high and mighty knighthood doth constraine any good knight to haue you in prise and estimation And in that you doo say of my demand I would my gods were so pleased that my bountie were conformable and agréeable vnto the iustice and right which I haue of my part and if I were sure thereof then would I against all the Knights in the world defend y e contrary not withstanding if you doo thinâ—…k y t both in the one in the other there is lack of my part come let vs goe and make the proofe therof for that first I wil loose my life before I wil leaue to doo all that in mée lyeth When the knight of Cupid heard this without making any more answere hée turned about his Horse the knight of the Sun did the like and either of them did put themselues at the list the knight of the Sunne said vnto himselfe Oh high soueraigne gods with a deuout humble hart I request your aide help to succour me in this battell for that I shal haue to doo with so famous and worthy a knight And if it be so that you be fauourable vnto mée although all the Knights in this great place dooe help him yet shall I not feare them But when the Knight of Cupid dyd see himselfe beefore the Emperour Trebatio his father and the Empresse his mother hée did not let to say Oh high mighty God the creator of all things héere I do desire thy diuine maiestie who hether to in all the battailes which I haue made hast giuen mée the victorie let mee not now I pray thee bée forgotten nor denied of your aide and help for that in any of them past the death should neuer haue gréeued mée if I had béene ouercome What happened betwixt them you shall vnderstand in this Chapter following Of the wonderfull and cruell battaile made beetwixt the knight of the Sun and the knight of Cupid and of the perrillous ende and successe thereof Chapter 30. THere was great attention and silence in the great place at the windows of the mighty citie of Constantinople abiding to sée the perillous dangerous contention that should bée beetwixt the knight of the Sunne and the knight of Cupid Then the two worthy and valiantest knights in the world stroke their â—…urious Horses with their spurs and made theÌ„ to run with so great swiftnesse that the ground séemed to tremble vnder them it put great admiration in all those that did béehold their furious â—…estures and the fierce end of their rigorous encounters but especially the princesse Lindabrides who lost that roseall couâ—…our of hir faire face in such sort that shée had no courage to â—…éehould the running of their swift course These furious knights made so great hast in their long course that wheÌ„ it was thought they had not begun these valiant knights with â—…heir great big speares did execute their encounters with 〈◊〉 great strength of their armes and puissant force of their â—…odies that theyr big and long Speares béeing broken in â—…éeces the shéeuers thereof flew into the ayre shewing the 〈◊〉 of these two Knights with so great noyse and â—…umbling as commonly the hard shingle doth by the Sea â—…oast béeing throwen vp by the force and strength of the â—…ormy Sea And these two worthie knights with no lesse â—…ry then a Thunder-bolt passed by one another without 〈◊〉 mention of griefe receiued by that strong and rigoâ—…us encounter Their furious Horsses had scarce made an 〈◊〉 of their long course when that with strange lightnesse 〈◊〉 turned their horses about almost as swift as the ayre â—…awing out their fine cutting swords and with a trise their light Horses were togther and they stroke both together the one at the other such blowes that warding it with their sheelds they were both of them clouen a sunder in the midst and their swords descended vpon their Helmes with so great force and strength that both of them declined their heads as though they had done reuerence the one vnto the other like brethren as they were And when they saw that in their shéelds there was no defence the rest that remained of them they â—…hrew off their armes to the ground and with with theyr swords in both theyr hands they beegan to strike one another in such sort that it séemed they could not endure one quarter of an houre but that these valyaunt Knights should be cut all to péeces in this perillous battell for that theyr strong blowes were far out of measure and although their armour for that they were the best in all the world it did defend them that they could not bée wounded yet for all that the great force and waight of their mighty blowes dyd all to bruse their flesh and bones but yet these worthie Knights dyd not faint any thing at all but rather their fury and force did the more increase and were so furious in this theyr wonderfull battaile and their blowes so thick that scarcely they could bée perceiued but the Knight of the Sunn stroke the knight of Cupid such a blow vpon his rich and strong helme that hee made the fire to flie out therat in great abundance the which tooke away the sight of his eyes and did depriue him somewhat of his feeling And as the Knight of the Sunne would haue doubled another blow vpon him the Knight of Cupid was wholy come againe to himselfe and beefore hée could discharge the same hée made his light horse to leape on the one side in such sort that his blow was stroken in vayne with so great forcâ—… and strength that hée had fallen downe to the ground afteâ—… his sword if hée had not sustained himselfe by the pommel of his saddle but this blow was not so soone discharged when the Knight of Cupide entered in with his Horse anâ—… with both his handes hee stroke the Knight of the Sunne 〈◊〉 strong a blow vpon his Heime that hée depriued him altâ—…gether of his féeling made him to loose his stirrops and the bridle of his horse And the furious horse being tormented with that mightie blow did somwhat apart himselfe from y t place wheras they made their battaile The emperour Trobatio the Princesse Claridiana was greatly amazed when they saw the Knight of the Sunne brought into that estate Likewise the precious Princesse Lindabrides out of hir triumphant Chariot with great sorrow griefe did behold the same But all this did not indure long for that the Knight of Cupid for all the hast that he made could not come to double vpon him so soone as the valiant Knight of the Sun was come againe vnto himselfe recouered his bridle stirrups And full of mortall courage being to the presence of his Ladies by one all onely Knight to be so ill intreated hée lift vp his strong armes with his sword in both his hands and spurred forwardes his furious Horse with so great wrath that
Thundering and noise was past the Knight of Cupide saw that the entrie in at the doore was cléere and without any impediments so hée entered in thereat and came into another Quadran which was meruailous bright cleere onely by the vertue of precyous stones which were very big set round about the wals and in the middest of this Quadran there was in manner of a stage very straungelâ—…e wrought and round about it steps like stayres for to go vp vpon and vpon the same stage there was set in a chayre very richlie wrought the Queene Artidea who was very fayre royally apparayled who leâ—…ned hir head vpon hir arme and there was beeholding a Knight of a very good countenance and disposition who was all armed with guilt armour and brodered with precious stones kneeling vpon his knees béefore hir hauing his breast open shewing vnto the Queene his bloody heart and although his countenaunce dyd shew him to be dead yet the wound and the blood was so fresh as though at the same instant it had beene done This Knight was the wyse Artidon who willingly and with his owne handes dyd wound and open his breast after that hée had brought the Queene thether at the houre that the Knight of Cupide entered into that Quadran and saw all this the same houre was the inchauntment vndone and the Queene was at lybertie who when shée lyft vp hir eyes and saw him shée straight waies vnderstood that that Knight had finished that aduenture and set hir at libertie for the which béeing ioyfull shée arose from the place where shée was set and when the Knight of Cupide saw hir aryse hée went towardes hâ—… and dyd salute hir very curteously and shée spake vnto him saying O gentle Knight wherewith can I gratifie you for this great benefit which by your mightie bountie and prowesse this day I haue receiued in that I am at liberty and cléere of this heauy and sorrowfull prison in the which I haue béen so many yéeres dooing no other thing but liue in continuall sorrow and lamentation for the death of this Knight Tell me I pray thée who thou art and in what estate doth all my Kingdome remaine for that I béeleeue by reason of the long tyme that I haue béene héere there is no memorie nor mencion of mée Then the Knight of Cupid said Lady vnto god thou oughtest to surrender these thancks and not to mee for that hée hath beene the principal dooer and hée it is that hath deliuered thee out of this Inchantment and that which I of my part haue done it is sufficient satisfaction for y t I haue done it in the seruice of such a person as you are And as touching the rest which you doo aske of mée you shal vnderstand that I am a straunge Knight and was neuer in this countrie beefore it was within these foure dayes that I entered into it notwithstanding in this small tyme I haue vnderstood by certaine shepheards which I left héere without the caue that in all your kingdome there is great memory of you and that they doo looke for your retourne daylie and since your first entrie into this Caue vntill this daye the kingdome hath beene in power of gouernours and none hath beene called King And béeléeue this of a certaintie that your libertie will bée vnto all them great ioye and delyght and they will receyue you with no small honour The Quéene was very glad and dyd reioyce to heare those words And when shée saw the excellent beauty of the Knight of Cupid who had the beauer of his healme lift vp shée was greatly amazed thereat and thought within hir selfe that she could not make him better satisfaction for that which hée had done for hir then to take him for hir husband And thincking the tyme long to sée hir selfe cléere out of that place shée sayde that if hée were desirous to know the truth of any thing of the wyse Artidon that hée which was kneeling on his knées vppon the Scaffolde was the same and that hée would giue him the true and perfect aunswere of all things that should bée demaunded of him The Knight of Cupide who was very glad thereof went vnto the wyse Artidon and sayd O gentle Knight and wyse Artidon let now thy misfortune giue comfort vnto my sorrow which thou doost know is very great and how that it should bee vnto mée a gloryous death that in opening of my breast and shewing my heart vnto that cruell Lady I might cause hir to wéepe and it were but one teare of pittie to haue compassyon of mée Lykewyse thou doost well know the great misfortune of the Princesse Briana my Mother and how the Prince Eeward my Father and my Lord. hir spowse was lost and wée could neuer heare any newes of him and also my brother the Gentleman of the Sunne was lost béeing but an infant and neuer yet could newes bée heard of him now heere I besire thée that thou dost giue me some newes of them or to tell mée whether they bée alyue or dead or whether I shall goe to séeke them for that whatsoeuer thou shalt tell mee I shall hold it for a truth and when thou hast satisfied mee of the truth heerof then I will desire thée to tell mee some newes of that which passeth in the court of King Oliuerio and as for the Princesse Oliuia my mistresse I know well that I doo not deserue to know any thing of hir And when hee had made an end of saying these words straight wayes the wyse man dyd open his eyes dyd looke vpon the Knight of Cupide and when hée had wel beholden him hée answered and sayde Worthie Knight of Cupide thou oughtest to haue thy selfe in great estimation for that thou hast finished and made an ende of this aduenture the which many could not haue done although they were both mightie and worthie Knights that haue come hether and giuen the enterprise of the same although they haue done other wonderfull and great déedes of armes for the great compassion which thou hast hadde of my death I giue thée thanks therefore and in reward of the same I will tel thée straunge and secret things which shall giue thée great contentment touching that which thou hast demanded of mée of the Prince Edward of thy brother And in saying these wordes hée tolde him perticularly all the whole Historie of the great Emperour Trebatio from the first time that he was in loue with the Princesse Briana till such time as hée went out of the Castle of Lindaraza by the high prowesse of the Knight of the Sunne how he went in his company into Hungaria and how hee carryed the Princesse into his Empâ—…re of Grecia So likewise hée tolde him how that mightie and valiaunt Knight who tooke the Emperour Trebatio his Father out of the inchanted Castell was the Knight of the Sunne of whom hée was succoured béeing at the poynt of death in the Iland of
to punish all euill déedes and how darest thou be so bold to vse so great euil and â—…illany Therefore out of hand make recompence of all this euill which thou hast done and set at libertie all those which thou hast prisoners in thy Castle if thou wilt that the diuine iustice bee not executed on thee this day The proude Gyant when hée heard those woords was so full of anger wrath that a thicke smoake came out of his Beauer and without answering any woord hée turned about his horse and with his Speare in his hand hée came against the Princesse saying Oh if the high Gods were so pleased that theâ—… wert that great Siracusano and Achilles the Greeke ioâ—…utly with Hector of Troy that all three together I might depriue theÌ„ of theyr 〈◊〉 wherewith I might somwhat ass wage this my great wrath and anger This valiant worthy Princesse did not refuse that terrible and cruel encounter of that furious Gyant but with hir speare in hir hand went foorth to méet him and meeting togyther in theyr first course the Gyaunt encountered with the Princesse in the midst of all hir body with so great strength that if hir armour had not beene made by the art of the Queene of Pantafilia it had not béen possible for hir to haue escaped death for if hee had made that encounter against two other Knights hee had surelie yearced them through and for that the force of hir fine armour would not consent to be broken the head of his spearâ—… glaunced on the one side and the staffe was sheeuered all tâ—… péeces in such sort y t the princesse 〈◊〉 cleere of that encounter but shée made hir encounter with so great force againâ—… she Gyant that chancing on the one side vnder his arme it perced him through his harneis hir speare appeared more then halfe on the other side making a little wound and by force of that strong encouÌ„ter his horse was ouerthrowen to the ground in his fall one of his legs chaunced vnder his Horse in such sort that by any meanes hée could not mooue himselfe as the princesse would haue returned vpon him all the Gyants knights came against hir and compassed hir round about and charged hir with mightie blows on euery side but when shee saw hir selfe in that necessitie shee drew out hir sword and in a small time gaue them to vnderstand hir great bountie and stroke at them such blows that they durst not come nigh hir at which time shée had ouerthrowen and slaine more then halfe in all which time the Gyaunt could not by any meanes cléere his leg froÌ„ vnder his horse and if so bee that any of his Knights alighted to help him the princesse was presently with him and slew him so that all the bâ—…ttayle was with his Knights and this valyaunt princesse had so great confidence in hir excellent and strong armour that shee put hir selfe amongst them as the râ—…utshing Wolfe amongst the poore and simple lambs and shée neuer stroke blow but shee dyd kill or sore wound a Knight There was not as yet full an houre passed since the beeginning of the battayle when this royall Princesse had slayne the most part of the Knights and the rest which remained â—…eeing much amazed at hir mortall blowes ranne away so that she remained all alone in the field with the Gyant and 〈◊〉 hir selfe cléere froÌ„ all those knights with a trise shée 〈◊〉 from hir horse and giuing the bridle to one of hir 〈◊〉 shee went vnto the Gyaunt who was blaspheming â—…gainst his gods in seeing his knights slaine béefore his eies â—…nd could not help them but the first thing which this royall 〈◊〉 did shée tooke the horse off his leg and did help him 〈◊〉 arise â—…rom the ground saying Orbion heere thou shalt 〈◊〉 how little the force of man auaileth when they 〈◊〉 forgotten of God for their euill works they lack diuine 〈◊〉 Tarry a little said the Gyaunt for as yet I am not at the poynt to acknowledge this and there with hée drew out a mightie great and broad Fauchon and went against the Princesse and stroke hir such a blow vpon the healme that it sounded throughout all the Ualley and if it had not beene verie good and of great force both head and body hée had clouen cleane a sunder in the middest and for all that it made hir to stoupe with hir hands vnto the ground yet dyd not this worthie Ladie receiue any feare but rather it did encrease hir force and courage wherewith shée returned vnto him stroke him such an ouerthwart blow vppon his leg that it cut both harneys and flesh vnto the hard bone whereat ranne out great abundaunte of blood then the Gyaunt retourned againe with great fury for to strike the Princesse vpon the healme pretending with that blow to conclude the battayle béetweene them but shée taking warning by the first which shée receiued with great lightnesse dyd cleere hir selfe from the fury thereof and his blow descended downe to the ground that the fauchon entered into the earth almost vp to the hilts and beefore that the Gyaunt could pull out his Fauchon the Princesse cast a thrust at the visor of his healme in such sort that chauncing in the sight it passed through his head on the other side so that the Gyant fell downe dead to the ground This béeing done the Princesse gaue great thancks vnto almightie God for that great victorie which hée had granted vnto hir and mounting vppon hir Horsâ—… shée tooke hir way towards the Castle and when shée came there the gates were opened vnto hir for that the small companie which remayned aliue of the people of the Gyant receiued greater pleasure then sorrow for his death onely for his euill and cruell customes and confines The Princesse straight way entered in and called for the keyes of all the Castle and demanded where the Quéene was shee was brought foorthâ—… with vnto a great quadran whereas shée found the Quéene with the Princesse Theophilia and all their Ladies Gentlewomen in great sorrow and heauinesse without any hope of succour who when they heard of the death of the giant of all that had passed their ioy was such that till such time as out of a window they did sée him dead in the field they could not beléeue it And as the princes entred in wheras the queene the princesse was they vnderstanding what she had done in their deliuering they went towards hir saying Ualiant worthy knight the liuing God reward thée for that which thou hast done in our behalfe héere we doe most hartely pray you to pull of your healme or els to tell vs your name that we may know vnto whom we are bound for this great benefit shewed vnto vs. Then the princes the more to glad comfort them did pull of hir helme did declare vnto them who she was And she remained so faire so full
no other thing but to rob Ladyes and Gentlewomen with no lesse perâ—…ll then paynes and yet all this time haue I not met with one that so much doth content mée as this Lady and in deliuering these words he approched vn to the Emperour and sayde Tell mee thou vnhappy Knight by what euill fortune art thou come hether vnto this place The Emperour who at that time was very angry to heare his diuellish words and againe to see the Princesse so changed with a stout courage and wrathfull countenaunce answered him Tell mée thou brute beast wherfore doest thou in this manner extoll and prayse thy selfe of so euill and diuellish a custome knowing that there is a God in heauen that will punish thée for these thy euill workes which thou doest vse The Gyant was excéeding wrathfull when the Emperour speake thus so that he made no reckoning to answere him but giuing a terrible hoarse cry he threw that great and big Boare Speare which hée brought at the Emperour with so great strength in such sort that if it had chanced a right with the broad end and steely point I doubt whether his Magicall armour had béene sufficient to haue made resistance but it would haue pearced thorough his body but the Emperour foreséeing that perlilous blow mith great lightnesse cléered hmiselfe from the fury thereof by leaping on the one side so that the Boare speare stroke the ground and with the great strength wehrewith it was throwen it entered more then halfe the length therof into the earth Which when the valiaunt and couragious Emperour saw and finding himselfe to bee so nigh vnto daunger the Gyaunt béeing on horsebacke and considering the great aduantage which hee hadde straight wayes layde holde vppon the bridle of the Horse and with his strong armed fist stroke the horse such a vlow vpon the head that he made the braynes flye out hée fell to the ground master and all The Gyant seeing that with great hast cléered himselfe from his horse being on soote drew out a mightie broad faulchon which hung at his girdle and approched vnto the Emperour striking him so great and mightye a blow vppon his healme that he could not otherwise choose but that hée was constrained to stoope with both his knees to the ground which did somewhat trouble his remembraunce but this mightie Emperour quickly bée thought himselfe agayne and tooke his sharpe sword in both his hands and stroke the Giant such a blow vpon his thigh that although his armour was a finger thicke of hard Stéele besides a skirt of maile which he had hanging downe neuerthelesse he cut all a sunder entered through the flesh vnto the hard bone wher he made a sore wound from whence great abundance of bloud ran out The Gyant féeling himselfe thus wounded seeing so great resistaunce to be made with one alone Knight reared as though it had béene a Lyon At which noise together with the rushing of theyr harneys and the sound of theyr mighty blowes there appeared out of the windowes of the Rocke another Gyant which vnto his seeming was no lesse furious and vglie of semblaunce then the other who seeing that mighty and well foughten battaile betwéene the Emperour his brother 〈◊〉 as great hast as was possible for him he went and armed himselfe In the meane time the other Gyant and the Emperour made theyr battale with so great and heauie blowes that the noyse thereof did sound throughout all those mountaynes And the more that this Gyaunt did force himselfe to strike the Emperour so much the more did the Emperour prouide to cléere himselfe with great lightnesse from his terrible strokes for that hée knew very well it would be very perâ—…llous if hée should fasten on him but one full blow neuerthelesse the Emperour at all times did wounde him at his pleasure in such sort that what with the strength of the Giaunt and the great pollicie and lightnesse of the Emperour the battayle was brought into great doubt although the Gyaunt had lost very much bloud by these woundes which the Emperour had giuen him For when hée saw his bloud in such sort scattered vpon the ground hee was more furious then béefore and with great wrath hée béesturred himselfe with his Fauchon cursing himselfe and blaspheming against his Gods in that hée could not in any wise fasten one full blow vpon his enimie and that one Knight should bring him into so great a perplexitie All this while the Empresse and hir Gentlewomen did very well behold that wonderfull battayle had great feare to sée the hugenesse of the Gyant and perill in which the Emperour was and so amazed they were that they could not mooue themselues out of the place whereas they abode but euery one of them on their knées very earnestly prayed vnto God with many teares to deliuer them from that great agonie wherein they were And being in this agonie they heard within the Rocke â—… great noyse rushing of armour wherewith they looked about saw descending downe the stayres another Giant all armed of no lesse bignesse dreadfull countenance then the other who came downe in great hast with a mightie maâ—…e of Stéele in his hand When the Princesse and hir Gentlewomen saw him they were more afraid then at the first yéelded themselues vnto destruction therwith gaue meruaylous grieuous shrikes cries which was the cause that the Emperour was in a great feare of some misfortune and looking about him to sée what it might be he perceiued another monstrous Gyaunt that discended downe his stayres with his mase in his hand although hée did sée the great danger and perill at hand yet did not his hart faile him one â—…ot but with a noble and stout stomacke his strength the more increased so that forgetting all the traâ—…ayle against that Gyant with new strength hee strâ—…k the Gyaunt with both his hands such a blow ouerthwart the wast that the thicke armour and skirt of maile had not sufficient strength to make defence against his mightie and strong arme but that the sharp cutting sword must needes execute his fury which diuiding both armour and bones entered into the bowells wherewith the Gyant with grieuous pangs of death straight waies â—…ell downe to the ground and with his fall made all the earth to shake At which time the other Gyaunt was come downe the stayres and seeing that terrible and cruell stroke hee lyft vp his eyes to heauen and with à loude voyce hée saide Oh cruell and cursed Gods in whome I béeléeue and worship which of all you is it that hath coÌ„sented vnto the death of my brother Argentaria in what sort or how shall I bee reuenged of so great an outrage done vnto mee you béeing aboue in the heauens and I héere vpon the earth And in saying these and such lyke wordes hee came towards the Emperour with his mightie mase raysed in the ayre in such
theyr time and retourneth to tell you of all that passed in the Court of King Tiberio when hée knew of the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and of the Princesse Briana How the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana was knowen in the Court of King Tiberio and what passed about the same Chap. 3. THe Historie sayth for that the Gentlewomen of the Princesse Briana were fully certified that theyr mistres kept hir Nouena in hir chamber as shée was wont to 〈◊〉 and as I béefore tould you they neuer haâ—… any occasion to mistrust hir departure foâ—… that at any time béefore they neuer could perceiue the leaâ—… presumption thereof till such time as the nyne dayes were past and the tenth day come séeing not the chamber dore of the Princesse open they were all in a confusion not knowing what it should meane So in this doubt they remayned vntill the eleuenth day at which time not séeing the chamber dore opened they determined to goe thether and began to call knocke at the dore but ther was none that answered them whereat béeing more amazed they knocked hard and stroke mightie and great blowes at the dore neuer thelesse there was none that aunswered them although they were there a great whyle knocking and being much amazed thereat they straight way gaue the Quéene of Augusta to vnderstand thereof who was in the Citie of Buda béeing very much amazed at that sodayne newes she called certayne of hir Knights Gentlewomen and in their company departed to the monestary And when she came vnto the chamber dore of the Princesse found none to answere hir for all their great knocking shee strayght waies commaunded hir Knights to breake open the dore and hatchets and other things being brought for the purpose they broke open the dore which done the Quéene with hir Knights and Gentlewomen entered the chamber and not finding the Princesse nor any other person therein were very sore troubled amazed she sat hir selfe downe vpon the floore and knew neither what to say or doe but onely to lament and to make great sorrow And as they were in this confusion they found the Letter that was written lying vppon the Table and directed either to the King Tiberio or vnto the Quéene the which Letter they gaue strayght waye vnto the Quéene Augusta who with great anguish did open the same and saw thereon written all the whole Hostorye of the mightie Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana with the true relation thereof till such time as they departed and in the end of the Letter they craued pardon for that they went away in such sort as they had done without giuing them to vnderstande thereof alleadging the reason to bée for the death of the Prince Edward for that the King Oliuerio father vnto the Prince should not with any reason haue cause to quarrell with the King Tiberio neyther account him as pertaker in the death of the Prince So when the Quéene vnderstoode the effect of the Letter shée remayned all astonied and amazed not knowing whether she might giue credit vnto so strange a thing as this was although to the contrary shée receyued exceeding great ioy and pleasure for the good fortune of the Princesse hir Daughter that in all hir life she felt not in hir selfe so much pleasure gaue great thanks vnto God for his excéeding benefit which hée had done vnto hir At that time the King Tiberio was in the Citie of Ratisbona and the Quéene Augusta strayght wayes sent messengers such as shée thought could well declare all that had happened and by them she sent the Letter that the Emperour had left written behinde him in the chamber of the Princesse and the Quéene remained with hir owne Gentlewomen and with the Gentlewomen of the Princesse in the monestary of the Riuer for that it was a place of great quietnesse pleasure and sent all hir Knights and the rest of hir seruantes vnto the Citie remayning onely with a fewe Knights for hir gard other seruantes such as were néedefull for hir seruice The messengers which went with the Embassage vnto the King Tiberio came vnto the Court before him at such time as the King was accompanied with all his high Princes and Knights amongest whome there was that excellent and worthie Knight of the Sunne carrying to heare when the departure of the Emperour and the Princesse should bée declared in the Court. And when the messengers came béefore they King the strayght wayes declared vnto him theyr Embassage and gaue him the Emperours Letter which at his commaundement was read openlye in the hearing of all the Court. And when they vnderstoode all that this History hath told you the great admiration that all people receyued was wonderfull when the King heard the contentes thereof hée remayned a great while as one being in a maze and speake neuer a word At last calling to his remembraunce the mightinesse of the Emperour the great maiesty of his estate the worthinesse of his person the excellencie of his royall descent hée thought within himself that God had done much for him in giuing him so worthy mightie a sonne in law and that his Daughter was the most happiest Princesse then liuing in the world that in the end of all hir sorrow shée had found so noble excellent a husband All this and many other things did greatly delight his hart but considering how much he was in charge for the Prince of great Britayne hée did not make any outward shew of his inward contentment but demeaned himselfe as one 〈◊〉 in thought and very much troubled And after that he had a great while remayned in that traunce without speaking anye thing hée sodainly arose vp from the place whereas hée sate and leauing all his Knights and Noble men in the great hall hée intered into his closet and béeing there alone hee béeganne again to call to his remembraunce the noble and mighty déedes of the worthy Emperour Trebatio and the more ioy and pleasure he séemed to receiue giuing great thankes vnto God for that all thinges by the working of his mightie hand were brought to so good and ioyfull an ende And thus all thinges well considered hée determined to make an outward shew of great anger agaynst the Emperour till such time as he might vnderstand how the King Oliuerio did take the matter at such â—…ime as hée should heare newes thereof Likewise at that time came to his remembrance the mighty déedes that the Emperour declared of the Knight of the Sun musing with himselfe who that Knight should be that was of so great strength and power and was very gladde and ioyfull that he had hin in his Court. And at this time all the nobles and Knights which remayned in the hall did talk one with another and very much meruayled at the mighty deedes of the Knight of the Sunne and all people did béehold him giuing him great
prayse and extolâ—…ing him vnto the heauens in such sort that he was ashamed to heare himself so praysed But as it is a thing most common that against prosperitie of the vertuous there doth not lacke malicious and enuions persons who neuer resteth to procure the execution of their venimous stomackes it so fell out amongest the Knights that were there present there was Florinaldus hée which the Knight of the Sun did ouerthrow at the bridge before Albamira who for that he was a stout and gallaunt Knight receyued great griefe that the Knight of the Sunne should ouerthrow him and especially béefore his Lady and mistresse and therefore hée was very destrous to séeke to haue opportunitie wherein he might bée reuenged make satisfaction of the shame and rebuke which he had receyued by him many of those nobles and Knights that were present were his parents and kinsfolke And I know not whether it was with the great hope hée hadde in his owne strength or in the confidence of his kinsfolkes and friends which were verye many hée determined with himselfe to séeke some occasion of contention with the Knight of the Sunne Now at such time as these Knights were praysing him and giuing him his deserued commendation for the good hée had done vnto the Emperour Florinaldus replyed vnto them and with a loude voyce that he might be heard of all that were there present hée sayde The Knight of the Sunne cannot in any wise excuse himselfe of a great offence in that he did not aduertise my Lord the King Tiberio that the Emperour Trebatio would secretly carrye awaye his Daughter contrarye vnto his will And for that he hath ben hetherto in his company it is to be supposed that he was acquaynted with the Emperors determination and if it please my Lord the King to giue attencion vnto my words he should commaund him for the same to bée accordingly punished for that in no place ther ought to be giuen any credite or trust to traycours and therfore much lesse in the court of high and mighty Kings When the Sonne of Trebatio heard these wordes his coulour chaunged and with very anger he gnashed his téeth together striuing to mittigate his cholarike ire by reson and to answere Florinaldus with patience but yet this valiant Del Phoebo could not execute his vertuous desire for that his wrath and cholar did much more surmount his calmnesse which did procéede of his worthy vexed hart in such sort that he could not find which way to compasse the same without the great abusing of his honour especially to â—…eare so infurious and vile words spoken against him but with a surious and frowning countenaunce which séemed to terrifie all them that did behold him he replied vnto Florinaldus and sayd These words which thou hast spoken Florinaldus be villanous and not to be suffered Therfore vpon the same if thou wilt goe forth into the field with mée I will giue thée to vnderstand that thou doest lie falselie for that I was neuer traitour to King nor to any other creature When this stout gallant Knight heard these words his youthfull bloud being moued being politike and nimble with a trice he wrapped his cloake about his arme drew out his sword with the which he would haue striken the Knight of the Sun who was vnarmed but giuing the enterprise against the flower of all knights before his sword could descend to execute his will with a light leap more then thrée paces he auoyded drew out his sword which was a heanie and sorrowfull drawing out vnto many And for that Florinaldus had there many kinsefolkes friends and likewise of his owne squires and seruants they altogether drew out their swords some against the Knight of the Sunne and other some to make peace betwixt them so that there was not any in all the hall but hee hadde his sword readre drawen Now at such time as the Knight of the Sunne would haue stroâ—…en his first blow at Florinaldus a brother of his called the Troyan Earle with his sword in his hand put himselfe forwards and thought to receiue the blow which descended cutting the Ayer with great fury lifting vp his sword with pretence rather to hurt the Knight of the Sun then to make peace his misfortune was such that the blow descending with so great fury stroke the sword out of his hand the sword of the Knight of the Sun lighted vpon his head so that hée claue it to the shoulders and he fell downe dead vnto y e ground which was great griefe to Florinaldus and vnto all the rest of his kinsfolkes friends that dyd sée him fall who with great desire to reuenge the death of their kinseman did put theyr liues in great daunger with the perill that was before them And procured all that euer they could to wound the Knight of the Sunne And being many and he vnarmed he found himselfe in the greatest danger that euer in all his life he had béene in Yet for all that in this desperate conflict he did plainely show that he was the most couragious Knight of all his predecessours and of all that followed after him So that in all the twelue parts of this great historie as Trebatio they haue no small cause to mencion this mighty Alfebo more theÌ„ any other Knight for that this strong Knight dyd thinke nothing impossible vnto him that consisted in fâ—…ates of armes and where so euer he came ther was nostrength nor courageable to make resistauns against his fury Now when this couragious Gentleman dyd sée him selfe inclosed with his enemies and so many comming together to discharge and execute their fury vppon him his wrath and courage increased in such sort that in leaping forwardes and forwardes striking about him on euery side hée chaunced on two of them which came before him being seruants vnto Florinaldus so that with an ouerthwart blow he cut the one of them cleane a sunder by the middle chaunced vpon the other in the same place that his sword entred into his bowells both of them fell dead to the ground And not staying he layd about him on euery side so that no man dyd endure before him that was vnarmed but hee ouerthrew him vnto the ground and all that euer he dyd was little enough for that with the great violence and furie which they vsed without all feare pressing vpon him in such sort that they hurt him in thrée or foure places wher at their issued very much bloud Notwithstanding what with the great fory hée had and his exxéeding lightnesse and deadly blowes that hee stroke hee made the most part of all them for great feare to put them selues apart from him And hauing space that hée could turne and winde his sworde about him there was none that was so hardye for to assayle him but that he cut him a sunder in the myddest There was at that time many nobles and Knights that would
haue parted and made peace betwixt them but the tumult was such and so farre out of order that by no meanes they could reforme it till such time as the King Tiberio heard that great rumour and noyse in the hall he came forth out of his closet and tooke his royall Septer in his hand and pressed in amongst the thickest of them very furiously and with great anger And when he came where as the Knight of the Sunne was and saw round about him so many dead persons and amongst them the Troyan Earle with great anger hée layde hold on him and sayd what is this O Knight that in such order thou dâ—…st disquiâ—…t my court and hast slaine my Knights so all the rest when they saw the King they immediatly dyd retyre backe and were in quiet Then when the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne knew him to be the King and heard what hee sayd hée forthwith dyd moderate his anger all that euer hee could and sayde it is your Knights that doth disquiet your Court and not I and if I haue slaine any it is in defending my self from the death which they doe procure to giue me Of this sayde the King I will informe my selfe punish them that hath bene the occasion héereof And in saying these words he demaunded of him his sword which he gaue him more for curtesies sake then for any other thing hauing it he also tooke the sword of Florinaldus and of all the rest that he suspected to be on his partye and straight wayes called beefore him all his Knights gard commaunded them to take the knight of the Sunne prisoner to carry him into a strong Tower which was on the one side of the Pallace likewise to take Florinaldus all those that were on his side to carry them vnto another Tower that was on the other side of his Pallace so that both the one the other were put in good kéeping but if the Knight of the Sunne had bene armed before he would haue ben taken prisoner he would haue made the King to haue giuen eare to hearkeâ—… vnto that hée would haue said in discharging himself but by reason that he was as it were naked he yeelded and had patience with all that which the King commaunded so they lead them vnto the Tower which was very high well walled And when hée was therin they made fast a very great chaine to his leg and for to kéepe him there was put thirty armed Knights and as many mo other men Then the Dutchesse of Panonia did send vnto him a very good Surgion to heale him of his woundes At this time the death of the Troyan Earle was published throughout all the Court and there was made for him great lamentacion for that the most noblest Princes and Knights that were there were of his kinsfolks So both the one the other complayned very much vnto the King of the Knight of the Sunne in such sort that hée was verye much inflamed agaynst him At this time there entered into the pallace the Countesse Lady and wife vnto the Troyan Earle in mourning appareâ—…l bringing with hir two young sonnes who entering into the Hall whereas the King was beeganne to powre foorth sorrowful complaynts destring iustice agaynst them that had slayne hir Husband and seeing him lye dead vppon the floore shee threw hir selfe vpon him and made such lamentation that it was a heauie thing to béehold at which sight if the King béefore were inflamed against the Knight of the Sunne his indignation dyd the more increase against him in béeholding the great sorrow of the Countesse and determyned in himselfe to doo iustice vpon the death of the Earle and hée ioyned vnto his indignation the great authoritie that hée had to bée called an executer of iustice which vnto manie yea very mightie Monarches oftentimes is very hurtfull the ende of those extremities obtaine them the infamous names of Tyrants Then the King commaunded that the dead bodyes should bee carryed out of the hall and buryed and the Troyan Earle was buryed with great honour and accompanyed with the most noble and principall Knights of the Court. Now hee béeing very sorrowfull for the death of the Earle many Knights that had affection vnto the Knight of the Sunne dyd labour with him for his discharge of béeing in any fault of that tumult and dyd informe him of the great cause that he had to do that which he did in his owne defence but there was nothing that dyd profit at all with the King but rather hée dyd shew himselfe very angry and wrathfull against them that dyd speake vnto him in the Knights béehalfe which was a great griefe vnto many which dyd know the valure and desert of the Knight of the Sunne for it séemed vnto them no reason that hée should bée intreated in that sort And béecause that the King Tiberio was daylie and hourely vrged on all parts the one crying and asking iustice and the other gayne-saying the same hée was for certaine daies very doubtfull not knowing how co determine what was best to bee done but aunswered them all to their little delyght By this tyme the â—…night of the Sunne was healed of his wounds and the Dutchesse of Panonia prouided for him all things necessarie in the prison performing it with as great care and diligence as myght bée But when hée knew the King was doubtfull of his determination and of the great iudignation hee shewed against him it dyd repent him that hée suffered himselfe so to be taken And hée immagined with himselfe what meanes might best be wrought sor to cléere himselfe of that imprisonment for that the nobilitie of his valyant courage could not abide to bée so shut vp and abyde the curtesie and pleasure of the King So in this order the storie doth leaue him till the tyme serue How the Knight of Cupido dyd take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa and entred into the kingdome of Rusia where he found a strange aduenture Chap. 4. THE mightie déedes of the Emperour Trebatio and the worthy knighthood of the valiant Alphebo hath put almost in obliuion that excellent and worthy Knight Rosicleer whose amorous loue and inuincible deedes doo deserue a more eloquenter writer then my vnskilfull pen can performe Now if you doo remember in the Historie past how that one way Fortune caused him to be the most saddest and sorrowful Knight that euer was seene so full of bitter heauinesse that whatsoeuer thing hée dyd accomplish and bring to passe was not sufficient to make him merry And on the other side Fortune dyd show him very 〈◊〉 in putting beefore him marueilous and wonderfull things and aduentures of so great strangenesse that ouer comming them by his surmounted valoâ—…r in all the world was spred a broad the fame of the Knight of Cupido So after that hée had slaine that valyant 〈◊〉 from all the parts of Thesalia and the confines
trée and he went a foot towards that wonderfull caue When hée came nigh vnto it hée saw towards the right hand ingrauen in the hard Rock certaine Letters very fayre which séemed to bée of great antiquity and hée read them finding them to be as followeth This is the caue of the wise Artidon who dyed for the loue of Artidea daughter vnto king Liberio the onely heyre of this Kingdome who in recompence of hir cruelty doth and shall remaine héere giuing true aunsweres vnto all that shall bée demaunded of hir till such tyme as a Knight shall come who with his great bounty and force can ouercome the terrible kéepers of the entrie héereof and set hir at lybertie and then shall this entrie bée frée vnto all those that will know any thing of the wyse man When the Knight of Cupide had well read these Letters and vnderstood them hée very much meruayled at that straunge aduenture and strayght way it mooued in him a great good will and desire to prooue the same both to sée and know what was within the caue and euen as one that dyd abhor his owne lyfe so hée delyghted not in any other thing but in great and perillous aduentures indeuoured to giue the attempt vnto them when hée had opportunitie but by reason it was late and that it waxed dark he determined to let the enterprise alone till the next morning for that the night might be a hinderance vnto him for the performance And therewith hée pulled off his Horse Bridle to let him féede vpon the grasse there abouts and he as one that had no care of himselfe layde him a long vpon the gréene grasse and then his minde béegan a new to bée troubled with his accustomed thoughts not remembring that in all the day béefore hée had not eaten any thing neyther dyd he know where to get any meat to refresh himselfe at that tyme of the nyght and calling to his remembraunce the cruell words in the Letter of the Princesse Oliuia his heart suffered so great gréese and passions that tumbling himselfe vpon the grasse from the one side to the other hee sayde Oh earth that for all mortalytie thou openest thy selfe and receiuest them into thy bosome wherefore doost not thou now at this present open thy bowells and receiue mée into thée for béeing buried I should receiue great contentment I know not wherefore I lyue any longer or wherefore I am suffered in this world for that I haue lost all hope to sée any more the Princesse Oliuia Oh that this aduenture which I meane to prooue might bée the last and that I might dye héere within this caue although the occasion of my death bée neuer knowen nor heard of So these and many other words of great lamentation hée vttered that it was most gréeuous to heare and passed away a péece of the first part of the night with great sorrow And the nyght béeing very darke vppon a sodayne hée heard a noise and murmuring of people which caused him to aryse vp to sée what it should bée and hée saw at the foote of the Rock a great fire and round about the same there were a company of Shepheards and those were they which made that noyse And béeing desirous to know what they could say more of that caue hée determined to goe whereas they were and when hée came vnto them hée saluted them with very curteous words When the Shepheards saw him of so goodly a stature and armed with so precious and rych armour they receiued him as a Knight of estimation and gaue him very good intertainment and dyd inuite him to theyr supper which they had in a readinesse and after that hée had surrendered vnto them thankes for theyr courtesie hée sat downe amongst them by the sier Then one of the shepheards who séemed to be the chéefe among them and that had more vnderstanding and was of a better conuersation then all y e rest did demand of the Knight of Cupide what aduenture had brought him at that tyme of the night to that place The Knight aunswered and sayde I am a straunger in this Countrie and now it is three dayes since I first entered into this Kingdome and for that I dyd not know nor yet doo this countrie my fortune hath brought mee hether this euening and séeing that the night drew on fearing to bée intangled in vnaccustomed wayes I determined to remaine there hard by the Court till the morning pretending to prooue that aduenture when the day was come And afterward when I saw you together héere I thought it best to come into your cōpany as well to eate somewhat for that I am very hungrie as also to informe my selfe of you touching the aduenture of this caue of Artidon for till this euening that I did come hether and sée it I neuer béefore heard any mention therof Then the shepheards sayd sir Knight séeing that you haue given vs to vnderstand the occasion of your comming hether wee will now giue you to vnderstand what wée know and what at any time we could learne of the aduenture of this cause possiblie after you vnderstand it it will withdraw you from this great good will and determinatyon that you haue to giue the proofe and enterprise And in the meane time that which wée haue for our supper shall be made ready of such as wée haue with a very good will you shall eate your part for that your person and presence doth deserue no lesse Now that which wée doo know and of long time past haue heard say touching this Caue is that in time past almost out of memorie there was in this Kingdome of Russia a Knight called Artidon who being a Knight of great courage and high lynage and gentle of disposition was also the wysest in the magicall art that could bée found in many countries And in the chiefest time and flower of all his Knighthood and science this Kingdome was gouerned by a Ladie called Artedea who at the death of the King hir father was very yong but when shée came vnto the state of marryage thée was so fayre and of so great beautie that many Princes and Knights desired to haue hir for wife but among all those that in their seruice dyd most indeuour to obtaine hir loue there was not one of them that in so noble and valyaunt manner did demeane himselfe as Artedon dyd for not alone in déedes of armes but also by his science he dyd mighty wonderfull things in hir seruice But his fate misfortune was such that the quéene did not onely withdraw hir loue from him but did also hate abhorre him to the death all that euer he did in hir seruice did moue hir to be melancholike very angry This worthy Artidon had his loue so intirely fixed vpun hir that he would doe any thing for hir delight but all that he dyd was not estéemed of the Quéene which was the occasion that after he
new forme mosicke for to recreat themselues in their golden sléepe the swéet noise and musicke of the birds who doth with the flittering of their wings notes almost inuite a man to all delights and afterward the golden bemes of the Sun at all times when he doth shew himself doth reioyce recreat all humane harts and all the rest of the day following is spent with great mirth pastime with sufferable heats vnder y e freshnesse of the gréene trées when night commeth on theÌ„ they altogether ioyne about the comfortable fire whereas they haue a peaceable and friendly conuersation with great affection that which is most in this fortunate and happy estate is that fortune cannot much hurt them for y t in smal matters they do with great ease execute their anger so that we are void of al these benefits we I say y t liue in this troublesome estate of militarie knighthood for that the first day we be armed Knights we begin to seeke the death for our selues and life for others we are alwayes be wrapt with great dangers and perils for the sauegard of our liues and honours so that I know not what difference is be wixt our trauayles the traualies of them which are alwayes vpon the seas tossed héere and ther with great torments troubles And if this life be common to all Knightes as in especiall it is vnto the sonnes of high and mightie Kings to whom and at what time Fortune will vse hir crueltye she doth not lacke some matter of occasion to execute hir wrath For I doe account that marriner to be vnwise that knowing of the storme and tempest will leaue his Port and ingulfe himselfe wilfullie into the seas And it is not the wisest part of a man especially of him that doth desire to liue with rest to seeke highnesse and honour and therby frequent himselfe where all daungers are apparaunt And in saying these wordes he began to goe towardes the place wher the shepheards were at the noise that he made in his going they did all awake out of their sound sleepe when they saw him they did all arise vp on foote and did salute him very curteously when they vnderstoode of him that hee would giue the enterprise to proue the entering into the caue they all together did goe with him and promised him that they would there remaine till such time as they did know what should béecome of him and so they went all together towardes the caue and when they came thether the Knight of Cupid did take his leaue of the shepherds and when he saw those wonderfull flames that proceeded out of the mouth of the caue hee iugded that there must néeds be many meruailous and daungerous aduentures within and at the sight of that present perill his courage and fury did very much increase and he committed himselfe vnto God beginning to put himselfe into the fire for that he was so true a seruaunt vnto Cupid that merualious fire did not hurt him any thing at all but found it true as the shepheards had told him Then he passed through the fire and went forwards till hée came into the caue whereas no fire was but yet it gaue so great a light and brightnesse that he might see all that was within very playnlie and he went towards a very narrow lane which seemed to be cut out of that rock was so straight that thrée Knights could not passe together through it but with great difficultie ouer the lane it was couered with arthes very stronglie like as it is in sellers And as the Knight of Cupid went towards it he straight waies heard a great wonderfull noise like vnto a Thunder bolt which descendeth vnto the earth throwen out of the region of the ayre it was that out of the inner parts of the caue there came towards him alongst that narrow lane a mighty great Bull who seemed to fill all the lane with his bignesse and according vnto the fury which he brought with him his long sharp hornes the could not choose but must néeds be terrible to behold I know not how any humane hart could haue had so much strength force but that he must receyue great feare dread in séeing so terrible a beast comming towards him especially in so narow a place as that was wher he could not turne himself to the one side nor to the other but of very force he must abide that terrible blow of the Bull yet this valiant worthy Knight whose heart was more harder then any Diamond with a stout courage as one that made little account thereof did abide the comming of that furious bull So when the Bull came nigh him hée bare his head very low to strike him but the Knight layd fast hold with both his hands vpon his sharp hornes â—… héere was a thing of great wonder done by the Knight for that according vnto the fury and violence which the Bull brought with him it was sufficient to ouerthrow a tower to the ground but this mighty Knight which y e great strength of his strong armes did stay his fury although he made the Knight to recoyle backwards foure paces but firming suâ—… his feet vsing his great strength he gate againe the grouâ—… he lost the Bull when he felt so great strength against him began to roare so terribly that all the mountaynes séemed to open thereat And when the shepheards that were without did heare that terrible roaring they were at a point to depart thence not to abide the comming of the Knight of Cupid they receiued so great a feare Then the Bull with a new fury violence made the Knight of Cupid to recoyle backward again in such sort that if he had not at that pinch vsed his mighty force strength he had ben cleane throwen out of the caue but his strength did so much increase at that present that forcing the Bull therewith he carried him béefore him in that narrow lane the Bull being not able to make resistance against him was carried perforce through the lane till he came to a very faire large court which was all paued with coloured brickes which cast a great light was founded vpon great mighty pillers of marble round about the court there were gallaries meruaylously wrought very faire according to the excellent work y t was ther it gaue him to vnderstand that there was other then humane creatures at the making of it Héere in this court the Knight of Cupid the fierce Bull the one did carry the other sometimes forwards somtimes backwards in this their wrastling that it was wonderfull eyther of them procuring all that euer he might to ouercome his aduersary Then the Knight thought within himself that in that order he could little profit agaynst the Bull neyther doe him any harme but determined to let him loose to assault
for ioy they ran vnto him and clasped their armes about him and remained a great while embraced together and could not speake one word with the great ioy and pleasure which they receiued So in the end when that their harls and armes had contented themselues with that louing and ioyfull méeting they fel into communication wheras béetwixt theÌ„ ther passed a great discourse of their liues whereby the King and the Quéene was fully satisfied of all that the Prince Clauerindo and Armineo had passed after such time as they were taken prisoners by the power of that great rouer Mambriniano So when the king and the Quéene heard of the great misfortunes traualles that their son had passed was now in their presence accompanied with that mightie Prince Brandizel with whom hee was brought vp there was no ioy that might be compared vnto theirs and they gaue great thanks vnto God for such his mercifull benefits shewed vpon them When these newes was published abroade I am not héere able to declare the general ioy pleasure which was made not alone in the great Citie of Paris but in all the kingdome ther was great and solempne feasts made the which endured a long while And for that the Historie hath verie much to tell of other Knights at this present it doth leaue to speake any more of them and returneth vnto the Knight of the Sunne whom wée left prisoners in the court of King Tiberio How the Knight of the Sunne escaped out of the prison where hee was kept and perforce departed from the Court of the King Tiberio Chap. 8. THe Historie sheweth that the Knight of the Sunne was thirty daies prisoner in the tower wheras we left him at the great Citie of Ratisbona in which time the king Tiberio dyd neuer determine what should bée done-touching the death of the Troyan Earle but was rather in a great doubt not knowing what to conclude therein for that on the one side the wife and children of the Earle and all his parents and kinsefolkes who were verie manie and of the principallest of the Court dyd euery daye and houre importunate him for to doo iustice vpon the Knight and on the other part considering the great valure and deserr and the soueraigne excellencie that seemed to bee in him he could not consent in his hart that such a Knight as he was should dye although his offence had béene farre greater then his was and as the king remained in this doubt the Knight of the Sunne was no lesse perplexed séeing himselfe so long time in prison that the King would not determine what his will was therein Likewise the same time Florinaldus was prisoner in another tower vnto whom the payne and trouble of his imprisonment was not so much griefe as his desire was earnest to bée reuenged on the Knight of the Sunne in especiall for the shame which hée receiued at his handes beefore his Lady Albamira as much as for the death of the Troyan Earle and for that hée was a vallaunt Knight hée could not perswade himselfe that the Knight of the Sunne should haue anie vauntage of him if hee entered battaile with him by the sword and thought within himselfe that by no other meanes hee could make satisfaction of his honour but to defie him to mortall battayle for the death of the Earle his brother and to demand of the King lisence for the same and as hee determined hee put it in execution and called vnto him a Squier of his and sent him vnto the Knight of the Sunne for to tell him that it was not vnknowen what words dyd passe beetwixt them and how that hée had slaine the Troyan Earle his brother â—…o that vpon the same occasion hée dyd defie and challenge him to mortall battayle and if it were so that hée accepted battayle hee for his part would procure lysence of the King for the same So the â—…uyer went with his message and declared it vnto the Knight of the Sunne who was verie glad and ioyfull thereof not for any good will 〈◊〉 he had to make battayle with Florinaldus for that he had no desire to dishonour or shame him but the chiefest occasion of his ioye was to recouer his horse and armour wherewith to defende himselfe and not to suffer himselfe to bee taken and carried againe vnto prison And there with he saide vnto the squyer that hée should tell his Lord that hée was very sorrie for the death of his Brother and that hée dyd well know that hee was in the fault of all that passed to that neuerthelesse seeing hée demaunded the battayle hée could doo no otherwise but make his defence and so hee promised to accept the battaile as far foorth as the King wold giue them lysence Then the Squyer retourned with this answere vnto his Lord who when hée heard the meeknesse of the Knight of the Sunne his stoute courage dyd the more increase and sent strayght way vnto the King a certayne Knight of his part for to aske lisence that hée the Knight of the Sunne myght enter battayle about the death of the Earle affirming that it was his request against the Knight of the Sunne Now you shall vnderstand that it was the vse and custome of that Country that the Brother or any other vnto the fourth degree of the kindred might reuenge the death of his brother or any other kinseman of him whatsoeuer hée were that committed the murther and the law beeing such the King could dooâ—… no lesse but giue lysence vnto all that which Florinaldus did request When Florinaldus dyd vnderstand the same hee was well content and the next day following the battayle was appoynted to bee held in the middest of the great court The day béeing come the King sent vnto the Knight of the Sun his sword and when the houre approched that they should make theyr battayle the King commaunded 500 Knights and as many more foote meâ—… to 〈◊〉 and keepâ—… Florinaldus and the Knight of the Sunne that they might haâ—…e the field in quyet and safetie And beesides all this they had all the principals and Knights of the Court to accompany them so that they went out of the prison wheras they were with great hâ—…nour And when they came into the place the King and all the rest of the nobles were at the windowes and the people in other places wheras they might best sée the battaile Incontinentlye all those which did beare them company at the commandement of the King did a part themselues from the two Knights were appointed for Iudges the Duke of Austria the Earle of Denmarke who were the best esteemed in all the Court did deuide the space betwixt the two Knights put each of them in his place When the Knight of the Sunne saw himselfe at liberty he sayd vnto himselfe Oh mighty Emperour Trebatio how maist thou blame me of forgetfulnes towards thy maiestie for that I haue not performed the vow which
of other thinges which happened in this time Of all that passed in the court of King Tiberio after the Knight of the Sunne was departed and how the bretheren of the Duke of Pannonia and Aridon of the Wildernesse did determine to reuenge themselues of the King Tiberio for that he would not pardon their deaths Chap. 9. WIth great shame and reproch the Knights of the King Tiberio remayned by reason that they were so many and yet not able to preuayle agaynst one alone Knight and much meruayling at that which they saw him doe they said one vnto another y t it was not possible he should bée a humane Knight And when they came before the King tolde him that he was gone and that they could not make resistaunce against him hée seemed to be very wrathfull against them was ashamed taking it for a great reproch vnto his Court but that which troubled him most was the complaints teares of the parents kinsefolkes of Florinaldus of the wife children of the Earle for that they all together knéeled before him which caused him to be more wrathfull against the Knight of the Sunne Then strayght waies the Knightes of Florinaldus did take theyr Lord out of the place and caryed him vnto his lodging and for that hée had no wound nor hurt but onely the brusing torment of the fall he straight waies came vnto himselfe was quickly whole sound with which the rumour of his parents kinsfolkes was some what mittigated the King Tiberio lost some part of his great griefe which hée béefore sustayned And when he was somewhat in quiet his anger ouer past he called to his remembrance all that he had séene the Knight of the Sunne doe the gentle grace curtesie that he vsed with all men for the which he did deserue to be honoured esteemed of all conceiuing anger against himselfe he said in his mind that he had rather haue lost a great part of his estate then such a Knight should haue departed from his court so much abused many times when hée thought therof he was very sorry for that which he had done against him Now let vs leaue the King in his repentaunce and many other of the principall Knightes in his Court who likewise were very sorrye for the departure of the Knight of the Sunne and let vs tell of other thinges which happened in that time If you doe remember that after the Knight of the Sun had ouercome that stout valiant Knight Aridon of the blacke wood the Duke of Pannonia and he confessed all the treason that was conspired betwixt them against the Dutchesse and how that the King commaunded theyr heads should be cut off in the middest of the place without any pardon although many Knights great Lords did importunate the King for their pardon Now the History saith that this Aridon of the blacke wood had a brother called Egion a young man of a mightie stature force and of a singuler courage for to attempt any thing who was in the blacke wood at such time as Aridon was beheaded Also the Duke of Pannonia had likewise another brother called Farmonte a valiant Knight and very proud being Lord ouer many Countries in high Almaine nigh vnto the blacke wood who went abroad séeking his aduentures in those parts had got vnto himselfe great fame renowne for many déedes of armes which hée had done in that country Now when the death of their brethren came vnto their knowledge in what sort the King Tiberio commaunded them to bée slaine they were very sorrowfull for the same and eyther of them determined within himselfe to annoy the King Tiberio all that euer they could till such time as they were reuenged of the death of theyr brethren It so fell out that these two ioyned together and were both of one minde and determination concluding betwéene them to be both together at the execution of reuengment for that they may the better bring to passe theyr pretence to annoy the king Both these knights were in great securitie in their countryes were altogether one helping and aiding another with great friendshippe for that those Countryes ouer which they were Lordes and gouernours were very montanish and craggie in such sort that there could not procéede against them any great hoast but that they might easily make theyr defence and with very few people When they were agréed and conformed together Egion brother vnto Aridon by whose death he was then Lord ouer the blacke woode determined to goe vnto the court of King Tiberio ther to informe himselfe of all that had passed touching the death of his brother for to spy out how in what manner hee might be reuenged on the King so hée came vnto the Court in secrete wise not making himselfe knowen what he was wheras he was certified of all that he would desire Likewise he was giuen to vnderstand how that the Quéene Augusta was with hir Ladies Gentlewomen at the Monestary of the Riuer ther remained euer since that the Emperour Trebatio had carried away y e Princesse Briana This Egion did very well consider the scituation of the Monestarie and of the Knights which the Quéene had for hir gard kéeping thought within himselfe that in that place better then in any other he might make satisfaction of his desire Wherewith he returned vnto his owne country conferred with Farmonte and certified him of all that had passed and tolde that he had found out a fit place and opportunitye agréeable to bee reuenged of the King namelie that the Quéene Augusta with all hir Ladies and Gentlewomen were at the Monestary of the Riuer which was farre from the place wheras the King dyd abide and although shée had certaine Knightes for hir gard yet they might goe so well prouided that in despight of them all they would goe take the Quéene and hir Gentlewomen bring them vnto their owne Countryes whereas they should bée in safetie from all the whole power of the King Tiberio When Farmonte heard these words béeing a couragious Knight hée lyked very well of that which Egion had vttered and thought it good to giue vnderstanding of all this their pretence vnto a Gyaunt called Barbario who had his dwelling thereby on the shirt of the mount Sarpedo who was a great friend vnto them and mightye and strong in deedes of armes thinking with his helpe to destroye all the whole power of the King Tiberio whē he had opened this vnto Egion they both determined to goe talke with him to desire him if it were his pleasure to be a companion in that enterprise This accordingly they accōplished manifesting vnto him all their pretence determination when he vnderstood it dyd strayght offer them his company also certaine other valiant Knights which he had with him being such as desired no other thing but to haue
they receiued great admiracion and either of them thought within him-selfe that it should bee some selestiall creature sent from God for to destroy them for that they could not perswade with themselues that in a mortall man there should bée so great force and strength Yet béecause they were valyant Knights and high minded and of proude condition either of them dyd assault him with great yre and wrath and the first that approched vnto him was the mighty Farmonte who with both his hands stroke such a right downe blow at the Knight of the Sunne which lighted vpon his right shoulder that it had béene sufficient to cleane him to his breast if that his inchaunted armour had not defended him And by reason that the hatchet could not cut the strength of the blow was the heauier in such sort that it made him to double and bow his bodie forwards that his breast touched the saddle bow and hée hadde not well settled him-selfe in his saddle agayne when that on the other side hée was assalted by the mightie Egion who with his mightie hatchet stroke a nother right downe blow at him that if hée had chaunsed to hit him it could not but néedes it must haue done him great harme But this couragious and valyant Knight whose excéeding lightnesse and strength was in all poynts equall stroke his horse with the spurres and made him to leap on the one side which was the occasion that hée cleered himselfe from the â—…ry therof and therwith hée entered in with that mightie Farmonte and stroke him such a blow vppon the head that if hee had not clasped himselfe about the horse neck hée had fallen downe vnto the ground hee had no sooâ—… giuen this blow but that the stout Egion lift vp his Hatchet againe and stroke him another blow vppon the Helme that hée made him decline his head vnto his breast beeing somewhat amazed therewith All this that passed as wâ—…ll with the Knight of the Sunne as the Gyaunt and the rest the Quéene Augusta hir Gentlewomen which were in the Coach dyd beehould for that those which draue the Horse that dyd draw the Coach dyd stay and the night was very cleere and the Moone dyd shine so bright that it seemed to bee day and they greatly meruailed at the sodaine death of the Gyaunt and lykewise of the battaile which that alone knight made with the other two knights and certainely they beelâ—…ued that that knight was sent from God In this time the mighty Farmonte had stroke the Knight of the Sunne a terrible blow vppon his Healme with so great fury and force that hee thought vorely his téeth had beene broken with chattering and beating one against another then this valiaunt and couragious knight séeing the great resistaunce that was against him his force increased and hée tooke his sword in both his hands and raysed himselfe in his â—…rops he striking a mighty blow at the stoute Egion which lighted vpon his shoulder in all ill houre for him for after that he neuer sorrowed for the death of his brother Aridon for that the fine and well tempered sword did cut the hardned steele of his armour and neuer rested ther but discended downe vnto hiâ—… wast and spared neyther flesh nor bones but that fore quarter with all the rest of the vnhappy Egion fel downe dead vnto the ground When the mighty Farmonte saw that terrible blow and his companyons dead hée knew not what to say nor think of the great force of his aduersarie yet the great pride which hée had would not suffer him to acknowledge his mightie power but bloodilie hée pressed forwards thincking by one onely blow to take reuengement of all the harme which was done not foreseeing that which should happen and lifting vp his stéelie hatchet with both his hands hée stroke a mightie blow vpon the hard and Inchaunted Healme of the Knight of the Sunne so that it sounded throughout all the woods and forrests very strongly and astonied him that hée had no remembraunce in such sort that his horse carried him more then ten paceâ—… from the place whereas hée was but yet before the mightie Farmonte had tyme to giue him another blow hee was come againe to himselfe and remembring the mightie and furious stroke which hee had receiued full of wrathfull ire and courage hée tooke his Sword in both his hands and setting spurres vnto his horse sides hee pressed towardes that mightie Farmonte to gratifie the blow which hée had receiued who with a stout and proud courage dyd abide his comming The Knight of the Sunne raysed himselfe on his stirrops and gaue him such a blow vppon the head that hee cloue it downe to the shoulders wherwith hée fell from his horse dead to the earth At which time ther approached with the noyse of the battayle all the Knights which followed the Coach and when they saw theyr Lords in that battaile with one alone Knight they would not help them for that they thought either of them sufficient to vse him at their pleasure and therefore they put themselues on the one side to beehold the battayle but when they perceiued both their Lords with two blows so sodainely slaine theyr blood waxed could within theyr bodies and they dyd verely beléeue that the same Knight was some infernal spirite and no humane creature yet beecause they were many they tooke courage one of another and dyd assayle him all together striking at him very strongly and by reason that they were all valiant and chosen Knights they had put the Knight of the Sunne in great ieopardie if hée had not béene of so valyant courage as hee was who with so valyant and stout a courage did béehaue himselfe amongst those Knights that if there had béen as many more they had not béen sufficient to haue brought him into any â—…xtremitie for that in a smal time with his furious strokes of some he cloue their heads a sunder and of other some he cut away their armes and other some hée ouerthrew to the ground meruailously wounded in such sort béecause they had no Lords nor masters to giue account vnto all those which remained aliue and not wounded determined to flie away and thought it great folly any longer to abide those mortal and wonderful blows but turned their backes and fledde with all the hast they could leauing that strong and mightie knight all alone who séeing that there was no more to bée done went vnto the coach to sée who they were that came therein And when the Quéene Augusta and all hir Ladyes and Gentlewomen saw them dead and wounded which carried them as prisoners that there remained no more but the mighty knight all alone they gaue great thancks vnto almightie god and wept for very ioy to see themselues at liberty And the Quéene hauing great desire to know who that worthy knight should bée shée spake vnto him and sayde Oh happie and fortunate knight whom I béeléeue to bée
met by the way in great admiration and especially when they vnderstoode that one alone Knight had done that deede There were some of the Knightes that were in the gard and keeping of the Quéene strayght way when they saw the assault which the Gyant and his companions made in the monestary and seeing that they were many and that all their power was not sufficient to make resistaunce they straight way departed in â—…ost with as great hast as was possible for to giue the King Tiberio to vnderstand thereof with the great hast which they made the next day in the morning they came before the 〈◊〉 and told vnto him all that passed saying that if out of hand he did not with his Knights giue aide succour the Queene all hir Gentlewomen should be carried away prisoners When the King vnderstood these newes he was very much troubled and fearing that the Queene should receiue some harme he commaunded that his Knights should arme themselues with all the speed that might be which 〈◊〉 they departed to the number of two hundred Knights and tooke their way towards the Monestary of the Riuer After that they were departed there were many other Knights that were arming themselues for to follow those that wer gone before being all in a readinesse with as great hast as euer tâ—…eir horses could run they followed the other in this sort they continued their trauaile till it was somewhat late at which time those Knights which went formost did discouer a far of comming towards them the Queene all hir gentlewomen Knights bringing before them the coach when they were satisfied that it was the Quéene with great excéeding ioy they went told the King who was very heauy and full of sorrow supposing that his succor should come too late by reason of the great distance that was betwixt the one and the other but straight way when he vnderstood the newes that his knights gaue him he receiued so much comfort that it seemed to reuiue him from death to life therewith he passed forwards rode before them all wheras hée saw the Quéene all hir Gentlewomen knights comming the coach before them wherin was the bodies of the giant and of the two dead Knights being nigh it they staâ—…ed and with great admiration beheld those terrible wonderfull wonâ—…ds and could not imagine with themselues what it should be but being halfe amazed at that wonderfull sight they remained till the Quéene came whom the King dyd embrace receiue with as great ioy as if they had not séene one another a long time before Then the King demaunded how and in what sort she was set at liberty To whom the quéene said My Lord you shall vnderstand that I and my gentlewomen being in the monestary of the riuer we wer assaulted by this Gyaunt two Knights that we doe bring heere dead who had in their company more then twentye Knights which came with them who killing wounding the most part of the knights that were of my gard they toke vs caried vs away prisoners in this coach that we bring héere according vnto the great hast swift course wherwith we were carried I am certaine that all your succour had come too late but God was so pleased my good fortune that this night past trauailing by the edge of a forrest there was a knight sleeping who afterward I knew to be the knight w t the deuise of the Sun which made the battaile with Aridon of the black wood who being sodainly awaked by our great shrikes sorrowfull lamentations came forth into the high way to see what it should be he alone had battell with the Gyant these two knights hath intreated theÌ„ in this sort as you doe sée besides all this he slew and wounded all the rest of the knights that came with them himself remaining whole sound wâ—…thout any wound or hurt we set at liberty with great ioy pleasure especially when we knew who hee was afterward came vnto y t place certain of my knights that did follow the coach wherin we were by one of their knights that were wounded and lay on the ground we did vnderstand who they were that did carry vs prisoners for what cause they did assalt vs ther the Quéene declared vnto the King all that euer the Knight of the Sun had done for them in that battaile rescew how he departed from hâ—…r how she could not by any meanes cause him to returne vnto the court for to receiue his reward for that worthy and valiant déede which he had done for hir When the King vnderstoode that it was the Knight of the Sunne who in the deliuerie of the Queene had done so high and worthy acts one way hée receiued great pleasure another way hée suffered great griefe for that he had not dâ—…ne him being in his court the honour that vnto so noble and valiâ—…nt a Knight appertayned and was very angry with the Queene for that she did suffer him to depart go away in 〈◊〉 order and thought that if it were possible to ouertake â—…nd finde him hée himselfe in person would follow him But when all the Knights which came in company with the king Tiberio vnderstood that the Knight of the Sunne had done all this they greatly meruailed beholding those wonderfull wounds which the gyant knights had they thought it a thing vnpossible that any humane Knight should doe it wondering therat they had inough to doe to looke one vpon the other Straight way in this sort the king the quéenâ—… returned tooke their way towards the Citie of Ratisbona with all their Knights carying with them the Coach the dead bodies the fame of the Knight of the Sunne increased in such sort that neuer after his memory was lost in those parts for long time after they had inough to doe to communicate therof wheras this History doth leaue them for to tell you what happened vnto the Knight of the Sunne ¶ How the Knight of the Sunne came vnto a castle whereas hee did deliuer a Gentlewoman and recouered two Pages whom hee carried with him Ca. 10. AFter that the high and mightie Alphoebo was departed from the Queene Augusta 〈◊〉 would not stay in any place for to rest himselfe although he had great néede thereof because if the king and his Knights should follow him they should not ouertake him so he continued his iourny pretending to passe into Grecia to goe sée his great friend the Emperour Trebatio with this pretence hée trauailed passed away the rest of the night which remayned the morning being come he chaunced into a very large plaine field all couered with pleasaunt 〈◊〉 gréene hearbes in which he trauailed a good while for that it was somewhat long toward the end therof at the footâ—… of
they had receiued at his hands but offred vnto him all that they had And for that he found in them so great good will hée determined to way there certaine dayes to comfort and ease himselfe for that hee found his bodye in many places brused ill intreated with the battailes which he had with the Knights of the King Tiberio the Gyaunt and with his Knights when he set at liberty the Quéene Augusta for although his good armour did defend him from being wounded yet his body could not but receiue great damage hée tormented by the heauy waight and strength of the blowes which he receiued he felt himselfe vory sore therwith in such sort that he had great néede to be cured therof All which he declared vnto the lord of the castle vnto his sonnes who were very ioyfull receiued great contentment at the same as those who were very desirous to serue pleasure him in all that euer they could So the knight of the Sunne remayned ther certaine daies in which time he was meruailously well cured of his bruses by the gentlewoman who was cunning expert in chirurgery did it with a very good grace The Gentlewomans name was Oliuia and hir fathers name was Onorio and his sonnes names were Aurellio Binnano and they all did loue him very much and would that he should neuer depart from thence from their companie But at such time that hée would néeds depart the father requested the Knight to graunt him a bowne which was that he should receiue into seruice his two sonnes and cary them with him for his pages The Knight of the Sun knowing them to be young men of great vertue well proportioned and couragious in what so euer necessitie should happen hée tooke them with him and they did serue him for pages And time did serue that they did very well serâ—…e him and their Father and mother did recompence the loue which they bare vnto him as shall bée told you in the second part of this History So at this present wee wil leaue them departed from the Castell to tell you of other things which chaunced in this time Of the great triumphes which were made in Constantinople for the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and how the death of the Prince Edward was bruted in great Britaine and of all that happened Chapter 11. THe great sorrow and heauinesse which the Grecians receiued for the losse of their Emperour Trebatio was not so much but that the ioye and pleasure was much more which they possessed for his vnlooked for retourne and that was well séene and perceiued generally in all estates the knights in ordeining and making great Iustes and Tourneies and other militarie exercises and others in inuenting new deuises of playes and occasions of ioy and pleasure in such sort that throughout all the whole Empire they practised no other thing but pastimes and pleasure as well in the one sort of people as in the other that which was most to bee considered of was that this mightie Emperour the more for to reioyce and pleasure his owne subiects dyd commaund to bée proclaymed a solempne Iust not onely in the Countries bée longing vnto the Empire but also in all the Kingdomes and Prouinces thereto adioyning giuing and graunting safe conduct to all that euer would come thether as well Pagans as Christians of what kinde of law and sect so euer they were and for that these Iusts were published in many parts and that the Emperour gaue frée and safe conduct what with some for to sée what passed and other some to proue themselues in the iusts there came so many knights that it was a straunge thing to beehold and euery day there was great Iusts and 〈◊〉 in the mightie Citie of Constantinople whereas the worthy and valiant knights dyd giue testimony of their great bounty and either of them did labour and trauaile for to get honor but they which did shew theÌ„selues most gallantest and valiant in those iusts were Rodamarte Pâ—…ince of Sardenia sonne vnto Alselo who was one of the twelue that went with the Emperour Trebatio to the Monasterie of the riuer Alpino Lord of Lemos and Rodofeo Prince of the Rhodes Artidoro Prince of Candia all yong men and amoroâ—…s who for their great knighthood dyd get exceeding same at these feasts and iusts In these pastimes ther passed many daies and euery day there came new and strange knights vnto whom y e Emperour Trebatio did much honour and did spend liberally amongst them a great part of his terasury and for that these feasts pastimes did indure very long that ther succéeded in them many strange things as shal be told you in this History let vs leaue them new béegun and tell of other things that succéeded in this tiâ—…e which is very needfull for this present Historie for as much as the returne and comming of the Emperour Trebatio was published in all places and that the manner of the death of prince Edward was knowen The newes of all this came vnto the eares of the king Oliuerio who although hée had almost forgot the losse of the Prince by reason of the long time passed since it happened yet these new news of his death was so dolorous that it did renue within his thought the great loue which hee bare vnto him as vnto his sonne that in a small time they thought verely hée would die with very sorrow but the principal remedy that he tooke for his comfort was to determine himselfe to take reuengement for the Princes death vppon the Emperour and although hiâ—… power was not so great as the power of the Emperour yeâ—… hée thought that the king Tiberio to fulfill the great oblygation in the which hée was bound vnto him would giuâ—… him aide and succour and againe the Prince Don Silueriâ—… would likewise succour him with all his power which waâ—… very great giuing him for spouse his daughter the Prince Oliuia according as he had determined And besides this the king of Spaine who was his very friend would succor him all that hée could héere with he might very well reuenge himselfe vpon the Emperour and destroy all his Empire All this the king determined in his thought the great passion and griefe which hée had for the death of his son would not suffer any other thought to enter in his breast with this determination he sent messengers vnto the king Tiberio to giue him to vnderstand how hée was determined to hée reuenged for the death of his son desired him of al friendship to aide him in his determination knowing how much hée was bound therto for that he was slaine in his seruice And touching all his determination he did write him a letter at large of the which he had an answere againe to his desire for that y e king Tiberio acknowledging how much hee was bound vnto him could doe nothing to the contrary but
offer himself in all y t he might to help him although he wished for his part that all were excused for it séemed vnto him that if the Emperour Trebatio slew the prince Edward it was with his speare in his hand in battell one with the other lyke knights and therfore he should not be blamed in such sort to take such reuengement against him and although he had all this within his thought was well content to haue y e Emperour for his son in law yet hée wold not giue any body to vnderstand therof for that he was a king which alwaies had a great respect in matters of estimation and honour which was the occasion that the king Oliuerio as aforesaid had of him a very good answere and to his contentment Likewise hée wrote to the king of Spaine who also did offer vnto him all hee requested when hée had néede thereof In the meane time that all this passed y e king Oliuerio trauailed with the Princesse Oliuia his daughter that shée should think wel to receiue for hir spouse the Prince Don Siluerio laying before hir his great valure and the necessitie hee had of him so considering this matter many times the king did importunate hir sometimes with requestes and other times with threatenings in such sort that this fayre Princesse was in the greatest perplexity that euer Lady or Gentlewoman could bee and euerie moment shee desired death whereby she might be cleeâ—…e from his continuall requests and which she had determined to giue hir selfe when shee did sée that there was no other remedie Likewise it was knowen in England that Rosicleer the young knight who had left so great fame in all that countrie was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio and the Empresse Briana which newes did greatly content all people And when the Princesse Oliuia vnderstood the whole misterie one way hir ioye surmounted in seeing that hee whom shée loued more then hir owne selfe was sonne vnto so mightie an Emperour and that ther was not betweene them the kindred which shee thought had béene and another way shee dyd greatly repent hir selfe of that which shée had done against him and the more was hir griefe when shee called to remembrance all that which had passed insomuch that shée did nothing else but wéepe at all times when shée was alone Now after the king hir father had receiued an answere from the King Tiberio and from the King of Spaine talking with Don Siluerio hée gaue him to vnderstand his determined purpose a new hée diâ—… offer vnto him his daughter the Lady Oliuia for his spouse saying that first béefore hee did performe the same it should be great reason that he returne into his kingdome of Lusitania and giue his parents to vnderstand thereof and to let them know all the warre that hee did determine to béegin against the Emperour Trebatio for that hée might haue his people in a readynesse for to him giue all the ayde and succour that possiblie hée could for that the Prince dyd inâ—…irelie loue the Princesse Oliuia hee desired nothing more then to plesure the king in all that hée could so that straight way hée did promise the King to performe all that hée had commanded So all things beeing in a readinesse that was necessarie for his voyage hee went to sea and tooke his way towardes the Kingdome of Lusitania whom this Historie dooth leaue till time dooch serue for to tell you of the thrée worthie Princesse Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo of whom a long time wée haue not spokâ—…n of How the three Princes Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo who wâ—…nt in the demaund of Rosicleer came into the Kingdome of Lusitania and of all that happened vnto them there Chap. 12. THis Historie hath verie long forgot to speake of these thrée excellent Princes Bargandell Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo not for that their worthie deedes of Knighthoode are not worthie to bée spoken off but onely for that wee haue so much to intreate of Trebatio and his children that this historie hath inough to doe to declare their morthinesse you doe remember how these thrée Princes all together with a very good will and one consent departed from the kingdome of â—…ngland to goe and seeke out their vory friend Rosicleer and after a long time that they trauailed by sea in the ende they ariued in the Empire of Trabisond whereas they saw that fayre Princesse Claridiana who dyd put them in great admiration onelie for to bée hold hir high and mightie deedes of knighthoode and hir straunge demeanour with the excellent grace and curtesie that she vsed with all men so in the end of certaine daies that they there remained they did take their leaue of the Princes and departed out of that Countrie and went againe vnto the Sea without any other determination whether to goe but onelie whether theyr fortune would bring them Now the History saith that in this sort they dyd nauigate by Sea a long time till it happened vpon a day verie earely in the morning they discouered land which being knowen by the marriners they said that it was the Kingdome of Lusitania And when these three Princes vnderstood the certantie thereof they determined there to goe a land hoping y t they should heare some newes of their friend Rosicleer for that they were certaine whersoeuer hee did beecome his noble valiantnesse was such that it would be noised throughout all the Countrie Wherefore they left the sea and beeing a land they tooke their Horsses and followed the way which they liked best and trauailed by it a good while which in the ende brought them vnto the top of a mighty 〈◊〉 from whence they did discouer somwhat a far of a mighty great plaine and in the most therof was scituated a faire Citie hard by a riuers side which seemed to be very great huge Also they saw without the citie in the fiâ—…lds a great armie of knights and men of war with many tents 〈◊〉 by which these thrée Princes vnderstood that the Citie was besiged and thervpon they consulted amongst themselues what was best to be done so in the ende of many spéeches they determined to goe into the camp ther to informe themselues of the occasion of those wars knowing the truth they would leane vnto the part that they thought had most reason therewith they descended into the plaine trauâ—…iled by it til they came vnto the armie straight way there came out against them more then twentie knights to know whether they were their friends or their enimies Then these Knights did compasse the Princes round about demanded of them froÌ„ whence they came what they sought in those parts and they answered that they were straunge Knights and not knowen in that countrie and for that they had seene their camp they came thether as Knights that doth sâ—…rue for wages Then those of the camp when they heard their
not moue one iot from the place whereas he was but cried out vnto the knights that they should come forth against him all thrée But when hée saw his words did little profit him with great fury infernall courage he made his course against the valiant Tartarian who with a worthy courage as one that was both stout strong of hart broched his horse with the spurs and went forth to méet him in the middest of their course they met so strongly together y t their great speares were broken into small shiuers this stout Tartarian did double with his body backwards in such sort that his head strike diâ—… vpon y â— Horse crouper being somewhat astonied with that strong incounter he passed forwards on his Horse straight waies did settle himselfe agayne in the saddle but the strong deformed Gyant Horse all fell downe vnto the ground with which fall they made a meruaylous great noise he had his saddle fast betwixt his legges When the King Balachia saw his Gyant on the earth he was very heauy in his hart and commaunded that no more Knights should come forth to the iust but that the three Princes should be brought before him at which time the monstrous giant did arise from the ground and drew out a great mighty fauchon which he had at his girdle went towards the Princes said that they all thrée together should make battaile with him The thrée Princes not making any reckoning of his wordes on horsebacke as they were went before the King and asked him if he were content to pay them theyr bargaine that was made betwixt them if not they would depart vnto some other place whereas they thought best Then the King who was meruaylous angrye and offended with them aunswered and sayd I will that you serue me in this my warres and afterward it shall be at my pleasure to pay you for your seruice and if you will graunt vnto this with a good will doe it if not I will make you perforce Then these three Princes who had no desire to tary ther although the King would giue them all the treasure that hee had but onely intended to serue and helpe the Quéene Lauinia for that it seemed vnto them that shée had most right without speaking any word vnto the King tourned about their horses and tooke their way towardes a great bridge of stone which passed ouer the riuer and at the farther end therof was the gate of the Citie and vpon the said brige and walâ—… of the Citie there were many people and because the campe was very nigh the citie they might well discerne all that had passed with the thrée Princes and what they had done and very much meruailed to what purpose it was done and could not imagine who those thrée valiant knights should be Now when the King Balachia saw that the thrée Princes went their way with great wrath anger he began to cry out with a loude voice vnto his knights commaunding them to take them perforce At which commandement many of his Knightes did follow them with as great speâ—…d as their horses could run but before they could ouertake them these three Princes were entred vpon the bridge And when they saw so many people following theÌ„ they drew out their swords turned backe vpon them And wounded many of them But by reason of the great company that assualted them they were put to great extremitie forced to retire backewards towards the citie And by reason that the bridge was somwhat narow it did profit them very much in that their enimies could not assault them but all before to whom they did very great harme This battaile indured betwixt them more then halfe an houre in which time they slew of their enemies more then twentie Knights And when those which were within the citie saw all that passed they thought it best to open the gates vnto those Knights that so valiantly with great strength defended themselues determined to retaine them on their part to help them to make defence against their enimies for that they did withdraw themselues towards the Citie This determination they performed for as these thrée Princes did by little and little retire towards the gates of the citie so when they came nigh them they that were vpon the walles and battilments of the citie did shoote many arrowes and threw stones and other things at their enimies with the which they did them very great harme and made them to retire backwards by reason whereof they had space for to open a 〈◊〉 doore of the Gates by the which the thrée Princes entered in and the Posterâ—…e being 〈◊〉 againe they of the citie receiued them very wâ—…l and gaue them good intertainment and much meruailed at their great valour strength the Princes with like curtesie did returne them thankes for that which they had done and that in their defence they would doe all that euer was in their powers There was amongst these people a knight who was principall of them had the charge ouer that gate and this Knight carryed the three Princes before the Quéene Lauinia accompanied with many other knights Gentlemen and when they came before hir they gaue hir to vnderstand of all that they had seene those three knights doe how they came of their owne good will to serue hir in hir wars The Quéene when she heard that which the knight had told hir receiued great ioy in their gentle disposition good proportion receiuing them very curteously and doing them all the honour she could offering hir selfe wholy vnto them like did aduertise them of the small reason that the King had to besiege them These Princes answered hir with wonted curtesie and did offer themselues vnto the Quéene so liberally that she was almost satisfied of the sauegard of hir citie Then they remayned ther all that day without doing any other thing and the King of Balachia remayned in his campâ—… with great anger and sorrowfull heauinesse that those thrée Knights were gone from him in that order and did sweare a mightie oath that he would make them die an euill death if he might get them into his power And although hée had at this present great wrath against them ther did not passe very long time after but that they did grieue him much more and made him repent himself for that he did not giue them better intertainment when they first entred into his campe as in this chapter following shall be told you ¶ How the three Princes Bargandell Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo issued forth with such people as were in the citie vnto the camp of their enimies and of the mighty deed of armes that they did there Chap. 13. WHen the next day was come these thrée princes were very desirous to go forth of the citie against their enimies and to raise vp the sege that was against the citie and set
at libertie the Queene Lauinia from that inconueniens They requested to know what coÌ„pany of people were in the citie And mâ—…stering them they found that ther were in all a thousand Knights three thousand footemen all well armed very couragious for to doe all that which was commaunded vnto them And they were certified that in the campe of their enemies ther might bee fiue thousand Knights and vi thousand footemen Yet for all that it seemed vnto the valiaunt stomakes of these Princes that they might goe forth with the people which they had to giue the assalt and attempt against their enimies So straight way they commanded that euery man should make him ready this being done they left the citie well prouided in good gard commaunded the gates of the citie to be opened they issued out in very good order In the foreward went these three mightie and worthy Princes and all the rest when they saw them so mightie and well proporcioned of members and very stout receyued great courage Then those which were in the companie without when they saw the people of the citie came forth they were greatly amazed and did verely beléeue that those thrée Knightes had hartened and giuen them courage to attempt the field The King strayght way commaunded that all his people should bee put in order with all spéeâ—… possible but by reason that their enimies came vpon them vnawares before they could be in order they were assalted of them receiued great damage and yet it could little haue aduauntaged them if the three Princes had not beene ther who beeing in the fore front dyd wounde kill and ouerthrow all that came before them and put themselues so far amongst their enemies that their owne people could not follow them without great trauaile So when the King saw this great destruction which the thrée Knights made amongst his Knights he pulled himselfe by the beard and blasphemed against himselfe for that when he had them in his tent he dyd not coÌ„maund that they should be taken put to a cruell death Then the huge monstrous Gyant which was ther left the King pressed in great hast towards that place whereas the thrée Princes were the first that he met with all was with the Tartarian Zoylo when he knew him to be the same that did ouerthrow him in the Iust he was very ioyfull therof made towards him When this aproued and worthy Tartarian saw him comming with a valiant stout courage he did abide him so that betwixt them there began a stout well foughten battayle And although the Giant was very great monstrous and had aduantage by his mightie members and great strength yet to oppose against the same the Prince of Tartarie had very good armour made by art magicke in such sort that by no meanes it could not be cut nor broken So that he did strike at this furious Gyant so mighty terrible blowes that many times he pearced both his armour flesh that the blood ran out in diuers places At the same time the other two worthy Princes Bargandell and Lyriamandro did meruailous déedes of armes and were all to be brewed in blood with the great number which they hadde slayne were so feared amongst their enimies that whersoeuer they went they made them way And when their owne people dyd sée the great valiantnesse and worthy déedes which they did they receiued great courage and dyd very great harme and damage vpon their enimies And although this dyd indure for a while yet it could not endure no longer then the whole campe was gathered together put in order And for that they were a great number more then those of thec itie with great violence they pressed vpon them in such sort that these two Princes could not chuse but perforce they must retyre backewardes And when the Tartarian Zoylo who was in battaile with the Giant perceued that his companions did retire he thought it not wisdome to remaine there alone amongst so many but at that instant he left the Gyant put himselfe amongst his companions making them to retire in very good order that their enimies might not do them any harme The giant when hée saw himselfe cléere from his enemie he was not sory for it but departed made no accompt of him for that his courage was abated in méeting his match So all those of the citie retired vntill they came vpon the bridge in good order they entred into y â— citie And although their enimies would haue entred in with them yet the thrée Princes which were the last those souldiers which were vpon the wals and battilments did defend the entry so that they returned vnto the camp wher as they found the King very heauy sad to sée the great damage which he had receued that day of his enimies the great number which he saw those thrée Knights to kill who before he had in little estimaâ—…ion On the other side those of the citie receiued great ioye as well for that which they had done as to haue on their part those three knights with whom they recouered more hart courage theÌ„ before In the time of all this conflict the Quéene Lauinia hiâ—… daughter Olimpia were vpon the top of a tower that was night the walles of the citie from which place they did sée all that passed And when they saw the thrée Princes comming with great ioy and pleasure they went farther to receiue them did them snch honor as vnto those next vnto God she put hir whole trust confidence in not doubting by them to be deliuered from that great wrong done vnto hiâ—… So ther they rested themselues the rest of the day which remained till the next day was come in the which they dyd all as shalbe told you in this chapter following ¶ How these three Princes went forth the second time into â—…he camp and were taken prisoners by their enemies ea 14. THE sorrow griefe which the King of Balachia receued was very much as well for the slaughter harm don 〈◊〉 his people as also for the comming of those thrée knights to them of the citie by whom they had recouered such courage whereas before they were at a point to yéelde themselues And it séemed vnto him that according as that day they came forth vpon them so they would doe it oftner did imagine within himselfe how by what meanes he might be reuenged on those thrée knights take away from his aduersaries the force and aide which they had of them And hauing determined with himselfe what was best to be done he commaunded to call vnto him the Gyant whose name was Fulgoso when he came before him he sayd doe thus which I commaund thee choose in all the whole campe a thousand knights of the best thou canst finde and in a readinesse with them when thou dost see our
enimies come forth of the citie thou all these knights shall haue no other charge but to take the three knights which went from hence and bring them prisoners before mee for that I doe sée that in those three onely resteth the force strength of our enimies The Gyant who was no lesse wrathfull then the King with a very good will did promise to accomplish all that he had commaunded And so he departed from the king began to choose out the knights that should serue his turne for that attempt and vnto euery one perticularly he gaue his charge what he should doe So they were all in a readinesse tarying the time when their enemies should come forth And all the rest of the souldiers were continually in very good order verye destrous to be reuenged of the harme which they had before receiued When the next morning was come these thrée Princes had great desire to finish that which they had béegunne for that they would follow proserute their enterprise wherfore they determined to goe forth of the citie as they did the day before And for the same purpose they gathered together the best souldiers that were in all the citie and commaunded the gates to be open they issued out in very good order Now when they were passed the bridge they set vppon their enimes whom they found not vnprouidâ—…d as the day béefore but in a readinesse tarrying their comming so that beetwixt them there beegan a very stout and well foughtâ—…n battaile and there these three princes went all together béefore working wonders wounding killing and ouerthrowing all that euer they met in such sort that they made large way whereas they went In this sort indured the battaile more then one houre and all things went well with them of the Citie but sodeinly came vpon them the Gyaunt Fulgoso with his thousand knights and for that they hadde no other charge but to take these thrée Princes they straight waies compassed theÌ„ about in such sort that not one of their companie could come nigh them by a great space Then this mightie Gyaunt béegan the battayle alone with these three knights for that according vnto his force and strength they had mough to doe with him in the meane time that they were in battaile with the Gyaunt the knights of the Gyaunt did kill their horses and in falling vnto the ground they all together charged themselues vpon them and with the help of the Gyaunt they were not able to make any resistance neither was theyr great prowesse and strength sufficient to defend themselues but that they must néedes bée taken prisoners When they tooke away theyr swords and pulled of their Helmes and carried them béefore the king who was in his Tent very ioyfull when hee saw them brought prisoners And by reason that the three princes did lack in the battaile those of the Citie could not make any farther resistance against their aduersaries and therefore they did retire in the best wise they could into the Citie and when they found missing in their companie the thrée knights and vnderstoode that they were prisoners I am not able to declare their great sorrow and griefe which they receiued for that béesides the loue they bare them they hoped also by their help to make defence against theyr foes and if theyr absence and lacke was left amongst the common people much more was the griefe that the Quéene Laâ—…ima and hir Daughter receiued when they heard that sorâ—…owful newes so that it seemed that they were past all hope of remedie for that they had lost those thrée knights which caused them to bée verie heauie and could dooe nothing but weepe And now to returne to them that were in the camp the Historie sayth that the King and all the rest were very ioyâ—…ull for that hée had in his power the thrée knights and thought that hée could not reuenge himselfe vppon them to commaund them straight wayes to bée put to death but would vse some other straunger reuengement intending to kéepe them prisoners in such cruell prisons whereas they should by little and little bee consumed and die and to giue them euery day torments béecause their ende should continue long and would not suffer that at once they should bée slaine and therewith hee commaunded the Gyaunt Fulgoso that hée should take vnto him twentie knights and carriâ—… them vnto the castle of stone which hée had taken that was but thrée miles from that place and straight way the giant put all things in a readinesse and bound fast the hands oâ—… the Princes and so put them vpon their Horsses and with twentie Knightes they tooke the way towards the Castle whereas the king had commaunded to carrie them When these thrée Princes saw themselues so carried with their hands bound like vnto malefactors they were very heauie and sad with themselues knew not what to do but to haue patience at that sodaine chance and mis fortune not hauing any other comfort but to receiue their death with a verie good courage in what sort so euer they would giue it them The loue of these Princes was so much the one vnto the other and their great valour and bountie was so apparant amongst them that they receiued as great griefe the one for the other as though it had béene perticularly to each of theÌ„ and either of them desired to dye for to saue the other two of his companions So when they had trauailed from the campe the space of two miles they passed by the foote of a smal mountaine and when these thrée Princes lift vp their eyes for to béehould that Mountayne they saw descending from the top thereof a knight of a mighty stature of his bodie and of a good disposition verie well armed and mounted vpon a good Horse who séemed by his demeanour to bee a knight of estimation who descended the mountaine a resonable pace and came towards them and for that this History héer after will declare vnto you who this knight was hée doth leaue all at this present till time doe serue to tell of other matters How the Knight of the Sunne going towards the Empire of Grecia should haue been taken by treason at a Bridge and of all that passed therein Chapter 15. THE Historie sayth that the knight of the Sunne remained eight daies in the Castle of Onorio at such time as he found himselfe whole and sound and felt no griefe of his great trauaile which hée receiued with the Gyant his knights so hée tooke his leaue of the Lord of the Castle and of his daughter Oliria carried with him his two sonnes Aurelio and Bynano whom hée gaue vnto him for to bée his Pages and after hée had a long time trauailed it happened vpon a day somewhat late towards the euening they came vnto a Bridge which was vpon the riuer Danubia vpon the which there was a mightie great and well towred Castell one of the most
strongest that euer hée saw in all his life and this Castell did béelong vnto the king Tiberio and it was edified there very strong for that it was in the vttermost partes of all Hungaria and was scituated ther for that his enemies could not enter into his Countrie with any armie but onely that way by reason that the Riuer there was verie great and hée that was Liefetenaunt and had the kéeping of the Castell was the Troyan Earle béefore the Knight of the Sunne slew him and after his death the King dyd commit the charge and kéeping thereof vnto his Brother Florinaldus for that hée was a knight of great estimatian and one of the principallest of his Court who not forgetting the â—…uill will which he had conceiued against the knight of the Sunne hee determined to take him prisoner in that Castell and when by force hee could not doo it hée would doo it by treason For vnderstanding of a certaintie that hee could not passe by any other way but that onely as it in déede fell out that at such time as the Knight of the Sun should come thether Florinaldus was within the Castell with more then twentie knights abiding his comming So when the knight came thether hée â—…ound the gates of the bridge shut which was vnder that mightie Castle and hée tooke the ring of the gate in his hand and gaue great strokes at which noyse there appeared at a window a very faire Gentlewoman and well apparayled and when shée saw the Knight of the Sunne shee straight waies knew him by the tokens shee had of him and speaking vnto him shée sayd What is it that you would haue gentle Knight that you knocke so hard at the gates When the Knight of the Sunne saw the Gentlewoman saluting hir very curteously hée replyed That which I would haue fayre Gentlewoman is that you would commaund the gates to be opened that wée may passe and goe forwards on our iourney for that according as it hath béene tould mée there is no other way to passe but by this Bridge I am very well content to dooâ—… this which thou dost demaunde saide the Gentlewoman but yet first thou must doe that which other Knights doe when they come to passe this way What is that which I must doe sayd the Knight of the Sunne for it may bee such a thing that I shall haue great pleasure and delight to dooâ—… it That which thou must doe said the Gentlewoman is to iust with a knight if it so fall out that hée doo ouerthrow thee from thy horse to the ground thou shalt leaue héere thy name written and then passe forwardes on thy iourney and if so â—…ée that you doo ouerthrow the Knight you must â—…arrie heere all night and receiue the honour that shall bée done vnto you and in the morning you may depart whether your pleasure is All this I am very well content to doo sayd the Knight of the Sunne therefore commaund that the gates may bée opened Tarrie a while sayd the Gentlewoman and therewith shee withdrew hir selfe from the window and within a small while after the gates were opened and there came foorth a verie big and well proportioned knight mounted vpon a good horse well armed séeming to bee of a good disposition and without speaking any word vnto the Knight of the Sunne hée went and put himselâ—…e in the field with his speare in his hand readie vnto the iust Then the Knight of the Sunne tooke his speare and prepared himselfe and beeing both in a readinesse they broched their horses with their spurs and with great fury and force they made their incouÌ„ter which was in such sort that the Knight of the Sunne encountered with the Knight of the Bridge with so great force that hée bare him ouer the horse crouper with the saddle béetwixt his legs and hée fell downe to the ground and the Knight of the Sunne passed his course forwards without receiuing any harme Then the Knight who was throwen downe arose vp and without speaking euer a word went into the Castle This Knight was Florinaldus who as yet did not acknowledge himselfe but would prooue his good fortune the third time with the Knight of the Sunne Then the Gentlewoman which spake vnto him at the window came downe vnto the gate accompanied with other two Gentlewomen and when shée came vnto the Knight of the Sunne shée sayde Of a truth gentle knight thy great bountie is such that vnto thee more then to any other with great reason wée ought to giue thée seruice and honour which in this Castell wée bée accustomed to doe vnto valiaunt Knights and seeing it is now late and you cannot goe farre this night alight from your horse and goe wee vp into the Castle rest your selfe whereas wée wil doo you all the honour that possiblie wée may The Knight of the Sunne would verie faine haue procéeded on his iourney and not haue stayed there but considering his promise and againe that it was verie late hée determined to accomplish that which séemed vnto him with a 〈◊〉 good will the Gentlewoman had desired And therewith hée dyd alight from his Horse and his Pages did the like and it was commaunded that their Horses should bée kept in good order and the Gentlewoman went vnto the Knight of the 〈◊〉 and tooke him by the hand and lead him vp into the castle whereas he was serued and banketted with 〈◊〉 and diuers sorts of fruits other things till such time as supper was made readie so they sat downe and were serued with diuers kindes of meates in as ample manner as could be at the table of King Tiberio And all this while there appeared not in the castle one knight but Gentlewomen and householde seruaunts at which the knight of the Sunne was greatly amazed and asked of that faire Gentlewoman what was become of the knight with whom hée did iust And the Gentlewoman answered that at such time as hée is ouerthrowne by any knight hée neuer dare come in hir presence againe till such time as he hath ouerthrowen some other knight And in talking of this and other things wherein they most delighted they passed the time away till it was time to goe to take their rest then ther came two Gentlewomen with two siluer candlestickes and candles therein whereby the Knight of the Sun perceiued that it was for his departure to bed and taking leaue of that faire gentlewoman hee went with the other two who brought him vnto a chamber which was very faire and richly hanged in the which was a rich bed wherefore hee greatly meruayled at the honour which they did vnto him So when hee came into the chamber the Gentlewomen left the Candles and departed and his Pages did vnarme their Lord and hée went into the bedde one of the Pages who was called Bynnano was of a verie prompt wit and vnderstanding and verie craftie in all his beings and hee seeing the great honour
in these thoughts straight way there came vnto his remembrance that which the wise Artidon had told him of the Princesse Oliuia which caused vnto him so great a sorrow griefe that all his pleasure and great contentment was forgotten it made him to abhorre his owne lifâ—… all y e world thought within himselfe to goe wher all they should neuer after heare newes of him For that hee could not perswade with himselfe thinking it a thing impossible for him to liue in the world neither to receiue any comfort amongest his parents and friends When that he should vnderstand how that the Princesse Oliuia was in the power of any other Knight thus he trauailed in a great confusion could not determine with himselfe what was best for him to doe and being troubled in his mind he passed the Kingdome of Russia trauailed other thrée daies in another kingdome adioyning thervnto by reason that his minde was alwaies occupied with these profound contrary thoughts all his trauaile for the most part was out of the high wayes many times he was benighted in the fields would passe a whole day without eating any thing So it happened one day very early in the morning hauing lost his way he found himselfe amongst a great number of mountaines was so far ingulfed amongest them that he could not finde the way to come out neither did he know where he was till the most part of the day was past then he discouered a mountaine which was higher then all the rest determined to goe vp to the top of the same to see if hée could from thence discouer any way or towne whether he might resort Then hée went vp vnto the top of that mountaine although it was with great trauaile being at the top hee was there a good while looked round about him towards all parts did discouer a mightie Country very plaine that place wheras he was was the craggedst part of all that country Also he discouered a narow way for to descend from those mountaines into the plaine wher he saw a mighty broad vsed way which passed alongst by the foote of that mountaine as he would haue descended towards that place he saw somâ—… what a far of comming towards him a company of knights whose armour glistered very much among them he saw one that was more higher then all the rest from the breast vpwards he seemed vnto him although it was a far off to be a Giant being very desirous to know who they should be he stoode still till such time as they drew nigher then he saw that in the middest of that ambush of knights ther came other thrée Knights on horseback with their helmes off their hands bound behind them whom he did well perceiue to bée carried prisoners against their willes These were the thrée Princes Bargandel Lyriamandro the Tartarian Zoylo which were carried prisoners in the power of the giant at the commaundement of the King Balachia and the Knight which they saw come downe from the mountaine towards them as the History hath told you be fore was the knight of Cupid who seeing theÌ„ to bring those knights prisoners very desirous to know who what it should be did descend downe the mountaine towardes the high way whereas they should passe when he drew nigh vnto them hee straight waies knew them to be the thrée Princes his very great friendes very much meruailed to see them in that case vpon a sodaine the water ran downe his cheekes his hart was ready to burst with great sorrow griefe to sée such péerelesse princes caried in that sort and being straight waies desirous to venture his life in that present daunger for to performe that wherin he was greatly bound for the defence of his friends he put himselfe into the middest of the high way with his speare in his hand the great giant Fulgoso came formost of all the rest mounted vpon a mightie horse armed with very thick strong armour of fréele with a speare in his hand so bigge that it séemed to be a Pine tree the beauer of his healme vp that a far off one might discerne his monstrous euill fauoured countenance and when the Knight of Cupid saw that it was but labour lost to talke with that sort people words spent in vaine he broched his Horse with the spurres and with so great fury that it séemed to be a Thunder bolt he made his course against the giant who when hée saw him come running against him with so great a noise furious a violence one way he thought he had bene some foolish Knight beside himselfe to y e contrary he very much meruailed to see him comming with so galiaÌ„t a grace furious courage without any more tarrying â—…e set spurs vnto his mightie Horse and went forth to méet him so fast as his Horse could run and in the middest of their course they mette both together and this worthy and valiant knight of Cupid stroke the pâ—…ant in the middest of his body his speare being made of the hart of a Câ—…pres tree the head of very fine tempered stéele which was giuen him by the king Luziro for a very precious and excellent good one at his departure from him his encounter was so strong that before his spere did breake the sharp well hardned head did pearce through the ill tempered harneis of that great giant ran through his body appearing at his backe therwith he fell downe dead to the ground with the mightie fall he brake the strong staffe of the speare the Knight of Cupid receiued so great encounter of the Giant that it made him loose his stirops to let loose the raines of his horse bridle passed forwards without receiuing any more harme before that he came wheras the other Knights were he had recouered both his stirops and the rames of his Horse againe When the three Princes and the Knights of the Giant saw that great terrible encounter they very much meruailed thereat remayned astonied and amazed and thought it so wonderfull that they could not tell what to say vnto it and with great sorrow and griefe for the death of their Lord all the knights together assaulted the knight of Cupld and with great shrikes and shoutes they compassed him round about and laid vppon him with all the power and strength they could and although they were many yet this stout valiaunt knight did quickly abate their courage for that at the first three blowes which hée stroke at them which came formost hée ouerthrew thrée of them to the ground very sore wounded and almost dead and after besturred himselfe amongst the rest with so great fury that it was a wonder to sée The thrée Princes who did béeholde all that passed knew not what to
meruailed at the other knight that câ—…me with y e three princes for that they saw the great slaughter which hee made amongst his enimies with his sword in his hand and wheÌ„ these soure Knights saw the gates of the Citie opened they did retire by little little vpon the bridge vntill such time as their enimies dyd leaue off following them as well for the mortall blowes they gaue them as for the great harme they receiued by them which were vppon the walles of the Citie so that they had time at their pleasure to enter into the Cittie and when they were within they shut the gates and receiued them with great ioye and carried them beefore the Queene whose ioy was so great for the returne of these three Princes that I am not able to expresse it for that hir comfort and hope that shee had in them was very much and theyr imprisonment was a grieuous corsie vnto hir heart So there they did repose rest themselues all that day and all the next following with a great deale more ioy then at any time beefore The next day béeing come the knight of Cupide and the thrée Princes commaunded that all such people as they thought could doe any thing to arme themselues vnto the battaile and so in very good order they went forth into the field against their enimies and ouercame and brake the Campe and slew the King and the most part of those that were with him and the rest ranne theyr way so that those of Lusitania remained with the victorie and pursued theyr enimies till such time as the night dyd withdraw them backe and made them to retire and it was a thing to be wondered at to see the great feates and deeds of armes that the knight of Cupide did that day for it may bee sayde that hee alone was the occasion of breaking vp of the Camp of their enimies and the destruction of all the whole armie of the king of Balachia so that on the one part as wâ—… as one the other they verie much meruayled of the incridyble déedes which they saw done in that battaile Noâ—… when the night was come the knight of Cupide seeing that there was no more néede of his help hée determined to depart very secretlie for that hée saw by the determination of the thrée Princes that it was a thing imposible to kéepe himselfe close long but that hee must bee knowen by them Therefore hee called a knight of the Citie a side and sayde vnto him that at such time as the people were gathered together and entered into the Citie hée shuld tel the Quéene and those thrée strange knightâ—… that hee was departed and gone about certaine businesse that dyd importune him verie much and that they should not by any meanes follow him neither hope of his returne for that hee knew not whether hee should euer returne againe or no and so hée departed ont of the Camp and with a trotting pace trauayled all that euer he could that night very sorrowfull in his hart for that hée could not reioyce himselfe in the company of his verie friends who with so louing and perfect friendship went to seeke him With these sorrowfull thoughts that night hée trauailed so long that hée came vnto the sea the next day in the morning hée entered into a Ship of merchandise which ariued at that place to refresh themselues with fresh water and were bound vnto Alexandria Now to returne vnto the thrée Princes the Historie saith that at such time as they had gathered theyr people together and would haue entered into the Citie they found wanting the knight of Cupide and béeing very sorrowfull for his absence they went séeking him and asking for him of all that they met till such time as they came to the knight with whom the knight of Cupide had talked and he tolde vnto them his â—…mbassage and all that hee had sayd vnto him And when the â—…hree Princes vnderstoode of his departure they were verie â—…orrowfull for the same and remembring the valiant déedes â—…at they saw him doo and the great boud in the which they â—…ere bound vnto him they were verie desirous to haue â—…owen him and to haue had him in their companie and â—…ery one of them thought in his minde that hée should bée â—…osicleer for that they were fully resolued amongest themâ—…ues that there was not a knight in all the world y t was â—…le to doo for them that which hee did but onely Rosicleer but straight way they put this thought from them in saying that if it were Rosicleer there was no occasion wherfore he should keepe himself from them not be knowen seeing that hée vnderstood that they went in his demaund Thus with a great desire which they had to know who this knight shuld bee all y t night they would not enter into the citie but sent vnto the quéene requesting hir to pardon them they straight way departed to go seeke out the knight of Cupid the next day in the morning they came vnto the sea side vnto the Port whereas hée did ship himselfe there they had newes of him by the tokens that they gaue So from thence they departed in his demaund in an other ship that the Quéens Lauinia commanded to bée giuen them and héere the history doth leaue them trauailing by sea and returneth vnto the knight of Cupide who departed and went béefore them How the knight of Cupid ariued in the kingdome of Phenicia whereas hee deliuered from the death a knight who afterward was a very great friend of his Chap. 18. THE great sorrow and griefe which the worthie knight of Cupide sustained in his hart cannot bée héere expressed as well for the louing of his déere friends in those couÌ„tries not making himselfe knowen vnto them as for the newes which was giuen him to vnderstand in the caue of the wise Artydon concerning the princesse Oliuia and béeing sore afflicted with thâ—… thoughts they sailed sixe daies with a prosperous winde but the seuenth day they were taken with a mightie great anâ—… perillous torment which made them loose their way werâ—… constrained by the furious force thereof to take port in thâ—… kingdome of Phenicia whereas the merchants determinâ—… to goe a land and there to rest themselues certaine dayeâ—… for that they were verie wearie and Sea sick by reason â—… the great storme the which they had past When the knighâ—… of Cupid was a land and saw that the countrie séemed but him to bée very fruitfull fresh and pleasant hée determined with himself to see the countrie in the meane time that the marriners did trim their ship make prouision of all that was necessarie and so hée tooke his horse went alone from the port taking the way which led him vnto a mighty great Citie that was but sixe miles from that port And when he had trauailed two miles froÌ„ the port hee saw a far of from him in
secret possibie yet it hath ben giuen the king to vnderstand therof who caused forth-with many knights to bée put in diuers places either for to kill me or to take me prisoner and these knights with whom I made the battaile were the kings so that if it had not bene for your good succour I had béene slaine or els caried before the king their lorâ—… who I doe beléeue would straight waies haue commaunded to bée put to the most cruell death that could be inuented for that in times past my father slew his father in battaile since which time he had alwaies this rancour great enmitie against me This is sir knight y â— whole effect of that which you demanded of me now séeing that I haue giuen vnto you the whole relation of my life I doe heere very much desire you to tell me your name of what Country you are that I may know to whom I haue discouered my selfe to whom I shall remaine in dutifull obligation all the daies of my life When the King Sacridoro had made an end of declaring this the knight of Cupid was moued vnto great compassion and iontlie therewith hée had singuler affection vnto him for that he séemed to be a person of great valour and of like desert and for that his high bounty did deserue to bâ—… had in reputation of any good Knight especially for that the passions of loue had ben the occasion y t he was brought into that state the which alone was sufficient to moue any to haue compassion on him for that there is â—…o other griefe sorrow peruerse fortune nor aduersitie more worthy to bée pittied theÌ„ that he was a great while before he could make him any aunswere in which time his aduersitie did grieue him very much but in the end he spake vnto him said Of a truth worthy king this discourse which you haue made vnto mée of your estate hath béene vnto me very sorrowfull grieuous for that so terrible a fall of fortune is sufficient to ouerthrow any valiant hart or stout courage especiallie being wounded with loue as you haue told me that thing alone is sufficient to cause me to haue compassion on you all this being true your aduersity very great yet it cannot be denied but y t your hart must be more stouter valianteâ—… if that with a good stomacke you doe passe it ouer and not hold it as a new thing happened vnto you but as a thing which of long time past before it chaunced was knowen vnto you daylie looked for for that the valiant courage doth mittigate weaken the hardinesse of fortune with the vertue of the spirit in nothing it is so quickly knowen as in the greatest extremities of their aduersities Fortune may very well ouerthrow a strong knight but yet his valiant courage may be such that the shall haue no power to get the victorie of him Hée is ouerthrowen that doth thinke himselfe vanquished he that hath all his hope void as a thing dead 〈◊〉 whose courage is such that all remedies doth séeme vnto him dissolute You haue lost your kingdome very slightie by the losse of one battaile so likewise it may fall out that by another battaile you may get it againe for it is a common thing in wars to ouercome to be ouercome many times we do sée those which one day hath victorie when the day béefore they lost it Possiblie worthie king you will say that touching this which I haue sayd you haue no prouision are alone without any army neyther any power requisit whereby you should haue any hope to recouer againe your Kingdome To this I auns were that I haue your aduersary the King Polidarco in a far more weaker estate and that it may so fall out that you shall â—…ee equall in the field for that hee hath your kingdome by tyrannie and against all reason all those whom hée hath on his side and in his behalfe or at least waies the most part of them in the end will returne against him and be on your side behalfe for that many infinit times it hath beene séene a tiranous King doth finde himselfe alone without company being in the midst of all his subiects yea at such time as he thinketh himself to haue the most company to be in power the most strongest And it may bée worthy King that this your sodaine fall misfortune is the punishment of almightie GOD giuen vnto you for some secret iust cause and being by you acknowledged he hath giuen you to vnderstand therby how what a fraile thing all humane power and strength is at such time as we doe lack his diuine fauour if it be his pleasure he will returne you againe vnto your honour high estate Therfore if God be so pleased you haue no néede to seeke any inconueniences neither to breake your head how and in what manner it shall be brought to passe but to strengthen and comfort your selfe to fortifie your valiaunt courage against all that shall happen This I saye for that it séemeth vnto mée that you shall doe well to leaue trauailing in this Countrie for so much as you doe it in great perill and daunger and profite you very little and retourne vnto Antiochia your owne Country there to talke and conferre one with an other and procure to gather together your friendes and most principallest sâ—…biectes such as you were wont to haue and to trust For that it cannot be but there bee some that do remain aliue who with feare or else thinking y t you are not aliue or perhaps lost dare not discouer themselues and then when you haue gathered together some of your party euery day you shall finde your selfe increased then time will tell you what you shall doe according vnto your disposition strength as y â— time shall serue I for my part do assure you although I haue to goe another way yet for the great sorrow griefe that I receiue for this your misfortune I will goe with you into your Country will not goe forth one step out of your company till such time as I doe see how all thing will passe in this your enterprise and prouing of fortune And in that you doe aske of me my name and what Country man I am Surely I am so desperate doe so much abhorre my owne life that not many daies since by chaunce I met with the greatest friends that I haue in the world who trauailed in my demaund and without making my selfe knowen vnto them I departed left them for that I would not that they should vnderstand that I am aliue but now séeing that you most valiant worthy knight haue declared vnto me and very plainly the whole discourse of your trauaile the secret of your hart estate it now seemeth vnto me that I shall haue no reason to
theÌ„ vpon their tamed Lions and finding the knights with their backes towards them for that their horses did cast themselues about they stroke them with their knottie clubbes two such blowes vpon their fiue and stéelie healmes with so great strength that they made them stoupe forwardes with theyr breasts vpon the saddle bowes béeing somewhat amazed And béefore that they could come well againe to themselues these sauages stroke them other two blowes that brought them out of their remembraunces and therewith they tooke them in their armes from theyr horses and carryed them into the thickest of that forrest and they had not borne them far but they came vnto a verie great fountayne which séemed to bée in the manner of a cesterne and the water was as cleere as Christal but it was of so great depth that it seemed to haue no bottome When they were come thether these wilde men dyd lay the two knights vppon the ground without any remembraunce as they were beefore and alighting from their lyons they made them fast vnto two Trées there by and straight way they béegan to giue terrible and mightie blaringes and shrikes such as might bée heard a great way at which noise in a short time there was gathered together about that Fountaine more then twentie sauages such as they were some riding vpon Wolues and other some vpon other wilde beasts some of them which came nigh vnto the knights whereas they lay dyd labour and trauaile all that euer they could to vnarme them for that they were not expert in the vse of armour they dyd nothing but tumble them vp and downe from the one side to the other and could not finde which way to get of theyr armour And in tumbling of them in this sort the knight of Cupid came vnto himselfe and hée séeing in what state hée was in spight of all those that were vnarming him hée rose vp from the ground whereas hée lay and drew out his fine cutting Swoord which was giuen him by the Quéene â—…ulia and with great fury and inflamed wrath hée stroke the first that hee found next him such a terrible blow vppon the wast that hée cut him in two péeces ouerthrew him dead to the ground and so he serued the second and the third when all the rest of these wilde men saw what had passed they were in a great feare yet for all that they tooke vnto them their great knotted clubbes and all together assaulted him and wheÌ„ they had compassed him round about on euery side they laid vpon him so strongly that the knight of Cupide was put to great trauayle for that with theyr strong heauy blows they all to brused his flesh and bones but seeing that hee had no other thing to deliuer him from that reproch but onely his sword hee so béehaued himselfe therewith béesturring him from the one side to the other that the effusion of blood was so great amongst those sauage people that the cléere and christall water of that fountaine was dyed red with the blood of them and the battaile béetwixt them was very terrile and bloody and if this battaile had endured long this good and valyaunt knight had sound himselfe in great peril and daunger for that there was no humâ—…ne creature able to suffer the mightie blowes which those sauage people did strike with their clubs béeing strok so thick as commonly a smith doth strike vpon his anfield but his valiaunt and stout courage was such and his force and fury that in a small time hee made such destruction amongst them that of more then twentie which were there of them there remained aliue but three who ran away with all the hast they might and put themselues into the thickest of the Forrest and all the rest lay along vpon the ground some their armes cut off and some theyr heads clouen in péeces and some their shoulders clouen to their breasts and other some cut cleane a sunder in the middest that whosoeuer had séene so great â—…estruction amongst such barbaroâ—…s people and furious sauages as they were would certainely béeléeue that there had beene no humane power strength able to haue done it and when this battaile was finished this worthie knight remained so wearie and brused of his body that hee could not stand vpon his feete and beeing very drie hée went vnto the Fountaine and pulled of his helme and whereas the water was most cléerest troubled with the blood the same for to drincke and drinking thereof hée had not well staunched his great thirst when hée fâ—…ldowne vnto the ground without any feeling or remembrance And at the same time that hée was drincking the good King Sacridoro was come to himselfe and when hée saw that great slaughter that was vppon the ground and the knight of Cupid a foote a drinking he remained as one amazed and béeside himselfe and could neyther arise vp nor speake one word séeing that which séemed vnto him to bée a thing the most straungest and wonderfull that euer was seene or could bée imagined at that time that the knight of Cupide did fall downe to the ground in a sound at the same instant there came forth of the profound depth of that Fountaine a Monster of the Sea very great and of bodie verie horrible and wonderfull to béehould who had the face of a maide with hir haire hanging downe halfe hir bodie so soone as shée was out of the fountaine shée went vnto the knight of Cupide who lay along vpon the ground and tooke him in hir armes and returned vnto the fountaine and dyued downe to the bottome thereof with the Knight in such sort that they could not bee seene neither was ther any signe of them When this good king Sacridoro saw his very friend so conuaied into the water and carried away by that Monster whether as bee could not imagine to the contrarie but euen to bee made hir foode I cannot héere declare the great griefe and anguish that hee felt in his hart in such sort that if hiâ—… death at that present had béene presented vnto him it could not haue grieued him more and all times when hée dyd remember the losse of his friend the most worthiest Prince in his opinion that was in all the world and againe the great remedie that hée had conceiued in his hart to haue recoueâ—…ed by his aide and help hée could not by any mâ—…anes suffer so great sorrow but fel downe vnto the ground as one that were gaspâ—…ng for life tumbling himself vpon the earth giuing very grieuous sighes and grones lamenting much his misfortune with words of great sorâ—…ow and lamentation in this sort be passed away all the rest of the day which remained and likewise the whole night following till the second day was come in the which happened as shall bée tolde you in this next chapter following How the three Princes Bargandell Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo came vnto the fountaine whereas
the king Sacridoro was lamenting the death of his great friend the knight of Cupide and how they were aduertised by him who hee was and of all that happened therein Chap. 20. YOu do well remember how that we left the thrée Princes Bargandel Lyriamandro the Tartarian Zoylo in the kingdome of Lusitania in the demaund of the Knight of Cupide Now the Historie sayth that the thrée princes had béetwixt them a great controuersie which of the two should bée most valiantest and of higher bountie eyther the Knight of Cupide or theyr very friend Rosicleer and were very desirous to heare some newes as wel of the one as of the other with this great desire they did trauayle till they came to the same Port whereas the knight of Cupid had imbarked himselfe whereas they heard newes of him of very many the which had seene him and therewith they put themselues in a good ship committed themselues vnto God and sayling by the sea they were taken with the same storme and torment that wee spake of in the Chapter béefore And whether it was by the great wisdome of Artemidoro or by fortune I know not but theyr Ship dyd aruie in the Kingdome of Phenicia in the same Port wheras the knight of Cupide did disimbarke himselfe and this was the next day following after that they had entered in and of the merchaunts that were there they vnderstoode newes of the Knight of Cupide and how that the day before hée was departed into the Countrie and hauing these newes they straight way departed and followed him and dyd aske of euery one that they met for him So they were certified by certaiine shepheards as there were very many on the skirts of those mountaines how that hee and the king Sacridoro did take their way towards the wildernesse When the thrée Princes had fully certified themselues therof with great ioy they followed him so long that in the ende they came nigh vnto the fountaine of the sauage people and before they came vnto the fountaine they found the Horse of the King Sacridoro and of the Knight of Cupide which ran about the fields drawing after them their saddles and bridles and when they saw them and knew the one of them to bée the horse of the knight of Cupide they were greatly troubled in their minds and knew not what to say but looked one vpon another and seemed that it could not be well with their masters sèeing their Horsses runne in such sort about the field and for that they were all of a meruailous strong and stout courage they did offer theyr liues into what so euer perill or daunger should happen Thus they went round about from one part to another séeking these two Knights and in the ende they trauailed so much that they came vnto the great and faire fountaine whereas they saw the wonderfull slaughter of the sauage people which lay alongst the ground and found the King Sacridoro stretched vpon the earth as one that had neither reason nor vnderstanding but béeside himselfe with the great sorrow wéeping and grieuous lamentation which hée passed that night past and all the day béefore and when they saw him in this case and likewise the great slaughter made vppon that wilde and furious sort of people they receiued great admiration and thought verily that the king Sacridoro had béene dead and iudged that hée and the Knight of Cupide had done the same and for to certifie themselues the â—…etter they all thrée alighted from their Horsses and came â—…nto the King and pulled off his helme and therewith they â—…ooke water out of the Fountayne and threw it vpon his â—…ce and for that hee had receiued no other harme but drounesse with watching and wéeping hée quickly came vnto â—…mselfe and when hée saw those Knights beefore him hee â—…gan a new both to sigh and wéepe verie piteously shedâ—…any teares and hée saide O sir knights wherefore haue you done vnto mée so much harme as to cause mée to come agayne vnto my remembraunce you should haue suffered mée to dye that I might not haue felt any more such euill fortune let mée pray you malte an ende of this sorrowfull lyfe for that there is no other thing that can comfort mée Oh Trebatio Emperour of Grecia who shall beare vnto thee this heauie newes of thy sonne the knight of Cupide Who dare come before thy presence to giue thee to vnderstand of this grieuous and delorous misfortune These and other many such words said this good King Sacridoro lamenting the death of his great friend When these three Princes vnderstood that hée was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio whose great fame came vnto their eares very much amezed and sore troubled they dyd béeholde one an other and knew not what to say vnto that which they had heard spoken And being very desirous to know to what ende it was spoken they came vnto the King Sacridoro and dyd comfort him in the best wise they could and desired him to tell them what was béecome of the knight of Cupide for that of long time they had trauailed in his demaund So when the King saw the thrée Princes which as well in their armour as in their disposition séemed vnto him to bée knights of great estimation With many teares and great sighes hee tolde vnto them all that which had happened vnto him and vnto the knight of Cupid with the sauage people and in what sort the monster dyd carrie away the knight of Cupide into the deapth of that Fountaine Also hee tolde them that this knight was called by his other name Rosicleer and was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio and of the Empresse Briana When the princes vnderstood that the knight of Cupid was Rosicleer their very friend eyther of them receiued so great sorrow and heauinesse as though hée had béene dead béefore them And hauing no power to suffer so dolorous newes euerie one oâ—… them threw himselfe vpon the ground and without speaking any word eyther of them dyd wéepe and bée waile thâ—… death of their friend very grieuouslie When the king Sacridoro vnderstood that those thrée Knights were friends vnto the Knight of Cupide hée receiued a new sorrow and griefe in his heart to sée them lament sorrow for his death and with this great rage and mortall anguish hée went vnto the Fountaine and standing vpon his feete hee dyd beehold the profound deepenesse of the water thrée times hée was ready to throw himselfe therin and many times hee retired back againe but in the ende the wise Artemidoro saith that hée said these words Oh worthy and valyant knight of Cupide séeing that my cruell destinie will not permit that in lyfe time I cannot enioye thy company and friendshippe my death shall now follow â—…hine and one Sepulcher shal possesse both thy bones and mine And in saying these words hée slipped forwardes with his féete into the fountaine all armed as hée was and with the great
vnto you to be a new world and this wise man was my father who for my better sauegard and honour did carry me vnto the courtof the king Polidarco wheras I continued certaine yéeres in the company of the quéene hir daughter Oriselua And béeing there the prince Don Lusindo fell in loue with mée insomuch that in the end of many daies he did so importune me that hée plighted mée his faith and troth to take mée for his wife and I hauing my confidence therein hée did obtaine of mée all that his pleasure was and although this was kept secret many daies yet in the ende it came to bée discouered for that my father was very old and knowing that his time was come that hée should die hée did procure to marry mée and giue mee vnto a husband according vnto my estate and honour And béeing very importunate with mée therein I was constrained of necessitie to declare vnto him y t I was made sure vnto the Prince Lusindo and how that hée was my spouse and husband And at such time as the king my father went vnto the prince for to know of him the truth he denyed it and sayd that there neuer passed beetwixt vs any such promise And all that euer my Father could was not sufficient to make him confesse the truth And hée séeing the great disloyalty of him determined before hée did die to bée reuenged of that iniury and likewise of me in such sort that in time ther might be some remedy so by his great knowledge he brought the prince hether vnto his habitation and put him into a quadran full of fire wheras he is continually burning and without ceasing he crieth out giueth terrible shrikes cannot come foorth of that quadran And when he was put therin he said that by no maÌ„ner of wise he could be cleere of that great torment and peine till such time as a knight who by his bounty prowesse should come vnto the fountaine of the sauage people and drinck of the water and drinking therof he shuld discouer the entry into this habitatioÌ„ as you haue discouered the same And how y t this knight by the great loialty of his loue should supply the great disloialty of the prince how hée should take him forth of that quadran wheras he is by y e force and strength of his armes first getting the victorie by battaile and how that after hée is deliuered from that place he should receiue aâ—…d take me to bee his spouse tell the truth of all that had passed This béeing ordained and done my father died and héere I doo remaine all alone very sad and sorrowfull for his death and with great griefe and compassion of the prince for that ther cannot be a more grieuous thing in the world theÌ„ to heare him shrike and lament And although the king his Father did know of a certaintie that the wise man his brother did bring him hether vnto this habitation to bée reuenged on him yet for all that hée could neuer finde the entrie into it although hée hath procured by all meanes y t euer was possible So that the king and the quéene his mother and all the rest of the kingdome doo liue in great sorrow and heauinesse for the losse of the prince for this habitation hath an other entry by a Caue which in all the world doth beare y e fame â—…ut the entrie thereof is so perilous and dark that there is â—…o humane knight dare enter it and there is none but I aâ—…one that doth know of this entry into the valley And séeing â—…hat you most ventrous knight is hée by whom my Father saide should bée concluded and finished this aduenture Therefore I pray and desire you to take compassion of this Prince and of mee who doo likewise in my hart féele euery way his paine and griefe and goe set him at libertie that possessing the same hée may goe and comfort his Parents giuing them the ioy and pleasure that in his recouering againe they might receiue And heere with the Gentlewoman made an ende of hir tale And the knight of Cupide remained and maruailed at that which he had heard And hauing a great desire to set at libertie the Prince Lusindo hée requested the damsell to shew him wher hée was hée would doo all that in him did lye for to set him at libertie And when hee had sayd these words the damsell did take him by the hand lead him through that floorishing gréene Ualley till they came vnto certaine high mighty Rocks wherewith all that valley was compassed about And there was cut out of one rock a paire of staires wher at this damosell and the knight of Cupide went vp till such time as they came vnto a dore where into they entred and came into very many great and faire roomes at the beauty wherof the knight of Cupid greatly maruailed for that béesides they were all cut out of the hard stone they séemed to bée the straungest kinde of work that euer hee saw in his lyfe And straight way when hée béeganne to enter in thereat they might héere the Prince Don Lusindo complaine with great and terrible shricke So they went forwards till they came vnto the Quadran of Fyer the doore whereof was open whereat hée saw the bright flames of Fyer of which the whole quadran was full which was a thing of great wonder And hée saw in the midst of the Quadran the prince all armed with his Sword in his hand sitting in a Chayre and could not mooue neither to the one part nor to the other and it was very pittifull to sée his demeanor And when they came thether the damosell sayd vnto the knight of Cupide worthy knight if you be amorous and haue not committed anâ—… disloyaltie against your friend you may without all leâ—… or feare enter into this fire which you sée béefore you and bring out the Prince from the place whereas hee is and the fire shall by no means hurt you but if you bée no loyall nor firme louer the fire will burne you as it doth the prince and you shall haue no power to goe forwardes with this enterprise for that the prince is a valiant knight and will make his defence very strongly for a good while The knight of Cupide when hee heard hir say these words had little care to make hir aunswere but without any more tarrying hee went in at the doore of the Quadran and went forwards till hee came whereas the Prince was and the fire did not hurt him any thing at all who as soone as hée saw him arose from the Chayre whereas hée sat and with his sword in his hand went to strike him and charged him with great and mighty blowes but hee who had no other desire nor determination but to procure his bringing out of that place drew not out his Swoord against him but with his mightie great and strong armes hée tooke
him by the wast and in spite of his hart hée lift him vp from the ground and carried him through the Quadran till hée came vnto the doore whereas the fayre Damsell did tarry for them and when hée had brought him thether the Prince beegan to make great resistance in his defence as one that were beeside himselfe and ignoraunt of the good that should come vnto him The knight of Cupide séeing that the Prince did set all his strength against him hée likewise inforced his strength and ouerthrew him downe to the ground out at the doore wheras straight way the Prince did finde himselfe at libertie â—…f that terrible fire and paine hée suffered And béefore hée â—…ould arise vp the knight of Cupide did pull off his Healme â—…nd said vnto him You are but dead Prince Don Lusindo 〈◊〉 you doo not acknowledge this Damsell to bée your wyfe â—…nd when the Prince saw the Damsell and dyd know hir â—…ée receiued great delyght to sée hir there and sayd Of a â—…uth gentle Knight for this thinge which you doo aske of â—…ée there is no néede to certifie mée with the feare of death 〈◊〉 that I haue very much repented mée of the great disloialtie I haue vsed towards hir and there is nothing that I desire more then to take hir vnto my spouse and wyfe as surely shée already is In saying these words the knight of Cupid did a part himselfe from him and gaue the prince his hand helping him to arise from the grouÌ„d And being on foot hée did imbrace the fayre Pinarda with great loue for so the damsel was called And the prince returning vnto the knight of Cupid hée gaue him harty thanks for that which hée had done for him and requested him to giue him to vnderstand of whom hée had receiued so great a benefit and hée tould him that hée was called the knight of Cupide and how that he was of the kingdome of Hungarie And when the Prince saw that he made no more declaration of himselfe he would not be importunate with him for that he perceiued wel how hée was vnwilling to bée knowen and for that it grew to be very late the faire Pinarda did request them to take theyr rest that night in that habitation whereas they were both of them very well serued and ther grew béetwixt theÌ„ great friendship So the next day they all thrée together descended out of that habitation by y e same staires wherby the knight of Cupide did goe vp and descending downe into the gréene valley they saw comming towards them a knight of bigge stature and very well armed whereat they were all much amazed but straight waies when they drew nigher hée was knowen to be that valiant and worthy king Sacridoro who as it hath béene tould you did throw himselfe into the depth of the fountaine whereas hée found himselfe in that gréene and flourishing medow and hée went to séeke out the knight of Cupide greatly amazed at that which hée saw for that it séemed hée was in a new world And wheÌ„ the knight of Cupide knew him with the greatest pleasure and delight iâ—… all the world hée went towards him and there they did imâ—… brace one another as though they had not seene one anotheâ—… a long time and there they declared the one vnto the otheâ—… what had happened vnto eyther of them And straight waâ—… the knight of Cupide made knowen vnto the Prince Lusindo his friend the king Sacridoro and gaue him to vnderstand that by his occasion and for his cause hée came vnto that fâ—…taine of the Sauages and that hée ought to thank him for his libertie The Prince who had knowen him béefore and knew of the great loue that hée bare to his sister Oriselua with great ioy and pleasure hée dyd imbrace him and promised him that he wold doo so much with his father that they should bée friends and giue him the Princesse for his wife with the which the King Sacridoro was so ioyfull that he was as one beside himselfe with the great pleasure which hée receiued and gaue thanks vnto God for that benefit shewed vnto him in méeting with that good knight of Cupid who was the occasion of his remedie So after that béetwixt them there had passed very much talke they determined to goe vnto the court of the king Polidarco and they departed from that place hauing in their company the faire Pinardo went through the famous caue of Phenicia wher of hath béen spoken so much there they did vnderstand the occasion of that terrible fearefull noyse which continually was there heard for the which there was none that durst giue the enterprise to goe into the caue and was by reason of the valley which the knight of Cupid found himselfe in at such time as he was taken into the fountaine of the Sauaâ—…es was so déepe and compassed about with such high and â—…ightie rocks so that neuer any man could enter in neither â—…ould they climbe vp vnto the top of those mountaines nor â—…ome to the knowledge of any such valley that was in that â—…ace amongst those rocks and vnder those rocks and mouÌ„â—…ines there was a caue that passed through which was veâ—… obscure and darke and also narrow by reason whereof â—…gether with other open parts in the same Rock the ayre â—…d enter in passing through from the one side vnto the â—…her and the noise was so great that it made in the same â—…ue and by cliffes thereof that it was very timeâ—…s and fearefull to béehould in such sort that there â—…s none durst enter in there at wherevppon it was â—…led the terrible Caue of Phenicia So the Knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro and the prince Don Lusindo with the princesse Pinarda went foorth of the caue and all foure together went vnto the court of the king Polidarco Who when hée vnderstood of the comming of the Prince Don Lusindo his sonne the great ioy and pleasure which hée and the Quéene did receiue cannot bée expressed and the honour which was done vnto them for the time that they remained there In which time the king Sacridoro was made sure vnto the princesse Oriselua for whose sake he had passed great misfortunes and troubles And the prince don Lusindo was married vnto the faire Pinarda at which marriage ther was made great feasts and triumphs in all the kingdome And héere the Historie doth leaue them till time doo serue How the three Princes Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo went vnto Constantinople whereas they gaue vnderstanding of the death of Rosicleer FUL of sorrow and heauinesse departed the princes Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Taâ—…tarian Zoylo out of the kingdome of Feniciâ—… for y e losse of their great and especiall frienâ—… Rosicleer as those who certainely béeléeuâ—… that hée was dead And without receiuiâ—… any comfort or consolation they trauayled many daies 〈◊〉 Sea till in the ende they ariued in the Empire of Grecia whereas
better will did offer vnto him friendship And although at time he did refuse his company yet time did come afterward that it was very necessary profitable vnto him as hée reafter shall bee tolde you in this History And for that the king Sacridoro did know the great desire the Knight of Cupid had to depart talking on a time with the king Polidarco and the Quéene his wife hée gaue them to vnderstand how that the Knight of Cupid was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio and of the Empresse Briana and how that hee would depart toward Grecia to make himselfe knowen vnto his Father for which cause hée could not but beare him company for the great obligation in which he was bound vnto him and did desire them that they would thinke well thereof And although his departure grieued them very much yet seeing the great reson that he had they answered that he might doe as he thought best for that it séemed vnto them he had great reason therein they much meruailed that the Knight of Cupid should be so high and mightie a Prince At length when they had taken their leaue of them and of the Prince Don Lusindo who was also very sorrowfull for their departure they went out of the citie trauailed vnto the sea coast wher they did imbarke themselues toke the way towards Grecia wherâ—… that happened vnto them which shall be told you in this Chapter following Of a verie fierce and perillous battaile which the Knight of Cupid had with a famous giant in the Grecian Empire Chap. 31. THe sorrow griefe was very much which was in the whole empire of Grecia by reason of the newes touching the death of Rosicleer for the Emperour did commaund that for the space of one moneth all mirth pastimes which were made in the great citie of Constantinople whereas were so many excellent knights that it was a strange thing to behold Which knights not hauing any thing to doe some departed into their owne countries other some went out of the court to séeke their aduentures in the Empire till such time as the month was passed In the end of which the Knight of the Chariot should returne to defend the beautie of the faire princesse Lindabrides so that at that time the citie of Constantinople was left voide and all the land of the Empire full of Knights as well strangers as naturalls amongst whom there did not lacke to bee euerie day great contentions It fell out in this time that ther came into Grecia a mightie great famous giant called Mandroco who was Lord of Achia which was an Iland ioyning vnto the grecian empire of so great force strength that he was inuinsible of long time the whole countrie of Grecia did not like well of him for that he greatly harmed them as well by land by sea and as this mightie Giaunt heard the report of the high déedes of chiâ—…alrie done by the Knight of the Chariot in the great citie of Constantinople and likewise of the great safe conduct granted by the Emperour with the great desire he had to proue himselfe with him and to make manifest his mightie force and strength in that Court he passed into Grecia and came thether two daies after the demaund of the Knight of the Chariot and béeing determined to remaine there till the moneth was accomplished hee trauailed in the Empire and with what knight so euer hée met hée should not depart but first proue himselfe with him and oâ—… all such as he did ouerthrow to the ground he would take their Horsses from theÌ„ and wheÌ„ hée had ioyned a great number together hée would send them into his Iland So hée béehaued himselfe that in space of twelue daies hée had euer throwen more then two hundâ—…ed Knights and all their Horses were his and for that they did finde themselues agreeued many of those Knights did make theyr complaint vnto the Emperour of their misvsing who receiued so great sorrow and griefe that hée him selfe would haue gone in person to haue proued himselfe against him if the Empresse had not hindred him And againe calling to remembrance the safe conduct that hée had graunted vnto all Knights hée woâ—…ld not send any people against him for that hee would not break his promise So that hee receiued great griefe for that which euery day was tolde him of that gyant And his great name and fame was spread throughout all that Countrie in such sort that many Knight did procure to apart himselfe out of that way wheras hée went and vnto all Knights his name was terrible and they said that in all the world there was not a Gyant so mighty and strong And trauayling in this sort it so fell out that in the same time there came into the Countrie of Grecia the Knight of Cupide and the good King Sacridoro and straight waies there was giuen them to vnderstand of the high déedes of the Knight of the Chariot and how that hée remained in Constantinople till such time as the month was accomplished for to returne and defend the beautie of the fayre Princesse Lindabrides Likewise they heard the great complaints which was made of the mighty Gyaâ—…nt Mandroco The Knight of Cupide hauing great desire to méete with him did direct his way toward that way wheras it was tould him that hée went And it fell out one day that as hée and y e king Sacridoro did passe through a mighty and great vsed way they saw the giant comming the same way with more then thirty of his owne knights which bare him company and he was of so high and big stature that he did appeare aboue all the rest from the brest vpwards and when these two Knights came nigh vnto them the Gyaunt dyd béehould them and liking well both of the Knights and theyr Horsses 〈◊〉 straight waies sayd that they should prepare themselues vnto the iust with him one to one or both together which their pleasure was and best liked them Then the Knight of Cupid who had a great desire to proue himself with the giant requested the King Sacridoro that he would let him haue the first battell To whom he answered that hée should doo his pleasure although hée would haue béen very glad first to haue proued his owne fortune so y e Knight of Cupid without answering any word went and put himself in one part of the high way And when the Gyaunt saw him so big and well made it liked him well and laughed vnto himselfe béecause hée would iust alone with him and might profit himselfe with his companion The gyaunt had vnder him a very fayre and mighty Horse called Rondarte that next vnto the Horse Cornerino was the best in all the world and for that hee was so mighty and strong hée trauailed on him for if hée had not beene such a one ther were no horse that were able to sustaine and suffer him for that hee was
so big and againe the great waight of his armour which was more and béeing on Horseback hée had a mightie great big speare in his hand of so great waight that a Knight had inough to doo to lift it froÌ„ the ground therwith he put himselfe right against the knight of Cupid in the presence of many Knights y t were gathered together to sée what should passe béetwixt them So both of tham did broch theyr horses with their spurs with so great fury that it séemed the ground wold sincke wheras theyr horsses ran So they met together and made theyr encounter which was with so great strength that their mightie great and bigge speares dyd flie into the aire all in shéeuers and the Gyant lost his saddle and had a great fall vnto the ground but the Knight of Cupid kept his course forwards on somwhat astonied with the force of that incounter which made all the Knights of the gyant those which were ther gathered together to sée that contention and all those which had séene the worthie knight of y e Chariot said that without all doubt it was hée and that hée had gone abroad with other armor béecause hée would not bée knowen to proue himselfe with the Gyant for that in his gentle disposition and great force strength in his incounter hée did resemble him very much So when this mightie Gyaunt saw himselfe ouerthrowen to the ground hée knew not whether it was a dreame or truth which hée saw hée was so amazed and séemed that it was not possible that hée should bée ouerthrowen and his enimie remaine in his saddle whom hée saw returning back againe on Horsback and when hee came vnto him hée sayd It is great right and reason Gyant that thou possessest the same order and condition that thou diddest ordaine for them with whom thou hast iusted which is that hée who so euer is ouer throwen to the ground to loose his Horse and to bée his oâ—… whom he receiued the incounter that did ouerthrow him Then the Gyant did looke vpon him with a very fierce and furious countenance that it séemed ther flew out of his eyes great lightning and sparckles of fire and â—…ayde Héere I doo giue and yéelde vnto thée my Horse for that â—…hou â—…ast won him but I wil so handle thée that liuing thou â—…hal not inoy him although all the gods doo come downe froÌ„â—…eauen to aide help thée And in saying these words hée aâ—…ose from the ground and drew out a very great and heauy â—…auchon that he had at his side went towards the knight â—…f Cupide with it in his hands who would not abide him â—…n Horsback but with great lightnesse hée leapt foorthwith 〈◊〉 his Horse-backe and drew out his sine cutting â—…woord which hée had wonne béefore of Candramarte that was of the Quéene Iulia and went forth with the same in his hand to receiue the Gyant and as they met to strike both to gether at one time the Knight of Cupid did stay his sword in the aire and tarrteâ—… till such time as the Gyaunt had discharged first his blow and at such time as his great Fauchon did descend hée leaped on the one side with great lightnesse that his blow could not fasten vppon him and beeing downe hee entered into him with a stout and couragious stomacke and giue him such an ouerthwart blow vpon the thigh that hee cut both armour and flesh vnto the hard bone out of the which wound there issued great abundance of blood The Gyant did complaine very much of this wound and beegan with a great noise to cry out against the heauens and with great ire and courage hée turned againe and uâ—…t vp his curting fauchon and beecause hée would not misse his blow hée stroke the Knight of Cupid ouerthwart his wast with so great fury that if his armour had not béen made by the great wisdome of Artemidoro hée had cut and parted him in two peeces And therewith hée made him to flie on the one side more then six paces and thought verily that all his bones had béene broken and béefore that hée could settle himselfe for to returne against him to giue him his paâ—…ment this great and mighty Gyant was vpon him and lift vp his mighty fauchon and would haue stroke him a right downe blow but this valâ—…ant and good Knight seeing himselfe in so great extremity with soueraigne courage and with a valiant hart strength hee let loose the sword out of his hand and before that the Gyant could execute his blow for that hee had his armes all a high hee entered in with him and embraced him with his strong armâ—…s abouâ—… his wast that hee made him to loose the force of his blow and with so great strength hée charged him vpon that thigâ—… which was wounded that sore against his will hee ouerâ—… threw him to the ground who fell in such order that it sée med a great wall had fallen downe The Gyant when hâ—… saw himselfe vnder foote hee did force himselfe all that eueâ—… hee could for to â—…se vp againe and thrust with his strong armes at the knight of Cupid for to get him froÌ„ ouer him but he did vse so great policie that hée did recouer his sword againe which dyd hang by the wrist band and putting the point therof to his visor of his helme hée thrust it in therat in such sort that hée thrust it through and through his head so that ther was slaine that great and famous Giant Mandroco with so great wonder vnto them which dyd sée him slaine as though he had béene an immortal man for that no humane strength had béen sufficient to haue slaine him And when his knights did sée him lying a long vpon the ground and dead beeing very desirious to reuenge the death of their Lord they all together did assault the worthy knight of Cupid did compasse him round about for to kill him So wheÌ„ the valiant king Sacridoro saw his very friend in that great extremity he stroke his horse with his spurs and put himself amâ—…gst the thickest of them and the knight of Cupid began to strike vpon his enimies in such sort that euery blow that hée â—…oke was with so great fury that either hée slew one or ouerthrew one to the ground And the king Sacridoro did hâ—…lp him with so great strength that more then six he ouerthrew dead to y e earth at which time the knights that were there gathered together for to sée the battell when they saw the giant dead and the high bounty of the two knights more then twenty of them returned in their behalfe so that in a little time after that they came to help them the knights of the Gyant were all slaine and all those receiued great contentment and pleasure at the death of the Gyant for that they were all amazed had great feare of him And séeing the high mighty prowesse of
the knight that slew him they were all very desirous to know him and so some of theÌ„ dyd â—…oyne themselues together and did desire him to tell theÌ„ his â—…ame for that they were desirous to know what hée was â—…hat had done so great benefit and good vnto all that Countrie Then hée surrendred vnto them great thankes for the â—…reat ayde and succour hée had receiued at their hands and â—…uld vnto them that hée was called the Knight of Cupid and that he could not at that time giue them any farther to vnderstand 〈◊〉 that those Knights did cease from troubling him any farther but alwaies had in â—…elofie that hée should be the Knight of the Chariot for that in all things he did resemble him very much So when that the knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro departed from that place certaine of the knights which were ther considering the great contentment and pleasâ—…e that the Emperour and all his court would receiue for the death of that Giant Euen dead as he was they tooke him laid him ouerthwart vpon a horse in the saddle but by reason of his great length his head and féet did traile vpon y e ground and in that sort they carried him vnto Constantinople hauing great ioy pleasure and no lesse wonder vnto all theÌ„ that did sée him And wheÌ„ they came vnto Constantinople they made representation of him vnto the Emperour declared vnto him all the manner how and in want order the Knight of Cupide had staine him how was not a little amazed séemed vnto him that the Knight which had done that acte could not bée but of great excéeding valour for that the giant was of great strength and force and that there was not one of so great name fame amongst all the Ilands of the Terreno sea So the Emperour had great desire to sée know him for that by the signes tokens which hée vnderstood of him it gaue him in his minde that hée should bée the Knight of the Sun Whom hée had a great desire to see very much marueled that hée came not thether according vnto his promise So in this sort the fame of the knight of Cupid began to be knowen throughout all y e whole Empire of Greece And after that the Gyant was slayne the Knight of Cupid neither the king Sacridoro wold not enter into Constantinople till such time as the Knight of the Chariot did returne to defend the beauty of the Princesse Lindabrides but trauailed in that Countrie certaine daies in the which they dyd many déedes of great Chiualrie whereby their fame did increase in such sort that there was no other communication but of them likewise there was great contencion growne amongst many which of the two Knights hée of Cupid or he of the Chariot should be the best proporcioned and strongest Knight and all in generall had great desire to sée them both together in battaile the one against the other And did béeléeue very certainely that they two were the best Knights that were in all the world How the Knight of the Chariot returned to defend the beautie of the Princesse Lindabrides in the mightie Citie of Constantinople whereas happened very strange things Chap. 31. AT such tyme as was accomplished the Mooneth that the Emperour had commanded the triumphs and feasts to cease for the death of his Son Rosicleer Straight way y e great citie of Constantinople began againe to be furnished w t al sorts of worthy vaâ—…aliant knights as well strangers of their natiue countrie who had trauailed throughout that countrie to passe away the time of the Emperours commandement So for to prooue the aduentures with the knight of the Chariot and other some to sée his mighty Knighthood So y e first day that the knight of y e Chariot entred into y e place hée ouerthrew more theÌ„ twenty knights such as were very famous came from far countries for to proue themselues with him The Emperour and y e Empresse were in the windowes of theyr great â—…allaice with so sad and sorrowfull semblant y t it did well appeare in them y e great griefe which they receiued for the â—…eath of their sonne And béeing in this Iust there entred â—…nto the place thrée worthy Knights of a strong and big proportion and armed with very rich armour wrought and â—…rauen with great cost The which were straight wayes â—…nowen by the Knight of the Chariot in the deuice which â—…ey brought And were ioyfull of their comming for that â—…ese thrée knights were the two valiant princes Brandizel Clauerindo his friend Florinaldos who were come in the demaund of the knight of the Sun And when they heard the great report and fame of the knight of the Chariot they came thether to prooue themselues with him and so they entered into the great place and Florinaldus was the first that put himselfe against the knight of the Chariot And at such time as hée should make his encounter the knight dyd lift vp the point of his speare because hee would not strike Florinaldus but yet Florinaldus made his encouÌ„ter w t so great strength y t he shéeuered his speare al to péeces either of them passed the one by the other without any moouing So then they returned to make the second encounter and looke as the knight of the Chariot did the first encouÌ„ter so hée did now likewise againe because he would not hurt him which was the occasion that Florinaldus did plainely vnderstand that his aduersary would not encounter against him and ther with he did a part himselfe from y e place of iust meruailing very much at the great curtesie which y e knight of the Chariot did vse with him So straight way entered into the iust that stout and valiant Brandizel but to conclude it happened with him as with the prince Clauerindo as it happened with Florinaldus so that they were constrained to withdraw themselues all thrée halfe abashed for the little profit that did procéed oâ—… their encounters and no lesse meruailed at the great curtesie wich the knight of the Chariot did vse with them for thâ—… which they conceiued within themselues that hée should bâ—… their great friend the knight of the Sunne for that in his deâ—… meanour in all points hée did resemble him very much and againe that setting him a part that there was not in al thâ—… world a knight of so great power and strength At that timâ—… that the great place was al couered with people and armeâ—… knights on the one side thereof they saw enter in a mightâ—… knight of his body and mounted vpon a very faire greaâ—… Horse and was armed with so precious and rich armour that amongst all the knights there was not the like excepâ—… the armour of the Knight of the Chariot hée brought wiâ—… him thrée Damsells all mounted vpon their palfrayes aâ—… brought with them certaine fardels Likewise a very foule ill
began somwhat to suspect the new amorous passions of hir Knight So being very sad heauy no lesse meruailing at al that which had happened she arose vp from the chaire wheras she sate went into hir chamber threw hir selfe vpon hir bed wheras she lay wéeping a great space and the longer the knight of the Sun did stay his returne the more did hir paine increase through the iealousie which she conceiued ¶ How the Knight of the Sunne returned to defend the beauty of the faire Princesse Lindabrides and what happened beesides Chapter 33. AFter that the Emperour Terbatio and the knight of the Sunne had béetwixt them declared the whole discourse of all that which had happened as well of the one as of the other the Emperour was very desirous that the knight of the Sunne should remaine and lodge within the pallace but the knight of the Sunne aâ—…swered that by no meanes he could doe to the contrary but kéepe company with the princesse Lindabrides till such time as was accomplished the two moneths that he should defend hir beauty at such time as he should take his leaue of them he was in a great confusion of himselfe not knowing which way or how he might returne vnto his demaund without offence vnto his mistres the Princesse Claridiana whom he loued with all his Hart and being in hir presence ther remained in him no memory of the princesse Lindabrides Being in this confusion within himselfe not knowing what to doe the royall princesse Claridiana who was not a little ioyfull to sée him in hir presence spake vnto him said It shall be very requisit worthy knight that you doe returne vnto your demaund for according vnto the iustice y t you haue of the princesse Lindabrides I doe thinke it ended Then the knight of the Sunne who was not a little ioyfull when he heard these words answered saying Soueraigne Lady my demaund is brought to a conclusion for that you haue made an end thereof getting the victory of mee by the strength of your rigorous arme in making me to acknowledge the contrary in béeholding your excellent beautie Then the princes said not for that I haue any vantage of you in prowesse for that vnto all people it is knowen to the contrary and looke how far you doe excéede mée in chiualry so far doth the faire Princesse ezcéed mee in beauty neyther haue I done any thing which should bée the occasion to disturbe you that you goe not forwards with your demaund This will not I doe except you will commaund me sayd the knight of the Sunne And as hee stoode in contention not for to goe without hir lisence the Princesse Claridiana did 〈◊〉 great pleasure therin although to the contrary shée was so high minded that although the worthy knight of the Sunne doth defend the beautie and gentle disposition of the Princesse Lindabrides yet shée receyued no griefe for the same béecause shée knew very well and vnto all other it was manifest the great aduantage that shée had of hir and whatsoeuer affection the worthy Knight of the Sun did beare vnto hir was not sufficient to make hir acknowledge the same And this was the occasion that shée had so great trust in the knight of the Sun And afterwarâ—… it fell so out that this confidence did bring hir almost to the point of death and shée said vnto him Ualiant and worthie Knight I shal receiue great courtesie in that you doo accomplish y t which I haue desired you if it be but onely reioyce my selfe in your high and mighty Knighthood so that you shall doo mée great pleasure to returne vnto your accustomed demand Heer with the Knight of the Sun dyd take his leaue of hir and of the Emperour Empresse and mounting vpon his Horse he went out of the pallace with great desire to speake with the two princes Brandizel Clauerindo who were with Florinaldus adiding his coÌ„ming So wheÌ„ he came into the place hée went straight vnto them lead them into a secret Chamber within the Chariot whereas they made themselues knowen the one vnto the other where they embraced the one the other with great delight as those which loued together like vnto perfect frinds And with y e great desire they had to sée one another they remained a gret while embraced béefore any of them could speake but after that they were somewhat quyeted the two Princes Brandizel and Chaueryndo dyd giue the Knight of the Sunne to vnderstand all that euer they had passed after such time as they were seperated at the sea And the knight of the Sunne did declare y e like vnto them Wherein they passed all that day till night drew on at such time as the knight of the Sun would goe and speake with the Princesse And so hée tooke his leaue of them in saying that hee would returne againe straight waies The two Princes and Florinaldus dyd remaine lodged in one part of the Chariot wheras they were prouided for of all things necessarie for them The Knight of the Sunne who went to speake with the Princesse found hir in hir Chamber sitting in a Chayre where shée slept and leaning hir head vpon hir hand There was two torches of 〈◊〉 burning in hir Chamber at the light wherof shee béeing a sleepe seemed so faire and beautyfull that the Knight of the Sunne seeing hir it was the occasion that his 〈◊〉 louâ—… 〈◊〉 renue againe in such sort that hee had cleane forgot the Princesse Claridiana and so hée stood still a good while and did beehould hir and séemed vnto him that ther was not y e like thing to bée desired in all y e world and béeing in this thought the faire Princesse did awake and when thée â—…aw the Knight béeâ—…ore hir shée was very ioyfull for the same yet for all that with a very sad 〈◊〉 semblaunce shee spake vnto him saying What hath beene the occasion of a thing so straunge vnto mée worthy Knight that you haue not come to see mée all this day My Lady and mistresse said the knight of the Sun the renuing of acquaintance with the Emperour and with other of my friends hath béene the occasion thereof And the Gods doth knâ—…w how I shuld haue receiued much more contentment if I had remained in your presence My presence wold little haue profited you sayd the Princesse for that you tooke so great pleasure and reioyced your selfe in the sight of that fayre Princesse Claridiana The Knight of the Sunne who well vnderstood hir iealous hart very desirous to put it away from hir said The deuine Gods hath not created your great beautie with such aduauntage aboue all the Gentlewomen in the world that the presence of another Gentlewoman should bée sufficient to giue occasion that yours should bée forgotten in especiall of this your Knight who doth thinâ—…k that in the heauens hée should not receiue rest if your presence should fayle him With these
suffer that he who in this world was no lesse estéemed theÌ„ you in the heauens to bée by one Christian béefore so high and mightte Princes knights brought to bée ouercome Wherfore hath it béen sayd that your high and diuine power was very much extended vpon the knight of the Sunne and now by one enimie of your law is come to be destroyed Wherefore dyd you put into him more higher estate and prowesse then euer was in any other Knight now so soone to come vnto reproch and shame Oh how conuenient it is that I die or else to goe whereas I shall neuer more bée seene rather then with so great reproch to come vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio Oh Princesse Claridiana wherefore would you by the rigorous force of your arme that the Knight of the Chariot was knowen to bée the knight of the Sunne that now in so short time the high renowne and fame of his great valiantnesse is lost Oh how much better it had béene for mée to haue béene flame béeing the knight of the Chariot then now béeing knowen to bée the Knight of the Sun to bée ouercome and loose the victorie for that whatsoeuer had chanced vnder this name of the Chariot should not with so great reason haue receiued the reproch Oh how much better and more acceptable had it béene for mée to haue béene some base and towardly Knight and not by so high and mighty déedes by mée done which caused in mee so much pride for to put my minde vpon the most highest damsels in al the world From this day forwards it doth not béehooue mée to come in theyr presence but procure my death or else to goe whereas they shall heere after neuer heare of my name And in saying these words hée receiued so great courage that hée blasphemed against his Gods calling them false diceiuers making an oath to destroye all such Idolls and Temples of theyrs as were in that Countrie And with great fury hée arose out of his bed and went séeking of his armour round about the Chamber with determination for to depart from thence whereas they should neuer heare any newes of him So when hée saw that in all that Quadran hee could not finde his armour for that the Emperour had commanded them to bée layde vp and kept by the light of a Torch that was in another Quadran hée went thether to looke for his armour but at such time as hée would haue entered in therat he heard a Knight which did greatly complaine himselfe which lay in another bed and for to heare his â—…orrowful complaint he stayid himselfe without at the doore This was the Knight of Cupid who béeing come againe â—…nto himselfe with great griefe and sorrow was readie â—…o burst to sée himselfe alone and vnarmed in that place béeléeuing that the knight of the Chariot had ouercome him and the Emperour had commanded him to bee brought thether to bée cured and amongst many other things hée sayde thus Oh heauie and vncomfortable Knight of Cupid what misfortune did mooue thy desire to come and séeke the Court of the Emperour Trebatio for to sée the great meruailes of the Knight of the Chariot for that therin thou hast béene so feeble faint so that it doth not béehooue thee by no meanes to acknowledge thy selfe vnto the one to bee his son neither to goe seeke the other to acknowledge him to bée thy brother How dare I bee so bold as to say that I am son vnto the Emperour Trebatio who is the highest mightiest Emperour in all the world or for to say that I am brother vnto the knight of the Sun hée being the flower of all knighthood in the world and to bée ouercome by another not by him Oh sorrowfull Rosicleer how much doth it profit thée to goe whereas thou maist neuer more bee séene and not to come any more in the company of men seeing at such time as thy fame was most spread in the world fortune hath giuen thee so great a fall Oh Princes and Knights of the world how many of you hath béene by mée ouercome from this day forwards you néede not to speake any more of the Knight of Cupid for that all his honour victorie is transported vnto the Knight of the Chariot Oh Princesse of England my hart is not now so sad as yours may reioyce and bée glad And if you haue forgotten Rosicleer I haue no reason to complayne for you béeing the most precious Damsell in the world you haue no reason to haue in estimation a Knight that so quickly is ouercome and shamed What reuengement can I take now of the Prince Don Siluerio of whom the Princesse Oliuia hoped for to frustrate and make satisfaction of hir errour Where is now all hir confidence seeing that first I am ouercome what hope shall I haue of any victorie Oh valiant and worthie Knight of the Sunne what is béecome of your soueraigne bountie that you hauâ— not met with this knight of the Chariot Certainly I doe beleeue y t it should haue gon otherwise with you theÌ„ with this sorrowfull Knight of Cupid your brother Oh haw from this day forwards may you be without all good hope for to know your royall parents for that ther is none that doth know who they are but I alone It doth accomplish me first to die then for to discouer it so greatly vnto my shame In saying these many other words this sorrowfull knight would haue rysen vp from his bed to haue departed from thence But when the knight of the Sun had well vnderstood all that was said he was the most ioyfullest man in all the world so naked as he was he entred into the quadran with his armes abroad went towards him said Oh my Lord and perfect friend Rosicleer what fortune is this vnto me that without knowing you I haue ben by your rigorous blowes so ill intreated in such sort that without any remembrance I was almost at the point of death Béehold héere your friend the knight of the Sun the same who in the Iland of the false gyant before that I did know you I got the battaile for to succour that faire damsell Behold me héere I am the knight of the Chariot with whom yester day you made the stout perillous battaile who according vnto the entertainment that he had of you it had ben better that you had first knowen him to be the Knight of the Sun so should I not haue receyued so much damage And héere I doe desire you that if you â—…oe know any thing of my progeny to let me vnderstand thereof for behold I am the Knight of the Sun And for that you shall the better beleeue that I doe say behold héere the marke that I haue vpon my body for being borne with the â—…ame I was called by this name of the Sun at which time â—…s I was found at the sea in a small
boat by Florion And in â—…aying these words he did open his shirt at his breast dyd how the signe of the Sun which was vpon his right side So when Rosicleer had well vnderstood what the worthy Knight of the Sunne had sayde and knowing him by his face and by the signe of the Sun on his body He saw before him the present romedy of all his sorow which was such of so great force that neuer in all his life he receiued the like And againe in knowing his brother the knight of the Sun he receiued so great ioy and pleasure and was so glad that as one halfe amazed and from himselfe he imbrased him and so remained a good while without any power to speake not knowing whether it was of a truth that which he had séene or some false vision with the which many times he hath beâ—… deluded But after many amorous and comfortable words of the knight of the Sun he was fully certified and put out of all doubt returned a new to embrace him shedding many salt tears which distilled downe his brest he said as followeth Oh diuine power maiestie of him that the heauens and earth doth gouerne how haue I deserued so great merite that at such time as I was in the greatest fauour of fortune I was vpon a sodaine brought vnto the estate to be ouer throwen downe into the pit And by thée I am reserued comforted haue attained to know him to bee my brother which is the most famous knight in all the world whom I thought to be my great and mortall enemie Oh my Lord and knight of the Sunne acknowledge this knight of Cupid which is the same Rosicleer who you going in the small bark at the Iland of the gyant did deliuer froÌ„ death although I doe not deserue so great a benefit yet I giue you to vnderstand that I am your brother and both borne at one time at one byrth of the high mighty empresse Briana at such time as she was at the Monestary of the Riuer being with childe by our high mighty father the Emperour Trebatio And by a misfortune which happened vnto the nurse who did nourish bring and vs vp for hir owne children you were lost in a small boate which by the furious force of a mighty deepe perillous Riuer and with the swift course therof you were caried into the maine sea and ther was tossed vp downe till such time as you were found by Florion the Prince of Persia. The two pages which was in another quadran hard by to watch them with the noise which the Knight of the Sun did make at such time as he arose out of his bed they did awake heard all that passed betwixt the two Knights who being almost from themselues with the great ioy pleasure they receiued they toke a torch that was light in that quadran without making themselues ready they went running vnto the place wheras the Emperour Trebatio the empresse Briana lay were a sléepe And neuer rested knocking giuing great blowes at the dore till such time as they were answered by the gard that kept them And the pages in great hast willed them to open the dore for that they brought vnto the Emperour the most ioyfullest newes that euer in all his life he receiued The gard who did know the pages by their speach béeing very much amazed therat did open the dore and they without any staying went in with the burning torch in their hands wheras the Emperour the empresse were a sléepe and with a high and loud voice they sayd Oh high mightie Emperour Trebatio and you soueraigne Empresse Briana arise vp from your beads and you shall sée the knight of the sun and the knight of Cupid aliue And by the great prouidence of God they are knowne to be bretheren The one is the gentleman of the Sunne and the other is Rosicleer both your lost sonnes So when the Emperour Trebatio and the Empresse Briana heard that newes of so great ioy and pleasure without any more tarrying they arose out of their beds and couered them selues with certaine mantells which were very rich and in great hast they forthwith went â—…nto the quadran or lodging whereas they left them So when the Empresse came vnto their lodging she did behold â—…he christalline face of Rosicleer who did know the same although she had not séene him of long time againe hée was very much growne in bignesse of his body person But when she was fully certified that to be most true which was told hir without tarrying for the Emperour she ran vnto him did imbrace him with great loue ioy and toke him out of the armes of the knight of the Sun who was in his shirt embraced with him But the great ioy which the Empresse receiued to haue him in hir armes was such that she had no power to speake in a great space But in the end with shedding of great abundance of teares she did reprehend him for being so long away from hir In this time the Emperour came did imbrace the knight of the Sun with so great pleasure that scarcely he could kéepe himselfe vpright Who when he saw the Emperour he kneeled down before him asked of him his hands for to kisse them said It may please your highnesse to giue vnto me your hands as vnto the knight of the Sun your faithfull seruant where with I may wholy intirely reioyce my selfe enioy that great benefit which the high gods this night hath permitted that I should know for father him whom vnto their diuine power doth make equall The knight of the Sun had noâ—… more time for to speak for that the Emperour did embraceâ—… him made him to arise from the ground kissed him with great loue as much for that he was the knight of the Sun as for that hee knew him to bee his childe And in shedding many teares which ranne downe by theiâ—… chéekes for great ioy he embraced him again said Oh 〈◊〉 loyall faithfull friend and louing sonne with what wordâ—… shall I giue thanks vnto my soueraigne Lord god for thâ—… great benefit which he hath shewed vnto me this night tâ—… acknowledge my selfe to be father vnto him who is the flâ—… wer of all knighthood in the world without knowing hiâ—… to be sonne is the onely person that I most loued anâ—… made accompt of in all the world Surely I know nâ—… what to say but to receiue it for so great a merit that it séemeth vnto me that I doe lack force and strength for to conceiue it In this time the pleasant amorous words which passed betwixt the faire Empresse Briana hir son Rosicleer was with so great ioy pleasure they receiued so great contentment that I know not wherto to compare it but vnto that ioy which the Emperour Trebatio the
Empresse Briana receiued when they met together in the monestarie of the Riuer after long time that the Emperour was absent So with this soueraigne ioy the Empresse did not remember the knight of the Sunne till such time as Rosicleer said May it please your highnesse to speake vnto my brother the Knight of the Sun to acknowledge him for the best son that euer was borne of mother Then the Empresse all astonyed amazed as one awaked out of hir sléepe vpon a sodaine she left Rosicleer went vnto the knight of the Sun who was still in his shirt at the opening of his shirt béefore she did sée the signe of the Sunne that was on his brest wherat she receiued so great ioy pleasure that if the Emperour had not ben who did sustaine hir she had fallen down vnto the ground Then the knight of the Sun did knéele down before hir toke hir hands kissed them very often till such time as she being rauished with ioy threw hir armes about his neck fell downe vpon him and kissing him on that faire face with a terrible sigh of great loue she said Oh Knight of the Sunne the loyall and perfect friend of my Lord the emperour Trebatio how shall I now reioyce my selfe in this great benefit which my Lord God hath shewed vnto mée to haue the knowledge of so worthie a sonne if the feare which I haue of Fortune doe not disturbe me in remembring the solitary life which I lead and reloycing my selfe in your childhood and with what sodayne chaunge Fortune did carrye you away from me Likewise the great sorrow and griefe which I receiued for your loue was such that as yet I am not perfect in my selfe neither can I beléeue that in one who was inuironed with so great sorrow bitter anguish should receiue so great mirth and ioy so that in the remembrance of all troubles past if it should not be reioyced with this present ioy to mitigate the fury therof my feminine force strength were not iufficient to suffer the fury of this great pleasure the which is come vnto me in acknowledging such a valiant worthy knight to be my sonne Oh how now doe I giue great thanks vnto my God for the trauailes troubles which your losse the absence of my Lord the Emperour hath caused vnto me seeing that I am now paied with so high a gift ioyfull reward Saying these many other words the Empresse Briana had the knight of the Sun so fast imbraced in hir armes with hir face ioyning vnto his that hee had no power to make any answere And for that these two bretheren were still in their shirts the pages which were nigh them in the quadran had belonging vnto them two mantels wherwith they did couer themselues the Knight of Cupid with the greatest pleasure that euer he felt in all his life went kneeled down before the Emperour said Let it please your soueraigne highnesse to know mée the Knight of Cupid who hath not receiued small trauaile for your absence for the losse of my brother the Knight of the Sun in séeking of you both in strange Countries very far aparted froÌ„ these countries although it was not in so ample maner as was requisite to the seruice of my Lord the Emperour Trebatio for that at that time we had him rather for an enimie then for a Father but for the accomplishment of that which I was bound vnto my Lady the Empresse And for to know who was the occasion that my Lady the Empresse should lead so straight solitary a life which she maintained in the monestarie of the Riuer which was a thing that touched me very much But now knowing the occasion ground therof I doe not meruaile so much but onely how she could sustain hir self liue one moment without his presence And againe if she had not said that he was called the prince Edward I doe beleeue that she wold not haue ben deceined being innocent she did not mistrust any such deceit So vath no lesse ioy and pleasure then vnto the knight of the Sun the Emperour did imbrace him made him to arise from the ground said Oh my son Rosicleer how it seemeth vnto me that you were not content neither receiued any pleasure at this deceit or pollicy as you doe say I vsed with the Empresse your mother but in consideration of the fruit that I receiued in doing the same I may compare it vnto your loâ—… suffering being quiet delating of the time that I could not receiue the great ioy pleasure that I should in the acknowledging of such a Sun Tell me for Gods loue what hath béene the occasion that you haue refrayned your selfe so long time delated to giue me this soueraigne ioy which now I do receiue if it befor the deceit pollicy which I vsed with the Empresse your mother The fruit which procéeded therof is sufficient to excuse that errour done if it had ben of greater importaunce but what reason haue I to excuse my selfe from the occasion that made me to doe it Then Rosicleer not a little abashed at that which the Emperour had said vnto him answered If the ouer-plus oâ—… the reason which I haue to reioyce mee in the acknowledging of such a father I had to incourage mée to publike my selfe for his sonne Then had your highnesse reason to blame mee in the detayning my selfe so long héerein And because I doe find my selfe not worthy to deserue so great a benefâ—… I did make detraction thereof till this time should supply the great lacke which was in my valour So that your highnesse may of truth vnderstand that all that which happened vnto me by the Knight of the Sunne my brother had beene done by some other Knight First I would haue consented to the death then with so great shame to haue acknowledged my selfe to bée sonne vnto such parents The Emperour would very â—…ayne haue aunswered Rosicleer but that the Empresse and the knight of the Sun came vnto them altogether they did a new embrace each other in such sort that they had no time for to speake the ioy pleasure was so much in the Empresse Briana that shée was almost from hir selfe could not well satisfie hir eies in the beholding of hir sonnes shewed vnto the emperour the signes tokens which they had vpon their brests brought them into the world at their birth So that betwixt them there passed a great discourse of many things which did greatly augment their ioy pleasure of all that had happened vnto theÌ„ that if I should héere make perticuler relation I should neuer make an end therfore to auoide tediousnesse I doe let it passe it is sufficient that the readers heere of doe vnderstand the great reason as well of the parents as of the children for to recoice themselues of this new sodaine
at which time Rodaran séeing that although hée dyd his best in executing his furie that there was no vauntage to bée séene of neither of theyr parts hée was verie much amazed at the great force and strength of his aduersarie and béegan somwhat to acknowledge the great reason that the olde King of Gedrosia had in praysing and extolling the high and mightie déedes of the Knights of Greece moreouer hée sayde vnto himselfe that that knight alone was sufficient for to destroy halfe the armie of the Emperour Alycandro and by reason that his pride was very great and hée himselfe of a valyaunt and stout courage although the victorie should bée very late yet hee supposed that the fury of the Prince Brandizel could not endure long against him and béeing fullie perswaded in his thought he made so great hast in striking of the Prince that hée made him very much to meruaile at his stout and valyant courage béecause it troubled him very much and brought him into that perplexitie that hée was driuen to béesturre himselfe from the one side of the Bridge vnto the other for to cleere himselfe from some of his great blowes which to the contrarie hée should haue receiued and made him to vse more lightnesse then the bigge proportion of his body could well indure and for that their sheelds were all cut and broken in péeces in such sort that there was no defence in them the whole state of the battaile was in the great and mightie force in striking on another executting their blowes with theyr swoords in both theyr hands in such furious sort that the one had great feare of the other their bones and flesh were all brused with the mightie force of their blowes and their bodies so wearied that if it were not for the great valour of theyr hearts and courage and againe the losse of victorie so shamefull and reprobrious ther was neither of them but with a very good will would haue throwen himselfe along vppon the ground to haue taken some rest but by reason that they were so valyaunt Knights and very few in all the whole world that were able to haue any vauntage of them would not shew one a nother the great necessitie in the which they wer brought Rodaran for that hée was in the presence of the quéene who was very sad and heauie in hir semblance and no lesse meruailed to sée the cruell battayle that was béetwéene them Likewise the Prince Brandizel with the remembraunce of the faire princesse Clarinea and of the Emperour Trebatio and all the rest of the knights of his court he thought it better to die ther a thousand deaths then to returne back vnto the court and loose the victory at which thoughts they recouered so great courage gathered so great strength from theyr valiant harts that eyther of them looked as well for death as victorie At which time there had passed more then thrée houres from the béeginning of their battell all which time they neuer rested themselues nor ceased not to oppresse the one the other all that in them was possible Which was the occasion that the mightie and couragious stomacke of that valiaunt Rodaran was not sufficient neyther the presence of the quéene of Carmania but that his great pride did abate which béefore was neuer brought in subiection and of pure necessitie and force by reason of his great wearinesse withdrew himselfe on the one side and with the great griefe thereof hée béegan to speake vnto the prince and said Knight hold thy hands and let vs rest our selues a while for that there doth continue time inough to finish our battell Likewise the Prince Brandizel at that time was brought into so great necessitie of rest that without answering him any word hée did likewise withdraw himselfe leaned vpon the pâ—…mell of his sword for to take some ease and immagined vpon the great strength and courage of Rodaran And it séemed vnto him that in all his life time hée neuer combatted with any knight or giant that euer dyd charge him with so great and terrible blows neither that euer did endure so long battayle with him without taking some rest but onely that most worthie and valyaunt Knight of the Sunne And hée thought verily within himselfe that if the force of Rodaran did long endure it could not bée otherwise but that he should bée ouercome and loose the victory and yet considering what a great shamd and rebuke it would bée vnto him to come béefore the Emperour Trebatio and the rest of his great friends the Knight of the Sunne and the Prince Clauerindo hée did fully determine with himselfe to loose his life fiting on foote and not to bée ouerthrowen from his Horse to the ground and to loose the victorie At this present time likewise Rodaran was leaning vppon his swoord to breath himselfe and called vnto his remembrance the words that the olde king of Gedrosia had sayde vnto him and séemed that they would proue to bee true and did verie much commend his great wisdome and knowledge and dyd reprehend his owne gpeat pride and would with a very good will haue giuen the greatest part of his estate vpon coÌ„dition that he had not put himselfe in this demaund and contention béecause hée found himselfe to bée so wearie and that in so long time they had battaile and combat together there was no vantage to bée iudged on either part hée thought of a certaintie that it could not bée otherwise ibut hée must bée ouercome and loose the victory And as hée was béeholding of the Prince and very much meruailing at his great force and bountie it séemed vnto him that according vnto the mightinesse of his person and the richnesse of his armour that hée should bée some Knight of high estate So after a while that hée had well breathed and refreshed himselfe hée saide Wherefore haue not wée great care ouer our selues and wish that wée had not knowen one another for that according vnto that which hath passed béetwixt vs in this first battell and againe that which wée doo looke for in the second battell cannot bée but that eyther of vs will sooner consent to die then to bée ouer come and loose the victory Therefore I doo desire thée by the vertue of that thing that in all the world thou doost best loue that thou doost tell mée who thou art for that according vnto thy mightie stature and great bountie I cannot béeléeue that thou 〈◊〉 â—…ee a Knight of the Empire of Greece Héere the Prince Brandizel could not by any meanes let but certifie him of his demaund hauing coniured him in that sort and therefore sayde Rodaran béecause thou hast so great desire to know who I am I will giue thée to vnderstand although it dooth grieue mée very much to tell thée Thou shalt vnderstand that I am Brandizel prince and right heire vnto the whole Countrie of Persia and sonne vnto the king Florion and of the Quéene
remembraunce hée lay along vpon the ground without moouing hand or foote but as one that were dead The occasion thereof was for that hée was so big membred and footed withall that the rigorous fall was more perillous vnto him then vnto the king Sacridoro But when the Quéene Carmania saw all that had passed shée arose vp from the place wheras shée sat in companie with all hir Ladies and came whereas these two Knights were on the ground and tooke of Rodarans healme and gaue him aire so that hee came againe to himselfe presently and arose vp on his féete and was greatlie amazed at the great strength of the king Sacridoro went towards him who with very anger was readie to burst to sée himselfe in that great extremitie and could not help himselfe Rodaran pulled of his healme from his head and tooke his swoord from him and made fast a mightie great chaine vnto his legge and put a payre of manacles vpon his hands and so carried him prisoner whereas the other Princes were with so great sorrow and griefe for that which had happened that if it had not béene for the losse of his soule hée would haue slaine himselfe And when the other Princes did know the valyaunt king Sacridoro their sorow and paine dyd double increase And when eyther of them had tolde him all that they had passed with Rodaran hée and all the rest were very sad and heauie for that they did béeléeue of certaintie if God did not put remedie therein it were not possible that there should remaine any good knight but bee brought all to prison So there they remayned all foure together very sorrowfull til their fortune did procure to the contrarie but their sorrow and griefe was not so much to sée themselues so in prison as Rodaran receiued ioy and pleasure for the good fortune that hée had with the King Sacridoro for that according vnto y e great encounter that hée receiued of him hée should haue passed great extremitie if hée had ioyned with him in battaile with theyr swoords so that at this time hée made little account of the rest of the knights which remained because hee had brought into his power these other past who were very valiant and of great prowesse The Page of the King Sacridoro when hée saw his Lord carried to prison and his healme from his head after hee had made that great encounter he would tarrie no longer but with great sorrow returned vnto Constantinople whereas hée gaue the Emperour to vnderstand â—…ud all the Knights that were there present the heauie newes of all that had passed which caused such an admiration in all them that heard it that they knew not what to say but that Rodaran was the most valiauntest and strongest knight that was in all the Pagan land And the sorrow and griefe was so much that the Emperour receiued that hee wold haue armed himselfe and haue gone and prooued himselfe with Rodaran but that his sonne Rosicleer who receiued greatest griefe for the imprisonment of the king Sacridoro and was the fifth to whom the lot dyd fall out to follow the demaund Without any more tarrying hée asked lisence of his Father who committing him vnto God dyd graunt it vnto him saying My welbeeloued and good sonne vse thy selfe in such sort that thou maist reuenge the iniurie done vnto thy friends And in this thing I doo acknowledge the great benefit that God hath done vnto mée in that I doo know thée and thy Brother to bée my sonnes which is the occasion that my court is so greatly honoured with so many valiant knights and now in this time that Rodaran hath put vs into this great extremitie which would haue fallen out very euill if wée should haue lacked you But whereas your highnesse is said Rosicleer we might bée well forborne for if it were so that wée were all prisoners vnto Rodaran wée should receiue great comfort and haue our libertie very certaine if you alone did remaine God deliuer you from this said the Emperour for although ther should be no lack in my good will to receiue death to set you at liberty yet my force strength should want for to supplie the lack of such knights And therwith Rosicleer dyd humble himselfe vnto the Emperour and departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging for to arme himselfe leauing the Emperour and all the rest very ioyfull bée leeuing of a certaintie that for his great bountie mightie power ther was not a Knight in all the world setting a part his brother the inuinsible Knight of the Sunne that might bée compared vnto him In the which they were not deceiued although it happened not so well vnto Rosicleer in the 〈◊〉 which he had with Rodaran as they thought as in the chapter following shall bée declared vnto you Of the strong and well foughten battaile that the valiand Rosicleer had with that stout Pagan Rodaran and of all that happened vnto them therein Chapter 42. THE valyaunt and well estéemed Rosicleer departed out of the Citie of Constantinople carryeng vpon his sheeld the deuise of Cupid by the which hee was knowen and looked on of all people Likewise the windowes were full of Ladies and Damsels who prayed vnto God for the victorie of theyr Prince as though hee had beene their owne brother who trauailed with so déepe and profound thoughts mixed with sorrow which were vnto him as much care as to sée himselfe with Rodaran in battell and to bring him prisoner vnto the Emperour In this sort did the Prince trauaile towards the Bridge of Iaspe and béeing sore troubled within his thoughts oftentimes hée had lost his way if his page which went with him had not put him in remembrance which was the occasion that hée made the time long before hée came vnto the bridge and for that the remembraunce of Don Siluerio dyd cause vnto him great sorrow and griefe that many times hée sayd vnto himselfe Oh if God were so pleased that in satisfaction of the great trauayle which the Princesse Oliuia hath caused mée to haue that this knight were Don Siluerio hée that I doo now goe to seeke and although the great fauour which hée hath is sufficient to defend him from all the world yet the great reason which I haue to complaine my selfe is sufficient that I dooe execute vpon him this my great anger wrath And in this thing alone the Princesse Oliuia must pardon mée for although I would rather suffer death then in any thing to cause hir to receiue anger yet cannot I let to dooe that and much more to giue hir vnderstanding of the small reason that shée had to forget mée and receiue another And héere I doo protest that if death doth not cut mée off first I will reuenge this my bloody wrath and then perhaps shée will wéepe and lament hir errour And althought this is not sufficient to make satisfaction vnto this my vnhappie Fortune neyther can
out of their wittes not knowing what to say but looking the one vpon the other and séemed vnto them as though it had ben a dreame But when these newes came to the hearing of the Empresse hir sorrowfull greefe was so great that as one dead shée fell down into the lap of the princes Claridiana who sat next vnto hir procured with all hir force to bring hir to hir selfe againe and did comfort hir saying that she had no reason so much to set vnto hyr hart the imprisonment of Rosicleer how that she was fully perswaded that it was a thing impossible except it wer by treason requested hir to pacifie hir selfe for that there remained such knightes behind who very quickly would discouer the secret therof when that this will not serue Rodaran is still in your country out of the which you néed not let them to depart and carry away their prise At which time the knight of the Sun without any more tarrying arose out of the place whereas hée was with so great anger that his faire and white coulour was turned into sanguine and black And asking licence of the emperour he departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging armed himselfe with his strong and bright armour mounting vpon his strange light horse he departed out of Constantinople toke his way towards the bridge of the Iaspe with as great desire to sée himself with Rodaran as to returne wheras he might comfort and reioyce himselfe with the sight of his Ladies without whose sight in such like passions it séemed that it was not possible that he could liue who at this present this History doth leaue for to tell you of other things that passed in the meane time in England ¶ How the Prince Don Siluerio returned and demaunded of the king his daughter the Princesse Oliuia to wife and because she would not marrye with him shee returned with hir knights and of all that chanced therin Chap. 43. YOu haue heard what great sorrow griefe the newes of the death of Rosicleer did cause in the Court of the King Oliuerio likewise how ioyfull the prince Don Siluerio was for that the king had giuen him his word promise that the princesse Oliuia should marrye with him but he did not so much desire it as the princes did hate him For although that the heauy newes of the death of Rosicleer did touch hir very neere yet she repented hir selfe so much for that crueltie which she had vsed vnto him the great loue that the remembrance of him did cause in hir that rather she would consent to death then agree vnto that which the king hir father had requested of hir diuers and sundry times And for that the prince Don Siluerio dyd many times importune the king to performe his promise which was the thing he most desired Who answered him that till such time as he had ended the wars which hée had with the emperour Trebatio hee could not by any meanes conclude with the princes which was the occasion that continually he passed the time in grieuous passions supposing that it was for no other thing but a pollisie to cause the princesse to giue hir father such an answere as should be contrary to his will desire And because the time to giue case and remedy vnto his desire was so long and he not able to endure his sorrow and griefe was such the delay thereof Upon a day at such time as he found the princesse Rodasilua all alone he did verye earnestly desire hir that by all wayes and meanes possible she should learne to know of the Princesse Oliuia the truth of the aunswere which shée made vnto the king hir father at such time as he tolde hir that he would marry hir with him whether it was with good will and determined purpose to accomplish the same at the time appointed or whether she did it to prolong the time being moued by some hatred towards him for that according vnto hir answere he would determine what were best for him to doe Then the princesse Rodasilua who had great desire to vse remedy and to case the sorrowfull passions of hir brother did promise him to doe all that euer in hir power was possible to be done so tooke hir leaue departed from him waited hir time It chanced afterward vpon a day at such time as the princesse Oliuia was alone in hir closet she went knocked at the doore being knowen who she was the doore was opened straight waies she went in found the princesse with hir countenance very heauy sorrowfull and hir eyes swollen with continuall wéeping hir faire chéekes which before were wont to be rudy full was now so leane wan as though she had ben new risin out of some great sicknesse or infirmity And finding hir in this order being moued thereby vnto great compassion she said What is this my lady mistres is it not sufficient the time wherin I serued you for maid of honor the great good will that continully I had in any thing that did appertaine vnto your seruice in the which I was alwaies faithfull true do I not now deserue to know the occasion wherefore and from whence doth procéede that wheras at other times you were wont to be very merry ioyfull giuen to pleasure pastimes now vpon the sodaine to be so sorrowfull sad for that I haue séene your great beauty fairenesse to snrmoūt all other damsels gentlewomen in the world now I doe sée all lost in a mortall hew Tell me the occasion for gods sake wherfore it should grow that I might do my good will and therin shew the great loue that I doe beare vnto you in séeking remedy for the same And héere I do protest that if you will not giue me to vnderstand the occasion héereof that forth with I wil depart from hence vnto mine own country for that I do not determine to serue any more those that so euill doe reward them that doe trauaile in their seruice At which words of the princesse Rodasilua the princesse Oliuia receiued no ioy nor pleasure but rather did the more increase hir paine griefe for that she knew not what to answere vnto such an importunat demaund although after a while that she held hir peace with great desire that she had to turne hir of to send hir away shée said Lady it is very doubtfull and hard to thinke that any person in the world can perseuer in their great pleasure contentment neuer to receiue any sadnesse nor griefes in their liues no for sure it is a thing that onely is receiued for those happy creatures who doe reioyce themselues in the celestiall glory if at this present that I am so sad discontented as you do sée me it is not a thing to be meruailed at for y t it
is no new thing to all vs that doe line in this world euery day to receiue pleasure displeasure And if in all this time I haue not told you the occasion wherfore I am sad it hath not ben for lack of good will for to pleasure you neither lack of knowledge of the good deeds which continually I haue receiued by you but onely the euill which I do féele in mée is such of such quality that I my selfe doe not vnderstand it for to shew it vnto the phisition whereby he might procure some Phisick for to remedy the same But this onely I can say that I do find my selfe very sad for that ther is nothing that can giue me any contentment to reioyce recreat my selfe Likewise I doe féele my selfe mortall for that I doe hate and abhorre to liue so that ther is no Phisicke to bée ministred wheras sicknesse is not knowen And this great heauinesse discontentment doth proceed from my hart and there is none but the heart that can declare from whence the occasion doth proceede This is all that I can aduertise you my ladies princes if this doe not giue you satisfaction you must pardon me for that I am not to giue you any farther intelligence In this hath your highnes shewed me great fauor said Rodasilua in y t you would vouchsafe to declare vnto me the qualitie of this your infirmitie which is one of the strangest diseases that euer I heard of in all my life And being such a sicknesse as you haue told me it cannot be knowen neyther is ther any phisicke to be ministred I promise you I know not what to say therevnto but onely this in my iudgement it is best that you take vnto your selfe a husband hauing now so good opportunitie in that the king your father doth offer vnto you such a mariage as is conuenient for your honour estate And although I am a damsell haue no experience of these matters yet by my selfe I may iudge of another doe suppose that ther is nothing vnder the Sun that is more profitable to giue you pleasure to cause you to haue contentment to put from you this heauinesse which you haue vpon your stomacke séeing that it is a thing certaine that you must doe héereafter as you haue promised giuen your word vnto the king Oliuerio your father in my opinion it were better out of hand to procure the same not to prolong the time but take time whilest time doth serue for that peraduenture the time will come that you would then you cannot for as you haue said ther is no constancy in things of this world euery day you haue a new chaunge the conditions of men doe alter At which words the princes Oliuia dyd well vnderstand that the whole communication of the Princesse Rodasilua did extend in the fauour of Don Siluerio hir brother for the which béeing angry as shee who did hate and abâ—…orre him more then any thing in all the world pretending to put hir out of all doubt and that she should not afterwardes come vnto hir any more with the like enterprise shée aunswered hir agayne and sayde Lady I doe giue you great thankes for this remedy which you haue giuen mée for my great sicknesse and dooe accept very much your good will therein but yet I should thincke much better of you séeing as you doo say that your whole desire is that I might haue remedie for the same that such Phisicke as you doo wish vnto mee might extend wholie to expulse this my great sorrow and griefe and not vnder coulour of pretence to ease and help mée to procure to put remedie in some other fayning to applie it wholie vnto mee Therefore Lady and Princesse Rodasylua héere I doo giue you to vnderstand of a certaintie that there is no remedy of Phisicke that can giue remedy and ease of this my great euill no I say not to one part thereof but onely death which I doo desire to take mée out of this world And now séeing that I haue so plainely declared vnto you that your counsayle giuen mée for my comfort and ease doth little profit and therein no remedie nor help is to bee hoped of I doo most hartelie desire you to speake no more vnto mée thereof from this day forwards for that it is not vnknowen vnto you how yong and tender I am of age and that there is no time lost in mée for to tarrie and when time shall serue I will accomplish and performe all that shall bée reason and whatsoeuer the King my father shall commaund mée And in that you doo say that peraduenture when I would then opportunitie will not serue Lady you doo know well that there bée many Princes in the world and other Lords of great estate and againe that I am a damsell and daughter vnto such a Father that with the help of God I shall not remaine by the walls and lost And héerewith the Princesse Oliuia dyd holde hir peace and arose vp from the place whereas shée was for that Rodasilua should not replie any more in hir béegunne pretence Who hearing and wel vnderstanding all that the Princesse hadde sayde vnto hir with-out any more woords shée departed out of the Closet and went vnto hir owne lodging and presentlie sent for the Prince hir brother and declared vnto him all that shée had passed with the Princesse Oliuia who receiued so great sorrow and griefe that in a good space hée could not speake one word but the Princesse Rodasilua his sister did comfort him saying that hee should bée quyet and haue patience and to dissemble all that possiblie hee could for that shee hoped with the help of God that time would serue that the Princesse Oliuia would bée better perswaded that shee did béeleeue that all hir sorrow griefe was for the death of Rosicleer that béeing once forgotten then would she acknowledge the great benefit which she should obtain in receiuing so noble a Prince for hir husband giue God great thanks for the same So béetwixt theÌ„ there passed much other communication about that matter in the end they tooke their leaue of one another departed but the prince Don Siluerio receied so great sorrow griefe that a great time â—…fter ther neuer entred in him any mirth or pastime but alwaies in great sadnesse languishing with the great suspition that hee had of his loue the Princesse Oliuia till such time as hée béethought himselfe of a pollicie wherby he might remedy himselfe of his great sorrow and griefe beecause opportunitie dyd not serue hee did delay the time till hée did execute it as shall bee tolde you heereafter in this Historie How the Knight of the Sunne went to combat with Rodaran and how by a demand hee left his determined iourney Chapter 44. WIth great desire the Knight of the Sunne trauayled towards the Bridge of Iaspe for
saying that it were better that he should perish then so many noble knights But all was spoken in vaine and nothing would serue for that the knight of the Sun would depart with them in their company leaue of his first owne demaund So strayght way without any longer tarrying in company with y e king quéene they toke their ieurney towards Lidia the king said vnto the quéene that he was the most vertuous knight that euer he saw in all the world how that the great fame that went of him was with â—…ust reason So in this sort thâ—…y trauailed till they came vnto a little castell wher as they determined to â—…ary for that the night was come vpon them and there resting themselues very earely in the morning they arose did prosecute their iourney And they had not â—…rauailed long when that out of the same castell they saw â—…ome forth sixe armed knights who likewise soiourned ther â—…ll that night following them they did ouertake them 〈◊〉 the entry of a great vally when they drew niâ—…h one of â—…he knights said Sir knights you vnderstand that your horse 〈◊〉 armour doth giue great contentment vnto these my comâ—… I for my part doth all onely desire this Lady for 〈◊〉 she seemeth to be very faire to be of high estate therâ—… out of hand it doth accomplish you to leaue them except 〈◊〉 will dye in our hands Then the knight of the Sun who 〈◊〉 the first was with them very méeke sufferable with 〈◊〉 dissimulation he said Sir knight if we doe giue and 〈◊〉 vnto you our armour our horse will you not be â—…ntent to leaue with vs this Lady No of truth sayde the 〈◊〉 for that I â—…ad rather lye and take my ease with hir 〈◊〉 night then to haue all the horse and armour that is in 〈◊〉 the world Then the knight of the Sun who could no longer suffer so great villany nor outrage to passe before the presence of the king finding himselfe very nigh vnto the knight he lift vp his fist stroke him with his armed hand such a blow vpon the helme that he buckled it vnto the skull in such sort that he broke it all to peeces he fell from his horse dead to the ground The rest of the knights his compaâ—…ions when they saw thâ—…t terrible blow they were very much amazed for y t neuer in all their liues they saw the like done and with sâ—… great strength wished that they had not put themselues in that demaund and enterprise But yet 〈◊〉 themselues for that they were many they drew forth their swords and wâ—…nt against him did assauâ—…t him with mighty terrible blowes Yet â—…or all that the knight of the Sun made litle accompt of them would not drâ—…w his swoord but stroke aâ—… other of them such a terrible blow with his armed fist that likewise he ouerthrew him from his horse dead to y e ground said god forbide that I should drawout my swoord to defile it vpon so vile people as these be that without all shame doth demaund our 〈◊〉 armour yet not content buâ—… 〈◊〉 so would haâ—…e thâ—… queene for to defile hir Then the king Liseo who was one of the 〈◊〉 knights in the world being very much amazed at the great bounty strength of thâ—… knight of the Sun could no longer forbeare himselfe but 〈◊〉 his sword drawen in his haâ—…d he assaulted the knights thaâ—… remained And the first that hee mette with all hée cut of 〈◊〉 arme with a trise he stroke at another wounded him 〈◊〉 ry fore ouer threw him from his horse to the ground Anâ—… the knight of the Sun at that time stroke an other with 〈◊〉 armed fiâ—…t that he all to be brused his helme skull oueâ—… threw him dead to the ground so that ther remained of 〈◊〉 sixe but one aliue and seeing himselfe all alone thought no 〈◊〉 to tary but set spurs vnto his horse and ran 〈◊〉 with all the hast he could â—…o that these two valiant knights remayned all 〈◊〉 with great content to see themselues cléere of those discourteous knights as alsâ—… to see the proâ—…e of the great valiantnes of either of them so they returned onwards on their iourney had great pleasure pastime at the demaund of those vncourteous knightes they trauailed till such time as they came vnto the sea coast vnto the paâ—…t wheras they found the ship out of the which the king quéene had disembarked themselues into the which they entred found the winde very prosperous and so great that within thrée daies after their departure they ariued at a port or hauen of Asia wher as they went a land toâ—…e their way towardes Lidia alwaies trauailing in great hast for that they would come to the citie at the time that the king Liseo had appointed and promised vnto the knights but yet for all the hast that euer they could make their time was accomplished ouer and aboue more then ten daies at the end of the which one day in the after noone at such time as night drew on they had sight of their enemies who had thâ—…ir camp still pitched compassed round about the citie And that day they assalted the citie made a meruaileus great skirmish in such sort that they lacked very litle to eâ—…ter into the citie the most part of the knights that made their defence were slaine who did defend the citie with great force and like good and loyall vassalle alwaies determined first to dye the death then for 〈◊〉 vp the citie Although they were all that remained so weake and so feeble that if they had returned to giue a new â—…sault by reason of their great wearinesse wounds they must néedes haue yéelded vnto the death were all very much amazed that the king Liseo was not returned againe according vnto his promisâ—… for that they had him in estimation for one of the best knightes that was in all those parts they feared very much least some ill fortune or misâ—… should haue happened vnto him So when these two Knightes came within the sight of the campe wher their enemies wâ—…re the king Liseo said my very friend and Lord what doe you think is best for vs to do for to enter into the citie that we may giue some comfort vnto those sorrowfull and afflieted knights You doe best know worthy king what is best to be done in this case said the knight of the Sun therfore if it wer possible before y t I doe enter I would very faine know how far the force and strength of these knights doth extend therefore if it please you to take the queene behind you vpon your horse and procure in all that euer you may for to get vnto the gates of the citie cause your Knights to kéepe y e gates open for that
night with much more care then any of the rest How the Knight of the Sunne and the King Lyseo went out into the camp of their enemies of the cruell battaile that thy had with them Chapter 45. THe next day very earlye in the morning the good king Lyseo and the valiant knight of the Sunne after that they had committed themselues to God and broken theyr fastes they armed themselues with theyr strong and rich armour and went out into the great court of the Pallaice whereas were ioyned together before the king all the knights of the citie who did exhort them to be valiant to put their liues in aduenture fighting seeing that the goodnesse of God had brought him back againe in his company so valiant worthy a knight who did offer themselues vnto death in whatsoeuer it pleased the king to command them The king gaue them great thanks for their great loyaltie did animate their couragious harts in the best wise he could saying My good friends and loyall subiects I haue alwaies had before mine eies the great loue which you do beare me now you doe shew it more amply that you haue kept defended this my citie in the time that I haue ben from you in procuring this aid succour God for his infinit goodnesse mercy sake graunt vs victory ouer our enemies that I may haue opportunitie to gratifie you for this your great loyalty trauaile And I haue good hope in my Lord Iesus Christ that it will so fall out onely for that I haue this happy worthy knight in my company whose fame doth sound throughout all the whole world all you together ought to haue him in greater estimacion then if I had brought a meruallous huge mighty army of knights And in saying these words he commanded to number the people that were in the citie they found that ther was to the number of one thousand of very good knights valiant two thousand other that might wel beare armour turning towards the knight of the Sun héâ—… said Ualiant worthy knight my very friend your pleasure is to command what is best to be done for all we will obey you as our principall captaine and defender Then the knight of the Sun humbling himselfe very much said Worthie King I am not come hether into this Country but to serue you with my person therefore I pray you commaund what wée shall doe for I purpose to bée the first that shall obey it and for my part I giue you to vnderstand that forasmuch as all these your knights are very wearyâ—… of the battayles past I my selfe alone this day will goe foorth into the camp and there to procure all that is in my power agaynst your enimies for that principally with the fauour of almightie God I will doo so much that they shall receiue damage and griefe But when the King Lyseo and all his Knights heard those woords they meruayled greatlie at the mightie stomake and courage of the Knight of the Sunne and with great admiration did béeâ—…olde him and it dyd seeme vnto them a thing impossible that in a Knight of so few yéeres should remaine so great force and strength that hée alone should offer to put himselfe into the â—…field against more then twentie thousand Knights and as many more souldiers that were in the camp of the King of Arcadia whereas was amongst them the brauest Knights and Gyants that were in the Pagan Countrie Then the good king Lyseo who could not by any meanes abide to remaine in the Cittie sayde that hée might doo all that his pleasure was to commaund but hée would not in any manner of wise remaine béehinde in the Citie but that hee would also goe out in his companie Then doo what your pleasure is my Lord sayde the knight of the Sunne for hauing you in my companie I will not feare all these our enimies And so contrarie vnto the wills of all the other Knights they prepared for to go forth they two alone together and before the time that the Sunne had mounted to mid day these two valiant worthie warriours béeing armed with theyr strong and rich armour and mounted vpon theyr mightie and furious courses they commaunded the gates of the Citie to bée opened and at such time as the Quéene and all the rest of the Ladies Knights and people were vpon the towâ—…rs and battlements of the Citâ—…ie for to béehoulde all that should passe they went foorth of the Citie and when they â—…ad passed a mightie long broade bridge which was nigh â—…nto the walls vnder the which ranne a great and déepe â—…ater and putting themselues a little out of the way for â—…o view the Camp whereas they remained a while and béeâ—…ors they entered into the armie the knight of the Sunne tooke from his neck a very fayre and rich Bugle and blew it with so great strength that it made all the hearers therof in the campe for to tremble And béeing discouered by theyr enimies the King of Arcadia dyd strayght wayes vnderstand that it should bée the Knight that so troubled them the night past and therewith commaunded that the best of all his Knights should bée armed and that they should goe foorth for to know what was their demaund The first amongst all those Knights that went foorth was Brother vnto the King called Momfriero a valiant Knight and stout of his person and worthie in feates of armes and such a one that in all the Pagan Countrie there was found verie few so gallant and so liuelie in any kinde of exercise and meruailous presumptious who béeing mounted vppon a great and furious courser whet out of the camp and with great threatnings and oaths hée swore that with the first encounter that hee should make with his speare for to bring him prisoner vnto the King When hée came vnto the place whereas the Knight of the Sunne was with great pride and arrogancie hée sayde Tell mée thou simple and captiue Knight what great boldnesse and folly is this of thine that thou béeing but one alone darest for to sound thy horne against so great an armie as this is wheras ther be knights sufficient for to conquer the whole world and héere I dooe sweare vnto thee by the high Gods that béefore it bée long I will giue thée thy reward for this thy great follie béecause thou shalt not aduaunce thy selfe héere after how that before Momfriero thou diddest this or that And in saying those woords hée drew nigh vnto him reseruing that which was requisit for the course of his horse and with his speare in his hand he came against the Knight of the Sunne who wished and desired no other thing and with the force of his horse Cornerino hée made against him and although the course was very long yet with a trice they met together with so great fury that the earth seemed to tremble vnder them they
the Quéene who fell in a deadly sound so remained more then one houre but in the meane time this inuinsible Knight not making any stay at the death of the Gyaunt without departing froÌ„ the king Lyseo did such wonderfull déedes round about him that they durst oot come nigh him to assalt him by a great space but with great sorrow withdrew themselues béecause their liues depended in receiuing but one blow of his hands if hée chaunced to hit them right and although a far off they threw at him Darts Launces and swoords as well at his Horse as at him yet they did him little harme for that his armour was such as the historie hath shewed and his horse was all couered with a very small and light mayle made by such art that ther was no weapon able to cut nor pearce it for so the Prince Meridian had caused it to bee made of whom hée wonne his armour as you haue read which dyd not a little profit in the mightie and immortal deeds of this inuinsible knight for if that his owne armour and the armour of his Horse had not béene of so great force and strength it had not béene possible for him to haue finished and brought to an ende so many perillous battayles and contentions as hee hath done When this good knight saw that his enimies with great feare dyd flye from him and gaue him way hée went vnto the king Lyseo and tooke him in his armes and rubbed and chafed him in such sort that hée came againe vnto himselfe and when hee saw the great perill and daunger wherein hée was brought and the great slaughter which the knight of the Sunne hadde made hée lift vp his hands to heauen and gaue great thanks vnto almightie God and with a very good courage hée ioyned with him and with great and mighty blowes hée béegan to help him with desire to reuenge the great perill in which his enimies had brought him in this sort these two knights put themselues into the thickest of their enimies making sâ— great slaughter that they were iudged rather to bée diuells of hell then mortall knights and there was none that was so bolde that durst withstand them in their way and by reason the night drew on they béeing all bloodie and almost wearie with killing and wounding of theyr enimies they beegan to take theyr way towards the Citie with so great quietnesse as the rauening Lyon after she hath had hir pray doth depart through the feeble and weake heards of cattel but the King of Arcadia when hee saw them depart so quietly and to their contentment by his outwarde shew he séemed to bée so furious full of wrath that not one that was about him durst come in his presence but with many vprobrious woords hée rebuked them saying Oh vile people and of base courage how is it y t you are not ashamed that two alone Knights against so many as are of you hath had so great courage and boldnesse to enter into our camp hath slaine so many of your brethren kinsfolks and friends and to suffer theÌ„ to depart in so quiet sort as they doo as though they had done vs no barme at all Héere I doo make a vow and sweare by the high Gods whom I estéeme but little that to morrow if they returne bether agayne to arme my selfe with mine owne hands to take reuengement of him that all you together cannot doo At that time there was in presence with the King many stout and valiaunt Knights who thought it a great shame and small manhood to bée so many against two alone Knights and therefore they would not arme themselues that day who when they saw the King to bée so angry and wrathfull euery one of them made a solempne oath to take cruell reuengement of those two Knights if the next day they dyd come foorth againe In this time if the sorrow griefe was verie much with them in the Camp the great ioye and contented pleasure of them of the Citie to the contrarie was as great when they saw those two valiant warriours returne together and caused the gates to be opened and went foorth to receiue them and â—ould not satisfie themselues in honouring of them gaue great thancks vnto God in that hee had sent vnto them so valiant a knight for when they saw his great and singular bountie they were all fully perswaded that God had sent him vnto them for to aide succour them in this great necessitie But when they came vnto the Kings pallace I am not héere able to recite the great ioy pleasure wherewith the Quéene receiued them who thought of a certaintie that the king had béene dead but when shée saw him by hir shée knew not what to doo for ioy but with hir owne hands dyd vnarme the King and the Knight of the Sunne and would not consent that any other should help hir and béecause theyr armour was so strong and exceeding good in making defence they had not receiued any one wound that was néedfull of curing So there was brought vnto each of them strayght wayes a new gowne and putting them on they sat downe vnto supper and passed away that night with more contentment ioye then any night béefore since the King of Arcadia came into that Kingdome Whom at this present the historie dooth leaue for to declare vnto you what passed in the Court of the Emperour Trebatio after the knight of the Sunne was departed from the Court. How Rodaran sent vnto the Emperour Trebatio demanding more Knights and who went foorth in the demaund Chapter 46. EIght daies remained Rodaran at the bridge of Iaspe tarrying for some knight that should come from the Court of the Emperour Trebatio for to combat with him in the ende of the which when hée saw that none came hée sent a damsell of the Quéene of Carmanias vnto the Emperour Trebatio giuing him to vnderstand how that all those Knights which were sent by him were prisoners and that hée should send more Knights and if not how that hée was determined to depart into his owne Countrie with those Knights which hée had in his power So the damsell departed with this hir message at such time as the emperor with other princes knights wer in the great hall of the pallas this damsell entrrd in theratand without acknowledging any courtesie she went before the Emperour and said Rodaran king of Arabia my Lord doth send me to giue thée â—…o vnderstand emperour Trebatio how that all those knights which thou didst send vnto him are prisoners doth me wil â—…hee to send other knightes such as may with their great bounty strength set them at liberty if not he is determined to depart into his owne country and to cary them with him prisoners that already he hath will declare in all places that ther were no knights in thy court that durst come forth to combat with him When
with pretence good wil when I haue prisoners the best most estéemed knights of all the court to depart vnto the sea returne againe vnto Tartaria ther to make a present before the emperour of all the prisoners that I shall cary that he man doe with them all that his will pleasure is and according vnto the euill will which he doth beare vnto the christians he will cause them all to die an cruell death so 〈◊〉 as they shall be presented before him Therfore emperour Trebatio looke well vnto tâ—…y selfe for that I doe desire more to cary thee prisoner then to enioy the kingdome of Carmania although it were more greater then the whole Empire of Tartaria God will doo better with vs then thou doost think for said the emperour béeing very angry wrathfull at the euill pretence of Rodaran he went vnto him in such sort beegan to charge him with his strong heauy blowes brusing both his bones and flesh that he was constrained to bestur himselfe more for the defence of the blowes â—…ée receiuid then for to procure to strike any At this time was more then sixe houres past since the beginning of the battaile at which time the worthy emperour with new force strength did double his blowes in such sort did intreat Rodaran that he was without all hope of victory of that battaile which caused him to retire backwards vpon the bridge for to séeke remedy for the sauegard of his life although it was a great griefe vnto 〈◊〉 for to doo it was the occasion that this good emperour was brought subiect vnto the cruell blow of fortune as the others were there he was taken prisoner in the yron net wheras he vnderstood all the treason whereby all the other knights were taken prisoners straight waies they pulled off his helme tooke away his rich precious swoord and bound his hands made fast to his féet a great long chain caryed him wheras the other knights were but when they saw him brought thether he them prisoners either of them receiued so great sorrow griefe that they thought verilye to burst with anger ther were knights amongst them that would gladly haue yeelded themselues vnto death out of haÌ„d vpon condition to be but one houre at liberty but especially the worthy Rosicleer who when he saw the emperour his father prisoner his sorow griefe was so much that he could not speake one word Then Rodaran when he saw that hée had prisoners the most principalâ—…est Knights of all Greece with the counsaile and consent of the Quéene Carmania his wife he put himselfe presently into his ship which was at an anâ—…er in the riuer hard by the bridge of the Iaspe Likewise all the prisoners in verye good order with the Quéene Carmania and all their people they commaunded to hoyse sayle and béeing very glad and ioyfull of theyr noble pray and the winde prosperous in short time they were put into the mayne Sea whereas they shaped theyr course the nighest way they could for to goe vnto the Emperour of Tartaria Rodaran receiued the greatest contentment that euer man could receiue for that he very well knew by experience that the present which hée carried was the most worthiest and valyauntest knights that were in all the woorld Also hee thought that the Emperour of Tartaria and all his nobles would haue him in great reputation for that pollycie which hée vsed heerein Let this now remaine for an example vnto all kings and mightie Lords wherin they may sée the small securitie which they haue in their high estate and how subiect they are vnto mutable Fortune for that at such time as they are exalted all aloft with great pride and presumption they forget God who is the author of all goodnesse and hée once leauing them they are straight waies ouerthrowen and brought into such perils and dangers that none but god alone is sufficient to deliuer them froÌ„ whence doth procéede the myrrour to see how little their own power and strength is when they thincke they are exalted in the most highest estate as it hath happened vnto the good Emperour Trebatio who at such time as hée thought to bée so puissant and strong to conquer the whole world mounted so high that neuer Emperour nor king atchieued the like in a short time he was taken prisoner with his son other valiant Princes onely by one Pagan Whom at this present the Historie doth leaue to declare vnto you what chanced in Constantinople after the Emperour departed How it was knowen in Constantinople the imprisonment of the Emperour and what was done in consideration thereof Chapter 47. AT such time as the squier which was with the Emperour saw his Lord prisoner and the great treason which was vsed to take him without any more tarrieng he returned vnto CoÌ„stantinople as fast as his horse could run and at such time as ther was ioined together in the great hall of the pallace many princes worthy knights he entered in at the doore with a loud voice â—…e said Oâ—… princes knights of Greece what doo you hare so without care or consideration and doo not procure to go and help the Emperor our Lord who by the greatest treason that euer was seene or heard of is taken prisoner by Rodaran At which time all the princes and knights were amazed at the words and there grew a great vproâ—…re amongst them and demanded of him how and in what sort it happened who in breefe did declare it vnto theÌ„ the which was presently published in the great pallace and throughout all the citie And when it came vnto the eares of the Empresse in hir estate wheras she sat she fell in a sound was in the armes of hir Ladies more theÌ„ an hoâ—…re as one that were dead in all the pallace was made such sorow lamentatioâ—… as though the Emperour had beene slayne and with a trise therewere many princes and knights armed and ioyned together a companie of more then two hundreth who departed out of the citie all together as fast as their horses could run and they tooke theyr way towards the Bridge of the Iaspe but all did 〈◊〉 little for that when they came vnto the Bridge they found that Rodaran with hiâ—… rich pray was gone and they could finde no signe which way so that they knew not whether to follow them In this time the great valour of the Princesse Claridiana was not absent for that aseer shée had verie wiselie and curteously comforted the Empresse shée promised hir and gaue hir hir woord neuer to returne any more vnto the Empire of Greece without the Emperour and straight way she was armed with strong and rich 〈◊〉 and mounted vpon a light horse onely accompanied with hir Damsels shée departed out of the Citie and when shee came vnto the bridge of the Iaspe shée found the knights that went out
Arcadia stroke the knight of the Sun so terrible a blow that his eares were tormented with the sound therof lost the sight of his eies remained astonied a good while although it was not so long that the King had space to strike him another but it was in an euill houre for him for when the knight of the Sun came againe vnto himselfe all kindled in wrath with more fury then a thunder-bolt he assaulted the king with both his hands he stroke him so strong a blow vpon his helme that as one that were dead hée ouerthrew him from his horse to the ground voiding great abundaunce of blood out of his eares nose at which time the knight of the Sun had scarce withdrawen himselfe from giuing of that blow when Rodaran came againe vnto himselfe and went against him with both his hands he gaue him such a mighty blow that it was heard a great way off the knight of the Sun to keepe himselfe from falling was constrained to embrace his armes about the horse neck felt by force of that great blow that Rodaran was both strong stout but for so much as at that instaunt all ire and wrath did remaine in him with one alone blow hée pretended to make an end of that battayle for that hee thought the time very long till hée knâ—…w some newes of those prisoners his deere friendes and therewith taking his swoord in both his hands raysing himselfe in his stirroppes changing his white coulour into perfect red like vnto the braue ramping lion that followeth the fearefull Deere euen so went this wrathfull knight against Rodaran stroke him a blow ouerthwart his helme that out of all remembraunce he threw him as dead at his horse feete leauing these two Pagans in such sort that all men iudged they had beene dead with no lesse fury then a whirle wind he put himselfe in the camp amongst his enemies killing wounding all that euer he found in his way so that ther was none that made any resistance against him but they all ranne away before him that he found noâ—…e with whom to fight except he did follow them to ouertake them hee thought himselfe most happiest that was farthest of from him In this sort this valiant knight pressed into the camp went so far that at the last all embrued with blood of them which hée had flaine hee came vnto the Tent of the king of Arcadia wheras he was put in great perplexitie trouble for that there was ioyned together many stout and strong knights who altogether did assault him very strongly but he féeling the great resistance that ther was made against him did double his blowes with mortall fury that his force did appeare to he more at that time then it was in all the day before All this time of the battaile from the beginning that the knight of the Sun went out of the citie vnto that instaunt the royall princesse Claridiana was beholding the same for that this was the contention of the thrée knights that she staied to behold at such time as the history did leaue hir which was the knight of the Sun combatting with Rodaran and the king Then the Princesse drawing more nigher did straight way know him as well by his armour horse as by the mightie singuler disposition of his body the better for to behold his high knighthood shée staâ—…ed stoode still meruailed very much at that which she saw and although she did sée it before hir eies yet she could not beléeue it and said It is not possible that although there were héere those two captaines of the mightie Affrica Scipion with them Hercules the mightie Sampson that all they together were not sufficient to doo that which this alone Knight doth on his enemies Of truth I haue great reason for to loue him as the highest most precious knight in all the world And in saying these wordes seeing that he was compassed round about w t so great a multitude of knights she stroke hir horse with the spurs with so great fury put hir selfe in the midst of the camp neuer staied till such time as she came wheras the knight of the Sun was began to deale such blowes that she made his enimies to run away At which sight the knight of the Sun was put in great admiration could not imagine who that valiant Knight should bee being verie ioyfull of so good aid succour he put himselfe amongst his enemies killing ouerthrowing so many that they all ran away before him as from the death and with great fauour that he had of the princes and the valiantnesse that she vsed he left hir at the doore of the tent alighted from his horse and entred in stroke such mortall blowes at them that he met that he made them all to retire backwardes to put themselues into another roome in the Tent whereas they thought better to defend themselues but the knight of the Sun with terrible furye followed after them and with a few blowes hée slew sixe or seauen of them in presence of the Emperour and all the rest of the prisoners that were with him who were greatly amazed at such a sodaine chaunce not knowing what it should be and very much meruayled beholding the great wonders the which he did in theyr presence but when in beholding they knew him very well by his armour by the mightinesse of his person although hee was all bathed in blood I cannot heere rehearse the great ioy pleasure which they receiued seeing themselues in that great necessitie vpon a sodaine in that time vnâ—…oo ked for so great succour surely they did beléeue that he was 〈◊〉 thether by the power of almightie God And as yet this good Knight had not seene them for that he was occupied in disimbarking himselfe with them that he had before him vpon whom he stroke such mortall blowes that some of them he cut a sunder in the midst and other some he cloue down to y e teeth others to their brests with such mortall destruction that in a smal time ther remained not one of all their enemies aliue in the tent for that the princes Claridiana did worthely defend the entry in wounding killing all those that came nigh vnto hir At this time because the king Liseo had seene all that the knight of the Sun had done how farre hée had put himselfe in amongst his enemies hauing great desire either to be slaine or else to sée an end of his liberty all such as were within the citie able to weare armour went forth to aid the knight of the sun if néede so required they put themselues amongst their euemies defending that none should come giue succour vnto the king who still with Rodaran were in a sound from themselues as they came al forth with desire to
so hardy and bolde for to publish himselfe to bee yours for that it séemeth vnto him not to deserue to inioy so great fauour and renowme and as I am now a Christian and doo béeléeue in the law of the true God whereas I was wont to bée a Gentile then might you bée well assured that in no other God in heauen or on earth would I béeléeue in but onely in you neyther would I recommend my soule and bodie vnto any other and as I am perswaded that in thinking héerein much more in speaking cannot be without great offence vnto God yet if it were before his diuine Maiestie I might make any excuse I would performe this that I say and héere I giue many and infinit thanckes vnto the soueraigne creator that not onelie hath brought me out of that blinde custome and law of the Gentiles and hath giuen mée the law of grace but also hée hath sustained mée vntill this time for to behold your soueraigne beautie that onely therein I may also know his great might power God also made the heauens the earth and the starres and endued them with greatnesse and lyght of great beautie but yet ob diuine clemencie in you alone iâ—… more to bée seene then in all them I will not declare vnto you royall Princesse how that singular beautie and fairenesse haue béene the occasion that my heart dooth receiue sorrow and griefe yet I may say that it is rather glorie then payne for that without it I am not able to liue one moment And héere I doo giue you to vnderstand that I am so much yours that so long as this soule dooth sustaine my body my heart shall not neyther cannot but continually haue you for my Lady and mistresse Therefore soueraigne Princesse I doo most hartely desire you to shew so much fauour vnto the Knight of the Sun as to graunt him lisence to bée yours for that without it hee liuing cannot choose but serue you and for that with my life I will noâ—… offend you if you doo not receiue contentment héerewith I will giue my selfe the death The royall Princesse at these woords receiued neyther anger nor griefe but beeing very pleasant and merrie for that hée had sayd vnto hir with an excellent grace great humilitie shée answered him and saide Knight of the Sunne who for his name which is the name of so high a prince by desert deserueth to be lost and in how much is this name amongst the most estéemed Knights in all the world had in estimation I doo not know by what reason hee should so little esteeme himselfe and so far exalt mee that for to publish himselfe to bee mine hee saith that hee lacketh courage and bouldnesse heere I giue you to vnderstand that I haue in such estimation your mightie déedes and the great worthinesse of your person that for to receiue you to bee my knight I am therewith very well content and with all onely this I doo béeleeue that in all the world there is not a Damsell that is equall vnto my highnesse And farther you shall vnderstand gentle knight that the great fame of your high Knighthoode was the occasion that I came out of Trabisond onely for to sée you therefore my good Lord from this day forwards procure that wée may returne thether with as much speed and in as short time as may bee for that I desire very much that in the Court of the Emperour my Father so high a Prince and so worthie a Knight as you are might bée knowen Then the knight of the Sunne with more contentment then euer hée receiued in all his life knéeled dowen béefore the Princesse and would haue kissed hir handes for the great curtesie shewed vnto him but shée in no wise would consent therevnto but caused him to stand vp and tooke him in hir armes wheras grew beetwéene theÌ„ so great loue that nothing was to seperate them but onely death and although these louing words passed betwéene them seemed that there was no conclusion of any thing yet in their harts there was so strong a knot â—…ade that beefore it should bée vndone it should bée greatly amented So they passed the time in these other resons in the which time theyr Ship dyd nauigate with prosperous windes and the fift day after theyr departure from Lidia they ariued in a port or hauen of Grecia whereas they dyd disimbarke themselues and went a land from whence they had not trauayled far when they met many Knights who went séeking of Rodaran meruaylous sad and heauie for the imprisonment of the Emperour and all the other Princes and knights that were with him who when they knew the Emperour and the rest so fast as theyr horsses could runne they went vnto Constantinople to carrie the newes And as soone as it was knowen throughout the great Cittie there were very few that remained but they went forth to méete theyr good Lord the Emperour and his sons and receiued them with so great ioy and pleasure as though they had béene theyr owne kinsfolkes or children and had béene very long absent from them So they entered into the great pallace whereas of the Empresse they were receiued with that ioy and contentment as in such like absence may bée conceiued and with no small complaining of the Empresse vnto the Emperour for that hée all alone and without giuing hir to vnderstand would goe foorth and put himselfe into so great perill Straight wayes it was knowen throughout the whole Citie all that had passed and the great deceit and treason that Rodaran vsed for to take prisoners all thâ—…se Knights Then the Emperour the more to extoll and make manifest the worthie déedes of the Knight of the Sunne commaunded to bée paynted all that euer had happened from the first time that Rodaran came vnto the Court vntill such time as hée departed after the battayleâ—… in Lidia to bée done in the fore front of the great pallace nigh vnto the aduenture of the Iland of Lindaraza and for that it was done by the hands of excellent workmen and very naturall it did not a little amplifie set foorth the greaâ—… bountie of the knight of the Sunne So in this sort with great ioy and pleasure they remayned a good while in the Court without happening anâ—… thing worth the telling but the knight of the Sun receiued not so great ioy contentment in finding himself in the presence of his ladies as the princesse Lindabrides receiued sorrow griefe to sée the great conuersation which the knight of the Sun had with the princesse Claridiana the great perill which hir presence might cause vnto hir which was the occasion that she receiued no pleasure but was alwaies very sad perisiue caused vnto the Emperour and Empresse great sorrow griefe séeing hir in that case thinking that she receiued some displeasure in his court which greatly discontented hir because she did not as she was wont
shée tolde him how that she was damsell vnto the faire Princesse Oliuia how that she brought him a letter from hir How is this said the king is not the princesse Oliuia as yet married No surely said Fidelia for first she will consent to die a thousand deaths then to forget the great loue which shee doth beare vnto Rosicleer Oh lord haue mercy vpon me said the king how hath Rosicleer ben deceiued for that it was told him that Oliuia was maried which was the occasion that a thousand times he hath ben at y e point of death And in saying these words with the great ioy hée receiued he went vnto Rosicleer wheras he lay toke him by the arme did shake him in such sort that he made him somwhat to come to his remembrance Then the damsell Fidelia went vnto him and said My lord wherfore will you not speake vnto me who with so great trauaile griefe hath wandred through all the world this two yeares in strange countries in seeking of you And being at this time wholly in his remembrance vnderstood what the damsell had said with great anguish of mind and pale couler hee said Ah Fidelia how wouldest thou that I should liue before hir who brought me the sentence of my death How can I liue one moment calling to remembrance the â—…ast houre that thou didst see me when thou didst leaue me more dead then aliue from that time hetherto ther hath not entred one â—…ot of ioy or mirth in my hart And if it had not ben for the great regard which I haue as a christian vnto my soule I could not hetherto haue sustained my selfe but a thousand times I had slaine my self for that I would not liue without the loue of the princesse Oliuia What hart is that so diamant hard strong that séeing and knowing my fortune the pernersenes thereof that would not be moued vnto compassion For that in all the world the sight of the princes Oliuia was demed neither vnto the vnreasonable beasts of the fieldes nor vnto foules of the ayer that flyeth neyther vnto the stars and plannets of the heauens vnto all these were nothing hidden but vnto all thing permitted the sight and presence of Oliuia but all onely that vnfortunate Rosicleer whose life was sustâ—…ined onely with the sight of hir was prohibited a forbidden hir presence Ah my good Fidelia what aduensure hath brought thée into this country tell mee I pray thee giue me to vnderstand something of the princesse Oliuia my Lady mistresse to whom my name is so greatly abhorred Yet for all that it shall be to me great quietnesse to here tell somthing of hir And in saying these words he went vnto the damsell did imbrace hir with some contentment more then he haâ—… before for that he saw before him the faithfullest trustiest secretary of y e princes Oliuia his mistresse of whom he might very perfectly informe himselfe of that which his hart did desire Then Fidelia who could not refraine hir selfe from wéeping when she remembred the cruell letter which she deliuered vnto him in england the great sorrow griefe which he receiued by occasion of the same she tooke foorth a letter out of hir bosom the which she brought with hir deliuered it vnto Rosicleer saying My goodlord take beeâ—…e this letter which is sent you from the princesse Oliuia my mistresse and by it you shall vnderstand what part she hath sustained had of your griefe sorrow and what griefe it hath ben vnto hir your absence as a witnesse of the same I can giue you to vnderstand doo verely beleeue that ther is not a damsell in all the world at this present borne that hath sustayned so heauy sorrowfull a life as she hath done since y t you departed out of england My lord what shall I say vnto you I haue had hir in my armes more then a thousand times for dead without any hope of life And hir sorrow griefe is so much for that she hath done against you y t ther is nothing y t she hath desired so much as for the death Thrée times haue I gone foorth into the world trauailing all about to séeke you and euery time I haue béene foorth halâ—…e a yéere But when I returned vnto the princesse Oliuia without giuing hir any word of you hir sorow griefe care was such that I being moued with great compassion came foorth agayne in your demaund And that with the great perill of my own person and the newes which I heard of your death did giue me occasion for to returne backe againe And vnto the contrary vnderstanding the great sorrow which my Laâ—…ye wold vse with me I was determined rather to die trauayling from one country to another then to return into England but God who knoweth the harts of all creatures hath permitted that this should proceede no farther but hath giueu me so good fortune as to finde you When Fidelia had ended these words the ioy which Rosicleer receiued was such when he heard that swéet newes from his mistres not beléeuing that that which he heard should be true but rather a dreme comming againe vnto himself he went vnto Fidelia said My good friend and welbeloued Fidelia I desire you by him which created all things by the dutie which you owe vnto my lady the princes Oliuia that you doo tell me if this which I haue heard hath ben the principall occasion of your comming or whether you haue spoken it to comfort me in this sorrowfull life which I haue had continually for I cannot beléeue that the princes Oliuia hath receiued any griefe for me hauing bannished me out of the kingdome of England as 〈◊〉 by the cruell words of the letter which she sent me by my faithfull friend if it be now true which you haue told me happy am I more happy is the life in which I haue liued so long in sorow for y t I am now recompenced with so soâ—…er agine a reward it hath ben told me that my mistres the prinâ—…es Oliuia was maried which was the occasion of my greater sorow And how is it possible that all this should be true which you haue told me Then Fidelia answered I haue told you the truth of all my lord in that you say that she is maried it is the thing y t is 〈◊〉 off from hir hart foâ—… although the king hir father would haue married hir vnto the prince of Lusitania did importune hir very much to accept the same yet could he neuer conclude with hir to accept the mariage but first she would rather consent to receiue a thousand deaths theÌ„ to doo it so that to performe all that which doth owe vnto your loue she hath â—…en brought into great extremitie and daunger with hir father The great ioye which Rosicleer receiued hâ—…reat was such that he thought himself to be
transported into another world So taking the letter of his lady mistres he did kisse it many times for that it had ben many times in hir hands did open it wâ—…eras was written as followeth The Letter of the Princesse Oliuia to Rosieleer IF the paine which I receiue in writing were not confirmable to that which thy desert doth deserue then should not I haue any 〈◊〉 to write neither resoâ—… to aske pardon for that which is past but yet ob Rosicleer the great force strength which caused your highnes to make defence was the occasion to make the wound more greater in my hart I did send to bannish thée out of my presence for that I might not perill my selfe with thy continuall presence but in dooing that I did bannish my owne soule from my body whose absence shall continue endure so long as thou art absent from me am so far from reason so void of memory since the time that thou departedst from this court that when I doo consider of my owne life I know not whether I liue or dreme or whether I am a woman or monster for that life is odious vnto me and I doo abhorre all pleasure the company of my damsels is great griefe vnto me when I am alone I am tormented my eares are deafe doo not heare my eies blind cannot see my tongue dumbe and cannot speake except it be to name Rosicleer in such sort are all my sences prisoners vnto thee that in no other thing they doo occupy themselues in but onely in accusing me for the error the which I haue committed against thee my eies say that they are blinde for that they cannot see the goodnesse that they were wont to see my eares deafe for that they cannot heare that continuall praise which they were wont of thy person the telling of thy mighty deeds the victorye of thy perillous battailes the great fame of thy high knighthood and the continuall prayse of thy high and wonderfull attempts My memorie saith that it doth remember that onelie with thy presence all the whole Kingdome of England was glad and ioyfull In the Court of the King my father thou didst exalt such as were good Knights and didst â—…onour them and didst chastice and 〈◊〉 such as were euill and proud Gyants didst thou make humble â—…eeke Likewise Damsels dyd trauayle all alone for that onely in thy name they went in great securitie And the Princesse Oliuia in onely seeing thee was alwaies ioyfull and gallant aboue all the rest And now my vnderstanding dooth tell mee that all is changed topsie turuie and cleane contrarie vnto that it was wont to be all the whole kingdome of England very sad sorrowful the court of the king Oliuerio ouerthrowen for that good knights lacke therin the euill doth increase and such as are proude doth augment and damsels as Orphants doo truâ—…ile with no securitie but dooth mâ—…strust all knights all doth finde lack of they presence all doth weepe and bee wâ—…ste thy departure all dooth curse the houre of thy departure the occasion that mooued therevnto But what shall Oliuia now doo who hath beene the occasion of all this and yet vnto hir hath thy departure béene more greeuous Oâ—… a truth if that with my death I could haue made a meanes for all this with a very good will a thousand times I would haue béen glad to haue receiued it and should haue thought iâ—… the least of all my deadly sorrows But alas what shall I doo if I doo lack death for my remedy thâ—… shal I loose all the hope I haue to sée thee the which if I doo loose I shall thinke my soule far more then lost in this sort I shall not make any recompence for this great errour neither you satisfied for the great hurt and harme receiued so that I take â—…t for the better choyce to liue sustayning my life with this â—…ope for that I doo greatly feare that my life cannot long endure if thy comming bee not with breuity therefore I doo â—…end this Damsell to seeke thee for to desire thee in first parâ—…oning of that which is past that thou wouldest not permit that my soule depart out of this world till such time as my eyes may reioyce themselues with the sight of thée for that onely therewith I shall thinke my selfe happie and for that in all other matters thou mayst giue perfect credit to this my faythfull secretarie and vnderstand all my sorrowfull passions I doo inlarge no farther but remaine prayeng vnto God to keepe defend thy person and to direct thy paths arighi When Rosicleer had read this Letter and knew it to 〈◊〉 hirs what shall I say vnto the great ioy pleasure which hée receiued but that it was equall vnto the great sorrow and griefe which hée suffered for that as one from him selfe hée was reading 〈◊〉 did not contemplate himselfe with those swéet and amorous words of his Lady and mistres and the great loue which shée dyd professe in hir letter and how 〈◊〉 did repent hir selfe of all that was past of all the which hée receiued so great ioy and contentment that all his sences were occupyed therewith in such sort that hée 〈◊〉 him selfe transported into the celestiall glorie so that hée had no tongue for to speake vnto the King Sacridoro neyther féete for to remoue himself out of that place nor eies for to looke vpon Fidelia but onely occupied in recreating himself in that contemplation reading and béeholding that Letter many times In the ende hée remembred himselfe as one that dyd awake out of a dreame and went vnto the King Sacridoro and embraced him sayd Oh my Lord perfect friend I desire you to put me out of all doubt of this doubtfull thing which I haue béefore mée for that you shall vnderstand that looke how much the glorie is which at this present I receiue so much more will the paine and griefe bée vnto mée if it fall out otherwise Therefore tell mée I pray you whether I doo sléepe or am awake or whether it bée true that I doo now sée or whether it bée one of those dreames which I was wont to haue doo not let mée I pray you to liue deceiued for that is â—…ot reason one so vnhappie and voyde of good fortune as I am should recreate and content himselfe with so high a benefit as this is Béehould how I doo dreame that the Princesse Oliuia hath sent mee a Letter by hir secretarie Fidelia and hauing compassion on mee shée would that I should bée hirs and to goe into England for to serue hir and bée at hir commandement and doth write to me such amorous words that there is no humane creature that dooth deserue the same much lesse a man that is so forgotten as I am Béehould héere Fidelia heere is the Letter the hand and seale of my Lady and mistres the Princesse Oliuia Tell mée I
with his mightie furious blowes So these two worthy knights endured in their battayle more then one houre without ceasing or taking any breath but breaking their shields tearing of their shirts â—…f maile that was so fine sustaining the terrible blowes ofâ—…th other by reason of the great goodnes finenesse of theyr armour helmes their furious swoords could not execute any wound yet for all that their flesh bones were all 〈◊〉 and many times they brought each other out of all râ—…membrance seeing that their battaile endured very long without acknowledging any aduantage betwéene them The princesse Lindabrides was very much amazed likewise all the ladies the damsels giants that were with hir 〈◊〉 Oâ—…istedes for an extreame valiant knight that so long did sustaine himselfe against the furie of the knight of the Sun Now was it almost two houres that these two valiaunt knights were in their battaile when that the knight of the Sun with very much shame anger for that the battayle endured so long béefore the princesse and with one alone knight with both his hands he stroke such a blow at Oristedes vpon his fine and inchanted helme that the â—…ound thereof was heard throughout all that valley and forrest and endured a good space and made him to fall forwardes vpon his saddle bow out of all remembrance and his horse carried him along the bridge till he came vnto the Castle gate wheras hee stayed till such time as Oristedes came againe vnto himselfe very much tormented with the force of that mightie blow and all his face béerayed with blood and ranne out at his nose and mouth and when hée saw himselfe in that case with more furie then euer hee was in all his life hee set spurs vnto his horse and made him to run towards he Knight of the Sunne with more fury then his wearinesse would well consent and with his sword in both his hands hee stroke him such a terrible blow vpon his fine inchanted helme in such sort that if his swerd had not somwhat glaunced vpon his shoulder it would haue put him in great perill for that the fury of that blow was such that the knight of the Sun had fallen from his horse to the ground if he had not embraced himselfe about his horse neck and was so greatly amazed at the great force strength oâ—… Oristedes that hee sayd vnto himselfe Oh valyaunt and famous Gréekes such as were ioyned together at the siege of this great Citie of Troy with how great reason aboue all things the which dooth happen in this world ought you to bée honoured and praysed for that you dyd not alone resist the great force of the Sonnes of Priamus but also you dyd destroy and ouerthrow all his generation with all the whole power of the Troyans Oh Achilles that Captayne of Greece with what reason can I name my selfe and say that I dooe procéede of the noble blood froÌ„ whence my father the Emperour dooth descend for that it was not vnto thée so much reproch the blows of that stout warrior the first begotten of Priamus as are vnto me the blows of this knight who doth descend of his linage And of truth I doo say that if of this reproch I doo not reuenge my selfe I doo pretend neuer héerafter to name my selfe for a Breeke And in saying these words the fury which hée had was so great that hee hasted with great spéede towards the valiaunt Oristedes who béeing not very well experienced with such lyke force dyd abide his comming and with both his hands hée stroke him such an ouerthwart blow vpon his strong and inchaunted healme that hée made it to flye of his head and so vnarmed hée fel from his horse to the ground so far out of remembraunce and from himselfe that hée could not arise vp againe till such time as the Knight of the Sunne did alight from his horse and did help him And when that hée had receiued aire hée came againe vnto himselfe and the Knight of the Sun tooke vp his helme and gaue it vnto the knight saying Gentill knight take vnto you armour and doo not loose by their â—…ack that which your great bounty doth assure you Then Oristedes when hée saw the great curtesie of the Knight of the Sun hée threw his sword vnto the ground and sayd My gods will not consent for so much as I doo lacke Fortune for to defend my selfe that I doo let to acknowledge that I am by you ouercome It is sufficient gentill knight that you haue ouercome mee in battell of armes and not now to ouercome mée in courtesie Then the valyant and worthy Knight of the Sunne whâ—… had no good will to combat with him any more béeing very ioyfull hée went vnto him saying Happy art thou gentill knight that your deedes doo giue to vnderstand of your discent from that noble and valiant Knight Hector For as there doth remaine in you force and strength of armes so is ther no lack of vertue in you I am hée that is ouercome and he hath the victory that will not that our battell should procéede any further And in saying these words the two knights did embrace one another And the knight of the Sun at the request of Oristedes did tel him who he was â—… knowing the same at that time he did discemble a maruailous dolour and griefe the which hée receiued at his hart And dyd complaine very much against his gods for that they séemed to bee so fauorable vnto the Greeks against the Troyans So likewise when that hée did know who the Princesse Lindabrides was he went vnto hir making a great reuerence he would haue kissed hir hands for that he did know hir in the court of the Emperour hir father was two yéeres in the same court wheras he did so high feats of knighthood that he was esteemed to bée one of the best knighâ—…s in all his owne countrie and likewise in the gran Tartaria and for that hée was so great a friend vnto the Prince Meridian he did not combat with him about his demaund and if that Oristedes would haue remained and abode in the court of the Emperour Alicandro hee would haue made him a mightie Lord but vnderstanding the death of his father and for to mayntayne that custome hée returned vnto Troy whereas hard by the bridge there was a little Citie to the number of two thousand households and inhabited by the descent of such as remained at the destruction of the great citie of the Troians and likewise vnto such Gieekes whom the countrie did like well Now to returne vnto the purpose then did the Princesse receiue Oristedes with great loue and said Is it true my friend will you thus intreate vs in your owne Countrie wée would not vse you in this sort in Tartaria if we had you there Soueraigne Princesse said Oristedes may it please your highnesse to pardon forgiue mée this
made a very good semblance shewing that all that was done did seeme very well that the king had greaâ—… reason therin did promise vnto him to teâ—…l and persware the princesse in such sort that she would make to remoue hir purpose Then the king gaue the keies of the tower vnto one of his priuy chamber commanded him to go with Fidelia to open the gates of the tower bring Fidelia 〈◊〉 to locke the gates againe and to bring him the keies So Fidelia did take hir leaue of the king went with the knight vnto the tower wheras the gates were opened she being within they were shut againe the keies brought to the king Then Fidelia went vp into the tower vnto the chamber of hir lady mistresse who hauing newes of hir entring into the tower did abide hir comming in so great confusion and sorrow as euer she was in all hir life suspecting the newes to be very euill that Fidelia should bring hir And being in hir chamber all alone faining not to be verie well whereby shee might the better vnderstand of Fidelia the whole effect of hir message Who so soone as she entred into the chamber she kneeled downe béefore hir and did kisse hir hands at which time the princesse had no power to speak vnto hir she was so sodainly taken pinched at hir hart misdoubting hir embassage but after a while comming againe vnto hir selfe as though she had awaked out of a dreame or sound sléepe and seeing in presence an other damsell who at the same instance entred in she said Thou art welcome my Fidelia tell me how thy mother doth who hath ben the occasion of thy so long tarying ther. Ah my good lady said Fidelia my mother hath lien so sicke that a thousand times I thought she would haue died although that I would many times before haue departed to haue come hether yet would she neuer consent therevnto till now that thankes bée vnto God she doth remaine very well I am very glad therof said the Princesse although I haue thought long for your comming And in saying these wordes the other damsell went foorth Fidelia did shut the doore after hir so that the princes Fidelia remained all alone And séeing that she would giue hir newes of hir embassage she was againe so sodainly taken that she had no hart to heare hir but looked so pale as though she had ben dead trembling with all hir body flesh as though she had ben afraide to heare what Fidelia would say Who with a gentle laughter to see the princes in that case shée said If the straunge countries high waies mountaines desolat places in the which I haue trauailed the troubles which I haue suffered and the great perills in the which I haue seene my selfe were manifest vnto you my lady mistresse then doe I will beléeue that you should be satisfied of the great loue good will that your Fidelia hath to serue you How oftentimes in the cruell téeth vnmercifull nailes of furious beasts did I think to be torne all to peeces finding my selfe all alone in the deserts of Siria inhabited Petrea How many times in the high towers and rowling mountaines of sand haue I ben deliuered out of the deserts of Affrica how many tunes hath mine honor put beene to sale I to be lost in so many strange countries in the which I haue passed and fallen into the power of monstrous and strange kind of people of different maners customes I haue found séene my selfe in all these perils daungers God hath brought me out deliuered me from all these tribulations in the end of all when I was past all hope to find out him that I sought at such time as my honour was in the greatest perill to be lost being caried prisoner with my hands bound in the power of the most euillest knight y t euer humaine nature framed so valiant in armes that all the whole empire of Russia did feare tremble at him then did god aide help me by méeting of that happy fortunate Knight he who neuer in the world was borne the like for refuge defence of damsels he who had trauailed wandered throughout all the world accomplishing the banishment that by you was commanded him whose life was as a fantasie vnto his soule with more desire of death then to liue his fortune at this time did bring him whereas without knowing me he slew that euill knight that caried me prisoner with other damsels the which he had taken and after that he had sâ—…aine him comming for to set vs at liberty hée straight waies knew me calling to his remembrance that cruell sentence of yours the which I caried vnto him deliuered after that out of the like perill he had deliuered me his griefe was such in his heart that for the space of two houres we had him for dead at which time if the letter of your succour had not ben presented vnto him I beleeue hée would ther haue ended his daies To conclude he read your letter ther with receiued so great ioy that he séemed to be transported into another world and of truth my lady you may beleeue that according vnto the sorrowfull life which he hath lead and the ouer much troubles which he hath passed for your occasion that now he is as one restored from death to life he is come with me and hath brought with him that worthy king Sacridoro he who many times you haue heard tell did launch himselfe into the fountaine of the Sauages after him so that they are now the greatest friends in the world They are altogether â—…oo remaine in a place foure miles from hence tarrieng to know what your pleasure is to command them The princes was so attentiue vnto that which hir damsell told that when she had made an end of hir tale with the great ioy which she receiued the teares ran down hir faire chéekes felt within hir hart so meruailous pleasure soueraigne contentment that she found hir self cleane changed from that she was wont to be in such sort that she had no tongue to speake vnto Fidelia neither did she remeÌ„ber to make hir answere for that all hir sences were occupied in thinking on Rosicleer not béeléeuing to receiue so great a benefit as to sée him Then Fidelia seing hir in that case to â—…e hir by the hands bringing hir to remembrance she said Lady why doo not you answere mée and giue mee thanks for this security which I haue done for I perceyue that now I haue accomplished and brought to passe all that you so much desired you make no account of me Ab Fidelia said the princes my hart is full of anguish griefe that I cannot comprehend so great a benefit which God doth shew vnto me onely in that I know that Rosicleer is aliue
siâ—…e they were all entered into theyr ship and the Greeke master of the same beeing all in a readynesse brought whom his ankers and hoysed foorth his sayles and beegan to nauigate vppon the calme waters of the Ocean sea for that at that present they found fortune and winde fauourable vnto them there was no glory in all the world that might bée compared vnto this of the perfect louer Rosicleer when hee saw so much at his ease and will and in his power hir for whom hée had passed so great sorrow and griefe Then when the Princesse Oliuia was come agayne vnto hir selfe shée tooke him in hir armes kissed him very often vttering woords of perfect loue although as yet shée was not cleane voyde of the alteration in the which shée was brought yet finding hir selfe in the armes of him whom shée so much loued shée receiued great pleasure contentment and much more to sée hir selfe frée from that great force which the king hir father agaynst all reason and iustice would haue constrained agaynst hir will to marrie with the Prince Don Siluerio and agayne calling to remembraunce what great sorrow and griefe which the absence of Rosicleer dyd cause hir to â—…ustayne shée therewith receiued so great contentment and â—…lorie to sée him in hir presence that shee thought hir â—…elfe to bée new risen from death to lyfe comforting and â—…eioycing hir selfe with the presence of him that shee so long â—…ooked for Then when the king Oliuerio and the Prince Don Silâ—…erio and the other Princes and knights that came with â—…hem when they approched vnto the water side and saw that the ship was departed and perfectly informed how that the knights and the princesse were therin they receiued so great sorrow griefe that the king was at the point of death and the Prince if they had not held him would haue leaped into the sea and for that they could not vnderstand nor know in whose power the Princesse was carried away their payne and griefe was the greater and in great hast they caused a great company of ships to bée made in a readinesse to follow them beeing all in very good order there entered into them many knights as well those of Lusitania as knights of England and being in this preparation ther was a marriner of another ship which came vnto y e king and said Mightie Prince a Damsell which was in the ship that is departed gaue mée this Letter to giue vnto your highnesse if that by fortune you should come hether Then the king béeing very much amazed not knowing who it should bée that left that letter hée tooke it opened it and saw that it was the firme of Fidelia and read the contents as followeth HIgh and mightie king of Englang Fidelia Damsell and seruant vnto the Princesse Oliuia dooth wish vnto thée health that therwith thou maist put away all sorrowfull passions from thy hart and to know how far the power of almightie God doth extend how subiect all Knigs and Princes and mightie Lords ought to bée vnto his ordinances and lawes as well for that they are good and iust as also béecause man hath not power to resist them Thou pretendest to marrie thy one and onely Daughter and heyre vnto all these kimgdomes giuing hir a husband vnto 〈◊〉 shée should bée continually obedient without any respect or consideration of hir good will and loue neyther of hir 〈◊〉 and quietnesse but onely for a desire which you haue to goe and take reuengement for the death of Prince Edward thy Sonne Béehold king Oliuerio that the lawes of God dooth not permit that thou shouldest dooe this force of matrimony which thou hast pretended to doo vnto thy daughter for that the reuengement of all things is reserued for vnto him who hath power for to doo it The soueraigne creator of all things would not permit that thou shouldst be an homicide vnto thine owne daughter as thou hadst ben if this present remedye had not preuented the same for that the princesse Oliuia had ordained to kill hir selfe the same nyght that they should haue ben made sure together but the diuine prouidence did so ordaine prouide that the greeke Prince Rosicleer thy very friend who being wounded with the loue of the princes thy daughter should come set at liberty this great outrage of forcing to take hir out of thy power to cary hir vnto the soueraigne empire of his father whereas with great maiesty conformable vnto hir highnes shall their mariage be celebrated therfore they I doo desire thee for that thy honor the honor of thy daughter shall be by this change greatly augmented that thou wouldst conceiue well 〈◊〉 to haue patience for that it can be no otherwise alwaies obeying as our duty is the diuine prouidence When the king had read this letter well vnderstood the â—…ontents therof he was one way greatly amazed to vnderâ—…tand that Rosicleer was aliue another way his paine and â—…riefe did double in him considering the two great iniuries â—…hat were done vnto him by the father the sonne as one 〈◊〉 himselfe with the great sorrow he receiued he wept 〈◊〉 out with a loud voice saying Oh fortune my great 〈◊〉 how much doo you shew your selues to be my eniâ—…ie that thou art not content that the emperour Trebasio 〈◊〉 my welbeloued son the Prince Edward but that now 〈◊〉 is come his son hath robbed me of my daughter 〈◊〉 onely heire of these kingdome Oh soueraigne creator â—…herefore dooest thou suffer so great arrogancy in these 〈◊〉 why dost thou not at once destroy them throw 〈◊〉 out of this world as thou threwest Lusifer out of heauen Oh kings princes of the world come ioyne your â—…elues all together in my fauour giue me aide for to take reuengement of two so notable iniuries Behold that the pride of Greece doth eueryday increase in such sort that in time they will be Lords gouernours ouer all the whole world put you all from your mightie kingdomes high estates Likewise the great lamentations that Don Siluerio made when he saw his mariage so changed was such that ther was none that heard him but was moued vnto great compassion In great hast was made in a readinesse twelue great ships diuers other small ships in the which ther was imbarked more then ten thousand knights very well armed and likewise with them did imbarke themselues the prince Don Siluerio with the thrée princes Bargandel Liriamandro the tartarian Zoylo in great hast they made saile that way which Rosicleer went although the thrée princes had another determination contrary vnto Don Siluerios for wheÌ„ they vnrerstood that he who had caried away the Princesse was Rosicleer they were as glad as euer they were in all their liues although they could not perfectly beléeue that hee should be aliue Then they called to remembraÌ„ce all that
â—…uccour lykewyse ranne agaynst him with so great swiftnesse that heauen and earth seemed to tremble so that the lookers on had great feare to beehold him â—…arrying to see the successe of that rigorous encounter the which was such and with so great force and strength that theyr speares although they were very big were sheeuered all to péeces without any moouing either of them in theyr saddles till such time as they came to méete together with theyr bodyes and horses Then the good Horse Cornerino with his sharpe and hard horne broched the Elâ—…phaunt in the middest of the breast in such sort that wounding hâ—…m very sâ—…re hee ouerthrew him dead to the ground with his master Bramadan vpon him who gaue such a blow vppon the earth with his fall that it séemed a mightie Tower to haue fallen hée made so great noyse Likewise the Knight of the Sunne with his Horse béeing tormented with the mightie encounter of Bradaman and his Elephaunt almost astonied they came both to the ground yet with a tryse this couragious knight rose vp vpon his feete with his swoord deawen in his hand and his shéeld on his arme hée went agaynst Bradaman who greatly amazed at that stronge encounter was vpon his feete with a great bat of yron in both his hands at the ende whereof was hanged by strong chaines of pron foure great peliets of the same mettall the which hée â—…long about his head flourishing with such â—…urie to see himselfe ouerthrowen at the first encounter by one alone Knight that hée wished all the whole place to bee fuâ—…l of Knights and agaynst him that hee might the better execute his fury and comming nigh vnto the Knight of the Sunne with great fury and forcâ—… hee let driâ—…e at him so terrible a blow that the bigge pellets on his bat whirled in the ayre and made so great a noyse that there was none in all the place but onely in seeing of him so fierce and outragious but were meruailously afraide But this mighty and valiant knight seeing so terrible and mortall a blow comming vpon him with great discretion made shew as though hee would abide the fury thereof but yet at such time as hée would discharge the same by reason that the Graunt was â—…rry hâ—…gh and the bloâ—… stroke ouerthwart hee with great 〈◊〉 stâ—…oped downe to the ground in such sort that the blow went ouer him without touching him any thing at all And with the great fury of the bat and the pellets it made the Gyant to turne twise about with all his body In the meane time this valiaunt knight did strike him such a blow vpon his leg that what with the great strength wherewith it was stroken and the finenesse of his swoord it cut his armour and the flesh vnto the hard bone whereat issued very much blood that the earth was all to bée sprinkled therewith But when that Bradaman felt himselfe wounded and saw his aduersarie béefore â—…im with so great courage his wrath anger and mortall courage was such that hée might bée compared vnto one of the infernall furies for that ther came foorth at his visor so much smoake and sparkles of fyer as though it had beene full of gunne pouder and Brimstone And with so great brauenesse that he put great feare in all them that dyd béehould him with both his hands hée béegan to throw that great and heauie bat about his head with so great force and swiftnesse that it séemed to make a round cerkle and the waighty pellets of yron that hung thereat made a whirling noyse in the ayre And so with this dreadfull semblance he went agaynst the knight of the Sun béeing very certayne and sure that if any of those pellets should fasten vpon him that it would breake him all to péeces But hée who in the lyke extremities his hart neuer fayleâ—… him séeing that it dyd accomplish him to 〈◊〉 from his aduersarie or else to abide that daungerous blow from the which it was not possible to escape the death if any of those pellets did chance to hit him At such time as hée came nigh him that the pellets had passed once about whiâ—…ling hard by his vâ—…sar of his helmr béefore that hee could come about againe with great lightnesse hee put himselfe within the force of the blow and â—…oyned with the Gyant in such sort that when hee came about with his swelling blow agayne the pellets missed their purpose but with the hand end of the club hée stroke the Knight of the Sun with so great strength that hée thought verely that all his armour and bones had béene broke a sunder in the midst and by reson of the greaâ—… strength and swiftnesse wherewith the pellets flew about was the occasion that the bat flew out of the Giants hands and â—…ell a great way from him on the ground The which when the good Knight saw beeing very glad hée cleered himselfe from him and said I promise thee from this time forwards thou shalt not profit thy selfe any more of this thy dreadfull weapon against mee Then the Gyaunt who made no reckoning thereof drew out a great broade fauchon the which hée had hanging at his â—…ide and saide knight doo not incourage the selfe any more for this that if all the heauens and 〈◊〉 were ioyned together in thy faâ—…our yet should they not be sufficient for to deliuer thy life out of my hands And in saying these words hée went vnto the Knight of the Sunne for to strike him a blow vppon his head the which was done so quickly that the Knight had no leasure for to cléere himselfe but warding it with his swoord and shéelde in the best wise hée could and chauncing vnder his swoord hée â—…loue his shéeld a sunder in the middest and the force of the blow descended downe vpon his Healme with so great strength that it made him to stoup with his knées hands downe to the ground and if his healme had not béene wonâ—…erfull good at that same blow hée had clouen him downe vnto the girdle yet for all this that valyaunt knight faynted nothing at all but with great lightnesse hée arose vp aâ—…ayne and by reason that the Gyaunt was of great height hée could not procure to wound him froÌ„ the wast vpwards â—…herefore hée tooke his Swoord in both his hands and stroke â—…im such an ouerthwart blow vpon the left leg that hée cut 〈◊〉 harneys and flesh to the hard bone and made a greaâ—… wound then the other béefore whereout there issued veâ—… much blood whereat Bradaman recouered so great outâ—…agious fury that hée wished that all the great place were â—…ll of knights to contend against him wheron he might the 〈◊〉 execute his blow for that the Knight of the Sunne â—…ith his great lightnesse and force dyd cleere himselfe from 〈◊〉 in such sort that it was a great meruayle for him to 〈◊〉 one sure blow vpon him which was the occasion that the
bed he passed away that night as shall be tolde you in the first Chapter of the next booke Thus endeth the second part of the first booke of the Mirrour of Knighthood THE TABLE OF all that happened vnto the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana in their way vnto the Grecian Empire Chapter 1. Folio 1. How the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana ariued in the Empire of Grecia Chap 2. fol. 7 How the departure of the Emperour Trebatio the princes Briana was knowen in the court of kiâ—g Tiberio what passed about the same Chap. 3 fol. 8. How the knight of Cupid did take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa entred into the kingdome of Russia where hee found a strange aduenture Chap. 4. fol. 13. How the knight of Cupid entered into the dreadfull caue of Artidon and of all that happened ther. Chap 5. fol. 18. How the two Princes Brandizel and Clauerindo departed from the kingdome of Polonia came into the kingdome of France and of all the rest that happened chap 6. fol. 26 How the two Princes Brandizel and Clauerindo beeing in the Citie of Parris there came thether Branbafuriel with whom the Prince Clauerindo had a very strong and furious battaile Chap 7. fol. 28. How the knight of the Sun escaped out of prison where hee was and perforce departed from the Court of the king Tiberio Chap. 8. fol. 31. Of all that passed in the court of the king Tiberio after the knight of the Sun was departed and how the bretheren of the Duke of Pannonia and Aridon of the wildernes did determine to reuenge themselues of the king Tiberio for that he would not pardon their deaths chap. 9. fol 34. How the knight of the Sun came vnto a Castle whereas hee did deliuer a Gentlewoman recouered two Pages whom hee carried with him Chap. 10. fol 42. Of the great triumphes which were made in Constantinople for the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and how the death of the Prince Edward was bruted in great Brittâ—ine and of all that happened Chap 11. fol. 45. How the three Princes Bargandel Liriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo who went in the demaund of Rosicleer came into the kingdome of Lusitania and of all that happened vnto them there Chap. 12. fol 47 How the three Princes Bargaâ—…del Lyriamandro and the 〈◊〉 Zoylo issued fooâ—…th with such people as were in the Citie vnto the Camp of their enâ—…mies and of the mightie deedes of armes that they did there Chap. 13. fol 50 How these three Princes went forth the second time into the camp were taken prisoners by their enimies cap. 14. 〈◊〉 52 How the Knight of the Sunne gâ—…eing towards the 〈◊〉 of Grecia should haue beene taken by treason at a bridge and of all that pasâ—…ed therein chap. 15. fol. 54 How Florinaldus would haue taken the Knight of Sunne by treason and how he slew his knights receiued Florinaldus to his 〈◊〉 of all that happened besides cap. 16. â—…o 56 How the Knight of Cupide departed from the Kingdome of Russia and of all that happened vnto him in his iourney Chapter 17. folio 58 How the Knight of Cupid ariued in the Kingdome of Pheâ—…cia whereas he deliuered from death a Knight who afterward was a very great friend of his Chap. 18. fol. 63 Of a straunge aduenture which happened vnto the Knight of Cupid and the King Sacridoro trauayling by the mountaines of Phenica chap. 19. folio 68 How the three Princes Bargandel Liriamaâ—…dro and the Tartarian Zoylo came vnto the fountaine wheras the King Sacridoro was lamenting the death of his great friend the Knight of Cupid and how they were aduertised by him who he was and of all that hapned therein chap. 20. fol. 70 Of a strange aduenture which the Knight of the Sunne found trauavling towards the Grecian Empire chap. â—…1 fol. 72 Of a stout and well foughten battaile beetwixt the Knight of the Sunne and the Prince Meridian and of all that happened afterward chap. 22. fol 78 How the Prince Meridian did leaue the Chariot of the Princessâ—… Lyâ—…dabrides his sister and how hee went with the armour and horse of the Knight of the Sun vnto the 〈◊〉 of the King of Macedonia chap. 23. fol. 83 How the Knight of the Sunne and the Princessee Lindabrides trauayled towards Constantinople and sent messengeâ—… to the Emperour Trebatio to giue him to vnderstand of theyr comming chap. 24. fol. 84 Of the entering of the Knight of the Chariot and the fayre princesse Lindabrides into Constantinople cap. 25 fol. 86 Of a straunge aduenture which happened vnto the Princesse Claridiana beeing a hunting chap. 26. fol. 89 Of that which hapned vnto the sorrowfull Knight of Cupid after he was carried to the fountaine of the sauage people chapter 27. folio 93 How the three Princes Bargandel Liriamando the Tartarian Zoylo went vnto Constantinople whereas they gaue vnderstanding of the death of Rosicleer chap. 28. fol. 96 How Florinaldus came into the kingdome of France wher he was taken prisoner at a bridge and how by two Knights that came thether hee was set at libertie whom he knew to be the knights of the flower de luces which he sought cha 29. fol. 98 How the Knight of Cupid the king Sacridoro departed froÌ„ the kingdome of Penicia for the Empire of Greece ca. 30. f. 99 Of a fierce perrillous battell which the knight of Cupid had wiah a famous Giant in the Grecian Empire cha 31. fo 100. How the knight of the chariot returned to defend the beautie of the Princesse Lindabrides in the mightie citie of Constantinople whereas hapned straunge things chap. 32. fol. 104 How the knight of the Sun returned to defend the beautie of the princes Lindabrides what hapned besides ca. 33. fol. 108 How the knight of the Sun did defend the beutie of y e princesse Lindabrides and how there entred into the iusting place the Knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro chap. 34. fol. 109 Of the wonderfull and cruell battell made betwixt the knight of the Sunue and the Knight of Cupid and of the perillous ende and successe thereof chap 35. fol. 112 How the Knight of the Sunne and the knight of Cupid were come againe vnto themselues and how they were knowen to bee brethren by a meruaylous meanes chap. 36. fol. 119 Of the great feasts and triumphs which were made in the great Citie of Constantinople for the acknowledging of the Princes and of a certaine aduenture which came at that time thether whereat all the Knights of the Court were at the poynt to bee lost Chap. 37. folio 129 Who the valiaunt Rodaran was and the damsell and the occasion wherfore they came vnto the court of the Emperour Trebatio chap. 38. folio 137 How the prince Brandizel went to combat with Rodran and of the strong and rigorous battaile they had cap. 40. fo 148 How the Prince Rodamarte went vnto the bridge of lasp for
it giue anie remidie or ease vnto this great griefe the which I haue for hir cause receiued yet it shall suffice me that another shall not boast himselfe to haue obtained and got that which I haue lost neither any other to reioice himselfe with that which doth cause my sorrow and griefe And although that this shall â—…ée against all reason that Don Siluerio doth dot deserue 〈◊〉 at my hands yet shall it bée comfortable vnto my heart 〈◊〉 that it is so captiue vnto loue it dooth consent vnto no â—…eason Rosicleer in saying these words and other lyke in efâ—…ect after much trauaile hée came vnto the bridge of Iaspe â—…ho straight waies was knowen by Rodaran by the deâ—…se that hée had of Cupid whose great fame and renowne 〈◊〉 that time was spread throughout all Asia more then any Knight therein When hée was armed with his heauie and strong armour hée straight waies mounted vpon one of the biggest and lightest horses that hée had and the Quéene béeing in hir royal seat of estate commanded the gate of the first tower to bée opened wherein this valiant Rosicleer entered without any suspition And when hée drew nigh vnto Rodaran hée dyd salute him and sayde The knight of Cupid and sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio is verie welcome vnto me for that his great fame which flieth throughout all the world of his great and valiant deeds as also the great desire which I haue to prooue his great strength with mine more then the desire that I haue to apprehend the knights of the Emperour hath caused mée for to come hether into these Countries Both the one the other might haue béene excused Rodaran sayde the knight of Cupid for that men beeing in their owne Countries are subiect vnto the blowes of Fortune and haue â—…nough to doo for to cleerâ—… themselues thereof much more to come and seeke the perils and daunger in a straunge Countrie it were much better for thee to haue friends in Greece And if the Quéene oâ—… Carmania doo beare thée so great loue as shée hath published wée would rather procure thy rest and quyetnesse and not thy troubles and trauailes wherein thou doost so much puâ—… thy life in aduenture It had been better excused of thy part saide Rodaran the seeking of the aduenture vnder the water of the Fountaine of Phenicia then my comming hether to séeke the Knights of Grecia but for that both Kinges Princes and Knights are no more but as the world dooth yeeld vnto them honour and promotion for theyr deserued déedes Then it is not much that wée aduenture our liues the more to increase our honours for that according as thou hast saide in all places men are subiect vnto the perills and dangers of this world and vnto the terrible blowes of fortune when shée listeth to strike vs notwithstanding if thou doost pretend to make battayle with mée vpon the occasion which you know choose the aduantage of the bridge to the contentment if not returne back againe from whence thou commest and make no more preaching vnto mée But the answere 〈◊〉 the valiaunt Rosicleer made vnto him was hee turned about his light Horse and put downe the beauer of his helme with his speare in his hand hée went put him selfe at the end of the bridge Rodaran dyd the like beeing both setled they stroke their horsses with so great fury with theyr spurs that they made them run like the winde and in the middest of theyr furious course they made theyr encounter executed the strength of their mightie speares in such sort that glauncing vpon their shéelds they lighted vpon theyr fine harneis and shéeuered all to péeces and the splinters â—…ew a great way into the field yet these two valiant Knights remained as firme in their saddles as though they had made no encounter at all and passed the one by the other without touching and with a trise they returned againe with their Horsses and their swoords in their hands and assaulted one another so stronglie that the first blow that Rodaran stroke at Rosicleer lighted vpon his Healme with so great strength that hée made him decline his head to his breast but the first blow that Rosicleer stroke at him was such a one that the shéeld which hée lift vp for to ward the same was cut in peeces hard by his hand but the fine cutting Swoord of the Queene Iuha not remayning there did descend downe vpon his healme with so great fury and force that hee made him decline his head downe vnto his Horse necke who felt such great griefe with that terrible blow that hée thought verily that all his head had 〈◊〉 in â—…eeces and beâ—…gan to say vnto himselfe Oh high and immortall Gods in whom I and all the Arabians doo béeléeue â—…et héere thy diuine power defend mée from this strong and â—…aliant Knight for if it fall out so that I receiue many such â—…lows as this was it cannot bée otherwise but that needes â—… must héere ende my dayes Oh old King of Gedrosia who â—…ould haue beleeued that I shuld haue found in the Christiâ—… knights so much strength Oh you immortall Gods saue and defende the mightie Emperour of the gran Tartaria that hée come not into this Empire of Greece for to acknowledge prooue the knights of the Emperour Trebatio his Court for that I doo assure you if you come hether that you nor none of yours will returne againe vnto Arabia for that these alone knights are sufficient to destroy you all if that now by my power and force I doo not make resistance and put order for to disturbe them And in saying these words Rodaran with great courage stroke at Rosicleer great mightie blowes who likewise receiued such by the hands of his aduersarie that if it should haue endured long hée must needes haue receiued the worst And hauing great confidence in his mighty strength and in the bignesse of his body determined to assault his aduersarie by proofe thereof and therewith hée threw his Swoord from him and caught Rosicleer in his armes and trauailed with his streÌ„gth all that euer he could for to hoise him out of his saddle or to ouerthrow him to the ground but Rosicleer who was as strong as hée dyd not refuse the wrastling but likewise threw his Swoord from him and caught him béetwixt his strong armes and dyd so stronglie crush him that Rosicleer dyd well perceiue that his determination dyd not fall out as hée thought So in this sort for a good space they trauayled the one to ouerthrow the other but there was no aduauntage perceiued béetwéene them neyther could the one ouerthrow his aduersarie till in the end after gret trauayle they both together dyd force themselues so much clasping theyr knées hard vnto theyr saddle hauing one another in their armes they did so much that both theyr Horsses foundered and fell with theyr masters vnto the ground and being downe for to arise
to séeke the Emperour very sorrowfull and without all comfort béecause they knew not which way to go seeke Rodaran some of them embarked themselues to the sea and other some went trauailing into the land to go and seeke him but the Princesse finding in a port which was nigh vnto the place whereas they were a ship reaâ—…ie in all points shée embarked hir selfe therein all alone with hir Damsels it séemed vnto hir that séeing that Rodaran dyd carry with him so rich a pray that it did not beehooue him to stay in the countrie So shée put hir selfe vnto the sea without knowing any certaine way whether to trauayle but onely committed hir selfe vnto Fortune So they naâ—…igated fiue dayes at the Sea without finding any aduenture worthie the telling in the ende whereof verie earlie in the morning they discouered land nigh vnto them which was pleasant and wel furnished with all maner of gréene trées and hauing great desire to goe a shore they commaunded to hoise out their â—…oat So the Princes and hir damsels went a land and shée mounting vpon hir horse and hir Damsels vpon their Palfraies they béegan to trauaile by a very narow and small vsed path which went through a Ualley which was garnished full of very swéet Roses and other odoriferous flowers and hearbs and they had scarce trauailed therein one mile wheÌ„ they saw comming against them a damsel vpon a palfray so fast as hee could runne and men running threatning to kill hir if shée would not stay but wheÌ„ shée found hir self nigh vnto the princesse shee said Oh knight defend mée froÌ„ these traytors for they haue committed the greatest treason that euer you heard Then the princesse hauing hir helme on she put hir selfe before these men béecause they should not come vnto the damsell who would not withdraw themselues but perforce would haue layde holde vpon the Damsell wherewith the Princesse with hir Speare stroke one of them therewith that shée gored him cleane through and 〈◊〉 fell downe dead vnto the ground Then one of the other offered to strike at the princes with a great fauchon that he had in his hand who perceiuing it spurred hir horse ouer him who tore him all to péeces vnder his feete and slew him and offering to strike the other with hir speare hée tooke his legges and ran so fast as euer hee could the way hee came Then the Damsell béeing at libertie the Princesse demanded of hir what was the occasion that those men did follow and pursue hir Ah sir sayd the Damsell doo you returne with all spéede backe againe the way you came and make no longer tarriaunce in this place for if you bée taken it is not possible that you should liue any longer Tell mée first the occasion why sayde the Princesse then afterward I will doo that which séemeth best vnto mee Sir knight said the damsell héere béefore goeth a giant the greatest and most furious that euer was séene by men who with more then twentie knights in his company doth carrie prisoner the Queene of Hiberia with the Princesse Theophilia hir daughter and 〈◊〉 more Ladies and Damsells of hirs who by force this infernall Gyant did take away from the King Hiberia and more then fortie Knights of his who were passing away the time abroad in a verie delightfull forrest this Gyaunt did put vs all together into a Ship of his and hath brought vs hether prisoners carrying vs into a Castle which is there a little béefore from whence I came running away and it séemeth vnto mée better to dye in the handes of them that shall follow mée then to bée prisoner in the power of that infernall Gyant The Damsell finishing these woords shee receyued so great feare that the Princesse could not stay hir but more by force then with hir good will shée caused hir to returne againe in hir companie the way which shée came in which they had not trauayled verie farrâ—… when they saw comming towards them tenne Knights as fast as their horses could runne who beeing aduertised by him that ran away they came in the demaund of the Knight which had slayne the other two men And when they saw them by the signes and tokens that the man had giuen them they vnderstood that it should bee the Princesse then all together with theyr swoords in theyr hands they ranne against hir but shée receiued them in such sort that shee receiued no harme of their encounters but she stroke one of them so right that y e poynt of hir speare came foorth at his back and fell downe dead to the ground and breaking hir speare with that encounter shée drew out hir swoord and béegan to combat with them and dyd so béehaue hir selfe that in a short time shée had slaine the one halfe of them and although those Knights did charge hir verie much with their strong blowes yet by reason that hir armour was so good shée was in great security not to receiue any wound by reason whereof without all feare shée put hir selfe amongst them striking such mortall blowes that it was wonderfull to beholde and neuer rested till shee had slaine all saue two who seeing the great force strength of the Princesse durst not tarrie any longer but returned the way they came as fast as theyr Horsses could râ—…nne The Damsell at this time would verie fayne haue had the Princesse returne backe againe and not haue gone any farther but hir couragious and valyaunt stomacke would not consent therevnto but followed the other in that way they went After they had trauayled in that way a small space they discouered vpon the top of a high Rocke a Castle very great and full of towers and compassed about with a very strong wall and comming nigh vnto the same they saw come foorth of the gate a Gyant the greatest and tallest that euer they saw in all theyr liues and mounted vpon a great and mightie courser in his companie more then ten Knights who came that way wherein the Princesse trauayled but as soone as the Damsell of the Quéene had spyed them shee had no desire to stay but returned back againe the way she came as fast aâ—… hir palfray could runne but the Princesse who receiued no feare of the Gyaunt nor of his Knights kept 〈◊〉 hir way towards them and when the Gyaunt came nigh vnto hir with a hoarse and hollow voyce hée sayd Oh foolish and vnhappie knight how is it knowing that I am Orbion and hauing slaine my knights thou durst be so bold and haue so great courage to tarry and abide my comming it dooth gréeue mee for the anger which thou hast giuen mée for that it will bée vnto thee a great honour to bée slaine at my hands and I smally satisfied for the death of my Knights in taking away thy lyfe Far more foolish and vnhappie maist thou account thy selfe Gyant saide the Princesse if thou didst know thy selfe knowing that god is in the heauens