congratulate the happie mariage betwéene him and the faire Princesse Eglantine as their Countries and kingdomes did afford Some presented him with stately coursers and Iennets of seruice some with ships of huge and mightie burthen some with Pearles and Iuels of inestimable valure And to be short euery one though at first his foe and vtter enemie yet in fine veiwing his maiesticall and princely corage became his true and faithful fréends estéeming him worthy of greater honor then either their personages presents or the obtaining of the beautifull Quéene of Tormaday could afford And on the next morning the beautifull Quéene was royally led to and from the Church where she was espoused to Blanchardine by two Kings Sadony and the king of Frize and the same day crowned King and Quéene of Tormaday to the excéeding comfort of all their subiectes and friendes After their returne from the Church to the Court they were feasted withall possible chéere that could bee deuised and after dinner the Trumpets sounded to the Iustes and tiltings vntill supper And after supper maskes playes and Princely deuises spent the time till they went to bed On the morrow the feast began a fresh and continued for the space of twentie daies After all which arroyalties were finyshed by the commandement of Blanchardine was Subyon and all his accomplices brought to execution now the newes being caried with the swift wings of fame into Frizeland the Lords of Frize repaired to Tormaday to accompany home their aged King and to congratulate this happy marriage of Blanchardine and his new Quéene After the aged King of Frize Father to Blanchardine had séene the espousalls of this beautifull Quéene and his noble Sonne being decrepit stiffe with age hauing liued to fourscore and vpward vnto whome although his late enlargement from captiuitie and this new come ioy of his déere sonne Blanchardine being now married to the beautifull Quéene of Tormaday bred delight Yet through debillitie of nature which was sore inféebled by his hard imprisonment he was surprised with an vncoth malladie and extreame contagion of dangerous sicknes in the which he had not long remained but in the view of all life began to vade and death approche And more to hasten on deathes spéedy pace to this sencles olde man the nobles of Frizeland hauing receiued sure and certaine inteligence from Tormaday of the life and fréedome of their King at that time there and the princely mariage which now was fully concluded betwéene his successiue heire their naturall leige Blanchardine with the renouned Lady and Quéene of Tormaday they came thither at whose approche this fainting olde man hoping to receiue glad tidings from his aged wife the Quéene of Frize began with chéerefull countenance to lift himselfe vp in his bed as though no kinde of deadly malladie or aged griefe had attainted his withered limbes But wheÌ„ he had a while listened to the swéet harmonie of their sugred speach which presaged no kind of disaster but all pleasure and sollace that might be at the length he demaunded of the welfare of the aged Queene his wife vnto whome reply being made that long time since vpon the vnfortunate report and tragicall tidings of his captiuitie by Darius sonne to the Pagan king Alimodes shee fell sicke and died hee listening to this impittious tale fell as one distraught into a sound But comming to himselfe powred forth these spéeches the true testimonies of his faithfull loue and is she gon the comfort 〈◊〉 â—…y youth the staffe of my age the day of my night the sonâ—… of my blisse the sollace of my soule and the life of my death Ah to â—…o well I suspected though alas I knew not the certentie that my captiuitie would bring her callamity and my imprisonment her death But since all humane flesh is mortall and nothing vnder the Sunne permanent what auailes my sorrowful groâ—…es and passions to weake alas to recall her againe or any way to remedie my misfortune with these or the like exclaimes thâ—…s silly aged King panting betweene life and death lay still a while till finding his heart ouer charged with an other passion he prosecuted his first complaint O sacred Ioue searcher of al secret thoughts whose eternall dietie raigneth within the highest heauens who from my cradle hast destined me to perpetuall miserie now shew thy selfe a righteous iudge and reuenge my wrongs vppon the accursed broode of infidels who so irreligiously prophane thy blessed name suffer them not to escape thy reuenging powre but at thy pleasure consume and confound the workers of this my woe and now dissolue my daies and weary life leade me through th' unknowne passages to my deere and sweetest wife that though our daies on earth did finde small coÌ„fort yet our soules in heauen may finde consolation And with this orizon he yeilded himself to God and died WheÌ„ the brute of this heauie tidinges came to the eares of Blanchardine and his faire Quéene although they swinne before in the hauen of happines and floted on the floodes of al felicitie as they thought yet in that very instant and moment of time a cloudie mist began to obscure their brightest sonshine and a frost of cares to ouer runne their summers blisse Now began Blanchardine to accuse and condemne himselfe of vnnaturall ingratitude and disobedience to his parentes to whome both nature and dutie bound him to bee submissiue and kind now he begâ—…n to maligne the time the place and the cause of his departure and priuie escape from his fathers Court. But all in vaine for as teares praiers nor vowes can recall the dead so had I wist and time abused and mispent is in vaine to be desâ—…red And yet quoth he how vnnaturall was I to forsake them whome nature charged me to loue and obey now I may iustlie accuse my self of the murther of these my louing parents alas I cannot excuse my selfe neither can I plead ignoraunce that I knew not that my departure would be the finishing of my parentes ioyes and cause of their death which now to my open shame I finde most true And should I nay could I suffer my selfe to be led and carried away with such vaine fantasies as leaue them comfortles to whome I was the greatest comfort Die Blanchardine die and the rather die that art the cause of thy parents death alas to kill a man is hainous murder but to murder my parentes a sinne against Sanctitie all creatures haue â—…are to foster those that gaue them life and I careles in killing my father The Storke when he séeth his sire olde ready to die with famine taketh him vpon his shoulders and féedeth him by his trauaile But I instéede of féeding haue famisht and in place of trauelling haue traiterously ouerthrowne my parents The Lordes of Tormaday seeing this soddaine and vnexpected chaunce of the death of the aged King the heauie plight of Blanchardine and his beautifull Quéene humbly on their â—…nées began to
accompained with a most gallant and redoubted troope of Dukes Earles Lords Barons and Knights But her age custome is to ride very softly behind all the troope onely accompained with an aged Lady whom she calleth her nurse and for her grauetie hath the greatest credit and preheminence with the Queene now sir if you can by al the possible meanes deuise to fasten a kisse vpon her lips Ile pawne my life you shalbe the happiest man aliue and the only possessor of her loue faile not therefore to do as I haue Councelled you but as secret as you can so I commit you to the mercy of God and the fauour of the Queene Blanchardine comforted with these good newes after a gentle conioy taken of the knight he bethought himselfe how he might obtaine a kisse of the Queene And meditating vpon this only thing at last he espied the gallant troope of Lordes according to the tale and report of his host the knight of the ferry But approching something néerer hee espied the Quéene accordingly hindmost in the same traine only accompained with an olde Lady then Blanchardine pricked forward by the instinct of looue and the knights warrantize determined with him selfe to effect his purpose although he should léese his life therfore and in this thoughthe called vpon God to ayde him in his enterprize Chap 8. How Blanchardine ouertooke the proude Lady in looue and kissed her AS soone as Blanchardine came in sight of the Quéen thrust sorth by hope yet recald by feare but most desirous to accomplish and effect his determination séeing the Lady rid a great way behinde her companie and finding the place conuenient spurred his horse and ran so hastely that the Quéene wundering who that might be that posted so fast after turning her hed to looke back their lippes met with swéet coniunction Then Blanchardine hauing perfourmed as much as hée desired gallopped swiftly away saluting the nobles of the traine with such a debonayre and amiable countenance that they were all astonisht what princely caualier hee might be that posted so far afore the company and withall carying a singuler and great câ—…mmendation with all the beholders and specialy with the Ladies and Gentlewomen euery one imagining him to be descended from some high parentage yet wondering the cause why he posted so fast without company Thus Let him ride on till hée come to the Citty and leaue to speake of him now and turne to the Lady Eglantine Quéene of Tormaday most discontented for the kisse Blanchardine had giuen her Chap. 9. The most pittifull complaint of the Queene for the kisse of Blanchardine AFter that the Quéene had bethought her of the kisse she receiued frâ—…m Blanchardine shée incontinently as a woman dis-straught of her sences fell into a sound which her Nurse perceiuing and fearing least she should take hurt by falling fâ—…om her nagge alighted to rescue her But the Quéene some what recalling her sences and comming againe to her selfe began in this sort to complaine with aboundance of teares that trickled down her cheekes Ah heauenly Diaâ—… sacred Queene of holy nimphes O thou Celestiall Goddesse whome from my Infancie I haue adored reuenge chaste Hecoetae this outrage which is offred to me by that accursed stranger I that haue hetherto preserued my body from the raging heat of lawlesse lust am now vnwittingly surprized when least I suspected O had I called vnto my train at y t very instant to haue murdered the villaine in his flight rather then so dasterdly a lad should triumph in my spoile But hear I vow that no day time or houre shall passe wherein I will not seeke reuenge of that cruell and accursed traitor who thus arogantly hath distained both my vow and honor Ah nurse what shall I doe shal I send these Lords post after him to slay him before he entred the Citty or if hee be entred before they come shall I by my expresse commaundement charge my seruants and louing subiects that hée neuer see more dayes then this The nurse seeing her in these extreames sought by all meanes to asswage and pacifie her teares and began to perswade her in these tearmes What madame make you such an Idoll of your selfe that for a kisse you will seeke to shead the blood of so noble and braue a gentleman as he is whose kindnes to you meriteth no such hate If you punish such sclender faultes with like rigor as you meane to inflict on this gentleman what wil you doe to him that intreateth you in more dishonorably sorte Be pacified for shame madam and let not the world wonder at that which none but I you are acquainted withal leap madame vppon your palfrey and dry vp these womanish teares least being by your owne folly bewraied it bréed a scandall to your name and no benefite to your selfe By these or the like perswasions the nursse appeased the quéenes passions who mounted on her palfrey rode to the Citty of Tormada intending yet neuerthelesse if she could heare any newes of Blanchardine to punish him by one meane or other in which opinion let her rest and returne we againe to Blanchardine Chap. 10. How Blanchardine entred the Citty of Tormaday and was lodged at the Provosts house PResently as Blanchardine was entred the Citty of Tormaday perusing with diligent circumspection the Cituation of the towne the stately Buildings of Abbeis Churches Monestaries and sumptuous houses besides the great and manyfolde commodities which the sea by his neighbourhood did inrich the Citie withall hee grew into great admiration with himselfe what and how happy a man he might be if he could so effect his desired purpose as to wed the Quéene be sole King commaunder of so royall an Empire and in these meditations approching to the chief market place of the cittie he made inquisition for lodging for himselfe and his horse vnto whome reply was made that by reason of the multitude of the traine which came with her maiestie the towne had scarce place to furnish those that were comming in their ayde against King Aimodes But if it pleased him to goe to the house of the Prouost there no doubt but he might finde entertainment and be lodged Blanchardine requested him to direct him the way to the Prouosts house which he willingly consented to doe So he approching néere the Prouosts gate espied him sitting there of whome Blanchardine in most kinde and ciuill manner demaunded lodging but the Prouost replyed know sir that he that determineth to lodge héere must performe the contentes written in this marble stone ouer the gate TheÌ„ Blanchardine fixing his eies on the stone and this inscription which did no whit at all discontent him He that will enter heer must try it by shield and speare Against all those that be herein or els his cheere shalbe but thin VVHen Blanchardine had read this Inscription he smiled to himselfe thinking by this meane not only to bee lodged in the Prouosts house the principall of
mine But fréendly pacing Home ward the Prouost desirous to know the sequell of Blanchardines cause and the confereuce in secret he had with the Quéene coniured him of all loues to vnfold the circumstance promising vpon his life both secrecie and coustancie for my mind quoth he cannot be satisfied vntill I knowe whether you shall be King of Tormayday or no being more then halfe perswaded therunto already Blanchardine reposing an assured trust in the Prouost by reason of many fauours which he had receiued from him from point to point related y e whole procéedings betwixt the Quéene and him selfe requiring his secrecy as in such a case is needfull No soner were they entred the Prouost house but the Quéene imâ—…diatly sent vnto Banchardine a rich white courser sumptuously trapped with crimson veluet and gold and withall a sleeue of her gowne richly imbrodered with pearle which she mioyned him by her messenger to weare vpon his 〈◊〉 when he should encounter with her enemies that thereby she might the better perceiue him from the other Lords Blanchardine in all humility receiued this princely present and royally thanking her maiestie for so high a fauour gaue in reward vnto the bringer an ouch of golde vpon which was set a rich ruby incompassed w t diamonds who thanking Blanchardine most humbly departed and being returned to the Queene recounted the thankfull acceptance of the present by Blanchardine and the bountifull reward he receiued from him for his paines which the Lady reioycing to heare commending the honorable minde of Blanchardine imagining that such liberality could not issue from a base courage But presently a great clamor was in the streates which put the Prouost into a sodain admiration of the cause anon it was related vnto them that the king of the giants called Rubion was before the walles of the towne demaunding iustes for his Ladyes sake daughter to king Alimodes who had hâ—… sleeue in his helmet of violet satten which he wore as her fauour in dispight of any Ladyes beautie within the Citty and by reason of the hugenes of his body which was recounted to be xv foot in length no man durst presume to enter combate against him This vnexpected newes much delighted Blanchardine who requested nothing more then to vndertake this combate in honor of his Lady whose fleeue he bare and least the Giant should be gon before he could be ready for the fight he sent present word that the Giant should not loose his labour and that his request should be fulfilled These newes séemed to reuiue the heart and courage of Rubior because he longed to shew his valure for the loue of Alimodes daughter his Lady and mistresse Long stayed not Blanchardine till he mounted his horse armed and on his Helmet he waâ—…e the sleeue which the Quéens had sent him thinking it a sufficient couering or burgonet against all chaunces whatsoeuer and pacing towardes the gates the Ladyes Lords and Cittizens wondered at the haughty courage of Blanchardine much commending his generosity braue carriage on horsebacke And all praiers were made for his safe returne Thus marched he out of the gates and came to the place where the Giant stayed his comming whome when the Giant beheld he sternly demaunded of whence he was and what vnaduised chaunce had brought him thither Blanchardine answered I will not for any dread of thée accursed miscriant conceile my name nor parentage know I am sonne to the King of Frize my name is Blanchardine sent to combate with thée by my gratious and most faire Princesse Eglantine Quéene of Tormaday surnamed the proude Lady in loue And quoth the Giant I euen now was commaunded from my péereles Lady and mistresse the daughter to the king Alimodes who gaue me this her right sléeue for my fauour that this enfigne of her fauor couering my head I may accomplish some exploite beséenring the beauty of my loue Then quoth Blanchardine Panim do thy worst I am heare to answere thée so much as thou shalt demaund So fetching their carreirs they encountered the one the other with such haughtie courage that both their launces shiuered to their handes Then betaking themselues to their swordes their strokes were so terrible that the fire flue out of their helmets and for a while the fierce fight remained doubtfull Nowe was the Quéene of Tormayday ascended her gallery window whence the might behold the combatants and fearing much by reason of the hugenes of y e Giant y e Blanchardine would not returne againe safe she becamepensiue and very sorrowfull On the other side sate king Alimodes daughter to behold her champion but casting her eyes vpon Blanchardine wishing in her heart that he might be conquerer she might haue him for her paramour But this doubtfull fight was at length finished by Blanchadine who casting his eyes to the window where his louely Quéene lay his courage augmenting by the vertue he drew from her vppon the sudden hee lent the Giant such a cuff that hee tumbled downe from his horse in a sound which when Blanchardine perceiued he thought to allight to finish the râ—…mbate by cutting off his head when out of an ambosh issued thrée score Pagans for his rescue The Quéene of Tormaday séeing this treachery charged her men presently to post out of the towne to ayde Blanchardine But before they could come Blanchardine was encompassed with twenty men of the which none came within his reach but wished he had not attempted so néere him The Quéenes soldiers coÌ„ming to the rescue were encountred by fresh supplies of the Pagans so that that day was much bloodshed and had béen the last day of Alimodes seidge had not Darias his sonne suâ—…cored his fainting Knights with new supplyes Darias being come sounded a retreat to his men for a while then ioyning together his companies againe inuaded the thickest of the Cittizens and no doubt had done great slaughter that day had not Blanchardine singled himforth who in the counterbuff gaue him such a bastinado that made him sincke to the ground out of his saddle and had not present succour come he had seuered his head from his shoulders Darias being thus rescued was conueied home to his pauillion where by reason of the stroke he was constreined to kéep his bed thrée dayes In this time Rubion the Giant hauing recouered both his sences and his horse againe did great exploites and had almost slaine the Prouost had not Blanchardine made spéedy hast calling vppon the Giant Ah thou false Panim quoth he this shalbe thy last day thou which most traiterously wouldest haue slain me by that meanes hast once escaped my hands Now will I take such veÌ„geance on thee thou shall neuer see thy Lady again And here withall aduauncing himselfe gaue him such a sound buffet on the helmet that he fell downe starke dead to the earth The death of the Giant Rubion King of the Sarizens once bruted all his soldiers being discomforted made hast to
tēpest rather to increase then any whit to calme unmagining with himselfe that Infidels and Pagans were vtterlie exempt from the fauor and mercy of God and that this contagion of weather grew by his vniust conceling of his christianitie and dissembling Paganizmiei As Christ saith he that denieth me before men I will denie him before God Blanchardine pricked forward with this spur came to Sadony in these tearmes I know right trustie and honorable companion that the mightie and immortall God of heauen being displeased with the idolatrous worshipping of stockes stones then the which nothing can be more hatefull in his sight thundereth downe these huge mightie stormes tempests now vpon vs and therfore if euer loue victorie or true magnanimitie preuailed in the minde of thée my sweete friend Sadony let vs foorthwith appease the anger wherewith God is iustly incensed against vs by becomming trew and faithfull beléeuers in his blessed sonne Iesu Christ which if my perswation may effect and bring to passe I dare assure you shall not onely mittigate the angry wrath of God but for euer sorte all our enterprizes to happie ende Sadony who through the integritie of affection to Blanchardine and with all for feare of his and his companies vtter ouerthrowe not onely gaue Blanchardine his franke consent to become Christian with all his followers but also to send both his Idols and their Iuels which were moste ritch and of inestimable valure into the bottome so the Sea the which without all delaye was by his prerogatiue and especiall commaundement persormed After which the stormes began by little little to decrease the cloudes to vanish and the Sea to waxe calme which bred a most pleasant content to Blanchardine and procured a stedfastnesse in faith of these newe become Christians who greatly reioyced to finde them selues free not onely from the rage of the Sea but also from the illusion of their false faith wherein long time they had erred But not long after sayling with a most pleasant gale but in a strange and vnknown Coast they escried a farre off a most rich and populus country whether with all speede they bended their wandering course and being come within perfect view of this Iland they found a most quiet and safe hauen both for their ships to lye and for them selues to land so without delay euery man addressed himselfe to goe ashore to refresh their wearie Seabeaten bodies When Blanchardine and Sadony perceiued that their whole company sauing the Mariners were on land they began to muster their men and presently to march in order of battell to the Citie which was scarse a league distant from the hauen and their horsemen scouring the plaines hauing made seizure on a countrey swaine brought him before the generals who presently examined him of the estate gouerment of the countrie vnto whom the pore captiue related at large the some of their demaund This Countrey quoth he is a Region scittuate néere the Sea called Cassedony where at this day raigneth a most puisant and mightie Sarizen king named Alimodes who is now with a huge host beseidging the princely Citie of Tormaday where the most beautifull queene Eglantine renewned through the world for chastitie holdeth her royall court for whose loue our king Alimodes hath forsaken this our Countrie and meaneth to obteine her affection by force because he may not winne her by kindnesse and in his stéed heere he hath left his valorous sonne Darius and faire Beautrix his daughter to gouerne till his returne and at this instant they both are in this princely Cittie héere at hand Blanchardine most glad of his happie arriuall within the teritories of king Alimodes his detested foe discoursed bréefely to Sydony that now by the prouidence of God and their happie fortune they were landed in that place where the bewtifull Beautrix Alimodes daughter lay whome Blanchardine had long before promised to giue to him in mariage And therefore trustie companion quoth he now shewe the valure and high magnanunitie which I haue euer expected in you for the subduing of these miscreants and accursed Infidels and for the obteining of the most beautifull Ladie that your eye hath soene so shall we by the helpe of God inuest you not only with the dyademe of Cassidony but also espowse you to that faire Queene for whose swéet sake you haue aduentured this long and wearie iourney and héerein I assure you we shall honor our God whome wée now serue seate you in this Regall throne with your faire Queene and deliuer the most chaste and bewtifull Quéene of Tormaday my mistres and loue from the tyranie of the cursed monster Alimodes Courage therefore Noble Sadonye and in the name of our God let vs set vpon them in whose name I doubt not but we shall presently subdue them When Sadonye vnderstood by the reporte of Blanchardine that the faire Beautrix whome he so much commended and vpon whose commendations he so entirely loued rested within that Cittie he needed not to ad more fuell to the fire for his eager desire was such as he rather seemd too forward then any whit too slacke to accomplish or attempt any thing that he would perswade him vnto Now these two haughty coragious caualiers brauely moūted with all their followers some on horsebacke some on foote marched neere vnto the walles of the Cittie whose approche beeing by certaine espyalls discried was foorthwith related to Daryus who at that instant was in his Pallace sporting with his beautifull sister Beautrix which suddaine alarum and vnexpected newes at the first so daunted his courage that as a man halfe distract of his sences he knew not what to determine But calling his wits together he presently commaunded that thirtie thousand men should be in redines at the sound of a Trumpet to issue out vppon the enimie and that hee in person would goe to vnderstand the cause of their approch thether without his speciall conduct and license Prouision was forthwith with all posible speede made And euerie man being armed vnder the conduct of Darius issued out of Cassidony vppon Blanchardine and his company who not vnprouided for their comming were ready to giue them their welcome Darius presently dispatched a herrald at armes to enquire the cause of this outrage vppon his dominions and people vnto whom Blanchardine replyed that first the honor seruice of hys God secondly the reuengement of the manyfest wrongs offered to the beautifull Queene of Tormaday by his father and lastly the great desire that Sadony Sonne and Heire to the King of Spruse had to wed the beautifull Beautrix Alimodes daughter were the only and sufficient causes of this their warlike ariuall And therfore without delay they commaunded Darius to submit himselfe his Crowne and Realme with the faire Beautrix into their handes Otherwise they would with fire and sword consume and confound al that cursed broode of Miscreant Sarazins and leaue the Country depopulated and waste And
came against him to gratulate his welcome Then the Prouost began to deliuer his message in these tearmes Renowned Lady and my most gracious Princesse know that I haue according to your Princely commaund performed my ambassage to the generall of the Royall Nauy that floteth héereby on the Sea before the City of the which the chiefe conductors and rulers be the Noble King of Frize Blanchardine his Sonne and the braue Sadonye Sonne to the king of Spruse besides a braue company of warlike soldiers whose couragious vallors presage victorie to your Maiestie And more the noble King of Frize hath sworne the vtter ouerthrow of Alimodes and all his cursedra bble of miscreants for the extreame and deadly wrong which haue béene done to him by Darius his Sonne And therefore Madam this is their request that since the day is almost spent so that they may not Land conueniently they will vs with all our strength early on the next morning to be ready at their arriuall where and when without further delay they meane presently to set vppon your enimies their corages being augmented by the equitie of your and their quarel So that now most mighty Princes there is no cause left vs of longer dispaire but that all possible and spéedy prouision be made for the ioyning of our forces together against the appointed time Then pulling foorth the ring which gaue sufficient testimony to the Quéene of Blanchardines presence he most humbly recommended it to her maiesties handes as his charge was from Blanchardine The Quéene most thankfully receiued this heauenly present from Blanchardine humbly thanking God that in her greatest extreames hee had sent not only succour but also the man whome vnder heauen she estéemed most then giuing especiall charge to the Prouost and all her nobles to sée all things in a readines against the next morning at the houre appointed shée calling her Nurse went into her bed chamber where they two discoursed at large of the truth vallor and kingly prowes of Blanchardine and all other accidents and succour that God had sent them but the chiefe note they sung vpon was Blanchardine whose swéete accent vpheld the diapasan of their musicke After this she gaue in charge that the streetes should be hanged with costly clothes and that the swéetest musicke shoulde continually play to welcome her loue Blanchardine which was presently effected so that the City séemed rather an earthly paradice then a garison towne of soldiers by reason of the melodious soundes of all sortes of instruments the sweet voices of men and women the musicall hermonies of Clarions Simballs Lutes Hoboyes Cornets and trumpets that then were heard The Bels began to ring throughout the Citie the Preistes to sing procession the boyes to make bonefires and the maides to chaunt their Roundelayes that al mourning laid aside there was no cause of discomsiture to be seene Now the King Alimodes being at supper within his Pauilion as though the foure Elements had encountred together The dust began to rise so thicke that it almost dimd the brightnes of the Sunne by reason whereof they within the City perceiued not their freindes from their enemies Then went the Noble Quéene and all the matrons of Tormaday barefooted to the Churches from one to an other exorating the powers of heauen to strengthen the paizaunce of Blanchadine and all his associates and to confound the misbeléeuing infidels Almodes and his companies After these orizons finished the Quéene calling her nurse mounted vp into her gallerie from whence she might well perceiue the assaults on both sides where shee long beheld diuers Knights and soldiers flaine others dismounted from their horses sore mangled and wounded wallowing in their owne gore their horses running vp and downe without their guides and riders But in this hotte skirmish Blanchardine singled foorth a Duke a man of great account and prowes whome at the first méeting with his Launce he sent dead to the ground And before his Launce brake he confounded fiue or six And folowing his happie entrance he so behaued himselfe that his sword was too well knowne among the Pagans for he had altered the Azure cullor thereof into a crimson red with the blood of the foe so that happie was he that might rid himselfe from Blanchardine sury And if Alimodes had not supplied the defectiue troopes of his slaughtered soldiers with a band often thousand fresh the day had on his side bene turnd to night vpon which began the clamor oft he soldiers to eccoe in the sky when giuing each other the fresh onset the battell seemed more feirce then at the first But Blanchardine instigated with honor and loue still hazarded himselfe among the thickest of his enimies whome they knew too well for their profits And being enclosed within a ring of pagans they freshly assayled him on euery side eyther to slay him or make him their captiue which cruelties he hauing before too well experimented rather determined to die then to bee taken prisoner And in this resolution hee so coragiously behaued himselfe that none durst enter within the reach of his weapon And although his horse was sore wounded and him selfe most daungerously hurt in many places not séeing any way to encounter such a multitude without great danger yet with maine force he retired himselfe back among his companie Now Sadony who all this while stood not idle singled out a mightie Giaunt named Corhorant second brother to the King Alimodes whome vpon the shock at their encounter hee sent both horse and man to the ground and accepting the benefit of fortune and time alighted from his horse and disseuered hys head from his body The good king of Frize whose corage was strong although by reason of age his body was weake what by his encoragement of the soldiers and great experience in feates ofarmes did great damage to Alimodes and his soldiers In the meane the valiant Blanchardine féeling his horse by reason of his woundes to faint vnder him alighted and betooke himselfe to his sword with the which he so manfully behaued himselfe as euer did any knight till at the last the enemy perceiuing him dismounted pressed so fast by heapes vpon him that they tooke him prisoner At which suddaine applause the whole troope of miscreants gaue a mightie shoote but Sadony perceiuing the distressed case of his trusty friend Blanchardine hasted so fall vppon the enimy with his company that heaset at libertie him that before they thought to be most sure prisoner When Blanchardine saw himselfe free he presently mounted a fresh horse tooke a mighty Launce And perceiuing Alimodes somewhat distant from his companie gaue the spurres to his horse and by his agillitie and mightie prowes bare him out of his saddell to the earth And at that instant had seuered his head from his body had not spéedy succour come This foile bred such a desire of reuenge in Alimodes that so soone as he was mounted againe he wasted Blanchardine to
expostulate him in this manner Noble prince as the salue commeth to late where the sore is irrecuperable as phisicke is naught worth where the pacient is passing and as fire giuen to the ordinance tis to late to recall the shot So mightie King booteles are these teares which are shed for the dead the honor of your father hath eternizâ—…d his name for euer though his body be here interred if fame be the marke whereat all noble mindes do shoote then may you boast that he cannot die whose fame is so farre spred throughout the world Leaue therefore braue King to bewaile him whome you haue cause to ioy for and comfort our pensiue Queene and your faire spouse whose torments cannot cease séeing you so sad As one newly risen from a traunce or out of a heauy slumber so Blanchardine hauing listened to this short and swéete discourse of his nobles began to recall his sences home which before were wandring after the Ghost of his father through the Elizian féeldes and perceiuing sorrow to be both needlesse and bootlesse so well as the time and this hard occasion would permit he began to be more chéerefull and so pacing toward the Quéene with a simpering smile neither presaging mirth nor mourning he began to recomfort her How now faire loue what are your melancholies such as nothing can make you merrie swéete hart be pacified and snake of these vntimelye passions and learne by me to disgest the hard and harsh pilles of vnhappie fortune The cause is mine and if sorrow be expected in any it is I that must be sorrowfull but I haue found it both hurtfull to my body and not auaileable to the dead and therefore haue shaken it of as a thing of no regarde Let vs not therefore sweete wife be the cause of a mournfull courte but the authors of merry company since it hath pleased God to sorte our haps to our harts contentments in our happy wedding The Queene whose sadnes grew by reason of her husbands heauinesse seeing him to haue so quickly dismissed his heauy passions became presentlye iecond merry so betweene them coÌ„maunded great preparation to be forthwith made to performe the obsequeis of the deceased King of Freeze his Father which shortly with all solemnitie fitting his estate was accomplished to the great admiration of all the beholders for the sumptuous magnificencie and surpassing pompe wherwith he was interred all costly odors and sweet senting spices were bountifully bestowed vpon him great almes and charity were dealt and distributed and innumerable sollemne processions praiers were made for him in honor of his person dead and loue of his Sonne liuing Now Sadonie who was not only a beholder but a principall actor in all this heauy tragedie after these obsequies were solemnized and that the estate of his sworne freend Blanchardine and his faire Quéene rested in perfect quiet voyde and frée both offortaine and domesticall enimies bethinking himselfe of his beautifull Beautrix his trusty Regent of Cassidony hee I say whome loue had stonge to the quicke by his late marriage comming to Blanchardine began thus Since Noble fréend and true copartner of all mishaps that fortune hath spit her deadly spight and that now there remaineth no more seruice for me to doe in defence of your royall person your Realme and Quéene and that my princely Quéene languisheth at home by reason of my long absence whose princely person is the true Idea of my thought let me craue fauor to depart vntill occasion or your fréendly letters call me hether againe where and when I will not faile so long as life shall rest within me to do you all possible fauor and kindnes Blanchardine imagining by himselfe that the sting of loue was a sufficient pricke to call Sadony home and that he should greatly iniury him his faire Beautrix in withholding them a sunder not onely gaue his consent for his departure but with all honor accompanied him to his ships with his Princely Eglantine where not without millions of teares and many kind imbracements they parted companie Thus with pleasant gale and quiet tide Neptune guiding the healme sayled Sadony and his warlike companie towardes the Realme of Cassidony where his princely Quéene the beautifull Beautrix held her Royall court but heauy and mournfull for the absence of her Lorde and husband Sadony for wrathfull Nemisis enuying of her good hap and willing to heape greater â—…oes vpon the Quéene then before shee suspected altered her hoped blisse into a beadly bane For when the calme silence of the night procured quiet to all liuing creatures and that Hesperus the harbenger of Cinthia had giuen charge to call the inferior stars with twinkling light to illumine the earth Eolus on the sodaine began to roare and with outragious stormes and cruell blastes to bannish againe the starrs from the firmament in their places to spred his dusky clouds so that instéed of light there was obscuritie with huge and horible crakes of thunder By force whereof the wandring Prince Sadony and his amazed company were from a sodaine hope of happie arriuall driuen into a dismall feare of drowning then began the pittifull clamor of the people seeing euery want ready to swallow vp the ship wherein they were caried the foggy mist to thicken with cloudy vapors that vnneth could the saylors sée to doe their labours Sadony whose corage no fortune was able to daunt hauing his assured hope in the God whome Blanchardine made him to know seeing his company to faint and in dispaire began to exhort and comfort them in this sort Trustie companion and copartners of mishap since it hath pleased the maiestie of the eternall God to terâ—…fie w t his thunderclaps our â—…eble hearts and that all hope of safetie is vtterly denied let vs with one consent humble our selues before his mercy seat and no doubt as in many other our câ—…mities so in this our desperate distres hee will with the eyes of pitty looke downe vpon our penitencie and by his omnipotency appease the rage of these troubled seas which threateneth imminent death and destruction Frollike déere friends and the God of Blanchardine desend vs. The company séeing Sadonie so coragious and full of haughtie valor inciting them to call vpon the God of Blanchardine euery one casting away his dastard feare eleuating their hearts and hands to heauen made their orizons thus Imortall Iehoua guider of this glorious roume although our diâ—…sightedeies haue béen long couered w e the obscure vaile of ignorance haue abandoned our hearts from thy sacred law yet since it hath pleased thee to make thy name and glorie knowne among vs suffer vs not to miscarie vntill wee haue yéelded thee all conding and heauenly honor so that from our lips thy praese may slow and in our hearts thy diety take roote No sooner was this short zealous praier finished but horned Luna begaÌ„ to shew her head the cloudes to vanish the windes to cease