because hee was armed with Harnesse wholy so enchaunted that neither sword nor other weapon whatsoeuer could pearce or cut hee resisted well more then an hower against his aduersarie who also defended hymself valiauntlie as God knowes he had neede for both of them were strong valiaunte and skilfull in Armes True it is that if Kyng Marton exceeded hym somewhat in force hee againe counterueiled it in agillitie and nimblenes of bodie and in craft of Skirmishyng as wel appeared by him in this mutual combat But the other to counterueile all that gaue hym now and then such grene atteintes that the red bloud began alreadie in some places to runne doune his body but for al that neuer made he any semblaunce of griefe to condemne hym self of Cowardyse But as the Beare and the wilde Boare beyng enuenomed one against another stryue still with rage to pull eche other in peeces so these twoo valiaunt Champions did all their powers to depriue eche other of life although the one had small aduauntage of the other whiche made them maruell much of their owne prowesses still paiyng eche other as the Smith with an heauy Hammer doth his Anuild often and as the one his Harnesse so did the others nimblenes kéepe them both aliue long And thus endured the Combate a greate while duryng whiche the Knight of the Dragon his fellowe rushed in amongst the Paynims of whom he made a merueilous buttherie and slaughter and with his Meyny behaued himself so well that many were slaine and a multitude drowned neither coaped he with any but hee loste either Leg Arme shoulder Necke or some parte of his body alwaies hauyng a soueraine care to saue his owne Ships notwithstāding whereunto after a while all his men reentered by his commaundement For séeing the rest of the aduersaries Vessels at hande whiche Kyng Grandowyne and his twoo Sonnes led whom if they had taried they had bene all discomfited they hoyst vp sailes and moued Dares to departe with all speede contenting them selues with the honour which they had gotten in resisting so many with so smal a power to the great damage and ruine of their Enemies and yet loosing a very few of their owne party neither any vessell but that wherein was the knight of the Dragon who whiles hys men prepared them selues to gayne the North kepte Marton plaie still to whom seeyng then readie to departe hee gaue suche ablowe with his Sworde on the head that hee made hym fall on his knees so astonished that he knew not where he was and then taking a little Boate whiche was swiftlie furnished with Sailes and Mariners hee retyred with the rest of his Armie awaie from his aduersaries leauyng them agreeued at this encountrie who not knowyng how to be reuenged set fire on that great shippe whom hee had lefte them For as it was better they thought it good rather to retyre with that gottē victory then with daunger to attend the comyng of the rest of the Army to their great ouerthrowe and confusion a thyng rather to be reputed rashenes of them then hardines Although the Paynims thought verely to haue gotten the honour through their flight Who taking their voyage towarde greate Brittayne tooke Porte a while after at the Cittie of London where as then laye the good Kynge Floridamant who with a greate Troupe of his Barons and Lordes wente to welcome those twoo valiaunt Knightes which so had vsed the Paynims whom he a farre of knewe by the ensignes hanged on the Mastes of their shippes to be the valiaunte Kynge Ferrande of Norwaie and worthy Grandilaor his Neuewe whom not long afore Floridamant had made crowned King of Swethelande at the discease of Antizilianas Father whom hee had married who were come from their kingdomes sente for by Kynge Floridamant in order as is afore saied to giue hym succour For you must note that the Noble kyng of greate Brittaine beyng certified of the waste and iniurie whiche kyng Brandissant had made in goyng through his Realme perceiued well that hee went toward his Father the kyng of Cornewayle who prepared against hym a mightie Hoaste to reuenge the death of his two other Children whom hee had put to death And beyng aduertized of the greate force and puissaunce wherewith he came against hym And doubting hym selfe not able to resiste so greate an Armie had sente Ambassadours on all sides to the kinges his Neighbours to desire their ayde and chiefly to these two his Subiectes who failed not herein to come And by the waye knowyng that the Paynims were not farre from them they had parted their Armie in twoo to embushe and assaile theym as you haue afore heard to their great ruine and decaie Who a while after theim came to take Lande before the Cittie of London from whence after a long and a sharpe Combate they were expulsed and driuen backe and so cōstrained to caste Ancour elsewhere aboute a Myle from the Cittie where Maugre the Christians they descended as I meane to shewe you in the firste Chapter of my nexte booke God willing with the rest of their Battels and discomfitures But as now you must accorde to graunt mee some reste to the ende that with more grace and excellencie I maye recompte it vnto you then I haue done anie thing heretofor For my Head now is amazed my Penne worne and my Hande so benomnie That if I haue not now some rest I neuer can at chiue the rest The Pagans hauing laide seege to the Citie of London determined with one consent to roote out all Christians vniuersally and for the winnyng of the Citie they elected the Kynges Guitarde of Baccaleos and Angrofolt who tooke with hym the twoo mightie Giauntes Brizard and Rogemont and with mayne force entred into the Citie where Guytard bearded by Kyng Floridamant was forced to retire backe in more haste then hee had entred not without the slaughter of all his people wherevpon Angrofolt beyng encontered by Kynge Floridamant after Combate enduryng a long season was taken Prisoner with the stout Saracen Micophron The. xx Chapter NOw my noble Lordes and fauourable Dames since that my spirites haue reposed them selues and the instrumentes of my speach are recreated euen as of your fauors ye haue deigned I entende in prosecutyng my purpose to recounte vnto you the residue as yet vnrehearsed wherevnto I craue your attentiue eares For so muche as I am assured that in the rehearsall thereof your mindes shall receiue singular contentation euen as my studies are bent to guide you into the possession of suche passyng delightes as ensue Mention was partly made afore howe after that the Pagans who at their firste landyng would haue entered and harboured their Nauie directly against the City of London by the valour of the Kynges Floridamant Ferrand of Norway and Grandilaor the hardie and by the courage of the valiaunte Knightes resiant and soiournyng there no lesse manfullie then bloudily beaten backe bloudily I saye for that with greate slaughter and
that it behoued hym to deliberate foorthwith to whiche of theim the charge of scalyng the walles and entryng the Citee should bee committed with whom should an hundred thousande footemen accompaignie to make shorte woorke in the assaulte and to open the gates the soner that the kynges and knightes remainyng without the walles might enter at their ease without resistaunce And after the matter was throughlie ranuased emong theim the puissaunt kyng Guitard of Baccaleos was appointed to vndertake the charge Whereat Angrafolt was greatly aggrieued because he especially desired to haue beene the firste that should haue entered the Citie to the intente he mought violate and deflower the faire Ladie Polydamie of whose beautie albeeit she had not attained to the age of fourtie yeres he had heard suche exceedyng commendations that her matche was neuer seen in any Heathenishe laude And as the valiaunte kyng Guitard was in preparyng and orderyng the armie vnder his conducte for the accomplishing of his infortunate attempt he spake these woordes in effecte to the Painime kynges who had chosen Guitard for the takyng of the Citie My Lordes ê™ he for so much as kyng Guitard of whose prowesse and bountie I doubte not may not without great labour and trauaile atchieue the mightie charge giuen to hym because that as I beleue there is none of you thereof ignoraunte thei with whom wee haue to deale I meane these knightes of Greate Britaigne with whom this Citie in great nuÌ„ber is furnished as you mought vnderstand when of late we purposed to haue taken lande are suche as there are very fewe knightes in the worlde of greater prowesse and valiauncie then thei are it therefore semeth vnto me submittyng alwaies my self to better counsaill that as well for the supportation of the saied Lorde of Baccaleos as also for the speedie dispatche of that wee haue consulted vpon wee ought to electe some other emongest vs to assiste him and if you thinke good that my self be he the charge I will vndertake with a good will and the reason that moneth mée to be so desirous to deale therein I wil tell you in brief This night passed as I soundly slept mée thought I was entered into the Cittie and made great chere and feastyng with king Floridamant and the twelue couragious knightes of his house dreamyng as me seemed that you pressed into the Hall and then as many as could leapte out at the Windowes the residue were by you cut in peeces wheruppon I awaked This Dreame animateth mee and hath caused me to conceiue a strong imagination that the euentes shall so fall out notwithstanding there be some which saie that dreames are but illusioÌ„s mockeries For it hath bene in my hearyng oftentymes affirmed that greate Princes haue dreamed of thinges that afterwarde haue happened but the Dreames of meane people are nought els but vanities because our Goddes passe not greatly for them neither doe reueale to them the foreshewinges of chaunces to come but the apparitions that great Kinges do conceiue are of an other sorte I am assured that not without some vehement foretelling of that which shal fortune the God Mahometh hath made me dreame of these matters The other Kinges perceiuyng by the tale of the cruell Angrofolt how greatly he coueted and longed to fight graunced to his demaunde without deniall howbeit the mightie Kyng Tauladas of Canadas was somewhat discontented thereat mistrusting in his conceipt that one of those twoo sterne warriers would without peraduenture dispatche Kyng Floridamant of his life wheras he hymself vpon no other occasion then how he might haue trial of the renoumed prowesse of the saied King did so soone intermedle in the same war but for that he néeded not to haue taken thought for in dealing with king Floridamant both he and his complices also were like to haue their handes full While the affaires amonge the Pagans stoode in these termes there entered secretly into their Campe a Spie whom Kyng Floridamant had purposely sent to marke and learne all the dryftes and pollicies of the enemies hee being disguised like a Pioner so handled the matter by meanes of his skilfulnes in all Sarazin languages that he vnderstoode the whole summe of their doings afore declared whereuppon hee retourned into the Cittie vnperceiued of any makyng report thereof to the noble Floridamant and other the kinges and knightes of his Court who without vttering any signe of doubte whiche neuerthelesse thei had closely conceiued in their mindes knowing the forces and powers of their enemies to be so greate but rather demeaning their couÌ„tinaunces correspondeÌ„t to their haulty heartes shewed themselues to their Souldiers whom they had mustered out of al partes both within the City without And with a sufficient number of them marched with al expedition towards those partes of the walles whiche sustained the fearcest assaulte of their enemies who by the helpe of infinite corded Ladders wherewith the cranies of the Walles were on euerye side pestered hauyng entered into the Cittie in greate multitudes beganne alreadie to kill slaye all that came in their waye without anye resistaunce vntill the commyng of the valiaunte Prince Floridamant beyng accompanied with the kinges Ferrand of Norwaie Grandilaor of Swethelande and Murcibell of Denmarke who then was freshly ariued to the succour of his Lorde with a good number of hardie knightes and men of Armes All whiche well mounted marched together in one Troupe againste the enemie garded on the one side with Duke Candior of Normandie and his Sonne Don Siluan Earle of Flaunders who was a verie young knight but well estéemed for Feates of Armes On the other side were the lâ—stie Acciall of Surrey Syr Hewald the couragious knight Melchior of Irelande Ramelin Druic and Frangard Earle of Durford who confrontyng this outragious multitude of Sarazins murderyng the Christians without mercie charged those Butcherly Dogges voyde of all humanitie with suche furie that at that firste encounter happenyng within a broad place far within the Citie you mought haue seene the Members as the Armes Legges Heades and breast partes of the Pagans flye thicke in the ayre like Flies in the Sunne shine whiche these valiaunte Knightes dismembred in suche wise that those Rakehelles that had begonne to make their Brauadoes along the City were neuer so astonied in their liues so that feelyng their ouerlong tariaunce to tourne to their hinderaunce and seeyng their vnablenes to make anye further resistaunce they were constrained to retourne the waie they had passed before and yet they could not behaue them selues so well in the retyryng but that three thousand fell doune starke dead in the place Whereof the kyng of Baccaleos as hee stoode on the walles encouragyng his men to clyme vp apace beyng aduertized descended from thence and came incontineutly with a trustie bande of his stoutest knightes among whom there was one braue Sarazin of mightie strength named Micophron that was his Cousin As soone as he approoched néere the place and sawe what
hauocke the Christians made of the Pagans hee was almost mad with rage and spite to see his people so disordred and slaine whom he met sléeing being chased by the knightes aboue named and with maine force entered into the Croude on foote as hee was being followed of his people who viewyng his manhoode tooke heart agrace laying about them with all their might in suche wise that if God had not taken compassion vpon the poore Christians there had not one escaped that day for he encountered nothing in that place whiche hee did not hewe in peeces next vnto hym the fierce Sarazin Micophron made such a terrible slaughter and spoyle of the poore Christians that none there were that durst withstand hym for feare lest they should be sente to their long homes And assuredly they had ouercome the whole Cittie if that the renoumed kynge Floridamant the valiaunt Ferrande of Norway and Don Murcibel of Denmarke whose strength by Gods diuine power I beleue was then redoubled had not in tyme hasted to the succour of their people But these noble Princes beholdyng this miserable spectacle vsed wonderfull diligence and celeritie and bare them selues so valiauntly that king Floridamant coaping with the king of Baccaleos Don Ferrand with Mycophron the strong and Murcibell among the other Pagans smytyng before and behinde and on both sides compelled them after an harde and sharpe conflict to tourne their backes and shewe their heeles For kyng Floridamant surprised with furie and chafed in fightyng raught kyng Guitard with all his force suche a violent stroake that he made his Helmet flee of his head and had slaine him without doubt if his people had not the more speedely succoured hym but perceiuing his head vnarmed hee retyred hastely to the place from whence hee came hauyng receiued no other hurte but that by the violence of the blowe his eyes so sparkeled that for a quarter of an hower after he could see verie little at all and it is to be coÌ„iectured that had it not bene for the goodnes of his Armour being that which Achilles did weare at the bataile of Troy when he slewe the valiaunt Hector doubtles he had not bene left aliue howbeit he was afterward much vexed yea ready to runne out of his wittes for that parte of the Armour whiche he had loste hauyng wonne them from the strong Bagellan king of Ithaca by Combate enduring thrée daies continually whiche Bagellan receiued them from his Auncestour Vlysses who after the death of Achilles was made owner of them But now to goe forward in the recitall of the rest of this hideous hurlie burlie betwene the Painims and the Christians you shall vnderstande that after kyng Guitard with the losse of his armour was so escaped out of the tumulte mightie Mycophron his cousin whom he had left behinde in the Briers with muche adoe and difficultie sustained the brunte of his enemies beyng welnigh ouercome by the assailers of hym for he was so roughly charged and pursued by the three Christian kynges that notwithstandyng his manfull and couragious defence hee was taken Prisoner For he had once before brought kyng Ferrand of Norwaie to so harde an exigent for all his excellent prowesse that he had not long endured against hym had not the kynges Floridamant and Murcibell afforded their aides who chargyng the Pagans as aforesaid forced hym to yelde himself prisoner in respect of his valiauncie slewe hym as they did his people who were entered into the citee of whoÌ„ he made suche hauocke that not one remained vnslaine to cary newes of the defeatyng of his fellowe souldiours Thus you maie perceiue how noblie the three Christian Kynges in those partes behaued them selues from middaie till the Sunne was welnigh sette It remaineth that we make rehearsal what was done on the other side against cruell Angrofolt and those monstrous Giantes Brisard and Rogemont by the residue of the twelue valiaunte knightes of Greate Britaigne who beeyng in other quarters of the Citee and hearyng the noise and Alarme of their enemies who had made enteraunce in greate multitudes vnder conducte of the same Angrofolt accompanied with these twoo Giauntes marched on in marueilous haste thetherwarde beeyng assisted by the more parte of the garrisons of the citee with suche diligence and dexteritie that the Pagans being not farre entered into the Citie were by them coÌ„pelled to recuyle vnto the very walles not without great losse and slaughter How as the Giauntes were entered with Angrofolt their Lorde be seeyng the resistaunce that they of the Citee made commaunded these twoo Butcherlie Giauntes to succour their menne hym self onely takyng ware to the kinges Pallace to seaze vpon his desired praie beyng the Lady Polydamie who as then kepte her self within her Chamber lamentyng and weepyng with noble Queene Belizenne her Mother who made pitifull moane meenyng her totall ruine to be at hand Now as that cruell Tiraunt of Corsica approched nere the Pallace to his misaduenture he was breasted by the kynges Floridamant Ferrand and Murcibell who hauyng happely dispatched them selues of Guitard bastened to other quarters of the Citee where thei knewe the Painims were entered For he was no soner espied but he was presently charged verie rudely by these three valiant Christian Champâ—ons with dinte of Sworde whiche although he receiued with greate assuraunce yet the matche vnegally made he could not endure long but was compelled to tourue his backe fliyng towardes the place where his menne fought but beeyng agaste with the violence of the strokes he had sustained in the encounter he missed of the right waie Foorthwith kyng Floridamant meanyng to pursue hym and to fighte with hym hande to hand commaunded the kynges Ferrand and Murcibell to haste theim to the aide of his knightes and in the pursuite of the Pagan as one that was more nimble and actiue demeaned hym self so well that in a narrowe Lane where the other rested to breath hymself he ouertooke him who seeyng none other to followe saue the kyng reioysed greately and takyng his Sworde in his hande and his Shield on his arme attended vaunting on foote to receiue the onsett howbeit to his no small preiudice For the kyng closely bucklyng with hym assailed hym with suche force and violence that had not his Enchaunted Armes serued hym at that pinch he should haue been soone dispatched but by the helpe of theim he continued the fight more then an hower and an halfe wherein suche manhoode was shewed by the assailant and defendant that it was harde to discerne who had the better or worse till at laste twoo howers after the Battaile begonne drawyng on the Pagan because of his feeblenesse and fainenesse beeyng vnable to endure any longer fell doune in a soune on the Earth the Kyng partly taking the aduauntage although hee was weried in the Combate set his foote vpon his breast and hauyng taken of his Helmet entended to haue slaine hym when the other who had recouered hym selfe cried O Noble Kyng
voyce That she should with all spéede go to bespeake an Horse Litter to transport her to the Castell whereto the Damozell sone obeyed leauyng her sole alone in the compagnie of her little Infaunt whō she began to busse beholde with a Million more of amiable and motherly lookes And euen as shee earnestlie behelde hym in euerie parte she perceined in him a thing most merueilous That is to wit a little place in his backe drawyng towarde the right side full of heare and like in purtrature to a fierce and fell Lion hauyng his Tongue out of his mouthe whereby she had hope that hee shoulde in tyme beecome an hardie and valiaunte Knight Seeyng that there was none other reason but that nature had brought foorth signed and marked it in suche forme for some such purpose But duryng this thought of hers beholde there ariued a troupe of Knightes and Damoselles whiche brought thither a faire horse litter all wrought within with Blewe veluet who went with greate haste toward the place where the Queene was and findyng her in the same takyng that the Damosell Antiziliane had lefte her liftyng her vp softly laied her in a good bedde whiche was in the Litter with the litle baby by her whom her Damosell wrapped couered with riche clothynges brought redie for that purpose which doen thei quickly conuaied her to the Castell of Mirandol Where thei no soner ariued but the Prince Ferrand of Norwaie whiche was in the Citie of London without further delaye with a greate troupe of illustrious and valiaunt knightes came to visite her muche ioyous and pleased of so good an aduenture trustyng that now the Queene would for euer after leaue of her griefes and complaintes who gaue hym in charge to cause the Infant to be baptized whom she would haue to bee-named GERILEON with the greatest ioy and sumptuous preparation that she could prepare not lettyng passe either Iustes Turneis or any other pastymes whiche could bee inuented And expressely commaunded that those who for the losse of their Kyng were cladde in Blacke attire should exchaunge of theim for others of diuerse coulours more gaie and pleasaunt whereto thei with all diligence obeyed For after the Baptisme of the Infaunte the whiche in greate pompe and magnificence the Kynge Ferrande of Norwaie hym self had holden ouer the Fonte with the maide Antiziliane the one in the name of the Kyng Belligent of Fraunce who was a greate frende to the Kyng Floridamant The other representynge the Persone of the Quene of Scotland they caused to be made ready the Listes win the City of London in the great place of the Pallaice the next day to make Proclamatiō of the publike Iustynges on the behalfe of the Prince Ferrande of Norwaie and his couragious cousin Grādilaor who in Iusting chalēged all goers comers for the price wherof he prescribed two gaie Genettes of Spaine white as Swannes trapped and harnessed with Ueluet of the same coulour all embroydred and wrought with fine golde of Ciprus wholie to remaine to theim whiche were not dishorsed at the Iustes And thei proclaimed that whosoeuer should take in hande this matche should giue to the victours one of the fairest and moste riche tokens that euer thei had receiued of their Mistresses and if perchaunce there were founde any who hauyng fixed and sette his affection in a place too haultie and difficile were so vnfortunate in his Loues that he neuer har receiued any he should bee bounde and holden to faste wholie three daies without either meate or drinke sauyng breade and water and he should fulfill his promisse Moreouer it was also said that all those whiche should protest that thei were frée exempte frō the flames of loue should goe knele doune before the Damosels of the Quene Bellizenne kissyng their feete and the stones in their Rynges whiche thei had on their fingers with all humilitie Which thing being knowē euery one of the knightes who hearde these Iustes proclaimed in so straunge and vnvsuall condition saied to the Heraulde who had to name Geliaste the Ioily What is that saieth hee that maie bee doen in lieu of kissyng the Rynges of their fingers if by chaunce some of the Dames want them It shall bee expedient Sir knight no displeasure saied the Heraulde that if you be of the vanquished side and want a Mistres with Rynges that you maye go kisse thē Mum ye wot where At this cloked knauishe aunswere was greate laughter moued not onely to the bystanders but also to the knight to whom he spake who although he sawe hym self mocked was little or nothyng thereat displeased But to come to the matter againe the Iustynges beeyng openly Proclaimed as is afore saied one might haue seen knightes of all partes to prepare theim selues to the same on the one side of the Listes and on the other side the twoo braue warriers Dom Ferrande of Norwaie and Dom Grandilaor his Cosine fully determined to make that daie suche a proofe of their knightly prowesse that worthe ly thei should bee iudged valiaunt at those Iustes aboue all others And especially the yoūge Grandilaor who so felte his force and strengthe to redouble and encrease because of a certaine white Plume of Feathers whiche he caried vpon the creste of his Helmet giuen hym that daie by the Damosell Antiziliane his Ladie and Mistresse for whose Loue he felte greate tormentes that vnder her fauour he should behaue hym self so well at the Iustes that he might become victorious he entred firste into the fielde mounted vpon a braue courser of Arabie so well trained and paced that to se hym mannadge carrire and braue it in the ayre one would haue iudged hym of no lesse desire to the matter then his maister who giuyng hym the spurre fiuely as wel he could remained so sure and vnmoueable in the saddle yea and with suche a grace that to viewe hym there was none of the lookers on whiche thought not verely that for his parte the Pryce of that Tournay should not bee loste And the like saied thei of that valiaunt prince of Norwaie who pursued hym full nere for in prowesse and Chiualrie he surpassed eche other knight of greate Britaine But as thei were entred within the Barriers to combate beholde the heauen beganne in lesse then an hower to waxe so darcke and too become so troubled with thicke and stinking smoke whiche remained in the ayre more then a quarter of an howre that the knightes could not see from the one eude of the Listes to the other in suche sorte that there was none so hardie and valiaunt whiche was not greatly astonished and abashed at this sodaine straunge mutation of tyme for neuer any of them that were in that companie had seen the like chaunee But yet thei had more cause of maruaile when after hauyng a while beholden through the the ayre whiche waxed yet more darcke especially aboute the Castell a multitude of hideous flames of fire as redde
Gerileon to be nourished and taught and of his childishe gentilitie and noble actes in youthe Duryng whiche tyme Prince DORIAN of Spaigne which was gone to seeke after Kyng Floridamant his frende was driuen by Tempeste into the Greene I le where he vnderstoode that the Traitour Mynofoll did leuie an Armie too inuade the Realme of Greate Britaine Wherefore beeyng gone thether he slewe the say de Minofoll at one stroke with a Speare and with the ayde of the couragious Knightes of greate Britaine discomfited all his Hoast Duryng whiche while the yong Gerileō lost hymself in the Forest by pursuyng a Phaisaunte whereby the Queene through grieues and sorrow outraged had slaine her selfe but for the sodaine arriuall of kyng Floridamant who disturbed her in the Acte ¶ The fift Chapter THE Iustynges and Tourneys solemnized in the Citty of London for ioye of the late child birth of the Queene Bellizenne dured the space of fiue daies In which season the Princes Ferrand and Grandilaor made suche proofe of their valiaunt prowesse haughtie chiualrie that they still rested victours to the great cōtentment of the faire Antiziliane To whom Grandilaor gaue all the Iewels by hym conquered whiche he had wonne of the vanquished knightes But at th ende thereof the vertuous Quene hauyng abandoned and lefte her childbed caused them to cease not able wholie to forget the sorrow and anguishe whiche the long absence of her loyall spouse brought vnto her but onely at suche tymes as she takyng her little Infant betwene her armes to yelde some release to her dolour she embraced hym with a multitude of beholdinges kisses coming of natural loue Not knowing whether she ought to waile the long and yrkesome absence of her Husband although not wholy voyde of hope to see hym once againe or rather to reioyce and content her selfe with so luckie a burthen And in this perplexitie she remained more then twoo yeres now sad nowe somewhat merie liuyng still and sustainyng her self by the foode of a certein hope whiche yet sometyme fed her with some consolatiō During whiche tyme she was so curious and tooke so great hede well to nourishe brauely to bring vp the yong Gerileon that at two yeres endes he was so big and ioyly that already he could both goe and run and prattled so pretily that he could demaund and aske for what ere he would haue In so muche that eche one cōiectured muche of his future boūtie and valour by his yong childishe actes accompagnied with such a naturall gentilitie and magnanimitie whiche in hym within processe of tyme had suche an encreasement that they seemed to surpasse the selfe same course of his tender and yong yeres For scarsely had he arriued to the fourth yere of his age but that if by chaunce he sawe any one beyng dolefull and sad to lament he had therof so greate compassion that knowing the cause of his dolour he endeuoured to recomfort him the best that he could offering him all that he had for his contentmente and especiallie to the Queene his Mother to whom on a daie when she heald hym on her Lappe hearing her geue a profounde sigh he spake moste gentlie on this sorte and saied Madam what ayleth you I praie you tell mee why you sigh Is there any that hath geuen you occasiō of being angrie For if it bee so I assure you it shall not bee vnreuenged The Queene hearyng hym speake with so good a grace began to smile at his childishe wordes who with suche and other like matters yelded often most great lightnyng to her passions and distresses Moreouer he neuer remained idle and moste commonly one should finde hym either neere to some horse wherevpō leadyng him to some blocke or suche like thing he set him self with so good a grace that at sight thereof a man would haue iudged hym to haue been the moste dexterious squire or knight of all greate Britaine or els takyng a Staffe he wente to assaile some one or other to trie hym self that wayes againste hym to whom albeit he surpassed hym in bignesse of bodie yet he raught hym some tymes by his nimblenesse and actiuitie suche harde blowes that commonly he was forced to plaie double or quitte with hym For in the science of Defence thei trained and brought hym vp so curiouslie that at laste he was therein as experte not onely as his teachers but also as any other in the world in his tyme Then againe with a Darte in hande he wente tracyng through the Forest to finde some wilde beastes without feare of the whiche no more then if thei had been Dogges if perchaunce he recountred any he pursued theim so faste in the Forest that often tymes the Quene whiche neuer was at ease he beyng out of sight sette and sent folkes euery waie to seeke hym But what should I thus muche striue to discourse vpon this point seyng that as it is found by the writinges of the Chronicler Galarx one can not recite any thyng fitte and cōuenient to an harte fraight with noblenesse and generositie to whiche this little prince applied not his minde and behaued hym self so well in all his childly enterprises that makyng them tende to some gentle ende he semed rather a man of ripe iudgemente then a skillesse Child and Infant Duryng the tyme that the yonge boye Gerileon thus encreased bothe in ago vertue strengthe and gentlenesse of Spirite the Queene his mother had made enquirie on all partes as well for her brother Hubert of Scotlande whose losse brought muche annoye to many as also for the good knightes Candior Grandilaor Acciall of Surrye Sylban of Flanders Melcior and many others of the couragious of Greate Britaine to knowe the cause of the long abode which so muche anoied her of king Floridamant who being sent out to seke him towardes al partes of the earth could in nowise heare any newes of him Whiche thing beyng come to the eares of Prince Dorian of Spain he was by reason of the feruent loue he had to him so distressed for his losse that he vowed and sware neuer to slepe quietly or in good reste vntill suche tyme as he might heare some newes of hym in so muche that makyng inquirie for hym he wēt first into Thrace where hauyng heard nothyng of hym he put hym self on the sea to returne to Greate Britaine or to some other countrie farther of But he was surprised by a marueilous and horrible tempeste whose blastes after a while caused his Barke to be cast on shore in the Grene Ile where by a Cloune of the same coast he was assured that for certaintie the traitour Necromancien Minofol helde and had hym in his prison of the Redde Castle enchaunted and caused hym daiely to bee whipped and beaten by fiue or sixe villaines with greate and bigge coardes all to make hym miserably languishe till the ende of his daies and he knew moreouer that he addressed a greate Armie by Sea traitorously to
occision of their people they were enforced to take landing at an other place difficult and vntowarde inough liyng more then a Myle distaunte from the Citie where immediatly vppon their ariuall without anie stoppe or impedimente because the Inhabitauntes of the Citie perceiued theim selues not of sufficient force to pursue or assaile theim any further they descended from their Vesselles and went a Lande with a greate noyse and Tintinare of Trompets Shalmes Drommes Fifes and other like melodious Instrumentes of Warre at sounde wherof the Pagans that first tooke Lande did nought els but daunce and triumphe iolily whiche brauerie of theirs endured but for a shorte season For presently after that the kynges Grandowin Angrafolt Brandissant and the rest with their Souldiers and all their traine whom they had conducted to assaulte the Citie of London whiche they imagined to take within three or fower daies at the moste were descended from their Shippes they marched on meanyng to encampe in a faire and verie wide plaine which as then was situate not farre from the Citie In the middest wherof a manne mought haue seen the stately and magnificente Pauilions of the mightie Heathenishe Kynges and the others whiche resembled an high Groue enuironed with a multitude of lopte Trees among whiche there was erected one farre surmountyng all the reste in length and breadth whiche serued the vse of these kynges in steede of an huige Halle to consulte and deliberate touchyng their affaires the same as a sumptuous and braue Castle with Towers was hemde in with Pauilions of the Kynges Angrafolt and Brandissant on bothe sides wherevnto did closely adioyne on the one parte to the lodgyng of Brandissant the Pauilions of kyng Salazard Zorlot Cambarel and Phagotrof on the other appeared the lodgynges richely besene of the puissaunt Tauladas kyng of Canada and Guitarde lorde of the I le of Baccaleos together with those of the old kyng Grandowin Barant and Marton the strong of Cantabrie All whiche on the morrowe as sone as their whole traine and furniture were sette in order failed not to assemble theim selues in the greate Pauilion to take deliberation and aduise what were beste to bee doen where vnto all the principall knightes that is to saie Dukes Erles and Barons were called of whom there was a greate number The old kyng Grandowin for that by occasion of hym the assemblie was made sittyng on the highest Seate of all whiche was verie sumptuouslie prepared and adorned hauyng his twoo Sonnes Angrafolt on the right and Brandissant on the left hande and all the other kynges with Lordes of greate power stoute and braue knightes aboue sixe hundred begann to speake vnto them in this maner Moste mightie and excellente Kynges Princes Dukes Erles Barons and knightes if the greeuous sorowe and extreeme heauinesse wherewith through the remembraunce of the losse and death of my twoo Sonnes my hart is burdened and tormēted had stirred vp my courage alone with an inflamed desire to take suche straunge and dreadful vengeaunce as vnneth hath been heard of vpon the murderer of theim and of the chief parte of my lignage certes I would haue had no slender regard as one lothe to seme importunate vpō your Maiesties excellencies honours in requiryng your aides and succours in this enterprise well weighyng that my merite to you wardes is of no suche cōsequence that of so many mightie Lordes as in this assemblie are presente to offer and aduenture their gooddes and liues vpon the hazarde of Fortune and of death also should emploie theim selues in this attempte for my sake seeyng that for the accomplishment of the same I my self am of power sufficience with the aide of these my twoo sonnes who are no lesse bounde to take vehemente indignation at the shedyng of their blood and myne then myne owne self But sith the case so standes that the deuotion of the Goddes and the desire to augmente our Lawe and Religion ought to embolden and inspire our courages with an vnaccustomed valiauncie and prouoke our stomackes with bloudie rage not onely to bryng to vtter ruine the moste traiterous and mischeuous Tiraunte that euer did weare Croune hym I meane of Greate Britaine but also wholie to extermine and roote out this cursed ofspryng of Christians who in comparison of vs that hold in subiection Asia Afrique and the greater parte of Europe are but an handfull and yet if wee suffer theim to reigne in peace thei maie receiue suche encrease that as it happeneth not seldome the lesser augmente and the greater decrease in conclusion thei maye dispossesse and depriue vs of our Countries and Dominions ▪ the Inhabitauntes whereof to the greate dishonour of our God Mahomet thei will infecte with the contagion of their false belief to our singuler dammage and confusion of our Successours For whiche cause perceiuyng that the destruction of this accursed kyng Floridamant of Greate Britaigne who is one of their proppes and pillers of their Faithe is an acte in myne opinion verie necessarie for me to atchieue it semes also to bee a verie good and easie enteraunce by meanes of your assistaunce into the residue of our exploites remainyng behinde that is by our prowesse to deface and abolishe the vniuersall race and cable of Christians whose wealth and Seignories wee maie afterwardes diuide emong our selues as in our Iudgementes shall seme reasonable Behold ye noble wightes the chief occasion that hath moued me to assemble so many powers at one instaunt borrowing also your aides the whiche as I thinke should encourage you muche more chen if the enterprise were onely attempted in my behalfe consideryng that it cōcerneth and toucheth you well nigh so muche as my self Wherefore this is myne aduise that wee prosecute earnestly our enterprise vndertaken and begonne since that wee are here readie to put the same in execution doe plie the Iron whiles it is hotte and that without delaie if you iudge it beste to enter forcibly or by other practizes into the citee whiche in respecte of the goodly buildynges and monumētes therof we will neither burne nor raze but it shall suffise that we onely put to the edge of the Sworde all the people whiche wee shall finde within the same as well the small as greate bothe Women and Children murderyng and stayng theim in suche sorte that there shall not reste one to carry tidynges and to hym that can take the kyng Floridamant aliue and hym deliuer into our handes to bee doen to vile and ignominious death wee promise to giue in lieu of his deserte twoo thousande Talentes and so to aduaunce his estate that he maye accompte hymself a fortunate persone but the Dames and Gentlewomen suche as are endowed with singuler beautie shall bée saued to serue for our share and to bee disposed after our likyng Immediatelie after this Saracen had belched out these woordes out of his malicious mouthe and stinkyng stomacke all the other Pagan kynges saied with one voice that he had spoken passyng well and