occision of their people they were enforced to take landing at an other place difficult and vntowarde inough liyng more then a Myle distaunte from the Citie where immediatly vppon their ariuall without anie stoppe or impedimente because the Inhabitauntes of the Citie perceiued theim selues not of sufficient force to pursue or assaile theim any further they descended from their Vesselles and went a Lande with a greate noyse and Tintinare of Trompets Shalmes Drommes Fifes and other like melodious Instrumentes of Warre at sounde wherof the Pagans that first tooke Lande did nought els but daunce and triumphe iolily whiche brauerie of theirs endured but for a shorte season For presently after that the kynges Grandowin Angrafolt Brandissant and the rest with their Souldiers and all their traine whom they had conducted to assaulte the Citie of London whiche they imagined to take within three or fower daies at the moste were descended from their Shippes they marched on meanyng to encampe in a faire and verie wide plaine which as then was situate not farre from the Citie In the middest wherof a manne mought haue seen the stately and magnificente Pauilions of the mightie Heathenishe Kynges and the others whiche resembled an high Groue enuironed with a multitude of lopte Trees among whiche there was erected one farre surmountyng all the reste in length and breadth whiche serued the vse of these kynges in steede of an huige Halle to consulte and deliberate touchyng their affaires the same as a sumptuous and braue Castle with Towers was hemde in with Pauilions of the Kynges Angrafolt and Brandissant on bothe sides wherevnto did closely adioyne on the one parte to the lodgyng of Brandissant the Pauilions of kyng Salazard Zorlot Cambarel and Phagotrof on the other appeared the lodgynges richely besene of the puissaunt Tauladas kyng of Canada and Guitarde lorde of the I le of Baccaleos together with those of the old kyng Grandowin Barant and Marton the strong of Cantabrie All whiche on the morrowe as sone as their whole traine and furniture were sette in order failed not to assemble theim selues in the greate Pauilion to take deliberation and aduise what were beste to bee doen where vnto all the principall knightes that is to saie Dukes Erles and Barons were called of whom there was a greate number The old kyng Grandowin for that by occasion of hym the assemblie was made sittyng on the highest Seate of all whiche was verie sumptuouslie prepared and adorned hauyng his twoo Sonnes Angrafolt on the right and Brandissant on the left hande and all the other kynges with Lordes of greate power stoute and braue knightes aboue sixe hundred begann to speake vnto them in this maner Moste mightie and excellente Kynges Princes Dukes Erles Barons and knightes if the greeuous sorowe and extreeme heauinesse wherewith through the remembraunce of the losse and death of my twoo Sonnes my hart is burdened and tormēted had stirred vp my courage alone with an inflamed desire to take suche straunge and dreadful vengeaunce as vnneth hath been heard of vpon the murderer of theim and of the chief parte of my lignage certes I would haue had no slender regard as one lothe to seme importunate vpō your Maiesties excellencies honours in requiryng your aides and succours in this enterprise well weighyng that my merite to you wardes is of no suche cōsequence that of so many mightie Lordes as in this assemblie are presente to offer and aduenture their gooddes and liues vpon the hazarde of Fortune and of death also should emploie theim selues in this attempte for my sake seeyng that for the accomplishment of the same I my self am of power sufficience with the aide of these my twoo sonnes who are no lesse bounde to take vehemente indignation at the shedyng of their blood and myne then myne owne self But sith the case so standes that the deuotion of the Goddes and the desire to augmente our Lawe and Religion ought to embolden and inspire our courages with an vnaccustomed valiauncie and prouoke our stomackes with bloudie rage not onely to bryng to vtter ruine the moste traiterous and mischeuous Tiraunte that euer did weare Croune hym I meane of Greate Britaine but also wholie to extermine and roote out this cursed ofspryng of Christians who in comparison of vs that hold in subiection Asia Afrique and the greater parte of Europe are but an handfull and yet if wee suffer theim to reigne in peace thei maie receiue suche encrease that as it happeneth not seldome the lesser augmente and the greater decrease in conclusion thei maye dispossesse and depriue vs of our Countries and Dominions ▪ the Inhabitauntes whereof to the greate dishonour of our God Mahomet thei will infecte with the contagion of their false belief to our singuler dammage and confusion of our Successours For whiche cause perceiuyng that the destruction of this accursed kyng Floridamant of Greate Britaigne who is one of their proppes and pillers of their Faithe is an acte in myne opinion verie necessarie for me to atchieue it semes also to bee a verie good and easie enteraunce by meanes of your assistaunce into the residue of our exploites remainyng behinde that is by our prowesse to deface and abolishe the vniuersall race and cable of Christians whose wealth and Seignories wee maie afterwardes diuide emong our selues as in our Iudgementes shall seme reasonable Behold ye noble wightes the chief occasion that hath moued me to assemble so many powers at one instaunt borrowing also your aides the whiche as I thinke should encourage you muche more chen if the enterprise were onely attempted in my behalfe consideryng that it cōcerneth and toucheth you well nigh so muche as my self Wherefore this is myne aduise that wee prosecute earnestly our enterprise vndertaken and begonne since that wee are here readie to put the same in execution doe plie the Iron whiles it is hotte and that without delaie if you iudge it beste to enter forcibly or by other practizes into the citee whiche in respecte of the goodly buildynges and monumētes therof we will neither burne nor raze but it shall suffise that we onely put to the edge of the Sworde all the people whiche wee shall finde within the same as well the small as greate bothe Women and Children murderyng and stayng theim in suche sorte that there shall not reste one to carry tidynges and to hym that can take the kyng Floridamant aliue and hym deliuer into our handes to bee doen to vile and ignominious death wee promise to giue in lieu of his deserte twoo thousande Talentes and so to aduaunce his estate that he maye accompte hymself a fortunate persone but the Dames and Gentlewomen suche as are endowed with singuler beautie shall bée saued to serue for our share and to bee disposed after our likyng Immediatelie after this Saracen had belched out these woordes out of his malicious mouthe and stinkyng stomacke all the other Pagan kynges saied with one voice that he had spoken passyng well and
Gerileon doe aduaunce W. M. THE FIRST BOOKE of the Hystorie of Gerileon After the death of the most puissaunt and vertuous king Brandismell King of greate Britaine there succeeded hym in the gouernement of the said Realme a Sonne of his called Floridamant The whiche beyng in hys Pallace at London feastyng his Lordes and Barons and making preparatiō one afternoone to go course an Harte in the company of the Princes Huberte of Scotlande and Dorian Sonne to the Kyng of Spaigne which Harte he had seen in a wood neere to the Castle of Mirandoll There entered into the Hall a Damsell who hauyng recounted to hym a certaine aduenture had hym away with her The first Chapter THOSE whiche haue been curious in readyng of auncient Histories are nothing ignoraunte howe amongest those Realmes whiche for their fertilitie and worthinesse haue in tymes paste merited any Commendations Brittaine the Greate hath not only matched but also farre surpassed them all As well because of naturall beauty goodnes therof as in that it is the country vnder heauen which of all Antiquity hath bene more populous better stoared of strong and valiaunt Knightes then any other whatsoeuer thether drawen and allured partlie by the excellent and deuine beautie of the Ladies there inhabityng partly by the merueilous and straunge aduentures there accustomably found In so much that for this occasion it hath béen often called the Lande aduenturous Neither might any one of forraine Coastes or Countries name hym selfe a true and valiaunt knight if in it hee had not made proofe of his worthines there atchiuyng some straunge aduentures But especially in the tyme of the moste Puissaunt and vertuous king Brandismel whiche hauyng by his prowesse and valiauncy conquered many Realmes and Prouinces as Norwaie Swethlande and Denmarke instituted also the order of the twelue couragious knightes of greate Britaine beyng suche and endued with so greate force and valiauncie that fewe their likes were as then to bee founde in the whole worlde Amonge whom for moste valiaunt was the kinge Ferrande of Norwaie Dom Grandilaor and Dom Murcibel king of Denmarke The rest also because of their bounty dexteritie and bouldnesse in matters of Armes were greate praise worthy For this occasion was king Brandismel much feared and redoubted of his neighboures and borderers yet no lesse beloued of them for his courtesie liberalitie lenitie and humanitie with other vertues infinite whiche were resplendisaunt in hym And in suche forte that there was not hee whiche doyng hym the most toylesome and agreable seruice hee coulde did not yet estéeme himself most happy to be insinuated into his good grace and fauour so to gaine his gratious amitie But the fatall Sisters most impious and enuious of the good successe and felicitie of humaine kinde and of those especially whiche retaine a singular contentment and pleasure to bee in the fellowship and acquaintaunce of a Prince so vertuous and debonaire bereft them the shinyng gleames of noblenesse and myrour of Chiualry out of this worlde shreading a sonder the last thréede of this so vertuous a king the yere of grace after the death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ 418. the 66. yere of his age and 32. of his raigne Whervppon I can not rightly expresse the dolour sorrow that the couragious knightes his Subiectes receiued with his most priuate and best frendes In so muche that as recounteth vs the Historie there were suche of them as remained twoo or three Monethes without power to refraine themselues from weeping and lamenting most bitterlie when as it came to them in minde of the Bountie and Vertue of that noble Prince And chieflye the worthy olde Candior Duke of Normandy a Prince surelie amongest the Sage and hardy muche commendable Neuerthelesse as there is noe griefe so greate whiche in course of tyme a quite consumer of all thinges is not put foorthe of remembraunce So for iuste cause this good Lorde of Normandy together with the reste whiche were moste dolefull for the losse of a King so debonaire and vertuous at laste made ende of their plaintes and lamentations And for iuste cause saye I in that he lefte them for successour a Sonne of his begotten by his deere and loyall Spouse and Wife Florixe whiche not many yeres before had departed this life whiche saide sonne after the death of his Father was Heire not onely of his terreine Dominions and Possessions but also of his most rare and singuler vertues For besides that he was a good knight prudent and hardy past measure beeyng of a large stature his members well made formed and proportioned in equality the one with the others of sixe or seauen and twentie yeres of age ▪ or there aboutes he was also had in reputation for the most sage modest courteous Prince of his tyme In so much that to make briefe no man could require or wish any thing proper or conuenient for so great a personage as his whereof his valiauncie and inuincible prowesse was not beautified and adorned This same was called Floridamant the which did neuer finde man of what force or puissaūce soeuer he were who daring to Iust with hym hadde not geuen plainly to feele and vnderstande that he was peerelesse and not matcheable For this cause there was no knight in all Brittaigne the Greate whiche at his newe arriuall to the Crowne did not deliberate and determine to conuerte and tourne the lamentations and weepinges of his Fathers death into ioyes and gladnesse for hauing after the losse of a good Lorde and Master recouered and receaued a better kyng To whom there lacked so litle that he should degenerate from the bountie and goodnes of his predecessour that by his vertue whiche rather more then lesse did hym illustrate he did in suche sort striue and endeuour in equalitie of valiauncie and good behauiour to imitate and counteruale hym that his Knightes Princes and Barons with other of his Vassailes and Seruauntes thought in no wise to haue chaunged their Maister who vnwillyng to omit anye iote of his greate magnificence a while after his Coronemente made and gaue so many faire and Godly Giftes and Presentes not onely to the couragious knightes his Subiectes but also to such straungers as were come to visite him and to make offer to hym of their seruice beeyng nothyng ignoraunt that liberalitie rendreth men subiect and bounde towardes those whiche vse it that there was not he whiche pricked and prouoked with a desire to doe him agreable seruice so muche his lenity and liberality had charmed and enchaunted their affections would not willinglie haue put his life in hazarde for the maintenaunce conseruation of his honour And for that that a little afore the decease of the good king Brandismel his Father he had espoused the daughter of king Barrachen of Scotlande named Bellizenne a Princesse as sage and vertuous as faire and gracious for fewe there were who then for beauty good grace durste compare with her There were come to visite
a Monster whiche was engendred by one of those Giauntes called Astigard The Effigie of whom hee bare Pictured in his shield all murthered by his handes in a field of Synople hauing the rest of his furniture and harnesse wrought and pollished the gallantest that might be seene and mounted vpon a braue Courser of Araby whiche ran like Swallowe swifte in flight This felowe seemed beyng thus armed the brauest knight in the worlde Although in deede he was the moste deformed and foulest that could bee For firste he was so greate that he by halfe excéeded the vulgare and common proportion of other menne his hayres of his heade as blacke as a coale neither was his Face any whitte fairer wherein were twoo eyes that shinyng as well by night as by daie would haue made the stoutest afraied hauyng his browes a foote of good measure broade The Nose a spanne long or more the Mouthe stretchyng to his Eares whiche with length laie on his Shoulders like a Bloodhounde And moreouer he had twoo long Tuskes or Teeth sharpe as a Pike whiche raught fully halfe a Foote out of his Mouthe his Chinne was like the reste whereon appeared no more haire then on a Cowe taile for like a stinkyng Goate he had it hangyng to his girdle stead As for the reste he was the finest Youth of the worlde but that he was great Bealied and bigge Shouldred cariyng a Mountaine as it were vpon his backe Notwithstandyng this he was so valiaunt that there were fewe no not one but Kyng Brandissant whiche in ought that appertained to corporall force or warlike affaires were like vnto hym as you shall more vnderstande hereafter Consequentlie his brother Zorlot Kyng of the I le Niuaria which was no lesse faire then Salazard was mightie and strong that with one blowe of his Launce in a certaine Battaile he slewe thirtie Cantabrians And no worse to make shorte were the kynges of the Iles Innoues their brethren Cambarel and Phagotrof whiche had in their Bande aboute thirtie thousande menne bothe for foote and Horse And so this Thunderyng warriour Brandissant beeyng thus appointed in a marueilous braue araie and equipage passed into Greate Britaine there wastyng and destroiyng all till thei came to the Countree of Cornewaile where he founde his father Grandowine whiche for his parte did his deuour to gather menne from all partes of his Dominions to reuenge the death of his twoo sonnes In whose companie was Agrafolt Kyng of Cantabria Marton and Barant Kyng of the I le of Caribe who a while afore was ariued with greate puissaunce of men to helpe Kyng Grandowyne whose ioyes I can not well tell you when he saw his sonne Brandissant come to succour hym with suche a multitude of valiaunte Soldiours and Gensdarmes and chieflie when he tolde hym of the greate waste whiche he had made commyng through Greate Britaigne Assuryng you sir saied he that had it not been for the desire I had to see you and my brother Agrafolt with all these good Lordes and some others who by me requested promised sance faile to come shortely to succour you this wretched Kynge of greate Britaigne had not hadde by this tyme either Castell or Toune to defende hymselfe in I truste good Sonne saied Kyng Grandowyne that we shall bee there tyme enough by the helpe of the Goddes to disherite and ruinate hym both with the'ffusion of his owne bloud and also of all those who shall be so hardye as to make to vs anye resistaunce And I sweare by all our gods that if he be as I hope he shal once taken by vs I will make hym die a worser death then euer that cruell Tyrant of the Agrigentines Phalaris did or could imagine to vexe and torment his people neither shall that glutton Dorian of Spaigne escape with lesse rewarde who at all assaies is his aider and fellow For it behoueth vs to put all his Realme to Fyre and Sworde if wee were once dispatched of this Floridamant heere which shall be shortly as I hope And that Ferrand also king of Norwaie who is his Vassalle neither hym of Denmarke nor that other of Swethlande whiche will succour hym shall also escape our sharpe and trenchant Blades Truely my Leige then saied Agrofolt the cruell if once we might exterminate all these it is expedient for vs also to destroye that ould Tyraunt of Gaule for he maintaineth that glutton Palistenor my Godfather who hoping of his aide manaceth to expell mee out of my Realme saiyng that by right it is his Giue mee leaue on my behalfe saied wicked Marton Kynge of Cantabria for as for my part I hould my self assured that that presumptuous Kyng of Spaine whiche so often sendeth Pyrates Robbers into my Domimous who do me more annoyes then one would thinke shall not haue long continuaunce neither shall he against vs worke any great resistaunce For one night will I giue hym suche Alarme pursuyng hym vpon the Spurres so neere that neither he nor none of his shall haue any leisure to flee saue them selues Assuredly that shal do very wel Sir Marton said the fierce King Barant of Caribe for then may you Crowne your self King of all Spaigne and Sir Grandowyne kyng of greate Britayne Also good Prince Agrofolt shal haue the Realme of Gaule for his parte and you saied Brandissant which are a moste puissaunte Lorde with kyng Salazard Zortor and Phagotroffe shall haue the Realmes of Scotlande Norway Swethlande and Denmarke But the Prince Cambarell and I will then goe to Constantinople where wee will make our selues Lordes Thus these Prodigious Monsters of Nature spake and talked amongest theim selues beeyng assembled in kyng Grandowynes Pallace of Cornewayle hauyng more confidence in the force and puissaunce of their bodies whiche in no wise lacked then in the Diuine prouidence without whiche noe humaine enterprise can euer come to good issue And I can assure you that if the soueraigne creatour and gouernour of all thinges had not by his infinite bountie and goodnes preserued and sustained the parte of the noble and valiaunt Christian Princes they had then beene in daunger to haue loste their liues and to haue their Realmes and poore Subiectes destroied vndoubtedly For these cursed Paynims were the most puissaunt and valiauntest personages that euer Historie made mention of and had with theim more then twoo hundred thousand footemen a hundred thousand braue knightes besides the Giauntes whiche I tolde you of whose onely force was able for a whole Army and there were the strōg Brunissant Angrofolt Salazard and his brethren which had either their Bodies or Harnesse in suche wise enchaunted that neither Yron nor Steele could pearce or hurte theim and ther with endewed with suche force that nothyng was able to abyde it And to encrease their number also came there a while after to their helpe kyng Tawladas the worthy knight of the I le of Canada and fierce Guydard of Baccaleos with either of theim an Armie of more then thirtie
a malicious harte full of furie and rage There is no meane waie nor thing in humaine puissaūce nether as I beléeue in the enimie of Nature that he whiche hath conceaued thys foresayde hate against another doeth not inuente or dare not attempte to satisfie his will and wishe as maye let vs vnsterstande the example of the Necromancian whom I doe meane to mentionate in this Chapter Therefore it is to be vnderstanded that in greate Britaigne there was an Itande adioyning to the saied Realme which men called the gréene I le Whereof a knight named Mynofol was Lorde and ruler who from his infancie had so bestowed his tyme in the arte of Necromancie and supernaturall Magicque that by the same he atchiued many marueilous Matters and impossible to many others who dealed there with to be lesse expert then he in his arte In maner that by his enchauntmentes and diabolicall charmes hee had builded in his Ile a Castell the most sumptuous and magnificent that with mans eyes was euer seen For the Sonne thereon gleamyng his bright Rayes and Beames from morning till euening one would verily iudge so great was the force of his enchauntmentes that in stead of Stones there were placed greate Rubies the moste faire and beautifull of the worlde And with reuerberatiō of the same the Aire Trées of the I le appeared as red as Fire for a Miles compasse aboute And it was to bee marueiled greatly how the knight Mynofol could build any so sumptuous and stately an Edifice as the red Castell so did the vulgar sorte cōmonly name it seyng that it was not in puissaunce of the greatest Monarque of the whole earth to reare and constructe another whiche in perfection and sumptuositie of matter exquisite miraculous or artificiall was thereto comparable And for what occasion he made the same full many also were ignoraunt but it is to bee presupposed that it was not without cause why For it behoueth you to vnderstande that the predecessour of Minofoll whiche was somewhat akinne and of alliaunce to the vertuous and mightie kyng Brandismel pretendyng some right to the Realme of greate Britaine out of the whiche by his auncetours he had been repudiate and reiected for takyng to wife the sister of Grandowine kyng of Cornewalle and Irelande whiche then as yet helde the Pagan lawes and beleued on Mahounde had wrought and before had tended many meanes and treasons againste the Father of valiaunt King Floridamant whiche neuer laye in his power to execute as he pretended without daunger of the totall ruine both of hym and his whiche was the cause that his Sonne Minofol beyng as then yong and of tender age he caused him to learne with greate heede and diligence the Artes of Necromancy by studiyng the bookes of Medea Circe Morgue and other suche To the intente to reuenge hymselfe of king Brandismel by suche meanes as Medea tooke vengeaunce of the iniurie doen to her by her vnfaithfull and periured freende Iason But God whiche by his bountifulnesse doth still regarde those whiche followe the right waies and Pathes whiche he hath appointed for them with a piteous and mercifull eye to take awaie all meanes and waies from the traitour Lorde of the greene I le of annoiyng the kyng of great Britaine suffered that death should sende hynt doune to helle there to serue in the boatman Charons Barge afore he euer sawe his sonne Minofol well experimented in his arte to bryng to an ende his peruerse pretence and wicked wil. This same Minofol notwithstandyng beeyng once acertained by his Mother for what occasion his father had caused hym frō his tender yeres so curiously to be endoctrined taught in this diuelishe Arte in the whiche since hee was arriued to good age hee was so skilfull and experte that fewe like to hym were as then to be founde As one that was of his Fathers nature and disposition that is to wit a Traitour wicked and reuengeatiue hee imagined in his fantasie too put in execution the purposed pretence of his predecessour And for to bring to passe the same he still had taried till after the death of the good kyng Brandismel seyng no meanes duryng his life to finishe his conspiracie and vengeable falshodde that hauyng builte the redde Castle whereof I haue afore spoken he addressed the Damosell towarde the Kyng Floridamant to require hym of that you haue harde aboue recited knowyng hym prompt and hardie to giue succour and aide to Dames and Ladies wronged and offended And for that he knewe he had often tymes searched for Nabot to combate with hym to the ende to entrappe and withdrawe hym more easely to hym he appointed hym the message whiche you haue fully seen in the Chapiter precedent For that the Damzell doughter to the knight Minoberis whiche Nabot had in prison had sone perceiued hym to put in practise to deliuer her Father whiche thyng he denied her And so makyng his profite of her request instructed the Damosell his cousin of the Plot before specified who plaied so well her part that she brought the Kyng alone after her which pursued her so as is afore saied as faste as his horse could galoppe without euer atteinyng to her For she had a palfrey possessed with a Deuill whiche the Magician there had by his enchauntmentes put for that he went so swifte that of all that daie nought did he but trot without ceassyng or restyng and the Damosell rapped hym excessiuely feinyng to haue greate haste vntill suche tyme as the nocturnall darcknesse had chased farre into the Weste the shinyng chariot of Phaeton then she ariued in a Foreste thicke and darcke beyng obscured by the manifolde braunches of mightie Dakes which there were innumerable in so much that one could see there no more I thinke then within the moste darcksome denne of the profounde and infernall hell Wherein beeyng entered farre afore the Kyng who still pursuyng her as nere as possiblie he could at laste lost sight of her and not knowyng where she was become he staied somewhat his horse to harken if he could any whit vnderstand the tramplyng of her Palfreis féete therby to follow her trace but that was in vaine For he heard nothyng els but an infinite noyse and yellyng of sauage beastes as Beares wilde Bores Lyons and suche like whiche made so greate a yelling that there scarce one could haue heard the bounsing clapps of soundyng Thunder Whereof I leaue you to thinke if the kynge had occasion or no to bee astonished and greatly abashed In that I déeme none so sure and stable whiche would not haue been afraied at that tyme to approache and enter a place so daungerous Notwitstandyng he was of so magnanimious and haughtie a courage that that seemed to hymself lesse then nothing sauing that he could no more finde out his guide and conductresse But endeuouring hymselfe to searche for her it was vnpossible to make his horse either to go forward or backward what blowes or spurres soeuer he
which came to giue the onset on the Painims with whom thei ioyned Battle in suche sort that many there died ¶ The xix Chapter FOrasmuche noble Lordes and Ladies as I am sure you are not ignoraunte that as there is no meate what sweete or delicate taste so euer it haue were it Ambrosia it self the foode of the Gods as Poetes faine which with too long vsage semeth not to vs yrkesom and vnsauerie In like maner beeleue I that there is no discourse or Historie bee it neuer so sweete or delectable but beeyng too longe continued without intermission or successe of some chaunge or other nouell chaunce which as it were a newe kind of meate may be agreable to the hearers eares or delite of the readers may be dulsome or pleasaunt vnto you For this cause knowyng that whiche I will recite vnto you in these Chapters followyng shall be no lesse delectable vnto you nor smell worse to your coÌ„tentations then the valiauncies of the Youth of the Fairies from whence we wander a little to bringe hym in hereafter with more pleasure delectation and astonishment of haughtie feates of Armes then you haue heretofore heard if you haue the pacieÌ„ce I deme you to haue hopyng that the generositie and singuler bountie of your sprites will not refuse to holde on to reade this myne Historie set forth and put in light both for greate pleasure and profite that you may haue therein I will as now therefore recompt vnto you albeit brieflie and succinctly as is possible that whiche chaunced and happened to the valiaunte and inuincible Kyng Floridamant of greate Brittaine and chieflie in the selfe same time that his Sonne the Youth of the Fairies was in Gréece in pursuit of the vnmatcheable and valiant vnknowen Knight accordyng to the veritie of the CoÌ„mentaries of our auncient Galarx whiche in the same maner also maketh therof mentioÌ„ You ought therefore to knowe that after the deliueraunce of this illustrious Lorde from the Traitor Minofols Enchaunted Prysons as in the Chapters precedente I haue moste brieflie declared vnto you after hee was ariued into his countrie as is aforesaied he went into the gréene I le with a greate Hoast of armed men and so dispeopled it and destroyed al the Townes and braue buildynges that there were not left aliue any of the race or house of the traitrous Enchaunter who beeyng apprehended was also putte to the point of the Sworde amongest whom also was slaine twoo Children of the Kynges of Cornewaile Vncle to the Traitour Minofoll the one of whom if ye marke it well was slaine by the Kyng Floridamant at the same time that the Damozell whiche afterwarde was hanged on a Tree led hym traiterously into the Prison of the red Castell as you haue heretofore heard and then when his Horse failed hym in the Forrest when hee had heard the crie of the Damozell complainyng he encountred hym by chaunce as he was goyng to London to woorke some Traison and this same was called Mawgard The other was then slain in the greene Ile where he was Lorde and Maister through the death of his Cosine by the Prince Hubart of Scotlande againste whom hee would haue defended hymselfe and this had to name Vaspazell the prowde whereat the Kinge of Cornewaile beyng vexed without measure hauyng heard so dolefull Newes and angrie at kinge Floridamant more then afore although he long had borne hym mortall hate determined resolued now to reuenge the death of his two Sonnes with the destruction of those of his kinne And to doe this as one that was riche both in substaunce and frendes of alliaunce to greate Lordes and Princes and who also was stout of person valiaunt as was possible he sent Ambassadours to his Frendes on all sides and chiefly to two Sonnes which he had yet lefte one of the which was king of Corse named Angrofolt the Cruel who failed not to come to reuenge the death of his Brethren and Parentes with a Nauie of a hundred and fower score Shippes and sixtie Galleis well furnished wherein he brought aboute thirty thousande footemen and tenne thousande horsemen braue and in good order and moreouer hee brought with these Syxe Giauntes the greatest and biggest that euer were seene since the memorye of man who onelie serued hym for men of Armes to garde his person yea with them was hee better guarded then any other Kynge although he had sixe hundred horsemen in his companie And for this cause was he of his Neighbours and borderers so renowmed feared that none were he neuer so puissaunte durst once offer to do hym the least iniury in the world although for his greate cruelty and tyrannie to his neighbours many had iust cause so to doe And besides this he was so valiaunt of his person that fewe there were at that tyme in the worlde which in corporall force dexteritie and skill in Armes might or could surpasse hym for through his valiauncie and prowesse he had with a small power brought vnder his obeisaunce the I le of Corse and hauing expelled kynge Pollinestor who had married Kinge Belligent his Sister of Gawle who was true possessor and owner of the said Iland he maried perforce a daughter of his so to couer his tyranny to insinuate hymself the better into the peoples grace and fauour of the most parte wherof as one fauoured and loued hee was Kinge peaceably as a Riche and Mightie lord Yet neuerthelesse not like his other youÌ„ger brother who by his graund force and extreeme prowesse was beecome King of the Iles Fortunate whiche are beyond the furthest partes of Mauritayne Westwarde and are at this daie called Canaries because they abound in Dogges of all sortes This same king called Brandissant who in valour and prowesse exceeded far all other knightes hauyng hard the pittifull tydinges whiche king Grandowyne his Father had sent hym of the death of his Brethren Mawgard and Vaspazel whiche were slaine by kyng Floridamant incited with an extreeme pricke of reuengement staied but a while after his brother but went with an Army of an hundred thousand footemen and fower twentie thousande horsemen to inuade great Britaine whith such a fury that in euery place where hee passed or came there was no Toune Castle nor House were it neuer so greate whiche was not by hym destroyed yea to the first foundation neither men women nor little Infauntes were there whatsoeuer that could escape the pearcing blades of his Gensdarmes and Souldiers who all the waie as they wente made both Earthe and Water tremble at there presence such hauocke made they deming all their owne alreadie For the saied Brandâ—ssant kinge of Canaries had with hym fower puyssaunte kynges Paynims his Vassalles which all were Brethren and the moste strong and monstrous that euer Nature bred For firste of all the youngest of theim whiche was kyng of Ombrione named Sallazart was so strong and puissaunte that in closse Campe he once slewe fower Huige Giauntes and