great paines For this cause I say although the Knightes rode so fast as they might yet they could not come within the sight of him nor find which way he was gone yet with sorrow griefe especiallye through the feare which they conceiued by his meddeling with the Giants they parted companies euery man taking a seuerall way to séeke the Emperour they agréed at the moneths end to méete at one place The month came when as yet none of them heard any newes of him although they sought him in diuers parts They all meruailed but not knowing what to say in the ende they determined at some other time to méete to enter into this quest againe For this time they altogether tooke towards the campe which they left before the citie of Belgrado where they abode not long but remembring thēselues of their promise they met at the place appointed deuided themselues accordingly The foure Hungarian knights fearing to be descryed by those which went to séeke Prince Edward the couertlyest which they might they went toward the campe of the Emperour and there remained some time after they followed into Greece where they tarried till the returne of the Emperour according as shall be mentioned héereafter Now by this time with no lesse care and diligence Prince Edward was sought by manie Knights in all the kingdome for that the King had giuen him no longer time to remayne in the Monestary of the riuer then thrée daies There was already told xx daies when he came not First then he sent many of his knights to knowe the cause of his tarrieng these returned vnto the king with an aunswere that they neither found him in the Minster nor could beare tidings of him by the waye Then the King dispatched other messengers to enquire after him his knights in all the land but they brought the like answere yet againe he sent more then 1000. well prepared for warre with authoritie of search through all his kingdome that they might bring newes of life or death but all was one Last of all fearing least peraduenture he had bene taken prisoner by his enimies he wrote vnto the Emperours campe to knowe the truth to the end he might raunsome him if so it were but not hearing anie newes he then bewailed the losse of the prince became very sorrowfull like as contrary wise the Emperials bemoned their Emperour These things happened so in the necke one of another that Tiberios iudgment failed to decide the truth and he pittied him with no lesse griefe then if he had bene his owne sonne partly for his daughters sake who must néeds be partner of hir husbands misaduenture partly for the Princes parents who could not without some sorow conceiue of his missing albeit all this happened more by the misgiuing of his owne minde then by anie certaintie he found You haue heard particularly the care of the king Tiberio now you must consider of the diligence of the king of Boheme by the semblable Another month had end and the knights botaries sped them homewards to the campe of the Emperour without anye newes of their Lord which no doubt much molested the whole hoast but in especiall it afflicted the king of Boheme to sée them come without him As they made declaration of the whole months trauaile it little pleased the king only for the loue he bare to the Emperour and the want of his presence in a time so daungerous he wept as sore for him as if he had séene his little childe giue vp the ghost The losse of the Emperour thus published through the armie there was no one which sorrowed not inwardlye for he had the loue of all his subiects Albeit this was bootlesse yet his loue beguiled him for the king yet charged more then 2000. knights with the search of the Emperor in all places as well by sea as by land but it naught auailed for the Ilande of Lindaraza helde him so sure that hée could not be found and if he had bene found yet he was so well garded that the whole hoast had not ben able to haue deliuered him from the inchanted castle While these things were in dooing the king of Boheme himselfe set the remainder on work to assault the Citie with full purpose not to leaue the siege till either he knewe where the Emperour was or had lien a halfe yeare longer at the end whereof he wold raise the siege so depart into Greece againe In this time the Hungarians issued out of their Citie against the Grecians there was betwéen them many cruell bloudie skirmishes the Greeks did nobly as you may read in their seuerall histories At this time because they are not of the substance of my matter I wil not name them only I wil recount vnto you the perticular truth of that which followeth ¶ The Princesse Briana taketh great sorrowe at the losse of Prince Edward Cap. 11. GReat was the diligence which the King of Hungarie commaunded his Knightes to make in séeking the Prince Edward and as great was his griefe in not finding him by the consideration of the towardnesse of the noble Knight and the dole of his Parents béeing their deere and onely sonne But greater must néedes be and inexpressible the mortall dalour which the Princesse Briana conceiued when she once heard of the misse of Prince Edward And as I read at the thrée moneths ende when nothing was reported for very anguish of heart besides hir often sowndings after when the recouered out of that traunce she seemed to them néerer the death then the Prince hir husband was as they thought for beléeuing that he was dead she woulde neither eate drinke nor sléepe but became weake and feeble and wasted hir dayes with sorrowe She layd a part all hir Princely roabes and precious Iewells and tired hir selfe in course mourning wéedes of a widdowe She kept hir selfe in a secret chamber onely with the comfort of hir Gentlewomen and comming not foorth one steppe demeaned rather the life of an Anchresse or religious woman then of a Princesse The Queene mother then abiding at Buda came oftentimes to visite hir and in hir companye other great Ladyes but they coulde not remooue the dulnesse of hir melancholy Ere the Princesse had long led this solitary life she felt hir selfe quicke with childe whence she tooke some ioy but yet fearing the disclosing of it vnto hir friends whom she wold not haue pertakers of it for all Hungarie before the solempnization of the mariage was openly performed and being notwithstanding desirous in time to séeke remedye therevnto she concionated hir secrete onely with one of hir Gentlewomen named Clandestria whom she best loued and with whome she was best acquainted for the good counsayle she often gaue hir She which was wise and discreete kissed hir Ladyes handes for the honour she did vnto hir in reuealing such a secrette onely a lyttle withstanding hir intent of concealement at the first and
the Gentlewomen and to the knight of the Sunne who he was not Prince Edward as they thought but in his name Brianas bridegrome and so forth of that matter which you may conceiue by that you heard before Whereat the Gentlewomen were not a little amazed but nothing sorrie And with the knight of the Sunne the Emperour entered into farther counsaile in what order he might make the king Tiberio priuie to his fact and carrie the Princesse Briana into Greece Whereto the knight of the Sunne counsailed thus My Lorde you knowe the faith of a Prince a bond verie straight for kings and great Lords as touching the preseruation of their honour in promise for which many times many haue preferred the trust laide vpon them before the safetie of their neere kindred This I say for that peraduenture Tiberio will be right glad to haue matched his daughter with you yet for the Prince Edwards sake comming vnder his safe conduct hée may not take it in good part or if he did had not king Oliuerio iust cause to be angrie being so abused as vnder his word to haue lost his sonne and subiects withall my counsaile is therefore for the better dispatch of your businesse and auoiding of béeing shent if you venture rashly vppon an enimie not reconciled that you go secretly to the monasterie and carrie awaie the Princesse from thence scarce letting her selfe know whether she shall goe saue that behinde you you may leaue a letter which shall signifie the whole effect of that which is passed By this meanes if the king of England bewaile the death of his sonne the king Tiberio may complaine of the losse of his daughter and in time when these fores are skinned there maye friendshippe be made on either part The Emperour liked well this counsaile and giuing him many thankes tolde him that he would put it in effect So two daies they kept companie in the meane time happening nothing worth the telling The third daie comming to a crosse ware well trode they sawe a pauilion pitched and not farre off twelue Gentlewomen clothed in blacke and hauing verye sadde countenaunces at the tent doore they sawe thrée knightes which were theyr kéepers When the Emperour and the Knight of the Sunne approched the Gentlewomen cryed out whereat the knight of the Sunne stayde and spake vnto them Gentlewomen as well by your countenaunces as by your outeries we perceiue you are distressed Shew vs now the cause thereof and if the thing be such as that we may remedie it we will doe our best to doe it One of the chiefest of them aunswered Sir your curteous words makes vs the bolder to vtter our griefe Therefore knowe you that I haue a sister called Elisandra Dutchesse of Pannoma and marryed to a Knight the most wicked man that was euer borne for hée hath staundered her with such a misreport as the lyke hath not bene heard off So it is that my sister and he haue béene marryed eyght yeares and haue had no children wherefore he fearing that after his decease the Dukedome shoulde retourne to her kinne as by right it should béeing her onely inheritaunce and minding to establish the state in his owne name hath subborned a desperate person to challenge her of adulterie By which meanes she being executed as false to her husband all her lands and goods are forfayted to the husband as it were to make him amendes of his wiues wrong Nowe this slaunder is apparaunt to all men but because the Duke offereth that the combat shall bée graunted to him which shal gaine-saie the slaunder the matter is made the lykelyer and is borne out though not by strong hand yet by pollicie and yet no man dare oppose himselfe to the challenger For there is a knight in the land called Aridon Lord of the blacke woode by reporte the strongest Knight which euer was in these partes albeit verie like vnto the Duke in his ill liuing him hath the Duke made his friend and accuser of the Princesse For a plot of ground adiacent to his segniories his accusation lyeth thus that with himselfe shée committed adulterie whereas though he was a long soiourner in his Court yet he neither perswaded her to it or woulde euer moue her in it for hée knewe his aunswere But the matter was thus canuased the while the Duke kept at the Court of the King Tiberio thether word is brought of the false packing of the Dutchesse and Aridon The Duke presently complayneth to the king and both parties are sent for in all hast Aridon being first asked confesseth it and is acquited by his confession As by the waie our lawe in this case acquiteth the man once confessing it though otherwise neuer so greate an offender and onely stretcheth to the woman in respect of her faith giuen at marriage Nowe what coulde the Princesse doe standing before the King and accuses not of beare saie but by himselfe with whome shée is fayde to haue lyen yet denyeth shée it Well the Duke charging her with it and shée purging her selfe shée was faine to require respite for prouiding a sufficient Knight to maintaine her innocencie Yet was shée commaunded to prison vnder sure kéeping and there is a daye set for the tryall Arydon beeing the accuser agaynst whome I doe not thinke that anie man in her defence though the cause bée righteous dare shewe himselfe for we haue tarried héere these 20. dayes and haue not founde anie Now because héere are crosse wayes in which it is likely that many knightes should passe we determine to abide the rest of the prefixed time And this is the cause sir knight why we mourne and so she ended wéeping bitterly The Emperour and the Knight of the Sunne pittyed them much meruailing so vngodly dealing coulde haue anie place to rust in Hungarie but God is wise saye they yea and séeth his time So the Knight of the Sunne talking a part with the Emperour sayde to him My Lorde you sée good cause binding me to pittie the Dutchesse in her extreame néede if you bée pleased therewith I will goe aunswere for her in the Court of king Tiberio In the meane time it will be best for you to goe to the monasterie of the riuer the most secretly that you maye and I will not fayle to certifie you from the Court if I heare ought which might auaile you being knowen This béeing done I will with Gods helpe come to Greece where I looke to finde you verie merry The Emperour was loth but séeing the vrgent necessitie he was content and answered that he wold not be against his pleasure although it would grieue him to be so long without his companie but at Constantinople shall we méete Therevppon the Knight of the Sunne tourned to the Gentlewomen saieng Gentlewomen your mourning hath so much gréeued this Knight and mée that although his affaires lie other where and that he cannot be present yet for his sake will I goe with you to the Court
there to aunswere for the Dutchesse if she be so content The gentle women willingly accepted of the knight and not staying longer but to thanke him they pulled downe their tent and to horse backe they go By the way he had much talke with Elisea for so was the Dutchesse sister named he comforting her and she requesting him to make spéede for we lacke not many daies of our appointed time when if wée faile we shall loose a good cause for lacke of pittie in knights aduenterous But let vs leaue this and turne we to the Emperour in the companie of Brianas Gentlewomen ¶ The Emperour Trebatio came to the monestarie of the riuer there was made knowen to his wife the Princesse Cap. 51. THE Emperour hauing good hope to méete with the Princesse whom he loued no lesse then before he had when hée hazarded his person for her sake vppon Prince Edward made great bast and he trauayled with the Gentlewomen thrée dayes and thrée nightes Nowe wée haue tolde you often that the Princesse lodging was in one quarter of the monestarie separate from the other whereto she had a posterne gate towards the wood by which Clandestria had carried Donzel del Febo and Rosicleer to nursing by this gats no man either entered or went out but by Clandestrias leaue thée was groome porter and kept the keie her selfe And for to recouer this matter which the Emperour would in no wise haue knowen it was very fit that Clandestria was there in company For when they approched the monestarie saith Clandestria my Lord if you wil not be knowne to the Gentlewomen héere belonging to our Ladie best it were that I should first enter sée what they do that I should cause the Princesse to take her most secret chamber where as I shall finde her so will I declare of your comming otherwise it may hée that your so sedeine approch might worke some alteration in her body to the daunger of her health shée béeing so sore weakened by continuall mourning but this night shall passe the morrowe you shall come vnto her The Emperour liked well of Clandestrias spéech and so he stayed in a place which she prouided for him the whilest that the Gentlewomen went to the Princesse Some will thinke that the Emperour should be much chaunged this béeing the 20. yéere of his absence but it was not so for when he first entered the Castle of Lyndaraza he was but. 35. yeares in age and no more was he when he came from the inchantment neither his age increasing nor his beautie decreasing When the Emperour left the Princesse Briana she was but 14. yeares olde and counting the time that she had liued afterward she was iust one yeare vnder him wherin her beautie best appered and the great sorrow which she before had taken did not so abate her coulour but that the ioy of his returne fetched it againe more fresh and liuely then it was before But the storie saith that the Gentlewomen found their mistresse alone praieng deuoutly vpon her knées and more merrie then she was before whether by inspiration or by immagination conceiuing hope in the dreame I tolde you off but her Gentlewomen were verie glad to be witnesses of her mirth The Princesse louingly welcommed the Gentlewomen especially Clandestria which was her sure friend demannding of them how they had spead in theyr iourney Clandestria aunswered Madame wée were once in daunger to loose both our honours and our liues after that wée had done as you commaunded vs. Ah blessed virginne sayde the Princesse and is it possible that euer you shoulde bée in so greate daunger for my cause Yea it is most certaine madame aunswered Clandestria but as after a fowle euening comes a sayre morning so after this trouble wée had some quietnesse by the means of our flight for we met with a good knight which not onely saued vs from greate shame by killing these wicked knights which would haue spoiled vs but after tolde vs such newes as you haue cause to bée the gladdest woman in the world He sayd that not many daies before hée departed from your husbande which was in good health and of the same age as he was when you first knew him for since he was with you he hath bene inchaunted being now set at libertie comming to you O my good Lorde and is it possible sayde the Princesse that thou art so fauourable vnto mée as to sende mée my husbande aliue or is this some dreame the farther to increase my dolour Tell mée Clandestria in good fayth is it true which thou saist for I canne hardly beléeue thée Yea assuredly said Clandestria for the Knight which reported it is so credible that he will not tell other then trouth Ah Clandestria sayde the Princesse thou hast bene alwayes diligent discréete and lyberall in those thinges which hath touched my seruice hetherto but in this nowe concerning my lyfe especially thou hast bene neglygent or hast wanted discreation For why didst thou not bring him before me that my selfe might haue heard it of his owne mouth would it not then haue bene pleasaunt vnto mée to haue séene that knight which so lately sawe my louing husband and to haue knowen of him in what manner hée met with him and for what cause he commeth not so soone as the other Madame bée not agréeued with this sayde Clandestria for the knight which tolde it me is not so farre hence but that within a quarter of an houre you may sée him if you haue desire thereto Desire sayde the Princesse I desire nothing so much in the worlde therefore goe and fetch him before mée that I may knowe whether that be true which my heart thinketh so incredible I will goe my wayes sayde Clandestria and so she went out of the Princesse lodging and strayght to the Emperour to whome she tolde all that talke which she had had with hir Ladie whereat the Emperour was so gladde that vp the stayers full faine he goeth and by such priuie wayes as none but Clandestria knewe he is brought before Briana Clandestria first entering then the Emperour cloathed in rich armour and his visour pulled downe The Princesse was somewhat afrayde to sée so bigge a man all armed but the Emperour pulling off his helmet quickly shewed his louely face the which she had imprinted in hir remembraunce and with hastie paces he made towards the princesse whome he kissed on the mouth so sweetely that their tongues this while were slent not to interrupt the ioye of theyr first méeting Anone after the Princesse which indeede hadde the chiefest wrong spake to the Emperour thus My Lord and onely life what cruell Fortune hath detained you from this land and bannished you so long from my presence In what straunge and hidden countries haue you bene that we could neuer beare word of you Madanie aunswered the Emperour you may call that Fortune cruell for it hath offered you a great wrong by forcing
had great desire to sée you albeit it shal be some griefe vnto your parents not to enioy your presence the time shall come when you shall giue them greater comfort and pleasure In the meane time you shall not loose anie thing in being brought vp in the companye of this Gentleman whom you shall loue so excéedingly that his loue shall often extinguish the remembraunce of your parents Armineo which was not farre off gaue him great thanks in the behalfe of the Prince Then they two rode together deuising of many things and many curteous words of good enterteinment passing betwéene them vntill the Souldan fell in talke with the young Clauerindo Armineo to whome he shewed a friendly countenaunce in token of great good loue These things thus done they all held on their waye to the Citie and passing through towardes the Pallaice there they were receiued by Balisea Princesse and wife to Florion making semblaunce of great liking to Donzel del Febo whose excellent beautie and comelinsse she well noted and already concluded in hir thought for a companion to hir sonne now of thrée yeares olde verie large and beautiful called Brandizel Which in déed after proued a knight so good as few better béeing strong made somwhat higher than his father and of more puissance These thrée Gentlemen by the Princesse Baliseas deuise were brought vp altogether in like sutes and like exercises and so from theyr youth their friendship encreased with their yeares that in the ende as they themselues were at their full growth so their friendship waxed so firme that neither the diuersitie of their professions nor the distaunce of their countries might in any wise infringe it These young Gentlemen thus brought vp in Babylon Armineo which in all things was verie wise well learned taught Clauerindo the liberall arts and instructed him in the true and perfect law of God in such maner that although his education was among the Pagans yet the prince was alwaies a good Christian The wise Lyrgandeo like wise carefull of the Gentleman of the Sunne of Brandizel read vnto them diligently what was conuenient saue that as he was a Pagan so he acquainted them only with Pagansie in their religion which error notwithstanding afterward they both renounced This was the training vp of the young Princes in the court of the Souldan as heedfully looked vnto as if it had bene in their parents Courts But as their yeares multiplied so they excéeded all others inferiour in iudgment wit discretion goodlines of stature actiuitie and all that which was requisite to such princes but especially and aboue all his equalls Donzel del Febo surpassed For attaining to the age of ten yeares he séemed to be more then fiftéene both for wit and strength courage and pollicie and by the bignesse of his body being withall well featured men gathered vndoubtedly of his might They made their argument thus If he be so strongly set in his youth at ten yeares what will he be at twentie And truely although his father the Emperour Trebatio was big of bodye as the historie hath alreadie specified being eight foote in height yet Donzel del Febo ouereached him somewhat and with all this maintained the prerogatiue of his proportion So that I thinke our painters as well Grecians as Assyrians had neuer the perfect knowledge to drawe and finish the true proportion of man before they had the view of this knight His picture was sent into sundry parts as the noblest Painture that ere was wrought Besides this ther appeared in his face a maiestie so graue and Prince like that it stroke a feare of him into mightie Princes For all this he was yet of behauiour affable and some-what familiar that hée which knewe him well albeit his mortall enimie could not but highlye commend of it What shall I say As the Adamant stone draweth to it the harde and sharpe yron by his hidden vertue so likewise this knight procured the loue as well of foes as of friendes and of as manie as knewe him and were conuersaunt with him And so this young Gentlemen Claueryndo and Brandizel and other young Gentlemen which were his play-fellowes were so glad of him that they could at no time be without him Now because we haue more perticularly to descend into this story héerafter and to describe the manifold graces of this knight for these matters we will let them passe at this time and remember you of his age of twelue yeares at which time there happened that which shall appeare in the chapter folowing ¶ The deliuerie of the Souldan by the Gentleman of the Sunne Cap. 19. MAny times the Souldan and the Prince Florion with some other Knights for their recreations rode on hunting into a thicke wood standing in a faire forrest seated somewhat naere the Sea and plentiful of all kinde of game especially of wilde Boares and such lyke beastes Nowe when the young Gentlemen could sit their horses and were able to endure some trauaile they tooke them with them and furnishing them with boare speares in their hands they appointed them to the chase Some game there was killed before them wherein they tooke great plesure but especially the Gentleman of the Sun which by himselfe wearied a wilde Beare two Bores so fierce as might haue frayed a right good Knight His practise was aâ—wayes to hunt alone to haue no mans helpe to the encounter with anie wilde beast And it was so that one day the Souldan would go to the same forrest to delight himselfe there for certaine daies taking with him the Princesse Balisea his daughter and the traine of many Ladyes and Gentlewomen and the most principall Lordes of his Court because the place was gallaunt and delectable and replenished with varietie of game béeing as I sayde hard vpon the cliffes of the Sea For this cause there were reared vp many pauilions there and there was puruayed of other prouision necessarie for the householde Hée made his owne tent to be pitched in a flourishing meddow next to a goodly fountaine There rested he one day solacing himselfe among his knightes for the first daye they went not out to séeke their game The next daye early in the morning the Prince Florion the young Gentlemen and the most part of all the knightes tooke theyr way through the forrest climbing vp a steepe hill and parted themselues into diuerse companyes some to raise the game and others to be at the receipt The Souldan and the Princesse with her Ladyes and onely 15. knights remaining in their tents as vnmindefull of any danger if anie should happen The Sun being almost at the highest and his beames more direct the Souldan with the Princesse his daughter and her Gentlewomen left their tent came to the fountaine the water being cléere and the place wel shadowed with trées there in the quiet shade to abide the comming of the Prince Florion and the young Gentlemen to dinner In the meane time the
heard the one tooke great pleasure in it and the other with an honest emulation of the fact wishing it to himselfe according to the diuersitie of the good will they bare vnto the Gentleman of the Sunne Then they came altogether to theyr tentes where they made but a hunters breakfast for ere dinner was halfe done the Souldan commaunded the horse to retourne to Babylon and so they all on horsebacke the Princesse and her Gentlewomen on their palfraies and the lusty knights on their sturdie Rounceualls tooke the way towardes the citie laieng the mightie Gyant vpon a horse his head and féete trailing on the ground When they were within the gates of the Citie all that which had happened beeing published all the Citizens and other of the court were in contrarie arguments about the hugenesse of the Gyant and the courage of the Gentleman of the Sunne thinking it an vnpossible matter to be brought about by one of so fewe yeares But from that time forth although before likewise they loued him yet now they made much more of him and the Souldan with the Princesse and all the Courtiers held him in great account alwaye Notwithstanding the report of men and the high extolling of his actes to his owne face the Gentleman of the Sunne kept the same tenour of life not bearing himselfe anie thing vpon his good fortune but rather as the windes increased which promised him safetie and honour and as his fame was more blazed so he stroke his sayles and became more lowlyer This his humilitie made him much more to be loued as the sprinkelyng of water augmenteth the flame in a Smithes forge Claueryndo at this time egged on by Donzels good happe and béeing of riper yeares sued to be made Knight But the wise Lyrgandeo fore-séeing some-what and to haue him keepe company with Donzel del Febo and Brandizel with-stoode his purpose for that time Claueryndo was but about fourtéene or fifteene yeares of age but he was so comelye and nimble in all feates of armes that there was not a knight in all the court which out-passed him In this maner were these two Gentlemen brought vp in the Souldans Court with great magnificeÌ„ce as if they had ben in their fathers courts aboue all they wer so throughly instructed in lerning that ther wer none able to come in controuersie with them all this equall to both notwithstanding the difference of beléefes which shall be a lyke ere it be long Claueryndo which was guyded by Armineo his vnckle was a Christian and the Gentleman of the Sunne beléeued in the lawe of the Gentiles as the wise Lyrgandeo hadde taught him Lyrgandeo himselfe being bred and brought vp in the same errour by his father for all his great cunning was not able to finde out the vanitie of his false Gods O the prouidence of God how much be we bounde to thée and how ill doo we acknowledge thy great goodnesse in suffering vs to be become Christians when thousandes wise men and mightie Monarchs dye in the lawe of the Gentiles not all their power auailable to saue their soules their learning not worth a rush for the displaieng of the falshood of that lawe wherein their fathers haue nouseled them And shall we Christians think that our knowledge can pull vs out of hell if not the wisest of the earth I meane the learned Gentiles could once reproue their owne law and knowe the onely and true God As for example this Lyrgandeo was so wise and well learned that not Artimedoro nor Rogel nor Turke nor Sarasin nor Iew nor Christian came euer néere him and yet because he had lerned that lawe from his cradle and wanted the gifte of God for the true vnderstanding of his will he wallowed still in his errour as the Sowe doth in the myre till God hauing a regard of the Gentleman of the Sunne and minding to make him a true Christian did by his meanes conuert the wise Lyrgandeo to the knowledge of his will and poure out his grace abundantly vpon the whole kingdome of Persia according as more largely shall be recited But to returne the two young Gentlemen albeit contrary in professions yet in friendship and good will were conformable as shall be declared in this storie ¶ An aduenture in the Court of the Souldan which befell to the young Gentleman of the Sunne Cap. 20. THe Souldan the Prince Florion with all the knights of his court greatly praied their Gods that the Gentleman of the Sunne might come to his full age to be made knight for that onely they stayed their voyage into the kingdome of Persia for his cause as willing to haue him with â—hem for the great prowesse which rested in him and 〈◊〉 â—hought their staye not ouer-long séeing it was 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—ely that which the wise Lyrgandeo prophecied of him that he should be a valiant knight and that without him their entraunce into Persia were to small effect For this cause they employed their care in the aduauncing forâ—â—â—â— of the Gentleman of the Sunne This gentleman 〈◊〉 being of the age of sixtéene yeares was so high wel 〈◊〉 â—â—oued that he wanted little in stature of any man One 〈◊〉 â—â—ince Florion with manye other knights being aâ—â—â—â— at the riuer to flye at a fowle the young Gentleman staieng in the Pallaice The Souldan with many of his knights and Gentlewomen tooke their pastime in one part of his great Pallaice where entred in at the gates six ancient knights with white beards hanging downe to the girdle-stéedes and all armed saue the head-péeces compassing on each side a Gentlewoman faire and young clothed all in mourning apparell and hauing a crowne of gold vppon hir head This Lady was led by a knight great of body well and strongly proportioned armed at all points with a rich and strong armour This knight lifting vp the visor of his helmet shewed himselfe to the Souldan where they perceiued his face to be very foule and fearfull of colour more tawnie and Sun-burnt then cole-blacke his eyes flaming in his head his nostrells wide and large broad lipped and his sharp fangs issuing out of his mouth like Boares tuskes and reaching to his chin so that there was no man liuing but might haue bene afrayed of his fierce semblance But besides this he was so high that there was not any in that place whom this knight exceeded not two spanfulls at the least and in making of his bodye hée was so large and well quartered more then the compasse of two knights Hauing thus entered and set himselfe to view those which wer present had inough to occupie their eyes either on the vglinesse of the Gyant or the beautie of the Gentlewoman But the Gentlewoman knéeled before the Souldan to haue kissed his handes But the Souldan taking hir by the hand raised hir vppe dooing hir the honour hée thought it conuenient in that she appeared to be a Lady of great birth Shée with teares distilling
that women those which are not able to weare armour are priuiledged for theyr speach and may talke without controlement and so Raiartes left him But the couragious Gentleman not béeing able to heare that contumely in his anger rose from where he sate and comming to the Souldan knéeled before him beséeching his grace to graunt this one sute the first which in his lyfe time hée had made The Souldan lyttle thinking what he would aske and louing him so well that what thing he demaunded it should haue bene graunted willingly said yea and bad him say on what it was that he desired The Gentleman of the Sun sayd my Lord that which I require is that you make me knight because it is high time that I receiue it I doe not thinke my selfe so young as to put vp wrong at anie mannes hande Those which were present were much troubled at the request of the Gentleman of the Sunne foreseeing the ende which was to answere the bolde Raiartes and the Souldan was greatly sory to haue bene so rash in making promise before he had knowen his suite wherefore he sate still without speaking yea or no diuising onely howe to satisfie the young Gentleman and to quite himselfe of his promise The gentleman of the Sunne doubting least the Souldan woulde linger and delay the time very angerly said vnto him If I cannot obteine this at your hands my Lorde I sweare by the high Gods that during my lyfe I shall not bée merrie and I will goe serue some other Lorde which more liberally will consider of my requestes The great Souldan loth to disquiet the young Gentleman of the Sunne whom he sawe attent vppon this matter albeit his promise greeued him much aunswered him thus sayeng Assuredly Donzel del Febo if you had demaunded any other thing of me more profitable for your selfe doubt you not but you had bene in possession of your desire by this time yea had it bene the greatest part of my kingdome But because I sée you are of tender yeres that the time is not yet for you to supporte the burthen of armour I would wish you to refraine and let fall your sute for this time or if you will not otherwise be perswaded hold you I yeeld vnto you watch this night in your armour and to morrow at day-breake I will giue you the order The Gentleman of the Sunne tooke him at that word and verie ioyfully kissed the Souldans hande for his gracious fauour Then from thence by soft paces comming to Raiartes he said vnto him Now that I haue license to parle with thée as a Knight I will answere thée Raiartes to the words which thou hast said vnto me and so I tell thée that if the Princesse Radamira will put hir quarrell into my handes I will defend hir right and take the battayle vpon me and be it that the Princesse Radamira dare not commit hir right vnto me yet I say that to be aduenged on thy reprochfull speaches which thou hast blowed foorth I will fight with thee and make thée to knowe that thou art more vniust and foolish then valiaunt and courteous as knights ought to be The Gentleman of the Sunne héere ended and the grimme sier Raiartes began a laughter with these wordes In déede if all follie were force maâ—â—e knights were couragious and strong for most of them are too too ventrous and if thy selfe wert of so great abilitie as thou art of forwardnesse the princesse Radamira should enâ—e hir quarrell by to morrowe night but thou deceiuest thy selfe and albeit I am halfe ashamed to take the battaile against a knight neuer before acquainted with arâ—â—â—r yet because thou shalt not want due correction for thy follye I accept the battaile which thou offerest as well for the one cause as for the other As this talke was at the hottest betwéene them the Princesse Radamira behelde the Gentleman of the Sunne verye earnestly noting as well his yeares as his person and albeit hée was then beardlesse Yet shée thus conceiued of him that hée was of noble courage and verye strong and besides this there appeared in his face somewhat which she iudged more then manlike And as she was wise so her heart gaue her that this young Gentleman had some diuine bloud in him which she thought to haue descended from some of her false Gods So neither lyghtly nor wantonly mouing but with great discreation and wisedome standing in the same place and musing what she ought to doe in the ende no other knight answering the challenge for her not altogether out of hope shée agreed to put her quarrell into his handes by deliverate counsaile concluding if hée were murthered her selfe to followe after and so shee spake to the Gyaunt on this wise Raiartes sith this Gentleman with so good will proffereth himselfe to maintaine my ryght agaynst thée I am verie well content to put my quarrell into his handes and from this time forth I will not séeke other knight The beautifull Princesse Radamira dooing thus the fierce Raiartes was sore mooued to sée that shée made so little account of him and so much trusted the boldnesse of the young Gentleman and foaming at the mouth like a wilde Boare he was not able to speake one word for the furie and choler which boiled in him The Gentleman of the Sunne thanked her goodly for the acceptation of his paines in her name In this manner the matter was put off till the next day but the Gentleman of the Sunne was not so glad to haue occasion offered to bée made knight as the Souldan and his friendes were sorrowfull to haue him fall into this daunger which they imagined to be to too sure because of the strength of Raiartes and the youth of the Gentleman of the Sunne They thought it a desperate case for him to wage this battaile with the sauegard of his honour Then the young Gentleman Clauerindo béeing of more yeares then Donzel del Febo was repented that hée had not aunswered for the Princesse both because hée thought it a blemish to his honour to haue excused himselfe from such a matter and his age was more then Donzel del Febos was and so might better acquite himselfe agaynst the force of Raiartes and especially fearing the perill of his friend he would néedes haue taken the battaile out of his handes but perceiuing the vnwillingnesse of the Gentleman of the Sunne hée would speake no more of it At Sunne set Florion came from hunting and hearing of the battaile which was appointed he was verie sad for Donzel del Febos sake because of Raiartes force and Donzels weaknesse and so he tooke vpon him to perswade Donzel del Febo to giue ouer the battaile and put it vpon some other in his right if it so pleased him But Florion and Clauerindo were both beguiled in Donzel del Febo albeit eyther of them were such knights as of the one hath ben rehearsed and of the other shal be shewed héereafter Raiartes
beholders Now for that which followeth you must intend that the wise man vttered his speaches to the king in the audience of the whole multitude many knightes and other compassing him about to heare his arraunt so that few or none but were partakers of it Amongest them was Brandagedeon bearing himselfe within the lists as proudly as the Cocke of the game doth in the Cocke pit when the crauen is chased Then hearing that the tent was put for a rewarde to him which could vnhorse the young knight when he sawe time he cried aloud to Rosicleer saieng In good sooth new knight thou bewraiest thy folly and lacke of experience when thou sawest me stand in this place with my speare in my hand to make that challenge which shall not be in thy power to maintaine so surely but that I will be the master of thy pauillion yet Gods blessing on thy heart for bringing so faire a Iewell béeing indéede fitter for me then for thée Rosicleer whose courage neuer tainted aunswered as shortly It shal bée thine Gyant if thou winnest it and there shall no man forbidde thée the possession of it if thou ouerthrowe mée And without more words he tooke a great Speare from the ratter and tourning his horse head he rode softly to the place where the iustes were kept In his way thether Rosicleer lyfting vp his eyes to the Scaffold of the Gentlewomen he saws the beautifull Oliuia standing directlye against his face excéeding no lesse the other Gentlewomen in brightnesse then the Moone excelleth the starres in a frostie night O poore Rosicleer what a looke was that which locked thée from thy rest for with her beautie thou wast wounded at the heart that albeit in time the skinne ouergrew it and the flesh healed yet the skarre remained and neuer knight in the worlde loued more loyally then thou diddest For though the sight was short and the blowe quicke yet the wounde was déepe and the smart curelesse O full many a bolde enterprise diddest thou achieue ere thou gainedst a reasonable guerdon for thy greate good will And thou faire Princesse being within the hearing of the wise mans speach diddest not spare to lend thine eares to another mans tale and shine eyes to another mannes brauerie that thy succours béeing farre from thée thy heart had not the power to repulse thy aduersarie loue béeing the onely occasion of thy vnrest But Lord what alteration both of you felt by the enterchaunge of your lookes which serued likewise for messengers to tell your tales betwixt you And yet I cannot déeme but that this loue so enraged his courage against Brandagedeon as otherwise I maye thinke hée had not done so well But comming into the place hée addressed himselfe towardes Brandagedeon both of them now béeing in a readinesse The King at this time verie sorrowfull to see the newe Knight in his first batâ—aile to endaunger himselfe vpon a Gyaunt and woulde haue talked with Artemidoro about this matter but the wise man gaue no answere and to the end not to discouer more then was behouefull he conueyed himselfe out of the kings sight So the king held still his opinion of the young knights weaknesse till the issue disproued his thought For in the carryer when the two knightes met in the middest of the Tilt-yarde the Gyants Speare burst vpon Rosicleers head peace no more moouing him with the blowe then if hée had stroke agaynst a wall But Rosicleer hurling at the breast of Brandagedeon ouerthrewe him and his horse to the grounde the horse in the fall brusing the Gyauntes shoulder that his Knightes were faine to carrie him out of the preale whereat all the standers by with great admiration behelde Rosicleer euerye man being a Prophet as his heart gaue him that Rosicleer would proue the best knight in the world séeing that at his first encounter in tilt hauing neuer had to doe with anie knight before be had ouerthrowen so mightie a Gyant The King nowe thought that Rosicleer had well amended the greate corsie which hée had taken at his Knightes disgrace and the other Knightes were gladde to haue that huge monster ridde away bolder and willinger valyauntly to aduenture themselues agaynst Rosicleer then against a Gyaunt and their courage was the more for the richnesse of the tent which had inuegled theyr conetous mindes to venture the purchase But as the knightes entered to iust with him he ouerthrew them all béeing more then an 100. knightes without that anie man was able to sit the second iourney Then the kings knightes entered by name Brandaristes Brandidarte Allamedes the Princes Argiles and Orgiles Don Brunio Prince of Numidia other all which he threw downe so lightly as that they might not turne one course more that daie Some held more tacke with him as you shall heare héereafter but by the way the king turning to his Lords spake on this wise Truely my Lordes if I had not my selfe séene the valourous déedes of this Knight I should hardly haue credited another so incredible the truth is that one shoulde worke such masteries I would the iusts were ended that I might sée this knight vnarmed to knowe him and honour him as is reason True it is aunswered his nobles and for his valour there is not so puissaunt a Prince in the world but that he shall haue cause to be gladde of his seruice This was a breathing time for Rosicleer but yet I am perswaded that it was no plaieng time although no enimie appeared for he had a greater conflict within his bones then he professed outwardly and therefore his heart neither fully assured nor yet in daunger gased vpon the beautie of Oliuia Whereby the fire entering closely by the vaynes wasted and consumed his flesh sooner then hée felt the flame or coulde thinke of remedie but better considering that hée was within the compasse of loues segniorie and that his matter was to bee tryed at the great assise in loues dominion he tooke better aduisement to alter it to an action vpon the case of couenaunt against his mistresse the matter arising vppon exchaunge of lookes as you haue heard And for this cause he enterteyned Sergaunt hope to bée his Lawyer and féeyd diuers others to assist him but master Despaire an old stager had wonne the day of him had not the whole Bench and especially the chiefe Iustice Desert staied vppon a demurre which reléeued much Rosicleers courage and made him looke more freshly vpon hope to finde out better euidence for recouery of his sute But as Rosicleer thus plyed his cause at the Barre so gentle Cupide attended vpon his Mistresse faithfully seruing him and beating into hir head the remembraunce of his actes and the beautie of his personage that the windowes of hir desire being set wide open she viewed hir fill wishing yet to sée his face thereby to comfort hir selfe if his visage were aunswerable to his vertue Now Don Siluerio with an enuious eye minding to interrupte
thinking in what maner hir fathers Court was honoured by Rosicleer and in what estimation he was holden among those Princes knights how glad they were of his friendship and how loth hir father was to loose him she burst out into aboundaunce of teares and with the repentaunce of hir former fact she began in this sort to repent hir rashnesse Thou hastie and ouer credulous Oliuia what thing did the poore Rosicleer crane of thée but the acceptation of his seruice and that thou wouldest become his Ladie why diddest thou not receiue him offered especially when so manye puissaunt Princes and worthy Knights require to haue and are refused why wouldest thou not be Ladie ouer him whom the best in the worlde would be servaunt vnto Where was my iudgement and the eyes of my vnderstanding that I forethought me not of these things now doe I too much repent that which I hastely willed as touching the banishment of Rosicleer Héere she stayed her speach and in great disease of minde shut her selfe in her closet Héere nowe wanted the faithfull counsaile of her seruaunt Fidelia for had she bene at hand she might haue slaked her mistresses sorrow which in the end grew so farre as besides the losse of speach and her often sounding she fell into a hot burning ague which left her not of a great while till more comfort came by meanes of another Letter which shée read of her loues to his mother Briana Till that time we will helpe the two knightes Bargandel and Liriamandro out of the wood and bring them from the search of Rosicleer to the court of king Oliuerio The Princes Bargandel and Liriamandro retourning from the Forrest misse Rosicleer Cap. 41. THe great desire which lead Bargandel and Liriamandro to pursue the knights of the forrest made theÌ„ to follow on so long till they ioyned at a great and well towred castle standing at the one end of the sayd forrest There before these two knights could enter to saue themselues the two Princes had ouertaken them getting betwéene the castle them they put them to so great scath that the knights vnable to resist cryed amaine to those which were within the Castle for sâ—â—â—cour yet or they could come they were ouerthrown fore wounded and as the Princes alighted downe to make dispatch of them ten men issued out of the Castle well armed and comming néere laid at the Princes in great rage for they weened their Lords to haue bene slaine but this skirmish lasted not long betwéene them for the two Princes were valiaunt and putting themselues in prease amongest the thickest in short time made riddaunce of the greater part and those which remained besought the Princes of pardon which béeing eastyle graunted the two Princes retourned to the two knightes which had béene felled but late before These two knightes séeing in what case they were and pittyeng the destruction of theyr people yéelded themselues to the will of the conquerour promising that if they might inioye theyr lyfe and libertie they would amend theyr folly and make satisfaction to all Gentlewomen wherof the Princes were glad and taking their oaths for the perfourmaunce departed in hast toward Rosicleer as they thought but hée was not where they lefte him wherefore they sought him out in all parts This daye till night they neuer descended from theyr horses at night they tooke their bedde vnder a trée vntill the comming of the next daie and they were verie pensiue for that they knewe not the cause why he absented himselfe yet with some hope that the next day they should heare some newes of him they droue out that night and on the morrowe mounted vp their horses againe to finde him out but it was to no boote for eight whole daies they trauailed thorough the Countrie and heard no newes of him in the end thinking they should méete with him at the Court they rode thether in the companie of many knights whether let them goe whilest we in the meane time beare the Gentlewoman companie which had carryed Oliuias Letter vnto Rosicleer This Gentlewoman Fidelia as I tolke you perceiuing as well by the witnesse which his eyes gaue of his outward griefe as also by the sounde wherein she lefte him as an argument of his inward sorrow that he néeded comfort and yet not daring to shew him hope contrarie to her Maiesties commaundement strake her palfraie and without more stay gallopped on her waye towardes London whether in short time shée came but when shée had entered the pallaice shée would not presently make her comming knowen vnto the Princesse least her sodeine returne should worke some alteration whereby the other Gentlewomen might misdéeme of her errant But when she had learned of the Gentlewomen that her Ladie was sicke she well wist whence her disease sprang and therefore wisely comming before her mistresse she yet spared to name Rosicleer till she vnderstood how well she would take his heauinesse The Princesse now vncerteine in iudgement whether to commend of Fidelias faithfulnesse in executing her deuise if the Letter were deliuered or to lyke of her good Fortune if some occasion had hindered the deliuerie being now alone stayed yet to heare either yea or naie as touching the dispatch of her message But Fidelia as well for her owne compassion ouer Rosicleer as for sorrowe to see her mistresse in that plight by her owne conceit vttered neuer a word but burst out into wéeping wherby the princesse more troubled then at the first with a feeble voice spake vnto her Tell me Fidelia what thou bast done in thy message and doubt not but thy trauaile shall well please mée for although the loue I beare him feareth to heare thine aunswere yet shall mine honour counteruaile the dreade in which quarrell I will as I tolde thée earst venture my lyfe rather then yéelde my bodie to anie opprobrie This sayeng shée lent her eare vnto Fidelias aunswere and fastened her eyes vpon Fidelias lookes as if no word should haue escaped vnmarked or vnaduised of her Fidelias aunswere was short in these tearmes For a truth madame I had sought Rosicleer no little time ere I could finde him and as it fell out I found him when my selfe was not without daunger as it were to participate of that crueltie towardes him wherein I was partly a dealer but that which makes â—â—ms especially to repent my paines héerein was that my deliuerie was wrought by him For at the same time I met him sixe knightes outlawes set vpon me in a Forrest and had lead mée captiue away there to bée spoiled of my honour but that by my outcryes Rosicleer with two other knightes came thether none of them hauing anie knowldege of me who I was There in my presence he killed thrée of them the other flyeng away were followed by the two knightes in Rosicleers companie by which meanes being alone with him I there deliuered your Letters But I beléeue that he had rather haue receiued
be in that estate as is due to the daughter of such parents when the Emperour had thus said Flamides forced himself so much as he might for to speake thus answered him Your reason satisfieth my vnderstanding I confesse it true that we ought not to wéepe when death assaileth vs neither ought we to make straunge of it for in the end we must leaue this world and then is there nothing more certeine but my conceit builded vpon outward sence béeing contrarie to reason troubleth againe that part where affections are and maketh it rebellious and howsoeuer men be prouided for death by continuall thought that they must dye ordinarily notwithstanding wee thinke our selues immortall till death attacheth vs. And what olde man onely for age is so feeble that he hopeth not for a daie to liue But as to Lindaraza my sister I beléeue that although you had staied here many dayes the secret of this aduenture hadde neuer bene disclosed vnto you neither doe you knowe the cause why you were brought and put heere But I will tell you plainely My sister Lyndaraza and I had both one Father named Palisteo being the second sonne to the king of Phrigia my Father not beeing borne to the kingdome fell rather to seeke his owne delight without enuie then to trouble himselfe with the care of gouerning Aboue all he studied the Arte Magicke where by his paines at length came to the most absolute perfection of all in Asia he was matched with a Ladie of high parentage by whom he had two children my sister Lindaraza and mee we were of young yeares when our mother died in labour of the thirde child so there remained none else but our Father aliue and louing to be solitarie came and dwelled in this Ilande bringing with him my sister and those waiting women which you haue séene by his great skill he buylded this Castle héere he lyued vntill my sister and I were of some discretion to guide our selues Héere he drew manie histories of things passed in the worlde and among other the pictures of many valiant Knights which were then on lyue with the rest you were so liuely drawen that it happening my sister to enter one daye where the Imagerye was by the sight of your picture she was surprised with your loue Our father Palisteo knowing hir disease deuised you should be brought by following your owne wife carried from you For this cause was this inchauntment made in that quarter of the Castle wherein you abode without making your selfe priuie to your owne estate that if your Knights came to séeke you they might not perswade you hence neither could euer perswasion haue serued only force which this man hath vsed When the wise man our father had done all this he declared vnto vs the secretes of these things and farther told vs by his Art that the timâ—â—hould come when you shuld be deliuered from the inchauntment although he knew not when nor in what manner He told vs that at such time as you should be at large my sister Lindaraza should die either for the griefe that she shoulde conceiue or for that the fates had so appoynted Moreouer that you should haue a daughter by hir which might not hence depart till there should come a Knight which shoulde winne the entries once againe and after marrie hir Of this Knight he said that ther shuld spring the race whence issueth the two noble families much spoken off throughout the world the one house to be called Mongrana the other Claramonte Me he charged not to leaue the Castle till my néece Lindaraza should be acquitted After this our father Palisteo béeing sore sicke died since his death hetherto euerie thing hath fallen out accordinglye And thus you haue heard the whole processe of my tale and the cause why your daughter Lindaraza cannot goe from hence at this time The Emperour and the knight of the Sunne had verie attentiuely lystened to all that which Flamides had spoken and albeit the Emperour was desirous to carrie his daughter Lyndaraza with him he could not yet refuse to leaue her when he coulde not otherwise choose and hée besought Flamides that at such time as they came both out that they should take the waie to Greece there to reioyce with him After they had thus argued a little Flamides brought them through the parte of the Castle which was not inchaunted shewing them many thinges as well of halls of cloysters as of pictures and painterie whereat the Emperour and the Knight of the Sunne were greatly amased And for that that daye the knight of the Sunne had not eaten Flamides made them sit in a faire parlour where they had plentie of delicate viandes when they had eaten the Emperour béeing desirous to depart desired Flamides to conueye him through the gates So by the â—â—aie this péece of the storie as I haue hearde was afterwarde penned and portrayed in the Court hall of the Emperours Pallaice at Constantinople But they went through all the gates of the Castle and of the bridge till they came where the pillours stoode There Flamides tooke his leaue of the Emperour and of the Knight of the Sunne When Flamides had departed from them and they had passed through the bridges presently the gates of the Towers clapt together with greate noise béeing as surely shut as euer they were The Emperour and the Knight of the Sunne were amased at the straunge thinges which had happened in that Castle and tooke the way towardes the Sea by the same path in which they had come reioysing at the swéete harmonie which the Birdes made in those pleasaunt trées so that although they went a foote yet it séemed no paine vnto them And the loue that they bare to each other was so great that it coulde not haue had bene more if they had knowen each other especially the Emperour whom so often as he sawe his face thought vppon the Princesse Briana whome hée much resembled In this manner the father and the sonne trauailed running ouer in their discourse straunge thinges of the inchaunted Castle till that they approched the maine sea whereas yet the little boat stoode in which the knight of the Sunne had come thether Now for that along the shoare there were no more boats the Emperour was somewhat sorrowfull séeming to him that he was ill furnished to goe whether he purposed and telling it to the knight of the Sunne The knight of the Sunne aunswered My Lord I pray you be not agréeued with this for the boate is guided by a wise man a friend of mine one as I beléeue so carefull to carry me hence as he hath friendly sent me to worke your deliuerance Besides this boat will holde vs both and if it bée so you will vouchsafe my ship you shall neuer saile more safe neither better prouided for victualls The Emperour was greatly amazed at it that all thinges were so plentifull with the knight of the Sunne But both verie merrie
wring his wiues inheritaunce to himselfe in such manner as you haue heard in Eliseas reporte The Iudges straight wayes declared it to the king who detesting their fact caused the Duke to be apprehended and both to be executed in that place For albeit many of his nobles intreated for their pardon yet the king so abhorred the villanie that naught auailed and at this time was the lawe first enacted in Hungarie that the lawe of punishment for whoordome shoulde stretch as wel to the man as to the woman and that equal penaltie shoulde bee assigned to lyke offendours whereas before the men escaped the women only were in daunger Now after this execution the Dutchesse Elisandra was set at large and the Quéene Augusta receiued her with great honour into her companie The Knight of the Sun was verie desirous to leaue the Citie but the king desired much to knowe him and to haue him abide for some time in his Court. In the time of his abode the Knight of the Sunne grew in more familiar acquaintaunce with the king and was much lyked of him because he séemed to resemble the Princesse Briana but one daie the king importuning the young Knight to knowe his kindred vsed such lyke wordes Sir Knight we thanke you heartely for the paines that you haue taken in the Dutchesse of Pannonias behalfe and for the maintaining of her honour wherby if she haue receiued commoditie of liuing and auoiding shame so haue I receiued some quietnesse in my Realme by the open detecting of such malefactours and their punishment will be occasion of feare in others for this cause I haue willed you to staie héere as thereto I praye you heartely but I praie you let me know your name and where you were borne for I knowe not how to call you The Knight of the Sunne well nurtured in the Souldans Court after his humble thankes for his Maiesties most gratious proffer and the promise of acceptaunce béeing a thing in déede verie conuenient for the certifieng of the Emperour began as followeth For your maiesties fauour I shall most willingly do your highnesse seruice and for the Dutchesse I am gladde that the equitie of her cause furthered my attempt and for my name and Countrie I can better tell you the storie of my life since I came to yeares then declare that Yet am I called the Knight of the Sunne by my deuice and my education hath bene in the Souldans Court at Babylon thether I being brought by the kings sonne in lawe the king of Persia when I was but a child and as it hath bene tolde me found in a little boate vpon the Sea for my life hetherto it hath bene in armes and that doe I meane to pursue The king and those which were with him were greatly amazed that hée had come from so farre a Countrie and had bene found vppon the Sea and that he knew no more of his estate but they thought that he was of some noble birth The king thanked him and in this order the Knight of the Sunne stayed with the king Tiberio for certeine dayes where he gained many friends one onely enimie by name Florinaldes which could not forget the shame receiued before his mistresse although it had done him no scath for in the ende Albamira preferred him before the Earle Orfeo So as I saye yet Florinaldes séeing the honour of the Knight of the Sunne daily to increase to the discredit of the borne Hungarian his stomacke rose against him and one day he set vppon the Knight of the Sunne at vnawares but to his owne losse had not the knight of the Sunne bene more mercifull after they were made friends But let vs breake off this storie to dispatch the Prince of Lusitania out of England ¶ Don Siluerio demaunded the Princesse Oliuia for wife of the King Oliuerio Cap. 55. THe great sorrow which the losse of Rosicleer caused in the court of king Oliuerio hath ere this bene declared to you for all the good knightes his friendes went to séeke him leauing the Court bare and naked for noble men and aboue all the Princesse Oliuia was worst wringed albeit her griefe was not so manifest Nowe is there stayed in the Court the Prince Don Siluerio straungelye surprised with the loue of Oliuia and vsing the helpe of his sister Rodasylua to the perswading of Oliuia One day the last I take it he vnfolded his griefe vnto her telling her that vnlesse she found the meanes hée shoulde héere leaue his life in a farre Countrie The matter is mine olde sute that you wot off my desire is that at least I maye bée assured of her good will Sure I am if I moue the king in it I shall obteine it The Princesse Rodasylua mooued indéed with her brothers affliction promised the vttermost of her paines and within a while after she had some talke with the Princesse about that matter her wordes tending to like effect Madame you knowe right well the great loue which since I came to this Court I haue borne vnto you and how I haue done you seruice in all that I was able that which more is in what manner I haue absented my selfe from my parents onely to be in your companie which if you knowe and confesse to be true you must likewise beléeue that that which I shall saie nowe rather procéedeth of good zeale towardes your honour then of anie purpose to worke mine owne contentment though I cannot denie but that if I obtaine it will content me highly But I doe not besire the thing which standeth not with your honour and for my paines reward séeke I none but that I may be heard If I erre in ought wherein I shall counsaile you then may you blame mee and yet I doubt not but when you shall haue throughly examined the whole you shall rather impute the fault to lacke of skill than to anie lacke of good meaning and as I am certeine that you haue this same opinion of mée without anye farther suspect so will I tell you my minde flatly You knowe that you are the onely inheritrixe of this kingdome that your Father the king my Lorde must néeds marrie you with such a one as may equall your estate both for the naturall care which he hath ouer you in respect that you are his daughter and for the profit which shall thereby redounde to his subiectes which cannot be well gouerned the seate wanting aâ—rightfull heire you are withall at this time marriageable my suite therefore is that héerein you will haue a more regarde of the Prince Don Siluerio my brother a worthie knight of personage and valour of an high birth a kings sonne and heire besides louing you so entirely as he can nothing more long hath he endured this torment and neuer would bewraie it to anie but to me and I haue hetherto suppressed it not to molest you nowe for compassion towardes him whome I must loue and honour mine owne brother I
either the sumptuous building of Mansolus tombe or the famous Pyramides of Aegypt or that maze of Daedalus making found in Crete may wel be forgotten And as the Emperour mused on all this the gentlewoman knowing him to be distraught caught him by the hand brought him to a paire of stayers the steps whereof were all of Iasper by them he mounted with her into a chamber foure square of the largenesse of a stones cast In this yet she opened another dore with thrée steps of siluer plate out of the gold-smiths shop through which she brought the Emperor into a more stately chamber foure square as the other was very rich whereof the séeling roofe were ingrauen gold embossed with many precious stones sending foorth such a light as it was meruailous The Emperour tooke no kéepe of the riches of the place but of the beautie of a nūber of faire gentlewomen whom he sawe sitting richly apparelled in euery part of the chamber among these one séemed to be the principall stalled in a seat higher then the other passing them all so well in beautie as rich apparell She as ladie and mistres aboue them all held in her hand a Lute whereon she played and sung together with such an harmonie that it was no lesse daungerous vnto the poore Emperour then the alluring song of the Mermaides should haue bene vnto Vlysses companie She sang swéetly and she with all reached her warbling notes so high so shrill that it much pleased the Emperour Her faire and golden haire hung downe her backe and couered both her shoulders And you must pardon the Emperour if by this he was wholy possessed with her loue and forgot his late wife the Princesse Briana The enterteinment was great and yet this chaunge procéeded not through she beautie of the enchauntresse for his owne wife was much fairer but rather by the secret vertue of the place which was thereto deuised according as shall be recited héereafter By this time the Emperour had cleane lost the remembraunce of his wife his Empire Countrey and what els pertained to him onely reioycing in the loue of Lindaraza for so this Ladie was called this he estéemed for his principall happe and good fortune When the Emperour had stoode stone still a while this Ladie rose from hir seate and laieng downe hir Lute which she helde in hir hande with hir Gentlewomen waiting on hir and with a good grace shée made towards the Emperour to take him by the hande saieng vnto him You are welcome most noble and worthy Emperour Trebatio for whose comming I haue long time wished The Emperour glad of such a welcome and making not straunge of his courtesie albeit he coulde not finde whereby she shoulde knowe his name he aunswered hir Madame my arriuall cannot be but good sith by it I may beholde the pricke and price of all the beautie in the world conspiring as it were in your excellencie sith you receiue me with such fauour I beséech you tell me who you are least by not knowing you I might foreslowe that dutie which I owe vnto your person This account replyed the Lady shall be made in better time Now knowe you that I am all yours and there shall not be done by me or my Gentlewomen other thing but to doo you pleasure in my Pallaice The Emperour was intrapped with hir pleasant speach and knew not whether he were in heauen or in the earth and willing to kisse hir hande for the grace she shewed him she thought no scorne of a kisse on hir chéeke when it was profered Then she led him by the hand vnto the place where hir owne throne was there the Emperor felt in himselfe a great contentment by the touching of hir white and delicate hands imagining with him selfe that he was transferred into a second heauen Some of the Ladies helped to vnarme him and other were not idle either plaieng on their harpes or singing and making such musick as well eased the mindes of the enamoured some brought rich robes to attire the Emperour withall other conserues and comfets very comfortable with delycate wine in great plates and cups of gold to refresh him as he had néede by reason of the trauaile he had taken on foote although other meate liked him better which was the sight of the faire Lindaraza and hir company and shée no lesse enamored with him behelde him goodly and with hir knife in one hand a napkin in the other she hir selfe carued vnto him of those plesant conserues I doo not think that the Emperour refrained vpon strangenesse but she to quicken his stomacke with many a pleasant deuise and other amorous perswasions made him eate a good and very swoote were those morsells vnto him When this collation was ended with some solempnitie the faire Lindaraza led him aside into a great bay window opening vppon the fresh and gladsome gardein through which the Emperour with the Gentlewomen had before passed Ther they both beguyled the time with pleasant speach and melody which the Ladies made in a fresh arbour vpon the top of two trées the Laurell and the Cipres the Tenor being maintained among them onely by Nightingales I denie not but the sauour also of the swéete smelling flowers refreshing their spirits did encrease their appetites and gaue hope of better ioye to come When it was time to suppe the tables being spred they were serued of exquisite dainties Supper being done the two estates fell to their wonted discourses It was now night and yet there néeded neither torch nor candle the brightnesse of the stones enchased in the walls made the chambers as light as the daye when it was time to sléepe the faire Princesse Lindaraza brought the Emperour to hir owne lodging richly adorned with silke and golde wherein was a rich and statelye bed and ther vnclothed by hir Gentlewomen both of them went to bed and remaining thus both of them reioyced of their loues to their contentations As the Emperor had thus liued wantonly many dayes depriued of his vnderstanding sauing onely in honouring hir which was before him In the ende the beautifull Lindaraza was great with childe and bare him a daughter of rare beautie called Lindaraza by hir mothers name from whom issued a great noble race which because in his place it shall be largelye declared I shall ouerpasse now briefly touching such occurrents as I read of in the meane time ¶ The Emperours knights finde not their Lord and the Hungarians misse the Prince of England Cap. 10. WHen the Emperour Trebatio was in his quest of the inchaunted chariot the storie telleth that his knights might not come néere him some because they could not take their horses and some because his horse ran so fast for hée ouercame in halfe a dayes iourney the trauayle of eyght dayes as I thinke for that he was caried both by his own desire the diuels driuing otherwise it had bene impossible to haue endured so