his least that our enemies who are Pagans and in whome yet neuer appeared any sparke of loyaltie or fidelitie as well we knowe should intend some thing against our prisoner both hurtful vnto them and vs and I am of opinion that if vnbeléeuing men containe such good thoughts as to vse kindnes and benignitie towarde their enemies the like or more ought appeare in them that professe faith and loyaltie Wee then that follow the right path of a farre better religion should thinke on no fraude or trumperie whatsoeuer and much lesse in time of a kinde intreaty as we promise to our prisoned enemie vnder hope whereof they whom our enemies detaine of ours may receiue such fauour from them as they shall not be compelled to doo any thing hurtfull to themselues Let vs not then constraine him to any thing against his will much lesse let vs speake or once open our mouthes concerning any marriage in that it will seeme a matter incredible to our enemies that against the lawes of our religion wee would permit the marriage of a Pagan with a Christian this were but to make them veryly beléeue that we would altogether forsake our God and the conâ—idence we haue hitherto reposed in him to worship with them their false gods Iupiter Mahomet Mercurie Phoebus and such like idols as they reuerence as things celestiall so altogether to take their parte whereas we ought not shew them the least attaint of our thoughts but firmely to stand on our strong faithfull foundation toward God who euermore hitherto hath maintained and preserued vs by his exceeding mercie and inuincible dower And still in his goodnes we ought to resolue with our selues that all the Bethulians were in times past deliuered from the miserable and cruell siedge of cruell Holofernes onely by power diuine that for their deliuerance raised vp a woman who by vndauntable stomach cut off the head of their chéefest enemie we by the like or greater miracle by his supreame and diuine grace shall be deliuered from our proud enemy for whose destruction if our strength be two feeble or in any sort wanteth hee can by his will if we firmely trust in him make flye on them againe eyther the Sword of Gedeon or Aioth or else an other Iudeth to ouerthrow and exterminate theyr dayes altogether so to preserue and deliuer them that abide in faithfull obedience and trust continuing theyr firme hope and assurance onely in him We sée by many holy and sacred misteries and examples wherewith the diuine and holy Scriptures are plentifully stored and furnished from how many euils and mischiefes he deliuered and miraculouslie preferued the Children of Isaack and Israell that trusted in his goodnesse and mercie and did with hearts full of deuotion and penitence call for his helpe and succour in theyr calamities and afflictions let vs then altogether trust hope in him beleeuing that he is at this present euer hath beene and for euer will bee as gracious and mightie as then hee was and in this hope let vs take paine valiantlye and couragionslie to defend our selues for if we had this resolution in vs though we were as men without hart or power I am perswaded that fiue hundred of vs shall suffise to impeache the entrance of our enemie were they as many more in number as they are and so attend the arriuall of our hoped succour albeit they should tarry a moneth yet longer in comming when he had concluded in this sorte the wise and vertuous king Floridamant seeing by â—xteriour demonstration that the greater part of the assistants approoued and highly praysed the good councell of the valâ—ant olde Candior Duke of Normandie fastened on his words and thus began himselfe My good friends and faithfull companions if in this aduersâ—tie which hath not béene common with you or mee I haue some cause of greefe to sée my selfe in extreame danger of loosing my estate and Crowne which my predecessours by their prudence and vertue so long time happilie preserued in all flourishing ioy and prosperitie yet withall I haue now great reason to comfort my selfe séeing so manie vertuous and valiant persons embarqued in the same ship readie to run in like daunger of fortune with me who not onely by effects of their prowesse and valour lets mee apparantly behold what good will they beare to the conseruation of the christian weale publique but likewise do trauaile by their aduise and councell to acquaint both mine eyes and certaine experience with what zeale and affection they embrace the conduct of mine estate and howe forward they are for the preseruation of all Christendome which would bee meruaylously shaken if this wofull distressed kingdome at this instant the most flourishing estate of all where the name of Iesus Christ is knowne honored and glorified should fall as a praye to the enemie that séeke to take and vtterly ruinate it For which I ought chéefely to thanke my God as vnfaynedly I doo that he hath not altogether forsaken mee in this calamitie and miserie but not onely hath prouided me of such valiant knights and warriours as you all are but withall hath lent me men so skilfull and aduised It séemeth then good to me that according to the discréet councell of Duke Candior of Normandie that we should not séeke to delay but patiently endure the enemies assault when they shall againe with their great number giue the attempt and without any shew of feare eyther without or within the Cittie carrie no regard of our liues or goods but imploye our selues together manfully to defend so iust a quarrell as this for which we fight And let vs so behaue our selues that our enemies may know how the Lord God that assisteth vs and can if hee please take our caâ—se in hand is onely mightie and will by vs deliuer such testimonie of fortitude to the worlde as neither is in their power or the false idolatrous Gods which they worship to doo in vaine then shall they thinke to feare vs or worke such ruine to vs as they intended In this deliberation each of you take courage and he assured that whosoeâ—dr dyeth in hardie tryall of this fight it shall bee a perpetuall honor to him in this world and a glorious life to him in the endlesse world where he shall triumphe of the fayrest victorie Neuertheles I doo not reiect the good councell and aduise of the king Ferrand Grandilaor and others agréeing with them whereto if we sée vrgent necessitie constraine vs wee may vse them as we find cause to vphold our selues on our feete what euer betide vs marie yet we must not so slightlie condiscend thereto without further feeling of our enemies force then as yet we haue without any great disaduantage Hauing thus sayd ech commended and agréed on this resolution and so rysing from councell they went to prepare to withstand the assault as héereafter ye shall read because we must héere conclude this chapter CHAP. 18. How the Pagans prepared
pittilesse and dangerous stormes THe skilfull Ladie Orphisa began then to recounte her aduenture to the Fayrie Knight in this manner You must vnderstand sir Knight that I am daughter to the wise and vertuous king of Lusitania a man by reason of his prudence and valour sufficiently knowne to all the world as hauing doone many things worthie of memorie the â—ame whereof is bruted euery where He being named Diegonde was in his younger yeares a most accomplished knight euen in the time of king Dorino father to the king of Spaine at this instant reigning who had a daughter in yeares mariageable called Pollyda This Ladie beside her excellencie of beautie could cunningly twist spin sowe as is most proper to women likewise she was well instructed in good letters and the liberall Artes in such sort as she was able to disgrace the most wise and studious Philosophers of those times so subtillie could shee dispute of matters depending in Morrall and Naturall Philosophie concerning her selfe By reason héere of shee became so proud and audacious as shee imagined no man then liuing in the world was worthie to ioyne with her in mariage and therefore despised all so that there was no one how woorthie so euer that durst enterprise to demaund the question no not the great King of England who in those dayes was the most fayre and accomplished knight in the world and highly loued of King Dorino because of his valour But the King my Father who was become amorous of her would put it in aduenture either to gaine her in marriage or be altogether refused And in this resolution hee wente to the king of Spaines Court where within short time after his arriuall the Daughter hauing heard the cause of his comming thither gaue him to vnderstand by one of her Pages that he could win nothing but losse of time by séeking to ioyne in marriage with her and therefore he should do much better to imploy his purpose about other occasions Héereat although the king my father was extreamly offended yet left he not for all that to pursue the cause and made his request to the king of Spaine who would not marrie her against her will with such importunitie as in the end the Father and the daughter were constrained to graunt the pretended marriage yet vnder this condition That eight dayes before the nuptials my Father should be bound to hold open Ioust a whole day together against all knights that should present themselues at this generall tourney which expresselie was there appointed for honour of that day and if hee were vnhorsed by any knight hee should desist from his importunate sute and request of mariage But if fortune smiled so fauourablie on him as that he went away conqueror in this enterprise then eight dayes afterward the desired mariage should be accomplished My father who was caryed away with ouer hot and â—urious heat of marrying this faâ—re and skilfull Pollyda accounting no danger to be in the enterprise willingly yéelded to the mariage vnder the condition proposed although he knew right well that those times affoorded great number of most hardie and braue knights that knew how to behaue themselues in the Ioust and could dismount such as carryed better estéeme then themselues But amongst all and beyond all the rest was reckoned as most strong and valiant in each point of chiualâ—ie the young knight Floridamant sonne to the great king Brandismell of England and him onely my Father doubted as sundry times before hee acquainted me withall Weighing then aduisedly the valour of this young knight he began somwhat to dispayre of the issue of his attempt and as in this thought he stood pensiue and troubled he concluded to put in practise what heretofore was sayd by the great Lacedemonian Admirall Lysander to wit that where the Lyons skinnâ— fell out to short to peece it out with the Foxes case minding to vse industrie and cunning in these affayres where hee thought strength and manhood might happen to fayle hauing to deale with such mightie and puissant aduersaries In this determination vnderstanding that the great king Belligande of Gaule had a Launce the yron poynte whereof was so inchanted as all such as were touched therwith should bee dismounted eyther by sleight or force hee resolued to be possessed thereof imagining which of these meanes were lykest to speed and to aduenture both rather then fayle of his intent To bring about this stratageme he went with all speed into the realme of Gaule where beeing hee heard that in a Forrest appertayning to that kingdome dwelt a certaine man which termed himselfe a knight but commonly hee was called the cunning Théefe and so subtill was hee in robbing as nothing could escape his fingering and all his attempts were so artificially compassed as such as had lost any thing or were otherwise robbed presently the blame of their losse was imputed to him he likewise séeing each one estéeme him such a famous théeâ—e and so admire his sleights and pollicies tooke great pleasure therein and oftentimes would sit solemnly smiling thereat To this man the king my father foorthwith trauailed and promised him very large summes of money if he could rob the king of this enchaunted Launce which he so safelie kept in his Cabinet as it was thought impossible to get it thence The cause why hee held it with such vigilant care was for the loue of a fayrie named Oziris who thereof had made a present to him hoping withall hereafter to leaue it to a sonne of his which as yet was but a very yong infant Notwithstanding the great difficultie consisting in this busines yet in respect of the large summe of money the théefe promised to deliuer this Launce into my fathers hand as he did the day after my father had this conference with him but first he thus bespake him Knight quoth he to the king my father in that hee had no other knowledge of him it is necessarie if yee would haue this Launce that to morrow you goe with me to the great Cittie of Poictiers where the king of Gaule at this present maketh his abode and where hee is determined to holde a generall tourney because as to morrow is the day when he wan the victorie against the Giant Perceuall who had long time before greatly trauayled and molested him with warre I will stay for ye néere the place where the Torney is to bee kept and you shall go to the king telling him that I am the Knight Lorgolio Cosen to the Giant Perceuall whom hee slew by treason wherefore I am come to defie him in combate man to man to reuenge the death of the Giant my Cosen with which reuenge I should thinke my selfe satisfied might I but breake a couple of Launces with himselfe no other in his defence to offer me iniurie beside hee shall not strengthen himselfe with his enchaunted Launce whereby my Cosen receiued his death and for better assurance heereof he shall deliuer that
the messenger but that his intent was not to accomplish and performe anie of those seuerall demaundes in that they were ouer iniurious and vnreasonable and not to bee allowed of in any wise Beside that hee said if his enemies eyther had or should set downe such a resolution concerning his ruine and destruction hee with his councell and Nobles were concluded to stande on theyr defence in resistance of the least euill that might â—e For the rest each one should doe their vttermost endeuour according as himselfe hither to had doone and neuer yet could any enemy compell him to matters against his will wherefore it was too late for him now to begin and so quoth he to the messenger yee may returne with this answere Which presently he did whereat the Pagans greatly meruayled that a man hauing so few to helpe him should containe such hardinesse as to talke to them of resistance aboue all the rest old Grandowin was extreamely eâ—raged saying that this was not the first act wherein appeared the effects of king Floridamants oure-wéening wherefore he would spéedily take such order with his people as should sharpely make him repent his follie and rashnesse Wherevppon within thrée daies following at the most each one should prepare himselfe readie to armes when such an assault should be made against the cittie as not one stone should be left standing vppon another but bee rased and extermined altogether In regard whereof euery one should withdraw himselfe to his quarter and giue order for all things needfull against the day of assault Heereof the Christian king being aduertised commaunded the Pagan Mycrophon to bee closely locked vp to the end that during this troublesome time hee might compasse no meane of working any treacherie or treason But as for the king of Corse hee restrayned not him of libertie which hee had to walke within the walles of the Pallace royall where was roome sufficient and verye spacious well perceiuing that he was so carryed away with the loue of his daughter with whom and the Queene Bellizene he still kept company assuring them that he would expose himselfe rather for theyr defence then offence and in respect of the conuersation he had had with them no iniurie should bee offered to theyr honor In which spéeches the Queene reposing some confidence but the mayden especially the more willingly they would conuerse with him and among other familiar conferences the Quéene made him recount the number of straunge nations the diuersitie of kings and great captaines that were in theyr Armie their estate forces and deedes of chiuaâ—rie by them in former times performed By which reports they cunningly gleaned from this imprudent Pagan what best might serue for the defence of the Cittie and thorow ouermuch talke he discouered how on which side and by what secret meanes the enemyes had concluded to assaile and seaze on the Cittie withall hee declared to them the manner and custome that those nations were wunt to obserue and vse in such warre which was most likelyest and which not By these meanes king Floridamant had knowledge of many things that serued as speciall rules of discipline to his Court of guard and therfore appointed his men in readines against the threatned daye continually trauayling day and night with Grandilaor Fertand Candior Sylban and other hardie knights of name that were in the Cittie with him who according to his commaund busied themselues very carefully letting nothing flip that any way concerned theyr change During which time one night secretly arriued at the Cittie wall the two valiant knights Andregon Duke of Suffolke and Lampridion Countie of Norffolke both Cosens germaine and highly belooued of king Floridamant The first came from demaunding helpe for the Christians of Dorian king of Spayne and the other from the like affaires in the kingdome of Gaule whether they were sent before the Pagan armie had engirt the Cittie with siedge and both returning at one selfe same time after many aduentures befalling them in the expedition of theyr voyages met together on the way and so trauailing in company arriued there about the houre of midnight not being espyed by any of the enemies Campe who then were in their dead sleepe and comming to the foote of the wall on that side where the king of the Suitzers had charge and where as then a good Cittizens was Sentinell one of the richest and best Souldiours of the Cittie being called Hoaster that knew them very well because he had familiarlie frequented the houses of these two Christian knights and and they well perceiuing that Hoaster knew them by their spéech sent presently woord of their arriuall to king Floridamant who caused the neerest gate of the cittie to them to be opened when they safely entred not being at all discouered by the enemie Hee that came from Spaine aduertised his maiestie how king Dorian vnderstanding his war against the Pagans concluded immediatly to come himselfe in person attended on by a strong and puissant armie to assist king Floridamant his old companion and the christian people that inhabited great Brittaine for which cause he summoned a méeting of his subiects promising to be in England in very short time These tidings brought Andregon and Lamprydion deliuered the like from king Belligand of Gaule how forward hee was in deuoire to send him succour his armie being leueyed and readie to depart and had â—re then set forward but that the king daylye expected the Prince Diodamas his sonne a man of great valour who had not long before receiued his order of knighthood being gon in quest of an other knight that had in his keeping a Fayrie Launce where of hee had robd the king his father which Launce hee heard was againe recouered by the young prince and he returning home ward when being come hee should away to England with the armie For these glad tidings king Floridamant thanked God trusting in him and to the speeding supplie each houre expected resoluing to defend himselfe if he should be assayled without any issuing foorth to the enemie neither to sight except he should be enforced there vnto vntill these Armies were ioyned with him Attending which time he thought good to prolong day of the assault kéeping their enemies in breath and these affayres in good foresight which to compâ—sse he thought on euery likely and expedient remedie as yee may perceiue in the Chapters following CHAP. 16. Howe the Princesse Polydamie beholding from the height of a Tower the Campe and countenance of the Pagans was shewen by Angrafolt who were the cheefe commaunders in so great a multitude And the Princesse seeing the Scythian monster swouned with conceit of feare when Angrafolt conueyed her thence into the Queenes chamber MEane while to finde some meane of deferring the generall assault which the Pagans in their councell had determined against the Cittie of London king Floridamant consulted with the hardie knights of his councell and other noble personages that then were in the Cittie with
hir daughter that for recouerie of her health it was thought expedient shee should change the ayre and it she were so pleased she should be conducted to the Emperours Castell of pleasure which was not farre without the Cittie of Constantinople She answered with a spent and wearyed voyce that she submitted her selfe to their good pleasures and desired she might haue to kéepe hir companie her Coosin Harderina and the Lady Marcella You shall haue them quoth the Empresse with all things else shall stand with your liking in meane while then bee of good cheere that wee may â—ee yée well againe so soone as possible may be if ye regard the ioy of the Emperour and mee Hauing spoken these words the teares fell from her eyes in such aboundance gréeuing to sée the faire princesse of the world in this weake estate as being ouercome with sorrow she was constrained to depart the chamber not saying any thing but that shee should rest her selfe awhile and shee would go giue order for her departure Which accordingly she did and after all things were in a readinesse the day being still calme and cléere Sagibell aduised the Emperour and Empresse that now the time serued most fâ—tly for conuaying the princesse to the place appointed without making any longer stay least any contrarie accident should happen as â—ight crosse theyr determination so sound and profitable Wherefore the Empresse with consent of the princesse Porphiria who was pale wan and consumed with greefe as nothing was expected more then her â—uriall so woonderfully was she weakened and changed hauing lost hir vermillion blush the life and essence of her diuine beautie which made her loued and honoured of the most fayre and valiant Knight of the world to wit the man so farre renewmed by Ozyris caused a Litter to be brought couered with greene veluet and lined all through within with the same the nayles and frindges of beaâ—en gold and the arches ouer head richly embolished wherein was layd the languishing and amourous princesse who séemed therein as a bright shining Sunne such as chased Diana amongst the troope of hir fayre Nimphes and therein was placed with hir Harderina to entertaine the time of iourney with comfortable spéeches Each one may imagine without any setting downe in writing the wofull sighes and teares of the father and mother and the generall lamentations on euery side at this departure for they had neither heard or séene any cause of reioysing in long time before In this sort and very well accompanied especially with her phisition she was conducted to a very faire and pleasant Castell which the Emperour had caused to bee built fiue or sixe miles from the Cittie of Constantinople wherin because it was seated and builded so meruailous stronglie the Emperours treasure riches and most precious iewels were kept This Castell was erected very stately to beholde for the walles wherewith it was enuiâ—oned was of stoâ—e so white as â—ine Iuorie the inclosures and base courts were on the one side guarded with the maine Sea and on the other with ditches so large and deepe as the space contained thrée quarters of a mile rather more then lesse so saith the Historian that saw the measure thereof taken by a Geomatrician of that time when it was made It was bodyed with many beautifull lodgings in goodly faire Towers and Turrets euery chamber being in most swéete and wholsome ayre and backt with sundrie galleries of all sorts and fashions the couerings whereof were of lead wrought and cut into many curidus deuises of workmanship hauing standing aloft thereon fayre vaynes and weather cocks of golde and siluer The Gardens and Arbours were heâ—d in with swift runnings riuers and cleere fountaines and to say all in breefe there wanted not any thing that could be imagined both to strengthen the place as also beseeming such a dainâ—ie compassed Castell Heereinto was brought by the councell of her phisition the most faire princesse of the world for more assured commoditie of knowing and seeing what she most desired according to the promise of the wise Magitian in whom she reposed very great hope and trust and there happened to her what yee shall read heereafter for now we must borrow a little leaue to speake of other matters Chap. 2. Of the Sophie of Persiaes loue to the beautifull Porphiria and how he forsooke and left his kingdome to goe see if her exquisite perfections answered the report of her renowme And how on the way he met two Pilgrimes of diuers sorte the one whereof recounted to him the prowesse beautie and high chiualrie of the Fairie youth during which time they heard a great noise in a Forrest which caused them goe thither Wherein one may note how amorous passions do so maister the hearts of the greatest personages as leading them from the pathes of reason they forsake what is their dutie and all important affaires whatsoeuer cannot withdraw them from seruing their affections And by the Pilgrimes discourse wee may see how commendable true and sincere freendship is and that a good turne ought to bee greatlie esteemed and bindes him in no small bond that hath receiued it especially the heart addicted to noblenesse and vertue I Haue héereto fore declared as yee may read in the fourtéenth and sixtéenth chapters of the former Booke that the great and puissant king of Persia was wonderfully surprised with the loue of this faire princesse whom because we so latelie left yee cannot easilie forget and that by all meanes possible he could deuise he sought how he might attaine her to be his wife So that imagining the contrarietie of his religion might yéeld some reason of hinderance he caused himselfe to be baptized to the end all his people might become Christians he sent for diuers diuines into Christendome that they should come preach and do all the other seruices of good and faithfull Christians in his kingdome Notwithstanding this which he did was but counterfeit and dissimulation that so vnder this pretext he might the more easilie induce the good Emperour of Constantinople father to the maide without difficultie to grant his mariage And to this end sent he messengers and ambassadours expresselie to him to vnderstand his pleasure attending which time transported with impatience of so long delay one day he determined secretlie to depart himselfe that he might behold this so famous beautie by whose picture drawne to the life by some excellent painter of that time he had drunke this sweete sirrop of conceiued loue And as he had suddenlie thus determined as suddenlie did he put it in execution not hauing any companie with him but a Squire of his owne whose fidelitie he neuer called in question to him he gaue his Helmet and Launce to beare is Helmet I say which was beyond all other in temper and goodnes hauing on the Creast thereof a bright shining Carbuncle made in resemblance of the Sunne which an hundred paces euery way about him gaue in the night time
and bemoue their estates more miserablie then did this Princesse of whom we haue made mention in the former Booke and whom ye now behold consounded with folly discheneled running about the fields hauing forsaken the king of high Misia her father to meet the strong and puissant Giant Squamell who thus badly recompenced the seruices she did him by manifold hazards wherein shee aduentured her life onely for his looue Let Ladyes then bee carefull least they fall into any such inconuenience and so making like proofe there ensue like punishment for they are better taught that learne to be wise by others harmes then they that fetch wisedome out of their owne follies So comming againe to our historie we will speake of the two knights whome wee left halfe wounded to death in the Forrest The Historie speaking of them saith that they both reuiued from their traunce the one so soone as the other and that the Giant was he who first espyed the Sophie to be gon hauing caried away the horsse with him wherefore all wounded as he was he ran presently as he had béene mad into the Forrest wherein when hee was but a little entred hee met the old pilgrime wee spake of before who ran thither to hide himselfe when hee heard the noyse of the combate betwéene the Giant and the Knight This was an old Necromancer that could foretell to passengers their good and euill fortune to come and knew by the lineature of theyr handes till what age they should liue and what day what houre by what aduenture and howe they should dye He knew by heart all the bookes of the Sibelles of Circes of Medea of all the old liuing Magitians and the Magitians of former times And because he knew that the Fairie Ozyris was his aduersaire and the greatest enemie in the world to his charmes and enchantments likewise that she had greater skill and knowledge then he and specially that for his ruine and such as he loued she had nourished the onlie knight the cause of our historie he had opposed by an anticharme this strong Giant Squamell and his brother who by theyr owne nature were endued with most high prowesse yet notwithstanding by deuillish subtiltie hee preserued them still from death and to them oft times he gaue admirable and supernaturall strength So that knowing him to be in quest of his horse his shéeld and other aduentures and chéefely that he earnestly desired to haue the enchaunted Cup whereof he sometime had heard great report hee had put them all into the custodie of this strong Giant hauing withall incited and perswaded him in a dreame that he should combate against the most puissant knight on the earth and so set downe as prizes for the conquerour the sheeld the horse and the Cup whereof wee haue spoken Heereupon hee should holde open Ioust to all commers and goers in the Forrest causing the Forrest to bee commonly called The Forrest of great Aduentures and alreadie had he performed many fayre exploits by meanes whereof he was much renowmed thorow the world and very â—arre were his deedes talked of wherevpon the knight so hardly handled came to combate with him of whom heereafter we will speake more liberallie as also by what aduenture and for what reason he was thither conducted But now let vs a little while speake of the Giant who séeing the olde man of whome hee had no more knowledge then if hee had neuer seene him because hee could disguise himselfe in diuers sortes as now he did in the habit of a pilgrime to deceiue such great numbers as passed that waye and as he had deceiued Pharisor if the meeting of the Sophie had not preuented it The Giant at the first sight of him began to be somewhat afrayd seeing him looke so vgly and hidious but the old Enchanter that very well knew him began to reason after this manner Most generous and puissant knight as this day liueth not thy like vnder heauen who now being mortally wounded doost trauerse this darke forrest of high aduentures stay thy selfe and forbeare if thou be wise to run thus as thou doost to finde and recouer what the destinies will not permit thée as yet And if thou art not enemie to thy selfe but hast regard of thine owne life heare and credit my councell and doo as I shall presently direct thée concerning what I say vnto thée who I am and for what cause I am so carefull of thée the effect shall acquaint thee withall Know then that I am the old and auncient Necromancian Charonifer father to great Minofoll of whom it may bee thou hast sometime heard some spéech such as thou nowe seestmee haue I liued and reigned more than a thousand yeeres It is in my power to make the black night a fayre and bright day and the fairest day againe to make the most darkesome night I can make the Moone and all the starres to discend from heauen downe to the earth by my charmes and enchauntments but a woman of great wisedome oftentimes hinders me from dooing what I would Iknew thy graundfathers who were great kings and Monarches on the earth I haue seene to my ioy the mightie Horfella thy mother who in her life time was very deere to me and whome I looued as mine owne life for of thy forefathers and great vnckles did I receiue my first nourriture and was brought vp from my very youngest yeeres in recompence whereof I haue euermore cherished and looued such as were discended of them especially thee and thy brother Nabot whom I esteeme as much as thee you twaine beeing the most hardie and valiant of all your linage and race So that for your aduancement I haue dayly preserued yee from infinite perrils and â—â—ortall dangers whereinto according to your destinies you were readie to fall but by mine arte I haue preuented all inconueniences which I perceiued were threatned against yée And namely let me remember thée of the deuillish spirits that were in the Castell of the Enchanteresse Melanda which could not be chased thence but by one of the best knights in the world likewise the Combate thou hadst with them by commaundement of the Lady whom thou seruest then maist thou likewise bee mindfull of the great sorrowe and vexation thou wert to endure before thou couldst vanquish them and from which for â—ertaine thou couldst not haue escaped without death but onely by mine arte and by my meanes which succoured and defended thee for there did I so handle the matter that in the end thou didst obtaine the victorie as thy selfe doost very well knowe and nowe againe thou art in farre greater daunger of death if thou doost not as I shall say vnto thee Goe then and follow the path which now thou treadest thorow the forrest vntill that hauing many times turned by my circle made in manner and forme of a Laborynth thou perceiuest thy selfe to be in the middest thereof where thou shalt see a great Trée straite as any Ceder
Launce into your hand to keepe whâ—le we Ioust which I am assured he will not refuse to do thus may you depart and beare away the Launce with yee but if this deuise should faile vs assure your selfe that quickly we will finde another for I will receiuâ— no money of yee before yée haue this Launce so much desired in your possession My father liked well of this councell and to make short it came to passe euen as the theefe had before deuised for the king of Gaule hearing the defiance and weening that all my father tolde was true made no doubte of giuing the Launce into his hand and my father being possessed thereof while the king of Gaule went to put on better Armour both he and the cunning theefe departed so that none could tell what was become of them The king and all his Court at the first tidings hereof was greatly abashed but vnderstanding soone after the cause of this theft and who was the inuenter of this pollicie it was made but a merrie iest of In the end notwithstanding this pleasure did not so con-continue but this fine theefe fearing to be taken was glad to flye from the kingdome of Gaule and passed thence into England where afterwarde hee liued and remained a long time As for the king my father he returned againe by Sea to Lisbone and from thence to Saragossa where the king Doriâ—o then held Courte where beeing arriued he behaued himselfe so well with this slie gotten Launce as all the knights that Iousted against him yea euen the braue knight Floridament were foyled and dismounted to the ground whereâ—â—t the Princesse Pollyda who bare no loue at all to the king my father beeing greatly displeased would haue reâ—used the mariage before agreed vppon by the king Doriâ—o saying that for her parte shee had giuen no consent and without the Brides consent hardly can any mariage be accorded especially with such a one to whome shee could not vse any affection Héereat the king my father being highly offended in furie flunge foorth of the Spanish kings court giuing him many hard tauntes and iniurious speeches for the diâ—â—oyaltie that he sayd remained in him On the other side the king was full of rage and anger against the infant his daughter whom he ceased not dayly to perswade that shee should like well of marrying with king Diegonde of Lusitauia least his credit and reputation should be condemned in vsing trecherie and perâ—idie to so great a Prince So what thorow loue and pleasing spéeches as also force and frowning countenances in the end she yeelded to his wyll But this was after the Lady had had conference with a noble and excellent Fayrie named Ozyris who had beene greatly helping in her birth endowing her with manifolde vertues and riches of spirit for which she was not a little commended and after the decease of her mother Sister to king Barachen of Scotland she had sometime nourished her in her rich inuinsible palace which was in the realme of great Brittaine and euer afterward shee perswaded her that she should not marie with any liuing man which was the cause shee helde so aloofe from this aforesaid marriage After she had well schooled her concerning this matter the noble and vertuous Fayrie sayd that in respect children by the diuine lawe ought obedience to theyr parents and it was her fathers will she should match with the king Diegonde who alreadie had doone so much for her looue and was euen readie to despaire if he fayled thereof shee councelled her not to withstand her fathers appointment And although in former time she had diswaded her from mariage it was because she discerned by her skill that such issue as discended from her in mariage if shee fortuned to haue any should haue hard hap and prooue very vnfortunate which would be such gréefe both to her husband as the greater part of theyr youth would bee spent in greefe and pensiuenesse Notwithstanding if this marriage must néedes be accomplished she promised to vse the matter in such sort as by this coniunction she should neuer haue child And so found she meanes to comfort them sufficiently as heerafter yee shall vnderstand the manner how without iniurie to the beautifull Pollydon but my father by himselfe and his should féele the euill and misfortune whereto yet she promised a day of finall conclusion The Princely maide giuing credit to hir propheticall speeches was greatly comforted and satisfied and so resolued to marie with the king my father after which determination once knowne soone was hee sent for by the King Dorino when with great pleasure and content to euery one he espoused Pollyda with her he liued more then twentie yeares yet could he haue no issue by her which so greeued him confounding his thoughts with sadnes and melancholly as the most part of the time he eat his bread in mone and teares for I imagine it a meruaylous hart breake to a man that desires to liue after his death and perpetuate his memorie by his children to sée his mariage consumed without any generation that might make mention of him when he is dead And such heerefore was his intire conceit of gréefe as oftentimes he meant to repudiate his Queene Pollyda but such againe was the woondrous loue he bare her fearing to offend God and displease king Dorino her father as hee was still diswaded when such thoughts entred his fantasie All this likewise the Queene very well noted and notwithstanding her former despisings yet after her marriage she loued him exceedingly pittying his gréefe but shaddowing her owne so much as possibly she could séeking by all meanes to remedie both as in the end she did by the aduise and counsell of the wise Ozyris who euery daye and in all places assisted her perswading her to doe as followeth One of her wayting Damosels whome my father vsed good countenance towards because she was of perfect beautie being named Olympia daughter to he Duchesse of Terciede a chaste and prudent dame with her the Fayrie aduised the Queene that my father should haue dalliance She following this councell one night when the king my father sent woord to haue her company in bed so cunninglie handled the matter that this damosell lay there insteed of her for the maide was likewise secretly amourous of the king which was the cause that being where she would be she disliked not this swéet and pleasant deceit but without any shew of displeasure shee gladly endured the kings pastime with her séeing the Quéene was so well content to affoord her her place and priuiledge To such effect grew my fathers labours who little thought he was thus beguiled as the Maide was conceiued with childe when afterward the Queene comming to sleepe with the King sayd that she felt her selfe conceiued answerable to his so long desire for which good fortune hee should applaude the heauens from whence procéeded so great good to her Héereof was the king my father glad
their Launces without any further iniurie vnto him but hee had better successe for the first he met felt so soundly the sharpnes of his launce as piercing quite thorow his bodie layd him dead on the earth Two other that maâ—e out after these foure began very fiercely to assaile Taffinor but for all that they vnhorssed him not yet one of them receiued a deadly wound on his shoulder at his hand and so was forced to fall to the ground They that came after hauing their swordes naked in their handes couragiously aduentured on the Christian knights who being ready prepared receiued the valiant strokes of the Pagans on their sheelds without any hurt vnto their bodyes marie each of them stood so stiffely to the Pagans as Gerileon sent one of their heads roundlie from his shoulders and Taffinor slicing off an others arme from his bodye made both Gerileons stroke and his owne agree in an hermonie for the first Pagan dyed immediatly and the other caught such a sudden sicknes as his bloud abâ—undantly streaming foorth called his life soone after The rest of their companions were not a little amazed heereat especially at the puissant strokes of Gerileon with the exceeding vertue valiancie and addresse that they discerned in him so that sixe of theyr fellowes lying dead before theyr faces the other fearefully fled to the troupe of Adylas that they might to him declare theyr misfortune but they were followed euen thither by Gerileon and Taffinor at whose hardinesse Adylas stood greatly abashed and the rather because in his presence Gerileon ouertaking two of the tardyest fugitiues from one he lopt the eare cheeke and shoulder together and tooke off the others head so neatly as if the kéenest Rasor in the world had beene the instrument All the troupe standing affrighted heereat durst not boudge one foote but taryed to heare the pleasure of theyr king who was surprised with no common kinde of pensiuenes imagining that Gerileon was one of the Gods whom he adored to wit Mars the God of battailes and as they supposed that hee was highly displeased with them When hee beheld what hauock the Fayrie knight made of his people hee came foorth from the middest of his troupe to know for certaintie what he was and if he were one of theyr gods with praiers oblations and sacrifices he would appease his anger but Gerileon that made no regarde of such folly prepared to endure the braue against all the rest And for this cause hee entred further in among them with Taffinor where sundring themselues no one durst stirre to approach néere them for in Gerileons countenance they noted such high resolution as they reputed him alone able to foyle a farre greater hoste of men Euen as a lustie Mower in the haruest time in the middest of a well growne field with a sharpe Scithe in his hand cuts downe the grasse and hearbes about him in very great quantitie euen like â—eare had the Pagans of this noble warriour verily thinking him to be some celestiall deitie and many times had they béene brought into such errour for when they beheld any one who by his haughtie déedes séemed to surpasse the common valour of men and had some thing in him to out goe other in hardinesse they easily were induced to beléeue that this was one of their imaginarie Gods This false perswasion serued very well for these two Christians because if all the troupe had risen against them you quickly may conceiue their daunger but the good Angell that conducted them by the helpe of God assisted them in such sort as Adylas alone offered spéech to Gerileon and that in this manner I pray thée if thou bee one of the Gods whose habitations is in heauen tell or shew me by some signe if I haue offended theâ— and wherein I haue giuen cause that thou shouldst thus destroy me and my people assuring thée that if by prayers oblations and sacrifices thine anger is not to bee appeased and thy furie qualified thou shalt no sooner bee returned to thy celestiall mansion but presently thou shalt in aboundance feele the pleasant perfume and exquisite Sabeene odour with large gifts in thy Temple and offerings on thine Altar by me bestowed to thine honor and glory Or if thou be some mortall creature that hast reason thus to come and assayle me killing Argontes my faithfull Achates beside so many of my souldiours then onely tell to me the cause heereof and assure thy selfe that I will repaire whatsoeuer iniurie which thou pretendest to haue receiued by me neither shall any of my men once mooue to offend thée for the great valour and vertue I estéeme to be in thée But if without any reasonable occasion thou hast dared thus boldly to abuse me thou mayst be well assured that thou shalt be chastised according to thy deserts Knight answered Gerileon I imagine thée to be the most apparant man of al thy troope and as I haue heard thou art called Adylas king of Thunis a knight verye famous and of great reputation as I gather because I see thée affable and courteous Wherfore I fréely tell thée that I am none of the supposed Gods thou talkest of but credit me I am a knight errant ignorant of the place wher I was borne and the parents that gaue me life but trauayle thorow the worlde whether fortune and my deâ—â—â—â—e conducts me in search of such aduentures as merrit fame Not long since and not far hence I slew a cruell monster called the sauage Polyppe where I met this knight who told mee what causeles shame both thou and thy company being ods of too great aduantage offered a Christian prince called Ariodant one of whose traine he was thou hauing discomfited him and his men detainest some of them as prisoners which iniurie he intreated me to reuenge and I haue vndertaken it both vpon thée thine for well thou knowest that by the lawe of chiualrie inuiolably obserued among such as are woorthie to beare the title of knighthood all errant knights séeking aduentures are bound to reuenge the opprobrious wrongs that the ouerstrong offer to the ouer weake hauing no iust cause or reason therefore and to defend them against all forcible violence indirectly throwne vppon miserable and afflicted persons maintaining euermore the quarrell of the wronged that haue no helpe Beside the quarrell for which thou hast so hardly dealt with Ariodant and his people is publique touching all good Christians of which number I am one and for euer will be so by consequence it appertaineth to mee inciting mee to wreake reuenge for the iniurie doone to my confederates that are of selfe same religion as I am against all that are of the contrarye and aduersarie faith Because then thou hast nothing else now to do prouide thée presently to the combate with me if thou be so desirous as thou hast expressed for thou séest I haue reason to assaile thée and for whatsoeuer else I haue doone beside Hauing thus spoken
arrowes with poysonned heads the number of theyr men was fortie thousand By these meanes it seemed that God being angrie and displeased with his people would now thorowly scourge them suffering in so short time such a mightie power of enemies to be assembled whereof heere I purpose to speake no more but in the following Chapter you shall heare what happened CHAP. 15. How the Pagans reioysing for the succour that thus came daylye to them from all partes the prisoner Angrafolt had minde of nothing but the looue of the fayre Princesse Polydamie In meane while the olde Grandowin assembled his councell of sixteene puissant kings who concluded on an vniust resolution whereof king Floridamant made no account but minded to defend himselfe and withstand the furious assaultes of his enemies And howe hee heard tidings of helpe from Spaine and Fraunce ALl the Pagan Armâ—e being in this ioy and metriment for the newe supplyes that came to them as before yee haue heard some hoping to loade themselues with rich bootles and pillage others in the destruction of the Englishe Citties and townes which gréedie desire made them to vndertake this warre and this they would obtaine or die in pursuite thereof as at this day too many are found of like disposition others incited and enflamed with desire of honor but they were very fewe in number to the former sorte wishing for spéedie fight with king Floridamants hardie and valiant knights the conquest of whom would bring them immortall reputation and this desire especially made them be seene in this warre because many of their friends and kindred were slaine in the assault before the Cittie and for their deaths they had reason to séeke reuenge but aboue the rest the olde king Grandowin chéefe of this Armie the most ancient and malicious enemie in the troope appeasing his conceiued greefe for the imprisonment and captiuitie of Angrafolt his eldest sonne quicklye sent him woord of these good newes and how daye by day there came to him from many places fresh supplyes whereof if I should héere make report it would require a very large discourse neuerthelesse in running thorow the progresse of these affayres and state of this warre he may gather some breefe perticularitie heereafter And to admit comparison not Alexander Darius Xerxes no not the Romaines nor the Greekes before Troye assembled so many fighting men together at one instant as now was before the Cittie of London so that according to generall oppinion especially of the besteged it was held for certainty that all the kingdom of great Brittaine was ruined and lost Of all these things was Angrafolt aduertised and exhorted to worke some meanâ— of secret commotion within the Cittie if he could deuise any way whereby to compasse it but this two-folde taken prisoner made full reckoning of all these newes and aduertisements his thoughts onely at some secret cogitation howe or which way hee might most commodiouslie steale away the young princesse Polydamie or otherwise gaine some amourous iouissance the onely medicine for his languishing passions which continually maistred his wunted humours making sometime a courteous and affable knight contrary to his nature and sometime againe so drowned in melancholly as the sight of any one but his fayre mistresse offended him A thing questionlesse very strange that he who was such a sauage and cruell enemie to all humanitie not to bee conquered by anye kinde meanes whose former desires aymed at nothing but to sée himselfe in the middest of a battayle holding his bloodie Launce or Courtlaâ—e in his hand burning with enflamed affection of fighting without measure should now bee so subiected to the lookes of a soft and delicate maiden carying him dayly as it were bound after her without thinking eyther on battayle armour swoord shield horse or 〈◊〉 his minde was howe to conferre familiarly with Polydamie or counting it a cheefe felicitie to bee in sight of her for all things else were death to his amourous desires Grandowin in meane while being ignorant of this vnexspected accident one day called an assembly of his kings and such as were the chéefe of his armie to the Pauillion where councell was accustomed to be holden to the end they might deligently deliberate on their present affaires and by what meanes they were likeliest to gaine home againe their prisoned friends At this councell there met about fiftéene or sixteene puissant kings all wearing Crownes and were placed according to their auncient honor and degrées The first was king Brandissant next the puissant Tryphon king of Scythia king Tauladas king Guittard of Baccaleos king Marton of Cantabres king Phoas of Alger Orontes king of Marocco king Grimoaldo king Pagotroff king Salazard king Kambarell the strong king Zorlet Borant king of Carybe Maurus king of Bohemia with the proud and arrogant king Phorban of Moeotides a braue Pagan and a worthie knight All these being assembled to set downe some resolution touching their busines after they had long debated on diuersitie of opinions such as were seuerally deliuered in councell they concluded in the end to write to king Floridamant that within three dayes following he should come vnto them and bring with him the two prisoners Angrafolt and Mycrophon commaunding him to bee guide to the prisoners himselfe accompanyed with the best knights that then were in the Cittie six in number Likewise to bring two hundred of the fayrest maidens all Uirgins and of mariageable yeeres not excéeding fifteene or sixteenâ— at the most that they might vse theyr pleasure with them In meane while to sende all the riches and treasure which both himselfe and his Cittizens had in their most secret coÌ„fers or cabinets for search whereof they would send fiue hundred of theyr Souldiers into the Cittie and euer after it should continue as a yeerely tribute to the chéefe of theyr Armie twenty Uirgins of noble familie and exquisit beautie beside two Millions of Golde Moreouer he and his knights should come bare headed and without any armour to aske parden of great king Grandowin for the death of his sonnes in reuenge whereof this warre was commenced withall that hee and his knights should voluntarily submit themselues to his mercie that hee might dispose of their liues and goods as seemed best to him when peraduenture he would take pittie on them not putting them to death so cruelly nor race the Cittie nor murther all the rest of his people as otherwise he intended to doo if he denied theyr demaund with such ruine and desolation as neuer was mention made of the like To carrie these newes of this fayre resolution was immediatly dispatched a messenger towarde king Floridamant to whome the gate of the Cittie was presently opened to vnderstand the cause of his comming and hauing performed what hee imagined concerning his deuoyre deliuering the before named Letters to the king wherevpon his maiestie grewe presently into excéeding great anger and rage yet cunninglye shaddowing his conceiued displeasure hee made no other answere to
are knights of marke and great reputation the one is king of Niuarie a riche and opulant kingdome that with one Launce brought to death thirtie Cantabres when king Brandissant my brother made warre vpon them wherefore at this day he beares them all depainted in his shéeld as yee might behold if the gréene shaddow were away wherewith it is couered As for the other two they are the valiant Cambarell and Pagâ—traff Kings of the Iunonian Isles in riches and valour they are not equall to their two former brethren but in age onely and nothing else and further of in midst of the troupe where ye sée yond multitude of goodly pauillions are their people tarrying but when they shall bee ranged in order for the assault toward king Grandowin are they now martching to vnderstand his aduise and councell in what place they should assemble while the rest of their companie beeing merrily disposed fall to such pastimes as martiall men are wunte to exercise And fronting that troope yee may behold my six Giants which shew so high aboue the other as stéeples in a cittie ouerpéere the lowest buildings and they are prepared as they were when I maistred them to resist a verye puissant armie But what is he quoth the princes on the right hand that rides on the roane Courser managing a strong launce vppon his thigh clad in blacke Armour grauen all ouer with golde glittering so brauely as hee rides to an other troope some what further off You meane he Madame said Angrafolt that beares thrée golden Sunnes in his sheeld deciphered in a greene field and bordered round about with purest golde He I meane answered the Princesse that talkes with another knight of like apparaunce hard by the multitude mounted on a sorrell Courser with a very strong Launce in his hand and in his shéeld thrée Leopards heads in a Sable field It is replyed the Corsean prince the worthie king Tauladas of Canada a man woonderfull aâ—â—able and debonaire albeit no lesse hardie with swoord or Launce then anye other in all the Campe euen so is he with whome you see him talking the redoubted Barant king of Carybe they both being come to associate this warre rather for proofe of man to man in combate against king Floridamant your father the fame of whose renowmed vertues called them hither then any desire to doo him hurt or damage but true it is that to fortifie our Campe they haue brought with them from theyr countries and kingdomes great store of armed men and well appointed I am much deceiued sayd the princesse if he whom I see standing with his face toward vs bee nâ—t some Pagan king of great name he I meane that now marcheth 〈…〉 all bearing Ensignes or Guydons of diuers coullers in their hands and he riding somewhat aloofâ— before them on a horsse more whyte then any Swanne harnessed with â—â—mosin veluit the â—â—uddes and buckles of perfect golde and if mine eyes fayl me not he 〈◊〉 three 〈…〉 sheeld and those I take to be his armes Madame answered the Pagan I did not well note his countenance beacuse he suddenly turned back toward his 〈…〉 but if hee beare such arms as you speake of it 〈…〉 Marton king of Biscay or 〈…〉 among other things to conduct men of warre on the Seas where in our â—omming hithâ—r hee was cheefe leader of all our Armie hauing the whole gouernment and charge thereof by reason of the great valour abiding in him and long experience in manie affayres they that follow him are all knights of esteeme whose charge is to manage the Ensignes and Standards in the ships I haue not yet séene sayd the Princesse Polydamie two more braue and comely knights then these two that ryde hitherward ech on a black Stéed marked alike with white in their foreheads their backs and legges richly harnessed with greene veluet one of them beares two Collomes in his sheeld figured in an Azure field the other a flourishing braunche of Roses carrying theyr liuely Roses in a golden field and each hath in his hand a Iaueling pointed with golde and garnished with siluer studdes theyr horsses trot alike both of one 〈◊〉 and height I am 〈◊〉 they are none of the mâ—anest in your companie I pray ye sir tell me what they are These two Madame are arriued heere since I was taken but as I haue heard by messages from my noble father they are the two princes Orentes and Phoas the one king of Marocco the other of Alger two neighbouring kingdomes on the coast of Barbarie abounding in riches and treasure so likewise of their persons they are as hardie and valiant as any in the world and as heauie enemies to the Christians and their religion the expresse cause of theyr comming hither to hurt and destroy them so much as possiblie they may As the Corsean king held on this speech to the princesse the kings Maurus and Phorbon and betweene them the monstrous Tryphon king of Scithia Gotia Sarmata and Geta came foorth of their pauillions to dorayne theyr people and as the young Ladie noted theyr gestures and countenance intending to enquirs what they were câ—â—â—ing her eyes vppon the Scythian Mouâ—â—er mâ—unted and â—quipped in such forme and manner as before I haue tolde yee shee was so surprized with feare at the verye sight of him her heart beeing tender daintie and delicate as giuing a loud shrike she fell in a swoune or traunce which the Pagan king perceiuing and dreading some wurs inconuenience would ensue he tooke her vp in his armes and caryed her thence verye gentlye and modestlie into the Queenes Chamber where he declared the occasion of her feare and continued to them the discourse of those thrée before named kings which the Ladyes heard very attentiuely and while the Pagan bethinkes himselfe where to breake off his discourse heere thinke I good to conclude this Chapter CHAP. 17. How king Floridamant hauing assembled his Councell to receiue aduise from the cheefe of his friends and well wellers concerning what was best to be done in this necessitie After he had heard the diuersitie of their oppinions in the end hee set downe his rest on the councell of the wise and aged duke Candior of Normandie KIng Floridamant was all this while in Councell to be aduised as I tolde ye in the former chapter how hee might best delay the assault and by likelye meane deâ—erre it till the expected ayde from Gaule and Spaine were arriued In which councell there were many of different and contrarye oppinions for some thought good to temporise a while without fighting vntill they should bee somewhat stronger to endure so sharpe and cruell an assault as the Pagans intended against them because in very déede they were ouer-weake to withstand so fierce a charge as was like to be offered for if theyr mishap should be such as the issue of fightes and battaâ—les is most certainlye vncertaine to be vanquished and the Cittie taken in the assault the hoped for
with him in such sort as yee haue read in the Chapters treating thereof The shape heereof was so fearfull to her as shee became troubled in minde out of measure which made the Nimphe quicklye remooue it from her sight and plunging into the Fountaine water vanished away with whose departure we knit vp this two and twenteth Chapter CHAP. 23. How the king of Phez recited his genealogie and aduenture to the holye Hermit and the fayre Pilgrime and howe the Hermit tolde him a goodly discourse to confirme him in the Christian religion Moreouer howe Squamell was conducted by diabolicall artes into an obscure Chamber hard by Auernus hoping to bee healed of his woundes by the helpe of deuils with that which happened to him afterward BEcause the change of discourse brings no lesse delight to the Reader then the varietie of daintie viands contenteth such as take theyr repast for a while I intende to change our purpose leauing a part the amourous flame of the fayre princesse Porphyria to come againe to the historie of the valiant king of Phez not long since made a Christian miraculously as yee haue heard before To let ye vnderstand withall according to the truth in writing of him his genealogie and aduenture whereof himselfe maketh recitall to the holy Hermit and fayre pilgrime when hee was thereto by them required beginning in this or the like maner It is a long while since that Artabaz sometime king of Persia was enamoured on the â—ayre Quéene Lyxandra the most fayre and wealthie Ladie in riches and other goods of fortune that was in those times for vnder her obedience and Empire as also her lawes liued in flourishing prosperitie the people of foure opulent kingdomes which are on the coast of Barbarie to wit Phez Marocco Thunis and Alger But Looue had not touched with selfe same shaft the hart of Lyxandra as he did the hart of Artabaz because the more earnestly he loued the more mortally she hated â—y reason that in the life time of king Brunon her father hee had dayly vexed him with warres seeking to depriue him of his kindomes and Signories For this cause he trauailed and molested him as no man in the world could doo the like so that being ouercome with weaâ—ines of the passed warres Brunan finished his dayes after hee had made some treatie or accord of peace with the king of Persia euen then when first he began to loue the fayre Lyxandra who hauing auncient mallice engrauen in her heart continued dayly in resolution to hate him more and more Héerevpon she not willing to graunt marriage with the Persian king nor to listen his solicitings requests and temptations which stretched so farre as he could deuise the perticuler discourse whereof were too long to rehearse hee concluded to winne her by force of armes and to renew the former warres against her more sharpe and cruelly then euer hee did against the deceased king Brunon her father Which being thus pursued he brought the vertuous princesse into such necessitie as hee left her neither kindome Cittie towne nor burrough place nor Castell but all was brought vnder his obeysance and all of them spoyled the strong Cittie of Phez onely excepted wherein being constrained to shut vppe her selfe he so long time continued the sâ—ege against it as she was on the pointe of yeelding to his mercie or else to take away her owne life but then by good hap a young Knight so highly accomplished as any other whatsoeuer arriued on the coast of Barbarie euen as the Quéene was in this great perplexitie deuising with her selfe what she were best to doo he hearing by the common reporte blazed abroad what harde holde the Queene Lyxandra had against the Persian Tyrant beeing brought so neere the place by violence of the windes that droue him on the seas was willing to succour her beeing touched partly with pittifull affection which the goodnes of nature had endned him withall and partly prouoked on by fayre desire to make appearance of his hardie valour the fame whereof alreadie was bruâ—ed through most places in the world but seeing at this first attempt that his accesse and entraunce into the Cittie so narrowly besiedged on eueriâ— side would prooue very difficult the gates being ramd vp and the walles enuironed with Persian men at armes An indifferent while he deuised with himselfe by what meane both easily and couertly hee might get entrance Hauing some space considered heereon the Historie saith that he especially noted one side of the cittie wall where the enemies had made a very great breache to enter thereby on the morowe vpon the answer Quéene Lyxandra should returne to king Artabaz and this breach was guarded by certaine armed men of the Cittie while the Quéene assembling her councell should agree on some expresse resolution of answer concerning her submission to her enemie The assaylants on the other side of the breache were making banquets passing away the time very merrilye vnder certaine assurance that now the cittie should be yeelded or taken vppon theyr request within of composition and well ye wot that a Cittie comming to composition is more then halfe taken This was the cause that the young knight beeing come neere the breache and séeing they that kept it were verie carefull of their charge hee softly whispered with them to know by what meanes hee might enter the cittie to haue some spéech with the queene Lyxandra concerning matters of importance that would prooue profitable to her desiring them to let her vnderstand thereof in that the cause of his comming thither was earnest desire to impâ—oy himselfe for her defence in this warre The Souldiers made him answere that one should presently goe do his errand and the Queene being aduertised heereof was very glad knowing well by his renowme and valour that he was the gentle knight of the Flower for so was he called because as then hee loued a Ladye named Florixa in regard of whose name he bare a Uermillion Gilliflower painted in his sheeld a man so hardie and valiant as hee was esteemed beyond all the knights of that time Héere vpon she gaue commanâ—dement that he should be let into the Cittie by a doore that passed from her Castell to the Towne marrie it was to be doone in the dead time of the night and that so couertly or closely as might be thus escaped the knight in vnseene of the enemie with his armour and horsse and one Squire that bare him companie In breefe to tell ye what passed betweene them the quéene letting him vnderstand the occasion of this warre the successe thereof and the extremitie whereinto she was brought farre more in effect then the knight had heard reported she fell downe on her knées before him and with the teares trickling downe her chéekes intreated him to helpe her both with councell and valiance promising to deliuer vp all the treasure of her kingdome into his handes if in this darkenesse he could illuminate them with some