and if in ought else I can doo ye any seruice till the latest houre of death will I willingly imploy my selfe Brisalda who was as it were rauished with contemplating his beautie tooke him by the hand and causing him to arise sayd With all my heart gentle Sir I thanke ye and accept your offer so freendly made for I greatly doubt ere long I shall neede your assistance against the Giant Brandidoll Cousin to him whome you haue slaine for no sooner shall he heare of his death but hither will he come and accuse me as authour thereof because Dardalon being enamoured of me ordeyned this Tourney thinking to espouse me either by loue or force In this did Brandidoll promise his ayd and diuers other of their faction as bad as they many of them being now slayne which so contents me as nothing can do more And were I as well rid of cruell Brandidoll hencefoorth should I liue in peace without feare or suspition of any one for when the mightie enemies are quailed the meaner dare not presume to stirre Madame quoth Palladine perswade your selfe in this that in respect of your innocencie God will not suffer you to take any wrong but that your enemies shall worke their owne confusion Longer they would haue continued in talke but that the Gentleman Ussher gaue warning of dinner wherefore the Duchesse went and sate downe at the Table Palladine sitting iust opposite to her who tooke so great pleasure in hearing him speake as she had no mind to eate or drinke All which Palladine heedfully noted and God knowes how well it liked him for if the one were passionate in loue you may think y e other was in the same predicament Oftentimes would they throwe such wounding lookes on each other as neyther had power to speake a word but to couer this alteration the Prince feigned to listen to the consort of musique which plaied all dinner time maruellous swéetly The Tables withdrawne she tooke him by the hand and caused him to sit downe in a chaire by her while many yong Lords and Ladyes daunced after that Countrey manner You may not daunce Sir quoth she because our Chirurgions doo thinke it hurtfull for your woundes beside rest is verie néedfull for you in respect of the rough combate you had with Dardalon whome to your great honor you worthely conquered For any thing I haue done swéete Madame quoth he let the credit thereof remaine to your selfe and thinke me as readie to doo you seruice as he that is most forward among your seruants of which number I desire ye to accept me as one Unsâ—emely were it good Knight quoth she to account of you as my seruaÌ„t but if you please to stay in this Cuntry you shall perceiue by my endeuours heereafter that I both honor and reuerence such men as you are As she would haue proceeded further her Gouernesse came and said it was time she should resort to her Chamber wherevpon they parted not without sufficient shewes on either side that betweene them was a sympathie of affection What seuerall afflictions they endured in absence let them imagine who haue no comfort but in the presence of their fauourite As for the Duchesse she on the morrow sent the Prince a rich Diamond by one of her Ladies with this message y t it was her determined iewell to the best combatant and therefore his due as hauing deserued it beyond all other Palladine receiued it verie thankefully returning this aunswere by the Lady that in requitall of that gentle gift he would that day enter the Listes and against all commers maintaine the beautie of the Duchesse As for his wounds Lycelio had annointed them with the precious vnguent which the Damosell brought from the wise Orbiconte so that they were verie soundly healed For ioy of this aunswere the Duchesse caused a goodly Scaffold to be erected whereon she and her Ladies would stand to see the Iousts and at each end of the Listes were sumptuous Trophees curiously placed decked with diuers impreses and mots of loue in artificiall Tables hanging thereon While Palladine and the other Lords were arming thâ—â—selues he was aduertised of an other Knight new entred the féeld who was the Prince Alâ—ian of Iâ—elaâ—â— a yong braue and gallant Knight at armes one that was highly affected to the Duchesse Brisalda So soone as he was entred the Listes he was encountred by a Moore Knight vnknowne who was dismounted at the first course the like successe had eight or ten more which Palladine perceiuing he gaue his horsse the spurres against this lustie champion lifting him halfe a foote in height from his Saddle And as they were taking new Launces for the second race there entred a mightie man armed cap a pe who furiously said Where is the villaine that slew my Cousin Dardalon by the great God this day will I giue his flesh to the dogs and hers likewise that was the cause therâ—of pointing to the yong Duchesse Brisalda And because he had heard that a yong Knight did his kinseman to death he ranne in a rage on the Prince Alfian of Ireland giuing him such a stroke on the head with his great Semitarie as the gentle Alfian fell beside his horsse Palladine thinking this to be Brandidoll and séeing him readie to smite off the Princes head ranne to him saying It is with me that thou must deale I slew thy Cousin Dardalon as his villainie and crueltie well deserued Brandidoll without making any aunswere left the Prince of Ireland and ioyned with Palladine when continued betwéene them a long and terrible combate Each one verily expected Palladines death such was the great oddes betwéene him and his enemie but so happily it fell out in the ende that Brandidoll by treading on the trunchion of a Launce fell downe backward when the Prince taking his aduantage got sure hold of him and smote off his head For ioy of this victorie the Trompets chéerefully sounded and the Duchesse discending from the Scaffold commaunded the Ioustes to ceasse for that day and comming to the Prince gaue him many thanks in that he had deliuered her from two such cruell enemies who sought the subuersion and spoile of her honor With meruailous signes of ioy they returned to the Pallace where Palladine was immediatly brought to his chamber and such wounds as he had receiued in fight were dilligently regarded by the Duchesse Chirurgions Each day would she duly come to sée him and vnderstanding that he was Sonne to thâ— King of England practised how to vnite her selfe with him in marriage And as an earnest of her perfect loue she permitted him to gather that daintie flower which many had with long pursuite laboured for he not refusing so braue a conquest because he verily perswaded himselfe that Brisaldâ— was the Lady of whome the wise Orbiconte had told him wherefore during the space of sixe wéekes he continued there in this heauen of delight till fortune iealous of so mutuall agreement
passion to procéede by bashfulnesse or feare which oftentimes preuents yong Gentlemen when they enter the presence of great Ladies she tooke the Prince by the hand and thus began My Lord you are so welcome as your owne hart can wish great hath béene your payne and trauayle comming so farre to see this Court no sufficient recompence can the King our Father make yée nor we poore Ladies for this excéeding kindnesse These words forcing Manteleo to recouer his spirits caused him returne this aunswere In comming hither swéete Madame haue I sustayned no paine or trauaile but rather comfort pleasure and pastime For long since is it that I desired to offer my seruice to the King your Father as well for the rare vertues which makes him farre renowmed as also to renew the auncient amitie that yée and the Duke my Father haue had together when they as Knightes errant trauayled straunge Countreys Another and chéefe cause was to see my Lord your Brother whose second in prowesse is not to be found and you likewise faire Ladies whome heauen hath not onely enriched with especiall vertues but also with rare and most perfect beautie And though my Starres alotted me no greater good héereby then to behold the surpassing worke of nature in you both yet would I repute my trauaile more largely requited then were I created Emperour of the world adioyning héere to if any seruice remayned in me that might be to your liking During these spéeches he threw many piercing lookes on the Princesse Marcelina and she returned the like on him thinking she had neuer seene a more comely Knight in all perfections her Brother Palladine excepted gathering by his lookes and yéelding countenance that she had wonne some earnest in his loue with which imagination her hart was highly contented and to continue him in this good affection she thus replyed Not a little doo I think my selfe beholding to you my good Lord noting your forward zeale to the King my Fathers seruice loth am I to presse yée with such regard towards me in that my deseruings are altogether too simple let my good will then excuse my want assuring your selfe of a maydens prayers wheresoeuer you go As Manteleo would haue aunswered the Prince Palladine came and thus brake off their talke I beséech yée my Lord and companion to withdraw your selfe into your Chamber there to repose your selfe after your iourney for of necessitie you must be sore wearied hauing spent so little time betwéene Millaine and England Manteleo departed to his Chamber with Palladine and in two lodgings ioyning together lay these new fréends There did the Millayne Prince cloath himselfe in braue and sumptuous garments not forgetting the graâ—ious spéeches of fayre Marcelina who likewise so soone as he departed could not kéepe in her owne opinions but with her Sister fell in commendation of Manteleo setling the loue of him so néere her heart as she resolued neuer to haue any other Husband so pleased the King and Quéene to giue their consent Continuing in this determination thence forward her extreame desires made her pensiue and solitarie yet would she not impart her disease to any one because she would first make triall of the Princes constancie least his loue might be impeached with dissembling â—alliaunce But now is the houre of Supper come when the amorous Prince Manteleo was placed at the table right ouer against his beloued Marcelina neither of them being offended at this good hap but vsing the same as an especiall benefite with secret glaunces to court each other Which the Princesse Floraea dilligently marked and seeing her Sister so often to chaunge her couller coupling therewith many bitten in sighes she tofore hauing neuer shewed the like became iealous of the matter thinking the Prince should as soone affect her as her Sister yet made she no outward shew of this conceite But when the Tables were withdrawne and each one preparing themselues to daunce Manteleo tooke his Lady Marcelina without making any offer to Floraea wherewith she became so mal content as to despight them she would euery day after sit so néere them as they could not speake one word to each other but she might easily vnderstand what they said The Prince well noting how hee was crost would the oftner entertaine Marcelina to Daunce taking the benefite at the end of each Measure which gaue them libertie to conferre together no one in those excused times being able to impeach them whereat Floraea greatly repined séeing them talke with such affectionate protestations The Pastimes ended the King and Queene went to their lodgings Manteleo humbly giuing them the good night not forgetting the Saint he serued in desires and afterward the Prince Palladine accompanied him to his Chamber where after many other spéeches betwéene them they concluded on the morrow to request their Knighthood of the King So Palladine left Manteleo for that night whose mind was busied with his Ladies fauorable words not doubting but to shew himselfe so forward in Armes as the Princesse should receiue good occasion to affect him and graunt him the honor he earnestly desired In this good hope he laid him downe to rest the Princesse Marcelina nothing inferiour to him in amorous opinions and that night her brother Palladine had told her that Manteleo and he would intreate their Order of the King wherewith she was not alittle contented determining thence forward to entertaine the Prince of Millaine as her Knight CHAP. VI. ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo with many other great Lords were Knighted by the King Milanor and of an aduenture that happened in the Court which Palladine and Manteleo ended FAire Aurora chasing away the clowdie night the Prince Palladine accompanied with many Gentlemen came to bid Manteleo good morrow Why my Lord and companion quoth he it séemes you haue forgotten what we determined yesternight Pardon me good Prince aunswered Manteleo my memorie is not so short but so swéetly haue I slept this night as hindered me from rising sooner Then went they to salute the King and intreated his Highnesse to graunt them their Knighthood When his Maiestie perceiuing their forwardnesse and noting the earnest desire of Manteleo thus aunswered Loth am I to denie your request albeit as yet you are ouer-yong but the good opinion I haue of your prowesse and fortunate successe that may befall ye héereafter doth supply your want of yeeres wherefore this night perfourme the holy watch and to morrow will I giue ye your Order The two Princes humbly thanking his Maiestie went to giue order for their Armour and furniture and at night they entred the Chappell where spending the time in the accustomed religious exercise they expect the houre of their long desired honor In the morning the King with his Nobilitie entred the Chappell and as he was busied in the Ceremonies vsed in such affaires there entred two Damosels verie brauely apparelled each of them hauing a goodly Sword in her hand and with them was an
rated at the price of thy life Héerewith his speech failed him and breathing foorth a vehement sigh he yeelded vp the ghost O my God said his Squire what shall I now doo Where shall I bestowe the dead bodie of my maister if I returne to the Court of the King his brother he will suspect that I haue murthered him Ah sweete Lady Minoretta what hart breaking will this be to you vnderstanding the death of my Lord and the occasion thereof The Knight of Fame hearing the sorrowfull words of the Squire and fearing he would depart and leaue his maister came with his Squire from behinde the tree where they were hid and seeing the wofull man holding his dead maister in his armes thus spake to him Tell me good fréend how did this mishap befall thy maister The Squire was so amazed when by the light of the Moone he beheld the Knight of Fame and his Squire with him both their swords being drawne as he was not able to returne any answere whereby Don Robert perceiued that the sudden sight of him affrighted the Squire wherefore he thus spake to him againe Why doost thou not speake to vs my fréend doubtest thou that we come to doo thée any displeasure perswade thy selfe that we will assist thee to our vttermost and therefore feare not to bewray thy mishap The Squire throughly resolued by these courteous speeches casting foorth many bitter sighes into the aire and trembling as the burthen of his greefe gaue cause thus answered Alas my Lord right gladly shall I reueale to you the great misfortune now happened to my Lord who as you sawe gaue vp his ghost betweene mine armes the occasion whereof grew in this manner My noble maister while he liued was bastard brother to the King of Scicilie yet as déerely beloued of his Maiestie as if he had béene his lawfull legitimate brother such was his vertuous and valiant behauiour and for the King would assure my Lord of his intire good will and affection he gaue him the Signorie of Siracusa with all the titles and benefites belonging thereto But my woorthie Lord and maister who was named Don Frionell hauing about sixe moneths since heard commended the excellent beautie of Minoretta Daughter to the King of Portugall became so enamoured of her as to compasse the means that he might sée her he craued leaue of the King his brother to trauaile into Fraunce as a Knight errant séeking after aduentures Hauing obteined licence for his departure in stead of going to Fraunce he tooke the way toward Portugall where being arriued so well he made knowne his prowesse at the Tilt and Tourney which dayly hée maintained in honor of the Princesse as the King entertaining him into especiall fauour all the Lords and Knights of Portugall did the like so that being well estéemed and honored of euery one chéefely of the Quéene and her Ladyes so well he could his Courtship to the Princesse Minoretta that she accepted him as her Knight and fauoured him aboue all other that made loue to her In this time came to the Court Don Galitreo of Castile who no sooner sawe the faire Princesse but presently he was so esprized with her loue as he was readie to die at her foote and therefore diuers times made offer of his seruice to her but she made no account thereof declaring by her gesture and countenance that my maister was the onely man in her thoughts Galitreo from this time forward conceiued mortall hatred against my maister yet 〈◊〉 his villainie with such coullers as though he haâ— beene one of his deerest freends So that my maister being one day commaunded by his Lady Minoretta to goe assist a distressed Lady whome a cruell Gentleman too much wronged the traitour receiued opportunitie to set his mischiefe abroche for he being present when my maister tooke his charge gaue no shew of contraâ—ie meaning but no sooner had my Lord restored the wronged Lady albeit with danger of his person by reason of certaine wounds he receiued in fight and returning to the Princesse againe but this day as we came into this Forrest where I vnarmed my Lord to deeâ—se his wounds the traitour Galitreo accompanied with foure more disguised and well armed awaiting cowardly to take my Lord at this aduantage came to him with these worâ—s Knowest thou me â—rionel if thou wilt saue thy life thou must heere sollemnely sweare to me neuer to serue the Princesse Minoretta longer or héereafter to câ—me in any place where she is My maister knowing the traitour well enough by his speeches yet meruailing to méete him in this place because at his departure he left him in Portugâ—â— notwithstanding he was sore wounded and vnarmed boldly thus answered Rather let me loose my life quoth he and endure a thousand deathes if it were possible then I will forgoe the seruice of my mistresse but while I can lift my Sword will I maintaine her as the onely Goddesse of my heart By God quoth Galitreo but I will make thee sure thou shalt not â—o drawing his Couâ—tiare and my maister being thus naked as you sée because I was attending his wounds he neuer left striking at him till he sawe him fall when both he and his companions gallopped away so fast as they could Trust one answered the Knight of Fame thou hast tolde mee the most monstrous â—â—te that euer I heard of but thou séeing thy maister so misused why didst not thou helpe to defend him Alas my Lord quoth the Squire there wanted no good will in mée but they that accompanyed this traitour held me with such violence as I could not stirre The Knight of Fame beholding the cruell woundes Don Frionell had receiued and what a goodly personage hée had béene in his life time sighing sayd Oh God what two dangerous enemies are loue and iealousie in the world there can not bée any woorsse whereby men may fall into so great hazard Well my freend quoth hée to the Squire héere must wee rest our selues for this night because we knowe not whether else to goe and to morrow shall wee prouide for thy maisters bodie whose death I purpose to reuenge if I may finde the man that so bloodely murthered him Assure your selfe my Lord sayd the Squire that hee is in Portugall with the Princesse because for her loue he slewe my maister who reputed him one of his déerest fréends There neuer were so great freends quoth Don Robert whome loue and iealousie could not moue to discord and so for that night they lay downe and slept CHAP. XXXIIII ¶ How the Knight of Fame hauing taken order for the buriall of Don Frionell trauailed into Portugall where he fought the combate with Don Galitreo of Castile and what was the issue thereof CLéere Phoebus arising from the foulded armes of faire Thetis the knight of Fame awaked and not able to sléepe any longer by reason of his troubled thoughtes leauing the Squires who as yet had not stirreâ— he walked
thereof In truth said the Quéene I see the Letter imports great matter let vs vnderstand what is contained therein Palladine not daring to denie this commaundement causing the Gentleman that brought the Letter to withdraw himselfe thus answered My gracious Lord and Father this Letteâ— deliuers none but good newes the Sister to the King of Aquilea and faire Nonparelia his Daughter are come to visit your Maiestie Right welcome are they said the King and I will doo them all the honor I may but what may be the cause of this kindnesse séeing our Realme is so farre from Aquilâ—a Then Palladine declared the whole discourse of his voiage how by the aduise of the wise Orbiconte he had promised the Princesse Nonparelia after she had receiued her Christendome to take her in mariage in that she was accomplished with as rare perfections of beawtie and vertue as any Princesse in the world beside You place that formost quoth the King which you loue best preferring corporall beawtie before vertue but héerein you are to be pardoned for loue and affection so alter the sences as makes men put one word in anothers place I spake of that first my Lord quoth Palladine which I first sawe in so faire a creature namely a choise grace of corporall beawtie and hauing afterward by frequenting her companie gathered sufficient knowledge of her inward endowments I placed them as they came to my acquaintance And such is my hope good Father that your selfe wil iudge no lesse then I doo when you haue seene her For the rest Madame Orbiconte her Aunt shall resolue ye giuing you to vnderstand matters of weight and such as you will thinke your selfe happie to knowe this being the meane to bring to the Christian faith the great and mightie Kingdome of Aquilea Thou tellest me wenders my Sonne quoth the King but why didst thou not sooner acquaint me heerewith Because I feared answered Palladine that misfortune on the Sea might alter my intent or the promise of Orbiconte might be preuented by some other sinister meane Well my Sonne quoth the King I pray that thy desires may haue a fortunate end and such things as thou speakest of may come to passe meane while let vs prouide to receiue these two Princes and make them such entertainement as their calling deserues Foorthwith he commaunded that the Pallace should bee adorned with most sumptuous Tapistrie and calling for the Uiceadmirall willed him to prepare certaine Ships that might go meete the Ladies as they came wherein Palladine Zorian Manteleo Landastines and many other great Lords were embarqued And béeing come to the Ile of Tennet they espied the Ships sayling amaine toward them and entring among them Palladine seeing Orbiconte aloft on the deck knew well where the Princesse Nonparelia was wherefore going aboord that Ship catching Orbiconte in his armes he thus spake Welcome good Lady into this Countrey this day doo you giue me life and the onely comfort I desire in this world for had not your assurance at my departure from Aquilea perswaded me I had ere this beene consorted with the dead As he was thus embracing Orbiconte the Princesse Nonparelia came foorth of her Cabin and with a sweete smiling countenance came to him saying Haue you not doone yet my Lord I am not content that you giue all the welcome to mine Aunt and allow me no portion thereof I thinke I haue deserued some part At these words he suddenly leauing Orbiconte embraced his mistresse with such zealous affection as neither of them were able to speake one word in which time Zorian and the other Princes had leisure to welcome the wise Orbiconte During this time of greeting and salutation they sayled on with so good a winde as in short time they entred the Port of London where this honorable companie were receiued with great magnificence the Citizens conducting them thorough the streetes with such pompe and sumptuous deuises as neuer was the like seene in London before The King and Queene for the greater honor of their Sonne came to the Court gate to welcome the Princesse at whose rare beawtie as they did not a little wonder so there wanted no kinde of courtesie whereby their good will might at large be expressed So walking on into the great Hall there began againe new shewes of entertainement whereby both Orbiconte and her Niece perceiued that the Court of England was incomparable for gracious behauiour While the King and Queene were conferring with Orbiconte Palladine tooke his Lady aside to the windowe where she at large declared to him the dangers sustained in their voyage and their good deliuerance by the Admirall of England and Broantine Héerof sweete Lady quoth Palladine your Aunt already hath aduertised me and I knowe assuredly that you haue escaped greater perill then you can report to me all for my loue wherein I am religiously bound to you while I liue yet heerewithall consider that you haue endured all this for your faithfull freend and husband who now bids you welcome as his loyall and espoused wife Alas my Lord quoth the Princesse you well knowe that I haue no other intent and the sooner our nuptials are solemnized the better shall I be quieted least any dishonor should ouertake me in respect of what hath passed betweene vs heeretofore Madame answered Palladine this â—ace concerneth me as néere as your selfe and to preuent such danger we must héerein be aduertised by your Aunt Orbiconte the rest shall be accomplished with all possible spéede In all this time Orbiconte had so preuailed with the King and Quéene declaring that this mariage was forepointed in their infancie and should by her meanes be â—atâ—fied by the King of Aquilea her Brother as they both promised that so soone as the King of Portugalâ— was arriued who was sent for to the mariage of his two Nieces the wedding should be sollemnized at that instant likewise Untill which time the Princesse should be enstructed in the Christian faith and be made partaker of that holy Sacrament which is the badge and cognisance of all Christians so should her obscure thoughts be cléerely illuminated and the mariage would be more acceptable in the sight of God The Kings deuise was generally well liked and the Princesse her selfe willing to vnderstand the rules which were so farre different from her Pagan profession in which exercise she had her whole studie and delight till the time came that she should be Baptized CHAP. XXXIX ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and all her Ladyes were with great pompe and solemnitie Baptised and all the honorable mariages afterward finished BY paineful diligence of diuers learned Diuines the Princesse was wonne to receiue the faith of a Christian and all her Ladies likewise that came with her from Aquilea so they being all attired in white garments were conducted to the Cathedrall Church in London with such royall pompe and magnificence as euery eye was set to wonder Such was her stately maiestie in going and
nor would I for all the world breake my word as for our returne perswade yourselfe it will be sooner then you imagine I assure yée thereof Madame sayd the Knight that was enchaunted for I will not leade them farre from this Realme nor into any place of danger Manteleo had his heart so scaled vp with gréefe beholding his mistresse to shed so many teares as he was not able to speake one word whereby Palladine presently gathered suspition that secret loue betwéene them had caused this chaunge wherefore bidding his Sisters adiew he departed the chamber with the Knight and the Damosels leauing Manteleo to say what further hée would but greefe brake him off with these spéeches You knowe Madame what I haue promised with which words the teares trickling downe his cheekes he kissed her and the Princesse Floraea likewise and so went to séeke Palladine whome he found readie mounted with their Squires at the Court gate So departed these two companions in armes with their trayne with resolution before their returne to make the world aquainted with their bountie and prowesse chéefely Manteleo for the loue of his Marcelina who presently after her Lords departure withdrew her selfe alone into her Cabinet and continuing her teares breathed foorth these sad laments Ah loue who euer thought thy strength to be of such puissance so violent hath thine entrance beene into my hart as impossible is it for me to liue long vnlesse my loyall fréend giue me remedie for none but he can giue me remedie Alas why is it not permitted vs to trauaile straunge Countreys as well as men had fortune so fauoured our sexe thou shouldst not swéete fréend be long without me but miserable is our condition to be thus subiected Many other amorous complaints made the sorrowfull Marcelina whom we will now leaue and returne to the Princes being scant a mile on their way when Palladine intreated the Knight that was enchaunted to tell him whether they should trauaile of whence he was how and wherefore he had béene enchaunted My Lord answered the Knight right gladly would I satisfie your demaund but hardly can I recount my infortunes without extreame greefe so greatly doth the verie remembrance thereof displease me therefore I pray yee be contented that my Sister be the reporter heereof for well can she reueale euery accident Trust me sayd Palladine and well it liketh me to heare her speake so riding along and the Damosell betweene them she began her discourse in this manner Séeing it pleaseth you to vnderstand the fortunes of this Knight willingly will I discouer them vnto you beeing farre otherwise then I rehearsed in the presence of the King on the day when you receyued your Knighthood but the cause why I so disguised the truth was through feare least his Maiestie would haue hindered your going with vs. Understand then that this Knight my Brother this Lady my Cousin and my selfe were all three borne in the Realme of Hungaria at what time it was vnder the gouernment of the great Turke My Brother was there married to one of the most beautifull Ladies in the Countrey and dwelt in a small Uillage on the frontiers of the Realme where a Gentleman much about your yéeres fell in aquaintance with him the continuance whereof bred such amitie betwéene them as my Brother intreated him to lodge in his house and two of his neerest kinsemen with him But in an vnhappie houre chaunced this fréendship for this Gentleman too vncourteous for this great kindnesse seeing my Brothers wife so perfect in beautie became enamoured of her in such sort as he onely desired the knowledge of her forgetting the honor and regard of his fréendly hoste Yet could not intreaties sollicitings giftes and faire prouâ—ses obtaine that of her he thirsted after wherefore despairing of his successe he went to a Sorcerer who gaue him a drugge of such force as should depriue my Sister of her speech by meanes whereof hee might rauish her or carie her whether him pleased she béeing not able to defend her selfe or call for any ayde This Gentleman hauing enstructed his two kinsemen in the matter came one night into my Sisters chamber and being assured that my Brother and his seruants slept soundly tooke her thence against her will afterward giuing her to his freends who caried her thence into a Ship was readie to set Sayle In short time they had gotten whether they would landing at a strong Castell belonging to this Gentleman where though he had her in his custodie yet could he obtayne nothing but refusalls and sharpe disdaynes yet in time he imagined to make her more tractable My Brother in the morning seeing his wife and guests thus gone suspected the ill that happened for diuers that met them toward the Sea came and told him what they sawe wherevpon he tooke this iniurie so greeuously as he was euen at the point to despaire Aâ—â—â—â—loâ—all Traytor quoth he is this the recompence for my good will to thee for the honor and good entertainement thou hast had in my house doost thou reward me with this villanie Come my freends let vs follow them and either by fire water or weapons destroy the adulterer that hath thus robd me of my onely delight May it be sweete wife that this happened with thy consent couldst thou serue him so y e loued thee as his life no well may I be assured of thy loyalty An Aunt of ours who sometime was wife to a sage Nigromancer seeing my Brother wel-neer beside himselfe such was his gréefe for the losse of his wife tooke pittie on him and to preuent the ill which she foresawe was like to ensue she wrote a letter to a wise matrone in the Realme of Aquilea commaunding vs to carie it to her and that my Brother should trauaile thither with vs which we did finding the good old Lady where the Letter directed vs which was in a little Desert of mountaines hauing no other habitation then in the caues which séemed olde and greatly ruinated in the middest wherof was a fountaine ouershadowed with the boughes of a great Elme tree So soone as she beheld vs she demaunded for the Letter we brought which when she had read she commaunded vs to rest our selues by the fountaine while she went into her Caue for the two Swords you now enioy and returning she bathed them in the fountaine mumbling certaine spéeches softly to her selfe and comming to vs sayd Sée héere Ladies two Swords which can be drawne out of their sheathes by none except the two best Knightes in the world by whose assistance this Gentleman shall recouer his losse and be reuenged on the Traytor that thus wronged him Take these Swords with yée and search the Courts of Kings and most renowmed Princes to finde those gentle Knightes excelling in vertues and them twaine that can drawe foorth these Swords shall you conduct to the place where the Lady abideth for whome this noble Gentleman is so tormented to whome for her
sake that sent yée will I presently giue such a remedie as shall diminish part of the greefe he endureth So giuing vs the two Swords with a little white wand she smote thrée blowes on the Elme tree from whence flew foorth a Bird crying very pitifully then with the wand she troubled the water in the fountaine vsing certaine priuate spéeches againe and taking a little of the water in her hand she dreined it on my brothers head saying Now go and commend me to your Aunt and to the two Knightes that shall draw the Swords to whome I will that thou giue the order of Knighthood to the ende their vertue courage and magnanimitie may be encreased So left we the old Lady and euer since followed her commaundement making a bootelesse search in many places till we found you to whome the aduenture was destemed And thus my Lords haue you heard the entire discourse of my Brothers misfortune Now as concerning what remaineth we must conduct ye into Hungaria to the Castell where my faire Sister is enclosed and where the villaine abideth that stole her from my Brother Yet is her honor preserued from any attaint for as the Traytor one day would haue rauished her mine Aunt of whome I spake by aduenture came thither and hauing throwne the paillard out of the chamber by the shoulders enchaunted the same in such sort as none may enter therein but my Brother nor can he come there but by your ayde A déede of such honor and charitie I hope you will not refuse in reuenging our wrong on that maleuolent villaine which shall be easie for you to doo as the aforesaid wise prophetesse declared to vs. The Princes hauing heard this monstrous treason thus aunswered We will assist ye faire Lady to our vttermost nor shall ye neede to whet vs on with perswasions for we are bound by dutie to reuenge actions so soule and enorme For this kinde replye she gaue them many thanks spending the time in these and like conferences and two daies rode they without any aduenture worthie the rehearsall CHAP. X. ¶ How Palladine and Manteleo met foure Knightes with whome they Combatted and the issue thereof THE third day as the Princes with their companie issued foorth of a thick wood they met four Knightes of whome after â—ourteous salutations Palladine demaunded whether they trauailed Directly towardes London aunswered one of them where the King abideth as we vnderstand And the cause of our iourney thether is to trie an aduenture of two Swords which not long since were caried thither vnable to be drawne by any but by two of the best Knightes in the world If you go for no other occasion aunswered Palladine well may ye spare that labour for two yong Knightes ended the aduenture two dayes since and more Two yong Knightes quoth another of them of what Countrey I pray ye The one said Palladine is an Englishman and the other an Italian borne in Millayne By my faith quoth the Knight in a great laughter belike then the enchauntment was no hard matter to finish nor was any hidden vertue to be discernd therein when an Italian and an Englishman could bring it to ende Uery fewe good Knightes are founde among the Italians in whome is more ostentation and brauadoes then matter of moment and effect and in Englishmen is much lesse being reputed in all Countreys for men of little estimation The two yong Princes hearing their Countreys so dispraised began to growe in maruailous choller especially Manteâ—eo who bending the browes and enflamed with vnquenchable anger thus aunswered Of whence are you Sir that can so well collaude the Knightes of England and Italy What mooues you to vse such spéeches being in the Kingdome you discommend Trust me if you haue any wit you make no shew thereof in your words Be not angrie aunswered the Knight I see by your couller that you sweate in your Armour but if ye continue this moode you haue met with Spanyards that will walke ye a little And heere haue you met an Englishman and an Italian sayd Manteleo euen they that ended the aduenture of the enchaunted Swords who presently will teach ye to temper your toong With these words he went to his Squire for his Launce placing it to encounter him that gaue the spéeches but Palladine called to him saying Forbeare my Lord and let me deals with him for I ought to begin first because the offence was first made to me Beside they are in my Countrey it belongeth then to me to correct their folly making by proofe what an Englishman is able to doo If you see me stand in néede of your helpe doo as you shall finde occasion otherwise let me alone with these lusty Spanyards Palladine without any further spéeches with a braue carire encountred the prating companion who though he brake his Launce with good courage on the Prince was throwne with such violence from his horsse as he lay not able to stirre hand or foote Which when the other three beheld they ran altogether against the Prince who gaue the foremost such a freendly welcome as falling on his head to the ground brake his necke with the weight of his owne bodie The other twaine at this encounter had broken their Launces on Palladine and now drew their Swords thinking to reuenge their fellowes ill fortune but greatly did they finde themselues deceiued for the Prince séeing he had no more to deale withall thou these two redoubled so many fierce strokes vpon them as the one fell out of his Saddle depriued of his sences and the other to saue his life would haue fled away the Prince disappointing him of that benefit by hamstringing his horsse caused him to fall to the earth when snatching off his Helmet with his Sword would haue smitten his head from his shoulders Alas Sir Knight cried the vanquished Spanyard saue my life I yeeld my selfe to thy mercy what I haue done against thee was in reuenge of my Brother whome thou first dismounted accurssed be the houre that he spake so vndiscretly this is not the first time I haue endangered my life onely to sustaine his fond and ouerfoolish quarrels Mercie I graunt thee aunswered Palladine so thou promise and sweare to fulfill one thing which is that so soone as thy woundes are healed thou shalt go to the King of Englands Court there submitting thy selfe to his will and mercie And thou shalt say to him that the two Knightes which departed thence with two Ladyes and if Knight who was there deliuered from enchauntment in reuerent wise salute his Maiestie hauing sent thée to be disposed at his pleasure Moreouer thou shalt not faile to tell him the cause why we sent thee in this sort to his highnesse The like declaration shalt thou make before the Queene and her two Daughters Marcelina and Florea All this will I gladly accomplish answered the Spanyard but as for my Brother and the other Knightes I thinke they will neuer passe further
wanne whereby the Damosell judged that he was wounded wherefore she said I perceiue my Lord you are scant well let us enter this Tent I pray ye where you shall be unarmed and these Knightes likewise that I may see what woundes you haue receiued for my Lady Orbiconâ—e gaue me at my departure from her a bore of most pretious and arteficiall ointment so that let your wounds be how dangerous soeuer in four and twentie houres I will awarrant they shall be perfectly healed Upon this aduise they entred the Tent where when they were vnarmed the Damosell verie cunningly dressed their wounds finding these of Orliman and Durandell to be most doubtfull yet her comfortable speeches made them expect speedie recouerie Afterward they sate downe to refresh themselues with such viands as they found there readie in the Tent and Palladine calling for the prisoner said Knight if thou desire the safetie of thine owne life tell me without fabling what the Knight was that first proffered to take the Sheeld from the Damosell and vpon what occasion you kept the passage heere to forbid the course of Knightes errant Nor will I Sir quoth the Knight hide bne iote of the truthe from you Knowe then that he which would haue taken the Sheeld from the Damosell was brother to a Gentleman who not long since by the Kings commaundement was put to a most shamefull death for that vniustly he detayned a Knightes wife to whose Castell came two strange Knightes and by the ayde of Lydiseo Prince of Hungaria they tooke the Gentleman sore wounded who was afterward executed slew many of his seruants as also his two brethren deliuering the Lady to her husband againe who now liue in quiet in their owne Castell This Knight that stroue for the Sheeld was likewise brother to that Gentleman who hearing the misfortune of his brethren vowed to take vengeance on those two Knightes by whose meanes he was now left freendlesse in the world Upon this determination heere caused he his pauillion to be erected sending his espials abroade to allure all Knightes by this passage hoping at length to finde those twayne which I thinke he imagined to be they that conducted the Damosell because he commaunded vs all to assaile them but whether they be the same or no he is now greatly deceiued of his hope and thus haue you heard the verie truth of our being heere Thanks be to heauen sayd the Prince Palladine that kept vs out of this danger for if we had passed this way we had either beene slaine or taken by these viâ—e minded men But my hazard was greatest quoth the Damosell had I not met with these two noble Knightes who in my defence thrust their owne liued into question Damosell aunswered Durandell of Cleue we haue done no more then our dutie and what all true Knightes are sworne vnto After they had stayed so long as them pleased they rode to a Towne not farre distant thence leauing the Knight to prouide buriall for his companions and help for such as yet remained aliue swearing him neuer after to be seene in any such bad action At this Towne they abode two or three dayes to furnish themselues of what they wanted as also to repaire their Armour which was much brused At length the Damosell tooke Palladine aside framing her speeches to him in this manner My Lord seeing you finde your selfe in good estate of health let me intreate ye to bid your freends adiew that carely in the morning we may depart to the place whether my Lady commaunded me to conduct ye because you must be assistant to such a one as shall héereafter doo very much for you Damosell quoth Palladine presently shall you see me bid them farewell for great is my affection toward your mistresse seruice seeing she fauours the man so much she neuer sawe Then turning to the three Princes he sayd My noble companions you knowe my promise to this Damosell to follow her whither she shall guide me now is she importunate for my departure wherefore let me intreate ye not to be offended if earely in the morning I take my leaue assuring you that neuer shall I forget your manifold courtesies And let my solemne promise perswade yée that these earnest affaires once dispatched to you will I presently shape my course meane while commaund me as your freendly seruant My Lord aunswered Manteleo albeit this seperation is gréeuous to vs yet séeing it a cause concerning your honor and may aduantage some distressed person kéep your promise right paciently shall we beare your absence hoping to see you shortly in England at the King your Fathers Court for thither shall we presently direct our iourney Palladine hauing intreated them to doo his humble dutie to the King his Father to the Quéene likewise and his two Sisters embraced them all thrée right louingly each one with teares shewing their gréefe of departure Like courteous farewell tooke they of the Damosell who gaue them many thanks for their fréendly succour and so each one entring their chamber for that night Lycelio the Squire to Palladine prepared all things readie for his maister who determined to be on horssebacke by breake of day CHAP. XV. ¶ How Palladine went with the Damosell that came from the wise Orbiconte and Manteleo Durandell and Orliman trauayled toward England and were seperated from each other by a strange aduenture EArly in the morning Palladine Lycelio and the Damosell set forward on their iourney directing theyr course to the Realme of Ireland leauing the thrée Princes soundly sleeping who the same day rodâ— toward England without finding any aduenture on land or Sea worthie the rehearsall After they had refreshed themselues thrée or foure daies at Douer a Towne that stands on the Sea coast of England they concluded to ride to London where they heard the King as then kept his Court. When they had ridden eight or ten miles they sawe comming foorth of a Forrest two poore men all besmeared with blood and verie sore wounded wherevpon they imagined that some théeues had thus vsed them and therefore rode toward them to vnderstand the cause Good Gentleman cried one of them so wounded for Gods sake helpe vs. Of whence are ye sayd the Prince Manteleo We are Sir quoth the poore man of Bohemia trauailing from the King of Englands Court home againe and to his Maiestie were we sent with thrée young Lions which two Knightes trauailing through our Countrey gaue vs charge to carie thither And as we came through this wood thrée théeues suddenly set vpon vs who wounded vs as you see tooke the money from vs we receyued of the King and haue slaine two of our compaâ—ions Manteleo remembring the poore men how Palladine and he had sent them with the Lions was meruailous sorie to see them so misused demaunding if the theeues were on horssebacke or on â—oote The poore men aunswered that they were on foote and could not as yet be gone verie farre Without any
separated them as you shall presently heare CHAP. XIX ¶ How a strange aduenture happened in the Citie of Varne by the ending whereof the Prince Palladine determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda HEere must I intreate ye to remember the Princes of Norgalles and Scots Landastines and Simprinell whome we left in the King of Englands Court Landastines being enamoured on the Princesse Florea Sister to Palladine as Manteleo was of his faire Marcelina Simprinell loth to part them that agréed so well left his companion in England trauailing to the King of Norgalles Court where he certified his Maiestie of the good estate of his Sonne Landastines Which newes were so welcome to the King as he intreated Simprinell to abide in his Court that he might shew him the pleasures of his Realme whereto the yong Prince right willingly condiscended as one desirous to behold nouelties But rather the chéefest cause was his affection to the faire Princesse Belanicia daughter to the King of Norgalles with whose beawtie he was meruailously enthralled and not daring to acquaint her with his loue he fell into a dangerous sicknes to the great gréef of the King who loued him as he had béene his owne Sonne In the end the Phisitions hauing declared to Simprinell how perillous his case stood by concealing his gréefe made him thus resolued that before he died he would make knowne to the Princesse Belanicia who oftentimes came her selfe to visit him and sent him many comfortable meates in his sicknesse the originall cause of his extremitie And one time among other the Lady that was most vsually sent by the Princesse and in whome she reposed greatest confidence desired him to bewray from whence his sicknesse grew promising withall that she would labour to her vttermost to procure his health The yong Prince very modest and bashfull taking the Lady by the hand thus aunswered Faire freend I thanke ye for your readie good will in séeking my helpe which is a matter not impossible to bee done but as for the cause of my languishing disease I will not acquaint ye therewith vnlesse ye sweare to keepe the same secret not reuealing it to any one but such as I shall name Assure your selfe thereof said the Lady by the faith of a virgin Know then sweete Lady quoth Simprinell that my extreame sicknesse happened by no other cause then the loue and affection I beare to your mistresse and feare to offend her or the King hath by silence of my loue brought me to this daunger Why my Lord quoth she you that are of so high and honorable discent can ye offend my Lady by louing her or you that are as good as she doo not deserue loue for loue she is the child of a King and so are you beside she is humble and gracious as any Princesse liuing then feare not to let her knowe your daunger Alas Madame quoth he neuer shall I dare to speake to her but may it please you to solicite my cause yet with carefull héed of her dislike I shall confesse my life preserued by you And so much will I doo for ye my Lord quoth she without giuing her any occasion of offence but rather shall I doo it in such sort as by a speedie answere you shall perceiue her mind Go then good madame said the Prince and boldly may ye assure her that my life or death is in her hand So went the Lady to her mistresse to whome she imparted what you haue heard wherewith she was so well pleased as she presently sent to him againe this aunswere that she entertained his loue with the like and that as he would witnesse his affection towards her he should practise what spéed he could deuise for his health These words breathed such life into the Prince as within few dayes he was perfectly recouered when after many amorous parlees with Belanicia she to make a triall how his loue was grounded hauing heard report of the faire Duchesse Brisalda desired him to trauell to Varne in Bulgaria carying with him her liuely counterfeit and there to maintaine against all Knightes whatsoeuer that she was fairer then the Duchesse Brisalda on which condition she would accept him as her Knight and loyall seruant Simprinell glad to be so commaunded the next day hee departed with his foure Squires and comming to Varne where the Duchesse remained heard what braue imployment was there in Chiualrie wherefore comming to the accustomed place of the Tourney on a faire Piller he placed his Ladyes picture saying he would maintaine against all commers that his mistresse excéeded the Duchesse Brisalda in beautie The Knightes attendant on the Duchesse were amazed héereat preparing themselues to defend her cause but Simprinell willed them first to bring the Duchesse counterfeit and it to be placed by his Ladies and the conquerour should carie them both with him Right soone was the Duchesse figure set on the Piller and Simprinell this first day dismounted twelue Knights Palladine being ridden abroade on hunting which made Brisalda despaire of her fortune fearing the strange champion would depart vnconquered This dayes good successe emboldened Simprinell to try the second when Palladine entring the Listes among the other Knightes whome one by one he saw brauely vnhorsed he came to Simprinell with these spéeches In sooth Sir Knight I commend your enterprise beeing a cause that maketh many forward in Armes but as for the Lady whome you extoll beyond my Lady the Duchesse héer present I say and will auerre the contrary against you and all other till the houre of death If affection hath blinded your eyes I soone shall alter that opinion when your owne selfe shall confesse that your Lady is no way to be compared with mine I imagine by your words Sir answered Simprinell that you will defend your mistresse by the toong onely but let vs goe to the matter roundly for you are not yet so good an Oratour as to perswade me from a resolued assurance You thinke then quoth Palladine that I thinke to escape the Combate by my words Not so for you shall sée me effectually defend the honor of her beautie who is my mistresse So giuing the spurres to their horsses they encountred with such violence as Palladine lost his stirrops but Simprinell was cast foorth of his saddle to the great ioy of the Duchesse and her freends that his presumptuous arrogancie was so worthely checked Afterward they fell to the Combate with the Sword and long they fought without any aduantage till Palladine by tripping his enemie got him downe and himselfe vpon him when holding his Sword ouer him he sayd Now must thou confesse the Duchesse Brisalda to be a Lady farre excelling thine in beautie elfe art thou not like to sée her again◠Seeing fortune hath throwne me into this extremitie said Simprinell I confesse my selfe vanquished but to say that my mistresse is inferiour to thine I will not though I die therefore nor am I otherwise bound by my owne conditions
then to leaue her portrait to the will of the conquerour The Iudges of the féeld gaue sentence accordingly wherevpon Palladine left Simprinell and went to place the Duchesse counterfeit aboue Belanicia albeit he perceiued her figure much more beautifull by which conceit he gathered that this was she of whome the wise Orbiconte told him wherefore he onely minded Belanicia purposing right soone to forsake the Duchesse As he was vnarming in his chamber he began to thinke how he might leaue Brisalda and what excuse would serue for his departure yet when he considered his good entertainement and what especiall fauour he had receiued at her hands he altered his mind reputing the words of Orbiconte for méere illusions And as he continued in this déepe musing he thought he heard one whisper in his eare saying It is not heere Palladine that thou must abide wherefore follow the good fortune that is promised thée Héerevpon he concluded what euer happened he would depart on the morrow and thereof that night he meant to aduertise the Duchesse to whome he went right soone afterward CHAP. XX. ¶ How Palladine aduertised the Duchesse of his departure and how trauailing to the Realme of Norgalles he had a dangerous Combate with Simprinell whome he knew afterward SUch were y t troublesome thoughts of Palladine in hastening his departure toward Belanicia as without any longer stay he came to the Duchesse who séeing him looke so sad desired to knowe the cause thereof In sooth Madame quoth he I can not forget the strange Knight that I Iousted withall this day right sorie I am that I demaunded not his name for I imagin I haue sometime seene him in England If that be all sayd the Duchesse we will send for the Knight hither but her sending was in vaine for he departed immediatly after the Combate When Palladine sawe no excuses would serue but she would néedes presse him with earnest request of his penstuenesse he said Let it not dislike ye good Madame if I haue intended any thing for your honor and mine owne but rather conceiue thereof as it deserueth Full well you knowe faire mistresse that hardly can we continue our loue together enioying the benefite y t good hap affoords vs without iealous suspition of your Lords and Ladyes and affection maketh amorous fréends oftentimes forgetfull of themselues so that béeing subiect to the iudgement of many they shall hardly escape without scandalous and peremptorie spéeches And nothing sweet Madame is more hurtfull to our honors especially yours in respect of your greatnesse and authoritie to preuent which danger and that héereafter we may stand out of the reach of wounding toongs I meane to trauaile to England to the King my Father whome I wil acquaint with the intended mariage betwéene vs and his good will obtained right soone shall I returne to haue it accomplished In the meane while you may conferre thereon with the Lords of your Councell who I thinke will not dislike thereof when they vnderstand my birth and parentage so shall our credits be safely defended and what hath past alreadie be sufficiently recompenced When Brisalda heard these spéeches her heart was so swollen with gréefe as she was not able to make any aunswere whereat he could not but meruaile considering his words tended to great reason yet with such zealous perswasions he still laboured her making faithfull promise of his spéedie returne as in the end he obtained her consent albeit God knowes verie vnwillingly Giuing her then an amorous conge he tooke two bracelets from his armes verie richly embellished with pearle and stone and presented them to the Duchesse saying On the same day I came to your Court swéete Madame you gaue me a iewell which I will kéepe for your sake while I liue that you may likewise remember me I beséech ye to weare these bracelets which were giuen me by my mother on the day I was Knighted Alas my Lord quoth she I doubt you haue left me such a remembrance as except you spéedily returne againe will beare me company to my latest home Yet will I kéepe one of the bracelets for your sake and when you come againe I will haue the other So putting the bracelet on her arme she vowed neuer to take it off vntill she sawe her Knight returned With many kind embracings and deuoute kisses he returned to his lodging and the Duchesse to her chamber where calling her trustie maiden to her who was a captiue Moore and one not a little in her fauour being acquainted with all that had passed betweene the Prince and her with many bitter sighes and teares she telles the Moore the summe of her greefe The Moore perswaded her that the Prince heerein had done aduisedly for safetie of both their honors if their loue as greatly she doubted had sorted to effect for secrecie must be the meane to couer such matters which she would so substancially bring to passe as none but themselues should be acquainted therewith With much adóo the Duchesse was pacified and on the morrow when Palladine departed she sent him a pursse of gold to spend in his trauaile causing her Lords to accompanie him two or thrée miles on his way and so though loth these louers are seperated the Duchesse abiding â—olitarie in her Pallace and Palladine hauing bidden the Lords adiew is iourneying in haste toward Norgalles He had not ridden halfe part of the day but a Knight with thrée Squires gallopped after him crying Stay Sir Knight for héere commes one that must speake with thée Palladine presently turning his horsse tooke his Launce from his Squire thus aunswering What is he that would speake with me let him kéepe out at the length of my Launce till I haue better knowledge of him why he should come to seeke me in such haste Because thou wouldest so faine knowe me aunswered the Knight thou shalt vnderstand that I am the man thou didst vanquish yesterday more by fortune then prowesse therefore I would now trie againe how well I can reuenge my former foyle So fetching their carire they encountred together so brauely as they were both dismounted and while their Squires laboured to catch their horsses that ran about the féeld they fell to the combate with the Sword and wounded each other very dangerously till in the end Palladine got the aduantage and as he made proffer to smite off his enemies head he knew him to be Simprinell Sonne to the King of Scots Soone was all the former vnkindnesse pacified and each embraced other verie louingly reproouing themselues of great wrong to fréendship yet excusing the same by ignorance When their Squires sawe how they were wounded one of them thus spake In this wood my Lords is a faire Abbey and there remaineth one verie skilfull in Chirurgerie so please ye to goe thither the Abbot will entertaine ye gently because he is brother to a worthie Gentleman who spent his time as a Knight errant and for his sake he loueth all
strange Knightes whatsoeuer They not misliking this councell went presently to the Abbey where the Abbot welcommed them as beseemed their estates and while their Supper was prouiding the skilfull man hauing visited their woundes they walked into the faire Orchards and Gardens recounting to each other their seuerall fortunes since they were together in the Court of England Simprinell discoursed his loue to Belanicia of Norgalles and the cause of his comming to the Citie of Varne which when Palladine heard he determined not only to forget his affection to Belanicia but also to assist his freend to his vttermost in obtaining her loue saying My noble fréend I knowe what manner of disease loue is if one haue not receiued the swéetes thereof albeit when I sawe you in England I had no knowledge at all therein wherefore if I shall accompanie you to Norgalles such good speeches will I vse of you to your Lady as she shall not be offended for not bringing her portrait againe or that of the Duchesse which she sent ye for Simprinell thanked the Prince for his offer but he was farre otherwise addicted saying he had promised his Lady a further iourney for her loue wherein he would not haue any companie With this answere was Palladine well contented directing his course another way so hauing stayed two daies at the Abbey and either of them being able to beare Armour he left Simprinell there and courteously taking his leaue of the Abbot set on whither fate and fortune would guide him And after he had ridden fiue or sixe dayes he met a horsseman with whome falling in talke he vnderstood that the great Prince Caesar of Roome had at Paris enterprised a noble Tournament for the loue of the faire Rosamonde of Fraunce a Princesse estéemed incomparable in beautie And I quoth the Courrier am sent to the King of Norgalles Court who hath a faire Daughter named Belanicia before whome I must reueale my message and declare the Prince Caesars challenge in presence of all the Kings Knightes Afterward I must trauaile to Bulgaria and in the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda a Lady likewise renowmed for her beautie I must make knowne of this famous Tournament Palladine glad to heare the Duchesse so commended and that now he had the meanes to see the Princesse Belanicia accompanied the messenger to Norgalles and by the way méeting Belanicia riding in her Litter abroade for her recreation with diuers Knightes that attended on her Palladine was prouoked to Ioust with them by a contemptuous challenge of one of her Knightes But such was their ill lucke as all her champions were dismounted till her brother Landastines tooke the cause in hand hauing left the English Court to come sée the King his father and after they had broken many Launces not being able to preuaile against each other they ended the sport and Landastines knowing Palladine tooke him with him to the Court where he was welcommed honorably by the King as also the faire Belanicia his daughter CHAP. XXI ¶ How Simprinell being healed of his wounds returned to Varne where he vanquished the Prince Alfian of Ireland and brought away the portrait of Brisalda WHen Simprinell felt himselfe well recouered and remembred how he had not onely failed in winning the portrait of the Duchesse but in the attempt had lost y e figure of his mistresse Belanicia he determined not to goe to Norgalles vnlesse he could accomplish his Ladye commaundement Wherefore taking his leaue of the Abbot he rode backe againe to Varne and comming to the place of triumphes found the Duchesse with her Ladyes placed on the Scaffolds and the Prince Alfian of Ireland the Champion for Brisalda who preuayled woorthely against all that encountred with him Simprinell looking on his Ladyes picture and séeing it embased vnder the Duchesse had such a violent impression strooke him to the harte as he intended to recouer her honor againe or else to leaue his life in the feeld And in this resolution he encountred the Irish Prince passing two or three courses brauely the shiuers of their Launces flying vp into the aire but at the third attaint he met Alfian so roughly as both horsse and man were sent to the ground When Alfian had recouered his feete hee drew his Sword and comming to Simprinell who by this time was alighted and prepared for him when they began a fierce and cruell combate whereof Simprinell in the end had the honor Then comming to the Duchesse with courteous reuerence he demaunded of her if she would permit him to carie thence the portraites whereto she made no answere but in a great anger strong from the Scaffold because her champion had defended her cause no better Heereupon the Iudges as the equitie of the case required deliuered the portraites to Simprinell which he giueing to his Squires mounted on horssebacke returning presently backe to the Abbey not alittle glad of his high good fortune At the Abbey he stayed thrée or foure dayes to heale such woundes as he tooke in the last combate and afterward departed toward Norgalles where he arriued without any aduenture by the way to hinder him If he were welcome to the Lords and Ladies I referre to your opinions and how the Princesse Belanicia liked thereof when she sawe her Knight returned with the Duchesse counterfeit let Ladyes desirous of especiall account imagine her content but in requitall of his great paines so confidently did she loue him afterward as by imparting the same to her brother Landastines who highly fauoured his freend Simprinell the King was made acquainted therewith and Ambassadours sent to the King of Scots such good liking thereof beeing found betweene them both as the mariage was consumated and long loue requited with desired recompence Afterward Simprinell imparted to Landastines how at first he was foyled by the Prince Palladine and in his absence had woon his Ladyes credit againe which Landastines tooke so vnkindly as they concluded to trauaile to Paris whither the English Prince was gone before to reconcile this wrong to former amitie And thither are ridden Landastines and Simprinell to the great gréefe of the King and Quéene but chéefely of Belanicia so soone to forgoe her Lord and husband Palladine entised with the report of this braue Tournament held at Paris by the Prince Caesar for faire Rosamonde of Fraunce would néedes be séene in those worthie exploites and landing at Callis loth to be knowne in England least the King his Father should hinder his intended iourney he met with the Duke of Gaule accompanyed with twentie Knightes brauely mounted he likewise riding to the Prince Caesars Tourney by the commaundement of the faire Agricia of Naples whome he honored as his Lady and mistresse After they had saluted each other Palladine presently knew the Duke remembring he had séene him in his Fathers Court yet would not he make any shew thereof because he was so slenderly accompanyed hauing no one with him but his Squire Lycelio and
to finde his fréend Manteleo there but he was as then newly gone toward Normandie to pacifie a controuersie betwéene his Father and the Duke who was a man well prouided with money and munition for he kept diuers Rouers and Pirates on the Seas that dayly brought him great store of good booties CHAP. XXV ¶ How Palladine met with his freend Manteleo whome he had almost slayne in fight but that a Damosell discouered his name And how Palladine slew the Pirate Dormidon VPon the fourth day after Palladine and his fréends departed from Paris riding through a Forrest they met a Knight and a Damosell and with them a Squire gréeuously weeping the Squire ioyfull to meete these Knightes came to Palladine with these spéeches Help Gentlemen for Gods sake helpe me to be reuenged on this Traitour who hath slaine my maister by the procurement of this Damosell Palladine moued with the Squires teares rode to the Knight and thus spake Knight or paillard rather what hath mooued thée to misuse passengers and to bathe thy hands in innocent blood Knight if thou wilt quoth he with the Damosell but paillard reserue for thy selfe as for him that I haue slaine he was the cause of his owne death because I found him readie to haue dishonored this Damosell It is best for thee to excuse thy déede sayd Palladine in respect heere is none that can contrarie thée but I rather thinke the shame is thine then his that is dead as his Squire hath protested to me Think what thou wilt quoth the Knight but the Squire lieth falsly and I ought to be better beléeued then he if thou didst me the right belonging to Armes but credit as thou findest occasion I haue no leysure to stand chatting with thée And because thou art so lustie answered Palladine thou shalt a little tarie my pleasure So couching their Launces they met so roughly together as they were both cast foorth of their saddles afterward they continued a cruell Combate with the Sword till Landastines and Simprinell stepping to the Damosell demaunded of her what the Knight was Alas Gentlemen quoth she his name is Manteleo the Prince of Mâ—â—â—â—yne whome I sée verie hardly requited for deliuering me from the villaine that would haue forced me Landâ—stines presently stopping betwéene them sayd Giue ouer Sir Palladine for you fight against your déere fréend Manteleo At these words the Princes threw downe their weapons and with all the ceremonious courtesies incident to fréendship they louingly embraced each other whereat the Damosell greatly meruailed and the Squire who was the cause of their fight whereupon doubting a further danger toward him because his maister was slaine in so bad a cause so fast as he could tooke himselfe to flight After the manifold kinde excuses which freendly enemies vse together they rode with the Damosell to her Castell where their wounds being visited they afterward iournyed to Millayne Palladine being honorably welcommed by the Duke and especially fauoured for his loue to his Sonne Manteleo And hauing feasted there certaine dayes the Duke recounted to Palladine his present affaires with the Duke of Normandie who after many dishonorable actions was by his power slaine in a battell whereupon the Normans were content to endure his soueraigntie ouer them and for that cause had they sent their Ambassadors In the end by the worthie aduise of Palladine the Duke tooke the gouernement vpon him sending his Sonne Manteleo to receiue the possession thereof Now thought Palladine he stayed too long remembring the letter from the wise Orbiconte therefore would he presently depart toward Aquilea to the great gréefe of the Duke and his fréend Manteleo being loth to forgoe the English Prince so soone Landastines and Simprinell vnderstanding that Palladine would trauaile alone albeit more willingly they would haue borne him companie rode back to Norgalles againe Simprinell confessing how he had woon the portraite of Brisalda whereof Palladine made little or no account at all because he had now almost forgotten her Manteleo likewise went to Normandie where he was receiued as their Lord and Gouernour and hauing established all matters concerning the common wealth he crost the Seas into England to visit his best beloued Lady Marcelina whome he had chosen aboue all other in the world Palladine thus departing from his fréends hauing none in his company but his Squire Lycelio and the Shepheard Liboran by whose meanes he entred the Castell of Brulanfurior and therefore gaue him the name of Liboran the well aduised tooke Shipping and coasting by Lystria at length they came into Albania where suddenly they met with a Turkish Pirate named Dormidon who thinking to seaze on this christian bootie assayled them yet in the end was ouercome himselfe and he with the most part of his men throwne into the Sea After this sharpe encounter on the Sea Palladine was desirous to take landing at the néerest Island least they should be surprized by any more Pirates and because he thought each day a yéere till he might sée the swéete Goddesse promised him by Orbiconte he determined not to rest himselfe in any place vntill he had found what he so earnestly desired charging his Squires thence forward to call him The Knight without rest and vnder this name héereafter he trauaileth The Pilote did as he was commaunded striking presently to the néerest Island which séemed to them verie beawtifull and delectable but they were no sooner come on land and their horsses brought on shore which immediatly offered to feede on the goodly gréene grasse but a mightie flame of fire issued foorth of the ground and continued before them to hinder their passage any further What meaneth this sayd the Knight without rest to the Pilote what may this Isle be named are we in Scicilia where many affirme there is a Mountaine that vomiteth fire and flame foorth in great aboundance No my Lord aunswered the Pilote we are verie farre from thence Scicilie whereof you speake is in the Mediterranean Sea and we are in the Sea Adriatique a great distance from Aquilea and as my owne knowledge serueth me I thinke this soyle is named The Isle of Fire where hath beene heard and séene matters of great meruaile And trust me said the Knight without rest I neuer sawe the like before I pray ye therefore stay for me in this place while I goe to sée the wonders of this Island and if I returne not when two dayes are expired set Sayle and depart whether ye please Not so my Lord aunswered the Pilote I will not weigh Anker till I sée yée or heare from yée in meane while we will expect a lucky gale of winde that may send vs merily to Aquilea CHAP. XXVI ¶ What strange and fearefull visions the Knight without rest sawe in the Isle of Fire and how he returned in exceeding greefe because he could not finish the enchauntments REsolued thus to sée this strange Island the Knight without rest mounteth on horssebacke leauing Liboran in the
Dace with the Duke of Dardania their confederate hauing passed the Albane Mountaines were encamped within a league of Baldina And of this Armie the King himselfe was the leader hauing in his companie a Giant named Muzimalde the mightiest man in stature that euer was séene who bare a huge mace of stéele twelue foote in length being answerable in weight to the greatnes thereof The Princes of Misia and Dace had charge of the maine battell and the Duke of Dardaniâ— the ariergard with two thousand Thracians ordained in the wings which were newly come to giue them succour Thus doo these Armies with furie encounter together and great hauock is made on either side especially the Aquileans were in greatest ieoperdie But now the Knight without rest Broantine Liboran and certaine Gentlemen appointed by the wise Orbiconte to accompanie them arriue in the féeld and séeing that side goe to wracke for whose assistance they trauailed thither like Lyons and no men they thrust among the thickest where breaking the aray of their enemies no one durst stand before them but paid his life for ransome of his boldnes At length the Knight without rest encountred the huge Muzimalde and though the weightie strokes of his mace did often put the Prince in danger yet by pollicy and fine chiualrie in the end he got the better of the Giant sending his soule to the Deuill whome he resembled The Panomans at this fight were greatly dishartened finding themselues vnable to hold out any longer so the Dukes of Sclauonia and Liburnia tooke many noble prisoners among whome were the Princes of Dace and Dardania the Duke of Misia being slaine by the hand of the Prince Almiden and the rest of the Panonians with shame driuen to â—light When the honor of the day was thus fallen to the Aquileans the two Princes Almiden and Zorian sent for the knight without rest and his companions whome after they had embraced they desired to goe with them to the King their Father who should remunerate the great paines they had taken And that his Maiestie might vnderstand their good successe a Courrier was sent before in all haste and being brought into the Kings chamber where the Quéene and Nonparelia were present he deliuered his letters wherein the Princes had not spared to report the worthie déedes of the knight without rest and theirs likewise that came in his companie so that the King demaunded of whence and what the Knight was who in his cause had behaued himselfe so brauely whereto the messenger thus answered My Lord it is as yet vnknowne of whence he is yet this I can assure ye that he is one of the most goodly Gentlemen that euer I sawe And in the Armie it is reported that had not he come when he did and your Captaine Broantine with other in their companie your Maiestie had lost the day for our auantgaid being broken the Giant Muzimalde laid on such load as horsse and man he strooke to the ground But at the arriuall of this Knight euen as some God had taken humane shape vpon him our courage encreased the huge Giant by his hand was slaine and all the rest stood amazed as doubting to fight or turne their backs When the King of Panonia who was in person in the battell sawe the onely man he trusted in thus confounded with his Sonne and fiue hundred men he set furiously vpon vs meaning to reuenge the Giants death if he could but this heate lasted not long for our men séeing the incredible magnanimitie of this Knight and his companions followed him with such alacritie of courage as the King and all his men were driuen on a heape and had not a sudden winde and extreame storme fallen among vs the King and his Sonne had béene slaine or taken But the weather beating vpon our faces we could not discerne which way they fled till we espied them on the tops of the Mountaines whereupon this Knight and his companions made after them killing many of them among the hilles and brought backe with them fiftéene prisoners For conclusion I thinke our great Prophet sent this Knight by whome the Princes your Sonnes and all our liues are saued The good King was so glad of these tidings as he tooke â— rich chaine from his arme and gaue it the messenger earnestly desiring to sée the Knight without rest that hée might account of him as his vertues deserued and foorthwith he commaunded through his Realme a generall reioycing should bée made for this happie victorie with bonfires ringing of belles and such like signes of gladnes The Princesse Nonparelia hearing the messenger so highly extoll the knight without rest became immediatly amorous of him longing for the returne of her Brethren that she might sée the image of her desire On the morrow the King commaunded all his Estates to goe méete his Sonnes and the Knight without rest charging them to honor him as they would doo him selfe which they fulfilled effectually as in the Chapter following you shall behold CHAP. XXX ¶ How the Aquilean Princes and the Knight without rest arriued at the Court and their gracious entertainement by the King Queene and faire Nonparelia GReat haste made the Princes of Aquilea to the Courte that they might present the Knight without rest to the King their Father and when they drewe neere the Citie such a multitude of people met theÌ„ on the way to sée the Knight so highly renowmed as they could not ride on for the prease throng At the Citie gates they were welcommed with many learned Orations all the stréetes being hanged with costly Tapistry as it had béene to entertaine the greatest Monarch in the world And the good old King very weake and crazie by reason of his late sicknesse came in person to the Pallace gate accompanyed with all the Princes Lords of his Court when his two Sonnes hauing humbly kissed his hand the Knight without rest would haue done the like but the King would not permit him wherefore he embraced him in his armes as though he had béene as great a state as himselfe Gentle Knight quoth he welcome and frollick in our Court for such report haue I heard of your vertue and prowesse as neuer was I more desirous of any thing then to see that worthie man who with honorable paines laboured in my seruice hazarding your life and person for him that neuer deserued such fauour and freendship My Lord answered the Knight without rest this gracious kindnesse exceedeth all report in deigning to accept of me so honorably I being but a poore and simple Knight errant readie to passe straights of death in your seruice Ah my Sonne sayd the King death hast thou alreadie aduentured for me for which I cannot returne sufficient recompence yet if I cannot requite you effectually my good will shall not want wheresoeuer you be in meane time aske what you will and be assured to speede So taking him by the one hand and his Sonne Almiden by
the other he went vp into the great Hall where the Quéene the Princesse and all the Courtly Ladies being choisely tricked in their brauest accoustrements welcommed them with meruailous kindnesse especially Nonparelia who shined like the morning Starre among the other virgins her courtesies to the Prince excéeded all comparison These Courtly ceremonies ouerpassed the Knightes were conducted to their chambers to refresh themselues and change their habites while the roiall supper was preparing Now was the Knight without rest thoroughly set to worke with consideration of the Princesse supernaturall beautie and longer would he haue continued in this rauishing studie but that the Prince Zorian came to aduertise him that the King stayed onely his comming So walked they together into the great Hall where the King caused the Knight without rest to sit next him at the table and the Princesse Nonparelia right ouer against him a thing to her no little contentation that she might behold the worthie personage who had gained the onely priuiledge of her heart All supper time these two louers fed on no other viands then the one regarding the other with piercing lookes for their amorous affections so ouermaisterd their sences as they forgot to receiue any sustenance The supper ended the Lords and Ladies of the Court fell to dauncing meane while the Princesse Nonparelia hauing noted the gracious behauiour of the Knight without rest took the hardines vpon her to come néere him and hauing with great modestie saluted him thus spake As I vnderstand Sir Knight the King my Father and all his are highly beholding to you in respect of your honorable paines in the late battell against our enemies Alas Madame quoth he if I had not as then beene present yet doubtlesse you had béene assured of victorie little then is the glorie that I haue deserued Heerein you must pardon me Sir aunswered the Princesse for I haue heard credibly reported that but for you we had lost the day yet let me intreate so much fauour as to tell me of whence you are and what might be the occasion of this great kindnesse that for my fathers sake you should so gladly thrust your life into danger Madame quoth he so long since did your diuine name ouercome me and such is your present authoritie ouer me as death shall not make me conceale or disguise the truth to you Knowe then sweete Lady and hold it for certaine that nothing procured me to assist the King your Father in his late warres but onely your loue beautie and good grace all which I haue heard so generally commended as now I confesse report hath not feigned In sooth my Lord quoth she such vertues as you speake of are hard to be sound in me but let it be as you please to alleadge yet no one is so much bound to thanke you as my selfe for if the King my Father had lost the honor of the battell too late had it beene for me to renew the peace falling into the subiection of the verie worst man in the world to whome my selfe denied the request of marriage and héere hence grew the warre betwéene my Father and the King of Panonia So much good Madame quoth he did I heare before by the Gouernour of Enna and the wise Lady Orbiconte who intreated me and my companie verie honorably at her Pallace and if in this action I haue done you any seruice I account my labour well bestowed and repute my selfe beyond all other in fortune hauing disappointed a Prince so contrarie to the vertues and perfections wherewith your gracious nature is accompanied for a man of so bad conditions ought to haue sorted out one like to himselfe In déede my Lord quoth she you haue said the truth notwithstanding his euill disposed and deformed bodie made me not refuse him but his great defect of vertue and honestie for the gifts of the mind are to be preferred before those of nature yet was he acquainted neither with the one or other Longer would they haue continued in talke but that the King commaunded to ceasse the dauncing because the Knightes should goe rest themselues in their chambers wherefore the Princesse breathing a vehement sigh from her inward soule gaue the courteous good night to the Knight without rest who hauing deuoutly kissed her faire white hand followed the King to his lodging and there committing his highnesse to the fauour of the night was by the two Princes brought to his chamber they both louing him as he had béene their brother especially Zorian the yongest who determined to accompanie him when he left the Court and to séeke aduentures with him as a Knight errant As each one thus departed to his lodging the Princesse called Broantine to her and enquired of him what and of whence the knight without rest was Madame quoth Broantine at this time I can hardly satisfie you yet thus much I dare assure ye as I vnderstood by the wise Lady Orbiconte that he is discended of royall linage and one that I am especially bound to hauing receiued vnspeakable fauours at his hands In sooth said the Princesse he may well be said to procéede of royall parentage in that his ordinarie behauiour declares no lesse but doo you knowe the cause of his comming into this Countrey so slenderly accompanyed and why he entred a quarrell nothing concerning himselfe The cause as I haue heard good Madame quoth Broantine was the renowme of a Ladies beautie famed through the world to excell the fairest At these words the Princesse began bashfully to blush séeing these spéeches agréed with those the Prince himselfe spake which encreased the amorous fire alreadie kindled in her heart and that did Broantine very well perceiue yet he dissembled as though he knew nothing So departed the Princesse to her chamber and Broantine went presently to the knight without rest to whome he reuealed his talke with Nonparelia aduising him to follow a matter so well begun for there was hope of good successe to be expected The Prince embracing Broantine gaue him thanks for his freendly tidings and the next day happened a notable occasion both to the honor of the knight without rest and to assure him of the Princesse For Sulbern cousin to the Giant Muzimalde came and challenged the Combate against him that slew his kinseman which the knight without rest accepting in open feeld ouercame his proude enemie and thereby wonne the especiall good liking of the King and the whole Court Yet was not this Combate sought without great daunger in respect Sulbern was a man in stature equall to Muzimalde and two such monstrous aduersaries would put an approued champion to his triall but though the Knight without rest was verie sore wounded and many times brought in hazard of his life yet at length he bare away the honor of the féeld and the head of his enemie as a present to his mistresse Now doth Venus lighten all her Lampes and the religious louers approch her altars offering
caused such a laughter among the Ladies as if they had séene a spectacle of greatest meriment Erinnea Duchesse of Rimandria and wife to Liboran with Doronea wife to Broantine newly created Duke of Bastanella in their triall the Images turned their backs to them Graciana Marcelina and Florea had but little more credit sauing that the Images mooued not from them But now came Nonparelia to her turne and her behauiour procured a generall contentment for Venus let her touch the Torche and set the Crowne on her shoulder but tooke it back againe immediatly thereby prefiguring that she being had now lost her libertie When they sawe the aduenture could not be ended the Ladyes betooke them to their Scaffoldes and the Knightes entred the Lystes to make better proofe of their fortune by Chiualrie Landastines accompanied with Broantine Mushell of Rostock Brunifort his Brother and Orliman of Flaunders with an hundred Knightes more first entred the féeld On the other side came the Prince Zorian with Liboran Durandell of Cleue Grindâ—y of Orton and Sedonis of Suffolke with an hundred braue and couragious Knightes who at the sound of the Trompets encountred each other with meruailous valour Landastines and Zorian Iousted together beeing of such equall strength and hardy courage as the victorie could be gained on neither side to cut off which controuersie a new assayâ—and entred the Lystes bearing in his Shéeld a golden Phenix and vpon his Armour a coate of Crimosin Uelnet whereon these two letters SS were verie thick imbroidered in Gold and Pearle the sight of this Gallant gaue cause of admiration and matter of valew was expected to come from him CHAP. XLI ¶ Who was the new Knight of the Phoenix and of a Letter the Prince Palladine receyued concerning his fyrst loue REason requireth that this new assaylant should be knowne and the cause of his comming least otherwise you should misconceiue of the matter and so be depriued of the delight promised thereby Know you then that the Knight of the Phenix was the Prince Caesar Sonne to Othon the Emperour of Roome then reigning and husband to the faire Rosamond of Fraunce who hearing of the honorable Triumph at the marriage of the Prince Palladine and the aduenture of the Statues before the Court at London trauailed thither to win the conquest of the one and credit of the other that at his returne to his best beloued he might obtaine the greater grace and fauour Caesar beeing thus entred the Lystes and noting the braue chiualrie shewen by the Princes stood still a good while till he sawe both the sides make offer of departure But fearing to be reprooued for his long stay as though by cowardise he durst not trie his fortune he first encountred one of the Prince Zorians Knights and threw him to the ground with his héeles vpward Seauen or eight more of them he serued in the like sort till Landastines would néedes deale with this Champion but Caesar met him with such violence as both horsse and man was sent to the ground The Prince of Norgalles desirous to reuenge this shame called for a fresh Horsse and a Launce and calling his enemie to Ioust againe as he made proffer to begin his carire the Prince Caesar thus spake to him Good Sir be not offended with him who hath saluted you with a courtesie common among Knightes errant but enduring the same with pacience giue the like to such as hazard them selues against you I feele no taste of courtesie quoth Landastines in such gréetings and thou mayst happen to confesse the same with him thou next assaylest notwithstanding all thy brauerie in speeches By proofe said Caesar I shall be made perfect a fierce assaylant shall be assured of a braue defendour So breaking off this contention he gaue the spurres to his horsse against Zorian giuing him such a vough charge at the encounter as he was cast quite out of his saddle At this sight were Palladine and Manteleo greatly displeased whom the King for the earnest loue he bare them would not permit to beare Armes in this Tourney but caused them to accompanie their Ladies on the Scaffold and to giue iudgement who best deserued they as I said mooued with the behauiour of the Knight of the Phenix came to the King with great reuerence Palladine deliuering these spéeches My Lord the reuerence and dutie that children owe to their Parents hath made vs remaine idle among these Ladies during the honest exercise of our fréends and companions estéeming to contradict your commaund were an offence more then presumptuous But now are our desires so stirred and prouoked as we can no longer containe our selues in slothfulnes but are enforced humbly to intreat that your highnesse would giue vs leaue to Arme our selues onely to teach this newcome Gallant who thinks alreadie he hath made a conquest that in England are Knights sprung from the race of the chéefest of the round Table who are not to be feared with seeing thrée or foure men vnhorssed My Sonne quoth the King my commaund was to no other end then to withhold ye from the thing you haue now desired because assayed new Combates without Armes you should not be endaungered by two trials together considering how the one may be a hinderance to the other and so doubtlesse would it come to passe at this instant were I not fully perswaded that honor neuer breakes companie with true loue but more and more aduanceth his titles to the great encouragement of all noble mindes Therefore my Sonnes doo what you please I will not hinder ye go in Gods name and returne with the full of my desire Hauing thus obtained what they would they departed to their lodgings returning soone armed and well mounted and passing by the Scaffolds Palladine intreated his Nonparelia to giue him one of her Bracelets wherewith he might enter the Ioust vnder her fauour In which time Manteleo went to trie his fortune with the Sonne of Othon and many Launces were broken betweene them yet neither able to dismount the other Wherewith Manteleo beeing angrie and seeking polâ—icie to preuaile against his foe Lord Caesar lifting vp the beuer of his helmet imagining by the rich armes of Manteleo that he was the Prince of England with courteous reuerence to him thus spake Sir Palladine perceiuing that you knowe me not nor the cause of my comming into this Countrey and séeing you would procéed to the Combate the loue I beare ye constraineth me willingly to discouer my selfe beside verie loth am I to loose the credit I haue wonne alreadie and so prouoke you to displeasure against me I am your fréend Caesar Sonne to the Emperour as readie to be commaunded by you as any other of your Knights in England Of this peace was Manteleo not a little glad yet brauely dissembling the matter he thus answered Lord Caesar I am not the man you take me for but in respect of this excéeding gentlenes and the reuerent dutie I owe
Turke but our Gods from whose sight nothing can be shadowed knowing what before was accorded and concluded betwéen her and the Knight without rest whome you haue séene in my brothers Courte he being the Sonne of a mighty and puissant King haue apparantly reuealed that their faithfull promise to eache other must not be falsefied promise I say of mariage betwéene them wherof my selfe am a sworne witnesse In vaine is it then for you thus to alleadge that the Knight without rest is a Christian and my Niece a Pagan but let it suffise ye that our Gods will haue it so as you in short time shall sée further experience Doo you therfore direct your compasse to the coaste of Spaine that from thence we maye saile into England the seate and Kingdome of the Knight without rest after the deceasse of his Father who is yet liuing Feare not any inconuenience that may ensue héereby for I will be your safe protection and no woorsse shall fall to you héerby then to my Niece and my â—esâ—e and of her haue I greater care then were she my owne Daughter Heerewith she paused expecting what answere they would returne but discerning by their countenances that they liked not her speeches as also they were loth to come among the Christians their enemies without a better warrantise of their safetie she began againe in this manner Why my fréendes are you so fearefull as you shewe your selues doo you think any harme shall happen to you in my companie am not I and my Niece sufficient for your assurance what other safe conduct would ye haue we goe into the land of our kindred and freends to confirme a perpetuall peace and concorde with one of the moste vertuous Princes in the world My Nephewe the Prince Zorian who departed you knowe with that gentle Knight there is he louingly entertained fauoured by him whom the Gods preordained to be my Nieces husband Saile we on then merilye and feare not the displeasure of the King my brother for well am I assured that they will not dislike this mariage And were I not fullye perswaded of what I haue saide that the ende of our enterprise shall sorte to a generall benefit yea to a full resolued ioye and content on all sides I would not haue aduentured thus farre being as carefull of your good as mine owne life These spéches so throughly animated the Mariners and Gentlemen as they promised to fulfill what she gaue them in charge being certaine that Orbiconte tolde them nothing but what she had foreseen by her wonderfull knowledge and therfore passing by Hercules pillers they entred the Ocian directing their compasse toward great Britaine By y e way they were set vpon by thrée pirats who seeking to take the spoyle of the Ship stew many Gentlemen and Mariners and when they were brought to the very hardest exigent that they thought verily to be taken by the Pirates three English shippes came to their rescue wherein the high Admirall of England was who had béene in Portugall with the King to aduertise him of the mariage of his two Nieces to the Princes Manteleo and Landastines The Ships of England encountred the Pirats and after long fight tooke them then comming to knowe of whence the Ship was that had béene so distressed the man that was sent to demaund the question was Captaine Broantine who accompanyed the Admirall in this voiage Ioyfull was Orbiconte when she beheld Broantine and comming on boord the Admirall to whome Broantine reuealed of whence they were and that Palladine long expected their arriuall in England it is not to be asked how courteously he entertained them vowing to take sharpe reuenge on the Pirates for their villainous dealing Broantine declared to Nonparelia the health of Palladine and her brother Zorian how he was Christened and affianced to the faire Graciana of Flaunders which newes pleased her not a little as also this happie and fortunate deliuerance which she verily thought hardly to escape with life The Admirall made them the best chéere he could on Ship boord and afterward committed them to the charge of Broantine to see them safely conducted into England himselfe taking order for the Pirates Ships which after he had ransacked as he pleased he followed withall as wind and weather gaue him leaue CHAP. XXXVIII ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and Orbiconte arriued in England where they were royally entertayned by the King and his Princesse And how Palladine bewrayed what had passed betweene him and his Lady wherewith the King and Queene were well contented HAuing sayled with a good and prosperous winde at length the Ships came on the cape of Cornewall and from thence to the Isle Benedict where coasting as occasion serued leauing the cape of Pinda they tooke harborow in the Ile of Wight from whence Broantine senta Brigandine before to aduertise Palladine how néere his Lady was the wise Orbiconte writing to him in this manner The Letter from the wise Orbiconte to Palladine Prince of England THese are to aduertise ye Lord Palladine that by the assistance of the highest God my Niece Nonparelia and I are safely arriued in the Isle of Saint Helena from whence we will shortly set forward according to the promise I made at your departure from Aquilea hauing doone my vttermost in your cause for my Niece who as you knowe hath refused the great Emperour of Turkie making choyse of you aboue all other in respect of your faithfull vowe to her made in my chamber at her Fathers Pallace which I hope you will not now forget considering what hath béene doone at your earnest instance Therfore if as yet you haue not done it make the King your Father and the Quéene acquainted therewith and that so soone as possible you can because I would sée your mariage perfected before my returne to Aquilea that I may credibly assure the King my Brother what high good fortune is befallen his Daughter as also the continuall honor promised you by the destemes and not to you alone but to your issue heereafter likewise Thus awaiting opportunitie to acquaint you at large with our nauigation and what dangers we haue escaped on the Sea as your Admirall and Broanâ—ine can testifie who deliuered vs from bloodthirstie Pirates I ceasse presenting hartie good will to you from my Niece and my selfe From the Isle of Saint Helena By your affectionate freend Orbiconâ—e Such were the contents of the Letter sent from the wise Orbiconte to the Prince Palladine which was presented him by one of Broantines Gentlemen as he was walking in the Garden with the King and Queene conferring on the preparation for the triumphs at the mariage of Marcelina and Florea No sooner had he read the name of Orbiconte and from whence the Letter was directed but he began to change his countenance meruailously which the King perceiuing said What newes hath Broanâ—ine sent ye that makes your rouller alter in such sort the Letter doubtlesse is the cause