of theim For that the dearlyng of the Faierie staieth too long in the Castle of the woodd of Cipres whiche vrgeth vs to produce hym for the into the fieldes The Youth Gerileon being come to the age of fiftene or sixtene yeres the Fairie Ozyris gaue hym an Harnis enchaunted so and in suche sorte that there was neither Iron nor Stele how sharpe soeuer which could in any wise pearce it also she gaue hym the braue Horse Lycocephal and a good Sworde and hauyng tourned the Lyon whiche he had taken in the Forest into his firste forme she gaue hym also vnto hym for his Squire And thus apointed she sent him towardes the Emperour of Constantinople to receiue the Order of knighthoode and of the communication she had with hym before his departure ¶ The eight Chapter NOw refteth hereafter noble lordinges and illustrious knightes whiche willynglie take pleasure to reade the worthy deedes and memorable enterprises of those which haue adorned and aduaunced our world that I let you sée a yong Warriour the brauest and best skild in armes the worthiest puisauntest and moste magnanimious of any other wherof euer mention was made It is also for you other faire and gracious ladies who are pricked with the pleasant assaultes whiche loue accustomably assigneth to theim whiche humbly liue languishing in the prisons of cruell desire tormentyng their hartes with a cōtinuall amorous thought that I shewe you of a yong Princesse accōplished in al perfections of beautie rather diuine then humane the liueliest attaynted and dispiteouslye enflamed by the ardent and burning stroakes which procéeded from the persone of the young Ciprian Infaunt aboue any other vnder the celestial vaute since the creation of oure firste Fathers if you will haue pacience to reade and peruse this fine and delectable Historie Wherefore ye must vnderstande that the gentill Youth Gerileon remained so long at Ozyris Pallace in the wood of Cypres with suche pleasure and contentment as is aforesaide that he attained the xv yere of his age At what tyme hee was so sage gentie modest and courteous puisaunt and vertuous that there was as then none in the worlde that in giftes whiche either Arte or Nature doeth by the diuine prouidence of God bestowe vpon man could in any poynt match hym muche lesse surpasse hym For hee was so ta◠well made and proportioned in al his lymmes mēbers that one could scarce finde any which in largenesse of bodie or pregnantnes of wit could at that time be his equall and at that tyme say I for that when he was come to mans age he far surpassed excelled the stature of other men For which cause the Fairie Ozyris leeyng hym already so great puisaunt thought that it was not for his profite but rather to degenerate from the Noblenesse of the Place where hee tooke his originall Wherefore desiryng nought but his profite and aduauncement seeyng that if he taried long in that state and continued any more in that voluptuous and delicate trade of life the prowesse and valour which were in hym should be so vnprofitable that they should helpe no more then a Treasure whiche liyng hid in the entrailes of the Earth serueth not the vse of any she would not hinder the honour and fame which he afterward atchiued to abide buried in the profound darkenes of a perpetuall silence Wherefore one daie when hee was alone in his Chamber readyng in a booke in which kinde of exercise hee tooke inestimable delight she entered in at whose comming the Youth which was set arose saiuted her with an humble reuerence and she also vsed towardes him a reciprocall obeisaūce contrary to her acustomed fashion Then takyng hym by the hande wherwith as yet he held his Hat whiche she put on his head she led hym to sit in a Chaire couered with Damaske whiche stoode neere to her Bed side wheron she leanyng vsed to him these or such like wordes My soune for so she calde him still séeyng you are alreadie come to suche ripenes and encreasement of age for the whiche I praise the almightie God whiche hath made and doth gouerne all thynges that as it semeth you shall from henceforth be sufficient forcible strōg to toile in the field with a cracklyng Corsselet vpon your valiaunt shoulders I am in opinion that it should be most good and profitable for you and no lesse conueniente and fitte that you were made knight by the handes of some good Prince not to let here stippe or rather steape the graūd prowesse valiancie that is in you emong the chambers gardens and wooddes of this Pallaice rather thā to remaine still to take your recreations and pastymes in a place full of delites and mundane vanities which are so alluring entice and flatter so with the swéetenes of their bitter baites the hartes myndes of yong and youthful wightes wherby thei entangle blinde them in such sort that thei make them forgette their duetie although both noble gentle they hold them so wel hampered that with great difficulty thei haue no power most commonlie to dispatche theim of the same Neither yelde thei ought els in the ende but a perpetuall dishonour accompaignied with a too late repentaunce whiche after all this hath to feede vpon an infinite number of anguishes forrowes I saie not these thynges my dearlyng for any desire that I haue contrary to your stomacke to sende you hence assuryng you that I esteeme my selfe verie happie in hauyng ministred vnto you so good entertainment But forasmuch as I see ye haue not had yet vntill this present occasion of any miscontentmente And this your absence shall bee to me farre more yrkesome then all other dolours that maie in any wise betide me But because I foresee by my Artes and Sciences that it should bee greater losse and damage that the haughtie and illustrious feates of armes whiche you are to bryng to passe by your valiauncie should remaine any longer in darcknesse without enioiyng their future clearenesse and apparente light Furthermore if you should otherwise deale or dooe therein you should degenerate greatly frō the generositie of the place whence you proceaded whiche by your vertue and valiauncie you ought to illustrate and adorne yet more then euer it was If you will beleue me and followe my counsaile I praise you in your presence because I know your nature so good that for any laude that I can giue you you would not as in deede it is nothyng decente puffe vp your courage and stuffe your self with pride no more then you would endure wrong and vilanie dooen vnto you by any other you not seekyng perforce to resiste it And knowe that too no other entent I haue brought you vp and nourished you with so greate care and diligence as I haue dooen nor taken you from the handes of your freindes in your Infancie for other occasion then to eschew the misfortunes and miserable destenies whiche before hande I haue
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
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
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
tymes more sharpe then the horrour of death it selfe And thus it chaunced that one daie as hee was in the queste and pursuite of straunge adueÌ„tures to make proofe of his force and valure also to get praise and honour the only Guerdon of Illustrious and gentle hartes as all wanderyng knightes accustomably doe passing by chaunce through a certaine Forrest he encountred a wilde Boare whiche beyng striken and wounded through the bodie with a Darte came and fell doune not farre from hym starke dead which he apperceiuyng tooke and charged vppon his horse to cary it away but as hee beganne to departe there came towardes hym another knight of so small stature that hee exceeded not the height of two or three cubites but therwith so strong and puissaunt that no knight nor Giaunte whatsoeuer might endure his force and for this cause so fearce and presumptuous that if he sawe any thing to hym not agreable were it wrong or right he would haue it This fellowe seeing the praie whiche my Lorde and Father caried said to him very stoutly that he either should deliuer geue to hym the wild Boare out right or otherwise he would let hym vnderstande that it was not for suche a one as hym to gainsaie any thyng to hym agreable My father which had his Hearte so fixed and settled and who was of so greate courage that he could in no wise suffer so presumptuous a bragge to hym answered that he shoulde not haue it without conquest made by the pointe of the Swerde Whereon the litle knight whiche had to name Nabot was so chaffed and enraged that putting without more wordes his hande vpon his Swerde he stroake my miserable father so rudely vppon the head that at the firste blowe hee brought hym doune all astonished from his Horse to the grounde whereon after he had laied the wilde Boare he tooke my Father betwixt his armes and caried hym into the moste straunge and Butcherous Prison that euer was hearde spoken of For besides that he hath clogged his feete with greate and weightie Giues of Yâ—on hee ne geueth hym all the day to eate ought elles but a Morsell of most salt Bacon without drinking more then once in twoo daies of the moste odious and corrupte Water that is to be founde and when as hee purposeth to take his iourney anye where on Horsebacke he causeth hym to bee brought foorth to crouche to the grounde that he setting his foote vpon his backe may make hym serue for a Stirrope to mounte on Horsebacke then sendyng him backe to his Prison againe causeth hym to bee scourged and tormented moste cruelly I knowyng this my Lorde haue been often before hym to entreate hym to haue my Father raunsomed at what he woulde require But hee therein hath alwaies gainsaide mee manafyng mee with like crueltie if in fixe Monethes I coulde not prepare and present a knight whiche should bee able in iustyng to bryng hym from of his Horse Whiche thyng I endeuouryng to doe haue brought hym already full many parte whereof he hath slaine and parte whereof he hath put in a prison farre more miserable then that of my poore Father In so muche that now ignoraunte of what woodde to frame myne Arrowes I haue enterprised to make this rashe request whiche you haue harde So muche hopyng in that bountie and prowes whiche aboue all others maketh you esteemed through eache coast of the vniuersall worlde that it shall bée you onely who shall haue power by puttyng to death the cruell and disloyall Nabot to deliuer me from the mortall and languishyng dolour whiche for long space hath made in me residence geuyng to hym libertie whiche hath begotten me The kyng hauing well heard the purpose of the Damofell and supposing her to haue said true deliberated to succour her aswell for the necessitie whiche she seemed to haue of ayde and assistaunce as to proue hymselfe againste that Nabot of whom hee had often hearde speake and for whom he had searched in many Countries to doe the same without euer findyng hym at all And seeyng than when he least thought thereof the occasion too bee ministred so to fit his purpose to make proofe of the force and valiauncie of hys person by encountring with that mightie Nabot he would not lette it slippe so Yea chiefly for so iuste an occasion as that of the Damoselles In suche wise that it was not possible what pithy reasons socuer one alledged to distourne and staye hym from going alone into Thrace there to combate for so iuste a Quarell Whereof the Queene Bellizenne was much grieued and discomforted praiyng moste instauntlie the valiaunt and hardie Prince Hubert of Scotlande her brother to beare hym company whiche thing hee promised her to doe Yet the king in no wise would suffer nor permit it but deepely vowed and sware to trauell solelie with the Damsell to geue accomplishment to his promise whereof she was much inyous who instauntlie putting her selfe in waie spurryng her Palfrey in the flancke with all diligence possible And the kyng whiche was furnished of all Armour necessarie for the Combate and eke well Horsed pursued her as fast as his Horse would runne a grande gallop After whose departure al the Worthies whiche as then were resident in his Court retired home abandoning the same in suche sort that of the xij couragious Péeres of the said Britaine the Greate there remained but the kyng Ferrande of Norwaye onely whiche because of his faithfulnes and bountie was appointed Gouernour of the Realme in the absence of king Floridamant and the prudent prince Candior Duke of Normandie the whiche because of the sodaine absence of their kyng were greatly sorrowfull and astonished Notwithstanding takyng it paciently they made of necessitie a vertue for lettyng ceasse their late dolours they betooke themselues to coÌ„forte in best wise they could the desolate Princes Bellizenne whiche for sorrowe and yrksomnes tare her haires coÌ„mitted many suche foolishe actes of a fraÌ„ticke woman one without sense Which thyng the prudent Prince Ferrande of Norwaye seeyng counsailed her thereby the better to forget her griefe to goe sport her selfe at Myrandol as she did where chaunced to her that which you may perceaue in the Chapters followyng For we there muste now leaue her to make recount of that whiche hapened too the kinge after his departure with the Damosell Who was the Damosell whiche led awaie the Kyng Floridamant and who was the Necromancian Minofoll which had builded by his enchauntments the superbious and sumptuous edifice of the red Castell And also how the king lost the Damsell in a thicke wood replenished with wilde and sauage beastes where his Horse beyng dead vnder hym he hard the lamentable voyce of a certaine Damsell whiche complained most bitterly Towardes whom as he marched to succour her he recountered a Knight whom after a fierce and tedious Combate he slewe ¶ The seconde Chapter WHEN once the desire of vengeaunce hath taken roote in
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
it would soner turne to your dishonour then aduauncement and that it should rather be imputed to your rashnesse then courage The Youth hearyng the Emperour speake with so greate modestie and charinesse cōceiued a certain singular loue of his prudencie and suche a one as forced hym with a reuerēt feare not to offende his hestes neither to doe any thyng disagreable vnto his mynde knewe that he had erred in willyng to departe hauyng receiued farre aboue his desertes so muche honour of so greate a lorde as he was without doyng hym any deede of duetie of seruice Wherefore to couer his fault he said vnto him Seing it pleaseth your Maiestie to doe me so muche honour as to reteine mee in your court it shal be then my dutie to go about to do you the best seruice I canne Assuryng you that no worldlie felicitie could happen as now more greater nor more agreable to my mind then to haue the meane hereby to satisfie your hestes and desires And ouer that I shall thinke my self moste happie it I maie gratifie your contentment in dooyng you ought whiche male bée to you pleasaunt and agreable that I maie ridde my self out the bandes of foule Ingratitude wherein I were faste linked if I did not putte in practise to atchiue your commaundementees and accomplishe your desires Seyng you haue alreadie so bounde and made me yours that it is paste my power euer to shewe you so muche seruice but that still I shall bee farre in your debte and daunger Wherfore I am not of power since so it pleaseth you to passe the limites of your will. The Emperour well contente and satiffied with the gracious aunswere of the Youthe of the Faieries commaunded againe a Damozell whiche was there presente that she should conducte hym to sée the Empresse Chamber Whereto she promptly obeyed And takyng hym by the hande she ledde hym neere where she was accompanied with so many faire Ladies and Damozelles that at his entraunce within the Chamber he semed to se so many Angelles in Paradise as there were Ladies waityng aboute the Empresse who talkyng with certaine Princes there with her she made theim stande somewhat a side the better to see the Youthe of the Faieries who enteryng into the Chamber saluted her humblie to whom when she had vsed like curtesie seeyng hym so faire and courteous she could not sticke being muche astonished to see a young manne so comely to saie to them whiche were about her I beleue that if this Youth haue the bountie and prowesse of the minde equal and matchable to the makyng and proportion of his body he will be the best and worthiest knight vnder the Skies And whiles she saied these woordes the Youthe beyng approched more nere she beganne to aske hym of his birthe and why he was come into a coūtrie so farre to receiue the Order of knighthoode seeyng there was in Great Britaigne King Floridamant who was reputed the moste royall Kyng and valiaunt Knight of the whole Earth and suche other odde talke whereto he aunswered so aptly that she remained well satisfied But after that she had ended her speache her Damozelles which still attended when she would leaue him for them beganne here and there to enforce theim selues to please hym the beste thei could bothe in woordes and other thinges to eche of whom hee answered well and honestly accordyng to their demaunde assuring you that none gaue hym a quippe in any cause but that he requited her againe quicklie with the lyke coyne But hee whiche well knewe howe to shifte betweene two walles was scarce contented to be conuersant with them for that there he could not see one sparke of the beautie of her which girded his Sworde about hym wherwith hee was somewhat attached for that she whiche had caste her eyes on hym so attentiuely beganne alreadie to haue her senses troubled through the loue of hym wherevpon she was retired secretly into her chamber much pensiue at whose issuyng foorthe that chaunced vnto hym whiche you shall heare The Ladie Porphyria beyng come out of her Closet to enter into her mother the Empresse Chamber seeyng the Youth so faire and comely was so attainted with his Loue that she fell in a sound before the Empresse her mother and the rest of her companie who thereat beeyng muche astonished and abashed conueyed her as well as thei could into her Chamber againe where she hauyng recouered her late loste senses the Princesse Harderine her cousin whiche would haue knowen the cause of her desease went also out of the chamber for that the Lady made deniall to tell it vnto her listenyng at the doore heard her cōplain of the of the Youthe of the Faierie Wherefore goyng into the Hall and findyng the Damozell Marcelle she recounted to her the Ladies woordes who goyng thither to visite her had with her suche communication as I will recoumpte vnto you ¶ The. x. Chapter FAtall desteny daughter to God almightie hauyng once by the cōmaundement of her Father purchased some misfortune to any mortall wight what prudence pollicy or humaine deuise so euer a man applieth to euite and shunne this eternall decrée of thinges yet is it so still that shee rageth and hath swaye ouer all oure dooges I say this for that what meanes soeuer the Lady Porphyrie could inuent to eschue and flee the loue of the Youthe of the Faierie whiche as now began to weaken the strongest yea the soundest of her inner partes yet notwithstanding was it vnpassible Destenie so apointyng to exempte her self from any parte of those amourous cogitations whiche through their violence tooke still encrease within her clogged harte with this want of senses which you shall heare Wherin it is to be noted that whiles the wise gentle Youthe of the Faieries conuersaunt emongest the Damozelles of the Empresse did hold them in with many a merie ieste and honest deuise though therein hee tooke no great pleasure because he sawe not her whose Idea of perfection he had somewhat imprinted in his harte to witte the faire Ladie Porphyrie who as then was of the age of fowertene or fiftene yeres an age without doubte capable enough of the contagious scorchinges of cruell Loue beholde where she came halfe sadde and sorrowfull into the Halle of purpose to see hym Neuerthelesse feignyng that she came not for other occasion then to solace and sporte her self accordyngly as sometymes she had accustomed with the Maides of the Empresse her Mother Emongst whom in euill tyme apperceiuyng the fostered sonne of the noble Faierie Oziris and hauyng espied her commyng did his endeuour to salute her and she reciprocally also rendered the like seyng hym I saie so faire and beautifull that it was vnpossible to saie ought more she was so ententiue to entertaine hym in salutations with semblaunce of likyng as no lesse he did to her that the sweete denime of Loue whiche on this wise is supped beganne to inebriate the hartes of the one and of
O thou Serpentine Youth replete with poyson how lucklesse and vnfortunate for me the daie was wherin thou diddest here arriue and come in presence for since first I sawe thee I knowe not how nor whither myne affectioÌ„ is transported I know not where my teÌ„der hart is become I know not what rage what furie hath surprised and holdeÌ„ my sencés raison so captiuated that I caÌ„not alas I cannot see nor knowe how nor by what meanes I may deliuer my self from this mischaunce and miserie without greate losse and blemish of mine honour Ah cruellâ—â—â— felonious pitilesse Is it possible that as well it appeareth thou art come to this Coast for no other occasion then to cause me to pine in this dolour distresse by thy beauty and behauour whiche I well beléeue thou haste bought or borrowed by Charmes and Enchauntementes of some skilfull Fairie yea rather Sorceresse whiche hath sente thee expressely hither so to captiuate and depriue mée of my pristinate and auncient liberties â–ª But alas sot sencelesse foole that I am sufficeth it not mee enough to be vexed tormented but that therevppon I must also curse hym who neuer in his life either wrought or thought my displeasure and who perchaunce if I required hym thereto would not seme to denie mée his seruice For if he knewe that for his loue I languished as I doe I am ascertained by the affabilitie bountie courtesie wherewith as I surely coniecture he is complete and furnished that he would be muche vexed and agreeued at mine infortunate encombraunce not hauyng as I suppose giuen any attempt either in thought woorde or deede to procure or worke neuer so little woe or displeasure whereof I may iustlie accuse hym I can not therefore imagine from whence it is that this traunce now troublyng my Soule proceedeth if it be not from the fountaine of frettyng loue The which beyng naturall as ofteÌ„ I haue heard say now in some parte haue proued it is great iniurie that I should blame hym so yea rather I ought to reprehend mine owne nature or the cruell desteny guider of my yeres which yea and possiblie for my prefermente hath ordeined that hee shall one daie be the Lorde and true Maister of my hart and bodie likewise For the which cause I will enforce my selfe yet still cloakyng the coulour of myne ill chaunce the beste that I can to bring hym if he yet be not so muche to obaye me as I am at his commaundemente in that hee can not chuse but that I may loue hym hauyng his perfections imprinted in me with so sure a Seale that the processe of time is in no wise able to deface it Seyng that the loue whiche I entende to vse is a thing holy and constituted of God on hie And thereon let come what will let the Emperour my Father fret and fume hereat at his pleasure let all thinges herein tourne vpsidedoune if it may chaunce that in anie wise I maie vnderstande that hee is atteinted and caught with the same sicknesse that I am But seeyng that I my selfe can not bryng this to passe and because also that my Maladie whiche proceedeth from loue hath this particularitie in it selfe that it may receiue no redresse if it bee conceiled and kept secret I am in mynde to discouer and make it knowen to my Cosin Harderine and to the Ladie Marcella who not bewraiyng mee shall gene mee counsaile in this myne harde affaire When she had ended her speach to this purpose the Maiden Harderine whiche was at the scoute watch hearyng this resolution went awaie thence making the smallest noise she could so passed through the Gallerie into the Empresses chamber where hauyng found the lady Marcella who was a woman right wise and honest widow to the late Duke of Chalcyde to whom because of her modestie and demeaner was giuen the custodie of the young ladie Porpharia she recompted to her all the complaintes whiche of her Cousin she had lately heard Whereat she not greately marueiled as one whiche doubted by the countenaunces behauors of louers in doyng the duetie of courtesie of that whiche was veritable true in deede Wherefore â–ª she and Harderine hande in hande went into the young ladies chamber whoÌ„ thei found sadly walkyng vp doune who discriyng them died her face with a more ioyfull hewe and showe then her harte had of contentment and adressyng her speache to Harderine she saied My swéete cosin is it not true that wheÌ„ I told you I had slept I should be better Aha said the other whiche knewe the greatest secretes of her harte you haue not as yet the meane to bee so whole as to vs ye make semblance for the desease whereof I heard you not long since coÌ„plaine receiueth not so soone recure without apliyng of an other remedy theÌ„ you haue yet had What Cousine saied the yong Ladie of what Maladie haue you heard me make my moane whereof I am not yet ridde and deliuered of Of the feuer whiche proceedeth of the heate of Cupids burnyng infections saied she Porphirie seeyng that her Pot was discouered and her Secretes knowne caused them both to sit by her and saide Although it should bee so that you had in no wise knowne my misfortune yet in no wise could it so continue that you beyng the persons onely in whom I haue confidence more then in any others whatsoeuer I would haue hiddeÌ„ from you any of my sinister fortunes and distresses knowyng you euer to haue continued loyall faithfull towardes me and so that I haue no cause to complaine my self sith I haue neuer concealed and couered from your so laudable taciturnitie all that although of greate importauÌ„ce whiche I haue stil made you partakers of whiche maketh me hope that not to purchase my anoyaunce or displeasure but rather to succour me in this my so vrgente affaire you would not beginne at this tyme consideryng the consequence of the deede from whence the question cometh and what dauÌ„ger I haue vsed at the first to discouer it vnto you I praie you deere Cosin be not thereat displeased For though I was loath to make you priuie of it yet it is not good so to doe thinges rashely without premeditatyng what issue it may haue and consultyng therof which was the chief cause that assured of your loyaltie which neuer yet failed me I was of purpose to imparte my secretes to you bothe I knowe it well saied Harderine for if I had not heard your resolution whiche did manifest vnto vs the cause of your Maladie whereof wee neede not now to trouble you with talke seeing we are sufficiently enformed of the matter it self I would haue had regarde not to haue so manifested it to Maistres Marcella and to bryng her hither for feare of doyng a thyng displeasaunte vnto you But intendyng that wherof you were tailkng and the confideÌ„ce whiche you haue in her beyng to me not vnknowen I pray you take no
as I vnderstande wherat all the best knightes of Constantinople wil bee as Assistauntes and Don Gillant de Burtage of Create Britaine who is merueilous valiaunt will bee there also against whom we shall see howe he can beare hym selfe and what he will doe moreouer if he haue any affection towardes you For if it bee so I assure my selfe that if hee maie vanquishe any he will sende hym to bee your Prisoner or will vse some suche gentlenesse or courtesie in your behalfe for verelie it seemeth mee that if hee bee of so hie linage or if he bee so valiaunte as in appearaunce he seemeth certes he is worthy to bee beeloued of some greate and beautifull Princesse Wherefore Ladie I praie you ceasse your Teares that you giue not out any suspicion of your distresse be temperate till to morow and then I promise to giue you counsell vpon further deliberation more wholsome and agreeable then presently I can For now we must goe towardes the Empresse to deliuer her of the dolour wherein shee yet resteth supposing that by this time you are neere hande dead And keepe the best countenaunce you can therby to cloake your care so God will aide you soone you shall see in some sorte Then taking her by the left hand and Harderine by the right who saied vnto her good God Cosin I would not for any thing in the world be so amourous as you and for this cause will I keepe my selfe quiet from blaspheming of loue euer hereafter seeyng that his puissaunce punisheth so pitifully those whom he once taketh in hande And then they ariued in the Empresses Chamber who was exceedyng glad when she vnderstoode that her daughter seemed as nowe to haue no further malady where wee nowe will leaue them and tell what chaunced to the Youth of the Fairies Of the perplexitie of the Youthe of the Fairies after the sight of Porphyria her surpassing beauty and how the Emperour sente to seeke hym by his Squire Geliaste who came and founde hym beeyng all sad and pensiue and lettyng hym vnderstande howe the Emperour had asked for him he went into the Hall where the Table was couered for dinner where he being set with him in the coÌ„paignie of his Barons Knightes much marueiled to see them dyne in their Harnesse whereof he makyng enquirie the Emperour recompted to hym the aduenture of three matueilous Gyantes Ferclaste Androfort and Ergoferant whiche caused that shortly after hee departed secretly from the Courte to goe fight with theym and of the aduentures whiche he found by the waie ¶ The xi Chapter AND on the other side was the Youth of the Faieries who hauyng seen the incomparable beautie of Porphyria felte hym self when as he firste sette his eyes uppon her wounded and smitten by the same shaft seniblable prickes of loue True it is that his passion was not at the first shewe so violence that like her he should presently sounde in that he was more manly and strong to suffer assaultes or perchaunce to speake more plainly he was not burthened so muche as she then presently but longe it was not ere their passions were equall For seeing her to fall into a traunce emongest her Maides and Damozelles who bare her vp and brought her into her Chamber he all astonished passed by a Portall from out of the Hall into a Gallerie whiche bordred on a faire and pleasaunte Gardein at the ende whereof hee founde certaine steppes to descende doune and so walked long time solely descantyng vpon the newe cogitations of his loue And herein he imagined so well and called so curioussy to remembraunce that Angelicall shape which he had seen and which helde hym so rauished and wherein he had entred so far that becommyng ardently amourous he felt for certainty the finall losse of his late power and libertie But worte ye how Frsooth this impression imaginatiue tooke suche encrease in hym that he knew not where he was for his harte yet tender yonge and easie to receiue suche like violente impressions did nought but imagine how to finde meanes to let her vnderstande his griefe and to wynne her fauour Well daryng although hee knewe not of whence hee was to aspire so farre as too promyse hym selfe the Alliaunce of as greate a Lorde as the Emperour of Constantinople as well as if he had been assured of the house whereout he was descended so magnanimous an harte had hee and in suche forte was his haughtie mynde settled But moreouer considering the impossibilitie of the facte be chauÌ„ged soone his opinion and became astonied as once was the lame Smith of Iupiter at what time through Choller he was cast doune headlong from heauen For he tormented hym self through the vehemencie that he felte broiling in the fire which continually encreasing in flames made him to suffer more torment and affâ—tition when sagely he considered the inequalitie of his louyng Ladie and hym Finally all these thynges considered seyng his affaires fell out so ill and that the fire encreased in his breaste by the imagination of his Miffresses feature and beautie whiche in beholdyng had dimmed and darkened his eyes and senses also with their dulcet venime whereof feelyng the alteration and violence more vehemente seeyng he durst not to make semblante thereof to his Dame hee resolued to separate hym selfe from that pleasaunte infection to the ende that being absent from the Coales he might rake the reste of the Fire vnder the Cinders of his Cogitation And verelie this his counsaill was verie good and wholesome if the bodie beeyng absent hee could also haue estraunged his thoughtes forgotten the obiecte of his tormente On the other side he waied the promesse whiche he had made to the Emperour which was to remaine in his seruice whiche thing for any worldes good seyng hym selfe so bounde and vowed vnto hym he would not breake nor violate In this perplexitie rested he more then two long howers still walking vp and doune the Cardeine while the Princesse Porphyria who drewe with hym the yoke of equall tormentes was in counsaill with her Damozelles as you haue heard in the Chapiter precedent And I deeme he might haue remained so longer had it not been for his Squire who sought hym on all sides by the commaundement of the Emperour to come to Dine with hym who wente so farre from chamber to chamber and in suche order that in fine he founde hym dreamyng and musing in the Cardeine in suche wise that he called hym twise or thrise beyng verie nere vnto hym before he heard or apperceiued hym who approchyng more neere to hym called out on this sorte Hola Maister what meane you are you become deaffe or blinde For now it is a whole hower since I haue been here with you to tell you how you muste come to the Emperour to Diner in all whiche while ye haue not made semblante either to heare or see me And how In Gods name more then an hower Saied the Youthe of the
Faieries Yea forsoothe saied he But not of these greate howers whiche you thinke not but of these shorte howers whiche passe in so small season as you maie employe in callyng you thrise at the leaste Aha saied the Youth I beleue ye well For I haue my mynde so busied otherwise that it maie well be that not thinkyng on thee I haue ne seen nor heard thee What Sir And whereon maie you haue your thought so fixed Vnlesse it should bee that you were striken with the loue of the Emperours doughter who is estemed the moste perfecte in beautie that is knowen presentlie to bee in the worlde Verelie if you haue seen her I thinke you haue tasted enough whereon so to occupy your thoughtes O Geliaste saied he for Gods loue speake no more to me of that For I haue neuer seen her but to my greate damage Wherefore I praie thee that incontinentlie after dinner my Horse Harnesse be ready for I meane without making any prynie to my determination to absent my self hence so to banish defeate this opiniō I willingly wil Sir said the Squire but by mine honesty since you haue so farre gone I feare you halfe loste if you vse none other remedy but absence And what thing more expediēt may I vse replied the Youth I would wishe you saide he to finde meanes to speake to her and to lett her vnderstande youre Passions possiblie she will take some pitifull compassion vppon you or at leaste wise ye shall receiue by discouery of your euill some recure and helpe For so would I deale if I were in your case Hence Sotte that thou arte thinkest thou mee so ill trained by that I should seeme to giue the leaste suspition possible of my Sorrowes either to her or to any other person againste all reason Naye take thou also good heede from giuyng out anye aduerse speaches I warne thee consideryng the greate reproaches whiche I maie incurre by my foly in that such a simple Knight as I not wittyng my selfe from whence I am ne euer haue atchiued feate worthy of the fauour of the worst Damozell in the worlde dare aspire to seeke the acquaintaunce of one so greate a Princesse who if I shoulde doe as thou saiest shee worchely scorning mee would not I feare deigne to take mee for the worste of her seruauntes hauing many my hetters in worse place of seruice than that Wherefore neuer moue mee more of so manifest a folly And what my Lorde saide again Geliaste how is it that your heart is so base pusillanunous that ye beare not your self in worth alwaies aboue a woman Not aboue suche a one as she said he Verelie aunswered the other if euer one had seen mée breake a couple of Launces against a doūghill which is easie you know that I were horsed at aduauntage as you are also if I had your beautie personage I know not so gallaunt a Girle in all this Towne but shee would thinke her selfe happie to haue mee for her frende Therefore Maister my best aduise and counsell is that to morrow you shewe your selfe valiaunt and couragious in the Iustes whiche shal be for surelie by that meanes ye shall winne her heart Thou speakest now better then thou diddest erewhile said the Youth And I will not onelie proue my selfe to morrow at the Iustes but also if I liue will to make my selfe more renowmed goe search straunge aduentures in Greate Britaine and Combate with the best Knightes that there be yea not exceptyng King Floridamant who hath so greate renoume of valiauncie before I will assure my selfe to obtaine the good grace and fauour of my newe Maistresse whom I am determined to serue and honour in mine hearte as long as life shal be resident in my bodie and to her onely will I vow my loue Wherfore remēber that which I haue said to thée that after dinner my Harnesse be readie for I will not bee knowen to morrowe when I shal come to the Iustes Maister saide Geliaste trouble your selfe no more about that for eche thing shall be prest at your pleasure So secretlie deuising together they arriued in the Emperours Halle where the Tables were couered againste dinner And the Emperour being set doune caused the youth to be placed next vnto hym so to doe hym the more honour and all his Knightes Barons after hym in order who at dinner time were all armed with their Sweardes by their sides and Helmets on their heades did eate hauing their Beuers put vp the Gates of the Pallace being all shut and many Souldiers about the same to be their guardes Wherat the Youthe of the Fairies muche merueiling could not but enquire whether it were the custome of the Countrie so to dine Armed thereby to honour the Emperour the more who onelie was vnharnized or if there were anie déeper occasion which draue them so to doe Know Youth saide the Emperour that accordyng to your opinion this is not doen without cause For againste suche a daie as to morow which is the daie of my natiuitie I haue annually accustomed to make a moste sumptuous Feast whereunto I call all my moste priuate frendes and grande Princes of mine Empire as you sée here present appoint Iustes and Tournmentes and all other sortes of pastime But whiles we are in mirthe and feasting we alwaies feele our selues troubled in some sort by the inuasions of a monstruous and vnreasanable higge Giante called Ferclaste who kéepes an Houlde not paste fower of fiue Miles hence in a certeine Rocky caue commonly called Rocke Alpine who with his twoo Breethren who are neither better nor lesser then hee and another rauenous kenell of Dogges whiche hee keepeth neuer faileth as to morowe to come and doe some outrage to some of the Citie as to rauishe some maide or murther some Knight In so muche that the last yere hee came hither euen into this Hall and with his greate Club euen in my presence hee cutte of the Dukes head of Chalcyde who was a Knight righte wise and valiaunt And furthermore this night last past word was brought vnto mee that he had rauished a gentlemans daughter of my Court called Florenges who nowe is not here for the greate dolour hee hath of the losse of his daughter And doeth me so many other outrages against which I can finde no remedie nor order for that hee still keepeth hym selfe encloased in his Rockie Cabin that I can not well declare theym Manie worthy Knightes there haue beene as well of this Empire as els where that haue fought with him hande to hand but neuer was seen any to retourne for either he quicklie killeth thē or elles quietly keepeth theim in Prison and amongest the rest he hath one if happlie he be not dead who was the beste of all my retinewe and for whom as well therefore as that he is my Neuewe I am muche sorowfull and hee is called Pharisor And thus ye now knowe why my folkes not of their
there was one amongest theim in that Arte most excellent whiche accustomably did heale all those knightes whom the Giantes hauing wounded would not kill but famishe to death in Prison whiche person had one kinde of Oyntmente of suche vertue that there was neuer so greate a wound but therewith in three daies it would be well healed throughly cured as though it had neuer been And how is he called saide the Knighte he hath to name maister Rabalon aunswered they againe Then saide the Knight needes muste I haue hym for my seruaunt seeing he is so skilful is in case he will like thereof For against his will I meane not to constraine hym to doe any thing I thinke well said one of the companie that he would rather bee with you then with the Giantes for they tooke hym perforce from the Emperour beecause of his greate cunning and haue dealt with hym verie vncourteously And in so saiyng they arriued in the Rocke whiche was finely cut carued within like vnto a Pallace whereat the Youth was greatly astonied For there were Halles ChaÌ„bers Wardropes both hie lowe made by great skill and industrie whiche the Giantes had founded not longe afore when with their huyge force they had hollowed the Rocke which was meruellous hard to kéepe them in more safetie and therein none entred but by one onely Gate although within were more then sixtie as well of Chambers as prisons which all were shut vp with mighty keies The whiche the knight tooke as soone as he was entered hauyng found them vppon a Table tyed all together with an huyge Chaine of yron which the Porter had left there fearing that the knight asking for him and being informed of his wickednesse and crueltie towardes the Prisoners woulde rewarde hym according to his desertes like as his Maisters were and therefore hid he himself in a Vaste and darkesome caue vnder a Tunne where he was smothered and so hee ended his wicked life But hee soone founde the good Chirurgian Maister Rabalon who at the entrie of the doore crooched doune humbly on his knée to desire him of Pardon The Youth taking him by the hande made him stande vp saiyng I will not pardon thee for why thou neuer offendedst mee and therefore thou hast no neede to aske mercie but for this that I heare saie that thou hast appertained to the good Emperour of Constantinople towardes whom it is expedient that thou goe to impertrate that whiche thou requirest of mee for the offence that thou hast wrought in beeyng so long absent from his companie to serue suche mischiuous Tyrauntes as thou hast doen here and I will that from mee thou do present shew these dead Giauntes and knightes beyng layde vppon some Chariot to his Maiestie For I wotte well that knowing of their destruction he will be muche ioyous consideryng the manifolde annoyes whiche they haue still wrought hym in thy companie shall goe all the Prisoners whiche are within to thanke for their deliuerie the faire Princesse Porphyrie his Daughter after humble salutations to her done on my behalfe for she alone is the cause hereof And if she do enquire who hath done it tell thou her that it was the Youthe of the Fairies the leaste of her Seruitours if for one she will accepte hym though farre vnworthy of suche preferment Then gaue he him the keyes to go deliuer the prisoners but seeing hym to be somewhat wounded firste hee gaue him some of his Oyntmentes to his sore whiche had suche speedy operation because the wound was not greate that the next mornyng it was whole and sounde But whyles he was thus appliyng his Medicine hee sawe the Giantes whom he had pardoned and who stoode without enter fearefully tremblyng and quaking to hyde them selues here and there with greate diligence Whereat the Youth lacing his Helmet and taking his Shield and Swerde set forwarde out of the Gate to see what was happened and he apperceiued the Giaunte Ergoferant to come that waie for he had not quite killed hym as the others were but onelie amazed hym with a blow vppon his head who beyng come againe to hym selfe hauing cast awaie his Battell Axe and left of his Helmet Shield Iacke seeyng his brethren dead came and prostrated hymselfe at the Knightes feete whom he founde with Swerde and Target in hande readie crauing hym humbly of Pardon The Youth who was right mercifull seeyng hym contrary to those of his kind so meeke fréely pardoned hym conditionally notwithstandyng that he should goe with the rest of the Prisoners the morow followyng to aske Pardon of the Emperour for the harmes which he had done him and to thanke the Princesse Porphyria for his life so saued to presente to her his seruice doyng still what she should appoint hym wherto he gladly condiscended and thereupon hee commaunded hym to set free the Prisoners and to aske theim forgeuenes for the damage whiche hee had long done vnto theim whiche thing he did Immediatly he tooke the keyes whiche Maister Rabalon had in his hande and went to deliuer the Prisoners who seing him thought what he had come for some other purpose But much were they amerueiled when they saw hym kneele doune before them askyng theim forgiuenes praiyng that for the loue of hym which was cause of their deliueraunce and who had pardoned hym it would please them also to vse the like courtesie towardes hym whereto they willingly agreed for that this same Giant as it were quite contrarie in nature and disposition to his brethren had afore tyme bene cause that they were well vsed and entreated for he was full courteous and pitifull wherefore he ledde them towardes the Youthe whom they humbly thanked for suche a good tourne offering hym their seruice perpetually from that daie forwarde especially the Knight Pharisor who greatly requested hym that he would vouchesafe to take him into his company proteâ—ting that he would bee to hym a true and loyall frende and that nought but death should haue force to ende their amitie All whiche the Youth was well pleased of And for that night with the Giant Ergoferant who shewed him selfe full humble and diligent to doe hym honour and seruice and the Prisoners likewise he rested in the Rocke till the next morowe The Giant Ergoferant beyng departed from Rocke Alpine to accomplishe his promise towardes the Emperour of Constantinople mette by the waie the villaine whom the Youthe of the Faieries had caste into the Ditche whom he left there because he heard certaine Outlawes in the Forrest who would misuse the Damozell whom the Knight of the Fairies had deliuered out of the Sacke and cruelly did beate the Squire Geliaste both whoÌ„ he deliuered after he had slaine the Thieues And finally how after his arriual in Constantinople hee spake to the Emperour who courteously pardoned him of the faultes he had done to hym and made him promise to marry the Maiden Dinamia Sister to Pharisor and of the
and pleasant to beholde and then was no more heard either voyce or Clarion Wherefore the Youth was excéedyng sory for in her voyce and sound of the Instrumente he tooke so greate pleasure that seeyng hym selfe depriued thereof a sadnesse equall in contrarietie to all his former ioye bechaunced hym But as wretched and vnfortunate persons haue naturally a custome to comforte them selues in others harmes semblable to theirs so this Damozel séeming to him to be tutched with the same disease that hee was he was therby somewhat reuiued and determined takyng compassion of the Damozell to goe to the Castle and if it were possible to recomfort her But consideryng well that suche as are of perfect eyesight muste leade the blinde and the frée from affliction likewise comfort the desolate hee channged his opinion In fine considering that he tâ—at is blind in his doynges leaueth not yet of to comfort othâ—rs in their affaires though nere so like As those sicke Phisitions who can giue to their Pacientes better councell theÌ„ they can take for them selues In like sorte doe Aduocates in other mens causes although moste ignoraunt in their owne proper affaires hee wholy resolued with hym selfe seeyng also that as well he as his Horse had neede of harbourough to go to the Castle to see if they would lodge hym for that night And being approached nere therto he knocked mightely at the Gate whereat there came a Page well appointed Who was in a little Gallery ouer the Portall and puttyng his head out at a Windowe and seeyng the Knight in suche araye hee had so greate feare of hym that hee ranne out of the Gallerie through another which stretched along the walles of the Castle euen to the Chamber where the Lady made her residence Whether he beyng come in post haste hid hym selfe tremblingly vnder a Bed. Whereof the Dame beyng aduertised demaunded of him what he meant Wherto he with greate solemnes aunswered Alas Madame we are all dead for there is a great and monstrous Deuill at the Gate who would gladly enter and come in whiche if he doe wee are all but dead Goe fonde coward said the Ladye doe Deuilles now abandon Hell to come hither And makyng him to depart froÌ„ wheÌ„ce hee was hid she sent him to call another Squire out of the next chamber whom she commaunded to go sée who it was that knocked at the Gate whereto he obeied But hauyng once seen the Knight no lesse affrighted theÌ„ the Page he came and could to the Ladie the like Tale whereupon shee called a Knight who somewhat more bould then the other spake to the Youth who because he had seen the other asaied of his Skinnes put them of and with his Helmet vnlaced stoode vncouered whiche more encouraged the knight to speake and to aske what hee lacked I would said he enter in if so it please the Lady to lodge mee for this tyme Tary there a little saied the Knight to ease your selfe take the â—ire while I goe to see what she will therein doe and being departed from hym at laste he came to open hym the doore which through with his Horse he entered into a large and spatious Court where he alighted And the Knight hauing deliuered his Horse to the Horsekeeper to cary to the Stable much marueilyng at the growth and goodlinesse of the same and no lesse at his Maister ledde hym into the Ladies Chamber who receiued hym moste honourably And findyng Supper ready with good appetite he tooke his refection order duryng whiche she demaunded whence he was and also what his name was Whereto he aunswered that he was borne in the Realme of Greate Britaine And to set the Lady déeper in matters of loue he said he could cal hymselfe by none other name but Beauties Slaue At whiche worde the Ladie fetched a greeuous sigh which the Youth well notyng and seeyng the waie nowe open to attaine to his intended purpose whiche was to knowe the cause why she chauÌ„ted so dolorous a Song as she did in his hearyng hee asked why she sighed soe Ha courtuous Knight saied she it is not without cause as well you mee deeme for by your name you haue reopened all my Woundes bringing mee in memorie and minde of hym whiche by imitatyng you I may to my selfe vsurpe For seyng you saie that you are Beauties Slaue it can not be but that in seeyng some infectiue semblance you haue dronke of the same Licour that I most vnhappely haue supped vp whiche maketh mée to be in equality of il ease with you who as I iudge by your gesture and countenaunce if I be not to much thereby deceiued are neither lesse nor as well it may not be greater then mine I may name my selfe from hence forward rightly the same beyng correspondent to my miserable condition as well as yours the Slaue of Loue for so hath he tied fettered me vnder the Yoake of his seruitude as none liuing being able to surpasse me I will not hope of my selfe beyng in dispeire from which I beleue you are exempte euer to franchise my selfe from his seruitude thereto seing neither waie nor Pathe whiche may conduct and leade mee out of this Labyrinth of laÌ„ guishyng thoughtes of Loue in deepth where of I am plunged and drowned I doubt not Lady saied the Youth but that it is possible that you haue some greate feeling in your selfe of the ardent fire whiche Cupide coÌ„monly kindleth but to say that it approacheth which GOD forbid to the vehemencie of that whiche I feele to consume mee I can not bee thereof perswaded seeing that as you faigne youres it is my Mallady that is incurable and not that whiche afflicteth you as far as I can perceiue For womens amourous coÌ„ceites are resembled to the biting of the venomous Scorpion whiche hath remedy againe of the woundmaker Wherfore I conclude of your disease being vnequall in painefulnes to mine that this name which you seeke to vsurpe is not so fittyng or cönuenient to you as mine is to mee being perchaunce contrary to that which you haue declared of hauing any power to reape redresse of hym who hath fowen you those seedes of sorrowe but I am not so Worthy Knight my deere frende replied the Lady I confesse in veritie that those laste whoroes ye spake touching your alledgment that an amorous in flitence may be queÌ„ched by hym that kindled it is a trueth But also I say that whiche is fatally in men beeyng of the same nature as you saied at the beginning that is that my malady is vnmatchable to youres I ought not to name my selfe by a name as I haue doone to imitate youres not groundyng ought on trueth For why may I sooner attaine that remedie whereof ye spake then you sithens it is muche more vnpossible For that saied the You the that Ladies beeyng surprised with the loue of some Knight by their onely counte naunces and beckes whiche they well knowe howe to contriue when they would
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