ill bestowed vpon you that imploy your selfe in the persecution of a faire Damosel when you are both bound by dutie and by law of armes to defend her Sir answered the strange knight I desire you let not the fained teares and vniust complauit of this Strumpet inueigle your minde for it is not troth that she reporteth neither am I so base minded to pursue her causlesse The knight of the Sauage man was so perswaded by the Damosell that he would not credite what he said bnt answered him thus Sir you shall rather disaduantage me then dishonour her and therefore prouide for your selfe The strange knight seeing him so egerly bent said I am content since you will enforce me to it and not rule your desire by reason Whereupon touching their Speares they met together couragiously so that the strange knight was cast and the knight of the Sauage man faine to leape off from his horse and drawing their Swordes they layde at each other very cruelly to the great hurt of them both In the meane time they were in figh the Damosell had left them and returned accompanied with two knights more shewing them the knight of the Sauage man and saide Behold Sir knights the man that hath slaine my Father and now would gladly worke the death of this my Brother pointing to the knight that before had pursued her wherefore I desire you to take reuengement on him At these words one of the knights alighted and perceiued the knight that the Damosell named her brother to be very sore wounded stepped betweene them saying to the knight of the Sauage man Come Traytour deale with me and not with him whose losse of blood and wearinesse beside desireth rather to take rest then the Combate The knight of the Sauage man was greatly offended at these wordes wherefore he left the other and went to him saying I will make thée either recant thy wordes or else I will leaue my life in this place So charging one another very puissantly the Knight of the Sauage man laide him at last along on the earth which the other knight séeing and also the Armor of the gentle knight to be greatly broken in many places began as followeth I sée Syr Knight you are brought into such debilitie both with the great expence of your blood as also wearinesse with long enduring the fight that I thinke it great dishonour to giue you a fresh assault and small manhood in mee to vrge you to such extremitie The knight of the Sauage man still incensed with furie for the vnkind wordes hee had receiued of them returned him presently this answere As I haue little cause to estéeme of your friendship so haue I lesse opportunity to craue your fauour and though my wounds be yrkesome in your sight yet can I endure the vttermost that you can charge me withall wherefore set apart these words and execute the extremitie of thy disloyall will Thus breaking off their talke they beganne to assault one another very rigorously so that the knight sitting on Horse-back conceiued great maruaile at the hauty courage of the knight of the Sauage man While he occupied his eies in beholding this noble exploit such féeblenesse entred the minde of his fellow that he could scarcely hold his Sword or kéepe himselfe from falling to the ground and fearing he could not escape the death being in such great disaduantage he alighted from his Horse and to the Knight of the Sauage man began in this manner Me thinkes Syr knight it were for your better assurance of health as also great gentlenes you might offer to these knights to satisfie your desire vpon this victory then to hope on a farder of me likewise so be depriued of that you might hardly spare which might yéeld you greater disaduantage then the conquest you haue gotten will enlarge your renowne Syr quoth the K. of the Sauage man except he recant the shrewde wordes he gaue me or confesse himselfe vanquished and to rest at my commaund I will finish his boldnesse by honour of my Sworde say you what you can and hee what he dare Trust me Sir answered the knight if you will not grant to such a small request as shall both extoll your Fame and manifest your friendship I shall be enforced to enter Combate with you which I am very loath to doo considering your present estate in so much as I would not be hée that should depriue you of your life Good Syr quoth the knight of the Sauadge man this care in you is more then I haue deserued or desire you should vse vnto me wherefore hereupon assure your selfe I am as able to deale with you as they haue found me indifferent to conquere them At these words the knight whom this noble Victor held in subiection fell along on the ground through faintnesse of much blood that had issued from him as also the grieuous wounds hee had so vnhappily sustained Which made this other knight to assaile the knight of the Sauadge man very rigorously in hope to haue reuenged his friends hurt with the detriment of his noble Enemies life but he found the knight of the Sauadge man so great of strength and so greatly affected to a farther Victorie that hee partly repented himselfe for entring such hazard Yet did he behaue himselfe with greater courage then the other knightes which made him endure Combat a longer time It chaunced the King of England to come on Hunting into this Forrest where espying these two knights so eager at their fight and commending both their expertnes and braue behauiour he entred betwéene them vsing great intreatie to leaue off their Combate which they presently did for that they would not disobey the kings request whom they knew and were very glad to sée The knight of the Sauadge man lifting vp his Beuer came and presented himself to the King who perceiuing him to be the knight was nourished in his Court as also the man hee had greatest delight in receyued him very graciously in signe whtreof he suffered him to kisse his hand When the King had knowledge that the other Knight was Gracian sonne to the noble Arnedes King of France he alighted from his Horse imbracing the Prince very louingly and desiring him to shewe the occasion of their discord as also what the other Knights were that lay on the ground The Prince Gracian after he had done his dutie to the King and to the Noble companie that then were there present beganne as thus If it shall like your Maiesty the knight that lieth hithermost and is nearest to your Grace is named Francian Sonne to the famous Polendos king of Thessaly In whose company to mine owne honour and eyther of our contents I trauelled from the Citie of Constantinople through many places where we haue approoued our Knighthoode and made manifest such déedes of Armes as our yeares and skill would suffer vs To this place wee were conducted by a Damosel who reported her selfe to bee
desiring him that he would suffer them to assist him as defending the challenge of the other two giants Dramusiande séeing them so well prouided would not refuse their knightly offer whereat Gracian Berolde Pompides and Floraman were somewhat offended because ther was none of them al but would gladly haue taken part with the Giant Dramusiande The Giants named Arbusar Albaroco and Berocant refused the offer which was made them answering that if there were no Giants for them to deale withal they disdained to take armes against men of no more might Elorian hearing them speake so arrogantly in a chafe tooke Arbusar by the arme saying Thou counterfeit Monster sâ—me not to excuse thy selfe so fondly from entring the Combate for in recompence of thy deserts I will present the Emperor with thy head from thy shoulders And to giue thée the better occasion to fight thou shall vnderstand that I am the Knight who brought the princesse Targiana into this Countrey and for this Knight thou séest with me I knowe his hardinesse will suâ—â—er him to deale with Albaroco now refuse the combat iâ— you dare The Giants hearing him to confesse that he had brought the Princesse Targiana from her countrey became so full of choler that they desired the place might be assigned where they presently determined to hazard the fight The Emperor commanded the place should be showen them whereabout he caused such good regard to be placed as in such dangerous affaires he was woont to doe but it was somewhat displeasant to him that â—orian should venture on such ougly follows iudging the other knight to be Palmerin of England he was in great feare least now he should chance to lose them both At such time the knights were entring the Field the Damosel of Thrace taking Florian aside secretly vsed these words vnto him Sir knight if Fortune bend her selfe against you that in this dangerous attempt your strength doe faile you commend your selfe to the clemency of some lady and doubt you not but to escape the hazard luckily God forbid said Florian that I should trust in them who haue not the power to helpe themselues much lesse can they any way send me succour or that I should prostrate my selfe to deâ—ice their fauour whose greatest libertie is continuall thraldome to an aduenturous minde With these words they all mounted on horsebacke and rode into the field the Emperour with all the Ladies and Knights hied themselues to the windowes to sée this hautie exployt and Albayzar likewise desirous to sée it came to one of the windowes desiring that the victory might fall to the Giants as he had good hope beholding their valiant and noble courage CHAP. XCIIII What happened in the fight against the Giants AFter that the Iudges were placed to discerne the fight the Trumpets sounded and they encountred one an other very couragiously euery one dealing so roughly with his enemy that this was supposed the most dangerous Combate that euer was séene The Emperor was still affectionate to behold the marueilous courage of the Knights of the Dragon as for Dramusiande and Florian they behaued themselues with such deliuer behauiour that Primaleon Florendos and all the Knights gaue great praise to the hautie valour of them all The Empresse Gridonia departed from the window greatly pittying the danger on either part but the Princesse Polinarda staied to sée the end accompanied with Targiana who was as much gréeued to sée the boldnes of Florian as she was pleased in beholding the courage of the giants by whose helpe she thought to haue reuenged the great inconstancy shee found in the prince Florian. And then he gaue the damosel of Thrace to vnderstand that it was not for want of strength he preuaild no better in the triall of the cup for albeit the giant Arbusar desended himself well he could not resist against Florian who saluted him with many mighty and cruel strokes driuing him into such wearinesse that he could hardly indure to stand on his féete At last faintnesse and wearinesse constrained them to retire when Berocant séeing his fellows so dangerously wounded began to rage with himselfe in this manner O gods is it possible that the force of Berocant Arbusar and Albaroco so highly estéemd throughout the whole world should be brought into subiection by one only giant and two knights why grant you not vs our accustomed strength but in our greatest néed leaue vs destitute of all succour How happy might I estéeme my selfe if I might vanquish him who sometime conquered Dramusiand and deliuered the number of knights he kept as Prisoners If you will not suffer me to haue aduantage ouer him then would I that here were with him foure of the best knights on the earth so losing my life on them I might the better broke this my hard fortune The Knight of the Dragon had no other recourse for his amorous thoughts but only to the beautiful face of his Lady Mistâ—es whose vngentle words at his departure from CoÌ„stantinople armd him with greater patience to abide the death if his froward hap should now prouide it for him As for the prince he had no body to apply his thoughts vnto but only coÌ„mitted himselfe to the gouernment of Fortune whom he only kept for his Lady and Mistresse Euery one vsing some pretty fancy to himselfe during the time they remained breathing assalted one another again very valiantly when the knight of the Dragon hauing brought Albaroco to his foote to honor his mistresse with his conquest he opened his helmet and before her part his head from his shoulders as glad of the victory as before he stood in doubt how to obtaine it Then he aduanced himself to assist Dramusiand against Berocant at whom he fiercely let fly a stâ—oke but their often trauersing the ground caused the blow vnfortunately to fall on Dramusiande giuing him a greater wound on the shoulder then any he had receiued at the hands of Berocant wherfore Dramusiand turned to him with these words Trust me sir knight I estéeme the succour you giue me to be oppression and no friendship wherefore I pray you suffer me to end this cause my selfe and if perhaps you sée me vanquished then put your valour in triall to kill him who shall remaine victorious ouer me for the death I rather chuse then the shame which may fall to me by this vngentle manner of ayde The knight of the Dragon hauing thus against his will iniuried his friend Dramusiande retired greatly displeased with himselfe and Aâ—busar was reduced into such weakenesse that Florian quickly gaue him his paiment so sore wounded himselfe that the Iudges would haue had him carried out of the field but he would not consent thereto before he had séene the issue of the fight which was so displeasant to Albayzar and Targiana because the giants were so cruelly vsed that they went from thence as not able to suffer such a gréeuous sight The Emperor Primaleon
his Camp as they were imagined sufficient to withstand and resist any furious Batterie whatsoeuer And for that he would haue some knowledge of the valour of his Enemyes hee appoynted his principall Captain in places of importance for most assurance of his Campe and afterwards by the consent of his Councell he set his Galleys and Shippes on fire reseruing but a certain number of his swiftest Brigandines So that the sight of the Fâ—re made such astonishment in Constantinople as they fully resolued and determined to hazarde theyr liues or to subdue the pompe and glory of their enemies séeing they presumed so much on themselues The Emperour sitting in his Chaire in one of the Turrets of his Pallace perceyued very well that hee should not driue his Enemyes out of his Empyre without the great effusion of Blood and losse of his Friends For the space of seuen dayes they continued burning theyr Shippes leauing themselues destitute of prouision to depart from thence if Fortune should oppose her selfe against them and at the ende of seuen dayes they of Constantinople began to skyrmish The wounded Princes had recouered their former estates except Dramusiande and the Giant Almaroll yet the Chirurgions assured the Emperor how the greatest danger was past and they likely to doo well enough In the meane while as King Edward and Primaleon endeuored themselues to fortifie the Cittie the Gouernours of those Realmes belonging to the Kings present in Constantinople sent such good prouision of strength forces as they could possibly make ready on the sudden but I will rehearse them vnto you who had in this necessitie chiefest succour sent them from theyr Kingdomes and Signories First of all the Emperour Veâ—nar of Allemaigne had sent him two thousand Horsemen and twelue thousand Footmen King Arnedes of Fraunce had the like number Recinde King of Spayne had two thousand light Horsemen and eyght thousand Footemen The Prince Floraman had foure hundred Horsemen and foure thousand Footemen Tarnaes King of Lacedemonia had foure hundred Horsmen and foure thousand Footemen From Thrace to honour their King Florian of the Forrest came foure hundred knightes on Horsebacke and foure thousand Footemen From England came foure hundred knights and tenne thousand Footmen From Nauarre came two hundred light horsemen From Denmarke came two hundred light Horsemen Drapo the Duke of Normandie came thither with two thousand Knights on Horsebacke and foure thousâ—nd braue Footemen To the Prince Belcar came foure hundred Horsemen and one thousand Footemen Roramant King of Bohemia sent foure thousand Footemen Estrellant arriued there accompanyed with eyght thousand and foure hundred gallant Knightes on Horsebacke and tenne thousand hardy fighting men on foote who ioyning with them of the Cittie were in number twenty thousand Horsemen and threescore thousand Footemen The Emperour and his Counsell appointed that they which were thus come to assist him should rest themselues for certain dayes because they had sustained a weary Iourney so that during the time the wounded persons were able to beare Armor with the ayde of these they gaue Battell to their enemies CHAP. LVIII ¶ Of an aduenture which happened by the arriuall of a straunge Knight accompanied with a Ladie in the Prince Albayzars Campe. WHile they that were come to the succour of the Emperour reposed themselues the young Princes and Knights of the Court of Constantinople gaue the Enemie sundry Assaults and skirmishes preuailing alwayes so happily as the aduauntage still came on theyr side During the time they skirmished in this manner the Emperour with the Empresse and her Ladyes being on a high Tower to see these braue Attempts they perceyued to enter the Cittie towardes the Enemyes Campe a Knight that séemed to haue so good opinion of himselfe being mounted on a braue and gallant Courser and himselfe attired in guylte Armour whereon was wrought diuerse Ingenious knottes and Deuises in siluer beside his Armour was bloody in many places which gaue sufficient testimony that the Knight daylie enioyed but little rest and in his Shielde was Loue artificially figured being roughly helde by the hayre of the head by a bloody minded Tyrant This Knight seemed to carry his Launce as it were on the neck of his Horse and hauing on the point thereof a little white Ensigne which hee wore in signe of Peace and quietnesse His Esquire bare another Shielde after him couered ouer with the skinne of a wilde Beast and another Launce in his hand by him rid a Lady on a blacke Palfray shée being attyred after the Turkish manner in a Robe of white Sattine which was cutte and pinked in many places so that the Blacke silkes lying vnder the white gaue a very braue grace vnto her Apparell because the body and sléeues was very thicke beset with Pearles and stones of great estimation This Ladies haire was spread abroad ouer her shoulders and her face was couered because she would not be knowne So soone as the Knight was come néere the Prince Albayzars Tent he stayed for a pretie space whereat the Turks were somewhat abashed because they knewe not on which part this Knight should be in that they iudged him by his Armour to be a Christian and the Apparell of the Ladie being Turkish they could not imagine any certaintie in this case In the meane while the Princes in the Campe were thus regarding and beholding the Knight they perceyued him to sende his Esquyre to the Prince Albayzars Tent hauing his Face couered least hee should be knowne when hee beganne his minde in this manner My Lorde the Knight which you sée presumes so néere your Campe by mee giueth you to vnderstand that hee hath many yeeres serued the Lady in his company yet not able to winne or once enioye her Loue and for that shee could not well dryue him off with any more delayes or excuses shee desired him to bring her vnto this place where he must Enterprise to Ioâ—st against foure Knights on her behalfe And if it so fall out that Fortune fauoureth him with the victorie shee will not faile to requite his labour with her Loue but if the Knightes in your Camp shall refuse to trie their valours against him she hath giuen him leaue to offer the same conditions to the Emperours Knights in Constantinople where if refusall be made likewise the Lady must consent to recompence him as if hee had vanquished where she made the challenge Therefore my Lords you may determine with your selues which of you dare make tryall of the valour of this Knight I would gladly know said the Soldane of Persia who was a gallaunt young Prince and very braue in Armour what recompence the Knight will make him to whom the victory may happen You shall then my Lord answered the Esquyre send him your owne Esquier for I haue reported to you what was giuen me in charge So without any more words hee returned to his Maister accompanyed with an Esquyre from the Soldane of Persia to whome the Knight
of the Sauage man not staying for his answer thus shortly answered Sir if the apparance of my griefe take such desire in you to do me good you may do as you shal find occasion I remaine the more déepe in your debt But I iudge you are either ouerfond or else forgetfull of your selfe to offer such friendship to a stranger who doth neither desire it nor can any way deserue it you being as I suppose rather come to stay me then salue me Sir quoth Palmerin the estate I sée you in doth coÌ„mand me to vse this spéech constraine me if I might to be your succour neither fearing what you can doe or falling one iote from that I should doe But to tell you why I come is to desire you by intreaty or coÌ„pel you by force to restore a shield againe which you haue disloyally taken from a trauelling Lady Considering you might diminish your honour if you should deale with her so vngratefully séeme an enemy to knighthood in not regarding to helpe the wrong of any iniured Lady The knight of the Sauage man beholding the great courtesie of Palmerin estéeming his words to be spoken for his aduantage both conquered by his braue behauiour as also the inward affection that did naturally moue him gaue him this answere I haue often heard Sir knight that wordes can more déepely wound then weapons that courtesie can compell where cruelty may neuer conquer Such hath bin your high good fortune at this time such is the knightly demeanor that I haue séene as your gentle language hath entred where your lance cannot and your friendship woon more then either feare or force may constraine And séeing you haue takeÌ„ the paines to find me out and haue done more at this instant then before could any I deliuer you the shield as best worthy to weare it both for the gifts of Nature which florish in you abundantly gratious Nature which doeth adore you nobly With these words he imbracing the P. Palmerin presently mounted on horsebacke departed Then returned the Prince accompanied with his knights who were greatly delighted in beholding the Shield In the midst where in a Field of Azure was placed a very faire Palme Trée so liuely framed as if it had béene a naturall Trée and that which was most wondred at of them all was a certaine Poesie in Letters of Gold engrauen round about the sides so darkely placed that none in the company could iudge what they should meane At length they came to the Court when the Emperour was newly rysen from supper who being certified of al that had happened was very much displeased in mind because his whole desire was to haue had knowledge of this valiant Knight of the Sauage man Then taking the Shield and looking very earnestly vpon it hée sent for the Damosell to know the Poesie that was â—ngrauen about it The Damosell answered I would most gracious Emperour it were in my power to fulfill your request but being as ignorant therof as you or any other I must desire your gracious pardon When she saw the Emperor had giuen Palmerin the Shield who vowed to vse it as became a Knight at Armes Making her obeysance to his Maiesty and al the other Knights shee presently tooke her leaue and departed And the Emperor determined among all his Knights to consider more largely on this strange aduenture CHAP. XIIII In this Chapter is largely described who was the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley that sent the Damosell with the Shield of the Palme Tree to the Emperours Court to bestow the same on the valiant yong Prince Palmerin BEcause you shll bee resolued who was the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley and why hee tearmed himselfe by such an vncustomed name marke what this Chapter shall giue in relation and then consider of his procéedings afterward When the P. Don Edoard left the realme of Lacedemonia and as occasion willed him to stay in the Empire of Grrece after he had deliuered the king Tarnaes forth of the cruel enchanted Castle he entred a Galley and so departed on his voyage Not long had they bin on the seas but that a Damosell suddenly chanced into the Galley not vsing speech to any but taking the principall Ore in her hand turned their passage quite contrary to another Iland where Don Edward being landed deliuered a comely knight out of the hands of diuerse cruel tyrants who were leading him to abide an vnmercifull death The Damdsell conducted the Prince to the habitation of Argonida where being friendly entertayned and staying as a welcoÌ„med Guest such conuersation was betwéene them that they had two goodly Sonnes named Pompider and this Sage Aliart of whom wée meane to discourse Whose Grandmother being expert in the Science of Magicke nourished this Aliart out of popular conuersation that thorowe her meanes hee became maruailous ingenious of wit and very skilfull in her diuelish exercise so that he was esteemed the notablest Magitian in all the world whose memory being not touched in the booke of Primaleon I will declare in what order hee passed his whole life This Aliart reputed of no lesse fame then learning was not inferiour to any but bare the estimation aboue all so that none durst offer him iniurie albeit he deserued it nor none would contend with him they stood in such awe He seeing himselfe honoured of the mighty when they durst doe no other and loued of the most part for his excellent cunning beganne to exercise himselfe in Martiall exploytes which shewed him to bée the Sonne of the renowned Don Edward And hauing receyued his Knighthood at the handes of the Giant Garatie he behaued himselfe as famous in his exploites as he was estéemed singular in his practised Arte. And then hee vnderstood his Fathers imprisonment with the noble Primaleon in the Castell at Dramusiande who by the skill of his Aunt Eutropa endeuoured to haue all the flower of Chiualrie in like captiuitie But albeit the imprisonment of these Princes was vnknown to all the Knightes that laboured continually in their search yet this Aliart was so well acquainted with the matter as they that kept it most secrete for that his Arte gaue him the power to knowe what was done in all Countreyes in the world For when the Grecian knights whose affection to these two Princes caused them to leaue their natiue Countrey and were happened into the vnfortunate forrest of great Brittaine which was brauely replenished with many couragious hearts as also sundry gallant Ladies preparing many hard aduentures there were very fewe escaped but for the most part were all lost in this vnfortunate search Among which noble mindes was Recined Prince of Spaine Arnedes King of France Maiortes and Sir Pridos whose absence was greatly bemoned in the English Court The Princes Belcar Vernar Ditree and the Soldan Bellagris with the renowned Polendos All these for the honourable affection they bare to the strayed Princes left
Armour spotted with red and crimzen colours and in his Shielde for his deuise he bare a Dogge vppon an Azure Fielde The other Knight was all in blacke Armour and his Shield of the same colour without any other deuise these foure mette together striuing which of them should first enter vpon the Bridge Don Edward being come foorth and séeing them at such controuersie sought to ende the matter with these words Gentlemen if you come for honour or for zeale to trie the magnanimity of your courage striue not in this order which may returne to your great discredites but let him that is boldest first beginne so shall you finish what I iudge you come for Vppon these words Recinde couched his Speare but the Knight of the Dogge offered him this stay Syr it séemes you neither regard ciuilitie nor Knightly courtesie to offer mee this great wrong who both came before you and was prepared before you and therefore of right ought to beginne before you Recinde somwhat mooued at these wordes shaped him this replie Syr if in a brauery you séeke to goe beyond mée or in peremptory wordes to beare the Prize away you are farre deceyued for that words cannot cutface me nor your weapons feare me for I was first prouided and therefore will not be preuented Don Edward perceyuing these questions were like to grow to a Quarrell assayed once more to set them at quiet and thus he began This suddaine enmity driueth me to a shrâ—wde suspition that you come more to talke then to try your manhoode or rather to ieast then to Iust If you are disposed let the other twaine come and deale with me in meane time you may try which of you shall be first or last The knight of the Dogge being greatly vexed as well at the words of Don Edward as also the stay Recinde helde him in charged him very boldly in this maner Since you haue denied me my right and offered me wordes importing great rygor know that I will reuenge this wrong vppon your person and die in the field â—re I put vp this iniury Wherewith they ran together very fiercely and Arnedes prepared himselfe to the Blacke Knight so that betwéene them began a hot skirmish wherein Horse and Men were al laide on the ground Then rising vp againe and drawing foorth theyr swordes they charged one an other with such mightie strokes that their singular courage made manifest the valure of theyr noble mindes Dramusiande accompanied with Primaleon Polendos and the other knights stood looking forth at a window of the Castle giuing no lesse commendation to this notable combat then the behauiour of the Knights did iustly deserue Yet none of them could iudge of whence or what they were sauing that Don Edward knew the Knight of the Dogge by remembrance that he was alwaies wont to beare that deuice to be the couragious knight Maiortes not knowing any of the other but coÌ„mended them all as they were well worthy Maiortes throwing downe his sword ioyned Armes with his enemy to try his strength in wrastling and Arnedes likewise reciued the Blacke knight so that the blood issued forth vpon theyr Armor they althrough great weakenesse fell downe on the earth Then came foorth Dramusiande with his Noble Prisoners whose promise made vnto him by oath would not suffer them to start away and taking off theyr Helmets Primaleon knew the Blacke Knight to be the Soldan Bellagris certified Dramusiande that the other twaine were Recinde King of Spaine and Arnedes king of France who were all presently caried into the Castle that their wounds might be cured and themselues recouered Dramusiande vsed all the Knights very honorably refusing to take extreame reuenge for his fathers death but supposed their imprisonment to be punishment sufficient And for this cause he shewed himselfe more milde gentle because through their helpe he had good hope to conquere the Isle of the Lake which was kept by the Giant Almadrago who in time past had taken it from him by force In time Maiortes the Knight of the Dog the Soldian Bellagris the Blacke Knight Arnedes the King Recinde had all obtained their former health reioycing that they were imprisoned with their dearest friends whome they trauailed to seeke had so happily found But the Prince Don Edward was not obliuious of his faire Lady Flerida as also the griefe hee supposed in his aged Father whose sorrowe procéeded through his great misfortune which in time hee had good hope should turne to as great ioy CHAP. XVII How Palmerin of England desirous of trauaile to seeke after strange aduentures tooke the courage to speake to his Lady and Mistresse Polinarda as loth to depart without her leaue And hauing sustained a grieuous repulse departed secretly from the Court not taking leaue of any calling himselfe the Knight of Fortune AFter that the yong Knights had made manifest their great expertnesse in many Triumphes for the honour of thier Ladies and estimation they helde of themselues the Emperour grewe into more pleasant conceyts then of long time before hee had vsed the like causing euery night dances and deuises to be performed for the delight of the Empresse and the Princesse Gridonia but the faire Bazilia still refused their company for that the absence of the prince Vernar caused her spend her time in pensiuenesse Palmerin of England affecting strange aduentures and desirng with other Knights to make proofe of his Knighthood would gladly discouer his earnest minde but that hee feared to procure the ill will of his Mistresse It chanced on a night the Princesse Polinarda was sitting very solitary and Palmerin came and sate downe by her both of them ouercome with many grieuous Passions and both striuing to speake yet neither would begin As commonly it fareth with those that march vnder the Ensigne of amorous Venus who are subiect to many efeminate follies as an idle head a dulled wit a pale and wanny face their thoughts still silent yet alwaies at worke their mind mute yet neuer in quiet speaking faintly behauing themselues fondly walking solitarie and vsing sickly ieastures euer exclaiming on Cupid but neuer remembring their owne cowardise still crying fie on Loue when it were more meete to correct the folly of their life These are the Passions of a Louer which entreth through Idlenesse is kindled by Desire set on fire by affection and if Perseuerance helpe not is vtterly wasted by Desperation After Palmerin had sitten a good while and his Lady stil silent he gaue her occasion to speake by these spéeches Faire Mistres if I might as fréely speake with your blame as my thoughts are farre from any spot to bounty I should then estéeme my self happy in gaining such leaue as I account my selfe honoured by your gracious loue Yet perswading my selfe your gentle nature will not quip your friend nor giue any crosse motion that may cut his fancie by your pardon and on no presumption I shall yeeld the circumstance
languishing of his life The King well noting the intent of Floraman that he could not fancy his Fathers choise by secret treason in the Duke of Ciciliaes Court he found the meanes to poyson the fair Altea to the no smal griefe of her noble Father friends as also the Gentlemen that were in his Courte of whome her beauty was honored and the ciuility of her life greatly commended The Duke misdoubting that the vntimely death of his daughter was procured by some vnnaturall meane because she was so soone sicke and so suddenly gone sent for Allaricqua her bedfellow and by executing sundry torments on her she confessed that being hyred by the king of Serdignia she ministred the potion that cut off her flowring yeares When the duke hearde the discourse of his Lord and Soueraigns vnkinde dealing hee caused the Anatomie of his Daughter to be artificially figured which he placed vpon a Toomb representing her Funerals and thervpon in golden verses writ the Epitaph of her rare and vertuous life and by her was the image of Death very liuely drawn in perfect proportion This rare piece of workmanship he laid in a goodly fair Chariot and leuying a great army went against the King of Serdignia Of whose comming when Floraman heard he could not finde in his heart to enter Battel against his Ladies father but with a company of wel appointed knights he brake thorow the rankes and entred the Campe from whence he tooke the Chariot with the Picture of Altea So ryding presently to a Porte of the Sea he tooke shipping and coasted into the Turks Dominion and building there his solitary Castle he liued there bemoaning the vnkinde acte of his Father and the vnfortunate death of his faire Altea To whose Picture hee would often report the afflictions of his minde and with sundry Lamentable Sonnets discouer her praise and his owne paine which to his Lute hee often recorded as the onely meane to perswade him from any desperate intent In this place remained Floraman till such time as the Prince Palmerin visited him as you haue hearde and although it was the good Fortune of Palmerin to conquere him who was both wasted with mourning and growne into great debilitie by his excéeding sorrow yet was Floraman estéemed a Knight of singular Prowesse And when Palmerin was departed and hée entred into his Castle againe vnto his Ladyes Picture he appealed in this manner Alas my Altea impute not this Conquest to any right in mine Enemie but rather to the feeble and weake assaults of your seruant which extreame sorrow for your mishap hath caused and griefe of mine owne misfortune that so aduersly chanced Wherefore to make amends for this great mischaunce and that you may knowe your Knight estéemeth none but you I will in my aduentures so blaze your memorie that all Ladies shall report you are the onely Altea and cause them to know she is as yet vnborne that must be your equall Long he stayed in that comfortlesse place till at last the King his Father vnderstanding where he was sent for him and because hee would not shewe himselfe disobedient hee departed thence bearing with him his Ladyes Portraite still vsing his blacke Armour and the Shielde wherein Death was painted as the onely Sepulchre of his great sorrowes vsing no other name for himselfe but the Knight of Death And what rare Aduentures were by him atchieued in the honour of his Ladie and great reputation of himselfe you shall be at large certified in the sequell of this Historie CHAP. XX. ¶ Palmerin of England after hee was departed from Floraman the Knight of Death happened to come where he saw a combate fought betweene three Knights and the Knight of the Bull named Pompides who at the commandemens of a Lady kept the passage of a bridge and how the Knight of Fortune bare away the Victorie WHen the renowned Knight of Fortune had conquered Floraman the Knight of Death he with his brother Siluian procéeded on his iourney neuer shewing any signe of a liuely disposition but heauy and pensiue all the way as he rode which Siluian desirous if he might to remedy vsed these words vnto him Good sir wast not the time in woe that you should vse in pleasant recreation séeke not the ruine of your selfe for hee that regardeth so â—lenderly your profered courtesie rather extinguished her memory as she hath lightly left you or thinke on her when you iudge she is mindfull of you Vnto which words the knight of Fortune thus shaped an answere Siluian my deare Brother and friend if thou cauldest discerne the drops of blood that fall from my oppressed heart as thou perceiuest the moyst teares that issue from my head or if thou couldest iudge the world of woes I abide in my silent thoughts as thou doest perceiue some motion by outward appearance thou wouldest rather wish me in my graue then to sée me remaine in this remedilesse griefe which no way can be remedied but onely by the last extremity which is death And albeit as thou saist she estéemeth not my Passions but rather is merry when I mourne and laugheth when I languish yet shall it neuer be sayde but Palmerin liued without fraude and therefore dyed in faith preferring an honourable death before a haplesse life I would I had bene blinde when first I saw her beauty or that I had stayed with our Father then to enioy such an vngentle friend where wee might haue liued in quiet estate now not enioying one houre of rest for albeit I liue in spotlesse loyaltie yet am I rewarded with most vngentle loyaltie And what of that let it suffice she is vnkinde and thou vnhappie she bent to crueltie yet will thou liue and die in constancie desiring no longer life then I may be frée from any spotte in my promised Loue. And heereupon Syluian assure thy selfe her Beauty shall hazard my honour on a thousand Launces but she shall confesse her selfe Palmerin is aboue all in loyaltie Thus passing the time in talke one to an other the Knight of Fortune in great paine and Syluian still continuing his perswasion they arriued at a Bridge where they saw thrée knights before them who would haue passed ouer but were resisted by a Knight in fair white Armor who kept the Passage bearing in his Shield for his Deuise a Bulles head and was called the Knight of the Bull. One of the thrée Knights very couragiously gaue Combat to the Knight of the Bull but wan quickly set beside his saddle In fine the Knight of the Bull preuailed against them all thrée to their griefe and his glorie The Knight of Fortune knowing these thrée knights that had bene foyled to be of the Emperours Court as Luyman of Burgundie Germaine of Orleaunce and Tenebrant he was not a little sorrie for their mishappe and presently menaced his courage against the knight of the Bull who met so stoutly togither that they were both dismounted Then charging one another with
can not bee recounted for that all my life hitherto hath bin nothing but miserie and am threatned to spende all my life in infinite calamities which hath drawne my minde into such a debilitie that I can neither honour your Grace as I should nor behaue my selfe as gladly I would For first when I had appointed my minde to a quiet estate which I thought no mishappe could alter or any extreamitie chaunge but resolued my selfe on an infallible ioye Aye me one fling of Fortune ouerturned all and the Heauen of my happines became a hateful Hell When my youthfull yéeres allured me to Loue and fancie made choyce to mine owne good lyking I esteemed my self the happiest of any man aliue though my chance were more hatefull then my griefe can vnfolde For spight not onely berefte of my Ladie but allotted my poore selfe to exreame ill lucke when I forsooke all Courtly companie onely determining to waste my tune in a solitary kinde of life which I spent in remembrance of her who most regarded me and still lauding her Beautie which I estéemed aboue all there I remayned mee thought a merrie though indéede a mournfull time Yet was not Fortune satisfied but rubbeth a fresh gréefe vpon the gréene wound in sending a knight to breake off my silent deuotions who repining that I should extoll my Lady aboue his Saint that was vnknowne to me entred the fight which returned to my foile he bare away the victorie and I was vanquished Thus haue I bene euer indamaged euery way distressed and may say that no knight can say I am the onely man for mishap And because I will not be reputed so ingratefull to my Lady that one repulse shall make me forsake her swéete shrine I haue vowed in all Princes courts to extoll her beautie to whom referring comparisons I can estéeme none her equall And these Knights who honour their Ladies and dare contend with my Altea either for beautie or bountie I am ready to giue Combate to all for that I will allow the superioritie to none As concerning the order appointed in this fight which I would all to obey and none to break thus vnder your gratious leaue it is requested That those knights who esteeme their quarrell so good as to enter the field for the beautie of their Ladyes shall bring with them her Portrait for whose sake they aduenture which wil be to their own honour and fame of their Ladies Beside if my hap be so good as to gaine the victorie they must enter my tent to render their Armour and their names to be registred in my booke which I haue tearmed the Sepulchre of Louers But if my enemy preuaile contrary to my expectation he shall be Lord of the riches which remaineth in my tent beside my selfe as his vassaile to stand at his pleasure And this fauour I must request of your Grace that none shall not enter Combat with the sword with out he be able to mate me in the Iust This is the cause of my coming procured through the knight that gaue me the ouerthrow who protested himselfe to be of your Court for which cause I desire that I may here begin my knightly enterprise I will returne to my tent to expect the comming of him that dare first presume Thus with taking leaue he departed to his tent the Emperour remaining desirous to know of whence he was which was declared to him by some of his Court that he was Floraman Sonne to ancient King of Sardignia at which report the Emperour was very sorry that he had not entertained him according to his vallor and Nobilitie of birth On the next day the knights prepared themselues before the Tent of the Knight of Death and the Emperour with the Ladies of the Court standing ready to behold the Combate which was first enterprised the the prince Gracian for the loue of Claritia daughter to the king Polendos being gallantly mounted all in gylt Armour and in his shéeld bearing for his deuise a Damosell her face couered with a gréene shadow like vnto a Net The gentle Prince looking toward his Lady Claritia who stood in the window by the princesse Gridonia vnto himself vsed these spéeches Faire Mistres I desire you to continue your woonted affection toward me and not to let fal your fauour for that your loue doth encourage me to the fight in assurance whereof I shal cause mine enemy to know that his Altea is farre incomparable to my faire Claritia With these wards he ran against the knight of death encouÌ„tring one another with such knightly behauiour that both the Emperour and all the Ladies tooke great pleasure to behold them At their second pause the knight of Death turned him to the picture of Altea with these words Can my courage â—aint remembring you my good Lady or can any dismay me hauing embraced your fauour no the honour of your name hath called me to the field and your beautie is so perfect that none can cause me flye Then began they a fresh assault as doubtfull to the one as to the other but at length the knight of Death had vnhorsed the Prince Gracian to the great sorrow of his Loue and no lesse to himsefe Then was he ledde into the Tent wher he resigned his armor and his name was written downe in the Sepulchre of Louers Then approched Guerin brother to the Prince Gracian who for his Lady Clariana aduentured to the Combat whoÌ„ the knight of death brought likewise to the Sepulâ—hre of Louers After these came Flauian Rotandor and Emerauld the Faire whose strengthes were not to compare with the knight of Death and therefore were all vnarmed and brought to the Sepulchre of Louers The Emperour commanded the Tournament should end for that day and sent for the Knight of Death to a sumptuous banquet where the Ladies and gentlewomen made such estimation of him as his singular Prowesse and hauty courage deserued Which made him in sighes to thinke vpon his Altea whose commendation was euer best welcome to him yet hâ—eacute e dissembled his gréefe with a merry countenance because euery one should not be priuy to his extreame Passions So after the banquet was ended and their Dancing finished taking leaue of the Emperour as also the whole company he departed to his Tent and the Ladies to their Chambers CHAP. XXIII How the Knight of Death at his second Ioâ—st conquered the Prince Polinarda who aduentured himselfe in the behalfe of the faire Polynarda yet was he vanquished with diuers other knights And how Berolde Prince of Spaine and knight of the Sphere suddainly arriued there and maintained against the knight of Death the beautie of his Ladie Onistalda THe knight of Death on the next morning came foorch before his Tent attyped in blacke Armour whereon was painted in diuers places the resemblance of the faire face of Altea and in his Shéelde was figured a knight clasping his armes together in great heauinesse and by him stood yâ—
image of vgly death and standing stedfastâ—â—ke looking and beholding the Picture of Altea vnto himselfe the beganne in this manner I reioyce my déere Altea that Fortune hath not altogether forgotten mee but alloweth my in this place to reuenge the foyle I sustained at my sorrowfull Mansion in that by my good endeuour all the Ladies of this Court shall be forced themselues to confesse that I maintaine the quarrell of perfect beautie and therefore worthy to beare the prize away To breake off these imaginations Polinard the brother of the Prince Vernar presented himselfe before the tent when the Emperor and the Ladies were set in their appointed place his Armour being blew and his Shéelde the chéerefull countenaunce of a very beautifull Damosell which he bare in the honor of the Princesse Polinarda vnto whom he vowed great affection but bashfulnesse did hinder himm from making it knowne The regardents of the Joust willed him to beliuer his Ladies fauour because it was the order of the fight that he should doe so to whom he answered The fauour of my Lady which as yet I haue found very slender shall be brought on this knight whom I haue hope to conquer and I will deliuer him that small fauour I haue to her Fame and his eternall dishonour The knight of Death replying Many a good Knight had thought so and yet hath béene deceiued and although you bragge you so you may hap to haue as hard a bargaine So without mor words they encountred verie fiercely but Polynard was ouerthrown with his arme gréeuously broken with incensed him with such anger that he would haue bin at his enemie againe but the knight of Death gaue him this perswasion Syr you haue done enough for this time when your arme is in estate you shall haue a fresh combate These spéeches so vexed Polynard that he became so troublesome to them both in talke and behauiour that he would neither yéelde his Armour nor obey the orders that were appointed in the field which caused the Emperor to giue him a great check wherupon he departed giuing great offence to the knight of Death in denying that which was his right and tytle to haue Then dealt he with fiue knights more and vanquished them all sending them into his Tent to the Sepulchre of Louers by which time it drew toward Dinner and the Emperour with the Ladies withdrew themselues and euery one departed till they had refreshed them as nature required When dinner was endes the Emperour went to the stent to sée the knight of Death to whom he gaue no small commendations for the worthy behauior he had séene in him So continuing that after noone in their sport to the foyle of many a good knight among whom was Trusiande and Bellizart that bare company with other knights to the Sepulchre of Louers And when they were ready to leaue of their pastime there suddainly came ryding a very séemely knight whose Armour was beset with gréeue Spheres bearing in his Shéelde likewise a Sphere of the same collour he perceiuing the Emperor with the company of so many braue Ladies came prancing and shewing many trickes with his horse before the knight of Death At last he drew forth a little table with a circle of gold round about it wherein was liue Pictured the faire face of Onistalda Daughter to the Duke of Drapos of Normandie looking stedfastly vpon it began thus to vse his talâ—ke Swéet Mistresse I haue enterprised this iourney vnder the soueraign title of yourâ— singuler beautie not doubting but to vanquish him who as yet hath borne the prize from al. Therefore let not the fauour which was my accustomed reward he denyed me at this time for that your beautie maketh me enter the field which I will maintaine to my desire or sustaine thd death So deliuering the table to the Regardants who were appointed to receiue it they set the Spurres to the horses and met with such puissance together that they were both throwne to the earth when drawing their Swords they charged one another so brauely that this combate bare the commendation aboue all that had béene séene at that Tournament Great desire had the Emperour to know the knight of the Speere but their fierce encountring would not suffer any answer to be made Retiring a little to take breath the knight of Death beheld his Armour all flasht and broken on the faire face of Altea which caused him to fall into these complaints Ah my swéete Altea how can I desire your fauour or make account to enioy your loue suffering your blamelesse face to be thus offended in whose remembraunce I haue and do enioy the honour of all good Fortune On the other side the Knight of the Shpere complayned to his Lady saying How happy might I estéeme my self my good Lady if for the price of my wounds I might enforce my enemie to say you are the onely Goddesse of beauty which either I will do or die ere I depart out of the field But if you with draw your fauour then shall mine enemie be conqueror and I constrained to liue in eternall detriment of my life By this time it waxed very darke because they would not giue ouer the Emperour caused Torches to be lighted which gaue great cause of courage to them both to sée the good will of the Emperour and would not depart the field till one were conquerour At last ioyning themselues together through extreame faintnesse and wearinesse they fel both to the ground but the knight of the Sphere was vnderneath the Ragardaunts giuing the victorie to the knight of Death Then leading the knight into the Tent where he rendred his Armour and his name to the Sepulchre of Louers they knew him to be Berolde the prince of Spaine which when the Emperour heard he sent for him into his Pallace where he was carefully tended vntill his health was perfectly restored yet he was maruellously offended with himselfe that his Lady past without the honour of the day The knight of Death could beare no Armour a great while after for that he had found the puissance of the Prince Berolde of no lesse force then worthy commendations But when he had gained hs good estate of helth he stil maintained his quarell against many strangue knights of whom by his good Fortune he had alwaies the victorie replenishing his Sepulchre of Louers to his owne hearts content And the Emperor Palmerin gaue him such honour in the time he endured his aduentures that he was double encoured to maintaine the beauty of his Lady Altea CHAP. XXIIII How the Knight of Fortune hauing left Pompides chanced to meete with the Green Knight that accompanied the Knight of the Sauage man in the Turnament at Constantinople who was the sonne of Sir Pridos named Don Rosian De la Bronde in whose company the Knight of the Sauage man was nourished in the Court of England who trying their strengths together Don Rosiart was vanquished EEduring the
had giuen him who being séene of the Emperour and all the Ladyes had the generall verdict to be the séemelyest Knight that entered there since the Tournament began The Knight of Death was somewhat offended to sée euery one such make estimation of this Knight against whom his malice so increased that he auouched to worke him the greatest iniurie he could It chaunced the knight of Fortune to lift his eyes to the Windowes where in the Empresse Chamber hee perceyued his faire Polynarda whose presence made him as it were cleane beside himselfe but Syluian being disguised that none should know him rounded him in the eare saying Syr you are now in place where you must vse your strength and not your studie be mindfull of your Ladie but not to the detriment of your owne life These wordes awaked him when hee thus talked to to himselfe My déere Mistresse I would thinke my selfe most happie if you would remember mee in courtesie not that I feare mine enimie but that it would giue me the greater courage to maintaine your Beautie These words thus ended the Regardaunts demaunded of him the Picture of his Ladie as it was the custome to which he thus answered I am loath to shew my Ladies fauour for that it is as daintie in sight as it is dangerous for me to showe Neuerthelesse if I be vanguished I will not bee hée that shall breake your Order but will shewe you that I estéeme aboue all Riches This answere was accepted and at the sounding of the Trumpets they encountred one another couragiously with such laudable behauiour in fight as was greatly commended of euery one At length the Knight of Fortune threw his enemie against the ground with such violence that euery one thought he had béene slayne downe right and sâ—epping to him hee would haue smitten off his head but the Emperour commaunded the contrarie graunting to him the Conquest with the Tentes of the knight of Death and the picture of Altea to vse at his pleasure Then came the Emperour and the Ladyes downe to see the knight that daâ— wonne this honour â—ut hee perceyuing them comming and fearing to be knowne called Syluian to him and slipt away among the Throng secretly which highly displeased the Emperour till hee vnderstood that he would not haue himselfe knowne Then the Knights triumphed the Ladies reioyced though ignorant of the Lady for whom the Knight of Fortune aduentured and so they accompanied the Emperor ioyfully to his Pallace the knight of Death being brought after them very sore wounded and lead by his Esquyres Thus may you sée fayre Ladies the vncertainty of Fortune who raiseth when she list and throweth downe when she list so that it is better to kéepe at her foote in a quiet estate then presume to her head and gaine so sore a fall CHAP. XXVI ¶ Howe the Emperour in honour of the good lucke that had chaunced ordained that night a braue Dauncing wherein he greatly gratified the Ladies And how on the next morning he went accompanied with the Empresse and all the Ladies to the Tent of the Knight of Death where the Ladies tooke the courage in the behalfe of their Knightes to ransacke and spoyle the Sepulchre of Louers AFter that the Emperour had séen this braue Conquest he desired the Ladies that Night to ende the Triumph with all Courtly pastimes both of Masking and of Dauncing which request all generally gaue consent vnto except the Princesse Bazilia who still mourned for the absence of her Lord Vernar When the knights that had bin vanquished by the Knight of Death heard of this generall ioy they to make theyr Ladyes amendes for the repulse they had sustayned came into the great Hall where Courting their Ladies they daunced and passed the Night with honest and decent talke in their delightfull exercise The Princesse Polinarda as by the mutuall consent of the Ladies she bare the superioritie of beautie from Altea so had she commendation for her stately behauiour in the Daunce which graced her person maruellously and made the more liuely apparaunce of her beautie On the morrow the Emperor was desirous to sée the Tent of the Knight of Death wherefore hee gaue commaundement that his Dinner should be there prouided and so walking thither with the Empresse Gridonia the faire Polinarda King Frisoâ— and Florendos with diuers of his Knights and Ladies where they were brauely and royallie feasted When Dinner was ended they went to beholde the whole Tent where at the first entrance was placed the Statue of the faire Altea whose beautie made excuse for all the Knights in that they were conquered by one whose fayre and splendaunt hewe was estéemed excellent and that the knight of Death had good occasion to take it heauily for her whose Beauty was comparable to any the Princesse Polynarda excepted Then went they to sée the Sepulchre of Louers where the Ladies beheld the names of their Knights with their Armour and Deuises they had made in the behalfe of their fauors a thing which displeased some of the Ladyes in that they should be thought Prisoners to the knight of Death which moued the faire Onistalda seeing the bashfulnesse of the Prince Berolde here Seruant to begin thus Faire Systers it séemeth we are beholding vnto none but onely the hardie Knight who hath done vs this honour to defend that by his valour which else had bene depriued from vs for euer And because we will no longer be subiect in this Prison of our Loue I will take the hardinesse vpon mee to set first hand to the spoyling of this Sepulchre Wherewith shee tooke vp the Table wherein was the Image of her own beauty which the Prince Berolde presently caught from her and hid it vnder his Gowne Then euery Lady began in such order that they had quickly defaced yâ— Sepulchre of Louers vsing such courage in their dealings as the Amazonians when they came to the ayde of the stately Towne of Troye where the Greekes were no more earnest in their desire then these Ladyes were in the destroying the Sepulchre of Louers The Emperour vpon this sight was very sorie that he could not gayne the knowledge of the knight nor for whose sake this honour was done therefore he knew not to which Ladie to impute it yet hee somewhat perswaded him selfe that inâ—time he should knowe him partly coniecturing that it was the Noble young Palmerin which caused him to vse comfortable spéeches to the knights that had to their great heauinesse bene captiues in the Sepulchre of Louers Then walking vnto his Pallace the Empresse caused the Image of Altea to be taken downe and brought into her Chamber where she placed it according as her rare perfections did deserue which was taken in very yll part by all the Ladyes that their Beauty should vs disgraced by a straunge Daine and shée so highly estéemed in the Empresse fauour The Knight of Fortune made great haste doubting least he should be sent for backe and so
admitted her Seruant but such was her affection toward my Sonne that her loue to the first Suter died with cold and she estéemed him as worthy of her good will This perceiued in the sight of all was not his from the Knight who began greatly to stomacke it and finding oportunity fit for his purpose assayled violently my Sonne who notwithstanding the danger on both sides brought his enemy into hazard of his life and himselfe the better into his Ladies liking When time had admitted this conquerer into better estate that his wounds were healed and his strength conquered not forgetting the repulse he sustained by my Sonne as also the earnest loue he bare to the Damosell hee returned with a knight attyred in gréene Armour bearing in his shield the Portrait of a Sauage man leading in his hand a couple of Lions who séeking reuenge on the other knights behalfe my Sonne tooke the courage to enter Combate with him But such was the spite of Fortune and so great her malice against mee that my Sonne was brought in subiection to this strange Knight who not contented with the victory cruelly cut off his head and gaue it to his mortall enemy Thus considering the great iniury that the Knight had wrought mée and that none will doe me that fauour to reuenge my vntimely losse I determined not to leaue my trauaile till I had found you who bearing the name of the Knight of Fortune renowned in all Countreyes that hath either séene or heard of you can compell my enemy to confesse his fault and giue him the reward that belongeth to so great discourtesie Wherefore most worthy Syr at which words he staied her thus Faire Lady the extreame griefe of your inward thoughts witnessed by the aboundance of teares the bedewe your rosichéekes constraineth me to belieue what you haue saide and to beare a part with you of accustomed heauinesse Wherefore considering your wrong and the great vngentlenesse of the Knight of the Sauage man if my Fortune may bee so good to méet him I will reuenge your iniury with his death or leaue my own life for a pawne with him And the rather am I vrged to deale with this Knight for that there remaineth a controuersie betwéene him and mée as yet vnfinished and now your mishap shall giue me good occasion to recompence him for both together if I knew certaine in what place to finde him Truly sir quoth the Damosell I left him at the cittie of London where his valour is held in such estimation as is more then I can speake whereof I iudge him not a little proude The knight of Fortune perceiuing the earnest desire of the Damosell to be reuenged on him whom he would as gladly finde promised her to sens him defiance on the next morning by his Esquire and that he would be as diligent on her behalfe as she was desirous to haue it dispatched to which words the Damosell replyed I can now sufficiently iustifie what I haue often heard that your care hath bene so great to the welfare of Ladies as that Fortune hath the better prospered all your affaires and in so much I can iudge it the more to others by how much I finde such great curtesie my selfe which if I die before I deserue let yet your gentle nature afford me a good opinion for that all my life time shall be spent in the honour of your name The ancient Gentleman vnderstanding that his guest was the Noble knight of Fortune esteemed his good luck more then he could any way disclose wherefore he desired pardon that he had not vsed him according as his famous report deserued and that his ignorance might serue to excuse any fault committed And the rather he vsed the lesse suspition toward him because he had entertained so many noble and valiant Gentlemen among whom as he was well worthy he gaue great commendation to the knight of the Sauage man as he had heard of many and partly had séene himselfe Which good report incited and greatly moued the knight of Fortune to vse the more diligence in finding him in which desire as time serued they brake company and departed to their lodgings This couragious knight sustaining small rest in his 〈◊〉 the cleare morning appeared arose and armed him with all spéed taking his leaue of his Host and the Damosell departing towards London accoÌ„panied with Siluian And drawing somewhat neare the Citie he tooke a great pleasure to behold the braue Towers and strong Edifies which by the shining of the Sunne gaue great contentation to his minde and vrged him to alighâ— because he would take good view therof vsing much talke with Siluian as concerning the great fame of that ancient Cittie So long he stayed there till he supposed the aged King to be risen when he rode into the cittie where both the brauery of the place and the remembrance of the famous Exployts there begun and finished prouoked him to some hautie attempt that might enrowle his name among the number of those that were held in high estimation For that the report of noble déeds doth vrge the minde of the couragious to be equall with those who beare most commendation of their approued valiancie CHAP. XXXVI How the Knight of Fortune arriuing at London passed away the time with an ancient Hermit in seeing the monuments and Funerals of many noble persons vntill he had sent Siluian to the English Court where in the presence of the King he declared his Maisters challenge to the knight of the Sauage man which he willingly accepted albeit the king would hardly agree vnto it And how they endured the Combate so long that the king accompanyed with the Princesse Flâ—rida were faine to come and intreate them to leaue off their enterprise at whose request they both gaue consent neither of them giuing the victorie of the other MAny were the gréeuous cogitations that passed the mind of the knight of Fortune while he was entred the famous citie of London as well for the vngentle dealing of his Lady Polynarda as also sundry other conceits that he had occasion to thinke on At last remembring he might not be licenced the combate till after Dinner he withdrew himselfe to an Hermitage where after he had heard seruice he was desirous to sée the ancient monuments that were in the Chappel which for the most part were ruinated yet some of them remained in good estate of their beautie Among all the things that were there to be séene the knight of Fortune behld an ancient Sepulchre which was cunningly framed in workmanship albeit long continuance of time had both wasted and dimmed the workes and figures thereof so that one could hardly reade what was engrauen about it sauing at the one end was perceiued the name of Arbam of Norgalles who was buried wheÌ„ King Lisuart ruled the the crowne of England Vpon the sight of this ancient monument he questioned with the hermit if in time past the ancient Sepulchre had
pure in modesty so precise of her personage and so exquisite in her vsuall behauiour that many noble Gentlemen haue put their liues in hazard to deserue her good liking that was liked of all Great hath bin the intreaty of many Honorable personages to haue her in mariage which I haue alwaies denied till now making choyse of one aboue all the other I haue agréed to accomplish his importunate desire This being knowne to a knight who had long time béene a Suter yet neuer so fortunate as to gaine his intent now presumeth vpon his strength to take her from me perforce to iniure him that hath obtained my consent to espouse her In signe wherof pointing to the Pauillions of the other knight on the farder side of the riuer behold where he hath placed his Tents to inuade my Castle and through the helpe of his friends purposeth to ruinate this mine ancient dwelling to vse violence to her who is betrothed to another When I considered there was no meane to remedy the necessity of my case but eiter to kéepe my Hold and there be famished or yéeld me selfe to my foes and so be dishonoured I sent one of my Damosels to the English Court at whose request you are here arriued in this place where you may behold my vsurping enemy and the great danger I stand in of the hard award of fortune And once more haue I sent by way of intreaty to will them breake vp their siege and not to trouble me for her whom they cannot haue though they vse neuer such violence But such is the great mallice of this knight and his intent linked to such an extreme purpose that neither gentlenesse may intreate him nor faire demeanour serue to perswade him Wherfore noble Gentlemen as you respect the honour of an oppressed Virgin and the oath that your knighthood hath auouched in this behalfe stand now her friend who is voyd of all defence and maintaine her cause which is both for your renowne and her good fame for euer She hauing thus ended her coined protestation they stood debating with themselues what answer they ought to make herat last the prince Gracian they hauing referred all to his disposition tooke the Damosell by the hand and thus shaped his answer Faire Lady since this honorable company haue appointed me vn worthy to answer on their behalfe and that we are perswaded you would not informe vs of any misreport thus I dare awareant for them all that you shall finde them as ready to defend you as your enemy dare presume any way to molest you The Damosell hearing the answer of the Prince Gracian to be such as serued fit for her purpose gaue theÌ„ all hartg thanks and calling her teares againe into remembraunce vrged the knights to such pittie that they greatly desired to enter Combate with the other company Then returned the Damosell that had beene with the other knights informing them likewise of such a false report when being entred the Pauillion to the Damosel with curtesie she gaue forth these spéeches Mathe enemy to your honour and friend to his owne damage wil not be perswaded but will follow his enterprise and in derision scoffeth at this noble assembly reporting them to be so weake that they dare not shew themselues These words vrged Onistalde vnto such anger that he presently brake forth into these spéeches I beléeue that had they tryed those whom they haue aduentured to dare they should finde the chastisement of their peremptory bragges to be aunswerable in effect as they haue iustly deserued Tush quoth Polinarda it is easie for our enemy to talke his pleasure but when he shall find his trechery rewarded with due recompence hee will wish he had vsed himselfe more fréendely to this Ladie whom he hath so greatly iniuryed Then Francian was desirous to send them defiance which the Damosell would not suffer lest her dealings should be espyed but to worke the surer in her deceite she sent the other Damosell once more to will them to depart presently whereto if they made denyall that she should summon them in armes to prepare for the fight In maane while she was gone on her message this other craftie Gyrle vsed such familiaritie with the Prince Gracian and the other Knights that their heats were enflamed against them beyond the Riuer To whom the other Damosell had reported that the Prince Gracian and his company did endeuour themselues to take the Castle from her Mistresse perforce whereupon shée requested them to defend her Mistresse right and to cause them know they went about a disloyall enterprise The Prince Floraman hauing well pondered the words of the Damosell returned her presently this aunswer Albeit out duettie is to defend any distressed person and so gainsay the mishap of any iniuried Lady yet reason willeth vs ere we presume too hastily to be acquaiâ—ted with the cause and well aduised ere we begin such a rash attempt else may our enemie iudge we come more vpon a brauerie then Knighthood may awarrant our behauiour and so runne into danger our selues for that the rightful cause hath alwaies the victory Wherfore thus resolue your selfe wee will first know if your reportes be of trueth or no least we enter into such defectes as we may perhappes repent vs. With that the Demosell began to rehearse their promise at such time as she deliuered them Horses and Armour in their great necessitie for which cause she desired then to accomplish their promise threatning them that their Nobility might be defaced in denying their words Trust me answered Platir I haue such a good opinion in her dealings that she would not vse perswasion to vs of an vntroth Wherfore tell vs faire Lady doth your enemy still remaine resolute in his determination albeit my Companions deny to ayd you as they haue auouched yet will I abide by you to the death in what I haue promised Then the Prince Berolde coming to the Damosel began as thus Can we faire Lady sée you in such great hazard and not Imploy our selues to giue you succour No assure your selfe for mine owne part and so I dare auouch for the rest of my company that we will pawne the blood of our hearts ere we will sée you remaine in such a heauinesse The Damosel at these words returned to the Prince Gracian certifying them of their willingnesse to the fight and not long she stayd but returned to them againe her face all be sprent with teares which was chéefe vaile to couer her treason and thus she spake Now Gentlemen your quarrel is of more force then before for they haâ—ing my Lady and Mistres in their hold haue vowed not to let her depart without she will render to them her castle And moreouer they send you word by way of defiance that they are so ready to deale with you as they iudge you dare not come forth to them either to defend the cause of my Lady or to make proofe of your loyaltie
place where these knights were assembled and entring into the Campe like an ancient olde man hauing a rodde in his hand where about was wound a Serpent he strooke vpon the ground with it when presently the knights fell all to the earth in such a strange and marueilous alteration that one would haue iudged they had béene depriued of their liues After he had there finished what pleased him he weÌ„t vp to the Castle of Dramusiande sending such a darke smoke ouer all the Valley wherein might be perceiued great flashes and flames of fire that the Princes in the Castle were marueilously affrighted This moued Eutropa to such great anger because shée could not gaine the knowledge how this had hapned no worke her will on â—he knights as she had certainly purposed that shée went raging all about the Castle mooued to such disquietnesse that no body could perswade her At last this great darknes vanished away and nothing could bee séene but the Knights that lay all grouelling vpon the ground which caused Dramusiande with his noble Prisoners to goe foorth and fetch them all into his Castle When they had taken off their Helmets the King Recinde knew his children and the king Arnedes his sonnes Polendos knewe Francian his sonne and Bazilliart and Don Rosuel were visited by the valiant Belcar Dridan was carried the armes of Maiortes and Platir was borne in by his noble Father Primaleon who because he had left him wheÌ„ he was somewhat yong did hardly knowe that it was his sonne In briefe they all lamented to sée their kindred and friendes in such great misfortune and conueyed them into the Castle where they were so honorably vsed that in short time they had good hope to recouer them from this danger When they had attained some part of their former health they reioyced greatly that they had happened into the company of their dearest friends and declared in what maner they were deluded by the two Damosels which was not strange to them who perceiued the daily practises of Eutropa to be grounded on such trecherous deceits Now did Dramusiande greatly commend his good Fortune in gaining so many couragious and well approoued knights as he was fnlly resolued he should now easily conquere the Isle of the Lake which as yet hee would not make knowne to any of the Knights but vsed himselfe so pleasant in their company and frequented them daily with such delightfull exercises that generally they bare him great good will and affection For this opinion he conceiued that vsing them with gentlenesse and shewing himselfe curteous in all attempts he should winne their good wils which hée made more account off then all the riches in the world As it is alwaies séene that friendship sooner winneth the gentle minde theu the rich promises and deliuery of Coyne can purchase any faithfull perswasion which craueth a more couetous interest then the persons estéeming vertue will straine their mindes to amount vnto CHAP. XXXIX How Eutropa after she had obtained all the Knights prisoneners in her Castle began a new trechery to bring to ruine the Emperour and Citie of Constantinople by sending Letters to the Soldan of Babylon declaring how the Emperour was destitute of his chief knights how he might easily ouercome the citie And how the noble knight of the Sauage man after he was healed of the wounds he had receiued by the knight of Fortune left the Court of England and trauelled to seeke the aduentures of great Brittaine in which endeuour he arriued at the castle of the Giant Dramusiand where he vnhorsed the Prince Primaleon and his noble Father the Prince Don Edward Likewise how he preuailed against the kings Arnedes and Recinde and foiled the Gâ—ants Pandare and Alligan so that he entred combate with the Giant Dramusiande each of them fore wounding the other yet neither could enioy the victory And how the Sage Aliart came againe and made such a maruellous darkenesse that the knight of the Sauage man was carried away no body could whither GLad was Eutropa that she had gotten these Knights her prisones whom she stood in great feare of and Christendome in most néed of and yet not contenting her selfe with this extreame crueltie would practise another mischiefe to bring to destruction all the noble knights on the earth It so fortuned that by politike meanes she was aduertised of the death of Olorique Alchediane the great Soldan of Babylon and deere friend to the Emperour Palmerin who had a sonne remaind aliue not of the gentle nature of his father but a great enemy to the whole estate of Christendome This seruing for fit her diuellish purpose she gaue him by Letters to vnderstand what great and gréeuous mischances his Progenitors had receiued by the Emperours of Greece in that many Princes of his blood and linage had béene cruelly slaine before the walles of Constantinople which naturall loue and dutie did inforce him to reuenge else should he be iustly contemned and reproched of the whole world where if now he would vexe his enemy vpon so iust occasion vrge him to the small defence he had left for his succour he might be Monarch of the whole world and haue more at command then all his Predecessours had As for a conuenient time he could with for no better then was at that present when if he would lay siege to Constantinople it had no other Rampier of defence then the aged Emperour whose yeares forbad him to enter the field and whose dominions lay ready at his owne appointment As for the noble couragious knights whom all the world feared and were the onely safegard to that famous City were in such place where they had more néed of succour themselues then come to defend the aged Emperour Yea and all other realmes were so vnprouided of those that were the meane to let this determination that neither could they helpe him or promise safety to themselues so that if he would he might bring vnder his obeysance the most of all Christendome There letters were conueyed to the Soldan of Babylon who prouide for the attempt which Eutropa had willed him where to his determination we will forsake him at this time till we gaine more fit occasson to discourse of procéedings The hardy knight of the Sauage man was purposed now to sée the aduentures of great Brittaine for which cause when his wounds were perfectly healed he tooke leaue of King Fredericke and the Princesse Flerida procéeding in his trauell till fortune brought him to the Valley of Perdition where he presently espoed the Castle of Dramusiande Not long had he stood to take view of this Castle but hee perceiued to issue forth a braue company of well appointed knights among whom were Giants of a monstrous stature which gaue him occasion to suppose that hée was arriued at the place where so many famous Knights were detained Prisoners yet was ge driuen into a great doubt in that such comely Knights should kéepe company with
she would restore it again when he should haue most neede to imploy it in seruice This moued him to approoue the shield because of the spéeches of the Damosell before the Emperor of Constantinople whē the Sage Aliart sent her as you haue heard before likewise because this was the most dangerous aduenture that in all his life time he enterprised he could not wish for a more fit occasion then at this instant to make not wish for a more fit occasion then at this instant to make triall of his shield Don Edward being ready prouided menaced his corage to that knight of Fortune who receiued him with such exquisit behauior of fight that Don Edward was sore hurt but the good knight by receiuing his stroke vpon the shéeld escaped the force of the lance The knight of Fortune vpon this good lucke would haue entred the combate with the sword but Pandare comming forth of the Castle commanded the Prince toreturne so that he could not satisfie his request Don Edward entring the castle the knight made such spéed that he entred with him which when Pandare perceiued he shut the gate and came vanting with his sword toward the good knight who in short time dishartned Pandare because his blows could not pierce the shéeld but he so spoiled the armor of the giant that in short time he brought him vnder his obeysance being greatly cōmended of Dramusiand Don Edward Primaleon for his noble exployt The Grecian knights had partly knowledge of him in that some of them were at Constantinople when the damsel broght the shéeld which they knew by the beautie and the braue deuice and such was their opinion of this knight that if he fayled to end the aduenture they doubted they should neuer get deliuery from that cruell Castle Yet so great was the pleasure they conceiued of him as they could not tell wether they should go to welcome him or enter the combate and so deliuer him but seeing how he vsed Pandare vrged them to beléeue he should haue good successe in this hautie enterprise Alligan séeing Pandare was néere losing his head came and fiercely assailed the knight of Fortune but he welcommed him with such a pure paiment as he made him quickely retyre to take his breath Dramusiande séeing Alligan so shrewdly handled was so vexed he knew not well what to say for he thought it vnpossible to conquer this hardy knight hauing such a shéeld as could not all this while be pierced so that he began vtterly to denounce Fortune that had fauoured him so long and would now leaue him at the last Alligan albeit very vnwilling began againe to assaile the knight but such was his reward for his trauaile that he was brought vnder his subiection and left his head on a gage to the knight of Fortune When Dramusiande saw that Alligan was slaine in a great rage he called for his Armour vowing to execute seuere reuenge on the good knight in the meane time the Prince Don Edward came vnto him requesting such friendship at his hands as he would suffer him to haue a sight of his face Floraman séeing he was vnwilling to discouer himselfe saide to him that he ought not to deny such a small request to so noble a Prince as Don Edward was When he heard Don Edward named who was reported to be such a singular knight in Prowesse and for whose sake so many valiant Princes had left their countrey and kindred to finde him who was lost none could tell where he caused Siluian to take off his helmet when the Prince delighted with his comely contenance presently said I hope Sir knight as God hath endued you with such a séemely and honourable shape so he hath reserued you to finish this perillous and strange aduenture for that your behauiour doth eneourage vs all to so good an opinion Neuerthelessee if Fortune do allow you the victorie I desire you to vse curtesie to this Giant who prepareth himselfe to encounter with you for that his gentle vsage to vs doth constraine me to speake so fauourable in this case The knight of Fortune had not not the leysure to make him answer because he perceiued Dramusiande comming towardes him when Siluian hauing armed his head they began to charge each other very furiously so that now began the proofe of the fight for al that had passed before was nothing in respect of this present exployts The strokes of Dramusiande entred the knight of Fortuns shéeld as easily as it would haue done in any other which vrged the good knight to think that the promise made of the shéeld was false and of no truth séeing it failed when he stood in most extremitie But then he perswaded himselfe againe that if he gained the victory it should not be attributed to the vertue of the shéeld but rather to the gotten by the valour of his person which should be estéemed of more renowne then to atchieue the conquest by such a prouided meane Wherefore reposing no longer confidence in his shéelde he trusted to his strength and the good successe he did assure himselfe off vsing Dramusiande in such sort as he had little cause to boast of his bargains But to speake vprightly small was the aduantage on either side for they were both sore wounded both alike wearied and both in great danger of the present death which made all the Princes heauy and the regardants sorrowfull to sée such an vnfriendly spectacle Dramusiande retyring to take pause beganne to suspect that this was the Knight should bring him and all his vnder obeysanue of whose comming his Aunt Eutropa alway cast a great doubt which to preuent hee thought best to render him some of the Princes and so to will him leaue off his enterprise but when he considered that to present such a condition to his enemie might expresse his cowardise and extinguish the good report of his woonted knightly déedes he determined to end his life with so good a champion rather then to be reproched by continuall infamy The knight of Fortune walking vp and down communing with him selfe in this manner If doe loose my life to deliuer so many of my deare friends I account it the chiefest honor of my life and the best aduenture that euer I enterprised Then suddainly turning his thoughts to his faire Polinarda in this manner he began to vtter his amourous complaints Madam if at any time you respected the vowed dutie of your seruant then at this time vouchsafe to remember me in your Princely fauor so that if the victory returne according as I wish I may manifest the honour of mine attempt to your soueraigne bounty by which I liue and in which I haue hope to confound my enemy Then they began againe in such wrathfull manner that all supposed there was no other remedie but the death of them both such was their féeble estate and so great the losse of their blood that Dramusiande was constrained to fall downe hée
Princes out of the cruell Enchanted castle of Eutropa and Dramusiande ARgolant who by the commandement of the king of England was departed on his voyage towards Constantinople to declare vnto the Emperour Palmerin the good successe of his sonne Primaleon and the other Prince indeuoured himselfe so well in his iourney thorow the helpe of good wind and weather that at the last he attained the end of his trauaile And as he rode through the Citïe he espied the Emperour among a great many of Souldiours whose beard was growne so white with anguish of minde and his face so wanne by reason of his continuall mourning that he stood in doubt whether it were the Emperour or no but that he was certified thereof by the people which made their recourse thorow the stréetes Who told him that report was giuen abroade how the Soldans of Babylon and Persia had gathered a mightie Armie intending to besiege their Cittie which made the Emperour in his owne person to goe sée to the fortifying of the walles that his Rampiers of defence might bée readie to resist the enemie Argolant comming before the Emperour who presently knew him alighted and knéeling downe humbly kissed his hand to whom the Emperour thus spake You may sée Argolant in what necessitie the citie of Constantinople is now vnhappily falne which in times past hath vrged me to the opinion that neither warres could surplant it treasons inuade it nor any disloyall accident once vse spight against it But such is the alteration of times and so vncertaine the fauour of Fortune that the famous monuments of most honour and antiquitie are as soone subuerted as the weakest defence so that it remaineth to me to say which once I could iustly say I haue béene happy For such is the danger threatened to our estate and so doubtfull the mischance that may suddainely annoy vs as my Subiects stand euery houre in feare of their liues and my selfe in dispaire of mine own safety Because I want those whose names in the eare of mine enemy hath carried as great estimation of hot resistance as they now being absent doe ouercharge me with a cold comfort But how fareth thy Soueraigne Lord the king of â—ngland to demand for other tidings were as néedelesse as I suppose them helpelesse If it shall like your Highnesse answered Argolant the king my Soueraigne and Lord saluteth your imperiall estate with all happinesse that he can wish or you possibly desire as for my charge if you will vouchsafe the place where the Empresse Gridonia and the other Ladies may be present you shall all be certified I trust to your contentations The Emperour at these wordes rode straite to his Pallace not staying till he came where the Empresse Gridonia and the faire Polinarda were sitting altogether but Argolant missing Bazilia wife to the Prince Vernar began on this wise to intreate the Emperour Let it not be offensiue to your highnesse in that I trifle time so long because I want one here to be partner of my happy tydings which is the faire Bazilia whose heart I am right sure thought the absence of her Lord Vernar too long The Emperour supposing there was some glad tydings toward in that they concerned not one alone but all such as had long time béene oppressed with heauinesse and knowing likewise the Princesse Bazilia would hardly leaue her Chamber tooke the paines to gâ—e for her himselfe when being al set down together Argolant in this manner vttered his Ambassage As it is not vnknowen to you most mightie Emperour as also these gracious Ladies who since that time haue endured no small oppression of heauy conceits that at my last being in this place I brought the vnfortunate report which caused as you know ful well a grieuous mishap ensuing vpon the losse of our no lesse famous then redoubted Prince Don Edward which prouoked your noble sonne Primaleon with a number of valiant Princes and Knights of your court to pursue in his search So now I durst not present my selfe where my former newes caused such griefe without I might bring those tidings as shuld in recompence cause a mutuall and generall gladnesse which loath to conceale from you too long thus it is The knight of Fortune the myrrour of Chiualrie the onely Lampe and Load-stone to draw the aduenterous minde to all valiant attempts as his exploytes in your Court against Floraman who for his fayre Altea made the onely challenge for the supreame title of beautie may not onely remaine a witnes but as a perfect example of all worthinesse to such as shall ensue after him for his memory and their learning This worthy Champion attempted the aduenture of great Brittaine where by the Magique of Eutropa and might of Dramusiande sonne to the Giant Frenaque whom you slew before your departure forth of England our Prince Don Edward your sonne Primaleon with a number of Princes and noble Knights were all this while kept as prisoners onely to reuenge the death of the aforesaid Giant Frenaque Wherein he spedde so happily that notwithstanding the cruell enchantments dispersed ouer the whole forrest and retaining the knights in such a seruitude as they might doe nothing without the consent of this wicked Eutropa he withstood her helliâ—â— charmes the force of her nephew the giant fulfilled that hauty attempt which could be finished by no other And our Prince Don Edward chancing first into this mishap was appointed to endure the first Iust against all that came so that through the helpe of two Giants whom the Knight of Fortune hath valiantly foyled all the wandring Knights were caught captiue in this Castell In fine when this famous Conquerour had found the way to this Fortresse and behaued himselfe against the resistaance with singular magnanimitie hée entred the Combate with Dramusiande where a bloody and doubtfull fight was presently begun The Emperor suddenly staying Argolant at these words in a maze and great feare put forth this demand Good Argolant before you procéed any further resolue me of a doubt wherein the last report of your discourse hath brought me know you where as now the knight of Fortune remaineth and whether he be aliue as yet or no for if he fare otherwise then well my state cannot endure without bearing him company to which Argolant replyed At such time my gratious Lord as I departed from the Realme of England I left him in such good disposition as himselfe could wish or your Maiesty desire when euery one reioyced for the good successe he had against the Gyant Dramusiande But may I quoth the Emperor vpon your faith and knight heed assure my selfe of this report If it may please you my good Lord answered Argolant to giue credite to my Message then beléeue me that the knight of Fortune is in good estate of health and hath done what I haue manifested before this honourable assembly Likewise the Forrest of that disloyall Eutropa is subdued from all her Enchantments so
at your hands I haue receiued any damage I must needs confesse your recompence is double if so bee your deeds agree with your words as blame me not Sir if I am somewhat hard of beleefe you haue brought me the onely comfort and 〈◊〉 of my life Worthy Sir said Palmerin what I haue spoken your Grace shall find the effect according doubt you not but both you and your Brethren shall now at last purchase the delight which neither your long study nor compulsion could bring to passe While they continued this talke the two knights that were in the 〈◊〉 with the souldiers came into the Dukes Chamber with their Helmets off when Palmerin séeing they were his two brethren Florian Pompides ran and imbraced them with very great ioy desirous to know how they had sped at the Iousting before the Princesse Florenda which Florian rehearsed from point to point as also in what manner they happened thither The Duke séeing these three Knights to be all brethren supposed them to be persons of some great birth wherefore he commanded Organeli because it drew towards night to conduct them to their chambers where Palmerin certified them what he had done in the Castle as also the Marriage he had appointed betweene the Duke his brethren and the thrée Ladies and thus they discoursed till sléepe commanded them to leaue off In the morning the Duke and his brethren married the Ladies Dragonell the second brother chose to him Armisia the second sister and Darofant espoused Arismena the yongest of all Then was the feast solemnized with marueilous great royaltie when Palmerin discouered himselfe and his brethren which made the Duke to conceiue the better opinion of himselfe that he had beene foyled by such a worthy Knight to whom he sheweth great honour during the time their staying there which was longer theÌ„ they would haue doue but only to pleasure the Duke and the Ladies At length taking their leaue of all the honourable company they departed from thence intending to goe strait to Constantinople if no other chance did come to turne them againe CHAP. LXXI How Targiana the Turkes daughter commanded her knight Albayzar to goe to the Castle of the Giant Almarol there to maintnine her beautie against the Princesse Miragarda And how he arriued there and entred the Combate with Dramusiande whom he was not able to vanquish wherefore in the night he tooke downe the Shield of Miragarda and brought it thence away with him NEw must wee a while leaue the Prince Palmerin and his brethren who hauing left the Duke and the Ladies are trauailing in their iourney towards Constantinople and now let vs sée what hath happened at the Castle of Almarol in maintaining the beautie of the faire Miragarda I haue already certified you that Oloriâ—que Alchediane the Soldane of Babilon had left a sonne behind him who was a great enemy to all Christendome who seeing himselfe brought into the despising of Fortune determined to follow the course of knightly aduentures and to make his valour knowne among the number of the most famous knights It happened that first he went to the great Turks Coâ—rt which being stored with couragious knights he had the better meane to try his hardinesse which proued so effectuall that aboue all there the Fame was attributed to this patterne of all their Chiuallry named Albayzar who became the amorous seruant of Targiana the Turkes daughter to whom the onely name of beautie was giuen thorow all the Turkes Dominions And as Loue is vsually an augmenter of their mindes who endeauour themselues to be vnder his obeysance hauing now enâ—lamed the hart of Albayzar maketh him to forsake his wonted liberty and to wander in the solemne conceits of his inucigled fancy which made him to brooke his passions more meekely hauing receiued the originall of his griefe from such an excellent occasion Pargiana likewise bearing him good affection would 〈◊〉 if Loue had such a soueraigntie â—uer him as in protestations sweete paâ—ley he often confessed so hauing her platforme 〈◊〉 and the order of her inuention ready coined she calleth 〈…〉 Chamber winde was was her woont and there she began this solemne deuise Sir 〈◊〉 if your 〈…〉 such an inâ—â—llible foundation as you haue often both said and sworne it shall bee 〈◊〉 as easie for you to driue me from doubt as to prouide your selfe against any encroching danger And I haue often told you that it is requisite I should vnderstand the depth of your déeds as wel as to be lead away with your amorous fabulous words for you haue often told me that I am the fairest Princesse liuing on the earth and that you would venture your life in maintenance thereof to bring you to your triall giue care to the aduenture I shall giue you in charge to finish It hath bin blazed abroad that in Spaine at the Castle of the Giant Almarol there remaineth a Princes named Miragarda who is reported to be the onely Goddesse of beauty because the Gods neuer frame one more beautifull then she yea and by the iudgement of those that haue seene her Picture truly and iustly figured by the perfect proportion being a Shield placed before the castle which who desireth must first adueÌ„ture his strength this report I tell you affirmeth her to be no lesse faire then the aduenture of it selfe hath béen tried famous To this place should I haue you to depart presently in trauaile and in my fauour and defence of beauty shew your hauty courage against the Giant her Champion whom if Fortune will suffer you to vanquish you can neuer do me greater pleasure then to bring me hither the Shéeld of the faire Miragarda And at your returne I pray you to iourney to Constantinople where in the Court of the Emperour Palmerin you may witnesse your self against all those that dare denie you to be the most faithful seruant to the fairest Princesse aliue the fulfilling hereof maketh you Lord both of me and mine My gracious Lady answered Albaizer I see at this present the perfect loue you beare me in that you will vouchsafe to employ me in your honorable seruice whereto I will presently betake my selfe promising to bring you the Shéeld of Miragarda which I will place at your féet because all the Ladies in the world ought to humble them selues to you Thus breaking off his spéeches he took his leaue of her wearing a very fine greene Armour wheron was wrought many golden Spheares and in his Sheeld vpon a field of Siluer hee bare for his deuise a Phaenix where vnder was written in golden Letters the name of Targiana Trauailing thus through diuers Kingdomes at last he arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol soone after the combat that Dramusiande had finished with the Prince Florian. Albayzar perceiuing the number of shields at the Trée estéemed greatly the valure of him who had the power to accomplish so rare exploits but when hee beheld the Picture of
approached the Coach and lifting vp the cloath he beheld a knight lying in gréene armor so imbrued with blood that one could hardly iudge of what colour it was This mooued Florian to great heauines and being desirous to know the cause of his misfortune he came to one of the Esquires willing him to report by what mischance the Knight was slaine The Esquire hauing small leisure to stay made him shortly answere in this sort If you desire to vnderstand the infortunate hap of this knight follow me and I shall bring you to the aduenture where you may atchieue such rare renowne that neither death nor time is able to extinguish out of memorie Surely quoth Florian I haue alwayes desired to imploy my selfe where I supposed to be the greatest danger yet could neither feare dismay me nor any doubt hinder me And thus concluding his spéeches he followed the Coach desirous to sée the ende of that the Esquire had told him Palmerin and Pompides séeing him gone so soone walked softly along the valley when in a while a Damosel presented her selfe before them mounted on a blacke palfray and saluted them in this manner I desire you gentlemen that one of you would so much fauour me as to goe with me to the succour of a Lady whom thrée knights endeuour to abuse to put herto death in most cruel maner Pompides hearing the coÌ„plait of the Damosell began as thus to the Prince Palmerin Séeing this present enterprse doth not require your force to be showne therein I pray you giue me leaue to accompany the Damosell that I may try how Fortune wil assist me in this cause Palmerin who desired to be alone in the company of Siluian was very glad that Pompides should assist the Damosell so taking leaue of each other Pompideâ— departed about his enterprise and Palmerin to the accustomed remembrance of his Lady Polinarda wherein he wasted so much time that he could not repaire to any place of lodging but was glad for that night to take his rest in a little thicket of trées Where he had sooner laid him downe but he heard one complaine in very doleful maner when drawing neare the better to heare him the night being so darke as they could not descrie one another he heard the heauy waight begin as thus O fond Florendos why doest thou thus complaine of thy griefe séeing thy Lady Miragarda doeth take such delight therein that she forceth not of his vtter ruine who submitteth himselfe chiefely vnder her gratious regard I knewe right well that all trauaile may be ended in the desire of one to doe you seruice but what shall he doe to whom you vse such entertainment that you may not permit him leasure that doeth you most honour nor will suffer him to be forgotten and depriued of life whereby hee might haue lesse occasion to complaine of your crueltie So ending his moâ—es with a grieous sigh he sate him down and fel asléepe then Palmerin perceiuing it was the prince Florendos determined oftentimes to make himselfe knowne but fearing to hinder him of his enterprise changed his minde bewailing as much the heauines of Florendos as he did the extreame case of his owne misfortune And when the day appeared hee departed as secretly as he could thence away desiring to attaine the Emperours court where he might conclude the seuerall motions of doubt and feare which Loue presented to his oppressed minde CHAP. LXXVII How Florian accompanying the Coatch with the dead knight met on the Seas with Arduramet the bastard Brother of the valiant Albayzar where they defied each other to the Combate And what haphened to Pompides following the Lady FLorian of the Desart kéeping company with with the Coach the three Esquires being a great way out of sight from his brethren one of them began thus to conferre with him Syr seeing you desire so much to knowe the Knight who is slaine and that you seeme affectionate to reuenge his wroÌ„g if neede were giue eare and I wil discourse thereof to you at large You shall vnderstand that this Knight is named Sortibran the eldest Brother of the famous King Frisol whose worthinesse hath 〈…〉 beene such that hée euer bare the name of the most 〈…〉 in all his kingdome So it is that Fortune very little 〈◊〉 to him as yester-day conducted an Esquire 〈…〉 who with wéeping teares desired Soâ—â—bran to 〈…〉 doubtful cause wherto he courteously gaue his consent not thinking on the trecherous intent of the Esquire who brought him into a place wherefoure of his enemies awaighted his comming and setling himselfe against them all in the ende Sortibran was there cruelly slaine We being aduertised of this great mishappe came to fetch him to his Castle where he might see his wounded body honourably interred meane while one of his young Sonnes is gone to the Court to sooke some knight that will reuenge his Fathers death Therefore if you desire to Dsisist and succour him in this case you shall not onely enlarge your eternall renowne but also shall worke such occasion that none may or dare presume to commit any such Treason Florian promising the Esquires to accomplish them request rid on with them till they came to the Sea coast where they entred a Galley that attended their comming and hauing there shâ—â—â—ed the body of Sortibran they sailed away with a pleasant gale of winde Not long had they been on the Seas but they were discouered by foure Turkish Galleyes 〈…〉 presently and borded them when 〈…〉 who was a Moore 〈…〉 into their vessell where beholding 〈…〉 Florian and iudging him to be a noble Knight he entertained him very courteously commanding the Esquires to cast the dead body of their Lord into the Sea and the next morning they heysed sailes to goe on their iourney This Arduramet was the bastard brother to the Prince Albayzar who was trauailing to seeke him to giue him to vnderstand that the Soldane of Babylon his Father was dead after whom it was his right to succeede his place Arduramet in talking with Florian demanded of him that any time he had heard of the Prince Albayzar and reported such marks and tokens to him that he knew well it was he that had vanquished Dramorant the Cruell Then bethinking him of the Combat assigned betwéen him and Albayzar to be performed in the Emperours Court and that his businesse had so chanced as he could not meete him there at the appointed time he begaÌ„ to be greatly offeÌ„ded with himself in so much that Arduramet desired him to shew the cause of his heauinesse But when he had vnderstood each seuerall clause in a great anger hée began this to rage Thinkest thou there is any Knight in the World that may or dare attempt against my Lord and Brother Albayzar certainely thou art much beholding to Fortune from deliuering thée from so great a danger Neuerthelesse if thou hast so great a desire to shew thy prowesse as here thou dost séeme to vse
in protestation let vs now goe to the Court of the great Turke where I will make thée confesse before the Princesse Targiana that Albayzar is the most honorable knight liuing on the earth and she the onely and perfect Goddesse for beauty Beside if thou thinkest he hath offred thée any wrong if thy stomacke serue thée thereto reuenge thy selfe on me who will die in his cause for proofe wherof receiue there my Gloue if thou dare Florian who desired to manifest his valour in strange countries receiued very gladly the challenge of Arduramet who thinking to honour his Brother with the Conquest of Florian went to the Court of the great Turke where to their determination at this time we will leaue them Let vs now remember Pompides who trauailed with the Damosel till they came to a thicket of Trées where he heard one make a very great clamour and looking aside beheld a Knight offering monstrous dishonour to a Lady and two Knights sitting by on Horsebacke laughing at the simple shift she made to defend her selfe from the villainous intent of the knight Pompides not able to suffer so great shame in his sight couched his launce against him that abused the Lady so that he ran him cleane thorow the head and laid him dead on the ground before him and dealing roughly a while with the other twaine he serued them both of the same sauce as the iust desert of them that would abuse themselues in so vile a sort Then came the Lady and submitted her selfe at the féete of Pompides but the feare she sustained by their crueltie would hardly suffer her to vse any spéech wherefore Pompides taking her in his armes and seing the heauy estate and great perplexitie he comforted her in this manner Faire Lady let no feare as now séeme to dismay your mind for here is no body but such as will imploy themselues in your defence My Lord quoth shee these bloodie minded men haue brought me into such feare that albeit I sée dead before my face yet the remembrance of their crueltie doeth still make me afraide wherefore I desire you to depart and leaue me to mourne my great mishap else shall I still be fearefull as the Bird on the branch in danger of the Fowler Pompides began to smile to sée the little trust the Lady reposed is his company neuerthelesse minding to satisfie her desire who was very beautifull as also of a vertuous and honest disposition he departed from her accompanied with the Damosel that had brought him thither Who reported to him how the Knights that would haue rauished the Lady met with her as she trauailed toward the Court of king Frisol who were newly come from the slaughter of Sortibran and méeting with her endeuoured by their faire spéech to allure her to their lust but when they sawe she would not consent they would vrge her to it perforce So Pompides departing from her followed after Palmerin because he desired to trauell still in his company CHAP. LXXVIII Of that which happned to Palmerin of England after he was departed from the Prince Florendos and how while hee was fighting with the Giant Bracandor Albayzar arriued there and holpe him to ouercome his enemies AFter that Palmerin had left Florendos sléeping at the Trée he came into a Forrest halfe a mile from the Citie of Buda where the King of Hungaria lay and there he perceiued a company of Knights and Ladies by a Fountaine wherefore fearing least their company might bee some hinderance to is trauaile he turned his Horse to ride an other way for it was all his intent to abandon place of resort because hee might the better commune and dispute of his Loue. As he was ryding he turned his head and espied these pleasant company by the Fountaine to be very fiercely fighting together wherfore he turned againe to goe thither where he sawe this great conflict but before he came all was done and quiet because the enemy had takē them that gladly stroue with resistance who were the Duthesses of Pontus and Duracā trauailing to the Court of their noble Father in the company of the prince Ditree who in this vnfortunate skirmish was slain Which vrged Palmerin to great heauinesse when he saw him as also the heauy cry the Ladies made being in the hold of Bracandor a mightie Giant inhabiting there in a Rocke and had ten Knights there daily waiting on him Palmerin pitying the Ladies mishap couched his speare and ran against the Giant with such force that he laid him along on the earth in manner as though he were starke dead which the ten Knights standing by séeing came altogether running vpon him but he defended himselfe so wel that they had not the power to vnhorse him for his hardy blowes made them quickly coole their courage Bracandor being risen vp againe commanded the knights to retire because he would reuengo his iniury himselfe wherevpon they gaue ouer when the Giant and Palmerin sternly dealing with one another Bracandor in the ende began greatly to faint The Knights seeing the danger he was in forced not of their Maisters commaund but came and beset the Prince Palmerin who albeit he receiued many dangerous hurts paide them their due but little to their profit The Ladies continued in prayers for his good assistance estéeming him the best knight that euer they had seene and Bracandor seeing the maruellous force of one onely knight beganne to blaspheme his God and ran in such violent manner against the Prince that had not God indued him with great pollicie and force the least of his blowes was sufficient to haue slaine him Bracandor beholding six of his knights slaine through his dangerous woundes and dispaire of himselfe fell to the ground Palmerin being well pleased to be rid of such an enemy in short time sent the other foure to beare their Maister company to whom he came offering to take off his Helmet that hée might haue presently cut off his head But Astapardo came foorth accompanied with ten knights and charged him so sudainly that he had not leisure to commend himselfe to his Mistreffe Palmerin was reduced into very great perplexitie yea and his death appointed in this furious skirmish had not the puissant Albayzar presently arriued there who seeing the great iniury was offered to one knight and that it was he which gaue him his speare when he fought against Dramorant the Cruell he ran against Astapardo in such manner that his speare went quite thorow his body and Armor and the other behaued themselues so well that the most part were slaine the rest saued their liues by flight Palmerin séeing himselfe deliuered from so great a perill came offered great thanks to the Prince Albayzar but he not suffering him to vse any such courtesie without making knowne what or who he was set spurres to his Horse and rid away in great haste Then Palmerin returned to Bracandor and finding him to be as yet aliue he commanded
of the Blacke Knight with the noble company he brought with him had good opinion that he should end the Iust which made the Ladies and the knights to throng to the best places of sight because now they looked for some notable exploit but that which caused the greatest amazement was the beauty of the Princesse Tagiana with the rich and sumptuous shew of her apparrell which made the people run on heaÌ„pes with very great murmuring whereat Albayzar somewhat abashed cast his head aside and séeing his Lady Targiana he could hardly sustaine himselfe from falling to the ground The Blacke Knight staide a good while beholding the shields Albayzar had conquered but when he saw the portrait of the faire Miragarda the teares ran down his chéekes and he began in this manner Madame how is it possible that the thing wherein Nature hath showne all her skill to make it surpassing faire should bee in the power of him that might be glad to be vanquished by you for my selfe I would triumph to be found so Fortunate at this present because I desire to die to maintaine the truth and I hope to discouer the deceit of Albayzar in such sort that his recompence shall returne what he hath iustly deserued Albayzar greatly reioyced to sée his Lady Targiana for whose loue she had attained such estimation of honour wherby he had so farre ouershot himselfe in his prodigall pleasure that he stood in a maze whether it was she or no. The Black Knight hauing ended his complaint and séeing Albayzar so farre distracted put himselfe a little néerer and awaked him with these wordes Albayzar whereon doest thou vse thy mind so mutely I aduertise thee that the Princesse in my company is called Targiana the daughter of the great Turke who hath taken the pains to come hither to sée thy valour which is so much blazed commended through the world Albayzar at these words alighted from his horse and hauing taken off his helmet he came and kissed the hand of Targiana with this manner of salutation Madame I know not how I may requite my selfe to you hauing honored me so highly aboue my desert Targiana receiued him very gratiously giuing him hearty thanks for his noble seruice whereof she made such estimation that Florians deeds were presently forgotten yea and so farre bannished out of memorie as though she had neuer séene him in all her life manifesting rightly the inconstancie of such as regard their seruants according as they are raised in authoritie Albayzar hauing done his duty to the Princesse Targiana mounted on horsebacke and began thus to the Blacke Knight Sir Knight I would faine know what moued you to bring my Lady hither as also if you haue desire to enter the Iust for vpon the presenting your shield you shal be receiued Sir quoth the Blacke Knight after the strife is concluded betwéene vs she shall discourse the certaintie thereof her selfe But as concerning the shield which you say I must present to be allowed the Iouste I am at this time vnprouided thereof because thou hast disloyally stolne it which else I might haue worne here to honour my Lady Wherefore I haue thus determined by my puissance to cause thee confesse the same before this honourable assembly and if Fortune fauoureth thee so much as to suffer me be vanquiwed at thy hands faile not to reuenge thy self on me as on the greatest enemy that euer thou haddest but if I vanquish thée I desire no greater victorie in recompence of the trayterous wrong thou hast offered me then to carry backe the Shielde of my Lady Miragarda to the place where it hath alway been accustomed to remaine I am content answered Albayzar that if Fortune permit thée conquerour ouer me thou enioy all these Shields she hath suffered mée to vanquish and that thou bring me to the Castle of Miragarda where she shall ordaine for my life as pleaseth her and the like shall my Lady Targiana deale with thée if mine accustomed good happeÌ„ returne me the Victorie Syr quoth the Blacke Knight my will is thereto as ready as thine albeit thou shalt finde no more friendship at my hands then I will offer to my greatest enemie The Emperor with all the company were suddenly strooken into a great maruaile when they had heard the wordes of the Blacke Knight especially Primaleon who desired greatly to haue knowledge of him whereupon the Iudges commanded them the Field and Targiana entred with them according as Albayzar requested The Trumpets sounded and the Knights mette so couragiously with each other that Albayzar was thrown to the grouÌ„d his héeles vpward and the Black Knight was dismounted with the Saddle betwéene his legges because the girtes of his horse were broken or else he had kept on horseback still which made the Emperour to iudge that Albayzar should not depart with such honour as hee thought for When they had drawne their Swordes they laid at each other in such terrible manner that Albayzar thought he had neuer met with a stroÌ„ger knight and the Blacke Knight very well estéemed the strength of Albayzar so that the generall verdict was neuer had been séene a more hauty combat For Albayzar was encouraged by his Lady Targiana the Blacke Knight so animated with the picture of Miragarda that betwéene them was declared the deedes of incredible prowesse At last Albayzar séeing his Armour so bedewed with his blood and himselfe brought into such extremitie hee retyred to take breath and began thus to complaine What do the noble victories which I haue attained against many noble mindes preuaile me now in any thing seeing that at this instant I must lose all the glorie I haue gotten Oh my Lady Targiana if I haue had the power to vanquish the best Knights in all the world in your absence why suffer you one Knight to preuaile so much against me in your presence to loose my former honor is more deere to me then life which falling out so contrary as it doth maketh me to thinke that you are more affectionate to some other then you are to me which is the onely cause the victorie will not fall on my side But yet what Princesse is there in all the world more braue in bountie beyond you in beautie or better deserueth the title aboue all titles then you truely I may lose the victorie of this Combat through defect of my weaknesse but not by any fault that is in your excellency wherto the fairest aliue may not seeme to aspiâ—e The Blacke Knight on the other side séeing his dangerous estate and that he could not assure himselfe any good successe silently to the picture of Miragarda he entred into these speeches Madame seeing it hath pleased you to vse me in affaires that haue greatly touched me I desire you not to forsake me in this enterprise which is wholly yours wherein though Albaâ—zar hath vanquished many Knightes to his honour and praise of Targiana who excelleth all these figured
and the king Polendos seeing the knight of the Dragon had woūded Dramusiand so sore greatly doubted lest Berocant should now ouercome him but suddenly Dramusiand caused them to change their opinion for he followed his enemy with so great courage that he forced him to fall downe dead at his féete Then came the Iudges and with great honor conducted the thrée Conquerors forth of the field where the Emperor with his royall traine met them when Palmerin and Florian hauing opened their helmets came to the Emperour and with very great reuerence kissed his hand who receyued them with maruellous princely courtesie The Empresse Gridonia Bazilia and Polinarda attended the comming of the Emperour because they vnderstood that he brought with him the two English knights who when they came before them were receiued according to their knightly bounty When Palmerin came to humble himselfe before the princesse Polinarda such a sudden feare did ouercharge him that he could not withhold himselfe from falling to the ground and the Emperour supposing that it was caused through lesse of his blood commanded Primaleon Polendos Vernar and Berolde to cary him presently into a Chamber where he was respected with great diligence for his health Dramusiande and Florian were likewise honoured with very Princely vsage the Emperor remaining as ioyfull for this good hap as Albayzar was sorrowfull to sée the thrée Giants spéed so ill CHAP. XCV What happened in the Court of the Emperour after the combate of the Giants CErtaine dayes after this cruel Combat the prince Florendos seeing Dramnsiande and the English Princes out of any danger determined to restore the Shield of Miragarda in the place from whence the Prince Albayzar tooke it and to present him to her where he should abide the doome of her iudgement When he had well prouided himselfe of Armour and other necessaries he aduanced himselfe before the Emperour and his Father to desire their sufferance in this attempt but they were very loath he should goe least any danger should happen to him by the way through some treacherous meane deuised by Albayzar wherfore they gained of him to stay yet for eight dayes longer In the meane time the Emperour had concluded through aduise of his Councell to send the Princesse Targiana home againe to her Father accompanied with the King Polendes and diuers other Princes and Knights but first he would content the desire of her loue wherefore with great royalty he married her to the Prince Albayzar and to honour them the more he held open Court and caused many Triumphs and braue deuises to be accomplished to gratifie these honourable personages The Emperour ledde Targiana into the Chappell where he gaue her to the Prince Albayzar whose heart greatly reioyced to receiue the swéete content he had so long desired but the chiefest grief that eclipsed his ioy was because the Prince Florendos should present him to the faire Miragarda which thought made him not so pleasant with his beloued as otherwise hee would haue béene When time came for their departure Targiana humbly submitted himselfe to the princesse Gridonia and all the ladies but especially to the princesse Polinarda who had vsed her very graciously during the time of her abyding there The Emperour with all his Knights rode with her two miles from the Citie committing her to the charge of Polendos and the other Princes who could not perswade Florendos but he would needes present Albayzar at the castle of Almarol to witnes his vnfained faith to his Lady Mistresse Miragarda The Emperor taking leaue of Targiana returned with his traine to the Cittie endeuouring himselfe to change the mind of Florendos but all was in vaine for two dayes after he departed from Constantinople accompanied with Albayzar whom he would not suffer to weare Armour but permitted him one of the Esquires belonging to Targiana and himselfe tooke twaine one to carrie the Shields of Miragarda which was couered and the other to carry his owne thus in their iourney we intend to leaue them The Damosel of Thrace séeing the Prince Palmerin in good disposition of health in the presence of the Emperour she spake to him thus Worthy Sir I thinke you are sufficiently certified that I cannot depart from hence without your company séeing you haue finished that which of many yeares haue béene thought impossible wherefore most humbly I beséech you that you would imploy your selfe to ende likewise the miserable estate of the distressed and most infortunate princesse of Thrace whose enchantment can no way be be expelled but only by you whose renown shall be more then I can speake of for you that shal ioyne in marriage with her and so make your selfe king ouer all Thrace But if perchance the desire you haue to follow aduentures wil not suffer you to ioyn with her in this honourable estate then shall she stand at your appointment to marry with such a one as you shall thinke méetest for her wherfore I desire you to set a part all excuses and to enter vpon this iourney so soone as possible you may Faire Lady answered Palmerin I am so much vsed to trauaile that I know the better how to continue it and neuer did I refuse to aide any person whose intent might be no preiudice to her whom I am alwayes bound to obey and therefore assure your selfe that so soone as I shall be prouided of Armour because Albaroco hath so disappointed me I will not stay to accomplish your desire The Damosell was very well pleased with this answer of Palmerin but the Emperor who wished more good to him then any other of his Nephews conceiued great gréefe to leaue his company so soone wherefore he went to the chamber of the Empresse who also was very sorry when she heard these newes Likewise the Princes Polinarda hearing that Palmerin should so soone leaue the Court went to her chamber amated with great griefe and many passions of the minde which Dramaciana perceiuing knowing well the cause of her heauines caine to perswade her in this manner Faire mistresse I neuer thought that any misfortune could depriue you of discretion which you haue alwaies vsed but if your gréefe be grounded on the departure of Palmerin why do you not consider y◠his desire is euer to be where he may behold you◠though in truth he deserueth to enioy the most excellent princes on y◠earth yet dare I assure you that your beauty is sufficient to yéeld the heart of him vnder your obeysance who onely desireth to be your swéet friend in loue And without good hope in this desire I know he could not long enioy his life but that he perswadeth himself to enioy that gladsom and long expected felicity wherfore I desire you to vse such courteous fauour towards him as may vrge him the sooner to returne to the Court. Folinarda hauing receiued some content by the words of Dramaciana made her answer in this manner How can I well brooke the sudden
of so great danger and then shall I account my selfe then more highly beholding to you Lady quoth he I receiue so great pleasure in your courteous answer as I thinke my selfe the happiest man a liue to attaine such bountie wherewith he presently tooke his horse causing his Esquire to mount the Damosell who by the way recounted to the Prince Florian how by a tempest of the Sea she was cast on the coast of Ireland comming from Denmarke and carrying Letters of eâ—edise to Basilia the Empresse of Allemaigne And when I perceiued quoth she that I was in this countrey where my Couzins the Daughters of the Marques Baltamor remained I intended to bestow a little labour in séeing them but my â—ortune was so hard as I met with the Giant Brocalon who not contented with the murdering my two Esquires that bare me company pursued me to haue fulfild his villanous wil on me so it was your good hap to be my reskew for which I thinke my selfe more beholding to you then I can expresse the Prince taking her by the hand returned this answer I promise you faire Lady I reioyce that it was my fortune to do you such seruice and doubt not but you shall finde me so gentle a companion as will guard your person from any danger that may happen to you but I would either I were so happie or you so courteous as to giue liberty to the prisoner whom your singular beautie hath secretly fettered They continuing these pleasant purposes of spéech at last they came to a goodly Riuer the pleasant sight whereof inuited them to alight from their horses to ease themselues a little where sitting louingly together the Prince began amorâ—usly to dispose himselfe toward the sober and chasle Damosell in the meane while his Esquire went to a Castle néere at hand to prouide some viands for his Maister who had fasted since he came to Hermits Cell which he refused to haue the Damosels swéete company Many affable spéeches the Prince spent that the Damosell might the better entertaine him into his fauour at length he was so bold as to giue her a gréene gowne when I feare me she lost the flower of her chastity but whether it were so or no I know not but mine Authour saith that the Esquire at his departing left her a Maiden and at his comming againe he found her a woman CHAP. VI. What happened to the knight of the Sauage man before he had taken his farewell of the Damosell SVch and so great was the pleasure which the knight of the Sauage man conceiued by the presence of the Damosell as all that night they passed the time away by the riuers side till at length the Prince began to waxe heauy a sléepe like vnto those that entertaine Loue but for the present time rather to suffise their appetite then any thing else for he made so small account of a Louers passions as his humour once satisfied he had presently forgotten it The Damosell séeing the Prince to vse no more regard vnto her fell into extreame conceite of gréefe in that she had so lightly bestowne her honourable chastitie on the knight who she feared would commit her courtesie to vtter obliuion which if it shuld happen so vnkindly quoth she I being vnworthy to shew my face among persons of credite wish that the present losse of my life might falue vp the staine and blemish of my former riches A heauy and pittifull discourse she continued during the time the knight of the Sauage man slept soundly at last she looked about and espied two Esquires attending on a Knight of such huge stature as he séemed to her to exéede the Giant Brocalon And as he walked many times would he stand still and muse with himselfe then pull and rent his haire as one would haue iudged him depriued of his wits at last in his extreame passions he called his Esquiers and commanded them to wait ther neare vnto him for that he would repose himselfe vnder the Trees Hereat the Damosell was greatly abashed so that standing in some feare she awaked the Knight of the Sauageman with these wordes Good Knight forsake this drow sines for danger is nearer thée then thou art beware of here is another Brocalon come to iniure vs and therefore helpe now or neuer to defend vs. At these words the Prince suddenly started vp and when he had put himselfe in good regard for his enemie hee aduanced himselfe néerer vnto him and séeing his Esquires walking their horses and their Maister lying vnder a Trée in great griefe of minde he stayed himselfe in secret a while when he heard him breake foorth into these spéeches I sée it is great folly for me to repose any credite in the Gods who either want power or else are wilfully bent to euerthrow him that hath most trusted them and good cause haue I to thinke so for that my Brethren being vanquished by one onely Knight they make so small estimation of me in their fauour as they will not suffer me to meete with him that I might either beare my Brethren company or take that reuenge which both my griefe and nature compelleth me For how can I chuse but blaspheme your names and deny to giue you the honour I haue done in that you suffer the knight so much to dishonour vs If you haue altogither cast me into obliuion I wil honor your Altars with no more testimonies of my affection but that trust I had in you I will repose in my selfe and so for euer henceforth I despise you These heauy complaintes caused the Prince to iudge that he was Baleato The Brother to the Giant Brocalon who hauing intelligence of his Brothers death sought to finde him that had done the deede this good hap was very acceptable to the Prince in that he found him without any of his knights to aid him so walking aside Baleato at the last had espied him who made him to arise with these spéeches What is he that dare imagine himselfe so hardy as to trouble me in my silent purposes I assure thée that thou art but little beholding to fortune who is thy vtter enemy in conducting thée hither especially in the time of my fury which thou wilt find more gréeuous then thou art able to endure And for the Damosell that kéeps thée company as I haue good occasion receiuing part of my gâ—éefe by meanes of such a one as she I will appeare the anger of my Gods in offering her as a Sacrifice to them and so will I deale with all of that Sexe that I can méete for that Brocalon the best knight in the world was slaine in following such another as she is Baleato answered the Prince reserue these threatnings for those that are affraide of thee and prepare thy selfe to deale with him whom neither the words nor weapon can terrifie as for the Damosell assure thy selfe that I will not onely defend her but I will also humble that proud minâ—e which
she would report to her the welfare of the Princesse Targiana that had so friendly giuen them to vnderstand before of the tidings which were brought thither by the Ambassadour who beiug arriued at Constantinople the Emperour sent the chiefest Princes and knights of his Court to receiue him with very friendly and courteous entertainment but when the Damosell heard that the Ambassadour was come she presently departed thence towards Spaine to go find out the Prince Albayzar promising the Princesse Polinarda to returne by Constantinople before she made her returne into Turkie The Emperour dessred the Damosell to present the message of his good will to the king Recinde as also to the Prince Albayzar and after that he had bestowed diuers rich and costly giftes on her she betooke her selfe to trauaile being verie glad that she was espyed by none of them which came with the Ambassadour who as I haue already declared was receiued in very Princely order not as he were an enemie but as became best the estate of him to whom he was sent who in sooth was of such a noble and vertuous minde as when he should deale roughly and extreamely with his enemies hee would entertaine them as his vowed and professed friends and such was his courtesie to this Ambassadour To the Emperours pallace he was conducted very worthlie riding among the chiefest Princes and knights of the Court and the Emperour himselfe to doe him the greater honour came and receiued him at the gate of his Pallace but the proud Turke would not one vouchsafe to vaile his bonnet or offer any honourable signe to the Emperour such was his malicious stomacke towards him who had in no case offended the Turke his Lord. The Emperour perceiued well the small regard he had of him by the words which the Princesse Targiana had sent him by her Damosell but yet he suffred him to do what he thought best vsing still so great courtesie vnto him as at last he was constrained to shew more decent iesture when he presented the Emperour with a letter from his Lord the Turke the seale thereof was of pure Gold and fastened about with a sumptuous Chaine The Emperor receiued it at his hands very gratiously and hauing viewed the tenour thereof he desired the Turke to go take his rest in his Chamber and the next day he would satisfie him in the occasion of his Ambassage I desire your grace answered the Turk that it may so stand with your pleasure as to make me presently answer without deserâ—ing any furder time which when I haue receiued I will goe â—est my selfe in mine owne Tents which I haue commanded to be prouided for me without the walles of your citie for if I should do otherwise the great Turk my gratious Lord would find himselfe much offended with me the Emperour replyed in this fashion You shall doe what you imagine conuenient in your owne conceit neuerthelesse I should not be any whit agreeued if my Ambassadour did lodge in the Pallace of the great Turke that he might the better fulfill his dutie in the charge committed to him I beséech your grace said the Turk to let these néedlesse spéeches goe and remember your selfe of the hundred Knights of your Court which are held as prisoners by my Lord the Turke and sée that you make some prouision for them for my Lord hauing them in his power to reuenge diuers iniuries which he hath receiued by some of your Subiects he determined to put them to death but to witnesse his gratious and noble nature he is content at the earnest intreatis of his daughter the faire Princesse Targiana to giue them their liues and to restore them in change for the Prince Albayzar who is kept prisoner in the Court of the King of Spaine by the commandement of the Princesse Miragarda But trust me you are to thinke your selfe in no small fauour with the Princesse Targiana whose teares were of such power as to sâ—ue the liues of your knights whom my Lord the Turke had determined you should neuer sée againe vntill your Highnesse had sent him the knight of the Sauage man that he might reuenge the iniurie which he too forgetfull of himselfe committed in carrying away by Sea his daughter Targiana a deed truly worthy of sharpe punishment the Turke there pausing the Emperour tooke occasion to beginne thus Certainly I confesse my selfe greatly bound to the Princesse Targiana but farre more to the faire Princesse Miragarda in that had not her wise foresight beene the greater my Knights had suffered the extreame rigour of death but this I assure you that since cruell Fortune had so throwne the Dyce on mee I rather would haue loste twice so many more as they are then to send your Lord the Turke my Knight of the Sauadge man in the presence of whome here I faithfully promise to deliuer the Prince Albayzar prouided alwayes that you make me sufficient assurance of them whome the Turke holdeth in vnkinde seruitude whereof how I may be certainly perswaded I pray you vouchsafe me the knowledge how and in what manner the case must be ordered The course which you must take in this matter answered the Turke is thus your Maiestie must send vnto my Soueraigne and Lorde the Prince Albayzar vppon his inuiolable Oath which by mee he voweth to you and which you may account of so great and sufficient truth and he will not faile by so great a bond to send you the prince Polendos your sonne with the other Princes and Knightes that are in his companie and this you may be bolde of that my Lorde more willingly would loose his life then falsifie his faith towards your Excellencie The Emperour leaning vpon his arme and noting well the words of the Embassador paused a good space without making any answere which the Prince Florian perceiuing being better acquainted with the infidelitie of the Turkes then the Emperour was and fearing least hee would haue giuen credite to this subtill assurance presently started vp and began as thus Most worthy Emperour if you but consider the cause why the great Turke detayneth your Knights in Prison you shall well perceiue the smal trust you ought to repose in him in that the occasion was so little and the assurance of his troth is much lesse Againe if you suffer the Prince Albayzar to escape vpon his worde you may chaunce sooner then you would to repent your selfe For if you remember his vnfaithfull dealing to the Giant Dramusiande in the time hee kept the Shield of the Princesse Miragarda how contrary to his vowed promise he brought it from the Castle of Almaroll in the night and comming with it into the Court did brauely giue it foorth in speeches that he had woon it by his knightly endeuour which dishonourable dealing he found in the end too costly Therefore it is very necessarie that the King Recinde regard him more carefully then hitherto he hath done in that the libeâ—tle of his person will
the Prince Platir answered the Esquire thus Trust me my friend I cannot thinke it méete to receiue thy Maisters armor which we thanke him for that he would so courteously send vs because I carry this mind with me that it is better for vs to loose our liues without his aid them hauing his armour to fall into his hands vanquished for our armour his not so much spoyled but we may very well endure the triall of this Combate wherefore we will trie our Fortune in this armor we haue considering skill must be vsed as well as defence which if we imploy as we ought there is no doubt but we shall haue the victory I am content to follow the aduise of Platir said Berolde And since you find it so conuenient quoth the Sage Aliart me thinkt it were good the messenger returned backe to his Maister and let him vnderstand that he may come when please him into the field I reioyce greatly saide the Esquire in the counsell of this young knight that you will not take this Armor which my Lord the Giant sendeth you therefore let him that hath the aduantagr boast of his winning in the end Thus the Esquire departed into the Castle of Collambra againe giuing the Giant to vnderstand what the Knights had said whereat he fumed and fretted greaely to sée what disdaine these Christian knights made of him wherevpon he tooke his leaue of his Sister in this maner Madame I pray you abide at this window all the while the Combate endureth for I shall be greatly iniuried if I want your presence So departing he went vnto his Couzins who were all in blacke armor conformable to their griefe and sorrow and bearing for their deuices in their shéelds the portraitures of Brocalon and Baleato their Couzins figured in a field of Sable they promising neuer to change their deuises vntill they had reuenged the death of the Giants the sons of Collambra who were déerely beloued of their vnckle the Giant Espouuantable With them he tooke his way to the place appointed for the combate the people reioycing when they saw him comming with his Couzins who were in stature able to deale with sixe such as the thrée knights were which made the Giant to ride very merily perswading himselfe that the knight of the Tiger and his companions should loose their liues in the field that day then comming somwhat néere them he began to vse these words In sooth my friends it were better for you to yéeld your selues then to abide the terrour of my combate Not so sir answered the Knight of the Tiger but albeit thy arcogant pride should séeme to fray vs in these peoples iudgements we are content to abide the vttermost not doubting God aiding vs but to bring downe thy haughty stomacke and these likewise that beare thée company Vpon these words the Giant ran against the knight of the Tiger and his Cozins against the other knights that the trampling of the horses made the earth to groane and they were not so quicke and spéedy in their course but the knight of the Tiger and his companions were as nimble as they méeting so brauely in the middest of the Carrire where the Giant broke his lance on the Prince Palmerins shéeld with so great force as he was constrained to catch hold on the mane of his horse otherwise he had fallen beside him neuerthelesse the Giant was cast out of his Saddle with great violence against the ground whereat he was maruailously offended but the knight of the Tiger reioyced that he had broken his lance so well The other six knights were all likewise dismounted except the Prince Flatir who kept his Saddle still yet was the charge so rough vpon him as he had almost borne his fellowes company but that he recouered himselfe gallantly hauing lost both his stirreps The knight of the Tiger séeing the Giant comming towards him cast himselfe beside his horse quickly because he feared the Giant would haue kiled his horse then being on his féete he spake to the Giant thus Content thy selfe a while thou counterfeit Monster and let thy Cozins procéede in that they haue enterprised for they that deale with him are such as they shall find sufficient to abate their lofty minds and after they haue tried their fortune because we will not hinder them neither do they the like to vs thou and I will quickly decide our controuersie when do not doubt but thou shalt perceiue the little regard I haue of thée and the vttermost thou canst doe I sée well answered the Giant that because thou hadst so good fortune to dismount me it makes thee so bold to speake thus brauely but I receiue greater contentment thē thou canst deuise to see thee here in this place where at mine owne pleasure I shall giue thee punishment and with my sword repay the shame of my fall Then drew he his sword forth of the scabbard saying to the Prince that he had caused that weapon to be made onely to take reuenge therewithall for the death of his Couzins Brocalon and Baleato with these words he ran fiercely on the Knight of the Tiger and gaue him such cruell and forcible stroakes as had he not defended them worthily his life would haue bene in great danger Verie rigorous was the blowes the Giant gaue the prince so that most part of his shield was cut in peeces and he had very little left to award his enemy and a great while it was before he could wound the Giant yet at length he gained such opportunitie as he wounded him grieuously in three or foure places which made the Giant to faint and waxe somewhat wearie both with the great losse of his blood and also with his extreame sweating and chafing to see himselfe so hardly matched by one knight but all his fretting the prince regarded not he followed his intent so worthily and redoubled stroake after stroake so roughly vpon him as the Giant was constrained to retire to take breathing awhile The knight of the Tiger was not sorry therat for that he as gladly desired rest of the giant though not by any such extreame occasion considering also he desired to see how his three friends continued the fight with the giants three Couzins who in sooth were brought to such a narrow point as they had not the power to defend their enemies for they both had and did charge them so worthily as the Prince did much delight himselfe in beholding them they being so couragious nimble and quicke as they were at the beginning of the Combate But the Prince Platir dealt so gallantly with him that was his enemy as he had the general praise and was iudged worthy the honour of that day aboue his other two companions The Giant beholding his Couzins in such danger and himselfe to haue lost the most part of his blood likewise that he had such a strong and puissant enemy his heart began to faint but because he would not haue them
very louingly and vsed such gratious courtesie towards him as he did vnto the Prince Primaleon his son as well for that he had bin brought vp in his Court as also because he was the sonne of his owne sister and the hardy Frisoll king of Hungaria his brother and especiall good friend As he continued this fauorable vsage to Belcar Onistalde son to the King Recinde and his owne sonne Polendos came and knéeled downe before him then leauing Belcar he returned to them very gratiously declaring in the sight of euery one his incomparable beauty so departing from the Port he walked with them on foote towards the pallace refusing to mount on horsebacke his mind was busied with such excéeding ioy as well for the recouery of them as for the Princely commendations Targiana had sent him whō he had now proued his speciall friend The Prince Primaleon went in the middest betwéene Belcar and Onistalde and the other Prince and knights came louingly cōmuning with their friends in which order they all followed the Emperour who being no sooner come to the Pallace but there he found the Empresse accompanied with her ladies attending their comming at the outtermost Gate she hauing giuen the knights her amiable welcome the Emperour commanded they should be brought to their chambers for that their great trauaile on the Seas required some rest The Princes were conducted into the Emperors chamber according as it was the custome for those whom he estéemed at their arriuall and they were scant out of the great hall when they perceiued to enter a Turkish Esquire who coming before the Emperor began to salute him with these words My gratious Lord Almaneor Ambassador from the great Turk commanded me to let your maiestie vnderstand that he is loth as yet to take landing fearing lest he should hinder the pleasure your highnesse conceiueth séeing your knights so safely returned he being come with them and hath here sent them vnto your maiestie wherefore he desireth you would not iudge amisse of him in that he hath done and if so be he haue in ought mooued offence to your Highnesse he will to morrow morning come and be sorie for it when he wil make you acquainted with the summe of his ambassage which will cause you to loose part of the contentment which at this present your knights hath animated you withall Certainely my friend answered the Emperour I am sorry that I did not make more remembrance of him but let him commit the fault to my knights with whom I will enioyne in making amends againe to morrow because I shall sée him to day he being willing to rest himselfe this night in his galley The esquire departed with this courteous answere of the Emperor who taking the Empresse by the hand withdrew themselues into their chamber where they passed the night with greater contentment then they had done of many daies before But when faire Phoebus in the morning had displayed his golden face on the earth the Empresse walked to the Chappell to heare seruice the Emperour and the knights being farre behind her and seruice being ended they all dined with the Empresse in her chamber for that she had determined to feast Polendos Belcar Onistalde and the other Princes who were serued at dinner with maruellous great state The Tables being withdrawne the Emperor commanded the principall knights of his court to goe welcome on land the great Turkes Ambassadour to whom he would shew himselfe honourable as well for that he would not be thought vngreatefull hauing recouered home againe his knights as also to vnderstand the will of the great Turke Polendos Belcar and the rest of them that had béene prisoners went foremost to receiue him on shoare because they would not haue him thinke that they had forgotten the kindnesse he shewed them on the Seas where Primaleon was somewhat displeased because his nature could not suffer him to vse such kindnesse towards them he knewe his professed enemies Polendos with his company being come to the Port hée with such as he thought good tooke a Barge and went aboord the Galley to the Ambassador and brought them on shore with them very nobly with such a noise of drums phifes trumpets clarians as the Turkes wondred at this royall entertainment The Ambassador nothing the great courtesie of Polendos who was diligent in shewing him the greatest honour might be knew very well that this excéeding humanitie came from him that was their Lord and gouernor wherevpon he considered that a Prince so wel beloued of all as the Emperour Palmerin was should finde more friends to aid him in his necessity then enemies to molest him All this while the Emperor attended the Ambassadors comming to the Empresse chamber accompanied with his sonne Primaleon and many Princes and Knights of his Court and the Ambassador who was the same man that came before to request in the great Turks name the fréedome of Albayzar in change of those Princes that were prisoners in Turkie being in the Presence of the Emperour made him such humble reuerence as his Maiestie well deserued and not vsing any such proude behauiour as he did at his first comming to Constantinople The emperor welcommed him very gratiously desiring him not to be offended because he did not accept of him y◠day before according as willingly he would haue done Most worthy Emperour sayd the Ambassadour I am not of so small discretion but I knew well how busie you were yesterstay in receiuing home them whō you haue so long looked for but letting these néedlesse matters passe I must request to know your highnes minde as concerning the libertie of the prince Albayzar whom you would not sende to the great Turke my Lord for that you doubted he would not sende home them whom he kept as prisoners As touching the deliuerance of them my Lord hath bin so hardy as to trust to your gentlenes onely at the intreatie of his daughter Targiana hée hauing no assurance for the Prince Albayzar his daughters husband but onely the word of her who is your great friend desireth that you would now send home her beloued Lord Albayzar of whom the great Turke himselfe willed not me to vse any spéech hauing ioyned me to speake of those things which will but little please you in the hearing them the Emperour returned him this answer I know not what the great Turke your Lord hath determined to make me acquainted withal but I am so accustomed to doubtfull occasions as let his mallice stretch neuer so far and his deuises purchase what scope he can yet haue they no power to make me feare But for the Princesse Targiana I am to thinke my selfe highly in her debt in that her earnest intreatie wonne the libertie of knights and surely it gréeueth me that her father would be so enuious towards me who would with all my heart haue his daughter againe in my Court that I might recompence some part of her gentlenesse she hath vsed
to me and for that she would so kindly pledge her selfe vpon the assurance she reposeth in my fidelitie Moreouer I promise you Sir I haue written to the King Recinde that he should not faile to send me the Prince Albayzar and I beléeue certainly it will not belong before he come hither wherefore I pray you to stay here till he come and in the meane time I will vse the matter so as the Turke your Lord shall be rid of his doubt and the Princesse Targian a satisfied to her owne contentment I am of the opinion said the Ambassadour that the Prince Albayzar will be here and that quickly for the Damosel who was sometime sent in secret to your mistresse was dispatched with her message twenty dayes before my setting forth that she should let the King Recinde and the Prince Albayzar vnderstand of my coÌ„ming and certifie them likewise of the liberty of our knights by meanes whereof they will not faile to come hither to your Court vntill which time I am determined by your licence to soiourne here but I will not declare my Lord the Turkes minde before I sée the Prince Albayzar neuerthelesse I here present you with his gratious letter and after you haue well vnderstood the contents thereof I will declare what I haue in charge There pausing he tooke forth of his bosom a letter written in pâ—rchment and sealed with the Armes of the great Turke the which he humbly presented vnto the Emperour who presently caused it to be opened and perceyuing thereby that the Turke willed him to giue faithfull credit to what the Ambassador said he desired him to report the cause of his arriuall whereto the Ambassador thus replyed My gracious Lorde I knowe you haue not forgotten the day when the Princesse Targiana came vnto your Court neyther the subtiltie wherewith she was entised and brought forth of her Fathers Courte by the guilefull dealings of your Nephew the Knight of the Sauadge-man who was hindered in such sort in his iourney as he could not bring the Princesse Targiana vnto your Court but she being here was entertained by your Excellencie the Empresse and the Princesse Polinarda in such gratious manner as she estéemeth her selfe during life bound to you for your manifolde courtesies And my Lorde the Turke in regard of your Noble fauour toward his Daughter would gladly in any thing hee could witnesse his beneuolent minde to you forgetting all iniuryes past for his faire Daughter Targianaes sake but with this condition by the way that your Maiestie offer him nothing against right or reason for if you doâ— hée shall be constrained by forcible strength to reuenge the shame and iniurie he hath receyued by the Knight of the Sauadge-man And for the substance of his minde it is thus in briefe he desireth you to send vnto him the Knight your Nephew because he would chastise him for his haynous offence And if you refuse to satisfie his request he commaundeth me to let you vnderstand he is your enemie and will so reuenge that Knights abuse as all the world shall take example by him I cannot belieue said the Emperor that the Turke your lord will seem to threaten him at whose hands he requireth nothing but Iustice the which I being very willing to doo cannot thinke well of your present procéedings for that in sooth you demaund no Iustice Besides it is not reasonable to graunt what your lorde requireth for if Florian be accused for bringing away his Daughter I answer that he did it at the earnest intreatie and desire of her selfe So that your lorde I perceyue trauelleth in vain after my Nephew the Knight of the Sauadge-man whom I will not send vnto him if I wist he should be as welcome to him as to my selfe And if I should seeme to content the will of your lord I cannot send my Nephew except he please himselfe and I am perswaded he will not consent vnto it much lesse his Father who is a Prince of great authoritie If this reason I haue made you will not content the will of your lorde the Turke I am willing to receyue whatsoeuer he please eyther to bring or send me but I am sorie I am so farre spent with yéeres that I cannot shewe him what I haue beene sometime Neuerthelesse for a sufficient witnesse of my selfe I will sende him the Knight whome hee demaundeth that hee may tell him what I would doo my selfe and let him be bolde that Knight will doo his errand to the vttermost As for other aunswere I wish you not to looke for at my handes wherefore I thinke it good you goe to rest your selfe and when the Prince Albayzar commeth if you â—inde the time so conuenient for you you may departe when you please and in the meane time I will honor you with such courteous entertainment as you shall thinke well off I was assured before answered the Ambassadour of the answere you would make me wherefore hauing fulfilled my charge I néede not for this matter henceforward vse any more words When the Ambassadour had thus concluded Pâ—lendos desired the Emperour that he would suffer him to entertaine the Turkish Infidell while he stayed there wherevnto the Emperour gladly consented and Polendos bringing him into his Lodging failed not to let him see that enimies were better welcommed in the Emperours Court then Friendes were to his lorde the great Turke Primaleon remained very well contented hauing heard the answer of the Emperor his father as also for that he had so defâ—ded the cause of the Knight of the Sauage man for the loue of whom the Princesse Leonarda was diuersely mooued fearing least he should fal into the great Turkes hands who would appease the anger of his stomacke in sacrificing the good and hardy Knight to his Gods The sudden dumps of this yong Princesse was well perceiued by her swéete friend Polinarda who hid her knowledge thereof for the present time vntill they had brought the Empresse to her chamber then they two walking together to their Lodging Polinarda demanded the cause of her griefe wherevpon the Princesse Leonarda being ignorant that Targiana had béene brought to Canstantinople by the noble Florian of the Forrest or how else the matter stood but she desired Polinarda if so it were her pleasure to declare how these occasions had happened When the Princesse had herein satisfied her minde shée remained in sorrow without measure as well by occasion of suspecting the beautie of Targiana as also to thinke on the ingratitude of the Knight of the Sauage man so that at that very instant she reputed him as a man without faith loue or regard of loyaltie and she would gladly haue deuised the meane whereby to banish the remembrance of him forth of her heart Which the Princesse Polinarda perceiuing and willing to preuent any mischance that should happen to her Couzin she began to vse her talke in this manner Madame thinke you the Prince Florian will be the same man
prince Florian as well to delight the Damosels as to declare his noblenesse in fight to the Prince Florendos not forgetting withall that Miragarda should well perceiue he stood in no feare of her knight by refusing the Combate On the other side Almarol behaued himselfe very gallantly for the desire he had to gaine Arlencea and such was the regard of her loue with him as in all his life he neuer fought more brauely These two champions continued such notable courage as in short time their armour was broken in many places and their bodies so grieuously wounded that the blood ranne from them very pitifully but Almaroll being not so nimble and quicke as his aduersarie was brought into the greatest danger by meanes whereof he was glad to breake square a little to take breathing But the damosels knight would not to suffer him for he followed his intent so fast vpon him as he was constrained to fall to the earth séeming rather to be dead then aliue the sight whereof did gréeue the Prince Florendos out of measure and was so much offensiue to the Princesse Miragarda as she departed from the window commanding that Almaroll should be brought into the Castle which was presently done and Florendos went with him into his Chamber to sée some prouision might be made for his wounds which in sooth were very dangerous Then was the Damosels knight brought somewhat aside where the damosels vnarmed him to dresse his wounds which were not in any great danger whereupon he caused himselfe to be armed againe and mounted on horsebacke intending to depart thence But as he was about to set forward on the way two Knights of some strange countrey arriued at the Castle who came desirous to try the aduenture One of these knights was in Carnation colloured Armour very thicke beset with Griffins of siluer and in his sheeld was figured a white Hart in a field of Sinople the other knight was in blacke armour and bearing in his shield the same deuise his fellow had These two Knights no sooner beheld the Damosels knight but he in the carnation Armour spake thus to his Companion It seemeth to me Sir that we are come vnto the place where we shall haue no accasion to vse our armor if he which kéepeth the shield of Miragarda be not in case to endure the Combate this knight should séeme to be he wherfore because it shall not be sayd we came hither in vaine I will goe disburden him of one of his Ladyes she will be as méete for my company as for his Certainely answered the other knight I cannot content my selfe with things of so base estimation hauing before mine eyes the Shield wherein is pictured the beautie of the faire Princesse the regard whereof maketh me account nothing more worthy At these words his companion cast his eyes on the Image of Miragarda which hung in the seemeliest place of the Pillar whereuppon he entred into these spéeches I sée now my good friend that they which haue aduentured to this place haue not bestowed their labour in vaine for more willingly would I loose my life for her whose heauenly visage this Shield represents then to content my selfe with hope of any further glory I assure you sayd the first knight I intend not to depart from this place without I carry this Shield with me yet would I if it were possible first make tryall of my worthinesse against him that durst deny me to take it hence So aduancing himself to the trée where the Shields were placed he offered to take downe the Shield The Damosels knight perceiuing his intent and knowing that Florendos was busie about the hurts of the Giant Almaroll he would not suffer that in his presence any one should offer so great wrong to the Prince Florendos wherefore in regard of the good will he bare him he broched his horse with the spurs and when he came to the place where the Shield of Miragarda hanged he looke the knight â—y the arme and puld him backward with so great strength as he â—ell beside his Horse headlong to the ground and withall spake to him in this manner I may well perswade my selfe sir knight that you desire not to trie your fortune in this aduenture being so forgetfull of your honour as to procéede so cowardly not attending the presence of him who hath the authoritie to defend this Shield in his absence therefore I will trie if you be such a gentle companion as dare presume to carry it hence by your manhood Miragarda who was come againe to the window to take better aduise of the Damosels knight vnderstanding the braue words he had giuen the knight did greatly content her selfe in his presencâ— in that he tooke vpon him so worthily to defend her shéeld against the knight that offered to take it away who when he had gotten himselfe on foote againe he drâ—w forth his sword and in a phrenzie or a madnesse as it were he came to assault the Damosels knight which his companion perceiuing he came betwéene them with these words I pray you Sir to amount vpon your horse and in the mean time I will trie if the valour of this knight may answer the proude attempt he made to you Vpon this he aduaâ—â—ted himselfe against the Damoselles Knight who for the great desire he had to witnesse his courage to the princesse Miragarda prepared himselfe brauely to méete his aduersarie which hée discharged so nobly hauing his full desire at him as neither his shielde armour nor maile-coat could defend the push of the Lance but it passed cleane thorow his body so that the strange knight tumbled beside his horse to the ground being altogether depriued of his life When the Damosels Knight had gotten his Launce out of the Knights body he praunced till he came vnder the window where the Princesse Miragarda stood expecting the comming of the other Knight who méeting him in the middest of the course brake his Launce on the Prince but when they came together the Damoselles Knight caught hold on his enemies Shielde which hée pulde from him with so great force as he brought his head on the necke of his horse where not permitting him the leisure to recouer himselfe he gaue him with his owne Shield such a cruell stroke on the Crest of his Helmet as the knight was so giddy therewith he could hardly tell how to recouer himselfe In the meane while the knight was thus amazed the prince tooke off his helmet and gaue him such another heauie stroke as hee fell beside his Horse foming forth blood out of his mouth aboundantly Florendos being in the Chamber with the Giant Almaroll was greatly abashed séeing a combate fought at his Ladies Shield in his absence wherefore fearing least any displeasure should come thereby to him he forsooke all other occasions and went presently thither where hauing well viewed the two Knights he receiued no small admiration at this aduenture which when the
day declining apace the king set forward on his way to Digeon thinking the strang knight would come to take his lodging there but his will was farre contrary wherefore these few Ladies tooke their leaue of the company tarying there with the strange knight who séeing them somwhat sad because they had lost the Quéens company tooke off his Helmet which made the Ladies greatly abashed so that one could hardly iudge which of the foure was most affectionate to him The strange Knight durst not be too familiar with them in spéeches because he feared to disturbe their patience so after he had brought them to the Monasterie which was néere at hand in the valley the Abbatesse brought them into a faire Chamber the windowes whereof ouer a goodly Oratorie where the strange Knight himselfe was lodged and there he laboured his thoughts so extremely all the night as he had done his body all the day before CHAP. XL. Of that which happened to the strange knight the first day he enterprised to guard the passage of the Valley FAire Aurora saluting the Ladies at their Chamber Windows they put themselues in a readinesse because they desired to sée more of their Knights prowesse so they went with him to the field not vsing any great fauour towards him because they thought hee would leaue them the sooner and Mansia requested of him into what places he intended to conduct them Madame aunswered the strange Knight I am so extreamely passioned as I cannot at this time report whither I shall trauaile Dare you not be so bold saide Mansia to bring vs to the Castle of the Giant Almaroll and enter the Combate for our sakes with the knight that kéepeth the Princesse Miragardaes Shield as the Knight of the Sauage man did for certaine Damosels that kept him company I knowe no daunger so great answered the strange Knight which I would refuse to hazard if I might be vsed with gracious behauiour for that inciteth a noble minde most to the fight If any of vs saide Latrania were desirous you should approoue the Combate against the Princesse Miragardaes Knight for which of vs foure would you aduenture most willingly It is greater trouble for me quoth he to answere your present demaund then to hazard the Combate against any knight whatsoeuer Yet quoth she admit the necessitie were such as wée would faine knowe which of vs should make best account of herâ—selfe in this case Trust me Madame answered the strange Knight it is vnpossible for me to make you any direct resolution in this matter for mine eyes are so equall in iudgement on you all foure as I cannot either loue or affectione more then another Haue you sir said Torsia at any time séene the princesse Miragarda Yea Madame that I haue answered the strange Knight I pray you then good Sir quoth shée that you would vouchsafe to tell me is she so excéeding faire as the common bruite is blazed abroad of her Madame said the strange knight you may well assure your selfe that your singular beauty hath so dazeled my iudgement as I neuer sawe any that liked me better then you doe Ah ha quoth Mansia haue we taken you at last Wée may now very well perswade our selues that Torsia is she whom you make most account of for you neuer gaue so good wordes to any of vs wherefore seeing shée hath the most power ouer you and that you preferre her beautie aboue all ours I am determined to depart hence with these two Knights which I sée comming hitherward for I knowe them to bee such as will carrie me away in the despight of you And I pray you Latrania and Telansia to beare me company séeing the knight hath reuealed himselfe how simply we are estéemed in his fauour The strange knight thought to excuse himselfe but before he had the commoditie so to doe the knights of whom Mansia spake were there arriued the one of them being called Sir Menelao of Clermont the other Monsieur Arnar who being abashed to sée these Ladies in the power of a stranger came to vnderstand the occasion Sir Clermont saide Mansia since Fortune hath so luckily brought you hither I pray you to deliuer me from this strange knight who saith that in despite of all the knights in France he will cary vs into Spaine with him and there make vs giue attendance on his Lady Clermont who was the seruant to Latrania giuing credite presently to Mansiaes words tooke his lance from his Esquier and comming to the strange knight he entred into these spéeches Since you haue Sir receiued the order of knighthood to offer iniurie and displeasure to Ladies I wish he may be acâ—ursed that bestowed it on you and my selfe too if I should not attempt to chastise your follie You are wrong informed Sir answered the strange knight and I perceiue Mansia would gladly sée you brought into danger as she would affoord me the like fauour if it lay in her power and I thinke you shall gaine more in going about your busines then by tarrying long in this company Clermont séeing himselfe so lightly estéemed grew into such melancholy as he ranne against the strange knight before hée would suffer him to take his Launce but hée slipping by the puâ—h of the Launce caught him in the carrire by one of his armes pulling him beside his horse threw him to the ground with great violence His Esquire then deliuering him a Launce he rode against Arnar who prepared himselfe to reuenge the shame his fellow Clermont had receiued as also to desire the fauour of Torsia because he had good hope to espouse her but the strange knight being ignorant of his affection met so iustly with him as he sent him to kéepe Clermont company And to the end the Ladies might perceiue how he deserued beâ—ter account them they made of him he alighted froÌ„ his Horse and hauing drawne his Sword he dealt with them so brauely both together as he made them know they went against those orders which a good Knight ought carefully to kéep and estéeme The strange Knight desiring to delight them whose kindnesse was very mean and slender to him brought the knights into so bad estates as they would very willingly haue had a little rest if so be their enemy would haue suffered them Mansia séeing the Knights in so great danger she desired the strange Knight that it might please him to heare her one word theÌ„ in the mean while he stayed to heare what she would with him Clermont and Arnar had the leisure to breathe a while whereof they were not a little glad and Mansia began thus to the strange Knight I am highly contented sir in that you haue witnessed your noble valour vpon these two Knights whome I desire you to remit séeing thâ—y are not able to purchase any aduantage ouer you For I perswade my selfe that both Syr Arnar and Clermont wil not refuse your gentlenes in so dooing and I my selfe shal haue cause
her but the Knight of the Sphere made such account of her beauty as in his silent thoughts he vttered these words I would I were as fortunate and my déedes as worthy as I sée you coye in accepting of those who render their very soules subiect vnto you So breaking off he closed againe with the strange Knight who in troth was not slowe in receiuing him and I assure you their liues had béene in very great danger at this third triall if it had not beene for the arriuall of a damosell who being mounted on a white Palfray and her haire hanging ouer both her shoulders came to the strange Knight crying so loude as her voice brought an Eccho of the whole Forrest At this sight euery one was suddainely abashed and chiefely these two knights who separated themselues to knowâ—th cause of the Damosels lamentations which she came to vtter before the seure Ladies desiring them to let vs vnderstand for what reason these two knights entred the Combate Mansia tolde her how they fought for Madame Latrania wherevpon the Damosell approched to her entâ—ing into these spéeches Madam if life and honor ought to be preferred before vncertaine appetites afflictions I desire you humbly to allow aid and â—uccor to two distressed Damosels who not farre from this place are in great danger to loose their honour which they esteeme of greater price then their liues out of which trouble they shall be soone deliuered if it may please you to let mee haue one of these Knights who endure a hotte Combatte for your Loue. When she had thus spoken she shed such aboundaunce of teares and deliuered forth so many scalding sighes as Latrania was enforced to misse of her desire thinking to see the ende of the Combate betweene these Knights on which behalfe the King séeing Latrania make no answer spake vnto the Damosell in this manner Which of these two Knights faire Damosell doe you desire to haue with you because you shall perceiue my willingnes to intreate for you If it please your Maiestie answered the Damosel they are both so good Knights as I know not well which of them I should request neuerthelesse I will make choyse of the Knight that bereth his shéeld couered Latrania had no sooner heard the Damsells words but shee presently came betwéene the two Knightes giuing in shewe that the Straunge Knight should not suffer any refusall and wherevpon she spake to him thus Syr Knight if for the succour of the afflicted Armes were first inuented I pray you that the teares of Damosell and the loue you say you beare me may cause you to forsake this Combate and moue you to goe helpe the oppressed Ladies Madame saide the straunge Knight for me to obey you in this cause were very fond and vnaduised yet would I doe it if I were not busied about especiall matters for you may perswade your selfe that the Bond wherein I haue tyed my selfe doth defend me from satisfying your commaundement considered also Madame Torsia may finde her selfe offended that I should now in this manner slip from her and not giue her her due her Beautie worthily deseruing it I pray you sir quoth Torsia that you would witnesse your Seruice for my Loue in the place where this Damosell will conduct you I am coâ—tent to obey your commaundement answered the strange Knight if you likewife will goe in our companie for I haue taken this condition of you not to be depriued of your companie during my limitted time of guarding this Valley Madame said the damosel to Latrania the knight doth perfectly let you vnderstand that he is an obedient seruant to loue as your selfe may well perceiue séeing he preferreth his pleasure before your will Wherefore I desire you to intreate the other Knights to goe with me for I am of the opinion you shall finde him more affectionate to you then he whom yoâ— haue reposed so much hope in Latrania being willing to pleasure the Damosell beganne to intreate the Knight of the Sphere that it might stand with his pleasure to giue ouer the Combate and assist them with his ayde who were in great hazard Madame answered the knight of the Sphere I know it is no great harme for me to let alone the Combate mine enemy being such a noble and redoubted Knight yet would I not haue any one to thinke that in respect of feare or dismaying in my selfe I let this passe thus for that I know my selfe sufficient enough for a greater matter Marry as concerning your request the earnest loue I beare you is such and so great as I am content to suffer whatsoeuer you will lay vppon me onely to satisfie and content your will Then turning to the strange Knight he beganne againe in this manner I pray you Sir thus to imagine and think that my earnest desire to purchase the loue of Madame Latrania hath bene some hinderance to you of the victory albeit you made some assurance thereof in your owne conceit Indéede answered the strange Knight I sée it is very hard for a man to get any aduantage of you without putting his owne life in great danger for I assure your stroakes haue béene so well laid on me as they haue made me to conceiue so good opinion of your valour whereof since I am so well assured it doth not a little please me that so good a knight shall goe in this Damosels cause But ere you depart I would very gladly vnderstand your name to the end Latrania may haâ—e knowledge of him to whom of necessitie she must account her selfe greatly indebted The king himselfe who was no lesse desirous to know him then the strange knight desired him earnestly to reueale himselfe to him The knight of the Sphere séeing the kings great importunitie tooke off his Helmet and kneeled downe to kisse his Maiesties hand but he perceiuing him to be his friend Dramusiande would not so permit him but casting his armes about his necke embraced him with maruellous gratious courtesie being very sory that his suddaine departure would not suffer him to regard him as he willingly would And hee would not let him part before he had made him knowne to the Quéene and and the other Ladies who declare to the king what a benefite the knowledge of the strange knight would be to them Alasse quoth the King I would as willingly knowe him as any of you all and I am much out of quiet with my selfe that I haue not knowne him all this while Oh Syr saide Dramusiande I beséech you to expectt yet a little longer vntill his enterprise shall be ended for I am of the opinion that he will not then seeke to depart hence before hée make himselfe first knowne to your Grace The Damosell presented her selfe before him declaring it was high tâ—â—e they should be gone wherevpon he tooke his leaue of Latrania who esteemed her selfe aboue all the other Ladies in that she had the power to bring into her obeysance so good a
the Quéene Arnalte that her presence was very agreeable to him Dramusiande was so conquered with the loue Arlencea as he could rest in no place neither enioy any quietnesse Palmerin who liued now in more content then he had of long time before did not yet thinke all things sound and sure for that Lone presenteth daily some occasions of feare to amorous persons vntill such time as their desires are perfectly contented In the meane while this great ioy continued Pompides King of Scottes with his Queene arriued at the Emperors Cour who were receiued with maruellous great pompe and honour The Prince Primaleon desirous to shewe himselfe thankefull for diuerse occasions had passed betweene the Prince Don Edward and himselfe ledde the Queene of Scottes Palfray by the bridle till she came to the Pallace Gate notwithstanding the intreatie of Pompides and her selfe very often to the contrarie The Quéene of Scottes was lodged with the princesse Polinarda who held her selfe greatly contented because shee was so neere in alliance to her most fauoured friend Palmerin and Pomp des went to comfort the Knight of the Sauage man in his chamber where he kept and would not as yet goe abroad so heauily he tooke the death of King Fredericke his Grandfather The Court of Constantinople was in short time so well furnished with Princes and noble Knights as they were iudged more then needed to entertaine the whole puissance of the Pagan Kings CHAP. XLVIII How Arnedes King of Fraunce and his Queene Recinde King of Spaine and his Queene accompanied with the Princesse Miragarda and the Giant Almaroll arriued at the Emperours Court of Constantinople THe Emperour séeing himselfe brought into the extremity of age thought good to enioyn his Nephewe in marriage and also the other Princes and Knights that had béene nourished in his court and that he might mooue a generall good liking by so doing he imparted his intent to the Empresse and his sonne Primaleon When hee vnderstood how well they thought of the matter hée writ presently to Arnedes King of France his sonne in lawe that he would doe him so much honour as to come with the Quéene to his Court. In like manner his Maiestie dispatched letters to Don Edward King of England and Flerida his daughter to Recinde king of Spaine desiring him and his Quéene to come to his Court and bring the Princesse Miragarda in their company The Emperour Vernar was sent for likewise and Tarnaes King of Lacedemonia with his Daughter Sidelia whose beautie caried some credit at that time and the Soldane Bellagris with Maiortes and many others the Emperour by his Letters inuited to his Court But the first that came to Constantinople were the Emperour Vernar and King Edward of England soone after came the Soldane Bellagris and Maiortes their entertainement being according as their noble estates deserued Then came the King Tarnaes with his Quéene Sidelia his Daughter and the sorrowfull Lady Pandricia whom the Empresse lodged in her owne Chamber The two Kings Arnedes and Recinde arriued with their Shippes at the Port of Constantinople and sounded their Trumpets and Drummes so gallantly as the people were afraide in the Cittie fearing left their enemies were come but the Princesse came to receiue them with great ioy where they might behold the King of France in a sumptuous Galley couered with cloath of Golde of great value wherein was himselfe his Quéene Florenda and Graciana his two Daughters with many Ladies and Knightes beside In another Galion was the King Recinde and the Quéene with a number of Knights for his Guarde Before them in another Galion was the fairest Princesse Miragarda the Giant Almaroll the Prince Florendos and many other knights The King Recinde being aduertised that the Emperour intended to marry the Princesse to his Nephewe Florendos with the King Arnedes consent to doe them the more honour caused their Galion to march formost as the Captaine ouer all the other Vesselles The Emperour was so glad of these tydings as hée forsooke his Coatch and was brought in a chayre to the place where these Princes should land and the Empresse with the Quéenes Princesses and Ladies mounted on their horses which were clad in most rich and costly harnesse and so they ridde to the Port of the Citie very stately There was the Emperour accompanied with his Sonne Primaleon king Edward of England the Emperour Vernar of Allemaigne Soldane Bellagris Maiortes Ternaes the king of Lacedemonia Polendos Estrelant Pompides and Dragonalt and no little ioy it was to him in his aged yéeres to see himselfe so beloued of the most puissant Princes that were in the whole world but albeit the presence of these great personages was veâ—y pleasant to him yet could hee not choose but take it heauily séeing the preasse so fore vppon him as long hée could not bée a companion for them The kings Arnedes and Recinde and the Prince Florendos being all come on land they knéeled downe to kisse the Emperours hand but he imbracing them in his armes would not suffer him to honour him so much then came the Quéene of Spaine and the Quéene of France with her two daughters whom his Maiestie welcomed very familiarly And when the Princesse Miragarda came into his presence he accepted of her maruellous graciously entring into these spéeches to her I am very glad Madame that you would vouchsafe to come hither where I may requite the great gentlenesse I haue found at your hands in prouiding to detaine the Prince Albayzar in so good securitie The Princesse Miragarda made no other answere but with a milde and Princely courtesie made showe how well shee tooke the Emperours words and I assure you her presence abashed the iudgements of a number in whose eyes she seemed the faicest creature on the earth The Giant Almaroll was likewise very welcome to the Emperour and when the Princesse Polinarda had courteously saluted Miragarda she shrunke aside to her Brother Florendos entertaining him with this language I perceiue new wel my Lord and Brother that you haue good cause to thinke your labour well bestowed in that you haue trauelled for a Lady of so singular beautie I would with all my heart good Sister answered Florendo that I had the due recompence my labour hath deserued so might I be in the better assurance Oh Brother said Polinarda the Giant Almaroll hath no authoritie to shut the doore against you here therefore I promise you the Princesse of Thrace and I will not â—orget to enterprise the meanes whereby you shall no doubt finde fauour The Emperour would delay the time no longer but to the Pallace they rode altogether the Prince Primalcon leading the Queene of Spaines horse by the bridle albeit the King Recinde was very loth to suffer him The King Polendos did as much honour to the Queene of Fraunce and King Edward of England afforded the like to the faire Princesse Miragarda as well to content the aged Emperor as to honour his
terrifie the Enemie then all they were able to doe Vpon this determination they were agréede and the Emperour was brought in his Chayre into the great Hall where the Embassador stayed who hauing viewed the strength of the Citie knew well they should bestow good labour before they could conquer it The Emperour according to his milde and Noble nature receyued the Embassador from his enemie very gratiously and after the Kings and Princes were in theyr due and appointed places and a generall silence amongst them all the Embassadour began in these speeches Illustrious and most puissant Emperour I could wish to sée thée in the Flourishing estate of thy yeares as well to be a participate of many troubles imminent to them that dare take vppon them to defende thy Empyre as also to enlarge the contentment of them who shall be so happie as to gaine the victorie in the fielde of Battell which is now presented to thy Maiestie I am to let thée vnderstand that Albayzar the great Soldan of Babylon and Prince of Turkie accompanyed with other Soldans Kings puissant Princes hath sent me to thée to let thée know that they are determined with theyr strength and power to besiege this Citie to reuenge the death of manie theyr especiall Friendes who receyued their dishonour before this Cittie Neuerthelesse the Soldane Albayzar hauing not forgotten the gracious courtesie thou didst sometimes vse towards Oloricque Alchidiana and the Princesse Targiana hath thus concluded fearing to be noted of ingratitude to make thée this offer eyther to surrender the Cittie of Constantinople and the knight of the Sauage man King of Thrace thy Nephew into his hands or depart leaue thine Empyre subiect to his power without offering any resistance to his determination On this condition hee will not bring his Armie into thine Empyre and hée thinketh it more necessary for thée rather to loose one Cittie then the whole Empyre and better it were for thée to deliuer one man into his hands then to sée the death of a number thy especiall Friends To which words the Emperour thus answered My Friend I can hardly endure to let thée passe any further in spéeches but I must néedes answer you thus that I account it well for my profite to follow his counsell in this matter if by the sending him one man I may make sure account of the safetie of the rest But if that one man be found so good a Knight as his Valour is sufficient to redeeme the Captiuitie of all the other I must not be so forgetfull of my honour as to render a State of assurance to your Lordes mercie Besides it were a thing much against reason and duety to yeelde that Cittie into the hands of Heathen Infidells where the true God is to be worshipped in spirit and truth And truely I cannot but maruell much that hée should offer to come thus into my Empire considering what promises hath past betweene him and mée for I was of the opinion that I should rather be furthered by his aide and assistance then hindered or impeached thus maliciously But for all this my trust is in GOD that I shall prepare his graue before the Walles of this Cittie as I haue done alreadie to many of his Predecessours who without regarde of theyr owne Honour or my courtesie haue come to assaile me in this manner I perceyue then my Lord answered the Embassaâ—our that because Fortune hath daily fauoured you to this present you will not dreade the misfortunes whereinto you may suddenly fall therefore I intend to returne with this answere to my Lord who sent me So taking his leaue he returned to his Galley where it lay at Anckor being accompanyed with many Princes and Lords of the Emperours Court and after they had giuen him a very friendly Farewell his Galley set forward with such expedition as in short time it came to the rest of the Armie CHAP. LV. ¶ How the Armie of the Great Turke arriued in the Port of Constantinople and of the noble and valiant prowesse of the Christians before they would suffer the Pagans to take Landing THe Embassadour from Albayzar to the Soldane of Babylon being thus departed the Emperour Palmerin called together all the Princes and Nobles in his Courte to giue present order to euery one that they should with all the best spéede possible prouide themselues in Armes to forbidde the entraunce of the Enemie and to haue good regard to the affaires of the Citie and safety of the same which was committed to the Guard of the Emperour Vernar and the King Polendos accompanyed with a thousand fiue hundreth Knights on Horsebacke and foure hundreth Footemen King Edward of England was chosen by Generall consent chiefe Captaine and Gouernour of the Fielde hauing vnder his conduct two thousand Knightes beside the Giant Dramusiande who by his Noble behauiour in that expedition wonne very great estimation Maiortes Pridos the Duke of Galles Don Rosiande de la Bronde his Sonne Argolant the Duke of Horten Pompides and fifty Knightes that were come in theyr company So diuiding theyr Knights into foure parts they were in number eight thousand to euery thousand was a Generall Captain Arnedes King of France had the ordering of fiue hundred being attended on likewise by his Sonnes Gracian Guerin and Germaine of Orleance beside fifty good and hardy French Knights A thousand fiue hundred more were conducted by Recinde King of Spayne the Princes Berolde and Onstalde his Sonnes awayting on him with the Giant Almaroll and one hundreth Spanish Knights The Soldane Bellagris was Captaine ouer foure hundred Knights being his owne Subiects and for the guard of his owne person he had prouided one hundred of the chiefest knights of his Court among whom was his Sonne Blandidon whose noble behauiour deserued commendations To Belcar Duke of Pontus and Durace was committed the like charge as to the Kings Recinde and Arnedes hauing for the Guarde of his owne person Don Rosuell and Bellizart his Sonnes To the King Tarnaes of Lacedemonia who was an Ancient and noble Prince was giuen the Guard of the Pallace and for the more security of the Empresse the other Queenes and Ladyes hée had attending on him two hundred Knightes Primaleon was chosen Lord Generall for the Cittie hauing in his charge seauen hundred Knightes wherewith he had regarde as well to the Field as to the Cittie Palmerin Florendos Platir and diuers other Knights had the charge of the vtter wings of the Armie as lost children to giue succour where they perceyued most necessitie Thus was the Emperours Court well stored with noble and renowmed Knights yet his Maiestie and King Edward greatly desired the presence of the Prince Florian of the Forrest in whose absence both the Horsemen and Footemen were ordained as I haue alreadie declared On the next morning King Edward commaunded to strike vp Allarum for hee was giuen to vnderstand that the Enemie was within halfe a league of the
whose presence the former feareful and vncertaine doubts were somewhat calmed in that he certified the Emperour how Florian would not be long absence from thence which newes did much ioy his Maiestie as he caught the Sage Aliart in his armes and embraced him with a gracious countenance Then came the Empresse to entertaine him with the same fauour the like did Bazilia the Empresse of Allemaigne Gridonia Polinarda and the other princesses and Ladies among whom the Quéene Flerida was most glad of his presence as well to perceiue the loue King Edward her husband bare him as also because he had sundry times preserued the liue of his Children by his knowledge The same day came to the Emperours Court the Prince Floraman who trauailed to finde the Prince Florian of the Forrest and being aduertised how the enemies had laid siege at Constantinople he left his Realme of Sardignia giuing charge to the Gouernours he had left there that they should leuey a great Armie with all expedition and send them after him to Constantinople as you may read more at large hereafter The same day likewise there arriued King Estrellant of Hungaria accompanied with two thousand horsemen and tenne thousand footmen being vnder the conduct of the Prince Frisoll his Sonne Albayzar was greatly grieued at the losse of his men wherfore he gaue charge to his Chirurgions in his campe that they should bee carefull and respectiue to them which were wounded and commanded the â—laine to bée buried And when all things were accomplished that he thought expedient he called the principall estates of his armie to councell with whome hee concluded that all persons should be vigilant and carefull of themselues that night because the next morning he should take landing at a certaine watch-word he would giue them The day had no sooner chased away the vncomfortable and obscure night but the Ships Gallies Brigandines Gaâ—â—ots and other prouision for war tooke landing about a league distance froÌ„ Constantinople being not hindred or forbidden by any whereupon they sounded the drums trumpets cornets clarions and other instruments wherewith they made such a triumphant noyse as the people in the Citie were much amazed thereat The Sage Aliart and Floraman desiring to sée the Campe of the enemie requested the Emperour that he would lycence them to goe thither which his Maiestie would not graunt to any yet had hée such assurance in the knowledge of the Sage Aliart as in what place soeuer he was he néeded not to feare him These two knights thus departed the Citie being armed with no other defence but onely their swordes and because the day was faire and cleare they betooke themselues to a little hill where they might at pleasure discerne the enemies Armie Diuers thought it good to scout out and take them because by them they might vnderstand the strength of the Citie but Albayzar would not grant it should be so wherefore he sent an Esquire vnto them who attended on him when he was in the Emperours court to let them vnderstand that if they would come néere and see his Campe he who was then in authoritie to commaund them was such an indifferent friend vnto them as they might come and depart without any danger These two knights gaue such credit to the message Albayzar sent them as they went in the Esquiers company which Albayzar perceiuing he came forth with two Pages in very rich apparrell attending on him to receiue them Afterward hee went with them thorow the Campe because they should sée the mightie strength thereof and he declared to them the names of the Princes in his companay among whome were verie many Giantes as terrible and ouglie as they which were slaine by Dramusiande and Palmerin of England All this while Albayzar had diligent regard to these two Christian Knights to sée if all this sight he had showne them could discourage them with feare or doubt of theyr Wellfare but they contained such a stoute and vndaunted countenaunce as they seemed to disdayne those occasions which Albayzar thought should most dismay them whereat he did not a little maruaile After they had séene the whole Army Albayzar accompanied hem very neere the Citie desiring them to salute the Emperour and Empresse from him then taking his leaue courteously of them he returned â—o his Campe and they walked on very sadly especially the Sage Aliart who hauing foreséene what would happen could not hide the sorrow hee conceiued in his minde Neuerthelesse they behaued themselues pleasantly at their entraunce into the Cittie because they would not discourage the mindes of the people but when they were come to the Pallace into the Emperors presence the Prince Floraman by the commaundement of his Maiestie entred into these speeches My gratious Lord the riches which your enemies hath brought before your Cittie were incredible in rehearsall for if I should take vppon me to make rehearsall thereof I should wast a great deale of time which I may apply to better purpose in certifying your excellencie of your enimies strength wherefore this is to let your Maiestie vnderstand that your enimies can be no lesse in number then two hundred thousand the very simplest whereof carryeth such a brauerie of minde as he will abide the Féeld to the latest houre of death The King of Aetolia being thirtie yéeres of age hath the conduct this day of them which are vnder his charge being tenne thousande Horsemen and fortie thousand Footemen so brauely armed as surely I must of necessity commend them But aboue all the rest the pride of the Prince Albayzar doth much amaze me for no small estimation he made of your puissance as himselfe gaue vs the sight of his whole Armye graunting the like assuraunce to any of your Court as hee did to vs if so be they will desire to sée his Garrison a thing which I haue diligently noted and which cannot greatly profite himselfe as for the rest whereof perhappes I may be forgetfull my good Lorde the Sage Aliart can at large discourse vnto your Highnesse You haue behâ—ued your selues so well my Friends sayd the Emperor as it is not possible for any other to bring vs a more certaine assurance in this cause wherefore it is necessarie that we enter into councell how we may auoyd the enterprise of Albâ—yzar and his Souldiours And I am content that he shall likewise sée our Cittie so that charge be giuen to our Captaines to behaue themselues with such circumspection as our Enemies may not get any sudden aduantage against vs. When the Emperour had set downe this for a determination the Princes betooke themselues to their seuerall charges that they might better respect the practiâ—es of the Enimie CHAP. LVII ¶ Of that which Albayzar did after he had well prouided for his Armie and of the succour which came to the Emperour Palmerin ALbayzar prouiding for the strength of his Armye caused such Trenches and Rampiers of Defence and Fortification to bee made round about
pleasure after the Iousts be ended to giue them leaue to daunce with these Ladies the Emperour returned him this answere Thou maist my friend say vnto thy Lord that I am content to graunt his request and the twelue knights o◠my Court shal not faile to meete them in the Fielde at two houres warning beside the Empresse shall giue them leaue to daunce with these Ladyes who I trust will agrée to what I determine albeit they know them for theyr sworne Enemies But if any other Knights come in companie with the twelue thou mayst say to the Soldane thy Lord that they are forbidden to come in Arms the like doe I promise with the knights of my Court that none but themselues shall come Armed into the Field The Esquire returning with his answere to the Soldane of Persia both hée and his Companions beganne presently to prepare theyr Deuises and Armour CHAP. LX. ¶ Howe the Combate betweene twelue Turkes and twelue Christians begunne and howe the Ladyes caused it to be giuen ouer presently BEtwéene the Knights of the Emperours Courte arose great controuersie because euery one stroue to be of the number of the twelue and very hardly could they be quieted such was theyr earnest desire to deale with the Turkes yet in the ende they were glad to obey the determination of Florian who chose the twelue according as he named them to you The first was Palmerin of England his Brother the Prince Florendos Gracian Berolde Floraman of Sardignia Blandidon Platir Pompides the King Estrellant of Hungaria Don Rosuell Francian Sonne to the King Polendos and Don Rosian de la Bronde these twelue Knights were Armed very richly hauing theyr Coates of Armes made by theyr Ladyes King Edward Arnedes Recinde the Soldan Bellagris and the Giant Dramusiande they being all vnarmed accompanyed these Knights into the Field which was in the same place where the Soldan of Persia had appointed it because the Empresse and her Ladyes might see theyr behauiour Then came the Soldane of Persia and the eleuen knights of his company they being honoured with the presence of the kings of Gamba of Sparta of Armenia the Giant Framustant they being all vnarmed The Soldane of Persia desired greatly to vnhorse the prince Florian of the Forrest hee comming foremost with the King of Aetolia who of the two was thought the most valiaunt against him Palmerin of England determined to Ioust for hee knew him by the deuise in his shéelde which was a golden tower in a field of Sable The Soldane of Persia clapt downe the Beuere of his Helmet and the King of Armenia gaue him his Launce so when they were all readie to the Ioust at the sound of the Trumpets they ran altogether couragiously and met one another with such force as the most part of them was cast to the ground Palmerin of England enconntred the king of Aetolia so brauely as he was sent to measure his length on the ground and himselfe was so shaken as he forsooke both his Stirrops Florian and the Soldane of Persia encountred with such force as they were both cast foorth of their Saddles Florendos vnhorsed the Prince of Arfasia named Argelao in bréefe they were all vnhorsed except Palmerin Platir and the King Polendos who desiring to accompany their friends alighted from their horses to charge their enemies The Soldane of Persia and the king of Aetolia who were more offended at their misfortune then all the other presented themselues before their enemies and so with the aide of their companions they beganne the Combate with the Sword but they sped no better thereby then they did at the Ioust which the Ladies pittying and séeing the Soldane of Persia in great daunger by reason that Florian had woonne the aduantage ouer him likewise that Palmerin and Florendos had brought their enemies into subiection concluded that the Princesse Miragarda accompanied with foure other Ladies and the king Tarnaes of Lacedemonia should goe into the field to separate them but so soone as the Combattants had espied her they would not suffer her to come so farre as they were but gaue ouer their Combat and come to meete her The Princesse Miragarda thought her selfe greatly honoured by theyr forbearance of the Combate and hauing very gratiously thanked them all shee returned backe againe holding the Prince Florendos by the hand and they all by degrées following in decent manner When they were come to the Pallace the Soldane and his companie were very honorably entertained by the Emperour the Empresse Miragarda Gridonia Flerida and the other Princes who gaue the Princesse Polinarda to vnderstand that the Soldane of Persia thought maruellous well on her The Emperour caused them to be brought into the Chamber of Presence which was richly behanged with cloathes of inestimable value but when the Turks entred the Chamber their mindes were rauished with beholding the stately maner therof King Edward Recinde Arnedes and the other Kings entertained the Turkes with singular humanitie which made them iudge that the courtesie and bountie of the Emperours Court could not be matched in all the world beside but when they beheld the rare and excellent beauty of the Ladies they imagined that their Knightes preuailed more by theyr Heauenly feature then by the strength that consisted in themselues The Soldane of Persia still viewing the Princesse Miragarda tooke her to be the faire Polinarda but at length he found how he was deceyued for he saw Florendos still in her company and that Palmerin kept his Wife Polinarda in talke with him which made him presently recall his error As for the other Turkish Princes whose mindes were onely to seeke the spoyle of the Cittie they tooke their leaue and departed and when they were come to theyr Campe they practised which way to worke theyr trayterous intents The Soldane of Persia tooke the Princesse Polinarda to daunce the king of Aetolia tooke the beautifull Princesse Miragarda the Soldane Albayzar took the Queen Leonarda knowing that the Prince Florian would scantlie bee pleased therewith but the King of Cospia albeit hée was young himselfe yet he refused all the other Ladyes and tooke the Quéene Flerida so falling to their Courtlie Pastimes after they had Daunced so much as pleased themselues in courteous manner they departed thence But as they were going foorth of the Chamber the Giant Framustant who had all this while well viewed Arlencea was so rauished in affection towards her as hee challenged the Combate against Dramusiande on the morrow and because they would not dally on either side they threw downe theyr Gages which the Emperour caused to be taken vp assuring them the Fielde on his behalfe and the Soldane Albayzar made them the same promise In this maner they tooke their leaue one of another euery one wishing that the Night were past because they had good hope to see a notable Combat and this you shall vnderstand by the waye that Framustant was the onely Giant
beautie might not compare with theirs and gréeuing that Leonarda had escaped so well from the place where she caused her to be enchaunted she came to the Princesse Miragarda with these spéeches I cannot chuse Madame but estéeme meruailous well of their paines that aduenture their honour in the field in the defence of your beautie which is the cause that I must take in very good part the labour that the Prince Albayzar bestowed on your behalfe To the Quéen Leonarda she would not speak one word because she was married to the Prince Florian whome she condemned as her mortall enemie The Princesse of Armenia sitting betwéene Miragarda and Leonarda was very much abashed in that she was not acquainted with any of the Ladies of the Emperors Court who notwithstanding entertained her very honourablie thus they continued their Princelie courtesies one to another till the night drawing on Targiana tooke her leaue of the Emperor desiring his Maiestie to excuse her for the warre which was commenced contrary to her will The Empresse and the Ladies brought them to the Pallace gate where on eche side they parted with such heauinesse as they could not speake to one another but the Emperor himselfe accompanied them without the Cittie and because Targiana excused her selfe of the warre which Albayzar had enterprised against his Maiestie he tooke her by the hand speaking to her in this manner I promise you Madame it is not a little griefe to me that I cannot at this time witnesse how leâ—th I am to be iudged vngratefull vnto you who deserues to be honoured with most gratious seruice And as for the malicious dealing of Albayzar trust me it cannot diminish one iote of the good will I beare you but this I assure you you may dispose both of me and my Court at your pleasure and may make your selfe as bolde and welcome héere as if you were in the great Turke your Fathers Court. So breaking off and saluting eche other with great courtesie the Emperour was carryed backe to his Pallace and Targiana was conducted to the Camp accompanied with the Emperour Vernar the Kings of England Fraunce and Spayne and many other Princes of the Emperors Court who hauing brought her to the Campe tooke their leaue and returned to the Citty deuising seuerally among themselues to whose lotte Targiana and the other Ladyes should fall if so be the victory chanced on theyr side for it is oftentimes the nature of Souldiers to share diuide the spoyle among themselues before Fortune hath deliuered it into theyr hands CHAP. LXII ¶ Of the Battell betweene the Christians and the Turks and of that which happened NOt many Dayes after the arriuall of the Princesse Targiana the Princes as well on the one side as on the other concluded to ioyne in Battell Marrie the Christians were more desirous thereto then the Turks because the Victuals beganne to waxe scant within the Cittie Besides Albayzar came oftentimes and prouoked them also with his Standard and Ensigns displayed which vrged the Knights to cry call to theyr CoÌ„manders and Captains to suffer them to saillie foorth of the Cittie for it was a griefe to them to be so enclosed within and theyr Enemyes come daring so boldely to them without Vppon this Primaleon would gladly haue issued foorth if the other Princes would haue bin ruled after him but they would not Aduenture so rashly because many of them were weake and sickly with trauelling on the Seas therefore they determined to recouer themselues in perfect assurance of their health before they would thuste themselues into the face of daunger After they had well rested and recouered themselues and found that they were strong and able to deale with the Enemie the Commaunders summoned their traines into the Field and King Edward being Generall of the whole Forces commaunded both Horse-men and Foote-men to prepare themselues to Battell The first Squadron was conducted by the Soldane Bellagris to whome was committed fiue thousand good Soldiers being all his owne Subiects The second was giuen in charge to Recinde King of Spaine who had the conduct of thrée thousand but then sent him from the Kingdome of Spayne The third was led by Arnedes King of Fraunce who had the charge of the like number as the King of Spaine had with the two thousand Souldiers that were sent him from France The fourth was vnder the conduct of Polendos King of Thessalie who had attending on him the like number The fift was in the charge of the Emperour Vernar of Allemaigne and the sixt and last being foure thousand was conducted by King Edward of England Primaleon would not this day take vpon him any charge that he might the better giue succour to those places where he perceiued most daunger because he iudged it a pollicie to be vsed in Warre All these that followe were brauely séene in the Fielde this Day Belcar Drapos of Normandie Maiortes otherwise called the Great Dog Palmerin of England Florian of the Forrest Florendos Platir Blandidon Berolde Prince of Spayne Floraman of Sardignia Gracian of France Don Rosuell Bellizart Onistalde Tenebrant Francian Pompides the Sage Aliart the King Estreliant Frisoll Albanis of Frieze Rodamont Dragonalt King of Nauarre Luyman of Burgundie Germaine of Orleance Tremoran Don Resiran de la Bronde Dramusiande Almaroll and all the most renowmed Knightes of the Emperors Court who were in the Squadron vnder the conduct of the Soldane Bellagris they all concluding with themselues that so soone as the Battell should be begunne they would each of them take part on that side where theyr dutie and affection did best serue them The King Tarnaes accompanyed with many valiaunt Knights had committed to his charge the defence of the Cittie and of the Footemen were chosen fiftie thousand such as were accounted the most wisest and expert Souldiers that were vnder the conducting of the King Tarnaes to helpe to preuent any danger imminent to the Cittie King Edward himselfe being very braue and gallantly Armed ceased not to visite his charge of Horsemen and likewise hee came among the young Princes and Knightes encouraging them in noble spéeches and with a countenance bewraying the inuincible minde of a Conquerour desiring them to remember theyr Knightly déedes passed which might be an occasion to stirre them vp more nobly in defence of the flower of all Christendome With these and other such like spéeches he did so animate and embolden all his Traine as they that were the most fearefull and had least minde to deale with their enemies séemed as willing and forwards to the Battell as hée that was the brauest Souldier in the Field which when the King perceiued he withdrew himselfe and his company commanding the Soldane Bellagris to giue the first assault Albayzar diuided his Horsemen in ten companyes giuing to euery Squadron fiue thousand men The first Squadron was conducted by the Soldan of Persia who was accompanied with the Giant Framustant and about fiue hundred wel approued
as he cried for succour to the king of Trebisonde with whose aide he returned to recouer what he had lost and at length made the meanes to get Argelao and the king of Bithinia thorow the preasse But he that had theÌ„ séene the prince Primaleon might plainly haue discerned his willingâ—es to preuails against his enemies for he laide on loade so on euerie side and following vpon theÌ„ with his traine so nobly as not one durst stand before him to endure his fury by this meanes he recouered horses againe to Floraman and Berolde but they were so wounded as they were glad to get forth of the battell Primaleon Palmerin of England and Florian of the Forrest with their traynes helde the king of Trebisondes second Squadron so hâ—te play as they wished themselues a little furder off But on the left hand of this Squadron was the most daungerous battaile betwéene Framustant and Dramusiande who had gotten great aduantage of his enemies by reason that Framustantes sword was broken to his hand but Albayzar sent two hundred Knights on foote to helpe the Giant which when Primaleon perceiued he spake to Palmerin of England in this manner I pray you Sir goe with me to succour our friend Dramasiande for I will neuer returne into the Cittie except I haue him with mée Without any more words they layd about them lustily and knockt downe euery one that stood before them vntill they came where Dramusiande was thither likewise came to defend him against his enemies the Knight of the Sauageman Florendos Platir Polinard Pompides the Sage Aliart Maiortes Frisoll Blandidon Don Rosiran de la Bronde Belcar and his sonnes being likewise accompanied with twentie of the most renowmed Knights in all the Armie and to aide Framustant came the Soldan of Persia and the king of Trebisond accompanied with a hundred knights of great authoritie and valour they being all on foote When Primaleon saw his friends without their horses he alighted likewise and so did the Prince Palmerin but when the other Christian knights heard that Primaleon fought on foote they forsooke their horses and came hastily running to defend him and now beganne such a cruell and fierce battell as on all sides it remained very doubtfull and dangerous Dramusiande and Framustant so layde vpon each other with their pommils of their swords as they were at length so sore trauailed as their stroakes could but little hurt them Primaleon and the king of Trebisonde buckled together but such was the fiercenesse of their fight as in the end they were constrained to pause a while the like happened to Palmerin of England and the Soldane of Persia but the Knight of the Sauage man slew two Knights who came traiterously and strooke him behinde his back and Florendos with the rest of his companions stuck so closely to their tackling as many of the enemies ranne like dogges away But Maiortes was so compassed in with his enemies as none of his friends might come to helpe him so that he had such gréeuous wounds giuen him as hauing slaine so many of his enimies as durst abide him hée fell downe dead to the ground himselfe Florian of the Forrest was so grieued when he saw him fall as the teares trickled downe his cheeks and albeit he was in extreame heauinesse yet he followed on them that had kilde Maiortes and reuenged his death nobly because the death of so braue a noble man was much lamented of them that knew his valiaunt minde but most especiallie of his Sonne Dridan who with anguish of mind cast himselfe amongst his enemies and within a while he behaued himselfe so well as the Turkes knew to their cost his extreame griefe for the death of his Father yet such was his vnhappie fortune in the end as being beset among the thickest of his enimies many cruell wounds giuen in diuerse places of his body he fell to the ground his vitall spirite forsaking him and made him follow his Fathers dead ghost which was no small griefe to the noble king Edward of England in respect of the great friend shippe and loue that had remayned of long time betwéene him and Maiortes And because he iudged that fighting thus on foote would be the death of many his deere friendes he commaunded his hard horses to breake through the ranckes whereto they presentlie obeyed and scattered the troupes of the enemies in such sort as all his friendes were mounteâ— on horsebacke againe and Dramusiande and Framustant were separated a sunder but at this second encounter the king of Trebisonde was slaine by the hand of the noble Palmerin of England Dramusiand and Framustant were so daungerously wounded as they were not able to hold out the fight any longer wherefore they were conueied thence the one to the Turkes Tentes and the other to the Cittie to be tendered with present regard according as their dangerous estates required When the conflict was thus broken diuers that had entred with the first squadron retired to take breathing but Primaleon Palmerin nor many of the Emperors Court beside were any of them for it was a pleasure to them to endure the trauaile of Armes such small account they made of their hurts and their enemies The Empresse and the Ladies séeing so great cruelty and the losse of so many noble Gentlemen withdrew themselues into their chambers where they lamented in such gréeuous maner as if they had seene the enimie entred into the Citie whervpon many Ladies of great authorite hearing their pittifull lamentatioÌ„s came vnto the Pallace reposing altogither their hope in the aged Emperor if the knightes in the Field should fayle of the victorie The king Tarnaes would haue denied the Ladies entraunce into the Pallace but it was more then he could well doo for hardlie can any man gouerne the common people especiallie when a generall feare of their liues is threatned before their eyes The Emperour himself whose debilitie in yéeres and griefe of minde conceyued by this vnlooked for stratageme depriued him of his woonted good iudgement and pollitique meanes to preuent so great mischéefe as he could not imagine with himselfe how to remedie this suddaine misfortune but euen with a Womans stomacke rather then the inuincible minde he had alwayes borne héeretofore fel into pusillanimitie and doubtful feare with himselfe vtterlie forgetting the auncient Adage Audaces Fortuna iuuat and Targiana the Princesse of Armenia and all the Ladies in the Turkes Campe were so fearefull and doubtfull of the victorie as the Ladies in the Emperours Court. King Edward being Generall of the Christian Armie desiring to witnesse his noble valour in the fielde hauing rested himselfe a pretie space dismounted thrée knights one after another with one Launce afterward drawing his sworde he charged the enimes on all sides about him so valiauntlie as they were glad to auoide and giue him place And the Prince Albayzar likewise séeking to honour himselfe this day with the renowme of the field came vppon the
Christians with incredible prowesse and such resistaunce he made with his fresh company as the Battaile endured a long time very blody and cruell so that a man could not iudge which side had the most aduantage But then came a newe assault vpon the Christians by a great number of Turkes on the left wing among whome were sixe monstrous and terrible Giants which Assault was so hote for the time as the Christians were enforced to retyre The Giant Almaroll who had all this while kept companie with the King Recinde his Lorde séeing the Christians withdrawe themselues addressed himselfe to one of the Giants called Dramorant and with a mighty Mace that hee had gotten in the Battell hee kept him such rough playe as he could not passe on forwards as he willinglie would haue done And the King Recinde séeing another Giant named Trafamor coÌ„ming to strike at Almaroll behinde his backe stepped before him to hinder his determination but hée being Aged and feeble and not able to resist the mercilesse stroaks of this bloody-minded Giant Trafamor was so pittifully wounded as he fell downe at the Giants féete who tooke his sword and thrust it to the heart of the King Recinde Which when the Prince Palmerin perceyued hée was very ry sorrie and comming in a rage to the Giant Trafamor neuer left him vntill such time as hee had layde him downe dead on the ground but he was so sore but himselfe as he was glad to get foorth of the Battell and by the commandement of the Prince Primaleon â—hee was carryed into the Cittie where they made great doubt of his life by reason he had lost such aboundance of his Blood Almaroll and Dramorant were sundred whervpon the death of Recinde K of Spayne was blazed through the Army which was such heauy newes to Arnedes King of France his Couzin and singular good Friend as making no account of his life hee threw himself amongst his enemies where séeking to reuenge the death of the King of Spayne hee lost his owne life and by him was slaine Onistalde Sonne to the king Recinde who followed Arnedes to reuenge his Fathers death King Edward and the other Princes were so offended when they sawe theyr déerest Friendes thus cast to the ground as they ranne amongst the thickest of their Enemyes and layd on loade like desperate men the Knight of the Sauadge-man likewise on whose shield no manner of Deuise could be discerned it was so hackt and broken in pieces came vnto the Giant Dramorant and handled him in such Knightly order as he made him tumble downe dead before him Belcar and the King Polendos entring on the king of Aetoliaes Troupe were in the ende enforced to paye the sharpe tribute which Death demaundeth of Nature by dutie this vnfortunate successe caused no little heauines among the Christians but in especilly to the Prince Berolde of Spayne who vnderstanding that the King Recinde his Father and Onistalde his Brother were slaine by the enimies he rushed in fiercely vppon them determining eyther to reuenge theyr losse or leaue his life among them for company And the Prince Floraman of Sardignia followed close after him butchering the Turkes on euery side whereby hee manifested to the Prince Berolde the entyre good will and affection he bare him but the valiaunt Florendos did most of all iniury the Enemie this day for the Knightly stroakes that were to bee séene on his Shield deliuered a true testimony of the great dangers he had escaped all which he made of no account such was his earnest desire to reuenge the death of his déere Friends So that this Battell may be reputed for the moste cruell and perillous that euer was séene in that so many grieuous and tragicall Spectacles were to be séene that dismall Day with the losse of a number of famous Princes and most renowmed Knightes for there you might haue séene Don Rosuell and Bellizart to breake hardily through the preasse of theyr Enemyes without eyther feare or regarde of theyr owne liues to looke for theyr noble Father the Prince Belcar and Francian on the other side came to searche for his Father the King Polendos which the Enemies perceyuing and knowing them to be néere allyed to the Emperor followed fiercely after them to sée who could first murther them The Prince Berolde was no sooner come to the place where his Father lay slayne but hee sawe how the Giant Almaroll had lost his Helmet and his face so pittifully besmiered with his blood as it was a great griefe to all that behelde him for hee had in that place laid seuen hardy Knights slaine at his foot and determined not to forsake the dead body of the Prince before he had lost his owne life likewise in that place The enemies resisted the Prince Berolde so strongly as had it not béene for the succour of the Emperor Vernar Primaleon Florendos and Blandidon he had béene sent to kéepe his father company and Primaleon laboured very earnestly to get the Giant Almaroll foorth of the battaile because he was destritute of a Helmet his Armour broken very much and his body wounded in many places but such was the loue and fidelitie he bare to his Prince as it was impossible for Primaleon to cause him withdraw himselfe Vpon this reskew of the Princes to Berolde the enemies came running amaine to this place where they were with the Soldane of Persia conducting them who hearing how Almaroll continued manfully killing all that came before him galloped thorow the rancke till he came at Almaroll but who so had seene the gallant behauiour of Primaleon and Florendos his Sonne in defending Almaroll from the enemies fury would haue imagined the very type of Knightly valour to consist in these two famous champions who were not a little grieued to sée Almaroll so willing to séeke his owne death and could not bee perswaded from that minde by any of his friends The Giant Gramato who came in company with the Soldane of Persia aduanced himselfe to deale with Almaroll but the hardy Florendos stepped before him and had slaine him outright if Almaroll had not caught him about the body but he being so grieuously wounded as no succour whatsoeuer would saue his life fell down dead before the Giant Gramato whom Berolde afterward charged so roughly as Gramato ended his life to accompany the Giant Almaroll Now began the courage of the Christians to encrease worthily in that they were stronger in that place then the Turkes for the Soldane of Persia was conueyed foorth of the Battaile by reason of a wound that he had receiued in his throate by the push of a Sword so that the Soldane Bellagris found good opportunitie to carry the bodies of the King Recinde and Onistalde his sonne forth of the field the Prince Berolde helping to conduct the bodies because himselfe had lost so much blood as he could scantly hold out any longer Primaleon hauing a regard to the troupes of men dispersed
in the Field beheld King Edward and his traine driuen to the retire for that Albayzar accompanied with thrée Giants and a number of knights séeing the Christians fore trauailed came vpon them with a fresh charge but king Edward met his proud enemie with such puissance as he was glad to draw backe to rest himselfe a while assuring you that the King of England behaued himselfe so nobly in the field as the whole Christian campe reposed themselues on him Pompides Basiliart the Sage Aliart Platir Frisol Germain of Orlnance Luyman of Burgundie Rodamont Albanis of Frize Dragonalt Don Rosiran de la Bronde Tremoran Tenebrant Don Rosuell Bellizart and diuers other of the Christian Knights resisted the enemy verie valiantly and followed so fast vpon Albayzar and his company as had not fresh supplies still come they had made a notable conquest of their aduersaries Primaleon left to gouerne these the Soldane Bellagris and Blandidon went with Florendos and Floraman to the noble King Edward of England and as they would haue approched to him they espyed the Emperour Vernar and Polinard his Brother on foote enclosed with such a number of Turkes as their liues were greatly to be feared for the King of Bythinia had slaine the Emperour Vernars Horse and falling to the ground brake one of his Maisters legges in the fall so that the Emperour was faine to stand vppon one legge to defend himselfe in which hard case hee was verie neare his death but that his Brother Polinard stept presently before him and defended him with such manly prowesse as the enemy could not any way come to hurt the Emperour Primaleon séeing the misfortune of the Emperour of Allemaigne and how the Turkes sought euery way to take his life from him was so ouercome with inward griefe as the teares trickled downe his chéekes and fearing now the vtter ruine of Constantinople he ran with such courage vpon the enemies as downe they tumbled dead to the groūd on euery side of him And Florendos thought his Armour was shiuered and he had no shéeld to defend himselfe yet accompanied with the Prince Floraman he folowed his father shewing incredible prowesse Floraman setled himselfe against the king of Bithinia and preuailed so well against him as he sent him headlong to the groūd depriued of his life but Primaleon séeing Floraman to bee somewhat sore hurt desired him to withdrawe himselfe out of the Battell When the Turkes that were conducted by the king of Bythinia sawe theyr Captain slaine they beganne to retire very speedily by which meanes Primaleon recouered and mounted Polinard on Horsebacke againe but hee could not imagine howe to got the Emperour Vernar out of the field which made him aduenture with his men in such daunger as it was doubtfull he should haue fallen into his enemies hands For the king of Armenia came vppon them againe with foure thousand men hoping to recouer that which the other Kings had lost so that Primaleon was faine to alight from his Horse for the defence of the Emperour Vernar in like manner did most of the Princes and Knights fearing least any harme should come vnto the Prince and the Emperour but many of them were slaiue in this newe assault and so was the king of Armenia with fiue hundred of his best tryed Soldyers The Emperour Vernar séeing Death ready to entertaine him and that there was no meanes for him to shun it embraced it mildely and patiently but when the young Princes saw the Emperour slaine they carryed him foorth of the Fielde and brought him with great heauinesse into the Cittie which was now become in a manner desolate The most vertuous and valiant King Edward séeing himselfe left alone with the Soldane Albayzar whome hee dealt so stoutly withall as Pompides Platir and the other Princes might rest themselues and cause their Friends that were there slaine to be transported thence in the ende hee brought Albayzar into such estate as he had kilde him in the Fielde if hee had not bene the sooner reskued by the Giants that came with him Neuerthelesse hee taught him his dutie so well as hée tooke the English Prince for a very sharpe Schoolemaister While King Edward and Albayzar continued theyr Fight the night drawing on apace the Trumpets sounded the retrait so that euery one hasted vnto his Ensigne the King Edward summoned his men together they all thinking so well on theyr Generall as they iudged themselues happy to be vnder his leading and gouernment Bellagris and Primaleon brought their traines likewise to him and after they were all places in array the Christians betooke themselues to the Cittie and the Turkes returend to theyr Campe. CHAP. LXIII ¶ Of that which they did at Constantinople before they gaue the Enemies the second Battell and of the great misfortunes which hapned in the Citty amongst which chanced the vntimely death of the aged Emperour Palmerin AFter that the Christian and Pagan Princes with theyr forces on eyther side were thus retyred to theyr seuerall holds by the consent of Albayzar Palmerin the Princes and Knights that were slaine in the battell were carryed thence to be interred and theyr funeralls to be performed but for the grieuous complaints made in the Cittie for the losse of so many noble and renowned Princes I leaue them to the iudgement of the courteous Reader who must néedes thinke the griefe to be great in that Christendome receiued such a losse as in many yéeres could not be recoured againe The consideration here of entred so déepe into the aged Emperours heart as he forsooke this earthly vale of misery yéelding his soule to God and his body to the bowelles of his mother from whence it came at first at which time the enchaunted bird that he kept in his pallace sung thrée times together with a very pittifull note so that both olde and young in the Court did not alittle maruaile thereat Of this birde you may reade more at large in the notable and famous History of the Emperour Palmerins life which Booke is called Palmerin d'Oliue a History plentifully stored with discourses of singular delight being for the worthinesse thereof estéemed of many Nations as this History is likewise and therefore for the excellency of this aforesaide History and in respect it dependeth on matters briefely touched in this booke so that it is accounted as a parcell of this History I entend God ayding me to publish it shortly when I doubt not but the Gentle reader shall finde it worthy of the commendations that I haue vsed of it in this place The Obsequies and Funeralles of the Emperour were solemnized with great pompe and dignitie in like manner did they honour the Emperour of Allemainge and the other Kings that were slaine in the battaile Not many dayes after the wounded Princes found themselues in good disposition againe weerevpon they determined to enter the field because the enemies demaunded the battaile but first of all they prouided for the safegard of
the City which was committed to the charge of the King Tarnaes of Lacedemonia and the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley they hauing their conduct fiue hundred Knights on horsebacke and foure thousand able footemen and for the rest of the Christians they were deuided into sixe seuerall Bands The first was conducted by the Prâ—nce Primaleon who had atiending on him two thousand and fiue hundred Knights The second Band being of the same number was committed to the Prince Floraman of Sardignia The third to the king Estrellant The fourth to Albanis of Frieze The fifth to Drapos Duke of Normandie all these fiue hands being like in number The sixt was vnder the charge of the noble king Edward to whom came all the rest of the Christian souldiers The Soldane Bellagris with his traine had the charge of the vtter wings to giue ayde where he saw néede required When these Knights departed from the citie toward the field they were all in blacke Armour and their shields of the same colour without any deuices their horses were likewise trapped in blacke and the more to expresse their inward heauinesse they would haue neither Drumme Trumpet nor any kind of instrument vsed in warre with them Neuerthelesse albeit this sad procéeding to the battaile declared their owne heaninesse yet was it likewise a feare and terror to the enemy séeing them comming farre from them and euery man had closed the Beuer of his helmet because the enemy should not perceiue their mournfull countenances When they were come to the place where the Battaile should be fought they spread themselues abread in the field after the deuice of their Captaines without making any maner of noyse at all The footemen came after being all attired in black likewise and without either Drums Phifes or Trumpets wherby they gaue the enemies to vnderstand what vnfained loue and affection they bare to their Emperour and how they could not forget what gracious and friendly entertainement he was woont to make to his very enemies A thing which all Princes ought to haue in regard and in remembring the great vertue of this famous Emperour to gouerne their Kingdomes in such sort as the people may rather know what a gréeuous losse they haue by the death of such a Prince then to behaue themselues in such manner as their Subiects shall reioyce to be rid of their Gouernour The Turks were greatly abashed séeing their enemies come marching in this order they knew well by their mourning habits that they would in this battell make no account of their liues But Albayzar séeing the astonishment of his Souldiers came to encourage them like a noble captaine laying before them the renowme of the victorie which should be the recompence of all their trauailes and a sufficient reuenge for the death of many of their parents and friendes who lost their liues before the walles of Constantinople for which cause this warre was first enterprised When he had a good space vsed these and such like spéeches to them they began to waxe desirous of the battaile and chasing all their formerfeare out of remembrance they marched on after the same manner as they did in the first battaile sauing that they were vnder the charge of other captaines for that they which conducted them before were slaine Their Armour was very much broken and bruised and so died with the blood that issued from their bodies that it was almost as strange a sight in the field as the Christians sad and mournefull habites of blacke King Edward séeing his men placed in decent order and the backwings in such regard as hée thought méetest hée gaue charge to Primaleon to giue the consent with his company for he had with him the noble Palmerin of England Florian of the Forrest Florendos Platir Pompides Blandidon Don Rosuel Bellizart Dragonalt King of Nauarre the Giant Dramusiand and the most renowmed princes of the Court. On the enemies side the King of Aetolia was first in the field because he conducted the formost troupe wherein was the most puissant knights in all the Turkish Armie beside the Giant Framustant who desired aboue all other things to preuaile against Dramusiande The Christians finding themselues in a readinesse the Turkes sounded their Drummes and Trumpets to beginne the Battaile but sodainely came on them so great a tempest as they returned backe againe being not able to ioyne in fight for the space of two houres after In the meane time as this tempest continueth let vs returne to the Citie of Constantinople which as you haue heard before was committed to the chargs of Tarnaes king of Lacedemonia and the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley who finding by his Art that the Cittie of Constantinople would bee brought to destruction and that king Edward of England and the Prince Primaleon with the rest of the Princes Knights that maintained the warre would stand in great hazard of loosing their liues being not able to auoyd the cruelty of the Turks who would get the Cittie into their possession vpon these aforesaid considerations he determined to prouide for the safety of the Princesses and Ladies of high authority who were most of them great with childe and neare the â—ime of their deliuerance Wherefore that the fruit of their bodyes might not perish in this extremity he raised a very darke and obscure cloude which shadowed the light of the firmament in such sort as not onely they in the field were couered therewith but also the Cittie was so wrapt in the cloud as it was not possible for them to discerne it In the meane while both the Armies remained in great amazement by this darkenesse as they had not the power to méete together Aliart conueyed through this daâ—ke Cloud the Empresse the Princesse Polinarda and all other Princesses and Ladyes beside to the Perillous Isle which the Prince Palmerin of England had bestowed on him and he shaddowed the Isle likewise by his Enchantment in such manner that it remained as it were inuisible vntill Aliart conceiued so well of the time and reason as he thought good to discouer it These Ladies were surprised with maruellous admiration whâ—n they found themselues not in Constantinople but in a strange land where they could not haue their company who had endured so many hard and dangerous conflicts for their sakes this aboue all other causes did most offend and trouble their consciences yet at length when they saw no other remedy they were glad to practise and content themselues with often visiting each other in their Chambers to expell all other cogitations that séeme irksome vnto them Thus wil we leaue the Empresse and her ladies in the Perillous Isle and returne to the King Tarnaes at Constantinople who after the cloude was vanished away and the day cleare againe séeing that the Empresse with her Ladies and the Sage Aliart had forsaken his Companie conceyued such extreame griefe within himselfe doubting least some mischaunce had befallen them as amidde his
pittifull Lamentations hée yéelded vp the Ghost leauing the Cittie so comfortlesse and dispayring within themselues as they desired to finish their liues forsaking quite all hope in them that were in the Fielde to whome happened what Fortune had ordained as you may read in the Chapter following CHAP. LXV ¶ Of the second Battell betweene the Christians and the Turkes and what happened therein THe darke cloud being gone out of fight and the Sage Aliart hauing brought the Empresse and her Ladies to the Perillous Isle the day began to waxe cléere againe and the Armie marched forward to méete together But as they were about to enter the skyrmish they heard a most lamentable and pittifull outcrye which made them staye their hands and looking about to sée the cause of this noyse they saw a great many of Ladyes and Damosells come foorth of the Cittie with their haire dispersed abroade ouer theyr shoulders and wringing their handes in very grieuous manner And for that they had lost the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart whom they knew were left for their succour and Defence they came into the Christian Campe to their Husbands Brethren Sonnes and Kinsmen For séeing they could promise themselues no assurance in the Cittie they would liue and die with them in the Fielde King Edward and Primaleon were so amazed at the clamor of these Women as they caused theyr Ensignes to stay and commanded the Horsemen not to breake theyr Array till they had vnderstood the cause of this disorder but when it was told them how that the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart had forsaken the Cittie they were both driuen into a great admyration with themselues whereupon they sent Pompides and Platir into the Cittie to bring them certaine tydings of this vnlooked for mischaunce When these two Knightes were come into the Cittie and heard after what manner the King Tarnaes dyed as also howe the Sage Aliart was gone no man could tell whether they beganne to thinke within themselues that both they and all theyr Traine were brought to such extremitie as Fortune had concluded to finish the memorie of theyr Knightly déedes by deliuering theyr liued to the swords of theyr enemies They did likewise perswade themselues that the Sage Aliart absented himselfe for no other occasion but onely because he perceyued theyr generall destruction was at hand in this respect they iudged hée had prouided some refuge for the Empresse and the Ladies that their Enemies might not triumph in theyr misfortunes to the great discontentment of theyr Lordes and Husbandes With these heauy Newes they returned to their Camp againe certifying King Edward and Primaleon how the Sage Aliart was departed Whervpon they concluded by generall determination to withdraw themselues into the Cittie to make prouision for the Defence thereof before they would enter the Battell with their Enemies But I assure you it was a pittifull sight to behold how the Men Women and Children came and fell down at the Princes féete yea the Ancient Citizens with their gray heads and white beards being so weake and féeble with Age as they were glad to support themselues with their staues they all made their humble requests that they might rather enter the Battell and thereto end their liues then to be destroyed at home with their Wiues and Children by the enemie King Edward Primaleon and all other Princes were not a little abashed finding the Pallace in such a desolate manner neyther the Empresse the Princesses nor any of the other Ladyes to be founde this vexed their mindes with vnexpressable griefe They went into theyr accustomed Chambers and not finding them there to whome they were most affectionate their very soules were ready to forsake theyr bodyes for the young Princes enioying theyr swéet Ladyes so short a time for whose sakes they had suffered so many bitter brunts they thought themselues not able to liue any long time being depriued of their company whom they honored with most pure and vnfained affection For now their paines were greater then euer they had béene before and this mishap was more irkesome to them then all the dangers past because their Ladies were the rewardes of their knightly victories but hauing thus lost them on such a sodaine they were out of hope to enioy the sight of them any more wherefore they séemed as men depriued of their sences looking gastly and fearefully one vpon an other knowing not which way to comfort or redrâ—sse their present heauinesse In this case the Christian Princes remained for the space of thrée daies hauing no minde at all to giue their enemies battaile during which time Primaleon maide conueiance of the aged men with their wiues and children in the night time to diuers of his Castles and Fortresses néere adioyning knowing them farre vnable to helpe in this extremitie and then he caused the wals of the Cittie to be beaten flat to the ground which was thought good by the aduice of euery one to bee so done and that for two especiall causes The first that it would more animate and imbolden the Christians in the time of battaile séeing themselues dispoyled of the place wherein they reposed their assurance of safety The other that the enemies should not vaunt how they had destroyed the City but that it was defaced by the Christians themselues if so be Fortune suffered them to enioy the victorie They of the citie séeing the walles so spoyled euen to the very first foundation thereâ—f conceiued such hatred against the Turkes whome they reputed to cause the subuersion of their strongest defence as they prepared themselues altogether to enter the Field to reuenge themselues on their proud and vsurping enemies and so they marched all with the Princes into the Field who went in the same manner as they did before when Aliart conueied the Empresse and her Ladies from Constantinople to the Perillous Isle Albayzar knowing well the intent of his enemies coÌ„manded his Captaines to place their men in aray afterward the Trumpets summoning them brauely to the Battaile he commanded the king of Aetolia to giue the onset with his Band to the enemy whereto the king presently obeyed and comming on gallantly with his troupe of men the Prince Primaleon prepared himselfe to receiue him and giuing his horse the spurres he preuailed so fortunately in the encounter as he made the King of Aetolia measure his length on the ground but hee was quickly succoured by his men otherwise Primaleon had giuen him his deaths wounde Palmerin of England ran against the Prince Argelao and met him with such puissance as his Launce pierced cleane thorowe his body so that he fell to the ground starke dead the like did the Knight of the Sauage man to a valiant Knight named Richard who was estéemed a singular Captaine amongst the Turkes the Prince Florendos Platir Gracian Berolde and the other knights slew them outright likewise that encountred them in the Ioust Dramusiande and Framustant brake their Launces
but yet they kept their horses valiantly whereupon they drew their swordes and began to charge each other very furiously The Christians behaued themselues so worthily at this first encounter as the King of Aetolia whose traine were twise so many in number as they with the Prince Primaleon was glad to retyre being not able to endure the hardy stroakes of the Princes Palmerin Florian Florendos but they were faine to betake themselues for refuge to the second squadron which was conducted by the King of Caspia who came brauely vpon Primaleon and his company yet not able to enforce theÌ„ to retyre one foote back from them for Palmerin and the other princes maintained the sight so sharply against them as they were once more coÌ„pelled to recoyle backeward Which the Soldane of Persia perceiuing he came to assist them with his company when in sooth he had made a great slaughter of the wearied Christians if it had not béene for the Prince Floraman who séeing the Soldane of Persia come so fast forward with his Squadron he rushed in vpon them with his Band of men and resisted them in very gallant manner Palmerin bare great malice to the Soldane of Persia because he was so amorous of yâ— Princesse Polinarda his wife wherefore he ran fiercely against him and brake his Launce so brauely on him as the Soldane tumbled headlong backward out of his Saddle but the Turkes laboured earnestly to mount the king againe and Primaleon went to ayde the Prince Floraman who was likewise cast beside his horse Thus were they helping one another of them néerest at hand so that they had forgotten Dramusiande and Framustant who hauing forsaken their horses fought so long together in such cruell manner as their bodies were wounded in many places but Dramusiande was like to sustaine the worst in that Framustant was assisted against him by another Knight named Grantor and Dramusiande had beene slaine betwéene them if it had not beene for the Prince Florian his déere friend who came and buckled with Grantor in such sort as he laide him dead at his foote immediatly When the Turkes beheld that Grantor was slaine they enuironed the Prince Florian and Dramusiande so terrible on euerie side as their lines were brought into some daunger but the king Estrellant of Hungaria who had the charge of the third Christian Squaâ—ron entred vpon the Tuâ—â—es and droue them backe perforce till they saw their friendes brought into safetie againe and Framustant was very néere discharged of his life but the Soldane Albayzar seeing his daunger commaunded them altogether to runne on the Christians the like did King Edward to his men because they should helpe their fellowes in their necessitie Florian seeing Albayzar comming with his Launce charged in his rest gaue his horse the spurres to méete him these two worthy knights encountred together so nobly as Albayzar was glad to catch holde about the necke of his horse to shun the fall but the Prince Florians horse was so starke with trauaile as he fell to the ground vnder his Maister who leapt out of the Saddle quickly so that he sustained no harme by the fall Albayzar laboured very earnestly to get Dramusiande and the Prince Florian within the rankes of his men because hee sawe how cruelly they hacked and hewed the Turkes that he thought himselfe happiest who could auoid their presence but yet such a company of men had Albayzar hemd them in withall as the losse of their liues were now determined if the Soldan Bellagris Polinarda had not arriued there with expedition for they walking vp and downe with their Bandes of men to giue aide where they perceiued necessitie required saw the dangerous estates of Dramusiande and Florian and thrusting in vpon the Turkes with great puissance they reskewed Dramusiande and brought him foorth of the Armie to rest himselfe a while and they mounted Florian on horsebacke againe notwithstanding all the practises of the enemy to the contrary but they were glad to conuey Framustant foorth of the Battaile likewise for they sawe him so sore trauailed as he was scant able to stand on his feete After that these two Giants were out of the Field the greatest hurley burly was by the prince Psimaleon because Palmerin of England and the Soldane of Persia they being on foote fought maruellous fiercely togither the like did Polinard with a stout Turke named Ferrebrocque which caused the men on all sides to hasten to this conflict The King of Aetolia accompanied with fiue hundred knights on foote came to reskew the Soldan of Persia but Berolde of Spaine remembring the death of the King Recinde his Father ioyned in fight with the King of Aetolia King Edward came thither with his troupe of men to assist his friends and so did Albayzar on the behalfe of the Soldane of Persia he bringing with him many Knights beside foure stoute and cruel Giants whose presence did much terrifie the Christians so that many of them durst not enter the fight with such Monsters Yet could not all these knights and Giants dismay the noble Palmerin of EnglaÌ„d but he continued in fight so brauely with the Soldane of Persia as he would not leaue him till he saw him slaine at hia foote for whose death tha Turkes lamented very much in that he was the principall captaine vnder the Prince Albayzar who likewise tooke the Soldanes death so heauily as he came with his men vpon the Christians like a mad man The victorie of the Prince Palmerin against the Soldane was but little comfort to him in that he saw the prince Polinard who fought still against Ferrebrocque fall downe dead to the ground Ferrebrocque with diuers other Turkes fall downe slaine on each side of him likewise but the death of Polinard was very gréeuous to his friends and companions in that the Emperor Vernar his brother was kilde in the first battail and the Empresse Bazilia seeing her lord and husband gon reposed al her hope and comfort on the prince Polinard Florendos whose griefe could not be expressed for the death of his friend Polinard because they had bene nourished al their youth together in the Emperors court to reuenge the death of her déere friend and companion he ran fiercely amongst the thickest of his enemies and the first he met withal was the giant Pandolfo who holding a mightie mace in his hand aduanced himselfe to receiue the prince Florendos Then began a fierce and terrible combat betwéene them so that within a whyle the giant Pandolfo railed and exclaimed against his gods horribly finding himselfe not able to resist the force of one knight he being woont to vanquish euery one that entred fight with him but Florendos not regarding his railling words brought him into such féeble estate as at length he fell downe on his knées when Florendos taking off his Helmet strookeâ— of his head from his shoulders Berolde of Spaine lekewise slew the king of Aetolia which when
enterprised to guard the Shield of the Princesse Miragarda chap. 8. Of a strange aduenture which chaunced before the Castle of the Giant Almarol and what happened to the Prince Florendos chap. 9. Here shall be declared what and who the Knight was that came in the company of the Princesse Arnalte for what cause he and she trauailed to the castle of the Giant Almaroll and of the great entertainement that was made in the Court c. chap. 10. How the Emperour with his noble company entred the city of Constantinople of the gracious entertainment which was made to Leonarda c. chap. 11. Of an aduenture which happened in the Court of the Emperour Palmerin and of c. cha 12. Here shall be discoursed what and who the Damosell was that had thus gotten the Prince Florian c. chap. 13. Of that which happened to the knight of the Tiger following the search of the prince Florian c. cha 14. Of that which happened to the Knight of the Sauage man c. cha 15. Of the aduentures which chaunced to the Knight of the Sauage man conducting these Ladies to the king of Spaines Court and of that which happened to the knight of the Tiger c. cha 16. Of the combat betweene the Giant Espouuantable and the noble knight of the Tiger and of the battaile betweene Berolde Plaetih and the Sage Aliart c. cha 17. Of that which happened to the noble Prince Palmerin of England c. cha 18. Here is yet conteined what happened to Palmerin of England c. chap. 19. How Alfernao arriued at the Emperours court of Constantinople c. cha 20. How the princes and knights which were prisoners to the great Turke arriued at the court of Constantinople whervpon the king Recinde deliuered out of prison c. ch 21. How the knight of the Sauage man accompanied with the damosels arriued in the king of Spaines court and of that which hapned to him there against the P. Albayzar ch 22. How the Damosels knight and Albayzar iousted together chap. 23. Of that which happened to the Damosels knight in going to the Castle of Almaroll cha 24. How Trafolant and these other three knights yeelded themselues in the Spanish court And how the damosels knight arriued at the Castle c. cha 25. Of the Iousts which were enterprised betweene the Damosels knight and him that kept the shield of the Princesse Miragarda and of the combat at which the knight c. c. 26. Of that which happened to the damosels knight as he returned to the Court of Recinde c. chap. 27. What the Prince Florēdos did to the vāquished knight And how those knights whom the prince Florian had conquered c. chap. 28. Of that which happened to the Knight of the Sauage man when he came to the Castle where Arnalte the Princesse of Nauarre c. chap. 19. How the Prince Albayzar embarqued himselfe to sayle into Turkie after he had presented himselfe to Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace c. chap. 30. Of that which happened to the knight of the Tiger after he was departed from the Perillous Isle c. chap. 31. How the Knight of the Tiger tooke his leaue of Meliadus the King of the Scots and of the Princesse Armisia his daughter c. chap. 32. How the knight of the Tiger arriued at Constantinople and of an aduenture which was c. chap. 33. Of the talke which the Prince Palmerin had with the princesse Polinarda his Lady chap. 34. How certaine Knights arriued at the Court of the Emperour Palmerin who were aduertised how the Turks had prouided a great Armie c. chap. 35. Of an aduenture which happened during the trouble at Cōstantinople in the Realme of France and after what manner c. chap. 36. Of that which hapned to certaine other knights who would prooue the aduenture of these c. chap. 37. Of that which happened to the knight of the Sauage man in prouing the aduenture with these foure c. chap. 38. How the strange knight entered the field to Ioust vnder the name of madame Latrania chap. 39. Of that which happened to the strange knight the first day he guarded the passage of the Valley chap. 40. The complaints which the strange Knight made in the night time vnder the window of the chamber where the foure Ladies c. chap. 41. What hapned to the strange knight the second day he guarded the passage of the valley chap. 42. Of that which happened to the strange knight the third and c. chap. 43. Of that which happened to the strange knight this night how the Knight of the Sphere entred the combate the day following chap. 44. Of that which the strange knight did the day following garding the Valley chap. 45. Of that which happened to the strange knight the last day he guarded the passage vnder the name of Madame Torsia chap. 46. How the knight of the Sauage man arriued at the Court of Constantinople how Dragonalt Arnalte the Queen of Nauarre c. chap. 47. How Arnedes king of France and his Queene Recinde king of Spaine and his Queene accompanied with the princesse Miragarda and the Giant Almaroll arriued at c. chap. 48. Of the conference which the Emperor had with the Princes and how the mariages which he had appointed were now c. chap. 49. How the Soldan Bellagris was baptized and how afterward the Emperor caused him to be marryed to Pandritia and how c. chap. 50. How the Queene of Thrace was conueied away by a strange aduenture while the knights c. chap. 51. How by the ayde of the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley the noble knight of the Sauage man deliuered out of the Enchantment his c. chap. 52. Of that which the Christians did in Constantinople at what time the Princesse Targiana sent tidings to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin of the comming of his enemies chap 53. How the enemies sent an Ambassadour vnto the Emperours Court and of the answer was c. chap 54. How the Armie of the great Turke arriued at the Port of Constantinople and of the noble and valiant prowesse of the Christians c. cha 55. Of the griefe and sorrowe made in Constantinople for the dangerous estate wherein the Giant Dramusiande was brought And how the Turkes placed their campe before the citie of Constantinople cha 56. Of that which Albayzar did after hee had well prouided for his army and of the succour which came to the Emperour Palmerin cha 57. Of an aduenture which happened by the arriuall of a strange knight accompanied with a Lady in the Prince Albayzars campe cha 58. Heare shall be declared after what maner the Prince Florian of the Forrest arriued at Constantinople of many things c. cha 59. How the combate betweene twelue Turks and twelue Christians was begun and how the Ladies caused it to be giuen c. cha 60. Of a noble and valiant combate betweene Dramusiande and the Giant Framustant cha 61. Of the battaile betweene the Turkes and the Christians and of that which happened cha 62. Of the first battaile betweene the Christians and the Turkes and the successe thereof cha 63. Of that which they did in Constantinople before they gaue the enemy the second battaile cha 64. Of the second battaile betweene the Christians the Turks and what happened cha 65. The counsell and aduise that the Sage Aliart gaue to them of the Empire of Constantinople And how he caused the bodies of the Emperour Palmerin and the other Princes c. chap. 66. The end of the Table
know in what great feare and debilitie he was he came againe as lustily as he could to the Combate As for the Knight of the Tiger he was ready and willing to entertaine him which was more rough and sharpely giuen to the Giant then the first encounter was and in the meane time they tried thus hardly together the Knight which fought against Platir was so faint and féeble as hee fell downe to the ground before him when Platir taking his Helmet from him strooke off his head and shewed it to Collambra as she sate in the window When she sawe that Fortune was thus fully bent against her she presentle shut the window and wéeping bitterly for this pittious sight shee pulled and rent her haire very cruelly which the Giant beholding that she dispaired of his victorie and would not vouchsafe him any longer her countenance he determined to sell his life as déerely as he could to him that laboured to take it from him and then beganne to assaile the Prince very furiously but he perceiuing the Giants force could not endure long so hackte and hewed his Armour in preces as at last hée cutte out great collops of his flesh and dyed all the grasse with the blood of the Giant Espouuantable And the Knight of the Tiger looking aside espied the Couzins of the Giants all subdued and their heads presented as the first was by the other two Knightes euery one then expecting the ende of the Combate betwéene him and the Giant and truely hée maruelled much that the Giant helde out so long wherefore he layde such cruell stroakes vpon him as at the length he being not able to sustaine himselfe fell downe flat to the ground vpon his backe committing his soule into the hands of them who strengthened him in his wicked and abhominable déedes Then the Knight of the Tiger tooke off his Helmet to sée whether he were aliue or dead but when he saw no life was left in him he tooke his sword by the point and beate him with the hils so about his head as he made his eyes and his téeth to fall out and then he cut off his legs by the knées which being done he thanked God of his happy victory the people for ioy gaue such a generall shoute as the earth did séeme to tremble there withall they were so glad of their deliuery from the monstrous cruelty wherin these Giants had so long time kept them And in this great ioy they concluded altogether to goe and beset the Castle where Collambra was that none of that bloody linnage might be left aliue for except she were likewise dispatched the people feared their former seruitude In the meane while Collambras knightes guarded the peoples entrance into the Castle one of her Damosels came and humbled herselfe at the Prince Palmerins feete with these spéeches I desire you Sir Knight that you would take pittie on my Lady Collambra and on vs that are her Damosels attedant on her for we haue no other defence for our selues then the thrée Knights who labour to kéepe the people foorth of the Castle in that they would put my Lady to death whom I pray you vouchsafe to defend from their exueltie for more willingly would she receiue chastisement at your hands for her offences then to fall into the peoples power who are voide of reason in their reuenge The knight of the Tiger fearing hée should not come time enough to giue her succour spake to his thrée friends in this manner I desire you my brethren and friendes to goe and assist Collambra because the people séeke to put her to death These thrée knights willing to satisfie the Princes request began to thrust through the preasse and preuailed so much by their strength that at last they attained the Castle gate which was defended by Collambraes Knights one of them being slaine and the other two ready to yeeld themselues at what time the Knight of the Tiger and his companions were come to the place where this great hurly burly was which he being desirous to pacifie thrust into the Castle Collambraes knights and turning his face to the people desired them to depart to their houses and to assure themselues that he would not faile to set them in such a sure state of libertie as they should not be molested with such cruell tiranny as they had bin too long a time The people conceiued such contentment by the words of the Prince Palmerin as they presently departed thence crying all in this manner that the Island ought to be giuen to the knight of the Tiger for that it was his owne by right and they did heartily desire that he would accept it they being content to humble themselues as his vassailes and subiects so that he would not be perswaded by the flattering words of Collambra whose mallice was not inferiour to the cruell Giants Palmerin made them promise to deale in such sort as they should be all contented to their owne willes so giuing them a courteous farewell he went into the great Hall to rest himselfe a while and afterward he came to Collambra who sate among her Damosels her haire all dispersed about her shoulders hanging her head downe to the ground and making such pittifull lamentation as her Damosels could not chuse but bedeaw their chéekes with teares beholding the extreame heauinesse of their Lady and Mistresse who at this instant remembred the death of her husband the losse of her Sonnes and destruction of her house and the death of her Brother who came onely for her sake thither as well to defend her as also to sée the death of the Knight of the Sauage man but now being past all hope to haue him and fearing lest by him she had likewise lost her daughter Arlencea of whom she made most high and especiall account all those occassions considered together compelled her to immoderate mourning The knight of the Tiger hearing the great complaints of Collambra was diuers times to offering comfort her but he iudging his words would rather more vexe her then pacifie her let her alone to comfort her selfe to well as she could but the prince Platir séeing how Collambra howled and made such a pittifull and heauy noyse beganne thus to speake vn to the knight of the Tiger I thinke it good and so do my two friends and companions that this Castle remaine vnto vs as our owne for euer and to chase hence this cruell woman or cause her to be brought into some such place where her mallice may haue no power to endanger vs or put any other good mind in feare Friend Platir answered Palmerin I will agrée to whatsoeuer you thinke expedient but I pray you do not prouoke me to do Collambra any outrage nor yet to brinn her into my company for I cannot endure to behold one so full of griefe as she is These thrée knights perceiuing that the sight of this cruell Giantnesse did much offend the Prince Palmerin