with one not so worthie as the Lord Cariolus And yet Nay Madam quoth the King leaue not off so abruptly with an aparentizes your words are doubtfull Tell mée therfore is there any other before me if there be and thou hast made choyce and you both agreed I will not gainsay it nor tye thée to any other then thy owne content in mariage Therefore say what those words and yet imported Pardon my ouer boldnesse gracious Lord answered the Lady which vnaduisedly ouerpast those spéeches and credit my word which haue no loue fixed in my heart but will endeuour my selfe to the liking of him whom you shall commaund me yet will I answer your demaund and meaning of those words taken so by your grace at rebounde though I must and will frame me to the loue and liking of the Lord Cariolus Yet had the noble Generall bene pleased and with that a déep sigh staid her tongue in such wise as she could go no farther The King vnderstanding which way the winde of her desire blew though he could haue bene better content with her choyce yet to put her from other thoughts and to haue his sute take effect he perswaded her to let slip such fonde imaginations for that he had placed his loue on a Ladie of his Country whom he would not leaue for all the world With these happie tidings for the Lord Cariolus after some other kinde spéeches to y ◠Lady the King departed so ioying in his good successe y ◠he could not rest vntill he had comforted the Lord Cariolus with his answer whose mind egged on by the Mayden Knight was so fixed on the Lady that she was become the mistresse of his heart and he ioyed in nothing but in contemplating of her loue thinking euery day a yeare and euery houre a month vntil he heard the Kings answere musing thus on his Loue tossing with a minde disquietted from one side the bedde to the other his Page brought him word that a Gentleman from the King attended to speake with him which sodaine newes reuiued so his spirits as made his heart more light then long time before it had bene hoping to here such happie tidings as his louing sute required The Messenger hauing deliuered his messuage iudge you that be louers whether you could slack any time vntil you heard the doome of your mistresse which he was assured to do by the King vnto whom he hasteneth with such spéed as he could To whose presence being come the king as ioyful for his good successe and his sisters grant as the Lorde Cariolus to heare it with a smiling countenance which shewed the ioy of his heart said My Lord though my skill in wooing be but small hauing neuer accustomed my selfe to any such practise yet haue I playd the cunning Aduocate for your Lordship and will assure you so you holde your word and promise the Princesse shall be yours and thereon take my word of honour Cariolus so ouer ioyed at these tydings could not well tell whether he heard the King speake or dreamed of this happinesse But standing a while in an extacie his sences being come againe with eyes gastly beholding the King thus said My honourable and gracious Lord what may I doo to requite your Princely fauour who hath vouchsafed me so great honor not onely to bestowe your onely sister on me but to become my honorable soliciter what I would say modestie compelleth me to conceale Only this I assure your Maiestie my loyall seruice shall euer be ready at your commaund in such dutifull maner that your Maiesty shall haue no cause to repent you of so great a good done vnto a stranger Inough my Lord fewe words doth suffice among friendes wherefore forbeare these spéeches loue my sister and for her sake thinke of me as a friend which will be euer ready to do you what pleasure I can To giue you some interest of my faith appoint the marriage day at your pleasure and for her dowry accept this kingdom of Egypt which shall remaine to you and your heires for euer onely this homage shall you yearely tender in my Court of Thessaly two swift running Coursers of this Countrey and so God make you happie in your loue and a ioyfull father of many children With this the Mayden Knight entered his presence vnto the King what man so welcome his dutie done the King louingly imbracing him said Sir Knight I haue not long sithence comforted your friend with my happie tydings and not onely assured him of a wife which I hope will prooue louing and kinde vnto him but haue inuested him with the tytle of King of Egipt of both which I wish him so much ioy as I desire to haue ioy his wedding day let him appoynt at his pleasure which shall with the greatest honour I can be performed Most gracious and dread Lord quoth the Knight how this your honourable curtesie haue tyed mee vnto your seruice I omit that at my request hath thus fauoured my deare friend whose good I estéeme as mine owne and euer will be readie with my best endeuour to serue at all times and places where my force or seruice may do either your Maiestie or my Lord Cariolus good And séeing it is wrought to his content and your Graces good lyking let mée intreate this fauoure of you both that the wedding may sodainly be solemnized for that my staie may not be long here such desire I haue to sée my soueraigne Lorde who I am sure exspecteth my return long before this time Sir quoth the King did you knowe how displeasing those spéeches of your departure were to me that desire nothing in the whole world so much as your company you would neuer harpe so much on that string But how long so euer your staie shall be this day eight dayes I doo appoint for the wedding so my Lorde Cariolus be agreed and say Amen Neuer quoth Cariolus let him be allowed for Clarke which refuseth to say Amen to such a parson the Orizons bringing such content séeing your Maiestie referres it to me Amen say I and humbly thanke your Grace for your honourable fauour The wedding day appoynted and assigned the King sent for the Princesse who that night supped all togither which being ended the Princesse in presence of many of the Lordes of Thessaly and Egypt was betrothed vnto the Lord Cariolus and the marriage day appoynted against which time were all the nobles sommoned to be at Court to attend the King by whose commandement all the preparation for honour of that day might be deuised was ordeined the time of night being spent sommoned their watchfull eyes to sléepe wherefore after many solemne adues taken one of the other they hastened on all sides to their rest onely Cariolus and the Princesse best content shée ioying in her Loue and kingly brothers lyking and he blessing a million of times the day wherein he first saw the Prince procurer of his so great good What
such honour as to her estate required whose obseques finished Barnardine regarding the benefit of the Common-weale and the Princes good of whom their hope was to learne knowledge vsed so kinde persuasions to the whole estate in a parlement holden of purpose that the regiment was deliuered by consent vnto sixe of the chiefest nobles who were solemnely sworne to maintain the dignities of the Crowne in absence of the king his sonne vnto whom being lawfull heires to the same they shuld resigne their titles whensoeuer they should chalenge y e same Now Gentiles leaue we these distressed people lamenting their kings absence the quéenes death to tel you of the Maiden Knight This gallant Prince the hope of Thrace carefull of his honor not vnmindful of his new mistres whose loue was the marke he aimed at hoping by accomplishing this victorie against the Souldane to gaine that place of reputation with her that hée desired for the better accomplishing of which he proclaimed by sound of Trumpet that all such as would in y ◠action aduenture their liues with him should bountifully be considered all estates from the Cauileare to the Mercenary caused many to offer him their sonnes so that in short time he had gathered more able men thē euer in so smal warning were séene such was the loue his bountie had gained among all estates that of their kindnes many repaired more then for of money although the thought therof is able to draw y e coward to fight so highly was this stranger honored The diligence was such of this Prince that in short time he had his companies which were so furnished as he liued not in those territories that euer saw the like Al things furnished for the field he became an earnest sutor to the Princesse his mistresse to procure the king to view his army which with smal sute she obteined for him gracing him with all the fauours she might more delighting in him then in all the men that euer she saw The time appointed for his muster after he had giuen directions to all such Leaders other Officers what course to take with their seuerall charge they were conducted to the place appointed by himself who mounted on a stately Courser passed on through the Citie his Captaines attired in Gascoin coats of watchet veluet hauing on the breast back embossed with goldsmiths work a Mayden head according to his deuise on his armes with the colour of his mistresse scarfe euery vnder officer in like sutes of satten his mercinary men in Iackets hose and hats coloured alike which caused the beholders to admire the stranger more then their princes When the king beheld this mirror of honor least thinking he was sonne to his louing frend the Numedian king and had with great delight viewed each seueral officer and their charge with their order of march and ranging in battell all accomplished in such warlike maner as sildome he had séen and withall noted his person with his brauery in armor his gallant sitting a horse and manuring the same his charging running and other signes of ensuing good giuing him great thanks he caused him to dismisse his companies for that time to attend his pleasure at the Court which he caused suddeinly to be done attending the kings pleasure at the Court as he was commanded the newes of his arriuall being brought to the Princesse who had séen with what cost and rare deuises each thing by her seruant was performed iudging likewise his loue to her was some cause by his cullours and deuises willing to let him know how graciously the same was accepted she came into the Presence where finding her Knight after she had with a kinde and louing Conge saluted him calling him to a baye Windowe with a modest and comely grace shée said Syr how much I finde my selfe indebted vnto you for your preffered seruice and forewardnesse in performing the same I will not say that in time what wants in me to accomplish my kingly father wil recompence who hath séene and well noted your diligence vsed for his safetie with your cost and great charge which he wil not forget In the meane time good seruant for so I will hencefoorth call you so you will vouchsafe to accept of the tytle I will pray for your good successe and happie victory wherby your renowne may passe the farthest parts of the earth and our Country by your prowesse deliuered from heathen thraldome Vertuous Princesse answered the Mayden Knight might it please your exellence to conceiue of my well meaning as my desire is to deserue my fortune might be compared with the happiest that liueth For on the faith of a Souldier and by the Maiestie of that saint my heart most adoreth there is none breathing life vnder the celestiall globe that shall commaund the simple seruice of Pheander but your Maiestie bound thereunto by your Princely fauours Inough my good seruant quoth the Princesse I take your word hauing great cause to beléeue you séeing your forwardnesse But good seruant if I might vnder Benedicitie know the saint vnto whom your deuotions are bent I would be so bolde to offer a virgines prayer at her shrine for your good successe The King ouer hearing their talke brake them off thus How now Madame what haue you that Gentleman at shrift if so and that his confection deserue a sharpe pennance yet be good to him he may in time amend Your grace quoth the Princesse mistakes your selfe your highnesse knoweth I neuer tooke orders therfore my authoritie is not to absolue and if by presumption I offend therein I doubt the Fathers of our Church would reward me thereafter But to let your maiestie know the truth perceiuing the desire he hath to do you seruice I was bold to giue him thankes further recompence I leaue to your exellence who at your pleasure may better reward him Thou hast well said daughter quoth the King putting me in minde what I should do least forgetting my honour to such as well deserue I be reckoned amongst the number of those Princes who with faire words and kind lookes féed their subiects so long as they haue either Patrimony or other to do them seruice to the vtter ouerthrow of their posterities for euer and they so farre in debt they dare not shew their heads then shall they get perhaps some suite worth a hundred pounds a yeare that haue consumed many thousands maintaining a braue port for his Princes honors What said I a hundred pounds a yeare nay not that without the fauour of such as be chéefest in authority and are néere the prince whose good will if they can procure it may be they shall obtaine some small thing scarce able to maintaine the porte of a good yoman for I tel thée such must be pleased or els let the princes mind be forward to reward them and by their bountie reléeue their wantes their good natures by perswasion of such as thinke all too
of his Countrey which by his carelesse sonne is blemished who neglecting the dutie of a child without regard of father crowne or kingdome exiled himselfe no man knowes where or whether he rest aliue or no since which time the king his father who loued him too dear if fathers loue may be too deare hath likewise absented himselfe and liueth in exile The mother Quéen hath resigned her due to death leauing by losse of those honorable persons their country without a head and their state by subiectes to bée gouerned wherby a ruine of the kingdom is like to ensue all procéeding from the Prince A miserable country is that quoth the Princasse to be lamented but more the losse of so noble a race the father hauing bene such and the sonne as report saith so toward But say good Knight quoth she was there neuer cause supposed of their departures nor did not the father through his harsh demeanor for youth in these times take vnkindly their fathers vnkindnes age is froward which frowardnes might minister great cause of discontent Madam quoth the Knight to my knowledge this I wil say my father being a Courtier in some regard whereby I became familiar with the Prince and as youth will make choise of some one to participate with so it pleased the Prince louing my father wel to vse my company in all his exercises through which I saw his demeanor with such reuerent duetie to the king acknowledged and as kindly requited of the king as on the earth might not bee found loue more perfect til his speach fayling in his mouth he could vtter no more The Princesse giuing héed to each word by him pronounced albeit she sawe the repeating of the Princes life was somewhat cumbersome vnto him yet ceased he not to vrge him to shew such sorrowe in deliuering the storye so of her desired Ah Madame quoth the knight at his departure began our Countries grief and my sorrow from whome in life I could neuer bée seperated such was my loue to him which refused himselfe his Crowne and dignities Adolefull tale hast thou deliuered quoth the Princesse which I perceiue mooueth you to impacience wherefore one demaund and an ende The Prince Dionicus made choyse of you for his companion Then vnder benedicitie let me craue all law of friendship exempted did he not acquaint you with his determinations for me thinkes it is scant credible that such an vnity should be amongst men their loues being so perfect but he should disclose each secret intent whatsoeuer many reasons draweth me to suppose it which I will omit for I perceiue I am too tedious Your Ladiship vrgeth me far yet will I accomplish your request who haue power to commaund me The Gentleman who neuer offended but in committing of this great offence long before his departure hauing belike some motion of desire in his thoughtes became of a pleasant Gentleman the most melancholiest that could be found that quite abolishing all company hée best contented himselfe with his secrete cogitations continuing this homour so long that he fell sicke of an extream Feuer which so encreased vpon him as all Physickes reliefe was quite giuen ouer so that small was the hope of his recouerie whose distresse the kind King with the mother Quéene grieued in such wise to beholde as in shorte time it was hard to be iudged which of the thrée endured most extreames But God that in aduersity sends comfort restored the Prince to some streÌ„gth belike receiuing some comfort in his imaginations by his recouery the King Quéene were both so comforted as in short time they were raised from their sicke cabinets to frolike it amongst their noble subiects who ioyed in nothing so much as in their healthes But how soone the Sunshine of their happinesse was ouershadowed with cloudes of comfortlesse care grieueth me to recount yet dare I not gainsay your Ladiships request The Prince recouered of his maladie made semblance of such content that none but himselfe could witnesse vy the least suspition his hearts discontent yet oftentimes should I being seldome from his company sighing with a number of far fetched sobs heare him say Péerlesse Ladie would my loue were as wel known to thée as to mine own heart then doubtles wouldst thou pitie me which lanquish for thée that art the only Princesse on the earth excelling in al vertues which beautifie the honourable the report of which hath fettered my fancies to thée that I protest to bée thine or neuer mine owne then looking with a gastly loook about him to sée if any ouerheard him hee woulde fall into some other discourse euer applauding y e rare perfections of his mistresse who was vnknowne to all but only to himself I who froÌ„ the first he acquainted with y e same briefly Lady for I weary you with my discourse the loue of his Lady hath drawn him from his country whose absence caused the kings exile the Kings exile the Quéens death The Princesse hearing all these extreams to grow from affection knowing well her owne hearts discontent with a sigh from the déepest which wroong tears from her heart she said Alasse noble Gentleman whose ioy so soone ouerwhelmed hath heaped so many cares vpon me what folly was there in thée that wouldest not disclose thy loue which burned so vehementlie was the dame so base that thou fearest thereby to ignoble thy issue or of such high estate thou doubtest to obtaine her if either by perswasions all griefs might haue bene mittigated if a Monarch why thou by report deseruest her if a begger thou mightest make her noble what ere she were hearing thy distresse could she forbeare to pitie thée No no were her heart more harder then the Diamond it could not choose at y e hearing therof but relent else wel woorthy were she to bée scorned of al Ladies and neuer to bee named amongst the number of women The Prince séeing the Princesse in this pitiful humour thought it good striking wheÌ„ the iron was hot taking the opportunity answered her thus Is your Ladiships censure such of hard-hearted Ladies wil not be entreated of him whose loue to you is no whit inferior to the Pr. Dionicus as himself wold confesse wer he present hard me recount y e many griefs wherwith loue hath afflicted me might he â—e Iudge wold allow me recoÌ„pence for my seruice in loue But Madame if without offence I might demaund this say Nutania the Princesse of Thrace were the Saint vnto whome this vnhappie Prince had vowed his deuotions and that all the passions he hath endured are for your loue would you vouchsafe him loue in recompence thereof The Princesse driuen to her shiftes at this demaund could not tell what to answere yet sharpening her wittes as women can doe she said Pheander Loue is not to bée dallied with as I haue heard them say which speake by experience therefore I cannot directly answere thy question but were
these comfortable words albeit she hoped of small reliefe from him partly to ease her heart and a litle to disgrace her aduersary which was mightie all the reuenge she could take thus said 〈…〉 that I may not séeme discurtious to you whose curti 〈…〉 ed is more then I can any way deserue but in 〈…〉 your welfare which pittieth a poore widowes e 〈…〉 e weale is the good of her poore fatherlesse Or 〈…〉 with pittie my case and consider thereof as 〈…〉 ease Then drying her eyes which like gutters bedeawed her chéeks she said Not far from hence gentle sir is my poore cabinet where this fiftie winter I haue mainteined y e port of a poore woman my husband in his life delighting in hospitality on his death bed gaue me charge to do the like which I haue obserued hurting none nor neuer denying anie good to them that sought me the néedie I 〈…〉 bored whom with my bread such vyands as God sent 〈…〉 e fed But now sir quoth she and therwithall a déepe 〈…〉 itnesse of her harts heauines restrained her spéeches 〈…〉 some pause said But now sir such is the oppressi 〈…〉 couetous in authoritie that my liuing is taken froÌ„ 〈…〉 ith my family compelled to séek harbor where we can 〈…〉 if God the comfort of the distressed prouide not within 〈…〉 e months for vs longer we haue not there to abide Telâ— me woman quoth the King what he is that thus iniureth thée and the maner how and as I am a true subiect to the king I wil neuer leaue thée til thou art with iustice reueÌ„ged on him Oh sir quoth she vrge me no more to that for my aduersary being honorable of account with y e king although y â— wrong I sustain be great yet wil he reueÌ„ge him self so on me mine as my life wil be the least last such is his bloudy mind who hath neither conscience nor thought of any good â—le after so many yeares of peaceable possession of this tennement in name of my husbands auncestry as our euidence doth specifie he wold not thus extréemly deal with those whome charitie would he should comfort but such is his crueltie who ought to be curteous that his couetousnes is neuer satisfied halling all from the poore profitting none but himselfe his children or seruantes who reape the benefite of manie mens labours for whâ—â— suite passeth but what he must like of or what w 〈…〉 King denie that he will grant Lamentable is it 〈…〉 the complaints of the commons of al estates ho 〈…〉 they murmure nay not onely against him bu 〈…〉 by others reportes that the Kings name is 〈…〉 stion of many all procéeding of this canka 〈…〉 guiding all abuseth all The Souldier seruing 〈…〉 his countries honour wanteth his pay which causeth him fall to robbery and other vnlawfull exercises The Farmer Grasier and such that liue of the benefite of their tillage féeding cattell and other hard labours haue their cattell taken their corne and what they enioy and driuen to séeke their mony by long suites and in the ende glad to besto 〈…〉 the one halfe to be assured of the other yet dare none 〈…〉 plaine how great so euer the oppression be Thus sir 〈…〉 tisfie you I haue spoken the truth what I haue he 〈…〉 partly that I know which I and many more ma 〈…〉 but cannot remedy it But sir what I haue spoke 〈…〉 you will conceale for if you be friend to him w 〈…〉 not name yet you can imagine If vnder your f 〈…〉 words lurke deceit and that you haue sifted me to beâ—ay me to his cruelty such il befall thée as I wish him whom I haue cause to curse others with me whoÌ„ he hath likewise wroÌ„ged But had the king knowledge how hée vseth his subiects especially his tenants who is our good Landlord and thus many yeares hath bene he wold redresse it but he hauing y e charge of al hath receiued a great fine to thrust me from my right which God remedy and grant our king to vnderstand his tyrannie Amen quoth the king May it bée possible that he whom I know the King hath loued so déer and fixed where their cause should bee heard and restitution made which in such sort was accomplished that his lands leases plate and Iewels were distributed to the wronged The widow who first gaue notice thereof the King enriched with greater possessions to maintaine her hospitality and Zachary for that his Dania shuld not for want of welth refuse him he bountifully rewarded so that euery one was pleased and returned content to their homes Now Gentiles the History shall shews you how Theophilus King of Thessaly expected the ayd of Thrace for restoring him to his kingdom which promise the King so regarded that in short time through the diligence of those Captains to whom the charge therof was committed the number appointed was furnished with shipping munition and victualls for the Army of whome the Thracian king tooke the Muster appointing their leaders The chiefe by name of Generall for the seruice was the Mayden Knight who was vrged vnto it by the two kings in such maner that no excuses nor delaies which he could make might be accepted vnlesse he should by his too much refusall purchase the name of coward this choyse greatly disliked the Knight whose warres in loue had but newly begunne to take successe who scarcely assured of the Princesse although her promised faith might put him in comfort yet weighing the vnstability of their sexe he doubted least his absence might drawe her to that which he would héedfully regarde being present The tydings of her fathers election made of her loue for generall as nouelties are rife and flieth with swift wings came vnto the hearing of the Princesse vnto whom if they were irksome suppose you that know how gréeuous the parting of two faithfull louers are who hauing her only felicitie in contemplating of her beloued Dionicus their ioyes but now in the blossomes was so nipt in the spring as care banished all future happinesse and sorrow began to claime her wâ—nted place in both but especially the Princesse who framed of the weaker mould heauinesse had taken the more impression in her so that forsaking all company her chéefest delight was to be solitary where shee might with déepe sighes and many brynish teares vnburthen her ouercharged heart cursing bitterly the cause and causer of seperating her loue In this melancholy vttering such spéech of dispaire as though shée sawe the dreadfull messenger Death alreadie seized vpon the valiant knight The knight who could take as litle rest as his Lady pleasure could finde content in no place vntill hée came to the Princesse lodging whome founde in this passion which was more gréeuous then all the rest her blubbred eyes pressyng bloud from his heart beholdyng her in that plight whose happy content was his onely ioy But how cumbersome so euer it was vnto him with
with grief WheÌ„ they had passed some time in parley about their affaires and that some offers were made by these Nobles of their ayde and assistance a generall Councell was called where by consent of such as had gouernment vnderstanding the power of Donatio the vsurper was no more but such as guarded his holdes it was determined after the army had refreshed themselues two or thrée daies to martch forewarde to the Cittie there to beleager the King and cut off from them all supply of prouision for victualles whereof they had small store In the meane time the Lordes of Thessaly to giue notise to all their friends with all spéede as they tendered their owne liberties to repaire with such power as they could make vnto the Campe. This deuise was no sooner determined on but the Noble Mama Bacha without returning to the King spared not his paines and all others which hée could command or entreate proclaiming in euery place as they passed Theophilus their lawful king straightly charging all naturall subiects of Thessaly to make repaire vnto the Campe. These tydings at first were hardly beléeued yet such was the rumour of a forreine power landed that all which could beare Armes repaired to the King whome they founde at the assault of the Cittie where the vsurper kept such was the multitudes of people which from all countries in his Regions came vnto him that in short time he had power sufficient to ouerrunne a kingdome The vsurper Donatio who had least thought euer to heare or sée the Thessalian King when the report of his being in the Campe was brought vnto him his courage quailed and his hope of enioying the Crowne was quite extinguished so that dispairing he became lyke a man lunatike that nothing whatsoeuer might moue him to any mirth or content so that giuing ouer all he cared not what became of himselfe or his yâ—t was he carefully counselled by his Nobles who regarded both his honour and their owne safetie but whatsoeuer they might counsell or determine was ill imployd at his hands was nothing to be had wherefore after they saw his small care and that he was not to be aduised they determined either in field with vnappoynted battell to try their fortunes or by some such composition as might be for their Courtries safetie and their reputation to giue ouer their tytle pretended to the Crowne of Thessaly Before that any thing was of them resolued the Mayden Knight which had his minde on his Lady as well as of other affaires could not rest in content vntill he had finished and either gained what they came for or séene the euent of fortune Wherefore to auoyd further delaies hée summoned the Citie to parley wherein he required their answere whether they would receiue their lawfull King or no if yea they should suffer him in peace to enter or otherwise vpon their answere to abide the hazard incident to Armes which he protested should be voyd of all fauour if he preuailed and they refused this offer of his These summons caused the Nobilitie to looke with better aduise into their estates and with consideration to wey each particuler perill which they found to be very many and daungerous especially séeing the multitude who were naturall subiects and did rather affect their owne King how so euer they professed in outward appearance then the vsurper which made them the more earnest with their King vnto whom they declared the offers made by the Maiden Knight with y â— doubts they had of his successe who were nothing in number to the Kings power which daily increased and contrary his decreased wherfore they aduised him to yéeld vnto such Articles of honour as they would require which should be both for his honour and safetie of him and his The vsurper hearing these perswasions from them wheron his chéefest hope consisted forgetting all former friendship and loue to any of them with most odious words reuiled them calling them traytors dastards and vpbraiding them with cowardise which were neuer founde but euer forward in all his actions onely this excepted wherin was no hope These spéeches moued his Nobles to such furie that departing from him in discontent they resolued for their owne safetie to séek what means they could and not by delaies to incurre his displeasure whose friendship they were by all meanes they could vse to intreat Wherfore in name of all the rest the Lord Philiago principall Treasuror vnto the King by whose direction the rest would be gouerned sent for the Princesse Phedera from prison whom he vsed with honorable spéeches comforting her with hope of her kingly brother who liued and was in person come with a strong power to deliuer her from that captiuitie which so long she endured humbly beséeching her grace to become a fauourable soliciter to his Highnesse for them who were to be commaunded by their soueraigne whose subiects they were protesting that neither for enuy to him or his they vndertooke the action but at commaundment and to auoyde the ignomious tytle of cowardize which all of honorable birth or mind ought to detest The good Princesse which could not tell whether she might giue credit to his words or no answered him thus My Lord Philiago vnder the gréenest grasse lurketh the most perillous poyson and experience hath taught me in my durance the knowledge of friends these sodeine offers of loue to my brother whom you all know is long sithence dead causeth me the more to dread I am going to him and that your proffered friendship is but to that end to bereaue mée of that which long since I wished to leaue if it bée so good my Lorde hyde not the truth thereof from mée for therein shall you shewe your charitable minde to a distressed Captiue Farre be it from my thought Noble Ladie quoth Philiago that I should any way delude you or moue you to credit any thing other then truth whom I haue my greatest hope of good to assure you of which so pleaseth your Exellence I will my selfe bring you to his Maiesties presence When the Princesse heard him make these proffers of fauours and perceiued by his iesture he did not counterfeyt ouercome with ioy she was in a traunce from which reuiued by the carefull industry of the Lady Vrania wife to the Lord Philiago shée gaue the Noble man great thanks for his tydings assuring him on her word that she would so recompence that good as hée nor his should haue any cause to complaine of her vngratefulnesse Vrging him with her curteous spéech to detract no time but to bring her to the Campe where the King was which he willingly yéelded vnto and causing a stately Charyot to be ordeined and richly apparrelling the Princesse as befitteth her accompanied with his Ladie and two daughters of rare bewtie himselfe wayting on her disrobed issued out of the gates and in short time came neare the Campe and were by the Sentronelles discouered and brought to the
such there is which shall be found by thee Keturne thou then â—â—â—e dread thy guiltlesse blood Whose life preserued is for thy Countries good When the aged Pilgrime had perused thâ—se lines musing at the darknesse of the same which he construed many wayes yet had no certaintie wherefore resoluing on the mercifull fauour of the God which had so pittifully heard his prayer he passed on his iourney in search for those princes which hée hoped was liuing whom to his trauaile we leaue to returne vnto the Princesse Phedera who hauing the company of the Mayden Knight had sundry motions of desire to enioy his Loue euermore applauding his person curtesie and valoure which so farre excéeded all mens in her iudgement that shée honoured him for the Paragon of the world holding her for the most happiest Lady on the earth which should enioy his loue wishing that she were worthy of his loue and framyng her selfe by all meanes that modestie would permit to gaine it But hée whose heart was fixed on his Lady had no motion of any other onely wished to bee with her whome hee so much honoured whose presence he more desired then all the riches the worlde could offoord Tormented with these restlesse passions which was of the King and Courtiers noted especially of the Lady Phedera many imagined the cause yet none so good a phisition to finde the truth or cause thereof as continuall care weakeneth the bodie and causeth many extreames so Pheander féeling in himselfe a weakenesse of nature and looking for some disease through his melancholy to ensue finding the king at conuenient time he humbly besought him of fauour to depart alleaging that the aire and contagiousnesse of those Confines was nothing agréeing with his body and that his longer staie might be by his confusion The king which loued him as his owne soule and tendered his welfare more then the wealth of his kingdome whom he had found so kinde and forward aduenturing his life for his good in many broyles though loth to leaue him in whome so much he delighted yet noting his melancholike humours which had much altered his complexion imagined it was no excuse and therefore the rather condescended to his request appoynting a time as he desired when if God sent winde and weather to be readie with their shipping to conduct him to Egypt whither the king promised with his sister and nobles to accompany him for which iourney a strict commaund was giuen to all Officers to sée each thing necessary puruayde which with such diligence was performed as in short time all things was as they could wish or desire furnished onely attending a faire winde to set sayle which they stayed not long for But a gale fitting their purpose the kyng with his sister the Mayden Knight and their train embarqued themselues for Egipt where by the good furtherance of him that commaundeth all they shortly arriued in safetie whose comming being knowne vnto the Vizeroy Cariolus with such prouision as they could make on the suddaine repaired vnto the place of landing where the king ioyfull to sée the good recouery of Cariolus in most kinde maner imbraced him And so generall welcomes being giuen on all sides by the Nobles they passe on towards the Pallace of the king who with a generall loue of his Commons was to his great delight welcommed with such shewes of ioy as on the sodaine they could prepare Thus after some time spent in banquetting and other pastimes for their welcomes to beguile the time the better the Mayden Knight standing on thornes vntill he might behold the swéete content of his liues comfort finding Cariolus in place where they might discusse at large theyr mindes The knight not forgetting his promise made to Cariolus in his own country and willing to make amends for the wrong he had there thus said My Lord what I haue to impart vnto you as one that wisheth your good is such as becommeth a friend vowed to do your Lordship what seruice my abilitie can stretch vnto onely I beséech you promise on your honor to conceale what I shall discouer Cariolus who both honored and loued the knight musing to what these spéeches tended relying on the fidelitie of him whome he neuer had heard or séene to commit any dishonorable action gaue him his word and honor to be as secret in all things as he could desire which the knight accepting thus said My Lord first I humbly beséech your fauourable loue to be continued and pardon my great offence committed against you in Numedia where not being my selfe I committed a most hainous offence and dishonorable for which I am willing to make such satisfaction as you can require Cariolus hearing the knight vse these spéeches of submission noting them well and bethinking himselfe what had fortuned being in Numedia could not call to minde any vnkindnesse offered him by any inferiour person neither did he well remember the princes discurtesie yet leauing nothing vnsought calling his wittes togither bethought him of the prince whom they forbeare to answeare vntill he had with earnestnesse noted the phisnomy of the knight whose face with long sicknesse wherewith he was at that time possest was quite altered from the forme it now had which made him more to admire But calling to mind the resemblance of the aged king he conceiued by some signes of his fauour that it was doubtlesse the prince yet doubtfull he was for that being so nobly borne he came to the Numedian Court with no better countenance then a Merchant After many thoughts not willing to offend through rashnesse or to offer any vnkindnesse he humbly besought him in true friendship which he had found to pardon him which could not call to minde no wrong done him nor any familiaritie that euer had bene betwéene them Well my Lord quoth the knight I sée your minde is frée from reuenge that know not those that haue endaungered your life and therefore am the more willing to reueale my selfe to cleare you of this doubt Know that I am Dionicus the vnhappy Prince of Numedia who in my fathers Court so much abused you whereof I repent me and haue sorrowed for it But pardon me good Cariolus and accept that friendship I vowed vnto you which wil endeuour to deserue thy loue in all occasions wherein true loue consisteth To giue you some cause to credit what I say I haue thought good to find this opportunitie not onely to reueale myselfe to you whose fauour I desire but to doo my best indeuour to deserue the same and to aduance thy estate if so you can lyke of my offer Cariolus amazed at these spéeches after he had with more aduised eyes beheld the Prince was assured it was he prostrating himselfe on his knée humbly besought his grace of pardon which had so vnreuerently behaued himselfe But gratious Prince quoth he faultes vnwillingly committed deserue the lesse punishment I speake for my selfe which am ready to make amendes in performing
would affirme it rather than our friendship should bee for such a matter discontinued Well Octauius quoth Cariolus I finde your kindnesse great wil thank you for it but trust mee this gloze may not serue your turn for as you haue spoken heresie against Beauty and maintained a strāger before your home-born Ladies you shal either recant your Iudgment before our soueraigne Princesie Nutania or receiue such penance by your quest assigned which I promise thée shall be all honorable Ladies Oh my Lord answered Octauius I hope I shal find your H. more kinde then for so small an offence to deliuer your friend prisoner at the bar where the parties shal be Iudges my Iurie such as all lawes allowe me to appeal from if you should my fault such as if my life were in their trial depending I might wel make my testament dispose of what I possesse hartily desiring God to receiue my soul for sure I am my body shuld not long inioy breath for no greater corrasiue can be offered that Ser then to attribute the honor of such a prize to any one particular they all standing on tearmes of beauty as the Crowe which thinks her owne birds fairest so women how ill-faced and wrinkled soeuer they be may not endure to hear any commended if happily they shuld hear it spoken by such as they dare not in speech displease yet wil their countenance shew their hearts discontent by scrowling of y e browes hanging the lip or setting a swéet face as sugred as the galle or by some such outward action or other shal you find where that nipt her for which offence looked she neuer so highly with Bell Booke and Candle you shall bée curssed and neuer more come in Paternoster how déepe soeuer you haue bene in her Creed Hold hold Octauius quoth Cariolus too much of one thing is good for nothing Thou hast plaid the excellent Orator Who had thought your Lordships experience had bin such for thereon I know you ground all your authority Author I am sure in schooles you neuer read any which haue so highlie abused that sacred Sex sacred I may wel cal them my Octauius who are not honoured of mortall creatures but of the goddes and therfore in the higher account and the more in regarde the greater thy offence and the more grieuous thy punishment To this pleasant discourse the whole assembly gaue ear and were greatly therwith delighted yet to put them from it and to end as pleasantly Atlantus said My Lord Cariolus what is your honor become Beauties Champion Farre was it from my thought that euer you woulde with such earnestnesse haue defended our faire Ladies but since I sée you are so great an Aduocate I will cause you to haue thanks for it at our return other reward I dare promise none And you my Lord Octauius that so clarkly haue depraued them would I might be your scholler whose experience is so great Tully Ouid or Marcus Aurelius that wrote most in their disgrace neuer writ so largelie I must néeds say as my Lord Cariolus our ladies are litle beholding vnto you for the daunger committed in the same the least is heresie and how heresie is to be punished your honor knoweth yet my Lord as I would gladly become a peacemaker and that friendes may not grow at ods whereby any daunger might happen to your person albeit the offence be not pardonable yet the fault made in a forrain countrey ought there to haue his triall If it shall stand with your good liking no ladies present to heare your hard censure your fauor may be the more since I haue by patiēce of this honorable cōpany intruded my self to speak in our ladies cause not being a feed Counceller for them I wil entreat these noble Gentlemen to giue me leaue let me censure of y ◠same so it stand with your L. good pleasure Now truly quoth Octauius I find your L. kind and more kind then I can either desire or deserue when I shall néed your fauour in matter of more importe I will make bold til when I put you down with Cariolus for one of my smal friends for this matter I shal néed small friendship vnlesse to bring your cause to better effect you doe as manie crafty people now a dayes vse to make small conscience in selling mens soules to the deuill for mony to sweare what he shall commaund them how false soeuer to the impouerishing of many whose good hospitality and other good neighbourhood was more then euer such base villaines coulde reach vnto if such a companiō you mate me with or search out some subtil lawyer that can by his querkes and quidities in lawe make a bad matter good and annointing the Iudge with vnguentum aurum cause him to incline to the same my cake is dough if by such subornation forswearing and false iudgement my speach be wrested to your aduantage Cease my Octauius this dread heauens forfend for this offence thy punishment should bée as thou deseruest much lesse that anie sinister meanes should be vsed to bring thée to open penance yet good Octauius let me entreat thée as in this assemblie thou hast vniustly giuen the prize of beauty to Brionella and therein hast wronged highly the onely of the world by thy partiall iudgement in derogating from her the title of most excellent which is most honourable no more than her worth requireth confesse but thy fault and errour in the same and an end if thou louest thy owne good refuse not this offer least worse befall thée then Acteon or to Paris for his rash iudgment Thou hast learned vs in thine owne Exordium that women are inspired with mindes of reuenge Be therefore by thy friendes entreated before the punishment come vpon thée so maist thou kéepe thée from much sorrowe for if no greater mischiefe fal vpon thée thou shalt be sure of more curses then thy weake carcase can beare for my Octauius in friendship I say this and warne thée as one that loueth thée knowing their inclinations which as thy selfe confesseth is bent to reuenge if so as many as shall heare of this blasphemie if they do thée no other ill their cursing thou shalt be sure of and womens curses are as bad as the curse of holy saint Gillian which is said to be ten times worse then the diuels Treason treason my Lords quoth Octauius if I haue spoken heresie this questionlesse is no better then treason and the comparison so odious as may not be endured the diuell and a woman ioyned in one as fit a match as may be made Well my Lord since in my errour I haue found you kinde in fauouring my fault let vs do as all bribing Officers vse beare with me and ile hold with thée so by consealing my fault the lesse dangers shall happen vnto you if you refuse my kind offer I come vpon you with an old prouerbe ka me ka thée or as children
play tell of me Ile tell of thée Well watcht my Lord Octauius quoth the whole company but my Lords let the further hearing of this matter rest till better opportunitie least your tediousnesse bréed trouble to my Lord the Prince whose quiet I would not willingly offend My honorable Lords answered the Prince if these discourses of those noble men be pleasing to your honours assure you they are no way offensiue vnto me I haue troubled you from your better cheare to accept of a sicke mans pittance whereunto you are all so heartily welcome as to your owne Pallaces and welcome saith our Countrey housholders is the best dish at their feasts if therefore my Lords you accept my welcome I am the more honoured by you which haue so graciously vouchsafed me your companies Then turning to the Lord Cariolus he said for you my good Lord how much I acknowledge my selfe indebted to you I omit and yéeld you as many thousands thankes for your pleasing spéech as there were sillibles in your words you haue like your selfe defended the weaker sexe for the which were I the Princes Nutania your challendge made in my cause should be bountifully rewarded I am sory my good Lord my bad hap was such that I knew you no sooner But if it shall stand with your Lordships pleasure that during the time of your abode here to vouchsafe me your company so it may be no disparagement to your serious affairs perswade your selfe your welcome shall be no better in anyplace then vnto me for which kindnesse you should hinde me vnto your friendship Gratious Prince answered the Noble Cariolus thanks for your Princely fauour and gracing me thus which am not any way to do your maiestie seruice but wherein your highnesse shall commaund I shall be readie with all dutifulnesse to accomplish Leaue these spéeches good my Lord quoth the Prince and offering dutie where friendship is requested and granting my sute let me enioy thy companie so shalt thou command Dionicus for euer as a friend The grauer sort of those Noble strangers whom matters of more importance called away after humble thanks giuen for their royall entertainment wishing health and all happinesse vnto his excellence they commit him to his rest Barnardine which had endured the end of all these prattles and perceiuing that this talke was altogither friuelous and not worthie the hearing moued him to delight he began diligently to enter into each perticular discourse of Cariolus and Octauius and considerately to note each seueral passion of the Prince so farre searched this skilfull phisition into euerie particular that caâ—â—asing it throughly he noted his speciall iesture and how his colour came and vanished yea how much his heart was possessed with ioy when he heard the Princesse Nutania named the working of his pâ—â—ces made Barnardine imagine the cause of his disease yet had no assurance thereof and to enquire it of the Prince was in vaine for that he had so often denied the same wherefore he consealing his thoughts in hope to worke meanes for his recouerie And finding those cynders which were like to com 〈…〉 e him and the rather if he could procure Cariolus to accompany him Thus leauing the Prince to his quiit and Barnardine to his care for recouering his health returne we so the aged weake King The King whose long sicknesse and care of his wife and sonnes health whome he loued most zealously being extreemly vexed and greatly weakened of his 〈…〉 when Phisicke had done what was possible and small hope to recouer him in the midst of his passions when all hopes was past but onely the comfort of him who by his word rayseth the dead from the graue so this Manpelius receiued comfort by his kingly neighbours friends whose letters when he had by his Councell perused and with regard and aduise noted each kinde offer with their persuading reasons albeit he could hardly â—â—gâ—st the â—ame yet considering how fraile men are and that our cares of Terraine ioyes are to be fa 〈…〉 d to that Celestiall commander which reléeueth all those that seeke him he reuiued himselfe and like a faithfull souldier taking holde of the promise in holie writ so often repeated he cast care of wâ—â—â—â— childe and kingdome vppon him that first gaue it him and by whole prouidence he so long enioyed theâ— â—aking his chiefest care to gra 〈…〉 thoâ—e his friends by whoâ—â—â—â—â—â—sell he was vrged to the heauenly comfort And those honourable Nobles for their paines who wishing to be with their friends in their owne Countries attend his highnesse pleasure for answere which hée tooke order should with such spéede be dispatched as possibly might 〈…〉 way be vsed Dionicus whose heart was on his halfpennie vowing his loue whollie to the Princesse Nutania was so delighted in recounting hee praise as nothing could be so pleasing but as all sorts of men infected with that agâ—â—â—e iâ— their loue be faithfull are enclined to some iealousie so this monstrous Basalicke whose poyson infecteth the vaiâ—es and consumeth the heart without wisedome gouerne the minde as by this Prince notably appeared who in his idle thoughtes calling to minde the praises of Cariolus and the challenge made in defence of the Princesse Nutania as loue endureth no arriual so Dionicus striken wtih the sting of ielousie began to conceiue manie vnhonourable thoughtes of Cariolus supposing Nutania was was his Loue and that by Cariolus his ioyes in her loue and hope of fauour should bee frustrate and of no account with much matter more then euer was by Cariolus imagined how largely so euer his spéech was vsed in the Princes behalfe to procure their delights and mooue Octauius to chollor notwithstanding no reason might perswade where iealousie had giuen iudgemeÌ„t for the Prince in this ielousie fought no meane but reuenge of him that neuer committed the least thought of euill against him When reuenge in this Princes heart was thus imprinted and rage and ielousie set downe his death an honourable motion more befitting his grace then rigor moued by the inspiration of the eternal God withdrew him from this base attempt he called to mind the honour of his house the loue of those Princes their bordering neighbors by whose command Cariolus came into his Country the Scandall so bloodie a fact deserued what continuall ignomy would redownd vnto him and his progeny for euer accusing himselfe of great impietie he exclaimed on his follies in this maner Blush Dionicus at thy base thoughts and so much sorrow for thy pretended mischiefe against this noble straunger as if thou hadst shed the bloud of a thousand innocents hast thou from thy Cradle disdained to offer wrong to the most inferiour and wilt now begin with murther of a noble man Knowest thou not that to adde to his head one haire is more then the greatest Prince can doo And wilt thou séeke his life that neuer had thought of il against thée Hath thy father liued so many
sooner arriued he at that so long desired place but Fortune who had bent his thoughts to trauaile entending after her many crosses to sauce his sowre with some swéets and like a comfortable Phisition after many bitter Pilles ministred for cloying the stomacke of his Patient comforteth him with some consarue or other more pleasing his appetite so the Prince now in the beginning of his fortunes found this fauour to arme him with the better hope of ensuing good for at his first comming to the Citie after enquiry made for some ship bound for Thrace he had intelligence of a Barke alreadie haled out of the harbourgh into the roade her yardes crossed and her Marriners exspecting the comming a boord of the maister and her marchaunts and so to depart Which newes how pleasing it was to the prince suppose you gentils that haue your harts so full fraught with desire as this noble Dionicus who no sooner was informed hereof but diligently went himselfe to search the maister marchants of this ship whō he found in an Ostria carowsing healthes to their good voyage and taking leaue of their friends in the citie to whose company the Prince being come albeit nothing acquainted with the conditions of those people yet he so framed his behauiour to his habit that it might haue bene admired amongst the Courtiers his quaint behauiour had they bene beholders thereof pleasing so well these humorous companions with his carowsing curtesie and bountifull expences that nothing he could require was denyed him A woonder it were to tell you whē he required passage with what willingnes they graunted it and what large proffers were made him of their cabbins and other sea curtesies all which he accepted with such kindnesse and none more welcome than Dionicus who standing on thornes to be cleare of his land whō loue enforced without regard of father crowne or subiects to leaue he hasteneth the rest aboord of whose company the Mariners were not a litle ioyfull for y ◠the wind serued thē in such pleasing maner to bring thē to their desired hauen whither following the Masters direction for their course sailing with a faire gale we leaue them for a time to tell you of the griefe of Manpelius the Numedian king for the losse of his son of whom no maner of news might be heard You haue heard Gentles with what pollicie the prince wrought the better to bring his purposed intent to passe and what seuerall pastimes were by him deuised in which seuerall actions it was supposed by the Courtiers himself would haue bene a chiefe or at least a beholder of their sportes But hée which had more hammers working in his brains than one taking that time as fittest for his opportunity gaue them a cause of great sorrow as you shall heare Whose sportes ended and euerie thing with great credite to the actors and pleasure to the beholders finished the King and Quéene whome age nowe called to rest after kinde countenances and manie thanks to the Noble men Gentiles bad thē good night who were in all humblenes and heartie loue cōmended to their rests wher let thē rest vntil the newes of their sons departure be brought them by the wofull Barnardine whose hearts surcharged with sorrow could hardly be comforted but that through the extremitie of his griefe he had resigned his latest gaspe to him who first gaue him breath This wofull newes was two whole dayes and more kept from the king by that mirrour of fidelitie Barnardine who by all meanes either Art or trauell could imagine enquired after the Prince but of him could heare no tydings whereby many supposed hee was slaine some coniectured one thing some another But most of al the King Quéen their happinesse was such as may not without great effusion of teares be remembred which caused a generall griefe throughout the whole Regiment But neither sorrow of the subiects nor lamentation of their King might recall him who they all so much desired to sée which caused the King ouercharged with melancholy rather desiring death then life breathe out these spéeches Vnhappie Manpelius and more vnhappie in being father to so gracelesse a childe oh Dionicus why haue I liued to sée thée growne a man tenderly caring to bring thée to that estate and now my chiefest hope was in thée to haue comfort thus by thy vnkind demeanour to cause my grief how happie be those parents whose children liue in obedience but thrise accursed those fathers which giueth y e bridle of youth into their hands who ought to be held in as the Colt vntamed with the hardest bit Though wisedome presageth lawes of gouernment to fathers and experience of the Auncient which haue liued in elder times giueth aduise crying out of such as giueth libertie to yonglings yet law of nature whereunto we vnhappie parents are too much tyed forgetting all counsels are so besotted on those carelesse yonglings that if they desire any thing whether it be profitable for their instruction or haleth them to destruction it may not be denied them how many of high estate by the carelesse regarde of their vntoward children haue bene brought to great heauinesse Or who taking pleasure in his ofspring can sée him restrained I but vnhappie man hast thou not heard the learned Surgion often tell his tender Patient that it is better to smart once then endure griefe euer And thou that mightest haue kept thy deare sonne vnder his Tutors custodie wherein he liued in obedience might so haue had him still if thy owns foolishnesse had not bene so carelesse of him Then since thou hast bene the cause of thine owne sorrow blame thy selfe and sigh to think on thy follies and as thou hast bene the originall of this mischiefe not onely robbing thy countrey of a towarde braunch to succéede thée but hast lost to thy selfe the ioy of a father in wanting thy sonne thy lifes sole happinesse Perswade thée that as many Countries haue bene punished for the Princes offences so this plague is laide vppon thy subiects for thy misse Wherefore in sorrowing for thy sinnes and that God may shewe his mercy vpon thy kinde Countrey men sorrow for thy foppery and abiuring thy selfe from kingdome wife and Countrey betake thée to some vnknowne place where thou maiest spende the remainder of thy ouer worne yeares in contemplation for thy sinnes so may that God of all mercie which neuer turneth his face from the penitent receiue thée to his grace and restore thy sonne calling him from his youthfull desires to become a comfort vnto those which with manie fault teares and hearts full gorged with sorrow bewayle his absence Thus powring foorth his griefe with sighes and manie brinish teares vttering his sorrow hée resolued to leaue all his earthly possessions and altogither forsaking the companie of all mankinde liue sollitarie in some vnfrequented place vntill it woulde please God some tydings should be sent him of his sonne or else by death call
much which goeth from themselues such as they please to bestow it vpon shall be abused Thus haue I heard gentle Knight and gréeue that honour should so vnkindly bée rewarded or that any subiect should forget his dutie so much as for his owne lucre cause those that spende their bloud in their countries defence their landes and possessions with emptie purses and heauie heartes like men forlorne to walke the streets exclaiming on them that should sée their seruice better rewarded to the dishonor of the state they liue in This my Pheander I often recount least in forgetting it I fall to infamie by committing the like but he that gaue me reason to know good and to follow it wil neuer suffer me to fall into so great folly nor let me liue to forget those maimed braue men that venture for my good and my countries weale for while I may breath the souldier shall be honored in Thrace and shall reape the reward of his merites neither shall these Drones which in such times of perils hide their heads suck the hony off my garland Like mindes I wish all princes with carefull eies to looke into the doinges of such who as the moth deuoureth the fine cloth consumeth their princely reputation drawthe commons who by dutie are bound to loue from their alleageance While the king was in this speach worde was brought him that a Heralde from the campe attended his pleasure at the gate requiring parlie which he suddenlie granted commanding him to be broght to his presence this vnhallowed pagan who neuer feared God nor was endued with any humanity come vnto the kings presence with a shameles countenance vsed this peremptory spéech King of Thrace Mustaffa Cela great commander of the empire general of those royal armies sendeth thée by me thy choyce either of wars or peace peace if thou deliuer thy daughter vnto him whom he hath so oftē required yet wheras his loue vnto her hath bene such to make her his wife his noble mind dispiseth her so much as his highnes wil neuer so much honor her but in despite of thée and to abate the pride of that disdainful dame he wil vse her as his concubine when he shal haue taken the flower of her virginity giue her to the basest villain in his camp Thou knowest my embassage deliuer her liue or by me return thy resolute answere for it shal not be many dayes ere thy citie shal flame with fire about thyne eares The king vexed at this vnexspected message could not answer him so mooued was his choller yet with as much patience as nature would permit he saide Pagan I haue heard with great paine endured thy Lordes peremptorie message and that thou that Cur from whome thou commest shal know the great difference betwéen a Christian him that he vnderstand how honorable we hold the lawe of arms I pardon thée thy life which thy presumption doth require sharply to be punished For answere to thy Lord this briefly say his threates I regarde not for my daughter as God hath giuen her me and for she is the onely ioy of my aged life I wil shield her in despite of the Pagan and his greatest power defend her chastity therfore depart and say to thy Lord from me his threates Iwey no more than the words of a child it is not his multitudes can dant me were they ten times more then they are my daughter I wil hold in despite of his beard proud vsurper that hée is Thou knowest my wil make no stay The Herald noting the stern countenāce of y ◠king and hearing his resolution thought it not good to stay a replie least his tongue swelling in his mouth might not be eased without losse of his head but glad to escape his furie conueyed him from his presence with al speed he could posting to the pauilion of the prince vnto whome he deliuered the kinges resolute answere which hee no sooner heard but like one besides himselfe he vowed in three dayes to be reuenged of y ◠old churle who should fast the bitternes of his youthful furie Litle knoweth this proud enemie the preparation made to bid him welcome or that his own destruction was so néere as after it prooued The Maiden Knight which with no smal grief had endured this proud demaund of the herald whose whole request was for dishonor of her he so much honored awaked from melancholy as out of a sound sléep prostrating himself before the king he saith renowned Soueraigne with what grief I haue endured the presumption of this vsurper my heart denieth my tongue to vtter neither shal I haue ioy of any thing til I reuenge the wrongs offered your M. your princely daughter vpō that dog Wherefore dread Lord grant me licence to issue out of the city with my companies in the silent of y ◠night I hope ere long to returne his proud challenge with my sword in his throte Thanks good knight quoth the King I accept thy offer as much as if thou hadst giuē me the whole world in possession yet would I not so forward a man shuld aduenture himself without my company whose cause it is my selfe will accompany thée in the fight and by my herald bid him battell in which I doubt not of successe The Knight was not a litle mooued to hear his suit take no better successe yet not willing to endure any competitor in the honour he hoped of humblie besought his Maiestie of the honour he bare to Armes in this attempt to giue him leaue the rather for the reputation of the Princesse which had geuen him his first honor The king which saw by his countenance how malecontent he rested at this deniall howe loth so euer he were to graunt the same yet yéelded to his desire and taking him from his knée louingly embracing him he saith Braue man at armes take not in ill part that I haue denyed neither thinke that it was in any sort to disparage you or the hope I haue of your forwardnes but for maintaining my owne honour yet séeing your will is to aduenture for mée goe in Gods name and he be your defence that euer comforteth his distressed and so pulling his signet from his finger he gaue it him willing that it bee deliuered to the Gouernour of the citie let him vnderstand his Highnesse pleasure was that he with his armie passe at his pleasure and so taking his humble leaue of the king and gracious mistresse which affecteth him more then he could conceiue he departeth more ioyful of this honor then to be richlie endowed No sooner parted he the kings presence but slacking as litle time as was possible he summoned his captaines and officers straitly charging thē with al the diligence he could vse to gather their companies to attend him in the market place in which charge no negligence was vsed so that by shutting in of the euening ech captaine
they boorded and by hundreths entered my shippes and gallies who were valiantly repulsed But men can doo no more then God will giue them leaue so long they continued the fight that the scupars gushed bloud as they had often with the water deliuered by the Pompe And here laye one maimed and there a number slaine This pittifull stratageme when my heart with heauinesse behelde being so hardly assailed my selfe after that I was cleared from the Fléete the winde fauouring mée with a happie gale and my ship being good of saile I forsooke the fight in hope to haue recouered in my owne Countrey and by a new supply haue giuen him welcome thither But my hopes herein deceiued a boysterous storm growing the sea who is mercilesse arose in extremitie swelling with such outrage that my weak barke no longer able to endure her crueltiâ— was put against our wils on thy coast my Pylot vnacquainted with the same and a hoary myst ouer spreading the land sodeinly the ship stucke being neare the shore which draue vs to great terror To remedy the which the Mariners did their best but in vaine striue they that labour against his will that commaundeth all What should I say the outrage of the storm was such as forced the ship vpon the Lée shore which gaue vs all cause to remember our maker and with heartie prayer to craue his assistance but our comfort was comfortlesse our shyp split and we all driuen to make what shift we might my self happening on the main yard after that I had bene gréeuously beaten at sea the whole night was driuen a shore on your Confines I neuer heard of any other that were saued With this the teares restrained his spéech that he could not speake which moued the King to more pittie of his estate and friendly imbracing him he sayd No more my Lord at this time I am sorie that I haue giuen you such cause of griefe thus by recounting so lamentable a state renew your passed griefes But comfort good King when tides be at the lowest they spring againe If the Egyptian King be so extreame reason with curtesie will not content him the cause being no other but to force the loue of a woman vnto him of which perhaps he were better be without On the word of a King and by my honor I sweare I will not leaue you vntill I sée you setled in your kingdome Thus the King whome sorrow had ouerburthened was by the comfort of this noble King his hoast recomforted whose whole studie was now in preparing of an Army to ayde him to which care we leaue them Nutania whose restlesse passions neither time nor place could alter burning in these remedilesse thoughts considering the penance her louing heart was like to endure she fell into this humor Nutania how haue the Fates ordeined to make thée vnhappie that thou being deliuered from an oppressing enemy then steppes in loue to beginne a new Tragedie Thou seest her fawnings is but flattery then séek to eschue them enter not too far in the forde least minding but to wet thy shoe thou plunge ouer head and eares Thy yeares albeit not many with the examples of others whom then hast read may learne thée to be wise if thy fancie be fixed on such vanitie as may bréed thy sorrow expell it as thou maist suffer not loue to harbour in thy heart for harbored he commonly pleades possession and once possest neither force nor entreatie may remoone him so ambitious a tyrant is he that voyd of pittie against law and all hostility he holdeth what hée list Alasse Nutania if thy enemy be such what auayleth thée thou maist wish to be fréed from his tyrannie but canst neuer auoyd it so imperious is hée yet not manly but as a Coward making the breach where the wall is weakest poore women is the marke whereat most commonly he aymeth who being by nature pittifull are easie to beléeue and by â—oo light credite are taken by them they best like of Thus poore wench doest thou nothing but heaue feathers against the winde which returne into thine owne eies thy speaches vttered in loues dishonour will be challenged and like a traiterous Rebel to his Deitie shalt thou be conuicted arraigned and condemned for deprauing his Godhead If it be death fondling to speake against the maiestie of a Prince what is it to contemne the powers aboue The best remedie thou hast is reconciliation wherewith the Gods are pleased and hartily sorrowing for thy misse yéeld thy selfe vanquished yéelding séeke by fauour to attaine the end of thy desires Thy loue is matchlesse and doubtlesse honourable his countenance sheweth the true badge of Nobilitie and his valour and bountie doe answere what his other perfections promise I haue often heard it spoken that womens helpes in extremitie haue bene great if that be true proofe Nutania cal thy wittes together and so end thy tormentes by enioying thy heartes content so much discontent by yéelding to the same Thus resolued without longer stay shée called vnto her Guenela her chiefe attendant who from her infancy had bene brought vp with her In this Guenela she conceiued her greatest hope vnto whome she saide Guenela since I had reason to discerne good from euill thou knowest how I haue tendered thée and how willing I would be to séeke thy preferment make triall when thou please so shalt thou be assured of that which iustly thou maist hold in suspence But leauing these coniuring words I must Guenela commit vnto thy secrets a matter of import wheron my honor and reputation dependeth for I tell thée Guenela I haue made choyce of thée amongest all those which I may command as of her I loue and haue best cause so to do hauing had such societie else should I rather chuse to dye ten thousand deaths then reueale it Guenela which had her whole hope of good from the Princesse hearing her spéeches with teares standing in hir eyes procéeding of ioy for the honor done her by her Lady protested vnto her by heauens maker and what else he framed to be secret in her determinations and do her best endeuour to accomplish whatsoeuer she commaunded The Princesse taking her word for currant in whom she neuer found deceit said Guenela that it is incident to all creatures in their kinde to loue I know thy wittes be not so simple but thou canst conceiue and he that frameth vs directeth our likings as best pleaseth him be it prince or begger from the highest to the simplest and he my Guenela hath linked my liking to a most braue toward Gentleman on whom I thinke if affection which is blind deceiue me not is worthie to be mated with the greatest in degrée on the earth To kéepe thée with friuolous spéech is no time now hauing other matter inough to discourse therefore that thou maiest knowe him to whome my loue is vnited Pheander the new adopted Knight is hée Pheander famous for his valour renowmed for his
ought will do me good if not vse me no more thus vnkindly least ouercome with the extreme of my griefe I chance to say with my tongue what my heart will repent or vse my hands with such rygor as becommeth not a mayden The Gentlewoman séeing the wind blow so warme fearing as much as was promised séeing the Princesse impatience such thoght not good to tempt her aboue her strength for women being by nature warme with a litle fâ—wel will be made hotte past reason wherefore making a preamble to her discourse like an eloquent Orator began thus Pheander with that word making a long pause to note the Princesse countenance on the sodain naming her beloued was interrupted thus Pheander Guenela what franticke humor causeth thée to name him in this manner with whome thou hadst neuer anything to say Madame quoth Guenela attend the rest before you either condemne me or commend me Then procéed quoth the Princesse This Pheander of whom my tale is before your Exellence to be told is that Knight who of your maiestie is called the Mayden Knight this Knight as it is told me loueth a Lady but whoÌ„ I cannot declare before I know but as it is told me by his dear friend which knoweth the secrets of his heart so tormented is he in his passions that the night naturally made for rest restlesse he consumeth in great discontent the day wherein all creatures delight is vnto him loathsome so that through watching and refusing his dyet with other cares which cloyeth his stomake his louely face is altered from the sanguine vnto the yealow coloured Saffrone yea Madame these mine eyes are witnesses of it who this day sawe him passe into the Court so féeble that his weake legges might hardly endure the waight of his bodie No more of this my swéete Guenela least thy tongue busied too long on this Tragedie ouercome with the extremitie of my griefe I â—e enforced to seeke an ende of my torments by dispatching my owne life Oh Guenela is this thy comfortable confection Is this the reliefe thou preachest off which would yéeld me such quiet of minde Vnhappie Lady why should I liue to sée another enioy my Loue Is not Pheander my seruaunt haue not I made choyse of him and shall another no way worthie to enioy him haue that interest which might delight the Goddesses Peace Nutania whither romest thou let reason subdue rage let not euery one knowe thy loue to Pheander but conceale it as thou maist and séeke some secret deuise to giue thy hart ease by death which is thy best remedy yet would I liue to become a succour for the well deseruing Knight and gaine his hearts desire for him if I might Cruel were that â—ame not worthy to inioy the simplest groom which causâ—es for loue consumeth such a man in all perfections and liniaments of body as Pheander without yéelding him loue But hearken Guenela that thou maist in time when my bodie shall be intombed among the dead report vnto my Loue and louing Knight how deare I held his loue as my countenance often shewed though he carelesse of loues toyes neuer regarded it for he shall well know at my last ende how I wish his welfare doo but this for me by his friend to learn the Ladies name whoÌ„ the Knight is so inthralled This is all the seruice that I will euer command thée that knowing hir I may become an intercessor for him whom my hart more desireth than all the worlds possessions with this teares which trickled downe from her eyes restrayned her tongue In which sorrowful passion her maiden became a partner and grieued for her follie committing so haynous a faulte in procuring the same she excused in this maner Most gacious Princesse how much I grieue to sée your discomfort I can not say but hope your Grace will pardon me which haue bene more bold presuming on your fauour then beséemeth mée neyther what I haue done gracious Lady was of any intent to offend you but to acquite my selfe of blame in a matter which I haue of curtesie vndertaken as the sequele shall manifest if it shall please your Ladiship to peruse this letter which will no doubt resolue you without further paines to me or trouble to your Grace what she is that is best beloued of the Maiden Knight on the earth This letter I receiued at his handes who hearing of your disquiet desirous as it should séeme to acknowledge his dutie to you coniured mée by many faire words and proffrrs of good to deliuer it vnto your hands which albeit for modesty I did long refuse thrusting that from me with my finger which I woulde willingly haue drawne to me with all my force in the end I consented the rather for your Ladiships quiet which as I suppose will bid it welcome for the maisters sake who if my iudgment in the Planet Venus deceiue me not wil prooue shortly a coniunction or Ile neuer trust my skill again for Venus being in the signe Leo hath domination ouer both houses viz. he and she or hée and you The Princesse at her last shift when she heard Guenelas tale voyd of all hope to enioy her beloued Pheander after shée had a while paused as one at length awaked from her memento as from a sléepe she saith Now trust me wench thou hast cunningly gone about the bush and hast daintily sought to enter into my déepest secretes yet how cunningly so euer you haue dealt there may be a quilitie to deceiue both thée and him but I pray thée Guenela tell mée what spéeches vsed the Maiden Knight at the deliuery therof tell me swéet gyrle in friendship The despairing Knight good Madam for so I must call him howe euer his vallour showes it selfe in fielde as no doubt woorthily so saith report yet in loue I sée his dastardnesse who loueth yet dare not reueale the sum of his desires but must commit it to a tell-tale paper languishing to the death wanting his delight and prolonging his sorrowes by silence his lookes bewraying more than he can vtter for be it said he that had séen not long since his beautie and gallant grace the abilitie of his bodie and noted euery particular lineament at this time with the debility thereof should sée a metamorphosis which might mooue the most hardest hart to pittie the cause to me vnknowne but suspected The assurance I doubt not but your Grace wil soon vndestand if you vouchsafe to teare the seale and peruse the contents The Princesse which thought euery minute a yeare till she had knowledge of the Knights minde put her maiden from her prattle with a fained message when being all alone with a number of sorrowfull sighes for the Knights perplexitie she read and manie times reade those lines which gaue her first comfort of enioying her heartes coutent how welcome they were vnto her it may better bée imagined than explaned whose head was wholly busied in answering the same
wisdome hée aduisedly weighed that cares must be comforted in tyme least takyng déepe roote they will consume the heart subiect vnto it Therefore after many kynde perswasions vsed hée layde before her the honour of the place assigned him and what infamy woulde redownde vnto him refusing it with the dishonour of him and staine to his Proginy for euer the cause being right and the action of her Princely father so charitable whereon the welfare of a whole kingdome consisted The Princesse whome gréefe had neare ouercome hearing her beloued speake so honourably and well considering it was greatly to his infamie to denye her father though hardly wonne to patience yet armed with hope of his valour and fortunate successe in his iourney reason and wisedome subduing griefe and sorrow shée graunteth her consent heartily praying for his safe and suddaine returne to his eternall honour and encreasing of the hearts content Tyme that staieth not causeth these Princes to part Pheander to giue directions for his iourney his prouision being all to make but such care had he of the same as hée was sodeinly prouided of all néedfull things expsecting a faire wind for imbarquing his companies which God sent as they desired when ech one taking leaue of their friends with many a loath departing farewell hée betooke himselfe to the mercy of the waues who by his goodnesse that commaundeth and gouerneth all things fauoured them with so happie a gale that in short time they might discry the high lande of Egipt which being by his skilfull Pylottes knowne they strooke their sayles to Hull vntill a generall Councell was called where euery man had libertie to deliuer his aduise for the benefit of the action Where after long debating and eache perill aduisedly weyghed it was determined the Fléete should put againe into the Sea least they being a huge number should be discried and their intent thereby made frustrate To bring their purpose to better effect a Frygate was slenderly manned to auoyd suspition who in the night rowed hard aboord the shoare with Commission to take what ere hée were they could first lay holde off that they might be the rather aduertised of the state of the Countrey and where the King was This deuise sorted to such effect thet through the great diligence of the Lord Cariolus who was appointed for the same as one desirous to gaine honour by dawning of the day they recouered a Rocke which opened with one of their principall port vnder which vnséene they might shelter themselues and yet haue sight of eache shallop whether hée were fisher or other that came or went Long had they not laine exspecting their desires But Fortune who fauoured their enterprise discouered vnto them a a Galley bounde for Babylon fraighted with many passengers of honour and exceeding rich with plate money and Iewels This Galley first discryed halfe dismayed the company who feared shée had bene a man of warre sent of purpose to surprise them so that each one had greater desire to be gone againe then to attempt any thing against them But in extreames is the Noble minde best tried as the Lord Cariolus in this who séeing the cowardise of such base companions first by faire perswasions encouraged them to the attempt shewing in his countenance his resolution and arming them with hope of victorie not omitting the reward of so honourable an action which if they escaped with victorie being the beginning of their enterprise deserued more to be recompenced then all the rest To giue you courage my hearts quoth he I say not to you go but follow me your Leader who will either winne her or leaue my life in so good a cause But these spéeches with those dastards preuailed not at all who séeing the match vnequall cryed stil to be gone but Cariolus who weighed his honor farre aboue all moued with great impatience at their deniall with his Rapier drawne came amongst them reuiling them with odious spéeches and protesting what ere he were that should in the least sort either by word or countenance make show to return should with his own hand be murdered and so long as he might breath no faint hearted villaine should dishonor him who came to gaine honor Therefore swéete blouds quoth he take courage and feare not death with honor is to be valued more then life with a kingdomes possession who so followeth me shall finde me euer his friend and what ere I possesse shall haue interest in it The company how loath so euer they were to be wonne to so hard an aduenture yet séeing the noble man so resolute thought it bootlesse to refuse him or to make semblant of dislike holding it more wisedome to kéepe his honorable friendship by their forward aduenturing then procure his enuy by their cowardise and seeing it high time to resolue the galley approaching them neare they cried to procéed and they would all follow him Cariolus pleased with their willingnes had scarce leisure to giue directions for the fight before the galley came within hayling whose force being such and so wel manned as she was made small account of the Frygat who although they halled many times yet making as if they heard not bore vp with them and valiantly without words entered her in the Prow putting them from their Ordinance where they within boord with their Pistolles Semitaries and other néedfull weapons valiantly behaued themselues Cariolus crying still courage courage Thessalie so long that in short time the Cauileres were all stowed and his company leauing his Frygat entered all the Galley as lawfull Prize to be shared amongst them The Noble Cariolus hauing ended the fight he kindly with words of fauour and promise of libertie with great reward to the slaues vrged them to apply their labor which with so willing hearts accomplished his request that in short time they had sight of their Fléete and beare with them all they might which being descried they could not imagine whether the Galley were friend or no wherefore the Generall to auoyd perill as wisedome with valour is requisit doubting that by firing or other mischiefe they might annoy them he called by his flage of Councell the commanders of each ship frygat and galley aduising them to take great regarde how they suffered the galley to boord them By that time the whole Fléete was prepared in squadrons rowing fiue and fiue warlike and braue Cariolus came vp with them when the fléete halled them they espied his owne cullors aduanced on the Poope and an other Ensigne hanging vnder her sterne which sight gaue them great cause of ioy to signifie their gladnes for his successe each ship in the foreward with their Ordinance and small shot according to the maner of the sea bad him welcome In which Tryumph vnhappily with a scowrer which negligently was shot from a Hargubâ—ze was the Noble Cariolus wounded to the great griefe of all the Nobles The Generall hauing vnderstanding therof in his shalop boorded him withall the
spéed he might carrying with him his owne Surgion and such as professed phisick doubting the griefe to be more dangerous then it proued whereof albeit the report was first offensiue to him yet was comforted in this comfort the wounde not mortall they regarding it as nothing when the Generall had carefully séen the wound searched and drest enquiring what they were which he had taken he caused all the chief of them to be called vnto him who on their examinations would confesse little which forced the Generall to put one of y e inferiors attendant on Phidamia the Egyptian kings brother to be tortured who forced with the crueltie thereof confessed what they were and how their going for Babylon was to intreate a peace with the Emperour who as they were informed leuied a power to subuert their countrey in reuenge of the wrong offered Phedera sister to the Thessalian King slaine in a battaile fought at sea by the Egyptian King This newes was not sooner reuealed then welcome for hereby they were assured of an expected frend yet enquired the Generall whether their King had married the Princesse Phedera or no and where hée liued Sir quoth the Egyptian after the victory obtained wherein the Noble Theophilus perished the King my maister furnished for suche an attempt without further staie or suffering them to gather head which he was sure they would doo hearing of their Kings ill successe to preuent which he framed his course thither where they suddeinly arriued and by their power and pollicie subdue the chiefest of the Nobilitie who hauing them sure they easily and in short time ouercame the rest where he was by generall voyces though against their liking Crowned King of Thessaly How hée punished the Nobilitie I omit embacing them and raising in their places them farre vnworthie such honor and reputation so that neither Gentleman or other of account but liueth in great seruitude and slauery glad to be reléeued with néedfull vyands and apparrell at their handes which themselues haue often fed The Princesse for all the perswasion he can vse he cannot in loue obtain yet hath he vsed the good Lady more cruelly then I would willingly report the strangenesse of her tortures being such as fewe but doth greatly pitie And now as our last Poastes imparted vnto vs he hath appointed a time wherein she must resolutely answere him to his content or ende her life in fire The which crueltie to her vsed reported by Merchants of Babylon with the vertues of the Princesse and comming to the Emperors eares being now in the prime of his yeares either of pollicie being mightie to release her or whether to make her his Ladie and wife I cannot say but hée hath required her in marriage pretending great loue vnto her which the King will not graunt vnto But in words of great despight hath answered him in such manner as hée greatly disliking hath with fire and sword defied him who being a Prince of very great might and force our nobles of Egipt haue thought good rather to ioyne with fauourable showes of friendship then abide the extremitie of his furie Loe sir quoth hée thus haue I satisfied your request which is all I can doo And for the same quoth the Knight receiue thy libertie with what other fauour I may do thée These newes was as pleasing to the Mayden Knight as if he had bene possessed of the Crowne and hauing such aduantage holding it small pollicie to loose any time comforting Cariolus emmitting the charge of his prisoners vnto his good regard hée hasteth to his owne ship where vnto Theophilus King of Thessaly hée recounted what hée had heard desiring that order might be presently taken whereby the enemy might be surprized at vnawares so might they finish their intents with lesse danger and more honour on which they agréeing they summoned their chiefest vnto whome the Knight recounted what the Egyptian had declared beséeching the King whose cause it was to speake his minde then the rest to giue their aduise what they thought was best to be done for accomplishing their desires and planting the King in his owne Countries These questions propounded each particular perill with each aduantage and occasion which offered good successe was throughly debated when they had each one deliuered their minde Pheander whose honor was now in the Balance as one that desired no worldly possessions so much as the reputation with his mistresse and the King saide Noble Gentlemen you haue all like resolute braue hardie men at Armes shewed in your spéeches the desire you haue to do this noble King that seruice for which we come if therfore you wil encline your eares to my opiniō among the rest I shall acknowledge my selfe greatly fauoured by you The whole company which by curtesie was drawne to his loue was easily wonne to this request and willed him say on which he did in this maner My Noble Lords and friends in Armes touching these motions made for our procéedings it hath bin by the Egyptian reported whom we do credit the King is in possession of Thessaly which Crowne we know all he doth dishonorably vsurpe The Princesse she in such extreme that by his cruell censure is not long to liue vnlesse against her will she grant to loue him who is loathsome in her eyes To preuent which it behoueth vs to search the best meane that we can and for that euery one hath giuen his censure this is my aduise that hauing these Nobles in our possession in whome consisteth the strength of his Realme our company being lustie and strong we wil raunge their confines where finding place opportunitie we may surprize them at vnawares who being subdued his force shall be the more impaired That done we will with all conuenient spéed passe for Thessaly where I doubt not but to come before the time limited the Princesse for her answere and to reskew her deliuering the possession of the Crowne into the Kinges hand the Knight hauing said presently it was confirmed and each Captain departed to his charge according to directions giuen entered the confines of Egipt where they wrought by such pollicie and directions of the Mayden Knight that they landed in the dead of y ◠night the greatest part of their Armies marching in warlike order towards the Citie of Buckelia where the king kept his chiefe Court and where their greatest force was But before they could recouer the walls or come to view the same for any aduantage they were descried and the gates shut against whom the Citizens made such power as they could for their defence which vnexspected of the Knight caused him to staie vntill himselfe went to knowe their pleasures and to deliuer his owne intent And mounting himselfe onely accompanied with his Herald and one Trumpet hée came before the walles sommoning them to parley which was answered againe by an other Trumpet and such of the nobilitie as was within shewed themselues vnto him demanding a cause
due to a murtherer and reuēge your kings death by taking my life which had I a million of thousands liues could not make satisfactiō for my euil committed against you Here teares interrupting him denyed his tongue libertie of spéech whose lamentation filled all the nobles with such heauinesse as for teares they could not vtter a word especially the King whose grief being great was encreased by his dolefull lament yet casting of this womanish humor drying his eyes doubting the nobles and those present shuld accuse him of fear dreading to die wherunto we are all born with a soft voice tenderly wringing the Mayden Knight by the hand hée saith Noble Gentleman cease thy heauinesse thy griefe so augments mine that the thought thereof wrings teares from my heart thy vnwilling offence with my heart I forgiue and to shew how deare in life thou wast vnto me my good Pheander accept at my dying hand my kingdom of Thessaly the lawfull inheritance of thy faithfull friend loue those people my kind subiects so gouern them with fauour and lenity as they haue no cause to complain of my dead course for my life which by thy hand through y ◠apointmēt of him that gaue it me I must leaue I heartily forgiue thée and accursed be he or them which shal euer impute i◠vnto thée in dishonour any fault against me committed That thou louedst mée thy tender care of my good hath shewed suche proofes as tyed me in true friendship to be thine for euer Death is not so irkesome vnto me but that I must leaue thée and the swéete content I receiued in thy company grief of my deaths grief my own Pheander compelleth me omit what I would say wherefore briefly thus Forget not thy dying friend and shew that loue to my Lord Cariolus whom for thy sake I haue to this Crowne of Egipt aduanced as I euer found and in extremes comfort him with thy aide as thou hast done me my sister Phedera forget not whom to thy charge I commit leauing her to thée and thée to be in my place a brother who liuing loued her as my hope is thou wilt And so deare friends heauens blessednes befall you all and so prosper you as I loued you And you Pheres of Egipt and Thessaly whose loue I haue found as subiects in all dutifull maner let be continued vnto these your elected Kings who will with honour gouerne you so shall the giuer of all happinesse blesse your lands with the blessing of peace and plenty for they that honor their king doth reuerence the Lord who created him and he wil giue them plenteous rewards Noble Gentlemen griefe cutteth me off flesh must yéeld to earth how loath soeuer the mightiest death hath vanquished Therefore as my Vltenam vale remember my words and pray God to send vs the abundance of his grace that we may through his mercy haue a ioyfull méeting in his kingdome that neuer shall haue end I féele the heauy messenger approaching therefore farwell to thée my deare sister whom I charge as thou louedst mée liuing be louing and kinde to thy husband doing him that honor is due vnto him thy children bring vp in fear of their maker and so God blesse thée with happinesse And thou Pheander vnto me no creature in life more deare remember my parting spéeches loue the Lord Cariolus as I haue loued thée and thou my adopted brother Cariolus honour him during thy life that I am sure faithfully tendered and loued thée so shall God be pleased for no sin in sight of his diuine deitie is more intollerable then that monstrous vice of Ingratitude which for auoyding the heauy wrath of of God I wish thée eschue Nobles and you all my very good friends to exhort you to remember your duties whose wisdomes is more then I will recount were a matter friuolous and perhaps may moue some offence yet take my simple meaning which speake to you that haue ouer-loued me which loue let be continued honor your Kings with reuerence and loue for what you do to them is done to God which are his Vize-Regents on earth and his annoynted Moue no rebelliō nor be mainteiner of euil for such faults how secret so euer God will to your ouerthrowes reueale Remember his word which hath commanded you to be obedient without murmuring and feare him which gouerneth all I can say no more my spéech faileth me therefore generally my Lords farewell and so turning his weak bodie to the wall surrendered his soule to the heauens from whence it had his being to the intollerable griefe of all his subiects who with many brinish tears lamented his death but especially the Knight Pheander and Cariolus whose marriage the louing King honoured with his funerall which in the most honourablest maner Art or honor could deuise was solemnized lamented generally of all his subiects but especially the Egyptians who more dearly loued him for his clemency then their owne naturall King The funerall finished a Parliament was sommoned in which time the Mayden Knight so preuailed with the Nobles of Thessaly and Egipt that by common consent of the whole assembly in both houses temporall and spirituall the regiment of both kingdomes was deliuered vnto the Lord Cariolus and the Mayden Knight resigned his interest for euer vnto him and the Lady who was lawfull inheritrix vnto the same The Parliament proroged according to the custome of the Country great preparation was made for the Coronation which in most solemne and honourable manner was accomplished with so many sundry showes and delightfull pleasures as might weary you to reade Let it suffice to the great ioy of both Realmes all things to so honorable an action was so exquisitely performed as no man but tooke great delight in beholding therof praying with an vniuersall voice for their long liues to be in happinesse amongst them continued Thus all things to the ioy of the noble Pheander accomplish and to the high content of the King Cariolus and his Quéen by the aduise of the Mayden Knight an election was made of a Vizeroy to goe for Thessaly the King making choyce of two euils the least conceiuing this opinion of the naturall subiects of Thessalie that they would liue in their dutifull obeisance when a conquered nation gathering hed vppon many light occasions was easily drawne to reuolt These considerations with great wisdom weyed the Lord Fardinand one of the priuy Councell of Thessaly was elected for that gouernment vnto whome the King after his Commission signed and honorable gifts giuen so wisely exhorted to obedience and care of his loue and dutie that as many of the nobles as were present and noted the same admired him reioysing that God had prouided so for them to leaue them in the gouernment of so toward a Prince of whom so much ensuing happinesse was exspected Order taken for his affaires of waight the Vizeroy imbarqued for Thessaly and his Nobles departed each one to their seuerall mantions
Where the Knight imboldned by the fauour of his gracious Lady was not so great a stranger with her highnesse but that he might at pleasure repaire to her presence with whom by his earnest sute and desire to be possessed of her whom he so much loued and honoured he egged her on still to marry which for she would not do without a generall consent of her nobles and states of the realme she caused a Parliament tobe sommoned at which time finding her fit opportunitie she imparted her determinations in this maner Honourable Lordes and you our louing Commons here assembled let not those fewe words I haue to say vnto you bréede any discontent that will deliuer nothing dishonorable to my state and your disparagement to withhold you from the same long were more nicenesse then wisdom wherefore briefly thus Sithence I was by permission of him that exalteth and pulleth downe Princesse at his will I am by your honourable generall consents Crowned Quéen of this realme to whose gouernment you haue as lawfully descended from him whom you al loued and feared committed your selues sithence which you haue all with shows of honorable loue and care of our state and realmes by sundry examples perswaded me to marriage which you say may bréede your happinesse whose good he that searcheth my harts secrets knoweth that I more preferre then my life on whose sutes so often made I haue aduisedly considered and noting the many perils incident to our sexe which rather require to be gouerned then to gouerne the name of King being feared honored and loued through feare when they hold our sexe in contempt All which considered with your former sutes if I grant to your request I doubt not but I shall find that fauour which the poorest of my subiects haue fréely to choose where their loues and likings leadeth them which if you grant I shall hold my loue well bestowed on you and shall haue cause to thinke your request in times past hath bene honorable and not to tye me to any inconuenience assuring you that whateuer he be that I shall bend my liking vnto shall not disparage my estate nor dishonor you but be worthie for wisedome valour and what else is required in honorable persons to mate the Princesse of most renowne on the earth You haue heard what I haue to say and wherefore chiefly this Parliament was sommoned of which I craue your answeres The Nobles and Lords both spirituall and temporall with the Commons of both houses hearing the Quéenes motion were all mute not knowing sodeinly in a matter of such waight what to answere But remooued from their dumps the Speaker being both wise and well demeaned as befitted his place humbly prostrating himselfe thus said Most gracious Princesie albeit your Maiesties request to this honourable House is no more then wée haue earnestly sought yet pardon our sodaine answere and giue vs respite of time vntill to morrow the remaine of this day so it stande with your Princely fauoure shall be spent to heare the censure of all estates in these Presence whose loue and dutie is such as they will deny nothing wherein your royall and honourable estate is not disparaged but in all thinges will with all humblenesse subiect themselues to your highnesse pleasure The Quéene loath to require such haste in answering her question graciously commanded him to rise graunting most willingly to his demaunds for which the whole assembly with a vniall voyce gaue her Grace most humble thankes The Quéene hauing deliuered the summe of her desire graciously commending them to his will that frameth all things accompanied with many of Phéeres departeth The Quéene departed all matters in questions laid apart the Phéeres and most chéefest of both Houses assembled themselues in Councell where you must suppose no matter for benefit of the state was omitted The request made by their Quéene with great aduice considered which amongst them was admired where many imaginations assailed them deuising of each side what he should be that is in so highe estéeme and fauour with her Grace and of suche worthie reputation as shée hath reported him eftsoones naming one then some other yet the principall obiect of her loue neuer remembred which draue them all to an non plus But what euer hée were time of their owne desire to answere craued some dispatch of what they had in question Wherefore leauing friuolous questions they procéede to their begunne action gladly would they haue bene certified of their elected King but in vaine it was for them to require it Wherefore considering their owne desires they thought it would be taken in euill part of her highnesse to gainsay what with such humble and earnest sutes they had required assuring themselues of her wisedome gouernment and care of their goods which was so wise and euery way so honourably demeaned which considered thereuppon relying it was generally determined to referre all to her owne will pleasure and good lyking On which resolued the chéefest of the Nobilitie accompanied with diuerse of the Cleargy in hope of the Quéens good acceptance spéedeth them to the Court who sodeinly was aduertised of their being with their request which was to haue accesse to her highnesse No sooner was her highnesse therof certified but leauing her Chamber where she was busily imployed about those businesses which shée had in hand deuising of the answere of the Commons leauing all shée spéedeth her vnto them where taking her place their duties in all humblenesse done and shée with all honourable curtesie requited it the Speaker in presence of the whole assembly thus said Dread Soueraign the Lords both spirituall and temporall with commons in this honourable Parliament assembled weying with care and wisdom the honor of your highnesse and carefully tendering the weale publike haue with great care of both the premises considered with your maiesties request albeit they haue no knowledge of his honorable person vnto whom your royall liking is vnited yet relying on your Princely wisedome and care of your subiects by whose welfare their happinesse is to be mainteined with one vniall consent they willingly subiect themselues vnto your highnesse will and pleasure assuring your grace that whom you shall vouchsafe to endue with tytle of Lord and husband they will accept for their soueraigne and will in all humblenesse acknowledge with louing hearts their duties vnto him as to their lawfull King by your maiesties election Thus my gracious Lady haue they willed me to say in behalfe of them all and most humbly beséech your highnesse to make knowne vnto them the name so honored which you haue vouchsafed to like to the end they neglect not that dutie which is due vnto him by your good grace The Quéene hearing this answere of her Commons was more ioyed and in heart contented then euer she was since the death of her father her louing countenance shewing the content of her heart so long discontent which made her with most louely grace and