sooner arriued he at that so long desired place but Fortune who had bent his thoughts to trauaile entending after her many crosses to sauce his sowre with some swéets and like a comfortable Phisition after many bitter Pilles ministred for cloying the stomacke of his Patient comforteth him with some consarue or other more pleasing his appetite so the Prince now in the beginning of his fortunes found this fauour to arme him with the better hope of ensuing good for at his first comming to the Citie after enquiry made for some ship bound for Thrace he had intelligence of a Barke alreadie haled out of the harbourgh into the roade her yardes crossed and her Marriners exspecting the comming a boord of the maister and her marchaunts and so to depart Which newes how pleasing it was to the prince suppose you gentils that haue your harts so full fraught with desire as this noble Dionicus who no sooner was informed hereof but diligently went himselfe to search the maister marchants of this ship whō he found in an Ostria carowsing healthes to their good voyage and taking leaue of their friends in the citie to whose company the Prince being come albeit nothing acquainted with the conditions of those people yet he so framed his behauiour to his habit that it might haue bene admired amongst the Courtiers his quaint behauiour had they bene beholders thereof pleasing so well these humorous companions with his carowsing curtesie and bountifull expences that nothing he could require was denyed him A woonder it were to tell you whē he required passage with what willingnes they graunted it and what large proffers were made him of their cabbins and other sea curtesies all which he accepted with such kindnesse and none more welcome than Dionicus who standing on thornes to be cleare of his land whō loue enforced without regard of father crowne or subiects to leaue he hasteneth the rest aboord of whose company the Mariners were not a litle ioyfull for y ◠the wind serued thē in such pleasing maner to bring thē to their desired hauen whither following the Masters direction for their course sailing with a faire gale we leaue them for a time to tell you of the griefe of Manpelius the Numedian king for the losse of his son of whom no maner of news might be heard You haue heard Gentles with what pollicie the prince wrought the better to bring his purposed intent to passe and what seuerall pastimes were by him deuised in which seuerall actions it was supposed by the Courtiers himself would haue bene a chiefe or at least a beholder of their sportes But hée which had more hammers working in his brains than one taking that time as fittest for his opportunity gaue them a cause of great sorrow as you shall heare Whose sportes ended and euerie thing with great credite to the actors and pleasure to the beholders finished the King and Quéene whome age nowe called to rest after kinde countenances and manie thanks to the Noble men Gentiles bad thē good night who were in all humblenes and heartie loue cōmended to their rests wher let thē rest vntil the newes of their sons departure be brought them by the wofull Barnardine whose hearts surcharged with sorrow could hardly be comforted but that through the extremitie of his griefe he had resigned his latest gaspe to him who first gaue him breath This wofull newes was two whole dayes and more kept from the king by that mirrour of fidelitie Barnardine who by all meanes either Art or trauell could imagine enquired after the Prince but of him could heare no tydings whereby many supposed hee was slaine some coniectured one thing some another But most of al the King Quéen their happinesse was such as may not without great effusion of teares be remembred which caused a generall griefe throughout the whole Regiment But neither sorrow of the subiects nor lamentation of their King might recall him who they all so much desired to sée which caused the King ouercharged with melancholy rather desiring death then life breathe out these spéeches Vnhappie Manpelius and more vnhappie in being father to so gracelesse a childe oh Dionicus why haue I liued to sée thée growne a man tenderly caring to bring thée to that estate and now my chiefest hope was in thée to haue comfort thus by thy vnkind demeanour to cause my grief how happie be those parents whose children liue in obedience but thrise accursed those fathers which giueth y e bridle of youth into their hands who ought to be held in as the Colt vntamed with the hardest bit Though wisedome presageth lawes of gouernment to fathers and experience of the Auncient which haue liued in elder times giueth aduise crying out of such as giueth libertie to yonglings yet law of nature whereunto we vnhappie parents are too much tyed forgetting all counsels are so besotted on those carelesse yonglings that if they desire any thing whether it be profitable for their instruction or haleth them to destruction it may not be denied them how many of high estate by the carelesse regarde of their vntoward children haue bene brought to great heauinesse Or who taking pleasure in his ofspring can sée him restrained I but vnhappie man hast thou not heard the learned Surgion often tell his tender Patient that it is better to smart once then endure griefe euer And thou that mightest haue kept thy deare sonne vnder his Tutors custodie wherein he liued in obedience might so haue had him still if thy owns foolishnesse had not bene so carelesse of him Then since thou hast bene the cause of thine owne sorrow blame thy selfe and sigh to think on thy follies and as thou hast bene the originall of this mischiefe not onely robbing thy countrey of a towarde braunch to succéede thée but hast lost to thy selfe the ioy of a father in wanting thy sonne thy lifes sole happinesse Perswade thée that as many Countries haue bene punished for the Princes offences so this plague is laide vppon thy subiects for thy misse Wherefore in sorrowing for thy sinnes and that God may shewe his mercy vpon thy kinde Countrey men sorrow for thy foppery and abiuring thy selfe from kingdome wife and Countrey betake thée to some vnknowne place where thou maiest spende the remainder of thy ouer worne yeares in contemplation for thy sinnes so may that God of all mercie which neuer turneth his face from the penitent receiue thée to his grace and restore thy sonne calling him from his youthfull desires to become a comfort vnto those which with manie fault teares and hearts full gorged with sorrow bewayle his absence Thus powring foorth his griefe with sighes and manie brinish teares vttering his sorrow hée resolued to leaue all his earthly possessions and altogither forsaking the companie of all mankinde liue sollitarie in some vnfrequented place vntill it woulde please God some tydings should be sent him of his sonne or else by death call
such honour as to her estate required whose obseques finished Barnardine regarding the benefit of the Common-weale and the Princes good of whom their hope was to learne knowledge vsed so kinde persuasions to the whole estate in a parlement holden of purpose that the regiment was deliuered by consent vnto sixe of the chiefest nobles who were solemnely sworne to maintain the dignities of the Crowne in absence of the king his sonne vnto whom being lawfull heires to the same they shuld resigne their titles whensoeuer they should chalenge y e same Now Gentiles leaue we these distressed people lamenting their kings absence the quéenes death to tel you of the Maiden Knight This gallant Prince the hope of Thrace carefull of his honor not vnmindful of his new mistres whose loue was the marke he aimed at hoping by accomplishing this victorie against the Souldane to gaine that place of reputation with her that hée desired for the better accomplishing of which he proclaimed by sound of Trumpet that all such as would in y ◠action aduenture their liues with him should bountifully be considered all estates from the Cauileare to the Mercenary caused many to offer him their sonnes so that in short time he had gathered more able men thē euer in so smal warning were séene such was the loue his bountie had gained among all estates that of their kindnes many repaired more then for of money although the thought therof is able to draw y e coward to fight so highly was this stranger honored The diligence was such of this Prince that in short time he had his companies which were so furnished as he liued not in those territories that euer saw the like Al things furnished for the field he became an earnest sutor to the Princesse his mistresse to procure the king to view his army which with smal sute she obteined for him gracing him with all the fauours she might more delighting in him then in all the men that euer she saw The time appointed for his muster after he had giuen directions to all such Leaders other Officers what course to take with their seuerall charge they were conducted to the place appointed by himself who mounted on a stately Courser passed on through the Citie his Captaines attired in Gascoin coats of watchet veluet hauing on the breast back embossed with goldsmiths work a Mayden head according to his deuise on his armes with the colour of his mistresse scarfe euery vnder officer in like sutes of satten his mercinary men in Iackets hose and hats coloured alike which caused the beholders to admire the stranger more then their princes When the king beheld this mirror of honor least thinking he was sonne to his louing frend the Numedian king and had with great delight viewed each seueral officer and their charge with their order of march and ranging in battell all accomplished in such warlike maner as sildome he had séen and withall noted his person with his brauery in armor his gallant sitting a horse and manuring the same his charging running and other signes of ensuing good giuing him great thanks he caused him to dismisse his companies for that time to attend his pleasure at the Court which he caused suddeinly to be done attending the kings pleasure at the Court as he was commanded the newes of his arriuall being brought to the Princesse who had séen with what cost and rare deuises each thing by her seruant was performed iudging likewise his loue to her was some cause by his cullours and deuises willing to let him know how graciously the same was accepted she came into the Presence where finding her Knight after she had with a kinde and louing Conge saluted him calling him to a baye Windowe with a modest and comely grace shée said Syr how much I finde my selfe indebted vnto you for your preffered seruice and forewardnesse in performing the same I will not say that in time what wants in me to accomplish my kingly father wil recompence who hath séene and well noted your diligence vsed for his safetie with your cost and great charge which he wil not forget In the meane time good seruant for so I will hencefoorth call you so you will vouchsafe to accept of the tytle I will pray for your good successe and happie victory wherby your renowne may passe the farthest parts of the earth and our Country by your prowesse deliuered from heathen thraldome Vertuous Princesse answered the Mayden Knight might it please your exellence to conceiue of my well meaning as my desire is to deserue my fortune might be compared with the happiest that liueth For on the faith of a Souldier and by the Maiestie of that saint my heart most adoreth there is none breathing life vnder the celestiall globe that shall commaund the simple seruice of Pheander but your Maiestie bound thereunto by your Princely fauours Inough my good seruant quoth the Princesse I take your word hauing great cause to beléeue you séeing your forwardnesse But good seruant if I might vnder Benedicitie know the saint vnto whom your deuotions are bent I would be so bolde to offer a virgines prayer at her shrine for your good successe The King ouer hearing their talke brake them off thus How now Madame what haue you that Gentleman at shrift if so and that his confection deserue a sharpe pennance yet be good to him he may in time amend Your grace quoth the Princesse mistakes your selfe your highnesse knoweth I neuer tooke orders therfore my authoritie is not to absolue and if by presumption I offend therein I doubt the Fathers of our Church would reward me thereafter But to let your maiestie know the truth perceiuing the desire he hath to do you seruice I was bold to giue him thankes further recompence I leaue to your exellence who at your pleasure may better reward him Thou hast well said daughter quoth the King putting me in minde what I should do least forgetting my honour to such as well deserue I be reckoned amongst the number of those Princes who with faire words and kind lookes féed their subiects so long as they haue either Patrimony or other to do them seruice to the vtter ouerthrow of their posterities for euer and they so farre in debt they dare not shew their heads then shall they get perhaps some suite worth a hundred pounds a yeare that haue consumed many thousands maintaining a braue port for his Princes honors What said I a hundred pounds a yeare nay not that without the fauour of such as be chéefest in authority and are néere the prince whose good will if they can procure it may be they shall obtaine some small thing scarce able to maintaine the porte of a good yoman for I tel thée such must be pleased or els let the princes mind be forward to reward them and by their bountie reléeue their wantes their good natures by perswasion of such as thinke all too
these comfortable words albeit she hoped of small reliefe from him partly to ease her heart and a litle to disgrace her aduersary which was mightie all the reuenge she could take thus said 〈…〉 that I may not séeme discurtious to you whose curti 〈…〉 ed is more then I can any way deserue but in 〈…〉 your welfare which pittieth a poore widowes e 〈…〉 e weale is the good of her poore fatherlesse Or 〈…〉 with pittie my case and consider thereof as 〈…〉 ease Then drying her eyes which like gutters bedeawed her chéeks she said Not far from hence gentle sir is my poore cabinet where this fiftie winter I haue mainteined y e port of a poore woman my husband in his life delighting in hospitality on his death bed gaue me charge to do the like which I haue obserued hurting none nor neuer denying anie good to them that sought me the néedie I 〈…〉 bored whom with my bread such vyands as God sent 〈…〉 e fed But now sir quoth she and therwithall a déepe 〈…〉 itnesse of her harts heauines restrained her spéeches 〈…〉 some pause said But now sir such is the oppressi 〈…〉 couetous in authoritie that my liuing is taken froÌ„ 〈…〉 ith my family compelled to séek harbor where we can 〈…〉 if God the comfort of the distressed prouide not within 〈…〉 e months for vs longer we haue not there to abide Telâ— me woman quoth the King what he is that thus iniureth thée and the maner how and as I am a true subiect to the king I wil neuer leaue thée til thou art with iustice reueÌ„ged on him Oh sir quoth she vrge me no more to that for my aduersary being honorable of account with y e king although y â— wrong I sustain be great yet wil he reueÌ„ge him self so on me mine as my life wil be the least last such is his bloudy mind who hath neither conscience nor thought of any good â—le after so many yeares of peaceable possession of this tennement in name of my husbands auncestry as our euidence doth specifie he wold not thus extréemly deal with those whome charitie would he should comfort but such is his crueltie who ought to be curteous that his couetousnes is neuer satisfied halling all from the poore profitting none but himselfe his children or seruantes who reape the benefite of manie mens labours for whâ—â— suite passeth but what he must like of or what w 〈…〉 King denie that he will grant Lamentable is it 〈…〉 the complaints of the commons of al estates ho 〈…〉 they murmure nay not onely against him bu 〈…〉 by others reportes that the Kings name is 〈…〉 stion of many all procéeding of this canka 〈…〉 guiding all abuseth all The Souldier seruing 〈…〉 his countries honour wanteth his pay which causeth him fall to robbery and other vnlawfull exercises The Farmer Grasier and such that liue of the benefite of their tillage féeding cattell and other hard labours haue their cattell taken their corne and what they enioy and driuen to séeke their mony by long suites and in the ende glad to besto 〈…〉 the one halfe to be assured of the other yet dare none 〈…〉 plaine how great so euer the oppression be Thus sir 〈…〉 tisfie you I haue spoken the truth what I haue he 〈…〉 partly that I know which I and many more ma 〈…〉 but cannot remedy it But sir what I haue spoke 〈…〉 you will conceale for if you be friend to him w 〈…〉 not name yet you can imagine If vnder your f 〈…〉 words lurke deceit and that you haue sifted me to beâ—ay me to his cruelty such il befall thée as I wish him whom I haue cause to curse others with me whoÌ„ he hath likewise wroÌ„ged But had the king knowledge how hée vseth his subiects especially his tenants who is our good Landlord and thus many yeares hath bene he wold redresse it but he hauing y e charge of al hath receiued a great fine to thrust me from my right which God remedy and grant our king to vnderstand his tyrannie Amen quoth the king May it bée possible that he whom I know the King hath loued so déer and fixed where their cause should bee heard and restitution made which in such sort was accomplished that his lands leases plate and Iewels were distributed to the wronged The widow who first gaue notice thereof the King enriched with greater possessions to maintaine her hospitality and Zachary for that his Dania shuld not for want of welth refuse him he bountifully rewarded so that euery one was pleased and returned content to their homes Now Gentiles the History shall shews you how Theophilus King of Thessaly expected the ayd of Thrace for restoring him to his kingdom which promise the King so regarded that in short time through the diligence of those Captains to whom the charge therof was committed the number appointed was furnished with shipping munition and victualls for the Army of whome the Thracian king tooke the Muster appointing their leaders The chiefe by name of Generall for the seruice was the Mayden Knight who was vrged vnto it by the two kings in such maner that no excuses nor delaies which he could make might be accepted vnlesse he should by his too much refusall purchase the name of coward this choyse greatly disliked the Knight whose warres in loue had but newly begunne to take successe who scarcely assured of the Princesse although her promised faith might put him in comfort yet weighing the vnstability of their sexe he doubted least his absence might drawe her to that which he would héedfully regarde being present The tydings of her fathers election made of her loue for generall as nouelties are rife and flieth with swift wings came vnto the hearing of the Princesse vnto whom if they were irksome suppose you that know how gréeuous the parting of two faithfull louers are who hauing her only felicitie in contemplating of her beloued Dionicus their ioyes but now in the blossomes was so nipt in the spring as care banished all future happinesse and sorrow began to claime her wâ—nted place in both but especially the Princesse who framed of the weaker mould heauinesse had taken the more impression in her so that forsaking all company her chéefest delight was to be solitary where shee might with déepe sighes and many brynish teares vnburthen her ouercharged heart cursing bitterly the cause and causer of seperating her loue In this melancholy vttering such spéech of dispaire as though shée sawe the dreadfull messenger Death alreadie seized vpon the valiant knight The knight who could take as litle rest as his Lady pleasure could finde content in no place vntill hée came to the Princesse lodging whome founde in this passion which was more gréeuous then all the rest her blubbred eyes pressyng bloud from his heart beholdyng her in that plight whose happy content was his onely ioy But how cumbersome so euer it was vnto him with
with grief WheÌ„ they had passed some time in parley about their affaires and that some offers were made by these Nobles of their ayde and assistance a generall Councell was called where by consent of such as had gouernment vnderstanding the power of Donatio the vsurper was no more but such as guarded his holdes it was determined after the army had refreshed themselues two or thrée daies to martch forewarde to the Cittie there to beleager the King and cut off from them all supply of prouision for victualles whereof they had small store In the meane time the Lordes of Thessaly to giue notise to all their friends with all spéede as they tendered their owne liberties to repaire with such power as they could make vnto the Campe. This deuise was no sooner determined on but the Noble Mama Bacha without returning to the King spared not his paines and all others which hée could command or entreate proclaiming in euery place as they passed Theophilus their lawful king straightly charging all naturall subiects of Thessaly to make repaire vnto the Campe. These tydings at first were hardly beléeued yet such was the rumour of a forreine power landed that all which could beare Armes repaired to the King whome they founde at the assault of the Cittie where the vsurper kept such was the multitudes of people which from all countries in his Regions came vnto him that in short time he had power sufficient to ouerrunne a kingdome The vsurper Donatio who had least thought euer to heare or sée the Thessalian King when the report of his being in the Campe was brought vnto him his courage quailed and his hope of enioying the Crowne was quite extinguished so that dispairing he became lyke a man lunatike that nothing whatsoeuer might moue him to any mirth or content so that giuing ouer all he cared not what became of himselfe or his yâ—t was he carefully counselled by his Nobles who regarded both his honour and their owne safetie but whatsoeuer they might counsell or determine was ill imployd at his hands was nothing to be had wherefore after they saw his small care and that he was not to be aduised they determined either in field with vnappoynted battell to try their fortunes or by some such composition as might be for their Courtries safetie and their reputation to giue ouer their tytle pretended to the Crowne of Thessaly Before that any thing was of them resolued the Mayden Knight which had his minde on his Lady as well as of other affaires could not rest in content vntill he had finished and either gained what they came for or séene the euent of fortune Wherefore to auoyd further delaies hée summoned the Citie to parley wherein he required their answere whether they would receiue their lawfull King or no if yea they should suffer him in peace to enter or otherwise vpon their answere to abide the hazard incident to Armes which he protested should be voyd of all fauour if he preuailed and they refused this offer of his These summons caused the Nobilitie to looke with better aduise into their estates and with consideration to wey each particuler perill which they found to be very many and daungerous especially séeing the multitude who were naturall subiects and did rather affect their owne King how so euer they professed in outward appearance then the vsurper which made them the more earnest with their King vnto whom they declared the offers made by the Maiden Knight with y â— doubts they had of his successe who were nothing in number to the Kings power which daily increased and contrary his decreased wherfore they aduised him to yéeld vnto such Articles of honour as they would require which should be both for his honour and safetie of him and his The vsurper hearing these perswasions from them wheron his chéefest hope consisted forgetting all former friendship and loue to any of them with most odious words reuiled them calling them traytors dastards and vpbraiding them with cowardise which were neuer founde but euer forward in all his actions onely this excepted wherin was no hope These spéeches moued his Nobles to such furie that departing from him in discontent they resolued for their owne safetie to séek what means they could and not by delaies to incurre his displeasure whose friendship they were by all meanes they could vse to intreat Wherfore in name of all the rest the Lord Philiago principall Treasuror vnto the King by whose direction the rest would be gouerned sent for the Princesse Phedera from prison whom he vsed with honorable spéeches comforting her with hope of her kingly brother who liued and was in person come with a strong power to deliuer her from that captiuitie which so long she endured humbly beséeching her grace to become a fauourable soliciter to his Highnesse for them who were to be commaunded by their soueraigne whose subiects they were protesting that neither for enuy to him or his they vndertooke the action but at commaundment and to auoyde the ignomious tytle of cowardize which all of honorable birth or mind ought to detest The good Princesse which could not tell whether she might giue credit to his words or no answered him thus My Lord Philiago vnder the gréenest grasse lurketh the most perillous poyson and experience hath taught me in my durance the knowledge of friends these sodeine offers of loue to my brother whom you all know is long sithence dead causeth me the more to dread I am going to him and that your proffered friendship is but to that end to bereaue mée of that which long since I wished to leaue if it bée so good my Lorde hyde not the truth thereof from mée for therein shall you shewe your charitable minde to a distressed Captiue Farre be it from my thought Noble Ladie quoth Philiago that I should any way delude you or moue you to credit any thing other then truth whom I haue my greatest hope of good to assure you of which so pleaseth your Exellence I will my selfe bring you to his Maiesties presence When the Princesse heard him make these proffers of fauours and perceiued by his iesture he did not counterfeyt ouercome with ioy she was in a traunce from which reuiued by the carefull industry of the Lady Vrania wife to the Lord Philiago shée gaue the Noble man great thanks for his tydings assuring him on her word that she would so recompence that good as hée nor his should haue any cause to complaine of her vngratefulnesse Vrging him with her curteous spéech to detract no time but to bring her to the Campe where the King was which he willingly yéelded vnto and causing a stately Charyot to be ordeined and richly apparrelling the Princesse as befitteth her accompanied with his Ladie and two daughters of rare bewtie himselfe wayting on her disrobed issued out of the gates and in short time came neare the Campe and were by the Sentronelles discouered and brought to the
they boorded and by hundreths entered my shippes and gallies who were valiantly repulsed But men can doo no more then God will giue them leaue so long they continued the fight that the scupars gushed bloud as they had often with the water deliuered by the Pompe And here laye one maimed and there a number slaine This pittifull stratageme when my heart with heauinesse behelde being so hardly assailed my selfe after that I was cleared from the Fléete the winde fauouring mée with a happie gale and my ship being good of saile I forsooke the fight in hope to haue recouered in my owne Countrey and by a new supply haue giuen him welcome thither But my hopes herein deceiued a boysterous storm growing the sea who is mercilesse arose in extremitie swelling with such outrage that my weak barke no longer able to endure her crueltiâ— was put against our wils on thy coast my Pylot vnacquainted with the same and a hoary myst ouer spreading the land sodeinly the ship stucke being neare the shore which draue vs to great terror To remedy the which the Mariners did their best but in vaine striue they that labour against his will that commaundeth all What should I say the outrage of the storm was such as forced the ship vpon the Lée shore which gaue vs all cause to remember our maker and with heartie prayer to craue his assistance but our comfort was comfortlesse our shyp split and we all driuen to make what shift we might my self happening on the main yard after that I had bene gréeuously beaten at sea the whole night was driuen a shore on your Confines I neuer heard of any other that were saued With this the teares restrained his spéech that he could not speake which moued the King to more pittie of his estate and friendly imbracing him he sayd No more my Lord at this time I am sorie that I haue giuen you such cause of griefe thus by recounting so lamentable a state renew your passed griefes But comfort good King when tides be at the lowest they spring againe If the Egyptian King be so extreame reason with curtesie will not content him the cause being no other but to force the loue of a woman vnto him of which perhaps he were better be without On the word of a King and by my honor I sweare I will not leaue you vntill I sée you setled in your kingdome Thus the King whome sorrow had ouerburthened was by the comfort of this noble King his hoast recomforted whose whole studie was now in preparing of an Army to ayde him to which care we leaue them Nutania whose restlesse passions neither time nor place could alter burning in these remedilesse thoughts considering the penance her louing heart was like to endure she fell into this humor Nutania how haue the Fates ordeined to make thée vnhappie that thou being deliuered from an oppressing enemy then steppes in loue to beginne a new Tragedie Thou seest her fawnings is but flattery then séek to eschue them enter not too far in the forde least minding but to wet thy shoe thou plunge ouer head and eares Thy yeares albeit not many with the examples of others whom then hast read may learne thée to be wise if thy fancie be fixed on such vanitie as may bréed thy sorrow expell it as thou maist suffer not loue to harbour in thy heart for harbored he commonly pleades possession and once possest neither force nor entreatie may remoone him so ambitious a tyrant is he that voyd of pittie against law and all hostility he holdeth what hée list Alasse Nutania if thy enemy be such what auayleth thée thou maist wish to be fréed from his tyrannie but canst neuer auoyd it so imperious is hée yet not manly but as a Coward making the breach where the wall is weakest poore women is the marke whereat most commonly he aymeth who being by nature pittifull are easie to beléeue and by â—oo light credite are taken by them they best like of Thus poore wench doest thou nothing but heaue feathers against the winde which returne into thine owne eies thy speaches vttered in loues dishonour will be challenged and like a traiterous Rebel to his Deitie shalt thou be conuicted arraigned and condemned for deprauing his Godhead If it be death fondling to speake against the maiestie of a Prince what is it to contemne the powers aboue The best remedie thou hast is reconciliation wherewith the Gods are pleased and hartily sorrowing for thy misse yéeld thy selfe vanquished yéelding séeke by fauour to attaine the end of thy desires Thy loue is matchlesse and doubtlesse honourable his countenance sheweth the true badge of Nobilitie and his valour and bountie doe answere what his other perfections promise I haue often heard it spoken that womens helpes in extremitie haue bene great if that be true proofe Nutania cal thy wittes together and so end thy tormentes by enioying thy heartes content so much discontent by yéelding to the same Thus resolued without longer stay shée called vnto her Guenela her chiefe attendant who from her infancy had bene brought vp with her In this Guenela she conceiued her greatest hope vnto whome she saide Guenela since I had reason to discerne good from euill thou knowest how I haue tendered thée and how willing I would be to séeke thy preferment make triall when thou please so shalt thou be assured of that which iustly thou maist hold in suspence But leauing these coniuring words I must Guenela commit vnto thy secrets a matter of import wheron my honor and reputation dependeth for I tell thée Guenela I haue made choyce of thée amongest all those which I may command as of her I loue and haue best cause so to do hauing had such societie else should I rather chuse to dye ten thousand deaths then reueale it Guenela which had her whole hope of good from the Princesse hearing her spéeches with teares standing in hir eyes procéeding of ioy for the honor done her by her Lady protested vnto her by heauens maker and what else he framed to be secret in her determinations and do her best endeuour to accomplish whatsoeuer she commaunded The Princesse taking her word for currant in whom she neuer found deceit said Guenela that it is incident to all creatures in their kinde to loue I know thy wittes be not so simple but thou canst conceiue and he that frameth vs directeth our likings as best pleaseth him be it prince or begger from the highest to the simplest and he my Guenela hath linked my liking to a most braue toward Gentleman on whom I thinke if affection which is blind deceiue me not is worthie to be mated with the greatest in degrée on the earth To kéepe thée with friuolous spéech is no time now hauing other matter inough to discourse therefore that thou maiest knowe him to whome my loue is vnited Pheander the new adopted Knight is hée Pheander famous for his valour renowmed for his
of his Countrey which by his carelesse sonne is blemished who neglecting the dutie of a child without regard of father crowne or kingdome exiled himselfe no man knowes where or whether he rest aliue or no since which time the king his father who loued him too dear if fathers loue may be too deare hath likewise absented himselfe and liueth in exile The mother Quéen hath resigned her due to death leauing by losse of those honorable persons their country without a head and their state by subiectes to bée gouerned wherby a ruine of the kingdom is like to ensue all procéeding from the Prince A miserable country is that quoth the Princasse to be lamented but more the losse of so noble a race the father hauing bene such and the sonne as report saith so toward But say good Knight quoth she was there neuer cause supposed of their departures nor did not the father through his harsh demeanor for youth in these times take vnkindly their fathers vnkindnes age is froward which frowardnes might minister great cause of discontent Madam quoth the Knight to my knowledge this I wil say my father being a Courtier in some regard whereby I became familiar with the Prince and as youth will make choise of some one to participate with so it pleased the Prince louing my father wel to vse my company in all his exercises through which I saw his demeanor with such reuerent duetie to the king acknowledged and as kindly requited of the king as on the earth might not bee found loue more perfect til his speach fayling in his mouth he could vtter no more The Princesse giuing héed to each word by him pronounced albeit she sawe the repeating of the Princes life was somewhat cumbersome vnto him yet ceased he not to vrge him to shew such sorrowe in deliuering the storye so of her desired Ah Madame quoth the knight at his departure began our Countries grief and my sorrow from whome in life I could neuer bée seperated such was my loue to him which refused himselfe his Crowne and dignities Adolefull tale hast thou deliuered quoth the Princesse which I perceiue mooueth you to impacience wherefore one demaund and an ende The Prince Dionicus made choyse of you for his companion Then vnder benedicitie let me craue all law of friendship exempted did he not acquaint you with his determinations for me thinkes it is scant credible that such an vnity should be amongst men their loues being so perfect but he should disclose each secret intent whatsoeuer many reasons draweth me to suppose it which I will omit for I perceiue I am too tedious Your Ladiship vrgeth me far yet will I accomplish your request who haue power to commaund me The Gentleman who neuer offended but in committing of this great offence long before his departure hauing belike some motion of desire in his thoughtes became of a pleasant Gentleman the most melancholiest that could be found that quite abolishing all company hée best contented himselfe with his secrete cogitations continuing this homour so long that he fell sicke of an extream Feuer which so encreased vpon him as all Physickes reliefe was quite giuen ouer so that small was the hope of his recouerie whose distresse the kind King with the mother Quéene grieued in such wise to beholde as in shorte time it was hard to be iudged which of the thrée endured most extreames But God that in aduersity sends comfort restored the Prince to some streÌ„gth belike receiuing some comfort in his imaginations by his recouery the King Quéene were both so comforted as in short time they were raised from their sicke cabinets to frolike it amongst their noble subiects who ioyed in nothing so much as in their healthes But how soone the Sunshine of their happinesse was ouershadowed with cloudes of comfortlesse care grieueth me to recount yet dare I not gainsay your Ladiships request The Prince recouered of his maladie made semblance of such content that none but himselfe could witnesse vy the least suspition his hearts discontent yet oftentimes should I being seldome from his company sighing with a number of far fetched sobs heare him say Péerlesse Ladie would my loue were as wel known to thée as to mine own heart then doubtles wouldst thou pitie me which lanquish for thée that art the only Princesse on the earth excelling in al vertues which beautifie the honourable the report of which hath fettered my fancies to thée that I protest to bée thine or neuer mine owne then looking with a gastly loook about him to sée if any ouerheard him hee woulde fall into some other discourse euer applauding y e rare perfections of his mistresse who was vnknowne to all but only to himself I who froÌ„ the first he acquainted with y e same briefly Lady for I weary you with my discourse the loue of his Lady hath drawn him from his country whose absence caused the kings exile the Kings exile the Quéens death The Princesse hearing all these extreams to grow from affection knowing well her owne hearts discontent with a sigh from the déepest which wroong tears from her heart she said Alasse noble Gentleman whose ioy so soone ouerwhelmed hath heaped so many cares vpon me what folly was there in thée that wouldest not disclose thy loue which burned so vehementlie was the dame so base that thou fearest thereby to ignoble thy issue or of such high estate thou doubtest to obtaine her if either by perswasions all griefs might haue bene mittigated if a Monarch why thou by report deseruest her if a begger thou mightest make her noble what ere she were hearing thy distresse could she forbeare to pitie thée No no were her heart more harder then the Diamond it could not choose at y e hearing therof but relent else wel woorthy were she to bée scorned of al Ladies and neuer to bee named amongst the number of women The Prince séeing the Princesse in this pitiful humour thought it good striking wheÌ„ the iron was hot taking the opportunity answered her thus Is your Ladiships censure such of hard-hearted Ladies wil not be entreated of him whose loue to you is no whit inferior to the Pr. Dionicus as himself wold confesse wer he present hard me recount y e many griefs wherwith loue hath afflicted me might he â—e Iudge wold allow me recoÌ„pence for my seruice in loue But Madame if without offence I might demaund this say Nutania the Princesse of Thrace were the Saint vnto whome this vnhappie Prince had vowed his deuotions and that all the passions he hath endured are for your loue would you vouchsafe him loue in recompence thereof The Princesse driuen to her shiftes at this demaund could not tell what to answere yet sharpening her wittes as women can doe she said Pheander Loue is not to bée dallied with as I haue heard them say which speake by experience therefore I cannot directly answere thy question but were
Kings presence who séeing the Princesse whome hée had great doubt the tyrant would haue murthered so sodaine a ioy surprized him as he might not speake yet ouercomming his passion ioyning his face with hers after many kinde imbrasings he saith Phedera how haue the heauens blessed me in giuing me life to behold thée more deare vnto me then a million of liues whom sithence I possesse as the onely ioy I conceiued hope of in this world I account my happines more then to be possessed of the worlds reuenew But tell me Phedera what are these that accompany thée strangers to me they are how frendly soeuer they haue vsed thée Most gracious soueraign for these noble persons I am to intreate hauing passed my word to be their safe conduct froÌ„ any violence should be offred them therefore good my Lord receiue into your fauour the Lord Philiago Treasurer to the vsurper his Ladie and daughters such as are by them protected so shalt thou honor me the more by mainteining my word which relying on your princely nature I haue past The Mayden Knight willing to hold her honor in regard sayd Madame how his Maiestie on the sodaine may be wonne to fauour your sute I cannot say hauing had such great cause to reuenge him on their crueltie but for his life let him thanke your grace if he enioy it The King whose heart pittie moued to tender the sute of the princesse comming towards the noble Philiago and his Lady with great curtesie tooke them from the earth wheron they knéeled accepting them to his maiestie vsing them with such honor curtesie that they admired him After he had reuiued with his kinde confections these sorrowing suters hée said Philiago as I haue pardoned thy life so faile not to tell me thy Kings determination whether he will yéeld or in battell try the euent of our fortunes Gratious soueraign quoth Philiago that he determines to séeke your grace is more then I can say for such desperate humors assaileth him that he is not himselfe friends faileth him from the Noble to the peasant whose wisdoms haue with graue aduise considered what wrongs hath bin offered your grace and hath vpon your Princely motions of mercy solicited him to pittie them and yéeld vnto your grace which when he could not be perswaded vnto we all left him and I in name of all the Nobilitie humbly beséech your highnesse of mercy who onely attendeth but my returne at which time on your gratious word they will deliuer the Citie My Lord quoth the King what cause so euer I haue in the most extréemest maner to reuenge me on you all yea to the very childe that sucketh that I omit And that thou and they all shall know I delight not in bloud nor wish I the life of my mortallest foâ— returne vnto them and from mée say that if in submissiue wise they issue their gates and at my féete craue mercy bring with them their vsurping king I will accept them so that thou and they shal sweare your dutifull alleageance to me and mine shall be hereafter mainteined in such maner as becommeth faithfull subiects to their Prince I will admit them to my grace and will be vnto them a louing and gratious soueraigne Philiago which had that he most desired vttering with many déepe sighes the ioy his hart conceiued for his good successe after many humble and heartie praiers for the kings long life in all happines to be mainteined he besought his grace to giue him leaue with his happy tydings to make glad the hearts of those sorowfull Nobles which exspected his returne which the king granted deteining his wife daughters to attend his sister whose ioyes excéeded the extremes of her misery enioying her Noble brother which she was out of all hope euer to behold againe To their recreation we leaue them and passe on with the Lord Philiago who made no staie vntill he came to the gates where diuerse of his friends exspected his comming No sooner entered hée the Cittie but sommoning the Nobles and Gonernors of the Citte togither he deliuered vnto them what fauour he had receiued of the King and how willing he was to shew lyke clemencie vnto them all vpon those conditions specified whereunto he perswaded them to yéeld not omitting any thing to make them mindfull of the litle hope they had of the vsurpers successe for which they had no reason to encline vnto him who had so small regard of them but rather let him endure the reward of his owne follies then that so many should perish for one mans wronges Resolued thus they hastened vnto the Couâ—t at whose sodaine entering the King was greatly appalled considering in what discontent they parted with him yet shewing a countenance voyd of all feare he required the cause of their comming whome they soone resolued letting him know each particuler of their euent perswading him to patience for what they had determined should be accomplished The King hearing his owne doome of misery pronounced albeit it moued him to great impatience yet restraining chollor he with his smooth spéech besought them of respite for his answere till the next morning which they willingly consented vnto And so leauing him they departed each one to his seuerall mantion But he in whose heart reuenge harboured hauing his minde wholly bent on their ruine after he had conferred with such as were as full of mischiefe as himselfe of crueltie and was by them aduertised what power they were off he caused them secretly in the night Armed to assemble at the Court where in very couert manner they remained vntill the time came that the Nobles should come to receiue their answer who void of all suspect of euill entred the Pallace desirous to know his pleasure touching the matter thâ—â— betwéene them in question No sooner câ—â—â— they to tâ—â— kings presence but the cruel tyrant shewing in his couâ—teâ—â—nce the pretence of his heart began in â—â—â—â—mes of great reproach to exclaime against the Nobles whome he accused of treason and vniust dealing against him and the state of his countrey that flying from him which was their lawfull soueraigne sought to supplant him to Crowne another But Traytors quoth hée you shall reape such reward as your treachery deserueth and therewithall giuing the watch-word his confederates which for the purpose was ambushed issued vppon them and sodeinly surprized as many as they could come by the the rest that fled entring the Citie proclaimed the lawfull king offering in his name frée pardon of life and goods to as many as folowed them At which offer of grace the commons wearied with the oppression of the vsurper in multitudes assembled themselues and guided by Philiago they fiercely assailed the king in his Court fleying as many as they could reach vnto and reskued their fellowe Nobles whose death by the Tyrant was determined had not the valour and policie of this noble Philiago preuailed In this exployt many of
the company of the vsurper was slain him selfe with such as escaped betooke them to the mountaines where they encamped themselues exspecting aide of those he had preferred But they more regarding their owne weale then his honor and séeing no comfort or hope of recouery submitted themselues vnto the kings mercy and was of him receiued This canuesado passed the commons with generall voyce elected Theophilus for their Kyng Philiago poasted him with all spéede to the Campe and to the king deliuered the trecherous pretence of the vsurper with the euent of all his and their actions and in the name of the whole state besought him to receiue the Crown and the faithfull loue of all the commons Theophilus hearing the mischéeuous pretence of this vsurper pittying his subiects that had so long bene gouerned by a prince so ill conditioned at the earnest intercession of the noble Philiago guarded with a troupe of his trustiest men at Armes marched he to the Citie at the entery rf which the whole Nobilitie bare legged and bare footed receiued him and to his highnesse deliuered the keyes of their ports with presents of rich price marching before him to the Pallace crying with a generall voyce Theophilus Theophilus The king noting his subiects loues with heartie thankes requited them all exhorting them to obedience and loyaltie which if they faithfully followed he would be a mercifull prince vnto them Theophilus in possession of his Crowne willyng his friendes should participate with him dispatched a messenger for the Mayden Knight the Princesse and her attendants who all as their dutie obediently fulfilled his commaundement the Maiden Knight excepted who carefull of his charge and looking into the practises and deuises of the vsurper besought his grace to pardon his not comming to Court for a time vntill hée had seene the euent of his affaires and sending for such guides as hée was enformed to be well acquainted in these desartes hée put himselfe in search for the vsurper and his scattered crew whome in short time hée founde to the number of one thousand on horse and foote which hée no sooner espied but chearing his companies which were not aboue fortie not minding to giue them dayes he brauely assayled them and so valiantly behaued himselfe in that conflict that after two whole houres spent in hardy feates of Chiualry there was fewe of the companies liuing The king hée surprized as hée was flying with whome hée returned to the Cittie and to the king Theophilus deliuered him who kindly accepting his Present returning the knight many thanks for his paines This brunt past and all things by the valour and good industry of the Mayden Knight brought to quiet ende the king vnwillyng to detaine his subiectes from their owne homes recompencing euey man for his seruice dislodged the camp A worlde of wonder it were to recount what general ioy was throughout the land for the return of their king his good succes for which great triumphs were ordeined with Iusts Barriers Tilt wherein the nobles of y e country in great brauery behaued themselues but the best and chiefest honor in each seuerall action was giuen the Mayden Knight who lyke himselfe so behaued himselfe as there was no talke throughout Court and Countrey but tended to the generall commendations of this noble Prince Thus as all things hath end so ended these tryumphes and the King in peace enioyed his kingdome which through the Thracian Kings assistance and the valour of this honored knight he obteined Al things quieted the Mayden Knight after he had a small time reposed himselfe from his trauels humbly besought his highnesse to suffer him with his companies to depart which fauour he could not by any intreatie obtaine Wherefore to satisfie the King with his owne longer staie he dismissed his Army whom the King so royally rewarded as no man had cause to complain of his time spent but euery one to speake of his honor and bountie The conduct of whome after hee had with great care puruaide them victualls with all things necessary he committed to Vrelia a noble man of Thrace by whom the knight aduertised the king of his staie which was chiefly for the Lorde Cariolus whom they left Vizeroy in Egipt recommending also his seruice vnto the Lady Nutania he presented by this noble Vrelia the vsurper vnto her as her prisoner and his conquest Thus all things carefully puruaide the winde blowing a fauourable gale they imbarqued themselues and sayling with a winde as they could wish they shortly arriued in safetie at their desired Port where their welcom was such of the king as they might ioy to receiue it where friend with friend ioyed for their returne onely the Princesse endured the greatest penance missing the returne of her knight who could not be perswaded of his welfare wanting his presence yet accepted she the vsurper his prisoner and through the great protestations of the Lord Vrelia had hope to sée him againe whose heart enioyed small content wanting his company Here Gentiles we leaue the noble Pheander in company of the Thessalian King spending his time in small content wanting the sight of his desired Lady and his Lady with teares bewailing him whom she more desired then the worlds possessions to shew you what happened the auncient Barnardine who as you haue heard before left the Numedian Court with all his possessions Pilgrimelyke iourneying towards Delphos there of the Oracle to be aduertised of his king and the princes life or death and comming to the sacred Chappell of Apollo after his Orisons done and his offrings made before the shrine of Appollo the pittifull god moued at his intercession and considering the faithfull loue to his prince and country which is pleasing both to gods and men after he had with teares bewailed his prince was thus answered Barnardine thy faithfull loue to thy prince and country we haue regarded and moued with pittie of thée and thy common-wealth whose subiects distressed desire to haue knowledge of their king and his princely sonne with what shall befall them receiue these lines which shall import the euent of all yet for a time conceale them and continue thy trauaile Barnardine whose heart was lightened with this comfortable voyce looking about him espied a paper which taking vp he read in this maner Ambicious shall your land with warres annoy Taking perforce what subiects doth enioy A forraine power these Rebels pride shall quell Through whom your commons shall in quiet dwell Before his face whom they suppose for dead The Traytors shall for life with pittie plead A straunger Queene on kingly seate shall sit Vnto whose rule your commons shall submit Religious seeing your countries happie state Ouercome with ioy shall dye at Princes gate He vnto whom your Crowne belongs aright Is all in one a Merchant King and Knight Supposed lost thou once againe shalt meete In forraine soyle sitting on princely seate When in thy trauaile such one thou shalt see As
such there is which shall be found by thee Keturne thou then â—â—â—e dread thy guiltlesse blood Whose life preserued is for thy Countries good When the aged Pilgrime had perused thâ—se lines musing at the darknesse of the same which he construed many wayes yet had no certaintie wherefore resoluing on the mercifull fauour of the God which had so pittifully heard his prayer he passed on his iourney in search for those princes which hée hoped was liuing whom to his trauaile we leaue to returne vnto the Princesse Phedera who hauing the company of the Mayden Knight had sundry motions of desire to enioy his Loue euermore applauding his person curtesie and valoure which so farre excéeded all mens in her iudgement that shée honoured him for the Paragon of the world holding her for the most happiest Lady on the earth which should enioy his loue wishing that she were worthy of his loue and framyng her selfe by all meanes that modestie would permit to gaine it But hée whose heart was fixed on his Lady had no motion of any other onely wished to bee with her whome hee so much honoured whose presence he more desired then all the riches the worlde could offoord Tormented with these restlesse passions which was of the King and Courtiers noted especially of the Lady Phedera many imagined the cause yet none so good a phisition to finde the truth or cause thereof as continuall care weakeneth the bodie and causeth many extreames so Pheander féeling in himselfe a weakenesse of nature and looking for some disease through his melancholy to ensue finding the king at conuenient time he humbly besought him of fauour to depart alleaging that the aire and contagiousnesse of those Confines was nothing agréeing with his body and that his longer staie might be by his confusion The king which loued him as his owne soule and tendered his welfare more then the wealth of his kingdome whom he had found so kinde and forward aduenturing his life for his good in many broyles though loth to leaue him in whome so much he delighted yet noting his melancholike humours which had much altered his complexion imagined it was no excuse and therefore the rather condescended to his request appoynting a time as he desired when if God sent winde and weather to be readie with their shipping to conduct him to Egypt whither the king promised with his sister and nobles to accompany him for which iourney a strict commaund was giuen to all Officers to sée each thing necessary puruayde which with such diligence was performed as in short time all things was as they could wish or desire furnished onely attending a faire winde to set sayle which they stayed not long for But a gale fitting their purpose the kyng with his sister the Mayden Knight and their train embarqued themselues for Egipt where by the good furtherance of him that commaundeth all they shortly arriued in safetie whose comming being knowne vnto the Vizeroy Cariolus with such prouision as they could make on the suddaine repaired vnto the place of landing where the king ioyfull to sée the good recouery of Cariolus in most kinde maner imbraced him And so generall welcomes being giuen on all sides by the Nobles they passe on towards the Pallace of the king who with a generall loue of his Commons was to his great delight welcommed with such shewes of ioy as on the sodaine they could prepare Thus after some time spent in banquetting and other pastimes for their welcomes to beguile the time the better the Mayden Knight standing on thornes vntill he might behold the swéete content of his liues comfort finding Cariolus in place where they might discusse at large theyr mindes The knight not forgetting his promise made to Cariolus in his own country and willing to make amends for the wrong he had there thus said My Lord what I haue to impart vnto you as one that wisheth your good is such as becommeth a friend vowed to do your Lordship what seruice my abilitie can stretch vnto onely I beséech you promise on your honor to conceale what I shall discouer Cariolus who both honored and loued the knight musing to what these spéeches tended relying on the fidelitie of him whome he neuer had heard or séene to commit any dishonorable action gaue him his word and honor to be as secret in all things as he could desire which the knight accepting thus said My Lord first I humbly beséech your fauourable loue to be continued and pardon my great offence committed against you in Numedia where not being my selfe I committed a most hainous offence and dishonorable for which I am willing to make such satisfaction as you can require Cariolus hearing the knight vse these spéeches of submission noting them well and bethinking himselfe what had fortuned being in Numedia could not call to minde any vnkindnesse offered him by any inferiour person neither did he well remember the princes discurtesie yet leauing nothing vnsought calling his wittes togither bethought him of the prince whom they forbeare to answeare vntill he had with earnestnesse noted the phisnomy of the knight whose face with long sicknesse wherewith he was at that time possest was quite altered from the forme it now had which made him more to admire But calling to mind the resemblance of the aged king he conceiued by some signes of his fauour that it was doubtlesse the prince yet doubtfull he was for that being so nobly borne he came to the Numedian Court with no better countenance then a Merchant After many thoughts not willing to offend through rashnesse or to offer any vnkindnesse he humbly besought him in true friendship which he had found to pardon him which could not call to minde no wrong done him nor any familiaritie that euer had bene betwéene them Well my Lord quoth the knight I sée your minde is frée from reuenge that know not those that haue endaungered your life and therefore am the more willing to reueale my selfe to cleare you of this doubt Know that I am Dionicus the vnhappy Prince of Numedia who in my fathers Court so much abused you whereof I repent me and haue sorrowed for it But pardon me good Cariolus and accept that friendship I vowed vnto you which wil endeuour to deserue thy loue in all occasions wherein true loue consisteth To giue you some cause to credit what I say I haue thought good to find this opportunitie not onely to reueale myselfe to you whose fauour I desire but to doo my best indeuour to deserue the same and to aduance thy estate if so you can lyke of my offer Cariolus amazed at these spéeches after he had with more aduised eyes beheld the Prince was assured it was he prostrating himselfe on his knée humbly besought his grace of pardon which had so vnreuerently behaued himselfe But gratious Prince quoth he faultes vnwillingly committed deserue the lesse punishment I speake for my selfe which am ready to make amendes in performing
curtesie to say My Lords all and you of the Communaltie you haue in yéelding to these honorable motions by me made highly contented her whose desire in loue made me not so head-strong to consent without your generall lyking my choise being such as may be mated with the oneliest Lady of highest estéeme in the worlde as I doubt not your selues will confesse when he shalbe knowne vnto you my high estéeme of him laid apart for that you may say affection is blinde And as the Prouerb saith The Negro by nature black and loathsome in our eyes estéemes her Infant faire so Loue which commandeth all creatures caused many Princes and Ladies of worth to submit themselues to base estates Imperious loue so ouer mastering their hearts to assure you that my lyking is not such and to satisfie you which with your curteous consent hath contented me know your so elected souaraigne and he that I haue subiected my loue vnto is of no lesse worth then a Prince royally borne and descended from the loynes of a King famous and a Quéene endowed with much honor himselfe shewing his royall desent by his demeanour which is valiant wise and curteous such a one I know your desires is to chuse for your soueraigne all offection set apart such a one haue I chosen which shal cause al your ioies if you ioy in any good Where breaking off your spéech with other words of curtesie yéelding them great thankes she called Guenela whome shée commanded to send some trustie messenger for the Prince willing him all businesse set apart to repaire vnto her which done framing pleasant discourses which delighted the nobles she sought to their contents to beguile the time vntill the messenger returned which made such haste that he found the Knight vnto whom he imparted the Quéens pleasure which albeit the sodeinesse thereof was troublesome vnto him cloying his head deuising of sundry matters which her hastie sending for him should import yet neglecting no time he spéedeth him to the Presence where to the Quéene he was the welcommest man liuing as her countenance declared who calling him vnto her commanded a chair to be brought and seating him on her left hand to the admiration of all the beholders which done she said My Lords and you our louing subiects muse not at this vnwoonted fauour vsed to this Gentleman nor repine not for that it is your owne choyse This is my choyse and hée that I haue sworne my loue and loyall affection vnto who albeit hath thus long subiected himselfe to our seruice dooing vs many high fauours as your owne eyes can witnesse enduced vnto it by that high commander of men who hath procured many Princes to the lyke for our loue as I am assured he abandoned his Kingly seate disguised in the base attire of a Merchant came to our Court where what honors he hath gained by his valour and curtesie not one of you but know Numedia being his natiue soyle and the kingdome his by lawfull desent from the King his father Let it not dismay you my friends nor iudge my words spoken of him for his honor to be more then truth so shall you wrong him whose woorth you may be by my reports assured off and iniury her which had neuer intent but to deserue well of you all Therefore as you haue your desire knowing him in token of your loue and generall consents by whom hée is your adopted King shewe by your signes of content howe pleasing my choyce and lyking is vnto you The Nobles amazed at the Quéenes spéech although they could hardly be enduced to beléeue what shée had sayd yet such was the loue they honored her with that giuing credit vnto her words without longer pause of the matter that the Quéene might the rather be wonne to credit their former spéech with a vniuersall voyce prostrating themselues before him they cryed God saue the King Quéene vowing vnto him loyaltie and failtie as vnto their King and soueraigne Thanks good my Lords quoth the Prince for your good consents and doubt not of my loue to you which with such heartie affection shall be shewed that my dearest bloud shal be shead ere the least haire of the basest of your heads shall perish Which said the Quéene standing vp requested the Nobles that as they had with consent elected him their King so they would appoynt the time for solemnizing the marriage with the Coronation chaunging his name from Pheander the Mayden Knight to Dionicus the lawful heire of the Numedian Crowne for that was his right and the name of Pheander but vsurped Which request of her Maiestie they easily granted appoynting the marriage thrée dayes following and the Coronation presently to follow which to their great ioyes was accomplished with all the honour might be done by their subiects the costly showes and all maner of delightfull pastimes there vsed I omit albeit it was pleasing both to their King and Quéene and brought great ioy and comfort to all beholders The marriage with the Coronation past the Commons delighted with their King assured his grace to be so honorable as the Quéene had reported him and they found who in that Parlament to honor the Thracians the more and let them know his loue was no whit inferiour to theirs he entailed the Crowne of Numedia to the lawfull heire of Thrace succéeding assuring them that his Nobles and Commons should confirme and assure the same Which curteous fauour the Nobles so gratefully accepted as they returned him for the same many gracious thanks the Parliament proroged according to custome of the Country their dutie in all humblenesse done the Nobles with the chéefest of all parts in the land wished the Quéene and King many happy dayes to their ioy and harts content which they requited with such shewes of loue as might delight them and giue them cause to ioy in their Princes election of whom their comfort was great their assurance of tranquillitie with forraine Princes through his magnanimitie to be such as al true subiects might haue pleasure to recount Their leaue taken euery one departs well content to his home Thus the King and Quéene enioying hearts content their loues more and more encreased that there was no talks but of their faithfull loue and hearts lyking through which the Commons liued in peace praying for their long liues to be continued To which content in loue the story leaueth them recounting the arriuall of the aged Barnardine in Thrace who with his long trauaile came vnto the Court where wandering Pilgrimelike liuing by the deuotion of bountifull people he spent some time in contemplation others in viewing the bewtie of the Court and maners of the people eftsoones commending their religion and seruing their creature taking much pleasure in discoursing with such Pilgrime strangers as he méete of the diuerse conditions of those Nations whose Countries hée had séene which being many he affected no Princes Region as this Country of Thrace
in short time his body was so weakened that rather he desired to accompany the dead then liue in such discontent the mother Quéene with ouer much care and watching néere pined and few which felt not some part of the Princes griefe such was their faithful loues vnto him whereof the father gloried not a little and the mother if women may be proud was not a litle spiced with y â— disease But neither the heauines of the father the extreame griefe of the mother the daylie lamenting of the Courtiers nor the complaints of the Commons might any way auail the Prince who smothering his own sorrowe could not by al art Physicke allowed for mens reliefe be any way comforted The ouer grieued burthen of whose miseries the Quéene with his kinglie father séeking to ease and coulde not as he desired accomplish such extremity likewise assailed them that the learnedst coulde not iudge the difference betwéene them so that by their ill suppose the subiectes griefe which reuerently honoured them and could willinglie haue offered their owne liues for their reliefe and ease But in vaine striue they that séeke helpe for him whome none but the beautifull Nutania could release who was the Load-starre of his life and the loue of her the speciall Physicke which muste restore him or dye hee would past all recouery but by Nutania that Paragone of fame Dianaes glorie Natures onely darling and delight Weake and féeble past recure of Physicke became the King and Quéen voyd of hope euer to see their Princely sonnes recouerye wherefore forgetting all worldly pleasure and Princely delightes such as become Princes ofso high estéeme quyte abolishing all the vanities of the worlde they minde wholly the euerlasting comfort and ioye in nothing but his death that from death by his blood redéemed them In this extremity when all hopes wer past help of men behold the mercy of him that preserueth and destroyeth at his pleasure who mooued no doubt at the intercession of some their vertuous subiectes or taking pittie of their distresse as wee read in holie writ testimony of our soules comfort how Abraham beloued of God mooued his diuine Deitie for those Cities for sinne by his iust iudgment consumed if fiue godlie people had bene founde within their walles they had bene preserued so either for the vertues of the King or the intercession of those sorrowing subiects the giuer of all comfort sent them comforte as you shall heare The Numedian King whose prime of youth was spent in manie honourable actions holding in great regard the loue of his neighbour Princes liued in such tranquility that he was honoured of all that heard of his gouernment The report of whose long sicknesse and weake estate moued the Kings of diuers regions by their embassage to comfort them and to bee aduertized of the trueth of their estates Amongst which those honorable Princes that held his health in such regard Thelarchus King of Thrace dispatched his Ambassadour Who for the more honour of their King was accompanied with diuers Gentlemen both of honour and great worship These Ambassadors ariuing at the Court of Numedia their cause of comming vnknowne many matters were of the commons supposed who will entermeddle with Princes affairs so that amongst them diuers things were imagined and sundrie dangers suspected but no assurance of anie vntill their day of hearing which the king appointed to be as sodaine as they could require Against which time royall preparation was made with all the pompe could be deuised where for feasting there wanted no daintie how rare soeuer nor diuersitie of Vyandes to please the appetite with many pleasing showes and pastimes the better to giue them occasion of welcome all which notwithstanding the Kings weaknesse was so exquisitlie performed that it was admirable The day of hearing come as time stayeth not Manpelious hauing summoned his councell and chiefest Nobilitie against that time to attende his pleasure these seuerall Ambassadors were brought to his presence where with more shewe of hartie welcome then his weak bodie could deliuer hee gaue them such honourable entertainment as beséemed the messengers of such Princes and highly contented them whose curtesie the strangers Nobles applauded and gréeued the more at his extremity by how much the more they saw his debilitie After some talke passed betwéen the King and these Nobles and that hee had enquired with all kindnesse of the health of their Princes and welfare of their countries and receiued their Letters with diuers Princelie presentes they were dismissed but yet not suffered to depart without gracious thanks to their kinges and kind shew of good acceptance of their paines leauing them to their repose with great charge to his Nobles and those in authoritie to sée their entertainment such as if their soueraigne Lordes were present which charge was not forgotten of those which prized their Princes honours as dear as their liues but with such pompe and coste accomplished each seuerall commaunde of his Highnesse as the Strangers might wel admire to beholde it Their diets so diuerse and so aboundant as they had neuer séene the like furnished with so much sundrie musicke and so cunningy vsed as might well delight the Goddes To acquaint you with other pastimes for recreation as Playes Maskes Tilting Turneying Barriours and other Courtly pastimes besides their hunting of Tygers wilde Bores and Lyons which mooued suche delight as other sportes pleasure vnto them Thus in vsing dayly those pleasures when the Nobles had spent some time in the Court euerie one content with his royall entertainment hearing amongst the Nobles of the countrie such generall honour of the Prince Dionicus whome they had not yet seene an especiall desire mooued them to visite the Prince bewayling greatly that mooued such aduerse chances should nip so braue and honorable a Prince in the blooming time of his princely yeares The Prince Dionicus albeit the imbecility of his body denied those nobles his preseÌ„ce at their pastimes in which seueral sport he much delighted yet that they might not depart of him vnséen he commanded a sumptuous banquet in his lodging to be ordained â—o which he inuited the straÌ„ger Nobles their companies who wishing to sée the Prince were as glad to accompany him as hee desirous of their companie and graciously with many humble thankes accepted the Princes good wil. The youthfull Nobles attendant on the Prince carefull to sée each thing ordered for the honour of his Maiestie wanted nothing that might bée desired only exspected the comming of their guestes who not vnmindful of their promise as dinner time drew nigh prepared themselues towards the Prince vnto whome by his Nobility in most gorgious maner they were conducted no sooner entred they his presence but Dionicus whose curtesie was such as gained the loue of his subiects and all strangers that had séen his demeanor yet at this time had better knowledge how to entertaine them then abilitie to performe what he would stretching himselfe in his
would affirme it rather than our friendship should bee for such a matter discontinued Well Octauius quoth Cariolus I finde your kindnesse great wil thank you for it but trust mee this gloze may not serue your turn for as you haue spoken heresie against Beauty and maintained a strāger before your home-born Ladies you shal either recant your Iudgment before our soueraigne Princesie Nutania or receiue such penance by your quest assigned which I promise thée shall be all honorable Ladies Oh my Lord answered Octauius I hope I shal find your H. more kinde then for so small an offence to deliuer your friend prisoner at the bar where the parties shal be Iudges my Iurie such as all lawes allowe me to appeal from if you should my fault such as if my life were in their trial depending I might wel make my testament dispose of what I possesse hartily desiring God to receiue my soul for sure I am my body shuld not long inioy breath for no greater corrasiue can be offered that Ser then to attribute the honor of such a prize to any one particular they all standing on tearmes of beauty as the Crowe which thinks her owne birds fairest so women how ill-faced and wrinkled soeuer they be may not endure to hear any commended if happily they shuld hear it spoken by such as they dare not in speech displease yet wil their countenance shew their hearts discontent by scrowling of y e browes hanging the lip or setting a swéet face as sugred as the galle or by some such outward action or other shal you find where that nipt her for which offence looked she neuer so highly with Bell Booke and Candle you shall bée curssed and neuer more come in Paternoster how déepe soeuer you haue bene in her Creed Hold hold Octauius quoth Cariolus too much of one thing is good for nothing Thou hast plaid the excellent Orator Who had thought your Lordships experience had bin such for thereon I know you ground all your authority Author I am sure in schooles you neuer read any which haue so highlie abused that sacred Sex sacred I may wel cal them my Octauius who are not honoured of mortall creatures but of the goddes and therfore in the higher account and the more in regarde the greater thy offence and the more grieuous thy punishment To this pleasant discourse the whole assembly gaue ear and were greatly therwith delighted yet to put them from it and to end as pleasantly Atlantus said My Lord Cariolus what is your honor become Beauties Champion Farre was it from my thought that euer you woulde with such earnestnesse haue defended our faire Ladies but since I sée you are so great an Aduocate I will cause you to haue thanks for it at our return other reward I dare promise none And you my Lord Octauius that so clarkly haue depraued them would I might be your scholler whose experience is so great Tully Ouid or Marcus Aurelius that wrote most in their disgrace neuer writ so largelie I must néeds say as my Lord Cariolus our ladies are litle beholding vnto you for the daunger committed in the same the least is heresie and how heresie is to be punished your honor knoweth yet my Lord as I would gladly become a peacemaker and that friendes may not grow at ods whereby any daunger might happen to your person albeit the offence be not pardonable yet the fault made in a forrain countrey ought there to haue his triall If it shall stand with your good liking no ladies present to heare your hard censure your fauor may be the more since I haue by patiēce of this honorable cōpany intruded my self to speak in our ladies cause not being a feed Counceller for them I wil entreat these noble Gentlemen to giue me leaue let me censure of y ◠same so it stand with your L. good pleasure Now truly quoth Octauius I find your L. kind and more kind then I can either desire or deserue when I shall néed your fauour in matter of more importe I will make bold til when I put you down with Cariolus for one of my smal friends for this matter I shal néed small friendship vnlesse to bring your cause to better effect you doe as manie crafty people now a dayes vse to make small conscience in selling mens soules to the deuill for mony to sweare what he shall commaund them how false soeuer to the impouerishing of many whose good hospitality and other good neighbourhood was more then euer such base villaines coulde reach vnto if such a companiō you mate me with or search out some subtil lawyer that can by his querkes and quidities in lawe make a bad matter good and annointing the Iudge with vnguentum aurum cause him to incline to the same my cake is dough if by such subornation forswearing and false iudgement my speach be wrested to your aduantage Cease my Octauius this dread heauens forfend for this offence thy punishment should bée as thou deseruest much lesse that anie sinister meanes should be vsed to bring thée to open penance yet good Octauius let me entreat thée as in this assemblie thou hast vniustly giuen the prize of beauty to Brionella and therein hast wronged highly the onely of the world by thy partiall iudgement in derogating from her the title of most excellent which is most honourable no more than her worth requireth confesse but thy fault and errour in the same and an end if thou louest thy owne good refuse not this offer least worse befall thée then Acteon or to Paris for his rash iudgment Thou hast learned vs in thine owne Exordium that women are inspired with mindes of reuenge Be therefore by thy friendes entreated before the punishment come vpon thée so maist thou kéepe thée from much sorrowe for if no greater mischiefe fal vpon thée thou shalt be sure of more curses then thy weake carcase can beare for my Octauius in friendship I say this and warne thée as one that loueth thée knowing their inclinations which as thy selfe confesseth is bent to reuenge if so as many as shall heare of this blasphemie if they do thée no other ill their cursing thou shalt be sure of and womens curses are as bad as the curse of holy saint Gillian which is said to be ten times worse then the diuels Treason treason my Lords quoth Octauius if I haue spoken heresie this questionlesse is no better then treason and the comparison so odious as may not be endured the diuell and a woman ioyned in one as fit a match as may be made Well my Lord since in my errour I haue found you kinde in fauouring my fault let vs do as all bribing Officers vse beare with me and ile hold with thée so by consealing my fault the lesse dangers shall happen vnto you if you refuse my kind offer I come vpon you with an old prouerbe ka me ka thée or as children
play tell of me Ile tell of thée Well watcht my Lord Octauius quoth the whole company but my Lords let the further hearing of this matter rest till better opportunitie least your tediousnesse bréed trouble to my Lord the Prince whose quiet I would not willingly offend My honorable Lords answered the Prince if these discourses of those noble men be pleasing to your honours assure you they are no way offensiue vnto me I haue troubled you from your better cheare to accept of a sicke mans pittance whereunto you are all so heartily welcome as to your owne Pallaces and welcome saith our Countrey housholders is the best dish at their feasts if therefore my Lords you accept my welcome I am the more honoured by you which haue so graciously vouchsafed me your companies Then turning to the Lord Cariolus he said for you my good Lord how much I acknowledge my selfe indebted to you I omit and yéeld you as many thousands thankes for your pleasing spéech as there were sillibles in your words you haue like your selfe defended the weaker sexe for the which were I the Princes Nutania your challendge made in my cause should be bountifully rewarded I am sory my good Lord my bad hap was such that I knew you no sooner But if it shall stand with your Lordships pleasure that during the time of your abode here to vouchsafe me your company so it may be no disparagement to your serious affairs perswade your selfe your welcome shall be no better in anyplace then vnto me for which kindnesse you should hinde me vnto your friendship Gratious Prince answered the Noble Cariolus thanks for your Princely fauour and gracing me thus which am not any way to do your maiestie seruice but wherein your highnesse shall commaund I shall be readie with all dutifulnesse to accomplish Leaue these spéeches good my Lord quoth the Prince and offering dutie where friendship is requested and granting my sute let me enioy thy companie so shalt thou command Dionicus for euer as a friend The grauer sort of those Noble strangers whom matters of more importance called away after humble thanks giuen for their royall entertainment wishing health and all happinesse vnto his excellence they commit him to his rest Barnardine which had endured the end of all these prattles and perceiuing that this talke was altogither friuelous and not worthie the hearing moued him to delight he began diligently to enter into each perticular discourse of Cariolus and Octauius and considerately to note each seueral passion of the Prince so farre searched this skilfull phisition into euerie particular that caâ—â—asing it throughly he noted his speciall iesture and how his colour came and vanished yea how much his heart was possessed with ioy when he heard the Princesse Nutania named the working of his pâ—â—ces made Barnardine imagine the cause of his disease yet had no assurance thereof and to enquire it of the Prince was in vaine for that he had so often denied the same wherefore he consealing his thoughts in hope to worke meanes for his recouerie And finding those cynders which were like to com 〈…〉 e him and the rather if he could procure Cariolus to accompany him Thus leauing the Prince to his quiit and Barnardine to his care for recouering his health returne we so the aged weake King The King whose long sicknesse and care of his wife and sonnes health whome he loued most zealously being extreemly vexed and greatly weakened of his 〈…〉 when Phisicke had done what was possible and small hope to recouer him in the midst of his passions when all hopes was past but onely the comfort of him who by his word rayseth the dead from the graue so this Manpelius receiued comfort by his kingly neighbours friends whose letters when he had by his Councell perused and with regard and aduise noted each kinde offer with their persuading reasons albeit he could hardly â—â—gâ—st the â—ame yet considering how fraile men are and that our cares of Terraine ioyes are to be fa 〈…〉 d to that Celestiall commander which reléeueth all those that seeke him he reuiued himselfe and like a faithfull souldier taking holde of the promise in holie writ so often repeated he cast care of wâ—â—â—â— childe and kingdome vppon him that first gaue it him and by whole prouidence he so long enioyed theâ— â—aking his chiefest care to gra 〈…〉 thoâ—e his friends by whoâ—â—â—â—â—â—sell he was vrged to the heauenly comfort And those honourable Nobles for their paines who wishing to be with their friends in their owne Countries attend his highnesse pleasure for answere which hée tooke order should with such spéede be dispatched as possibly might 〈…〉 way be vsed Dionicus whose heart was on his halfpennie vowing his loue whollie to the Princesse Nutania was so delighted in recounting hee praise as nothing could be so pleasing but as all sorts of men infected with that agâ—â—â—e iâ— their loue be faithfull are enclined to some iealousie so this monstrous Basalicke whose poyson infecteth the vaiâ—es and consumeth the heart without wisedome gouerne the minde as by this Prince notably appeared who in his idle thoughtes calling to minde the praises of Cariolus and the challenge made in defence of the Princesse Nutania as loue endureth no arriual so Dionicus striken wtih the sting of ielousie began to conceiue manie vnhonourable thoughtes of Cariolus supposing Nutania was was his Loue and that by Cariolus his ioyes in her loue and hope of fauour should bee frustrate and of no account with much matter more then euer was by Cariolus imagined how largely so euer his spéech was vsed in the Princes behalfe to procure their delights and mooue Octauius to chollor notwithstanding no reason might perswade where iealousie had giuen iudgemeÌ„t for the Prince in this ielousie fought no meane but reuenge of him that neuer committed the least thought of euill against him When reuenge in this Princes heart was thus imprinted and rage and ielousie set downe his death an honourable motion more befitting his grace then rigor moued by the inspiration of the eternal God withdrew him from this base attempt he called to mind the honour of his house the loue of those Princes their bordering neighbors by whose command Cariolus came into his Country the Scandall so bloodie a fact deserued what continuall ignomy would redownd vnto him and his progeny for euer accusing himselfe of great impietie he exclaimed on his follies in this maner Blush Dionicus at thy base thoughts and so much sorrow for thy pretended mischiefe against this noble straunger as if thou hadst shed the bloud of a thousand innocents hast thou from thy Cradle disdained to offer wrong to the most inferiour and wilt now begin with murther of a noble man Knowest thou not that to adde to his head one haire is more then the greatest Prince can doo And wilt thou séeke his life that neuer had thought of il against thée Hath thy father liued so many
not one from the Prince to the begger liue not liue not thou Dionicus but let that hand that committed the euill finish thy life which liuing can neuer be vnremembred In this furie resoluing to haue mischiefed himselfe his Nobles taking him in their Armes with such comfortable spéeches as they could pacified him who séeing his sorowfulnesse were partakers of his grief and much lamented his extremitie as men might for their Soueraign Yet casting of care seeking the best for their quiet they could they laid him in his bed where with solemne musicke they procured him to sléepe Where for a time I leaue him Time that finisheth all things hath now wrought an end of the Kings affaires for the dispatch of the Embassadors whome the King with great entertainment and Iewels of high estéeme so rewarded as they all had cause to speake of his royall bountie The Embassadors receiuing their Letters and the time appointed for their departure their ships with victuals at the Kings cost replenished and all other necessaries Cariolus who had bene often solicited by Barnardine to visit the Prince and by his report whose word was of account with all that had knowledge of his simple dealings was perswaded of the Princes sorrow for the wrong offered him Wherefore that it might appeare vnto Dionicus he departed not in displeasure but that he had forgotten all wrongs offered kindly before his departure came to take his leaue Where vpon the curteous demeanour of the Prince who manifested his griefe by the aboundance of sighes which he powred foorth they were reconciled and an inuiolably league of friendship vowed betwéene them which with solemne oathes they protested should neuer quaile in either of them The hast of the noble Embassadors who desired to be with their Loues at home is more now then Cariolus wished But what must be shall be how loth soeuer Wherefore after many friendly gratulations betwéene them and great gifts of the Prince on his new Amico bestowed they take leaue each of other Cariolus solemnely praying for the Princes health and Dionicus wishing him all happinesse Thus all thinges fitted by the King commaund they were honourably conducted vnto the Porte where their shippes readie furnished attended their comming where they had not long stayed but a faire winde to serue their turnes God sent them and they embarqued themselues each one for his seuerall country and the Nobles returned to the Court where to their carefull regard of their king Countries benefite we leaue them to let you knowe further of the Prince whose is troubled as you shall heare The Prince whom Nature had formed so exquisite in lineaments of body as could be required hauing wisdome and valour enferiour to none when he had considered with great wisdome from poynt to point the extremitie of his estate and found that his disease was grieuous and so great that he rather desired death than life in that agonie to bée continued weying all dangers which might befall him in séeking secretly for such helpe as by his owne industrie he could procure with the pleasures and hearts content the obtaining of his loues delight would bring him resolutelie determined as much as he might to cherish himselfe and disguising himself in habite of a traueller vnknowne of any man so soone as his strength would permit him hée departed his Countrie towards Thrace and either gaine his Ladie or trie in shorte time the ficklenesse of fortune hazarding all on this rest he secretely procureth all his Iewels and such summes of money as hée coulde and by little and little recouering himselfe vsed his woonted familiarity amongst the Nobles and Courtiours which did cause no small content and heartes ioye in the King Quéene and Commons yea such was the generall reioycing of the whole people in the Realme for his recouery that there was not one which shewed not some signe of gladnes by his outward appearance As there is not the clearest day which is not ouerwhelmed with some cloud so lasted this ioy amongst these louing subiects not long for Dionicus continuing his determination cōueyed his summes of mony and Iewels into a groue within the Parke neare the Court at such seuerall times as he would chuse to be solitarie wrought so close and with such discretion that he was altogither vnperceiued of any man Each thing wrought to his content secretly in the euening his companions by him appointed to kéep the Courtiers from idlenesse by such pastimes as he had deuised as Masking Barriors Dycing and other recreations whom he refused to accompanie alleaging that he might not be long absent from the King and that his sport determined was to recreate the Quéene who since her sicknesse was verie melancholie which coyned excuse passed for currant as what was it they would not credit which hée should report Hauing thus politikely fitted all things supper ended and euerie one attending the beginning of the sportes and pastimes Dionicus who had more stringes to his Harpe then one had no care but how to conuey himselfe from their presence which hée tooke opportunitie to doo telling the Quéene mother hée had giuen his word to be one of the Maskers which shée being glad of as reioycing to remooue his melancholy by anie meanes suffered him to depart But too soone alas gaue shée credite to his feined spéeches which turned them all to great sorrow and heauinesse for Dionicus minding least what they supposed he most ioyed in conueyed himselfe with all the hast he possibly could into the Parke where his footeman attended his comming with his horse on which hée was no sooner mounted to driue suspition or iealous thoughts of his late trauaile from his man hée commaunded him presently to spéede him with all the haste he might vnto the house of a Knight dwelling not farre off with a deuised message pretending the businesse to be of great waight and importaunce and straightly charging him not to depart from thence before his comming which should be the next night With this commaundement the seruaunt departed least suspecting the losse of so bountifull a maister was so neare But the Prince whose chiefest content was in beholding the Idia of that Paragon whom Fame had so extolled had his heart fired with desire that he thought euerie day a yeare and euerie minute a moneth vntill hée beheld the excellencie of Natures worke the onely performed worke of Bewtie and the soueraigne goddesse of his thoughts of which Dionicus hauing no small regard doubting to be missed of the King and loth to lose that opportunitie poasteth with all spéed vnto the groue where his coyne and Iewels laie where the better to escape the suspition of Officers in his passage crossing the seas he attired himselfe in the habit of a marchant which he had readie prouided for that purpose and so making small staie he ceaseth not his coriours pace nor spareth any hors flesh vntil he came to the port where he pretended to imbarke him selfe No
fathers sonnes vnto whom my minority denyed such reuenewes and liuinges as might sufficiently maintaine my estate which caused me to employ my stock in trade of merchandize by which in time of peace I gained in your countrie wealth sufficient which with my body I offer in your highnesse seruice and doubt not but to frée thy princely daughter from this vsurper whose vertue the worlde so much renowneth for by that faith which I receiued at the Font-stone so long as I may breath life neuer shal vnhalowed Cur triumph in your Graces ouerthrow nor in her dishonor The king ouer ioyed at these frank affaires of his champion expressing by his outward signes the inward delight of his heart and the desire he had to accept this yonglings offer taking great pleasure in his countenance which was louelie and no way inferiour to the best in his court for person wisedome and other good graces which with aduise considered he saith Pheander wel doest thou showe thy selfe a Gentleman for vnder the habit of a Merchant Gentilitie cannot be hid no poore estate can blemish the Noble nor aduerse fortune whatsoeuer but as golde is soone brought from the baser mettels to his forme by the skilfull finer so are the Noble knowne by their vertues Pheander I haue cause to honor thée for thy loue and forwardnesse as also for thy countrey which without slattering thée or any ther abiding I loue for your Kings sake But to our matter thou séest my déer Pheander the millions of cares heaped vppon my gray head through the oppression of this heathen Prince whereby I am made more miserable than the meanest subiect in my dominions and the more is my miserie by recounting the wretched estate of my louing subiects whom I hold as deare as my life and with that by resigning my life and crowne I might frée them from bondage were it nothing els the tyrant required But toward Gentleman whose loue wretch that I am I cannot requite my daughter oh sorrow worse thaÌ„ death to recount Nutania the only solace of my life and lines sole good in whose weal consisteth my good by violence offered her what good can be tide me she she my deare Pheander it is that drencheth my soul into so déep a hel that almost forgetting my self liuing I dayly dy only recounting the miseries â—he should endure if y â— tyrant triumpht in our ouerthrow but he that in extreams sendeth comfort hath reuiued me relieued my ouercharged hart by thy kind offer whose courage and hope of victorie being such as thou wilt hazard thy déerest blood for my daughters fréedom Thanks my good Pheander is all that I can yet yéeld thée yet tâ—ad more courage to thy noble mind fighting for vs our honor my daughter for whose good thou aduenturest shall inuest thée with the order of Knighthoode the first honour that euer she gaue to man of Armes and shal pray for thy good successe so calling for the Princesse who was so discontent that nothing could be pleasing vnto her who being come before him after her humble dutie done desirous to knowe her kingly Fathers will hée recounted the zeale of the merchant vnto her who had not onely offered his goods but also his proper life to trie in battel his fortunes against their enemie wherefore Nutania quoth the king for that he hath so voluntarily offered the same for thy sake and I relying on my God and in his prowes haue accepted him for my Champion by thy hand he shall receiue the honour of knighthood his title The maiden Knight and so prosper he in his honorable action and in all others as we wish and himselfe desireth The Princesse which diuers times had noted the courtlie behauiour of Dionicus was not a little pleased at her fathers motion as one that in hartie good wil wished him better then modestie would suffer her to vtter yet harkening to her fathers speaches shee behelde him with more gracious countenaunce and vewing the lineamentes of his person each grace well regarded she inwardly bewailed his hard hap that the goddes had framed him of no better reputation than a marchant who might well deserue the title of a king put from her memento by recounting her fathers wordes pausing thereon sometime with modest blushing countenance she said Kind sir whose honorable seruice offered for my fathers good and all our weales his subiectes if I yéelde you not such recompence as your desertes doe merit blame me not of discourtesie which haue no better knowledge of you but accept the hartie thanks of a Virgin vnto whome I holde my selfe so farre indebted as I can no other way recompence then wishing your good yet in earnest of better good refuse not at my hand to receiue the honour of Knighthood séeing my Lords pleasure is such and drawing his rapier the Prince knéeling shee inuested him with the order by name of the Maiden Knight pulling a iewell of rich price froÌ„ her gowne she tied the same in a most beautiful scarffe beséeching him to weare it for her sake wishing all happie fortune in his attempts The new adopted Knight whose heart ouer ioyed for so great a fauour receiued from the saint his heart wholy honoured with manie thankes dutifully rendered kissed the Princesse hand vowing himselfe her humble seruant and in all places to maintaine her modest bewtie Princely honour with his dearest bloud The time thus passed word was brought the King that dinner was readie whereby they were interrupted whome for a time we leaue to their repast discoursing diuersly at table of the valour of the Mayden Knight whose towardnesse the King admired which made his hopes the greater not doubting but his Champion would proue no lesse valiant in Armes then they exspected At which the Princesse gloried not a litle and the Nobles pleased at both their comforts passed the time with more content then many dayes before whome we leaue to their mirth and the Mayden Knight to the ordering of his affaires The Numedian King exiling himselfe from his Court in habite of a Pilgrime trauelled many vncouth places in search for his sonne of whom he could hear no tidings neither could Barnardine for all the industrie he could vse attaine to any knowledge of him his heart so much desired through which the heauines both of the Péeres Comons were daily increased And no maruel when their soueraign the mirror of all princely curtesie had thus vnknowne in the declining of his age when his yeares required rest banished himselfe his countrey louing subiects and what else he enioyed the griefe of which so oppressed the heart of the Quéene that nothing might yéeld her any comfort But pining in continuall sorrow vtterly abandoning the worlds comfort to séeke her comforter whose dwellings are in the highest heauens she yéelded her due to death whose funerals with the effusion of many brinish teares of the Nobles and sorrowfull lamentations of her subiects was performed with
much which goeth from themselues such as they please to bestow it vpon shall be abused Thus haue I heard gentle Knight and gréeue that honour should so vnkindly bée rewarded or that any subiect should forget his dutie so much as for his owne lucre cause those that spende their bloud in their countries defence their landes and possessions with emptie purses and heauie heartes like men forlorne to walke the streets exclaiming on them that should sée their seruice better rewarded to the dishonor of the state they liue in This my Pheander I often recount least in forgetting it I fall to infamie by committing the like but he that gaue me reason to know good and to follow it wil neuer suffer me to fall into so great folly nor let me liue to forget those maimed braue men that venture for my good and my countries weale for while I may breath the souldier shall be honored in Thrace and shall reape the reward of his merites neither shall these Drones which in such times of perils hide their heads suck the hony off my garland Like mindes I wish all princes with carefull eies to looke into the doinges of such who as the moth deuoureth the fine cloth consumeth their princely reputation drawthe commons who by dutie are bound to loue from their alleageance While the king was in this speach worde was brought him that a Heralde from the campe attended his pleasure at the gate requiring parlie which he suddenlie granted commanding him to be broght to his presence this vnhallowed pagan who neuer feared God nor was endued with any humanity come vnto the kings presence with a shameles countenance vsed this peremptory spéech King of Thrace Mustaffa Cela great commander of the empire general of those royal armies sendeth thée by me thy choyce either of wars or peace peace if thou deliuer thy daughter vnto him whom he hath so oftē required yet wheras his loue vnto her hath bene such to make her his wife his noble mind dispiseth her so much as his highnes wil neuer so much honor her but in despite of thée and to abate the pride of that disdainful dame he wil vse her as his concubine when he shal haue taken the flower of her virginity giue her to the basest villain in his camp Thou knowest my embassage deliuer her liue or by me return thy resolute answere for it shal not be many dayes ere thy citie shal flame with fire about thyne eares The king vexed at this vnexspected message could not answer him so mooued was his choller yet with as much patience as nature would permit he saide Pagan I haue heard with great paine endured thy Lordes peremptorie message and that thou that Cur from whome thou commest shal know the great difference betwéen a Christian him that he vnderstand how honorable we hold the lawe of arms I pardon thée thy life which thy presumption doth require sharply to be punished For answere to thy Lord this briefly say his threates I regarde not for my daughter as God hath giuen her me and for she is the onely ioy of my aged life I wil shield her in despite of the Pagan and his greatest power defend her chastity therfore depart and say to thy Lord from me his threates Iwey no more than the words of a child it is not his multitudes can dant me were they ten times more then they are my daughter I wil hold in despite of his beard proud vsurper that hée is Thou knowest my wil make no stay The Herald noting the stern countenāce of y ◠king and hearing his resolution thought it not good to stay a replie least his tongue swelling in his mouth might not be eased without losse of his head but glad to escape his furie conueyed him from his presence with al speed he could posting to the pauilion of the prince vnto whome he deliuered the kinges resolute answere which hee no sooner heard but like one besides himselfe he vowed in three dayes to be reuenged of y ◠old churle who should fast the bitternes of his youthful furie Litle knoweth this proud enemie the preparation made to bid him welcome or that his own destruction was so néere as after it prooued The Maiden Knight which with no smal grief had endured this proud demaund of the herald whose whole request was for dishonor of her he so much honored awaked from melancholy as out of a sound sléep prostrating himself before the king he saith renowned Soueraigne with what grief I haue endured the presumption of this vsurper my heart denieth my tongue to vtter neither shal I haue ioy of any thing til I reuenge the wrongs offered your M. your princely daughter vpō that dog Wherefore dread Lord grant me licence to issue out of the city with my companies in the silent of y ◠night I hope ere long to returne his proud challenge with my sword in his throte Thanks good knight quoth the King I accept thy offer as much as if thou hadst giuē me the whole world in possession yet would I not so forward a man shuld aduenture himself without my company whose cause it is my selfe will accompany thée in the fight and by my herald bid him battell in which I doubt not of successe The Knight was not a litle mooued to hear his suit take no better successe yet not willing to endure any competitor in the honour he hoped of humblie besought his Maiestie of the honour he bare to Armes in this attempt to giue him leaue the rather for the reputation of the Princesse which had geuen him his first honor The king which saw by his countenance how malecontent he rested at this deniall howe loth so euer he were to graunt the same yet yéelded to his desire and taking him from his knée louingly embracing him he saith Braue man at armes take not in ill part that I haue denyed neither thinke that it was in any sort to disparage you or the hope I haue of your forwardnes but for maintaining my owne honour yet séeing your will is to aduenture for mée goe in Gods name and he be your defence that euer comforteth his distressed and so pulling his signet from his finger he gaue it him willing that it bee deliuered to the Gouernour of the citie let him vnderstand his Highnesse pleasure was that he with his armie passe at his pleasure and so taking his humble leaue of the king and gracious mistresse which affecteth him more then he could conceiue he departeth more ioyful of this honor then to be richlie endowed No sooner parted he the kings presence but slacking as litle time as was possible he summoned his captaines and officers straitly charging thē with al the diligence he could vse to gather their companies to attend him in the market place in which charge no negligence was vsed so that by shutting in of the euening ech captaine
the day with a most pleasant and friendly countenance she challenged him of negligence whom she had not séene in two or thrée daies and leading him politikely pretending matter of importance to impart vnto him from the companie she brought him neare the side of a faire Copes which so ouershadowed them that the Sunne beames could not offend them where they might both boldly say whatsoeuer it pleased them without being heard or séene of any which might interrupt them which caused her take opportunitie to discusse with him thus Seruant quoth she I pray thée say of y e duty thou hast vowed thy mistresse and by those swéete thoughts which are best pleasing vnto thée what is the Lady to whoÌ„ thy loue is dedicated for loue doubtlesse thou doest thy countenance bewraieth it which I haue noted with more regard then becommeth a maiden yet of care to thée whose health I tender for thy curtesie good seruice done which I wold requite in the best maner I might and for thy lookes sheweth thy heart craueth to be pitied of thy Ladie let mée know her who may chance stand thée in some stéed for women may preuaile much one with an other The Knight wrapt into a heauen of ioyes hearing the goddesse of his deuotion with such fauour and kindnes to vse him with a blushing countenance standing at the bar before her whose sentence pronounced was either life or death he saith Honorable and gracious mistresse giue me leaue so to call your highnesse since you haue dained a captiue the title of your seruant and pardon my presumption answering your demand that I loue I cannot deny which argueth your skil in phisick great whom my tongue is restrained to reueale but if your highnesse could iudge whose loue I most adore and long haue and iudging ease me I should haue cause to say no phisicke proferer on the earth whatsoeuer might compare with my gracious mistresse for skill I dare say no more fearing to offend The Princesse all this time gazed on the perfection of her seruant as déeply enamoured on his perfection as the Knight inueagled with hers for her eye made a suruey of his excellent feature which shée founde more perfit by how much the more she had bent her liking to loue him Thus loue which had assailed both their harts endued them with such a siâ—pathy of ioy beholding themselues all alone that with ouer much ioy they were striken mute so that how much soeuer their hearts desired to let each other knowe their loues they could not reueale the same In this heauen of happie content they had not long bene Guenelia a Ladie that attended the Princes brought her word the King her father with the King of Thessaly was comming into the Parke which place they had chosen to recreate themselues Where passing on by faire Paris they diligently listen to the swéete recordes of the pritie birds who skipping from trée to trée gaue as well the content beholding it as the eare pleasure in their notes great was the delight they receiued viewing the bewtie of the place which for pleasant walkes swéete groues and fruitfull trées of all sortes was matchlesse into which manie pleasant brookes had recourse on the bankes of which finding the place bewtified with Natures gifts they sat them downe earnestly beholding the pleasure of the fishes how pretely they chased one the other with many a plesant conceiued toy which they noted censuring of each seuerall action as they thought best to encrease their mirth When some time was spent on this pleasant manner Philarcus King of Thrace finding himselfe all alone with the King of Thessaly hauing neuer questioned of him his vnhappie fortune began with him thus Let it not be displeasing vnto thée famous King that I intrude my selfe so far into thy familiaritie to require the cause of your graces trauaile through which your life was so dangered if you vouchâ—aâ—â— me this fauour you shal commaund a matter of more import so please it you at my hands The Thessalian King attending this vn 〈…〉 question was driuen into such 〈…〉 thoughts that his colour showed better his discontent to recount it then his tongue ablenesse to answere the kings demand how willing so euer he was to satisfie him yet after some pause taken he saith Right curteous and mirrour of the world for Nobility though nothing can be more displeasing to my grieued heart then recounting my aduerse fortune yet that your Grace shall not find any ingratitude in me at whose hands I haue receiued such honourable entertainment attende me It is not many yeares since Mantonna my father deceised who left me vnhappie I his successour to inherite the crowne which I did not long enioy before Donatia King of Egypt required of me my sister in mariage who being beautifull and in the flourishing time of her yeares hauing not yet attained to the full of fiftéene yong ynough to be bestowed yet of that wisdome that I referred y e choise of her loue to her owne liking induced thereunto by the many euils happening by such made marriages wher the children are forced by the couetous desires of their parents to ioyne wealth to wealth others for great patrimonies all for lucre fewe or none for loue But whether the beauty of my sister Phedera for so was she called or the desire of her dowrie which was great or either of them or both I cannot say â—ut my sister being made acquainted with his sute I craued her answere for which his Ambassadors attended in my Court with the best entertainment I could giue whome my sister Phedera with her owne mouth answered woe is me vnhappy the tongue that pleaded deniall to his suite but most of all vnhappy the houre when first of all hee determined to craue her at my handes in whose power it was not to graunt no sooner arriued his Nobles at the Court and he scarslie had receiued the sum of her answere but as one bereft of all honour reason and gouernment he vowed reuenge on me and my countrey And leuying a mighty power both of horse and foot assailed me in mine owne territories whome by the mighty power of the Almightie I expelled my lande to their great dishonour and no small losse to my subiectes yet how great soeuer his ouerthrowe was an honourable minde I must say were the cause iust he ordeined a mightie power by seas whereof being by my espyalles aduertised of the time as neare as they could gesse they would be readie with a power well shipped and furnished I met him neare his owne Confines where a mortall fight was begunne and moste valiantly continued neyther side giuing any shewe of fainting But alasse too soone commeth that grief which meiteth my hart into thousands of teares to recount the Admirall of mine owne Squadron being suncke and two others forced by the cunning hand of their Gunners to lye by the Lée the rest fainted which béeing perceiued of the enemie
excellence to take so great a matter vpon me yet shal I so please it you to heare me deliuer my simple opinion as I would do my selfe in the like action The olde wiues say they that féede with the deuill must haue a long spoone and they that goe about to master Loue had néed of manie good precepts disswade your Grace I will not to forget it for I sée it is vain neither would I wish you to answere by writing for a paper is soone lost and lost to whose finding it shall come tis vncertaine as soone to some enuious enemie as a wel-willer in which some word simplie meant of you or me may be construed by them at their pleasure whereby your name may be brought in question and a slaunder raised is not so easily suppressed writing is a specialtie whereof the subtill Lawyer takes no small aduantage to auoyd all which casualties this may you doe pretend some matter of conference with him and appoint the time when hée shall attende your pleasure at your lodging comming secretely vnto you and at such time as the King your father shall bée employed in serious affaires so may you vse your spéech at your pleasure this would Guenela doe your Grace may vse your discretion I like thy deuise wel good wench and giue thée manie thankes quoth the Princesse therefore faile not to méete him for thy promise what els I refer to thy best indgemeÌ„t Nowe in faith Madame quoth Guenela you haue made a good choyce for a solliciter but take me as I am this is the first suit that euer I was retained for nor I doubt not if I spéed well now of manie elpantes As they were thus pleasant betwéene themselues they heard a trumpet sound to horse which caused the Princesse to sende her Page to enquire the cause who returned her answer that the king with his traine were setting forward to hunt a wilde bore which his Forrester had roused this newes gaue them cause of ioy hoping that Fortune fauoured them with a happy time which they were both loth to omit doubting the like opportunitie the Princesse especially who coulde not be quieted in minde vntill shée heard her Knight aunswere for himselfe wherefore a Page was presently commanded to search for y e Knight willing him with such conuenient spéed as hee could to meet Guenela in the garden the Page vsed such diligence y e soone he was brought vnto the Knightes presence whome he found solitary as a holie father at his Orizons whome the Page awaked with his ioyful message which was welcom vnto him albeit doubtfull whether of weale or woe either to augment his sorrowes or vtterly to extinguish them The sudden hearing of which caused him to pause a while when hauing determined curteously returned answere to the Gentlewoman that he would attend her he rewarded the Page so bountifully as he had cause to boast him of his wel employed seruice Guenela hauing receiued his answere by the Page aduertized the Princesse thereof who commaunded her to haste least she gaue the Knight cause of discontent by her long stay but for al her spéed Pheander was long there before atteÌ„ding her comming who was no sooner of him perceiued to enter the place but his heart prâ—â—aging some good was more delighted thereat theÌ„ all the motions that could be imagined after his curteous salutations done thus said Swéet Guenela I know not what to imagine of thy sudden message yet willing to be resolued as one that by thy answer exspecteth his doome either of life or death I attend thy pleasure say therfore swéet Lady what faith the Princesse to my letters with whom Guenela purposed to be somthing pleasant not to cloy his stomacke with such plesant confections that he should surfet therewith and framing a countenance to her spéech she said Sir Knight of all the Gentlemen in the Courte of Thrace my good opinion was such of you that on your word I durst haue hazarded my greatest credit which expectation thou hast farre deceiued and therefore not worthie to be accounted among such honorable men at Armes which take their principall honor holding their word with Gentlewomen At the deliuery of which spéech he that had tooke regarde to the Knightes countenaunce might haue thought him past phisickes recure And withall standing so mute it verely perswaded Guenela that he was readie to deliuer his interest of life whiche made her alter her rough words and with a smoother methode new file them doubting that her Comedie begun in mirth should prooue a Tragidie to the great grief of the whole Country which generally honored him Wherfore taking him by the hand she sayd Sir Knight I am sorie I haue charged you so far what cause soeuer I had but tis womanlike to be slaine with words and no fit passion for a man of your profession That you may comfort your selfe I first pardon the offence against me committed and enioyne you as you tender your credit with the Princesse Nutania that you faile not to repaire at such conuenient time as you best can to her lodging where if you hold your word you will excuse your messenger Oh Guenela how haue thy spéeches tormented me filling my entrailes with suche a confusion of comfortlesse thoughts as haue ouercome my senees Yet Guenela if thou be curteous or haue any sparke of gentilitie abide in thée Say my good Lady what countenance gaue the Princesse to my bashfull paper Vouchsafed she the reading of them Or how to discomfort you good Knight quoth Guenela it were pittie being alreadie at so low a datum which pitieth me to behold Comfort can I giue none to thy desires but this thy sute is loue as your Letters import in which dispaire not for thy mistresse is a woman though a Princesse and how pitifull our sexe is I will not boast but wish thée not dispaire If thy birth were as great as thy vertues thou mightst boord and bedde as good as the Princesse Nutania vnto whom I wil be a faithfull soliciter Mistake me not Pheander I speake as a friend and so leaue thée vntill thy comming to my Lady which detract not for time lost is such a precious thing as can neuer be recalled Before whom when thou shalt come pleade thine owne cause and discouer thine owne grie And so farewell Pheander which had some greater hope by Guenela her last spéeches was so ouer ioyed that he could not bid her farewell yet after his memento past he saith farewell the faithfullest friend in my distresse that euer I founde Oh Guenela happy maist thou be in thy loues and highly honored amongst men by whom my cares are thus comforted faithfull Guenela the worker of my hearts happie content by whom past all hope I am by thy faithfulnesse and trueth in deliuering my message freed of so heauie a burthen as was likely to haue torne my poore oppressed heart in a million of péeces Thus vplawding Guenela he had almost
couer y e blushing of her face as ashamed of what she had to say vnto him in reuealing her owne griefe she said Famous Prince whome the world applaudeth and our Courtiers of Thrace with wonder do admire that I loued thée being Pheander I cannot deny and how many iarres I endured for thée I omit each particuler wringing tears from my heart which how willing so euer it was to haue made the same knowne modestie restrained laying before me many wrongs offred in Ladies loue by such periured knights as haue profest with their toongs what their harts neuer ment wherby diuers Ladies of honor haue bene dishonored sundry lost their liues which considered blame me not if I rather chuse to die then passe the bandes of modestie so farre as seeke thy loue or knowing thy grief to blame mine yéeld before I heard thée auow on thine honor what thy letters imported But gentle Prince that thou maist better beléeue what I report how much soeuer my heart hath denied to reueale perswade thée if I loued thée being Pheander and a counterfeyt merchant assure you I cannot hate thée for that thou art Dionicus the one a Prince the other an inferiour of whose loue were I assured and that his tongue and heart agreed in one Dionicus should be in loue so requited as neuer any should haue interest in Nutanias heart but the péerlesse Prince of Numedia At vttering of which teares restrained her spéech which y e Prince noted and perceiuing that she spake what her heart thought he â—omforted her thus Faint not Madame neither sorrow for those comfortable confections bestowed on a dying creature whose fauors hath haled him from the graue whereunto he was like to haue bene swallowed had not thy comfort reclaimed mée who liuing died for thy loue which grace shall neuer be forgotten And that you shall assure you my faith and loue is firme and honorable I protest by that honor that euer the Numedian Prince hath regarded that my loue to the Princesse Nutania is no other but honourable nor neuer none hath had any interest in Dionicus or euer shall but the onely bewtifull and verteous Princesse Nutania and on that take here my hand and with my hand the heart loue and honor of a Prince Guenela lending an eare to this prattle hearing them so earnest to put them from their melancholy tooke the word at aduantage and comming sodeinly to them said Madame at finishing of bargains they shake hands if there be any exchange betwéene your knight and you you were best to take witnesse least disliking the match he recant his word Guenela quoth the Prince your Lady is beholding to thée for thy care and I your debter challenge it when you please Sir quoth Guenela I thank you but wilt please you remember your promise excuse Guenela quoth the Princesse without my Lord y â— Prince his further intreaty I pardon al faults committed against me for confirmation of which get your Lawyer to draw an acquittance generall from the beginning of the world and I will signe it Nay Madame answered Guenela it were an euil seruant that will not take her mistresse worde for a dozen or two of stripes which I am sure had bene the most and if they should light on my ribbes might well grieue me slay me they could not my heart is of more valour then so But Madame shal Sir Pheander marie the Princesse Nutania that you call him your Lord the Prince if that be the bargaine I feare there is some fire in the strawe And howe then quoth the Princesse Nay Madame quoth Guenela nothing but I pray God giue you much ioy and make you happy in your loue While they were thus pleasant a page brought word that diuers Ladies were come to visite the Princesse which caused them how loth so euer after manie swéet imbracings and louing kisses betwéene them enterchanged to giue each other the farewel parting better content then they came together hauing vnburthened their heartes of much griefes giuing content to both by yéelding to loue which vanquished both whome to their pleasing imaginations I leaue to recount the Kinges of Thrace and Thessalie their pastimes in hunting These Kinges following the chace with great pleasure as pastime they greatly delighted were so wearied with the same and toiled with the extremity of heate which made them choose some place vnder the shadowe of the spreading trées to refresh themselues where they had not long rested but they were espied of an ancient woman the widdow of good yeâ—man and her sonne who hauing workmen not farre from thence were carrying them victuals The poore aged woman hauing séene as she thought vnséene the kings doubting they were some of those robbers that haunted those mountains woulde haue shifted from them another way but were interrupted of the King who suddeinly calling them draue them both into such a shaking feare as they which are ouerburthened with a feauer The King who graciously regarded their timmorousnesse comforted them with all the fauourable spéeches he could vse protesting vnto them that in their company they should receiue no discurtesie by none if the King himselfe were present and therefore willed them to set feare apart and to tell them what they were the cause of their feare and their businesse they had that way These honorable spéeches of the King mildly vttered comforted them wherefore in such blunt manner as her bringing vp required shée sayd Gentlemen for so you séeme if your inward conditions answere your outward habit as many in this age doeth whose garments might become men of great worth if apparell may make a man more worthie yet diuerse times couer those carkases voyd either of worship honestie or other good condition Pardon my harsh behauiour gentle sir and blame me not for auoiding the way experience haâ—â— taught me to eschue harmes who to my cost haue dearly paid for my learning hauing my goods spoiled at home and my self family dangered abroad and without offence may I speak it by such whose countenance and attire might wel haue deceiued them of more iudgement then my selfe The King delighted with her plaine spéeches demanded where she dwelled and whether she had a husband or liued a widow Oh sir if any gentilnesse abide in you quoth she vrge me not to deliuer a tale of such ruth as your questions import The remembrance of my passed pleasant life when I call to minde with the cares I now am combred with many sundry wayes are so displeasing vnto my gréeued heart as I may not without many teares shed recount the same These words spoken in heauinesse noted of the King made him more importunate to heare the rest and therfore willed her all feare set apart to reueale vnto him what estate she liued in and if any wrongs were offred hir he protested by oathes which might haue bene well beléeued to remedie it yea if it were the King himselfe The carefull widow encouraged by
wisdome hée aduisedly weighed that cares must be comforted in tyme least takyng déepe roote they will consume the heart subiect vnto it Therefore after many kynde perswasions vsed hée layde before her the honour of the place assigned him and what infamy woulde redownde vnto him refusing it with the dishonour of him and staine to his Proginy for euer the cause being right and the action of her Princely father so charitable whereon the welfare of a whole kingdome consisted The Princesse whome gréefe had neare ouercome hearing her beloued speake so honourably and well considering it was greatly to his infamie to denye her father though hardly wonne to patience yet armed with hope of his valour and fortunate successe in his iourney reason and wisedome subduing griefe and sorrow shée graunteth her consent heartily praying for his safe and suddaine returne to his eternall honour and encreasing of the hearts content Tyme that staieth not causeth these Princes to part Pheander to giue directions for his iourney his prouision being all to make but such care had he of the same as hée was sodeinly prouided of all néedfull things expsecting a faire wind for imbarquing his companies which God sent as they desired when ech one taking leaue of their friends with many a loath departing farewell hée betooke himselfe to the mercy of the waues who by his goodnesse that commaundeth and gouerneth all things fauoured them with so happie a gale that in short time they might discry the high lande of Egipt which being by his skilfull Pylottes knowne they strooke their sayles to Hull vntill a generall Councell was called where euery man had libertie to deliuer his aduise for the benefit of the action Where after long debating and eache perill aduisedly weyghed it was determined the Fléete should put againe into the Sea least they being a huge number should be discried and their intent thereby made frustrate To bring their purpose to better effect a Frygate was slenderly manned to auoyd suspition who in the night rowed hard aboord the shoare with Commission to take what ere hée were they could first lay holde off that they might be the rather aduertised of the state of the Countrey and where the King was This deuise sorted to such effect thet through the great diligence of the Lord Cariolus who was appointed for the same as one desirous to gaine honour by dawning of the day they recouered a Rocke which opened with one of their principall port vnder which vnséene they might shelter themselues and yet haue sight of eache shallop whether hée were fisher or other that came or went Long had they not laine exspecting their desires But Fortune who fauoured their enterprise discouered vnto them a a Galley bounde for Babylon fraighted with many passengers of honour and exceeding rich with plate money and Iewels This Galley first discryed halfe dismayed the company who feared shée had bene a man of warre sent of purpose to surprise them so that each one had greater desire to be gone againe then to attempt any thing against them But in extreames is the Noble minde best tried as the Lord Cariolus in this who séeing the cowardise of such base companions first by faire perswasions encouraged them to the attempt shewing in his countenance his resolution and arming them with hope of victorie not omitting the reward of so honourable an action which if they escaped with victorie being the beginning of their enterprise deserued more to be recompenced then all the rest To giue you courage my hearts quoth he I say not to you go but follow me your Leader who will either winne her or leaue my life in so good a cause But these spéeches with those dastards preuailed not at all who séeing the match vnequall cryed stil to be gone but Cariolus who weighed his honor farre aboue all moued with great impatience at their deniall with his Rapier drawne came amongst them reuiling them with odious spéeches and protesting what ere he were that should in the least sort either by word or countenance make show to return should with his own hand be murdered and so long as he might breath no faint hearted villaine should dishonor him who came to gaine honor Therefore swéete blouds quoth he take courage and feare not death with honor is to be valued more then life with a kingdomes possession who so followeth me shall finde me euer his friend and what ere I possesse shall haue interest in it The company how loath so euer they were to be wonne to so hard an aduenture yet séeing the noble man so resolute thought it bootlesse to refuse him or to make semblant of dislike holding it more wisedome to kéepe his honorable friendship by their forward aduenturing then procure his enuy by their cowardise and seeing it high time to resolue the galley approaching them neare they cried to procéed and they would all follow him Cariolus pleased with their willingnes had scarce leisure to giue directions for the fight before the galley came within hayling whose force being such and so wel manned as she was made small account of the Frygat who although they halled many times yet making as if they heard not bore vp with them and valiantly without words entered her in the Prow putting them from their Ordinance where they within boord with their Pistolles Semitaries and other néedfull weapons valiantly behaued themselues Cariolus crying still courage courage Thessalie so long that in short time the Cauileres were all stowed and his company leauing his Frygat entered all the Galley as lawfull Prize to be shared amongst them The Noble Cariolus hauing ended the fight he kindly with words of fauour and promise of libertie with great reward to the slaues vrged them to apply their labor which with so willing hearts accomplished his request that in short time they had sight of their Fléete and beare with them all they might which being descried they could not imagine whether the Galley were friend or no wherefore the Generall to auoyd perill as wisedome with valour is requisit doubting that by firing or other mischiefe they might annoy them he called by his flage of Councell the commanders of each ship frygat and galley aduising them to take great regarde how they suffered the galley to boord them By that time the whole Fléete was prepared in squadrons rowing fiue and fiue warlike and braue Cariolus came vp with them when the fléete halled them they espied his owne cullors aduanced on the Poope and an other Ensigne hanging vnder her sterne which sight gaue them great cause of ioy to signifie their gladnes for his successe each ship in the foreward with their Ordinance and small shot according to the maner of the sea bad him welcome In which Tryumph vnhappily with a scowrer which negligently was shot from a Hargubâ—ze was the Noble Cariolus wounded to the great griefe of all the Nobles The Generall hauing vnderstanding therof in his shalop boorded him withall the
spéed he might carrying with him his owne Surgion and such as professed phisick doubting the griefe to be more dangerous then it proued whereof albeit the report was first offensiue to him yet was comforted in this comfort the wounde not mortall they regarding it as nothing when the Generall had carefully séen the wound searched and drest enquiring what they were which he had taken he caused all the chief of them to be called vnto him who on their examinations would confesse little which forced the Generall to put one of y e inferiors attendant on Phidamia the Egyptian kings brother to be tortured who forced with the crueltie thereof confessed what they were and how their going for Babylon was to intreate a peace with the Emperour who as they were informed leuied a power to subuert their countrey in reuenge of the wrong offered Phedera sister to the Thessalian King slaine in a battaile fought at sea by the Egyptian King This newes was not sooner reuealed then welcome for hereby they were assured of an expected frend yet enquired the Generall whether their King had married the Princesse Phedera or no and where hée liued Sir quoth the Egyptian after the victory obtained wherein the Noble Theophilus perished the King my maister furnished for suche an attempt without further staie or suffering them to gather head which he was sure they would doo hearing of their Kings ill successe to preuent which he framed his course thither where they suddeinly arriued and by their power and pollicie subdue the chiefest of the Nobilitie who hauing them sure they easily and in short time ouercame the rest where he was by generall voyces though against their liking Crowned King of Thessaly How hée punished the Nobilitie I omit embacing them and raising in their places them farre vnworthie such honor and reputation so that neither Gentleman or other of account but liueth in great seruitude and slauery glad to be reléeued with néedfull vyands and apparrell at their handes which themselues haue often fed The Princesse for all the perswasion he can vse he cannot in loue obtain yet hath he vsed the good Lady more cruelly then I would willingly report the strangenesse of her tortures being such as fewe but doth greatly pitie And now as our last Poastes imparted vnto vs he hath appointed a time wherein she must resolutely answere him to his content or ende her life in fire The which crueltie to her vsed reported by Merchants of Babylon with the vertues of the Princesse and comming to the Emperors eares being now in the prime of his yeares either of pollicie being mightie to release her or whether to make her his Ladie and wife I cannot say but hée hath required her in marriage pretending great loue vnto her which the King will not graunt vnto But in words of great despight hath answered him in such manner as hée greatly disliking hath with fire and sword defied him who being a Prince of very great might and force our nobles of Egipt haue thought good rather to ioyne with fauourable showes of friendship then abide the extremitie of his furie Loe sir quoth hée thus haue I satisfied your request which is all I can doo And for the same quoth the Knight receiue thy libertie with what other fauour I may do thée These newes was as pleasing to the Mayden Knight as if he had bene possessed of the Crowne and hauing such aduantage holding it small pollicie to loose any time comforting Cariolus emmitting the charge of his prisoners vnto his good regard hée hasteth to his owne ship where vnto Theophilus King of Thessaly hée recounted what hée had heard desiring that order might be presently taken whereby the enemy might be surprized at vnawares so might they finish their intents with lesse danger and more honour on which they agréeing they summoned their chiefest vnto whome the Knight recounted what the Egyptian had declared beséeching the King whose cause it was to speake his minde then the rest to giue their aduise what they thought was best to be done for accomplishing their desires and planting the King in his owne Countries These questions propounded each particular perill with each aduantage and occasion which offered good successe was throughly debated when they had each one deliuered their minde Pheander whose honor was now in the Balance as one that desired no worldly possessions so much as the reputation with his mistresse and the King saide Noble Gentlemen you haue all like resolute braue hardie men at Armes shewed in your spéeches the desire you haue to do this noble King that seruice for which we come if therfore you wil encline your eares to my opiniō among the rest I shall acknowledge my selfe greatly fauoured by you The whole company which by curtesie was drawne to his loue was easily wonne to this request and willed him say on which he did in this maner My Noble Lords and friends in Armes touching these motions made for our procéedings it hath bin by the Egyptian reported whom we do credit the King is in possession of Thessaly which Crowne we know all he doth dishonorably vsurpe The Princesse she in such extreme that by his cruell censure is not long to liue vnlesse against her will she grant to loue him who is loathsome in her eyes To preuent which it behoueth vs to search the best meane that we can and for that euery one hath giuen his censure this is my aduise that hauing these Nobles in our possession in whome consisteth the strength of his Realme our company being lustie and strong we wil raunge their confines where finding place opportunitie we may surprize them at vnawares who being subdued his force shall be the more impaired That done we will with all conuenient spéed passe for Thessaly where I doubt not but to come before the time limited the Princesse for her answere and to reskew her deliuering the possession of the Crowne into the Kinges hand the Knight hauing said presently it was confirmed and each Captain departed to his charge according to directions giuen entered the confines of Egipt where they wrought by such pollicie and directions of the Mayden Knight that they landed in the dead of y ◠night the greatest part of their Armies marching in warlike order towards the Citie of Buckelia where the king kept his chiefe Court and where their greatest force was But before they could recouer the walls or come to view the same for any aduantage they were descried and the gates shut against whom the Citizens made such power as they could for their defence which vnexspected of the Knight caused him to staie vntill himselfe went to knowe their pleasures and to deliuer his owne intent And mounting himselfe onely accompanied with his Herald and one Trumpet hée came before the walles sommoning them to parley which was answered againe by an other Trumpet and such of the nobilitie as was within shewed themselues vnto him demanding a cause
of his comming in Armes to disturbe their dominions and the subiects to their King Nobles of Egypt answered the Mayden Knight Theophilus lawfull King of Thessaly whose Crowne your King Donacia vniustly withholdeth preserued by heauens power for your scourge and to reuenge the bloud of those innocents slaine by your crueltie is come with fire and sword to require his right which if you accept and will deliuer hée sendes you by me mercy if you deny and do not surrender your Crowne of Egypt with all the regalties honors priuiledges and customes thereunto belonging and become his faithful subiects and liegemen you shal all perish with the sword and your Countrey flaming with fire shall be ouerthrowne in such maner that in time to come there shal nothing be found but the ruines of your gorgious Palaces and stately Cities this hath he vowed by the honour of his name therefore choose like wary Champions and let me know your willes for no detraction may be vsed The Egyptian Pheres which heard the name of Theophilus whom they long sithence supposed dead were surprized with a sodaine feare in such manner as their sences were depriued and they râ—sâ—ed like men in extacie fearing the reuenge of him whom they did all know was by their King highly wronged yet shewing the Nobilitie of their mindes shaking off feare they sayd Syr Knight thy vnlooked for message is such as we know not sodeinly how to answere neyther will we lyke faynt hearted peasants derogate from our Noble auncestors the honour they long mainteined with cowardise to deliuer that which nature and fidelitie vrgeth vs to defend our liues we estéeme as they are vaine and euery day subiect to casualties death nor do we enioy that small time giuen vs but onely for our Common-weale and benefit of our Country being pillers on whom the state dependeth you haue dastardlyke wayted opportunitie to take vs at aduantage our King not present whose right and interest we are sworne to maintaine Therefore to Theophilus say That as we serue our King and liue by his Grace we will with our dearest bloud withstand the inuasion of any forraine Prince whatsoeuer If our king as you alleage haue offered wrong vnto him let him reuenge it on him and séeke his amendes where he may get it for other entertainment let him not looke for here The Mayden Knight hearing their resolution greatly commended their valour and loyaltie to their soueraigne who séeing their truth pittied them and wished all men so faithfull mindes yet how well so euer he lyked their answere their intents was to be considered who came with more resolute mindes then to be wonne with faire words and therefore returned with all hast to the Camp where to the king he briefly deliuered the summe of their answere which the king tooke no pleasure to heare rather desiring their submission by curtesie then the effusion of bloud yet not to pitie them in such maner to giue ouer the aduantage he had wherefore that they might be assured of his resolution which came to conquere from his vsurping foe taking his Army which was ledde by the appoynted Generall hée brought them before the Citie vnto whom they gaue many sharp and fierce allarmes and were valiantly repulsed not without great losse of either part Thus continued the assault long and dreadfull till Pheander noting the time of the Princesse Phederaes death to draw neare when either she must be rescued or dye that extreame death assigned he determined to put all on fortune to sée the ende and not longer to prolong time And calling those whose valour he had most assurance off hée made knowne vnto them his intent requiring their company wherunto small perswasions serued desirous to be a partner with him in his actions which were in all things very honorable The knight assured of his friends and followers in this action gaue directions to all Captaines at the going downe of the Sunne to be readie furnished with their companies to bid the enemy battell doing their best before that place where their chiefe force was in the meane time he with his accomplices would assaile some other part which was of lesse abilitie to defend Thus these noble Gentlemen hauing determined as they say to winne the horse or lose the saddle neglected no time so that against the appointed houre each man in his place was readily furnished and most valiantly attempted with all warlike Ensignes to enter the Cittie battering scaling and each seuerall wayes searching that pollicie or valour would permit to bring the Citie to ruine and vanquish y e enemy which was most nobly defended with great courage and much losse of either part While they were at their hardy fight on either part it is not to be forgotteÌ„ how the Mayden Knight with his associates séeking opportunitie by chance lighted on the side of an old wall which being somewhat decaied they by industry of their hands painfull toyle easily made the breach such that they entered at pleasure and passyng through the stréetes which ledde to the assaulted gate molested no man vntill they came thither where entering the same slewe the watch and opened the gate aduancing the Thracian Kings colours on the top therof crying euer in their way as they passed Thessaly Thessaly This cry amazed the Citizens and Armed the Thrasians to the hotter attempt who entered to the rest with such courage bare them that they had soone vanquished the defendants who to saue their liues had betaken themselues to their Churches as places of Sanctuary from whence they sent their wiues and Infants all disrobed to search the King and in their names to require his pardon such diligence made the modest matrones that they were brought by Pheander to the King where prostrating themselues at his féete their face bedeawed with teares they humbly besought him to take compassion on them their husbands and children that as he was a Conquerer so with fauour to vse the glory of his victory as the poore subiects might not haue cause to complaine them of his crueltie who had done nothing blame worthie but as true subiects to their soueraigne the King whose hart was moued with pittie at their sute gently tooke them vp measuring their calamitie by his owne misfortunes and bethought him of their fidelitie yet pretending a show of vnkindnesse for refusing his mercy proffered them by his noble Generall he would not be entreated sodeinly to grant them life which the Noble Pheander noted and like himselfe waying their faith to their Prince and weale of their Countrey which with their liues they had sought to maintaine he was content to remit their fault and not onely to pardon their liues but restore them to all former liberties and places of honour without any disparagement to their royaltie so that they would acknowledge him their soueraigne and be as faithfull to him and his as they had shewed themselues to that vsurper his enemy This choyse at
first séemed hard yet of two euils the least is to be chosen as these Nobles of Egypt who séeing their liues wiues children and what they possest to be in the hands of strangers whom they could not withstand making a vertue of necessitie were the rather wonne to yéeld themselues vnto the Kings pleasure at the intercession of their wiues whose teares shead in abundance moued them to ruth in such wise that subiecting on these conditions to his Exellence they proclaimed him king of Thessaly and Egypt swearing fayaltie vnto him and deliuering hostages for their loyaltie This done the king with generall consent Crowned the Commons gan conceiue an especiall hope of his honorable loue to them whose kindnesse was such that hauing the Citie and whole kingdome at his pleasure would not suffer his souldiers to imbeasell or purloyne in any sort but rather made choise to reward the Mercenary men out of his owne treasury which honourable beginning gained their especial lyking when order was taken for the gouernment of the state Pheander who was mindfull of the Princesse Phedera hasted the King on for Thessaly often putting him in mind what daungers the good Lady was likely to abide if she consented not to the King who was more cruell then curteous wherefore taking their pledges he left the noble Cariolus his Vizegerent to take the gouernment vpon him in his absence and with the next fauourable wind they set saile for Thessaly where to their good successe wée leaue them to tell you more of Mustapha the Heathen Prince who was in the Princesse Nutania her custodie The mightie Emperour of Constantinople vnderstanding the ill successe of his sonne with the great slaughter of his men was moued at the first to such chollor that he had determined for euer to abandone his sonne and neuer to haue knowne or regarded him but being perswaded by his nobilitie which tenderly loued the prince he was at length by their motions wonne to conceiue how vnstable fortunes chances are and how victories sometimes happen as well to the coward as the valiant not forgetting to vrge vnto him how dishonourable it were for a Prince to leaue the meanest subiect he had at such an exigent that should aduenture his life in his seruice much more was his Maiestie bound by natures lawes to reléeue his sonne and not suffer him as one forsaken to remaine in the handes of his enemies vpon which motion of his Bashawes the King caused two Gallies to be rigged and furnished appointing of his chiefest Nobles too for that voyage to Thrace as wel to aduertise him of his sonnes welfare which he fauoured as also to agrée vpon the summe of his ransom all things furnished for the voyage the Bashawes hauing taken leaue of the Emperor and the rest of their friends fauoured with a happy gale they shortly arriued in Thrace of whose arriual the king by his messengers was aduertised who being of nature honourable and curteous in behauiour caused a sumptious traine of Courtiers with all the honorable maner they could to receiue them at their Port of landing taking lyke order in all lodgings and places of repast his Officers at his charge to attend them which in such exquisit manner was performed as the Bashawes with their retinue admyred their entertainment Thus by easie iournies came they to the court where the king with the princesse gaue them many welcomes enquiring kindly after the good health of the renowmed Emperour their maister whome hée maligned no whit at all how hardly so euer he had measured his friendship with him when the King and these Nobles had spent some time in discoursing they enquired of the welfare of their Prince Mustaffa whome the King caused to be sought and brought to their presence before whome they bowed themselues in all humblenesse as to the sonne of their soueraigne whom he againe with all kindnesse imbrased passyng the time with much pleasure ioying in the welfare of his friendes The King dooing them all the honour that could bee deuised passing the time with suche recreation and gentle sportes as the Countrey affoorded at length a summe of money for the Princesse raunsome was agreed vpon to their content for that it was reasonable and the cōditions honorable which obteined their vittailes by the king was reléeued all necessaries at his charge purueyed in such maner and with so much bounty as they had great cause to report honorably of the kyng Long had they not tarried but a winde pleasant and fauourable presents it selfe which good time they neglected not but taking leaue of the king their prince princesse Nutania who accompanied them onwards to their gallies thrée whole daies iournies they leaue them to the care of their iourny who being imbarqued in short time arriued at Constantinople where how welcom they were to the Emperour his Nobles I omit to let you vnderstand of y ◠honorable reports made of their entertainment in Thrace and the welfare of the prince whose company there were fewe but desired The strangenes of this report made of Philarcus was excéeding admirable in the Emperors eares who wondered not a little that a king whome he had so much wronged should vse such kindnes to his son and curtesie to his messengers extolling highly the honourable condition of the king and much lamenting his owne follyes so rashly without any occasion offered to iniury him so farre as to spoyle his Countrey and to robbe him perforce of his onely child his sole delight comfort To recompence all which and to kéep his friendship he presently elected other nobles for Thrace to be employd which with the princesse ransom and many rich presents to the king and his daughter were dispatched with Letters of loue and desire of amitie all which comming to the Thrasian king were so heartily accepted as they could wish and in presence of the nobles and states of both Realmes was the peace concluded and a band of euerlasting friendship promised to all their ioyes Thus with great delight at the earnest intercession of the king spent those Turkish nobles sometime in Thrace till their prefixed time ganne drawe to ende when receiuing their Prince with great rewardes and many thankes for their paines they put to Sea and were not long before they recouered theyr famous Cittie of Constantinople where they were most royally welcommed but especially the Prince for whose safetie many pastymes was ordeined with Iustings Turneyes Barriers and other pleasing delights wherein the Prince honorably bare him selfe to the great ioy of his father and pleasure of the whole state who gloried greatly in him which was likely to proue a most honorable Prince and their ensuing comfort But while I digresse let it be considered that y ◠Mayden Knight who thirsted to sée the ende of his desires slept no time but made all possible meanes he could as winde and weather would giue leaue vntil he arriued in Thessaly which he recouered in so good
time as he could wish and taking that opportunitie which was offered he landed his companies and neare to the sea side encamped his power vntill he might be aduertised of what power the King was and where hée remained for the atteining of which many espialls was sent out sundry wayes and many Ambuscadoes layd to intercept such as trauelled the country but their landing being discryed euery one in the haste they could make hyed them to their cities and places of defence where they with their store of prouision which they brought were receiued The King who securely passed his time taking care for nothing and ioying wholly in the hopes he conceiued of his Ladies graunt being aduertised of the arriuall of a forrein power ouercome with sorrow at that instant as one that neuer tasted aduersitie was surprized with such sodain heauines as no words no perswasions nor any comfort might mittigate his sorrow what paines soeuer his Nobles tooke to pacifie him his guiltie conscience presaging some hard fortune to be at hand the Nobilitie which had more regard to his welfare and his countrey then he could on the sodain imagine after they had caused their Rampyers to be shut and their Fortresses to be made doubting the worst desirous to be resolued what the enemy was that thus daringly durst boord him in his own country they caused the Lord Mama Bacha somtime one of the chiefest in Thessaly a wise and well gouerned Gentleman to be sent vnto them to know whence they were and their pretence which against their willes vnacquainting them with their pretence had entered their confines The Noble man to whose charge this was committed though he had small care of any matter liuing dishonoured in his owne Country where in his Kings raigne he was the onely honoured and amongst his Nobles in most account of him had his wits sundry wayes imployd and on diuerse matters yet amongst all imaginations the thought of his owne soueraigne was least the report of his death being so certain but what so euer he could imagine was vncertaine wherefore as desirous to be resolued of his doubts as the King and Nobles to be thereof certified onely accompanied with an other of the disgraced Nobilitie they hyed them towards the Campe and was by the Ambuscadoes soone surprized and brought to the Pauilion of the Generall who saluting them with kind countenance demaunded whence they were and what occasions led them in such suspitious manner towards their Campe. The Nobles which had small care which ende went foreward after they had well aduised themselues said sir if we giue not those tytles your honour deserue pardon vs which offend not of presumption therein but of ignorunce that we come as spyalls to view thy force and to discouer them therein you deceiue your selfe but come as messengers from our King to know thy pretence and what thou meanest landing thy Armies without his lycence which is contrary to lawe of Armes If thou come in peace and not as as enimy resolue vs this thou honorest vs The prince taking their wordes at aduantage where they sayd they came from their King with a counterfeyt shewe of great dislike sayd Traytors how dare you to my face vse those colours of simplicitie when you auer you come from your King which I know is altogither vntrue wherefore that you shall warne the rest how they delude me you shal haue the reward of traytors and calling for the prouost Marshall commanded him to cut off their heads The Nobles thinking he had bene past ieast séeing their executioner so ready humbly besought him to credit what they had sayd which was true and pardon their liues for that lawe of Armes protecteth the messenger of the Prince from whom they come therefore it would redowne to his great dishonour to violate the hostilitie of all Princes While they were thus at their shrift it chanced Theophilus their lawful King to enter the Pauilion of his General whose presence much appalled the Thessalian nobles who standing as men past themselues had no thought but in beholding him which so much resembled their supposed dead king the long noting of whom caused them to renue their sorrows and with remembrance of the times they had past to shead teares The King imagining what they thought knowing them well put them from their studious thoughts thus Men of Thessaly what meaneth your heauinesse think you hereby to delude this noble Gentleman or by your fainings to procure your fauour if either one or other of these causes you deceiue your selues and incurre you more trouble Wherfore to auoyd the perils incident vnto you if you be right Thessalians and tender the walfare of your Princesse in whose rescue we come briefly declare vnto vs in what estate she abideth and where the vsurping king hath his residence Mama Bacha hearing that pleasing tongue wherwith he was acquainted assured himselfe that it was their king and without further stay humbly kissyng his Maiesties féete his face bedeawed with teares and his tongue foltering in his mouth as one with sodaine ioy ouercome he saith My gratious soueraigne how glad am I that enioy breath to behold your Maiestie aliue whom all the world reputeth for dead the heauy tydings of which with your ill successe moued the hearts of your louing subiects to such extreame heauinesse as nothing might comfort that past comfort and al hope of beholding your princely face we reckoned you amongst the dead In the extreme of this sorrow as all euils commonly fall in one when euery heart and eye was deploring the losse of so gratious a Prince then beganne our further griefes through the oppression of this vsurping tyrant whose crueltie to thy subiects hath bene such as gréeueth me to recount Thy sister he deteineth in prison from whence he hath vowed she shall neuer be freed vntil with consent she take him for her king or by gainsaying his demaundes receiue that death which he hath doomed her vnto whose wronges we poore men how much so euer we pittie yet can we remedy nothing our abilitie being litle and our reputation lesse Amongst these cruel Egyptians who hath robbed vs of what we possest not suffering vs to enioy our auncient patrimony nor what they might any way dispoile vs of to reuenge of which we hope in thée and thy power who wilt maintaine and defende thy owne lawfull right rather offering thy life amongst vs that honour and loue thée as our liues then leaue vs any more To the accomplishing of which my selfe with all thy owne Countrey borne subiectes that wée can procure vnto vs will lende what ayd our weake force will stretch vnto and thereof assure your Maiestie The King hearing the lamentable report of the Lord Mama Bacha could not forbeare to shewe the heauinesse of his hearts sorrow by his outward motions yet to hide it as he might imbracing them both hée framed a feined ioy to sée them how so euer his heart was ouerburthened
due to a murtherer and reuēge your kings death by taking my life which had I a million of thousands liues could not make satisfactiō for my euil committed against you Here teares interrupting him denyed his tongue libertie of spéech whose lamentation filled all the nobles with such heauinesse as for teares they could not vtter a word especially the King whose grief being great was encreased by his dolefull lament yet casting of this womanish humor drying his eyes doubting the nobles and those present shuld accuse him of fear dreading to die wherunto we are all born with a soft voice tenderly wringing the Mayden Knight by the hand hée saith Noble Gentleman cease thy heauinesse thy griefe so augments mine that the thought thereof wrings teares from my heart thy vnwilling offence with my heart I forgiue and to shew how deare in life thou wast vnto me my good Pheander accept at my dying hand my kingdom of Thessaly the lawfull inheritance of thy faithfull friend loue those people my kind subiects so gouern them with fauour and lenity as they haue no cause to complain of my dead course for my life which by thy hand through y ◠apointmēt of him that gaue it me I must leaue I heartily forgiue thée and accursed be he or them which shal euer impute i◠vnto thée in dishonour any fault against me committed That thou louedst mée thy tender care of my good hath shewed suche proofes as tyed me in true friendship to be thine for euer Death is not so irkesome vnto me but that I must leaue thée and the swéete content I receiued in thy company grief of my deaths grief my own Pheander compelleth me omit what I would say wherefore briefly thus Forget not thy dying friend and shew that loue to my Lord Cariolus whom for thy sake I haue to this Crowne of Egipt aduanced as I euer found and in extremes comfort him with thy aide as thou hast done me my sister Phedera forget not whom to thy charge I commit leauing her to thée and thée to be in my place a brother who liuing loued her as my hope is thou wilt And so deare friends heauens blessednes befall you all and so prosper you as I loued you And you Pheres of Egipt and Thessaly whose loue I haue found as subiects in all dutifull maner let be continued vnto these your elected Kings who will with honour gouerne you so shall the giuer of all happinesse blesse your lands with the blessing of peace and plenty for they that honor their king doth reuerence the Lord who created him and he wil giue them plenteous rewards Noble Gentlemen griefe cutteth me off flesh must yéeld to earth how loath soeuer the mightiest death hath vanquished Therefore as my Vltenam vale remember my words and pray God to send vs the abundance of his grace that we may through his mercy haue a ioyfull méeting in his kingdome that neuer shall haue end I féele the heauy messenger approaching therefore farwell to thée my deare sister whom I charge as thou louedst mée liuing be louing and kinde to thy husband doing him that honor is due vnto him thy children bring vp in fear of their maker and so God blesse thée with happinesse And thou Pheander vnto me no creature in life more deare remember my parting spéeches loue the Lord Cariolus as I haue loued thée and thou my adopted brother Cariolus honour him during thy life that I am sure faithfully tendered and loued thée so shall God be pleased for no sin in sight of his diuine deitie is more intollerable then that monstrous vice of Ingratitude which for auoyding the heauy wrath of of God I wish thée eschue Nobles and you all my very good friends to exhort you to remember your duties whose wisdomes is more then I will recount were a matter friuolous and perhaps may moue some offence yet take my simple meaning which speake to you that haue ouer-loued me which loue let be continued honor your Kings with reuerence and loue for what you do to them is done to God which are his Vize-Regents on earth and his annoynted Moue no rebelliō nor be mainteiner of euil for such faults how secret so euer God will to your ouerthrowes reueale Remember his word which hath commanded you to be obedient without murmuring and feare him which gouerneth all I can say no more my spéech faileth me therefore generally my Lords farewell and so turning his weak bodie to the wall surrendered his soule to the heauens from whence it had his being to the intollerable griefe of all his subiects who with many brinish tears lamented his death but especially the Knight Pheander and Cariolus whose marriage the louing King honoured with his funerall which in the most honourablest maner Art or honor could deuise was solemnized lamented generally of all his subiects but especially the Egyptians who more dearly loued him for his clemency then their owne naturall King The funerall finished a Parliament was sommoned in which time the Mayden Knight so preuailed with the Nobles of Thessaly and Egipt that by common consent of the whole assembly in both houses temporall and spirituall the regiment of both kingdomes was deliuered vnto the Lord Cariolus and the Mayden Knight resigned his interest for euer vnto him and the Lady who was lawfull inheritrix vnto the same The Parliament proroged according to the custome of the Country great preparation was made for the Coronation which in most solemne and honourable manner was accomplished with so many sundry showes and delightfull pleasures as might weary you to reade Let it suffice to the great ioy of both Realmes all things to so honorable an action was so exquisitely performed as no man but tooke great delight in beholding therof praying with an vniuersall voice for their long liues to be in happinesse amongst them continued Thus all things to the ioy of the noble Pheander accomplish and to the high content of the King Cariolus and his Quéen by the aduise of the Mayden Knight an election was made of a Vizeroy to goe for Thessaly the King making choyce of two euils the least conceiuing this opinion of the naturall subiects of Thessalie that they would liue in their dutifull obeisance when a conquered nation gathering hed vppon many light occasions was easily drawne to reuolt These considerations with great wisdom weyed the Lord Fardinand one of the priuy Councell of Thessaly was elected for that gouernment vnto whome the King after his Commission signed and honorable gifts giuen so wisely exhorted to obedience and care of his loue and dutie that as many of the nobles as were present and noted the same admired him reioysing that God had prouided so for them to leaue them in the gouernment of so toward a Prince of whom so much ensuing happinesse was exspected Order taken for his affaires of waight the Vizeroy imbarqued for Thessaly and his Nobles departed each one to their seuerall mantions
your highnesse with what I haue heard the truth thereof being proued I hope will procure my pardon Guenela quoth the Quéene ten thousand times I thanke thée for thy tydings which I wil so requite as it shall be the best newes that euer passed thy mouth to giue thée som assurance therof take this Diamond which she pulling from her finger deliuered her and looke for a better reward The hastie approaching of the Councell interrupting their spéech caused them cease their farther parley who staying the Quéenes pleasure sent her word they had some matter to impart vnto her who were presently admitted to her presence accompanied with the Mayden Knight The Councell hauing done their duties the Mayden Knight presented himselfe vnto her Maiestie whose sight so appalled her as she could say nothing shamefast modestie striuing with her willingnesse to bid him welcome which she could not doo as she would least her countenance should disclose her hearts desire yet not omitting such honorable fauour as she could do him she offered her hand to kisse which in al humblenesse he accepted acknowledging his most bounden dutie vnto her highnesse whom the questioned in this maner Seruant quoth shée we had thought your lyking had bene such to the Dames of Thessaly as we should haue bin inuited to your wedding or that your entertainment had bene so euill in our Court as you were weary of the same that you haue thus long absented your selfe from our Presence vnder Benidicitie seruant as you owe dutie to your mistresse make mée your ghoastly father and before my Lordes here present tell me and dissemble not what hath bene the cause of your long staie Gracious soueraigne quoth the Knight if I answere what is truth I hope your Maiestie will accept it and pardon mée if in my harshe answere I passe those duties which I would not willingly doo For my loue to forraine Ladies I may iustly deny which neither sawe any since my departure from your Confines in whose presence I tooke pleasure During my long staie how vnwilling that hath bene I call to reccord these Nobles strangers which can testifie my long desire to haue tendered my dutifull seruice vnto your highnesse whereunto I am bound Therefore dread Lady pardon my offence therein who being at a forraigne Princesse commandement must obey it Well seruant quoth the Quéene I must giue credit to your words else should I do you wrong but how so euer you are welâ—â—â— to your mistresse who is a debtor of yours The sight of this Noble Phâ—â—tiâ—â— wrought more effects then all the medicines Art could minister whose presence quite expelled all former cares from her Princely heart though her bodie weakened with her long lanquishing could not be so sodâ—inly restored But time and short time with the comfort she conceiued of her louing Prince restored her to her former health as you shall heare in the ensuing history Now returne we to the Nobles who awaited her highnesse pleasure for which the Quéene counting of her spéech with the knight thus said Honorable Lords if it be no matter of counsel for which your comming is at this time let vs know the cause my seruant I dare commit some trust vnto who shall participate of these your affaires Mightie Princesse quoth the Lord Parsinio matter of state concerning the gouernment or affaires of your Common-weale we haue not to vtter but onely do beséech your highnesse to commaund for your honor that these noble strangers be enterteined according to their estates with such curtesie and bountie that they many haue cause to speake of your Court and honorable entertainment as of a worthy deseruing Prince And more to do your noble subiects honor the Lord Cariolus who by marriage of the deceased Kings sister is Crowned lawfull King both of Thessalie and Egipt This is all most gracious Lady whereof if you please to conceiue and giue order for the same accordingly you shall highly honor vs your subiecs and gain to your selfe the famous report of strangers which is the garment that bewtifieth Princes and gouernors of states Thanks noble Gentlemen quoth the Quéene for your honorable care of vs which are not acquainted with anie such matters wherefore I beséech you my Lord Parsinio to kéepe them company during their staie here let my Officers attend them and their allowance be such as may not impaire our bountiful minde thereby to deserue honor if feasting be honorable especially let their traine be wel purueyed for both in large allowance of vyands and lodging for those are they by whom fame will ring being of the baser sort either of honor or dishonor as for their Embassage we will omit the hearing vntill God endue vs with some more strength and so farewell The Nobles hauing done their duties and gone it may be imagined whether the Knight departed with consent or no on whom the Quéene bestowed so gratious a looke as he might well iudge of his welcome but commaund his longer stay she would not to auoyd the suspition of iealousie or that her loue should be in the least sort suspected Contented with the â—ight of her beloued after their departure commanding the rest of the company from her deteining onely Guenela betwéene them began some pleasant parly wherein first the Quéene and then Guenela descanted at their pleasure of the Knight emitting no iesture he vsed in his spéech his person and what else greatly delighted the Princesse who would often say how mannerly is my seruant become yea quoth Guenela it is hard to say whether he learned the same of man or woman nay on my word quoth the Princesse I dare acquit him for any company kéeping with women his maydenly blush assureth me that he hath learned no courting fashions of the Thessalian Ladies Credo quoth Guenela and Madame so euer beléeue for a good beliefe is a step to saluation or by my hollydom your chéefest chaplin is not so iust a man as he ought to be Thus pleasantly discoursing we leaue them to recount vnto you the royall entertainment of the Thessalian nobles and their traine The Lord Parsinio to whom the Quéene had deliuered this charge as you haue heard tooke such care in performance thereof that as he was noble and euery way endued with honorable conditions so was his care in discharge of that trust committed vnto him as the nobles admyred their royal cheare their diuersitie of sports to beguile time with costly showes each accident so exquisitely performed as the thoughts and imaginations thereof moâ—ed thâ—se strange nobles when the company had left them to their rests in contemplating of their gracious entertainment to consume sometime the most of the night admiring the bountie of the Quéene whom they with earnest mindes desired to sée As these Nobles consumed their time with pleasure which made it séeme the shorter so the Queene which had care for receiuing their messuage after the first fight of her seruant began so to comfort
The aged father ouer worne with griefe and long trauell was so much altered in his face as he that had wel known him might very well haue mistaken his feature which made the King who oftentimes had noted his comely person his Pilgrimes attire and other ornaments to religious belonging greatly to affect him litle suspecting it was the aged Barnardine But as time reuealeth greatest secrets and bringeth friends to knowledge so the King taking pleasure beholding this Pilgrime noted him so often that his phisiognemy to his memory presented the feature of his beloued Barnardine which imagined thought began to take such roote in the King as he greatly desired to haue some conference with the Pilgrime euermore perswading himselfe that it was his noble Tutor and carefull Phisition To assure him of that doubt he determined to haue knowledge of the aged man if he might and for that intent caused his Pages to giue diligent héed if they sawe him in the Court to bring him tydings thereof which they did according to his Maiesties commandement attending with such care at that vsuall time he was accustomed to come that he passed not of them vnperceiued whereof they gaue the King intelligence by whose commaund hée was sommoned to his Presence The aged Pilgrime at this first somance of the messenger was in such dread of wrong to be offered him as hée greatly feared some ill to betide him knowing that Princes haue many eyes and strangers are markes how poore so euer their estates are specially frequenting the Court as he did yet he whose conscience could not accuse him of any euill intent against the King had this hope that God whom he serued doth protect the innocent and would deliuer him Thus casting his care on him that commandeth Kings not without many imaginations what should be the cause he came vnto the Kings Presence vnto whom as one that knew his good he prostrated himselfe praying hartily for the Kings prosperitie The King which saw the old man bowing before him kindly tooke him from the ground tendring his age which he honored whom the more he noted the more the louely face of his beloued Barnardine presents it vnto his memory the thought of whom caused his heart to much sorrow yet shaking off griefe of father kingdome and friend he sayd Aged father in whose face appeareth grauitie tel me of that dutifull loue thou owest thy most beloued friend of what Countrey thou art and what fortunes hath brought thée to this region that honoring thée whose age requireth the same I may further thy sutes if thou haue any or wanting wealth I may leléeue thée The wofull Pilgrime reuiued by those honorable spéeches of the King sayd Renowmed Prince the mirror of honor of whose fame the world is filled to satisfie your Exellence know that occasions of importance thereunto mouing me I forsooke my natiue Countrey in search of those whom my fortune was neuer yet to méete yet haue I trauelled many kingdomes and in my trauell haue séene many Princes Courts and noted their seuerall demeanors yet moste gracious soueraigne neuer tooke I pleasure in any as in this Countrey of Thrace the nobles especially giuing me cause to admire them whose minds shew their true Gentilitie as the frute maketh the tree knowne in which taking delight I haue though more then beseemeth a stranger so often frequented thy Court wherewith if your grace take any offence I humbly beséech your pardon which am now readie to depart The King which had heard that tongue so often reade him many Lectures and giuen him instructions of honor was not deceiued him though albeit he forbear to acknowknowledge him whom he desired so hartily to sée vnto whom he was more welcom then any man liuing yet concealing himselfe he said Father thanks for thy loue and honorable report of our realme and people for which I rest thy debter But say me aged man of what Countrey art thou and what account were those friends with thée whom thou with such trauell hast sought whether thyallies or thy friends by adoption At this motion of the King the old man ouercome with the thoughts of those of whom his pittifull tale was to be told could not forbeare teares which with such aboundance of sobbes and heauy sighes were vttered that it moued the King to great ruth séeing those siluer haires which he honored bedeawed with sault droppes the witnesse of his his discontent Wherefore like the carefull Phisitian hauing ministred bitter Pilles to his Pacient seasoneth the same with some swéeter tast he comforteth y e aged Barnardine with words so pleasing that it cheared the old man yet would not pardon his report which caused him say Famous King if pittie of my age may any way mooue you vrge not my faltering tongue to vtter a tale of suche ruth as it importeth the remembrance whereof ouercloyeth me with sorrow and will bring your Exellence small delight Therefore soueraigne Prince pardon me which cannot reueale the truth of so pittifull a tale as yet without the hazard of my life my heart so ouercharged with griefe that to thinke thereon halleth me neare to death then pardon me But how loath so euer the King might not be entreated whom with such pleasing spéech he halled on that comforted by his maiesties kind words whom he would not gainsay he sayd sithence nothing may perswade your Exellence to pittie mée accept in woorth my rudenesse and pardon it Which sayd humbly doing his dutie as one that could his good he thus procéeded Dread Lord know Numedia is my natiue soyle where through the grace of my thrise noble Prince I consumed my youth in that happinesse fauoured by his fauour with the best of account in that Region so graced by the King that he committed y ◠gouernment of his deare sonne more deare to him then his life to be trained vp by me of whom as dutie willed me I had that care as is required of a subiect to his Lord ioying in nothing the world possesseth so much as in the towardnesse of the Prince whose verteous youth might be a loadstarre to all that euer I saw for curtesie matchlesse bountifull as Tymon more valiant then Hector or the best deseruing y ◠liued cunning was he in the liberall Artes what should I say of him whose honourable praise no tongue can with such commendations vtter as his honors and vertues requireth so generally beloued of all men that death is more swéeter to many thousandes of his subiects then the remembrance of that Noble Prince Here teares restrained his spéech that he could not vtter a word standing so astonied that he rather represented the Image of death then a liuing creature whom the King put from his heauy passion thus Father thou hast filled my heart with a worlde of wonders at thy strange talke which I coniure thée of that loue thou owest the Prince whom thou sorrowest so to remember not to leaue in such abrupt maner but