separated them as you shall presently heare CHAP. XIX ¶ How a strange aduenture happened in the Citie of Varne by the ending whereof the Prince Palladine determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda HEere must I intreate ye to remember the Princes of Norgalles and Scots Landastines and Simprinell whome we left in the King of Englands Court Landastines being enamoured on the Princesse Florea Sister to Palladine as Manteleo was of his faire Marcelina Simprinell loth to part them that agréed so well left his companion in England trauailing to the King of Norgalles Court where he certified his Maiestie of the good estate of his Sonne Landastines Which newes were so welcome to the King as he intreated Simprinell to abide in his Court that he might shew him the pleasures of his Realme whereto the yong Prince right willingly condiscended as one desirous to behold nouelties But rather the chéefest cause was his affection to the faire Princesse Belanicia daughter to the King of Norgalles with whose beawtie he was meruailously enthralled and not daring to acquaint her with his loue he fell into a dangerous sicknes to the great gréef of the King who loued him as he had béene his owne Sonne In the end the Phisitions hauing declared to Simprinell how perillous his case stood by concealing his gréefe made him thus resolued that before he died he would make knowne to the Princesse Belanicia who oftentimes came her selfe to visit him and sent him many comfortable meates in his sicknesse the originall cause of his extremitie And one time among other the Lady that was most vsually sent by the Princesse and in whome she reposed greatest confidence desired him to bewray from whence his sicknesse grew promising withall that she would labour to her vttermost to procure his health The yong Prince very modest and bashfull taking the Lady by the hand thus aunswered Faire freend I thanke ye for your readie good will in séeking my helpe which is a matter not impossible to bee done but as for the cause of my languishing disease I will not acquaint ye therewith vnlesse ye sweare to keepe the same secret not reuealing it to any one but such as I shall name Assure your selfe thereof said the Lady by the faith of a virgin Know then sweete Lady quoth Simprinell that my extreame sicknesse happened by no other cause then the loue and affection I beare to your mistresse and feare to offend her or the King hath by silence of my loue brought me to this daunger Why my Lord quoth she you that are of so high and honorable discent can ye offend my Lady by louing her or you that are as good as she doo not deserue loue for loue she is the child of a King and so are you beside she is humble and gracious as any Princesse liuing then feare not to let her knowe your daunger Alas Madame quoth he neuer shall I dare to speake to her but may it please you to solicite my cause yet with carefull héed of her dislike I shall confesse my life preserued by you And so much will I doo for ye my Lord quoth she without giuing her any occasion of offence but rather shall I doo it in such sort as by a speedie answere you shall perceiue her mind Go then good madame said the Prince and boldly may ye assure her that my life or death is in her hand So went the Lady to her mistresse to whome she imparted what you haue heard wherewith she was so well pleased as she presently sent to him againe this aunswere that she entertained his loue with the like and that as he would witnesse his affection towards her he should practise what spéed he could deuise for his health These words breathed such life into the Prince as within few dayes he was perfectly recouered when after many amorous parlees with Belanicia she to make a triall how his loue was grounded hauing heard report of the faire Duchesse Brisalda desired him to trauell to Varne in Bulgaria carying with him her liuely counterfeit and there to maintaine against all Knightes whatsoeuer that she was fairer then the Duchesse Brisalda on which condition she would accept him as her Knight and loyall seruant Simprinell glad to be so commaunded the next day hee departed with his foure Squires and comming to Varne where the Duchesse remained heard what braue imployment was there in Chiualrie wherefore comming to the accustomed place of the Tourney on a faire Piller he placed his Ladyes picture saying he would maintaine against all commers that his mistresse excéeded the Duchesse Brisalda in beautie The Knightes attendant on the Duchesse were amazed héereat preparing themselues to defend her cause but Simprinell willed them first to bring the Duchesse counterfeit and it to be placed by his Ladies and the conquerour should carie them both with him Right soone was the Duchesse figure set on the Piller and Simprinell this first day dismounted twelue Knights Palladine being ridden abroade on hunting which made Brisalda despaire of her fortune fearing the strange champion would depart vnconquered This dayes good successe emboldened Simprinell to try the second when Palladine entring the Listes among the other Knightes whome one by one he saw brauely vnhorsed he came to Simprinell with these spéeches In sooth Sir Knight I commend your enterprise beeing a cause that maketh many forward in Armes but as for the Lady whome you extoll beyond my Lady the Duchesse héer present I say and will auerre the contrary against you and all other till the houre of death If affection hath blinded your eyes I soone shall alter that opinion when your owne selfe shall confesse that your Lady is no way to be compared with mine I imagine by your words Sir answered Simprinell that you will defend your mistresse by the toong onely but let vs goe to the matter roundly for you are not yet so good an Oratour as to perswade me from a resolued assurance You thinke then quoth Palladine that I thinke to escape the Combate by my words Not so for you shall sée me effectually defend the honor of her beautie who is my mistresse So giuing the spurres to their horsses they encountred with such violence as Palladine lost his stirrops but Simprinell was cast foorth of his saddle to the great ioy of the Duchesse and her freends that his presumptuous arrogancie was so worthely checked Afterward they fell to the Combate with the Sword and long they fought without any aduantage till Palladine by tripping his enemie got him downe and himselfe vpon him when holding his Sword ouer him he sayd Now must thou confesse the Duchesse Brisalda to be a Lady farre excelling thine in beautie elfe art thou not like to sée her again◠Seeing fortune hath throwne me into this extremitie said Simprinell I confesse my selfe vanquished but to say that my mistresse is inferiour to thine I will not though I die therefore nor am I otherwise bound by my owne conditions
the Tables were couered for Supper wherfore Orbiconte and the Princesse tooke their leaue and went into the great hall where the King and the Quéene stayed their comming who welcommed their Sister with meruailous kindenes spending the time of Supper with repetition of many matters The Tables were no sooner with-drawen but Orbiconte taking her Niece aside to one of the windowes began with her in this manner Since my comming hither faire Niece I haue perceiued that some thing tormentes ye excéedingly reueale the occasion thereof to me and if I may stand ye in any stéede for your helpe be well assured I will doo it right willingly The Princesse at these woordes was so astonyed as she was not able to shape any answere but shaking like a leafe on the trée her cullour went and came very strangelye such was her feare that her loue should be discouered And hauing stayed in this quandarie a good while at last she perswaded her selfe that her Aunt by her secret knowledge vnderstood her gréefe wherefore with the teares in her eyes she thus replied Let me intreate you good Aunt to suffer me endure my mishap in silence without constraining me to tell ye from whence my great alteration procéedeth it is vertue in a maiden to suffer patiently and shame to bewraye her owne thoughtes though euery hower addeth a worlde of miserie and burdeneth her minde with more then common cares Yet this I would haue ye to thinke that my extremities as yet haue not stretched so farre but to make me skilfull in iudging of a passion from which heeretofore I haue defended my selfe indifferently accounting it an offence to modestie to heare so much as spéech therof Orbiconte desirous rather to encrease her passion then any way to diminishe it thus recomforted her You doo well good Niece in respect of your calling to conceale the tormentes you endure and which my arte acquainted me withall ere I came hither for it is a signe of speciall gouernement to be carefull of disclosing such a secret as carieth greatest regard among all women But if you are so liuely touched with loue as your gentle hart may be empaired therby by meanes of the woorthy Knight without rest who hath doone more for you then all your Fathers subiectes could without him you must vnderstand that this is a disease common to euery one nor are you alone or the first that hath felte the furie of this passion but many noble Ladies bashefull and right modestlye gouerned haue felt the power of the God of Loue who ruleth and commaundeth when and where him pleaseth For this cause expect the good houre and before your infirmitie ranckle too farre giue order and remedie thereto in the best sorte you can I think it not amisse that you make some experience of Loues authoritie but you haue let him enter too farre within your hart that euen your very soule is penitrated therwith the best and most auayling counsaile I can giue ye is to practise some chaste and honest meane wherby to enioy the summe of your desire and so shall you preuent infamie and dishonor which euery creature ought carefully to auoide Alas Madame quoth the Princesse I know no mean more honest then the mariage of him and I togeather but how can that be compassed or what honor is it to me to moue any spéeche therof he is a stranger vnknowen to me of whence or what he is I am not acquainted with so much as his name Assure your selfe faire Niece asnwered Orbiconte that he is Sonne to a most vertuous King as greatly renowmed as any one in the world and further I will tell ye as concerning him so you will promise and sweare to me to kéep it secret for otherwise you shall put him in great danger of his life Ah good Aunt quoth Nonparelia rather let me dye ten thousand deathes then be the cause of any displeasure to him therfore acquainte me with his estate and I will be directed by you in all my after opinions But by reason that the King arose and went to his Chamber their talke drake off the Quéene and her daughter conducting Orbiconte to her lodging so remained the Princesse 〈◊〉 all that night and earnestly longing for the morning that she might end the talke betwéene her Aunt and her for further knowledge of the Knight without rest who likewise was no lesse forward in desire because after Supper he had not séene the Princesse and Orbiconte CHAP. XXXII ¶ How the wise Orbiconte tolde the Princesse Nonparelie what and who the Knight without rest was and how by her meanes promise of mariage passed between them ORbiconte béeing in her Chamber was both pleased and somewhat offended pleased in that she had so sounded the thoughts of her Niece and offended because she had not concluded her tale concerning the knight without rest But no sooner was morning come when the princesse sent many times to knowe if her Aunt were stirring and so soone as she was assured therof she went to her Chamber where hauing giuen her the good morrowe she saide Madame I haue not forgotten the promise you made me yesternight Neither haue I good Niece answered Orbiconte therfore presently will I be as good as my woorde So walking with her into the Warderobe and being none but them selues together she began her discourse as followeth Faire Niece vnder assurance of the promise you made me yester night I giue you to vnderstād that the Knight without rest is a Christian Sonne to the King of England and his right name is Palladine giuen him in honor of the wise Goddesse Pallas And I hauing foreséene ere the time of his birth that he should be the most vertuous and valiant Prince of his time and the Children engendred by him should very farre excell all other whatsoeuer I then made choyse of him to be your Husband séeing your Mother likewise at that time great with Childe and she deliuered of you sixe monthes after his birthe That mine intent might sorte to effect and to make you the onely happy Lady of the world by enioying a Husband the paragon among all Princes I sollicited him by dreams and nightly visions yea by letters and messages in such sorte as by my meanes he trauailed hether desirous to sée that rare beautye wherwith I renowmed you beyond all other Ladies And had it not béen for my dilligent admonition he had ere this time béene maried to faire Rosamonde of Fraunce where record remaineth of his famous chiualrie as it dooth in many other places of the world But needelesse is it to vse many woordes in this matter you knowe that I desire nothing more then your aduauncement and no man in the worlde is more accomplished with all perfections either in riches vertue braue minde and all other good qualities so that if my iudgement faile me not I think him equall to you euery way more woorthy to enioy you then any other If you be deceiued Madame
King would not deny him then againe he dispaired of the matter reputing himselfe vnlikely to enioy her by reason of their contrarietie in faith and religion the King being an earnest maintainer of the Pagan lawe Nor would this imagination serue wherefore he intended to steale her thence secretly and to carie her with him into England while Orbiconte laboured at home to appease the trouble that might follow In the end he reposed himselfe on the faithfull promise of Orbiconte and desired his Lady to doo the like because he had found her so iust in all his former fortunes But now are the Ambassadours come to the Court where being entertained with great pompe and royaltie he that was appointed chéefe in the embassade thus deliuered his message to the King King of Aquilea the high and mightie Lord my maister being aduertised of the rare vertues wherewith thy Daughter is endued hath sent me to intreate thée that thou wouldest bestowe her on him in marriage and in so dooing he vowes himselfe thy fréend and a continuall enemie to thy ill willers Heerewith he deliuered the Letters of credit signed with the hand and scale of the great Turke whereat the King no lesse ioyfull then amazed that his Daughter should arise to so high fortune without crauing any aduise in the cause thus answered I thanke my gracious Lord with all my heart that he will so honor me with request of my Daughter in marriage and her do I fréely giue him with all that is mine at his disposing Then did the Ambassadour present the King sixe goodly Coursers of Turkie sent him from his Lord and maister and to the Princesse he gaue a sumptuous Carbanet garnished with Carbuncles Orientall Pearles and stones of inestimable valew which she receiued with good countenance albeit God knowes with a heauie heart in which gréefe the Knight without rest bare her company yet durst not outward shew therof This costly Iewell the Queene immediatly fastened about her Daughters neck being commended for the rarest that euer was seene afterward the King walked with the Ambassadours dooing them all the honor he could any way deuise While all the Court were busied Orbiconte came with Nonparelia to Palladines chamber and there concluded that he should on the morrow take his leaue of the King framing his iourney directly toward England where the Princesse and she would in short time méete him willing them to make no shew of sorrow at their departure least suspition might preuent what she had intended but to resolue them assuredly that all her promises should sorte to effect The Knight without rest did as he was aduised and albeit it was long ere the King would giue consent because he loued him very déerely yet at length with muche adoo he preuailed the Prince Zorian obtaining leaue of his Father to accompanie him in trauaile because his Maiestie thought he could neuer haue a brauer companion Many rich giftes the King bestowed on the Knight without rest especially one of the Coursers sent him from the great Turke and other thinges néedfull to be vsed in trauaile and thus he prepared him selfe toward his iourney reposing his confidence in the wise Orbiconte that she would bring his Lady safely into England CHAP XXXVI ¶ How the knight without rest and the Prince Zorian departed from Aquilea toward England and how the Knight without rest by the waye discouered him selfe to the Prince Zorian who when he came into England was baptized and betrothed to the faire Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders and the like was Mantelio and Landâ—stines to their Ladies EUery thing being in redines for our Knightes trauaile after all the ceremonious conges at the parting of freendes the knight without rest Zorian Broantine Lyboran and Lycelio all brauelye mounted in seemely equipage they leaue the Courte of Aquilea and toward England iourney with all conuenieÌ„t speede the Knight without rest being especially induced to this haste because he expected the promise of Orbiconte soone after would followe him with the faire Nonparelia Many woorthy aduentures they had by the way as defending chaste Damoselles from forced violence and helping distressed Ladies to their suborned right which growing to more tediousnes theÌ„ delightfull matter I haue thought good to abridge as lothe to speake of any thing but what is woorth the hearing When our Knightes were entered the Realme of Almaigne and the Englishe Prince had made good triall of Zorians loue to him one night as they laye in Bed togeather he entred into these spéeches My Lord Zorian the fréendship solemnely sworne betwéene vs and the proof of your ready good will in all my actions will not let me hide one thing fâ—â—â— you which till this present I haue kept with great secrecie both from the knowledge of the King your Father and you onely by the perswasion of the Lady Orbiconte your Aunt to whome I am more beholding then any other liuing creature For in my iourney toward Aquilea oftentimes did she preserue me from the danger of death and by her meanes I left the Court of the King of England my Father by her promise that I should enioy your faire Sister in mariage in recompence of some seruice I should doo to the King your Father and this by her secret knowledge she likewise tolde me that all your Fathers dominions shall be shortly conuerted to the Christian faithe which I professe and will doo till death Then he recounted how Orbiconte sent him the Shéeld he bare and shewed the Swoord wheron the name of Aquilea was engrauen being brought to him by the enchaunted knight and two Damosells He likewise declared how he changed his name because he would not be knowne and that Liboran only counterfeited dumbnes being not able to learne the Aquilian language all the rest of his trauailes at full he opened his right name and whether he now iournied In sooth my Lord Palladine answered Zorian such resolute opinion of your vertues haue I imprinted in my hart as though you be contrary to me in loue and profession yet shall not my good will slack or I forgoe your companie but I would the time were come wherein my Fathers kingdome shall embrace Christianitie which I already begin to like so well beleeuing that your God is of greater power then ours as all our successefull déedes of armes beare witnes that I ere long will become a Christian Yet one thing cheeflye dooth displease me that my Sister is promised in mariage to my Lord the great Turk which will be the occasion that my Aunte Orbiconte cannot keep her woord with you My Lord and companion saide Palladine that I haue your good liking in this cause in sooth it dooth not a little content me but as for your Sister there is nothing yet doone but may easily be altered Madame Orbiconte hath promised to content the great Turke and your Father and in fewe dayes will safelye arriue with your Sister in England I would we
punishment The two Damosels glad of this happie victorie humbled themselues before the Prince Lydiâ—eo thanking him for this gratious assistance the like did Palladine and Manteleo confessing their liues preserued onely by hys meanes Afterward he requested to knowe the cause of their fight which the Knightes Sister effectually discoursed wherevpon they went to â—â—â—he the Lady that was imprisoned whome they could not tell where to finde tell a poore old Gardiner came vnto them saying that the key of the dungion where the remained his maister alway kept at a string fastened about his necke not trusting anâ—one to see her but himselfe Lydiseo coomming to the Gentleman found that he had some life left in him wherefore taking the key from about his necke and causing his men to bring him into the Castell that further iustice might be showen on him for his offence by the old Gardiner they were brought to the Ladyes dungion where they found her so spent with greefe and her farre face so martired with great effuse of teares as would haue moued a stony hart to pittie her How ioyfull the Knight was to see his Lady how glad she likewise was to behold her husband I leaue to the opinion of long absent true louers yet this was her cheefest comfort that her husband enioyed her againe free from any spot of dishonor and though she had endured long miserie yet could not the villayne abuse her chastitie Lydiseo sent the trayterous Gentleman to the King his Father and with him other of the chéefest offendors with Letters describing their notorious villainie wherevpon they were drawne in péeces by wilde horsses as such a notorious offence full well deserued CHAP. XIII ¶ How the wise Orbiconte appeared to Paâ—ladine in his sleepe and what talke she had with him LYdiseo the Prince of Hungaria hauing heard by the enchaunted Knight and the Ladyes the noble vertues of Palladine and Manteleo remained still in the Castell with them vsing them with verie kinde and princely courtesie being sorie for certaine dangerous woundes they had receiued in fight which he caused to be tended with carefull dilligence The enchaunted Knight likewise told his Lady the successe of his iourney into England how he receiued the Swords of the wise Sorceresse and how the two Princes by drawing them ended his enchauntment they hauing at his request trauailed so farre onely for her deliuerance from the cruell Gentleman Now thankefull she shewed her selfe for their honorable paines her great care in curing their woundes and readie seruice to supply all wants declared the vertues of so good a minde Needlesse were it to tell ye how Lydiseo procured from the King his Father many presents of good will to the Princes and dayly accompanied them with his owne person as the men in whome he most of all delighted I shall therefore reueale what happened to Palladine while he attended the cure of his woundes in this Castell As one night the Prince lay soundly sléeping in his bed the Lady that before had appeared to him presented her selfe now to him againe speaking to him in this manner Know Sir Palladine that I am a Pagan named the wise Orbiconte who through the assertion thy vertues cause me beare thée am come to aduertise thée that I framed those two Swords which the Knight enchaunted brought to thée and Manteleo that you twaine might helpe him to recouer his lost Lady And because I haue fore-seen by my magique and hidden knowledge that by thee I shall one day attaine to high estate of honor I will not conceale from thee that the destenies haue reserued onely to thée the atchiuement of many great and braue enterprises as also the finishing of rare aduentures and enchauntments wherein thou shalt endure much paine and trauaile Beside I am to let thée vnderstand that fortune hath sorted thée out a Lady who at this day is estéemed peerelesse in beautie whome to finde thou shalt trauaile many strange regions with labour that will be long and troublesome yet shalt thou still be protected by me and comforted by the great fame thou shalt heare of her beautie surpassing all the Princesses in the world Begin the search of her so soone as thou canst possible and thinke not my spéeches friuolous for thou shalt finde them vndoubtedly true So vanished away the wise Orbiconte leauing the Prince in meruailous doubts what this Pagan woman might be that seemed to beare him so great affection In the end such deliberate aduise he tooke of her words perswading himselfe of their truth and certaintie as he concluded to seeke the Lady the onely Phenir among the fairest in beautie Of her immediately he became amorous determining to depart from the Prince Manteleo because he would haue no competitour in his loue But before we passe any further and to bewray the cause of this aduertisement by the wise Orbiconte you must note that she was Sister to the King of Aquilea hauing béen espoused to a Duke one of the greatest Lords in that Realme by whome she had three faire Daughters All her life time she spent in the superstitious sciences of Nigromancie and Geâ—mancie and casting the reuolution of her daughters natiuitie she found by her arte that 〈◊〉 the Prince Palladine might be brought into that Countrey each of her daughters should haue a Sonne by him that should in chiualrie surpasse all the Knights of their time the one of them being destenied to be an Emperour and the other two to be Kings of wonderfull possessions Now to compasse the meane whereby Palladine might be brought to this farre distant Countrey you must likewise note that the King of Aquilea brother to Orbiconte had the fairest daughter that euer was seene by which occasion this enchauntresse appeared to the Prince inciting him to follow the search of the fairest Lady in the world promising him to enioy this rare virgin named Nonpareha And when he should be thus brought into that Countrey she deuised to exercise her arte in such sort as he should haue the honor of her daughters to the ende she might expect the fortune of the children who were appointed to so high dignities Resolued on this intent she betooke her selfe to dwell among the mountaines where she framed the two enchaunted Swords as the first motion to draw Palladine toward Aquilea where at the time appoynted he shall arriue But now he is with the Prince Lydiseo at the Castell where he and Manteleo hauing their woundes healed the enchaunted Knight with his Lady and Sister returned to their owne home the vision of wise Orbiconte calleth Palladine thence and faine would Manteleo returne toward England because he liued by the onely remembrance of his mistresse Marcelina so comming to Lydiseo Palladine thus began Worthie Prince your care for our health hath excéeded our deserts yet we remayne with humble dutie to make requitall hauing accomplished our promise to the enchaunted Knight who with his Lady and fréends are safely where they would be
set with Starres of gold and in his Sheeld a Lady reskewed from a Giant the other bare for his deuise Fame triumphant in a siluer feeld The Knight in azure Armour made signe to Caesar that he would first aduenture for his Lady yet such was his ill hap in the end as both horsse man were throwne to the ground When the Knight of Fame sawe his fréend dismounted he came to Caesar with these speeches Sir Knight I confesse as well as thou doost that my Lady Rosamonde excelleth all other in beautie but this will I make good on thy body that I am more woorthie to be her seruant then thou art It should séeme then answered Caesar that I deserue not to be so accounted this controuersie shall the strength of my Launce presently discide and thou or I will be her onely seruant Heereupon they encountred verie valiantly breaking many Launces yet neither able to mooue the other whereat they both grew angrie desiring the King to let them haue stronger Launces or else to permit them the Combate with the Sword but the King would not suffer them to meddle with Swords commanding each of them a very strong Launce at which charge the Prince Caesar was brauely dismounted and the Knight of Fame had almost borne him companie A great murmuring presently grew among the people some auouching that because the strange Knight so hardly recouered himselfe therefore Prince Caesar should not be held as vanquished but that they should prooue their fortune once more But the Iudges gaue verdict to the contrarie attributing the conquest to the Knight of Fame which when Caesar heard he went to the King to intreate his Maiestie for the Combate with its Sword but he denyed it him saying that the Ioustes being enterprised for loue ought not to be ended in hatred At these words Prince Caesar went to his Lady Rosamonde who gaue him many thanks for his honorable paines and though his successe happened so ill in the end yet would not she withdraw her loue But now commes Palladine into the feeld being sorie he had not the conquest of Caesar yet determining to end his choller on the Knight of fame to whome he approached saying It gréeues me Sir Knight that I Iousted not with noble Caesar for if I had little praise couldest thou haue gotten to day Your reason aunswered the Knight of fame Because I had woon y e honor ê™ Palladine which thou vsurpest and yet remains in doubt among a number which if thou darest say thou hast deserued I will auouch the contrary beside y t it appertaines not to thee to be seruant to the faire Lady Rosamonde nor to the very meanest among her Ladies for as I vnderstand she is prouided of one beyond thee many degrees Good Sir aunswered the Knight of fame you are very bold and braue in spéeches What mooueth ye so much to abase me seeing you knowe not of whence or what I am nor hast thou seene any matter in me deseruing these words But I perceiue the cause héereof groweth by the desire thou hast to deale with me wherein thou shalt haue thy desire either at the Launce or Sword so pleaseth the King to graunt vs that libertie Then turning to his Maiestie the Knight of Fame intreated the combate with the Sword if they could not finish their quarrell at the Launce Loth was the King to suffer such danger but the Iudges with many Lords and Barons there present noting the earnest desire of the Knight and that they were both strangers perswaded his highnesse intending to cause them giue ouer if in fight either of them should be in perill of life When they had thus obtained what they would they gaue their horsses the spurres and with a verie rough encounter they were both dismounted whereat Palladine verie angrie drew his Sword and marching against the Knight of Fame such a cruell combate continued betwéene them as neuer had the like beene seene in Fraunce The King beholding their Armour broken and the ground coulored with their scarlet blood sent his Sonne the Prince Lewes to intreate them giue ouer which they immediatly did the Knight of Fame being not a little glad thereof because he was brought into verie great debilitie onely by the exceeding aboundant losse of his blood Lewes bringing them before the King his Father caused them both to be graciously entertained and taking Palladine by the hand sayd Sée heere my Lord the man that slew Brulanfurior and his brother who deliuered me from imprisonment and many Knightes that were held captiue in the Castell The King not alittle ioyfull of these newes arose and embraced Palladine saying Worthie Knight I am more indebted to you then any man else in the world for you alone haue done that to me which neither with strength or pollicie I was able to compasse I enioy my Sonne againe by your meanes and my people are deliuered from those mercilesse villaines whome neyther law nor loue could bridle let me vnderstand of whence you are that I may knowe the man to whome I am so highly beholding My Lord aunswered the Prince my name is Palladine Sonne to the King Milanor of England your louing brother and vowed fréend At these words the King was much more glad then before and casting his armes about his necke with inward conceite of ioy the teares trickled downe his face then came the Quéene and faire Rosamonde her daughter who welcommed the Prince with maruailous courtesie the like did Landastines Simprinell and Lydiseo of Hungaria who was the man that came with the Knight of Fame and at report of these Triumphes trauailed into Fraunce As for the Knight of Fame himselfe he was called Don Robert the Prince of Freeze a stout couragious and hardie champion greatly deuoted to the loue of faire Rosamonde The King presently departed to his Pallace there to honor these braue Knightes as they worthely deserued but Caesar of Roomâ— highly thanked Palladine for reuenging his foyle on the Knight of Fame swearing to him an inuiolable league of amitie which grew to such effect as you shall héereafter behold CHAP. XXIII ¶ How the Princes Don Robert of Freeze and Lydiseo of Hungaria being healed of their woundes departed from Paris and of a letter which the wise Orbiconte sent to Palladine who was passionate for the loue of faire Rosamonde of Fraunce DOn Robert of Freeze hauing kept his chamber certaine dayes by reason of the dangerous woundes he had receiued and Palladine likewise in the selfesame estate yet carefully attended on by the Kings Chirurgions a greater corsey happened to them both then either their woundes or doubt of health For Don Robert séeing he was not regarded of the faire Princesse Rosamonde whome he loued as déerely as his own life thought to haue committed violence on himselfe but that by good aduise he was better perswaded and being out of hope to compasse his desire when he was somewhat recouered he and Lydiseo of Hungaria tooke
Broantine to enquire of whence and what they were Broantine comming to their lodging immediatly knew the Knight without rest being the Knight that accompanyed him into Bulgaria when Dardalon defended the Iousts for the Duchesse Brisalda and brought him to the Citie of Varne as you heard before Sir Palladine quoth Broantine you are hartely welcome hither what cause hath drawne you into this farre Countrey long it is since I was last in your companie The Knight without rest amazed at this acquaintance especially in a heathen countrey where he neuer was before aunswered Good Sir I must desire ye to pardon me for I doo not remember that euer I saw ye till now and it may be you take me for some other body No my Lord sayd Broantine I knowe ye well inough for I trauailed in your companie to the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda at what time you slew the prowd and cruell Dardalon I thanke ye gentle Sir quoth the Knight without rest for your freendly remembrance but may I request the cause of your being in this Countrey In sooth Sir answered Broantine such enemies I haue in the Realmes of Dace and Bulgaria for the death of a Knight whome I vnhappily slew as I am constrained to absent my selfe from thence yet do I hope in time to conquer my troubles and to returne home againe in safetie May I then quoth the Knight without rest desire this fauour at your hands to enstruct me how I shall gouerne my selfe among these people for I would not willingly be knowne that I am a Christian in respect of the danger may happen to me thereby and therefore haue I changed my name calling my selfe the Knight without rest hauing determined to rest in no place till I haue found one I earnestly séeke for Referre your selfe to me said Broantine you shall not be knowne but both you and they that came with ye shall be courteously entreated and the rather because you can speake this countrey language I vnderstand it in deede said the Knight without rest and speake it indifferently as my Squire can doo also but this Gentleman meaning Liboran is ignorant therein and therefore counterfeiteth himselfe dumbe that he might not be knowne nor we by him A good deuise answered Broantine stay héere if you please till I returne I will goe make report of you to the Gouernour and by my spéeches you shall be freendly welcommed So went Broantine to the Gouernour to whome he said that the Knight without rest was of his acquaintance a man valiant hardy and couragious professing the same lawe that he did The Gouernour thinking Broantine was a Pagan and the Knight without rest in like maner was glad of his arriuall and hoping to haue his assistance in the warres which the King had with the King of Panonia sent Broantine to him againe intreating him to dine with him the next day According to the Gouernours request the next day the knight without rest came to the Pallace where he was entertained verie honorably the Gouernour vsing these words to him Sir Knight our Captaine Broantine hath made such report of your forwardnes in Armes as while I liue you must account me your fréend and I will let the King vnderstand of your being heere that he may accept of you as men of vertue deserue My Lord answered the knight without rest I beséech ye thus to aduertise his Maiestie that there is no Gentleman more readie to his seruice then I will be and happie doo I account my selfe if I can doo any thing worthy his good liking In this warres against the King of Panonia will I shew my selfe and this Gentleman pointing to Liboran who long since lost his spéech by a catharre that bred within his throate yet is not his vertue or prowesse any thing diminished for good experience haue I had of his noble chiualrie Liboran gathering by countenance of the knight without rest 〈◊〉 the vsed these words on his behalfe with reuerence to 〈◊〉 Gouernour gaue a signe with his head and hands that he was likewise willing to make one in the Kings seruice which he courteously accepting embraced them both being sorie that Liboran had such an imperfection so that long after he was called the dumbe Knight The Gouernour walking with them in the great Hall declared the whole cause of the warre betwéene the King his maister and the King of Panonia and how within two or thrée dayes he meant to bid him battell As for the matter of their discord it grew by this occasion that the King of Aquilea refused to giue his daughter Nonparelia in marriage to the King of Panonia nor the yong Princesse her selfe could not be perswaded to like of him by reason of the many bad qualities he was endued withall as also he was a man verie much defourmed In déede my Lord answered the knight without rest I haue oftentimes heard that the Princesse Nonparelia is the flower of the world for beawtie an ill match were it then that so sweete a Lady should haue a husband so hard fauoured And the onely cause of my comming into this Countrey was to defend her honor in this enterprised warre as the Lady beyond all other in rare perfections Soone after they sate downe to dinner where wanted no store of costly delicates and the Tables were no sooner withdrawne but there entred the Hall a comely aged Ladie her face all besprent with teares and her sorrowfull lookes bewraying the anguish of her spirit A good while she stoode viewing all the Lords not speaking one word till the Gouernour moued with pitie thus spake Faire Lady full well doth your countenance bewray that something hath happened scant to your liking boldly deliuer the cause of your sadnes and may I in any thing giue you redresse be you assured I will perfourme it Alas my Lord quoth she my case requireth present assistance for my husband comming with his Sonne to this Citie onely to aide the King in his warres foure Knights set vpon them in the Forrest neere at hand and binding them both hands and feete haue forcibly caried them away threatning in most cruell sort to murther them for some priuate displeasure conceiued against them The knight without rest presently offered himselfe desiring the Gouernour that he might redresse the Ladyes wrong and hauing obtained leaue for his departure with Liboran Lycelio and Captaine Broantine went immediatly to horssebacke So riding with the Lady at length they ouertooke the foure Knightes who with great cudgels cruelly did beate the Ladies Husband and Sonne whereat the knight without rest highly offended gaue y t spurres to his horsse to encounter w t them But Liboran by signes and Broantine by intreaties perswaded him to suffer them deale with the foure Knightes which they did verie valiantly and killing them all foure deliuered the Knight and his Sonne safely to the Lady Afterward they rode to the Knightes Castell where their wounds receiued in fight being searched
rated at the price of thy life Héerewith his speech failed him and breathing foorth a vehement sigh he yeelded vp the ghost O my God said his Squire what shall I now doo Where shall I bestowe the dead bodie of my maister if I returne to the Court of the King his brother he will suspect that I haue murthered him Ah sweete Lady Minoretta what hart breaking will this be to you vnderstanding the death of my Lord and the occasion thereof The Knight of Fame hearing the sorrowfull words of the Squire and fearing he would depart and leaue his maister came with his Squire from behinde the tree where they were hid and seeing the wofull man holding his dead maister in his armes thus spake to him Tell me good fréend how did this mishap befall thy maister The Squire was so amazed when by the light of the Moone he beheld the Knight of Fame and his Squire with him both their swords being drawne as he was not able to returne any answere whereby Don Robert perceiued that the sudden sight of him affrighted the Squire wherefore he thus spake to him againe Why doost thou not speake to vs my fréend doubtest thou that we come to doo thée any displeasure perswade thy selfe that we will assist thee to our vttermost and therefore feare not to bewray thy mishap The Squire throughly resolued by these courteous speeches casting foorth many bitter sighes into the aire and trembling as the burthen of his greefe gaue cause thus answered Alas my Lord right gladly shall I reueale to you the great misfortune now happened to my Lord who as you sawe gaue vp his ghost betweene mine armes the occasion whereof grew in this manner My noble maister while he liued was bastard brother to the King of Scicilie yet as déerely beloued of his Maiestie as if he had béene his lawfull legitimate brother such was his vertuous and valiant behauiour and for the King would assure my Lord of his intire good will and affection he gaue him the Signorie of Siracusa with all the titles and benefites belonging thereto But my woorthie Lord and maister who was named Don Frionell hauing about sixe moneths since heard commended the excellent beautie of Minoretta Daughter to the King of Portugall became so enamoured of her as to compasse the means that he might sée her he craued leaue of the King his brother to trauaile into Fraunce as a Knight errant séeking after aduentures Hauing obteined licence for his departure in stead of going to Fraunce he tooke the way toward Portugall where being arriued so well he made knowne his prowesse at the Tilt and Tourney which dayly hée maintained in honor of the Princesse as the King entertaining him into especiall fauour all the Lords and Knights of Portugall did the like so that being well estéemed and honored of euery one chéefely of the Quéene and her Ladyes so well he could his Courtship to the Princesse Minoretta that she accepted him as her Knight and fauoured him aboue all other that made loue to her In this time came to the Court Don Galitreo of Castile who no sooner sawe the faire Princesse but presently he was so esprized with her loue as he was readie to die at her foote and therefore diuers times made offer of his seruice to her but she made no account thereof declaring by her gesture and countenance that my maister was the onely man in her thoughts Galitreo from this time forward conceiued mortall hatred against my maister yet 〈◊〉 his villainie with such coullers as though he haâ— beene one of his deerest freends So that my maister being one day commaunded by his Lady Minoretta to goe assist a distressed Lady whome a cruell Gentleman too much wronged the traitour receiued opportunitie to set his mischiefe abroche for he being present when my maister tooke his charge gaue no shew of contraâ—ie meaning but no sooner had my Lord restored the wronged Lady albeit with danger of his person by reason of certaine wounds he receiued in fight and returning to the Princesse againe but this day as we came into this Forrest where I vnarmed my Lord to deeâ—se his wounds the traitour Galitreo accompanied with foure more disguised and well armed awaiting cowardly to take my Lord at this aduantage came to him with these worâ—s Knowest thou me â—rionel if thou wilt saue thy life thou must heere sollemnely sweare to me neuer to serue the Princesse Minoretta longer or héereafter to câ—me in any place where she is My maister knowing the traitour well enough by his speeches yet meruailing to méete him in this place because at his departure he left him in Portugâ—â— notwithstanding he was sore wounded and vnarmed boldly thus answered Rather let me loose my life quoth he and endure a thousand deathes if it were possible then I will forgoe the seruice of my mistresse but while I can lift my Sword will I maintaine her as the onely Goddesse of my heart By God quoth Galitreo but I will make thee sure thou shalt not â—o drawing his Couâ—tiare and my maister being thus naked as you sée because I was attending his wounds he neuer left striking at him till he sawe him fall when both he and his companions gallopped away so fast as they could Trust one answered the Knight of Fame thou hast tolde mee the most monstrous â—â—te that euer I heard of but thou séeing thy maister so misused why didst not thou helpe to defend him Alas my Lord quoth the Squire there wanted no good will in mée but they that accompanyed this traitour held me with such violence as I could not stirre The Knight of Fame beholding the cruell woundes Don Frionell had receiued and what a goodly personage hée had béene in his life time sighing sayd Oh God what two dangerous enemies are loue and iealousie in the world there can not bée any woorsse whereby men may fall into so great hazard Well my freend quoth hée to the Squire héere must wee rest our selues for this night because we knowe not whether else to goe and to morrow shall wee prouide for thy maisters bodie whose death I purpose to reuenge if I may finde the man that so bloodely murthered him Assure your selfe my Lord sayd the Squire that hee is in Portugall with the Princesse because for her loue he slewe my maister who reputed him one of his déerest fréends There neuer were so great freends quoth Don Robert whome loue and iealousie could not moue to discord and so for that night they lay downe and slept CHAP. XXXIIII ¶ How the Knight of Fame hauing taken order for the buriall of Don Frionell trauailed into Portugall where he fought the combate with Don Galitreo of Castile and what was the issue thereof CLéere Phoebus arising from the foulded armes of faire Thetis the knight of Fame awaked and not able to sléepe any longer by reason of his troubled thoughtes leauing the Squires who as yet had not stirreâ— he walked
armed Knight then one of the Damosels comming before the King vpon her knee deliuered these spéeches Mightie and renowmed King excelling in vertue all Princes liuing vnderstand that this Knight my Brother is enchaunted by a wicked Sorcerer for not graunting to accomplish his carnall desire so that since the time of his refusall he hath not conuersed with any woman in the world not with his owne Wife héere present but hateth all Women to the death to the no little greefe of me and my faire Sister séeing her selfe so despised of her husband without giuing any occasion of offence Any many Countreys haue we trauailed to finde the man or woman that can end this enchauntment yet hetherto haue we lost all our labour But true it is that as we passed through the lesser Aegipt we happened to meete with an auncient Lady who gaue vs these two Swords which as she said cannot be drawne by any but by two Knightes the most valiant and loyall of their tune These worthie men shall vncharme this Knight and to them belong these Swords being the best that euer were framed and their names that shall draw these Swords out of their scabbards are engrauen on the weapons yet not to be seene till they be drawne Wherefore right mightie King we humbly intreate that this sad aduenture may be tried by your Knightes for very often haue we heard that this Court is stored with men of greatest vertue If the King and all present were amazed at the comming of the Damosels and the Knight much more were they by hearing the reason of the enchantment In sooth said that Quéene I cannot but pittie the poore Gentleman that for the carefull regard of his loyaltie he should receiue so great discourtesie Doubtlesse quoth the King he was a cruell villaine that enchaunted him on this occasion and were he heere either would I cause him to end the enchauntment himselfe or recompence him with his iust desarts As for you Lady that are Sister to this Knight right gladly do I graunt what you haue requested and neuer could you haue come in better time for the greatest part of the Knightes in our Realme are heere at our Court besides diuers other am I presently to endue with the Order which being done they shall all trie their fortune in this aduenture Heerevpon the newe Knightes were immediatly dubbed and each after other laboured to pull foorth the enchaunted Swords which they could not stirre the length of halfe a foote except Orliman of Flaunders and Durandell of Cieue who drew them wel-neere to the middest The new Knightes Palladine and Manteleo séeing no one could altogether vnsheath them tooke the Swords to trie what they were able to do and they drew them foorth so easily as they had beene their owne weapons each one reioysing the aduenture was ended especially Marcelina who by this first proofe perceiued what Knightly bountie and loyaltie remained in her freend The Damosels being glad of this good hap the Knightes Sister thus spake to the King Yet is not this all Sir so it may stand with your likingâ— my brother must dub these Knightes with these Swords and they are to graunt him one request which he shall afterward demaund of them For that I am content sayd the King but let vs see whose names are engrauen on the Swords Palladine shewed his to the King and thereon was engrauen in great Romane Lettâ—â— these words Palladine of Aquilea whereat he was â—â—th ioyfull and amazed that the Surname of Aquilea was giuen to Palladine For Aquilia was a Realme vnder the gouernment of the Pagans and Palladine was a Christian nor could he tell what to imagine héereof but desired Manteleo to shew his Sword whereon was engrauen in the like Characters Manteleo the Millaynois which made him equall with his companion in gladnesse but most of all faire Marcelina in whose brest loues fire more and more enkindled The strange Knight feeling himselfe released from enchauntment tooke the Swords and therewith gaue the Order to the two Princes afterward thus speaking to them Will yee my Lords graunt me now one boone That shall we Sir quoth they the King hath alreadie promised we must not then denie it My request is sayd the Knight that you would depart hence with me within these three dayes and accompanie me to the place whither I shall conduct yee Heereof will we not faile aunswered Palladine so please yee to set forward to morrow Not so quoth the King you must forethâ—ke in what equipage you are to depart hence as also what companie you must haue with yee beside I will that the Knight and the Ladyes rest themselues awhile in our Court. If Palladine was ioyfull to follow aduentures you must thinke Manteleo was as sorie seeing he must so soone forsake his Marcelina who hauing likewise heard what was concluded shewed by the change of her vermilion collour to pale and wan how greatly this seperation displeased her deuising by what meanes she might hinder this voyage Manteleo beholding the teares in his Ladies eyes imagined the cause and thereby her earnest affection towards him which touched him inwardly with such assaults as feeling a sudden weakenesse to surprize him he was forced to leane on his Squires shoulder whereat the King maruailing said How now Sir Manteleo are you not well In sooth my Lord quoth he neuer was I in so straunge an alteration before I perceiue said the King the cause heereof these Ladies aduenture hath kept you too long fasting high time is it that you had some refection The Prince was contented to allow this fit excuse least otherwise his secret loue should be disclosed Let vs to meate then sayd the King for long fasting is hurtfull and mine owne stomacke telles me that it is dinner time CHAP. VII ¶ Of the feast was made after the two Princes Palladine and Manteleo were Knighted and how they 〈◊〉 the aduenture of the Statues which they could fiâ—â— SO departed the King from the Chappell and in the great Hall the Tables were couered for dinner where wanted no store of choyse and daintie delicates exceeding the rather at this time for the honor of the new made Knightes The Prince Manteleo sate in his wonted place before Marcelina but vnhappy was it for her that her Sister Floraea sate so néere her who still remained suspitious of their silence by which occasion these tormented louers durst not speake to each other but all dinner time with humble and affectionate regards they deliuered the secret messages of their hearts When the Tables were withdrawne some falling to dauncing and others to deuise with their Ladyes by good hap one of the new Knightes being one of the chéefest Lords in the Court intreated the Princesse Floraea to daunce meane while the Millanois had leysure to courte his mistresse Well my good Lord quoth she is there no remedie but we must loose your companie within these thrée dayes beléeue me little did I thinke
wanne whereby the Damosell judged that he was wounded wherefore she said I perceiue my Lord you are scant well let us enter this Tent I pray ye where you shall be unarmed and these Knightes likewise that I may see what woundes you haue receiued for my Lady Orbiconâ—e gaue me at my departure from her a bore of most pretious and arteficiall ointment so that let your wounds be how dangerous soeuer in four and twentie houres I will awarrant they shall be perfectly healed Upon this aduise they entred the Tent where when they were vnarmed the Damosell verie cunningly dressed their wounds finding these of Orliman and Durandell to be most doubtfull yet her comfortable speeches made them expect speedie recouerie Afterward they sate downe to refresh themselues with such viands as they found there readie in the Tent and Palladine calling for the prisoner said Knight if thou desire the safetie of thine owne life tell me without fabling what the Knight was that first proffered to take the Sheeld from the Damosell and vpon what occasion you kept the passage heere to forbid the course of Knightes errant Nor will I Sir quoth the Knight hide bne iote of the truthe from you Knowe then that he which would haue taken the Sheeld from the Damosell was brother to a Gentleman who not long since by the Kings commaundement was put to a most shamefull death for that vniustly he detayned a Knightes wife to whose Castell came two strange Knightes and by the ayde of Lydiseo Prince of Hungaria they tooke the Gentleman sore wounded who was afterward executed slew many of his seruants as also his two brethren deliuering the Lady to her husband againe who now liue in quiet in their owne Castell This Knight that stroue for the Sheeld was likewise brother to that Gentleman who hearing the misfortune of his brethren vowed to take vengeance on those two Knightes by whose meanes he was now left freendlesse in the world Upon this determination heere caused he his pauillion to be erected sending his espials abroade to allure all Knightes by this passage hoping at length to finde those twayne which I thinke he imagined to be they that conducted the Damosell because he commaunded vs all to assaile them but whether they be the same or no he is now greatly deceiued of his hope and thus haue you heard the verie truth of our being heere Thanks be to heauen sayd the Prince Palladine that kept vs out of this danger for if we had passed this way we had either beene slaine or taken by these viâ—e minded men But my hazard was greatest quoth the Damosell had I not met with these two noble Knightes who in my defence thrust their owne liued into question Damosell aunswered Durandell of Cleue we haue done no more then our dutie and what all true Knightes are sworne vnto After they had stayed so long as them pleased they rode to a Towne not farre distant thence leauing the Knight to prouide buriall for his companions and help for such as yet remained aliue swearing him neuer after to be seene in any such bad action At this Towne they abode two or three dayes to furnish themselues of what they wanted as also to repaire their Armour which was much brused At length the Damosell tooke Palladine aside framing her speeches to him in this manner My Lord seeing you finde your selfe in good estate of health let me intreate ye to bid your freends adiew that carely in the morning we may depart to the place whether my Lady commaunded me to conduct ye because you must be assistant to such a one as shall héereafter doo very much for you Damosell quoth Palladine presently shall you see me bid them farewell for great is my affection toward your mistresse seruice seeing she fauours the man so much she neuer sawe Then turning to the three Princes he sayd My noble companions you knowe my promise to this Damosell to follow her whither she shall guide me now is she importunate for my departure wherefore let me intreate ye not to be offended if earely in the morning I take my leaue assuring you that neuer shall I forget your manifold courtesies And let my solemne promise perswade yée that these earnest affaires once dispatched to you will I presently shape my course meane while commaund me as your freendly seruant My Lord aunswered Manteleo albeit this seperation is gréeuous to vs yet séeing it a cause concerning your honor and may aduantage some distressed person kéep your promise right paciently shall we beare your absence hoping to see you shortly in England at the King your Fathers Court for thither shall we presently direct our iourney Palladine hauing intreated them to doo his humble dutie to the King his Father to the Quéene likewise and his two Sisters embraced them all thrée right louingly each one with teares shewing their gréefe of departure Like courteous farewell tooke they of the Damosell who gaue them many thanks for their fréendly succour and so each one entring their chamber for that night Lycelio the Squire to Palladine prepared all things readie for his maister who determined to be on horssebacke by breake of day CHAP. XV. ¶ How Palladine went with the Damosell that came from the wise Orbiconte and Manteleo Durandell and Orliman trauayled toward England and were seperated from each other by a strange aduenture EArly in the morning Palladine Lycelio and the Damosell set forward on their iourney directing theyr course to the Realme of Ireland leauing the thrée Princes soundly sleeping who the same day rodâ— toward England without finding any aduenture on land or Sea worthie the rehearsall After they had refreshed themselues thrée or foure daies at Douer a Towne that stands on the Sea coast of England they concluded to ride to London where they heard the King as then kept his Court. When they had ridden eight or ten miles they sawe comming foorth of a Forrest two poore men all besmeared with blood and verie sore wounded wherevpon they imagined that some théeues had thus vsed them and therefore rode toward them to vnderstand the cause Good Gentleman cried one of them so wounded for Gods sake helpe vs. Of whence are ye sayd the Prince Manteleo We are Sir quoth the poore man of Bohemia trauailing from the King of Englands Court home againe and to his Maiestie were we sent with thrée young Lions which two Knightes trauailing through our Countrey gaue vs charge to carie thither And as we came through this wood thrée théeues suddenly set vpon vs who wounded vs as you see tooke the money from vs we receyued of the King and haue slaine two of our compaâ—ions Manteleo remembring the poore men how Palladine and he had sent them with the Lions was meruailous sorie to see them so misused demaunding if the theeues were on horssebacke or on â—oote The poore men aunswered that they were on foote and could not as yet be gone verie farre Without any
strange Knightes whatsoeuer They not misliking this councell went presently to the Abbey where the Abbot welcommed them as beseemed their estates and while their Supper was prouiding the skilfull man hauing visited their woundes they walked into the faire Orchards and Gardens recounting to each other their seuerall fortunes since they were together in the Court of England Simprinell discoursed his loue to Belanicia of Norgalles and the cause of his comming to the Citie of Varne which when Palladine heard he determined not only to forget his affection to Belanicia but also to assist his freend to his vttermost in obtaining her loue saying My noble fréend I knowe what manner of disease loue is if one haue not receiued the swéetes thereof albeit when I sawe you in England I had no knowledge at all therein wherefore if I shall accompanie you to Norgalles such good speeches will I vse of you to your Lady as she shall not be offended for not bringing her portrait againe or that of the Duchesse which she sent ye for Simprinell thanked the Prince for his offer but he was farre otherwise addicted saying he had promised his Lady a further iourney for her loue wherein he would not haue any companie With this answere was Palladine well contented directing his course another way so hauing stayed two daies at the Abbey and either of them being able to beare Armour he left Simprinell there and courteously taking his leaue of the Abbot set on whither fate and fortune would guide him And after he had ridden fiue or sixe dayes he met a horsseman with whome falling in talke he vnderstood that the great Prince Caesar of Roome had at Paris enterprised a noble Tournament for the loue of the faire Rosamonde of Fraunce a Princesse estéemed incomparable in beautie And I quoth the Courrier am sent to the King of Norgalles Court who hath a faire Daughter named Belanicia before whome I must reueale my message and declare the Prince Caesars challenge in presence of all the Kings Knightes Afterward I must trauaile to Bulgaria and in the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda a Lady likewise renowmed for her beautie I must make knowne of this famous Tournament Palladine glad to heare the Duchesse so commended and that now he had the meanes to see the Princesse Belanicia accompanied the messenger to Norgalles and by the way méeting Belanicia riding in her Litter abroade for her recreation with diuers Knightes that attended on her Palladine was prouoked to Ioust with them by a contemptuous challenge of one of her Knightes But such was their ill lucke as all her champions were dismounted till her brother Landastines tooke the cause in hand hauing left the English Court to come sée the King his father and after they had broken many Launces not being able to preuaile against each other they ended the sport and Landastines knowing Palladine tooke him with him to the Court where he was welcommed honorably by the King as also the faire Belanicia his daughter CHAP. XXI ¶ How Simprinell being healed of his wounds returned to Varne where he vanquished the Prince Alfian of Ireland and brought away the portrait of Brisalda WHen Simprinell felt himselfe well recouered and remembred how he had not onely failed in winning the portrait of the Duchesse but in the attempt had lost y e figure of his mistresse Belanicia he determined not to goe to Norgalles vnlesse he could accomplish his Ladye commaundement Wherefore taking his leaue of the Abbot he rode backe againe to Varne and comming to the place of triumphes found the Duchesse with her Ladyes placed on the Scaffolds and the Prince Alfian of Ireland the Champion for Brisalda who preuayled woorthely against all that encountred with him Simprinell looking on his Ladyes picture and séeing it embased vnder the Duchesse had such a violent impression strooke him to the harte as he intended to recouer her honor againe or else to leaue his life in the feeld And in this resolution he encountred the Irish Prince passing two or three courses brauely the shiuers of their Launces flying vp into the aire but at the third attaint he met Alfian so roughly as both horsse and man were sent to the ground When Alfian had recouered his feete hee drew his Sword and comming to Simprinell who by this time was alighted and prepared for him when they began a fierce and cruell combate whereof Simprinell in the end had the honor Then comming to the Duchesse with courteous reuerence he demaunded of her if she would permit him to carie thence the portraites whereto she made no answere but in a great anger strong from the Scaffold because her champion had defended her cause no better Heereupon the Iudges as the equitie of the case required deliuered the portraites to Simprinell which he giueing to his Squires mounted on horssebacke returning presently backe to the Abbey not alittle glad of his high good fortune At the Abbey he stayed thrée or foure dayes to heale such woundes as he tooke in the last combate and afterward departed toward Norgalles where he arriued without any aduenture by the way to hinder him If he were welcome to the Lords and Ladies I referre to your opinions and how the Princesse Belanicia liked thereof when she sawe her Knight returned with the Duchesse counterfeit let Ladyes desirous of especiall account imagine her content but in requitall of his great paines so confidently did she loue him afterward as by imparting the same to her brother Landastines who highly fauoured his freend Simprinell the King was made acquainted therewith and Ambassadours sent to the King of Scots such good liking thereof beeing found betweene them both as the mariage was consumated and long loue requited with desired recompence Afterward Simprinell imparted to Landastines how at first he was foyled by the Prince Palladine and in his absence had woon his Ladyes credit againe which Landastines tooke so vnkindly as they concluded to trauaile to Paris whither the English Prince was gone before to reconcile this wrong to former amitie And thither are ridden Landastines and Simprinell to the great gréefe of the King and Quéene but chéefely of Belanicia so soone to forgoe her Lord and husband Palladine entised with the report of this braue Tournament held at Paris by the Prince Caesar for faire Rosamonde of Fraunce would néedes be séene in those worthie exploites and landing at Callis loth to be knowne in England least the King his Father should hinder his intended iourney he met with the Duke of Gaule accompanyed with twentie Knightes brauely mounted he likewise riding to the Prince Caesars Tourney by the commaundement of the faire Agricia of Naples whome he honored as his Lady and mistresse After they had saluted each other Palladine presently knew the Duke remembring he had séene him in his Fathers Court yet would not he make any shew thereof because he was so slenderly accompanyed hauing no one with him but his Squire Lycelio and
and bound vp they were estéemed as their vertues deserued the good Lady vsing all the meanes she could deuise to expresse her thankefulnes for this noble courtesie But the knight without rest still minded Nonparelia thinking each houre a yéere till he might sée her and therefore practised as much as in him lay the speedie recouerie of Broantine and Liboran that he might set forward to the mistresse of his thoughts CHAP. XXVIII ¶ How the Knight without rest was conducted by Broantine to the Pallaâ—e of the wise Orbiconte and of the good entertainement she made him NOW haue our Knightes well rested themselues at the Castell and being now readie to depart while Liboran Lycelio prepared euerie thing readie the Knight without rest and Broantine walked together in the Garden where among many other matters the Prince perceiuing the faithfull affection of Broantine bewraied his loue to him which was the onely cause of his trauaile to Aquilea And as for the Princesse Nonparelia quoth he the renowme of her exceeding beawtie and vertue hath so conquered me as I haue resolued neuer to loue any other and might I purchase the fauour of her and the King her Father I â—â—all repute my selfe the happiest man that euer liued But true it is and which gréeueth me not alittle she differeth from me in religion yet time that preuaileth against all things may wiling her to become a Christian. In sooth my Lord aunswered Broantine the Princesse Nonparelia is the most accomplished Lady liuing both in beawtie good grace and all vertuous qualities and well may you perswade your self to obtaine her loue in that you are stored with those perfections that may prouoke Ladyes to loue a man For if question should be made as concerning your estate you are the childe of a King as well as she not inferiour to him in riches and renowme If the case be alleaged of your vertue prowesse and magnanimitie my selfe will not be iudge héerein but innumerable that haue made experience thereof The Knight without rest hearing the words of Broantine brake him off in this manner Leaue these prayses good Sir to God to whome they onely pertaine and from whome commeth all the good we enioy let vs imagine by what meane she may haue knowledge of me without preiudiciall daunger of whence and what I am My Lord quoth Broantine I shall haue good accesse to the King when I shall present you to his Maiestie and then may you both see and speake to the Princesse for she is very gracious and affable what other stead I can stand ye in vntill the houre of death you shall commaund me For this gentlenes aunswered the Knight without rest I shall héereafter be carefull to make some part of recompence and to begin our freendship as also to preuent the name of ingratitude I giue you the Countie of Orthon which is my patrimonie and which you shall freely enioy if you like to goe with me into England I thanke ye my Lord quoth Broantine for your liberall offer let vs follow our intent to the King and madame Nonparelia whom we shall finde at the Court with his Maiestie where he expecteth the succour from Illiria which doubtlesse will be heere within eightéene dayes for then must the battell be fought at Baldina And as we trauaile thither I will shew ye one of the chéefe singularities in this Countrey which is the Pallace of madame Orbiconte the wise the most excellent and sumptuous spectacle that euer was séene I pray thee good fréend said the Knight without rest let vs depart and stay no longer for such report haue I heard of that good Lady as loth would I be to returne and not to sée her hauing so fit opportunitie to doo it for since I came into this Countrey I vnderstand that she is allyed to the King being his Sister albeit base borne Without any more speeches they went foorth of the Garden and taking their leaue of the Knight and the Lady mounted on horssebacke directing their course toward Baldina and after certaine dayes trauaile they came to the Pallace of the wise Orbiconte the building whereof was so rare and stately as in all the world the like might not be found Long stood the knight without rest to behold this wonder which Orbiconte her selfe well perceiued standing in her windowe wherefore she sent one to open the gate and they entring began to admire much more then they had done seeing the great Court paued with Iasper and Porphire and in the middest thereof a gorgeous Statue being the Goddesse Venus curiously carued in Alablaster and from her two dugs spouted exceeding cléere water which fell into a huge great Basen of siluer By her stood her Sonne Cupid with an arrowe drawne in his bowe as being readie to shoote but so arteficially framed after the life as neuer was a more choyse péece of workemanship séene From thence they walked into meruailous goodly Galleries which were painted round about with Poeticall Histories as the contention betwéene the thrée Goddesses Pallas Iuno and Venus the iudgement of Paris the strange alteration of many metamorphosed louers and the banquet of the Gods where angry Tisiphone shewed her selfe On the other side were the labours of Hercules the destruction of famous Troy and the voyage of the Argonantes There likewise was liuely portraied the triumph of Venus drawne in her Chariot by two Turtle Doues the loue of her Sonne Cupid and faire Psyches the battailes of many Romaine Emperours their seuerall triumphs in Roome so liuely figured to the eye as if the persons had béene there in action While they thus stood to behold these deuises the wise Orbiconte caused her three Daughters to attire themselues in most sumptuous ornaments and afterward came downe with them into the Gallery which when the knight without rest perceiued he came and saluted her with great reuerence and after many sollemne and kinde courtesies to the auncient Lady as also her daughters the wise Orbiconte thus spake Sir Palladine right welcome are ye to this place for long it is since I desired to sée you heere that I might entertaine you as your vertues deserue Madame answered the Knight without rest vnséemely is it that you should so much abase your selfe as to regard me that am but a poore Knight errant Not so my Lord quoth she conceale not your selfe for well I knowe of whence and what you are welcome are ye to my Pallace where it shall be néedlesse for ye to feare any thing though you are so farre from your owne Countrey for heere you may assure your selfe of safetie So entring into the great Hall which was hanged round about with rich Tapistrie wherein the Historie of great Mahomet was curiously wrought she welcommed them all againe Broantine Lycelio and Lyboran who still counterfeited himselfe to be dumbe to whome she said My fréend speake your language and feare not for in this place you are in no danger I knowe that
Knightes appointing the Marquesse of Villereal and the Countie of Marialne Iudges of the feeld All this while the Princesse Minoretta continued her pensiue mones praying for the prosperous successe of the newcome Knight and the confusion of the traitour Galitreo On the morrow was this doubtfull combate tried being fought on either side with such exceeding valour as they both fell downe foote to foote that each one reputed them both for dead but when the Knight of Fames helmet was opened and he had receiued the fresh aire he came to himselfe againe albeit Galitreo was slaine outright and therefore condemned as foyled in fight The King glad of this happie victorie intrâ—ated the Knight of Fame as he had beene his owne Sonne causing his Chiruâ—gions to take care of his wounds and during the time of his abode there for his health the continuall good countenance shewed by the Princesse Minoretta made him liue in hope to obtaine but he was preuented by the King of Nauarre who sending his Ambassadours to demaund the Princesse in marriage had his request graunted by the King The Knight of Fame séeing himselfe so infortunate in obtaining a wife so soone as his wounds were thoroughly cured tooke his leaue of the King and departed with intent after he had seene his owne countrey to trauaile into England againe to be reuenged on Palladine for the foyle he susteyned at the Ioustes at Paris so mounting on horseback he tooke his way directly toward Freezeland And not able to continue there any long time because his conceiued hate was such toward the English Prince he trauailed thorough Scotland who méeting suddenly with Simprinell and not knowing him a quarrell arose betweene them the Knight of Fame discommending Palladine and vowing reuenge on all those that durst take his part which Simprinell vndertaking they fell from words to strokes and such was the good fortune of Don Robert as hauing the better of Simprinell he departed leauing him there very sore wounded Manâ—eleo the Prince of Millayne whome long since we left in his iourney toward Normandie desirous to see his sweete mistresse Marcelina by good hap found Simprinell thus dangerously wounded and hauing vnderstood the whole summe of his misaduenture promised to follow the Knight who had thus wronged him and to reuenge his cause though it cost him his life Now must I giue you to vnderstand that Manteleo and the Knight of Fame were very neere allyed the Father to Temoreo the Duke of Millayne beeing brother to Don Roberts mother yet this kindred being forgotten betwéene them or at least their angrie displeasure preuailing aboue the remembrance thereof caused them meeting together to put each others life in very great danger And being afterward brought by their Squires to a Gentlemans Castell néere at hand where Simprinell likewise lay for the recouerie of his woundes they had knowledge of each other when sorrowing their méeting was in such vnhappie sort with fréendly gréetings they excused all that had passed riding with Simprinell to the King his Fathers Court where they were entertained as beseemed their honorable calling CHAP. XXXV ¶ How the great Turke sent his Ambassadours to the King of Aquilea to request his Daughter Nonparelia in marriage and what sorrow it was to her and the Knight without rest when they heard the King giue his consent ALL this while remained Palladine with his faire Nonparelia in the greatest pleasure and delight that could be imagined till fortune enuious of their successe sought to crosse them with her wunted frowardnesse which Orbiconte by her knowledge well perceiuing and that now if she layd not to her helping hand all the promised good hap would be squandered for euer to terrefie the two louers alittle she came and brake it to them in this manner It is a common saying my good fréends that dangers foretold hurt the lesse when they come to passe heereby am I to aduertise ye that such a matter will shortly happen as can not but be to your great disliking yet be of good cheere and endure it with resolued pacience for I will preuent the effectuall working thereof But to hold ye in no longer suspence knowe that this night past I made a figure to vnderstand thereby if your mariage were to be hindered by any contrarie accident and I finde that a mightie Lord euen he that commaundeth ouer all these countries will shortly send to request my Niece in mariage whereto the King her Father will gladly giue consent At these words the Princesse fell in a swoune and the Knight without rest was meruailous impacient but Orbiconte hauing recouered her in this sort began to perswade her Why faire Niece doo you dispaire or doubt that I can not hinder the mariage betweene you and the great Turke knowe you not that I haue done things of greater valew then that I neuer thought you had such diffâ—dence in me Who brought Sir Palladine into this countrey but I and who gaue you the honor of his loue but I and if I haue beene able to doo all this thinke ye I can not wade through matter of lesse moment Quiet your selfe and feare not but I will compasse your mariage to your owne content without displeasing my Lord the great Turke or the King your Father notwithstanding his promise Alas my good Aunt said the Princesse it is not for my Fathers ease to purchase himselfe so great an enemie as is the great Turke who in thrée dayes is able to ruinate our whole countrey and hauing so bad a neighbour as is the King of Panoma who doubtlesse would gladly with the great Lord in reuenge of the late foyle he sustayned I see no way to preuent fatall danger Why Madame quoth the Knight without rest victorie consisteth not in strength or multitude but in the pollicie of the Captaines and discretion of the Souldiours to pursue an enterprise as many examples are left among Romaines Carthaginians Athenians and infinite other where a small power hath preuailed against the greater onely by the wise foresight of their leaders and withall hauing truth and iustice on their side Let vs said the Princesse not stand vpon pollicie or the truth of our cause we can not be more subtill or hardie then they are and as for our right in the matter what reason shall my Father haue to denie so great a Lord great I may boldly say because in all the world he hath not his second both in riches puissance or any thing whatsoeuer Alas good Niece said Orbiconte merily stand not on these doubtfull tearmes for the case shall neuer be aduentured so farre cast all your care on me as yet I thinke I neuer fayled ye So parted they to their chambers where the Princesse remained in a hell of greefe such was her intire affection to the Prince of England And he likewise could resolue on nothing for now he thought to request the Princesse in mariage before the comming of the Ambassadors perswading himselfe that the
thereof In truth said the Quéene I see the Letter imports great matter let vs vnderstand what is contained therein Palladine not daring to denie this commaundement causing the Gentleman that brought the Letter to withdraw himselfe thus answered My gracious Lord and Father this Letteâ— deliuers none but good newes the Sister to the King of Aquilea and faire Nonparelia his Daughter are come to visit your Maiestie Right welcome are they said the King and I will doo them all the honor I may but what may be the cause of this kindnesse séeing our Realme is so farre from Aquilâ—a Then Palladine declared the whole discourse of his voiage how by the aduise of the wise Orbiconte he had promised the Princesse Nonparelia after she had receiued her Christendome to take her in mariage in that she was accomplished with as rare perfections of beawtie and vertue as any Princesse in the world beside You place that formost quoth the King which you loue best preferring corporall beawtie before vertue but héerein you are to be pardoned for loue and affection so alter the sences as makes men put one word in anothers place I spake of that first my Lord quoth Palladine which I first sawe in so faire a creature namely a choise grace of corporall beawtie and hauing afterward by frequenting her companie gathered sufficient knowledge of her inward endowments I placed them as they came to my acquaintance And such is my hope good Father that your selfe wil iudge no lesse then I doo when you haue seene her For the rest Madame Orbiconte her Aunt shall resolue ye giuing you to vnderstand matters of weight and such as you will thinke your selfe happie to knowe this being the meane to bring to the Christian faith the great and mightie Kingdome of Aquilea Thou tellest me wenders my Sonne quoth the King but why didst thou not sooner acquaint me heerewith Because I feared answered Palladine that misfortune on the Sea might alter my intent or the promise of Orbiconte might be preuented by some other sinister meane Well my Sonne quoth the King I pray that thy desires may haue a fortunate end and such things as thou speakest of may come to passe meane while let vs prouide to receiue these two Princes and make them such entertainement as their calling deserues Foorthwith he commaunded that the Pallace should bee adorned with most sumptuous Tapistrie and calling for the Uiceadmirall willed him to prepare certaine Ships that might go meete the Ladies as they came wherein Palladine Zorian Manteleo Landastines and many other great Lords were embarqued And béeing come to the Ile of Tennet they espied the Ships sayling amaine toward them and entring among them Palladine seeing Orbiconte aloft on the deck knew well where the Princesse Nonparelia was wherefore going aboord that Ship catching Orbiconte in his armes he thus spake Welcome good Lady into this Countrey this day doo you giue me life and the onely comfort I desire in this world for had not your assurance at my departure from Aquilea perswaded me I had ere this beene consorted with the dead As he was thus embracing Orbiconte the Princesse Nonparelia came foorth of her Cabin and with a sweete smiling countenance came to him saying Haue you not doone yet my Lord I am not content that you giue all the welcome to mine Aunt and allow me no portion thereof I thinke I haue deserued some part At these words he suddenly leauing Orbiconte embraced his mistresse with such zealous affection as neither of them were able to speake one word in which time Zorian and the other Princes had leisure to welcome the wise Orbiconte During this time of greeting and salutation they sayled on with so good a winde as in short time they entred the Port of London where this honorable companie were receiued with great magnificence the Citizens conducting them thorough the streetes with such pompe and sumptuous deuises as neuer was the like seene in London before The King and Queene for the greater honor of their Sonne came to the Court gate to welcome the Princesse at whose rare beawtie as they did not a little wonder so there wanted no kinde of courtesie whereby their good will might at large be expressed So walking on into the great Hall there began againe new shewes of entertainement whereby both Orbiconte and her Niece perceiued that the Court of England was incomparable for gracious behauiour While the King and Queene were conferring with Orbiconte Palladine tooke his Lady aside to the windowe where she at large declared to him the dangers sustained in their voyage and their good deliuerance by the Admirall of England and Broantine Héerof sweete Lady quoth Palladine your Aunt already hath aduertised me and I knowe assuredly that you haue escaped greater perill then you can report to me all for my loue wherein I am religiously bound to you while I liue yet heerewithall consider that you haue endured all this for your faithfull freend and husband who now bids you welcome as his loyall and espoused wife Alas my Lord quoth the Princesse you well knowe that I haue no other intent and the sooner our nuptials are solemnized the better shall I be quieted least any dishonor should ouertake me in respect of what hath passed betweene vs heeretofore Madame answered Palladine this â—ace concerneth me as néere as your selfe and to preuent such danger we must héerein be aduertised by your Aunt Orbiconte the rest shall be accomplished with all possible spéede In all this time Orbiconte had so preuailed with the King and Quéene declaring that this mariage was forepointed in their infancie and should by her meanes be â—atâ—fied by the King of Aquilea her Brother as they both promised that so soone as the King of Portugalâ— was arriued who was sent for to the mariage of his two Nieces the wedding should be sollemnized at that instant likewise Untill which time the Princesse should be enstructed in the Christian faith and be made partaker of that holy Sacrament which is the badge and cognisance of all Christians so should her obscure thoughts be cléerely illuminated and the mariage would be more acceptable in the sight of God The Kings deuise was generally well liked and the Princesse her selfe willing to vnderstand the rules which were so farre different from her Pagan profession in which exercise she had her whole studie and delight till the time came that she should be Baptized CHAP. XXXIX ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and all her Ladyes were with great pompe and solemnitie Baptised and all the honorable mariages afterward finished BY paineful diligence of diuers learned Diuines the Princesse was wonne to receiue the faith of a Christian and all her Ladies likewise that came with her from Aquilea so they being all attired in white garments were conducted to the Cathedrall Church in London with such royall pompe and magnificence as euery eye was set to wonder Such was her stately maiestie in going and
when you shall vnderstand who hath beene the cause of all the honors obtained by Palladine you will alter your conceit of displeasure toward me I desire ye to comfort your selfe with the sight of our little Sonne Vnyon of whose welfare I am no lesse glad then were I Lord of all the Orcedes Your bed hath not béene abused hauing thereby gained so faire a flower and well may you thus vaunt of your Palladine that he is vowed to his Sonnes good fortune maugre the crueltie of the greatest Tirant in the world And albeit I haue espoused Nonparelia she must remaine as my wife without diminishing any part of the good will wherein I am indebted to Brisalda of the rich Islands Your freend for euer Palladine Hauing sealed this Letter with his Seale of Armes and bound about it a little golden Chaine whereat he fastened a costly Diamond he deliuered it to the messenger saying My fréend deliuer this from me to thy noble mistresse with my continuall dutie to her good grace desiring her to keepe this Iewell for my sake in that it is the chéefest I make account of As for your paines this Chaine of gold from mine owne neck I giue ye and let it serne as part of a recompence toward your trauaile Thus is the messenger returned to the Duchesse who hauing read the Letter from Palladine qualified her sorroweâ— by good perswasions and afterward maried with the Prince Alfâ—an of Ireland Now commeth Palladine into the great Hall and there renewed his former communication with Caesar and the euening being spent in Maskes and braue deuises onely to honor the Emperours Sonne at length they all betake themselues to their Chambers On the morrow Caesar came to the Ladyes desiring them to sâ—e him trie his fortune at the Statues which he perswading himselfe able to finish was disappointed with a shamefull repulse the greefe whereof so offended him as that day he secretly departed from the Court net bidding the King or any one adiew The day following as Palladine was walking in the Garden with the King he entred into these speeches My gracious Lord and Father hauing graunted me to marrie with the Lady whose vertuous qualities deserued a much better husband I greatly doubt least the King her Father being ignorant of our former contract will finde himselfe so agréeued heereat that he will seeke reuenge as Kings are wont to doo which in plainer tearmes is by the Sword To preuent the daunger imminent in this case our fréend Lydiseo being now King of Hungaria through whose Dominions he must néedes passe I thinke it not amisse to aduertise him héereof that he may there offer resistance while we prouide héere our men and munition in readinesse Héereto may my Brethren of Norgalles and Millayne be auailing likewise wherefore with their Wiues they intend to returne home into their countreys and they being our faithfull allyed freends will there likewise haue their subiects in readinesse to giue vs succour if néede shall require My Sonne answered the King séeing the marriage is accomplished it is too late to be blamed or now to vse spéeches in this behalfe which are but friuolous and vnprofitable I pray thée therefore reserue to thy children if thou happen to haue any a future peace without any cause of warre or molâ—station and well hast thou aduised vs as concerning our beloued Brother the King of Hungaria to whome within these ten dayes I will send mine Ambassadour Meane while our Sonnes of Norgalles and Millayne shall haue all things readie to depart when they please as loth to hinder their good determination or any thing that may be for thy quiet and suretie Manie other matters were that day dispatched in Councell all of as great importance as this which I will passe ouer with silence because the secrets of Kings are not to bée made common The Ambassadour for Hungaria being dispatched conduded Manteleo and his Lady to Millayne where he left this married couple so combred with prouision for warre 〈◊〉 they not forgetting any part of their amorous desires are ten monethes were past Marcelina was deliuered of a goodly Sonne named Hector of Millayne imitating his Father in déedes of chiualrie yet beeing the first of that name that euer wan honor in the feeld If Manteleo was welcomed with great ioy by his Father and his Subiects Landastines was not inferiour to him when he entred Norgalles where the old King Harfron his Father woorthely entertained him being so glad of his good fortune as hauing embraced and kissed the Princesse Floraea the teares tricled downe his white beard with inward conceite of ioy Ah my Sonne quoth he how much are we bound to thanke the God of heauen for this especiall signe of his grace and fauour how am I and mine likewise continually to reioice that our tribute to the Crowne of England is thus fréely forgiuen vs in happie houre was this mariage concluded that not onely bringeth a continuall league of peace but disburdeneth vs of a paiment troublesome to our whole countrey Now dare no enemie vexe vs with warre séeing we haue the King of England our fréend wherefore my Sonne for bringing this comfort to thy Fathers hart whose age makes him now vnfit to gouerne any longer heere I deliuer the Crowne into thy hands not doubting but thou wilt rule as thy Father hath doone before thee Landastines being thus honored and put into y e full possession of the Crowne of Norgalles soone after made the King his Father a Graundsire by the birth of Don Celidon his Sonne to the no little ioy of all his Subiects The like good hap had the Prince Palladine to honor the aged King Milanor withall Nonparelia being deliuered of the yong Prince Flerano at whose birth were many good fortunes prognosticated for which the Citizens of London in signe of their reioycing caused bonefires to be made in the streetes and the Belles were rung day and night during the space of a sennighte All things being come to so good effect and the maryed Louers in their owne Countreys the wise Orbicoâ—te would now likewise take her leaue for a mightie Griffon as red as blood came flying from the aire into the Pallace which she laying hold vpon came before the King Milanor and the Quéene and to Palladine framed her spâ—eches in this manner My noble nephewe I beséech ye as you loue your honor and renowme and are desirous to make it immortall that you will cause your yoong Sonne to be carefully nourished assuring you that his deedes shall be correspondent to his name floorishing aboue all the Knightes of his time he being the onely flower that euer grew in England And not onely shall he be famous for deedes of Armes and Chiualrie but vertue and loyaltie he shall haue in such commendation as no Lady in the world shall be found woorthie of his loue but Pamphilia Daughter to the Emperour of Greece as yet vnborne Florano shall loue loyally this Lady In his loue he shall be so secret sure and well aduised and she like to him in all these giftes aâ— through the world they may not be equalled To him and her are the aduentures of the Statues reserued let none therefore séeke before that time to obtaine them And now will I to Aquilea to confirme your peace with the King my Brother and lay downe order for his reuolt to Christianitie Her spéeches thus ended and fréendly embracings passed on all sides she cast her selfe on the Griffons back and mounting into the aire left England and is gone toward Aquilea With this meruailous accident we meane to pause and héere conclude our long labour according to the appointment of Polismar and Palnocid auncient Historiographers of woorthy memory who first deliuered this Historie in the Brittish toong FINIS To the Gentlemen Readers HEere did Claudius Colet of Champaigne who wrote this Worke in the French toong make a full conclusion of the Historie and I hauing no further scope but bound to follow the direction of mine Author heere doo I likewise knit vp the famous discourse of Prince Palladine What errours haue past in my simple translation I must commit to the freendly iudgement of such as knowe that the wisest may step awry and he was neuer yet heard of that pleased â—uery humour My good will is greater then my abilitie and when a man doth bestowe his endeuour onely to delight and not dâ—splease it is courtesie to entertaine such a ones labours freendly considering the recompence is small for a tedious trauaile The historie of Palmendos and Primaleon promised in my two partes of Palmerin d' Oliua as leysure will permit shall be perfected in meane while for Countries sake bid Palladine welcome which the French haue published in the honor of England Honos alit Artes. Your well wishing freend Anthony Munday DIuers foule faultes are escaped in the imprinting in some places words mistaken as rich procall for riciprocall in Brisaldaes Letter to Palladine and diuers other by mishar left out and partly by want of my attendance to reade the proues beeing called away by matters of greater importance and whereto I am bound by dutie of mine office therefore as you happen to finde them and are able to conceiue what in truth they should be let me intreate you freendly to correct them because I am loth to trouble you with a gathered Errata