who through their legeritie fled and I after them But that saued vs not for Franc-Gal who by soueraigne force and naturall agilitie ran faster than any horse or hart followed vs not running but flying as it séemed vnto the place where not able in hast to gaine the mountaine and seeing him alone wee returned fiue against him and I my selfe more than any other resisted him as for my companions hee had sone cut them in peeces but I hild him tack reasonable long and hardy enough in the vertue and couerture of my shield desending my selfe with great courage whereupon he seeing my hardines and noble heart he sommoned me often times to render but I being enuious of my wicked life answered him that as then I had neuer bowed and that it was deerer for me to dye than either to require mercie or receiue it Wherefore he perceiuing my obstination ah quoth he there is none lost but such as are obstinate and in saying so hee gaue me such a stroake with his sword that he cloue my head in twaine At these words the great black Knight plucked off his helmet and showed to Alector his clouen head in such sort that one might perceiue the braines consumed with wormes then puting on his helmet againe hee continued his tale saying with this great stroake I fell downe dead and Franc-Gal vnarmed me and my fellowes also whose carcases he left as food for the beasts of the earth and fowles of the ayre but my body hee caused to be buried at the foote of the great withered tree in the meddowes her about and laid a stone vpon a graue Then hung hee vp our armes in the Trophie of the great tree and my shield aboue all which thou hast taken off therefore restore it mee Alector then answered him Gallehalt sith that my Lord and Father as thou thy selfe hast confessed hath conquered by force of armes the shield of thee thou hast no more title in it but by right of heyre it appertaineth to me who am his sonne and for that cause willingly I will not for goe it vnlesse it be by greater force than mine but will keepe it so long
it a long time as one which he had somewhat knowne to haue pulled out of the body of Noëmia demanded what arrowe it was And what hee should doo with it To whome it was answered that it was the same arrowe wherewith Noëmia was staine and that he should doo with it as the fencer dooth in the Sands Then cried he with a loude voyce to all the assistance if there were any that would challenge it against him But no man answered word Wherefore hee fastned it vnder his girdle and sayd Now my Lords let vs go when it pleaseth you séeing I haue mine armes I am ready to fight against this dragon and publique enemie and to reuenge the priuat iniurie of murther if the traytor may be found Then the Potentate sent foure trumpets through all the streats of the towne to crie and publish to the people that at noone a hardie and valiant champion should fight with the Dragon of the sands in hazard and perill of his lift for the publique wealth and expition of certaine manslaughter by him perpetrated and by his cause happened and for that cause who soeuer would should come and sée it At this crie all the Citizens prepared themselues to go sée this dilectable and profitable spectacle where were founde a greater number of people than euer were at the sands for out assemblie To which place Alector was conducted by 400. Souldiers deputed to guarde and esose the steld at this tumult Franc-Gal and the Archier who after dinner sat at the windowes of the great hall looking into the streat were moued to demand what it was and hauing vnderstood the cause determined to goe thether albeit the Archier was not after times found at such sports neuerthelesse he was enuites to goe in hope to see the reuelation come to passe which was showed to him of the publique health As for Franc-Gal he was come thether for none other cause but onely to finde his Sonne at the Sands of the Theatre according as the black Auguring bird had foretold him So went these two wisemen together to this new spectacle A description of the Citie of Orbe of the Basilique Hyppodrome Prytan Theatre Sands and other places CAP. XXIIII THe Citie of Orbe was so called for the round forme and fashion of the same scituated vpon a little high mountaine yet neuertheles verie large in halfe roundnes like to a demie Globe in such sort as the mids was the highest most prospectiue castilie descouering round abouts and descending not headlong but by little litttle pleasantly going downeward in such sort as neither mounting nor descending one could scarce apperceiue the eleuation of the mids nor vneuenes of the sids so easily descended it vnto the outwardmost walls wherewith it was enclosed in perfect circularitie founded and builded of the hard stones of the Rock of the hight of 30. fadomes and of the thicknes of thrée ramped with 19. grosse bulwarks with their knights and false loope holes and garnished with towers and places of sentinells and enuironed in stead of ditches with a great riner called Cloterre carrying great vessells charged and laden with all sorts of merchandise comming from al the parts of the world For they entred and went out of the Citie of Orbe by foure principall ports the one orientall called Port Physe another occidentall called Port Thane the third meridionall called Port Valentine and the last Septentrionall called Port Passante and looke how many gates it had so many bridges it had that is to say the little bridge the bridge without guarde the bruting bridge and the trembling bridge through and ouer which ports and bridge they entred and issued into the citie or stelds there abouts for they had no suburbs the territory of which fields conteined a great countrey in compasse deuided into foure regions according to the particion and ports of the Citie but of far different qualitie temperature For in the territorie appertaining to Port Physe the ayre was swéet by reason of Zephyrus comming from the west and tendring his last breath in this east wardly region the hearbs plants and trées were alwaies in flower gréennes the people were gracious and louing contented with a little not dooing much other thing but dance leap gamball run sing pipe and play vpon instruments court contract marriages or to aduance them or borrowe for the time to come to compose ballads songs sonnets rounds to search nouelties to chase beasts and sowles to fish and to cloth themselues in colours and to mainetaine theÌ„selues without care or thought for they were all of them either infants boyes or yong folke of the one and the other seye â—…nd when they had passed their youth they made their transmigration into the territory of Port Valentine which was meridionall of a hot ayre inspired with the southerne or Etesian winds And in the region of this gate grew aboundance of fruites of the trée as also grasse pasturing with wheate and other corne of all sorts In such sort that on that side the port one could sée nothing but mowers hay-makers reapers haruest folk fruicterers merchants trauellers trafficquers men of armes running at tilt Philosophers disputing and vsurers lending vpon reuenew of the fruites to come there might one behold store of cattell in the stelds aboundance of bées butter flyes and emmits and albeit the region was very hot and drie yet the people so much the more refreshed themselues with the fayre flaggons cooled in the cléere and niueall fountaines From thence they passed to the Septentrionall Port Passant where the ayre was diuers vnconstant cloudie cold moyst and troubled with contrarie winds for the rest a good countrey verie cultine yelding peaches grapes nuts filberds where one could sée nothing but gathering of grapes pressing of wines tunning them laying theÌ„ into the cartes neuerthelesse the people of this countrey were almost al grey The other region of Port Thane subiect to the cutting westerne winds was very sterile and barraine sauing that there was great store of fat cattaile wildfoule and venison this was the territorie where the greatest there was kept neuerthelesse commonly in close houses where they kept their banquets marriages and mummeries There killed they continually store of hogs and shotes making therof sauciges chitterlings and puddings whereof as also of other things they sent presents newyeares gifts one to another for their entertainement in mutuall loue and friendship and in this soils ordinarily dwelt the old men who after they had serued God in the morning passed the rest of the day in drinking warming talking playing at cards at glit primero and flux or els with the tables at checker dames lourch and tictat Such were the foure ports and foure finages of the Citie of Orbe where the inhabitants by the ordinance of the Magistrates of the towne passed all the yeare and made their transmigration from one port and region to another for if they were wearie of
the heats of Port Valentine they went and refreshed themselues in the Ice of Port Thane and passe the time there in sedentarie playes And if they were cloyed with the mists and cold of Port Passaul they would go dance amongst the flowers of Port Physe for such power had the Citizens of the towne wherein notwithstanding it was continually temperat by reason of the concordant discord of the winds temperatures and qualities of euerie port and of his adiacent territorie the which made an equall concurrence at the closing of the towne which as hath béen beforesaide was in perfect roundnes mounting by little and little vnto the nauel or mids where was edificated the temple of Ioue before discribed in the great place where the foure great streats of the towne met being builded verie ample and large with singular fayre and magnificat edifices and trauersed with a hundred smal streats turning round and alwaies descending in leuell with the foure great streats the buildings were of such straight leuell that from the temple one might view plainely to the foure ports of the Citie and from the foure ports to the Temple Before the which was a most fayre and great fountaine of liuely siluered clere and wholsome water the spring thereof neuer defailing but yéelding foorth aboundance of water through 12. figures in manner and fashion to the 12. signes of the Zodiac which made a brooke alwaies encreasing and turning about the lanes and streats of the whole towne aswell for the watring and common vse of men and beasts as also for the purging and clensing of the streats and houses which spring and winding brooke being come downe vnto the latter and lowest circular streat alongst the inwardmost wall by how many springing heads it increased by so many pipes it emptied it selfe into the great riuer of Cloterre wherein was made bounds sluces to open and shut as occasion should serue which sluces being shut all the streats would stand full of water wherewithall they being washed by opening againe of the sluces all the filthines and scauage of the town was sent through the foresaid sluces into Cloterre and by that meanes the Citie on all sides was kept cleanly and fayre At the foure corners of the great and large market place were foure stately and publique edifices that is to say the great Basilique Dicast the Pallace Prytan the Hippodrome and the Theatre the Basilique Dicaste was the iudiciall Pallace or hall of iustice wherein were decided all causes and controuersies aswel ciuill as criminall In the same was a long large and ample hall whose mounting was of marble stayres and whose entrance was by two gates on either side This great hall was lofted and paued with sutable artifice all of white and black marble the loft being duble was sustained by 40. pillers of grey stone viz. 12. on either side 12. in the mids parting the two lofts and two in the vpper end of the hall and two below At euerie piller was fastned and set a rich and braue statue of a Legislator of some noble Iustice passed with the inscription of his name and title of honour and vpon the middle pillers were fastned twaine on either side one Betwéene the pillers on either curtaine of the wall on the highest towards the arch of the loft were fayre glasse windowes decorated painted illustrated with ancient Histories memorable examples excellent and singular sentences and executions of Iustice and beneath were fixed great brasen tables wherein with grosse letters legible a far off were engraued all their lawes according to which being once receaued in the common wealth of Orbe the Citizens gouerned themselues And for this reason were these lawes engraued in tables of brasse that none might pretend ignorance of the lawes at one ende of the foresaide hall was a Parquet or place of audience closed with yron barres wrought and siluered with two rowes of seats with their desks and footestooles the one on high wherein were placed the Orators and aduocats and the other belowe wherein the pledors sat the complainants on the one side and the defendants on the other Aboue and ouer against the end of this Parquet was eleuated a high Tribunall all made of Ebonie wrought and réeled verie artificially on both sides of which Tribunal were 24. seats somewhat lower that is to say 12. on the right hand and 12. on the left whereon the 24. Assesors and principall counsellors sat in cloth of veluet and in the Tribunall sat the Potentate and chiefe Iustice which Tribunall in stead of crimson veluet or cloth of gold was hong and couered with the hideous skin of a dead man which was sometime a Potentate and wicked Iudge and who for his tranuersing of iustice and abusing of his Soueraigne office had béene flean quick and his skinne in stead of tapisterie put vpon the Iustice seate to giue example to those who afterwards should sit therein not to doo any iniustice worthie of so sharpe a punishment On the two sides of the foresaide Tribunall was placed reasonable high two statues the one of golde which was the image of Iustice cut and sigured with a virginicall visage neuerthelesse of a vehement and redoubtable regarde the light of her eyes sharpe and pricking neither humble nor fierce but representing a certame dignitie of reuerend sadnes this statue was of Golde to signifie that as the Gold is incorruptible so Iustice ought to bee and as it is soft and plyable so ought Iustice to be more soft and mercifull than rigorous and more bending to equitie The statue was figured a Virgin because that Iustice ought to be entier inviolated and vncorrupted she was of face seuere sad and constant in signe that Iustice ought not to giue care to swéete words prayers flatteries nor praises her regarde was fierce and vehement to giue terror to the euill and confidence and assurance to the iust and good On the other side was a statue of fine Cristall clere and white portracted all naked which was the statue of Veritie in signe that Iustice is or ought to bee accompanied with Veritie who of her selfeis clere and cuident pure and without spot and for that cause she was portraicted of white and most glistering Christall and in forme of an naked body for Veritie will haue no couering of fraude or dissimulation but sheweth her selfe as she is Thus you may perceiue what their great hall of this Basilicq Dicaste with the Parquit and iudicial seate were adioyning to the vpper ende whereof on the right and left hand were two bodies of a house membred with many chambers and amongst the rest in either house was a right fayre chamber in fashion of a foure squared hall garnished round about with settles belowe and with rich capistrie aboue For the rest cleane emptie of other things sauing with tables and chayres about them and both these chambers had entrance into the Parquit of the great Balican hall the chamber on the
right hand being called the counsell chamber because thether the Potentate and Assesors retired themselues when any doubtfull iudgement was remitted to the counsaile In the mids thereof was a large table of marble round and Polygonal For this table held 25. entrangulared spaces euerie one of a foote and a halfe broade and about the same so many chaires made brauely of common wood But one amongst the rest being more large was made of Cedar wrought and guided with fayre figures with a footestoole that hee which set vpon it might sit somewhat higher than the rest and a cloth of estate and a pillowe of veluet whereon on the Potentate and President did sit in the mids of this Marble table was a little piller of Christall and on the same a statue of like matter Diaphane which represented the Image of Prudence in a feminine forme not naked but couered with a long Cristallin stole embrodered with damasquines of Gold and séemed with Golden Starres Neuerthelesse shee had three heads that shee might bee better brayned and more sage the one was olde regarning the things past another of meane age considering things present and the third young foreseeing things to come In her right hand shee hild a Lydian stone which some call a touch stone and with her left hand shee presented a little table of Golde wheren weere written these words in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which is as much to say Prudence is alwaies a great Treasure And vpon the table of white marble was engrauen in black this sentence in lattin letters Primum consultò opus est deinde maturè opus est facto That is to say Take counsaile first and then performe it speedily In this chamber was the counsaile held and for that cause called the counsaile chamber the other chamber on the left hand was called the chamber Sphragide because that in it was signed and sealed all acts instruments and exploites of Iustice written by faithfull personages thereunto deputed and by solemne oath sworne this chamber was like the oother sauing that it had two long tables of the length of the hall alongst the wall with glasse windowes aboue and long benches beneath with seats seperated and distinct by little spaces like to the seats of the quire in acanonicall Church and therein were set the Pragmaticall writers in two ranks on the one side and the other of the two walls neuerthelesse but onely on one side of the tables which was in the hench side next to the walls the other side of the tables being empty sauing that they had two mounting steps whereby those who had there to doo might the easier come to the two tables At the head of this hall was another table of black marble and against the wall a settle with seats wherein sat two sealers which had the view and application of the writings and the kéeper of the seales who cancelled or sealed them according as hee iudged them lawfull or not the marke of the seale was a hand open and in the palme thereof an eye regardant In the mids of this chamber there was likewise as in the other a piller made in the fashion of a rock of Lazurine stone and vpon the same a statue of burnished yron in a feminine figure hauing one hand against her brest about her heart and the other stretched foorth presenting it with her open palme and this was the Image of Faith or fidelitie firme and infringeable like yron and constant like a rock holding and performing that which is promised with heart and déede in the rock was engrauen in gréeke letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which is to say Beleeue nothing vnles it appeare And in latine letters was written Fides fundamentum Iusticiae Which signifieth that Faith is the foundation of Iustice At the two corners of the other ende of the great Basilican hall were conioyned two grosse towers of hard stone builded after the rusticall fashion strong and thick not windowed but loope holed like the holes made for a cannon straight barred with yron and barbicanes with small light Whereinto was no entrance but through a little wicket with two dores of yron barred and boulted comming out of the great hall and these two towers were with thrée roomes the one in the ground very déep without window or light that was called the Barathre the middle out of the ground receiuing a little shimmering light through the hoales before named and this was called Latumie the third was aboue hauing barred windowe and lettices whereby those who were put therein might both sée and bée séene and for that cause it was called the Cage Within these two towers were locked all malefactors either in the déepest middlemost or highest according to the waight of their offences beneath the great Basilican hall was a vault closed with strong wals on all sides sauing it had a small doore with bares of yron and a windowe grated with yron to giu light within which vault which was called Criptoportique and no lesse wider nor larger than the great hall and for cause builded with many small chambers were put the ciuill prisoners or captiues vnder the charge of a keeper béeing a sufficient honest man as on the contrarie for keeping the Towers two rude and barbarous gaolers were appoynted And also the keeping of the two Chambers both Councell and Sphragide was committed to two Consiergs men right auncient and wise both for the custodie of them and apparrelling of the hall and Parquet when necessitie required And at the two gates of the great hall were ordained two porters to open and shut them at sunne rising and going downe according to the Equinoctiall time Such was the Basilican Dicast of the iustice of Orbe wherein Diocles the Potentate sat as president right ouer against the which was the Hippodrome a great egall and vniformed place being in length 187. paces and a halfe and in breadth 62. paces and a halfe in fashion soure squared not equilaterall but farre more longer than large all enuironed with triple galleries erected one aboue another with arches susteyned with little carued pillers and this was the place where men on horseback ran for the best game for the ring and there was the place of Iustice and triall of armes on horseback with lance sword hatchet and club At one of the ends of the Hippodrome was the barrers wherein the horses were enclosed beating the ground with their feete and forcibly staying till the signe of running were giuen by the trumpetors at the commandement of the Iudges at the other end was a scaffold of marble stone flue degrées of height and feats thereon for the sayrest damosels of the towne to sit assigned thereunto by ordinarie exthange to giue and deliuer the prize of honour and valour to the best doers according to the sentence of the Iudges who had their places in a lower porch in the mids of the Hippodrome betwéene the rancks of the galleries and on the