sooner arriued he at that so long desired place but Fortune who had bent his thoughts to trauaile entending after her many crosses to sauce his sowre with some swéets and like a comfortable Phisition after many bitter Pilles ministred for cloying the stomacke of his Patient comforteth him with some consarue or other more pleasing his appetite so the Prince now in the beginning of his fortunes found this fauour to arme him with the better hope of ensuing good for at his first comming to the Citie after enquiry made for some ship bound for Thrace he had intelligence of a Barke alreadie haled out of the harbourgh into the roade her yardes crossed and her Marriners exspecting the comming a boord of the maister and her marchaunts and so to depart Which newes how pleasing it was to the prince suppose you gentils that haue your harts so full fraught with desire as this noble Dionicus who no sooner was informed hereof but diligently went himselfe to search the maister marchants of this ship whō he found in an Ostria carowsing healthes to their good voyage and taking leaue of their friends in the citie to whose company the Prince being come albeit nothing acquainted with the conditions of those people yet he so framed his behauiour to his habit that it might haue bene admired amongst the Courtiers his quaint behauiour had they bene beholders thereof pleasing so well these humorous companions with his carowsing curtesie and bountifull expences that nothing he could require was denyed him A woonder it were to tell you whē he required passage with what willingnes they graunted it and what large proffers were made him of their cabbins and other sea curtesies all which he accepted with such kindnesse and none more welcome than Dionicus who standing on thornes to be cleare of his land whō loue enforced without regard of father crowne or subiects to leaue he hasteneth the rest aboord of whose company the Mariners were not a litle ioyfull for y ◠the wind serued thē in such pleasing maner to bring thē to their desired hauen whither following the Masters direction for their course sailing with a faire gale we leaue them for a time to tell you of the griefe of Manpelius the Numedian king for the losse of his son of whom no maner of news might be heard You haue heard Gentles with what pollicie the prince wrought the better to bring his purposed intent to passe and what seuerall pastimes were by him deuised in which seuerall actions it was supposed by the Courtiers himself would haue bene a chiefe or at least a beholder of their sportes But hée which had more hammers working in his brains than one taking that time as fittest for his opportunity gaue them a cause of great sorrow as you shall heare Whose sportes ended and euerie thing with great credite to the actors and pleasure to the beholders finished the King and Quéene whome age nowe called to rest after kinde countenances and manie thanks to the Noble men Gentiles bad thē good night who were in all humblenes and heartie loue cōmended to their rests wher let thē rest vntil the newes of their sons departure be brought them by the wofull Barnardine whose hearts surcharged with sorrow could hardly be comforted but that through the extremitie of his griefe he had resigned his latest gaspe to him who first gaue him breath This wofull newes was two whole dayes and more kept from the king by that mirrour of fidelitie Barnardine who by all meanes either Art or trauell could imagine enquired after the Prince but of him could heare no tydings whereby many supposed hee was slaine some coniectured one thing some another But most of al the King Quéen their happinesse was such as may not without great effusion of teares be remembred which caused a generall griefe throughout the whole Regiment But neither sorrow of the subiects nor lamentation of their King might recall him who they all so much desired to sée which caused the King ouercharged with melancholy rather desiring death then life breathe out these spéeches Vnhappie Manpelius and more vnhappie in being father to so gracelesse a childe oh Dionicus why haue I liued to sée thée growne a man tenderly caring to bring thée to that estate and now my chiefest hope was in thée to haue comfort thus by thy vnkind demeanour to cause my grief how happie be those parents whose children liue in obedience but thrise accursed those fathers which giueth y e bridle of youth into their hands who ought to be held in as the Colt vntamed with the hardest bit Though wisedome presageth lawes of gouernment to fathers and experience of the Auncient which haue liued in elder times giueth aduise crying out of such as giueth libertie to yonglings yet law of nature whereunto we vnhappie parents are too much tyed forgetting all counsels are so besotted on those carelesse yonglings that if they desire any thing whether it be profitable for their instruction or haleth them to destruction it may not be denied them how many of high estate by the carelesse regarde of their vntoward children haue bene brought to great heauinesse Or who taking pleasure in his ofspring can sée him restrained I but vnhappie man hast thou not heard the learned Surgion often tell his tender Patient that it is better to smart once then endure griefe euer And thou that mightest haue kept thy deare sonne vnder his Tutors custodie wherein he liued in obedience might so haue had him still if thy owns foolishnesse had not bene so carelesse of him Then since thou hast bene the cause of thine owne sorrow blame thy selfe and sigh to think on thy follies and as thou hast bene the originall of this mischiefe not onely robbing thy countrey of a towarde braunch to succéede thée but hast lost to thy selfe the ioy of a father in wanting thy sonne thy lifes sole happinesse Perswade thée that as many Countries haue bene punished for the Princes offences so this plague is laide vppon thy subiects for thy misse Wherefore in sorrowing for thy sinnes and that God may shewe his mercy vpon thy kinde Countrey men sorrow for thy foppery and abiuring thy selfe from kingdome wife and Countrey betake thée to some vnknowne place where thou maiest spende the remainder of thy ouer worne yeares in contemplation for thy sinnes so may that God of all mercie which neuer turneth his face from the penitent receiue thée to his grace and restore thy sonne calling him from his youthfull desires to become a comfort vnto those which with manie fault teares and hearts full gorged with sorrow bewayle his absence Thus powring foorth his griefe with sighes and manie brinish teares vttering his sorrow hée resolued to leaue all his earthly possessions and altogither forsaking the companie of all mankinde liue sollitarie in some vnfrequented place vntill it woulde please God some tydings should be sent him of his sonne or else by death call
fathers sonnes vnto whom my minority denyed such reuenewes and liuinges as might sufficiently maintaine my estate which caused me to employ my stock in trade of merchandize by which in time of peace I gained in your countrie wealth sufficient which with my body I offer in your highnesse seruice and doubt not but to frée thy princely daughter from this vsurper whose vertue the worlde so much renowneth for by that faith which I receiued at the Font-stone so long as I may breath life neuer shal vnhalowed Cur triumph in your Graces ouerthrow nor in her dishonor The king ouer ioyed at these frank affaires of his champion expressing by his outward signes the inward delight of his heart and the desire he had to accept this yonglings offer taking great pleasure in his countenance which was louelie and no way inferiour to the best in his court for person wisedome and other good graces which with aduise considered he saith Pheander wel doest thou showe thy selfe a Gentleman for vnder the habit of a Merchant Gentilitie cannot be hid no poore estate can blemish the Noble nor aduerse fortune whatsoeuer but as golde is soone brought from the baser mettels to his forme by the skilfull finer so are the Noble knowne by their vertues Pheander I haue cause to honor thée for thy loue and forwardnesse as also for thy countrey which without slattering thée or any ther abiding I loue for your Kings sake But to our matter thou séest my déer Pheander the millions of cares heaped vppon my gray head through the oppression of this heathen Prince whereby I am made more miserable than the meanest subiect in my dominions and the more is my miserie by recounting the wretched estate of my louing subiects whom I hold as deare as my life and with that by resigning my life and crowne I might frée them from bondage were it nothing els the tyrant required But toward Gentleman whose loue wretch that I am I cannot requite my daughter oh sorrow worse thaÌ„ death to recount Nutania the only solace of my life and lines sole good in whose weal consisteth my good by violence offered her what good can be tide me she she my deare Pheander it is that drencheth my soul into so déep a hel that almost forgetting my self liuing I dayly dy only recounting the miseries â—he should endure if y â— tyrant triumpht in our ouerthrow but he that in extreams sendeth comfort hath reuiued me relieued my ouercharged hart by thy kind offer whose courage and hope of victorie being such as thou wilt hazard thy déerest blood for my daughters fréedom Thanks my good Pheander is all that I can yet yéeld thée yet tâ—ad more courage to thy noble mind fighting for vs our honor my daughter for whose good thou aduenturest shall inuest thée with the order of Knighthoode the first honour that euer she gaue to man of Armes and shal pray for thy good successe so calling for the Princesse who was so discontent that nothing could be pleasing vnto her who being come before him after her humble dutie done desirous to knowe her kingly Fathers will hée recounted the zeale of the merchant vnto her who had not onely offered his goods but also his proper life to trie in battel his fortunes against their enemie wherefore Nutania quoth the king for that he hath so voluntarily offered the same for thy sake and I relying on my God and in his prowes haue accepted him for my Champion by thy hand he shall receiue the honour of knighthood his title The maiden Knight and so prosper he in his honorable action and in all others as we wish and himselfe desireth The Princesse which diuers times had noted the courtlie behauiour of Dionicus was not a little pleased at her fathers motion as one that in hartie good wil wished him better then modestie would suffer her to vtter yet harkening to her fathers speaches shee behelde him with more gracious countenaunce and vewing the lineamentes of his person each grace well regarded she inwardly bewailed his hard hap that the goddes had framed him of no better reputation than a marchant who might well deserue the title of a king put from her memento by recounting her fathers wordes pausing thereon sometime with modest blushing countenance she said Kind sir whose honorable seruice offered for my fathers good and all our weales his subiectes if I yéelde you not such recompence as your desertes doe merit blame me not of discourtesie which haue no better knowledge of you but accept the hartie thanks of a Virgin vnto whome I holde my selfe so farre indebted as I can no other way recompence then wishing your good yet in earnest of better good refuse not at my hand to receiue the honour of Knighthood séeing my Lords pleasure is such and drawing his rapier the Prince knéeling shee inuested him with the order by name of the Maiden Knight pulling a iewell of rich price froÌ„ her gowne she tied the same in a most beautiful scarffe beséeching him to weare it for her sake wishing all happie fortune in his attempts The new adopted Knight whose heart ouer ioyed for so great a fauour receiued from the saint his heart wholy honoured with manie thankes dutifully rendered kissed the Princesse hand vowing himselfe her humble seruant and in all places to maintaine her modest bewtie Princely honour with his dearest bloud The time thus passed word was brought the King that dinner was readie whereby they were interrupted whome for a time we leaue to their repast discoursing diuersly at table of the valour of the Mayden Knight whose towardnesse the King admired which made his hopes the greater not doubting but his Champion would proue no lesse valiant in Armes then they exspected At which the Princesse gloried not a litle and the Nobles pleased at both their comforts passed the time with more content then many dayes before whome we leaue to their mirth and the Mayden Knight to the ordering of his affaires The Numedian King exiling himselfe from his Court in habite of a Pilgrime trauelled many vncouth places in search for his sonne of whom he could hear no tidings neither could Barnardine for all the industrie he could vse attaine to any knowledge of him his heart so much desired through which the heauines both of the Péeres Comons were daily increased And no maruel when their soueraign the mirror of all princely curtesie had thus vnknowne in the declining of his age when his yeares required rest banished himselfe his countrey louing subiects and what else he enioyed the griefe of which so oppressed the heart of the Quéene that nothing might yéeld her any comfort But pining in continuall sorrow vtterly abandoning the worlds comfort to séeke her comforter whose dwellings are in the highest heauens she yéelded her due to death whose funerals with the effusion of many brinish teares of the Nobles and sorrowfull lamentations of her subiects was performed with
had hée ended this his tedious premeditation when worde was brought vnto him by one of his Pages that the Lorde Cariolus was come to visite him which did put him from all further imaginations at that time Cariolus no sooner come to his presence but Dionicus with a blushing countenance bad him welcome ashamed of his rash suspition yet concealing the same as he might framed such kinde spéech as he best coulde the better to assure his welcome not sparing oftentimes to render great and hartie thankes for his kindnesse in comming to visite him and more to shewe how glad hée was of his companie hée called to rise which he had not done long before but for necessitie making his bed Thus when long time was spent betweene them discoursing of manie matters to both their contentes Dionicus called for meat where to accompanie Cariolus he receiued more sustenance than he had in manie dayes before to the great ioy of his attendant Barnardine who by messengers certified the King and Quéene thereof who ioyed and were not a little comforted at this report Dinner ended Cariolus with the Prince deuising to beguild y e time loth suddenly to leaue him called for a Chésse boord wherwith they sported a while Dionicus whō griefe of minde procured soone to melancholy loosing two or thrée faire games became verie impacient to agrauate whose chollor and make his furie the more Cariolus playing for cunning to make game tooke his quéene and gaue checke to his king whereat the Prince forgetting both himselfe and other those motions so lately by him minded first violently striking him with the board ranne fiercely on him and taking him by the throate cried mainly out thus Villaine quoth he shamest thou not to robbe me of my Ladie my Loue my life and soules comfort but to my téeth must check me therewith in my owne Country base fugitiue thou shalt beard me no more therewith for by thy miserable death will I recouer to mine owne possession my loue my Ladie my Quéene yea in despight of thy head Nutania shall be my mistresse swéete Princesse the onely soueraign of my thoughts Barnardine and his Noble attendants séeing this friendship lately profest so suddeinly forgotten taking him with much adoo from Cariolus were not a little perplexed but as men past themselues hauing neuer séene the like could imagine no cause greatly doubting that suddeinly he was growne lunaticke Cariolus vexed at this hard vsage of the Prince was no sooner freed from him but in great chollor would haue departed Protesting to be reuenged for this discurtesie offered him Affrming that his entising spéeches in cullour of kindnesse was to no end but to draw him from his honorable friends to murther him Barnardine carefull what might ensue hereof weighing each occasion which might hereat be taken besought Cariolus of that loue he beare the King his maister which had vsed them honourablie of his loue to his owne King and all that might be imagined to conceiue of this wrong offered as of no such pretended matter as he supposed but rather with patience to consider the long extreame sicknes of the Prince and how subiect by reason of his infirmitie he was vnto melancholy vndertaking on his faith and honest reputation how euer the occasion grew it was not in mallice assuring him the Prince when he should call to mind this vnkind action would with griefe lament it and sorrowing for the same submit himselfe crauing hearty forgiuenesse for his rashnesse Barnardine vexed at the heart for this vnkind dealings of the Prince entreating his associates to perswade Cariolus went himselfe to the prince and after dutiful speach to his grace recounted vnto him in what euill part Cariolus tooke this abuse by him offered humbly beséeching him as he estéemed the loue of his Princely father and the honour reputation of his country to acknowledge in some curteous maner the wrong committed and so reconcile himself Dionicus whose passion had not it left him albeit in his health none might more perswade him then Barnardine yet hearing him preach repentance being in this humour forgate their passed friendship and moued with his talke albeit it was vsed for his good with a looke as gastly as a ghoast risen from the graue drew neare Barnardine and laying hands on him had like to haue mischieued him had he not made the more spéed away Cariolus vnderstanding what had bene offred the aged man and hearing in what regard the Prince held his loue passing by his chollor began with great heauinesse to lament the Prince his agonie and sorrowing for him besought the heauens creature so to comfort the Prince as himselfe would wish in the like extreame And so leauing Barnardine and the Nobles to their charge departed The Nobles whose griefe was not little with hearts ouer charged with sorrow thinking it not conuenient to leaue him alone doubting som worse matter shuld happen vnto him went to visit the Prince chéerfully enquiring of his welfare which with so good countenances as he could vse was kindly answered of the Prince who hauing past the extremitie of his fury calling to minde those notable abuses offred his friends greatly lamenting his folly therin he said Where where my honourable friends may I hide my head to shelter me from the worlds reproach who voyd of all reason more brutish then the sauage beast haue sought to murder my dearest friends Oh how might I blush with shame and ashamed of my euill committed neuer behold the faces of those whom I haue so euill entreated what fury bewitched me to this mischiefe Or what diuellish sorcery enchanted my spirits and captiuated my sences so to offend thée Lord Cariolus who of thy zealous affection and curtesie came to visit me delighting so greatly in thy company as I did And thou the father of grauitie my greatest hope in the world Barnardine thou whose honest care and loue to me hath bene euer showne from my Cradle Oh Barnardine how vngratefull haue I bene rewarding thy good with the hazard of thy blood Woe is me vnhappie and thrise vnhappie that I haue liued to behold the light of this day wherein past my self I haue so highly offended Pardon pardon my Lord Cariolus as thou art honorable and thou Barnardine whose aged yeares I haue so highly offended Forgiue my misse and remit that euill I haue committed against thée or let me neuer behold the dayes light againe Why should I liue whom mine owne conscience so highly accuseth of such impietie Will not the fowles of the aire soaring ouer thy head as thou walkest cry out vngrateful Dionicus that wouldest haue murdred thy frends each creature that God hath made wil exclaime against thée for this euill following thée with cries of horror to thy euerlasting reproach Therefore vnhappie Dionius since by thy owne doings this reproach is happened vpon thée whereby for euer thou art dishonoured and no man hereafter will dare to vse any familiaritie with thée no
â— swéetnes of your words which disdaineth to vse the vtmost cruelty you might or take his life that had vowed to vse you with more extremes then if by the greatest torments I could haue afflicted you withall I had caused you die many thousand deaths if it were possible so many could â—e incident to one bodie Had I preuailed of thy curtesie famous Princesse I cannot say what I would but vow vnto thée by the honour of my fathers Crowne while I breath to remaine a true liegeman vnto thée vertuous Nutania whose curtesie hath subdued my chollor and put my oppressed heart from a million of cares wherewith it was opprest My Lord quoth the Princesse your Lordship is merily disposed indéed women are gods children wonne with a toy such fooles they are yet my Lord I wold you did know how litle I estéem the flattery of men of what estate soeuer they would spend their friuolous spéech elsewhere for your Lordship though you please to iest I thanke God you haue such cause so to do whom I praise for the victorie receiued and next his dutie my seruant for his paines imployed for our safetie And with these words she gaue him so gracious a looke as well might the standers by sée it was not feined but that her spéech spoken in his praise procéeded of the inward motions of the hart which of the captiue Prince was not vnperceiued which caused him to replie thus Madame for auoyding of that odious sinne of flattery which my heart hath euer contemned I dare not say what I would yet séeing the destinies are so pleased to yéeld me a prisoner to my enemie I reckon my vnhappinesse the lesse which haue so gracious a Ladie for my kéeper of whom expecting no better then death I am by your comfort quite depriued of that feare And for this noble Gentleman how Fortune and the Fates hath fauoured him in this victorie wherein I am so dishonoured euery man cannot conceiue But were the honor therof a million more yet not to be weighed in the ballance where your Grace doth counterpease the same which is more to be estéemed then the worlds good how you hold him in regard I know not but if an enemies praise may any way honour him I say and with my blood wil auouch that for his valour none liueth on the confines of the earth his equall wherefore madame boast you of his worthinesse which is péerlesse and worthie for all perfections to be honoured of the mightiest Monarke that liueth Thankes my Lord quoth the Princesse for your good opinion of my seruant I doubt not but he will say as much for you when opportunitie shall serue who I assure you is as curteous as otherwise honourably endued While they were thus pleasantly discoursing word was brought the King that Theophilus Prince of Thessaly who by the outrage of a cruell storme had suffered shipwracke was found on a raft driuen a shore vpon the farthest parts of his confines where being vnknowne to any his subiects but by his owne report was by the Gentlemen of his country entreated as beséemed his estate and accompanied with a princely traine was within halfe a dayes iourney of the Court The sodaine report whereof brake their talke the King commanding his traine presently to be readie horssed to accompany him who with diligence failed not to obey his commaund and so orderly marching through the Citie they ryde easily paced vntill they méete the straunger King betwéene whom great curtesie was vsed The King gaue thankes and louing countenance to the Gentlemen who had to their great cost so honored him by enterteining this straunger whereby his countrey was made famous Thus with diuerse discourses they passed the time till they came to the Court where a stately lodging was puruayed for him and Officers appointed to attend his person as royally as if he had bene in his owne Pallace where solacing with the King and his Nobles we leaue him to return vnto Pheander the Mayden Knight whose entrailes frying with the scorching flames of his mistresse bewtie had so much changed his colour and impaired his strength that enforced by great griefe and extremitie of his loue he withdrew him to his chamber where casting himselfe on his bed with a million of carefull thoughts eftsoones determining to séeke the Princes fauour And then by contrarie motions fearing the successe of his sute carrying the report of no better then a Merchant which might giue cause of great dislike and disparage his sute he saith miserable Dionicus whom the Fates continually causeth by their hard hap daily to complaine cursing the time of thy natiuitie and the starres which gouerned thine aspects which neither time or place can remedie faint hearted wretch that séeking thy owne ouerthrow encreaseth thy griefe by consealing the cause Leftes not thou thy Princely father to come hither where thou mightest enioy the presence of thy beloued mistresse and in doing her seruice to acquaint her with thy loue and coward like shamest thou to let hir know thy zeale whose curtesie is without compare and euerie way sheweth in what regarde shée holdeth thee that hath procured her libertie in aduenturing thy life a pleasure that of a thankfull minde can neuer be forgotten What knowest thou whether her loue be as much to thée whom womanly modestie denieth to reueale else mightst thou happily knowe it No no fondling thy fortune is not so happie which euer hath liued in vnhappinesse yet dispaire not nor like a wretch die in thy Cabenet Rowse thée and consider what thou art giue not ouer thy desires to miserable death without acquainting her with thy loue spare to speake and spare to spéede A Prouerbe not so old as true which if thou follow will either giue thée comfort by her curteous grant or by deniall hasten thy death by which thou shalt be freed from these torments enioying life and liuing enioy thy swéete delight or by death endâ— these torments In this resolution hauing banished dispaire arming himself with hope of good successe stretching his weake limbes he hasteneth to the Presence whose absence had bene noted of moste Courtiers attendant there but especially of the Princesse who albeit found the companie vnfurnished wanting his companie yet durst not enquire of him doubting the suspition of iealious eyes But Fortune who had so long spurned at him with her foote gaue him this opportunitie to raise him whome she had like to haue ouerthrowne chauncing to looke out of a windowe which opened into a Parke belonging to the Court hée espied the Princesse pleasantly passing the time with her Traine of Ladies which opportunitie hée was not willing to lose but with all such spéede as his fainting legges could make reuiued by the sight of his swéete chase with all sayles spread in short time hée recouered his wished desire who was no sooner of the Princesse séene his humble dutie done and she hauing requited the same giuing him the time of
in short time his body was so weakened that rather he desired to accompany the dead then liue in such discontent the mother Quéene with ouer much care and watching néere pined and few which felt not some part of the Princes griefe such was their faithful loues vnto him whereof the father gloried not a little and the mother if women may be proud was not a litle spiced with y â— disease But neither the heauines of the father the extreame griefe of the mother the daylie lamenting of the Courtiers nor the complaints of the Commons might any way auail the Prince who smothering his own sorrowe could not by al art Physicke allowed for mens reliefe be any way comforted The ouer grieued burthen of whose miseries the Quéene with his kinglie father séeking to ease and coulde not as he desired accomplish such extremity likewise assailed them that the learnedst coulde not iudge the difference betwéene them so that by their ill suppose the subiectes griefe which reuerently honoured them and could willinglie haue offered their owne liues for their reliefe and ease But in vaine striue they that séeke helpe for him whome none but the beautifull Nutania could release who was the Load-starre of his life and the loue of her the speciall Physicke which muste restore him or dye hee would past all recouery but by Nutania that Paragone of fame Dianaes glorie Natures onely darling and delight Weake and féeble past recure of Physicke became the King and Quéen voyd of hope euer to see their Princely sonnes recouerye wherefore forgetting all worldly pleasure and Princely delightes such as become Princes ofso high estéeme quyte abolishing all the vanities of the worlde they minde wholly the euerlasting comfort and ioye in nothing but his death that from death by his blood redéemed them In this extremity when all hopes wer past help of men behold the mercy of him that preserueth and destroyeth at his pleasure who mooued no doubt at the intercession of some their vertuous subiectes or taking pittie of their distresse as wee read in holie writ testimony of our soules comfort how Abraham beloued of God mooued his diuine Deitie for those Cities for sinne by his iust iudgment consumed if fiue godlie people had bene founde within their walles they had bene preserued so either for the vertues of the King or the intercession of those sorrowing subiects the giuer of all comfort sent them comforte as you shall heare The Numedian King whose prime of youth was spent in manie honourable actions holding in great regard the loue of his neighbour Princes liued in such tranquility that he was honoured of all that heard of his gouernment The report of whose long sicknesse and weake estate moued the Kings of diuers regions by their embassage to comfort them and to bee aduertized of the trueth of their estates Amongst which those honorable Princes that held his health in such regard Thelarchus King of Thrace dispatched his Ambassadour Who for the more honour of their King was accompanied with diuers Gentlemen both of honour and great worship These Ambassadors ariuing at the Court of Numedia their cause of comming vnknowne many matters were of the commons supposed who will entermeddle with Princes affairs so that amongst them diuers things were imagined and sundrie dangers suspected but no assurance of anie vntill their day of hearing which the king appointed to be as sodaine as they could require Against which time royall preparation was made with all the pompe could be deuised where for feasting there wanted no daintie how rare soeuer nor diuersitie of Vyandes to please the appetite with many pleasing showes and pastimes the better to giue them occasion of welcome all which notwithstanding the Kings weaknesse was so exquisitlie performed that it was admirable The day of hearing come as time stayeth not Manpelious hauing summoned his councell and chiefest Nobilitie against that time to attende his pleasure these seuerall Ambassadors were brought to his presence where with more shewe of hartie welcome then his weak bodie could deliuer hee gaue them such honourable entertainment as beséemed the messengers of such Princes and highly contented them whose curtesie the strangers Nobles applauded and gréeued the more at his extremity by how much the more they saw his debilitie After some talke passed betwéen the King and these Nobles and that hee had enquired with all kindnesse of the health of their Princes and welfare of their countries and receiued their Letters with diuers Princelie presentes they were dismissed but yet not suffered to depart without gracious thanks to their kinges and kind shew of good acceptance of their paines leauing them to their repose with great charge to his Nobles and those in authoritie to sée their entertainment such as if their soueraigne Lordes were present which charge was not forgotten of those which prized their Princes honours as dear as their liues but with such pompe and coste accomplished each seuerall commaunde of his Highnesse as the Strangers might wel admire to beholde it Their diets so diuerse and so aboundant as they had neuer séene the like furnished with so much sundrie musicke and so cunningy vsed as might well delight the Goddes To acquaint you with other pastimes for recreation as Playes Maskes Tilting Turneying Barriours and other Courtly pastimes besides their hunting of Tygers wilde Bores and Lyons which mooued suche delight as other sportes pleasure vnto them Thus in vsing dayly those pleasures when the Nobles had spent some time in the Court euerie one content with his royall entertainment hearing amongst the Nobles of the countrie such generall honour of the Prince Dionicus whome they had not yet seene an especiall desire mooued them to visite the Prince bewayling greatly that mooued such aduerse chances should nip so braue and honorable a Prince in the blooming time of his princely yeares The Prince Dionicus albeit the imbecility of his body denied those nobles his preseÌ„ce at their pastimes in which seueral sport he much delighted yet that they might not depart of him vnséen he commanded a sumptuous banquet in his lodging to be ordained â—o which he inuited the straÌ„ger Nobles their companies who wishing to sée the Prince were as glad to accompany him as hee desirous of their companie and graciously with many humble thankes accepted the Princes good wil. The youthfull Nobles attendant on the Prince carefull to sée each thing ordered for the honour of his Maiestie wanted nothing that might bée desired only exspected the comming of their guestes who not vnmindful of their promise as dinner time drew nigh prepared themselues towards the Prince vnto whome by his Nobility in most gorgious maner they were conducted no sooner entred they his presence but Dionicus whose curtesie was such as gained the loue of his subiects and all strangers that had séen his demeanor yet at this time had better knowledge how to entertaine them then abilitie to performe what he would stretching himselfe in his
with his charge both horse and foot attending the comming of their general who was not vnmindful of his busines after thanks giueÌ„ to their leaders he marched with them to the gate that led them to the camp of the Souldane was vpon sight of the kings signet let out Thus marched the noble Prince vntil he came halfe way betwéene the campe the city where hée called his principall men together and said Friends and coparteners in armes you are now to consider what we haue taken in hand for that on our weal dependeth y â— whole estate of this common weal if we preuail what good it is to be freed from such an enemy there is not the simplest but can conceiue hauing tasted the extremity which is incident to warres and the pleasure of peace Contrarie the slauerye and seruile liues which these are compeld to endure that fall into their hands you may imagine by their opprobious vsage of your gracious Prince and example of other Christians which haue fallen into their handes Wherefore now is the time to shewe your selues in this battle if you shewe your force no doubt of happie successe to your eternall commendations and to the benefit of your Country and fréedome of your wiues children and families with these and other such spéeches hée so incouraged the hearts of his followers as they vowed to follow him with the hazard of their dearest blood When the Knight sawe the willingnesse of his men and that there resolution by outward motions were as hée expected after he had giuen them many thankes he made choyse of fiue hundreth to beare him company And after he had giuen directions for the Armie to follow he with his elected company marched on as closely as they might for descrying of the enemie who kept a Court of guard not far from thence vpon whom in the dead of the night they entered and finding them at aduantage which litle doubted any assault hauing neuer before bin assailed were some sléeping some gaiming others as ill imployed surprized and not one left to beare tydings of their ill fortune This first attempt well performed he passed on with all spéed towards the Campe where the Prince laie suddeinly entered the same where like a resolute and noble Gentleman he so behaued himselfe that it filled the harts of his followers with great courage who behaued themselues in such maner that fewe escaped with life but such as were gréeuously maimed so that they rather desired death then longer to liue The Prince who was by one of his Bashawes counselled to flie as the least euill for auoyding of death was brauely mounted on a swift running Gâ—nnef of which the Mayden Knight being enformed leauing the fight hée poasteth after with so good spéed as the harmles Hare from the cruell iawes of the Grey-hounds such haste made this worthie CConquerour that in euill time for the Prince he ouertooke him accompanied with twelue of his principall Bashawes whom he with courage so assailed that in a moment he had vanquished them all leauing some breathlesse some without armes others without legges no one escaped his furie In which conflict the Prince escaped but all in vaine the Destenies had determined there to finish the honour of that iourney by the hands of the Mayden Knight Who ouertaking him gaue him so gréeuous a blow with his Curtler betwéene the necke and shoulders as made him forget his way saying staie proude vsurper and take my Ladie the Princesse with thée And pulling him vehemently by all the force he could by the helmet vnhorsed him that the Knight verily supposed he had bene slaine wherefore dismounting himselfe hée reuiued him againe vnto whome he sayd My Lorde this is not for your honour to braue a King in his owne Dominions and in his Court by your Heralde and then to haue so small care of your worde In faith Pagane for thy sake ile neuer credite anie Heathen on his worde hereafter Pittie is it a Prince of your extéeme shoulde after so manie Lectures reade plaie the Trewant trust mée were I your father I should twigge the youth well to learne him hereafter to be more carefull of his businesse The Prince hearing himselfe so frumped was more gréeued there at then all the losse hée had receiued Wherefore with a heart full of carefull heauinesse he saith Braue man at Armes what ere thou be to whom fortune hath made me thrall ill beséemeth such wordes of disgrace to any one whome the Fates haue ouerthrowne but cursed my selfe which gaue thée this opportunitie cursed that negligence which maketh my foe thus to tryumph in my fall Thou Mahomet suffer me not as thou art a Prophet to liue thus disgraced to beholde the face of anie man surprized by so cowardly a curre who daring not to thrust his head out of the cennell but by stealth hath wrought my vtter ruine and ouerthrow taking his aduantage But glorie not in this victorie for it may be thou shalt haue so great cause to repent thée thereof as pleasure to behold me now thy prisoner Your Lordship is disposed to be pleasaunt quoth the Knight but it is the vse of Christians to giue losers leaue to speake if it so happen my fortune shall be the worse In the meane time your Grace shall be my guest I haue an hostes prouided wil bid you welcome who by this time I doubt not doth heare of your comming that you néede not feare of your dinner The Prince full of heauinesse could not tell what to answere wherefore Arming himselfe with all the patience he could to endure it he was by this Conquerer commanded to horse Long had they not ridden towards his Armie but he was encountered by diuers his Captaines who missing their Generall at haphazard put themselues in search for him and happily well they met him who reioycing for his good fortune taking the Prince prisoner they recount vnto him the ruine and spoyle of the whole Armie for which their diligent courage and valour shewed he yéeldeth them moste great and heartie thankes beséeching them to take charge of his Armie and diuide the spoyle amongst them which done repaire at their pleasures to the Cittie while he with his prisoner made haste to the Kings presence The tydings of the Knightes successe was by some such as honoured him with spéede reported at the Court in which no parte of his honours was left vnrecounted whose pollicie and valiantnesse in Armes the King with al y â— Courtiers admired Imagining him by these worthie déedes of Chiualrie to be the onely man at Armes deseruing honour in all that Region of whom there was no small ioye and such fame and renowne of his actions as both in Citie and Court there was no talke but tended to the honour of the Mayden Knight which liked not the Princesse Nutania a little to heare her seruant in these his first attempts venturing for her to haue such fortunate successe so that
ought will do me good if not vse me no more thus vnkindly least ouercome with the extreme of my griefe I chance to say with my tongue what my heart will repent or vse my hands with such rygor as becommeth not a mayden The Gentlewoman séeing the wind blow so warme fearing as much as was promised séeing the Princesse impatience such thoght not good to tempt her aboue her strength for women being by nature warme with a litle fâ—wel will be made hotte past reason wherefore making a preamble to her discourse like an eloquent Orator began thus Pheander with that word making a long pause to note the Princesse countenance on the sodain naming her beloued was interrupted thus Pheander Guenela what franticke humor causeth thée to name him in this manner with whome thou hadst neuer anything to say Madame quoth Guenela attend the rest before you either condemne me or commend me Then procéed quoth the Princesse This Pheander of whom my tale is before your Exellence to be told is that Knight who of your maiestie is called the Mayden Knight this Knight as it is told me loueth a Lady but whoÌ„ I cannot declare before I know but as it is told me by his dear friend which knoweth the secrets of his heart so tormented is he in his passions that the night naturally made for rest restlesse he consumeth in great discontent the day wherein all creatures delight is vnto him loathsome so that through watching and refusing his dyet with other cares which cloyeth his stomake his louely face is altered from the sanguine vnto the yealow coloured Saffrone yea Madame these mine eyes are witnesses of it who this day sawe him passe into the Court so féeble that his weake legges might hardly endure the waight of his bodie No more of this my swéete Guenela least thy tongue busied too long on this Tragedie ouercome with the extremitie of my griefe I â—e enforced to seeke an ende of my torments by dispatching my owne life Oh Guenela is this thy comfortable confection Is this the reliefe thou preachest off which would yéeld me such quiet of minde Vnhappie Lady why should I liue to sée another enioy my Loue Is not Pheander my seruaunt haue not I made choyse of him and shall another no way worthie to enioy him haue that interest which might delight the Goddesses Peace Nutania whither romest thou let reason subdue rage let not euery one knowe thy loue to Pheander but conceale it as thou maist and séeke some secret deuise to giue thy hart ease by death which is thy best remedy yet would I liue to become a succour for the well deseruing Knight and gaine his hearts desire for him if I might Cruel were that â—ame not worthy to inioy the simplest groom which causâ—es for loue consumeth such a man in all perfections and liniaments of body as Pheander without yéelding him loue But hearken Guenela that thou maist in time when my bodie shall be intombed among the dead report vnto my Loue and louing Knight how deare I held his loue as my countenance often shewed though he carelesse of loues toyes neuer regarded it for he shall well know at my last ende how I wish his welfare doo but this for me by his friend to learn the Ladies name whoÌ„ the Knight is so inthralled This is all the seruice that I will euer command thée that knowing hir I may become an intercessor for him whom my hart more desireth than all the worlds possessions with this teares which trickled downe from her eyes restrayned her tongue In which sorrowful passion her maiden became a partner and grieued for her follie committing so haynous a faulte in procuring the same she excused in this maner Most gacious Princesse how much I grieue to sée your discomfort I can not say but hope your Grace will pardon me which haue bene more bold presuming on your fauour then beséemeth mée neyther what I haue done gracious Lady was of any intent to offend you but to acquite my selfe of blame in a matter which I haue of curtesie vndertaken as the sequele shall manifest if it shall please your Ladiship to peruse this letter which will no doubt resolue you without further paines to me or trouble to your Grace what she is that is best beloued of the Maiden Knight on the earth This letter I receiued at his handes who hearing of your disquiet desirous as it should séeme to acknowledge his dutie to you coniured mée by many faire words and proffrrs of good to deliuer it vnto your hands which albeit for modesty I did long refuse thrusting that from me with my finger which I woulde willingly haue drawne to me with all my force in the end I consented the rather for your Ladiships quiet which as I suppose will bid it welcome for the maisters sake who if my iudgment in the Planet Venus deceiue me not wil prooue shortly a coniunction or Ile neuer trust my skill again for Venus being in the signe Leo hath domination ouer both houses viz. he and she or hée and you The Princesse at her last shift when she heard Guenelas tale voyd of all hope to enioy her beloued Pheander after shée had a while paused as one at length awaked from her memento as from a sléepe she saith Now trust me wench thou hast cunningly gone about the bush and hast daintily sought to enter into my déepest secretes yet how cunningly so euer you haue dealt there may be a quilitie to deceiue both thée and him but I pray thée Guenela tell mée what spéeches vsed the Maiden Knight at the deliuery therof tell me swéet gyrle in friendship The despairing Knight good Madam for so I must call him howe euer his vallour showes it selfe in fielde as no doubt woorthily so saith report yet in loue I sée his dastardnesse who loueth yet dare not reueale the sum of his desires but must commit it to a tell-tale paper languishing to the death wanting his delight and prolonging his sorrowes by silence his lookes bewraying more than he can vtter for be it said he that had séen not long since his beautie and gallant grace the abilitie of his bodie and noted euery particular lineament at this time with the debility thereof should sée a metamorphosis which might mooue the most hardest hart to pittie the cause to me vnknowne but suspected The assurance I doubt not but your Grace wil soon vndestand if you vouchsafe to teare the seale and peruse the contents The Princesse which thought euery minute a yeare till she had knowledge of the Knights minde put her maiden from her prattle with a fained message when being all alone with a number of sorrowfull sighes for the Knights perplexitie she read and manie times reade those lines which gaue her first comfort of enioying her heartes coutent how welcome they were vnto her it may better bée imagined than explaned whose head was wholly busied in answering the same
forgotten his word Leauing further to descant on this plaine song returne we to the Princesse who was aduertised by her woman what had passed betwéene the Knight and her not omitting his heauy lookes and pitifull spéeches And then againe as glad to please the Princesse whom she was assured loued the Knight letted not at large to set out his honors gained his comelinesse of person bountie and whatsoeuer the world admired in him she highly aduanced to the great content of y e Princesse who thought euery minute a yeare vntill she saw him whome she with hartie desire expected long looked for comes at last And Nutania who at a casement wayted diligently his coÌ„ming espied her beloued Knight what ioy it caused let them iudge which better experience haue made perfit in louers delights The Princesse hauing the sight of her so long desired Knight sent Guenelia to entertaine him and to bring him to her presence The Princesse studying to frame her countenance for his welcome bethought her selfe of sundry meanes eftsoones doubting by her too pleasant and kinde vsage to be thought too forward in loue then what discomfort her heauy lookes might moue to him whom she most desired to please In this quandary fitting on a Pallet leaning her head on her pillowe Guenela hath brought the Knight to her presence who doing his dutie was by the Princesse againe saluted Attending like the guiltie condemned his sentence from her mouth which was to giue him either life or death the Knight thus at an nonplus ouercome with the beholding of the Princesse exellent perfection was by her the mirror of all honor and curtesie remoued out of his dumpes in this maner Sir Pheander whether I should chastice thy presumption in writing so boldly vnto me or no I am not yet resolued but before I acquainted my father therewith I thought good to heare thée speake for that I would not sodeinly disgrace thée whom I haue so often graced as well to heare thy intent committing so great a follie as what thou canst say in excuse thereof Princes are not to be ieasted with nor to be attempted in such maner by their inferiours and therefore thou hast highly erred in that thou hast done and encurred the daunger of our strictest lawes by which thou art already coÌ„demned were thy fact known The Knight standing at the bar where Bewlie sat chiefe Iudge was surprized with so many griefes that he might hardly vtter any word yet reuiued by hope of those comfortable and swéete wordes pronounced by Guenela hée saith Gracious Lady that I haue presumed farre I cannot but acknowledge yet that I haue encurred such punishment as your highnesse inferreth I deny vnlesse death be the guerdon assigned the faithfull for dutifull seruice and entire affection vrged me to séeke thy fauour in loue without which I may not liue so déepely is thy vertuous perfections imprinted in my heart which if I enioy not I desire no longer to breathe Therefore Madame if thou disdaine his loue that liuing dieth continually for thée doo but say the word and this blade so often imbrued in the blood of mine enemies shall sacrifice his maisters owne true heart before thy face that thy cruell selfe maist witnesse to thy selfe how faithfully thy seruant hath loued thée The Princesse gréeued to heare these spéeches moued with great ruth could hardly forbeare sheading of teares yet modestie the ornament of womankinde caused her to feine a counterfeit show of displeasure to him whose teares wroong droppes of blood from her tender heart yet that she might not too sodeinly confesse her hearts desire nor giue him cause of vtter dispaire she saith Pheander that thou maist sée and séeing report in all places where euer thou shalt become of womens pitie I grant thée pardon for thy fault and with my pardon thy life which was wholly in me to dispose For louing me as thy Prince I heartily thanke thée but in séeking to obtaine my loue as thy wife that haue bene denied to diuerse and sundrie Princes in that thou errest let each estate frame themselues in loue to their equall so shall they sooner obtaine their desires and their loues in more tranquilitie be mainteined Thou knowest thy birth how base it is and though for thy vertues it pleased my Princely father to aduance thée who cannot of his Princely nature but rewarde the dâ—serts of the well deseruing If for his good to thée thou séeke to robbe him of his childe therein thou shewest a verie vngratefull minde and laiest open to the world thy base condition Therefore persist to prosecute thy sute let reason vanquish that brain-sicke humor which so afflicts thée in doing which thou shalt shewe thy selfe to be thy selfe For no greater conquest can be atchieued then conquering a mans owne effects Doo this and thou shalt finde Nutania thy faithfull and assured friend who will be as carefull to aduaunce thée as I haue found thée readie to pleasure me Alas good Madame answered the Knight I haue often heard the whole néeds no phisition it is easier far to giue counsell then to take it The full gorged Churle litle regardeth the staruing creature at his gate but madame could you conceiue the least part of many thousand griefes that afflict me you would pitie me at least though you yéelded me no farther fauour If thy heart be not harder then the Adamant pittie me swéete Lady and yéeld thy grace to augment my life or vtterly deny me your fauour for euer I exspect but your answere for my resolution is no other then I haue profest dastards feare to die but the Noble minde preferreth death which endeth all sorrowes before a life to be continued with discontent The Princesse which was at her wits end as full of griefe as he of sorow turned her spéeches from her matter to question him of his Country the maner of the Court and state therof thinking so to be guilde the time and put him off for that season But so long dalied she that she was forced in the end to confesse her loue to be no way inferior to his Thus as I haue said demaunding of the Knight many questions she earnestly entreated him to resolue her whether the Prince Dionicus were such as the world reported him who had name to be a Paragon excelling in all actions required in a Noble man The Prince hearing his name called in question by the Princesse on such a sodaine beléeued verily that she had some secret knowledge of him which made him with blushing chéekes to say what reportes soeuer your Grace hath heard of that Prince Dionicus I know not a subiect I was to his father and ought to speake reuerently of him yet what is truth and not for affection or despighte to say other then I will with my blood auow Wherefore Noble Lady I will truly answere your demaunds The Prince whose father was matchlesse gaining the loue of all men with care and honor mainteined the reputation
I the Physitian that could cure his maladie and had so good iudgement of his affects as of mine owne charity would I shoulde minister vnto his disease what effect soeuer the potion would worke prouided this that he disclosed his griefe in time mistake me not Pheander and pardon mée if I conceale what I would vtter my thoughtes are mine owne Trueth Ladie quoth the Knight neither was y e same demaunded to vrge any thing more theÌ„ standeth with your good liking yet for the prince this I say it were pittie he shoulde die for loue So say I quoth the Princesse for few men ther be of that condition and as seldome is such a one séene as multitudes of blacke Swans Your errour is great Madam quoth the knight for many haue bene with loue so ouercome that Kinges haue bene enforced to stoop to their subiectes and the greatest conquerours whose valour many volumes recorde by loue compelled to forsake themselues taking sundrie shapes and many toyles to gaine the loue of their Ladies I speake now Madam for the Prince whom I loue well and challenge your charity may bee to him continued for your loue is the only physick that must cure him or els all other helps are friuolous in hope wherof he breaths a lingring life til your gracious consent finish his griefs yéelding to his desires in whom it resteth to restore him banished to his regal dignities who is y â— cause of his exile dastardnesse hath caused him to conceale it bearing the extremitie of his passions with intollerable pain whose flames encreaseth by viewing your exellent perfections The want of whose grace haleth him on to desperation not able any longer to resist loues assaults which with such hot allarmes assaileth him that longer he cannot endure them The Princesse hearing her Knight pleade for the Prince with such earnestnesse leauing his owne sute to draw her to loue him of whom her thoughts were least on thought it some pollicy of the Knight which imagined loue had vanquished her swelling with anger at these new imaginations heâ— colour changed into so many formes that the least child which had séene the same might easily haue gest what small content those last vttered spéeches wrought But doubting least with silence it should be perceiued with a heart full fraught with fury she sayd Deceitfull wretch vnworthy the fauour of the simplest drug that by thy subtil practises hast sought to insinuate thy selfe into my secrets was it not false varlet sufficient that I forbeare the punishing of thy own bold writings but to my face in colorable maner deludest me with tales of I know not what Haue I euer graced thée since I first sawe thée and requitest thou my fauour thus dallying with me as with thy inferiour or some of thy base Trulles No no vse thy ieast with such that can better disgest them and from henceforth be warned and warned take héed how thou dare either by word or writing vse any like motions least I acquaint y â— world with thy impotent dealings and by death thou receiue the guerdon of thy ill and so fare as thou maist for neuer expect farther fauour at my hands The Prince hearing this finitiue sentence from her whose tongue was to pronounce his life or death thought it high time to speake for himselfe before she departed and staying her as she would haue gone he humbly besought her not in displeasure to leaue him but with patience endure what he could say which albeit she might hardly be wonne to grant yet her former affection banished chollor in such wise that he had libertie to speake saying Gracious Lady that I offended your Exellence whom of all earthly creatures I most honor I hartily sory for it iudge me not so impudeÌ„t or senslesse to moue matter without some reason especially enduced therunto by your exellent fauour and charitable pittie of the wretched estate of that vnhappie Prince who hath vowed to loue your grace to the death and by granting him your loue you shall draw him from death thereby not onely restore him but fill the hearts of many thousands with ioy which with teares continually lamenteth his losse which is lost to them for euer and shortly will be losse to himselfe the whole world Vnhappy Prince why name I him Prince whose miseries is more theÌ„ the most wretched slaue that liueth who not able to endure the force of loue hath forsaken himselfe to follow his own affectioÌ„s without knowledge of father kin or subiects Muse not Madam at the straungenesse of the Tale I haue to deliuer nor let it séeme incredible that I am that vnhappy Dionicus lawfull heire of the Numedian Crown that Prince through whom so many miseries is befallen his country his fathers care cause of his careful mothers vntimely death who fettred in loues bands by report of thy péerlesse bewtie vertues hath drawne me to take the habit of a merchant vsurping the name of Pheander the more vnsuspected to attain the sight of thée whom my heart so desired whom if thou pitie liueth by thy loue to do thée honor and without thée may no longer inioy this life in pursuit of whose loue if I die my ghoast among the rest of louers shal sing hymnes in laude of thy péerlesse bewtie The Princesse as one in a trance could not tel whether she heard him speak or dreamed yet noting his countenaÌ„ce which shewed a troubled spirit tickled with a sodain ioy as women be proud in their Loues that her loue to Pheander was methamorphosed to Dionicus the Numedian Prince of whome her fathers Courtiers reported such honours she sayd Pheander or how I shall call thée I know not thou hast filled my sences with a world of coÌ„fused thoghts in recounting the straungenesse of thy fortunes which I can hardly be drawne to beléeue nor is it possible that the Prince Dionicus could liue in the Court of Thrace so long concealed without knowledge of some one if I might by reason be induced to beléeue the same I would say more Madam quoth the Prince howsoeuer I haue disguised my selfe heretofore as loth to be dishonored yet beléeue me in this that I said no more then is truth Therefore if thou couldst not loue Pheander being a merchant for ignobling thy noble house yet as I am Prince of Numedia vouchsafe me thy liking by whome thy honor can no way be disparaged but by exchanging loue for loue with him aduance thy honor far higher Say nâ—w Madame all nicenesse set apart can you loue The Princesse whose loue was equall though willingly she would haue coloured the same yet moued with a pitifull desire to ease his griefe which farre surpassed as also to ease her owne heart which was not a litle infected with the self disease their welfares depending both on her grant or deniall After she had deliberated a while fixing her hand in his which she easily grasped and leaning her head on his shoulder to
liegeman shall I euer continue and be readie at your pleasure to do you seruice Here Gentlemen the story telleth vs that the Thracian King as flesh is mortall vexed with an extreme sicknes was so oppressed therewith that nature failing through weake age all phisicke helpes were friuolous so that perforce he must pay his due to death which commandeth all whose breath failing at the sommon of this tyrant which may not be intreated his soule departed this earthly trunk to sée the ioyes of the euerlasting kingdome whose death his subiects so with pittious plaintes bewailed as might haue changed the most hardest heart into a Caos of lamenting sorrowes beholding their teares whose bodie was most royally intombed amongst his Ancestry But among those which sorrow ouerwhelmed and had like to haue drowned in deaths gulph the Princesse whom nature forced in some sort to lameÌ„t as a child hauing lost her father was so weakened with her plaints and hearts sorrow that long time it was not to be thought she could recouer it so much was her tender heart touched eftsoones bewailing her fathers death and then againe gréeuing for the want of her Loue and Lord the Mayden Knight of whose safetie whom she more desired then to be Lady of the whole earth could not be perswaded Long did she languish in these extreames and could not be comforted in so much that she rather desired death then to liue But he that in extreames is our best comfort preseruing her for the Commons benifit sent her health who being recouered the Coronation finished and the Crown by common consent of the Parliament confirmed vnto her many offers of marriages were made vnto her for which humble sutes of her Councâ—ll were not omitted who desired nothing more then to haue the issue of her noble bodie succeed her But no perswasions might moue her from the Knight who had the chiefe interest of her hart to whom she had vowed her selfe protesting likewise neuer to grant her loue or liking to any one but onely to him This resolution so much gréeued her nobles that nothing could breed more discontent yet as dutie commanded framed themselues to her gouernment who with such wisedom directed all things for the benefit of her common weale that it was admirable to behold that wisdome in one of her sexe But to return to our matter The Thessalian King who minding his honourable word with the noble Pheander finding opportunitie ganne question his sister in this maner Phedera since the decease of our deare parence thou hast bene left vnto my gouernment for whom without boast or desire of benefit of thée or any I haue had that care as of mine owne good and euer will so thou be ruled by me And for I sée thy yeares requireth to be linked in marriage that thou maist participate in loue with thy husband and spend the prime of thy yeares as is fitting thy estate I haue found a Gentleman of honor and valour such a one as on my word loueth thée and I haue cause for his paines in my seruice imployd to honor Therefore good sister if thou loue me as a brother and hast not bestowed thy loue elsewhere in this matter be ruled by mée and in dooing whereof thou shalt finde mée thy brother and most assured friend who will euer be as carefull of thy well doing and honor as of mine good Say therefore thy minde plainly and let me knowe whether thou doest loue or canst loue The Lady whose wisedome was such as balanced her honor not knowing whether her brother were in in iest or earnest thus modestly said Gracious Lord and my dread soueraigne pardon I humbly beséech you your subiect and suffer mée not through my fond answering so friuolous a question which you vrge but for my triall to procure your displeasure or mine owne shame Why Phedera quoth the King you mistake me if you thinke I ieast for on my honor I meane what I say therfore dally not with mée if you hope of my good But tell me if thou doest loue or wilt loue my friend The Ladie hearing the King in earnest although shée could be well content to haue enioyed the swéet pleasures of loue in marriage thus sayd Dread Lord and my most gracious soueraigne sithence it is your pleasure I should answere your demaunde Know that as modestie is the ornament of Maydes and chastitie the garland that bewtifieth all our sexe so haue I carefully weyed mine honor in such manner that I neither loue nor as yet euer made choyce of any in loue but haue eschewed all such friuolous motions of the flesh to my greatest power as beséemeth a Lady of such honor That I may loue I doubt not because it is the commandement of our maker and incident to all creatures who in their kindes make choyce of some one to participate with yet shall my loue neuer be such as may disparage your highnesse loue towards me but such as shall be to your content And for your graces pleasure is to bestow me on a man so honorable so standeth it with your will to let mée knowe him I will answere more directly God a mercy for that wench quoth the King then I doubt not but wée shall haue a match or else thy wisedome is not such as I wish it were But tell mée vnfeinedly my Phedera canst thou loue the Lord Cariolus a man for birth honorable for valour to compare with most aduenturing Knightes in the worlde in person comely and so dibonire in his behauiour as for curtesie hée is to bee matched with the best Hée is the man Madame whom if you can fancie thou honourest mée in thy loue and thou shalt finde mée a brother nay a father if fathers loue may excéed the brothers Say therefore thy minde and let me know thy answere The Ladie whose hope was her brothers sute had bene for the Mayden Knight with whose loue she was a little touched yet modestie mastering such fond motions would not let affection take such roote but that shée could at her pleasure expell it After the Lady had heard her brother whom she perceiued by his earnestnesse in vttering his sute would not willingly be denied she said Pardon me my good Lord if I passe modestie considering your great praise of the Gentleman beléeue me he is much beholding vnto your Grace who could haue thought you would haue prooued so good a soliciter had your studie bene the Lawes of this Realme no doubt but you should haue had many Clyants were the Gentleman here himselfe he could not haue sayd thus much and therefore he may thinke himselfe beloued and honored of your highnesse But for answere as I would not haue you in your first wooing disgraced least it discourage you in your owne enterprises being a batcheler so can I say little of my selfe who is to be gouerned by you to whom in all humblenesse I referre me and shall so you be pleased be content if it were