perceived that Olivaires had 〈◊〉 mind to be alone and so left him afteâ— he had said Dear Brother I have nâ— mind at all to part from you But since 't is your request I am content and I shall discharge that which yoâ— have enjoin'd me I desire you tâ— keep in a good mind and act nothing to your prejudice And embracing him he kiss'd him giving him to understand his return would be slow anâ— that he should not disturb him for thaâ— night which words pierced Olivaires â—o the very heart by reason of his resolv'd-on secret Design which he was determin'd to put into act So he left him with tears in his eyes and broken words which he had not power to utter perfectly which Arthur mightily marvail'd at knowing it must needs be some extraordinary chance dolor or cause that could produce such heavy and dismal effects But to trouble him no further he seemed to take no notice and departed But much otherwise had the sorrows and parting of them both been had Arthur known what was to follow But Olivaires at his going away was now the more pensive CHAP. XI Olivaires remaining alone in his Chamber writes a Letter to his Brotheâ— Arthur and leaves it with a Vial oâ— Water and prepares for departing the Kingdom WHEN Olivaires saw himselâ— alone he began to think oâ— the sad mishap had befall'n him and considering he could not follow hiâ— Friend he cursed his unfortunatâ— Stars and grieved that the Queeâ— had conceiv'd such inormity in heâ— mind so of the two Evils he elected that which as appear'd to him had the less danger in it He saw for certain that the King would be extreamly troubled at his departure but greateâ— grief would it be to him should hâ— chance to have intelligence of thâ— lewd importunity of his Confort Noâ— ever went out of his thoughts whaâ— power an evil Woman might havâ— tho he were guiltless to bring him in as liable to the heaviest punishment and he chose to pursue the paths of Vertue and shun those of Vice Therefore calling to his Page he ask'd for Ink and Paper to write which were brought him then ordering every one away and that none should come at him till he call'd he bolted his Chamber door and throwing himself on the Bed being overwhelmed with grief he lamented his ill fortune sorrowing to leave his Country Friends Father Arthur and many other whose lov'd Idea's presented themselves to his mind yet at last corroborates himself with saying Tho fortune will not in this Realm perhaps in another she may smile on me and so resolves for flight and to wean himself as much as possible of 's molesting Affections for all and taking Pen in hand he puts himself in a posture to write a Letter to his Brother Arthur in these or the like words Fortune the Prosecutress of those that excel enemy to friendship by her continual revolution of miseries is ever venting her malicious spight against those she ought not and those she takes a fancy for without any respected merit she often delights to set on the highest pinacle of her State so that one day we are exalted the next brought low lately we swom in wealth and now are reduced to necessity Hence when Historians record and describe our Virtues they praise our Deeds as noble and disparage them as base according as they think good If then the great Lady Governess of these Accidents and History infringe the worth of such grand Accomplishments what wonder is it dearesâ— Brother if she thwart my Will the which being disturbed by various Casualties causes my departure And let it not displease you that I did noâ— make you a partaker of my grief noâ— gave the least intimation to you of my going away For considering thâ— great mutual love betwixt us I knew for certain you would either have accompanied or detained me which should not have been for I am too much afflicted by ill fortune I cannot communicate unto you an account of my Disafter for I have oft endeavour'd to tell my case but cannot get out my words so imprisoned and setter'd are they in my Breast And for this cause and that I would not give you so great trouble I say for that I am hinder'd I keep the secret to my self nor am I obliged to reveal it Now whilst I write reflecting on the sorrow I shall occasion among you my heart does tear in pieces wherefore I beseech you to pay my infinite respects to the King and Queen and of both in my name beg pardon for my afflicting departure I leave you dear Sir and Brother a Vial of Water which is of rare virtue on which by our near relationship let me oblige you to cast your eye once every day and this you will gain to know That whenever the water is troubled I am in some great extremity and have extraordinary need of your assistance and that will be in case of danger of life or some evil equivalent To what place I shall go Province or City to make my abode I cannot at all inform you having wholly resign'd my self up to the conduct of Destiny I give to you all the Services I can possibly pay you and put up my Prayers unto God the Infinite Potentate that he would please to make you prosperous in all things and elevate your mind to all virtuous and noble Enterprizes and continually raise you more and more nor ever suffer you to sink from your high Station CHAP. XII Olivaires arriving at a Port-Town takes Ship and associates with a Cavalier WHEN Olivaires had writ the Letter he laid it so as Arthur might not fail of finding it and also the Vial and took a large Sum of Gold and Jewels of great value and lock'd them up in his Mail which he placed behind him on the best Horse in his Stable and having mounted he left the City with deep sighing and grievous lamentation and having gone some little distance he turns his Horse and faces the City saying O Lord of Truth who hast formed the Heaven and the Earth and of thy goodness hast fashioned me after thy own image and likeness I beseech thee by that most sacred Passion whereby thou didst redeem our Humane kind suffering a most bitter death for it that thou would'st be pleased of thy Divine Pity to comfort my afflicted Sovereign and Father who without any his rigour and also knowledge of my departure loses the Heir of his Illustrious Kingdom and of thy favour consolate Arthur who hath lost the dearest and most faithful Friend he had in the world by my being forced to wander up and down in it and support the hearts of the whole Court that they may be able to sustain the being deprived of such a Friend All his Acquaintance of the Court seem'd to be present at these words who in dolorous accents made the like complaint O brave Cavaliers whose dear delight was the noble Art of War see you
troubled his Parents for that would oblige them to sell their Goo◠and Estate neither could the price 〈◊〉 them reach it therefore they resolve rather to let him remain excommunicate than satisfy the Debt but the generous Prince Olivaires would no less be his Friend in death than Brother in life as you shall hear CHAP. XVIII Olivaires causes the Cavalier to be buried and discharges the Debt and of some Justings proclaimed in the Court of the King of England OLivaires seeing the great Covetousness of the Knight's Parents was much offended at it and used all the endeavour he could to accord the matter betwixt the Parties At length being neither able to persuade the one nor bring the other to a composition-agreement he demanded of the Creditor how much the total Sum came to and when he was answer'd 2000 Nobles he like a Prince and Mirror of Princes paid with Gold and Jewels the Debt for his deceased Friend retaining their late friendship fresh in his memory and so procured for him Christian Burial After few days he heard a Report that the King of England had given command for proclaiming a Turnament to continue three days and that he who should get the victory should have for reward his Daughter to Wife and the Kingdom for her Dowry and this Royal Maid was the most beautiful and admirable young Creature that ever was born or ever appear'd on the Earth Nor would her Father bestow her in marriage on any King or any other unless he was the most valiant and bravest of the Age to the end that by Arms he might maintain her in her Dominions and the State in peace There were 400 Knights appointed to maintain the Justing and Combat against whatever Cavalier had a mind to present himself on the Field for Encounter and now Nine Months had passed since the Feast and Turnament were published and the allotted term was to expire within 15 days The Valiant Olivaires made it his business to understand well the Fashion and Customs there and by a very Experienc'd Cavalier got Instructions as to every thing and that which delighted him most he was credibly informed that the King's Daughter did much exceed the high Character and Fame that went abroad of her therefore Olivaires fell in love with the very Idea he had conceived from report thinking with himself that if he should come off Victor at such a Turnament the Prize would be an abundant reward of all his Fatigues and Affliction And now he is on his way for going to the Justing and London for the Court resided at that City and there was the place appointed for this famous Turnament CHAP. XIX What Fortune Olivaires has by the way leaving Canterbury to go for the Tilting THE time being now but short before the Feast was to begin the Valiant Knight is on his Journey ever having in his mind the delightful thoughts of Victory and of seeing so many Kings Dukes and great Lords make proof of their Valour thus thinking he went on till he came to a Wood not far from the City of London when lo from one corner of it sallied out 15 High-way men Assassinates of Travellers one whereof with Lance in hand advanced up putting himself in the front of the rest and with villanous words said Lay down your Arms Knight Errant if you desire to live Olivaires before he made answer put up a secret Prayer unto God and his Answer to the Assassinate was immediately to draw his Sword and fencing off the thrusts of his Spear and making his Horse give back he brings him down and kills him and taking his Lance he turns himself against the other Robbers who made very gallant defence but in little time the Valorous Olivaires slew the greater part of them whereupon the rest fled away wounded and as fast as they could recover'd the Wood amazed at the mighty valour they beheld in him and if they had been double or treble the number I truly believe he would have conquer'd and kill'd them all Olivaires having free'd himself of them paid his gratitude to God and riding forward he spies a Spring as clear as Chrystal to which he makes and alights from his Horse to refresh himself with its water being extream thirsty and hot and also to wash some Ripples he had got in the Assassinates Assault wherefore being intent upon these his Horse had step by step wandered a good way off and being now at liberty began to run and caper about before Olivaires was aware and with great haste he goes with design to catch him when out of the thick Wood came one of those villanous Highway-men and prevents him seizes on the Bridle mounts him and flies away with the Mail was fastned to the Saddle-bow What Mortal can imagine Olivaires's grief at this Accident finding himself deprived of his Horse and Jewels which were of great value but his chief trouble of all was that he could not go to the Tilting being void of all hope and means both for the Combat and Attire Whereupon he begins a Complaint able to rend the Rocks and soften them into tenderness and compassion O! was not my Mother's Death enough to satiate the spight of Fortune was not enough my Father's Grief was not enough the Affliction of my Kingdom Not content to have hurried me into infinite perils of life when in the height of my desire to recover my Losses she brings a Cloud over my little glimsing Joy and dawning Happiness But thou Lord whose Essence is goodness it self reach forth unto me thy Right hand in this Wood Let thy Sun dispel my new darkness that surrounds me and laying his Face on the ground in a posture for dying after sobs and tears he was silent CHAP. XX. Of a Cavalier that appears to Olivaires and puts him into hope and of some Covenants betwixt them OLivaires being in so melancholly a Mood a Cavalier came unto him certainly a Messenger from God for his comfort and with a loud voice call'd to him O Olivaires of Castile rouse up and hate me not for terminating thy Doubts rouse up and sleep not whereupon he quickly raised his head being surpriz'd to be called on by name yet not resolved whether to sleep or awake thinking it might be some Phantasy which his Melancholy had presented to his Imagination but looking earnestly he was assured by his Aspect that it was some very honourable Knight and observing the black Vesture on his back he was the more astonished then signing himself with the Cross after the manner of the Christians he said I adjure thee by the Maker of the Heaven and the Earth and the Merits of his Son Jesus to tell me how thou camest by the knowledge of my Name and whether thou art a Man or a good Genius Be not afraid of me said the Black Knight for that I am a Christian and believe in God as thy self enquire not now why I have called on thee it is
her Mind in the Morning deck'd her self in the richest Cloaths and Dresses that she had and design'd to reveal the Matter to the King her Father in the presence of Olivaires So she procured of the King to go and dine with Olivaires in his Chamber who after invited him to come and eat with him Thus having got her End as they were at Table many pleasant Discourses passed between them At length in the height of the King's Mirth two Couriers came to interrupt it accompanying some Ambassadors from the Kings of Ireland and Scotland with the following Speech CHAP. XXXIX The Challenge made by the Irish King to the King of England and tâ—â— King's Answer and that of Olivaires AFter they had pay'd their duâ— Obeisance to the King theâ— made a surprising Oration of the Motives their Sovereigns had to wagâ— War against his Majesty And aftâ—â— this manner was their Speech Thâ—â— Great Sovereign of Sovereigns thâ— all Wise Creator of Heaven and Eartâ— protect and prosper the Potent King of Ireland who challenge to bat 〈…〉 the sacred Crown of England a 〈…〉 say you are not worthy of it wheâ—â— fore they are prepared to take froâ— you your State and Kingdom and will come with Arms to shed your Blood and with Fire to destroy your Palaces And thus much I am Commissioned to say of my Sovereigns the Kings of Ireland worthy of all Power and Empire When the King of England had heard these proud Words conscious of his Innocency and the good will he always bore their Royal Majesties he took it in so high disdain that it stopt his Speech that he could not get a word out And suddenly he call'd to mind his Dream and the interpretation of it and turning his Eyes this way and that way on his Nobles Dukes and Knights and seeing none answer any thing or say a word nor himself being able to speak as he had a desire he rises on his Feet with intention to commit the task to Olivaires and at the same time make him espouse his Daughter Upon which Olivaires rising from his Seat spoke these words Puissant Prince with all Reverence and Humulity I beg of your sacred Majesty to do me the favour to let me be the Man who shall return answer to the Ambassadors of the unworthy Kings of Ireland At this the King spies his Ring on Olivaire's Finger and much marvelled Wherefore the answer the King gave him was Thou art my Son And taking Helena's hand and his and joyning 'em together he said This is your Consort and in token thereof he kiss'd them both and made him kiss Helena which fill'd all the Court with exceeding Joy and they were much delighted to hear the News of a War Now said the King to Olivaires Take upon you to give answer and to fight for and defend your Kingdomâ— Olivaires after he had apply'd himselâ— to the King and spoke what hâ— thought suitable on such an occasion 〈◊〉 turn'd to the Ambassadors and said Tell your Masters that Olivaireâ— of Castile the humblest of the King of England's Servants and legitimatâ— King of Spain and the Crown'd Successor of the Realm of England will come and make them sensible of the Error they are in and give them cause to repent of their Insolence When the King and Helena understood that Olivaires was the King of Spain they were so filled with Amazement and Joy as the like was never heard or can be conceiv'd Wherefore they began to entertain for him a vast respect and the whole Court for this great News was transported triumphed and looked big CHAP. XL. The departure of the Ambassadors and what Olivaires said to them OLivaires did much Compliment and Caress the Ambassadors and retain'd them a Day longer than they design'd to stay Then spoke thus to them at their departure Our most Christian Sovereign and Virtuous Father has been pleased of his bounteous Goodness to accomplish his Promise upon me Therefore acquaint your Masters how I have sworn not to return back from this Enterprize to my Father's Court until I have taken from them all their Cities and made every one of them Prisoners to manifest to the World what Tyrants they are and Usurpers of their undeserved Thrones So having presented 'em with fine Horses he dismissed them Olivaires had made plain discovery of himself to the King and Helena had understood a great part of his Secrets and had seen the Visions were come to pass and that the matter of the Ring was clearly apparent Wherefore the King judging by what had already happened also of that which was to come and hopefully foreseeing all would prosperously succeed ordered a mighty Army to be made ready of more than Ten thousand well armed Horsemen and bravely mounted and Infantry innumerable with Pikes Javelins and other Weapons suitable to those times and made Olivaires Generalissimo of all Who having accepted of so honourable Preferment and Command said I do not intend till I return again to make Helena my Wife till by my Valour in Exploits at Arms I may in some degree have shown my self not altogether unworthy of her Favour The Affection Helena bore Olivaires was so great that his departure was death to her the separation of him the Soul from her the Body But being well assured of his Courage she bore her Grief moderately through good hopes of Conquest and comforted her self with the Visions In few Days he with his well-armed Forces were on their march And the Kings were arrived for the overthrow of England with a vast Army Valorous and Strong so they went on ruinating and burning the Villages and ravaging the Countrey At Olivaire's departure his Spouse Helena put a rich Necklace about his Arm which she had always worn about her Neck and for his Neck making also Ornaments She utter'd these Votes May he who delivered Jonas from out of the Deep of his Mercy and Goodness preserve my noble Spouse and worthy of universal Reign Olivaires in all Perils which may happen unto him and may he be pleased to give him Victory as he did to David against the Giant Goliah Then she embracing kissed him and also the King embraced him and with the blessing of God he left the Palace and went to his Army CHAP. XLI Of the Battel Olivaires had with the Kings of Ireland and of their Army THE Irish Kings were incamped round a City containing Ten thousand Families and in five Days journey Olivaires arrived within half a League of them and Marshalling his Army in right order he made them to understand he was come to give them Battel The Sight and Presence of Olivaires struck mighty Terror into the Kings nor did they think of so sudden Engagement Wherefore they raised the Siege from before the Town and drew out their Camp into more convenient Method for fight Olivaires had got good Intelligence of the Enemy's Forces was informed of their Number which a third part exceeded his knew the
and inquiring the occasion of it she said she had had about break of day a most pleasing Dream which was That she seemed to be walking in a Garden of fine Flowers whence were many gay delightful and odoriferous ones cast as if they had flown into her Bosom and Lap and that a Cavalier whom she knew not clad all in white pluck'd one and gave it into her Hand that smelling to it she thought she never scented a more ravishing flavour and having a mind to put in into her Bosom it turn'd to a Ring the most curious one that ever she beheld and the Cavalier vanish'd with telling her that was the Spanish King 's Whereupon she awak'd out of her sleep and found the Ring in truth in her hand and she shewed it to her Father the King being stupify'd at so amazing a thing said Certainly some grand Effect will follow upon our new Alliance and taking it into his hand he was more astonished still knowing it to be of inestimable value and said that a more precious thing he never saw She subjoin'd The Cavalier who gave it me said that it was a King's but I cannot remember the rest I was so over-master'd with transport that moment the King with her leave put it on his Finger and injoin'd her to speak nothing at all of it and parted from her CHAP. XXXVI How Olivaires seeing the Ring on the King's Finger knew it to be his Father's and marvelled extreamly but for that it was not known he made as if he saw it not and was ignorant of the Matter THE King being at Table and having the Ring on his Finger every one cast their Eyes upon it for that from the Stone was in it issued out Rays so bright that they resembled a Flame so that the sight could not long sustain the dazzle When Olivaries saw it he quickly knew it to be his Fathers and often dubious in his Mind and revolving things to and fro he at last concluded to be silent The King enter'd into various Discourses with Olivaires and in inoffensive manner enquired after his Name and Blood who replied my Name is Olivaires and for my Blood it is as noble as your Majesty shall please to make it The King proceeded no further for that time and was well satisfy'd and so likewise was Helena The King sought noâ— after his Nation for his Speech manifestly enough declared that Afteâ— Dinner the King of Ireland the King of Scotland's Son and otheâ— Dukes Lords Counts and Knightâ— came to take leave of the King Aâ—â— kindly embracing every one of them he made them many Royal Presents and doing them the Honour to accompany them a little way he dismiss'd them When these Potentates were gone they enter'd into a Combination by Oath to bring a vast Army against England to destroy it thinking the King had put an affront oâ— their Crowns in preferring beforâ— them an unknown Knight Also they further discours'd among themselves whence Olivaires might have such honorable Attendance with Cloaths Arms Horses and Pages One said he was the King of England in disguise other that he was a Spanish Cavalier whom Love had drawn thither which they judg'd by his Speech and for that his Dress and Garb were after the Fashion of that Province other that the King by Art Magic had made him prostrate and â—ill without any their ill Management Wherefore they were all unanimously resolved to have Revenge taking to Heart the Death of so many of their Cavaliers And with this Disposition they returned to their Cantons States and Kingdoms CHAP. XXXVII The King of England sends secretly into diverse parts of his Kingdom for the interpretation of his Dream and he has it THE Dream was interpreted after this manner That the King that should by him be Crown'd King of the Realm should also be King of another and wear a greater Crown than his and that he should pay him Reverence Then the Second Dream signify'd That those other Kings would attempt to extort from him the Realm of England that the Second Crown would take away their State and Kingdom and after courteously restore them again His Daughter's Dream was likewise expounded That she should be espous'd to a King the Son as it were among other Princes as that Ring intimated and if she could tell from what part the Ring came the King of that State should be her Husband By the White Cavalier who gave the Ring could be understood no other than that Cavalier who was Victor at the Turnament was clad the third Day in White and who would give her again the Ring The King was pleased with the interpretation and kept it secret in his Breast and the rather because the Effects of all would quickly appear as he was assured by those who opened to him the Vision CHAP. XXXVIII A sad Accident befalling Olivaires who was brought to himself only by the means of Helena OLivaires having remained some time in the Court and being in continual expectation of the King's Promise that he would give him the fair Helena to Wife pass'd Nights and Days in imagining to himself the Hour the Moment the Manner the Joy and his intire Happiness But yet for all his ruminating he could not see any effect answer his Thoughts nor could perceive any act or sign of Love express'd to him so that on the other hand he was afflicted and tormented incessantly and could get no rest nor comfort At length a violent amorous Accident befel him For being in a deep and fixed Musing in Presence of the King with many Nobles he fainted and fell down aâ— dead Whereupon he was immediately carried to his Chamber and the Physicians were brought and many Remedies prepared but they could not with any recover him out of his Swoon This dire Accident of Olivaires came to Helena's Ear and she as knowing his Malady and who secretly loved him with various contrivances and great caution convey'd her self where her Olivaires lay in this Deliquium and calling loud to him for she would try all means she approached near unto him and laid her hand upon his Forehead which he begun to be sensible of and look'd uâ— as one awak'd out of sleep And truly I think he would never have come to himself and life again had not Helena's Spirits revived his whose very touch did emit enough to cure him Wherefore being recover'd of this Accident he was very thankful to the King and Helena for the care the had taken of him And leaving him to rest the King and Helena departed At Night in the beginning of her sleep the White Cavalier appeared to Helena and begg'd of her to â—â—mper with the King to give her to Olivaires for his Consort in as much as she would have for a Husband the bravest Hero in the World telling her that for this cause he had given her the Ring which quickly she should see on Olivaires Hand And so vanish'd Helena keeping the Vision in