that if the Kings Forces were once come it would be a great cause to lengthen the Warres which he earnestly desired might haue an end that thereby he might haue respite to trauell in search of Constantia for whom his heart endured excéeding torments that being thus disquieted in his thoughts and desirous of ease to his restlesse passions one day amongst many that he passed ouer with pensiuenesse he got himselfe into a solitary place and there in sad silence meditated on his misfortune Montelyon by chance troubled with remembrance of his vnknowne estate chose the very place for his private meditations wherein Persicles was already shrowded and suddenly espying him began to withdraw himselfe vntill Persicles desired him to stay vttering these spéeches Worthy Knight I perceiue some inward care hath made you withdraw your selfe from mée but impart your discontent to me if not yet heare mine for I haue long desired to impart them vnto one on whose fidelity I might repose my selfe and you are the man I haue elected hauing had so sufficient tryall of your courtesie and friendship that without doubting I durst commit my selfe to your secresie for your ayde may as heretofore it hath preserued me My Lord replyed Montelyon I account my selfe onely fortunate in your loue and my heart acknowledgeth my euerlasting bounden duty to none so much as to your Majesty which bindeth me in all duty to become your vassaile being more ready to venture my life and vttermost endeauours in your service then you can imagine Therefore good my Lord feare not to impose any taske vpon me for by your imploring me I shall account my selfe onely blest I thanke you good Friend quoth â—e and if euer fortune favour me againe I will requite this kindnesse though now I am plunged in the depth of ill lucke being as you sée depriued of my Kingdome by the Rebellion of my owne subjects and the Tyrannie of an ill neighbour the King of Armenia the briefe discourse whereof is this My Father when he liued matcht my sister Piera in marriage with this worthy Knight Deloratus sending me vnto Pâ—â—sia with her who before my returne dyed whilest I was there I chanced to fixe mine eyes on the Beauty of Constantia daughter to the Persian King which by reason of my sudden departure I could not giue her knowledge hauing no other comfort but my sister Piera to whom I bewrayed the secrets of my heart departing with her promise of assistance whilest I went into Assyria to â—stablish my Kingdome Prince Helion of Arabia obtained the King of Persia his consent to marry Constantia Which newes Piera sent me I being much troubled therewith after I had refelled my old enemy the King of Armenia in a battell I left the gouernment of my Kingdome to two of my Noble men and departed in the habite of a Palmer into Persia where within short space I found such meanes by my sisters friendship that I was in that habite without suspition in Pieraes chamber and thereby had conference with Constantia and attained her consent nothing remaining but onely meanes how we should escape which afterwards wée effected and trauelled together vntill we came to a Shepheards house where we were kindly welcommed contracting a solemne marriage betwixt our selues because we durst not be knowne the contrary where we liued some dayes in quiet In the meane time the King of Persia caused diligent search to be made and it was Pisors chance to finde vs who kept our counsell and was by me sent into Assyria to fetch some of my owne Knights to attend me home where he found my Nobles at strife and the King of Armenia taking opportunity with a mighty band of Souldiers slew most of my part the rest joyning with him vntill he had ceazed my Crowne Pisor with this heauy newes returned to me being vnwilling to giue me knowledge thereof which ouercame my heart with such griefe that séeking in a solitary place I wandred so farre that I could not returne to the Shepheards house the same night Constantia missing me likewise stole from the Cottage to séeke me but directing her steps a contrary way or méeting with some misfortune that slew her I neuer heard of her since Pisor he likewise went foorth to séeke vs and vnwillingly tasted of an vnfortunate fruit that infused a sléepinesse vpon him for foure and twenty houres but notwithstanding his and my most earnest search wee could neuer finde her nor I feare neuer shall But if I could recure this euill done me by my Foes I would then spend the rest of my dayes in her search Hauing ended her spéech his heart was so much ouercome with griefe that he had much adoe to with hold his eyes from teares Montelyon was opprest with no lesse griefe then hée whose heart felt more inward disquiet then a stranger could haue done in silent sadnesse séeming to impart with his sorrowes but not abide to counsell him which way to recure them That at last by reason the necessity of the time affoorded little respite they were constrained to depart CHAP. XV. How Montelyon by a strange and dangerous adventure wonne the City and tooke Palian prisoner MOntelyon that euening elected out of his own Followers twenty Knights such as he estéemed most valiant telling them he had a matter of great danger and secrecy to complet which might be a meanes to establish Persicles in his Kingdome if they would faithfully joyne with him Which they stedfastly vowed to accomplish and to follow him although it were euen to their deaths Arme you then quoth he in Armenian Armour of which you haue choyce and come to me at midnight This being performed and the Knights come Montelyon with them departed through the Campe vnto the City Gates where Montelyon knockt but scarce so lowe that the Porter could heare him who yet notwithstanding comming to the Battlements demanded who it was I am said Montelyon Althetus and other Armenians as thou mayst know by our Armor and bring good newes therefore open the Gates lest by the delay we be betrayed for we are pursued The Porter being out of all doubt and hasty to succour them vnbolted the Gates Montelyon was no sooner entred but he flew the Porter entring the Lodge and apprehending the watch who lay sléeping and slaying most of them before they awaked One of them submitting himselfe thus sayd I am an Assyrian spare my life and if you be friends to Persicles I will giue you such directions as you may surprize the City and subdue Palian Montelyon sayd in so doing thou shalt be honoure of thy King and purchase thy owne liberty After that they had put the rest to the Sword the Assyrian directed them to the Pallace and by so secret away that he brought them euen within the compasse of the Castle to the very place whereas the Guard was Montelyon then thus said to his followers My companions let not feare now possesse your hearts but by this
affliction that is likely to ensue I know qd Piera my Brothers Loue is so constant that nothing can alter the same which he related to me at large which maketh me testifie y◠assurance thereof Which would you but accept of or giue me some comfortable hope in his absence I should think my selfe bound to you for ever and to haue done him an excéeding pleasure for nothing but the happy tidings of your favour can comfort him The King of Persia will not compell you to marry Helion when he vnderstandeth that you are otherwise bent for that were cruelty And I think Helion himselfe beareth not so dishonourable a mind as to séeke your Loue by constraint for that were inhumanity But would you yéeld to like of my Brothers loue that is every way as good as y◠Prince of Arabia the knowledge thereof would soon make him returne to aske your fathers consent which may peradenture stand as well affected to him as to Prince Helyon Ay me go Constantia sister I néed not doubt to reveale my greatest secrets to you that I know for Persicles sake will conceale them I confesse without further circumstances that I loue that worthy King Persicles which is the cause of these disquiets neither did my fancy ever yéeld the least conceit of liking Helyons loue which I tooke to be rather grounded upon common familiarity then pretence of Marriage Therefore now that you are assured of that which you request I beséech you not to conceiue amisse of my rash confession nor estéeme my loue light because of so short continuance for it shall be immoueable but rather comfort my poore disquieted heart with your counsell how to avoyd these inconveniences And if that worthy King be so affected towards me as your spéeches and his Letter here affirmeth I would wish his returne might be spéedy otherwise my sorrowes will be endlesse For I know my Fathers nature to be such that whatsoever he will haue must be performed though equity would perswade the contrary Grieue not so much quoth Piera with premeditated conceit of feare which peradventure shall never come to passe I will presently send messengers vnto my Brother which shall carry such newes as will comfort his heart and cause spéedy returne in the meane time I will make Deloratus acquainted with Helyons practise not Persicles Loue who shall perswade the King all that may be not to consent to marry you against your minde Be then of good comfort and in assurance of Persicles Loyalty let no feare disquiet your sences or impaire your health For things now at the worst may haue a good end These spéeches ended they parted All this while Prince Helion was meditating how to hasten the Marriage but most of all to find the cause of Constantias discontent which he thought was aggravated against him by some good conceit we had lately entertained of some other then himselfe which made him prosecute the same with more feruency and dealt so effectually with the King that he swore Constantia should be ruled by him And thereupon the next day sent for her to whom he said Daughter I thinke it is not vnknown to you that I haue promised you in Marriage to Prince Helyon one that is every way worthy to match with you both for Noblenesse of Birth vertuous qualities and comelinesse of person Withall I am given to vnderstand that you like not our choice nor estéeme our command which if you neglect you shall not onely displease me but also loose my favour for ever For as you are mine I purpose to dispose of you but if you refuse my counsell refuse me too for I will not regard a disobedient child The manifold reasons I could alleadge that perswade me to the confirmation of this Contract are of such waight as I might séeme carelesse of your welfare and your selfe enuious of your owne good to deny them therefore let me know your answer Constantia well knew that if she denyed hée would be offended and his froward nature to be so much disposed to wrath that before she could speake she shooke with feare yet resolution so hazard the worst humbling her selfe vpon her knée she made this answer My reverend duty to you most loving Father perswadeth my consent to fulfill your command though my Loue bindeth me to the contrary that I stand perplext twixt two extreames the one fearing to offend you the other to procure my everlasting discontent for in refusing to doe according to your will I shall incurre your indignation and in performing the same my everlasting sorrow For as yet my heart could never yéeld to loue that worthy Prince who farre too worthy to be matcht with me Most humbly beséeching you to consider that inforced Loue never bringeth content but disquiet which with Helyon will be my portion Therefore I beséech you reuoke your determination Is it even so quoth he shall my command be countervaild by your péevish conceit Is this the regard you giue to my good will Are you wiser then I Or are you willing to displease mée Shall my will stand at your direction Is this the duty you owe to your Father or feare you no more to offend me Haue I so carefully brought you vp and tenderly regarded you for this Henceforth never come in my sight for I will not estéeme thée as a Child but as a bastard and withall I vow that if thou dost not yéeld to marry him vse him kindly and apply thy devotions to his liking I will vse thée in such sort that all Persia shall lament thy case Having given her this bitter reproofe he departed leaving her wéeping the fountaines of her precious eyes dry wringing her hands and like one in a dead trance overcome with griefe cast vpon the Earth The first that entred the roome was Helyon who séeing her in that agony tooke her by the hand to haue raised her from the earth but she refusing his help vttered these spéeches Vntill this time I alwayes estéemed honourably of you but now my good opinion is altered for that you onely séeke my torment my Father hath given me charge to Marry with you which I must against my heart fulfill but be assured never to possesse my Loue for that I haue bequeathed another onely my outward parts may be yours but my inward affections shall continually estéeme you as the onely occasioner of my endlesse miseries With that shée rose vp from the ground giving him neither better words nor other kind behaviour but left him standing still as one astonisht Piera made Constantia's estate knowne to Deloratus who so farre as he durst perswaded her Father not to constraine her to marry the Prince but such wilfulnesse possest him that the more they intreated him the more contrarious he was and therefore appointed the day for the Marriage to be within two moneths And in the mean time doubting the King of Arabiaes consent he sent his Ambassadors to that effect Piera hearing this presently sent
Army with exceeding losse was discomfited EArely the next morning Deloratus Persicles Cothanes and all the rest of the chiefe Commanders of the Persian Army were assembled who gaue order that euery battell should be planted in such sort as if they expected a present assault which being performed Montelion in great triumph was brought into the field and by Persicles inuested with the order of Knight-hood which when he had received the Souldiers gaue such shoutes as made the ayre resound with their Ecchoes The Armenians hearing the noise could not judge what might be the cause thereof some censuring one thing some another Palian fretting with excéeding vexation at the last dayes discomâ—iture which went the néerest his heart for that in all the time of warres he had not endured the like called vnto him the chiefest Knights in his Campe which were Althesus Golgron Mulatus and Lamdelyon Knights of Honourable birth great wisedome and appointed valour vttering to them his hearts griefe and his earnest desire of revenge desiring them with all spéed to counsell him which way to suppresse the Persians courage onely reuiued with the ayde the strange Knight had brought them Amongst whom it was agréed and generally held best to surprize them at vnawares in the middest of their joy that with all spéed and as spéedily as might be they detained their Forces and without the noyse of either Drum or Fife issued the City gates Certaine Persian Spyes perceiving their intent posted to the Camp and certified their Generall thereof who gaue commandement that without making any kind of suspition they should continue their mirth so that thereby the Armenians might be heartned to their owne dustruction Montelyon with a company of Horsemen departed out of their Campe a contrary way to that the Armenians came with intent to get betwixt them and the City which afterwards sorted to effect The Armenians thinking to make a sudden slaughter of them and nothing at all suspecting their readinesse to receiue them with carelesse hast approached the Campe with gréedy desire of conquest running vpon their Enemies Whom they found in such orderly sort ready to welcome them that within an houres space they wisht themselves againe within the City Walls To recite every particular of their Conflict and with what terror the battell continued would dull my wits with confusion Principally my pen shall barely recite the admirable déeds of the most honourable of both Armies Persicles considering what just cause he had and with what equity he might challenge his right wrongfully detained vp his vsurping Foe bent his Sword point with the vnrelenting Fury to the destruction of his Enemies pittying their deaths who dyed by his Sword ayming the same rather at Palians owne heart then against them that were by constraint enforced to hazard their dearest liues Which when he had coloured and made drunke with many of their deaths bloud he at last met with Palian whom at the first encounter he had surely berest of life had not his owne Stéed by great misfortune stumbled at a dead body that interrupted his steppes but notwithstanding his Swords point by that mischance missing his right ayme 〈◊〉 quite through his Stéeds necke who falling and Palian with him both lay groueling on the ground ready to be trodden to death Mulatus being next at hand rescued Palian and mounted him on his owne Stéed whereby he lost his owne life For Persicles with both his hands fetcht so full a blow at his head that with the force thereof his Armour yéelding some scales thereof pierced his Braine and he dyed Palian for a while continued Fight with Persicles with euery blow receiuing a déepe wound vntill he felt himselfe so vnable to hold out that he must eyther yéeld dye or retyre but euen then came Golgron fortunately to his ayde who with him maintained fight against Persicles who notwithstanding that oddes had neare hand brought them both to destruction had he not espyed Deloratus and Cothanes in distresse who were vnequally assailed by sixe valiant Knights two of them being Althesus and Lamdelyon vnto whom he hasted giuing them succour by the death of the first he met Whilest the Battell was maintained in the Fore-front by the chiefe Commanders of both Armies and Montelyon with his resolued Follewers whose hearts were enspired with fiery courage to be guarded by so valiant a guide was gotten behind them and began such a Massacre that multitudes of a suddaine were slaughtered by his approach whose déeds of valour amazed their sences with such feare and abated their courage with such terror that like as a flocke of fearefull shéepe espying the approach of a deuouring Lyon ranne with amazed feare from his pawes Euen so the Armenians fled from the destroying hands of Montelyon filling the empty ayre with such dismall cryes that the noyse thereof amazed the hearts of the stoutest Armenians Palian and Golgron then turned their backes making hast thitherwards to know the cause Althesus and Lamdelyon did the like whilest Deloratus and Persicles and the rest made such hauocke against the common Souldiers that had the fight continued long the whole Forces of the Armenian Army had béene destroyed Palian and Althesus met Montelyon not knowing him but supposing it was he had made such slaughter amongst them the last day both assailed him who in his heart rejoyced that he had met with two such Champions to make tryall of his valour continuing to braue a combat against them both as is not to be described By this time the cry beganne againe on the contrary side with such hideous noise that Palians heart was affrighted therewith and defended himselfe as if a flender youth should hold encounter against a strong Giant till both he and Althesus were so grieuously wounded that it had béene a pittifull spectacle to behold Both being driuen to retire amongst their scattered Troupes and withall the haste they could to preuent their vtter ouerthrow to sound a retrait and with all spéed haste vnto the City which could not be accounted a retyre but rather an absolute flight for it was done with such haste as if they had béene all amazed none hauing the power to resist and pursued by Persicles and Montelyon with such fury that their owne hearts relented at their owne hands cruelty which covered the earth with the dead bodies of their affrighted Foes The day being thus ended to the terror of the one and comfort of the other The Persians retyred as Victors and the Armenians halfe mad with griefe and despaire within their Wals not minding suddenly to issue again Persicles and Deloratus honouring Montelyon with their kinde embracings and the Souldiers applauded their valours with rejoycings Euery one according to the present occasion betooke themselues to their charges spending the time in more joy and security then earst they had done CHAP. XIIII How the Armenians sent two Knights into Armenia for more ayde who were met and one of them taken Prisoner and of other
therefore first tell me how my Lady Piera fareth Noble Duke said I she is in good health and in great prosperity I rejoyce thereat quoth he though I haue otherwise euerlasting cause to sorrow For our Soueraigne Lord the King after he had put the Armenians to flight was very desirous vpon some occasion as yet vnknowne to leaue the Court in his absence committing the Government thereof to my vnhappy selfe and that noble Knight Thrureus which we performed with great quiet vntill Duke Oretus one that was neuer true to the State hearing of the Kings departure which we could by no meanes conceale raised a false report that we had murthered the King Which rumour moued the Common people to such disquiet that they began to Rebell Which he perceiuing ayming thereby to winne the Crowne gathered a great multitude of them together with pretence of revenge against vs which when we heard of with all the hast wée could possible we Mustered men for our defence but so eager were the multitude to our destruction together with Oretus his perswasions that before we were any way able to resist them they set vpon vs and shed a great number of their owne Countrey mens blood that stood in our defence and draue vs to immure our selues within the City The King of Armenia hearing of this Rebellion with great spéed brought a mighty great Army into this Land destroying all that came in his way burning both Townes and Cities and destroying the common people with an excéeding great Slaughter Which came to Oretus hearing with such terror that he presently fled and left his Confederate Rebels to be destroyed by the Enemy Which caused vs by a Herauld to demand whether they would submit themselues to vs or no Or by their treason to sée their Countries ruine With that they yeelded and we gathered all the Forces we could to resist the enemies with whom we fought thrée great Battels and in the same lost aboue thirty thousand Assyrians being driuen to flight This day againe gathering head to resist them but being too few in number in respect of their strength and multitude you sée how our bodies be scattered vpon the Earth mangled and cut in pieces My selfe being I thinke the last that liueth to tell this newes For the Noble Thrureus is already slaine whose déeds of Valour would containe a great volume Which newes when our King shall heare it will no doubt cut off his vertuous life with sorrow My greatest griefe being that I cannot heare of his safety before my death My Lord said I our gracious King is liuing and in good health in Persia who sent me vnto your Honour and Thrureus with a secret Message which I néed not now vnfold Yes good Pisor quoth he let me heare my Lords Message that I may thereby know whether I were still in his fauour or no. With that I vnfolded the cause of my comming Which heard such a passion of discontent ouercame his vitall spirits that with many bitter groanes he gaue vp the ghost When I saw there was no meanes for his recovery I departed to enquire what slaughter the Enemy had made who by that time the day was ended had vanquished the Assyrian forces taking the City and most of the Nobility Prisoners I stayed some foure dayes hiding me secretly to bring you certaine Newes which is this The King of Armenia compelled the Noblemen to sweare Allegeance vnto Palyon his eldest Sonne whom he hath crowned King in Assyria and left a mighty Army for his defence When I vnderstood this I returned to certifie your Highnesse thereof CHAP. VII How Persicles hearing the newes by Pisor hee departed into a solitary place and thereby caused the unfortunate separation between him and Constantia who in great sorrow wandring to seeke him was found by Helyon and carried into Arabia And of the many sorrowes Persicles endured for her absence How Pisor became franticke PErsicles his heart was ouercome with such sorrow to heare Pisors heauy Newes that he had much adoe to containe himselfe from extreame madnesse that he minded a while to withdraw himselfe to vtter his plaints in those solitary walks but séeing Pisor follow him he desired him to returne to the â—hepheards house and in no case to acquaint Constantia with these misfortunes But if she asked for him he should tell her he would come presently Pisor being departed he sought for the most vnfrequented â—lace of the Wood wandring long in that discontent but could find none agréeable to his mind neither knowing whether he went nor almost what â—e intended his sences being dulled with such passionate vexation continuing so long therein that he spent longer time in seeking out a place of rest then he was aware off which turned to his greater vâ—rest as afterwards it fell out For Constantia marvelling that he stayed so long and withall noting Pisors darkened countenance supposed some ill newes was the cause of both finding occasion fit thought to find her Loue in the midst of his dumps and with her amiable presence to comfort him stole from the Cottage into the Wood where Pisor told her that he had left him Where shée wandred vp and downe a great while not finding him which made her marvell sometimes callâ—ng him but not by his right name least any should heare her and finding that meanes to prevaile nothing she began to enter into many doubtfull thoughts sometimes calling his Loyalty in question then againe reproving her fancies for entring into suspition of him then thinking some ill newes was befalne in Assyria which might driue him into a carelesse desperation and also fearing thaâ— some of the Persian Knights had met with him and finding some likelyhood of suspition in him had carryed him to the King her Father These Meditations possest her mind so long and wrought such a terrour in her fancies that she fared like one that had beene possest with the truth that it was so Thus did they both continue most part of that day she seeking him and he opprest with care not remembring that it was time to returne home yet both of them directing their steps a contrary way that they met not but wandred a way from one another At last he began to remember where he was how long he had béene absent and what care she would take for his absence which caused him with as much spéed to hast backe as with carelesnesse he had wandred vp and down which before he could atâ—ain it grew to be towards Night Pisor likewise marvelling at his long stay and at Constantiaes sudden departure fearing that some ill might betide him and some extraordinary care oppresse her left the Cottage to find him and if he could méet her to direct her to the place where he left him When Persicles found them both absent he maruelled thereat enquiring of the old Woman when they departed who told him that Constantia went first out and he after her Which made him thinke
prevent these evils to sit here and vtter sad words auaileth me not to bewaile her estate helpeth her nor to destroy my selfe will benefit her should I sit still here so shall I never finde her and to séeke for her out of this place is to spend my Labours without hope of comfort For I feare me she is dead and then may I sooner méete her Ghost in this place then her Body in another Well since neither comfort nor counsell is left to further my hopes I will forever dwell in this vnfortunate place and fill the same with my Laments neither shall my body rest in bed nor my stomacke tast of other meate then wilde fruit vntill I finde my Loue or be assured of the place of her abode Thus liued he in those Woods many dayes and many yéeres making every Trée a monument of Constantias vâ—â—â—â—tunate losse though he were often disswaded by Pisor who afterwards trauelled most parts of all those Countryes in search of her but could neuer heare of her The King of Persia had likewise giuen over all care of Constantia as supposing her to be dead greatly lamenting the misfortunes of Persicles and maruelling at his absence beléeving verily that he was murthered according to the accusation made by Oretus against Parenus and Thrureus Whom we will all leaue for a while to speake of the misfortunes befell to Constantia CHAP. VIII How Selia was married to Helyon and of the miseries Constantia endured by her jealousie How Constantia was delivered of a goodly Boy whose life was preserved by the policie of Palia and how Selia vexed thereat HElyon was no sooner arrived in Arabia but hée was informed of his Fathers death which for a time he lamented of common course not of piety or affection in the meane time causing Constantia to be kept in the old Monasterie vnder the government of an ancient Ladie that lived not onely by the gifts of the King bestowed vpon her for many badde actions but also of many Gentlemen that hauâ—â—ed the Company of the Kings Concubines by stealth In this place did he put Constantia neither her Kéeper nor any other knowing what she was Who by this time had â—esolued to endure aduersity for many dayes giuing her selfe to quiet for that by reason of his counterfeit mourning he came not at her But the time being come that he was crowned King and on the same day likewise married Selia causing poore Constantia as one of her Handmaides to attend her Which he did of a malicious intent onely to vexe her but she was well contented to doe any thing to rid her of his hatefull Loue whom she abhorred in the very depth of her Soule But when he saw she endured the same with such patience he againe caused her to be closely kept in that Monastery giuing commandement that none but the old Lady named Palia should come at her Thus did she continue vntill she began to féele her selfe with Child by Persicles which draue her to the vttermost exigent of care how to preserue her Infants life Sometimes purposing to make her estate knowne to Palia but hauing sufficient tryall of her wicked disposition she durst not trust her least she should reueale the same to the King Selia like wise at that very instant was great with Child by Helyon both conceiuing at one instant the one in the Persian Court and the other in the Shepheards cottage Selia made Helyon acquainted therewith desiring that she might be deliuered thereof in some private place where the Ladyes of the Court might not know thereof which would turne to her euerlasting scandall Helyon well knowing the nature of the people in what detestable sort they held adultery in their Queene thought no place so fit for the accomplishment thereof as in the Monastery where Constantiâ— was vnto which place she was soone conueyed report being giuen out by the Kings command that she was for the preservation of her health secretly departed into the Countrey The Quéene being come into the Monastery asked for Constantia who was presently brought before her whom Selia now began to hate mortally being very Iealous of her and supposing that the King still Loued her whâ—â— she vsed so disdainfully vpbrayding her with many vndecent spéeches Which Constantia tooke most patiently onely with Teares lamenting her misfortunes And so proudly and scornefully did she behaue her selfe towards Palia and all that attended her that they began to dislike of her Palia séeing the pride of the Quéene and in what disdainfull sort she vsed her accusing her to be priuy to the Kings secret loue to Constantia vsing her so distrustfully and with such euill tearmes began to hate her Which Constantia perceiued by some doubtfull spéeches she gaue out against her Whereupon finding a fit opportunity when she was vexed with her vnkindnesse she came to Palia and said I perceiue the Quéen vseth you but vnkindly regarding to vse none well though they giue her no cause at all She likewise misuseth me that neuer in my life offended her but haue béene the greatest cause of her good I would gladly intreat your ayd and withall reveale many things vnto you that you yet know not if I were assured of your secrecy which I am the more fearefull to reveale for that they are matters of importance wherein notwithstanding if you would vouchsafe your assistance to pitty my miserable estate you shall doe a déed of euerlasting merit Palia hearing her spéeches sayd if I may likewise without feare make my minde knowne vnto you be your assured I doe so mortally hate her that rewardeth my dutifull seruice with disdaine that I will not leaue any thing vnattempted to vexe her and pleasure you therefore if an Oath may assure you of my secrecy hauing no other meanes at this instant to giue proofe thereof I vow by all the good I euer expect never to reveale what you disclose to me but most faithfully labour to pleasure you to my power Then know qd Constantia that I am Daughter to the King of Persia sometimes brought vp in this Court and your Quéene but the Daughter of a Countrey-Swaine in Persia that being exalted to dignity though basely borne behaueth her selfe thus proudly I fearing my Father would haue married me to Helyon against my will having betrothed my selfe to the King of Assyria with him stole from the Court in this Apparell of Selia that is now your Quéene much search was made for me but they could neuer finde me for I lived with my Lord in this disguise in a Shepheards house vntill one day I missing him strayed so farre from the House that I could not returne but by misfortune was found by Helyon and thus as you sée brought into this Countrey either to my death or to a worser end I am likewise great with Child and within short space shall be delivered My earnest desire is that you would vse some meanes to preserue my Babe from death which no doubt it is
likely to endure by her malice and his cruelty Palia having heard her Spéeches Reverenced her comforted her and promised her with many Vowes and Protestations to fulfill her desire thereby to worke some revenge against the Quéene In her heart pittying the distresse of Constantia of whose Vertues she had before times some knowledge With this Promise did Constantia somewhat comfort her selfe hoping yet in the end to escape from that Bondage being daily cherished by old Palia who behaued her selfe towards Selia with such duty and obedience notwithstanding her often vpbraydings that she still kept her selfe in most place of credit about her The day being now come that the Quéene was delivered of a goodly Boy and Constantia the next Night of another none being priuy thereto but Palia who handled the matter with such cunning that she conveyed Constantiaes Child to Selia and hers to Constantia making her acquainted with her intent therein The next day declaring to Helyon how that the Damzell in her custody was deliuered of a Boy Helyon hearing that willing her to kéepe the same secret from any vpon paine of death Not so much as once to reueale it to the Quéene vowing ere many dayes to destroy it Giuing Order to haue his owne Christened naming him Perus And comming to the Quéene told her it were best to be Nursed in the Countrey who was contented to be ruled by him Then calling to him Palia he told her that shée must needs provide a Nurse for his Sonne who already hauing complotted what she intended told him that she knew a kins-woman of hers that was lately brought to Bed some twenty miles off in the Countrey to whom she would if it liked him conuey the Infant Helyon was glad of her promise appointing her all things fit for her departure the next morning Late in the Evening when Palia was sure none could sée her shée went to Constantia telling her what she had intended Withall asking her counsell what hée should doe Aye me quoth Constantia I know not in this extremity what to resolue vpon fearing never to see my Sonne againe and if thou goest I loose my greatest comfort Then taking the Chiloc in her armes and bestowing many Teare-wet kisses thereon she said Palia I pray thee let me know what thou intendest to doe with it Lady quoth she if you perswade me not to the contrary after I am departed this Court I will never leaue trauelling vntill I arriue in Assyria where I doe not doubt but to find Persicles vnto whom I will declare your misfortunes But if I finde him not there I will then Trauell into Persia to the place where you lost him where I shall then assuredly find him that he knowing your estate may seeke to release you And wilt thou doe this for in said Constantia that am neuer likely to make thée amends I will qd Palia and with such faithfulnesse execute the charge I vndertake as shall turne to thy everlasting quiet Many speeches past betwixt them before they parted but yet in the end shee was constrained to leaue Constantia almost dead with griefe but afterwards somewhat comforted with the good hope she had of her faithfull dealing Of two evils thinking it the best to commit the Babe to her custody who by all likelyhoods intended well thereto Early the next Morning Palia departed hauing none in her Company with all the hast she could trauelling towards Assyria Helyon now beganne to meditate on Constantiaes Fortune and who should be the Father of her Childe and whereas before he determined to penne her vp in that Cloyster vntill she would yéeld to his desire he now resolued to revenge the disdaine she had showne in refusing his Loue with all Cruelty that finding occasion when none could interrupt his spéeches being alone with her in her chamber he thus sayd Disdainefull and discourteous Lady did you estéeme so basely of my Loue in my contempt to choose some base-borne Peasant to possesse that which I long sought with such deuoted affection and refusing my Honorable proffer to chuse rather to become anothers Harlot Who would euer haue thought thy comely person shadowed with so faire a pretext had inwardly nourished such ignoble affections Doe you thinke the King of Persia will rejoyce to heare that his faire Daughter Constantia that may well be termed Incontinency hath so vildly stained her Princely blood and defamed her Royall stocke with so infamous a fact or not rather dye with griefe Therefore to prevent so great a mischiefe as will come by his death I will be the meane to kéep thy fact from comming to his knowledge and in his behalfe worke such Revenge as shall be agréeable to so great an offence Yet let me know the cause of thy contempt against mée and who is the Father of thy bastard Which if thou refusest to doe by gentle meanes to vnfold I will by force compell thée thereunto Constantia with Patience heard out his spéeches and with as great Patience answered him Helyon I can well beare your Opprobrious spéeches neyther will I impugne how scandalous they are For the Father of this Infant is as good as your selfe and him I Loue farre more honourable and vertuous then Helyon King of Arabia who ensureth me according to the quality of his owne disposition The reason I left my Fathers Court was to avoyd your importunate suite which was vnpleasing to me in respect of the honorable Loue I imbraced therefore beware you abuse not Constantia For though the King of Persia will not revenge my wrongs yet there is a King as mighty as hée claymeth my possession and will not suffer me to be injured What is a King the Father of that Bastard qd he No thou shalt never perswade mée to that for it looketh not like a King but is the perfect Image of a Foole. Yea said Constantia and yet a King as wise as thy selfe and that ere long thou shalt know for the Father thereof is priuy to all thy Actions although thou thinkest me safely kept And if thou doest murther it I care not for thy selfe will be the first that shall repent the déed And for me vse me well for the Father of this Child loueth thée well and yet thou wilt be thine owne destruction in séeking his death Helyon vnderstood not her meaning maruelling who it should be she meant that he sayd I thinke thou art madde or counterfeytest some deceyt by the ambiguity of thy spéeches for how can the Father of that Brat loue me Or what cause should there be to make me repent any thing that I should doe to it Which the rather shall suffer my wrath because of thy derisions Therefore resolue me or be assured of my euerlasting hatred I neither said she regard thée nor thy hate vtterly denying to fulfill thy request in any respect Yet if thou hadst not demanded it I would peraduenture haue told it thée Doe the worst thou canst I care not for misery it selfe
accidents that befell EArely the next morning Palian assembled his Counsell to determine what order to take for their security which it behooued them to doe for that their Forces were vtterly discouraged and the Country Inhabitants knowing their lawfull King to be living beganne to reuolt and denyed to ayde Palian either with men or victuals that he was constrained onely to kéepe himselfe within the City Walles not suffering any to issue out or daring indéed to doe it they were so strictly besieged by the Persians When they had well considered their estates and the misery they were likely to fall into they concluded to send into Armenia to certifie the King which Althesus and one Mutellus two Knights of excéeding valour vndertooke to performe the next night Montelyon being in his Tent determining to repose himselfe yet féeling no desire to sléepe calling for the Chronicles of the Warres of Antiochus King of Assyria and spending some houres in reading that History his Squire by his commandement being gone to Bed about the dead time of Night he heard the neighing of a Horse as it séemed to him within the City again reading and again staying to listen his mind being somewhat troubled being as yet in his Armour he gyrded his Sword to his side determining to walke the round to see how diligently the Watch was kept whom he found sléeping as soundly as if they had béene in their quiet Beds maruelling much at their drowsinesse but much more at their carelesnesse he went from place to place not minding that night to sléepe but himselfe would watch for them all He had not long stayed but he espyed two in Armour with hasty though softly steps passing through the Campe on foote whom be little suspected to be any other then of his owne company thinking them to be some straglers that séeing their fellowes in dead sléepe went to robbe following as closely as he could he perceiuing them to depart the Campe but maruelling thereat he drew nigher vnto them intending to know what they were before they departed Althesus and Mutellus espying one to follow them and séeing themselves now without the Campe purposed to lay hold on him with purpose to force him to declare what the Persians intended to doe that turning backe to him Althesus offered to lay hold on him Soft quoth Montelyon let me first know what you are We are enemies vnto thée sayd Althesus and therefore yéeld Tell mée quoth hée your names Althesus knowing himselfe to be of great valour and therefore not to be vnknowne of any Besides little thinking he would haue resisted them told him his name was Althesus Then I defie thée quoth Montelyon for I am thine Enemy and will rather dye then yéeld to thée With that Althesus drew his Sword and strooke at him Montelyon did the like to defend himselfe and afterwards they offended him so much that both he and Mutellus had enough to doe to saue their owne stakes and liues Althesus séeing his valour desired to know his name which Montelyon tolde him Althesus was much disquieted therewith and séeing his companion fallen and faint with effusion of bloud hée thus sayd Knight at this time I cannot stay to end the combat for by hazarding my selfe I should endanger the liues of many therefore farewell vntill more conuenient time to meete thée againe With that he turned his backe and Montelyon stouped to giue his conquered adversary breath which reuiued Mutellus but séeing Althesus gone his heart was ready to dye with griefe Montelyon had him be of comfort for his intent was to vse him honorably with that helping him vp he ledde him to his Tent calling vp his Squire to attend him and disarme him he went presently to Persicles The next day Montelyon caused Mutellus to be carryed before the Generall where hée declared the cause of their departure towards Armenia which Persicles was glad to heare off that by this foreknowledge he might preuent the purposed intent of his enemies but most of all he rejoyced and commended Montelyon for this noble act Which had they not béene discovered might haue brought the whole Campe into great distresse by this meanes every way growing into such loue and admiration of his valour vertue and curtesie that they estéemed their onely defence and felicity consisted in his safety that wheresoever hée went the eyes of multitudes awayted him as being delighted to behold him Mutellus desired Persicles to appoint his ransome but hée committed that to Montelyon who after he had honourably feasted him sent him ransomelesse to the City Mutellus soone got entrance and declared what misfortune had befallen him and Althesus which turned their conceived hope of comfort into despaire which had ouercome them with feare had not some little hope of Althesus escape reuiued them Thus remained they many dayes within the City so hardly besieged that they were out of all hope in getting Victuals but were driuen to content themselves with spare dyet scantling out euery souldier and Inhabitant their allowance Which they continued likewise so long expecting to heare from Armenia that being frustrated they expected nothing but miserable famine which caused them late in the night to assemble all their old weake and impotent men vnable to serue and all Women and Children except some few of account and turned them out of the City to the number of sixtéene thousand whose distressed estate Persicles pittied causing them to haue sufficient food themselues building Cabbins to defend them from the weather Persicles séeing the miserable estate his owne Countrey was in and to what extremity his Subjects were brought and by this also knowing that Palian was not able long to endure but that both he and all those within the City were ready to be famished of whom many were Assyrians that were constrained to that subjection whose estate he pittyed being vnwilling to be guilty of their destruction by the aduice and counsell of those he most estéemed but principally of Deloratus and Montelyon he sent a Herauld vnto Palian with this message that although he did vnjustly vsurpe his Crowne and many other wayes done him intollerable injuries yet pittying the miserable estate he was like to bring the Citizens into by his cruelty he made hâ—m this proffer that notwithstanding he might worke sufficient reuenge by his death whose life was now in his mercy he should without interruption with all his Armenians haue frée liberty to depart out of Assyria The Herauld with this message went vnto the City declaring the cause of his comming Palian assembled his Counsell and returned this answere That what he held was his right by conquest and that would hold scorning he should send any such proffer to him that was well able to defend himselfe and as little regarded his courteous proffer as his malice Wishing him not to stay long least his Fathers comming inflicted a greater punishment vpon him then he could eschew Persicles was excéedingly vexed with his disdainefull reply fearing indéed