thought himself already Conqueror and joyd that he should shortly enjoy the triumphs of his Victorie under the gracious arches of those eies which he adored That night appeared an age to him he got two hours before day out of bed and by his command the Trumpets were soon heard in all his quarters awakening those who were yet asleep and inviting them to prepare for the battel Arm'd all in black he curb'd in a horse which under a mantle of snow covered a fierie soul hasting sometimes to one place sometimes to another to incourage his Soldiers to give out Orders to the Commanders to excite the backward to suppress the insolent and to dispose of all things which might make his Victorie the more easie in an open plain and spacious field save only that on the left hand there stood a little hill he order'd his Army giving the right wing to Filarbo and the left to Theocastro he himself kept in the midst at the head of a choice Troop of commanded horsemen he fore-ran all others no less in valour and courage then with his steed when he understood by some Scouts who he had sent before to watch the Enemies proceedings that the Enemie was come within a mile and a half and already the noise of their Trumpets might be heard the sound of Drums the neighing of Warlick horses and a thick cloud of dust might be perceived to be raised in the air In the Famagostan Army the unexperience of the Countrie Soldiers which were not very many was supplied by the practice and valour of many Voluntiers who were come thither in great numbers from the adjacent shores and neighbouring Islands called in by the renowned name of Agenor of Soria on whom the place of Generalissimo was by the Senat confer'd at a very profuse charge He had disposed of his squadrons according to the Persian manner in whose Wars he had a long time been trained up fighting generously sometimes in the condition of a privat Soldier sometimes of a powerful Commander 1500 bow-men on horseback marched before the body of the Army and he himself followed immediately after upon a horse whose bards and crupper were made of Panther skins lined with purple and interwoven with gold he had upon him a Jacket of azure satin trim'd with long buttons of great pearl and his head was odly wound about with Skarfs variously coloured bestuck with feathers of great esteem and price he was provided with no other arms but only a Scimiter hanging at his left side and a battel ax at his saddle bow Assoon as the Armies were come within bow-shot the Archers like lightning let fly all their arrows and dividing themselves instantly into two wings they retreated orderly leaving the rest of their Army open to the Enemies eie few that were then wounded did immediately die but not any one were his hurt never so small outlived the space of three days the heads of their arrows being all dipt in deadly poison Doralbo and Agenor were the first who advanced one towards another but imitated and followed by great numbers of Cavalrie they could not come to fight hand to hand being hindred by other combatants who with like generosity and fortune on both sides sometimes charged on sometimes retreated sometime drove back their Enemies who rallying again returned to face and fight the adverse party Many fell down wounded on both sides troden under foot dying and buried before they were dead by the confused number of horses born to the ground of broken weapons and a multitude of dead bodies Agenors horse was slain under him and had he been less valiant he had in this very first encounter either bin slain or taken prisoner by the Nicosians but he slew so many with his Scimeter and threw so many to the ground as being in time succour'd by his men he escaped the evident danger of losing either his life or liberty Doralbo received a slight wound in one of his arms and doubting least his Soldiers might be discouraged by seeing him bleed he cried out aloud Courage my beloved for the Victorie leans already to our side and though I have often indeavoured either to overcome or to die I have hitherto met with no other harm save only so slight a wound as hath hardly drawn three drops of bloud from me Whilst he was speaking thus he was advertised by a thundring salute of musquet shot that Filarbo had given battel on the left side and that he had had bad fortune at the very first for the ranks of his pikemen who defended the musquetiers being broken by the Enemies launces he might see them all routed and little better then running away He making a speedie half turn indeavoured with many other horsmen to make resistance but was necessitated to face about against some other horse which charged him on the flank which had he not done they were likely not only to have disordered but to have routed the whole Army not at all discouraged herewith he dispatcht away a Serjant Major upon a very fleet horse to advertise Theocastro that with what force and fury he possibly could he should without delay charge the Enemies forces on his side if he would not have the day lost He obeyed so luckily as bearing down the first files at his fierce assault who were all Countrey Soldiers they began by little and little to retreat and by and by to run downright away in so much that Theocastro with many of his men charged so home as he took the chief Standard and meeting with none to withstand him he came in to the succour of his brother Filarbo who afterwards valliantly fighting together with him beat back the Enemy many of which ran disorderly away along the neighboring fields Doralbo and Agenor had this mean while made interchangeably very great slaughter and bravely imitated by their followers they continued fighting the Victorie not appearing to lean to either side but upon the arrival of Filarbo and Theocastro Agenors horse were forc'd to save themselves by an orderly and slow retreat which could not justly be called running at last after having long indeavoured it the Generals met face to face and Agenor abandoned by almost all his men had at last perished by the number of his assailants had not Doralbo defending him with his own hands cryed out that it belonged to him alone to grapple with that fierce man Thou shalt not so easily overcome me said Agenor with the sword as with courtesie having said so he made on with his Scimiter in both hands towards Doralbo who dexterously evaded that blow which would have cleft a mountain of Iron at the same time he let fly a stockado at the Enemies throat and wounded him sorely though not mortally so as losing aboundance of blood he had almost faln down half dead amongst his own men but he did not this before he had given Doralbo a large but not a deep wound in the same left arm whereon he
apparell loaded with greasie Wooll His intension was to expose himselfe to all danger so as he might kill those two petty Kings who hindred him from intirely possessing that Kingdome which without that Citie seemed to his ambition but a Body that had some joynt lopt off He imagined that either he or some of his getting into the Courts of those petty Kings might possibly come to mingle poyson whereof each of them was well provided amidst their meats or else by night to bring such a of powder into the lower Vaults of the Palace as might suffice to blow up the Walls thereof wherewithall both to kill and bury his enemies at once If nothing else should succeed he should learn the exact quantity of the people their plenty or penury of Ammunition the condition of their Souldiery their inward provisions and fortifications of the Citie and finally all such occurrences as might facilitate unto him the way how to take that Citie by storm which he could not doe by stratagem He determined and performed but if he went to vanquish he was vanquished though the loss did at the last occasion his Victory His feigned condition of a Shepheard getting him access without suspition into all places he made use therof to pry into all particulars which might conduce to the execution of his designs Being one morning invited by his curiosity to see the inside of a sumptuous Palace the great men of Cyprus using in those dayes freely to permit every one to enter their habitations he stept into a garden and gazing upon a side of the House which was all made of purest Marble he might see a Woman sitting upon a little rise of a Hill drying her wet black hair at the Sun beams She sitting a good while still and seeing one look fixtly on her in a habit which made her beleeve him to be some simple Countrey Clown who dazled with her more then usual beauty stood greedily gazing on her broke forth into a lowd laughter and said unto him What is' t you look so earnestly upon Companion Did you never see a woman before Yes Lady said he I have seen other women but never any of so exquisite a Beauty Look thy belly full upon me then said she whilst a Gentlewoman came with an Ivory Comb to put her hair in order Biamartes forgetting what personage he represented had almost by speeches and behaviour befitting his true condition and mind discovered himself to have nothing in him of Clownish but his apparell But knowing how much it imported him to be taken for what he appeared to be he began with divers sensless words and speeches to little purpose masked over with simplicity to move them to laughter who had delighted a good while to make themselves merry with him At last they departed from the little rise of the Hill and he went out of the Palace so far in love with this Lady as he found it much a harder matter to withstand his own thoughts then to fight a numerous Army 'T was a wonder that being blinded by love he could yet see that he could hope for no success neither in his martial affairs by the death of his Enemies nor yet in his love Wherefore he wisely resolved to leave Famagosta where he had reaped nothing but the loss of his heart and the having exposed himself to the evident danger of his life liberty and renown which he had won at such expence of valour He left the City as did severally those that depended on him except one of the craftiest amongst them who by his command staid to prie into the proceedings of the petty Kings and to discover that Ladies condition whose merit had wrought upon a Kings affection Byamartes perceived afterwards how rash his enterprise was but according to the custom of great ones yea of all such as have been favoured by fortune he attributed that to the goodness of his own wit which was the meer gift of a friendly fortune He ceased not this mean while at a great expence of treasure and the full extent of his power to raise all such men and arms as he could to assault Famagosta again which being impossible to be besieged on that side towards the sea was not to be taken but by assault Though he were busied about so hard an enterprise yet could he not forget her vvho had rob'd him of his heart but thirsted the more to make himself master of the City This mean vvhile he vvhom he had left in Famagosta having inform'd himself touching the Lady found that she vvas of a noble and rich Family allyed to the best houses of the City though her husband as having too great and numerous a retinue vvas not vvell looked upon but rather held under by those petty Kings vvho knevv their uncertain Dominion to be yet but vveakly grounded vvhich made her be better inclin'd to Biamartes his Party then to theirs The crafty Officer thought it therfore his best course to let it come to her knowledge by one of her houshold servants whom he had by great sums of gold corrupted that Biamartes being come into that City by stealth and unknown was falne mightily in love with her in so much as he was sent by him to offer her together with his soul whatsoever his Crown was able to do she being the sole Mistress of his will Telisbe for so was this Lady called thought it impossible that a great King should have hazarded himself within the precincts of an Enemies Wall and that having such important affairs of War upon his hands he could have leasure to think of love but did rather imagin that this was a plot of some one or other that was in love with her to make tryal of her chastitie or else that it was some of Biamartes stratagems whereby to make himself Master of that City which was only wanting to compleat his Dominion over all Cyprus Were it then that she desired to know whether she were grown so ingenuous or no as to discover the plots of others or that eg'd on by the itch of ambition she would gladly know the certainty whether her beauty were such or no as to have operation in the heart of a great Prince and valliant Warrler she would be punctually inform'd by this her domestick servant who it was that had prevailed so far with her as to make her venter upon so rash a business She wrought so much by intreaties and by threats as she learn'd all she knew out of her Which was no more but that dazled by the brightness of the gold whereof a stranger had been very liberal unto her she was induced to deliver such messages believing she should not find her easie to consent but yet ready enough to pardon the folly of a fault which had got her so much wealth The Lady seemed to be appeas'd and asked her whether she thought the stranger would be perswaded to speak with her her self or no charging her that when
excited nay necessitated that state to the violent resolution of taking up Arms against its Lord and Master Who this wicked one was and to what mischievous ends he complotted these revolutions we shall shortly know together with some other fatall successes Let it suffice for the present to know That an Order from his Majesty authenticated and sealed by his Kingly Seal was read in full Senat by the Kings Vicegerent in Famagosta that without any reply or intermission of time to boot with the ordinary Tribute four thousand Talents should be by them disburst towards the occurrent affairs Those Fathers were astonished to hear of so unaccustomed burthensom a demand there not being moneys enough neither in the publick Exchequers nor yet in mens privat purses to make up so great a payment they desired a prorogation of the Vicegerent protetesting howsoever that they were altogether unable to satisfie his Majesties desires They were answered that they were speedily to resolve and to take into their considerations the particulars exprest and contained in the Order without further reply or loss of time The poor Senators knew not what to say in all meetings both publick and privat the Kings indiscretion was the sole subject of discourse when many of them received privat advertisements by Letters that Thoas taking a Caprichio to annull the Republick had made use of a pretence of exacting a Contribution from them which was impossible for them to pay That if they should make ready payment of what was demanded either in part or in whole he was resolved to make use thereof to wage war with them at their own expence That if they did not execute his Order he would declare them to be disobedient and proclaim them Rebels and Enemies to the Crown That the very Inhabitants of Nicosia asham'd scandaliz'd at the apparent injustice desir'd that so famous ancient a Common wealth should now make some glorious resentment against that King who having lost his reason in his love to a base Woman had already crowned her Queen to the end that the people might be governed by a mungrell succession of an ignoble stock mixt with the Royal Bloud That the onely remedy they had to prevent their imminent ruine was to put on a noble resolution of preventing him speedily with Arms. That they would not want assistants and part-takers even in the very Court it self Those of Famagosta provoked by so violent incitements resolved to prevent Thoas by setting on his state on the side of Siuri and though they were provided but with a few Soldiers they lead them into the Field not ceasing this mean while to raise men with all their might And to this purpose they dispatcht away Commissaries into Soria from the King whereof they promis'd themselves upon all occasions assistance and succour They soon heard how that Prince Doralbo was marching towards them with a numerous Army When the chief Commanders of the Famagostan Troops who being disperst abroad sack the Countrey every where to the terror and loss of the poore Countrey people summon'd them all back into the two Towns which were already taken fortifying themselves there with cutting deep Ditches and Trenches they waited for the enemy whilst the Militia of the Citie was drawn forth and Forces were raised in divers parts that they might afterwards appeare in the field ready to fight Thoas his Army incampt it self between the Town of Siuri and the Castle of Pigadia and all the neighbouring places being by the provident Prince provided with Garrisons he sent forth six Troops of Horse ten Companies of Foot giving them order to use all means possible whereby they might draw the Enemies out of those Towns wherein they had fortified themselves This was not easily to be done For after a long resistance made by them of Famagosta they received succours so that it behoved Doralbo's forces to fight which though they did with little loss of men yet lost they much reputation failing in their first enterprise True it is that the Famagostians growing hereupon bold sallied out with a great many men and being too far advanc'd in pursuit of the Enemies Horse who did of purpose leasurely retreat they found the way shut up as they returned so as intercepted in the midst the greatest part of them were taken prisoners or cut in pieces some of them who had the fortune to escape withdrawing themselves into a neighbouring Wood. In Nicosia this mean while the sick King grew daily worse and worse so as his Case was thought desperate so much the rather for that being grown exceeding weak the Physick which was prescribed either wrought not at all or wrought contrary effects to the ends it was given In fine he must die and in stead of going into a nuptiall Bed to rejoyce within the Arms of his Beloved he must be put into a doleful Coffin and laid in the bosome of Death Unfortunate Thoas I wish at least the Heavens had never suffered thee to have seen Nissena thou then wouldst not in departing from this world have known the sorrow of parting from her Knowing himselfe neer the unavoidable passage of Death he called in to the help of his oppressed heart that native generosity which in his life had never forsaken him and with a deep sigh wherewith he seemed to banish all fear he with a cheerful countenance wherein undauntednesse might be discerned commanded that Nissena together with all the chiefe Lords and Barons of the Court should be sent for to him The sorrowfull Queen being come she sate her down by the Kings bed side and taking between her fairest hands the fading and languishing left hand of her dying Husband she said unto him Oh Sir How doe you feel your selfe Well said he Now that I have all my content by me but I must die I must die O Nissena neither do I grieve thereat for I know I was born mortall but onely because I am to leave you and to leave you before you be wholly mine At the hearing of words exprest with such tender affection tears in abundance began to fall from the eyes of the afflicted Lady which at the arrival of the Court Lords she with much adoe detained The Lords and Rulers of the Kingdome entred the dismall Chamber with silent reverence and many of them being by this time got together and standing bare-headed before the Bed the King commanded them all to sit down Here a melancholy and short Preludium being made by an universal silence to the Kings discourse he with a fainting voyce having first looked them all in the face feebly spoke thus At last my Friends or rather my dear Children after so many years wherein I have upheld the Crown of Cyprus I am come to pay my last duty to Nature by Death I die and die contented knowing that I have never upon any occasion been wanting to any one either in justice or in clemency I have always loved my subjects more
a derivatory power to be by them imployed as they should be pleased 'T was resolved that in the interim they should be kept conceal'd from the knowledge of the Army till they had resolved what to do putting on their womanly apparel Doralbo's Tent was privatly appointed for them wherein they were to stay attended but by some few till they should have put on some resolution When Nissena consulting only with her own thoughts began to consider how unfortunately she had in vain come from Nicosia to the Camp to finde out her beloved Doralbo who amongst her so many misfortunes was her greatest care She suffered her self to be so carried away with a violent love passion as she could neither eat nor sleep but fed her breast and eyes only with sighs and tears The Prince his absence whose merit was already ingraven in her heart was not the only thing which made her lament she found her self struck through with those accidents which by securing her of the fervency of his love should have rather comforted then afflicted her O how readily said she within her self hath my Doralbo obeyed my very beck that scarcely come from the battel and wounded too he hath with winged feet flown to receive my commands Unhappy me Let it not please the Gods that he be come to Nicosia at a time when he may believe my feigned death to be true but say it be so if it shall have so faln out I shall at least know with what resentments of sorrow and compassion he shall have wedded my funerals I shall from hence prove his affection alas I know well enough without any testimony that he loves me as much as a man may love and I am bound to correspond in love with him and so I do since whether my fortune be to live a privat woman or to be re-invested in the Throne of Cyprus my heart shall never be capable of any amorous affection save for Doralbo Do thou prove true to me as I shall do to thee How much more would she have lamented if she had known he was in prison condemned to death and perhaps his head struck off These were her mental discourses when she was alone but when she discoursed either with Eurania or Filarbo she talked of nothing else but how she might repossess her self of the Crown and if sometimes she indeavoured to hear tidings of Doralbo it was under pretence that his presence would have helped much to the compassing of her designes Eurania as crafty as a Lady of honest and untoucht reputation could be very well understood her Nieces inward passions and having pitty of her durst not take any the least notice thereof fearful lest she should be offended that others should discern and penitrate into those affections which she desired to keep conceald as much as possibly she could Many days being spent in vain in expectation of Doralbo's and Theocastro's return or of some news from them and no news being heard after many consultations had and argued too and fro by Nissena Eugenia and Filarbo they all of them resolved to send Ambassadors to the Senat of Famagosta to desire that they would be pleased to give audience to a certain personage who with tvvo only Companions demanded leave to be admitted into their presence to treat of peace and in the mean time they would expect Doralbo's return which could not be long This was done and those grave Senators did both rejoyce and wonder to hear peace propounded by a victorious Enemy from whom they had learn'd at the expence of bloud to fear force and this they did the rather for that they could expect but little help from Soria wherein was raised a terrible fire of rebellion Some of them cautiously doubted that some Warlick stratagem might lie hid under a specious pretence of peace so as they were long in consulting how the propounded personages might be brought into the Senat at last their answer was that they would willingly give them a hearing on condition notwithstanding that they should enter the City unarmed and with their eyes blindfoulded according to custom All this while there was no news of Doralbo's return whereat Nissena was so much afflicted as he must have had a Tygers heart who would not have pittied her if she had as openly demonstrated her passions as she kept them conceal'd The day was come nay the very hour wherein the Commissioners from the Camp were to be brought to the Senat of Famagosta and presently it was noised throughout the whole Army that Nissena by right of succession Queen of Cyprus was she who accompanied by Eurania and Filarbo would by her going into the Enemies Citie put an end to the War and conclude a well settled peace She past through the midst of the Army all covered over vvith a sad black mantle but her fair countenance her vvhite bosome and her lively eyes shevved a Majestie so svveetly severe as she made her self at once be both feared and adored She past through the Army reverenced and adored as a Goddess For vvheresoever Mars governs Venus finds alvvaies obsequious and devout hearts The Commissioners vvere vvaited for by tvvo chief Officers of the Senat at that gate of the Town which led towards the Camp where Nissena being come alighted out of the Coach and led underneath the arms by Eurania and Filarbo the Officers of Famagosta stood amazed no less at her beauty then at the unusual novelty of the Ambassy when they bound her eyes they in a low voice within themselves complained that they were to rob the people of the pleasing object of those eyes which were unworthy to be covered had it not been pretended that like sacred things they were to be hidden underneath a vail Thus said these two gray heads at once both admiring and making themselves merry with Nissena's more then human beautie But they stood musing not without suspition of some future evil to what end this unusual Treaty of Women might be Being admired by the people she came into the Senat nor needed this fairest Oratrice to win their attentions by any artificial Rhetorick since all the Senators with their eyes fixt upon her stood expecting what graceful and eloquent speech was to proceed from that mouth which was so rich in treasures Some of them whose hearts were not frozen though snow lay on their hair said with fitting vivacity How is it possible that she should treat of peace whilst at the very first aspect her countenance intimates War Having made her requisit reverence and being sat on a chair which was prepared for her whilst Eurania and Filarbo stood retir'd behind she spake thus That fire of War which with barbarous flames hath hitherto unduly imbroyl'd and consumed the felicity of peace even to ashes which hath wasted the fruit of the fields exhausted the treasure of Exchequers and been the death of those Subjects who have as gloriously as unopportunely shed their bloud and lost their lives is