saying Sir Knight doo you not knowe mee No in good sooth aunswered Palmerin Beléeue mee quoth the Damosell then hath my seruice béene euil imployed which sâ—metime I did you and whereof I am sure you haue heard good account Then Palmerin knewe her she bringing the Shéelde and the Helmet when Florendos knighted him whereuppon he rose from the Table and embracing her said Faire Damosell and my fréende I pray you pardon me for the length of time since I first saw you did quite exempt you from my remembrance pleaseth it you to commaunde me anie seruice Sir Knight said the Damosell when I presented you the Helmet and Shéelde wherwith you tooke your order of Knighthoode you promised mee if you remember that you would vse it with right good will in anie affaires the Knight had that sent it you and when he should require such performaunce nowe is the time to confirme your déede with your worde for hee hath sent mée to you with humble intreatie that without anie staie you goe where I shall conduct you otherwise you are the onelie cause of his death God shéelde me froÌ„ such mis-fortune said Palmerin rather woulde I goe with you presently from the Table So doo I pray you quoth she for I haue hast Then he called for his Armour and the table withdrawne he went into his Chamber to arme himselfe and so dyd Ptolome also returning they tooke their leaue of the Ladies and mounted on horsebacke the whole companie béeing so sorrie for their departure as Esmerinda came to the Damosell saying I promise you Damosell you haue doone vs wrong in mine opinion to hinder vs of the presence of so good a Knight Ladie aunswered the Damosell thinke you he was borne for you onelie content your selfe with the good you haue receiued by him and suffer such as haue néed of his prowesse to receiue his assistaunce as you haue doone And good reason saide Esmerinda if it be to so good an end that no resistaunce bee offered when helpe is required So departed the two Knights with the Damosell which waie she guided them and verie desirous was Palmerin to bee with the Knight that sent to seeke him because hee would gladlie know of whence hee was that wyshed him so wel as his message declared by the Damosell the same daie hee was Knighted CHAP. XXIIII Howe Palmerin and Ptolome arriued at the Courte of the King of Bohemia where they entred Combat against the Countie of Ormeque and his two Cozins who accused the Knight and his Son of treason that sent to seeke Palmerin MAnie miles had these Knightes ridde with the Damosell when Palmerin at length desired her to tell him what hee was that sent him yâ— Helmet the Shéeld whereto she aunswered that séeing he was so desirous to knowe listen ê™ she and I shall report the whole vnto you The Knight we speake of is disceÌ„ded of verie royall bloode béeing Uncle to the King of Bohemia that raignes at this present as also to the Empresse of Allemaigne the verie best séene in Nigromancie this daie liuing This noble man is named Prince Adrian who neuer liked to liue in the Court of the King his Brother but contented with what patrimonie his Father left him at length maried with a verie beautifull Ladie of whom in time hee begat a Sonne named Dyardo which Sonne his Brother the King of Bohemia nourished vppe in his Court with his owne Sonne So mutually in loue agréed these two yong Princes as after the death of the aged King the yong Dyardo should ioyn the rule with his Cozin the King who tooke to Wife the Daughter to the Duke of Lorayne bringing her with him into this Countrey in companie of her Sister a Princesse so wise and vertuous as euer liued It so came to passe that Dyardo my Lords most noble Sonne framing his thoughts to the inspirations of loue affected so highlie the other Sister as he determined neuer to haue anie other to his Wife if he might compasse what he intended For her good Ladie he coulde not be deceiued in his amorous desires he found her loue so equall with his yet did they shaddow their affections so discreetlie as none coulde perceiue them but Domarto the traiterous Countie of Ormeque one of the best Knights in all this Country were he as familiar with vertue and honestie as he is with mallice and disloyaltie This Traytour enterprised to match with the Queenes Sister beloued as you haue hearde by my Lordes worthy Sonne and thereuppon after manie sollicitings made knowne his intent vnto her whereof she made so slender account as shee forbad him any more to trouble her Domarto séeing my Lorde Dyardo his onely hinderaunce in loue intended a mallicious villainie and on a suddaine accused the Prince that he intended to poyson the King so to obtaine the Crowne as discended of a neerer coÌ„sanguinitie And as it often falleth out in such cases when one séekes to crosse an others fortune there is no time flacked in following such drifts euen so this Traytor finding the yonge King alone began his matter in this coullorable sort My gracious Lord the faith and allegeaunce I owe to you highnesse bindes me to make your princelie cares acquainted with such newes as God is my witnes said the Traitour lifting his eyes and hands to heauen mine own death were more welcome to me such is the loue I beare them whom it concernes béeing al so neere allied to you in birth as sorie I am they shoulde bee detected but in your regarde my gracious Lorde the action touching you in such sort as it dooth let me die rather then spare any liuing creature no not mine owne Sonne had nature giuen mee anie This néedelesse exordium haue I made to so foule an occasion albeit truth néedes no coullers or eloquent figures and therefore in bréefe my Lord this is the summe I am crediblie enformed that your highnesse Cozin the Prince Dyardo and Madame Cardonia Sister to the Quéene haue laid the platforme to poyson your Maiestie and this haue they attempted by the procurement of olde Adrian your Uncle who pretends that the Crowne of Bohemia is his I knowe not whether it be for want of discretion or no but howsoeuer it be my Lorde you shoulde not leaue such a villainie vnpunished The King began greatlie to meruaile at these newes and knewe not well what to think whervpon he aunswered the Countie that he coulde not beleeue this accusation But the Traytour set so smoothe a countenaunce on the matter and did auerre it still with such stout protestations as hee induced the King to beleeue him so that a daie or two after the King béeing walking in hys Garden séeing Dyardo Cardonya at the Quéenes chamber windowe secretlie conferring of their amorous affections commaunded them bothe to be carried to prison The Countie glad thereof prouoked the King still with such anger against them as immediatlie he woulde haue theÌ„ bothe doone to
for Florendos could not finde him the bruite and rumor was qualified and the Emperour went againe to his Chamber till the morning when the Empresse hearing yâ— her daughter was in prison tooke it verie heauilie and knéeling be-before the Emperour desired him that she might fetch her foorth but he was so angrie as her wordes coulde doo nothing with him yet he graunted that shee shoulde goe see her and tooke her the Key when she entering the Tower founde her sitting on the ground so blubred with teares as was lamentable to beholde but when she behelde her Mother she arose and dooing her reuerence coulde not speake her teares so ouercame her The Empresse that loued her déerelie séeing her in this gréeuous estate had much a doo to dissemble what she thought how beit after a fewe light wordes passed betwéene them she said I am â—orie daughter that you haue so lightlie throwne your affection vpon a Straunger and that you forget your duetie in following your Fathers counsell and mine who well knâ—we the loue Tarisius beares you and no otherwise Daughter then to take you to his wife But you carried awaie with yâ— loosenes which ill agrées with your credite and calling haue rather thought best to grant Florendos enterance by your Garden at such a suspected howre as while you liue your honour will be hardlie thought on for two of Tarisius his Knights who thought to take the Traytour are slaine and my Nephew himselfe daungerouslie escaped Griana hearing him called Traitour whom shee so highlie looued and that shee herselfe was accused by that which ought to excuse her answered Madame and my gracious Mother as yet I am ignoraunt of the cause that hath mooued the Emperour in such choller against me and be it for this you speake of in soothe I am offered verie great iniurie for I knowe not whether Florendos or anie other haue entred my Garden well I am assured hee came not where I was These are straunge newes to me Madame I â—old rather haue thought him on his waie towards Macedon in respect of the solemne leaue he tooke in the Courtâ— For my part I would that the Traytour which was the cause hereof had long since béene buried in the bottome of the Sea then he should so abuse the honor of Florendoâ— with a matter of such villanie wherein I cannot iudge him faultie but were it he Madame I am at a point let him die yâ— death as he hath well deserued for my duetie to you my Parents hath taught me better nurture and loue canne be no priuiledge to me to offende Then good Mother twit not mee with impeache of honour in so innocent a cause for defence whereof were the death present before mine eyes I haue sorrowed as much as I would and am more readie to embrace then liue in suspecte so shall my Father and you bee eased of prouiding me a Husband As for the prison wherein I am I will not denie his fauoure when it shall please him to deliuer me but I coulde take it farre more contentedlie to spende the remainder of my following daies thus solitarie then to liue abroade misdéemed on by anie Faire Daughter said the Empresse doo not discomfort your selfe in this sort the Emperour had some reason in regarde of the loue he beares you and the outragious tumult which happened to doo as he hath doone but I hope in the end all will sort to the best and that you your selfe shall remaine contented Manie other spéeches passed betwéene them till at length the Empresse left her and departed for she thought long till she was with the Emperour to let him know the talke betwéene her and Griana which shee didde without omitting anie thing notwithstanding hee was more seuere to his Daughter euerie daie after Then sent hee for the Ambassadours and thus he began with them My Lordes at this time I am aduised that you shall returne to your King my Brother for in respect of the accidents which you haue séene to happen I will craue pardon for this tyme referring matters ouer till some other time when thinges shall fall in better disposition The Ambassadours vnderstanding the Emperours pleasure the next daie tooke their leaue towarde the King their Maister to whom they declared the whole in generall whereat hee conceiued such dyspleasure as he presentlie sent for his Sonne Tarisius who had not as yet recouered his health But he was so enamered on yâ— yong Princesse as he would not obey his Fathers commaund but so soone as he was indifferentlie amended he intreated the Emperour to pardon his Daughter accusing his owne men who vndiscreetlie had raised this false rumour of her and Florendos By this meanes the Empresse and her Ladies obtained libertie dailie to accompanie Griana but all the night time he caused her to bee locked vp as closelie as before committing her to the charge of an aged Gentlewoman named Tolomestra whom hee commaunded on paine of death not to bee a minute of an houre forth of her companie CHAP. VIII Howe Florendos arriuing on the frontiers of Macedon made manie sorrowfull complaints for not bringing Griana away according to his enterprise NO sooner had Florendos Frenato ouertane their companie but they rid on in such hast fearing to be followed as at length they got the Frontiers of Macedon And because Florendos imagined himselfe without life not hearing anie tydinges from his Mistresse Griana he concluded to rest at the first Towne he came too there to expect the returne of the Esquire he sent to Constantinople who returned towards his Maister sooner then he looked for by reason of the little aboad he made in the Emperours Court for he staied not when he hearde that Griana was imprisoned and that Tarisius was not slaine as his Maister was perswaded These newes did wonderfullie afflict the Prince as well for the harde vsage of his swéete Fréende as that he had fayled in killing him by whose death he well hoped to recouer his losse all the whole daie would he receiue no sustenance but locked himselfe close in his Chamber and tombled on his bedde as a man halfe desperate But Frenato who would not be long absent from him fearing least his furie woulde cause him worke some violence on himselfe made such meanes yâ— hee got into the Chamber at what time the Prince was thus lamenting Alas swéete Madame was I borne in such an vnhappie houre that without desert you must indure imprisonment for me What satis-faction maie your Florendos liue to make in requitall of this iniurie When didde you euer merit to be so hardlie intreated for him Beléeue me coulde you bee discharged so soone as I coulde wyshe it bolts locks nor walles coulde holde you a thought whyle yet wyshing is no action euerie thing is contrarie to me al helpes refuse me and death likewise denies me but by my sworde and therewith he started vp in spight of whatsoeuer I will deliuer you Frenato
for which where euer thou câ—mmest be thou named the most vngrateful Knight that euer drew Sworde séeking her death so cruelly who loues thée deerer then her owne life These complaints made the sorrowful Laurana before the Duchesse not sparing to discharge the whole burthen of her oppressed hart her Mother not daring to gainesay her but expected when the shoulde depart this life wherefore perswading her from dispaire shee swéetelie promised to worke so with Palmerin as he should staie and enioy her to his wife But all was in vaine for he mounted on horsebacke and accompanied with Ptolome and Vibanillo left the Cittie of Durace no one knowing which way they were ridden Palmerin coÌ„uerted into such heauines as nothing coulde torment him more so earnest was his desire to sée her whome fate and Fortune had appointed for him CHAP. XXI Howe Palmerin and Ptolome met with a Damosell who made great mone for a Casket which two Knights had forcibly taken from her and what happened to them BEeing thus departed from Durace these Knights rode along thinking in what heauines they had left the Dukes Daughter when Palmerin accusing himself as guiltie of this mischaunce within himselfe thus sadlie discoursed Unhappy man that euer thou cammest into this CouÌ„try where thou hast left so harde an opinion of thy selfe as while thou liuest thou shalt be the worse estéemed and well worthie for iustlie maist thou be accused of disloyaltie in making meanes to obtaine the loue of the faire Princesse Laurana and hauing conquered wher thou desiredst to make so light account of her as thou haste doone Had death preuented thée before shee had béene satis-fied thine honour defended and thy vnknowne Polinarda no way iniuried which spéeches made the teares to trickle down his chéekes when Ptolome looking aside espyed him and gessing the cause of his sadnes said Uerily I neuer thought to sée such womannishe behauiour in you nor that any gréefe or mis-fortune should haue teares so soone at commaundement Howe will you héereafter withstande so manie casualties hard aduentures and daungerous stratagems with manie sundrie narrowe brunts that you must passe thorow when I sée you vnable to ouercome your own selfe béeing supprized by her teares to whome you haue doone honour to affoorde a good countenaunce If you had receiued of her the swéetes of loue reason might then plead in your excuse but hauing no way misprised her honour or offered offence to modest chastitie what iniurie may shée saie that you haue doone her Forget I praie you these vnséemelie fashions hardly agréeing with a Knight of such report as you are let vs finde some thing els to talke on and tell me which way you intende to iourney By my life ê™ Palmerin I knowe not but let vs take which way Fortune shall please to conduct vs. I thinke it best then sayde Ptolome that we shape our course towarde Rome where we shall finde people of all Nations by whome we maie be instructed as concerning aduentures worthy our trauaile and guyding to honour On then chéerelie quoth Palmerin and so they trauailed eight daies togeather not méeting with any aduenture worthy to be spoken off till at length they met a Damosell heauily mourning who saide Alas what will shee saie whose trust was onelie in mee hauing lost the thing wherein consisted her hope to recouer yâ— highest of her noble desires Palmerin hearing these wordes and mooued with compassion rode to her demaunded the cause of her mourning Sir Knight quoth she I was sent by a Ladye with a Caskette wherein was one of the best Swordes in the whole worlde which is so enchaunted as none can drawe it out of the skabbard but hee that is esteemed the worthiest Knight liuing but before any be admitted to make proffe of this aduenture hee must graunt a request that I am to aske him With this Sword haue I trauailed many strange Countries as Fraunce Italie Sclauonye and diuerâ— other where many haue tryed but no one yet could finish the aduenture whereuppon I was thys daie trauailing towarde the Emperours Courte of Greece and heereby I met with two Knights who hauing hearde the cause of my long trauaile made proofe of their fortune one after another and bothe failed whereat they were so offended as they tooke the Casket from me perforce and are gone there with I knowe not whither which dooth so gréeue me in respect of her losse towards whom I am as death woulde be more welcome to mee then life Faire Uirgin saide Palmerin doo not discomfort your selfe but she we mee which way they rode that dealt with you so discourteouslie Gentle Knight quoth shee if your hap be to restore my losse againe you doo the most gracious acte that euer Knight did for a distressed Damosell These Traytors to honour whereof the one is in Crunson Armour bearing in his Shéelde thrée Lyons heades tooke this waie by the woode and as yet I am sure they canne not be farre hence Then Palmerin clasped his Helmet and taking his Sword and Launce desired Ptolome to garde the Damosell and follow him galloping that way which she had shewed him and by the time he had rid two miles he espied them he looked for talking with an other Knight they had mette and they thrée togeather were assaying to open the Casket to whom Palmerin cryed Trecherous villaines that can not méete with Ladies on the waie but must offer them iniurie deliuer the Casket or yee die One of the two turned presently and séeing him that thus threatned them to be alone not moouing a â—ote began to laughe and scornefullie returned this aunswere Softlie softlie good Sir God pardon their soules whome you kill so easilie but for all hys words Palmerin ran against them and they at him so that he receiued a small wounde on his shoulder in recompence whereof he gaue one of them a pasport into another world and laid so lustilie on the seconde as he set him quicklie beside his saddle When the third sawe his companions at so harde a reckoning he said to himselfe By my faith he spake not vnaduisedlie that said A safe escape is better then a bad tarrying And allowing this sentence for currant in his owne opinion gaue the spurs to his Horse making hast away with the Casket so fast as hee coulde but Palmerin béeing somewhat better mounted got such aduauntage of this runaway as with his sword he parted his right arme from his bodie whereuppon he fell to the grounde and the Casket with him Then Palmerin alighted and tooke it vp and leauing the Knight there returned which way he came when opening the Casket he tooke great pleasure in behelding the Sworde which was meruailous costlie yet would he not prooue to drawe it foorth because he knewe not her pleasure to whom it appertained At length he espied Ptolome comming who came apace if néede had béene to assist him but when he knewe how he had ouercome yâ— Knights and recouered the
presented his Cozins the one named Edron proude and arrogant and the other Edward of selfe same qualitie These two tooke their oathes with the Countie that the Princes accused conspired the Kinges death in such sort as hath béene before declared and olde Adrian Dyardo and fayre Cardonya sware the contrary But it is true and I wil not denie it said the Prince Dyardo that I haue and doo loue Ladie Cardonya as much or rather more then mine owne selfe yet neuer did I cary any other intent but to request her in holie wedlocke so pleased the King and Quéene to like so well thereof as we coulde But that euer I intended treason or villainie it is most false and Countie thou liest in thy throate and thy copartners that haue sworne with thee It is sufficient said Palmerin but my Lord ê™ he to the King if wee be conquerers the accused shall bee deliuered and the accusers hanged What saie you Countie quoth the King Good reason Sir the like doo we request if we be victors Will you saide Palmerin that eache shall helpe his fellow as he findes it conuenient What els said the Countie that is expedient While this talke endured Edron regarded so well Palmerin that hee espied the Sworde which the Damosell carried in the Casket and brought to that Courte as she did to others which shewing the Countie he saide out aloude Where did the deuils finde this Knight to giue him this Sworde Belike they gaue him strength to drawe it out els he might haue failed as manie other did the Damosell was vnwise to bestowe it in such bad sorte At which wordes Palmerin beeing angry returned Edron this rounde auâ—swere I see Knight there is in thee more brauery and foolishe glorie then manlie action thou blamest mee before thou knowest me but ere you and I part I le finde better reason to bestowe on you and beate better gouernment into your pate with this sword that likes you not This caused euery one wishlie to beholde Palmerin the King remembring that he had séene the Sworde which none in his Court coulde deserue to conquere whereuppon he estéemed so well of Palmerin as he commaunded Edron to silence and all to goe arme themselues because hee intended that day to see the Combat fought CHAP. XXV Howe Palmerin Adrian Ptolome entered the Combat against the Countie of Ormeque and his Cozins whom they honorably vanquished AFter the King had commaunded the Knights to goe arme themselues he gaue charge to foure of his auncientest Knights to see the fielde prouided and there to place the Iudges according to the wonted custome in Bohemia the Knights béeing careful of the Kinges commaunde had soone prepared all things in readines wherefore the King his Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen went to sée the issue of this valiant enterprise Then was the Prince Dyardo and faire Cardonya brought into the fielde before whom was made a very great fire wherein they should be burned if the Countie conquered Soone after came the sixe Combatants who entered at two places appointed one against the other the Challengers beeing conducted by two of the Iudges to their place and the Defendants by the other two where they were appointed so the Iudges beeing placed the Marshal summoned the fielde and the Heraldes bid the Champions doo their deuoâ—re Palmerin had good regard to Edron whose words sticking on his stomacke called now for reuenge wherefore couching his Launce he encountered him with such a full carrire as his Launce passed through his bodie and Edron tombled dead to the ground In the meane while the Countie and Prince Adrian had vnhorssed eache other Adrian so sore wounded as he could hardlie helpe himselfe as for Ptolome and Edward they had astonied each other with falles from their Horsses but they recouered themselues quicklie and with sharpe strokes beganne to charge eache other valiantly Greatlie ashamed was the Countie to bee vnhorssed and therfore to recouer his honour he came with great furie towardes his enemie which Palmerin perceiuing stept betwéene them saying To me Countie to mee who wil bid more for thy heade then anie in the field With which wordes he reached him such a sure stroke on the head as made the fire flie foorth of his eyes notwithstanding as a man of good courage he stept aside thrusting his sword into Palmerins Horse throate enforced him quickly to take him to his féete but all the worse for him as it fell out afterwarde for Palmerin hauing beaten him out of breath he flong away his weapon and caught him about the middle where they tugged so long togeather that Palmerin getting him downe and his knées on his belly with his sword soone tooke his heade from his shoulders All this while Ptolome had good play with his enemie and after manie daungerous woundes receiued on either side at length hee had the better of the daie by killing his aduersarie Then he and Palmerin went to the Iudges who giuing theÌ„ sentence of honourable victory they tooke of their Helmets came to sée in what estate the Prince Adrian was Euill enough quoth he my noble good Fréends but the lesse account doo I make of my life in that mine eyes haue séene due vengeaunce on mine enemies Then was he nobly borne forth of the fielde the King commaunding to lodge him in his owne Pallace and the Chirurgions searching his wounds founde them mortall which newes did gréeue the whole Court ingenerall the good olde Prince yet béeing of some courage was ioyfull to die in so good sorte hauing defended his owne honour and his Sonnes whâ—me he sent for and in the presence of all the standers by saâ—d My Son séeing it hath pleased God thus to sende for me good reason is it that his will bee fulfilled but ere I depart this I commaunde thée that next God thou truely serue and loue my Lorde the King bearing towards him a hart so faithfull as I haue doone to the hower of my death and conceiue no essence at what hath passed against thée and me hauing come to passe as I iudge more by euill counsel then any setled perswasion against vs. For the rest to thy vttermost remeÌ„ber the good thou hast this daie receiued by yâ— noble Knight who is called Palmerin then calling Palmerin to him hee saide Sir Palmerin death hath seized so surelie on me as I cannot let you know a number of things that concerne you very néerelie I counsell you therefore to trauaile to yâ— Emperours Court of Allemaigne where you shal heare tidings of that you séeke so earnestlie with which wordes hee deliuered vppe his ghost And because it seemeth good â—re I passe any further to let you knowe how the Prince Adrian came by the knowledge of Palmerin thus it is I haue heretofore reported that he was a notable Cabalist or Magitian by meanes whereof fewe secrets were concealed from him so casting the Callender of most honourable byrthes he haâ—pened on Palmerin and
contenting himselfe with this because hée loued her so specially At fiftéene dayes end the feastes béeing ended the Princes tooke their leaue of the great Sultane who with many rich presents sent them home into their Countryes Thus remained Agriola with the great Turke and the Knight to whom Olimael had giuen Ptolome and Colmelio sailed with his prisoners into Aethiopia and thenceforward vsed them not as slaues but as Gentlemen of good qualitie especially Ptolome whom hée reputed a hardie Knight and a man borne to great enterprises Chap. III. How Palmerin after his recreation returned to the sea side and seeing the Ship and his companie gone made great lamentation and what after followed BEfore in this Historie you haue heard how Palmerin walking on shore with his Faulcon on his fist desired to see the pleasantnesse of the Isle and finding so manie delights to with-holde him returned not towarde the Ship till it was néere night but when hée came thither againe and could not sée the Shippe nor anie one to question withall he was greatly amazed running héere and there yet all to no purpose Sometime 〈◊〉 imagined that Trineus had betrayed him because he had acquainted him with his loue toward his Sister and then againe resolued himselfe on the contrarie All about hee looked for his companions not knowing what to think whether they were carried away by Pirats or taken prisoners by the Inhabitants of the Island In the end hauing compassed in his minde all imaginations hee could and séeing that by his regard of pleasure he had lost his Friendes hee entred into many sorrowfull lamentations farre 〈…〉 Cadmus when hee lost his Souldiers by the horrible Serpent cursing and exclaiming on himselfe as he had béene guiltie of the death of his father Alas quoth hee why did I not remember these wretched misfortunes by poore Varnan whose sorrowes was likewise procured by a Hawke in haplâ—sse houre was this wicked Byrde giuen me Ah trecherous and deceiuing strumpet I thinke thou art some incorporate Fiende sent from Hell to iniurie the most constant Louers and therefore gentle Oâ—le or rather enchanted Diuell thou shalt neuer hereafter displeâ—â—â— any other so taking her by the necke hée pulled her in 〈◊〉 and said Ah sweete Lady Polynarda how contrarie is Fortuneâ— and howe vnhappily our desirâ—s preuented well am I assured if Trineus come to the Court without me it will endanger your life and the onely thing that sheeldes mée from death is comfortable hope to sée you once again Therfore diuine mistresse I call for your succour that by your gracious assistante I may endure these vehement occasions Ah gentle Princesse Agriola howe haue I deceiued you but in requitall of your wrong no rest nor ease shall possesse my soule till I haue brought Trineus and you 〈◊〉 as great ioy as by my meanes you haue receiued discomfort In these complaints 〈◊〉 laide him downe 〈…〉 and so wasted the time till morning camâ— when 〈◊〉 no treatures to speake withall nor any meane for his to pâ—sse the Sea hee determined to passe through the Island till hee might méete some body to â—oâ—ferre with Thus hauing no defence but his sword vnder his arme hee walked along and at length he met a Moore with foure Spanielles and a Marlin on his fist whome hee humbly saluting demaunded the name of the Countrey and if there were any shipping neere for his passage The Moore perceiuing by his language that he was a Christian in great anger answered Art thou come so farre to séeke thine owne misfortune by Mahomet I shall welcome thee hither with a vengeance So laying hande on his Semitary Palmerin perceiuing by his gesture though hee vnderstood not his talk that he wished him no good wherefore drawing his sword hee gaue the Moore such a stroke on the head as he cleaued it to his very téeth and sayd By God villaine thou shalt not take me prisoner or send me into the sea to séeke my raunsome and so may all discourteous varlets be serued as resemble thée in conditions Thus leauing the Moore dead hée tooke another way least if he should bée followed hée might fall into danger but séeing hee was vnarmed and could not speake the Arabian tongue hée imagined that at length he must néedes be taken Hereupon he returned backe to the Moore and taking his garments left his own there and thence forward determined to counterfeit himselfe dumbe by which subtiltie he thought to escape vnknowne and preuent his imprisonment till hee founde meanes to returne to wards Allemaigne againe The day stealling on apace and darke night approching he came to a fayre Fountaine of the cleerest water in his opinion that euer hee sawe where laying him downe to rest consumed the night as quietly as he could On the morrow he began to remember his miseries his dangers past and such as 〈◊〉 imminent the conceit whereof made him very melancholy so after hée hadde eaten a little bread which hee â—ound in the Moores budget according to the maner of Diogenes he layd him downe againe and slept Chap. IIII. How Palmerin counterfeiting himselfe dumbe in the Isle of Calpha was found by certaine Turkes as he lay a sleepe by the Fountaine and howe hee was receiued into the seruice of Alchidiana Daughter to the Soldane of Babilon NOw that you may the more easily vnderstand in that which followeth the full intent of our discourse you must call to memorie how Gamezio who was slaine before Constantinople by the Prince Florendos as you haue heard in the first parte of this Historie was Sonne to the Soldane of Babilon named Mysos and brother to Maulicus who at his death was a verie yong prince Mysos vnderstanding by his Subiects that Gamezio the hope of his declining age was gone by the summons of Atropos to the habitation of the Gods could not afterward enioy the health of body or quiet in minde and therefore ere a yeere was fully expired hée went to séeke his sonne among his equalles in the fields of Elysium Before hée tooke his iourney wherein no creature returneth againe hée charged his succéeding Sonne Maulicus to reuenge his brothers death béeing perswaded that himselfe should not be discharged of his infortunate remembrance in the other world if hée failed to accomplish his latest commaundement Maulicus not to hinder his departure promised he would yet could hee not fulfill it beeing troubled in his own Kingdoms more then 20 yeeres after But after he had reduced the rebellious Prouinces into obedience he married with the King of Armeniaes Daughter by whom he had the Princesse Alchidiana one of the most beautifull and gracious Laâ—ies of her time who beeing come to age of experience was so loued of her fathâ—r as he would neuer suffer her out of his sight so that he made 〈◊〉 to all such as requested her in marriage Alchidiana when shee vnderstood her owne singularitie desired the 〈◊〉 of the most beautifull Ladies in Asia because she held this
Ladyes eares Neyther can you in my iudgement honour him sufficiently because my Daughter and mée hee hath shéelded from death expulsed our ignominious slaunder and slaine our false accusing enemy to make vs liue in perpetuall fame and memory The most part of them well 〈◊〉 his words and confounded with the remembrance 〈◊〉 theyr shame when they 〈◊〉 not enterprise the Combat for their Lady knew not what to answere but fearing to grow in further offence sought how to change his minde to some other talke Alchidiana béeing all this while in her Chamber prepared her selfe to goe visite 〈◊〉 not knowing how to shape her 〈◊〉 for fresh bewraying of 〈…〉 for the Goddesse Iuno when shée stoode before Syr Paris for sentence of her beautie was not more sumptuously adorned then the Princesse Nowe be 〈◊〉 shée to dispute in her thoughts the honourable graceâ— of Palmerin his nobilitie so farre renowmed his knightly prowesse and magnanimitie whereof herselfe had so good experience as shée resolued neuer to haue any other Husband Then 〈◊〉 she of her Ladies how she might 〈◊〉 her Knight if her head â—yre 〈◊〉 orderly if her 〈…〉 were tressed as they ought and if her garments were braue enough For conclusion the louely Mayden knew not how to dispose of herselfe to gaine his loue shée so earnestly longed for In this equipage she goes to sée her Friend and in his Chamber shée findes her Mother who hindered her languishing Daughter from discouering her sicknesse to him that onely had the power to helpe her wherefore liuing in hope of some better oportunitie for this time she smothered her gréefes so wel as she could finding other talke with her Ladies least her mother should suspect her Chap. XIII How the brethren of Amarano would haue buried his bodie in the Tombe with Ardemia which Alchidiana would not suffer but constrained them to carrie him home againe into his Countrey AMarano thus slaine his Brethren according to his charge thus giuen them before hée entred the Combat tooke his bodie and with great mourning they brought it to the Princesse Ardemiaes Tombe thinking to burie him there with her but Alchidmia aduertised héereof came presently and intreated her Father that hée woulde sende an Herauld to the Brethren of the vanquished Prince to charge them not to leaue the bodie of Amarano in his Dominions for if they did he would cause it to be burned as a Traytor deserued Moreouer that they themselues should depart within foure and twentie hours on paine of the daunger should ensue by their default For good Father quoth she if you should permitte their boldnesse it will be great blame and dishonour to you in that it is commonly knowne with what great pride and arrogancie he came to your Court thinking to iniurie your good report and eyther to shut mée from your presence for euer or else with open scandale to ende my life The Soldane well regarding her wordes willingly graunted her request whereupon the Princesse Brethren were certified of the Soldanes pleasure by a Trumpet whereat they maruailed not a little but séeing they could no way remedie it they said Herauld it is reason that your Lord should bée obeied within his owne territories neuerthelesse you may say vnto him that the crueltie he shewes to a dead bodie is verie great and against all equitie which he héereafter happilie may repent So opening the Tombe againe they tooke foorth their Brothers bodie and the Princesse Ardemiaes likewise conuaying them into a Litter of Cipres to kéepe them from corrupting and thus returned with them to Phrygia where the Princes death was greatly lamented but chéefly by the aged King his Father who séeing his Sonne dead before him after many dolorous passions thus complained Ah Fortune howe cruell doost thou shew thy selfe to the mightie as well as the meanest Ah my Sonne Amarano too déere hast thou bought thy loue to Ardemia Wretched and dispised olde man howe vnfortunate art thou among all other For when thou perswadest thy selfe to haue ioy and comfort by thy Sonnes thou findest the chéefe cause of sorrowe and discontent O death thou sufferest me too importunate Yet if the Soldane had graunted thée buriall where thou diddest desire it before thy death the lesse had béene my gréefe But soone shall I cause him repent his hard dealing and reuenge thy death with sufficient requitall The second brother to Amarano named Gramiel séeing his father in such extreame heauinesse assayed by all meanes he coulde to comfort him promising in the presence of all his Knights with all possible spéede to reuenge his Brothers death and so did all the sixe Brethren solemnly vowe togither Which spéeches did somewhat comfort the aged King who commaunded the bodies of the two louers to be taken from his presence and for a perpetuall memorie of his Sonnes death he caused a sumptuous monument to be made of marble and Porphire whereon was grauen the cause of their vnhappie death All this while Gramiell who vndertooke his Brothers reuenge gaue charge to the people round about him as also to the Kinges and Princes of Suria who were then enemies to the Soldane to prepare themselues in readinesse so that within a Moneths space hée had assembled a power of fiue thousand hardie Soldiers himselfe béeing appointed leader and generall ouer them In this sort they tooke themselues to the Feelde hoping to ruinate the Soldanes Countrey with fire and sworde but they were better entertained then they expected as hereafter shall bée largely discoursed Chap. XIIII Howe Alchidiana ouercome by vehemencie of her loue offered her selfe to Palmerin as his wife and of the aunswere he made her REmembring what hath past in the chapters before we may not forget how by the message of the Quéene of Tharsus sent to the Soldanes Court Alchidiana who began as it were to despise Palmerin was coÌ„strained to renue her loue thus conferring with her selfe that if so great a person as the Quéene of Tharsus commended estéemed and honoured him hauing neuer séene him the better meane had she béeing dayly in his companie to practise the furtheraunce of her earnest desires Shée therefore continually awayted oportunitie to discouer the fire newly raked from the embers and which day and night consumed her with languishing but so well it came to passe that not many dayes after the Combat with Amarano hee came to visite her in her Chamber right ioyfull of the talke hee had with the Soldan as coÌ„cerning the prouision of his strength to goe ruinate the Citie of Constantinople which gaue him hope of his returne to Allemaigne Alchidiana hauing courteously saluted him and shewing better countenaunce then before shée did caused him to sit downe by her and soone after began in this sort I desire you Sir Knight by the reuerence you beare our Godâ— and the â—ayth you owe to her for whose loue you tooke the enchaunted Crowne from the Prince Maurice to tell me your name what your Parents be and of whence
as you can better conceiue then I expresse After all these courteous grâ—etings they went to the Court where began a fresh occasion of ioy betwéene the Empresse and her Nephewe Netrydes shée then embracing him in her Armes thus spake Ah my noble Nephew how haue the Heauens blessed me with speciall fauour in suffering me before my death to sée my chéefest Fréendes whom I was out of all hope to behold againe especiallie you whose long absence from your Countrey hath rather deliuered imagination of your death then life Neuerthelesse it is the prouidence of the highest that after all the troubles you suffered in your youth you might receiue the recompence in your age by the knightlie honour and bountie of your linage In sooth Madame sayd Netrydes not so pleasant to mée is high preferment as that I liue to sée my sonne againe for hauing contented my selfe in my little Castle with a life frée from offence and sollitarie I did account it to excéede all other but nowe séeing in my declining yéeres the God of Heauen hath thought good that I might profit his people the thought were base and abiect in me to make refusall So long were they deuising on these and other matters as the good night beeing giuen on all sides the Emperour caused these newe come Fréendes to bée conducted to theyr lodgings But on the morrowe when Palmerin came to bid the Emperour good morrow he thus began You knowe my Lord that a Common wealth without a heade and Gouernour as for example is the Realme of Hungaria cannot long endure without sedicious tumults or rebellion wherefore vnder your Maiesties reuerende regarde I thinke it expedient that my Sister Armida shoulde bee giuen in mariage to Sir Frysoll because in nobilitie of minde and perfection of iudgement hardly may so good a Knight be found nor shée enioy a fitter Husbande and so may the Realme lineallie discende from Netrides nowe aged to his noble sonne The Emperour liked well of this aduise wherefore the same day were Frysoll and the Princesse Armida espoused togither to the good lyking of all but especially of the louers themselues whose secrete desires were now effectuallie requited After the feast was ended Netrides instituted Gouernour of Hungaria departed with his wife and Sons to his Kingdome where hee was receiued very honorablie by his subiects who had not forgot their former loue to him and the vnnatural dealing of their king his deceased brother Chap. XXXIX How Palmerin tooke his leaue of the Emperor his father and mother to follow the search of the Prince Trineus CErtaine daies after the solemnitie of this honorable mariage was ended betwéene Frysoll and the yong Princesse of Hungaria Netrides likewise gone to his seate of gouernment all the Lordes and Princes of the Empire except such as continuallie aboad in the Emperors Court returned to their own homes yâ— like did al the strange knights that came to the tryumphs except the king of Sparâ—a and the Lords of Macedon Wherefore Palmerin nowe remembring his promise to his Ladie and how long he had stayed slothfull at Constantinople determined to departe and vnderstanding that his Father was with the Emperor came to them with these spéeches My gracious Lords it is now thrée monethes and more that I haue remained héere by your commaundement contrarie to the promise that I made my Ladie wherfore â—y your leaue I am nowe determined to departe hence before the Duke of Lorrayne returne backe againe that hée may assure my Lord the Emperour that I am gone to séeke my Fréendes My Sonne quoth the Emperour vnwilling am I thou shouldest leaue vs so soone but if the matter may not be contraryed in respect you are bounde to her by faithfull promise who aboue all other deserueth loyall seruice I neither maye or will gaine-saye you but intreate your returne so soone as may be You shall therefore take with you a good companie of Knightes who may preuent anie sâ—nister occasions which your trauaile in strange Countreyes happilie may offer that my hart enioying life by your presence may once more sée you before my date bée expired I beséech you my Lord aunswered Palmerin gréeue not your selfe by my absence which shall not be long I hope neither will the multitude of Knights auaile in my enterprise for more by fortune then by force of Armes must the aduenture bée finished Doo then as you thinke good aunswered the Emperour in meane time I will cause prouision for your traine Palmerin hauing now licence to depart perswaded Frysoll so earnestlie as hee coulde to abide aâ— Constantinople as well for the loue he bare his Sister Armida as because he was loth to depart the new maried couple but all the circumstances he could vse might not perswade him for his religious vowe to his Fréend excéeded his affection to the Princesse so that for a flat resolution he aunswered that nothing but death shoulde seperat their companie Palmerin seeing Frysoll continue in his former amitie and that the desire which conquers all men coulde not preuaile in his noble minde reioysed greatlye thereat determining to recompence his princelie kindnesse if Fortune did not contrarie him in this enterprised iourney And fearing least anie newe occasion should arise to delaye this intent dispatched presently his Letters to the Emperor of Allemaigne and his Ladie Polynarda honoring his highnesse Ambassadours with manie sumptuous gifts Hauing nowe ordered all his affayres and euerie one béeing ready to mount on horsebacke hée came to bid the Queene his Mother farewell for well he knewe that if shée could any waie hinder his departure his iourney should be soone preuented The Quéene with motherlie loue embracing her Sonne saide Ah my Sonne 〈◊〉 thou béene so short a time with me and wilt thou now leaue mee trust me it is a point of great vngentlenesse to deale so hardly with thy mother but séeing the Emperour and my Lorde haue giuen their consent my gain-saye will bée to little purpose And nothing would it auaile mée to sette before thine eyes the inconstancie of Fortune her sleights and trecherie commonly against great persons when they are in the waye to prosperitie honor and renowme Therefore my sonne I committe shée to the protection of Heauen desiring thée to regard mine honor which by thée ought to be defended and now may runne in daunger of common reproche in that the vulgar sort iudge after their owne humours not according to the quallitie and estimation of vertue For this cause let thine returne be the sooner as thou tenderest my life and thine owne good All which Palmerin promised to doo and so comming downe into the Court founde there the Emperour and his Father mounted on horsebacke who bare him companie two miles from the Citie where after many courtesies betwéene them the Emperour and Florendos returned to the Courte againe where the Duke of Lorrayne stayed their comming when taking his leaue likewise went aboorde and sayled with so good a winde
of so straunge and variable fortunes said I thought my Daughter had learned more modestie then leauing her Fathers Court to followe a Knight vnknowne to her in straunge Countries but séeing the ende hath fallen out so well hencefoorth I shall remaine in better contentment séeing a Prince of so great renowne hath now espoused her While this conference endured the Duke earnestly beheld the Princesse Sabinda Daughter to the Prince of Sansuega and Néece to the Quéene and of such excellent grace and beautie he estéemed her as forgetting the death of his Father who deceased since his departure from Allemaigne hée became so amourous of her that he demaunded of the Quéene if shée were her Daughter Shée is not my Daughter quoth the Quéene but the Daughter of my Brother the Princes of Sansuega Right glad was the Duke thereof and resolued to request her of the King in marriage who knowing the honourable place he held among the Prince of Greece and what account Palmerin made of him consented thereto so that within fewe dayes after they were espoused togither Herevpon to accompany the Princesse and to confirm the peace the King sent the Duke of Gaule and another great Lorde with them into Allemaigne the Quéen likewise sent twelue English Ladies to attend on her Daughter Thus returned the Duke of Mecaena to Vienna where 〈◊〉 was worthily welcommed by the Emperour Palmerin and Tryneus especially the yong Duchesse and the Ambassadours of England by whom the peace was faithfully ratified and confirmed Chap. LXII How Palmerin and Polinarda departed from Vienna toward Constantinople where after the decease of the aged Emperour Remicius Palmerin was crowned Emperour of Greece and what ioy was made at the byrth of Polinarda her first sonne AFâ—â—er the Ambassadours of England were returned home Palmerin pereciuing the Empire of Allemaigne was in quiet tooke his leaue of the Emperor minding to conduct his Polinarda to Constantinople not without manie sorrowfull lamentations of the mother to forgo her daughter and faire Agriola her new acquainted sister yet the Emperour pacified them well inough by shewing what benefit this contract would be to Christendome and so procéeded to his daughter in this maner Thou goest Polinarda to the séate of a great Empire but more pleaseth mée the péerelesse name of Palmerin d'Oliua thy husbands then the regiment of such a mightie Monarche Farewell faire Daughter continue in faithfull loue and obedience remembring the reuerende honour a Wife oweth to her Husband Polinarda hearing with what earnest affection her Father spake was so ouercome with modest duetie of a Childe to her Father as shée was not able to aunswere one word which Palmerin beholding kissed the Emperours hande embraced Tryneus and tooke a courteous farewell of all the Ladies commaunding the Pages presently to bring away the Princesse 〈◊〉 saying to her Madame the longer you staie héere the greater will be your conceit of sorrow by absence the griefe will be forgotten let vs then merely iourney to the Cittie of Constantinople where they that neuer sawe you wil reioyce more at your comming then all the Allemaignes can sorrow for your departure With like comfortable spéeches Palmerin frequented his Ladie by the way till at length they entred the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll with his chéefest Lords attended their comming to whom Palmerin in iesting said Brother I haue aduentured to bring your Sister Polinarda into your Kingdome take héede if you laie claime to her now as sometime yée did for I am readie to defende her against whosoeuer dare I perceiue my Lorde quoth Frysoll that you will haue my follie generally knowne I pray 〈◊〉 let no such youthfull pranckes be nowe remembred for as you are the chéefest in chiualrie so haue the destenie giuen you a Ladie whome no one in the whole world may paragon Well may it be said that God and Nature fore-pointed this match nothing inferiour to louelie Paris and faire Helena or puissaunt Hector and wise Andromacha Frysoll accompanied them so farre as Alba where courteously parting from each other Frysoll returned to his Kingdome and Palmerin soone after came to Constantinople where no litle ioy was made for his safe arriual especially for the Princesse Polinarda who was a right welcome Ladie into Greece the olde Emperour prouiding such deuises and tryumphes as the Chronicles to this daye recorde the memorie thereof About tenne or twelue Monethes after Polynarda was deliuered of a goodly Sonne who was named Primaleon whereat the good olde Emperour so inwardly reioyced as his spirit onely comforted in the good fortune of his Sonnes and fearing afterwarde to sée anie sinister chaunce fall to them departed this fraile and transitorie life whose death was signified thrée dayes before by the enchaunted Bird. His Funerall was performed as beséemed so great an estate and faine woulde Palmerin haue had his Father the King Florendos crowned Emperour earnestly labouring the Princes in the cause But he desiring them to holde him excused returned them this answere Great offence were it to God my Friendes that the honour due to him who gaue me libertie defended my renowne and saued my life shoulde bee taken from him and giuen mée for if vertue authoritie and good fortune are the properties whereby to make choyse of an Emperour Palmerin is verie many degrées before me As for his generositie it is so well knowne to you that it were but lost labour to make report thereof For his authoritie the â—arbarous nations among whome hée hath liued and conqueringly controlled deliuer sufficient testimonie And for his high good fortune in all his enterprises where is the man that may bee equalled with him or what hath hée at anie time attempted but he hath finished the same with wonderfull honour I could name Kings and Princes that raign onely by his meanes To speake of the victories he hath obtained either in battell or single Combate your eyes haue beheld and the whole worlde apparantly witnesseth This dare I boldly say and some of you doo know it better then I that his onely name will be more feared in Greece then all your fore-passed Emperours haue bene by their greatest puissance So well did the people like what the King Florendos had sayd as immediately was the Prince Palmerin proclaimed Emperour of Constantinople and the same day he was crowned according to the accustomed rites and ceremonies Not long afterward did the King Florendos stay with his Sonne but returned with his Quéene to Macedon where hée goueâ—ned in loue and iustice among his Subiects daily sending Messengers to Constantinople as well to vnderstand the health of the Emperour and Empresse as also of yong Prymaleon who daily increased in strength and beautie Chap. LXIII How the Prince Olorico and Alchidiana thinking to trauaile to Constantinople to see the Emperour Palmerin and the Empresse Polinarda strayed on the Sea And what sorrowful mone she made and how she was found by Palmerin IN one of the Chapters before you