rather spared then spokē what she might there I became immediatly enthralled with her loue and by gracious behauiours towards her preuayled so farre as she accepted me to be her Knight with this charge and condition that I should carie her diuine figure into the Courtes of all Christian Princes where Ladies or Damosels were famous for beawtie and against all commers to maintaine my mistresse rare preheminence If froward fortune gaue me the ouerthrowe then must I leaue to the conquerour my Ladies counterfeit but if my luckye Starres graunted me the victorie I am to carie with me the vanquished Ladyes portraite And hauing heard my good Lord that your daughter Rosamonde is named among the fairest in Christendome I directed my iourney hither and may it like you to deliuer her counterfeit on the aforenamed conditions I am readie to doo my deuoire in the open féeld before your Pallace gate where I haue caused my Tent to be erected Right well am I contented sayd the King and immediatly will I come thither with my daughter whose portrait shall be there openly presented and if any one will combate for her there shall she be to regard her fortune Palladine standing by coniectured this to be the Knight whereof the wise Orbiconte made mention in her Letter wherefore he first auaunced himselfe earnestly intreating the King that he might defend his daughter Rosamonds beawtie Whereto the King presently graunted scant to the good liking of Caesar who still bare his arme in a Scarffe and began iealously to suspect Palladine minding to reuenge him as occasion serued Upon this agreement Zarcanell departed to his Tent where beeing well armed and brauely mounted expected his aduersarie who not long after came with the King the Prince Lewes and many noble Lords in gallant equipage The Quéene her daughter Rosamonde and all the Ladyes of the Court came with great spéed to their Scaffold to behold the portrait of the Lady so highly commended which hung on a Launce at the entrance of his Tent and both the Champions being readie for the Ioust Zarcanell comming to Palladine thus spake Sir Knight as the huge world can not endure two Sunnes so may not my eyes abide these two figures presenting the rarest beawtie in the world the one of them being a Pagan and the other a Christian. But this contention betweene vs shall be soone ended without any fatall hazard of the weapon if thou wilt confesse before this assemblie that the incomparable beawtie of my Lady resembleth the cléere Sunne shining in the day time and thine the Moone that lighteneth the night Sir Sir aunswered Palladine we come not hither to argue on the Sunne or Moone but at the point of the Launce and edge of the Sword to trie betwéene vs the honor of the féeld whereof if I be maister I will be your Sunne and you my Moone if you goe to the ground Without any further speeches they encountred together their Launces being broken with such furie as the English Prince was set on the crupper of his horsse but Zarcanell nothing moued or shaken In thrée or foure courses more Palladine could neuer fasten his Launce on his enemie yet Zarcanell still brake on him for he was so nimble and ranne so close to his horsse as each one woondered at his fine chiualrie Without doubt my Lord quoth the Countie of Champaigne to the King neuer did I sée a brauer horsseman he hath the raines of his Courser at commaundement that can gouerne him in such sort without any attaint But Palladine angrie at his hard fortune met Zarcanell so right at the sixt course as breaking the girts of his saddle his horsse ranne away and left him behinde him Yet did he quickly recouer himselfe and drawing his Sword came valiantly against Palladine shewing as fine sleights and agilitie in the Combate as he did before on horssebacke with his Launce In the end it was his fortune to be ouercome when vnder the Sword of Palladine he entred into these complaints Unhappie that I am of force I sée I must yéeld my selfe and not my bodie onelye but my life also hauing lost the onely maintenance thereof the gracious fauour and regard of my mistresse Ah incomparable miserie fortune that euer esteemed of me hitherto hath in a moment vtterly reiected me therefore good Sir Knight rid me of this paine and with one stroke end my miserie and life together for greater good you neuer did to man Palladine seeing him in such despaire so pitied his case as suffering him to arise he thus comforted him My fréend you ought not in this sort to offend your selfe considering these are but the tricks of fortune whereto all men are dayly subiect and no more hath happened to you then might haue doone to me If the Lady for whome you vndertooke this voyage loued you well she cannot but augment it knowing with valour you defended her cause In sooth my Lord answered Zarcanell rather had I die a thousand deathes then returne to my Lady hauing not woon the portraite of faire Rosamonde for her selfe protested that neuer would she loue me except I brought it And héere I vow to you that I will returne to mine owne Countrey so soone as I haue recouered my woundes leauing you not onely the portraite you haue woon but those likewise that I conquered in Norgalles and elsewhere discharging my selfe of loues seruice séeing he rewards his faithfull seruant no better Therein vse your pleasure quoth Palladine but first goe with me that your woundes may be searched to preuent further inconuenience So going to the King he desired that his Chirurgions might attend on the Knight for I assure your Maiestie quoth he neuer met I with any man of higher desert Whereto the King willingly graunted causing Zarcanell to be conducted to the Court and to be lodged in one of the fairest chambers where he was dilligently attended as in ten dayes he was perfectly recouered When thanking the King for his noble entertainement and taking leaue of his Maiestie the Prince Lewes Palladine and the rest he departed toward his owne Countrey not alittle agréeued as you may thinke for his misfortune As for Palladine he remembring the letter sent him by the wise Orbiconte and hauing imprinted in his heart the Lady Nonparelia whose counterfeit he kept with choyse regard determined to take his farewell of the King and iourney with all speede toward Aquilea Wherefore in the euening the King walking in his Garden after supper he told his Maiestie that he was desirous to trauaile to the King his Father in England and therefore that it would please him to licence his departure The King though loth consented thereto being sorie to forgoe the valiant Palladine who was so great a grace to his Court. Hauing then taken his leaue of the King and of all the noble Princes and Ladyes he departed on the morrow from Paris accompanyed with Landastines and Simprinell taking his way toward Millayne in hope
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
caused such a laughter among the Ladies as if they had séene a spectacle of greatest meriment Erinnea Duchesse of Rimandria and wife to Liboran with Doronea wife to Broantine newly created Duke of Bastanella in their triall the Images turned their backs to them Graciana Marcelina and Florea had but little more credit sauing that the Images mooued not from them But now came Nonparelia to her turne and her behauiour procured a generall contentment for Venus let her touch the Torche and set the Crowne on her shoulder but tooke it back againe immediatly thereby prefiguring that she being had now lost her libertie When they sawe the aduenture could not be ended the Ladyes betooke them to their Scaffoldes and the Knightes entred the Lystes to make better proofe of their fortune by Chiualrie Landastines accompanied with Broantine Mushell of Rostock Brunifort his Brother and Orliman of Flaunders with an hundred Knightes more first entred the féeld On the other side came the Prince Zorian with Liboran Durandell of Cleue Grindâ—y of Orton and Sedonis of Suffolke with an hundred braue and couragious Knightes who at the sound of the Trompets encountred each other with meruailous valour Landastines and Zorian Iousted together beeing of such equall strength and hardy courage as the victorie could be gained on neither side to cut off which controuersie a new assayâ—and entred the Lystes bearing in his Shéeld a golden Phenix and vpon his Armour a coate of Crimosin Uelnet whereon these two letters SS were verie thick imbroidered in Gold and Pearle the sight of this Gallant gaue cause of admiration and matter of valew was expected to come from him CHAP. XLI ¶ Who was the new Knight of the Phoenix and of a Letter the Prince Palladine receyued concerning his fyrst loue REason requireth that this new assaylant should be knowne and the cause of his comming least otherwise you should misconceiue of the matter and so be depriued of the delight promised thereby Know you then that the Knight of the Phenix was the Prince Caesar Sonne to Othon the Emperour of Roome then reigning and husband to the faire Rosamond of Fraunce who hearing of the honorable Triumph at the marriage of the Prince Palladine and the aduenture of the Statues before the Court at London trauailed thither to win the conquest of the one and credit of the other that at his returne to his best beloued he might obtaine the greater grace and fauour Caesar beeing thus entred the Lystes and noting the braue chiualrie shewen by the Princes stood still a good while till he sawe both the sides make offer of departure But fearing to be reprooued for his long stay as though by cowardise he durst not trie his fortune he first encountred one of the Prince Zorians Knights and threw him to the ground with his héeles vpward Seauen or eight more of them he serued in the like sort till Landastines would néedes deale with this Champion but Caesar met him with such violence as both horsse and man was sent to the ground The Prince of Norgalles desirous to reuenge this shame called for a fresh Horsse and a Launce and calling his enemie to Ioust againe as he made proffer to begin his carire the Prince Caesar thus spake to him Good Sir be not offended with him who hath saluted you with a courtesie common among Knightes errant but enduring the same with pacience giue the like to such as hazard them selues against you I feele no taste of courtesie quoth Landastines in such gréetings and thou mayst happen to confesse the same with him thou next assaylest notwithstanding all thy brauerie in speeches By proofe said Caesar I shall be made perfect a fierce assaylant shall be assured of a braue defendour So breaking off this contention he gaue the spurres to his horsse against Zorian giuing him such a vough charge at the encounter as he was cast quite out of his saddle At this sight were Palladine and Manteleo greatly displeased whom the King for the earnest loue he bare them would not permit to beare Armes in this Tourney but caused them to accompanie their Ladies on the Scaffold and to giue iudgement who best deserued they as I said mooued with the behauiour of the Knight of the Phenix came to the King with great reuerence Palladine deliuering these spéeches My Lord the reuerence and dutie that children owe to their Parents hath made vs remaine idle among these Ladies during the honest exercise of our fréends and companions estéeming to contradict your commaund were an offence more then presumptuous But now are our desires so stirred and prouoked as we can no longer containe our selues in slothfulnes but are enforced humbly to intreat that your highnesse would giue vs leaue to Arme our selues onely to teach this newcome Gallant who thinks alreadie he hath made a conquest that in England are Knights sprung from the race of the chéefest of the round Table who are not to be feared with seeing thrée or foure men vnhorssed My Sonne quoth the King my commaund was to no other end then to withhold ye from the thing you haue now desired because assayed new Combates without Armes you should not be endaungered by two trials together considering how the one may be a hinderance to the other and so doubtlesse would it come to passe at this instant were I not fully perswaded that honor neuer breakes companie with true loue but more and more aduanceth his titles to the great encouragement of all noble mindes Therefore my Sonnes doo what you please I will not hinder ye go in Gods name and returne with the full of my desire Hauing thus obtained what they would they departed to their lodgings returning soone armed and well mounted and passing by the Scaffolds Palladine intreated his Nonparelia to giue him one of her Bracelets wherewith he might enter the Ioust vnder her fauour In which time Manteleo went to trie his fortune with the Sonne of Othon and many Launces were broken betweene them yet neither able to dismount the other Wherewith Manteleo beeing angrie and seeking polâ—icie to preuaile against his foe Lord Caesar lifting vp the beuer of his helmet imagining by the rich armes of Manteleo that he was the Prince of England with courteous reuerence to him thus spake Sir Palladine perceiuing that you knowe me not nor the cause of my comming into this Countrey and séeing you would procéed to the Combate the loue I beare ye constraineth me willingly to discouer my selfe beside verie loth am I to loose the credit I haue wonne alreadie and so prouoke you to displeasure against me I am your fréend Caesar Sonne to the Emperour as readie to be commaunded by you as any other of your Knights in England Of this peace was Manteleo not a little glad yet brauely dissembling the matter he thus answered Lord Caesar I am not the man you take me for but in respect of this excéeding gentlenes and the reuerent dutie I owe
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
then to leaue her portrait to the will of the conquerour The Iudges of the féeld gaue sentence accordingly wherevpon Palladine left Simprinell and went to place the Duchesse counterfeit aboue Belanicia albeit he perceiued her figure much more beautifull by which conceit he gathered that this was she of whome the wise Orbiconte told him wherefore he onely minded Belanicia purposing right soone to forsake the Duchesse As he was vnarming in his chamber he began to thinke how he might leaue Brisalda and what excuse would serue for his departure yet when he considered his good entertainement and what especiall fauour he had receiued at her hands he altered his mind reputing the words of Orbiconte for méere illusions And as he continued in this déepe musing he thought he heard one whisper in his eare saying It is not heere Palladine that thou must abide wherefore follow the good fortune that is promised thée Héerevpon he concluded what euer happened he would depart on the morrow and thereof that night he meant to aduertise the Duchesse to whome he went right soone afterward CHAP. XX. ¶ How Palladine aduertised the Duchesse of his departure and how trauailing to the Realme of Norgalles he had a dangerous Combate with Simprinell whome he knew afterward SUch were y t troublesome thoughts of Palladine in hastening his departure toward Belanicia as without any longer stay he came to the Duchesse who séeing him looke so sad desired to knowe the cause thereof In sooth Madame quoth he I can not forget the strange Knight that I Iousted withall this day right sorie I am that I demaunded not his name for I imagin I haue sometime seene him in England If that be all sayd the Duchesse we will send for the Knight hither but her sending was in vaine for he departed immediatly after the Combate When Palladine sawe no excuses would serue but she would néedes presse him with earnest request of his penstuenesse he said Let it not dislike ye good Madame if I haue intended any thing for your honor and mine owne but rather conceiue thereof as it deserueth Full well you knowe faire mistresse that hardly can we continue our loue together enioying the benefite y t good hap affoords vs without iealous suspition of your Lords and Ladyes and affection maketh amorous fréends oftentimes forgetfull of themselues so that béeing subiect to the iudgement of many they shall hardly escape without scandalous and peremptorie spéeches And nothing sweet Madame is more hurtfull to our honors especially yours in respect of your greatnesse and authoritie to preuent which danger and that héereafter we may stand out of the reach of wounding toongs I meane to trauaile to England to the King my Father whome I wil acquaint with the intended mariage betwéene vs and his good will obtained right soone shall I returne to haue it accomplished In the meane while you may conferre thereon with the Lords of your Councell who I thinke will not dislike thereof when they vnderstand my birth and parentage so shall our credits be safely defended and what hath past alreadie be sufficiently recompenced When Brisalda heard these spéeches her heart was so swollen with gréefe as she was not able to make any aunswere whereat he could not but meruaile considering his words tended to great reason yet with such zealous perswasions he still laboured her making faithfull promise of his spéedie returne as in the end he obtained her consent albeit God knowes verie vnwillingly Giuing her then an amorous conge he tooke two bracelets from his armes verie richly embellished with pearle and stone and presented them to the Duchesse saying On the same day I came to your Court swéete Madame you gaue me a iewell which I will kéepe for your sake while I liue that you may likewise remember me I beséech ye to weare these bracelets which were giuen me by my mother on the day I was Knighted Alas my Lord quoth she I doubt you haue left me such a remembrance as except you spéedily returne againe will beare me company to my latest home Yet will I kéepe one of the bracelets for your sake and when you come againe I will haue the other So putting the bracelet on her arme she vowed neuer to take it off vntill she sawe her Knight returned With many kind embracings and deuoute kisses he returned to his lodging and the Duchesse to her chamber where calling her trustie maiden to her who was a captiue Moore and one not a little in her fauour being acquainted with all that had passed betweene the Prince and her with many bitter sighes and teares she telles the Moore the summe of her greefe The Moore perswaded her that the Prince heerein had done aduisedly for safetie of both their honors if their loue as greatly she doubted had sorted to effect for secrecie must be the meane to couer such matters which she would so substancially bring to passe as none but themselues should be acquainted therewith With much adóo the Duchesse was pacified and on the morrow when Palladine departed she sent him a pursse of gold to spend in his trauaile causing her Lords to accompanie him two or thrée miles on his way and so though loth these louers are seperated the Duchesse abiding â—olitarie in her Pallace and Palladine hauing bidden the Lords adiew is iourneying in haste toward Norgalles He had not ridden halfe part of the day but a Knight with thrée Squires gallopped after him crying Stay Sir Knight for héere commes one that must speake with thée Palladine presently turning his horsse tooke his Launce from his Squire thus aunswering What is he that would speake with me let him kéepe out at the length of my Launce till I haue better knowledge of him why he should come to seeke me in such haste Because thou wouldest so faine knowe me aunswered the Knight thou shalt vnderstand that I am the man thou didst vanquish yesterday more by fortune then prowesse therefore I would now trie againe how well I can reuenge my former foyle So fetching their carire they encountred together so brauely as they were both dismounted and while their Squires laboured to catch their horsses that ran about the féeld they fell to the combate with the Sword and wounded each other very dangerously till in the end Palladine got the aduantage and as he made proffer to smite off his enemies head he knew him to be Simprinell Sonne to the King of Scots Soone was all the former vnkindnesse pacified and each embraced other verie louingly reproouing themselues of great wrong to fréendship yet excusing the same by ignorance When their Squires sawe how they were wounded one of them thus spake In this wood my Lords is a faire Abbey and there remaineth one verie skilfull in Chirurgerie so please ye to goe thither the Abbot will entertaine ye gently because he is brother to a worthie Gentleman who spent his time as a Knight errant and for his sake he loueth all
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
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
the other he went vp into the great Hall where the Quéene the Princesse and all the Courtly Ladies being choisely tricked in their brauest accoustrements welcommed them with meruailous kindnesse especially Nonparelia who shined like the morning Starre among the other virgins her courtesies to the Prince excéeded all comparison These Courtly ceremonies ouerpassed the Knightes were conducted to their chambers to refresh themselues and change their habites while the roiall supper was preparing Now was the Knight without rest thoroughly set to worke with consideration of the Princesse supernaturall beautie and longer would he haue continued in this rauishing studie but that the Prince Zorian came to aduertise him that the King stayed onely his comming So walked they together into the great Hall where the King caused the Knight without rest to sit next him at the table and the Princesse Nonparelia right ouer against him a thing to her no little contentation that she might behold the worthie personage who had gained the onely priuiledge of her heart All supper time these two louers fed on no other viands then the one regarding the other with piercing lookes for their amorous affections so ouermaisterd their sences as they forgot to receiue any sustenance The supper ended the Lords and Ladies of the Court fell to dauncing meane while the Princesse Nonparelia hauing noted the gracious behauiour of the Knight without rest took the hardines vpon her to come néere him and hauing with great modestie saluted him thus spake As I vnderstand Sir Knight the King my Father and all his are highly beholding to you in respect of your honorable paines in the late battell against our enemies Alas Madame quoth he if I had not as then beene present yet doubtlesse you had béene assured of victorie little then is the glorie that I haue deserued Heerein you must pardon me Sir aunswered the Princesse for I haue heard credibly reported that but for you we had lost the day yet let me intreate so much fauour as to tell me of whence you are and what might be the occasion of this great kindnesse that for my fathers sake you should so gladly thrust your life into danger Madame quoth he so long since did your diuine name ouercome me and such is your present authoritie ouer me as death shall not make me conceale or disguise the truth to you Knowe then sweete Lady and hold it for certaine that nothing procured me to assist the King your Father in his late warres but onely your loue beautie and good grace all which I haue heard so generally commended as now I confesse report hath not feigned In sooth my Lord quoth she such vertues as you speake of are hard to be sound in me but let it be as you please to alleadge yet no one is so much bound to thanke you as my selfe for if the King my Father had lost the honor of the battell too late had it beene for me to renew the peace falling into the subiection of the verie worst man in the world to whome my selfe denied the request of marriage and héere hence grew the warre betwéene my Father and the King of Panonia So much good Madame quoth he did I heare before by the Gouernour of Enna and the wise Lady Orbiconte who intreated me and my companie verie honorably at her Pallace and if in this action I haue done you any seruice I account my labour well bestowed and repute my selfe beyond all other in fortune hauing disappointed a Prince so contrarie to the vertues and perfections wherewith your gracious nature is accompanied for a man of so bad conditions ought to haue sorted out one like to himselfe In déede my Lord quoth she you haue said the truth notwithstanding his euill disposed and deformed bodie made me not refuse him but his great defect of vertue and honestie for the gifts of the mind are to be preferred before those of nature yet was he acquainted neither with the one or other Longer would they haue continued in talke but that the King commaunded to ceasse the dauncing because the Knightes should goe rest themselues in their chambers wherefore the Princesse breathing a vehement sigh from her inward soule gaue the courteous good night to the Knight without rest who hauing deuoutly kissed her faire white hand followed the King to his lodging and there committing his highnesse to the fauour of the night was by the two Princes brought to his chamber they both louing him as he had béene their brother especially Zorian the yongest who determined to accompanie him when he left the Court and to séeke aduentures with him as a Knight errant As each one thus departed to his lodging the Princesse called Broantine to her and enquired of him what and of whence the knight without rest was Madame quoth Broantine at this time I can hardly satisfie you yet thus much I dare assure ye as I vnderstood by the wise Lady Orbiconte that he is discended of royall linage and one that I am especially bound to hauing receiued vnspeakable fauours at his hands In sooth said the Princesse he may well be said to procéede of royall parentage in that his ordinarie behauiour declares no lesse but doo you knowe the cause of his comming into this Countrey so slenderly accompanyed and why he entred a quarrell nothing concerning himselfe The cause as I haue heard good Madame quoth Broantine was the renowme of a Ladies beautie famed through the world to excell the fairest At these words the Princesse began bashfully to blush séeing these spéeches agréed with those the Prince himselfe spake which encreased the amorous fire alreadie kindled in her heart and that did Broantine very well perceiue yet he dissembled as though he knew nothing So departed the Princesse to her chamber and Broantine went presently to the knight without rest to whome he reuealed his talke with Nonparelia aduising him to follow a matter so well begun for there was hope of good successe to be expected The Prince embracing Broantine gaue him thanks for his freendly tidings and the next day happened a notable occasion both to the honor of the knight without rest and to assure him of the Princesse For Sulbern cousin to the Giant Muzimalde came and challenged the Combate against him that slew his kinseman which the knight without rest accepting in open feeld ouercame his proude enemie and thereby wonne the especiall good liking of the King and the whole Court Yet was not this Combate sought without great daunger in respect Sulbern was a man in stature equall to Muzimalde and two such monstrous aduersaries would put an approued champion to his triall but though the Knight without rest was verie sore wounded and many times brought in hazard of his life yet at length he bare away the honor of the féeld and the head of his enemie as a present to his mistresse Now doth Venus lighten all her Lampes and the religious louers approch her altars offering
rated at the price of thy life Héerewith his speech failed him and breathing foorth a vehement sigh he yeelded vp the ghost O my God said his Squire what shall I now doo Where shall I bestowe the dead bodie of my maister if I returne to the Court of the King his brother he will suspect that I haue murthered him Ah sweete Lady Minoretta what hart breaking will this be to you vnderstanding the death of my Lord and the occasion thereof The Knight of Fame hearing the sorrowfull words of the Squire and fearing he would depart and leaue his maister came with his Squire from behinde the tree where they were hid and seeing the wofull man holding his dead maister in his armes thus spake to him Tell me good fréend how did this mishap befall thy maister The Squire was so amazed when by the light of the Moone he beheld the Knight of Fame and his Squire with him both their swords being drawne as he was not able to returne any answere whereby Don Robert perceiued that the sudden sight of him affrighted the Squire wherefore he thus spake to him againe Why doost thou not speake to vs my fréend doubtest thou that we come to doo thée any displeasure perswade thy selfe that we will assist thee to our vttermost and therefore feare not to bewray thy mishap The Squire throughly resolued by these courteous speeches casting foorth many bitter sighes into the aire and trembling as the burthen of his greefe gaue cause thus answered Alas my Lord right gladly shall I reueale to you the great misfortune now happened to my Lord who as you sawe gaue vp his ghost betweene mine armes the occasion whereof grew in this manner My noble maister while he liued was bastard brother to the King of Scicilie yet as déerely beloued of his Maiestie as if he had béene his lawfull legitimate brother such was his vertuous and valiant behauiour and for the King would assure my Lord of his intire good will and affection he gaue him the Signorie of Siracusa with all the titles and benefites belonging thereto But my woorthie Lord and maister who was named Don Frionell hauing about sixe moneths since heard commended the excellent beautie of Minoretta Daughter to the King of Portugall became so enamoured of her as to compasse the means that he might sée her he craued leaue of the King his brother to trauaile into Fraunce as a Knight errant séeking after aduentures Hauing obteined licence for his departure in stead of going to Fraunce he tooke the way toward Portugall where being arriued so well he made knowne his prowesse at the Tilt and Tourney which dayly hée maintained in honor of the Princesse as the King entertaining him into especiall fauour all the Lords and Knights of Portugall did the like so that being well estéemed and honored of euery one chéefely of the Quéene and her Ladyes so well he could his Courtship to the Princesse Minoretta that she accepted him as her Knight and fauoured him aboue all other that made loue to her In this time came to the Court Don Galitreo of Castile who no sooner sawe the faire Princesse but presently he was so esprized with her loue as he was readie to die at her foote and therefore diuers times made offer of his seruice to her but she made no account thereof declaring by her gesture and countenance that my maister was the onely man in her thoughts Galitreo from this time forward conceiued mortall hatred against my maister yet 〈◊〉 his villainie with such coullers as though he haâ— beene one of his deerest freends So that my maister being one day commaunded by his Lady Minoretta to goe assist a distressed Lady whome a cruell Gentleman too much wronged the traitour receiued opportunitie to set his mischiefe abroche for he being present when my maister tooke his charge gaue no shew of contraâ—ie meaning but no sooner had my Lord restored the wronged Lady albeit with danger of his person by reason of certaine wounds he receiued in fight and returning to the Princesse againe but this day as we came into this Forrest where I vnarmed my Lord to deeâ—se his wounds the traitour Galitreo accompanied with foure more disguised and well armed awaiting cowardly to take my Lord at this aduantage came to him with these worâ—s Knowest thou me â—rionel if thou wilt saue thy life thou must heere sollemnely sweare to me neuer to serue the Princesse Minoretta longer or héereafter to câ—me in any place where she is My maister knowing the traitour well enough by his speeches yet meruailing to méete him in this place because at his departure he left him in Portugâ—â— notwithstanding he was sore wounded and vnarmed boldly thus answered Rather let me loose my life quoth he and endure a thousand deathes if it were possible then I will forgoe the seruice of my mistresse but while I can lift my Sword will I maintaine her as the onely Goddesse of my heart By God quoth Galitreo but I will make thee sure thou shalt not â—o drawing his Couâ—tiare and my maister being thus naked as you sée because I was attending his wounds he neuer left striking at him till he sawe him fall when both he and his companions gallopped away so fast as they could Trust one answered the Knight of Fame thou hast tolde mee the most monstrous â—â—te that euer I heard of but thou séeing thy maister so misused why didst not thou helpe to defend him Alas my Lord quoth the Squire there wanted no good will in mée but they that accompanyed this traitour held me with such violence as I could not stirre The Knight of Fame beholding the cruell woundes Don Frionell had receiued and what a goodly personage hée had béene in his life time sighing sayd Oh God what two dangerous enemies are loue and iealousie in the world there can not bée any woorsse whereby men may fall into so great hazard Well my freend quoth hée to the Squire héere must wee rest our selues for this night because we knowe not whether else to goe and to morrow shall wee prouide for thy maisters bodie whose death I purpose to reuenge if I may finde the man that so bloodely murthered him Assure your selfe my Lord sayd the Squire that hee is in Portugall with the Princesse because for her loue he slewe my maister who reputed him one of his déerest fréends There neuer were so great freends quoth Don Robert whome loue and iealousie could not moue to discord and so for that night they lay downe and slept CHAP. XXXIIII ¶ How the Knight of Fame hauing taken order for the buriall of Don Frionell trauailed into Portugall where he fought the combate with Don Galitreo of Castile and what was the issue thereof CLéere Phoebus arising from the foulded armes of faire Thetis the knight of Fame awaked and not able to sléepe any longer by reason of his troubled thoughtes leauing the Squires who as yet had not stirreâ— he walked
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
by thee to safe-conduct thee on the way and that thou mayst be welcome into England whence thou canst not returne without sufficient recompence Of that my Lord I haue no doubt aunswered the poore man for oftentimes haue I heard reported that the King â—ilanor of England is one of the most vertuous Princes on the earth and though I receyuâ—d no other benefite by him I would account my labour well bestowed onely to see a King accounted so famous Beside such great good haue you done vs in killing these rauenous and daungerous beastes as in signe of our willing mindes to make you further recompence if we were able if the iourney were tenne times further you should commaund vs. So comming foorth of the Caue the poore men prouided Panniars to carrie the yong beastes in meane while the Prince wrote to the King his Father describing what had befallen them in their iourney and what valour Manteleo had shewen in killing the Lions not forgetting his salutations to the Princesse Marcelina with all the other Ladyes of the Court. Hauing sealed his Letters he gaue them to the countreyman and money sufficient to beare his charges who taking his leaue of the Princes in few dayes after set on his iourney toward England Palladine and Manteleo mounting on horsseback with their companie tooke the way to Hungaria which at length they reached lodging in a little Uillage about a mile distant from the Castell where the Gentleman abode who detaned the wife to the Knight that had beene enchaunted There the Princes concluded to rest themselues that night and on the morrow the Knightes Sister should goe to accuse the Gentleman of Treason and to knowe of him whether he would maintaine his cause man to man in Combate or two against two or three to thrée if he durst so accept it Upon this determination they supped merily together Manteleo still remembring his faire Marcelina and Palladine his intended action of honor So betaking themselues to rest Palladine dreamed that he beheld a goodly Lady before him who vsing certaine speeches to him softly layd her hand very kindly on his head and so departing the chamber againe made such a noyse as he awaked therewith Long hée studied what this Lady should be but could not gesse on any thing directly wherefore he concealed his dreame to himselfe albeit not long after he compassed his desire as you shall at large behold heereafter CHAP. XII ¶ How the Princes Palladine Manteleo and the enchaunted Knight fought the Combate with the Gentleman of the Castell and his two Brethren and the successe therof MAny were the seuerall apparitions that these Princes had in their sléep this night the one of his loue in the Court of England and the other of the Lady that thus had sollicited him wherin the enchaunted Knight had likewise a share remembring the wrong done vnto his wife by the Traytor whom he had so fréendly vsed in his house the conceite of which ingratefull acte presented him with many strange cogitations Earely in the morning they all arose and the Knightes Sister accompanied with one of the Prince Palladines Squires rode to the Castell where the Gentleman dwelt to deliuer the message before determined And finding him sitting at the Castell gate with two or thrée of his seruaunts that attended on him without vsing any courtesie or salutation but with a stearne and angrie countenance thus spake Well knowest thou villayne as thou art that violently thou didst carie away my Brothers wife who lodged and entertained thée fréendly in his house wherefore I say to thée that thou art the most vile and abiect creature liuing hauing committed the greatest treason and disloyaltie that euer was heard of a man toward his freend A Knight will I bring that to thy â—eard shall testifie what I haue said by aduenturing his person in Combate against thée or if thou thinke it conuenient two against two or three to three so many will I bring hither before two houres are expired The Gentleman abashed to heare a woman speake so brauely she being accompanied but with one Squire thus replied I beléeue Damosell it is not long since ye came from Paradise for you are yet maruellous glorious but I hope ere night to quallify your pride and him or them that dare bid me the Combate And where thou chargest me with detaining a Lady who as thou sayest is thy Brothers wife héere will I kéepe her still and hence shall she not go till I haue had my pleasure on her But to spend no time in pratling with a foolish woman go fetch the thrée Knghtes thou threatnest me withall and they shall finde héere throe other whereof my selfe will be one say we graunt them the Combate and bid them looke they come well prouided for all their wit and strength I thinke will scant helpe them The Damosell and the Squire returned with this answere to the Princes who hauing heard the Gentlemans mishap presently mounted on horssebacke and rode toward the Castell In this time the Gentleman went into the Castell to his Brethren and aduertised them of the Damosels challenge wherevpon they immediatly armed themselues the Gentleman causing twentie of his seruants to be secretly ambushed to succour him if his enemies were the stronger and if they could not take them prisoners then to murther them without any redemption By this time are the Princes and the enchaunted Knight come to the Castell where they found the thrée Brethren staying their comming and without any further spéeches they prepared to the carire when Palladine would haue encountred the Gentleman of the Castell but the enchaunted Knight intreated him to the contrarie saying Let me trie my fortune with him good Sir Knight for he it is that hath iniuâ—ied me and now shall I be sufficiently auenged on him Palladine was well contented it should be so and while the Knight gaue his horsse the spurres to meete the Gentleman he and Manteleo found his Brethren play so that after they had brauely broken their Launces and fought a long and dangerous Combat with the Sword the Gentleman was throwne downe sore wounded and his Brethren were both flame outright Now though too late rushed foorth the ambushed seruants and they being twentie in number set with such violence on the Princes and their Squires as their hoâ—sses were slaine vnder them and themselues in very great danger of death but that Lydiseo the Prince of Hungaria suddenly arriued there for that day had he beene on hunting and because the bordering Turkes did oftentimes iniurie the King his Father he seldome rode without armed Knightes in his companie When he beheld so many against so few he commaunded his Knightes to assist the weaker side so that the greater part of them were slaine and the rest thinking to saue their liues fled into the Castell yet were they so narrowly pursued as they could not drawe the bridge but were all taken and reserued in prison for a further
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
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
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
strange Knightes whatsoeuer They not misliking this councell went presently to the Abbey where the Abbot welcommed them as beseemed their estates and while their Supper was prouiding the skilfull man hauing visited their woundes they walked into the faire Orchards and Gardens recounting to each other their seuerall fortunes since they were together in the Court of England Simprinell discoursed his loue to Belanicia of Norgalles and the cause of his comming to the Citie of Varne which when Palladine heard he determined not only to forget his affection to Belanicia but also to assist his freend to his vttermost in obtaining her loue saying My noble fréend I knowe what manner of disease loue is if one haue not receiued the swéetes thereof albeit when I sawe you in England I had no knowledge at all therein wherefore if I shall accompanie you to Norgalles such good speeches will I vse of you to your Lady as she shall not be offended for not bringing her portrait againe or that of the Duchesse which she sent ye for Simprinell thanked the Prince for his offer but he was farre otherwise addicted saying he had promised his Lady a further iourney for her loue wherein he would not haue any companie With this answere was Palladine well contented directing his course another way so hauing stayed two daies at the Abbey and either of them being able to beare Armour he left Simprinell there and courteously taking his leaue of the Abbot set on whither fate and fortune would guide him And after he had ridden fiue or sixe dayes he met a horsseman with whome falling in talke he vnderstood that the great Prince Caesar of Roome had at Paris enterprised a noble Tournament for the loue of the faire Rosamonde of Fraunce a Princesse estéemed incomparable in beautie And I quoth the Courrier am sent to the King of Norgalles Court who hath a faire Daughter named Belanicia before whome I must reueale my message and declare the Prince Caesars challenge in presence of all the Kings Knightes Afterward I must trauaile to Bulgaria and in the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda a Lady likewise renowmed for her beautie I must make knowne of this famous Tournament Palladine glad to heare the Duchesse so commended and that now he had the meanes to see the Princesse Belanicia accompanied the messenger to Norgalles and by the way méeting Belanicia riding in her Litter abroade for her recreation with diuers Knightes that attended on her Palladine was prouoked to Ioust with them by a contemptuous challenge of one of her Knightes But such was their ill lucke as all her champions were dismounted till her brother Landastines tooke the cause in hand hauing left the English Court to come sée the King his father and after they had broken many Launces not being able to preuaile against each other they ended the sport and Landastines knowing Palladine tooke him with him to the Court where he was welcommed honorably by the King as also the faire Belanicia his daughter CHAP. XXI ¶ How Simprinell being healed of his wounds returned to Varne where he vanquished the Prince Alfian of Ireland and brought away the portrait of Brisalda WHen Simprinell felt himselfe well recouered and remembred how he had not onely failed in winning the portrait of the Duchesse but in the attempt had lost y e figure of his mistresse Belanicia he determined not to goe to Norgalles vnlesse he could accomplish his Ladye commaundement Wherefore taking his leaue of the Abbot he rode backe againe to Varne and comming to the place of triumphes found the Duchesse with her Ladyes placed on the Scaffolds and the Prince Alfian of Ireland the Champion for Brisalda who preuayled woorthely against all that encountred with him Simprinell looking on his Ladyes picture and séeing it embased vnder the Duchesse had such a violent impression strooke him to the harte as he intended to recouer her honor againe or else to leaue his life in the feeld And in this resolution he encountred the Irish Prince passing two or three courses brauely the shiuers of their Launces flying vp into the aire but at the third attaint he met Alfian so roughly as both horsse and man were sent to the ground When Alfian had recouered his feete hee drew his Sword and comming to Simprinell who by this time was alighted and prepared for him when they began a fierce and cruell combate whereof Simprinell in the end had the honor Then comming to the Duchesse with courteous reuerence he demaunded of her if she would permit him to carie thence the portraites whereto she made no answere but in a great anger strong from the Scaffold because her champion had defended her cause no better Heereupon the Iudges as the equitie of the case required deliuered the portraites to Simprinell which he giueing to his Squires mounted on horssebacke returning presently backe to the Abbey not alittle glad of his high good fortune At the Abbey he stayed thrée or foure dayes to heale such woundes as he tooke in the last combate and afterward departed toward Norgalles where he arriued without any aduenture by the way to hinder him If he were welcome to the Lords and Ladies I referre to your opinions and how the Princesse Belanicia liked thereof when she sawe her Knight returned with the Duchesse counterfeit let Ladyes desirous of especiall account imagine her content but in requitall of his great paines so confidently did she loue him afterward as by imparting the same to her brother Landastines who highly fauoured his freend Simprinell the King was made acquainted therewith and Ambassadours sent to the King of Scots such good liking thereof beeing found betweene them both as the mariage was consumated and long loue requited with desired recompence Afterward Simprinell imparted to Landastines how at first he was foyled by the Prince Palladine and in his absence had woon his Ladyes credit againe which Landastines tooke so vnkindly as they concluded to trauaile to Paris whither the English Prince was gone before to reconcile this wrong to former amitie And thither are ridden Landastines and Simprinell to the great gréefe of the King and Quéene but chéefely of Belanicia so soone to forgoe her Lord and husband Palladine entised with the report of this braue Tournament held at Paris by the Prince Caesar for faire Rosamonde of Fraunce would néedes be séene in those worthie exploites and landing at Callis loth to be knowne in England least the King his Father should hinder his intended iourney he met with the Duke of Gaule accompanyed with twentie Knightes brauely mounted he likewise riding to the Prince Caesars Tourney by the commaundement of the faire Agricia of Naples whome he honored as his Lady and mistresse After they had saluted each other Palladine presently knew the Duke remembring he had séene him in his Fathers Court yet would not he make any shew thereof because he was so slenderly accompanyed hauing no one with him but his Squire Lycelio and
set with Starres of gold and in his Sheeld a Lady reskewed from a Giant the other bare for his deuise Fame triumphant in a siluer feeld The Knight in azure Armour made signe to Caesar that he would first aduenture for his Lady yet such was his ill hap in the end as both horsse man were throwne to the ground When the Knight of Fame sawe his fréend dismounted he came to Caesar with these speeches Sir Knight I confesse as well as thou doost that my Lady Rosamonde excelleth all other in beautie but this will I make good on thy body that I am more woorthie to be her seruant then thou art It should séeme then answered Caesar that I deserue not to be so accounted this controuersie shall the strength of my Launce presently discide and thou or I will be her onely seruant Heereupon they encountred verie valiantly breaking many Launces yet neither able to mooue the other whereat they both grew angrie desiring the King to let them haue stronger Launces or else to permit them the Combate with the Sword but the King would not suffer them to meddle with Swords commanding each of them a very strong Launce at which charge the Prince Caesar was brauely dismounted and the Knight of Fame had almost borne him companie A great murmuring presently grew among the people some auouching that because the strange Knight so hardly recouered himselfe therefore Prince Caesar should not be held as vanquished but that they should prooue their fortune once more But the Iudges gaue verdict to the contrarie attributing the conquest to the Knight of Fame which when Caesar heard he went to the King to intreate his Maiestie for the Combate with its Sword but he denyed it him saying that the Ioustes being enterprised for loue ought not to be ended in hatred At these words Prince Caesar went to his Lady Rosamonde who gaue him many thanks for his honorable paines and though his successe happened so ill in the end yet would not she withdraw her loue But now commes Palladine into the feeld being sorie he had not the conquest of Caesar yet determining to end his choller on the Knight of fame to whome he approached saying It gréeues me Sir Knight that I Iousted not with noble Caesar for if I had little praise couldest thou haue gotten to day Your reason aunswered the Knight of fame Because I had woon y e honor ê™ Palladine which thou vsurpest and yet remains in doubt among a number which if thou darest say thou hast deserued I will auouch the contrary beside y t it appertaines not to thee to be seruant to the faire Lady Rosamonde nor to the very meanest among her Ladies for as I vnderstand she is prouided of one beyond thee many degrees Good Sir aunswered the Knight of fame you are very bold and braue in spéeches What mooueth ye so much to abase me seeing you knowe not of whence or what I am nor hast thou seene any matter in me deseruing these words But I perceiue the cause héereof groweth by the desire thou hast to deale with me wherein thou shalt haue thy desire either at the Launce or Sword so pleaseth the King to graunt vs that libertie Then turning to his Maiestie the Knight of Fame intreated the combate with the Sword if they could not finish their quarrell at the Launce Loth was the King to suffer such danger but the Iudges with many Lords and Barons there present noting the earnest desire of the Knight and that they were both strangers perswaded his highnesse intending to cause them giue ouer if in fight either of them should be in perill of life When they had thus obtained what they would they gaue their horsses the spurres and with a verie rough encounter they were both dismounted whereat Palladine verie angrie drew his Sword and marching against the Knight of Fame such a cruell combate continued betwéene them as neuer had the like beene seene in Fraunce The King beholding their Armour broken and the ground coulored with their scarlet blood sent his Sonne the Prince Lewes to intreate them giue ouer which they immediatly did the Knight of Fame being not a little glad thereof because he was brought into verie great debilitie onely by the exceeding aboundant losse of his blood Lewes bringing them before the King his Father caused them both to be graciously entertained and taking Palladine by the hand sayd Sée heere my Lord the man that slew Brulanfurior and his brother who deliuered me from imprisonment and many Knightes that were held captiue in the Castell The King not alittle ioyfull of these newes arose and embraced Palladine saying Worthie Knight I am more indebted to you then any man else in the world for you alone haue done that to me which neither with strength or pollicie I was able to compasse I enioy my Sonne againe by your meanes and my people are deliuered from those mercilesse villaines whome neyther law nor loue could bridle let me vnderstand of whence you are that I may knowe the man to whome I am so highly beholding My Lord aunswered the Prince my name is Palladine Sonne to the King Milanor of England your louing brother and vowed fréend At these words the King was much more glad then before and casting his armes about his necke with inward conceite of ioy the teares trickled downe his face then came the Quéene and faire Rosamonde her daughter who welcommed the Prince with maruailous courtesie the like did Landastines Simprinell and Lydiseo of Hungaria who was the man that came with the Knight of Fame and at report of these Triumphes trauailed into Fraunce As for the Knight of Fame himselfe he was called Don Robert the Prince of Freeze a stout couragious and hardie champion greatly deuoted to the loue of faire Rosamonde The King presently departed to his Pallace there to honor these braue Knightes as they worthely deserued but Caesar of Roomâ— highly thanked Palladine for reuenging his foyle on the Knight of Fame swearing to him an inuiolable league of amitie which grew to such effect as you shall héereafter behold CHAP. XXIII ¶ How the Princes Don Robert of Freeze and Lydiseo of Hungaria being healed of their woundes departed from Paris and of a letter which the wise Orbiconte sent to Palladine who was passionate for the loue of faire Rosamonde of Fraunce DOn Robert of Freeze hauing kept his chamber certaine dayes by reason of the dangerous woundes he had receiued and Palladine likewise in the selfesame estate yet carefully attended on by the Kings Chirurgions a greater corsey happened to them both then either their woundes or doubt of health For Don Robert séeing he was not regarded of the faire Princesse Rosamonde whome he loued as déerely as his own life thought to haue committed violence on himselfe but that by good aduise he was better perswaded and being out of hope to compasse his desire when he was somewhat recouered he and Lydiseo of Hungaria tooke
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