Fayries arriued in a village where he had tydinges of the vnknowen Knight who bare his Armes and had his Horse ¶ The. xviij Chapiter THe slow ariual of the Youth of the Fairies towardes the place where the cruell and daungerous Combate had bene betweene the twoo good Knightes vnknowen and Pharisor was occasion and let that hee founde hym not as hee had thought to haue done and that because it was very loÌ„g ere he could ariue at the place where hee was lefte for dead through the aboundaunce of bloud whiche he had lost beyng so wounded in the Combate For a while afore the good Giaunt Ergoferant who was gone to séeke for the vnknowen knight to reuenge his death goyng through the Forest heard hym who reuiued froÌ„ sound and yet liyng on the Grasse not able to arise complained and lamented right dolourously for his deare frend and fellow the Youth of the Fairies and going where he was yet not thinking it to haue bene hym hee found hym in so pitifull miserable an estate that if then presentlie hee had not had succour he must haue yelded vp the Ghost not so much for the grieuousnes of his woundes whiche were not mortall as for the yrke somnes hee had of his frendes absence whom he thought to haue fled of purpose to leaue hym as dispising his companie But the good Giaunt not without great maruell of so good a reencouÌ„ter tooke hym vp softly betweene his armes and as one wonderous strong caried hym easely towardes the Towne of Constantinople not without telling hym along by the way the sorrow and dole wherein he had lefte his sister Dinamya with the Empresse and her Damozelles and consequently all the Emperours Courte because of his death which they had heard by the selfe same Knight who so had wounded hym demaunding hym in like maner the cause of their combatyng whiche he tould vnto hym at large vntill suche tyme as approachyng néere to a certaine village whiche was but fiue or fixe Furlonges froÌ„ the Citty the night also approaching they were constrained to retire into a certeine Inne where the were honestlie and honourably entertained by the Hoste of the house who knewe the Giaunt and the Knight also to be of the Emperours Court and there were some Salues and Plaisters laide to the woundes of Pharisor by a certaine Chirurgian whiche dwelt in that Towne whiche notwithstandyng when they ariued the Morowe after at Constantinople were taken awaie by Maister Rabalon who puttyng in their place precious Oyntementes wherof he had alwaies store he did so well that to the great contentment of the Emperour Empresse and Dynamia with all the other Knightes Dames and Damozelles hee recetued his perfecte health in the space of fiue daies And for this cause though the renouation of an vnspeakable ioye the thicke Myste of forepassed sorowes whiche afore had holden their heartes with infinite number of Anguishes and Teares remained as vanished and dissolued especially with Dynamia Who hauyng recouered the obiect of her griefe was reduced into her pristine forme of ioye and felicitie contrary to the Lady Prrphyria who seeyng her selfe depriued of hym who on her had fatally fixed his fancie not able to giue any releasement to her Passions and grieuous mallady what comforte or consolation soeuer either the Emperour or Empresse gaue vnto her bringyng her in mynde of her Cosines retourne the feare and suspition of whose death was cause of her Mallady as they deemed and therefore should now cause their opinion beyng false and vain her sinall recouery of health But beyng wholy ignoraunt where the Thorne pricked her they could no ways worke but that she waxyng still worse and worse hastened still towardes the blacke Stygian Lake had it not beene for the comforte whiche the Damozelles Marcella and Harderine who knowyng the full occasion thereof recomforted her with the hope they had that his Death was noe lesse true then Pharisors and that the vnknowen knight whiche had caused those Nouelles had not done it but onlie to bragge and boaste hym selfe thereof or els to couer the dishonour he had gotten at the Iustes whereat she was somewhat released of payne yet not able altogether to leaue her Feuer and become whole and sounde In this wise remained the poore languishyng Princesse full of sorowe and paine for the loue of hym who beeyng noe lesse greeued through the equalitie of their Disease if hee had knowen their affections and alterations of the Spirite to bee reciprocate rather then to liue in continual thought and anguish as afterwardes he did he would otherwise and sooner haue put hym selfe in endeuour to salue and pacisie this amourous wouÌ„d which so pained them But as one who thought hymselfe so vnfortunate and smally fauoured of loue that he thought hym to haue made their woundes quite contrarie and otherwise then they were could neuer bee in anye place but that thinking on his estate and newe loue hee entered into deadlye dispaire of hope euer to attaine the Typpe of his desire In suche wise that where he then was to wit in the Forest where we lefte hym seekyng the vnknowen Knight to reuenge the deathe of his deare frende Pharisor accompanied with his Squire Geliaste he so conuerted the care he had of findyng hym into cogitations and contemplations of her passing beautie whom aboue all others he praised and esteemed that in steede of holdyng the right waie out of the Forrest to finde a place to embarcke hym selfe and go into some straunge Countrie he came towardes Constantinople which he thought to be most farre of whereof the Squire aduised who was somwhat more ioconde then the day before asked hym whether he would or if he thought to finde his Enemye in the Cittie from whence the daie before he had sworne to separate hym selfe a farre of so to shunne the daungerous heate of the Fyre â—…gence to ouertake hym as ye saye ye will I am sure that betweene this and that place you may doe it easely But seyng it is now late I counsaile you to go and take your rest for this Night that to Morrowe you maye bryng to passe your pretended purpose as luckelie as I would wishe you After the man of the House had made this promise to the Youth to set hym in the ready waie wherein he might ouertake the knight of whom he thought himself more iniuried theÌ„ he was to thintent he might arise betymes in the Mornyng he went therupoÌ„ straightwaies to slepe in a faire bed whiche the Host had purposely prepared for hym where we let hym rest for chaunge of matter till the next morrowe How Grandowyne Kyng of Hybernia and Cornewaile Vncle to the Nigromantian Mynofoll addressed a greate and puissaunt Armie ro reuenge the death of his two Children Mawgarde and Vaspazell whom King Floridamant had slain And how goyng towardes LoÌ„don he was encouÌ„tred by a little Flete of christians the Captayne whereof were the Princes Ferrand of Norwaie Grandilaor of Swethland
Gerileon doe aduaunce W. M. THE FIRST BOOKE of the Hystorie of Gerileon After the death of the most puissaunt and vertuous king Brandismell King of greate Britaine there succeeded hym in the gouernement of the said Realme a Sonne of his called Floridamant The whiche beyng in hys Pallace at London feastyng his Lordes and Barons and making preparatiō one afternoone to go course an Harte in the company of the Princes Huberte of Scotlande and Dorian Sonne to the Kyng of Spaigne which Harte he had seen in a wood neere to the Castle of Mirandoll There entered into the Hall a Damsell who hauyng recounted to hym a certaine aduenture had hym away with her The first Chapter THOSE whiche haue been curious in readyng of auncient Histories are nothing ignoraunte howe amongest those Realmes whiche for their fertilitie and worthinesse haue in tymes paste merited any Commendations Brittaine the Greate hath not only matched but also farre surpassed them all As well because of naturall beauty goodnes therof as in that it is the country vnder heauen which of all Antiquity hath bene more populous better stoared of strong and valiaunt Knightes then any other whatsoeuer thether drawen and allured partlie by the excellent and deuine beautie of the Ladies there inhabityng partly by the merueilous and straunge aduentures there accustomably found In so much that for this occasion it hath béen often called the Lande aduenturous Neither might any one of forraine Coastes or Countries name hym selfe a true and valiaunt knight if in it hee had not made proofe of his worthines there atchiuyng some straunge aduentures But especially in the tyme of the moste Puissaunt and vertuous king Brandismel whiche hauyng by his prowesse and valiauncy conquered many Realmes and Prouinces as Norwaie Swethlande and Denmarke instituted also the order of the twelue couragious knightes of greate Britaine beyng suche and endued with so greate force and valiauncie that fewe their likes were as then to bee founde in the whole worlde Amonge whom for moste valiaunt was the kinge Ferrande of Norwaie Dom Grandilaor and Dom Murcibel king of Denmarke The rest also because of their bounty dexteritie and bouldnesse in matters of Armes were greate praise worthy For this occasion was king Brandismel much feared and redoubted of his neighboures and borderers yet no lesse beloued of them for his courtesie liberalitie lenitie and humanitie with other vertues infinite whiche were resplendisaunt in hym And in suche forte that there was not hee whiche doyng hym the most toylesome and agreable seruice hee coulde did not yet estéeme himself most happy to be insinuated into his good grace and fauour so to gaine his gratious amitie But the fatall Sisters most impious and enuious of the good successe and felicitie of humaine kinde and of those especially whiche retaine a singular contentment and pleasure to bee in the fellowship and acquaintaunce of a Prince so vertuous and debonaire bereft them the shinyng gleames of noblenesse and myrour of Chiualry out of this worlde shreading a sonder the last thréede of this so vertuous a king the yere of grace after the death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ 418. the 66. yere of his age and 32. of his raigne Whervppon I can not rightly expresse the dolour sorrow that the couragious knightes his Subiectes receiued with his most priuate and best frendes In so muche that as recounteth vs the Historie there were suche of them as remained twoo or three Monethes without power to refraine themselues from weeping and lamenting most bitterlie when as it came to them in minde of the Bountie and Vertue of that noble Prince And chieflye the worthy olde Candior Duke of Normandy a Prince surelie amongest the Sage and hardy muche commendable Neuerthelesse as there is noe griefe so greate whiche in course of tyme a quite consumer of all thinges is not put foorthe of remembraunce So for iuste cause this good Lorde of Normandy together with the reste whiche were moste dolefull for the losse of a King so debonaire and vertuous at laste made ende of their plaintes and lamentations And for iuste cause saye I in that he lefte them for successour a Sonne of his begotten by his deere and loyall Spouse and Wife Florixe whiche not many yeres before had departed this life whiche saide sonne after the death of his Father was Heire not onely of his terreine Dominions and Possessions but also of his most rare and singuler vertues For besides that he was a good knight prudent and hardy past measure beeyng of a large stature his members well made formed and proportioned in equality the one with the others of sixe or seauen and twentie yeres of age ▪ or there aboutes he was also had in reputation for the most sage modest courteous Prince of his tyme In so much that to make briefe no man could require or wish any thing proper or conuenient for so great a personage as his whereof his valiauncie and inuincible prowesse was not beautified and adorned This same was called Floridamant the which did neuer finde man of what force or puissaūce soeuer he were who daring to Iust with hym hadde not geuen plainly to feele and vnderstande that he was peerelesse and not matcheable For this cause there was no knight in all Brittaigne the Greate whiche at his newe arriuall to the Crowne did not deliberate and determine to conuerte and tourne the lamentations and weepinges of his Fathers death into ioyes and gladnesse for hauing after the losse of a good Lorde and Master recouered and receaued a better kyng To whom there lacked so litle that he should degenerate from the bountie and goodnes of his predecessour that by his vertue whiche rather more then lesse did hym illustrate he did in suche sort striue and endeuour in equalitie of valiauncie and good behauiour to imitate and counteruale hym that his Knightes Princes and Barons with other of his Vassailes and Seruauntes thought in no wise to haue chaunged their Maister who vnwillyng to omit anye iote of his greate magnificence a while after his Coronemente made and gaue so many faire and Godly Giftes and Presentes not onely to the couragious knightes his Subiectes but also to such straungers as were come to visite him and to make offer to hym of their seruice beeyng nothyng ignoraunt that liberalitie rendreth men subiect and bounde towardes those whiche vse it that there was not he whiche pricked and prouoked with a desire to doe him agreable seruice so muche his lenity and liberality had charmed and enchaunted their affections would not willinglie haue put his life in hazarde for the maintenaunce conseruation of his honour And for that that a little afore the decease of the good king Brandismel his Father he had espoused the daughter of king Barrachen of Scotlande named Bellizenne a Princesse as sage and vertuous as faire and gracious for fewe there were who then for beauty good grace durste compare with her There were come to visite
hym the twoo valiaunt Princes Hubert of Scotlande Brother to the Queene Bellizenne and Dorian Sonne to the kinge of Spaine whiche had aforetymes beene Compagnions of Armes and atchiued many Exploites and haughtie enterprises with hym He determined to addresse and make readie all sortes of recreations and pastimes the more honourablie to feaste and entertaine them as to appoint Iusâ—â—â—ges and Tourneis for the loue of Noble Dames and Ladies and to conducte them to the Chace of wilde Boares Hartes Roebuckes and other suche like beastes But as he enforced hymselfe to showe them suche and all other like pleasaunt recreations and pastimes whereof he coulde bee aduised Fortune which by her mobility inconstancie neuer suffreth thinges in one esse nor abiding but like to the immutatioÌ„ of the Sunne which sometymes lendeth vs his Raies and Beames moste resplendent cleare and brighte and his pleasaunt smilyng visage sometymes againe couered and ouerwhelmed with an infinite number of thicke and darke Cloudes or Mistes to vs appearyng obscure and darke causeth to fall vpon vs a multitude of waterishe and rainy showers straight waies is to vs frendly and fauourable lettyng vs sauour and smell the sweete taste of an infinite number of delightes and pleasures by and by contrariwise tournyng vpsidedoune the order of humaine affaires by a chaunge and alteration of dolours and sorrowes which she mingleth produceth amongest her voluptuos entisementes bringeth vs most often of anguishes and dolours a multitude innumerable making vs feele as muche bitternesse in the ende as she hath in the beginnyng brought pleasure ne permitteth loÌ„g these Princes which as then had none other care but to make good cheare and too entertaine eache one of the Queenes Dames and Damozelles which were full faire and gratious whom he bare most affection vnto to enioye these delightes pastimes without depriuyng them thereof shortly and that by the moste straunge aduenture whereof euer was made mention For so it chaunced that the newe king Floridamant beyng in his Pallaice at London in estate and forme aboue recouÌ„ted accoÌ„pagnied with the Princes Hubart of Scotlande and Dorian of Spaine purposing at after dinner to goe to course an Harte whiche hee had seene that mornyng in a Wood neere to Miranaol which was a Castell of one miles distaunce from the Towne geuen by the king to his newe espoused wife at certaine seasons there to recreate and refreshe her selfe when she should thinke good The whiche besides the Architecture and magnificent buildinges with diuersities of woorkes whereof it was framed and wrought the moste pleasaunt and riche of all others as then to be séen was in like maner so delectable and pleasaunt because of the said wood wherwith it was enuironed more then a myles compasse aboute that it was vnpossible to ioyne ought thereunto to geue enlargement to the perfection thereof in all that which one could desire or wishe to a place of like pleasaunce there entered into the Hal a Damosell of meane beauty whose countenauÌ„ce to sée to séemed so bedewed with teares dolefulnes that one would haue thought that of long tyme she had done nothyng but weapt and lamented in that as yet appeared along her face the trickling Teares distilling by grosse and greate droppes This same Damsell apperceiuyng the king whom she seemed well to knowe came to prostrate and fall doune on her knees before hym and sighyng bitterly eache one hauyng pursued her to vnderstande that whiche she would saye she spake on this sorte Most puissaunt king in whom al bountie and worthines of Chiualry and vertue aboundes more then in any other vnder Heaven the same of your prowesse humanitie courtesie and value which so often hath flowed from the one till the other side of the worlde hath caused mee to come from farre euen to these Coastes to requeste and beseech youre Royall highnesse the whiche I truste is not dispuruaied of mercy ne pittie that taking compassion of the most vnfortunate and miserable Damsell that liueth it may please you in respecte of the order of knighthoode whiche you haue taken not to denie me your succour and ayde against the most presumptuous wicked wight that liueth on the Earthe For saide she drawyng a sorrowfull sigh from the bottome of her hearte I am of opinion that none my Lord but you hath power to succour mee in this case so fierce and puissaunt is the disloyall wight whiche hath wrought mee this wrong But I hauyng so greate confidence and affiaunce in your bounty and prowesse suppose that you onely may matche hym and geue hym the ouerthrowe whiche hath bene cause that reiectyng all feare and shame through the necessitie which oppressed mée thus ouerboldly and vnreuerently I haue dared to beseech your Royall highnesse to bee so fauourable to mee in this my so vrgent affaire assuryng my self that not forgettyng in any pointe the duetie of a wise and valiaunt knight suche a one as you are accompted which is to succour Ladies Damselles afflicted as I am you will not gainesaie ne denie mee of the request whiche I pretende to make to you for that no man euer heard say that for cowardise or slacknesse vices whiche lodge not in you you euer disdained or discourteously denied any other who as I now do requested you to geue them aide and succour After that she had made an ende of her tale the king which had seen her in speaking weepe so bitterlye and three or fower tymes to breake of with suche continuall and hartie sighes and sobs that there was no harte so harde cruell and vnpitifull whiche she would not haue moued to coÌ„passion tooke such pity of her that hauyng caused her to stande vp where afore she kneeled he made her this aunswere Damsell tell mee hardly in what affaires my succour may serue and be fauourable vnto you promisyng you that nothyng forgetting my duetie I will hazard my life to sustaine your right or at the leastwise I will knowe what therin you haue Then the Damsell greatly appeased satisfied with so good and gracious an aunswere thankyng hym for the same with a lowe reuerence coloured her visage with somewhat more ioye then she brought therein painted a while afore and ceassyng her teares saide vnto hym Than I desire you Sir to geue mée audience while I make you a recitall of my ill lucke and misfortune and attentiuely to vnderstande the forme of myne aduenture more vnhappie then anye other whereof euer mention was made since the memorie of man Wherin it is meete you knowe that I am by birthe of the Lande of Thrace and Daughter of a Noble and vertuous Kynge named Minoberis who in hys tyme hath beene as strongt and valiaunte in Armes as anye other whatsoeuer but so smallye fauoured of Fortune that nowe she suffereth hym to consume the reste of his age so miserably as is possible to imagine for that he liueth in a Prison made cruell and tirannous with a torment tenne hundreth
a malicious harte full of furie and rage There is no meane waie nor thing in humaine puissaūce nether as I beléeue in the enimie of Nature that he whiche hath conceaued thys foresayde hate against another doeth not inuente or dare not attempte to satisfie his will and wishe as maye let vs vnsterstande the example of the Necromancian whom I doe meane to mentionate in this Chapter Therefore it is to be vnderstanded that in greate Britaigne there was an Itande adioyning to the saied Realme which men called the gréene I le Whereof a knight named Mynofol was Lorde and ruler who from his infancie had so bestowed his tyme in the arte of Necromancie and supernaturall Magicque that by the same he atchiued many marueilous Matters and impossible to many others who dealed there with to be lesse expert then he in his arte In maner that by his enchauntmentes and diabolicall charmes hee had builded in his Ile a Castell the most sumptuous and magnificent that with mans eyes was euer seen For the Sonne thereon gleamyng his bright Rayes and Beames from morning till euening one would verily iudge so great was the force of his enchauntmentes that in stead of Stones there were placed greate Rubies the moste faire and beautifull of the worlde And with reuerberatiō of the same the Aire Trées of the I le appeared as red as Fire for a Miles compasse aboute And it was to bee marueiled greatly how the knight Mynofol could build any so sumptuous and stately an Edifice as the red Castell so did the vulgar sorte cōmonly name it seyng that it was not in puissaunce of the greatest Monarque of the whole earth to reare and constructe another whiche in perfection and sumptuositie of matter exquisite miraculous or artificiall was thereto comparable And for what occasion he made the same full many also were ignoraunt but it is to bee presupposed that it was not without cause why For it behoueth you to vnderstande that the predecessour of Minofoll whiche was somewhat akinne and of alliaunce to the vertuous and mightie kyng Brandismel pretendyng some right to the Realme of greate Britaine out of the whiche by his auncetours he had been repudiate and reiected for takyng to wife the sister of Grandowine kyng of Cornewalle and Irelande whiche then as yet helde the Pagan lawes and beleued on Mahounde had wrought and before had tended many meanes and treasons againste the Father of valiaunt King Floridamant whiche neuer laye in his power to execute as he pretended without daunger of the totall ruine both of hym and his whiche was the cause that his Sonne Minofol beyng as then yong and of tender age he caused him to learne with greate heede and diligence the Artes of Necromancy by studiyng the bookes of Medea Circe Morgue and other suche To the intente to reuenge hymselfe of king Brandismel by suche meanes as Medea tooke vengeaunce of the iniurie doen to her by her vnfaithfull and periured freende Iason But God whiche by his bountifulnesse doth still regarde those whiche followe the right waies and Pathes whiche he hath appointed for them with a piteous and mercifull eye to take awaie all meanes and waies from the traitour Lorde of the greene I le of annoiyng the kyng of great Britaine suffered that death should sende hynt doune to helle there to serue in the boatman Charons Barge afore he euer sawe his sonne Minofol well experimented in his arte to bryng to an ende his peruerse pretence and wicked wil. This same Minofol notwithstandyng beeyng once acertained by his Mother for what occasion his father had caused hym frō his tender yeres so curiously to be endoctrined taught in this diuelishe Arte in the whiche since hee was arriued to good age hee was so skilfull and experte that fewe like to hym were as then to be founde As one that was of his Fathers nature and disposition that is to wit a Traitour wicked and reuengeatiue hee imagined in his fantasie too put in execution the purposed pretence of his predecessour And for to bring to passe the same he still had taried till after the death of the good kyng Brandismel seyng no meanes duryng his life to finishe his conspiracie and vengeable falshodde that hauyng builte the redde Castle whereof I haue afore spoken he addressed the Damosell towarde the Kyng Floridamant to require hym of that you haue harde aboue recited knowyng hym prompt and hardie to giue succour and aide to Dames and Ladies wronged and offended And for that he knewe he had often tymes searched for Nabot to combate with hym to the ende to entrappe and withdrawe hym more easely to hym he appointed hym the message whiche you haue fully seen in the Chapiter precedent For that the Damzell doughter to the knight Minoberis whiche Nabot had in prison had sone perceiued hym to put in practise to deliuer her Father whiche thyng he denied her And so makyng his profite of her request instructed the Damosell his cousin of the Plot before specified who plaied so well her part that she brought the Kyng alone after her which pursued her so as is afore saied as faste as his horse could galoppe without euer atteinyng to her For she had a palfrey possessed with a Deuill whiche the Magician there had by his enchauntmentes put for that he went so swifte that of all that daie nought did he but trot without ceassyng or restyng and the Damosell rapped hym excessiuely feinyng to haue greate haste vntill suche tyme as the nocturnall darcknesse had chased farre into the Weste the shinyng chariot of Phaeton then she ariued in a Foreste thicke and darcke beyng obscured by the manifolde braunches of mightie Dakes which there were innumerable in so much that one could see there no more I thinke then within the moste darcksome denne of the profounde and infernall hell Wherein beeyng entered farre afore the Kyng who still pursuyng her as nere as possiblie he could at laste lost sight of her and not knowyng where she was become he staied somewhat his horse to harken if he could any whit vnderstand the tramplyng of her Palfreis féete therby to follow her trace but that was in vaine For he heard nothyng els but an infinite noyse and yellyng of sauage beastes as Beares wilde Bores Lyons and suche like whiche made so greate a yelling that there scarce one could haue heard the bounsing clapps of soundyng Thunder Whereof I leaue you to thinke if the kynge had occasion or no to bee astonished and greatly abashed In that I déeme none so sure and stable whiche would not haue been afraied at that tyme to approache and enter a place so daungerous Notwitstandyng he was of so magnanimious and haughtie a courage that that seemed to hymself lesse then nothing sauing that he could no more finde out his guide and conductresse But endeuouring hymselfe to searche for her it was vnpossible to make his horse either to go forward or backward what blowes or spurres soeuer he
Gerileon to be nourished and taught and of his childishe gentilitie and noble actes in youthe Duryng whiche tyme Prince DORIAN of Spaigne which was gone to seeke after Kyng Floridamant his frende was driuen by Tempeste into the Greene I le where he vnderstoode that the Traitour Mynofoll did leuie an Armie too inuade the Realme of Greate Britaine Wherefore beeyng gone thether he slewe the say de Minofoll at one stroke with a Speare and with the ayde of the couragious Knightes of greate Britaine discomfited all his Hoast Duryng whiche while the yong Gerileō lost hymself in the Forest by pursuyng a Phaisaunte whereby the Queene through grieues and sorrow outraged had slaine her selfe but for the sodaine arriuall of kyng Floridamant who disturbed her in the Acte ¶ The fift Chapter THE Iustynges and Tourneys solemnized in the Citty of London for ioye of the late child birth of the Queene Bellizenne dured the space of fiue daies In which season the Princes Ferrand and Grandilaor made suche proofe of their valiaunt prowesse haughtie chiualrie that they still rested victours to the great cōtentment of the faire Antiziliane To whom Grandilaor gaue all the Iewels by hym conquered whiche he had wonne of the vanquished knightes But at th ende thereof the vertuous Quene hauyng abandoned and lefte her childbed caused them to cease not able wholie to forget the sorrow and anguishe whiche the long absence of her loyall spouse brought vnto her but onely at suche tymes as she takyng her little Infant betwene her armes to yelde some release to her dolour she embraced hym with a multitude of beholdinges kisses coming of natural loue Not knowing whether she ought to waile the long and yrkesome absence of her Husband although not wholy voyde of hope to see hym once againe or rather to reioyce and content her selfe with so luckie a burthen And in this perplexitie she remained more then twoo yeres now sad nowe somewhat merie liuyng still and sustainyng her self by the foode of a certein hope whiche yet sometyme fed her with some consolatiō During whiche tyme she was so curious and tooke so great hede well to nourishe brauely to bring vp the yong Gerileon that at two yeres endes he was so big and ioyly that already he could both goe and run and prattled so pretily that he could demaund and aske for what ere he would haue In so muche that eche one cōiectured muche of his future boūtie and valour by his yong childishe actes accompagnied with such a naturall gentilitie and magnanimitie whiche in hym within processe of tyme had suche an encreasement that they seemed to surpasse the selfe same course of his tender and yong yeres For scarsely had he arriued to the fourth yere of his age but that if by chaunce he sawe any one beyng dolefull and sad to lament he had therof so greate compassion that knowing the cause of his dolour he endeuoured to recomfort him the best that he could offering him all that he had for his contentmente and especiallie to the Queene his Mother to whom on a daie when she heald hym on her Lappe hearing her geue a profounde sigh he spake moste gentlie on this sorte and saied Madam what ayleth you I praie you tell mee why you sigh Is there any that hath geuen you occasiō of being angrie For if it bee so I assure you it shall not bee vnreuenged The Queene hearyng hym speake with so good a grace began to smile at his childishe wordes who with suche and other like matters yelded often most great lightnyng to her passions and distresses Moreouer he neuer remained idle and moste commonly one should finde hym either neere to some horse wherevpō leadyng him to some blocke or suche like thing he set him self with so good a grace that at sight thereof a man would haue iudged hym to haue been the moste dexterious squire or knight of all greate Britaine or els takyng a Staffe he wente to assaile some one or other to trie hym self that wayes againste hym to whom albeit he surpassed hym in bignesse of bodie yet he raught hym some tymes by his nimblenesse and actiuitie suche harde blowes that commonly he was forced to plaie double or quitte with hym For in the science of Defence thei trained and brought hym vp so curiouslie that at laste he was therein as experte not onely as his teachers but also as any other in the world in his tyme Then againe with a Darte in hande he wente tracyng through the Forest to finde some wilde beastes without feare of the whiche no more then if thei had been Dogges if perchaunce he recountred any he pursued theim so faste in the Forest that often tymes the Quene whiche neuer was at ease he beyng out of sight sette and sent folkes euery waie to seeke hym But what should I thus muche striue to discourse vpon this point seyng that as it is found by the writinges of the Chronicler Galarx one can not recite any thyng fitte and cōuenient to an harte fraight with noblenesse and generositie to whiche this little prince applied not his minde and behaued hym self so well in all his childly enterprises that makyng them tende to some gentle ende he semed rather a man of ripe iudgemente then a skillesse Child and Infant Duryng the tyme that the yonge boye Gerileon thus encreased bothe in ago vertue strengthe and gentlenesse of Spirite the Queene his mother had made enquirie on all partes as well for her brother Hubert of Scotlande whose losse brought muche annoye to many as also for the good knightes Candior Grandilaor Acciall of Surrye Sylban of Flanders Melcior and many others of the couragious of Greate Britaine to knowe the cause of the long abode which so muche anoied her of king Floridamant who being sent out to seke him towardes al partes of the earth could in nowise heare any newes of him Whiche thing beyng come to the eares of Prince Dorian of Spain he was by reason of the feruent loue he had to him so distressed for his losse that he vowed and sware neuer to slepe quietly or in good reste vntill suche tyme as he might heare some newes of hym in so muche that makyng inquirie for hym he wēt first into Thrace where hauyng heard nothyng of hym he put hym self on the sea to returne to Greate Britaine or to some other countrie farther of But he was surprised by a marueilous and horrible tempeste whose blastes after a while caused his Barke to be cast on shore in the Grene Ile where by a Cloune of the same coast he was assured that for certaintie the traitour Necromancien Minofol helde and had hym in his prison of the Redde Castle enchaunted and caused hym daiely to bee whipped and beaten by fiue or sixe villaines with greate and bigge coardes all to make hym miserably languishe till the ende of his daies and he knew moreouer that he addressed a greate Armie by Sea traitorously to
he bee not singularly proportioned and of a passyng grace and also skilfull in so gallantly guidyng his couragious Horse verely Cousine answered the Maiden you saie well know you not whēce he is or what he would I promise you saied the Ladie I neuer sawe nor heard of hym till now These and suche other small communications had the twoo Maidens together so long till at the laste the Emperour ariued who commyng from out of his Chappel entered the greate Halle of his Pallace hauyng in his Traine many braue Knightes and Gentlemenen followyng hym Whiche thinges the gētle Youth of the Fairie beholdyng descendyng incontinent from his Horse whiche he deliuered to keepe to his Squire entered incontinently after the reste and apperceiuyng the Emperour placed in his Imperiall Seige to deliberate vpon certeine matters he kneelyng humbly before hym spake on this maner Moste puisaunte and moste vertuous Emperoure I deeme vndoubtedly that you and semblably all this noble Assistance do greatly merueile in that I haue so temerariously and vnrenerentely dared to presente my self poore soule before the highnesse of your Imperiall Maiestie doubtyng leaste this my audacitie and rashenesse whiche I haue vsed herein will tourne towarde me your displeasure and bee odious to all the reste if I had not suche confidence in the consideration bountie wisedome clemencie lenitie and other vertues wherewith as a riche and pompous Iewell is illustrified and pollished with Pearles and precions Stones so are you fraught and adorned that not onely you will willingly pardon mine indiscretion but also I truste in your great bountifulnesse and courtesie that you will in no wise denic mee of that which I am purposed to request of you that is to wit that I maie receiue the order of knighthoode by your handes for that I haue heard you aboue all others farre extolled I haue beene desirous thereof euer frō my Cradle The Emperour who whilest he thus spake had his eies eares bent to regard heare such witty wordes so good a grace taking him by the Armes caused hym to stande vp before him afore he had fully ended his speache knowyng euen by his pleasaunt grauitie that he could not choose but be come of a good house Princely race gaue vnto hym this gracious aunswere Faire sir frend of mine although it were not true that your youth could not excuse you if as contrarie it is you had vsed any rashnes or temeritie in makyng to mee the request whiche late you did yet neuerthelesse the great beauty and singuler coūtenance whiche I note in you and likewise the honest maners and behauour which you haue obserued in this point would constraine me not only to condiscende whiche I offer you as now to haue that which you demaūded but also if there had appeared auie indiscretion in you they woulde haue incited mee to remit and pardon it totally Assuryng my selfe although as yet you seeme too tender of age to be called to suche vocation that if the bountie of your harte bee correspondent to the beauty and appéeraunce of valure whiche I deeme and coniecture to be in you you are sufficient and capable to discharge such a charge as well as any other that now liueth whatsoeuer and for that cause there resteth no more as nowe but that you goe to prepare your selfe as the custome is for to receiue the order of knighthoode when as you shal please and be thervnto ready Then the Youth thanking hym humbly as well he could retyred secretly thence to goe make his praiers in the Chappell of the Pallace as the custome was where re remained till it was the next daie mornyng at what tyme hee came to present hymselfe to the Emperour who dubbyng hym with the Necke stroake put on his right Spurre and the Lady Porphyria who had scene hym come descendyng doune girt his Swerde about hym by the commaundement of her father Whiche to doe she was well pleased and the Youthe who whiles shee did her deuoyre in this behalfe muche marueiling at her miraculous beautie was not ill contented that the chiefest fairest beautifullest Princesse vnder Heauē did vnto him so great a seruice This done the Emperour who the more he beheld him and saw him so garnished in all pointes the more he was willyng to wit who he was he required and asked of hym his birthe and the estate of his race and progenie To whiche the youth made a most ciuile aunswere that he was of the Realme of greate Brittaine but of none of his Parentes had he any knowledge and that for this cause it might please him to excuse hym if he were constrained herein to kéepe silence true it is said he that I know well neither will I conceale it from you most noble Lorde that I was nourished by a Fairie who sent mee towardes you so furnished as ye see she is called Ozyris The Emperour who aforetime had heard talke of the Fairy deemed doubted that she had kept hym for some occasion as most certaine it was beyng proceeded frō the progeny of the noble kynges of Great Britaine as she had aforetime done by the vertuous king Moridant father to Brandismel which was the first extoller of that magnificent Realme and much marueiled thereat Neuerthelesse without more talke with hym he commaunded some of the Assistauntes that they should conduct hym into the Empresses Chamber to passe foorthe the tyme with her Damozelles and to discourse with theim of many an honeste amorous deuise as well it seemed he could But the Youth willyng to excuse him selfe herein praied hym humbly that it would please hym to geue him leaue to retourne into Greate Britaine there to seeke aduentures so to assaie if the order of knighthoode whiche he had obtained were well or euill employed vpon hym And also that he had greate desire to Juste and Combate with king Floridamant which as then was had in prise for the beste and valiauntest knight in the world The Emperour not well pleased in that he would so soone departe from his Courte saied to hym Why faire sir will you so soone abandon vs and our Court not in any wise feasted or cheared there as yet accordyng to your callyng I promise you that if you will remaine with vs but the space of fiftene daies that besides the good and honeste entertainement whiche I hope thereby to bestowe on you you shall here also finde knightes both braue and strong to make proofe of youre valour and prowesse seeyng your ardente desire is so to doe For I must one of these daies make a moste sumptuous Feaste duryng the whiche neither Iustis nor Tourneis shal be lackyng wherein you maie experiment your valiance in this behalf therby to prepare your self the better against the worthy knightes of greate Britain whiche are the flowers of chiualrie in the worlde and chiefly as you saie against kyng Floridamant who hath not his match vnder heauē And I suppose that otherwise
come to the accomplishmet of their Loues better then men ther archiue more and obtaine sooner the fulfilling of their desire then men beeyng lesse carefull of their Chastitie whiche aboue all thinges they ought to garde and regarde whereof when and at what tyme loue forceth to vse liberalitie so prodigallie to allay their amorous Passions they are sooner succoured then men who like as I haue done hauing hoysed the saile of their liues into a place too haughtie and rebellious for feare of being too shrewdely shent and checked not daryng to manifeste their mallady are constrained to consume them selues in the Smoke of flowe and languishyng fire Whereas these men beyng farre more pitifull and courteous in this case then they at the least shew or twinklyng of the eye receiue redresse of their dolour Sir knight replied againe the Ladie if I would here againe alledge the force of shame whiche is or at leastwise ought rather to bee in women then in menne to haue more efficacie in lettyng her from obtainyng that whiche she defireth then the crueltie of Ladies whiche in vaine you haue brought in question to make for your self in this disputation I assure you that of me you shall not gette the vpper hande But seeyng perchaunce you haue desire to goe take your reste and that disputyng hereon would bee to tedious I will confounde you and make you confesse my maladie to bee vncurable and therefore equall or farre worse then yours By an occasion whiche I haue more apertenaunte and briefe the whiche is euen so as I will recite to you whereby you maie more clearely vnderstande my sore distresse Wherefore knowe you that I was daughter to the Duke of Chalcyde who in his second Nuptialles hauyng maried a Damozell of noble house called Marcella he retired vnto the Emperours court where a yere agoe he was slaine by the cursed Giaunte Ferclaste leauyng me here for the gouernesse of this Castle whiche presently is in my possession through his deceasse and to the ende I might haue no occasion of sadnesse he lefte me for garde and compaine suche Knightes as he had greateste confidence in one of whom is hee who opened you euen now the gate who is a good a loyall Knight But as no bodie is without a shadowe so fewe menne are founde without Print or presse of some imperfection whiche accustomablie is naturall in theÌ„ For he hath this vice in hym that if he sée any thyng which liketh hym or is agreable to his phansie he will woorke so by some sleight if otherwise he can not that he will haue it The other whom I déemed of lesse disceipte and treason was farre more malicious For incontinentlie after the departure of my said Father he shewed himself to be amorous of me and by his filed speache and messages with all other meanes possible feigned hymself so distressed that he could not at any tyme reste without disturbyng me to haue of me the accomplishemente of his desires whiche caused mee that seeyng his distoyaltie I tooke it so sore against harte that after hauyng checked and chastized hym I kepte hym so shorte that in despite of this my refusall he chaunged his late loue into dire desire of vengeaunce that so vehemently that there was no treason so greate whiche he lefte vnattempted to bryng me to his purpose and filthie practise But not findyng the successe of accomplishement in his enterprise beholde a sodaine chaunce which to mine ill lucke herein happened and on a sodaine to hym was fauourable For one daie as he walked in the Forrest hereby busied in his deceiueable inuentions he by chaunce encountred a Pilgrime whoÌ„ without thinkyng thereof as I haue since vnderstoode he asked wheÌ„ce he was who tolde him that he was of the Realme of Persia But for that in his tyme he had been a greate Magicien and by his Nicromancie had committed many execrable deedes and woorkes for which to dooe penaunce he had been to seé the holie Sepulchre of of pur Lorde and Redeemer Iesus Christe the Knight asked hym further what aduenture had forced hym to trauaile so farre into these quarters Whereto againe he answered that he durste not goe into his owne Countrie of Persia to dwell for that the greate Sophie of Persia called Mutinell would worke his death because he once vauÌ„ted to haue made by his arte a Cuppe of suche vertue that who so euer dranke therein of what drinke so euer thei should be so taken with the loue of hym or her whiche gaue it theim that maugre theim selues thei should bee constrained to loue paste all measure whiche cuppe he neuer would giue to the Sophie therewith to make hym beloued of the Princesse Porphyrie daughter to the Emperour of ConstaÌ„tinople of whom he was so amorous that hauyng now fower or fiue tymes demaunded her for wife the Emperour was constrained to accorde so that shee would loue him and consent to chose him for housebande and that he would Baptize hym self and holde the Christians Lawe whiche for his parte he hath doen. But he was so foule and so ill fauoured that although hee was esteemed one of the beste knightes of the worlde yet she hated hym mortallie wherefore he would haue vsed my Cuppe saied the Pilgrime but I choose rather to abandon the Countrie and to passe the reste of myne aged daies in some vncothe coaste then to bée occasion of so greate wickednesse as this my cuppe might woorke to all Christendome as well I haue foreseen by my Arte. My Knight hauyng vnderstanded so muche of the Pilgrime was well apayed of so good an encounter And after askyng hym whether he yet had the Cuppe the Pilgrime shewyng it he slewe hym and takyng his Cuppe came towardes me shewing me faire semblaunce serued me with the same by meanes of a Squire who atteÌ„ded on the Table beyng ful of wine made pestiferous by vertue of the vessell whiche hath brought to passe that euer since I haue been enuenomed by this cruell and murderous drinke Hauing so saied concluded she sheadyng a nuÌ„ber of brinishe teares I looke ê™ she for none other deliuery but Death the finall ende of my daies which me thinkes too long slacketh and staieth his paces from releasyng me of this great seruitude And now see sir knight how not without cause I chaunted that song whiche you ouerheard and ordinarelie doe vse it at the same hower For that in tellyng and complainyng my self so shrilly of mine aduerse Fortune I feele greate ease and solace And hauyng heard your name it séemed me good to vsurpe the same whiche newlie I haue attributed to my self But what saied the Youthe is there not meanes to appaise your maladie by the enioying of hym on whom you are so amorous Alas no saied the Ladie for the wretche to take the more reuenge of me slewe the Pilgrime to withstande my purpose and so sledde since when I neuer could heare woorde of hym that I might haue punished
and holdeth the head roume and place so that shee was in her Chāber lamenting and complaining in sorte as followeth Alas Dynamia the moste lucklesse and desolate that is at this daie liuyng vnder Heauens yea no lesse then thou wast happie and fortunate to bee sister to the moste valiaunt and beste knight in perfections of all Greece what happe what blessednesse what reste what consolation or what supporte hopeste thou to haue from henceforwarde in this worlde wherein nought can bee durable or parmanente that in one daie is not founde vnstable Somewhiles when one is depriued of ioye by the successe of some lucklesse encomberaunce or chaunce somewhiles whē any grief most tormenteth vs ouerwhelmeth our stomackes by the hap of some good hower which neuerthelesse is lesse durable chiefly to me then the saied mischief and moste haplesse happe since that it is so that thou seest thy self depriued of a brother the most actiue and valiaunte that euer was seen in these coastes who beyng causer of all the felicitie and contentmente thou haddest in this life it can not bee that henceforwarde thou shouldest liue to see ought els to followe or enuiron thée but al sortes of ill hap and discomforte laboursome trauaile and discontentation if Death shewe not her selfe so courteous and extende not her clemencie so muche towardes thee as to vse vpon this thy miserable corps the same rigour that shee hath shewed to thy beloued Brother O murderer cruell inhumaine and detestable whiche haste slaine hym accursed bee the hower and iourney that euer thou madest to come into this Countrie to leaue vs so pittifull a patterne of thy wickednesse And accursed bee the Chymaera or cruell Lionesse whose pappes erst gaue thee sucke and that it had pleased God that thou hadst been vntymely borne or smouldered in her wombe O art not thou of more peruerse and naughty nature then a Tigre Beare or wilde Boare more fell and cruell then euer Afrique bredde or nourished So traiterouslie and villanouslie to haue murdered hym whiche neuer gaue occasion no not in the least of his thoughtes wrongfullie or without cause to damage or offende the least creature that euer GOD made on yearth at leastewise hungrie Wolffe glutted with humaine blood why was it that thou satisfied not thyne vnreasonable appetite vppon this poore and miserable Damozel Why hast thou not with the same murdryng glaue whiche so ended his daies and made me destitute of the thyng I helde moste deare in this worlde bemangled and killed the corps of her who how long so euer she liueth can not be but infortunate and distressed Ah noble King of Austria my Father I feare mee that the insupportable dolour which you shall receiue in hearyng these heauy dolorous nouelles of the death of hym which was the onely staie and vpholder of your old age shal not giue much aduauncemēt to the course of your long yeres who alredy haue whitened both your hoary head and beard And that ensewing shortly after the message whiche shall acertaine you of your daughter Dynamias Death who for loue of hym is resolued to dispatche her self with her owne proper handes I haue great feare and the feare I haue thereof maketh me vse this language to premeditate that mischief that with a headlong and swift hastenyng course you will bende your steppes towardes that parte where the Feriman Charon vseth all his trade But what seeing that the destenies haue of long time spunne vs this ill happe Is there any that can withstande it No no none be he neuer so strong or mightie can resist it It restes it restes that to make an ende of my miseries I goe to kéepe compaignie and visite hym on whom depended all my ioye and comforte Whiles she thus spake complainyng and tormentyng her self moste bitterly and dolorously the good Giaunt Ergoferant whiche hastened to arriue from Rocke Alpine beholdyng all those whiche were in the Emperours Hall assembled with intent to dispatche aunswere the Letters of the great Sophy of Persia to haue their faces chaunged with a certein greate kinde of sorrow and sadnes which much vexed them To know the occasion therof he tooke his way into the Chamber of his Lady and Mistresse Dinamya whō he sorowfully found in estate as is aforesaied wherevppon after he had employed some paines to pacifie her and shee consolatyng her selfe somewhat by his commyng he asked her from whence proceded these plaintes and lamentations which incited her to torment her selfe so to whom not able to cōceale her sorow she recompted although much fearefull to loose hym therby as in deede she did afterwarde the occasion of her great griefe Whereat it needes not to tell if the most noble and vertuous Giaunt that euer was were angrie aswell for the losse of his Ladies deere and louyng brother as for the loue of hym who onely saued his life and for that cause he was no lesse bounden then for her For in giuyng comforte consolation to this young and noble Princesse he armed hym selfe with his Harnesse and Club and mountyng vppon a good and mightie Horse whiche he had hee departed in the secretest wise hee could from the Courte in deliberation neuer to taste sound sleepe till hee had reencountred the knight murderer of those who in this world he esteemed most to be reuēged of their deathes els to go visite them where euer they were Where we let hym go and leaue the Ladies muche sadde and sorowfull to recompte vnto you how the knight whiche was slaine in the Forest by the knight vnknowne had stollen the Youthe of the Fairies his Horse and Harnesse whō me left in the Castel de la Plaine with the amourous Damozel louelesse and slaue to loue for euer daughter to the Duke of Chalcide and of that that chaunced him after he went thence chiefly also to speake of Pharisor and where he happened to be reuiued from his Traunce The Youth of the Fairies beeing lodged at the Castle de la Playne his Horse and Harnesse were stollen from him and going to seeke the Thiefe he encountred in a wood a marueilous Crocodile whiche after a long cōbate he slewe Then goyng somewhat forward he found the dead corps of the knight which had stollē his Harnesse and horse which he could not finde but those of the vnknowen Knightes he sawe whiche he tooke and armed him selfe and after encountred the Squire Geliaste whiche slept in the Forrest who led hym into the place where the Combate had beene betweene Pharisor and the vnknowen Knighte ¶ The xvij Chapter AFter the hard sharpe Combate which was bet wéene the good Knight Pharisor and the valiaunt vnknowen knight we haue afore declared that hee pricked with greate disdaine and dolour to bee so caste to grounde by the Youthe of the Fairies extended further the desire of his reuenge whiche blinded him in suche sorte that forgettyng all honest courtesie whiche naturally accompanieth the heartes that are
which came to giue the onset on the Painims with whom thei ioyned Battle in suche sort that many there died ¶ The xix Chapter FOrasmuche noble Lordes and Ladies as I am sure you are not ignoraunte that as there is no meate what sweete or delicate taste so euer it haue were it Ambrosia it self the foode of the Gods as Poetes faine which with too long vsage semeth not to vs yrkesom and vnsauerie In like maner beeleue I that there is no discourse or Historie bee it neuer so sweete or delectable but beeyng too longe continued without intermission or successe of some chaunge or other nouell chaunce which as it were a newe kind of meate may be agreable to the hearers eares or delite of the readers may be dulsome or pleasaunt vnto you For this cause knowyng that whiche I will recite vnto you in these Chapters followyng shall be no lesse delectable vnto you nor smell worse to your coÌ„tentations then the valiauncies of the Youth of the Fairies from whence we wander a little to bringe hym in hereafter with more pleasure delectation and astonishment of haughtie feates of Armes then you haue heretofore heard if you haue the pacieÌ„ce I deme you to haue hopyng that the generositie and singuler bountie of your sprites will not refuse to holde on to reade this myne Historie set forth and put in light both for greate pleasure and profite that you may haue therein I will as now therefore recompt vnto you albeit brieflie and succinctly as is possible that whiche chaunced and happened to the valiaunte and inuincible Kyng Floridamant of greate Brittaine and chieflie in the selfe same time that his Sonne the Youth of the Fairies was in Gréece in pursuit of the vnmatcheable and valiant vnknowen Knight accordyng to the veritie of the CoÌ„mentaries of our auncient Galarx whiche in the same maner also maketh therof mentioÌ„ You ought therefore to knowe that after the deliueraunce of this illustrious Lorde from the Traitor Minofols Enchaunted Prysons as in the Chapters precedente I haue moste brieflie declared vnto you after hee was ariued into his countrie as is aforesaied he went into the gréene I le with a greate Hoast of armed men and so dispeopled it and destroyed al the Townes and braue buildynges that there were not left aliue any of the race or house of the traitrous Enchaunter who beeyng apprehended was also putte to the point of the Sworde amongest whom also was slaine twoo Children of the Kynges of Cornewaile Vncle to the Traitour Minofoll the one of whom if ye marke it well was slaine by the Kyng Floridamant at the same time that the Damozell whiche afterwarde was hanged on a Tree led hym traiterously into the Prison of the red Castell as you haue heretofore heard and then when his Horse failed hym in the Forrest when hee had heard the crie of the Damozell complainyng he encountred hym by chaunce as he was goyng to London to woorke some Traison and this same was called Mawgard The other was then slain in the greene Ile where he was Lorde and Maister through the death of his Cosine by the Prince Hubart of Scotlande againste whom hee would haue defended hymselfe and this had to name Vaspazell the prowde whereat the Kinge of Cornewaile beyng vexed without measure hauyng heard so dolefull Newes and angrie at kinge Floridamant more then afore although he long had borne hym mortall hate determined resolued now to reuenge the death of his two Sonnes with the destruction of those of his kinne And to doe this as one that was riche both in substaunce and frendes of alliaunce to greate Lordes and Princes and who also was stout of person valiaunt as was possible he sent Ambassadours to his Frendes on all sides and chiefly to two Sonnes which he had yet lefte one of the which was king of Corse named Angrofolt the Cruel who failed not to come to reuenge the death of his Brethren and Parentes with a Nauie of a hundred and fower score Shippes and sixtie Galleis well furnished wherein he brought aboute thirty thousande footemen and tenne thousande horsemen braue and in good order and moreouer hee brought with these Syxe Giauntes the greatest and biggest that euer were seene since the memorye of man who onelie serued hym for men of Armes to garde his person yea with them was hee better guarded then any other Kynge although he had sixe hundred horsemen in his companie And for this cause was he of his Neighbours and borderers so renowmed feared that none were he neuer so puissaunte durst once offer to do hym the least iniury in the world although for his greate cruelty and tyrannie to his neighbours many had iust cause so to doe And besides this he was so valiaunt of his person that fewe there were at that tyme in the worlde which in corporall force dexteritie and skill in Armes might or could surpasse hym for through his valiauncie and prowesse he had with a small power brought vnder his obeisaunce the I le of Corse and hauing expelled kynge Pollinestor who had married Kinge Belligent his Sister of Gawle who was true possessor and owner of the said Iland he maried perforce a daughter of his so to couer his tyranny to insinuate hymself the better into the peoples grace and fauour of the most parte wherof as one fauoured and loued hee was Kinge peaceably as a Riche and Mightie lord Yet neuerthelesse not like his other youÌ„ger brother who by his graund force and extreeme prowesse was beecome King of the Iles Fortunate whiche are beyond the furthest partes of Mauritayne Westwarde and are at this daie called Canaries because they abound in Dogges of all sortes This same king called Brandissant who in valour and prowesse exceeded far all other knightes hauyng hard the pittifull tydinges whiche king Grandowyne his Father had sent hym of the death of his Brethren Mawgard and Vaspazel whiche were slaine by kyng Floridamant incited with an extreeme pricke of reuengement staied but a while after his brother but went with an Army of an hundred thousand footemen and fower twentie thousande horsemen to inuade great Britaine whith such a fury that in euery place where hee passed or came there was no Toune Castle nor House were it neuer so greate whiche was not by hym destroyed yea to the first foundation neither men women nor little Infauntes were there whatsoeuer that could escape the pearcing blades of his Gensdarmes and Souldiers who all the waie as they wente made both Earthe and Water tremble at there presence such hauocke made they deming all their owne alreadie For the saied Brandâ—ssant kinge of Canaries had with hym fower puyssaunte kynges Paynims his Vassalles which all were Brethren and the moste strong and monstrous that euer Nature bred For firste of all the youngest of theim whiche was kyng of Ombrione named Sallazart was so strong and puissaunte that in closse Campe he once slewe fower Huige Giauntes and
occision of their people they were enforced to take landing at an other place difficult and vntowarde inough liyng more then a Myle distaunte from the Citie where immediatly vppon their ariuall without anie stoppe or impedimente because the Inhabitauntes of the Citie perceiued theim selues not of sufficient force to pursue or assaile theim any further they descended from their Vesselles and went a Lande with a greate noyse and Tintinare of Trompets Shalmes Drommes Fifes and other like melodious Instrumentes of Warre at sounde wherof the Pagans that first tooke Lande did nought els but daunce and triumphe iolily whiche brauerie of theirs endured but for a shorte season For presently after that the kynges Grandowin Angrafolt Brandissant and the rest with their Souldiers and all their traine whom they had conducted to assaulte the Citie of London whiche they imagined to take within three or fower daies at the moste were descended from their Shippes they marched on meanyng to encampe in a faire and verie wide plaine which as then was situate not farre from the Citie In the middest wherof a manne mought haue seen the stately and magnificente Pauilions of the mightie Heathenishe Kynges and the others whiche resembled an high Groue enuironed with a multitude of lopte Trees among whiche there was erected one farre surmountyng all the reste in length and breadth whiche serued the vse of these kynges in steede of an huige Halle to consulte and deliberate touchyng their affaires the same as a sumptuous and braue Castle with Towers was hemde in with Pauilions of the Kynges Angrafolt and Brandissant on bothe sides wherevnto did closely adioyne on the one parte to the lodgyng of Brandissant the Pauilions of kyng Salazard Zorlot Cambarel and Phagotrof on the other appeared the lodgynges richely besene of the puissaunt Tauladas kyng of Canada and Guitarde lorde of the I le of Baccaleos together with those of the old kyng Grandowin Barant and Marton the strong of Cantabrie All whiche on the morrowe as sone as their whole traine and furniture were sette in order failed not to assemble theim selues in the greate Pauilion to take deliberation and aduise what were beste to bee doen where vnto all the principall knightes that is to saie Dukes Erles and Barons were called of whom there was a greate number The old kyng Grandowin for that by occasion of hym the assemblie was made sittyng on the highest Seate of all whiche was verie sumptuouslie prepared and adorned hauyng his twoo Sonnes Angrafolt on the right and Brandissant on the left hande and all the other kynges with Lordes of greate power stoute and braue knightes aboue sixe hundred begann to speake vnto them in this maner Moste mightie and excellente Kynges Princes Dukes Erles Barons and knightes if the greeuous sorowe and extreeme heauinesse wherewith through the remembraunce of the losse and death of my twoo Sonnes my hart is burdened and tormēted had stirred vp my courage alone with an inflamed desire to take suche straunge and dreadful vengeaunce as vnneth hath been heard of vpon the murderer of theim and of the chief parte of my lignage certes I would haue had no slender regard as one lothe to seme importunate vpō your Maiesties excellencies honours in requiryng your aides and succours in this enterprise well weighyng that my merite to you wardes is of no suche cōsequence that of so many mightie Lordes as in this assemblie are presente to offer and aduenture their gooddes and liues vpon the hazarde of Fortune and of death also should emploie theim selues in this attempte for my sake seeyng that for the accomplishment of the same I my self am of power sufficience with the aide of these my twoo sonnes who are no lesse bounde to take vehemente indignation at the shedyng of their blood and myne then myne owne self But sith the case so standes that the deuotion of the Goddes and the desire to augmente our Lawe and Religion ought to embolden and inspire our courages with an vnaccustomed valiauncie and prouoke our stomackes with bloudie rage not onely to bryng to vtter ruine the moste traiterous and mischeuous Tiraunte that euer did weare Croune hym I meane of Greate Britaine but also wholie to extermine and roote out this cursed ofspryng of Christians who in comparison of vs that hold in subiection Asia Afrique and the greater parte of Europe are but an handfull and yet if wee suffer theim to reigne in peace thei maie receiue suche encrease that as it happeneth not seldome the lesser augmente and the greater decrease in conclusion thei maye dispossesse and depriue vs of our Countries and Dominions ▪ the Inhabitauntes whereof to the greate dishonour of our God Mahomet thei will infecte with the contagion of their false belief to our singuler dammage and confusion of our Successours For whiche cause perceiuyng that the destruction of this accursed kyng Floridamant of Greate Britaigne who is one of their proppes and pillers of their Faithe is an acte in myne opinion verie necessarie for me to atchieue it semes also to bee a verie good and easie enteraunce by meanes of your assistaunce into the residue of our exploites remainyng behinde that is by our prowesse to deface and abolishe the vniuersall race and cable of Christians whose wealth and Seignories wee maie afterwardes diuide emong our selues as in our Iudgementes shall seme reasonable Behold ye noble wightes the chief occasion that hath moued me to assemble so many powers at one instaunt borrowing also your aides the whiche as I thinke should encourage you muche more chen if the enterprise were onely attempted in my behalfe consideryng that it cōcerneth and toucheth you well nigh so muche as my self Wherefore this is myne aduise that wee prosecute earnestly our enterprise vndertaken and begonne since that wee are here readie to put the same in execution doe plie the Iron whiles it is hotte and that without delaie if you iudge it beste to enter forcibly or by other practizes into the citee whiche in respecte of the goodly buildynges and monumētes therof we will neither burne nor raze but it shall suffise that we onely put to the edge of the Sworde all the people whiche wee shall finde within the same as well the small as greate bothe Women and Children murderyng and stayng theim in suche sorte that there shall not reste one to carry tidynges and to hym that can take the kyng Floridamant aliue and hym deliuer into our handes to bee doen to vile and ignominious death wee promise to giue in lieu of his deserte twoo thousande Talentes and so to aduaunce his estate that he maye accompte hymself a fortunate persone but the Dames and Gentlewomen suche as are endowed with singuler beautie shall bée saued to serue for our share and to bee disposed after our likyng Immediatelie after this Saracen had belched out these woordes out of his malicious mouthe and stinkyng stomacke all the other Pagan kynges saied with one voice that he had spoken passyng well and