vnto the Princes minde as not any thing might be greater The shield also he tooke on his arme and although it was impersable yet was it framed of such a substance that it was as light as any ordinary shield the deuice béeing in a fielde Verte thrée Lyons rampant or signifying indéede thrée Lyons which the famous Lyonell slew in the Kingdome of Spayne as you may reade in that History and from which likewise hee was called Lyonqueller CHAP. V. How the Prince Euordanus departing out of Walles arriued in Ireland naming himselfe the Knight of the Lyons and what hapned vnto him on his way towards Dublin THe Prince hauing throughly recouered him selfe of his wounds which he receiued of the Monster and hauing gained the Armor and shielde of the famous Lionell departed towards the harbor of Milford taking his leaue of the courtious Hermise and the rest of the inhabitants of the Country many of whome were desirous to haue kept him company but he would not in any wise accept thereof And now being come vnto the harbor he found his shippe in a readinesse and hauing the wind indifferent faire they set saile towards Ireland where the next day they arriued in the famous Riuer of Waterford where beeing come to an ancor they went on shore to view the pleasantnesse of the Country Which at that time was indifferent delightfull by reason of the many pleasant springs which descended from the Mountaines causing with their rumbling noise a most delightfull harmony The next day the Prince accompanied only with his owne Squire and the Squire of Lenarda whom hee willed in any wise not to make him knowne otherwise thenby the name of the Knight of the Lions Departed towards the Citty of Dublin whereas Adresto remained in the delightfull companie of Valeria for so was the Merchants daughter named of whom he was so greatly enamored and for whose sake he accomplished diuers and sundry combats defending her beauty against al commers to his no small fame and renowne for that within the space of two yeares he had ouer-come and subdued aboue a thousand Knights not at any time himselfe hauing receaued the foyle Thetherwards rode the Knight of the Lyons coasting ouer Mountaines and Vallies the first day not hapning on any aduenture worth the recitall The next day in the morning a little after hee was departed from the place whereas they had line that night there met him a Damsell mounted on a small hackny making meruailous hast and comming vnto him casting her selfe from her horse to the ground spake in this manner Most courtious and valiant Knight for so much my minde assureth you to bee let the humble petition of the most distressed Damsell in the world mooue your nohle hart to pittie and relieue this my cruell disaster which without the ayde of you or some other valiant Knight is now vncurable wherefore by your solemne oath of Knight-hood by which you are bound to defend all distressed persons especially Ladies and Damsels and also by her whom you loue most I coniure you to ayde and defend me in a most right and iust quarrell The Knight beholding her wofull iesture with her solemne coniurations which she vttered with such aboundance of sighes and teares flowing downe from the fountaines of her eyes as might haue mooued the hardest hart to relent caused her to stand vp and willed her to declare the effect and cause of this her complaint assuring her that if her cause were corespondent to her sorrowes she had met with one who would either loose his life or worke her content The Damsell béeing comforted with this his promise rose vp from the ground and wiping the teares from her eyes began thus Most woorthy Knight know that not passing fiue leagues hence there dwelt sometimes a famous valiant Knight who in the flowre of his age prooued still fortunate in all his enterprises especially in his loue towards a noble Dame of this Country named Molenda whom at length by the consent of theyr friends hee inioyed in lawfull marriage and liued together a long time in great ioy and content and in their latter yéeres GOD blessed them with a faire daughter whom they named Modesta happy in that shee was discended from so vertuous Parents but afterward most infortunate as by the processe of my spéeches you shall vnderstand For Eugenius for so was the auncient Knight my father called béeing striken in yéeres hauing no more children but my selfe who then had attained vnto the age of twelue yéeres my Father as I haue before sayd béeing striken in age and also grieuously vexed with an extreame malady called vnto him my mother and my selfe and after some fatherly exhortations to me giuen he turned vnto my mother sayd My déere and most beloued Molenda knowing that my fatall time is at hand and that death who spareth no man hath already seased on my body I haue thought good before my death to recommend this our daughter vnto your most louing and motherly care desiring you in any case not to permit or suffer her béeing come vnto ripenesse of yéeres to match with any of this Prouince which vnto my soule would be most grieuous and that during her nonage you would sée her most carefully instructed in vertue wherby she may be worthy of this patrimony whereunto shee is borne My father hauing vttered these or such like spéeches and finding himselfe to draw towards his end imbraced vs both in his armes and turning about his face immediatly departed out of this wretched world leauing vs to bewaile this our crosse fortunes Now after wee had solemnised his funeralls and had according to the vse of thys Country by the space of one whole yéere in mournfull attire bewailed his death it hapned on a time that my mother béeing desirous to recreate her ouer-troubled minde with some delightfull pleasures desired a great number of her neighbours as well Knights Ladies Gentlemen and Damsels as also others of meaner sort to come vnto her Castle where they were all hartily welcome and worthily feasted by the space of thrée dayes during which space they past away the time with many sundry disports to the content of vs all But alas héere began the head or spring of all my griefe as by the sequell of my spéeches you shall perceiue for amongst this company there was a Knight whose liuelihood ioyned with ours a man indued with rites sufficient had the Gods graced him so well with vertue and good conditions This Knight I say fayning himselfe to be attached with my beauty desired mee of my mother in marriage But she respecting more the riches of the mind then the worldly wealth of the man gaue him a flat deniall alleaging my youth to be such as was very vnfit for a husband and that to match a young gerle without a setled affection was the next way to leade her into a life farre worse then death for then to be matched where one cannot
and take part of those continuall paines and torments the which not only for the hate I beare thée but also to bee reuenged on her for her most odious whorish and execrable dissimulation towards me I meane to inflict vppon thy wretched carkas The good King being no longer able to forbeare these inhumane and oprobrious reuilings proffred him by his currish and spightfull enemie replied in this sort Griffory I cannot but muse how God hauing indued thée with reason and vnderstanding like vnto other men that thou notwithstanding shouldest abound in vicious wicked and detestable conditions aboue all other men which canst not be content with the miserie which thou séest me brought into being thy prisoner and at thy disposition to be either kept or ransomed wrought by the most base odious meanes that might be yea after such a sort that the beriest Infidell vnder the heauens would not so much as once haue gone about or imagined but also now contrarie to all humanitie reuilest me with such oprobrious spéeches whom héeretofore thou durst not to looke me in the face for feare and also reuile at her whom neither thy selfe nor no man liuing is able to touch with that least crime whatsoeuer and that would I make good against shée and thrée of the best of thy Knights with my body were I at libertie hauing horse and armor T is true t is true replied the Duke we knowe your vallor to be great but we will soone abate that your hote courage and place you where your Goddesse whom you so much estéeme shall neither haue power nor meanes to helpe you Doe thy worst replied the King and sith it is the will of God to inflict this punishment vpon me I will indeuor my selfe with patience to indure what torments soeuer shall happen hoping in the world to come to inioy therefore eternall blessednesse but in the meane time thinke not thou but that thou maist fall in like mishap and that I haue yet remaining in the Kingdome of Denmarke such Subiects that when they shall knowe of this my ill fortune and thy crueltie will not leaue bearing Armes till such time they shal haue layd wast this thy accursed Country not leauing thée any Towne or Fort to hide thy selfe from their reuengefull swords wherefore aduise thee and determine either to set me at libertie or otherwise expect those euils which will surely fall on thy Country If thou consent to my inlargement for my ransome thou shalt receaue a whole million of gold which shall bee payed thée foorthwith out of my treasurie No no replied Griffory thy gold is but drosse and cannot worke in me that content which my hart shall inioy by thy imprisonment neither doe I feare thy power which thou so much vauntest of for thou shalt sée and that shortly that I will not onely possesse my selfe of thy darlings County of Flaunders but also by the strength of this right arme in despight of all thy power Crowne my selfe King of the Kingdome of Danske whilst thou in the meane time shall lie rotting thy bones in my prison Thē turning about to a Knight of his named Sir Ragdand hee willed him to conuay the vnhappie King prisoner vnto his Castle of Coruew and there to put him into the dungion of the sayd Castle and to alowe him euery day for the continuance of his most wretched life a quart of water and apound of bread made of the coursest branne thinking this that continually pining away by reason of his course faire would be a farre greater paine and torment vnto him then any present death whatsoeuer Likewise for the more sure keeping of him hee ordained a gard of fifty Knights alwaies to bee within the Castle who should sée that no Knight should enter therein This Castle of Coruew was of meruailous strength inuironed about with déepe ditches and mighty heigh walls and had but only one way in which was ouer a drawe bridge the which was alwaies defended by ten of the sayd fifty Knights fiue at the one end and fiue at the other this gard grew at length to a custome by reason of the hundred Knights of Denmarke which went in search of their King and was deuised only to intrap and imprison them as you may reade towards the latter end of this booke Héere now will we leaue the woful King inclosed in a miserable prison bewailing his crosse fortune where hee passed away many a yeare although his fare was as we haue sayd before both course and short yet did God so blesse him that he continued alwaies healthy and stronge of body neuer grieued with any kind of sicknes sauing onely discontentednesse of minde which with patience he much delayed returne we to speake of Martinus who had not long after the imprisonment of the King quietly inioyed the cittie of Hanstance withall the profits thereof before granted him to the extreame griefe of the chiefest of the Cittie who disdained much to bee in subiection to so base a person for the Duke some eight daies after possession deliuered fell in consideration with himselfe of the great benefit which hee had lost by giuing away the chiefe Citty in his Dukedome deuised which way he might with his honor recouer the same againe at length hauing resolued with himselfe he brought it thus to passe One day béeing with diuers of his Nobility and Martinus béeing in company the Duke fained himselfe to be very merry and in his mirth for his further content desired Martinus to declare how hee hapned to take Frederick prisoner Martinus not distrusting any thing began to make a large repetition beginning with his former life in France then the cause and manner of his banishment and their ariuing in Denmarke with their robbery and murder committed in the Forrest of Maiance with their cruell storme sustained at Sea as is before declared by which they were put on that Coast and lastly the profer of a hundred thousand pound by the King which hee refused onely to pleasure the Duke All which when Griffory had attentiuelie listned vnto hée suddenly start vp from the place where hée sate commaunding the standers by to lay hands on Martinus saying that it was not lawfull to suffer such a one who had so many waies deserued death as by his owne confession did appeare neither to liue nor to be accepted into the societie of men wherefore he willed thē forth-with to leade him to the place of execution Which when Martinus perceiued and saw that the Tyrant was fully minded to execute whatsoeuer he had said hee fell downe on his knees desiring mercy and offering for the safegard of his life to redeliuer his right of the Citty of Hanstance But hee who neuer was acquainted with mercy or compassion doubtting if he should pardon him his life the whole world would condemne him of iniustice and séeing he might as well by his death as his life inioy his will aunswered that by the Law hee had deserued
they set on her and her husband as the Squire informed them By this time the Lady being let goe by the two Squiers that held her who séeing their Maister slaine made hast by flight to saue their owne liues which they might easily doe for that no man pursued them came vnto the Lord Gwaltero and falling on her knées before him gaue him most humble thankes as well for the safegard of her owne honor which shée estéemed farre afore life as also for reuenging her husbands death whom Brandoll in the former fight had slaine with some two or thrée of their seruaunts who put themselues in their defence with all offering him many large proffers for reward But Gwaltero taking her by the hand raised her from the ground willing her to be of good comfort assuring her whatsoeuer hée had doone for her was but his and the dutie of euery good Knight and therefore willed her to attribute it not to him but to God who is the reuenger of all wrongs and to account of him but as an instrument appointed by God to minister iustice on those murderers Then the Ladie entreated him and the rest to conduct her vnto a Castle of hers some two leagues of where she would intreate them to rest themselues vntill such time as his woundes were throughly cured which should be doone by a damsell of hers very expert in the Art of Surgery Vnto which request they easily consented especially the Lord Gwaltero whose hart was already wounded with the Ladies beutie Then binding vp his wounds as well as they could they mounted on horsebacke directing their course towards the foresaid Castle the better to passe away the time Gwaltero beganne to question with the Lady of many matters especially of the cause of the late combat which shee declared vnto him with such a modest and comlie grace that hée béeing before a little wounded with Cupids shaft was now so altogether ouercome with loue that either he must néedes sue for grace or die by concealing his affection so feruent was the flame and so weake his resistance By this time were they passed most part of theyr way and were come vnto the Castle euen about the time that the Sunne drawing into the West séemed to take leaue of the view of these hether Regions where by the Lady they were most kindly receiued and welcommed with such chéere as the suddennes of the time could affoord After Supper the Lorde Gwaltero béeing brought into a most goodly and fayre Chamber had his wounds carefully looked vnto and dressed Then beeing layd in a ritch bedde imbrodred very costly with gold and pearle and curiously wrought with imagry and other sumptuous shewes where beeing layd the good Lady curteously bad him good night willing him to commaund for all things in the Castle as his owne Then departing away leauing him in a world of imaginations shée tooke order for the interring of her Husbands bodie which the next day was effected with great solemnitie according to the custome of the country then vsed CHAP. X. Howe Gwaltero with his company staying the healing of his wounds made his loue knowne to the Lady with his successe therein and of his departure in his quest THE Lord Gwaltero and his company staying the curing of his wounds which were most carefully looked vnto and dressed by the same Damsell which had them in cure was euery day visited continually by the Ladie of the place who shewed herselfe so thankfull vnto him that she almost neuer would depart frō his presence which bred in him such ardent desire that not béeing able longer to conceale his loue one day shée béeing sitting by his bed-side none béeing in presence but his Squire and the damsell that attended his wounds taking her by the hand and fixing his eyes stedfastly on her face said Gracious Lady I doe not knowe nether can I immagine how these my speeches which at this time I shall bée forced to vetter may be by you accepted yet trusting in the gentlenesse of your kind nature haue made choise rather to open my griefe vnto you then by concealing thereof or euer to languish in paine Know then that since the first time it was my hap when I fought with Brandoll and his companie for to see you that then your rare and singular beauty wounded me more farre deeper then did either their swords or Launces which since by your continuall courtisies and by your many exquisite vertues which I haue behold in you are so much augmented and increased that vnlesse you of your excellent bounty take pitty and compassion on me and with spéede yeeld some reliefe vnto this my oppressed passions I knowe not what to expect saue death onely which if you should prooue pittilesse it would be most welcome vnto me wherefore let me intreate you to consider these my passions and to ease them with pitty and thereby shall you gaine vnto your selfe for euer a true Knight and a constant louer Thus concluding his speech with a most déepe sigh procéeding from the bottome of his hart he remained silent attending her answere which should be to him either as life or death to which she replied My Lord I cānot but muse at this your discourse neither can I chuse but smile to sée your honor so merrily disposed to iest at me in this kind of sort hoping that mirth is a signe of the amendment of your wounds which to me would bee most ioyfull séeing that in my defence you receaued them But if these your spéeches procéede from you in earnest knowe then that the beauty which you say hath inflamed you in my conceit is of no such force as to wound a man of your worth neither is it likely that so sudden a liking as you speake of should bee able to work any such effect if my curtesies haue béene the cause they were neuer more then you deserued and therefore to be estéemed by you as a debt due from mee to be payd if my vertues which you speake of they alas are so fewe and small that they are not to be accounted of but yet such I hope which rather should giue you an occasion to séeke to others then any show to yeild vnto your lawlesse loue for know for a suerty that Menea for so was she called regardeth more her honor good name then she doth all the riches or wealth of this world knowing the one to be but momentarie the other perpetuall wherefore I beséech your honor to giue of these vaine sutes But if you séeke to inioy me as your wife which I thinke you will take scorne of I being but a poore Lady and descended but of a meane Parentage in respect of your Lordship yet notwithstanding consider I beséech you the late death of my husband whom if I should so soone forget it would for euer be accounted a great ignomie and shame vnto me The Lord Gwaltero at these last spéeches interrupting her replied most
loue there is on earth no greater torment Hée taking this deniall in very ill part departed vnto his owne Castle béeing not passing thrée leagues of where hée remained awhile contemplating reuenge in his hart and deuising by what meanes he might accomplish the same at last determined to winne that by force which by fayre means he could not hope to attaine And béeing setled in this resolution he gathered together the greatest forces that hee could and within a month after no one suspecting such villanie in the night time most trayterously assaulted our Castle where hauing gotten the possession thereof slew all those who made any resistance against him And taking my mother in her Chamber threatned her with she like crueltie as hee had shewed vnto the rest if foorthwith shée did not giue me her wofull daughter to be his Concubine for now hauing gotten our possessions by force he disdained to haue me to his wife which I béeing in the next réeme and hearing immediatly threw my selfe out at a window where by chance faling to the ground without any great hurt I found his Palfry ready tide on which foorthwith I mounted flying away as fast as I could neuer staying in any place vntill now méeting with you of whom I hope to receiue helpe and comfort Hare she stayed her spéeches pouring foorth abundance of teares which caused the young Knight greatly to pittie her vowing vnto her if that they remained his comming he would so punish theyr detestable treasons as should be both to her content and also an example to all those who should afterward attempt the like And willing her to leade on the way they rode onwards most part of the day not méeting with any one till euening about the time that Vesperus appearing in the West gaue them warning to take vp theyr lodging which forthwith they did for comming into a little thicke wood and the Sky waxing dark whereby they feared to misse theyr way they layde themselues downe vnder a thicke tuffe of trées where after they had refreshed themselues with such viands as his Squire had brought with him they betooke themselues to sléepe the Prince not so much as putting off his Helme for feare least they might be set on in their sléepe and hee also appointed the two Squires to watch by turne so much did his mind misdoubt the wickednes of those people who inhabited thereabouts giuen onely to rapine and theft CHAP. VI. Howe the Knight of the Lyons sleeping in a wood was set on by a company of thieues and after how hee came to the Castle of the wofull Lady Molenda where hee slewe the traytor Calepin THE Knight béeing accompanied with his two Squires and the Damsell had scarcely slept vntill midnight when his Squire whose turne was to watch gaue him notice that hee did heare a noyse not farre off which hee did iudge to be of some company comming towards them The Prince immediatly taking his shielde on his arme putting himselfe in a readines commaunded them to lie still fayning themselues to sléepe which they did when presently they beheld tenne thieues armed with swords and other weapons who comming néere them conferred amongst themselues whether it were best to kill them as they slept or else to set vpon them and hauing bound them to robbe thē of that they had which when the Knight heard he immediatly start vp and taking his sword in his hand ranne vpon them where the first he met with he sent to Pluto his kingdome to giue an account of his wicked life his fellowes beholding his mishap layde on with all theyr forces vowing to be reuenged for his death whom soone after they did accompanie for the Knight béeing both strong and also well armed with the Armor of Sir Lionell made no account of theyr blowes which to him did no more hurt then if they had layd on theyr blowes vppon some flintie Rocke Thus continued the fight by the space of an houre in which time he had dispatched sixe of them the others thinking to saue themselues by flight were stayed by the two Squires who slew one of them out-right the others falling on theyr knees desired pardon which the Knight forthwith granted them causing thē to sweare to giue ouer that kinde of life which they did the one of them being something striken in yéeres betooke himselfe afterwards to a Hermitage where hee spent the rest of his life in prayer and bewailing of his sinnes an other intreated him to accept of him as his slaue which the Prince was the more willing to doe in regard that hee should serue him as a guide during his trauell in that Country which vnto a stranger is very perrilous And truly afterwards he did not repent the sauing of his life for that he did him good seruice as you shall reade in the sequell of the History After this conflict the Knight and his company remained all the remnant of the night discoursing of many matters in which the théefe declared vnto him the fashion of the Country which vnto the Knight séemed very strange Now beautifull Aurora hauing changed her mourning wéede and cladde herself in her richest robes to welcom her déere beloued bridegroome the sunne the Knight of the Lyons with his company mounted on horsebacke all sauing his newe entertained seruaunt Gillimo for so was the théefe called whom he had receiued into his seruice and taking his néerest way to the Castle of Molenda they trauelled on vntill it was about nine of the clock at what time they arriued there euen as Callapin hauing rifled the same was ready to depart causing two of his companions to dreg the good old Lady by the hayre minding to carry her vnto a Castle of his where shee should remaine prisoner vntill such time as shee should deliuer her daughter with the whole inhearitance into his custodie which when the Knight of the Lyons beheld he set spurres vnto his horse and hauing almost ouertaken them said Stay villaines and declare wherefore you vse that Ladie in such vile sort or else you shall déerely abide it Callapin turning about and séeing but one Knight pursuing them sayd I list not to declare the cause vnto thée but if thou get thée not packing my Launce shall teach thée the guerdon due for thy too much ouer boldnes Then placing theyr staues in theyr rests they ranne one against the other with all their forces and méeting together theyr incounter was so furious that Callapin was throwne to the ground being verie sore brused with the fall The other passed on halfe astonished as neuer hauing receiued the like buffet Then turning about his horse with his sword drawne he rode towards Callapin who by this time had recouered his féete which the Knight of the Lyons perceiuing dismounted himselfe deliuering his horse vnto Gillimo who by this time was come vnto them héere began a most dangerous and fierce foote combat for Callapin was one of the best Knights in all
throughly resolued of the innocencie of her Lady was desirous to sée her to know whether she would accept of him as her Champion And being by the Damsell conuaied vnto the place where shee remained imprisoned he was by her most kindly welcomed giuing him a thousand thankes for his proffered kindnesse by her not any waies deserued and admitting him for her Champion she sayd Noble Knight I heere fréely deliuer vnto you the defence both of my life and honor desiring God no other way to spéede you then according to the truth and equitie of my cause which he knowes best assuring you farther that the death of my brother for which I am accused is more grieuious vnto me thē any torment I can indure It is true replied the prince euery vertuous wight regardeth more the losse of their friends then of themselues and I belieue the same of you wherefore I doe not doubt but to your eternall fame I shall make manifest your innocencie Thus departed he away making preparation against the battaile what happened therein you shall reade in the Chapter following CHAP. XI How the Prince Iago fought with Roberto and caused him to confesse his treason against Beleriza THe day being come in which the beautifull Beleriza was either to present her Champion or suffer death for the surmised murther of her brother The King with diuers of his Nobles being already placed on their scaffold to behold the battaile the prisoner was brought fourth attired all in blacke hauing a farre white Laune cast ouer hee head being accompanied with many beautifull Ladies of the Court attired also in mourning apparell bewailing her misfortune thus was shee conducted vnto a scaffold appointed for her after her came the Appelant mounted on a stately bay courser all in tauny armor as sorrowing for the death of his kinsman And comming before the King bending himselfe in his Saddle as doing obedience to his Maiestie spake as followeth Most dread Soueraigne I humbly beséech you to cause that detestable murtherer either presently to bring foorth her Champion if she be of any one prouided whom I may foorthwith to the manifestation of her crime ouercome or if she be not prouided that then according to the lawe shee be foorthwith executed The King disliking this is presumption as also greatly affecting Beleriza for her fathers sake sayd Signior Roberto I know not whether the prisoner be prepared of a Champion or no but your presumptious boldnesse in going about to teach mee what I haue to doe causeth me thinke that your great pride will soone take a fall for you might well haue stayed your hast vntill I had caused the trumpets according to the vse of Armes to summon the deffendant and then if he had not come foorth at the third summons you might boldly haue demaunded iustice Then staying a while the trumpets were willed to sound to warne the defendant who foorthwith being mounted on a milke white Stéede his Armor all gréene beset with Couslips of gold and bearing in his shield in an Azure field a beautifull Lady with his word in letters of gold Vbi nescio representing thereby the Lady whom he sawe in his dreame In this manner entred hee the Lists and trotting with a comly soft pace towards the King with his Beauer lifted vp to whom he did reuerence demaunding which was the Knight who had so falsely accused the sorrowfull Lady The King beholding his comly grace and perceauing by his spéech that he was a stranger most courtiously showed him Signior Roberto vnto whom Iago spake as followeth Sir Knight I doe not a little meruaile how you béeing a man honorably discended could harbor so base and vild a thought as to accuse this Lady your kinswoman of a murder wherein your selfe séemeth to be an Actor otherwise you would not so suddenly haue killed that wicked homicide your seruant but haue suffred him to haue liued and openly to haue confessed that which you in your conscience did greatly feare hee would denie but I doubt not but God by my arme will manifest that which by his death you did hope to haue concealed Roberto raysing him selfe in his stirrups and raging to be so touched with the truth and trusting in his owne might and force replyed in this manner Foole-hardy Knight thou shalt soone know what thy folly hath gained by béeing allured with her lookes to hazard thy life in a cause so vniust as this is which thou doost defend and how farre thy false and opprobrious spéeches hath incensed my choller against thée that whē as recreant thou shalt aske mercy in stéed thereof thou shalt receiue cruell death The King hearing these proude spéeches commanded the Iudges of the field to take the othes of both knights then the trumpets sounding warned thē to prepare to the battell Thus béeing by the Iudges placed in the lists hauing wind and sunne equally distributed vnto them they set spurres to their horses placing theyr Launces in theyr rests they met together with such fury that breaking their staues to theyr hands Roberto was throwne frō his horse and the Prince hauing likewise lost one of his stirrups passed on without any great semblance of moouing and comming to the end of his course turning about his horse hee saw Signior Roberto addressing himselfe for the foote combat which he no sooner perceiued but alighting from his horse drawing foorth his sword went to méet him where betwéene them began a most cruell and doubtfull combat no man knowing to which party victory was like to insue Don Roberto béeing a very strong and mightie Knight layd on blowes amaine as trusting in his great strength which surely was much and had hee beene indued as well with vertue as vallour he might well haue béene estéemed for one of the best Knights in England Don Iago on the other side béeing very nimble quicke of body although not altogether so strong as his enemy auoyded his blowes with very great skill many times wounding his aduersary both with thrusts and blowes himselfe sometimes receiuing wounds likewise so that the ground was besprinckled with theyr blood which issued out in many places through theyr Armor Thus continued they by the space of one whole howre neuer so much as once taking breath by which time their Armor was broken in many places especially that of the Prince Iago which béeing not altogether of the best though gallant to the eye was broken the sooner with his huge blowes although on the contrary side Roberto had receiued more great dangerous wounds through the thrusts which the Prince had made And now béeing both breathlesse they rested themselues awhile viewing each other and studying which way most how to indammage his aduersary At length they hauing well rested thēselues they fell to theyr combat afresh the Prince Iago séeming more lustie and quicke then at the beginning began now to follow his aduersary with many mighty blowes and sharpe thrusts causing him in a manner