of another God pardon thee the Evils which may follow upon thy Injustice get thee hence out of my sight and never appear in my presence more For I shall not long be able to conceal my grief so infinitely am I afflicted Olivaires all amazed rose up and withdrew taking leave after his wonted respectful and humble manner She remaining alone and going into her Closet begun so strange a complaint and bewailing as is impossible for Tongue to utter or Pen in any measure to describe She thought the Torments of the damned were but Flea-bitings to what she felt and 10000 real Hells but painted Fire to her imaginary One. Olivaires then went to his Father and a little after with his Brother Arthur to his own Lodgings Arthur perceiv'd his Brother had some trouble upon him and therefore demanded the occasion But he having no mind to declare it told him to conceal his grievance that he found himself not very well for which Arthur was much afflicted and stay'd with him till Evening about the time they were wont to go to the Palace Wherefore Olivaires said to him My dear Sir and Brother I desire you would be pleased to go to Court and if you love me shewing your self very chearful that the King and Queen may have no occasion to enquire after my welfare But if they shall ask of me tell them that to morrow I will come to the Palace for I would very gladly have them not to know any thing of my disorder Arthur perceived that Olivaires had a mind to be alone and so left him after he had said Dear Brother I have no mind at all to part from you But since 't is your request I am content and I shall discharge that which you have enjoin'd me I desire you to 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 and that he should not disturb him for that night which words pierced Olivaires to 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 Brother Arthur and leaves it with a Vial of Water and prepares for departing the Kingdom WHEN Olivaires saw himself alone he began to think of the sad mishap had befall'n him and considering he could not follow his Friend he cursed his unfortunate Stars and grieved that the Queen had conceiv'd such inormity in her 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 greater grief would it be to him should he chance to have intelligence of the lewd importunity of his Consort Nor ever went out of his thoughts what power an evil Woman might have 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 dearest 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 not make you a partaker of my grief nor gave the least intimation to you of my going away For considering the 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 Disaster for I have oft endeavour'd to tell my case but cannot get out my words so imprisoned and fetter'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
pursue his own Journey I am Master John Talbot and this is my Country in that City I have a good Estate my admirable Friend and therefore be pleased to let me be carried thither since it is not far off and I will repay you whatever charges you shall be at for I perceive my strength to waste every day more and more and if it had not been for your virtue and goodness I had certainly perished in the Water or here on the Land if not before Olivaires comforted him up and told him he had hopes of his recovery however for the other he needed not trouble himself and he made him a promise but when he saw there were no hopes of his life he order'd him to be carried because he was too weak to sit on Horseback and having bought for himself an excellent good Palfrey he went along with him and Men bearing by turns from place to place brought him at length into his own City where the Cavalier being arrived and heartily receiv'd by his Friends and Acquaintance he suddenly became speechless and after a few days changed this life for a better It happened that a Citizen many years before was to have received a Sum of Monies of the Cavalier that was dead and he made a distrain in his House and would not suffer his Body to be interr'd till he was paid of which he could maintain by Writings and he had stood excommunicate many years This bad News troubled his Parents for that it would oblige them to sell their Goods and Estate neither could the price of them reach it therefore they resolved 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 sencing 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
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 up 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 they 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 tamper 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 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 Kings to the King of England and the King's Answer and that of Olivaires AFter they had pay'd their due Obeisance to the King they made a surprising Oration of the Motives their Sovereigns had to wage War against his Majesty And after this manner was their Speech That Great Sovereign of Sovereigns the all Wise Creator of Heaven and Earth protect and prosper the Potent Kings of Ireland who challenge to battel the sacred Crown of England and say you are not worthy of it wherefore they are prepared to take from 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 Humility 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 Kingdom Olivaires after he had apply'd himself to the King and spoke what he thought suitable on such an occasion turn'd to the Ambassadors and said Tell your Masters that Olivaires of Castile the humblest of the King of England's Servants and legitimate 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 may 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