THE SECOND part of the Myrror of Knighthood CONTAINING TWO SEVErall Bookes wherein is intreated the valiant deedes of Armes of sundrie worthie Knightes verie delightfull to be read and nothing hurtfull to bee regarded ¶ NOW NEWLY TRANSLAted out of Spanish into our vulgar tongue by R.P. IMPRINTED AT London by Thomas Este. 1583. TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull and my verie good friend Master Edward Cordele Esquire ARISTOTLE right Worshipfull being demaunded what benefite he had obtained by Philosophie answered This is my gaine that vncommaunded I can doo that I ought and auoide dooing that I should not For saith he the ignorant for feare of punishment abstaine from euill but the sapient can shunne the same of their own accord noting that studious exercise bringeth experience and maketh as well ciuill pollicie as martiall prowesse apparant For which cause there haue bene sundry in times past and some in this our present age that haue not onely penned with great labour the laudable workes of Antiquitie but also with as much trauaile haue imitated certaine olde writers by inuenting of histories no lesse profitable to repulse other hurtfull pastimes then pleasaunt to passe away the tediousnes of time Amongst the number of which late workes there chanced about a three yeares since to come into my handes the first part of a Spanish translation intituled The Mirrour of Knighthood which beeing published was so accepted that I was importuned by sundry Gentlemen my very friendes to procure the translation of the seconde part whereto partly to accomplish their desires and partly for the vulgar delight of all I condiscended And finding this Spaniard adorned with all good exercises which pertained to the exalting of vertue and the extinguishing of vice I laboured as much as in mee laye to finde an English Patrone of conformable qualitie whose countenaunce might as well preferre him with the curteous 〈◊〉 protect him among the enuious But I had not long bethought me when the consideration of your worships courtesie with the good reporte of your vertue expelled that doubt and incouraged me to present you with this worke Beseeching you to accept in good part this poore present at the handes of him which wisheth to you long life with the continuall increase of vertue prosperitie and health and after this life endlesse felicitie Your Worships most assured T. E. To the Reader GEntle Reader I haue héere published the second part of the Myrrour of Knighthoode to the end that I might both satisfie thy desire and yeelde vnto thée the delight that by reading thereof thou mayst receiue About the veritie of the historie I will not contend neither would I wish thée to bée more curious to inquire then thou wouldest be desirous to â—ift the truth of each transmutation in the Metamorphosis of Ouid or â—uerie tale in the works of Aesope but to consider that as the one by the transformation of reasonable creatures into sundrie brutishe shapes shadowed the deformitie of their wicked liues and the other by the manner of his beastes figured the behâ—uiour of all the estates of men wishing a reformation of the â—uill and a confirmation of the good So our Author hath pleasantly compiled this present worke as well to animate these that are by nature forward vnto the exercise of armes for to exalt their fame as also to prouoke them that haue hetherto slept in the bedde of securitie to shunne their wonted sloth with desire rather honourablie to loose their liues in the defence of equitie then shamefully to liue with perpetuall infamie And whereas there are some so stoycall to contemne the reading of historyes alleadging that their vaine delight withdrawe manie from other vertuous studies I answere that in anie matter where vice is reprehended vertue is no waie hindered and although I must néedes confesse that the learned workes of the liberall sciences are principallye to be preferred so it cannot be denyed but that the pleasaunt stile of a well penned historie is as it were a wheâ—stone to the minde being almost dulled with continuall studie and albeit there shall peraduenture want the like grace of eloquence in the translation as is requisite yet I doubt not but the varietie of the matter shall make a sufficient recompence Moreouer curteous Reader I request thée to note that whereas the beginning of this part followeth not consequently vpon the same booke which was published in the name of the first part it is not to be imputed to any errour committed in the translation of this second part for that it is verely the selfe same that beareth the title of the second part in the Spanish tongue but the booke that lacketh is the seconde booke of the first part which with as much spéede as may be shall be ioyned therevnto In the meane time accept this in good parte which I now present wherein thou shalt finde the strange and wonderfull prowesse of the worthy Trebatio and his sonnes nephewes kinsmen and sundry other couragious knights mixed with many lamentable and sorrowfull histories together with the redresse of the wronged innocents And so I ende committing this my labour to thy curteous consideration and thy selfe to the Almighties tuition Thine T.E. ¶ THE FIRST BOOKE of the second part of the Mirrour of Knighthood wherein is intreated the valiant deedes of armes of many worthie Knights ¶ THE CRVELL BATtaile which past betweene the Knight of the Sunne and the fierce Gyant Bramaraunt in which bickering the Gyant perceiuing he must needs haue the worst murthered himselfe CAP. I. WHEN THE GLITTERING armour of Aeneas of Troie was at the request of his Mother Venus forged in Vulcan his shoppe the well sâ—eeled hammeâ—s did not temper and beate it with greaâ—er 〈◊〉 â—hen the heroicall sonne of Trebatio 〈◊〉 the stouâ— Pagan Bramarant through the middest of the Grecian woods did with his 〈…〉 blowes vpon his armour mangling by little and 〈◊〉 his strong and lustie bodie so much the more their choler increased as the combat did indure betwéene them There were present at this bickering the renoumed Emperour Trebatio Alicandro the king of Hungarie and his Grandfather with manie other puissaunt Princes and greate Lordes who with no small admiration did beholde â—he exceeding fiercenesse with which they let driue their blowes the one at the other which did resound an Eckoe in the aire and yéelded a terrible noise in the woodes This battaile did continue betwéene theÌ„ y e space of two long houres and albeit it was fierce and sharpe the valour of the incensed knight of the Sunne preuailed not to abate or exstinguish the rage of the Pagan much lesse could the force of the Tartarian quaile in anie sort the courage of the princely Grecian The skirmish being hot and the redoubted son of Trebatio perceiuing that it indured very long without certaintie who had the better héerevpon béeing greatly inflamed with furie lifted vp his peisant club aboue his head did discharge it vpon the pagan his left
Emperour in all the world but more light then this hée would not giue him neither the place wheras his sister was lost and therwith he tooke out from vnder the hatches of the barke a fardle which was bound vp the which he did delyuer vnto the Marriners that they should laye it vp safe and imbrace him againe with great loue and put vpon the finger of the heart on his left hand a King which had in it a precious Diamond that was of so great cléernesse that in a darke night it gaue as great a light wher it was as though a torch were lighted This did he straightly charge him to kéepe for that it was of so great vertue that so long time as he had it about him there was no inchauntment that should hurt him This excellent young Knight woulde haue surrendered greate thankes for his precious giftes but at such time as he wold haue giuen it Galtenor was departed vpon a sodaine a greate space from them who made so much hast that in a verie small time he lost the sight of him This young knight remayned with greate contentment in knowing that hée did descende from so high a generation and lykewise for the succour he receiued in the armour hée had brought him the which he commaunded to bée very well kept till such time as occasion shoulde serue that he had néede of them in this sort he passed away all the nighte thinking vpon the wordes of Galtenor So the next morning this young knight sitting on the poope of the Foyst with this faire Lady he requested her to tell him the whole occasion of her comming to séeke for him The which this Lady with great lamentation began to tell him saying Gentle Knight you shall vnderstand that I am daughter vnto the King of Mesapotamia which is a prouince scituated betwéen the two great riuers Euphrates and Tigris Of long time was I of him welbeloued and made very much on till such time as my fathers Court was in great heauinesse for y t they could not heare any newes of a brother of mine who was prince of that kingdome whose absence at this time is verye grieuous vnto me There came from the other side of the riuer Euphrates a prince whose dominion was ouer the Prouince Palestina He was the proudest and arrogantest Knight that euer hath bene séene in such sort that by reason of his fiercenesse he was not onely feared of them who of dutie did owe it him but also of all the Prouinces that ioyned with his kingdome which extended from that riuer vnto the mayne sea of Phoenicia the mount Libano Gamogenia and the high and mightie cragged rockes and mountaines Nabateos To conclude almost all Asia did trēble at his furie This knight at the great fame which was vttered of my beautie came vnto the famous and large Prouince of Mesapotamia vnto the great citie of Mesos whereas I was of him meruailously intreated and requested of loue but yet all that euer hée did or could doo did little profit him for that by any meanes I coulde not admit him into my seruice and the occasion was because of his great and vnmeasurable pride So like wise came thether the Prince of Chaldaea a Knight of great price and adorned with many vertues vnto whom I alwayes showed a better countenaunce and made acceptation of his seruice Then Brandemoran the Prince of Palestina who was so called when he vnderstood thereof was in a great confusion and receiued greate griefe in such sort that he determined no other thing but with his mischieuous heart to persecute mée it so fell out that the Prince of Chaldea whose name was Gelerosio béeing ouercome and forced by loue hauing opportunitie and place conuenient with dolorous reasons he did discouer vnto me all his whole heart but whether it was his ill hap or my froward fortune I knowe not but at such time as he vttered vnto me his minde it chaunced that Brandemoran had his eares attentiue vnto all that was spoken betwixt vs and when he heard that my answere was such that it caused great ioye and comfort vnto Gelerosio vnto him great paine and torment with a mischieuous heart he went vnto my Father the king and before him he did accuse mée of whooredome When the king my father heard it the great ire and wrath which he receiued was so farre out of reason that without taking anie farther counsell he caused mée to be apprehended and lykewise the Prince Gelerosia and both of vs to be put in prison but after a while when his cholar and anger waxed colder he commaunded to call together all the nobles of his counsell and men of honour who did perswade with my father that by reason of the greate pride and mischieuous stomacke of the Prince Brandemoran he might doo it of presumption or else by the greate ill will which he bare vnto his contrarie Gelerosio he had raised vp this slaunder that they thought it good to be put into the triall of armes with condition that in the space of thirtie dayes I shoulde bring a knight that would defend my honour and by reason the valour of my cruell enimie is so mightie there is not one in all the kingdome that dares take in hande to defend my cause and I seeing that the time passed awaie with a loude voice I began to complaine against fortune and reuiled Brandemoran calling him coward and wretch y t against a Damsell he hath raised so great treason and falsehoode who hearing me to reuile him he answered and sayd Princesse for that thou shalt sée how little I do estéeme all the knights of the worlde I will giue thée one whole yeares space that thou thy selfe in thine owne person goe and séeke him who hath the best fame in armes that may be found and bring him hether to defend this accusation which I haue laide against thée and so lykewise I desire the king thy Father to consent and graunt vnto the same of whome it was graunted and consented and lykewise of all the knights that were counselers of my cause beléeuing that it might be the occasion of some remedie And therewith I tooke leaue and 〈◊〉 and departed from Mesos with onely these two Squires committing my selfe into the great riuer Euphrates in this Foist and so long we sayled that we entered into the Mediterraneo sea wheras was giuen vnto vs knowledge of your great valour and mightie force which was the cause y t made vs take our waie towards the place of your abode somtimes with great torments and sometimes with faire weather in such sort that in the ende we ariued whereas you were in so good time and order as mine owne desire coulde not haue wished better Héere you may sée and vnderstand worthie knight the extremitie of my euil and the cause of my séeking for you At the which relation of this sorrowfull Ladie the Prince remained verie pensiue and had great pittie on
finished these speeches he began to slumber and immediatly with a sorrowing sigh he began to saie Alasse Fortune how manie things are there framed by thy hands swéete in all mens taste and sowre in my disgestion pleasant to many and bitter to me Afâ—er this he tooke againe his instrument with an harmonious stroke pittifull voice he sang these vearses O Heart more hard then Hircan Tiger fell and are more deafe then sencelesse troubled seas O causelesse foe whose rigor doth excell to thee I yeeld thy anger to appease Take tyrant wrathfull wreake of me thy fill That ending now my griefe remaine not still My heauie cheere and euill that is past my fainting voice my case so comfortlesse Thou moandst not once so mercilesse thou wast nor stirdst thy foote to ease me in distresse But time will come when sorrow hath me slaine That thy repentance will increase thy paine Ah cruell how canst thou the loue forget that each to other we in youth profest Which when I minde full many a sigh I â—et for that was it which first bred my vnrest And for the sweete which then by thee I felt I finde sharpe sowre O most vniustly dealt Tell me wherein I haue offended thee or when I slackt thy seruice anie waie Then how canst thou so much vnmindfull be when oft in secret thou to me wouldst saie That in my absence Lucifer so bright Nor gladsome Phoebus once should giue thee light I gone thou vowest the waters should not yeeld their wonted solace nor the pleasaunt Rose Or any flower of the fragrant feeld such loue thou saidst thou didst on me repose Which was but small as now the ende doth trye That thus distrest thou sufferst me to dye Oh Gods of loue if so there any be and you of loue that earst haue felt the paine Or thou thy selfe that thus afflictest me heare these my words which hidden griefe constraine Ere that my corps be quite bereaud of breath Let me declare the cause of this my death You mountaine Nymphes which in these desarts raigne cease off your chase of sauage beasts a while Prepare to see a heart opprest with paine addresse your eares to heare my dolefull stile No strength remorce no worke can worke my weale Loâ—e in my heart so tyrantlike doth deale O Driades of louers much adorde and gratious damsells which in euenings faire Your closets leaue with heauenly beautie stord and on your shoulders spred your golden haire Attend my plaints and thou that made'st me thrall If thou haue power giue speedie death withall Ye sauage Beares in caues and dennes that lye remaine in peace if you my reasons heare And be not mooued at my miserie though too extreame my passions doo appeare Ye Mounts farewell ye fragrant fields adieu And siluer streames high Ioue still prosper you He finished his song with manie a bitter sigh and hée was so windlesse with sobbing that he laye as it were in an extasie stretched vpon the ground The Knight of the Sun entring into this ruinous lodge finding the Gentleman in this wretched estate he began ne to behold the proportion of his face and with extreame dolour wepte as well in ballauncing his owne passed miserie with this young knights as also for that he verely reputed him to be his brother Rosicleer or els some néere kinsman of his for that in beautie and strongnesse of bodie he resembled him so much y t there was but small difference betwéene them sauing onely the beard While the Grecian Prince was beholding this sorrowfull sight the inthralled knight with a déepe sigh awaking and séeing the Knight of the sunne afore him he wondred what might drawe so comely a Knight vnto so solitarie a woode and therewithall he reared vp his bodie and sitting vpon y e gréene grasse with many a drerie teare hee beheld y e shape of the Knight of the sun inforcing himselfe to speake he said Sir Knight insomuch as fortune hath directed you hather to accompanie me in this desart place sit by me I pray you and pardon my folly in that you haue found me so disordered The Prince without making anye aunswere sate downe as the Knight intreated him beeing very desirous to knowe the ende of that aduenture what cause made him demeane so tragicall a life he being set he tolde the Knight that the desire he had to vnderstande the barke vearses that were in the trées and likewise to heare his swéete songs which so harmoniously he sang mooued him to forsake his waye and to repaire to this ruinous lodging therwithall made render of his seruice to the knight While the Prince deliuered these speaches the comfortlesse Knight was musing with himselfe what he might be who by his comelinesse appeared to be valiaunt and by his curtesie to be honourable and therewithall was verie desirous to knowe what he was and béeing somewhat stinged with the bitter passions which he had alreadie sustained he said Alasse sir Knight howe little is the bodie touched with the dolefull cares of the heauie heart and how slenderly nowe a dayes is the guerdon of a faithfull friend as mine owne experience can best relate it so shall your curtesie mooue me to impart the well spring of all my woe and then I beseech you iudge how vnworthily I am tormented I cannot otherwise thinke but you will pittie my mâ—shaps with some sorrowing sighs especially if at anie time you haue tasted the bitter pils of loue and I promise you I would be heartely gladde that it might stand with your pleasure to make me acquainted with your name to the end I might knowe to whome I might disclose my wretched estate The Prince made him aunswere and sayd I am sonne to the Emperour Trebatio of Greece and am called the Knight of the Sunne brother vnto the renowmed Rosicleer whom you greatly resemble and be thus perswaded that the sparkes of loue hath kindled as many glowing coales in me as in anie other and hath left as deepe impression of sorrowe in my poore heart as in anye other Knight Therefore Knight as I haue satisfied your request so I praie you vnfolde to mée the cause which makes you liue so pensiue In so dooing I will sweare by the almightie God I will hazard my life to purchase your desired quietnesse The Prince of Dacia which had alreadie heard of the prowesse of the Knight of the Sunne héerewithall began to shake off part of his martirdomes and knowing the worthinesse of the knight bowing downe his bodie somwhat low he said Although y t my mishap haue ben great in susteining such coÌ„tinual griefs yet doo I esteeme it sleÌ„der sith y t héerby I haue purchased acquaintance with y e flower of all chiualrie whose valiant hart doth bemone my oppressed estate whose only counsell wil determine my exceeding torments Sith theÌ„ renowmed prince y e loue hath already made a passion in thine hart wherby you may y e better be an
euer was inuented in the worlde and most shamefully imputed vnto that innocent Princesse and by the thirde you shall get to your selues greate honour which is the thing that all good and valyaunt knightes doeth procure and desire in this worlde The Knight of the Sunne aunswered Wée knowe well that these thrée are to bée estéemed therefore fayre Damsell for my selfe and for my companion I thus much say that we dooe offer our persons with the conditions aforesayd In the meane time y t he spake these words the damsell did behold him very much and it séemed vnto her y t he was of a great valour and séeing him of so good a proportion and so well armed she imagined in her minde that he should be the knight of the Sun by all likelyhoods according as she had heard talke and declared oâ—â—en times in the Court of the French king and was perswaded that it was none other as appeared by all tokens that she before had heard comforting her selfe with these new and ioyfull thoughts she desired them to alight from theyr horses and that if it pleased them to sit downe vnder a faire greene arbour which was there at hand she woulde declare vnto them the greatest treason that euer was inuented in the world to the which these knightes did condescend with a verie good will and béeing set downe amongst those gréene hearbes the Damsell with a verie dolorous complaint began and sayd Noble knights and Lords you shall vnderstand that you are in the kingdome of France vnto the king wherof it pleased God to giue a daughter of so great beautie fairenesse that it caused greate admiration vnto all them that behelde her the which fame was spread abroade which caused verie manie great and valerous knightes and Lordes of this and other kingdomes to repaire vnto the Court amongest them all there came one who was sonne vnto the Prince of Scotland and named Dalior a man of a verie good grace gentle disposition one indued with al feats of good knighthood Likewise there was another who was sonne vnto the duke of Guyan one of the greatest noble men that was in all Fraunce a strong and stout man and of great pride and by lignage of the most valyaunt and strongest knightes in the worldâ— called Lidiarte These two Princes had discord betwéene themselues did contend in the seruice of this faire lady Artalanda The great contentmeÌ„t the which they receiued and the great brauery they vsed in apparell in this their seruice I cannot héere expresse But this faire ladie did so gouerne her selfe with discreation who was indued with it as much as with hir beautie y t she made as though she vnderstood nothing of their desire although alwaies she had a better affection to the good will of the Prince of Scotland then to the loue of Lidiarte and for that loue doth not permit y t anie thing which appertaineth therevnto should bée kept secret this vnbeloued knight did apparantly perceiue it by which occasion the great griefe which he receiued abated his coâ—â—our and he waxed verie leane and his face became yelow and wan and did determine to chaunge his apparaile oâ— ioye and gladnesse and all pleasures and to apparell himselfe in such sort that she might well vnderstande his great sorowe and heauinesse And to the contrary Dalior did shew himselfe in his apparell the great contentment that he receiued for that he did perceiue that his Lady did showe him some fauour the which was vnto the young Earle the cause of great sorrow and griefe Then Loue who neuer resteth from finishing his effects but alwayes doth with great efficacie make perfect his workes did wound with firme and faithfull loue towards Lidiarte a damsell whose name was Tarfina being in the seruice of this beautifull Princesse before named who loued him so firmelye that this miserable Damosell could finde in her selfe no kinde of quietnes nor rest and most of all she now tormented her selfe for that she â—awe so sodaine a change in her louer This cruell paine did so much constraine hir y t she of necessitie was driuen to seeke all meanes pollicies to procure how she might at her ease talke with him and giue him to vnderstand with her own mouth all the paine and griefe that she did suffer and the onely cause thereof And putting this her determination in vre it chaunced on a daye as she might saye bitter and vnfortunate after dinner when the Table was taken vp she founde time conuenient to declare vnto him all that her heart desired for finding her louer leaning against a cupboord all alone shee came vnto him and saluted him with greate curtesie the Earle did receiue her with no lesse gentlenesse beléeuing for that she was a Damsell of his ladie the princesse that she had come from her of some message she seeing so good opportunitie spake vnto him in this manner Many times noble Lidiarte I haue bene mooued to demand of â—oâ— what thing it shuld be that hath so much strength and force which onely doth not cauâ—e you to chaunge your gorgeous braue apparell but also doth take away y e colour from your gentle face and in this manner weâ—ken all your members Where is now all your brauerie and contentment that you were wont to hauâ— discouer vnto me all your paine and griefe and the occasion of all this your sorrowe Noble Lord let me heere vnderstand of all and being knowen of this thy seruaunt I will procure the best and most assured remedies that may be for thy redresse conuenient Tell me Lidiarte if it be corporall griefe or whether it be a wound hurte by the cruell force of Cupides dart My louing Lord I doo desire you to declare vnto me the cause of all your sorrowe griefe and heere I doo protest and giue my faith to procure with all my power and strength by pollicie other meanes to finde remedie for this your tribulation These and other such reasons with hir words well placed spake this Damosell vnto the Earle with hope that he would declare vnto her the cause of all his sorrow and from whence it did procéede These swéete perswasions and louing reasons tooke such effect in the Earle Lidiarte that he discouered all that was in his heart and the whole occasion as héeretofore you haue heard This damosell when she vnderstood the whole effect thereof it grieued her to the very heart although shée did dissemble it and kept it secret to hir selfe and would not suffer him therein to know her minde and straight wayâ— for her remedy the diuell put into her head a meruaylous wicked inuention And for to giue contentment vnto the Earle she tolde him that she would declare vnto the Princesse all the whole estate of this his sorrowfull paines and passionate griefe willing him withall to remember that the next daye at that houre he should méete her againe at y e same place for
to goe foorth with the rest So in this order as I haue told you they went foorth of the Citie all sixe together and he which gaue the first onset was that valiant and amorous Eleno of Dacia brothers son vnto the Emperour who with a gentle behauiour when hée came nigh the Emperour sayd in the Saracen tongue It is not the part of good Knights to speake any villany especially against Kings whom they are bound to haue in reuerence honour To whom the Emperour aunswered in the same language Art thou Noraldino King of Numidia Don Eleno replyed No but I am a Knight and a very stranger in this countrey but yet by firme oath I determine to dye in the defence of his right The Emperor aunswered He hath neither iustice nor right on his side but it is most apparant wrong which he doth maintaine and there is no reason that such a traytor as he is shoulde be by anye other defended neither is it séemely that anie Knight of price should charge himselfe in his behalfe for that he is a traytor And likewise he that doth defend him and take his part in this that hee will sustaine and maintaine so great vniustice is pertaker of his treason and meriteth a traytors name And for that thou art his defender héere I giue thée to vnderstand that I care not for thée and lesse I doo estéeme thée for that hée which doth take vpon him to defend a traytor may well be accounted a traytor This valiaunt Eleno when hée sawe himselfe to be so ill intreated aunswered Thou lyest in so saying for that I was neuer traytor neither doo I procéede of the lynage where traytors euer were notwithstanding thou shalt pay me with thy head the great vncurtesie which thou hast vsed vnto me Therefore it doth stande thée in hand to looke vnto thy selfe and take that part of the fielde which thou thinkest best for thy purpose and leaue off these blazing words to ioyne with me in battaile that I maye sée if thou canst as well defend thy quarrell as thou canst handle thy tongue At which words there drew nigh them the Prince Clauerindo and as the Emperour woulde haue departed to put himselfe in battel he did behold him straight waye knew him And casting his eyes on the one side likewise knew the other thrée but he could not knowe who the Prince Eleno should be and for the great desire which hée had to know what he was he sayd Knight I doo desire thée for courtesies sake to tell me what thou art if thou wilt not grant me this then I pray thée to lift vp y ◠visor of thy helme y ◠I may sée thy face for héere I giue thée to vnderstād thy foure companions I dooe knowe which is the occasion that I haue no desire to enter into battaile with thée Then Don Eleno aunswered and sayd Pagan of the two things which thou doest aske of mée although there is no compulsion yet will I pleasure thée in fulfilling one of them and in saying these wordes he lift vp the visour of his healme and when the Emperour sawe him he beléeued that it had béene his sonne Rosicleer and with a loud voice he said Oh mightie God how can this be true that vnto knights of my lignage should chaunce so vile a spot who hetherto in all their dooings haue got great honour and praise and now are come to defend such apparaunt wickednesse and treason Thou shalt vnderstand knight that I am the Emperour Trebatio and would not willingly now be called thy Father for that thou art come to defend so apparaunt and knowen an euill for I knowing the vnreasonable naughtinesse that this king hath committed am come to take this conquest in hande for in all my life time I neuer tooke a more iuster cause in hand neither was there euer in all the worlde a thing more worthier of punishment then this and séeing that my fortune hath béen such that my first enimie that shuld come against me séemeth my sonne put thy selfe héere now before thy high progenitour from whence thou doest descend and for Gods loue doe not blot thy stock in defending traitours treason therwith in few words he told vnto them all the whole history as before I haue tolde you Then this excellent Dacian answered High mightie Emperour although by my name thou hast not knowen me yet in calling me sonne thou diddest happen on the truth For thou shalt vnderstand that I am called Eleno of Dacia sonne vnto the king of Dacia thy brother and in that which thou hast sayde that we doe maintaine treasons we are to the contrarie informed neuertheles I beséech your highnesse to tarrie héere a while and therewith he and the Prince in a great confusion returned to the place whereas the rest of his companions were and turning his talke vnto the king he sayd King of Numidia thou shalt vnderstand that yonder knight is the Emperour of Grecia my vnckle who in that small time which we haue ben with him hath told vnto vs all the effect of this thy matter cleane contrary vnto that which thou hast declared vnto vs. Therfore King there is no reason that Knights of so high bloud and name as we are should be set to defend lyes and treasons but if it be to the contrary of that which he hath told vnto me haue no doubt but tell vs the truth For héere I sweare by the loue that I beare vnto that vnlouing Lidia that I will trauayle so with my vnckle that greatly with thy honour thou shalt goe thorough with this conquest Then this false King aunswered O Knights which doo confesse your selues to be Christians and by the God whome you doo worship haue made a solemne oath to helpe and defend me by the strength of your armes how happeneth it now y ◠without any care of your oth which you haue sworn you will leaue me desolate and goe from your words béeing doubtfull of the very truth The couragious French man aunswered Doo thou not thinke King that our oathes and words shall be abrogated rather first we will léese our liues both I the prince all our companions but consider king that God will not that we shall imagine amisse of Trebatio who is a prince of great veritie and truth and agayne our verie nigh kinsman Therefore this and that which hée hath tolde vs hath moued vs to come and tell thée and doe saye that none of vs will goe from his word and oath if thy cause be iust Then the valyaunt Eleno did cut off his reasons and tourning vnto the King he sayd King of Numidia héere I do most humblye desire thée that with false illusions thou putte not vs vnto so great trauaile for that then it can not be but either wée must dye in the hands of him whome we doe desire to serue or els though farre vnlikely to kill him Is it possible king
new to plague them with his strong and furyous arme in such sort that in a small time he made that the halfe of them had lost their strength for to strike at him the rest which remained when they sawe that there they should looke for no other but death except they made theyr defence better or else procure to kill him y t which straight way they did put in vre Then the Prince when he perceiued that stil with great furie they did persecute him he let slip his shéelde and threw it on his backe and tooke fast holde of his sword in both his handes and stroke so terrible a blowe at him which came first to hand that hitting him on the shoulder he cut him downe vnto the wast and he fell dead to the ground then casting his sword about with an ouerthwart blowe he stroke another on the throate that he made his head to flye from his shoulders in that furie he brought other two dead to the ground the other sixe which remained séeing his diuellish furie began to withdrawe themselues Then the daughter of the Dutchesse séeing the other knights to retire came vnto the Prince and with great grace and curtesie she said Valiant knight of the Ladies I doe desire thée for curtesies sake to cease thy furie let not the force of thy strong arme procéede farther but let this my desire and request moue thée to that which twentie knightes of valour could not obtaine This noble warriour although he was blind and ouercome with anger and wrath yet could he not but pacifie himselfe seeing with what humilitie this faire Gentlewoman did desire him and without anie more replying he did withdrawe himselfe and leapt vpon the horse of the knight of the passage for that Fidelio did take and brought after that y e horse of his master was slaine and therewith he passed ouer the bridge and began to take his iourney forwards leauing all them which saw the battaile very much amazed at his great prowesse So they trauailed with great haste because they would come vnto their lodging before night making hast they came vnto a mans house who did lodge them being in great feare the occasion shall be told you in the next chapter following ¶ How that Claridiano was assaulted with two furious Gyants and with xv Knightes that came with them and of the battaile that he had with them all Cap. 12. AT such time as the bright Apollo woulde spread abroad his beames vpon the cold and moyst earth was that valiaunt knight Claridiano on horseback with all his company for to prosecute his iourney and vppon a sodaine he heard with a great noyse rushing that they shut the gates of the house Then the Prince asked what was the occasion of that great noyse and it was told him by his hoast how that it was for to kéepe out two great Gyants which of late dayes did vse all those wayes fields dooing all the harme possible in taking and killing all that euer they might and they doo carrye with them fifteene Knights for to help them to doo all this euill for which cause all this Countrey standeth in great feare and dare not trauaile by the wayes and vnderstanding that many doe come this way to goe sée the triumphs and feasts at Nabatea they doo vse héere great pride and arrogancie carrying away with them many prisoners as well men as women So when the Prince heard this as one that did procure no other thing but to augment his honour and increase his fame he sayd Commaund that the gates may be open for that I will neuer accompt my selfe in the number of Knights but that I will cause them to leaue off dooing such harme and also set them at libertie whom they doo carry captiues and ease thée of this great feare in the which thou art O for the loue thou dost beare vnto the Gods gentle Knight sayd the Hoste of the house doo not put these thy tender yeares in perill to bee slaine or carried away prisoner by those furious beasts To whom Claridiano aunswered It will be rather a shamefull reproch vnto my fame if there shuld lack in me that which I am bound by the order of Knighthood to performe Therefore my good Host let this suffice that neither your request nor any others peticions shall perswade me to the contrarie but that I will goe forth and procure to abate so greate pride and harme for that in making an ende of my dayes in defence against these cruell people then haue I performed that I am bound to haue promised to doo therfore I pray thée comnaund that the gates may be opened When the Host saw his determined purpose and will he commaunded the gates to be opened The two Ladyes receiued great sorrowe and griefe for that which the Knight did but much more was the griefe of Fidelio although he was throughlie certified of y e valour of his Lord yet he letted not but greatly to feare his returne for y t the enterprise was very daungerous and doubtfull and would very faine haue gone with his Lord but he wold in no case consent thervnto but wold alone goe forth vpon this enterprise So this noble warrior rode forth with the visor of his helme vp and his shield on his arme and a mightie cutting sword in his hand and put himselfe in the middest of the high waye and in a smal time after he saw a chariot which was drawen with sixe â—orses in the which they brought the Dutchesse of the Ualley and all the company y t remained with her who by reason y t they wer euill intreted in y e battaile before â—hey â—ad not strength to make resistaunce but y t they were taken prisoners by the Giants and bound very fast and put into that Chariot The Prince at y t time did greatly reioice for y t he had so good opportunitie for to make satisfaction vnto the Dutchesse and her knights of the great harme the which by him they had receiued and being ready to the battaile he put himselfe in the high waye tarrying their comming When the Giants saw his great hardines one of them which by reason of his deformed members trauailed on a mightie great horse came foorth before all the rest whereas this Gréeke was and when he came nigh him he sayde in the Chaldean tongue Thou Knight what diuell hath caused thée to commit so great folly for to abide my fury arte thou so certefied of thy great valor y t thou wilt sée the proofe therof Then the valiant sonne of the great Alphebo answered Neither my folly nor yet the trust which thou saist I haue hath moued me but onely this thy crueltie euill customes which thou dost vse for that the immortall Gods are verye angry that they haue indued you with so mightie members and strength and you thus imploye them exercising nothing but vilenesse and crueltie and therefore they doo