his Father had done in his youthfull time Thus continued he sixe or seauen moneths in this desire not daring to aquaint the King his Father therewith least he should refuse his request in respect of his yong yeeres but the destenies who foresawe the maruellous déedes of Armes he should accomplish and the straunge enchaâ—â—â—ments that should be finished by him would not suffer 〈◊〉 remaine long slothfull in his Fathers Court among 〈◊〉 Ladies and beautifull creatures but bringing his 〈◊〉 to perfection found the meane that he should be Knigâ—â—â—d by the King his Father as héereafter you shall readâ— more at large CHAP. V. ¶ How the Duke Temoreo of Millaine sent his Sonne Manteleo into England to be made Knight with the Prince Palladine and how Manteleo became enamoured of the Princesse Marcelina DUring this time the Duke of Millaine had a Sonne named Maâ—â—eleo a yong Prince and of vertuous nature brauely disposed to Knightly resolutions and being aged about eightéene yéeres He hauing oftentimes heard the famous report euery where bruted of the Prince Palladine of England and what a strange aduenture happened at his birth which could not as yet be ended by any was very desirous to go see him that he might be aquainted with the Prince so renowmed And one day finding the Duke his Father walking in his Garden he came and knéeled before him desiring licence for three or foure moneths to trauaile into England that he might be aquainted with the Prince Palladine of so especiall report as also the wise and debonaire King Milanor his Father with whome quoth he all Kings and Princes louers of vertue haue euermore desired fréendly allyance Witnesse héerof is the King of Portugall the Kings of Scots and Norgalles and diuers other Princes straungers by his hand my Lord so it stand with your liking would I receiue my order of Knighthood which he I hope will not denie me in respect of his owne gratious humanitie and the consideration he will haue of your person when he shall vnderstand that I am your Sonne The Duke hearing his Sonne in these tearmes was well pleased to behold him of so good a mind and contented likewise to graunt what he demaunded saying In sooth my Sonne seeing Fraunce and England are now in peace together the lesse do I doubt of thy going thither and boldly mayst thou assure him that he hath a perpetuall fréend of me determine then to depart when thou wilt foorthwith shall I giue order for thy prouision in trauaile but returne not till thou hast tried the aduenture so renowmed which hapned before the Kings Pallace on the day of his Sonnes birth and if thy good fortune may bring it to an end well mayst thou intreate the King for thy Order in that thou shalt well deserue thy Knighthood seeing so many haue fayled in triall thereof Manteleo hauing humbly thanked the Duke his Father for graunting him the thing he onely desired said I promise you my Lord that I will not returne thence without proofe of my fortune albeit I were sure to be repulsed more sharply then any hath béene heeretofore yet since the aduenture is so ordeyned let me dye ere I be dishonored with feare or dismaying Héereupon the Duke called the maister of his Horsse to whome he gaue charge to prouide his Sonnes estate toward England and that all things might be readie for his departure within thrée daies following which was accordingly perfourmed and so the Prince Manteleo with his trayne set forward from Millaine in the wéeke next after Pentecost making such expedition in trauaile as hauing passed the fairest Cities in Fraunce which he was desirous to see he came to Bullin where he tooke shipping and with a merry gale of winde in lesse then eighteene houres he landed in England The King Milanor aduertised of his arriuall was greatly contented therewith commaunding in all the Townes where-through he should passe that he should be receyued and intreated honorably And when he drew néere London the Gouernours were charged to méete him on the way the Prince Palladine likewise to welcome him at the Citie gates and the King with his Quéene and Ladies remained at the Pallace to entertaine him Euerie thing thus perfourmed in greatest maiestie the Prince of Millaine was receiued with generall ioy of the Citizens and the Prince Palladine accompanied with many great Lords of England to whome Manteleo behaued himselfe with honorable modestie as well he could his Courtship in those affayres and riding along with the English Prince he entred into these speeches The fame of so many lawdable vertues accompanyed with heroicall prowesse and magnanimitie which amply are discerned in your dayly cogitations hath earnestly prouoked me good Prince to be aquainted with you for which onely occasion I left my natiue Countrey to see this Realme euery where named happie by the honorable regiment of the King your Father whose vertues you imitate so effectually as you remaine a wonder to them that neuer saw you And long may good successe attend your dayly actions heauen making me so fortunate to winne acceptance in your eyes in that I haue deuoted my selfe to estéeme of you aboue all other Sir Manteleo answered the Prince Palladine as I knowe my selfe farre vnworthie these titles of prayse so am I perswaded that your speeches proceed of good affection towards me flying reports are oftentimes found vntrue yet do not I mislike your opinion of me which hath sorted out the meane to sée and knowe you in this Countrey as our honorable and well wishing fréend Of the King my Father haue I heard of your parents and good acquaintance hath he had with the Duke your Father when as a Knight errant he sought after aduentures assure your selfe therefore right welcome hither and gladly shall I accept of you as my freend and companion Thus beguiled they the time til they came to the Pallace where the Prince of Millaine stayed to behold the Statues reading the deuises he had so long desired to see whereat not able to maruaile sufficiently they went on into the great Hall where the King embraced him verie louingly the Princes and Lords likewise present entertained him with excéeding kindnesse and humanitie in that they had heard the King many times report the worthie chiualrie of the Duke of Millaine his Father After the King had welcomed this stranger with manyfold courtesies and had vnderstood the cause of his comming to his Court he sent him with the Prince Palladine to salute the Quéene and her Daughters But loue whose puissance as yet he had neuer felt finding time and opportunitie so conuenient when Manteleo had done his reuerence to the Queene comming to the Princesses that attended on her hauing kissed the first named Marcelina he found his sences so strangely inueigled as he stoode silent before her a prettie while being not able to deliuer one word so was he rauished with contemplation of her beautie Which the Princesse well noting and imagining this
armed Knight then one of the Damosels comming before the King vpon her knee deliuered these spéeches Mightie and renowmed King excelling in vertue all Princes liuing vnderstand that this Knight my Brother is enchaunted by a wicked Sorcerer for not graunting to accomplish his carnall desire so that since the time of his refusall he hath not conuersed with any woman in the world not with his owne Wife héere present but hateth all Women to the death to the no little greefe of me and my faire Sister séeing her selfe so despised of her husband without giuing any occasion of offence Any many Countreys haue we trauailed to finde the man or woman that can end this enchauntment yet hetherto haue we lost all our labour But true it is that as we passed through the lesser Aegipt we happened to meete with an auncient Lady who gaue vs these two Swords which as she said cannot be drawne by any but by two Knightes the most valiant and loyall of their tune These worthie men shall vncharme this Knight and to them belong these Swords being the best that euer were framed and their names that shall draw these Swords out of their scabbards are engrauen on the weapons yet not to be seene till they be drawne Wherefore right mightie King we humbly intreate that this sad aduenture may be tried by your Knightes for very often haue we heard that this Court is stored with men of greatest vertue If the King and all present were amazed at the comming of the Damosels and the Knight much more were they by hearing the reason of the enchantment In sooth said that Quéene I cannot but pittie the poore Gentleman that for the carefull regard of his loyaltie he should receiue so great discourtesie Doubtlesse quoth the King he was a cruell villaine that enchaunted him on this occasion and were he heere either would I cause him to end the enchauntment himselfe or recompence him with his iust desarts As for you Lady that are Sister to this Knight right gladly do I graunt what you haue requested and neuer could you haue come in better time for the greatest part of the Knightes in our Realme are heere at our Court besides diuers other am I presently to endue with the Order which being done they shall all trie their fortune in this aduenture Heerevpon the newe Knightes were immediatly dubbed and each after other laboured to pull foorth the enchaunted Swords which they could not stirre the length of halfe a foote except Orliman of Flaunders and Durandell of Cieue who drew them wel-neere to the middest The new Knightes Palladine and Manteleo séeing no one could altogether vnsheath them tooke the Swords to trie what they were able to do and they drew them foorth so easily as they had beene their owne weapons each one reioysing the aduenture was ended especially Marcelina who by this first proofe perceiued what Knightly bountie and loyaltie remained in her freend The Damosels being glad of this good hap the Knightes Sister thus spake to the King Yet is not this all Sir so it may stand with your likingâ— my brother must dub these Knightes with these Swords and they are to graunt him one request which he shall afterward demaund of them For that I am content sayd the King but let vs see whose names are engrauen on the Swords Palladine shewed his to the King and thereon was engrauen in great Romane Lettâ—â— these words Palladine of Aquilea whereat he was â—â—th ioyfull and amazed that the Surname of Aquilea was giuen to Palladine For Aquilia was a Realme vnder the gouernment of the Pagans and Palladine was a Christian nor could he tell what to imagine héereof but desired Manteleo to shew his Sword whereon was engrauen in the like Characters Manteleo the Millaynois which made him equall with his companion in gladnesse but most of all faire Marcelina in whose brest loues fire more and more enkindled The strange Knight feeling himselfe released from enchauntment tooke the Swords and therewith gaue the Order to the two Princes afterward thus speaking to them Will yee my Lords graunt me now one boone That shall we Sir quoth they the King hath alreadie promised we must not then denie it My request is sayd the Knight that you would depart hence with me within these three dayes and accompanie me to the place whither I shall conduct yee Heereof will we not faile aunswered Palladine so please yee to set forward to morrow Not so quoth the King you must forethâ—ke in what equipage you are to depart hence as also what companie you must haue with yee beside I will that the Knight and the Ladyes rest themselues awhile in our Court. If Palladine was ioyfull to follow aduentures you must thinke Manteleo was as sorie seeing he must so soone forsake his Marcelina who hauing likewise heard what was concluded shewed by the change of her vermilion collour to pale and wan how greatly this seperation displeased her deuising by what meanes she might hinder this voyage Manteleo beholding the teares in his Ladies eyes imagined the cause and thereby her earnest affection towards him which touched him inwardly with such assaults as feeling a sudden weakenesse to surprize him he was forced to leane on his Squires shoulder whereat the King maruailing said How now Sir Manteleo are you not well In sooth my Lord quoth he neuer was I in so straunge an alteration before I perceiue said the King the cause heereof these Ladies aduenture hath kept you too long fasting high time is it that you had some refection The Prince was contented to allow this fit excuse least otherwise his secret loue should be disclosed Let vs to meate then sayd the King for long fasting is hurtfull and mine owne stomacke telles me that it is dinner time CHAP. VII ¶ Of the feast was made after the two Princes Palladine and Manteleo were Knighted and how they 〈◊〉 the aduenture of the Statues which they could fiâ—â— SO departed the King from the Chappell and in the great Hall the Tables were couered for dinner where wanted no store of choyse and daintie delicates exceeding the rather at this time for the honor of the new made Knightes The Prince Manteleo sate in his wonted place before Marcelina but vnhappy was it for her that her Sister Floraea sate so néere her who still remained suspitious of their silence by which occasion these tormented louers durst not speake to each other but all dinner time with humble and affectionate regards they deliuered the secret messages of their hearts When the Tables were withdrawne some falling to dauncing and others to deuise with their Ladyes by good hap one of the new Knightes being one of the chéefest Lords in the Court intreated the Princesse Floraea to daunce meane while the Millanois had leysure to courte his mistresse Well my good Lord quoth she is there no remedie but we must loose your companie within these thrée dayes beléeue me little did I thinke
punishment The two Damosels glad of this happie victorie humbled themselues before the Prince Lydiâ—eo thanking him for this gratious assistance the like did Palladine and Manteleo confessing their liues preserued onely by hys meanes Afterward he requested to knowe the cause of their fight which the Knightes Sister effectually discoursed wherevpon they went to â—â—â—he the Lady that was imprisoned whome they could not tell where to finde tell a poore old Gardiner came vnto them saying that the key of the dungion where the remained his maister alway kept at a string fastened about his necke not trusting anâ—one to see her but himselfe Lydiseo coomming to the Gentleman found that he had some life left in him wherefore taking the key from about his necke and causing his men to bring him into the Castell that further iustice might be showen on him for his offence by the old Gardiner they were brought to the Ladyes dungion where they found her so spent with greefe and her farre face so martired with great effuse of teares as would haue moued a stony hart to pittie her How ioyfull the Knight was to see his Lady how glad she likewise was to behold her husband I leaue to the opinion of long absent true louers yet this was her cheefest comfort that her husband enioyed her againe free from any spot of dishonor and though she had endured long miserie yet could not the villayne abuse her chastitie Lydiseo sent the trayterous Gentleman to the King his Father and with him other of the chéefest offendors with Letters describing their notorious villainie wherevpon they were drawne in péeces by wilde horsses as such a notorious offence full well deserued CHAP. XIII ¶ How the wise Orbiconte appeared to Paâ—ladine in his sleepe and what talke she had with him LYdiseo the Prince of Hungaria hauing heard by the enchaunted Knight and the Ladyes the noble vertues of Palladine and Manteleo remained still in the Castell with them vsing them with verie kinde and princely courtesie being sorie for certaine dangerous woundes they had receiued in fight which he caused to be tended with carefull dilligence The enchaunted Knight likewise told his Lady the successe of his iourney into England how he receiued the Swords of the wise Sorceresse and how the two Princes by drawing them ended his enchauntment they hauing at his request trauailed so farre onely for her deliuerance from the cruell Gentleman Now thankefull she shewed her selfe for their honorable paines her great care in curing their woundes and readie seruice to supply all wants declared the vertues of so good a minde Needlesse were it to tell ye how Lydiseo procured from the King his Father many presents of good will to the Princes and dayly accompanied them with his owne person as the men in whome he most of all delighted I shall therefore reueale what happened to Palladine while he attended the cure of his woundes in this Castell As one night the Prince lay soundly sléeping in his bed the Lady that before had appeared to him presented her selfe now to him againe speaking to him in this manner Know Sir Palladine that I am a Pagan named the wise Orbiconte who through the assertion thy vertues cause me beare thée am come to aduertise thée that I framed those two Swords which the Knight enchaunted brought to thée and Manteleo that you twaine might helpe him to recouer his lost Lady And because I haue fore-seen by my magique and hidden knowledge that by thee I shall one day attaine to high estate of honor I will not conceale from thee that the destenies haue reserued onely to thée the atchiuement of many great and braue enterprises as also the finishing of rare aduentures and enchauntments wherein thou shalt endure much paine and trauaile Beside I am to let thée vnderstand that fortune hath sorted thée out a Lady who at this day is estéemed peerelesse in beautie whome to finde thou shalt trauaile many strange regions with labour that will be long and troublesome yet shalt thou still be protected by me and comforted by the great fame thou shalt heare of her beautie surpassing all the Princesses in the world Begin the search of her so soone as thou canst possible and thinke not my spéeches friuolous for thou shalt finde them vndoubtedly true So vanished away the wise Orbiconte leauing the Prince in meruailous doubts what this Pagan woman might be that seemed to beare him so great affection In the end such deliberate aduise he tooke of her words perswading himselfe of their truth and certaintie as he concluded to seeke the Lady the onely Phenir among the fairest in beautie Of her immediately he became amorous determining to depart from the Prince Manteleo because he would haue no competitour in his loue But before we passe any further and to bewray the cause of this aduertisement by the wise Orbiconte you must note that she was Sister to the King of Aquilea hauing béen espoused to a Duke one of the greatest Lords in that Realme by whome she had three faire Daughters All her life time she spent in the superstitious sciences of Nigromancie and Geâ—mancie and casting the reuolution of her daughters natiuitie she found by her arte that 〈◊〉 the Prince Palladine might be brought into that Countrey each of her daughters should haue a Sonne by him that should in chiualrie surpasse all the Knights of their time the one of them being destenied to be an Emperour and the other two to be Kings of wonderfull possessions Now to compasse the meane whereby Palladine might be brought to this farre distant Countrey you must likewise note that the King of Aquilea brother to Orbiconte had the fairest daughter that euer was seene by which occasion this enchauntresse appeared to the Prince inciting him to follow the search of the fairest Lady in the world promising him to enioy this rare virgin named Nonpareha And when he should be thus brought into that Countrey she deuised to exercise her arte in such sort as he should haue the honor of her daughters to the ende she might expect the fortune of the children who were appointed to so high dignities Resolued on this intent she betooke her selfe to dwell among the mountaines where she framed the two enchaunted Swords as the first motion to draw Palladine toward Aquilea where at the time appoynted he shall arriue But now he is with the Prince Lydiseo at the Castell where he and Manteleo hauing their woundes healed the enchaunted Knight with his Lady and Sister returned to their owne home the vision of wise Orbiconte calleth Palladine thence and faine would Manteleo returne toward England because he liued by the onely remembrance of his mistresse Marcelina so comming to Lydiseo Palladine thus began Worthie Prince your care for our health hath excéeded our deserts yet we remayne with humble dutie to make requitall hauing accomplished our promise to the enchaunted Knight who with his Lady and fréends are safely where they would be
downe to a Riuer side where he met an aged Hernut with an earthen Pitcher in his hand full of water and hauing saluted the old Father demaunded of him if any Towne or Uillage were neere at hand or any religious Church or Chappell where a Knight might be buried whome he had found slaine in that Forrest In sooth my Lord answered the Hermit he is not the first that hath béene murthered in this place for I haue enterred fiftéene or sixteene in my little Chappell which is kept with holie and religious deuotion where if you please the Knight you speake of may be buried and I will helpe to carie him thither for no other place is neere at hand by two good leagues and more Good Father then said the Knight of Fame your gentle offer shall be accepted the bodie is not farre hence and little labour shall you take for his Squire and mine shall lay him on a horsse and so conuay him to your Chappell without trouble So went he with the Hermit to the dead bodie and awaking the Squires conuaied it to the Hermits Chappell in manner aforesaid where the funerall ceremonies finished the Knight of Fame rewarded the old Hermit and afterward mounted on horseback all thrée riding straight to Tolledo and passing the â—â—ood Doriâ— entred the Realme of Portugall where they vnderstood that Galitreo was as then at the Court. Don Robert sendeth his Squire to the King to request safe conduct for arriuall at the Pallace which béeing obtained in presence of his Maiestie he thus began Hither am I come worthie Prince to let you knowe that in your Court abideth the most traiterous and disloyall Knight as euer was heard of and who not four daies since hath doone such a deede in Spayne as no one bearing Armes would haue committed the like By treason and villainie hath he murdred one of the most valiant Knights in Europe as I vnderstand for neuer did I knowe the man 〈◊〉 see him till he was dead he being named Don Frionell of Scicilie who left your Court by commaundement of Madame Minoretta vpon an occasion best knowne to her selfe Full well did I knowe the man answered the King but name him to me who slew Frionell in such sort as thou sayest to the end I may cause him come and defend his cause and if he did it in manner as thou hast declared or else can bring any proofe thereof neuer shall he enter the combate with thée but iustice shall be inflicted on him as so foule an offence deserueth As for me my Lord answered the Knight of Fame I can make no other proofe thereof then by this Squire that serued Don Frionell in whose armes I sawe the Knight breathe his last and dying confessed that the Castillâ—â—n Prince slewe him by treason wherefore my Lord send for him and if he denie it heere am I readie to auouch it and by my Sword will make him confesse it The King hearing him name the Prince of Castile was greatly astonied héereat for he knew not that he was absent from his Court so lately and the Queene with her Ladies being present were no lesse abashed but aboue all the Princesse Minoretta who hearing the death of her valiant Knight whome she in loue had made cheefest account of immediatly such sorrow strooke to her heart as her speech failing her and a cold chilling blood passing the conduâ—ts of her vaines she leaned on the lap of her Gouernesse where falling in a dead traunce all the Ladies had much adoo to get life in her againe But she being recouered and each one placed as they were before Galitreo was sent for to whome the King thus spake Beléeue me Galitreo I alwayes conceiued well of you till now perswading my selfe of your truth and discretion that nothing in the world could mooue ye so much as to thinke a bad thought much lesse to commit any acte of treason But what I say this Knight auoucheth that in Spayne you haue doone a deede of high dishonor where you being armed and well accompanied outragiously set vpon the noble Lord Don Frionell he being naked and without defence then and there you cruelly murdred him yea for a cause of no weight as I vnderstand what answere make ye to this accusation If Galitreo were then doubtfully surprized I referre to the iudgement of like bad minded men but hauing beheld the stearne countenance of the Knight of Fame with counterfeit reuerence thus replyed My Lord not onely now but at all times calumnia-tours and false accusers are easily found the greater part of the auncient Romaine Histories are stored with examples thereof but in the end such bastard broode of detractours haue felt the desert of their lauish toongs and innocencie hath vaunted with triumph This speake I in respect of this paillard who vnder your Maiesties correction hath falsly lied and as a leaser is to be esteemed For the woorthie Lord Don Frionell was one of the déerest freends I had in the world beside I dare gadge my life that this false wretch knowes me not or euer saw me before this instant I beléeue well quoth the Squire to Don Frionell that this Knight had no knowledge of you till now but I am assured that he hath spoken truth and so my maister himselfe confessed at his latest gaspe that because Madame Minoretta fauoured him and despised you therefore you wrought his death in that cruell manner The Knight of Fame perceiuing that Galitreo had no great mind to the combate interrupted the Squire and thus spake to the King I sée well my Lord that Don Galitreo despairing of his cause desires to trifle the time with many circumstances in that he thinketh me vnable to auerre mine accusation because I want further testimonie how he and his complices masked and disguised did the shamefull déed of death and murther may it therefore like your Maiestie to graunt vs the combate and in fight will I make manifest his treason Presumptuous as thou art quoth Galitreo doost thou thinke I feare to méete thée in plaine combate no so please my Lord the King I accept thy challenge and hauing giuen thee the due belonging to a false varlet will follow the quest of my déere freend Don Frionell Him maist thou dead quoth the Knight of Fame soone enough to thy shame not farre from the place where thou didst murther him in a little Hermitage in the same Forrest where I caused him to be interred as his Squire and mine owne are able to testifie Héereupon the King called two auncient Knightes who hauing heard the difference betwéene the Knight of Fame and Galitreo he demaunded their aduise in this doubtfull matter They thought it expedient that the combate should be graunted them to end the controuersie of further proofe because Frionell might be slaine by the accuser and his Squire as by Galitreo that stood accused Wherefore the King graunted them the combate at the Launce and Sword as is common among all
nor would I for all the world breake my word as for our returne perswade yourselfe it will be sooner then you imagine I assure yée thereof Madame sayd the Knight that was enchaunted for I will not leade them farre from this Realme nor into any place of danger Manteleo had his heart so scaled vp with gréefe beholding his mistresse to shed so many teares as he was not able to speake one word whereby Palladine presently gathered suspition that secret loue betwéene them had caused this chaunge wherefore bidding his Sisters adiew he departed the chamber with the Knight and the Damosels leauing Manteleo to say what further hée would but greefe brake him off with these spéeches You knowe Madame what I haue promised with which words the teares trickling downe his cheekes he kissed her and the Princesse Floraea likewise and so went to séeke Palladine whome he found readie mounted with their Squires at the Court gate So departed these two companions in armes with their trayne with resolution before their returne to make the world aquainted with their bountie and prowesse chéefely Manteleo for the loue of his Marcelina who presently after her Lords departure withdrew her selfe alone into her Cabinet and continuing her teares breathed foorth these sad laments Ah loue who euer thought thy strength to be of such puissance so violent hath thine entrance beene into my hart as impossible is it for me to liue long vnlesse my loyall fréend giue me remedie for none but he can giue me remedie Alas why is it not permitted vs to trauaile straunge Countreys as well as men had fortune so fauoured our sexe thou shouldst not swéete fréend be long without me but miserable is our condition to be thus subiected Many other amorous complaints made the sorrowfull Marcelina whom we will now leaue and returne to the Princes being scant a mile on their way when Palladine intreated the Knight that was enchaunted to tell him whether they should trauaile of whence he was how and wherefore he had béene enchaunted My Lord answered the Knight right gladly would I satisfie your demaund but hardly can I recount my infortunes without extreame greefe so greatly doth the verie remembrance thereof displease me therefore I pray yee be contented that my Sister be the reporter heereof for well can she reueale euery accident Trust me sayd Palladine and well it liketh me to heare her speake so riding along and the Damosell betweene them she began her discourse in this manner Séeing it pleaseth you to vnderstand the fortunes of this Knight willingly will I discouer them vnto you beeing farre otherwise then I rehearsed in the presence of the King on the day when you receyued your Knighthood but the cause why I so disguised the truth was through feare least his Maiestie would haue hindered your going with vs. Understand then that this Knight my Brother this Lady my Cousin and my selfe were all three borne in the Realme of Hungaria at what time it was vnder the gouernment of the great Turke My Brother was there married to one of the most beautifull Ladies in the Countrey and dwelt in a small Uillage on the frontiers of the Realme where a Gentleman much about your yéeres fell in aquaintance with him the continuance whereof bred such amitie betwéene them as my Brother intreated him to lodge in his house and two of his neerest kinsemen with him But in an vnhappie houre chaunced this fréendship for this Gentleman too vncourteous for this great kindnesse seeing my Brothers wife so perfect in beautie became enamoured of her in such sort as he onely desired the knowledge of her forgetting the honor and regard of his fréendly hoste Yet could not intreaties sollicitings giftes and faire prouâ—ses obtaine that of her he thirsted after wherefore despairing of his successe he went to a Sorcerer who gaue him a drugge of such force as should depriue my Sister of her speech by meanes whereof hee might rauish her or carie her whether him pleased she béeing not able to defend her selfe or call for any ayde This Gentleman hauing enstructed his two kinsemen in the matter came one night into my Sisters chamber and being assured that my Brother and his seruants slept soundly tooke her thence against her will afterward giuing her to his freends who caried her thence into a Ship was readie to set Sayle In short time they had gotten whether they would landing at a strong Castell belonging to this Gentleman where though he had her in his custodie yet could he obtayne nothing but refusalls and sharpe disdaynes yet in time he imagined to make her more tractable My Brother in the morning seeing his wife and guests thus gone suspected the ill that happened for diuers that met them toward the Sea came and told him what they sawe wherevpon he tooke this iniurie so greeuously as he was euen at the point to despaire Aâ—â—â—â—loâ—all Traytor quoth he is this the recompence for my good will to thee for the honor and good entertainement thou hast had in my house doost thou reward me with this villanie Come my freends let vs follow them and either by fire water or weapons destroy the adulterer that hath thus robd me of my onely delight May it be sweete wife that this happened with thy consent couldst thou serue him so y e loued thee as his life no well may I be assured of thy loyalty An Aunt of ours who sometime was wife to a sage Nigromancer seeing my Brother wel-neer beside himselfe such was his gréefe for the losse of his wife tooke pittie on him and to preuent the ill which she foresawe was like to ensue she wrote a letter to a wise matrone in the Realme of Aquilea commaunding vs to carie it to her and that my Brother should trauaile thither with vs which we did finding the good old Lady where the Letter directed vs which was in a little Desert of mountaines hauing no other habitation then in the caues which séemed olde and greatly ruinated in the middest wherof was a fountaine ouershadowed with the boughes of a great Elme tree So soone as she beheld vs she demaunded for the Letter we brought which when she had read she commaunded vs to rest our selues by the fountaine while she went into her Caue for the two Swords you now enioy and returning she bathed them in the fountaine mumbling certaine spéeches softly to her selfe and comming to vs sayd Sée héere Ladies two Swords which can be drawne out of their sheathes by none except the two best Knightes in the world by whose assistance this Gentleman shall recouer his losse and be reuenged on the Traytor that thus wronged him Take these Swords with yée and search the Courts of Kings and most renowmed Princes to finde those gentle Knightes excelling in vertues and them twaine that can drawe foorth these Swords shall you conduct to the place where the Lady abideth for whome this noble Gentleman is so tormented to whome for her
separated them as you shall presently heare CHAP. XIX ¶ How a strange aduenture happened in the Citie of Varne by the ending whereof the Prince Palladine determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda HEere must I intreate ye to remember the Princes of Norgalles and Scots Landastines and Simprinell whome we left in the King of Englands Court Landastines being enamoured on the Princesse Florea Sister to Palladine as Manteleo was of his faire Marcelina Simprinell loth to part them that agréed so well left his companion in England trauailing to the King of Norgalles Court where he certified his Maiestie of the good estate of his Sonne Landastines Which newes were so welcome to the King as he intreated Simprinell to abide in his Court that he might shew him the pleasures of his Realme whereto the yong Prince right willingly condiscended as one desirous to behold nouelties But rather the chéefest cause was his affection to the faire Princesse Belanicia daughter to the King of Norgalles with whose beawtie he was meruailously enthralled and not daring to acquaint her with his loue he fell into a dangerous sicknes to the great gréef of the King who loued him as he had béene his owne Sonne In the end the Phisitions hauing declared to Simprinell how perillous his case stood by concealing his gréefe made him thus resolued that before he died he would make knowne to the Princesse Belanicia who oftentimes came her selfe to visit him and sent him many comfortable meates in his sicknesse the originall cause of his extremitie And one time among other the Lady that was most vsually sent by the Princesse and in whome she reposed greatest confidence desired him to bewray from whence his sicknesse grew promising withall that she would labour to her vttermost to procure his health The yong Prince very modest and bashfull taking the Lady by the hand thus aunswered Faire freend I thanke ye for your readie good will in séeking my helpe which is a matter not impossible to bee done but as for the cause of my languishing disease I will not acquaint ye therewith vnlesse ye sweare to keepe the same secret not reuealing it to any one but such as I shall name Assure your selfe thereof said the Lady by the faith of a virgin Know then sweete Lady quoth Simprinell that my extreame sicknesse happened by no other cause then the loue and affection I beare to your mistresse and feare to offend her or the King hath by silence of my loue brought me to this daunger Why my Lord quoth she you that are of so high and honorable discent can ye offend my Lady by louing her or you that are as good as she doo not deserue loue for loue she is the child of a King and so are you beside she is humble and gracious as any Princesse liuing then feare not to let her knowe your daunger Alas Madame quoth he neuer shall I dare to speake to her but may it please you to solicite my cause yet with carefull héed of her dislike I shall confesse my life preserued by you And so much will I doo for ye my Lord quoth she without giuing her any occasion of offence but rather shall I doo it in such sort as by a speedie answere you shall perceiue her mind Go then good madame said the Prince and boldly may ye assure her that my life or death is in her hand So went the Lady to her mistresse to whome she imparted what you haue heard wherewith she was so well pleased as she presently sent to him againe this aunswere that she entertained his loue with the like and that as he would witnesse his affection towards her he should practise what spéed he could deuise for his health These words breathed such life into the Prince as within few dayes he was perfectly recouered when after many amorous parlees with Belanicia she to make a triall how his loue was grounded hauing heard report of the faire Duchesse Brisalda desired him to trauell to Varne in Bulgaria carying with him her liuely counterfeit and there to maintaine against all Knightes whatsoeuer that she was fairer then the Duchesse Brisalda on which condition she would accept him as her Knight and loyall seruant Simprinell glad to be so commaunded the next day hee departed with his foure Squires and comming to Varne where the Duchesse remained heard what braue imployment was there in Chiualrie wherefore comming to the accustomed place of the Tourney on a faire Piller he placed his Ladyes picture saying he would maintaine against all commers that his mistresse excéeded the Duchesse Brisalda in beautie The Knightes attendant on the Duchesse were amazed héereat preparing themselues to defend her cause but Simprinell willed them first to bring the Duchesse counterfeit and it to be placed by his Ladies and the conquerour should carie them both with him Right soone was the Duchesse figure set on the Piller and Simprinell this first day dismounted twelue Knights Palladine being ridden abroade on hunting which made Brisalda despaire of her fortune fearing the strange champion would depart vnconquered This dayes good successe emboldened Simprinell to try the second when Palladine entring the Listes among the other Knightes whome one by one he saw brauely vnhorsed he came to Simprinell with these spéeches In sooth Sir Knight I commend your enterprise beeing a cause that maketh many forward in Armes but as for the Lady whome you extoll beyond my Lady the Duchesse héer present I say and will auerre the contrary against you and all other till the houre of death If affection hath blinded your eyes I soone shall alter that opinion when your owne selfe shall confesse that your Lady is no way to be compared with mine I imagine by your words Sir answered Simprinell that you will defend your mistresse by the toong onely but let vs goe to the matter roundly for you are not yet so good an Oratour as to perswade me from a resolued assurance You thinke then quoth Palladine that I thinke to escape the Combate by my words Not so for you shall sée me effectually defend the honor of her beautie who is my mistresse So giuing the spurres to their horsses they encountred with such violence as Palladine lost his stirrops but Simprinell was cast foorth of his saddle to the great ioy of the Duchesse and her freends that his presumptuous arrogancie was so worthely checked Afterward they fell to the Combate with the Sword and long they fought without any aduantage till Palladine by tripping his enemie got him downe and himselfe vpon him when holding his Sword ouer him he sayd Now must thou confesse the Duchesse Brisalda to be a Lady farre excelling thine in beautie elfe art thou not like to sée her again◠Seeing fortune hath throwne me into this extremitie said Simprinell I confesse my selfe vanquished but to say that my mistresse is inferiour to thine I will not though I die therefore nor am I otherwise bound by my owne conditions
Broantine to enquire of whence and what they were Broantine comming to their lodging immediatly knew the Knight without rest being the Knight that accompanyed him into Bulgaria when Dardalon defended the Iousts for the Duchesse Brisalda and brought him to the Citie of Varne as you heard before Sir Palladine quoth Broantine you are hartely welcome hither what cause hath drawne you into this farre Countrey long it is since I was last in your companie The Knight without rest amazed at this acquaintance especially in a heathen countrey where he neuer was before aunswered Good Sir I must desire ye to pardon me for I doo not remember that euer I saw ye till now and it may be you take me for some other body No my Lord sayd Broantine I knowe ye well inough for I trauailed in your companie to the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda at what time you slew the prowd and cruell Dardalon I thanke ye gentle Sir quoth the Knight without rest for your freendly remembrance but may I request the cause of your being in this Countrey In sooth Sir answered Broantine such enemies I haue in the Realmes of Dace and Bulgaria for the death of a Knight whome I vnhappily slew as I am constrained to absent my selfe from thence yet do I hope in time to conquer my troubles and to returne home againe in safetie May I then quoth the Knight without rest desire this fauour at your hands to enstruct me how I shall gouerne my selfe among these people for I would not willingly be knowne that I am a Christian in respect of the danger may happen to me thereby and therefore haue I changed my name calling my selfe the Knight without rest hauing determined to rest in no place till I haue found one I earnestly séeke for Referre your selfe to me said Broantine you shall not be knowne but both you and they that came with ye shall be courteously entreated and the rather because you can speake this countrey language I vnderstand it in deede said the Knight without rest and speake it indifferently as my Squire can doo also but this Gentleman meaning Liboran is ignorant therein and therefore counterfeiteth himselfe dumbe that he might not be knowne nor we by him A good deuise answered Broantine stay héere if you please till I returne I will goe make report of you to the Gouernour and by my spéeches you shall be freendly welcommed So went Broantine to the Gouernour to whome he said that the Knight without rest was of his acquaintance a man valiant hardy and couragious professing the same lawe that he did The Gouernour thinking Broantine was a Pagan and the Knight without rest in like maner was glad of his arriuall and hoping to haue his assistance in the warres which the King had with the King of Panonia sent Broantine to him againe intreating him to dine with him the next day According to the Gouernours request the next day the knight without rest came to the Pallace where he was entertained verie honorably the Gouernour vsing these words to him Sir Knight our Captaine Broantine hath made such report of your forwardnes in Armes as while I liue you must account me your fréend and I will let the King vnderstand of your being heere that he may accept of you as men of vertue deserue My Lord answered the knight without rest I beséech ye thus to aduertise his Maiestie that there is no Gentleman more readie to his seruice then I will be and happie doo I account my selfe if I can doo any thing worthy his good liking In this warres against the King of Panonia will I shew my selfe and this Gentleman pointing to Liboran who long since lost his spéech by a catharre that bred within his throate yet is not his vertue or prowesse any thing diminished for good experience haue I had of his noble chiualrie Liboran gathering by countenance of the knight without rest 〈◊〉 the vsed these words on his behalfe with reuerence to 〈◊〉 Gouernour gaue a signe with his head and hands that he was likewise willing to make one in the Kings seruice which he courteously accepting embraced them both being sorie that Liboran had such an imperfection so that long after he was called the dumbe Knight The Gouernour walking with them in the great Hall declared the whole cause of the warre betwéene the King his maister and the King of Panonia and how within two or thrée dayes he meant to bid him battell As for the matter of their discord it grew by this occasion that the King of Aquilea refused to giue his daughter Nonparelia in marriage to the King of Panonia nor the yong Princesse her selfe could not be perswaded to like of him by reason of the many bad qualities he was endued withall as also he was a man verie much defourmed In déede my Lord answered the knight without rest I haue oftentimes heard that the Princesse Nonparelia is the flower of the world for beawtie an ill match were it then that so sweete a Lady should haue a husband so hard fauoured And the onely cause of my comming into this Countrey was to defend her honor in this enterprised warre as the Lady beyond all other in rare perfections Soone after they sate downe to dinner where wanted no store of costly delicates and the Tables were no sooner withdrawne but there entred the Hall a comely aged Ladie her face all besprent with teares and her sorrowfull lookes bewraying the anguish of her spirit A good while she stoode viewing all the Lords not speaking one word till the Gouernour moued with pitie thus spake Faire Lady full well doth your countenance bewray that something hath happened scant to your liking boldly deliuer the cause of your sadnes and may I in any thing giue you redresse be you assured I will perfourme it Alas my Lord quoth she my case requireth present assistance for my husband comming with his Sonne to this Citie onely to aide the King in his warres foure Knights set vpon them in the Forrest neere at hand and binding them both hands and feete haue forcibly caried them away threatning in most cruell sort to murther them for some priuate displeasure conceiued against them The knight without rest presently offered himselfe desiring the Gouernour that he might redresse the Ladyes wrong and hauing obtained leaue for his departure with Liboran Lycelio and Captaine Broantine went immediatly to horssebacke So riding with the Lady at length they ouertooke the foure Knightes who with great cudgels cruelly did beate the Ladies Husband and Sonne whereat the knight without rest highly offended gaue y t spurres to his horsse to encounter w t them But Liboran by signes and Broantine by intreaties perswaded him to suffer them deale with the foure Knightes which they did verie valiantly and killing them all foure deliuered the Knight and his Sonne safely to the Lady Afterward they rode to the Knightes Castell where their wounds receiued in fight being searched
King would not deny him then againe he dispaired of the matter reputing himselfe vnlikely to enioy her by reason of their contrarietie in faith and religion the King being an earnest maintainer of the Pagan lawe Nor would this imagination serue wherefore he intended to steale her thence secretly and to carie her with him into England while Orbiconte laboured at home to appease the trouble that might follow In the end he reposed himselfe on the faithfull promise of Orbiconte and desired his Lady to doo the like because he had found her so iust in all his former fortunes But now are the Ambassadours come to the Court where being entertained with great pompe and royaltie he that was appointed chéefe in the embassade thus deliuered his message to the King King of Aquilea the high and mightie Lord my maister being aduertised of the rare vertues wherewith thy Daughter is endued hath sent me to intreate thée that thou wouldest bestowe her on him in marriage and in so dooing he vowes himselfe thy fréend and a continuall enemie to thy ill willers Heerewith he deliuered the Letters of credit signed with the hand and scale of the great Turke whereat the King no lesse ioyfull then amazed that his Daughter should arise to so high fortune without crauing any aduise in the cause thus answered I thanke my gracious Lord with all my heart that he will so honor me with request of my Daughter in marriage and her do I fréely giue him with all that is mine at his disposing Then did the Ambassadour present the King sixe goodly Coursers of Turkie sent him from his Lord and maister and to the Princesse he gaue a sumptuous Carbanet garnished with Carbuncles Orientall Pearles and stones of inestimable valew which she receiued with good countenance albeit God knowes with a heauie heart in which gréefe the Knight without rest bare her company yet durst not outward shew therof This costly Iewell the Queene immediatly fastened about her Daughters neck being commended for the rarest that euer was seene afterward the King walked with the Ambassadours dooing them all the honor he could any way deuise While all the Court were busied Orbiconte came with Nonparelia to Palladines chamber and there concluded that he should on the morrow take his leaue of the King framing his iourney directly toward England where the Princesse and she would in short time méete him willing them to make no shew of sorrow at their departure least suspition might preuent what she had intended but to resolue them assuredly that all her promises should sorte to effect The Knight without rest did as he was aduised and albeit it was long ere the King would giue consent because he loued him very déerely yet at length with muche adoo he preuailed the Prince Zorian obtaining leaue of his Father to accompanie him in trauaile because his Maiestie thought he could neuer haue a brauer companion Many rich giftes the King bestowed on the Knight without rest especially one of the Coursers sent him from the great Turke and other thinges néedfull to be vsed in trauaile and thus he prepared him selfe toward his iourney reposing his confidence in the wise Orbiconte that she would bring his Lady safely into England CHAP XXXVI ¶ How the knight without rest and the Prince Zorian departed from Aquilea toward England and how the Knight without rest by the waye discouered him selfe to the Prince Zorian who when he came into England was baptized and betrothed to the faire Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders and the like was Mantelio and Landâ—stines to their Ladies EUery thing being in redines for our Knightes trauaile after all the ceremonious conges at the parting of freendes the knight without rest Zorian Broantine Lyboran and Lycelio all brauelye mounted in seemely equipage they leaue the Courte of Aquilea and toward England iourney with all conuenieÌ„t speede the Knight without rest being especially induced to this haste because he expected the promise of Orbiconte soone after would followe him with the faire Nonparelia Many woorthy aduentures they had by the way as defending chaste Damoselles from forced violence and helping distressed Ladies to their suborned right which growing to more tediousnes theÌ„ delightfull matter I haue thought good to abridge as lothe to speake of any thing but what is woorth the hearing When our Knightes were entered the Realme of Almaigne and the Englishe Prince had made good triall of Zorians loue to him one night as they laye in Bed togeather he entred into these spéeches My Lord Zorian the fréendship solemnely sworne betwéene vs and the proof of your ready good will in all my actions will not let me hide one thing fâ—â—â— you which till this present I haue kept with great secrecie both from the knowledge of the King your Father and you onely by the perswasion of the Lady Orbiconte your Aunt to whome I am more beholding then any other liuing creature For in my iourney toward Aquilea oftentimes did she preserue me from the danger of death and by her meanes I left the Court of the King of England my Father by her promise that I should enioy your faire Sister in mariage in recompence of some seruice I should doo to the King your Father and this by her secret knowledge she likewise tolde me that all your Fathers dominions shall be shortly conuerted to the Christian faithe which I professe and will doo till death Then he recounted how Orbiconte sent him the Shéeld he bare and shewed the Swoord wheron the name of Aquilea was engrauen being brought to him by the enchaunted knight and two Damosells He likewise declared how he changed his name because he would not be knowne and that Liboran only counterfeited dumbnes being not able to learne the Aquilian language all the rest of his trauailes at full he opened his right name and whether he now iournied In sooth my Lord Palladine answered Zorian such resolute opinion of your vertues haue I imprinted in my hart as though you be contrary to me in loue and profession yet shall not my good will slack or I forgoe your companie but I would the time were come wherein my Fathers kingdome shall embrace Christianitie which I already begin to like so well beleeuing that your God is of greater power then ours as all our successefull déedes of armes beare witnes that I ere long will become a Christian Yet one thing cheeflye dooth displease me that my Sister is promised in mariage to my Lord the great Turk which will be the occasion that my Aunte Orbiconte cannot keep her woord with you My Lord and companion saide Palladine that I haue your good liking in this cause in sooth it dooth not a little content me but as for your Sister there is nothing yet doone but may easily be altered Madame Orbiconte hath promised to content the great Turke and your Father and in fewe dayes will safelye arriue with your Sister in England I would we
thereof In truth said the Quéene I see the Letter imports great matter let vs vnderstand what is contained therein Palladine not daring to denie this commaundement causing the Gentleman that brought the Letter to withdraw himselfe thus answered My gracious Lord and Father this Letteâ— deliuers none but good newes the Sister to the King of Aquilea and faire Nonparelia his Daughter are come to visit your Maiestie Right welcome are they said the King and I will doo them all the honor I may but what may be the cause of this kindnesse séeing our Realme is so farre from Aquilâ—a Then Palladine declared the whole discourse of his voiage how by the aduise of the wise Orbiconte he had promised the Princesse Nonparelia after she had receiued her Christendome to take her in mariage in that she was accomplished with as rare perfections of beawtie and vertue as any Princesse in the world beside You place that formost quoth the King which you loue best preferring corporall beawtie before vertue but héerein you are to be pardoned for loue and affection so alter the sences as makes men put one word in anothers place I spake of that first my Lord quoth Palladine which I first sawe in so faire a creature namely a choise grace of corporall beawtie and hauing afterward by frequenting her companie gathered sufficient knowledge of her inward endowments I placed them as they came to my acquaintance And such is my hope good Father that your selfe wil iudge no lesse then I doo when you haue seene her For the rest Madame Orbiconte her Aunt shall resolue ye giuing you to vnderstand matters of weight and such as you will thinke your selfe happie to knowe this being the meane to bring to the Christian faith the great and mightie Kingdome of Aquilea Thou tellest me wenders my Sonne quoth the King but why didst thou not sooner acquaint me heerewith Because I feared answered Palladine that misfortune on the Sea might alter my intent or the promise of Orbiconte might be preuented by some other sinister meane Well my Sonne quoth the King I pray that thy desires may haue a fortunate end and such things as thou speakest of may come to passe meane while let vs prouide to receiue these two Princes and make them such entertainement as their calling deserues Foorthwith he commaunded that the Pallace should bee adorned with most sumptuous Tapistrie and calling for the Uiceadmirall willed him to prepare certaine Ships that might go meete the Ladies as they came wherein Palladine Zorian Manteleo Landastines and many other great Lords were embarqued And béeing come to the Ile of Tennet they espied the Ships sayling amaine toward them and entring among them Palladine seeing Orbiconte aloft on the deck knew well where the Princesse Nonparelia was wherefore going aboord that Ship catching Orbiconte in his armes he thus spake Welcome good Lady into this Countrey this day doo you giue me life and the onely comfort I desire in this world for had not your assurance at my departure from Aquilea perswaded me I had ere this beene consorted with the dead As he was thus embracing Orbiconte the Princesse Nonparelia came foorth of her Cabin and with a sweete smiling countenance came to him saying Haue you not doone yet my Lord I am not content that you giue all the welcome to mine Aunt and allow me no portion thereof I thinke I haue deserued some part At these words he suddenly leauing Orbiconte embraced his mistresse with such zealous affection as neither of them were able to speake one word in which time Zorian and the other Princes had leisure to welcome the wise Orbiconte During this time of greeting and salutation they sayled on with so good a winde as in short time they entred the Port of London where this honorable companie were receiued with great magnificence the Citizens conducting them thorough the streetes with such pompe and sumptuous deuises as neuer was the like seene in London before The King and Queene for the greater honor of their Sonne came to the Court gate to welcome the Princesse at whose rare beawtie as they did not a little wonder so there wanted no kinde of courtesie whereby their good will might at large be expressed So walking on into the great Hall there began againe new shewes of entertainement whereby both Orbiconte and her Niece perceiued that the Court of England was incomparable for gracious behauiour While the King and Queene were conferring with Orbiconte Palladine tooke his Lady aside to the windowe where she at large declared to him the dangers sustained in their voyage and their good deliuerance by the Admirall of England and Broantine Héerof sweete Lady quoth Palladine your Aunt already hath aduertised me and I knowe assuredly that you haue escaped greater perill then you can report to me all for my loue wherein I am religiously bound to you while I liue yet heerewithall consider that you haue endured all this for your faithfull freend and husband who now bids you welcome as his loyall and espoused wife Alas my Lord quoth the Princesse you well knowe that I haue no other intent and the sooner our nuptials are solemnized the better shall I be quieted least any dishonor should ouertake me in respect of what hath passed betweene vs heeretofore Madame answered Palladine this â—ace concerneth me as néere as your selfe and to preuent such danger we must héerein be aduertised by your Aunt Orbiconte the rest shall be accomplished with all possible spéede In all this time Orbiconte had so preuailed with the King and Quéene declaring that this mariage was forepointed in their infancie and should by her meanes be â—atâ—fied by the King of Aquilea her Brother as they both promised that so soone as the King of Portugalâ— was arriued who was sent for to the mariage of his two Nieces the wedding should be sollemnized at that instant likewise Untill which time the Princesse should be enstructed in the Christian faith and be made partaker of that holy Sacrament which is the badge and cognisance of all Christians so should her obscure thoughts be cléerely illuminated and the mariage would be more acceptable in the sight of God The Kings deuise was generally well liked and the Princesse her selfe willing to vnderstand the rules which were so farre different from her Pagan profession in which exercise she had her whole studie and delight till the time came that she should be Baptized CHAP. XXXIX ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and all her Ladyes were with great pompe and solemnitie Baptised and all the honorable mariages afterward finished BY paineful diligence of diuers learned Diuines the Princesse was wonne to receiue the faith of a Christian and all her Ladies likewise that came with her from Aquilea so they being all attired in white garments were conducted to the Cathedrall Church in London with such royall pompe and magnificence as euery eye was set to wonder Such was her stately maiestie in going and
passion to procéede by bashfulnesse or feare which oftentimes preuents yong Gentlemen when they enter the presence of great Ladies she tooke the Prince by the hand and thus began My Lord you are so welcome as your owne hart can wish great hath béene your payne and trauayle comming so farre to see this Court no sufficient recompence can the King our Father make yée nor we poore Ladies for this excéeding kindnesse These words forcing Manteleo to recouer his spirits caused him returne this aunswere In comming hither swéete Madame haue I sustayned no paine or trauaile but rather comfort pleasure and pastime For long since is it that I desired to offer my seruice to the King your Father as well for the rare vertues which makes him farre renowmed as also to renew the auncient amitie that yée and the Duke my Father haue had together when they as Knightes errant trauayled straunge Countreys Another and chéefe cause was to see my Lord your Brother whose second in prowesse is not to be found and you likewise faire Ladies whome heauen hath not onely enriched with especiall vertues but also with rare and most perfect beautie And though my Starres alotted me no greater good héereby then to behold the surpassing worke of nature in you both yet would I repute my trauaile more largely requited then were I created Emperour of the world adioyning héere to if any seruice remayned in me that might be to your liking During these spéeches he threw many piercing lookes on the Princesse Marcelina and she returned the like on him thinking she had neuer seene a more comely Knight in all perfections her Brother Palladine excepted gathering by his lookes and yéelding countenance that she had wonne some earnest in his loue with which imagination her hart was highly contented and to continue him in this good affection she thus replyed Not a little doo I think my selfe beholding to you my good Lord noting your forward zeale to the King my Fathers seruice loth am I to presse yée with such regard towards me in that my deseruings are altogether too simple let my good will then excuse my want assuring your selfe of a maydens prayers wheresoeuer you go As Manteleo would haue aunswered the Prince Palladine came and thus brake off their talke I beséech yée my Lord and companion to withdraw your selfe into your Chamber there to repose your selfe after your iourney for of necessitie you must be sore wearied hauing spent so little time betwéene Millaine and England Manteleo departed to his Chamber with Palladine and in two lodgings ioyning together lay these new fréends There did the Millayne Prince cloath himselfe in braue and sumptuous garments not forgetting the graâ—ious spéeches of fayre Marcelina who likewise so soone as he departed could not kéepe in her owne opinions but with her Sister fell in commendation of Manteleo setling the loue of him so néere her heart as she resolued neuer to haue any other Husband so pleased the King and Quéene to giue their consent Continuing in this determination thence forward her extreame desires made her pensiue and solitarie yet would she not impart her disease to any one because she would first make triall of the Princes constancie least his loue might be impeached with dissembling â—alliaunce But now is the houre of Supper come when the amorous Prince Manteleo was placed at the table right ouer against his beloued Marcelina neither of them being offended at this good hap but vsing the same as an especiall benefite with secret glaunces to court each other Which the Princesse Floraea dilligently marked and seeing her Sister so often to chaunge her couller coupling therewith many bitten in sighes she tofore hauing neuer shewed the like became iealous of the matter thinking the Prince should as soone affect her as her Sister yet made she no outward shew of this conceite But when the Tables were withdrawne and each one preparing themselues to daunce Manteleo tooke his Lady Marcelina without making any offer to Floraea wherewith she became so mal content as to despight them she would euery day after sit so néere them as they could not speake one word to each other but she might easily vnderstand what they said The Prince well noting how hee was crost would the oftner entertaine Marcelina to Daunce taking the benefite at the end of each Measure which gaue them libertie to conferre together no one in those excused times being able to impeach them whereat Floraea greatly repined séeing them talke with such affectionate protestations The Pastimes ended the King and Queene went to their lodgings Manteleo humbly giuing them the good night not forgetting the Saint he serued in desires and afterward the Prince Palladine accompanied him to his Chamber where after many other spéeches betwéene them they concluded on the morrow to request their Knighthood of the King So Palladine left Manteleo for that night whose mind was busied with his Ladies fauorable words not doubting but to shew himselfe so forward in Armes as the Princesse should receiue good occasion to affect him and graunt him the honor he earnestly desired In this good hope he laid him downe to rest the Princesse Marcelina nothing inferiour to him in amorous opinions and that night her brother Palladine had told her that Manteleo and he would intreate their Order of the King wherewith she was not alittle contented determining thence forward to entertaine the Prince of Millaine as her Knight CHAP. VI. ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo with many other great Lords were Knighted by the King Milanor and of an aduenture that happened in the Court which Palladine and Manteleo ended FAire Aurora chasing away the clowdie night the Prince Palladine accompanied with many Gentlemen came to bid Manteleo good morrow Why my Lord and companion quoth he it séemes you haue forgotten what we determined yesternight Pardon me good Prince aunswered Manteleo my memorie is not so short but so swéetly haue I slept this night as hindered me from rising sooner Then went they to salute the King and intreated his Highnesse to graunt them their Knighthood When his Maiestie perceiuing their forwardnesse and noting the earnest desire of Manteleo thus aunswered Loth am I to denie your request albeit as yet you are ouer-yong but the good opinion I haue of your prowesse and fortunate successe that may befall ye héereafter doth supply your want of yeeres wherefore this night perfourme the holy watch and to morrow will I giue ye your Order The two Princes humbly thanking his Maiestie went to giue order for their Armour and furniture and at night they entred the Chappell where spending the time in the accustomed religious exercise they expect the houre of their long desired honor In the morning the King with his Nobilitie entred the Chappell and as he was busied in the Ceremonies vsed in such affaires there entred two Damosels verie brauely apparelled each of them hauing a goodly Sword in her hand and with them was an
sake that sent yée will I presently giue such a remedie as shall diminish part of the greefe he endureth So giuing vs the two Swords with a little white wand she smote thrée blowes on the Elme tree from whence flew foorth a Bird crying very pitifully then with the wand she troubled the water in the fountaine vsing certaine priuate spéeches againe and taking a little of the water in her hand she dreined it on my brothers head saying Now go and commend me to your Aunt and to the two Knightes that shall draw the Swords to whome I will that thou giue the order of Knighthood to the ende their vertue courage and magnanimitie may be encreased So left we the old Lady and euer since followed her commaundement making a bootelesse search in many places till we found you to whome the aduenture was destemed And thus my Lords haue you heard the entire discourse of my Brothers misfortune Now as concerning what remaineth we must conduct ye into Hungaria to the Castell where my faire Sister is enclosed and where the villaine abideth that stole her from my Brother Yet is her honor preserued from any attaint for as the Traytor one day would haue rauished her mine Aunt of whome I spake by aduenture came thither and hauing throwne the paillard out of the chamber by the shoulders enchaunted the same in such sort as none may enter therein but my Brother nor can he come there but by your ayde A déede of such honor and charitie I hope you will not refuse in reuenging our wrong on that maleuolent villaine which shall be easie for you to doo as the aforesaid wise prophetesse declared to vs. The Princes hauing heard this monstrous treason thus aunswered We will assist ye faire Lady to our vttermost nor shall ye neede to whet vs on with perswasions for we are bound by dutie to reuenge actions so soule and enorme For this kinde replye she gaue them many thanks spending the time in these and like conferences and two daies rode they without any aduenture worthie the rehearsall CHAP. X. ¶ How Palladine and Manteleo met foure Knightes with whome they Combatted and the issue thereof THE third day as the Princes with their companie issued foorth of a thick wood they met four Knightes of whome after â—ourteous salutations Palladine demaunded whether they trauailed Directly towardes London aunswered one of them where the King abideth as we vnderstand And the cause of our iourney thether is to trie an aduenture of two Swords which not long since were caried thither vnable to be drawne by any but by two of the best Knightes in the world If you go for no other occasion aunswered Palladine well may ye spare that labour for two yong Knightes ended the aduenture two dayes since and more Two yong Knightes quoth another of them of what Countrey I pray ye The one said Palladine is an Englishman and the other an Italian borne in Millayne By my faith quoth the Knight in a great laughter belike then the enchauntment was no hard matter to finish nor was any hidden vertue to be discernd therein when an Italian and an Englishman could bring it to ende Uery fewe good Knightes are founde among the Italians in whome is more ostentation and brauadoes then matter of moment and effect and in Englishmen is much lesse being reputed in all Countreys for men of little estimation The two yong Princes hearing their Countreys so dispraised began to growe in maruailous choller especially Manteâ—eo who bending the browes and enflamed with vnquenchable anger thus aunswered Of whence are you Sir that can so well collaude the Knightes of England and Italy What mooues you to vse such spéeches being in the Kingdome you discommend Trust me if you haue any wit you make no shew thereof in your words Be not angrie aunswered the Knight I see by your couller that you sweate in your Armour but if ye continue this moode you haue met with Spanyards that will walke ye a little And heere haue you met an Englishman and an Italian sayd Manteleo euen they that ended the aduenture of the enchaunted Swords who presently will teach ye to temper your toong With these words he went to his Squire for his Launce placing it to encounter him that gaue the spéeches but Palladine called to him saying Forbeare my Lord and let me deals with him for I ought to begin first because the offence was first made to me Beside they are in my Countrey it belongeth then to me to correct their folly making by proofe what an Englishman is able to doo If you see me stand in néede of your helpe doo as you shall finde occasion otherwise let me alone with these lusty Spanyards Palladine without any further spéeches with a braue carire encountred the prating companion who though he brake his Launce with good courage on the Prince was throwne with such violence from his horsse as he lay not able to stirre hand or foote Which when the other three beheld they ran altogether against the Prince who gaue the foremost such a freendly welcome as falling on his head to the ground brake his necke with the weight of his owne bodie The other twaine at this encounter had broken their Launces on Palladine and now drew their Swords thinking to reuenge their fellowes ill fortune but greatly did they finde themselues deceiued for the Prince séeing he had no more to deale withall thou these two redoubled so many fierce strokes vpon them as the one fell out of his Saddle depriued of his sences and the other to saue his life would haue fled away the Prince disappointing him of that benefit by hamstringing his horsse caused him to fall to the earth when snatching off his Helmet with his Sword would haue smitten his head from his shoulders Alas Sir Knight cried the vanquished Spanyard saue my life I yeeld my selfe to thy mercy what I haue done against thee was in reuenge of my Brother whome thou first dismounted accurssed be the houre that he spake so vndiscretly this is not the first time I haue endangered my life onely to sustaine his fond and ouerfoolish quarrels Mercie I graunt thee aunswered Palladine so thou promise and sweare to fulfill one thing which is that so soone as thy woundes are healed thou shalt go to the King of Englands Court there submitting thy selfe to his will and mercie And thou shalt say to him that the two Knightes which departed thence with two Ladyes and if Knight who was there deliuered from enchauntment in reuerent wise salute his Maiestie hauing sent thée to be disposed at his pleasure Moreouer thou shalt not faile to tell him the cause why we sent thee in this sort to his highnesse The like declaration shalt thou make before the Queene and her two Daughters Marcelina and Florea All this will I gladly accomplish answered the Spanyard but as for my Brother and the other Knightes I thinke they will neuer passe further
we craue licence for our departure to our Countries where our parents expect our comming continually Many gracious spéeches were vttered by the Prince and many liberall and bountifull promises onely to cause them goe with him to the King his Fathers Court but all was to no purpose they promised to visit the King at more conuenient leysure because very vrgent occasions did now hasten their departure When Lydiseo sawe he could not perswade them he gaue to each of them a verie sumptuous armour and foure of the best horsses in his stable with diuers other giftes of inestimable valew so after many courtesies and kind embracings Palladine and Manteleo set forward on their iourney and Lydiseo hauing seazed the Castell to the King his Fathers vse on the next day following rode to the Court where he acquainted the King with al that had happened The Princes hauing ridden most part of the day came at length to a faire fountaine standing in a fresh coole shadowe of trees where they alighted minding to dine with such prouision as their Squires had brought with them Afterward they lay downe in the shade to sleepe a-little which Manteleo and the Squires did very soundly but Palladine not able to forget the words of the wise Orbiconte arose and being loth to trouble them that slept tooke his helmet and his sword intending to walke among the trees till they awaked He had not gone from his companie the space of halfe a bow shoote but he espied a goodly plaine in the middest whereof stoode a faire pauillion with two or thrée bundles of Launces erected at the entrance Maruailing what the meaning heereof might be he kept himselfe still hid among the trees to see if any one would come in or out of the Tent. At length he beheld come riding on the plaine two Knightes with a Damosell that bare a goodly Shéeld which with the beamâ—s of the Sun dazeled the eyes of the beholders These two Knightes and the Damosell would haue passed the Tent but hée espied one came suddenly foorth and stayd them saying You may not passe by Gentlemen so easily you are well armed for the triall of the Launce you must therefore make some proofe in this place of your chiualrie else must you leaue your Armour and Horsses behinde yee And first of all you Damosell must deliuer me the Sheeld you cary for it liketh me well and I shall best deserue it I may not doo so aunswered the Damosell because you are not the man it is sent vnto and for whome it was purposely made Whether I be he or no quoth the Knight of the Tent haue it I will with which words he offered to take it violently from her but the two Knightes stayed him with these spéeches Sir Knight we neyther refuse the Ioust or Combate with thee but in presuming to take the Shéeld perforce from the Damosell we iudge it rather the behauiour of a shéefe and robber then sitting with the credit of a Gentleman or one that by brauerie of minde desires to trie the courage of Knightes errant Are you offended quoth the Knight of the Tent at any thing I haue sayd or done beléeue me I will haue the Shéeld and cause you to repent your audacious folly Come foorth queth he to his Knights in the Tent and teach these lustic companions a little better dutie Presently issued foorth two Knightes on horssebacke and coutching their Launces they â—ncountred them that defended the Damosell who threw them from their Sadles with such violence as they lay not able to stirre any limme Two more came foorth of the Tent and followed their companions in fortune whereat the Knight was so angrie as he mounted on horssebacke himselfe calling sire more foorth to take part with him Sâ—e my freends quoth he foure of our men are slaine or in great danger let vs alltogether run on these villaines that so vsed them for man to man I see they are strongest such therefore as loue me follow me So by their furious assault the two Knightes were dismounted and by the tune the other had finished their course they drew their Swords and buckling on their Sheelds came with resolute courage to meete their enemies Right sorrowfull was the Damosell to see the Knightes that defended her cause in such daunger but Palladine beholding the valour of the twayne and the cowardly villaime of the other came foorth of the wood and taking part with them so much wronged in short time layde foure of them breathlesse on the ground The other three would gladly haue giuen ouersight but Palladine and the Damosels Knightes layde on such loade as two more were sent to accompany theyr fellowes the third to saue hys life yeelded to their mercie CHAP. XIIII ¶ How Manteleo sound Palladine with the two Knightes and the Damosell that brought the Sheeld from the wife Orbiconte IN the time of this sharpe skirmish the Prince Manteleo awaked and missing his companion Palladine called the Squires who were no lesse amazed at the absence of their maister but séeing his horsse and Launce there they imagined he could not be strayed verie farre As they walked into the wood to seeke him they heard the clanching of weapons and entring on the plaine they espied Palladine with the two Knightes and the Damosell and a man kneeling on his knees before him crauing pardon for his life Manteleo being glad he had found his freend came to him with merrie and chéerefull countenance when the two Knightes seeing his face immediatly knew him and casting downe their helmets came and embraced him saying How highly are we beholding to the vertuous Prince Palladine without whose assistance our liues had perished Palladine knowing them to bée Durandell of Cleue and Orliman of Flaunders of whose chiualrie he had heard mickle commendation embraced them with maruelous affection the like did Manteleo and no small gratulations were entercoursed betwéene these foure Princes When the Damosell heard the name of Palladine she alighted from her Palfray and with humble seuerence on her knee thus spake to him Happie and successefull Knight whose vertues are renowined through the wide world the wise Orbiconte hath sent you this Sheeld commending her selfe dutifully to your good grace intreating you to forsake your companie awhile and with me to go visit her that honors you Palladine hearing her speake of the wise Orbiconte who had so often appeared to him in visions was as ioyfull as Manteleo and the other were sorrowfull to leaue the companie of him they loued so well but hee hauing taken the Sheeld returned this aunswere to the Damosell Faire freend I thanke your mistresse and you likewise promising to goe with ye whether you please though leth I am to forgoe the companie of these gentle Princes but seeing it liketh the Lady Orbiconte it should be so I obey her commaund right willingly hoping to see my good freends againe ere it be long As Palladine thus spake his couller altered very pale and
wanne whereby the Damosell judged that he was wounded wherefore she said I perceiue my Lord you are scant well let us enter this Tent I pray ye where you shall be unarmed and these Knightes likewise that I may see what woundes you haue receiued for my Lady Orbiconâ—e gaue me at my departure from her a bore of most pretious and arteficiall ointment so that let your wounds be how dangerous soeuer in four and twentie houres I will awarrant they shall be perfectly healed Upon this aduise they entred the Tent where when they were vnarmed the Damosell verie cunningly dressed their wounds finding these of Orliman and Durandell to be most doubtfull yet her comfortable speeches made them expect speedie recouerie Afterward they sate downe to refresh themselues with such viands as they found there readie in the Tent and Palladine calling for the prisoner said Knight if thou desire the safetie of thine owne life tell me without fabling what the Knight was that first proffered to take the Sheeld from the Damosell and vpon what occasion you kept the passage heere to forbid the course of Knightes errant Nor will I Sir quoth the Knight hide bne iote of the truthe from you Knowe then that he which would haue taken the Sheeld from the Damosell was brother to a Gentleman who not long since by the Kings commaundement was put to a most shamefull death for that vniustly he detayned a Knightes wife to whose Castell came two strange Knightes and by the ayde of Lydiseo Prince of Hungaria they tooke the Gentleman sore wounded who was afterward executed slew many of his seruants as also his two brethren deliuering the Lady to her husband againe who now liue in quiet in their owne Castell This Knight that stroue for the Sheeld was likewise brother to that Gentleman who hearing the misfortune of his brethren vowed to take vengeance on those two Knightes by whose meanes he was now left freendlesse in the world Upon this determination heere caused he his pauillion to be erected sending his espials abroade to allure all Knightes by this passage hoping at length to finde those twayne which I thinke he imagined to be they that conducted the Damosell because he commaunded vs all to assaile them but whether they be the same or no he is now greatly deceiued of his hope and thus haue you heard the verie truth of our being heere Thanks be to heauen sayd the Prince Palladine that kept vs out of this danger for if we had passed this way we had either beene slaine or taken by these viâ—e minded men But my hazard was greatest quoth the Damosell had I not met with these two noble Knightes who in my defence thrust their owne liued into question Damosell aunswered Durandell of Cleue we haue done no more then our dutie and what all true Knightes are sworne vnto After they had stayed so long as them pleased they rode to a Towne not farre distant thence leauing the Knight to prouide buriall for his companions and help for such as yet remained aliue swearing him neuer after to be seene in any such bad action At this Towne they abode two or three dayes to furnish themselues of what they wanted as also to repaire their Armour which was much brused At length the Damosell tooke Palladine aside framing her speeches to him in this manner My Lord seeing you finde your selfe in good estate of health let me intreate ye to bid your freends adiew that carely in the morning we may depart to the place whether my Lady commaunded me to conduct ye because you must be assistant to such a one as shall héereafter doo very much for you Damosell quoth Palladine presently shall you see me bid them farewell for great is my affection toward your mistresse seruice seeing she fauours the man so much she neuer sawe Then turning to the three Princes he sayd My noble companions you knowe my promise to this Damosell to follow her whither she shall guide me now is she importunate for my departure wherefore let me intreate ye not to be offended if earely in the morning I take my leaue assuring you that neuer shall I forget your manifold courtesies And let my solemne promise perswade yée that these earnest affaires once dispatched to you will I presently shape my course meane while commaund me as your freendly seruant My Lord aunswered Manteleo albeit this seperation is gréeuous to vs yet séeing it a cause concerning your honor and may aduantage some distressed person kéep your promise right paciently shall we beare your absence hoping to see you shortly in England at the King your Fathers Court for thither shall we presently direct our iourney Palladine hauing intreated them to doo his humble dutie to the King his Father to the Quéene likewise and his two Sisters embraced them all thrée right louingly each one with teares shewing their gréefe of departure Like courteous farewell tooke they of the Damosell who gaue them many thanks for their fréendly succour and so each one entring their chamber for that night Lycelio the Squire to Palladine prepared all things readie for his maister who determined to be on horssebacke by breake of day CHAP. XV. ¶ How Palladine went with the Damosell that came from the wise Orbiconte and Manteleo Durandell and Orliman trauayled toward England and were seperated from each other by a strange aduenture EArly in the morning Palladine Lycelio and the Damosell set forward on their iourney directing theyr course to the Realme of Ireland leauing the thrée Princes soundly sleeping who the same day rodâ— toward England without finding any aduenture on land or Sea worthie the rehearsall After they had refreshed themselues thrée or foure daies at Douer a Towne that stands on the Sea coast of England they concluded to ride to London where they heard the King as then kept his Court. When they had ridden eight or ten miles they sawe comming foorth of a Forrest two poore men all besmeared with blood and verie sore wounded wherevpon they imagined that some théeues had thus vsed them and therefore rode toward them to vnderstand the cause Good Gentleman cried one of them so wounded for Gods sake helpe vs. Of whence are ye sayd the Prince Manteleo We are Sir quoth the poore man of Bohemia trauailing from the King of Englands Court home againe and to his Maiestie were we sent with thrée young Lions which two Knightes trauailing through our Countrey gaue vs charge to carie thither And as we came through this wood thrée théeues suddenly set vpon vs who wounded vs as you see tooke the money from vs we receyued of the King and haue slaine two of our compaâ—ions Manteleo remembring the poore men how Palladine and he had sent them with the Lions was meruailous sorie to see them so misused demaunding if the theeues were on horssebacke or on â—oote The poore men aunswered that they were on foote and could not as yet be gone verie farre Without any
Palladine least any other should come foorth of the Castell to resist him When the Porter sawe the Prince enter the Castell and with him the Knight whome his maisters Sonnes were sent to kill or bring thither prisoner he ranne vp the staires into the Hall crying murther murther to armes Gentlemen for we are all betrayed At this fearefull cry the Lord of the Castell being an auncient man went to the window ouer the gate and seeing his Sonne and seruants lying on the ground eyther slaine or in no better case he fell in a swoune and had not one of his Gentlemen beene by to helpe him he neuer had recouered life againe But being come to himselfe he with seauen more were presently armed and vnderstanding by the Porter that but thrée men kept the Castell gate he with his people came downe into the Court and like a Lion enraged smote at Palladine saying Uillaine well mayst thou cursse thy comming hither to murther my Sonnes both thou and the Traytor in thy company shall déerely abide it Uery sharply did they beset the Prince his Squire Lycelio and the Knight yet in the end they vanquished all but two who submitted themselues and called for mercie for which good fortune the Knight humbly thanked Palladine who calling the Damosell into the Castell because feare made her tary still without made fast the gate and went vp into a faire chamber where they were vnarmed and their wounds bound vp And while prouision was making for their Supper the Prince â—ntreated the Knight to teâ—â—â—he occasion why he was brought thither so bound and misused Worthie Sir aunswered the Knight a true discourse shall I make of all my trouble and thus it is The Lord of this place the auncient man whome you first ouercame in the Court had thrée Sonnes one whereof I found about a moneth since in a little Warren néer to my house which is distant hence not past a mile and thither had he allured a yong mayden the daughter to a poore tenaunt of mine where villainously he sought to dishonor her My selfe by good hap walking that way beheld the poore virgin before him on her knees he hauing his Sword drawne in his hand threatning therewith to cut her throate if she would not accomplish his vnlawfull desire When I sawe this vncouth spectacle and that the poore mayden was out of breath with strugling and striuing to defend her chastitie I came to him and fréendly intreated him to forbeare that bad minde but he immediatly without vsing any words better or worsse left the mayden and with his Sword began to assayle me where doubtlesse I had béene murthered had I not béene prouided for mine owne defence yet did I make such good shift with him as he was fayne to submit himselfe to my mercie which I was contented to graunt him vpon promise that he would neuer offer the like vile attempt not fitting the name of a Gentleman who rather ought to defend the chastitie of virgins But the forsworne wretch kept not his promise with me for so soone as I had left him he ran after the poore mayden againe who thought to saue her selfe by flight to her Fathers house and in despight that he was vanquished by me or what else I knowe not he stabd her to the heart with his dagger I hearing her pitifull cry when the wound was giuen ran after the murtherer who turned againe valiantly to resist me but I handled him in such sort as he accompanyed the poore mayden in death A Lackey that attended on this lubricious villayne seeing his mayster had giuen his last farewell to the world immediatly caryed the newes to the Lord his Father and his other two Brethren whom you slew without the gate The Brethren made sollemne promise to their Father that they would take the most cruell vengeance on me as could be deuised awayting opportunitie to execute theyr bloodie intents and this day as I was walking in my garden hauing no other defence then as you sée me in my doublet they layd violent hands on me binding me on the horsse as you found me and but for you God knowes how they meant to haue vsed me Sir Knight quoth Palladine thanke God for your deliuerance and next to him the wise Lady Orbiconte who sent this Damosell to conduct me hither for your succour Ah my good Lord aunswered the Knight often haue I heard of that worthy woman who as I vnderstand is Sister to the King of Aquilea a maruailous louer of Knightes vertuous and valiant I promise ye right soone will I go giue her thanks for this excéeding fauour Palladine hearing him speake of Aquilea remembred the letters engrauen on his Sword for which cause he determined to trauaile thither to finde the wise Orbiconte that she might shew him the Lady whereof in his sléepe she did aduertise him Upon this resolution they sate downe to meate and after the Tables were withdrawne the Damosell thus spake Sir Knight you haue accomplished the promise you made me for which I thanke ye and will make report thereof to my Lady and mistresse to whome I must with all dilligence returne being assured of this Knightes safetie wherefore I humbly take my leaue because I meane to be gone very earely in the morning Palladine sorie she would be gone so soone sayd If it like ye faire Damosell I will conduct ye on your way for your Ladyes sake who beares me such affection without any desert My Lord quoth she I hartely thanke ye but my Lady commaunded me to returne alone assuring me to escape on the way without any disturbance and albeit she had not so charged me yet should ye not by my meanes trauaile so soone for your wounds are yet not to dally withall but I will leaue an vnguent with your Squire that shall right soone recouer them from danger Seeing then sayd Palladine that my companie is needlesse let me intreate ye to commend me to your mistresse to whome while I liue I shall remaine an affectionate seruant and Knight And to the end you may remember me and in requitall of the good Sheeld you brought me weare this chayne of gold for my sake and forget not my humble dutie to the Lady Orbiconte The Damosell receiuing the chayne tooke her leaue of him and the Knight and on the morrow rode toward Aquilea leauing Palladine with the Knight who brought the Prince to his owne Castell shewing him â—hâ— place where the incontinent villaine murthered the yong virgin CHAP. XVII ¶ How the Prince Palladine trauailing toward Aquilea was aduertised of the beautie of Brisalda Duchesse of Bulgaria for whose loue Dardalon the proud mayntayned Ioustes against all commers and of the cruell Combate betweene him and Palladine PAlladine remained with the Knight till his wounds were healed being entertayned meruaylous nobly and setting on his iourney toward Aquilea on the frontiers of Dace he met an armed Knight with a Squire bearing his Helmet and Launce whome
Dace with the Duke of Dardania their confederate hauing passed the Albane Mountaines were encamped within a league of Baldina And of this Armie the King himselfe was the leader hauing in his companie a Giant named Muzimalde the mightiest man in stature that euer was séene who bare a huge mace of stéele twelue foote in length being answerable in weight to the greatnes thereof The Princes of Misia and Dace had charge of the maine battell and the Duke of Dardaniâ— the ariergard with two thousand Thracians ordained in the wings which were newly come to giue them succour Thus doo these Armies with furie encounter together and great hauock is made on either side especially the Aquileans were in greatest ieoperdie But now the Knight without rest Broantine Liboran and certaine Gentlemen appointed by the wise Orbiconte to accompanie them arriue in the féeld and séeing that side goe to wracke for whose assistance they trauailed thither like Lyons and no men they thrust among the thickest where breaking the aray of their enemies no one durst stand before them but paid his life for ransome of his boldnes At length the Knight without rest encountred the huge Muzimalde and though the weightie strokes of his mace did often put the Prince in danger yet by pollicy and fine chiualrie in the end he got the better of the Giant sending his soule to the Deuill whome he resembled The Panomans at this fight were greatly dishartened finding themselues vnable to hold out any longer so the Dukes of Sclauonia and Liburnia tooke many noble prisoners among whome were the Princes of Dace and Dardania the Duke of Misia being slaine by the hand of the Prince Almiden and the rest of the Panonians with shame driuen to â—light When the honor of the day was thus fallen to the Aquileans the two Princes Almiden and Zorian sent for the knight without rest and his companions whome after they had embraced they desired to goe with them to the King their Father who should remunerate the great paines they had taken And that his Maiestie might vnderstand their good successe a Courrier was sent before in all haste and being brought into the Kings chamber where the Quéene and Nonparelia were present he deliuered his letters wherein the Princes had not spared to report the worthie déedes of the knight without rest and theirs likewise that came in his companie so that the King demaunded of whence and what the Knight was who in his cause had behaued himselfe so brauely whereto the messenger thus answered My Lord it is as yet vnknowne of whence he is yet this I can assure ye that he is one of the most goodly Gentlemen that euer I sawe And in the Armie it is reported that had not he come when he did and your Captaine Broantine with other in their companie your Maiestie had lost the day for our auantgaid being broken the Giant Muzimalde laid on such load as horsse and man he strooke to the ground But at the arriuall of this Knight euen as some God had taken humane shape vpon him our courage encreased the huge Giant by his hand was slaine and all the rest stood amazed as doubting to fight or turne their backs When the King of Panonia who was in person in the battell sawe the onely man he trusted in thus confounded with his Sonne and fiue hundred men he set furiously vpon vs meaning to reuenge the Giants death if he could but this heate lasted not long for our men séeing the incredible magnanimitie of this Knight and his companions followed him with such alacritie of courage as the King and all his men were driuen on a heape and had not a sudden winde and extreame storme fallen among vs the King and his Sonne had béene slaine or taken But the weather beating vpon our faces we could not discerne which way they fled till we espied them on the tops of the Mountaines whereupon this Knight and his companions made after them killing many of them among the hilles and brought backe with them fiftéene prisoners For conclusion I thinke our great Prophet sent this Knight by whome the Princes your Sonnes and all our liues are saued The good King was so glad of these tidings as he tooke â— rich chaine from his arme and gaue it the messenger earnestly desiring to sée the Knight without rest that hée might account of him as his vertues deserued and foorthwith he commaunded through his Realme a generall reioycing should bée made for this happie victorie with bonfires ringing of belles and such like signes of gladnes The Princesse Nonparelia hearing the messenger so highly extoll the knight without rest became immediatly amorous of him longing for the returne of her Brethren that she might sée the image of her desire On the morrow the King commaunded all his Estates to goe méete his Sonnes and the Knight without rest charging them to honor him as they would doo him selfe which they fulfilled effectually as in the Chapter following you shall behold CHAP. XXX ¶ How the Aquilean Princes and the Knight without rest arriued at the Court and their gracious entertainement by the King Queene and faire Nonparelia GReat haste made the Princes of Aquilea to the Courte that they might present the Knight without rest to the King their Father and when they drewe neere the Citie such a multitude of people met theÌ„ on the way to sée the Knight so highly renowmed as they could not ride on for the prease throng At the Citie gates they were welcommed with many learned Orations all the stréetes being hanged with costly Tapistry as it had béene to entertaine the greatest Monarch in the world And the good old King very weake and crazie by reason of his late sicknesse came in person to the Pallace gate accompanyed with all the Princes Lords of his Court when his two Sonnes hauing humbly kissed his hand the Knight without rest would haue done the like but the King would not permit him wherefore he embraced him in his armes as though he had béene as great a state as himselfe Gentle Knight quoth he welcome and frollick in our Court for such report haue I heard of your vertue and prowesse as neuer was I more desirous of any thing then to see that worthie man who with honorable paines laboured in my seruice hazarding your life and person for him that neuer deserued such fauour and freendship My Lord answered the Knight without rest this gracious kindnesse exceedeth all report in deigning to accept of me so honorably I being but a poore and simple Knight errant readie to passe straights of death in your seruice Ah my Sonne sayd the King death hast thou alreadie aduentured for me for which I cannot returne sufficient recompence yet if I cannot requite you effectually my good will shall not want wheresoeuer you be in meane time aske what you will and be assured to speede So taking him by the one hand and his Sonne Almiden by
Turke but our Gods from whose sight nothing can be shadowed knowing what before was accorded and concluded betwéen her and the Knight without rest whome you haue séene in my brothers Courte he being the Sonne of a mighty and puissant King haue apparantly reuealed that their faithfull promise to eache other must not be falsefied promise I say of mariage betwéene them wherof my selfe am a sworne witnesse In vaine is it then for you thus to alleadge that the Knight without rest is a Christian and my Niece a Pagan but let it suffise ye that our Gods will haue it so as you in short time shall sée further experience Doo you therfore direct your compasse to the coaste of Spaine that from thence we maye saile into England the seate and Kingdome of the Knight without rest after the deceasse of his Father who is yet liuing Feare not any inconuenience that may ensue héereby for I will be your safe protection and no woorsse shall fall to you héerby then to my Niece and my â—esâ—e and of her haue I greater care then were she my owne Daughter Heerewith she paused expecting what answere they would returne but discerning by their countenances that they liked not her speeches as also they were loth to come among the Christians their enemies without a better warrantise of their safetie she began againe in this manner Why my fréendes are you so fearefull as you shewe your selues doo you think any harme shall happen to you in my companie am not I and my Niece sufficient for your assurance what other safe conduct would ye haue we goe into the land of our kindred and freends to confirme a perpetuall peace and concorde with one of the moste vertuous Princes in the world My Nephewe the Prince Zorian who departed you knowe with that gentle Knight there is he louingly entertained fauoured by him whom the Gods preordained to be my Nieces husband Saile we on then merilye and feare not the displeasure of the King my brother for well am I assured that they will not dislike this mariage And were I not fullye perswaded of what I haue saide that the ende of our enterprise shall sorte to a generall benefit yea to a full resolued ioye and content on all sides I would not haue aduentured thus farre being as carefull of your good as mine owne life These spéches so throughly animated the Mariners and Gentlemen as they promised to fulfill what she gaue them in charge being certaine that Orbiconte tolde them nothing but what she had foreseen by her wonderfull knowledge and therfore passing by Hercules pillers they entred the Ocian directing their compasse toward great Britaine By y e way they were set vpon by thrée pirats who seeking to take the spoyle of the Ship stew many Gentlemen and Mariners and when they were brought to the very hardest exigent that they thought verily to be taken by the Pirates three English shippes came to their rescue wherein the high Admirall of England was who had béene in Portugall with the King to aduertise him of the mariage of his two Nieces to the Princes Manteleo and Landastines The Ships of England encountred the Pirats and after long fight tooke them then comming to knowe of whence the Ship was that had béene so distressed the man that was sent to demaund the question was Captaine Broantine who accompanyed the Admirall in this voiage Ioyfull was Orbiconte when she beheld Broantine and comming on boord the Admirall to whome Broantine reuealed of whence they were and that Palladine long expected their arriuall in England it is not to be asked how courteously he entertained them vowing to take sharpe reuenge on the Pirates for their villainous dealing Broantine declared to Nonparelia the health of Palladine and her brother Zorian how he was Christened and affianced to the faire Graciana of Flaunders which newes pleased her not a little as also this happie and fortunate deliuerance which she verily thought hardly to escape with life The Admirall made them the best chéere he could on Ship boord and afterward committed them to the charge of Broantine to see them safely conducted into England himselfe taking order for the Pirates Ships which after he had ransacked as he pleased he followed withall as wind and weather gaue him leaue CHAP. XXXVIII ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and Orbiconte arriued in England where they were royally entertayned by the King and his Princesse And how Palladine bewrayed what had passed betweene him and his Lady wherewith the King and Queene were well contented HAuing sayled with a good and prosperous winde at length the Ships came on the cape of Cornewall and from thence to the Isle Benedict where coasting as occasion serued leauing the cape of Pinda they tooke harborow in the Ile of Wight from whence Broantine senta Brigandine before to aduertise Palladine how néere his Lady was the wise Orbiconte writing to him in this manner The Letter from the wise Orbiconte to Palladine Prince of England THese are to aduertise ye Lord Palladine that by the assistance of the highest God my Niece Nonparelia and I are safely arriued in the Isle of Saint Helena from whence we will shortly set forward according to the promise I made at your departure from Aquilea hauing doone my vttermost in your cause for my Niece who as you knowe hath refused the great Emperour of Turkie making choyse of you aboue all other in respect of your faithfull vowe to her made in my chamber at her Fathers Pallace which I hope you will not now forget considering what hath béene doone at your earnest instance Therfore if as yet you haue not done it make the King your Father and the Quéene acquainted therewith and that so soone as possible you can because I would sée your mariage perfected before my returne to Aquilea that I may credibly assure the King my Brother what high good fortune is befallen his Daughter as also the continuall honor promised you by the destemes and not to you alone but to your issue heereafter likewise Thus awaiting opportunitie to acquaint you at large with our nauigation and what dangers we haue escaped on the Sea as your Admirall and Broanâ—ine can testifie who deliuered vs from bloodthirstie Pirates I ceasse presenting hartie good will to you from my Niece and my selfe From the Isle of Saint Helena By your affectionate freend Orbiconâ—e Such were the contents of the Letter sent from the wise Orbiconte to the Prince Palladine which was presented him by one of Broantines Gentlemen as he was walking in the Garden with the King and Queene conferring on the preparation for the triumphs at the mariage of Marcelina and Florea No sooner had he read the name of Orbiconte and from whence the Letter was directed but he began to change his countenance meruailously which the King perceiuing said What newes hath Broanâ—ine sent ye that makes your rouller alter in such sort the Letter doubtlesse is the cause
when you shall vnderstand who hath beene the cause of all the honors obtained by Palladine you will alter your conceit of displeasure toward me I desire ye to comfort your selfe with the sight of our little Sonne Vnyon of whose welfare I am no lesse glad then were I Lord of all the Orcedes Your bed hath not béene abused hauing thereby gained so faire a flower and well may you thus vaunt of your Palladine that he is vowed to his Sonnes good fortune maugre the crueltie of the greatest Tirant in the world And albeit I haue espoused Nonparelia she must remaine as my wife without diminishing any part of the good will wherein I am indebted to Brisalda of the rich Islands Your freend for euer Palladine Hauing sealed this Letter with his Seale of Armes and bound about it a little golden Chaine whereat he fastened a costly Diamond he deliuered it to the messenger saying My fréend deliuer this from me to thy noble mistresse with my continuall dutie to her good grace desiring her to keepe this Iewell for my sake in that it is the chéefest I make account of As for your paines this Chaine of gold from mine owne neck I giue ye and let it serne as part of a recompence toward your trauaile Thus is the messenger returned to the Duchesse who hauing read the Letter from Palladine qualified her sorroweâ— by good perswasions and afterward maried with the Prince Alfâ—an of Ireland Now commeth Palladine into the great Hall and there renewed his former communication with Caesar and the euening being spent in Maskes and braue deuises onely to honor the Emperours Sonne at length they all betake themselues to their Chambers On the morrow Caesar came to the Ladyes desiring them to sâ—e him trie his fortune at the Statues which he perswading himselfe able to finish was disappointed with a shamefull repulse the greefe whereof so offended him as that day he secretly departed from the Court net bidding the King or any one adiew The day following as Palladine was walking in the Garden with the King he entred into these speeches My gracious Lord and Father hauing graunted me to marrie with the Lady whose vertuous qualities deserued a much better husband I greatly doubt least the King her Father being ignorant of our former contract will finde himselfe so agréeued heereat that he will seeke reuenge as Kings are wont to doo which in plainer tearmes is by the Sword To preuent the daunger imminent in this case our fréend Lydiseo being now King of Hungaria through whose Dominions he must néedes passe I thinke it not amisse to aduertise him héereof that he may there offer resistance while we prouide héere our men and munition in readinesse Héereto may my Brethren of Norgalles and Millayne be auailing likewise wherefore with their Wiues they intend to returne home into their countreys and they being our faithfull allyed freends will there likewise haue their subiects in readinesse to giue vs succour if néede shall require My Sonne answered the King séeing the marriage is accomplished it is too late to be blamed or now to vse spéeches in this behalfe which are but friuolous and vnprofitable I pray thée therefore reserue to thy children if thou happen to haue any a future peace without any cause of warre or molâ—station and well hast thou aduised vs as concerning our beloued Brother the King of Hungaria to whome within these ten dayes I will send mine Ambassadour Meane while our Sonnes of Norgalles and Millayne shall haue all things readie to depart when they please as loth to hinder their good determination or any thing that may be for thy quiet and suretie Manie other matters were that day dispatched in Councell all of as great importance as this which I will passe ouer with silence because the secrets of Kings are not to bée made common The Ambassadour for Hungaria being dispatched conduded Manteleo and his Lady to Millayne where he left this married couple so combred with prouision for warre 〈◊〉 they not forgetting any part of their amorous desires are ten monethes were past Marcelina was deliuered of a goodly Sonne named Hector of Millayne imitating his Father in déedes of chiualrie yet beeing the first of that name that euer wan honor in the feeld If Manteleo was welcomed with great ioy by his Father and his Subiects Landastines was not inferiour to him when he entred Norgalles where the old King Harfron his Father woorthely entertained him being so glad of his good fortune as hauing embraced and kissed the Princesse Floraea the teares tricled downe his white beard with inward conceite of ioy Ah my Sonne quoth he how much are we bound to thanke the God of heauen for this especiall signe of his grace and fauour how am I and mine likewise continually to reioice that our tribute to the Crowne of England is thus fréely forgiuen vs in happie houre was this mariage concluded that not onely bringeth a continuall league of peace but disburdeneth vs of a paiment troublesome to our whole countrey Now dare no enemie vexe vs with warre séeing we haue the King of England our fréend wherefore my Sonne for bringing this comfort to thy Fathers hart whose age makes him now vnfit to gouerne any longer heere I deliuer the Crowne into thy hands not doubting but thou wilt rule as thy Father hath doone before thee Landastines being thus honored and put into y e full possession of the Crowne of Norgalles soone after made the King his Father a Graundsire by the birth of Don Celidon his Sonne to the no little ioy of all his Subiects The like good hap had the Prince Palladine to honor the aged King Milanor withall Nonparelia being deliuered of the yong Prince Flerano at whose birth were many good fortunes prognosticated for which the Citizens of London in signe of their reioycing caused bonefires to be made in the streetes and the Belles were rung day and night during the space of a sennighte All things being come to so good effect and the maryed Louers in their owne Countreys the wise Orbicoâ—te would now likewise take her leaue for a mightie Griffon as red as blood came flying from the aire into the Pallace which she laying hold vpon came before the King Milanor and the Quéene and to Palladine framed her spâ—eches in this manner My noble nephewe I beséech ye as you loue your honor and renowme and are desirous to make it immortall that you will cause your yoong Sonne to be carefully nourished assuring you that his deedes shall be correspondent to his name floorishing aboue all the Knightes of his time he being the onely flower that euer grew in England And not onely shall he be famous for deedes of Armes and Chiualrie but vertue and loyaltie he shall haue in such commendation as no Lady in the world shall be found woorthie of his loue but Pamphilia Daughter to the Emperour of Greece as yet vnborne Florano shall loue loyally this Lady In his loue he shall be so secret sure and well aduised and she like to him in all these giftes aâ— through the world they may not be equalled To him and her are the aduentures of the Statues reserued let none therefore séeke before that time to obtaine them And now will I to Aquilea to confirme your peace with the King my Brother and lay downe order for his reuolt to Christianitie Her spéeches thus ended and fréendly embracings passed on all sides she cast her selfe on the Griffons back and mounting into the aire left England and is gone toward Aquilea With this meruailous accident we meane to pause and héere conclude our long labour according to the appointment of Polismar and Palnocid auncient Historiographers of woorthy memory who first deliuered this Historie in the Brittish toong FINIS To the Gentlemen Readers HEere did Claudius Colet of Champaigne who wrote this Worke in the French toong make a full conclusion of the Historie and I hauing no further scope but bound to follow the direction of mine Author heere doo I likewise knit vp the famous discourse of Prince Palladine What errours haue past in my simple translation I must commit to the freendly iudgement of such as knowe that the wisest may step awry and he was neuer yet heard of that pleased â—uery humour My good will is greater then my abilitie and when a man doth bestowe his endeuour onely to delight and not dâ—splease it is courtesie to entertaine such a ones labours freendly considering the recompence is small for a tedious trauaile The historie of Palmendos and Primaleon promised in my two partes of Palmerin d' Oliua as leysure will permit shall be perfected in meane while for Countries sake bid Palladine welcome which the French haue published in the honor of England Honos alit Artes. Your well wishing freend Anthony Munday DIuers foule faultes are escaped in the imprinting in some places words mistaken as rich procall for riciprocall in Brisaldaes Letter to Palladine and diuers other by mishar left out and partly by want of my attendance to reade the proues beeing called away by matters of greater importance and whereto I am bound by dutie of mine office therefore as you happen to finde them and are able to conceiue what in truth they should be let me intreate you freendly to correct them because I am loth to trouble you with a gathered Errata