standing vpright your wisedome hath ouer-ballanced my distemperature and in a manner recouered my despaire I will therefore fasten my anchor on the holde of your honourable promises and attend more chearefully the discourse with that he sate downe and Bertosus proceeded Cleonidas hauing ranged farre from his shippes ouer-tooke vs thus accompanied and as wee thought to rudely questioned our names estates and dwelling wee supposing the reuerence of our King would haue made our peace and the respect to the Princely Infants assured our libertie boldly made answer whatsoeuer you be or intend We are the Kings seruants and these be the Kings children and you and these quoth one amongst the rest be now prisoners to Cleonidas and so shall remaine til the tyrannous Perinthum redeeme them with the price of her honour by this time wee vnderstood enough and more then was pleasing vnlesse you may immagine an offender standing before a seuere Judge vrging his fault to as cruell a Iurie and after their verdict giuing sentence of death pleased with the same For Cleonidas we knew and his despight wee knew and the cause of Cleonidas despight we knew flowed from the current of this venemous streame ARtabazes was no sooner inuested with the roialties of Armenia but Cleonidas taking his banishment in disgrace exprobrated his simplicitie that had not more iudicially proceeded wherupon as hee supposed to recouer his credit rather then for any mallice to the King he attempted a second innouation but herein his will exceeded his fortune for the valliant Pelorus Artabazes Admirall ere he once set foot on land discomfited him at sea and enforced his reculing to the dry Iland where Cleonidas tooke a newe course of life both by Piracie whereby hee gathered infinite wealth and mercenary assisting other Princes which obtained him many friends In the time of this wantonnesse on the borders of Capadocia was resident as Prouincial Gouernor Prazus a Gent of an ancient house and great estate had not the crueltie of the warres wasted the same but now somewhat resetled by his owne endeauours and policie and in reasonable good grace with the king Opacus for his seruice hee thought vpon nothing so much as the addition of Honour to his house but apprehending a kinde of error in the kings wants who was counted to exchang fauour for money and vnwilling to giue him cause of distasting considering that aduancements depend on the pleasure of the Prince hee conferred with his friends about the king and such whom seruice at Court had especially graced so that perceiuing the vse of their fauour he compared himselfe to a man ready for entrance in to some pleasant Gallery wherof he had the right but another keepeth the Key at last reason reward or his owne worth preuailed with them they inferred to the King the necessitie of the gouernment the deseart of the Gent. not without addition how hee had lost his Goodes spent his Reuenewes and hassarded his Life thus was the King prepared Then proceeded they further by putting him in memorie how the Vertuous expect a Recompence as well as the Wicked deserue Punishment And lastly as the string which yeelded the sweete sound of the Musicke they touched this that a present summe of Mony and yearely Reuenewes would come into the Treasurie I will not say it preuayled but the King most graciously ennobled him with the title of Exarchate and constituted him Gouernour during life according to the Lawes of the Land wherevppon now the Lord Praxus was enforced to try Menedemus for a competent portion of money to defray his charges that the entrance into his new Honour in good fashion might establish the opinion of the people by applauding his worth This was a wretch liuing in the strength and delicatest place of all the Kingdome and had culled out the sweetest dwellings and peeces of Land to make his Inheritance sufficient like a skilfull Marchant who determining to iourney into a strange Country and contriuing to returne with credite and gaine searcheth euery Shoppe of a Citie and selected the best Peeces the curiostest Stuffe the choysest Dellicats and what els he needeth to serue his turne Yet for all this was the threed of his life drawne from such a minde as seemed made of filth and durt and the very dregges of Miserie For abroad his complaints were of the ill thriuing of his Cattle the vntoward groth of his Corne the ill payment of the Tenants the want of Money when yet it was well knowne hee had alwayes great summes lying by him so that the bad vse of Natures blessings made him want indeed and that vâ—…de disposition wrought him odious to Man hatefull to God and irckâ—…some to himselfe Within dores the Seruants were negligent the wife too lauish the Children too importunate the Strangers too cumbersome the Kindred and Friendes bent to vndoe him Besides hee was accompanied with these ill Conditions ridiculous Pride to make men imagine this basenesse the meanes to haue him selfe glorified heart-vexing Enuie to see any thriue by him or possesse their estats in good order Impudent delight to heare of an others Ouerthrow or Decay and inhumane crueltie if the errour or inconueniences of life draue men into his danger But to see him about his owne house accompanied with Pesants all ill apparelled as himselfe sweaty greasy dusty nasty and what-els maketh a man odious would shew a very comicall Tragedy And if necessitie wrested the disbursing of some small summes hee would excruciate him selfe but when the State compelled his accâ—…sse what cursings what execrations what torments yet goe he must and in such a manner as I cannot with patience describe it him-selfe like a Pedler with foule Linnen beastly Garments patcht seamerent and greasie and worse then a Slaue His men brought to his owne bent Carters Ploughmen Shepheards and such as were imployed in the greatest drudgerie His Horse and Furniture part old broken and foule part such as hee vsed in his businesse and part pawâ—…ed forfayted or bought at second hand Onely this I must needes say some things of his Auncestors he vsed in sparing manner which were good and made the rest more rediculous With such a fellow was Praxus to deale withall and had so many delayes such excuses such foreswearings yea teares from his eyes flowing from an hipocriticall heart that he knew nor whether to laugh or to be angry at last vpon sufficient securitie of a Morgage a Lordship on which hee had long since cast his eyes for his younger Sonne like him that ouerlooketh a flocke of Sheepe to see which be ready for the Butcher or to inrich his Purse the Money was sent and Menedemus tormented him selfe not so much for feare of the securitie as to depart from the company of his Treasure Now betweene the time of repaiment Menedemus had brought to his house the beautious Lausana a Ladyes daughter left in ward to the King and by this Monster of Nature bought out more
Friende by soone ridding out of the paine and concluding seen we must die to die with resolution Thus were such interdicted with necessitie of sauing them selues who before striued to intercept others Thus did vncomfortable Cryes condemne the crueltie of Reuenge which would not be satisfied without so small a massacre Thus were pittifull yelles the last testimonie how many hundreds exclaymed on the ambition of men Thus did horrible Curses sound out the wicked mindes of such as neglected the true vse of a good Conscience Thus were all the causes of amazement vnited to shew the formidable effectes of Enrage Despight so that the most part perished and very few summoned vp new hopes to prolong their liues Yet had Anzitemus this fortune to light on the hinder quarter of his enemies Shippe and if before affrighted with the hideous spectacle hee stood vncapable of any resolution now reduced with the enforced conditions of life he bestirred his consideration to inhibit vnkind and vntimely mischaunce wherevpon compelled to leaue the ornaments of his vallour because he was to make vse of his armes and lightnesse he quickly stripped himselfe and as quickly tooke vp his seate on the broken peece which resembling some Boigh or Sea marke was no doubt the occasion he was the better marked For as the vncomfortable Night finished her progresse the bountie of a sunshining Morning layde open her treasurie and hee had the choyce of many seuerals faire Weather sweetâ—… Winde calme Sea cleare Ayre and sight of a Fisher-boat which seemed a Messenger of life in regard it approched so neere that he was vnderstood in crauing their helpe and they helped when they vnderstood what he craued But to strengthen your knowledge in this accident you must alow of some circumstaunce AFter the Earth like a magnificent Bride had apparrelled her selfe in her beautious attyre the Inhabitants of Nagania on the Northren Caspian Shore betweene whom the melancholy Winter had compelled a discontented seperation began their solemne Spring feastes and set forward the heards of Sheepe Goates and greater Cattell to the Downes which were in a manner purged by the gentle ebbings flowings of the Sea where both one and other seemed to make vse of a pleasing theft pleasing to the Beastes in finding so good a pray as the sweete Grasse affoorded pleasing to the Earth in being ordained an instrument of such reliefe the effect whereof produced that Riches without Enuie Good order without Flatterie Quietnesse without Imperfection Peace without Intemperance Plenty without Inordinatnesse Encrease without Repining and all other blessings of the Land as it were in one league combined them selues Besides the Sea disbursed a recompence to their industry which caused them to maintaine certaine Boates to fish with and euery one according to a well applauded custome watched his course amongst these Placandus whom yeeres grauitie had much graced liued with such loue and liking that whensoeuer his iourney importuned some one or other attended the worke in hand and at this instant bare him company in his fishingnight so that by Art vnited to industrie the onely enemies of idlenesse their nets were filled with great store and their Trunks stored with excellent Fish the dispatch whereof as vnwilling to tempt prosperitie with an vnnecessary iourney concluded a returne had not a sudden cry directed their pittie to regard what they heard and that detained them to consider how they might administer reliefe the rather because a man appeared sitting on a broken piece of a Shippe neither much dissmayed at so great an enemie as death nor now seeming ouer ielous for so sweete a friend as Life But such as hee was did their industry assist their assistance helpe their helpe recouer their recouery welcome to Comfort now when Comfort came to act her part like the Sunne who scorning to be checked with euery slender Vapour quickly lifteth vp his glorious head Feare and palenesse was made ashamed of their wrong disseisure and he seemed the very Sonne of Valoure and darling of loue This at the first raysed a kind of reuerence wherein they would more orderly haue proceeded had not a pleasing vtterance pacefied their importunities to vnderstande who hee might be with his earnest desire to take him as hee was which sayth hee I cannot but presume on because I finde such a vnitie of goodnesse Bee therefore satisfied that my simple trueth telleth you I am Montanus of Carberia vnfortunate in being that I am and ten times vnfortunate in remembring what I was meane I confesse but now the meaner by loosing all meanes of my estate and liuing as hauing with some substaunce and friends not eighteene dayes since burdoned one small Barke and after some varietie of Stormes within these eighteene howers tasted the very bitternesse of aduersitie which many with the meditation put me in minde of some misfortune But thinges remedilesse are past care and cure therefore I will teach my tongue to forget her owne language and ouermaster Misery with an ill respected Vertue called Patience But Placandus tooke an other course and from troubling him with any more questions applyed the ordynary meanes of helpe in such cases telling that they were men of Husbandrie and Cattle in the Kingdome of Nagania and not Fishers if then their supplyes could stand him in stead or estates induce him to be one of the companie hee might be sure neither to fayle of succour nor complaine for want and if my selfe seeme not lesse worthy then another I will welcome thee and vpon good deseruing adde to thy welcome a reward By this time had Montanus youth shewed a scorne of the mischiefe which the Seaes vnmercisulnesse pretended and hee remained in some extasie remembring his owne affayres but especially that in so remote a place hee must represent the fruite of a foraine Land which the Inhabitants haue no other vse of but wondring at Yet hoping to spende out the extreamitie of sullen conceites with this varietie and perceiuing the rest as it were to stomacke his slacknesse that apprehended no sooner the curtesie proposed he presently opened the treasurie of the poore thanked all in generall and gratified Placandus in particular accepting the kindnesse with many wishes that his honest endeuours might draw on successe to confirme him a dutifull seruant Thus they returned with effectuall dispatch of their iorney and extraordinary newes of this aduenture which ouer a day or two was willing to participate it selfe to the rest Yet not in so slender a manner but euery one amplified report as their opinions receiued impression some praysed his Feature some his Countenance some his vpright Comelinesse some his well knit Ioynts some his Demeanour and some his Constancie in the affliction nor wanted there others which supposed him of better fortune then his present shew portraited so that for the time Placandus house was neuer empty many comming to see him many to prayse him many to iudge of their prayses
letter in so louing a word either will it fall out to your shame to dishonour so well deseruing a Husband or to my proch to be vpbrayded with Bastardie else can neither the law of Nature preferre any besides my selfe or of Nations giue so much as a colour to a younger Brother But as for you whom stricter alleageance combineth to the obseruation of our state and person wherein dare you hassard your selues suffer Iudgement to be abused as though you respected not whether the drinke were poyson so it be brought in a Golden cupp As though Mengrelius because more effeminate were therefore more fitte to reuenge your wronges And Kalucki because a peeuish Woman thinketh not so fashionable must therefore be disseised of his Birth-right Take heed in time as yet your Prouidence may dam vp the fluce of our Iustice but if you suffer your selues to be carried against your duties by death I sweare no submission shall make an attonement Now to you Sir an vnpleasant countenance threatning his Brother with a following mischiefe remember that Principalitie abideth no concurrent and prosecuteth an Enemie to confusion Besides the name of a Traytor resembleth a consuming Leprosie which infecteth all the body and leaueth scandall to posteritie Doe not hassard therefore the benefite of life by vaine Securitie Nor be so besotted to thinke that a fleeting looke or bace popularitie can alien the loyalties of so many trustie Subiects But assure you I challenge this Empire as hereditarie thy selfe for a Subiect the rest obedient and all confederats assistant Thus somewhat forgetting his first intent of moderation hee approached the royall Throne and had without interruption ascended but that Ballutasa interceded and in this manner set the fire of Rebellion on a blase I deny not but thou mayest boast as the immediate successor of Samarchanus and wast in times past reputed as a blessing to a Mother But doe not thinke wee are so simple and inconsiderate that hauing the choyce of two seueralles to admit the vnworthiest I doe therefore without euasion or circumstance condemne thee for froward and badly disposed and coniure these rather to take compassion on the prostrate necessitie of the Common-wealth then pitty thee for a priuate complaint seeing those degenerating humours which make Princes odious are already ripened in thee the remembraunce whereof hath exasperated my displeasure and mooued these to remooue thee as preiudicate Besides it is the will of the Gods to aduance a Steward which may husband their Plenty and not ruine their Inheritances How can it then equipage mine Honour that the name of a fonde affectionate Mother should make mee forget the dutie of a prouident Princesse Wherefore you louers of Goodnesse it is for your sakes I digresse from my selfe and for the common prosperitie I disable Kalucki considering Obedience is rather the seruant of Vertue then titular Dignities which can seldome be incident where Deformitie maketh loathsome Pride ouermastreth Hearâ—…burning incombreth and Tyranny threatneth a very conuulsion of your gouernement But as a forward bitternes might haue aggrauated his disgraces the wrathfull first borne of this disquietted Queene in impatience made a sudden approach vnto her and directed a most dangerous blow for by this time quicknesse had vnsheathed the blade as if the vnpleasing messenger of Reuenge meant to proclaime the strange death of an Empresse had not Mengrelius waled with his owne body and by securing her sustayned the smart of a grieuous wound whereby seeing the fire was kindled hee betooke him to his Guard and making forward had the assistance of other coadiutors Now when Kalucki perceiued the gates of Treason were set open hee exclaymed on the mischiefe and commaunded the true louers of their Prince to performe their duty Wherevpon many set them selues on worke and the place bred rather confusion then the confusion dispatch so that euery one shuffled vp some action or other Mengrelius set Pollicie and Valour on worke to extenuate the furie Kalucki countenanced Rage and Despight to punish the reuolters As for the rest some pressing forward could neither auoyde a pitious slaughter nor keepe possession for the body to stand vpright others vnwilling to be so endangered were ere the midst of the hall had shortned their iorney either in the throng stifled or by the commers in compelled backe Some vsed such weapons for necessity which in quietnesse were borne but of fashion others hauing none wrested from such as could not resist Some tooke the Pallace furniture as not regarding how they helped them selues others made euery thing offensiue as not caring how they iniured the rest Some exclaymed on the reuolt crying The Gods protect Kalucki others ready to innouation wished Mengrelius Emperour Some with vnseasonable wisedome perswade a pacification others with strange hearts fraughted with Treason ran away with the violence THus was a dangerous vnquietnesse begun with a few mens deaths which no doubt had ended with the losse of many mens liues had not Carambello Putrasso and Hardubax taken the cause in hand for the Empresse and by force ouermastred Kalucki For Carambello rather addicted to Rallutasas wilfulnesse then fearing the diuision of the Empire made yet this feare a colour of his paâ—…iality and so contriued the matter that Kalucki coâ—…sented to a surceance of his rightfull claime and subscribed to a compulsiue deposition This necessitie conuented and the day of truce in Bellonas Temple ratefied these particulars That Mengrelius should raigne during life but Kaluckies successors or him sealfe ouerliuing to reposses the Diadem That Kalucki and as many as would make tryall of his fortune after certaine summes of mony disbursed should within twenty dayes depart the territories of the Empire and within twenty howeres the Verge of the Court That if Mengrelius by the benefit of maryage were blessed with the effect of mariage the comfort to be frustrate in losse of their liues and the name of a Father forgotten in respect of the Male children That if Kalucki taking notice of these couenants infringed within one yeere conuicted not the cleceite the gouernment to remaine subiect to election and no man culpable to resist any vnestablished That no subiect to the Empire should repine at these particulars and the abettors of any couen remaine faultie as in case of high Treason Thus was Kalucki compelled to take his farwell of an ingratefull Country and disobedient people But magnanimity showing rather a scorne then a grudging at their disloialties left them with out ceremony to the reproch of their errors and posted to the hope of better fortune wherein his expectation was not deceiued For no sooner abandoned he these Confines but hee was acceptable to other Countries and the place which afâ—…er much variety setled his abode was the further Tartary a place yeelding a receptacle for his state and with a strange fortune opening the Gates of the magnificent Coralla to his wishes Heere in short time hee prooued a worthy soiorner the Country
mother added forceable reasons shee raised a strong partie and determined to repaire by force of Armes what her slender policie as she tearmed it had almost ruined so that Xantippus was compelled to stand on his gaurd and when he perceiued how he which only lyeth at defence helpeth himselfe but a little withdefence after to make an offensiue war To this Encelidon and the house of Soltimos was auxiliary and the two friends gloried in their constancie and cared not who stomaked the successe of their businesse till at last the many slaughters and distractions of the Prouinces pleaded for redresse and king Zalby was cornpelled in person to come into Comagena to limit or restraine these mischiefes yet wrought his presence no other attonement but the surceance of the warre For Eucasta or Iugeroth in her daughters behalfe would not hearken after any reconciliation and Xantippus denied to be diuided from Encelidon because Encelidon concluded neuer to be seperated from Xantippus THis was the occasion of king Zalbys comming to Fortona at such time as Egerius related the Historie of Mengrelius whereupon they all dissisted from the worke in hand to attend the Duke who made it a matter of respect and specialitie to remember the Kings worth as being his Vncle in blood and father for directions and corroboration in his estate whereupon the Officers of his Houshold omitted nothing which belonged to the state of his person the dignity of the present Court Thus is King Zalby feasted and much satisfied to be so magnificently feasted thus is the Duke established in the strengthening amitie of such a mightie Prince thus is Deltona cheered that no action of Rugios ouer-passed the limmits of moderation But thus is Montanus perplexed as confounding desire distrust together at last the Duke imparted to the King all the circumstances of his loue Rape of Deltonas demeanor contempt of Egerius complaint discourse which the King because he had bin long fince cursorily made acquainted with Kaluckies banishment Mengrelius aduancement desired to heare at large Like a man tasting on delicates who more longeth to fill his stomach after the proofe of the sweetnes then before whereupon the Duke soon conferred with his sonne Philano conceruing the matter who as soone certified Egerius of the Kings pleasure who as soone confented to obey the pleasure and dispatch the matter wherein he thus proceeded THe great Eye of heauen most mighty Princes had not fully viewed all the parts of the earth nor time chased with such swiftnesse the course of the yeere but that the fruitfull Arcabella once againe gaue notice of her pregnancie and signified to the world she was borne to be a mother what Disaster soeuer went about to disappoint her which only hasted the Emperors iourney forward who setting on worke all the parts of his thoughts made a hundred seuerall fashions of one piece Sometimes with more quicknesse then good speed running ouer all the course of former occurrents with a certaine heart-breaking at his Brothers exile but surfetting on that dish hee loathed the dyet and choaked himselfe with the delight of principalitie next hee remembred the contract whereof the very terrour made him abashed to thinke in what madnesse it was ratified then and with what remorce repented now anon hee conceited how his subiects were affected if either the murther of his children should continue or the breach of such inhumane couenants be attempted afterward hee reasoned why Arcabella importuned this trauell and last of all whether the sentence should be reputed Canonicall Butthe feare of that diffidence extinguished at the first puffe the flame and yet gaue light to goe forward in the other path as if there were as much necessitie to propitiate Apollos displeasure as to determine his owne affaires whereupon hee sent out Commissions for the artificiall housing the Sea and defensiue furnishing and rigging his Nauy in which the benefit of a Sun-shining morning nothing then practised but honourable necessitie without further delay embarked him and time not much intermingled with strange occurrents brought him at last to safe harbour Thus prooued this Voyage prosperous at Sea and was not altogeather ominous at Land because Scalitorax King of Phocis truly aduertised of the Emperours comming and the cause found it a matter of small suspition and therefore made an honourable Welcome a forward Spring of his owne greatnesse and a very life of Mengrelius hope But when his brother Misocrapus and Apollos Priest had returned answere hee would attend the Emperour at Delphos not doubting of auspicious successe hee seemed rauished with gladnesse and in that poynt of extremitie onely affoorded occasion of suspition as when we see a sodaine Storme immediatly succeed a glorious Heate yet durst no man make such interpretation because the Art of Deuining was peculiar to the Priestes So the Emperour went forwatd and had Scalitorax company to the Towne where he found the reuerent Misocrapus ready for his conduct to the Oracle THis Delphos had the report of others illustred and the rarenesse of it selfe made admirable in respect the place was supported by the euer-florishing Pernassus which seemed glad to be the foundation of the Building but ten times glad that it resembled some Bulwarke to secure a tresurie and yet it appeared more beholding to Nature then Art For the cragginsse of the Hill resembled a very net of Rockes as if the Stone and Earth were layde countercompony togeather next the passable wayes were so many and hemmed to crosse turnings meeting one another that it made a confused Laborinth Lastly the entries into mighty Caues represented so many Dores of the house of Darknesse and by the many changes of Lightnings Thunders casting vp of Stones Sulphur flashings filthy stenches and suffocating Dampes seemed the very entries of Hell which Xerxes made proofe of by loosing foure thousand men in going about ro robbe the Treasure and Brennus Duke of Gallia experimented when hee prosecuted the like theft Contrariwise all peace-working gentlenesse and sence-pleasing sweetnes welcommed the necessarie commers and liberall Benefactors On the topp of this Mountaine was the Oracle erected a place beautified with the cost of Kings venerated by the accesse of chiefest Monarches for therein none might enter but especiall Priests religious Princes and strange Embassadours Concerning the Monument it selfe Fame confirmed it a Temple vnmatchable and Time designed it the Pallace of Apollo allowed both for an honorable dwelling and a consecrated Sanctuarie the substaunce whereof it was compounded made shew of a costly Marble and the forme it retayned seemed a spatious Goodlinesse staying the eyes of the beholders with varietie of obiect wherein the Workemen had so played their partes as if indeed they had determined to make their memories immortall For Agamedes and Trophonius the supposed Attificers are for this cause made famous It was well Leaded on the top strongly bard with Iron vnusually windowed with Iaspar mightily vnderpropt with Pillars
of his owne life so the feare to preuent it submitted to her directions againe she with a doubtfull manner of speech that if he had sayd the truth it were better a wicked Emperor miscaried then men of vertue and good deseruing and last of all with reasons promises and protestations to make the fact iustifiable tooke his oth to kill the Emperor Which he very opportunely performed in a walke adioyning to the Pallace as conferring togeather in secret about Kalucki and no sooner shruncke the bleeding Carkase to the ground but he wounded himselfe in many places with the Emperors Semiter quight conueying away the instrument of death and so stood crying for helpe in a pittifull manner By this time hath the strange reporte of the Emperors murder possessed both Court and Country with amase and the murtherer without any pursuite quickly submitted him selfe but brought before the Empresse the rest to whom such a cause papertained he confessed the fact yet desiered that he might take away the shame though not the fault in the misfortune by discouering the secrete as it chanced now because his bleeding woundes induced commiseration and that his present staâ—… made shew of violence against him it was thought conuenient to heare him and if it were but to bolt out the rest of the conspirators Most deuine Empresse quoth he Honorable vpholders of this mightie state I intend neither to entreat for fauour nor life for in the very misfortune of the mischeife I am worthy to dye yet giue me leaue to extenuate your displeasures against me and to disclaime either a naturall disposition to such impietie or now willingnesse to lay violent handes on such a person wherein that my true simplicitie may somewhat countenance me and that I plead for my Honour and renowne giue me leaue to Launce my Barcke into this Channell Who doth not remember the misery of our Country through the ambition of our Emperours Barka and Allau deceassed Who doth not acknowledge the blessings conferred vnto vs by the Prince Kalucki who with all vertuous industries hath proceeded for our good yet mighty Peeres I shame to tell it without respect of worth royaltie honour or the benefite it selfe some wretched Ielousie so misled our Emperour that very ingratefully if I make not too great offence in the tearme hee contriued many wayes his destruction misconstruing our Loues and his Vallour to tend to an aspiring reach and when nothing appeared to appease his misdoubts hee flatly concluded to murder him secretly To which bestiallity hee suggested Chamus Iliod Iodda and my selfe ouer-reaching our Obedience with Imperious will and insorcering out fraylty with Reward and Preferment Now what euer good or bad Angell was ouer this dismall night predominant I know not but sending for mee into the Walke hee conferred about the Murder and because my slacknesse seemed rather enclined to remorce then dispatch of the tyranous decree all impatient hee flew vpon mee wounding mee in this manner neuer repressing his furie till I lost the vse of respect and consideration then life straue with necessitie and compelled her seruant strength to the cloze hoping onely to saue it selfe wherein howsoeuer it chanced the Swod in the fall strooke him to the heart which how grieuous it is vnto mee the immortall powers that haue deliuered Kalucki and preserued all your glories can witnesse This vnlookt-for contrarietie made them all amazed yet when the examination of the rest and other circumstances agreed with the truth most strange was the confusion amongst them For the people with great acclamations cryed out Liue Kalucki liue Tarachim The Empresse tooke heauily her Husbands misfortune but seemed more troubled with his infamy The Princes of the State knew not what to say or how to proceede The people they continued with zeale towarde Kalucki and in a manner protested Mullumella could not doe better then make him satisfaction by mariage Heere Wisedome played a kind 〈◊〉 For though her Desire burned within her to the same purpose yet a still modesty kept her from making shew of any such motion and when the greatest Lords as not knowing how to suppresse it being a matter of that consequence the party a man of that high deseruing vrged it againe Shee sayd it was a time of sorrow and the loue toward them would not consent to any thing vnbefitting But when indeed another and another time was spent in yeelding reasons of the likelihood of happinesse and that her cunning had drawen them to beleeue their importunities should preuaile with her shee welcommed the fortune that had thus smiled vpon her and tooke Kalucki into the tuition of her loue which quickly inuested him Emperour and sware the Subiects to loyalty and obediene Now was hee to play the part of an Emperour and by reason of the naturall rudenesse of the Country and inciuility of the people the one to be refined the other reduced the greater was his need of those excellent ornaments of Kings but being him selfe a naturallist of Maiesty hee soone put in practise Magnanimitie for his State and Court Wisedome for the common causes and extracted from her Pollicy to keepe the great men in obedience Affability as farre as their Customes permitted to obtaine fauour where it hung in suspence and Iustice to strengthen the loue got by meere good hap Besides hee knew how Mullumalla had proceeded and therefore was shee to be regarded with extraordinary behauiour But heere was no place for Mistrust or Ielousie because shee prooued an admirable Wife and Mother of many Children and the people continued in their loue as hauing no cause to mislike BVt as he went forward in this towardly Iornie to felicitie fame that euer scorned to be pend in a Corner came to tell him the Emperour Mengrelious had infringed the couenants ratefied and a Prince liued in scorne of his composition which somewhat distempred him as forseeing the troubles impending or shame to let his Honour be abused but when Scaroxus the brother of Queridock whom Mengrelius had dispossessed of the Royalties of Sinopis by placing Scydrothemis King had in person vrged other particulars then was Mullumalla made acquainted with the story from the beginning and she though desier could haue pleaded that no satisfaction was answerable to his company yet stomached the indignity and in her Heroiick spirit concluded his renowne hung in suspence without reuenge Now rested the doubt what course to take And therein many times and much debating shewd as well the dutie of a wife as Honour of a Prince at last she willed him by sommoning the Estates of the Empire to make tryall of their affection which hee performed because it pleased and it pleased because shee wished and shee wished because he was so great a person and greatly beloued to whom after the Ceremonies of the assembly were ended he deliuered these speaches Although louing and worthy to be beloued Lords and Subiects the deuine prouidence and your
againe like a louing mother which is still taking her leaue of her departing sonne and haueing one spetiall matter to counsell him in doth often and very often remember it so like the Father of the Common-wealth doe I put you in minde while it is time to thinke vpon the horrible end of this tryall For to affright vs the more we are to contend with Beastes and men worse then Beastes Anthropophagi Misocoli Monsters in nature and all Barbarisme so that nothing but bloud and death or vtter ruin of vs all which the Gods interdicte must follow in the preuailing Preuent therefore Preuent in time your troubles heere is Mengrelius began the inconuenience heere is Trezobro the cause of your feare heere is both father and sonne the Ransome of your disquiet But as a further vehemencie might haue vnshadowed the heate of other humors the people vnwilling to see their Prince so distempred and vnable to dissolue their firme rooted zeale cryed aloud the Gods confound the disturbers of our peace the Gods dispose of all thinges to their pleasure liue therefore Mengrelius sacred and irremoueable spare not to defend your kingdomes for we will neither hassard our Princely Trezoboro nor permit any dissipation of our gouernment THus is Kalukies Embassage contradicted and Queridock dismissed backe which caused defiance to rumour terrible thinges and the best dispositions were shuffled betwixt feare hope At last Kalucki vnwilling to trifell least prouision for so great an Armie might be wanting sent forward the greatest part of his Forces deuided into three Battailes vnder the conduct of Sicambus Mallau Petroslol Zami and Xantippus all in times past of hereditary possessions in Pontus Iberia and Colchidos and followed himselfe with the rest quartered in fiue partes vnder the commaund of Misogambus and Olippo two of the Empresse Mullumallas bretheren and Barsangol and Iubar sonnes of Mithra and Delium two Queenes of late the Concubines of Barka In the midest was Kalucki himselfe sequestred in an Emperiall Tent according to the ceremonious respect of his estate neither to bee seene nor spoken withall but at spetiall times The ordring of this businesse was not committed to such a secretary but the Emperour of Trebizond knew the manner of his proceedings and by that time he had passed Cularopa furnished himselfe reasonable well For from Taurica the heither Scithia Russia and Hiperborei he had one hundred Thousand Auxiliaries out of Colchidos Pontus Iberia and Paphlagonia he mustered eightie Thousand and from the Citties of Samarchanda Trebizond Merlanes and Xantippi he receiued twentie Thousand well appointed and of better spetiallitie by reason they were the sonnes of Noble men and Cittizens glorying in their ancient freedomes these he kept next his person and appoynted Curatsax Pharcanos Scydrothemis Mithridates ouerseers of his Guard as for Trezoboro he suffered his forwardnesse to direct the whole businesse as if his hope receiued life that some action or other might worke his miscarying Thus is the Trumpet of defiance ready to sound on both sides yet meane not the Trebizondians in such suddennesse to put it to the Tryall of a field because by being possessed of the streites and passages the enemie was sure to lessen his numbers and they winn time the Father of many contrarieties but the Circumstances of this great Warre are referred to my booke of Battailes I therefore ouerpasse them now and only certefie you that when Mengrelius perceiued he was not able to detaine them longer from a day of terror he tooke a Truce for seauen dayes laying open the Trenches and making the way plaine as if he determined to entertaine slaughter with handsomnesse or let death haue a larger freedome by easie passage So that the stoutest Courage was appauled at the preperation and had no other hope but dismay and confusion yet feares are enemies to the Progres of victory and therefore all abatements of Courage were absented when it came to the tryall indeed and Kalucki contrary to the coustomes of his greatnesse thought good to ouerlooke the partes of his Warrelike body that if neede required the helping a disease or fault in time might preuent a greater mischeife nor desisted hee so but Mounted on a throne of purpose to bee seene and herd he thus tooke his farrewell I intend not to vse many wordes vnto you as suspitious of your loues and vallures For if there were such a slackenesse it is now too late to murmure or Trifell but because my regard toward you may bee the better expressed I am the bolder to speake yet doe but determine to put you in minde of your owne mindes and knowledge Remember then what humour soeuer the enemie entertaine we are succorlesse and farre from home therefore must vallure make your way into new possessions or if you suppose the ostentation of the enemie is a glorious spectacle you haue Armes and Hands to vnplume them and bedeck your selues with their spoyles but what is this to your owne liues and glories which in a manner enforce you to shake off all incombrances of feare as for my selfe though I am loth to degeneratte from the ancient prerogatiues of your Emperors yet will I be the first to giue the onset For the cause being mine mine shall be the Honour or the shame and yours the spoyles wherein besides the renowne of the exployte the poorest vassaile shall thinke himselfe well rewarded The Country you see is pleasing and the blessinges you haue already tasted of goe one therefore goe on Fortune bidds you goe on and Victory lookes already with a pleasing Conntenance Heere a wonderfull clamour seemed to threaten heauen with the noise by which the Trebyzondians had warning of their enemies ill meaning toward them For till this they had beene awtentiue vnto Mengrelius who very well knew that a seasonable encouragement with addition of the worth of the partie speaking was a veary whet-stone of Courage and had wrought great effect indeed with whole Armies almost ready to faint Littleneed I sayed he debate any particulars concerning the former occasions of your now imminent troubles For your owne Loyalties and resolutions haue put a way all feare and continued the steadfastnesse which I now finde yea hurried you to the Gates of danger to make demonstration of your constancie I am therefore sure you will not now relent what euer mischeife is threatned nor would I haue you discouraged in that neither spoyles of Citties nor ritches of a plentifull Land shall be the recompence of your charge and endeauors but rather annimated in regard you are to support a florishing Common-wealth and a Country thankes to the eternall Powers beautified with a blessed plentie If this seeme a slender enforcement then looke on your Byrths and the places challenging naturall regard your Mothers that bare you your Wiues endeered vnto you your Children that exclaime your friends and Allies depending vpon you and your selues knowing the necessitie of life as for the Enemie I assure you
they haue not that aduantage by the number of men as your selues by discipline vallure and good order But why should I so much as wisper misdoubts amongst you when neuer appeared more loue and dutie and what will not loue and dutie effect And the immortall Powers are appeased giuing notice of in scrutible secrets as you can all witnesse the Haruspices haue promulged let not vs then consent to surquedry or demisnesse As he was going on the signe was giuen to the Battaile But behold a strange interception deuided the Armies by the descending of a thicke and spatious Cloude which stood as a Wale betweene them at last a sence dismaying thunder made a horrible rupture and a strange voyce with a passable lightning cried out Trezoboro bariona Trezoboro bariona Whereupon the Magy Gymnosophists and Haruspces were called on both sides who interpreted it to this sence that there was no striuing against deuine reuolutions For the Gods had proclaimed Trezoboro the sonne of peace and when Mengrelius vrged it was by the way of sacrifice they repugned as finding no blood must be shed by this the former terror vanished and the Armies seemed Metamorphised into sober expectation which caused the Magnificent Prince to mount himselfe like the sonne of Honour and stepping before the maine Fronts with a seemely Trotte he paced to the Tartarians desiring to present himselfe before the Emperour Kalucki and king of Kings who enformed of the gallant demeanor and presence of his Nephew called the principall commaunders of his Armie and setled in his Emperiall Tent with exceeding Maiestie and Pompe admitted him audience but when Trezoboro tooke notice of the state and the Emperours person he quickly alighted and with a respectious ceremony of obeisance entreated his fauor to giue him leaue to speake which belike was obtained with order For he thus began I haue not presumed most reuerent sacred and vnuanquishable Emperiour in any impudent manner to neglect my dutie by this Course or desperat contempt to weigh with slightnesse your high Maiestie or great Armie but by deuine inspiration whereof there is none that hath not in some sort participated I present vnto you the strange truth of my birth life and bringing vp whereby shall appeare a very destinie to this titular happinesse or as it may proue incombrance and that the wronges which haue thus sturred you to reuenge were neither determined in mallice nor meane now to be continued in contempt because the Triumphs of murder and destruction will then be lamentable which to preuent the Gods in their accoustomed mercy haue giuen a Prodigious warning Let vs not therefore with the Giants fight against heauen nor reiect the blessed fauor which now shineth vpon vs as if it were to de clare the will of all working power disclaimeth effusion of blood and for my selfe which am the reputed cause you see I come as a simple Hollocaust to redeeme the liues of infinite Thousandes yet giue mee leaue how euer it pleased you to submitte at that time to vnkinde banishment to exprobrate the vnnaturall couenants ratefied which as it should seeme the whole senate of heauen contradicted With that he discouered at large the Oracle at Delphos the manner of his Byrth the pietie of Opacus daughters the theft of Cleonidas the Shipwrack of Bertosus and the mariage of Brizaca Now said he if you thinke it conuenient to impeach this secret heere I prostrate my selfe to the sauagest crueltie but if an honorable attonement might pacefie your iust conceiued displeasure and reward this Armie wee offer a yeerely Tribute to thy byrth-right a satisfaction for all charges and a Million of Treasure as a donatiue to the Soldiers besides the world shall tremble at the vnitie of your houses and ages to come reuerence the Fame of two such bretheren For you being the seruant of the great God and ruler ouer all rulers Mengrelius will be your seruant and submitte as farre as such a Monarch may doe to his elder Brother and highest Lord. These speaches iudicially deliuered his outward countenance tempered betweene an amiable and modest behauiour breathed a contentment as if a soft Winde sturring the sweete Flowers should thereby infuse delight to our Senses wherevpon succeeded the effectes a still Desire to be fedd with the Pleasure and Pitty challenging Mischance which should hinder them from that walke So Trezoboro was for a time graciously dismissed and a Truce of fourteene dayes gaue them entercourse one to another in which space the assembly of Estates sate dayly to finish this strange building of Peace As for the Souldiers their conceites stretched no farther then to woonder at the Story to be mooued with the miracle to pittie Trezoboros youth and comlynesse to wish an attonment on all sides and to returne with wealth libertie and credit at last such was the apprehension of their present state and miracle disposing their humours to contrarieties that Kalucki after Mengrelius consented to readmitte those Trebizondians that would returne to former libertie and estates or like recompence sent Misogambus and Olippo with presents of ratification who with sound of Trumpet in both the Armies proclaimed an inuiolate Truce whereupon a stately Colosseum of brasse was erected betweene the Armies insculped with the whole occurrents as they chanced in order to which bargaine of felicity Ballutasa and Arcabella set their seales the one thanking the Gods for the aduancement of her Children the other sacrificing to Fortune that had so many waies encreased her happynesse Thus doe the brothers to the great applause of the people greet one another and the state of the Spectacle would make a vollume in the description but time must determine all thinges and these great Armies be deuided so Kalucki with treasure Honor and reuerence returned to the magnanimous Mullumalla to whom he made an offortory of himselfe and ritches and Mengrelius with peace libertie and delight was welcomed to Trebizond where prosperitie seemed for the time to keepe her mansion had not the wrathfull Nemesis who neuer leaueth wrong and iniustice vnpunished sent for Ielosie and Suspition to attend on her in the progresse of visiting Mengrelius least the will of the Gods should prooue a mockery and the ineuitable decrees of Destinie be not accounted of and thus she meanes to contriue her entertainement NO sooner was the Trebizondian Armie dissolued but Trezoboro sollemly proclaimed the Prince of peace as well to cellebrate their late quietnesse as to practise Martiall exploytes went about some fruites of idlenesse with gloryous shoes to the people and many Tri umphes to the Court whereby he made way to the peoples loue to come in at and euery mans eyes were fixed vpon his youth and comlinesse as you see some forren Plant gracing a curious Garden and the commers in regarding the rest to no purpose this was despightfully pried into by some hatefull polliticeans that terrefied the Emperor with blasoning his sonns demeanor which might winn the hearts