fuerie of so villanous a shot that forgetting himselfe and the present perill wherein he was by ardant desire of reuenge and to recounter the murthering shooter and slayer of his Noëmia came out of his fort throwing himselfe like a wounded Lyon through the midst of the multitude breaking the preace beating downe all before him and with his strong shield repulsing all that he met furiously cried out Traiterous Archer murtherer o' Maidens where arte thou Why presentest thou not thy selfe before me Thou leaud coward and traitor to the end I may accompanie the most vnworthie of death that euer liued or that I may fill my selfe of reuenge with the cleerest of thy bloud Cruell Tiger lurking Serpent coward and wicked Crocadile that without offence hast giuen death to the liueliest vertue and after fliest away like a waspe leauing her venemous sting behinde her darest thou present thy selfe vnto mee So went Alector crying and furiously threatning striking and abating downe of men that no man how hardie soeuer he were durst stand against him vnlesse he ment to be slaine But whiles through desperate rage he layed so about him at randon striking vpon those whome were before him and taking no regarde to those who followed him soddainely hee founde himselfe assailed with sixe puissant men who by maine force toke from him his shield and so consequently one parte of his hardines and albeit hee made much resistance to the great hurt of his enemies yet neuerthelesse the multitude so oppressed and ouer charged him that his sworde fell out of his hand the which one of the brothers Gratians tooke vp with the shield So was Alector taken and led by force of people to the Potentate gouernour of the towne and chiefe Iustice called Diocles who seeing this faire young man of such a liberall countenance to bee accused by so many voyces speaking against him the one accusing him of Rape another of Treason another of fornication and others of many murthers To all which accusations he answered nothing neither demanded any thing but the death to accompanie his most deere and wofull Noëmia would not giue iudgemēt headlong but dooing the duetie of a Potentate like a most wise man knowing all these people to be passionated the one partie with furie and appetite of reuenge and the other with desperation griefe sorrowe enuie and contempt of life aduised himselfe to let both parties coole vntill the next morning when by their cold blood they might retourne to reason and their right sense whereupon adressing his speeche vnto the tumultuous people and chiefely to the two brothers complainants hee spake in this manner Lordes Gratians to morrow the parties being heard I will shew you right Meane while returne your selues in peace and I will keepe the offendor in sure custodie This saide they all retired themselues euill content enough Alector was then committed to the keeping and custodie of the Capitaine Palatine and the others departed to goe burie their dead amongst whome the foresaide faire Noëmia was founde slaine and buried with great lamentation of her brothers according to the vse of the countrie euen in the same place where she was slaine hard vnder the foresaid piller of the graces for the excellent giftes of spirite and bodie that in her life time beyond fortune they had ennobled her withall and in the stone was ingrauen this Epitaph Lo here Noëmia faire that constant Maide doth lie before these Graces who bewaile her want of breath That for Alectors sake her stedfast faith to trie hath felt the stroke of loue and dint of cruell death Of the accusation and processe against Alector and of his defence CAP. 2. THE next daie the Lorde Diocles Potentate and chiefe Iustice of Orbe sitting vpon the Tribunall seate in the great Basilicq caused to appeare and come before him the Gratian Lords complaināts and the Squire Alector defendant to vnderstand iudge of the commotion and slaughter happened by their cause in the assistance of all the Maiestrates Orders and Estates of the Citie of Orbe and of the greater part of the people there assembled and gathered together by reason of the case so new strange and of so terrible example The two brothers Gratians clothed in long garments of mourning cullour with visages sad and withered either for verie sorrowe or els by artificial cunning of some sulphurian smoke For oftentimes an Hegers mournefull cheere Through fained shewe dooth proue a laughter meere with shauen beardes haires rent and torne implored Iustice against Alector being there present a stranger a spie a foyler of maidenly beds a violator of hospitalitie a raptor of virginitie a theefe and breaker vp of noble houses a troubler of publique peace and a bloodie murtherer Declaring that at the perswasion of their late deceassed sister Noëmia Gratian a gracious maiden more peraduenture than was expedient for him vpon the recite of certaine valiant feates of Armes vnknowing whether they were truely or falsely giuen out they had receiued him into their house alwaies held noble of all antiquitie and estéemed a house of honour This fained and masqued Gentleman who vnder colour of a certaine courtlike ciuilitie wherein he seemed to haue been trained vp and by the allurement of a certaine beautiful youth in him by the giftes of nature shining had corrupted the good nurture manners of their sister being a simple and yong maiden and the best estéemed of this age and had tempted her honestie euen vnto the entring into her priute chamber at vnlawfull houres in the night abiding there the whole night alone with her wherby may be iudged the rest where after that by reuelation of some domestical and faithful seruants hee was discouered by breaking vp the dores he by fraction of the hospital lodging villainously violated polluted was leapt downe through a windowe into the lower court where againe hee hath committed many murthers aswell vpon the domestical seruants friends and familiers come to their succour as of their proper parents and alies yea and that hee had wickedly and cursedly slaine the yongest of the brothers Gratians and for that cause their so amiable sister by rage of furious loue had so lost her senses that she was come miserablie to be slaine in his armes neither was it knowne by whome vnlesse by himselfe who by holding her imbraced had slaine her as it is very likely And thereupon demaunded iustice to be giuen them aswel for the priuate interest of the persons of their brother sister parents friends and domesticall seruants as also for publique example of other such like disturbers of their publique peace stirers of ciuill discorde and corupters of good manners Concluding him to be worthie of the most ignominious death that could be adiudged The most wise and iust Potentate Diocles hauing in great and attentiue silence heard and vnderstood the action and complaint of the brothers Gratians only with his left eare and hauing alwaies held his right eare stopped with the palme
to sing aloud cléere in the Scythicq language Cokolostis which is to say Victorious And thereupon the Fisherman led him to his cottage and washed his wounds in warme wine and Miske with sage applying thereto leaues of the hearb Peoesne with the skin cut from the Wolfes foote which hee flead off whiles it was hot wherewith hee couered his arme so iust as though it had been a sleeue made expressy for it In the meane while an olde wife which hee had put some fish into the pot to boyle and other some vppon the gridion to roast then spread shee on the ground a large Hearts skin cut round and set thereon Barlie Bread reasonable white baked vppon a tyle with dried Raysins and Apples with Wine made of Hony and water enuiting simplie their Guest to eate and drinke whereto hee accorded most willingly as one that had neede thereof Whereupon they sat downe with their leggs a crosse about this fayre table cloth without seame where the olde wift serued them with boyled and rosted fish and with store of fruite So they eate and dranke at their ease deuising of the adueuture and how the impetuous flood had carried him vnknowing in what country hee was The Fisherman tolde him that he was at the foote of the mountaines of Armenia Then Alector demanded of him if hee knewe no newes of mee giuing him tokens of my swimming and flying horse The Fisherman tolde him that aboue two yeares passed hee had seene mounting against the riuer such a great and huge horse carrying diuers persons and other things but amongst the rest a strong great and fayre personage armed with the skins of Lyons vpon a white harnesse carrying a great shield with a Sunne of gold in a fleld of Azure and afterwards that he had vnderstood how this great man had discomfetted and ouerthrowne a great companie of theeues which robbed and spoyled the whole Region for which cause the countrey had done him great honor As touching the fact hee spake troth for in my voyage by Sea coasting the riuages all the mouthes of the Riuers which I founde I was accustomed to enter them to sée and knowe the Townes and Countries lying there about in the continent whereby it happened that passing the Persian gulph alongest Arabia and viewing the mouthes of this fayre Riuer Tygre falling into the Sea I entred into the same and so mounted against the streames And by fortune apperceiuing a Carauanne of Arabian theeues and robbers who vnder the conduct of a puissant and valtant but a wicked Knight enfested the whole Countrey In so much that hauing vnderstood the popular complaints I landed with my men whereto those théeues had likewise fainedly enuited vs to rob and spoyle vs and so set vpon this Cauaille euill harnessed company with such hardines and exployt that of a great nomber of them there remayned but fiue who saued themselues by flight and wee pursued them to Mount Caucasus where wee ouerthrew them all together with the great Knight who bearing a shield with a Cock of gold defended himselfe so long as hee could and yet neuertheles would neuer render himselfe Wherefore with a great stroak of my sword I cloue his head in twaine and then hong I vp their armes the shield aboue them all vpon an old trée which was in that place in the forme of a Trophie caused the valiant Knight to be buried at the foote therof who through obstination to my great grief had caused himself to he slaine And so for that time we purged the countrie This done one night I returned into the Persian sea by the other mouth of Tygre for it emptied it self into the sea by two mouthes the one notwithstanding not far distant from the other tooke my way towards Madagascar Zanzibar and the Isles of the Grifons Alector hearing this news of me was wonderful glad wherefore rising frō the table he thanked his host hostis for their gentlenes And for that he had found the sléeues which was made of the skin of the Wolfes leg to be very fayre and wel beséeming him for hee had his armes naked for so much as the sléeues of his coate did not couer him but were open and hanging by like a coate of armes he required the fisherman to flea the other leg for his right arme and to flea and giue him both the skins of the Wolfes which the good man most willingly performed and Alector more willingly arcepted them and thereof made fayre bardes for his horse saying that he had well merited to haue part of the spoyle for that he had béen participate of the danger and done his dutie in the fight Wherein this yong youth well declared that he was come of a franke and noble nature and birth hauing thus harnessed and barded his horse with these fayre skins of the rauening Wolfe hee mounted vpon him and tooke leaue of his hoste hauing vnderstood that I had gained the heigth he determined to follow me and to mount vp against the impetuous riuer of Tygre not by the rauishing way which had so carried him away but by the surest way of the land And rode so long by many iournies that one day at Sonne going downe he found himselfe at the foote of one side of the mount Caucasus in a plaine deuided into thrée high waies where was a place of reasonable space ample enough and in the mids a Trophie erected vpon the body and branches of a great olde and dead tree charged with all sorts of harneys Launces swords and shields In contemplation whereof Alector who had a singular pleasure in armes alighted letting his horse feede on the fayre grasse which was about the trée and with great contemplation began to behold these sorts of armes hanging vppon the Trophie of the tree But aboue all the rest his eyes following his affection were most fixed vpon one fayre and great shield made in forme of an egge and couered with a plate of brasse whereon was eleuated a Cock of gold armed and spurred with Gules in a damasked field of greene synople the Cock being raised on his tiptoes beating his wings and looking vp a loft This shield so pleased this young Alector as youth is delighted with such pleasant pictures that he concluded to take it off and carrie it away for the couerture and ornament of his body as also he would haue done the other armes but that hee fame them ouer great for the corpulence of his age as also for that he had béen aduertised that to put on harnesse before he was knighted appertained not vnto him Wherefore considering that he was but an Esquire to whome it is lawfull to carrie a shield as armes of defence and not of offence and ignorant that the Trophies are inuiolable like to Sepulchres through simple affection and desire mounted vpright on his horse and reaching as high as he could with the poynt of his sworde tooke downe the shield which
it a long time as one which he had somewhat knowne to haue pulled out of the body of Noëmia demanded what arrowe it was And what hee should doo with it To whome it was answered that it was the same arrowe wherewith Noëmia was staine and that he should doo with it as the fencer dooth in the Sands Then cried he with a loude voyce to all the assistance if there were any that would challenge it against him But no man answered word Wherefore hee fastned it vnder his girdle and sayd Now my Lords let vs go when it pleaseth you séeing I haue mine armes I am ready to fight against this dragon and publique enemie and to reuenge the priuat iniurie of murther if the traytor may be found Then the Potentate sent foure trumpets through all the streats of the towne to crie and publish to the people that at noone a hardie and valiant champion should fight with the Dragon of the sands in hazard and perill of his lift for the publique wealth and expition of certaine manslaughter by him perpetrated and by his cause happened and for that cause who soeuer would should come and sée it At this crie all the Citizens prepared themselues to go sée this dilectable and profitable spectacle where were founde a greater number of people than euer were at the sands for out assemblie To which place Alector was conducted by 400. Souldiers deputed to guarde and esose the steld at this tumult Franc-Gal and the Archier who after dinner sat at the windowes of the great hall looking into the streat were moued to demand what it was and hauing vnderstood the cause determined to goe thether albeit the Archier was not after times found at such sports neuerthelesse he was enuites to goe in hope to see the reuelation come to passe which was showed to him of the publique health As for Franc-Gal he was come thether for none other cause but onely to finde his Sonne at the Sands of the Theatre according as the black Auguring bird had foretold him So went these two wisemen together to this new spectacle A description of the Citie of Orbe of the Basilique Hyppodrome Prytan Theatre Sands and other places CAP. XXIIII THe Citie of Orbe was so called for the round forme and fashion of the same scituated vpon a little high mountaine yet neuertheles verie large in halfe roundnes like to a demie Globe in such sort as the mids was the highest most prospectiue castilie descouering round abouts and descending not headlong but by little litttle pleasantly going downeward in such sort as neither mounting nor descending one could scarce apperceiue the eleuation of the mids nor vneuenes of the sids so easily descended it vnto the outwardmost walls wherewith it was enclosed in perfect circularitie founded and builded of the hard stones of the Rock of the hight of 30. fadomes and of the thicknes of thrée ramped with 19. grosse bulwarks with their knights and false loope holes and garnished with towers and places of sentinells and enuironed in stead of ditches with a great riner called Cloterre carrying great vessells charged and laden with all sorts of merchandise comming from al the parts of the world For they entred and went out of the Citie of Orbe by foure principall ports the one orientall called Port Physe another occidentall called Port Thane the third meridionall called Port Valentine and the last Septentrionall called Port Passante and looke how many gates it had so many bridges it had that is to say the little bridge the bridge without guarde the bruting bridge and the trembling bridge through and ouer which ports and bridge they entred and issued into the citie or stelds there abouts for they had no suburbs the territory of which fields conteined a great countrey in compasse deuided into foure regions according to the particion and ports of the Citie but of far different qualitie temperature For in the territorie appertaining to Port Physe the ayre was swéet by reason of Zephyrus comming from the west and tendring his last breath in this east wardly region the hearbs plants and trées were alwaies in flower gréennes the people were gracious and louing contented with a little not dooing much other thing but dance leap gamball run sing pipe and play vpon instruments court contract marriages or to aduance them or borrowe for the time to come to compose ballads songs sonnets rounds to search nouelties to chase beasts and sowles to fish and to cloth themselues in colours and to mainetaine theÌ„selues without care or thought for they were all of them either infants boyes or yong folke of the one and the other seye â—…nd when they had passed their youth they made their transmigration into the territory of Port Valentine which was meridionall of a hot ayre inspired with the southerne or Etesian winds And in the region of this gate grew aboundance of fruites of the trée as also grasse pasturing with wheate and other corne of all sorts In such sort that on that side the port one could sée nothing but mowers hay-makers reapers haruest folk fruicterers merchants trauellers trafficquers men of armes running at tilt Philosophers disputing and vsurers lending vpon reuenew of the fruites to come there might one behold store of cattell in the stelds aboundance of bées butter flyes and emmits and albeit the region was very hot and drie yet the people so much the more refreshed themselues with the fayre flaggons cooled in the cléere and niueall fountaines From thence they passed to the Septentrionall Port Passant where the ayre was diuers vnconstant cloudie cold moyst and troubled with contrarie winds for the rest a good countrey verie cultine yelding peaches grapes nuts filberds where one could sée nothing but gathering of grapes pressing of wines tunning them laying theÌ„ into the cartes neuerthelesse the people of this countrey were almost al grey The other region of Port Thane subiect to the cutting westerne winds was very sterile and barraine sauing that there was great store of fat cattaile wildfoule and venison this was the territorie where the greatest there was kept neuerthelesse commonly in close houses where they kept their banquets marriages and mummeries There killed they continually store of hogs and shotes making therof sauciges chitterlings and puddings whereof as also of other things they sent presents newyeares gifts one to another for their entertainement in mutuall loue and friendship and in this soils ordinarily dwelt the old men who after they had serued God in the morning passed the rest of the day in drinking warming talking playing at cards at glit primero and flux or els with the tables at checker dames lourch and tictat Such were the foure ports and foure finages of the Citie of Orbe where the inhabitants by the ordinance of the Magistrates of the towne passed all the yeare and made their transmigration from one port and region to another for if they were wearie of
of her parents went to the Greene-head accompained with Calestan and mee of her hastard brother called Floridas and this her waighting maide Arcana and there we tarried three weekes with ioyfull cheere vntill the retourne of my Lorde Spathas who brought no other answere from the wise wan but this obscure probleme afterwards by him found but ouer veritable The cruellrauisher is neither Man no Beast Who of the snowie Hind shall shortly make conquest By killing of the Leopard that sought her to defend And chasing of two Harts who durst him not attend But there shall come a twise borne child whose worthieforce Shall her redeeme and stay this monster sanz remorce And for his fact receiue that flower as a prize Whereof shall shortly'nsewe abundant plaints and cries My Lord Spathas for that time vnderstood not this obscure answere neuerthelesse he could get none other wherevpon he returned as euill aduised as he went albeit hee kept this aenigme still in minde Who interpreting the worst and fearing least the euill should fall vpon his house or vpon those who were there in specially on his faire Cousin Noëmia which he coniectured to be the snowie Hind on the next morning in an euill houre sent vs towards Orbe For in passing by the wood of Hazards as wee rode cheerefullie one morning vnder the shaddow of the great leaued trees giuing eare to the melodious tunes of the chirping birds we heard a great brute like the trampling of a droue of beastes approching vs. And suddainely wee perceiued a most horrible monster of greatnesse grosenes enormious hideur who vnto the lower part of his belly had an humaine shape rather Giantous than natural with a great hoarie head brusking vp like the brussels of a wild Bore with a visage fierce and lookes feare full his mouth opened discouering his great teeth his bodie and armes full of veynes couered with cleere haire not much vnlike the silke made of a fleese And the rest of his bodie in the forme of a great red horse exceeding the common bignes of other horses running flinging and leaping vpon foure horse legs strong and light right towards vs carying a great massy Club hanging at his girdle made of a greene and croked branch of hasell with his leaues and a number of arrowes at his side and a bowe in his hand wherewithall hee let flie an arrowe and stew the horse of Floridas who feeling his horse to fall vnder him readily set foote on ground and hand to his weapon to defend his faire sister Noëmia whom he loued most decrely against this horrible monstrous Centaure running foorth right to rauish her Wherefore Floridas postposing his life to the health of his sister came onely to him with his sword But the Centaure gnaying with dispitefull laughter drew out his grosse mare and gaue him such a heauie stroke vpon the reines that hee broosed all his bones and then trode him with his horsely feete till hee brake his hart Seeing this wée fled abandoning my Ladie Noëmia whome farre of turning our selues wee sawe rauished by the Centaure who hauing mounted her vp behinde him was entred into the thick wood And after her her Damosell Arcana running on foote with her haire about her eyes for the Mule whereon she was mounted being afraide of the Centaure as a Mule is a phantasticall and vmbragious beast had throwne downe his charge and by maine running returned to the Castle of Greene-head from whence wée were departed Whereupon after wee had lost the sight of my Ladie Noëmia we came flying towards Orbe to declare vnto her friends this sorrowfull newes And as for other things I knowe none but that the next daie after at night we sawe her arriue safe and sound whom wée supposed to haue béen vtterly lost in the companie and conduct of a right faire Squire whome you may behold here present Who euer since hath remained in the house of the Lordes Gratians behauing himselfe most graciously towards all and most louingly with my Ladie Noëmia like a young Gentleman with a faire Gentlewoman If there bee any other thing I knowe let Arcana be asked who ought to know more for as touching my attestation Calestan can beare me witnes Then arose Calestan affirming the déed to be so adioyning therewithall that in flying the Prophecie of the wise man came to his memorie to bee verified For this monstrous Hippocentaure was neither man nor beast but of doubble stature rauishing and murthering as for the snowie Hinde conquered it was Noëmia the Leopard who is a beast bastard to the Lyon and the Pardatide was Floridas the bastard staine the two Harts did flie being them two seruants Tharsides and Calestan who through feare had abandoned their dame by flight But of the rest of the probleme he protested to vnderstand nothing as one not knowing the consequent effects whereof Arcana may bee asked Arcana then at the commandement of the Iudge arose and protesting by her faith to report the trueth vpon paine of her life began as followeth All that which Tharsides and Calestan haue related is according to trueth and veritie my Lord Diocles after whose flight and my Mules I being on foote knewe not what better to doo than by extreame dolor which brought my desperation of life to runne after my Lady Noëmia whome my soule could not abandane in following the trace of the Centaure by an vnknowne way which I sawe him hold in crying and lamenting so high that all the wood rang the only Eccho filled mine eares who with mee seemed to bewaile the misfortune of my Ladie Noëmia At my hautie cries clamors in the wood I met with a right fayre yong and braue Esquire which was Alector whom you see present before you mounted vpon a goodly Courser who seeing mee so to run halfe out of my witts demaunded the cause of my dolor which when he had vnderstoode he required me to conduct him to the place where I had seene this monster saying that he would deliuer my Lady or else there die the death I comforted with this promise in so much that I seemed to be as light as a hinde ran before towards the thick of the wood whereinto I sawe this monstrous Centaure enter and the Squire followed mee a gallop vntill at length wee perceiued the Centaure hauing discharged his pray and training her by force into the hollowe of a high Rock enuironed with xv great Okes right thick and leauie Alector seeing him cried from farre leaue that Maiden thou byformed monster and addresse thy selfe to me who will chasten thee for thine outrage The Hippocentaure hearing and seeing him come with bridle losed and the sworde in his hand let flie at him an arrowe wherewithall hee had peirced him through if he had not been couered with his impenetrable shield Wherefore fearing least his horse should be slaine set foote on ground and adressed himselfe to the monster with merueilous hardines whereat the Centaure being
by the waie or creature of whome I might aske newes of you which I desired to knowe but onely that I met a little mule fearefull and vnbridled which fled through the wood right towards the castle who notwithstanding at the sight of my horse staied a little and asked him as I thinke in the Caballistic language some newes of you But the phantasticall mule in his mulike speech answered Hynha I know not what it is and sodainely departed running with bridle abated towards the Eastle from whence I was come which gaue me suspition that some trouble was happened vnto you and for that cause I hasted vntill by the crie of your Gentlewoman I turned the bridle and by her hauing vnderstood your trouble came presently to your succor to accomplish my promise where I haue done mine endeuor as you your selfe haue seene You haue done so much quoth my Ladie Noëmia who alwaies had her eyes fastened vpon him in speaking you haue done so much and so valiently O noble Squire deliuerer of a rauished maiden that I shall finde my selfe eternally bound to you yea I my selfe my brothers and al their Gratian familie confessing for this first ouer little gratuitie towards you that I haue neither in nor without me a thing worthie and sufficient to recompence your merite What is your name Madame quoth Alector My name quoth shee is Noëmia Noëmia quoth hée whosoeuer hath giuen you this name hath not failed conueniently and well to call you for truely Noëmia is as much to say as faire and most faire are you yea and more gracious And for that you alledge not to haue sufficient to recompence the pleasure and seruice which I haue done not for this which I confesse to be little or nothing in respect of your dignitie but for all the seruices and honors which I desire and pretend to doo for you in time to come and for the great and vnspeakeable loue which I beare towards you I require you Ladie Noëmia and demaund in recompence a little of that which aboundeth in you that is of grace vertue mutuall and irreuocable loue For to be lou'd and eke to loue The Gods you sent from Heauen aboue And this is the recompence which I desire the which I pray you not to refuse vnlesse you will sée my bloud mingled with the bloud of this Centaure whereof perhaps you may afterwards haue so much sorrowe for the lesse of so loy all a friend as presently you haue ioye of the slaughter of your rouishing enimie The Ladie Noëmia as yet yong and simple one who neuer had heard so much of loue at the words of this faire yong Squire sound her selfe cleane changed mooued and chafed with the heares which she had neuer before felt and with trembling words answered him thus My faire frend albeit hether too I haue neuer felt nor knowen what loue should be whereof so much speach procéedeth neuerthelesse now I knowe not by what newe transmutation I féele my self so changed in flamed and affectioned towards you I knowe not whether it be that which we call Loue or no that I cannot wil but what you will nor haue pleasure or contentment in other but you yea as though I were wholly transformed into you whereby I estéeme it the least dutie which I can or would do for you to loue you who loue me and hath saued my life Wherefore with all my heart I graunt you my loue wherein none other shall haue place during my life yours I am by good right by your conquest my bodie and my life is in your power and mine honour in your hands which like a noble and franke Gentleman as you are I beséech you to saue Alector so ioyfull as might be thanked her right affertuouslie laying on her kisses vpon kisses passing from the mouth to the hart and as the common saying is Fire goeth into the ouen through the mouth enflaming more and more the sparkles of this secret fire laid together by pleasant touching with the hand lightened with the winde of gracious sighings and frm time to time renued sprinckled with the water of teares distilling from their two hearts linked in the presse of loue In such sort that by contemplation of that swéetnesse to tell the truth of that which I haue sworne it caused the water stande in mine eyes and through sorrow of being alone I laid me down to sleepe vpon a bed of leaues vntill the morning And therefore as I would not know anie thing of that which passed betwéene them so doo I know nothing but that in my sléepe I know not whether I dreamed or not mee thought I hearde certaine swéete complaints of my Ladie entermixt with ioy where uppon willing to arise and to goe towards her she commanded me to sléepe and take my rest which willingly I did till the next morning that the Sunne was alreadi high and shined into the Caue and at that instant rising I behelde this couple of faire yong persons which the Sunne discouered lying face to face and halfe embraced vpon a great bed of mosse which was as I suppose the Centaures bed And as I behelde with great pleasure my Ladie Noëmia how shee had gotten a newe and higher coulour than her naturall whitenesse by her morning sléepe The horse who had no more meate began to gnay verie loud so that Alector lept vp and girded him with his sword and shield which were néere him and my Ladie Noëmia arose also who beholding me became all redde and shamefast for hauing as I thinke slept so long Then Alector after that hee had giuen her the Good morrowe with a gracious accolade and amorous kisse mounted vppon his horse setting her before him as light as a yong Goate and I mounted behinde him vppon the strong grey nagge on whome these three yong bodies full of youthful corage weighed no more than one onlie man and so wee returned towards the way to Orbe where by the way wee found the dead bodie of Floridas which wee mounted vppon the braunches of a tree to the ende the Wolues and other sauage beasts should not deuoure it his gelting féeding with the hackney of my Ladie vppon whom she mounted and I on the gelding of Floridas and so retourned wee to Orbe into the Gratians house where wee sounde the whele householde all troubled and vexed with sorrowe for the death of Floridas and for the losse of my Ladie Noëmia whom they accounted for certaine lost and my selfe with her which was the lesser damage Whereupon they séeing vs returne whole and sound at the first they were abashed but their abashment was soone turned into ioye and gratulation chiefely towards Alector of whome they had by me vnderstood the noblesse valure prowesse and honestie the desperat rescue of their sister and the slaughter of the monstrous Centaure Whereof to be more certaine they sent to fetch the bodie of Floridas their bastard brother to the end he
his father Mammon seeing him so desireable loued him greatly and fearing the sort which hee had vnderstood which was to dye for saying the truth and beleeuing that which in lying he had told him that he knew not how to lie gaue him in charge to be taught to a right excellent Master who of that Art made profession not publiquelie but priuely and secretly neither read he but by night This good Doctor was called Pseudomanthanon most skilfull in the Artes of his profession which were Magicke Cabalicke Thalmud hypocxisie brotherie idolatrie iudiciall Astrologie Sophistrie Poesie Alchymie Emperie Medicastrie legerdemaine subtiltie pillerie banquerie vsurie interesterie change barterie beggerie falsifying of weights measures forgerie hap-lourderie reuerie and carrionly gingembrie poysoning cousning dicing brawling mockerie bawderie bitcherie flatterie policie blabberie menterie diuilishnesse and damnerie with such other sciences and practises colouring destroying veritie Of all which this cunning Doctor Pseudomanthanon was soueraigne Lord and a nightly ensigner from whose schoole as the souldiers issued out of the belly of the Troyan horse infinice numbers of cunning men chiefly of the Greekes as Lucian Homere and as it were all the Poets except Lucan Lucre◠Columel Caton Theognis Phocylides Arat and some others who were banished From thence are likewise sprong the pleasant volumes of Lancelot of the Lake of Tristram Perseforest Amadis of Gaule Palmerin and such like but chiefly from thence is proceeded the first coppie of the Alcoran in the Arabian language afterwards translated into Latine To this right cunning Doctor was this fine disciple Desalethes deliuered to bee taught all these good artes of falsitie and menterie who in verie little time so studied and in so short time aduaunced himselfe in the science and practise of these artes of lying that he passed and surmounted his Master and deceiued him often times in his owne deceipt specially in the payment for his teaching for hauing agreed with him on this condition that he shuld pay him one talent valued at 500. crownes in the reward of his teaching in the first cause that by menterie or finenesse he shuld win in turning right with sleight the accord being written and signed it fortuned that Pseudomanthanon seeing his scholler Desalethes to haue well profited in his artes demaunded of him his promised salarie but Desalethes denied it him telling him flatly that he ought him nothing Whereupon Pseudomanthanon called him before a Iudge where he appeared And the Master after he had made his demaund and showen the accord of the bargaine thus propounded his reason cutting on both sides in this wise O foole and euill aduised Scholler doost thou not knowe that necessarily thou shalt be condemned to pay me whether thou winnest this matter or no. For if thou win it it cannot be but by fine policie wresting the law whereby thou must needs pay me according to our accord and writing which is such that at the first cause by thee craftely gotten thou shouldest pay me a talent but to the contrarie if thou dost lose thou shalt be condemned to pay me by execution of the Iudges sentence and so canst thou not escape to pay me To this the well learned scholler by a crooked pearcing and contrarie reason answered in this forme O good Master and subtill Doctor sauing thine honour thou takest not this argument by the right end but contrariwise as it seemeth to me I ought necessarily to be absolued of thy demaund whether I win this matter or lose it For if I win it I shall be quit by the absolute sentence of the Iudge and if that I lose it I ought to paye thee nothing according to the accord set down in thy writing where it is agreed that I should not pay thee vntill the first matter that I should get by fine deceipt wherefore not winning this first if I bee condempned the condition of the bargaine beeing not come the bargaine is nothing I shall owe thee nought And thus O absurd Master I cannot faile to escape thy pursute The Iudge hearing such alterations by contraries and indissoluable Antistrophes and not knowing what iudgment to giue sent them both for an hundred yeares and one before Rhadamant the infernall Iudge the whole Bench crying after them in execration of their knauerie this sentence afterwards most renowmed Of an euill Crowe a naughtie egge of an euill Master a worse Disciple Behold how Desalethes began to practise the Science which he had learned vnder his good tutor Pseudomanthanon and which is worse vsing it in all waies he could entermedling in great affaires with manie people but specially with the wicked forsaken incurious carelesse euill aduised youthfull and dishonest persons with light beléeuers and strangers of farre Countreyes and with the dead who can neither bite nor reprehend such were his people for whom he stretched his netts counterfetting the deuout hypocrite iudging another hardly and impudently iustifying himselfe neuer swearing but when he had a gainfull occasion to periure wherewithall easily he made an ende of pleading and bridling the Mule Likewise in buying without payment selling for readie money and nothing deliuering receiuing without acquittaunce borrowing without rendring retaining the imposts or if force constrained him rendring them diminished hauing great waight and long measure to buy but sinall and short to make sale by forging wills and seruing for all and by all as witnesses and pawnes a singular workman to semble and dissemble to counterfet all letters and signets to rase cleanly and subscribe properly to blanch parchment to renue an antique seale to make a newe obligation with notarie and witnesses alreadie deceased of an olde prescript instrument neuer handling butter without greasie hands taking weightie golde and good money and rendering it light rebased and féeble or els false clipped chiseled and changed money for it mingling diuers accompts together and hauing manie papers of vnreasonable reason opening all letters which came to his hands to sée if anie thing were in them that could hurt or doo him good sealing them againe with the like signet after themanner of Alexander the false viuine or holding cancelling them if it were expedient spreading brutes abroad of an vncercertaine authour sowing darnell and wicked suspition amongst friends by secret detraction and false reports but aboue all things a seller of Thurim smoakes For the residue the best childe in the world a pleasant liar a gracious flatterer an assured boaster well languaged well spoken and a most curteous Curtizan and for that cause welcome to all companie bringing his deceiptfull words and déedes so finely about like a Mercuriall Vlisses that it was alwaies to his profite and vantage and without leauing anie thing wherein he might be discouered or ouertaken in Sauing that an ancient man called Cron who alwaies inuisibly folowed him pace by pace and obserued al his déedes sayings after he had long time endured them he finally discouered and stirred against him innumerable
where my men attended me vnknowing but that I was yet in bed because in the morning at my departure I had firmed my chamber doore and was issued without the knowledge of any one for euery man slept soundly Being thus returned to the Pallace after I had declared to my men who and what Alector was all of them receiued him with great ioy with admiration of his beautie and good grace dooing to him most great honor and reuerence yea more than to my selfe as many doo rather worship the Sunne rising than going down for the which I was neither sorie nor enuions for his great beautie vertue and honestie did well merit it hereupon the tables were couered and wee went to dinner most gorgiously And amongst other communications which were held at the table Alector declared to me the great grief that Priscaraxe had of my long tarrying and of the earnest desire which shee had of my returne for the accomplishing whereof she most affectuously required me by him which he also on his part most earnestly desired saying that hee had promised and sworne to the Quéene his Mother neuer to returne againe to her vnles he brought me with him beséeching me with humble reuerence to doo him the fauor to satisfie his promises Wherefore I who was no lesse affectionated towards the Mother and Sonne than they towards me deliberated and made him promise assuredly to depart the next day and for that cause I commanded my men to trusse vp harnesse and baggage to appoint and make readie my good horse Durat which they did with great and good diligence The whiles I and Alector went to take leaue of the King of Tangut rendering him thanks for his hospitalitie who on the contrarie thanked vs of the good succor which I and my people had done him with our great Hippopotame against a horrible monster of the Sea called Trolual so great as a little Isle in the Sea or a great mountaine on the earth who at euerie ful moone would cast himself into the hauens ports and créekes deuouring and destroying all that he met and swallowing vp men women and children aliue yea horses kine and other beasts This monster Trolual séeing our great Hippopotame going vpon the Sea and we mounted vppon him thrusting and breaking the waues before him lanched himself with terrible impetuositie against vs and our great horse where he thought to haue had aboundant pray but he found mauchat maurat or maurat mauchat A Prouerbe in France when one meeteth with his match for our Hippopotame who is the most hurtfull creature and greatest dooer of harme in all the world when he is puised thereto with violence as the Trolual opened his mouth so large as the arch of a gate to haue swallowed him vp and vs therewith hee caught him with his two great teeth before by the lip in raysing him out of the water so high as we were wherby presently I thrust my launce into his throate with the poynt sticking fastning in his roofe and the great end planted in his iawe belowe so as the monster found himselfe fast in the téeth of mine Hippopotame gagged with the launce and not able to shut his mouth for the paine of the yron piercing his sensible parts the which one of my men called Cetophon apperceiuing with a merueilous hardines and readines with his naked sword in his hand leaped into the deapth of the monsters throate so far that he found out his verie entrailes and heart which he hurt and wounded with so many blowes of his sword that he might féele the monster weakened wherefore sodainely he retired himselfe out of this monsterous body and rendred himselfe to vs againe The horse Durat in the meane while flinging with his féete and training with his téeth this monster vnto the shore who through anguish of death beating the water with his tayle had like a tempest moued and disquieted all the Sea boyling and dyed with the aboundance of bloud which hee shed so as three stades round about it séemed to bee the red sea betweene Arabia and Aethiopia when we were arriued at the shore Durat let goe the monster Trolual vppon the sands whome by reason of his waight hee could no longer draw because his life was fayled and through dead to the great Ioy of all the people dwelling about the Sea coasts And this was the cause why the King of Tangut and all his people rendred vs so many thankes with most rich and houourable presents This selfe same euening Alector stirred vp with a most ardent desire and impatience of longer tarrying with most earnest expostulation humbly prayed me for the first request of the Son to his Father that if I loued him at the selfe same houre I should make him Knight which I as one that could not refuse to do any thing for him easily yelded to his request for the accomplishment whereof going about to speake the solemne words and to lift vp mine arme to giue him the accolade all humaiue puissance failed me as though I had had the paisie of tongue arme and all the parts of my bodie and when Aleft off my puissance and force came againe to mee and as I would haue proued to reiterate the same twise or thrise so often this paisey came vpon me whereby I coniectured that either the time serued not thereunto or ets that I was not he ordained of the heauens that should giue Alector the order of Knighthood And therefore for that time I left off to make any more proofe deferring it till another time and place to my great shame and no lesse sorrowe of Alector in this fearefull confusion all of vs went to rest and the next day wée mounted vppon the great horse Hippopotame betaking our selues to the high Teptentrionall Seas where Durat stretched out his large stoating feete and reared his wings carrying vs away so lightly that he rather seemed to flye that goe Whereof Alector who neuer had ridden ouer the fishes was so much 〈◊〉 and glad as cóuld bee wherefore through great desire of discouering the furthest part of the immensall space of the Seas like a young greedy and nimble youth as he was he mounted now goe I 〈◊〉 my mortall griefes hee mounted alas hee mounted to the top of one of the wings of my horse Duraâ— armed alwaies with his sword and shield which hee would neuer abandone And as hee was perched in the highest beholding on the one side the mountaines of the region of Bator and the hils Anubies which seemed to flye from vs and on the other side the great Seas without bottome or shore and I feaâ—ing least he should fall called on him to descend But behold alas beholde a strong winde arose from the Hyperborian parts or rather a strong Steay and wicked trouble some spirit who taking him by the shield eleuated into the ayre my deer Soune Alector crying from the ayrie Region so loude as he could helpe 〈◊〉 my