kinseman the Prince Florendos Palmerin of England did the like to the faire Florenda and Florian of the Forrest to the Princesse Graciaâ—a in briefe the Princesse and Knights led all the Lades Palfraâ—es till they came to the Pallace The Emperour was caried in his Chayre by foure Knights communing with the Princesse Miragarda all the way desiring her to fauour his Nephew Florendos and to thinke of him as one that had well deserued at her hands CHAP. XLIX Of the Conference which the Emperour had with the Princes And how the Marriages that he appointed were now accomplished in effect WHen the Princes that were thus arriued Constantinople had rested themselues for certaine dayes the Emperour desirous to content euery one before he died who had bestowed their seruice in honouring him reuealed his intent to the Emperor Vernar king Edward Arnedes Recinde and Primaleon how he would gladly sée his Nephewes married and the other Princes that had béene nourished in his court whom he would see all matched according as their affections serued them The Princes liked maruaellously the Emperours intent whereupon he caused the Sunday following a great feast to be ordained in the Quéene Fleridaes Chamber which place was the most conuenient in all the Pallace for their courtly disports and there the Ladies were euery one regarded in their degrées being more pleasant in the Ladyes of their sauoured seruants then all the costly iunckets prouided for the banquet Palmerin was so earnest in affection towards his Lady as he iudged her to surpasse all the other in beautie Florendos held the same opinion to the faire Miragarda and Florian made such estimation of the Princesse of Thrace as he feared not to Combate against any whatsoeuer that her beautie might carrie the credite aboue all the rest and the Prince Platir was not behinde him in conceite towards his swéete Ladie Sidelia daughter to the King Tarnaes The Empresse Bazilia Gridonia Flâ—rida Francellina because of their high estates were chéefe next the Empresse 〈…〉 the Quéene Flerida bare the price of beautie amongst them all because she was in the most swéete and delicate time of her yeares After the Tables were wishdraâ—e and all the 〈◊〉 departed the place the Emperour being weake and sickely 〈◊〉 King Edward to expresse before all the company what he had giuen him in charge King Edward willing to obey the Emperors commandement arose from the Table theâ—â— taking off his Hat and kissing the Emperours hand he saluted all there present and began thus Most gratious Empres as each of vs for his benefit honor hath receiued such Ladies in marriage as the Emperour from his owne Court hath pleased to bestow on vs some that are allied to his Excellency and others to the Princes and lords of his Empire wherby the renowme of Christendom is worthyly maintained and all causes expressing good nature continued in their florishing estate It may therefore séeme good to you at this present that I publickely open his gracious and Princely determination whereby may be knowne if your Highnesse with these Quéenes and Princesses in your company shall thinke well of that which by the aduice of his honourable councell he seeketh to put in practise It is so that his Maiesty hath set it downe for a decree that these young Princes and knights shal ioyne in mariage in â—ecompence of all their noble trauels with those to whom they are most affectionate And as for theÌ„ that are as yet vnprouided of Ladies his Maiesty will allow them continuance in his Court whereby no 〈◊〉 shall grew on any side but euery one shall be contented to their owne desires Here pausing a while he attended what the Empresse with the other Quéenes and Ladyes would say as also â—o bethinke himselfe on the names of the persons whom the Emperour had appointed to many but the young Princes and knights were somewhat abashed doubting whether they might giue credite to the kings words for their was not any of them but iudged his labors sufficiently rewarded if he might enioy his sweet Saint and Mistresse The Ladies that were in presence began to blush change their amiable countenance whereby they bewrayed the secret sudden ioy of their hearts which they receiued by the spéeches King Edward had vttered Polinarda very often cast her eyes on the Prince Palmerin being in as great feare as the offender that awaiteth the senteÌ„ce of the Iudge for she doubted least her Grandfather would bestow on her some other and not let her enioy him whom her heart desired And Palmerin was afflicted in the same manner such and so great was the vehemency of his sundry passions which betwéene hope feare he was constrained to suffer but while his thoughts were in this infinite deale of trouble his Father King Edward following his former intent began againe in this manner You shall vnderstand Sir Florendos that my gratious Lord the Emperour with the consent of the King Recinde enioyneth you to espowse the Princesse Miragarda who in my iudgement will not bée any thing offended to bee so matched and so shall you Syr Florendos thinke your selfe fully satisfied for all the trauailes you haue endured for her sake All the prince there present looked on Florendos when they might well perceiue that the words of king Edward had giuen him more ioy then if the richest Realme in the world were in his own possession but the princesse Miragarda kept her countenance so demurely as one could hardly iudge whether the loue of Florendos were acceptable to him or no. And for thée my sonne Palmerin said king Edward the emperour the prince Primaleon being very willing thou shouldest knowe the loue they beare thee doe giue thée to wife the Princesse Polinarda not doubting but thou shalt imagine all thy passed trauailes to be fully recompenced in so sweet a reward The Princesse Polinarda no sooner heard these wordes but the delicate Rosiall colour that dyed her daintie countenance witnessed the loue and good will she bare to the Prince Palmerin of England who likewise now abandoned all his former feare seeing he should enioy the felicitie hee had so long wished for Which when his Father King Edward perceiued he made as though he did not espie and procéeded on with his former determination giuing the Prince Gracian Sonne to the king of France to vnderstand that the Emperour did bestowe on him his Niece Claricias the Daughter to the King Polendos And you Syr Berolde for your vertuous behauiour must enioy the Iewel of your heart the faire Onistalda Daughter to the Duke Drapos of Normandie and Niece to the renowned King Frisoll whereof your Father I am sure will be very well contented And you sir Francian shall match with Bernada Daughter to the valiant Prince Belcar And you noble Prince Platir in that your déedes are worthy of perpetuall memorie you shall possesse the faire Sidelia Daughter to the King Tarnaes of Lacedemoniâ— who will
the sonne of King Edward and certifying her likewise how the Soldan had receiued his Heathenish faith to make her amends by marriage which she ought not to refuse as well considering the valour and riches of the Soldane who was a mighty and renowmed Prince as also that her son might know his noble father Pandritia heauily looking about her was so sore troubled as it was a great while ere she spake a word but after she had better remembred her selfe shee earnestly beheld king Edward speaking to him in this maner My hard destiny worthy Prince hath concealed this so long which you at last haue vouchsafed to bewray that my life may be heereafter more pleasant then it hath beene and this you may assure your selfe that if I had knowne of this before I had giuen due chastisement to my ignorant misfortune But since it is come to light at this time both the loue of my sonne the saluation of the Soldane and his Subiects compelleth me to forget all matters past considered also that the force of loue made him deceiue in this manner The Emperour liked well of that she had said and the Empresse embraced hee many times being so glad as could be possible that all things came to such a happy end Blandidon was then called into presence who was very sorry when he knew king Edward was not his father but the hope to be preferred by the Soldanes dignitie made him to forget all former occasions and take content in that present before him 〈…〉 L. How the Soldan Bellagris was baptized and how afterward the Emperor caused him to be married to Pandritia and how the other Princes of his court were married also AFter that these marriages were thus agréed vpon the Emperour commaunded the day following that all things for the solemnizing these honourable rites shoâ—ld be prepared in the most decent maner because he would haue them all married in the great Hall of his Pallace there the Archbishop of Constantinople sayd diuine seruice afterward he made a learned Sermon to giue the Soldane Bellagris earnest affection to the law of Iesus Christ publishing likewise openly what had passed betwéene him and the Ladie Pandritia because no suspition should arise by them who were apt enough to conceine an euill opinion When the Archbishop had concluded his sermon be baptized the Soldane The Emperor and king Edward of England were his Godfathers and the two Empresses his Godmothers And to honour him the more the Emperour would haue him first married so the Soldane Bellagris and Pandritia being thus knit together in Matrimonie Blandidon humbled himselfe before them in signe of obedience but the Soldane embracing him tooke him vp reioycing greatly that he had so good a knight to his sonne and that hée should leaue to his subiects such a worthy Gouernour After that Pandritia was thus espoused to the Soldane the Empresse and her Ladies walked with her because the Emperour would haue Florendos and Miragarda matched next which being done his heart abandoned all woonted care and taking her by the hand gaue place to other the Quéenes of England and Spaine walking with them along the Hall to comfort these new married folkes with their good counsell Next entred the Prince Polinarda led betwéene the Empresse of Allemaigne and the Quéene of Fraunce Palmerin going before her accompanied with the Emperour Vernar and the King Tarnes of Lacedemonia and next them came the faire Princesse of Thrace betwéene the Queene Francelina of Thessalie and the Quéene Flerida of England they being glad to sée her matched with the Prince Florian of the Forrest After these two noble English Princes had wedded their swéete friends the Princes Gracian Berold Platir and all the other Prince and Knights were espoused vnto their Ladies Then the new Quéen of Thrace and the Princesse Polinarda entred leading Arlencea betweene them whose beautie shewed very stately being set foorth by the presence of these two Princesses the Prince Primaleon and King Edward accompanied the Giant Dramusiande who was married to Arlencea with great royaltie When they were departed the place the Princesse Miragarda humbly intreated the Emperour that he would giue Cordigea daughter to the Giant Gatarin she remaining in her seruice in marriage to the Giant Almaroll whereto his maister presently agreed after he had vnderstood the good will of Cordigea so he gaue her himselfe to honour the Princesse Miragarda the more to the Giant Almaroll Of this Cordigea you may reade more at large in the second Booke of the notable History of Don Edward of Brittaine The Giant Almaroll was Lord of another Fortresse not farre from thence where he had kept the Princesse Miragarda this Fortresse being called Beauties Bulwarke whereof hee made a present to his espoused Lady Cordigea on condition she should call the Castle after her owne name but returne we againe to our Historie As soone as the Archbishop had ended all these Ceremonies of these marriages the Emperor went into the Queene Flerides Chamber where the dinner was prouided to honor these princes withall and with the Ladies came in Florenda and Graciana the daughters of the king Arnedeâ— but Germaine of Orleaunce being the affectionate seruant of Florenda thought himselfe vnworthy to come in presence because hee was counted but a subiect to the king of France yet did the Emperour make such commendation of the knightly déedes of Germaine of Orleaunce as the King graunted him to marry with his Daughter Florenda albeit his Daughter Graciana found her selfe discontented that she could not get a husband to ioy with them for company The feast was serued with most magnificall honor and the new married Prince made such high account off as it was thought a heauenly life to be a married man for Florendos Palmerin Florian Platir and the other princes were respected in the fauour of the Emperors and the Kings exceedingly in like manner was Miragarda Leonarda Polinarda Sidelia and all other Princesses honoured by the Empresses and the Quéenes most stately to beholde Oftentimes they would recreate themselues thorough the City to the no small delight and content of the Emperour who marking all his frienâ—s and seeing the Prince Floraman absent from their company hée demanded what was become of him Some made answere that hee was a little from the Palace sitting mourning vnder a Tree Which when Florendos vnderstood hee left the company and went to him and perswaded him to come and reioyce with them Floraman returned him this answere Why doe you trauell your selfe so Sir Florendos to haue him be partners of the pleasures you enioy who hath for euer lost his comfort The great good will I vnfainedly beare you doth not deserue you should so deale with me in that my sorrowes would be ten times more if I should doe as you would haue mee therefore I desire you let me beare my griefe quietly séeing I am hee whom Fortune delighteth to torment continually Florendos deuised all
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AND HIS APPROued good friend Maister Frances Young of Brent-pelliam in the County of Hertfort Esquire and to the most kinde Gentlewoman and my Mistresse Susan Young his louing wife and my Mistresse as much happinesse wisheth as their owne hearts can desire SHould I right worshihful as flatterers are woont to doe set downe a Catalogue of your commendations and enter into a Laborinth of loue toward you I know your wits so good that you would quickly espie it and I confesse mine owne nature such as I hartily hate My present purpose then at this time is neither to rehearse your many stinde fauours which I knowe you rather loue priuately to enlarge then listen publikely to heare laide open nor report mine owne vnthankfulnes which I am sorie hath beene so much yet you will forget although it were farre more bui as a dutifull remembrance of both these though not able to be shadowed in one subiect yet sufficient in your conceits I know being but in part acknowledged I send you this honourable Historie of Prince Palmerin of England which cost mee no more paiues in writing then I hope it will be pleasing to you in reading The Epistle This first part is but to relish your tast how yee can like of such worthy Knights loues and memorable aduentures whereof at my last being with you in the Countrie I sawe yee vse no mislike Then finding such gentle entertainment as I make no question of the second part shall bee with you very speedily after So committing your worship and my sweete Mistresse your wife to the heauenly protection I remaine yours to my vttermost ⸪ A. Munday TO THE LADIES AND GENTLEVVOMEN OF ENGLAND THE Authour wisheth such a courteous moderation in iudgement that his labours be not hastily reproched nor hatefully receiued AMong the best choyse of flowers faire Ladies all are not sweet where is most varietie of Medicine some are not soueraigne so amongst all the conceits you shall finde in this Booke all are not pithie though the most pretie When the Lion roareth the Lamb trembleth when the Captaine taketh his Lance the Coward ferareth his life euen so the brauery of the learned is so great a blemish to him that hath little that he feareth to proceede not daring to step a foot without a pardon Such are the ingenious inuentiōs right noble minded and courteous Ladies so plentifully sent to your perusing that were it not the bountiful respect of your gentle iudgements did assure me to taste of your friendly fauour I should conuert my studies into so great despaire as the verie thought were sufficient to kill him that dieth euery houre fearing displease But as mercy doth alway accompany your noble sexe and mildnesse represse any cholerick chance so know I that rigor cannot dwell where is no desire reuenge but as of all men are faultie I shall be forgiuen for company Your most bounden by dutie A. M. In lucubrationes A. M. Epigramma R. W. VT legi placuit nec enim placuisse mireris Namque tuum nomen fronte libellus habet Laudo animum cupioque tibi sint saepe labores Grati suecumbas ne mala verba ferens Nomines Indoctos doctosque reuoluera scripta Indoctique cito fulmen ab ore venit Sed tu perge tamen tipis ornare libellos Persoluent sumptum gloria fama decus Quaeso feras animo patienti me tibi calcar Addere currenti sum tuus esto meus R. W. THE FIRST PART OF THE NO LESSE RARE THEN EXCELLENT AND stately History of the famous and fortunate Prince Palmerin of England CHAP. I. How Don Edward sonne to Fredericke king of England hauing obtained in marriage faire Flerida daughter to the Emperor Palmerin of Constantinople returneth home againe into England and going on hunting lost himselfe in the vnfortunate Forrest of great Brittaine by pursuing an inchated Bore which brought him to the Castle of the Giant Dramufiande where he remained Prisoner a long time AFter that Don Edward sonne to the aged Fredericke king of England had finished his long desired marriage with Flerida daughter to the renowned Palmerin d'Oliua Emperour of Constantinople not onely to his owne good liking but also to the content of his friends and familiars he tooke his voyage from the Empire of Greece as it is at large mentioned in the booke entituled Primaleon of Greece toward the realme of England accompanied with the Princesse Flerida his espoused Lady beside a traine méete to attend on so puissant a person as the Prince was Being arriued at the English Court to the no little ioy of the Knights Father and great delight of his kinsfolke and friends they were welcommed as beséemed their royall estates and ioyfully receiued to their hearts content It chaunced in short space after the Princesse Flerida waxed great with childe a thing of no small comfort to the aged king nor of little pleasure to the young Prince Now is the tediousnesse of their trauaile the wearisome labour of their long iourney cleane cast out of remembrance as of no account and the ioyfull Prince Don Edward deuiseth each dainty delight and each gallant attempt that either might procure the Princesse to pleasure or by any meanes giue her occasion of pastime And for because the pinching pangs which alway frequentetth one in her case might either cause doubt of her good deliuery or daunger in her well doing her person being somewhat ouercharged with sickenes the young Prince was as carefull in preuenting such ill chaunce as circumspect in prouiding to shunne any such chaunge Leaning the Court he walked with her in Prograce through the Forrest of England for that he supposed the sight of the spreading Trées and pleasant passages through the grassy groues would be an occasion of the vnminding her former fits and driue out of memory the sudden assaults that were incident vnto her féeble nature vsing himselfe very pleasantly and calling himselfe Iulian the more to encrease her mirth All this while remained the aged King in his Pallace where the English Prince being armed cast his eyes on the portrait of Gridonia hauing by her side a Lion and a tender infant the sight whereof was of such maruailous estimation in his conceiued thought both by the shew of beautie he held and shape of bountie he iudged in her that hée abandoned his naturall Countrey to trie his good fortune against the couragious Knight Primaleon For the more certaintie whereof you may at large peruse the effects of his valiancie in the discourse of his memorable aduentures and concerning the fortunate procéeings which passed betwéene them aswell the prowesse of the one as valure of the other I must needes say it was such and of so great authoritie as it bare the title of perfect magnanimitie But returne we to our matter The Princesse Flerida perceuing the courteous care and diligent endeuour that her royall spouse Don Edward vsed for her greater delight so louingly
that detained him Prisoner THe Hystorie doeth discourse vnto vs how when the Emperor Palmerin of Constantinople left his royall estate to seeke aduenttures as a wandring Knight that he ariued in England accompanied with Trineus the Emperor of Allemaignes sonne who for the loue of faire Agriola in the English Court left his natiue Countrey and behaued himselfe so valiant that shée might esteeme him as one of her 〈◊〉 fauored Knight And in sooth not to diminish his praise or hold backe one title of his braue behauiour the exploites both of him and the Emperour Palmerin béeing both to most vnknowne were such as the King of England with all his Courtly assistaunts not onely commended their valure but also gaue them entertainement agréeable to their bounty and magnanimity For he perceiuing that their daily endeuours tended both to the safegard of their person and honour of his whole Realme gaue them that preferment in Court which they deserued in chiualry and that honour in name which they both argued to haue in nature whereby they were encouraged to attempt the hardest aduenture and so be honoured in their knightly behauiour In fauour of their Prince and ioue of their Country at length they obtained the full issue of their enterprise which was to haue with them the Prince Agriola whom on a day through leaue obtained of the King with the Queene her mother they got leaue to walke into the field not farre distant from the Court accompanied with diuerse Noble men and Gentlemen as you may reade more at large in the Historie of Palmerin d'Oliua which faith That sporting themselues there on the top of a hill on a sudden altogether vnlooked for there came a Giant named Frenaque well attended on with twentie fighting men who perforce tooke the Queene and her Daughter Agriola from them neither respecting the woefull meane of the Ladies nor gentle entreatie of the knights who had no defence to rescue them nor companie inough to resist them But at that time were more ready to vse a distaffe with Hercules then a Speare with Hannibal and rather required to handle a Lute in Venus Chamber then lift a Launce in Mars his Campe and for a soldiers iâ—unitiâ—n vsing sweete Parle with their Mistrisse and their Ladies laps for the hard lodging in the fielde So béeing thus altogether vnprouided lost the sum of their pleasure and honour of their Knighthood Palmerin and Trineus who had béene with the King in walking arriuing there and hearing of this losse encouraged them as wel as they might offring themselues to die ere they would put vp this iniurie So willing them all to prouide them presently for that a rash encounter might turne to an hard aduenture they proceeded in pursuit after the giant and ouertaking him behaued themselues so worthily that he was slain by the hands of the Emperor Palmerin Then the yong Prince Trineus as well that his Lady Agriola might perceiue his hardnes as also the Quéene her mother might giue his deeds commendation so valiantly menaced his courage that by the helpe of the other Knights all the Giants traine were vanquished so that the Quéene and her Daughter had suffered no spot of dishonour by their crueltie which greatly they stood in feare of This Giant had a Sister named Eutropa so cunning in Magicke that neither Zoriastes nor all the other Magitians were in this deuilish Art comparable to her by helpe whereof she had knowledge of the death of her Brother which entered so déepe into her heart that shee vowed her reuengement should excéede this cruell mischance And hauing in her Castell with her a Nephew of hers and the Sonne of this Giant Frenaque named Dramusiande by whom she meant to seeke her sharpe reuenge shee tooke him in her armes and entred into these rufull complaints Ah swéete Nephew albeit thou art fatherlesse yet art thou not friendlesse and though in thy tender time Fortune hath framed thy mishap yet espect a farder time which my Art shall beginne and thy manhoode finish And he that hath thus cruelly murthered the Father both hee himselfe his lynage friendes and familiars will I persecute with extreame rygor After these and such like speeches vttered shee prouided to fortifie and make strong her Castell least the King of England should seeke both the ruine of it and destruction of the Giants kindred when once it came to his eare the Treason shée pretended against him wherefore shée armed her selfe with all those of her kindred knowing that to resist the power of a King asked no smal defence And for a further remedy least worst should happen she enchaunted the Forrest round about so that none could enter her Forreste without her leaue vntill such time as the yong Giant Dramusiande were able to beare Armor and receiue the order of Knighthood In processe of time the young Giant grew able to beare Armor and then his heart began to thyrst for reuenge of his Fathers death the which to accomplish hee was very desirous in Trauell to aduenture his strength according as his heart desired But Eutropia perceiuing the courage of his minde to excéed the strength of his person deâ—iled him to stay his Iourney and she would yéelde into his hands such a one on whom hee might sufficiently reuenge the death of his Father Thus and with these perswasions she changed the minde of Dramusiande vntill the hard fortune of the Prince Don Edoard brought him to her Castell where he entred without any daunger for that his good Sworde kept the force of all Enchauntments from him but hauing lost it by her Diuellish deceyte remained as I haue expressed in vnspeakeablie Leauing this matter it shall not be amisse to speake somewhat of the state and condition of Dramusiande who albeit he were a Giant which commonly are of rough and impatient nature yet was he indued both with ciuilitie of life and honestie in behauiour exempting crueltie and surpassing all of his stocke and parentage in courtesie For after he had a long space kept Don Edoard in Prison and not onely perceiued his Princely qualities but also the sobrietie and great gentleâ—â—â— his life hee caused his Fetters to bee taken from his féete and gaue him leaue for recreation to walke about the Castell vppon condition that hee would not séeme to passe beyond his limits without his consent The courteous Prince gaue him his hand and Oath that he would not passe one foote further then his Licence should permit Yet notwithstanding for all that he gaue charge vnto diuerse to respect his walking abroade in that hee respected his Aunte Eutropaes promise which was that many valiaunt Knightes would Aduenture their liues in the searche of this strayed Prince whome she doubted not but to haue also as Prisoners in the Castell And against the comming thither of any such shee caused to lye in Embush in the Forrest a great number of Armed men to aide Dramusiand against them if his hard hap should
Prince Don Edoard as also to the noble Primaleon withdrew themselues to their lodgings and armed themselues presently posting with all spéed they might after the aduenterous Primaleon some taking one way and some another As well those that vsed the Triumphes for their Ladies sakes as also those whose redoubted behauiour hath both wonne the honour of the field and dignitie of fame All with a mutuall consent aduentured limme and life that the report of their déedes might manifest the renowne of their knighthood And because you shall haue knowledge who behaued themselues most worthy cōmendations in this no lesse famous then rare aduenture I will bewray some of them to you that yonr gentle opinion of their paines may yéeld them in recompence part of a condigne praise The first that tooke the courage to hazarde himselfe in the field had to name Polendos King of Thessaly Sonne to Frisol the King of Hungaria accompanied with his brother Belcar The next was the Prince of Allemaigne son to the Emperor Trineus and named Vernar who honoured the beautie of faire Bazilia youngest daughter to the Emperour Palmerin to whom he was newly maried and stood in doubt how to proceed least Fortune should not be so fauourable to him as he expected which caused some slacknesse in good will Neuerthelesse after he had considered the honor of Mars and sharpe cōflicts of Venus how the one was lasting in Fame and the other linked to an effeminate fancie hee determined to follow his Companions driuing into obliuion the pleasaunt conceyts that hee often estéemed in his best beloued vsing this perswasion with himselfe That hee which vanquished himselfe with the vanitie of Fancy and yéeldeth the libertie of his will to fond affection is more méete to handle a Lute then a Lance and better to court a Lady then deserue the braue name of a Captaine In this perswasion hee departed intending so knightly an opinion in his minde that the honour of his name should expresse his noblenes and valure of his bounty be estéemed of his fayre Bazilia Thus was the city of Constantinople as it were desolate wanting the noble knights which were thence departed which caused the Emperour to visite the chiefest places in the Citie to the no small content of himselfe ioy of the Citizens who little minded the absence of the noble Gentlemen in that the Emperor so louingly vouchsafed thē his cōmpany Thē departed Argolant frō the Court of Constātinople toward the realme of England bearing answere of his Ambassage from the Emperor to his Lord soueraigne how y◠losse of the Prince Don Edoard was blazed in the courts of diuers noble Princes As in the court of Armedes King of France his Cousin Son in law to the Emperor of Constantinople as also in the court of Recinde K. of Spaine in the court of Pellagris the Souldan of Niquee with the noble Maiortes many Princes more to whom the losse of the English Prince was as grieuous as to himself For proofe whereof the imployed paines of diuerse noble mindes might remaine as witnesse who walked the Forrests and vnknowne passages in many Countryes that Martiall behauior was neuer more estéemed thē it was during the search of this strayed Prince Argolant being departed from the Emperour after many dayes Trauell hee arriued at the English Courte whereas to the king Fredericke the Quéene and the Princesse Flerida hee deliuered the answere of his Message who were greatly satisfied in hearing the Noble Attempts of the Grecian Knights by whose endeuoured paines they had good and prosperous successe CHAP. VI. ¶ How Primaleon endeuoring himselfe in the diligent search of the prince Don Edoard happened to meet with the Funeralls of the sorrowfull Lady Pandritia Daughter to the K. of Lacedemonia the which she solemnized for the vnkinde repulse she sustained by the Prince Don Edoard NOw Primaleon determining his secrete escape from the Cittie of Constantinople as I haue before declared commaunded his Esquyre to bring his Courser and Armour and closely to conuey all his Equippage and furniture behind the Storehouse of his Sister Flerida for that none should be priuie to his intent but only he The Esqu failed not to accomplish the pleasure of his Lord. And being come to the appointed place he armed the Prince except his Shield and Helmet which he bare himself so mounting on Horsbacke they both departed vowing to rest in no place till hee might recouer some wished tydings of his Brother and Friend Don Edoard without whom he would neuer returne to Greece again Long he trauelled before he encountred any aduenture worthy the rehearsall But at length arriuing in the bottom of a valley in Lacedemonia whē the Sun was declined to the west parts he was discoraged for that the night was obscure vpon him beside thicknes of the trées made his passage more tenebrous thē else it would haue bene so that very hardly he could finde his way Wandring on still vsing his minde with seuerall Imaginations at least to the comfort of himselfe and ioy of an Esquyre who sorrowed to sée his Lorde so suddenly pensiue hee espyed a gailant troupe of Ladyes bearing in theyr hands lighted Torches eache one well mounted on a lustie Stéede attyred all in blacke and framing their voices to great lamentations Primaleon surprised with great griefe of minde to sée such fayre Ladyes weare the habite of Mourners tooke the boldnesse of himselfe to beholde what they were and drawing himselfe somewhat nearer to them to them perceiued the chiefe Lady and Mistresse of them her Palfrey trapped with black Veluet her Vesture of the same and foure ancient Knights in the middest bearing a Funerall couered all with blacke Veluet Primaleon perceiuing their heauy lamentations and that they were nothing abashed at his presence but helde on their Iourney as though they had not séene him he tooke such an earnest desire in himself that he must néeds demand the cause why they mourned in that manner Then presenting himselfe before the chiefest Ladie whose faire face had sustained a great blemish by the abundance of teares that issued from her Eyes in this manner he prepared himselfe to giue the Onset Faire Lady impute it not to flattery that I call you so nor to Folly in so much as you are so but rather of your nature cannot admit your own praise for the perfectiō of your mind being answered in perswasion of my vnfeigned meaning which estéemeth you as I haue said albeit farre inferior to that I could say It is no more my desire then vnder duety I may demaund nor my Sute no otherwise disposed then may stand with your Honour to replie and my honesty to request I being a friend to all Ladies and foe vnto none insomuch that a moytie of their desires should rather hinder me by mishap then dishearten me by any danger So that in briefe my request is thus why you frequent this solitary place accompanied with these who are equal
down into hatred What regard haddest thou of a Princesse thy selfe being a poore Pesant Or what estimation hadst thou of modestie to mooue so great offence in thy gracious Mistresse whose loue was the only state of thy life and whose fauour was the flower of thy prosperitie Ah sweet Ladie on your courteous pitie let passe my presumption and what hath been more then dutie impute to may rude behauiour which your clemencie may both punish and pardon And yet my good Ladie if you respect my trusty seruice with the constant loyaltie I haue alway borne to your Soueraigntie my fault committed rashly deserueth no such repulse in that this ingratitude is too much for you to shew and more then I can any way suffer For if you regard your owne beauty with the stayed assurance of your seruants bountie you shall perceiue my words to bee for your honour and not worthie any hate in that I will preferre your name aboue all Ladies in noblenesse And yet am I contented to abide your hard doome and according to your pleasure wast my daies in distresse till either you will mooue you to recant or my spotlesse loyaltie to relieue my mishap which the longer you deserre the more is my dolor and you remaining obstinate my paines are helpelesse but that your gentlenes giueth me hope your displeasure shall end with my eternall delight Thus hauing finished his complaintes he drew neare to the Castle where by good hap he heard the sound of Musicke which gaue him occasion to enter further And comming to a great Hall he espyed in one of the corners one sitting all in blacke with a fair long Beard and a very graue countenance shewing by his sad complexion that he had more minde to moane then to any myrth Palmerin would not as yet enter any further least he should break off his quiet exercise which was in singing many sadde Dittyes to his Lute that himselfe had framed in the prayse of his Ladie Palmerin hauing heard what singular reports he gaue his Ladie as that none might compare with her for beautie and brauerie was very much offended in that hee esteemed all Ladyes as counterfeite to his fayre Polynarda wherefore hee brake off the Knightes Sonnet with this kinde of Salutation Me thinkes Syr you either want manners or modestie to glorie in your Lady as thought there were none her like Syr your late comparison hath vrged me to great choller for that my Ladie is aboue all in beautie and for honour of her Name beside beyond all in Noblenes of Nature and therefore worthie all praise because she is superiour to any The auncient Knight seeing one entred vpon him so suddenly and to correct his pleasures with such sharpe words aduanced himselfe towards him with this answer Syr Knight your bolde entraunce into this place with the great offence you haue offered my person may happe to be set at so deare a price as shal cost the Blood you would be loath to spare Is there anie to bee equall with my Lady who is not méete to beare the comparison of any whose very remembrance maketh me liue in vnspeakable tormentes If thou darest stay till I am Armed I will make thée eyther denye thy bragges or buye my Ladyes honour with the losse of thy life and breath And I will so reward this thy presumption as shall teach thée thy dutie and winne me my hearts desire Syr said Palmerin cease these words and execute your wrath if I haue spoken any thing to your displeasure reuenge your selfe and there an ende The auncient Knight withdrewe himselfe into a Chamber where as his Esquire presently Armed him Palmerin went foorth where he mounted on Horsebacke and attended his comming At length came foorth the Knight attired in blacke Armour bearing in his Shield the portraite of griefly Death lying on a Toomb couered all with blacke Vsing no more words they fell straite to fight eache of them behauing themselus very valiantly but the Knight of Death was at length throwne to the earth Then dealing a while togither with their Swoords Palmerins lucke was so fortunate that he ouercame his enemy then comming to him and taking off his Helmet he entred into these spéeches Loe Sir Knight contrary to your expectation you are become my Prisoner Now must you gainsay what before you haue boldly said in extolling your Lady aboue her whoÌ„ I honour or prepare your selfe to the extreame rigour of death To whom the Knight of Death replyed Syr well may you estéeme your valoure and make account of your victorie in that you haue foyled him who had good hope neuer to be dismayed by any But concerning the harde choyce you put me to eyther to denye my Ladie or to leaue my life Suffice your selfe in this that no rigor can constraine me no not the death it selfe may or shall compell me for I rather choose to abide your cruâ—lty then I will offer my Ladie so great discourtesie this is my answer take it as you please Palmerin comparing the loyaltie of the Knight with the constancie of his owne Loue and his affection to be as surely planted as was the earnest desire in himselfe satisfying himselfe with the Conquest called Syluian and departed The Knight of Death returning into his Castle where he was carefully tended and looked vnto by his Esqâ—yre greatly contemning his fortune in that he was so suddenly foyled CHAP. XIX ¶ Here shall you vnderstand who was the Knight of Death that the renowned Palmerin of England had conquered and what was the cause he remained in his solitary Castle IT is registred in ancient Hysâ—ories that in Sardignia sometime Raigned a King named Euandrin who espowsed Quéene Emeralda Daughter to the Duke Armian of Normandie and Sister vnto the Noble Duke Drapos This King had one onely Sonne who was named Floraman of no lesse expertnes of capacity then Knightly behauiour in courage which made him liked of all that saw him loued of all yâ— knew him It so chaunced that this Floraman growing to ripenesse of yeares became enamoured of Altea Daughter to the Duke Charles of Cicilia who was subiect to the King Euandrin so that betwéene these twaine was ioyned such a league of perfect good liking and such a mutuall consent of faithfull loue that they supposed neither any accident could hinder their determination nor any extreamitie â—euer their plighted promise But as Fortune is enemie to the hauty courage and prepareth her malice against the well meaning minde so this Loue could not please the King his Father but by all meanes he could thought still to preuent it When the King perceiued he could hardly reclaime his Sonne but that his affection still increased to faire Aâ—tea he sent her home to the Duke her Father meaning to matche his Sonne to Adriana the Quéene of Cicilia whom Floraman denied to loue or in this to grant to his Fathers minde but rather endeuoured to follow his Lady whose absence procured the
also because they might not see their sonne CHAP. XXXII ¶ How the Knight of Fortune departing from the Sauage man rescued Siluian from foure cruell villaines that tormented him very grieuously and how he slew the Giant Camboldam brother to the Giant Calfurnian AFter that the Knight of Fortune was departed from the Sauage man he trauelled on foot the most part of the day til at last he came to the place where Polendos King of Thessaly receiued him into his ship when as hee brought him to Constantinople which constrained him to remember the great curtesie of the Emperour with the great vnkindnesse of his Lady Polinarda on whose behalfe hee fell into such extreame Passions that what with wearinesse and forcible assaultes of griefe he suddenly fell into a slumber He had not long slept but in great feare hee awaked for that his minde did perswade some ill aduenture toward him then looking about him he espied a ship couered with greene boughes and thither he went to see what it might be Being there arriued hee saw two men come foorth of the ship making great lamentations desiring him to flie if hee had regard to his owne life But then to his greater amazement stepped foorth foure armed men with Holbardes and Dagges in their hands cruelly beating Siluian whom they had taken and compassing the Prince that he should not escape Then the Prince offered to vnbind Silnian but they told him that hee must abide which mooued the Prince to such anger that with his Gauntlet he strook one of them so sore vpon the face that he tumbled him cleane ouer then with his sword hee assailed the ouer three that two of them were slaine the other escaped in slight which done he vntied Siluian requesting him to report how he chanced into that mishap Siluian was so amazed with feare and so sore with beating that as yet he could not answere to this demand but looking aside they espied two men come leading their two horses and after them a tall and ougly Giant bearing in his Shield three Giants heades whom Siluian reported to be the man that had in this order abused him The Prince was somewhat in feare at his monstrous bignesse and offered him reuerence according to his curteous stature but the Giant séeing his men slain stood not to vse wordes but strooke at the Prince very vehemently with which stroke his shield was cleft in the middest that hee knew hardly how to defend himselfe Neuerthelesse such was the valure of the noble knight of Fortune albeit the fight was dangerous to eyther part that at length hée conquered the Giant and strooke off his head presently falling on his knees and giuing thankes to God whose prouidence did aide him in such a dangerous Combat The men that lead the two Horses came and fell downe before the Prince desiring him to saue their liues for that they were constrained against their wils to attend on that mischieuous wretch who vsed them likewise too too cruelly Their faire intreaty had quickly perswaded him so that he desired them to report what this Giant was and after what manner he liued Their answere was that he was called Camboldam of Mulzellâ— the Lord of Penebroque one of the cruellest Tyrants in all the world who hauing knowledge that a knight had slaine his brother CalfuiniaÌ„ he vâ—wed to take sharpe reuenge on euery one that should happen into his hands Vpon this occasion he sailed from his Countrey landing on this Coast in yonder shâ—p he fâ—â—nt to see if Fortune would send any to appease the hell of his bloody minde and méeting with that yong man running to catch his Horses which had strayed from him he coÌ„mitted him to these which lye here dead that they might torment with endlesse paine Thus haue we certified all we can say desiring you to vse vs in what seruice yon please The Knight of Fortune reioyced in his goodlucke and desired them to go into England certifie vnto the King Fredericke how the Knight of Fortune had slaine the Giant Camboldam and they should commaund him in any thing to pleasure them They promising to fulfill his request departed presently and the Knight of Fortune with Siluian mounted on their Horses and tooke their iourney presently towards great Brittaine where he meant to accompany the noble Princes or else deliuer them out of their long seruitude CHAP. XXXIII How Siluian declared to the knight of Fortune in what manner of the Sheeld of the Palme Tree was taken from him to saue it from the cruel Giant Camboldan And how happened to see the Combate betweene Platir Floroman Pompides and Blandidon As also how the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley came and brought him to his Castle where he shewed him many goodly and not able Monuments FOrtune aduancing the honor of her knight in obtaining this famous Conquest caused him to proceede on further to discouer the depth of other hidden doubts and as hée rode perceiuing his shield past any means for seruice asked of Siluian the shield of the Palme Tree because his iourney lay through dangerous places and therefore estéemed it wisedoms to be alwayes prouided When he saw the shéelde was gone wherein he reposed most affection kéeping it for an extreame néede he willed Siluian to report how and after what manner he had suffered it be taken from him to which demand Siluian thus answered All the way as we haue iournied I was deuising how I might make knowne to you this losse without gayning your disple a sure or mouing you to Anger which two causes made to conceale it all this while When such was my mishap that this cruell Giant tooke me a Damsel mounted on a white palfrey came crossing ouer the Forrest to me vsing her spéeches thus Siluian deliuer the Shield thou bearest to me ere thou suffer it to fall into the hands of this Giant thine aduersarie where it can neuer be recouered again and may cause a great endamagement and thus much I will faithfully promise thée to yéelde it into thy Maisters hande againe when he shall stand in such néed as to vse it Her gentle spéeche and the present daunger before mine eyes did vrge me rather to giue it her then mine enemie should enioy a thing of such honour wherefore I gaue it to her who presently departed I could not tell which way and then the Giant tooke me vsing me as you found me The Knight of Fortune mused at the Euent and could not iudge to what ende it was wrought wherefore Siluian to put him out of his study desired him to attend a great noyse which he heard in a little Groue by them as though it were the flashing of weapons in a Combat Directing his course thither he espyed foure knights on foote very fiercely assailing one another their Armour so brused and their Shields so battered that hee could hardly perceiue any of their Deuises except it were one which was the head of a white Bull
belonging to Pompides the sonne of Don Edward The sharp assaults betwéen these foure vrged the Knight of Fortune to breake forth into these spéeches Gentlemen the great danger I perceiue you to staÌ„d in with the grieuous endamagement that may happen vnto you constraineth me to desire you would leaue this great rage and end your strife friendly with reason so shall you find it to your own coÌ„moditie and my selfe always bound to you If you accept of my counsell Indéed answered one of the Knights our quarrell is grounded on so slight an occasion as we might easily agrée to your honest desire It doth onely consist in the knight of the Bull who will the name of the knight he séeketh for although he desired of vs likewise to vnderstand some tidings of him It is vnpossible for me to tell his name answered the knight of the Bull or if I could satisfi your desires you could not any way compell me so long as I haue this hand and sword to defend me These words procured a fresh strife and too it they fâ—ll againe very fiercely and without any regard of themselues which greatly pitied the knight of Fortune to sée such couragious mindes subiect to so great a hazard which he was very loth to tarry and behold but he greatly esteemed one of the knights who was in white Armour and dealt his blowes so freely that he was in least danger of them all Then did the knight of Fortune once more perswade them to leaue the fight but they were so seuerely bent the one against the other that they scant knew themselues what they did At last a suddaine darknesse sent from the Castle of the Sage Aliart ouershadowed them at the departure whereof the knight of Eortune sawe all the foure knights laid in a Charyot drawn with foure blacke Horses which made him somewhat abashed and mooued him to demand of one of the Esquirs that droue the Chariot what knights they were that had fought this sore Combate To whom he answered that the knight in the white Armour was Platir sonne to the noble Primaleon the other was Floraman the Prince of Sardignia the other two knights were Pompides and Blandidon who entred their Combate about the enquiring after the knight of Fortune which made them leaue the Emperours Court enterprising likewise the aduenture of great Brittaine if they might meete with this knight whose friendly company they alway desired But see the misfortune as they arriued here not farre from great Brittaine these two other knights met theÌ„ demanding also for the knight of Fortune so words arysing on either side why they should seeke after this knight they fell to this fierce skirmish which your selfe hath partly seene to the losse I feare of our noble Maisters except we were neare some place where wee might make prouision for them The knight of Fortune was greatly moued at this tale and perswaded the Esquyres to hasten with their Maister to London where in short time no doubt they might recouer their health and thus in grief he departed from them And as he rode very sad he espied one come riding towards him with his horn about his necke attired like a hunter who began in this manner to gréete him Behold thou noble Palmerin of England the time wherein thy famous déeds shall bring out of obliuion the worthy Prowesse that long time hath béene hid so that great Brittaine shal enioy the former quiet state Be not offended because I did enterprise so boldly to name you for I am priuie to that which shall happen by you although your selfe remaineth ignorant thereof The knight of Fortune knew not what to thinke to heare himselfe named in such a strange place where he perswaded himselfe he was vnknowde to any at length he beganne to thinke that it might be the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley yet would he not certainly giue credite to his suspection out of which doubt to remoue him Aliart thus spake againe Be not dismayed worthy Palmerio for I am Aliart your seruant who would gladly imploy my selfe in your seruice to doe you the greatest honour I might But as concerning what shall chance vnto you I neither may or will as yet declare bnt this assure your selfe that you shall enioy a more quiet and happy estate then as yet you do Sir Aliart answered the knight of Fortune God forbid I should request any thing which you are not willing should bee knowne but for the great bounty and friendship you haue vsed towards me I remaine while my life endureth both with loue and duetie to honour you So walking on at last they came to the Obscure Valley where Aliart conducted the knight of Fortune into his Castle and shewed him many rare and excellent Monuments the liuely shape of men and women in faire Portraitures which gaue a great delight to his noble minde so that he thought this Castle the fairest that euer he had séene in all his life There remained he so long as him pleased very well entertained by the Sage Aliart who gaue him to vnderstand how Platir and the other Knightes should be healed of their wounds without any danger These newes pleased the knight Fortune very well as also the great gentlenesse he found into the Sage Aliart to certifie him many things that he desired CHAP. XXXIII How the Knight of the Sauage man arriuing in England trauailed towards the Citie of London And how Eutropa sent a Damosell and caused him to enter Combate with the Princes Gracian Francian and Polinarda In which fight they were all in great danger till the Knight of England riding on hunting chaunced to meete with them who set them at vnitie and brought them to the Court with him THe Knight of the Sauage man being departed from Orianda in the Castle of the Giant Calfurniâ—n so long continued on the Seâ—s that at last he arriued in England entending to take his way straite to London because he would see the king Fredericke and the Princesse Flerida but greatly lamented to sée the Forrest so ful of strange Knights and Damosels that procured perillous aduentures At last he espied a Damosell on a white Palâ—ray come riding towards him her haire spread ouer her shoulders and her garments séeming to be greatly misused all the way aa she rode she vsed many skrikes and gréeuous lamentations which was greatly pittied by the Knight of the Sauage man who saw a knight came hastily riding after her whereupon she began to this gentle knight in this manner Good Sir as you regard the honor of knighthood and the distressed estate of a poore Damosell so at this time helpe to defend me from him that seekes to dishonour me of that which maketh me esteemed amongst all vertuous persons These words pierced so déepe into his noble minde that he staied the knights coming who was very well armed and brauely mounted to whom he began in these words I perceiue both knighthood and that armor is
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
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
could no longer sustaine himselfe when the Knight of Fortune sate downe by him as glad to haue a little rest he was become so faint Don Edward and the other Princes came running to Dramusiande and tooke off his Helmet that he might receiue the Aire desiring the Knight of Fortune to conteut himselfe with the victory and not to worke the death of the friendly Giant to which he answered Although mine intent was to part his head from his shoulders yet will I not at this time execute such crueltie respecting the honour you haue done me to intreate for him and I haue done as much as my heart desired The Princes conducting them both into the castle were so diligent about thē at their dangerous estate required especially to Dramusiande who was reduced into very weake estate As they were so busie about thē they heard a great knocking at the gate which the prince Platir opened in all spéed where he beheld an ancient man apparelled after the Grecian fashion who entred the Castell accompanied with two comely Damosels carrying in their handes two golden Boxes of precious Oyntment wherewith they enbalmed the Knight of Fortune as also the other Knights that had receiued any hurt The auncient man would not suffer any to be about the wounded knights but onely the two Damosels wherefore he commanded all the other foorth of the chamber promising them they should recouer their woonted health againe This promise did greatly content the Princes who desired nothing so much as the health of the Knight of Fortune in that by his conquering the Giant they had receiued their former libertie againe and all the cruell Enchauntmentes that Eutropa had practised in the Valley of Perdition were now fully finished and her power to be no more estéemed The anciēt man tooke his leaue of the Princes commaunding the Damosels not to depart from thence till they had all recouered their sound estate of health againe The Princes did daily accompany the Knight of Fortune and Don Edward woud often visite the Giant Dramusiande labouring to shew him great courtesie because he would not be vngratefull for the frienship hee had found at his handes In this manner did the Princes passe away their time vntill their dearest friend had gained a good constitution of his body which the Damoselles accomplished before they would depart from the Castle CHAP. XLII How the Princes in the Castle of the Giant Dramusiande for ioy of their deliuery by the puissance of the renowned knight of Fortune sent Floraman the Prince of Sardignia to the court of the king of England to whom in the presence of the Queene and Princesse Flerida hee declared the ioyfull newes of Don Edward as also of the other Princes that had bene long time kept prisoners Which caused the king to send Argolant againe to the Emperor of Constātinople to declare the glad finding of the prince Don Edward with his sonne the noble Primaleon And how Sir Pridos came to the English court to verifie the Prince Floraman DRamusiande being thus happily ouercome and remaining in such great debilitie as it was doubtfull of his spéedy recouery the Princes would not depart from thence till the knight of Fortune were able to beare them company to whō the Damamosels neither spared labour nor good endeuour so that they had good hope in short time he should be of strength to trauaile with them In the meane time they determined with themselues to send a Messenger to the King of England that he might vnderstand the good Fortune that had happened to them which would make amends for the great sorrow hee had sustained of a long time The Prince Floraman because of his great wisedome and iudgement was appointed by generall consent to beare these glad tidings who went into the Armourie belonging to the Giant Dramusiande and put on his owne Armor which was battered broken as also coloured with the blood which came out of his body in the skirmish before he was taken prisoner into the castle When he was armed he tooke his leaue of them all and rode in such haste that on the second day he arriued at London where he was very much beheld because his armour was so greatly brused At length he came to the Court at what time the king was ready to goe on Hunting to whom Floraman presented himselfe desirous to kisse his Graces hand After his Esquire had taken off his Helmet the king had knowledge of him when he imbraced him with these words Certainly sir Floraman your Armour brought into such a great alteration doth witnesse the great danger hath bene incident to your person which trust me is as gréeuous to me in beholding as it hath bene yrkosome to your selfe in abiding It séemeth you should bring but sorowfull tidings being in such great mischance as it séemeth you haue tasted Neuerthelesse hauing often receiued such a sad reports I can the better endure this therefore say on My gracious Lord answered Floraman if you would vouchsafe to returne into your Pallace where I might behold your Quéene and the Princesse Flerida I shall discouer such ioyfull newes as your long continuing wishes shal be now prensently satisfied At these words the King tooke Floraman by the hand and walked with him to the chamber where the Quéene and princesse were sitting who welcommed him very gratiously and vsed him according as his noble birth required Floraman being neuer so happy as before this instant to haue a sight of the Princesse Flerida estéemed himselfe the gladdest Knight aliue to bring tidings to such a rare Princesse of beautie then after he had done his dutie according as the place and persons beséemed he began to salute them with these spéeches following To be tedious in words my gratious Soueraigne or to trifle the time with long circumstances might offend your patience to stay to heare it and cumber my memory tastand to shew it Wherefore to vse breuity in sch a case as you haue long desired and at last deserued I thinke it expedient considering your heauinesse and therefore attend how it hath luckily happened Don Edward your noble sonne Primaleon with the other Princes and Knights that haue bene so long time lost and now found at last in remembrance of their obedient duetie do all kisse the hand of your Maiestie Their long oppression hath now obtained a happy end and their grieuous sorrowes finished with a generall delight in that they haue recouered their wonted libertie albeit it hath bene bought with a sharpe resistance It will not belong before they come themselues for honour and dutie willeth them to stay as yet because the renowned Knight of Fortune whose Prowesse hath fréede them from bondage hath not recouered such health as may permit him to iourney Vntill which time they remaine in the Castle of Dramusiande who hath kept them prisoners till this long aduenture hath bene so worthily brought to end and thus haue I certified your Grace what hath
courtesie to the other knights the king lead the Quéene to the Prince Don Edward saying Madame behold now your Sonne for whom you haue wished so long now may you at leisure make knowne vnto him the gréeuous passions which for his absence you haue suffered And I desire you to entertaine these noble Princes with as great fauour as you can any way deuise for that we are greatly bound vnto them considering the danger they haue passed to finde our Sonne Don Edward Then he shewed her the noble Primaleon to whom she went embracing him in her armes and gaue him a swéete kisse for his welcome The like she did to the Prince Vernar the king Polendos Recinde Arnedes with all the Princes and Knights Then Flerida comming to her brother Primaleon imbraced him in her armes with these wordes Let it not be offensiue to you my noble brother that I haue stayed so long not welcomming you as I ought for sure the glad comming of my Lord Don Edward made me vnmindful of any other body Your reason Sister is allowed answered Primaleon and he that should blame you for it were not worthy to be estéemed among those that séeme to professe honour and vertue Then the King commanded their lodgings should be presently prouided which they found in euery point so royally adorned as they could not speake sufficient in praise of the court of England Thus staied they a good while in the English Court euery one desirous to returne into their owne Dominions more to set such things in order as their Deputies had failed in then for any desire they had to leaue the Court of England But because those whom they left in charge with their kingdomes had dealt in such order with their subiects as they were ready to rebell against their rightfull Prince therefore they thought the sooner they departed in the lesse time they might allay all the troubles againe CHAP. XLIII How Trineus the Emperour of Allemaigne hearing of the happy deliuery of the Princes out of the Castle of Dramusiande left the Court and with the Empresse Agriola trauailed till he arriued in England where he was very royally and Princely entertained REport had blazed in all Countreyes how the Princes and Knights that had béene so long time lost and could not he heard off were now at libertie and the aduenture of great Brittaine fully ended Trinens the Emperour of Allemaigne who had spent his dayes in great sorrowe grieuous complaints for his two Sonnes Vernar and Polinard now vnderstanding that they remained in the English Court his heart was supprised with so great ioy that not bewraying his intent to any hee determined to trauaile till hee came into England So accompanied with the Empresse Agriola and such knights as beséemeth his royall estate to haue with him hée passed thorow Germaine where at diuers Cities hée was honourably receiued at last landed on the Coast of England King Fredericke had knowledge of the comming of the Emperour Trineus wherefore he commanded the Chamber should be prouided wherein the Empresse from her childhood had talke with her at such time as the Emperor Palmerin and he came to present their seruice to the King of England Many noble Estates prepared to goe meete him thrée miles from the Citie of London and the king accompanied with Vernar and Polinard came to receiue him into the Citie But to rehearse vnto you the royall and gratious entertainment they receiued by the king with the sumptuous and rare deuises fcamed by the Citizens to welcome him withall would aske a greater time then I can well stay so long from discoursing of our History but so great was the kings fauour and so liberall the expences of his dutifull subiects that they said within themselues England had no fellow When they were come to the Pallace the Quéene and the Princesse Flerida being very gorgiously attyred against the comming of such a great State receiued him with such royaltie as is not here to be spoken of With great honour they were conducted to their Chamber all retyring backe except Vernar and Polinard their sons whom the Empresse commanded to stay with her because shée had a great desire to talke and conferre with them All the knights determined with themselues to prepare some notable shewes of pleasure wherewith they might delight the minde of the Emperor that he might perceiue what losse both Christendome and their noble Parents should haue had if fortune had determined their continuall seruitude to the Giant Dramusiande and had not wrought the meane to grant them their libertie The Emperor and Agriola passed away the time in pleasant communication to heare what aduentures their noble Sons had passed yet safely to escape such a bitter plunge for which they both lauded Fortune and estéemed their age the happiest time of their life Then would he often declare to Agriola what sharpe assaults he had endured in that chamber being amorous of her loue and bestowing his affaires in her seruice wishing for the time againe wherein he spent his flourishing youth so valiantly But knowing that his desire was vnpossible to be receuered he delighted to rehearse what pleasant cenceits had passed betweene him and her as well when she was coy as when she made acceptation of his courtesie and shewd her the secret places of danger which full many a time he made hazard in when he had desire to speake with her But nâ—w considering how his ancient time had cut off such amorous drifts as then he put in practise betwéene teares and pleasant talke he passed this remembrance in his silent thoughts knowing that youth must of force giue place to age and as then he had pleasure in amorâ—us deuises so new to content his age with ancient discourses And often would he rehearse what strange and rare aduentures his sonnes had reported during the time they sought for the strayed Prince as also the pleasures of Constantinople which was a meane to perswade his vrgent passions and to forsake such complaints as were bootelesse to be rehearsed The faire Aurora had no sooner left her old and ancient husband and shewed her bright beames vpon the earth but that galleries and scaffolds were made about the Tiltyard where the knights determined to shew the Emperour their valour The knights of England and Allemaign held both one side together and the Grecian knights maintained the other side each one behauing themselues with such hautie courage that the Emperour did assigne them singular commendations For sometime Fortune maketh cheyre of a weake Champion and alloweth him to be as aduenturous as the most hardy knight euen so the weake and strong preuailed so well together that both sides were praised aad the noble estates sufficiently pleased CHAP. XLV How Argolant arriued at Constantinople where in the presence of the Empresse Gridonia Polinarda and the faire Bazilia he declard how the knight of Fortune had deliuered Don Fdward Primaleon and the other captiue
minds They being in some doubt to gaine the ouerthrow suddenly entred the field Platir Floraman Francian Germaine of Orleance Vernar Polinard with others so that as then began the brauery of the fight which as it was well worthy past not without notable praise and the English Knights came still afresh to fiercely on them that the GreciaÌ„ Knights were through néere constraint vrged to retire But behold on a sudden to aide the Grecian Princes there entred thrée strange Knights very brauely mounted the first of them bearing in his shield on a grouÌ„d of sand the God Saturâ—us compassed about with Starres the second had for his deuise in a gréene field the Image of the House of Sadnes the â—hird would not haue his Shield knowne and therefore bare it couered These thrée séeing how the English Knights preuailed maruellously in their resistance couched their Speares and ran among the thickest of them whom to the great danger of both sides began a fierce battaile so that Vernar Tremoran Teneâ—rant and others were faine to be carried out of the field they were so sore wounded In like manner were diuerse of the English side till the Reâ—â—eite was sounded when the Prince Gracian with his company retired into his Campe and the English Knights conducted the Emperour and the King into the Pallace where sweet musicke and other delightfull exercises ioyned them all friends in their former vnity CHAP. XLVII How the three Knights that came to the Tournament were knowne to be the Knight of the Sauage man the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley and Blandidon And how Aliart discouered in the presence of all the Princes how Palmerin of England and Florian of the Forrest were the sonnes of the noble Don Edward and the Princes Flerida for proofe whereof he brought the Sauage man and his wife who had nourished the two young Princes so long in their Caue into their presence by whom this great ioy was fully confirmed WHen the Triumph was ended and the Emperour with King Fredericke returned into the Pallace the Tables were ready prepared when immediately they sate downe to take their repaste being seiâ—ed in such honorable and comely order as the princes were greatly in loue with the court of England Against supper was done the King gaue in charge that the Knights should prepare themselues to the dancing which done a sumptuous Banquet should presently be serued on the tables The Dancing and the Banquet finished and they sitting pleasantly ieasting one with another they entred the Hall the thrée Knights who had behaued themselues so brauely in the Tournament Many desired to come néere them because they would know of whence they were but to hinder their intents such a mist on a sudden arose in the Hall as the lights were dimmed the Torches burned very scarcely and the Ladies being dismaied caught their Knights in their Armes To put them out of this feare the mist departed and the Hall was as cleare as it was before when straight way they beheld in the middest a Lion and a Tiger enduring a great fight together and to set them at vnitie there entred a faire Damosell with a golden rod in her hand wherewith she touched them both and they humbled themselues at her féet This done shee departed and they arose againe in the forme of two fierce and vntamed Bulles which caused such an astonishment to all the beholders that they wished themselues to be foorth of the Hall But the Knights séeing their Ladies so greatly discouraged perswaded them that it was but some deuise artificially prouided for the delight of the Emperour but they would hardly beléeue them because the two Bulles fought so vehemently the one against the other and being ouercharged with wearines of fight fell to the ground breathing from their mouthes an horrible and ougly blacke smoke as was before The Hall auoided of all these accidents and in the same estate it was at first they might behold that thrée Knights with their heads vnarmed so that he who would not haue his shield known was found to be the gentle Knight of the Sauage man who presently went to the king and kneeling downe kissed his hand with these words My gracious Soueraigne I earnestly intreate at your hands this Knight may receiue the courteous entertainement your Grace will afford him at my request for this is the Sage Aliart your Maiesties most affectionate seruant to whom your griefe hath been so displeasant that he thought himselfe not in perfect quietnesse till he might manifest his humble deuoite to your Grace King Fredericke who had often heard report of the Sage Aliart by reason of the renowne and fame was spred abroad of him stoode in a doubt how it should bee hée because his youthful yeeres was much vnlikely to embrace so great cunning and learning as was euery where famed of him neuerthelesse giuing credit to the Knight of the Sauadge man hée embraced him with these salutations Certainely sir Aliart I am bound in duty to make good account of you as well for your vertuous dealings which doth iustly deserue it as also for bringing me my Fatherlesse Knight inso sound and good disposition of health wherein you haue not onely honoured me but likewise approoued the vnspotted faith of your Knighthood My gracious Lord answered Aliart the desire I haue to manifest the loialtie of my seruice vrgeth me to this opinion that might I liue neuer so long I could not accomplish so much as duty doth require in me respecting the great friendship I haue found at your Graces hand vndeserued But maâ— I vnder your Soueraigne pardon presume to disclose so great a secrete as shall both content your Highnesse as also this illustrious assembly The King supposing some glad tydings toward requested all the Princes to vouchsafe their audience when being euery one quietly placed to their owne content Aliart humbling himselfe to the Princesse Flerida began as followeth Madame it were hard for me to distinguish betwéene your extreame griefes passed and the swéete solace you enioy at this present for albeit this is to be thought beyond comparison yet in time when you were heauie your wofull complaints were equally as vehement as they that were priuie to their aduerse case could easily beare with the vrgent cause But referring long discourse of matter you are to estéeme your selfe highly honoured by this no lesse hauty then happy and famous Knight of Fortune who for your sake hath suffered the annoiance of paine in recompence of the dangerous trauaile you sustained for him at such time as you were deliuered of two Children in the vnfortunate Forrest when your Lord had left you For when the Sauage man had taken him and this redoubted Knight your Sonne Florian his Brother to sacrifice them to the rauenous iawes of his gréedy Lions pittie so pierced the heart of his poore and louing wife that shée saued them from the bloody slaughter and nourished them as carefully as she did this other
who is her owne Childe And Madam let not be forgotten the wordes sir Pridos rehearsed vnto you at such time as you had lost both husband and children which was reported to him by the Ladie Argonida for loe at this instant her promise is accomplished your noble Lord Don Edward is restored and your two lost sonnes safe and sound recouered whose Knightly valure hath sufficiently discharged the sorrowe that then your afflicted person suffered The Knight of Fortune is your Sonne Palmerin to whom you gaue that name in honour of the Emperour Palmerin your Father who by the meanes of the Knight Polendos receiued your son into his Court when he likewise caused him to be tearmed by his owne name And this aduenturous knight of the Sauage man is your other Sonne which according to the place of his birth you called him Florian of the Forrest him haue you nourished brought vp by your motherly care albeit he was knowen to you for no other then a straunger Thus to knit vp your former ioy I thought good to presume so farre as to make you partners of that which was not knowen to any but onely God and my selfe The Princesse Flerida and Don Edward wel viewing one an other were suddenly rauished with such an inward ioy as it is impossible for me to giue iudgement thereon then Palmerin and Florian came imbraced each other which moued the king and all there present vnto such delight that they could not conceale the great pleasure they conceiued whereupon the king entred into these words Trust me Syr Aliart these newes were altogether vnlookt for at this present albeit they haue béene earnestly desired long before this time but yet doe me the fauour to certifie me how you are assured of that which you haue giuen foorth for a manifest troth it may be here are some that dare hardly aduenture to beléeue it If I should my good Lord answered Aliart fable in such a case I were well worthy such seuere punishment as is due to him that should falsely informe a Prince But neuerthelesse to giue you the better assurance thereof marke what shall ensue and then answere how you are satisfied Then drewe hée foorth a little Booke whereon hauing read a prettie while the Sauage man and his Wife entred the Hall who had nourished Palmerin and Florian so long in theyr Caue when presently the two Princes beholding them went and imbraced them both with great courtesie the the like did Siluian who hauing learned more ciuility in court then when he remained with his Father in the Caue knéeled downe vnto them as was his duetie The Princesse Flerida receiued such excéeding ioy that shée imbraced them both very louingly and Palmerin thinking it great dishonour to him to be vnmindfull of his nurses that had vsed him so gently tooke them by the hand and brought them before the King giuing him to vnderstand that they twain had deserued a good reward in recompence of the great affection his Brother he had found at their hands The King taking them from the ground in his armes promised that their labour should be honorably rewarded so lifting his eyes vp to heauen he vttered his ioy in this manner O heauenly Father this is the last good happe that euer I desired to sée wherefore now if it be thy pleasure take me out of this miserable world before vnconstant Fortune determine any more mischance to me This done he tooke his two Nephews and brought them to the Princesse Flerida before whom they humbled themselues on their knées kissed her hand a great many times and she casting her armes about their necke in teares remembred the great danger she saw them both in when they endured the bloody Combate at such time as shee was faine to set them at vnitie Then Don Edward their noble Father in remembrance of the valiant behauiour he had séene in them both at the Castle of Dramusiande receiued them in his armes with such courteous gréetings on either part as the ioy in such a case did vrge them to manifest The Emperor Trineus a partaker of this Fortunate sight came to both the Princes and vsed many friendly spéeches to them in like manner did the Empresse Agriola the Kings Recinde and Arnedes with all the Princes and Ladies whose ioyes were not small for this happy successe Then Palmerin vsed great courtesie to the Prince Primaleon for that he vnderstood him to be father of his Lady and Mistresse Polinarda and Sonne to the Emperor his Grandfather who had vouchsaued him his honour dnring the time he remained in his Pallace at Constantinople The Sauage man and his Wife were very graciously entertained who séeing the two Princes in dignity beyond their expectations when they were in their Caue did greatly reioyce that Fortune had so fauourably preserued their noble liues Palmerin séeing the time that euery one prepared themselues to their chambers commanded Siluian to conduct his father and mother to a faire and rich Chamber which was prouided for them Euery one departing the king accompanyed Aliart to his Chamber where he desired to know what the other knight was that came in his company If it please your Grace answered Aliart to morrow morning you shall be resolued to the vttermost in the meane space assure your selfe that he is such a one as his valour deserueth to be remembred amongst the most renowned Thus with a generall gladnesse euery one went to take their rest forgetting all gréefe that was passed before in remembrance of the fortunate successe that had happened at this instant determination of ioy CHAP. XLVIII How on the morrow Blandidon was knowne and Aliart bewraied himselfe and Pompides to be the Sonnes of the Prince Don Edward Argonida the Lady of enchāted the Isle And how the Emperour Trineus with the other Princes determined to depart from the Court of England but were desired first to goe see Castle of the Giant Dramusiande wherein the Princes had remained Prisoners so long time THe pleasures in the Court of the aged King of England of the Prince Palmerin and Don Florian his Brother that the Cittizens passed away the night merrily in making of great Bonefires ringing of Bels to manifest the ioy which they likewise conceiued for this happy accident In the morning the king went to the chamber of the two Nephewes where he found Primaleon and the Prince Vernar merrily disposing themselues together and so accompanied with Arnedes and Recinde they went to the chamber of the Emperour Trineus who béeing already stirring prepared themselues to go heare diuine Seruice which was accomplished with maruailous great solemnitie When they returned vn to the Pallace such was the assembly of people to sée the two Princes that they could hardly ascend the staires to the great hall the people were gathered into such a prease The strange Princes endcucured themselues to entertaine the Sage Aliart very honourably so that from the hightest to the lowest
exigent of many of their liuings which was onely procured through the loue of Miragarda by the aduise of the Countie and her honourable Councell who pittied to sée this great inconuenience sent for the Giant Almoral to whom were giuen certaine knights and Gentlewomen to attend vppon her and he should kéepe her till such time as he should appoint her Mariage which at that instant he could not dispatch because of the great discord that was risen about her amongst all the Princes and knights of the Court. And so he sent her to the Castle of the Giant Almoral vntill the princes should be in quietnesse againe where in the meane time she often vsed to walke in the gréene féeldes for to delight her selfe euen as she did at the time when Florendos come and found her and there she liued till some one might reléeue her from Captiuitie as hereafter you shall vnderstand how euery thing happened during the time of her abyding there CHAP. LIIII How Palmerin departed from the Realme of England and in his trauaile met with the Prince Gracian lying fast a sleep vnder a greene tree who gaue him to vnderstand of an hard aduenture befaln to the Prince Platir and Floraman And how he riding to helpe them met with a Damosell who brought him to the place where they were fighting the Combate and there Palmerin slew Dramaco who was Lord of the Castle and redeemed three Ladyes from their tirannicall seruitude SO Long remained Palmerin in the Court of the King of England with his noble father and his fréends who reioyced in his company that euery one supposed he would not trauaile again which he could hardly kéepe himselfe from all this while but that the earnest intreaty of the King with the Princes Flerida his Mother vrged him to stay longer then gladly he would At last when they perceiued al means could not serue to hinder his determination but that he laboured night day in pursuing his pretence they gaue consent he should depart whither pleased him so taking his leaue of the aged King his Father Mother and all his Fréends who were not a little sorrowfull to enioy his absence he gaue thē euery one a gentle Conge so left them in their great heauinesse But within a while after Don Florian séeing his Brother Palmerin was gone and how his honour was imbaced by staying so long from trauaile hee began a fresh sadnesse throughout all the Court especially to King Frederick whose affection was more inclined to him thē to the Prince Palmerin because hee had nourished him in his Court and therefore his loue was a great deale more surelie grounded on him But first to discourse what happened the Prince Palmerin who riding encumbred with a thousand conceites durst not take his way to Constantinople fearing to displease his Lady Polinarda but remembring how neere they were in affinitie he had good hope she wold make more estimatiō of his seruice Contenting himselfe with this thought hee rode on till he arriued in a very vnfertile Valley whose scarcitie of Trees or of any other thing delightfull to the eye vrged him to dispence with his thoughts a sudden sadnesse till at last after hee had ridden a good while he came to a faire and mightie bigge Tree whose compasse of Boughes contained a fine and very coole shadowe vnder it where he espied a Knight to lie fast asleepe hauing neither horse nor Esquire to beare him company which made him somwhat amazed and loath to leaue him in that dangerous estate he moued him with his lance and these spéeches Sir Knight this place is not for such an one as you to repose your wearie limmes in because you are as vncertaine of any safetie as you may assure your self it is to be feared The knight suddenly awaked and setting hand to his Sword presently started vp When Palmerin had knowledge of him to bee the Prince Gracian whose company was not a little welcome to him being in such a solitary and vnfrequented place of passage wherefore hee began in these tearmes following Sir Gracian let not my presumption be admitted to any offence but rather estéemed of in this sort that I am yours any way to command in seruice Graciā being glad to see the Prince Palmerin knowing that his puissance might remedy part of his misfortune which being willing to disclose he imbraced the Prince in his armes and in this order began to vtter his tale As it is not vnknowne worthy sir how your knightly chiualry hath brought to end the aduēture which was tearmed beyond any possibility so knowe I that your affection is inclined to ayde those whose misaduenture requiret the helpe so good a Knight and how happie your arriuall at this time is let the spectacle you shall shortly sée remaine as an vndoubted and infallible witnesse which because delay in words may turne to some danger thus it is If you follow on the way you sée right before you it will not be long before you shall come to the place where the Princes Platir and Floraman abide in great danger to whom you may yéelde maruailous friendly succour if you make hast to them who would gladly be so happy as to haue a sight of you In the meane time if Siluian will doe me the fauour that I may mount vp behinde him if we come not vnto you I desire you to except vs at the Forgetfull Stone where haue you no doubt but we will meete together Palmerin being sory to heare these newes but highly commending his Fortune that he came so luckely to the aide of the two Princes promising to fulfill the requst of Gracian he set Spurres to his Horse and rode as fast as possible he might towards them He had not rode very long but that he came to a place where two pathes seruing two seueral wayes made him to stand in a muse which way he were best to take but to driue him from his doubt he espied a Damosell come riding towards him vsing such heauy clamours as if one had pursued her to depriue her of her life Palmerin abashed at this vnlooked for aduenture stayed his Horse to question with her but she perceiuing his intent in a great feare gaue him these spéeches Good Sir offer me not the discourtesie to be a hinderance to my happy trauaile for that you may endamage me with greater harme if you stay me then the discourse of my misfortunes can yéelde you any content to heare which I am afraide to disclose because I doubt your valour can giue me no comfort in this great mishappe Trust me Lady answered Palmerin as for my valour I can hardly make you any warrant of it but so great is my desire at this instant that I must request you shewe me the cause of your grieuous lamentation Well Syr quoth shée since you are so desirous to vnderstand the exextremitie of my case come with me and you shall be certified hereof as much as you
me quoth yâ— prince Gracian I haue in times past both extolled verily belieued that my faire Claritia might be equall with any for her beautie but hauing now behâ—ld this admirable Miragarda I exempt from minde all other desiring to accomplish the meane that I might doe her seruice And credite me said Don Rosuel I haue so forgotten the loue I bare to my Lady that if I depart not the sooner from hence I shall fall into contempt both of her and all other Ladies giuing the onely laud to this péerelesse Miragarda Then mounting on Horsebacke he ridde away so fast as possible he could in like maner the Prince Gracian possed presently after him neither of them vsing any friendly departing to the Giant Dramusiande who could not refrain from laughter to think on the weake stomacks of these two Princes CHAP. LXIIII. How Palmerin of England trauailing toward Constantinople laid him downe to sleepe hard by a faire Castle from whence came foure Ladies who carried him into the Castle And how one of the Ladies bearing him louing affection but he disdaining her great good will vrged her to keepe him there as her prisoner PAlmerin of England after he had left the Castle of the Giant Almarol happened on the frontiers of Nauarre in the Dominion of France which he perceiued altogether to be inhabited and gouerned by mighty Giants whose vnciuility of life wrought many cruel spoiles and villanous deeds in these parts among whom Palmerin behaued himselfe so worthily that the effect of his déeds returned his due commendation CoÌ„tinuing his trauaile along the Coast at last in a faire gréen valley he espied a goodly and well fortified Castle and neere vnto it was a faire largs Poole well stored with choice of fish where the Prince alighted from his Horse to let him feede a while in the pasture In the meane time he looking all about and could sée no body that on a suddaine might come to endanger him sat downe by the water side the beholding wherof droue many solemne fancies out of his remembrance As he was about to take a little nap his Mistres Polinarda approached his thoughtes as also the remembrance of his manifold courtesies which he receiued while he remained at Constantinople so that some of these motions prouoked him to good opinion of ioy but other some to a number of heauie lamentations as especially the sharp command of his mistres which being loath to breake mad him to absent himselfe from Constantinople longer then otherwise hee would gladly haue done In these thoughts hee fell into a sound sleepe when foure Damosels came walking foorth of the Castell who beholding the Prince his chéekes all dewed with teares and his eye lids very redde with ouermuch wéeping were all constrained to great compassion Then one of the Damosels being of rare and excellent beautie called for certaine of her seruants who with their helpe caried the Prince into a faire Chamber in the castel causing his armes to be fastened together with a chaine to the ende he might vse no resistance against them When he awaked and found himselfe in this great alteration he was so ouercome with griefe that he knew not what to say but the Ladie bearing great affection to him at euery instant changed colour which witnessed the ardent loue shée had conceiued in her minde at last made manifest the sum of her desire whereto Palmerin by no meanes would giue consent For being desirous to shunne any occasion whereby hée might bée thought disloyal to his Lady determined to depart from thence without Horse or Armour onely to auoide her importunate sute This moued the Lady to such extreame griefe that she violated the bondes of Reason whose limits duty had alwaies warned her to kéep within and séeing that neither tears nor intreatis might mollifie the heart she commanded him to be brought into her Chamber where irons were made fast about his legs and great spéeches giuen forth to terrifie him because he would vse no pittie to her outragious passions Palmerin not estéeming either her selfe or her words bare greater affection to clogging irons then to all the amorous spéeches the Lady could vse who at last turned hee hot loue into extreame hatred so that absenting her selfe out of his companie caused him to bée vsed in very rigorous manner But her crueltie had no long time of lasting for her woonted affectioÌ„ caused her to repent her hasty fury and in her mind she thought to discharge the Prince séeking all meanes possible to banish him out of her memorie for which cause she inclosed her selfe in her Chamber labouring both by examples and present proofe to extinguish the furious flames of her continuall Passions But when she saw nothing would serue but her griefe was driuen to an impossible cure she concluded to kéepe the Prince in Prison so long that at length shee would glut her selfe with his remembrance Or else at last the Prine would be so wearie that he not able any longer to endure the cruell practises she vsed would repent him of his so long deniall and so bee enforced to accomplish her amorous dessre But Palmerin hauing already made faithful vowe of his loue by no torment or cruelty would be perswaded to violate his promise to the no small griefe of the Lady who frequented himselfe still with her woonted sute as also for his obstinacy encreased her seuerall deuises of cruelty CHAP. LXV How Don Florian remaining in the Court of England made such entreatie on the behalfe of Orianda and her sisters the Daughters of the Marquesse Beltamor remaining in the Castle of the Giant Calfurnien that they were restored into Kings fauour and married to three noble Gentlemen of his Court. And Don Florian departing out of England arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where he entred the Combate with Dramusiande where ending their strife with great friendship he departed accompanied with Siluian desirous to finde his brother the noble Palmerin of England DOn Florian of the Forrest of whome no mention hath béene made since the Prince Palmerin departed out of England stayed a certaine time in the Court of the King his Vncle to intreate fauour for Orianda and her Sisters the Daughters of the Marquesse Beltamor For remembring the great seruice they had done to him at such time as the giant Calfurnien had wounded him so sore willing to discharge the promise he made them at his departure which might manifest his honour and redéeme them from that misery wherin they remained approached the presence of the King in this manner I haue alwayes heard my Soueraigne Lord and Vncle that laudable déedes ought to be recompenced with the like and that ingratitude and vnkinde dealing should euer be banished from the heartes of Princes wherefore fearing least my selfe should be found faulty in such a hainous crime I shall desire your gratious furtherance in a cause as shall present my duty and your owne honour It is so my
to liue solitarie in this habitation till the Gouernors of my Kingdome had chosen me such a Phéere as might in all respects satisfie the will of my late deceased Lord and Father But Fortune the enemy to al mine actions permitted an vnknown knight to happen to this Castell whom I made such choise of that he was the onelie man I loued because I neuer liked any but him so that according to my affection I concluded him as Lord both of mee and all my Princely possessions But hee neither regarding bountie nor beauty applieth himselfe so disdainful to my gentle desire that he rather taketh pleasure in irons wherewith I haue charged him then in the Princely offers whereto I haue chasen him And although his great despising me is an insupportable torment yet haue I dissembled my disquietnes supposing that his affection to some other hath ouercharged his wittes so that he could not perceiue the honour wherewith I presented him And yet this opinion I vsed fondly with my selfe that no ladies beauty was sufficient to win him from me the Princesse Miragarda onely excepted whose report filleth euery Climate with extolling her benefit Yet because I had some doubt of her I commanded one of my Damosels to take her iourney thither to see if my beautie might not stand equall with hers if so be she were onely perfect without comparisoÌ„ then had I determined to set the knight at libertie but if I were found to deserue as high a title as shee then would I reward him with punishment according as his disdainfull nature did worthily deserue Horian well noting the proud minde of Arnalte determined to cause her abide in her vaine opinion as thus Truly Madam I would with you not to vse any other torment to the Knight then to let him persist in his obstinate and pâ—ruerse minde for in the ende the punishment of his owne follie will be all when himselfe shall lament the state of his losse And hereupon assure your selfe that that Princesse Miragarda is as faire as she is famed yet are you very liâ—le beholding to the Knight considering that if both your features were liuely to bee seene in one vniforme it might hardly be iudged which should be soonest abased The Princesse Arnalte was very wel pleased with these words of FloriaÌ„ stedfastly setting her couÌ„tenance vpon him euen as lightly she grounded her loue on Palmerin so according to the mutability of an vnstedfast womaÌ„ she began to grâ—w in as great good liking of him vtterly abolishing Pelmerin out of memory as though she had neuer seene him in all her life Wherefore being in euery part replenished with an vnspeakeable ioy she tooke each of the knights by the hand and returned with them into the Castell where against their comming the Table was ready couered but before they sat downe Florian desired to sée the knight at whose request he was immediatly sent for But when Florian and Pompides had a sight of him they were not able to conceale the great ioy they sustained especially Siluian who as they imbraced his Master he cast himselfe at his féet being neuer so glad in all his life as he was at this present Which made Arnalte so amazed that she wished they were al departed her Castle Wel downe they sat and were feasted with honour and great reuerence the Supper being ended Palmerin and Pompides were lâ—dged in one Chamber together and a very faire ChaÌ„ber was prouided for the Prince Florian to whom she gaue such friendlie entertainement that they staied there the space of eight daies Then Florian and the other Knights would néedes depart ieauing the Princesse very pensiue and sorrowfull to depart from his company she desired so faine but he made her promise that so soone as he could he would returne to her Hereon they all departed merrily away the Princesse Arnalte greatly commending her good fortune in that she hoped of the Prince Florians returne when she had no doubt to win his heart but he being a litle out of her sight was fallen into such obliuion of her that he made a iest to his brother Pompides of the great fauour Arnalte had bestowed on him CHAP. LXVII How Palmerin of England Don Florian his brother and Pompides being departed from the Castle of the Princesse Arnalte met the faire Florenda daughter to Arnedes King of France at whose request Florian ran with twelue Knights who kept the Princesse company in her prograce And how during the time of the Iust a Damosell came and intreated Palmerin to haue his helpe in the finishing of a strange aduenture with whom he presently departed and after the Iust was ended Pompides and the Prince Florian rode after Palmerin to giue him aide if hee stoode in neede of any WHen these thrée Knights were thus departed from the Princesse Arnalte Palmerin by the way râ—de with Siluian aside to whom hee expressed the great perpleritie wherein he remained for the loue hee bare his faire Lady and Mistresse Polinarda to whom he feared to approach because of the coÌ„mandement she gaue him at such time as he departed from Constantinople Whereto Siluian vsed this kind of perswasion what she had giuen him in angry spéeches was rather to try his constancy then to mooue him conceiue any opinion of discourtesie But Palmerin would hardly giue any credance to his wordes because he supposed we had heard already that he could not vanquish the Tristfull Knight entring the Combate on the controuersie betwéene the beauty of her and the Princesse Miragarda which oppressed his minde with many grieuous thoughts and was much displeasant to Florian and Pompides who were altogither ignorant in the cause of his heauinesse When they had ridden for a few certaine dayes they came at last into a valley in the Kingdome of France where vnder a fine shadowe of Trées they perceiued foure faire Tents erected whereupon was placed twelue goodly Shieldes But that which was most to their admiration was a braue company of Ladies who disported themselues there vnder the gréene Trées The Knightes reioycing to finde company in such a solitarie place betooke themselues presently toward the Tentes but on a suddaine came foorth of one of the Tents a Knight attyred in a very faire Armour all thicke beset with golden Glasses who hauing put on his Helmet mounted on his Stéede and tooke a strong Lance in his hand preparing himselfe couragiously to enter the Iuste When Palmerin perceiued the intent of the Knight he caused his company to stay a while when presently an Esquire addressed himselfe from the Ladyes saluting the Princes in this manner God saue you Gentlemen Florenda Daughter to the famous King of France who abideth in these Tents with her courtly attendants by me gréeteth you in all courtesies possible giuing you to vnderstaÌ„d that delighting her selfe to ride in Prograce she stayeth here in this pleasant valley til the heat of the day be somwhat more declined And for as much as
you the second part wherein he dares promise you such plentifull varietie of choice conceits as cannot be so long expected as they will bee thought worthy of a welcome Meane while he reposeth himselfe on your wonted courtesies desiring to heare nothing that may disharten him from his intent or hinder you from the end of so braue a Historie FINIS Anthony Munday Patere aut abstine THE SECOND PART OF THE NO LESSE RARE THEN excellent and stately Historie of the famous and fortunate Prince Palmerin of England and Florian du Desart his brother CONTAINING THEIR KNIGHTLY deeds of Chiualry successe in their loues pursuite and other admirable fortunes Wherein Gentlemen may finde choyse of sweete inuentions and Gentlewomen be satisfied in Courtly expectations Translated out of French by A. M. one of the Messengers of her Maiesties Chamber Patere aut abstine LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede and Bernard Alsop 1616. TO THE VVORSHIPFVLL MAISTER FRANCIS YOVNG OF BRENT PELham in the Countie of Hertford Esquire and to Mistresse Susan Young his Wife and my kinde Mistresse heâ—lth and happinesse intirely wished ALPHONSVS king of Naples Right Worshipfull a King renowmed in sundrie volumes of Antiquitie for his wisedome Bountie and Affablilitie of Nature lying very sore sicke in the Citie of Capua hauing tryed the very vttermost cunning his Physitions could vse on him yet all would not helpe to recouer his health determined with himselfe to take no more Medicines but for his recreation caused the Storie of Quintus Curtius concerning the deedes of Alexander the Great to be read before him at the hearing whereof hee conceyued such woonderfull pleasure as Nature gathered strength by it and chased away the frowardnes of his disease Wherevpon in some sorte hauing soone recouered his health hee discharged his Physitians with these wordes Feast mee no more with Galene and Hyppocrates sith all their skill would not serue to asswage my sickenesse but well fare Quintius Curtius that holpe mee so soone to my health By this example may be gathered right worshipfull how necessary it is oftentimes to reade Histories which in the iudgement of the wise are esteemed as healthfull to the mind as Phisick is accounted holesome for the body yea oftentimes more for that the sodaine inward conceit of delight wherewith Histories are plentifully enriched may sooner breake and qualifie the extreamity of a painfull disease then the long and laboursome applying of Physicall receipts Yet not to condemne the one nor extoll the other more then it deserueth I allow of both very well but I must needs thus confesse with Aristotle that History is the Schoolemistresse of Princes and the onely Trumpet that soundeth in the eares of all noble personages the famous deeds of their worthy progenitors Plato likewise affirmeth that the name of History was giuen to this end that by recording matters of antiquity our fleeting memories might be stayed which otherwise would soone be lost and retaine little Seeing then right worshipfull that Histories carry such credite among the learned sort and haue not bene a little esteemed of both Emperours kings and famous Potentates as a testimony of my vnfained affection and dutie to your worshippe I offer you the second part of this excellent and famous Historie which how bad the rude translation thereof may seeme to the daintie eares I know but how singular it is of it selfe no better description then the reading ouer can be made I presume therefore maister Young as the Romanes did who were woont to place the pictures of their most especial friends at the very entrance into their stately Pallaces therby to declare their zealous and vnspotted affection to him In like maner haue I stampt your worships name in the face of this historie as well to countenance the Book with such a worshipfull personage as to credit my selfe with your woonted and fauourable good liking for I account my selfe and my labours free from the reproach of wounding tongues being allowed but the least moitie of your gentle iudgement It shall bee needlesse for me to wade into tedious circumstances when to the wise and learned a word is sufficient wherefore Palmerin reposeth himselfe on your kinde conceite and wisheth such happy continuance to you your wife my gentle Mistresse and whole issue as the world being partaker of your vertues my selfe acquainted with your fauourable opinion and my Booke defended by your worthy selfe you may remaine as in yeeres so in happinesse and the longer your course the larger your comfort Your worships at command A. Mundy To the Reader ACcording to my promise I haue finished the second part of Palmerins famous historie how pleÌ„tifully it is enriched with singular conceite sweete inuention and commendable purposes leaue to thy iudgement not doubting but that thou 〈◊〉 censnrâ— therof vnpartially And least thou shouldest â—â—â—edge that this second part broakes off abruptly not shewing what become of the Princes after they were conuayed by the Sage Aliart to the Perillous Isle vnderstand that the third part shall acquaint thee therewith as also the full conclusion of euery matter herein handled which if thou be desirous to haue giue these two former Bookes the friendlier welcome and it will hasten the translation of the other with the greater speede Thy vnfained friend to his power A. Munday THE SECOND PART OF the famous Historie of the noble and valiant Prince Palmerin of England containing other most singâ—lar and knightly deedes by him atchieued and worthily finished CHAP. I. Of that which happened to the Prince Florendos after that he had left the Castle of Dramorant the Cruell where hee vanquished Astribor I Haue made rehearsall vnto you in the first part of this Historie how the valiant Prince Palmerin of England who caused himselfe to be called the Knight of the Tiger happily brought to the end the cruell enchantment wherein the faire Leonarda Princesse of Thrace was long time detained and hauing staied long in that realme he concluded to take his leaue of the Quéene Carmelia and the young Lady desiring them humbly that they would not séeme to hinder him from his voyage to Constantinople within whose walles was inclosed the inestimable treasure of his knightly and loyall minde which indéede was the faire Princesse Polinarda the soueraigntie of whose beautie was of such power as made him refuse the Crowne of Thrace which was presented vnto him according as the Sage Aliart made rehearsall before these famous aduentures by the principall noble Gentlemen throughout the realme of Thrace who hartily desired if it might be possible that the noble Palmerin of England whose honestie valour and Knightly courtesie was agréeable together should fulfill the commandement of their King Sardament which they would haue béene very loth to contrary had he thereto consented But Palmerin made knowne his minde and secret intent as well vnto them as also to the Princesse both what he intended and what hée would sée especially performed wheron his honor should stand
makes thee thinke none so good as thy selfe so shalt thou learne how to vse thy betters and deale more courteously with the people of this countrey And because I will mooue the mallice the greater against me thou shalt vnderstand that I am he that hath slaine Dalfurnien and Brocalon thy brethren and haue good hope to send thée after them wherefore put thy selfe in a readinesse to entertaine me for I as much disdaine to haue any aduantage of thee as thou proudly thinkest me vnable to deale with thée The Giant extreamely moued to heare the braue language of the Prince began to rage after this manner Thou cruel destroyer of my blood thou maist assure thy selfe to haue in thy presence the greatest enemy vnto thée in the world and therefore shew the vttermost of thy manhood for I carry that hope with me to bathe these hands of mine in thy blood and beside to rent thy cursed heart in péeces and throw it for foode to the Fowles of the aire Then they began a fierce and cruell Combat wherein the Prince so nobly behaue himselfe that the forcible stroakes of the Giant were deliuered te small purpose but at length he perceiuing what subtilty the Prince vsed beganne to strike vere roughly at him so that his swoord was broken in thrée pieces and his body wounded in diuerse places whereat the Damosell was very much displeased doubting least she should now sée the ende of him who had all this while so valiantly defended her The Prince séeing himselfe in danger cast his Shield before him to receiue a mightie stroke which the giant gaue but the blowe lighting on the Shield entred so farre in as he could not pull it out againe which the Prince perceiuing closed with him and driuing him still backward till he came to the Riuers side he strooke his legs from him so that he fell ouer the bancke into the water where with the waightinesse of his fall and his head going forward he brake his necke to the no small ioy of the Damosell as also of the Prince who reioyced he was rid of such an enemy Then mounting on horsebacke they rid againe to the Cell of the olde Hermit for that the Princes woundes were somewhat dangerous in the meane while the Esquires of Baleato returned to the Knights which were in the Castles to giue them vnderstanding of their Masters death how that hee which had slaine his brother Brocalon had now likewise dispatched him When they were come to the Cell the good olde Hermit albeit he was somewhat offended with the Prince yet be receiued him very louingly and on such a poore bed as he had he caused him to lie down vsing such good regard vnto him as within fewe dayes his dangerous estate was well recouered Then did he desire the Prince that he would suffer the Damosell to depart on her iourney giuing her to vnderstand how she might now trauaile without danger for that she knowe her selfe the Giants were both slaine and also he said it stood not with her honest report that she should so kéepe company with a Knight at Armes whose affaires lay in so many sundry places as it was not decent for her nor honour to him to be séene after such effeminate order The Prince was very well content that she should depart albeit the Damosell found her selfe greatly agreeued that he did vse no more estimation of her hauing sealed the Fort of her maidenly honour which none had the power to obtain before neuerthelesse when she saw no remedy but that she was forced to make a vertue of necessity with teares she tooke her leaue of the Prince who feigned himselfe in amourous spéeches very sad and sorrowfull for her departure CHAP. VII How the knights which belouged to the Giants Brocalon and Baleato surrendred vp the Castles vnto the noble knight of the Sauage man And of that which happened to the Prince Florendos after he arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where remained the faire Princesse Miragarda ON the next day following the knights which belonged to the Giants had now intelligence of the death of their Lords whereupon they presently determined with themselues to go sée if the knight of the Sauage man would entertaine them into his fauour for since they had no refuge or defence left them wherin they might repose any hope of assurance they concluded to surrender vp the castles into his hands knowing themselues farre vnable to withhold them from him In this determination they came to the Hermits Cell where they found the knight of y◠Sauage man lying on his bed for that he was not very well disposed they comparing his yong yéeres with the noblenesse of his late exploites receiued great cause of admiration at last he that iudged himselfe to be the hardiest of courage amongst them suddenly entred into these spéeches If I should deny sir knight that Fortune hath entertained you into especiall regard I should séeme very much forgetfull of my selfe in that the puissance of Brocalon and Baleato two Giants reputed of no small courage as by your noble hardinesse brought to vtter confusion therefore this remaineth as a chosen argument that she not onely hath called you into the dignity of her fauour but also that she maintaineth her affection towards you with inestimable bountie let not any then séeme so hardie as to offer a checke or reproofe to your valour for that their best Fortune is vnlike to be equall with yours but let them rather imagine themselues happy if they may deserue the good countenance of so worthy a Champion The due consideration hereof hath constrained vs to enter into such hardinesse as to come and present our selues to your noble mercy this good opinion guided vs that he which hath so worthily ouercome and remaineth in the honour of a famous conquerour will not staine that laudable title by offering discourtesie to those who humble themselues as obedient seruants in signe whereof receiue at our hands the keyes of the Castles which our Lords sometime enioyed and withall receiue the hearty good will and affection of them who remaine onely at your noble comandement to which courteous words the Prince returned this answer Your spéeches are so honest and so well repleate shith ciuill courtesie as I am sorry that my present case will not suffer me to let you vnderstand how thankefully I accept your great gentlenesse but you shall beare me company to the Court of England where I will cause the king my Grandfather to satisfie that which my dishablity will not suffer me Then tooke he the keyes of the Castles wherewith he was very much contented séeing the issue so fortunate where the beginning seemed so doubtfull The knights still kept the Prince company in respect of the honourable promise he had made them wherof they were not a little glad in that they hoped to gaine good fauour in the Court of England where the report of this noble Conquest
hauing opinion that the Knight which had enterprised to guard the passage was one well seene in hautie exercises he returned the Esquier this answere My friend say vnto the Knight thy Maister from me that I freely giue him leaue to proceede in his honest request and I am partly sorte that my aged yéeres will not suffer me to be one in the number of those who I am sure will hazard their honour to get libertie of thy Maister for the Princesse Leonardaes passage and in her company I promise thée will I abide till either they haue woonne it valiantly or lost it vnfortunately Then came he againe to the Princesse Leonarda the Esquire being departed with this answer to his Maister and to her he began with these spéeches Madame do you thinke it reasonable that any one should denie me the way within mine owne dominions and especially at such time as I am in your company Certainely the Knight that hath enterprised thus to hinder vs ought to be one of no small courage except he doth imbolden himselfe by meanes of your beauty and hoping to moue you towards him 〈…〉 doth offer his person to endure a doubtfull 〈◊〉 â—â—â—antly had the Emperour concluded his intent when Reccamon who in his Court was estéemed for a good and hardy Knight gaue the spurres to his Courser against the strange Knight but his fortune was so farre contrary as he was presently dismounted from his horse hauing nothing at all moued the knight that kept the passage whereupon Frisoll coutched his Lance against the strange Knight who caused him to beaâ— Reccamon company Then galloped he his horse to fetch 〈◊〉 Lance for that he had broken his other vppon Frisoll 〈◊〉 Grecian being somewhat offended aduanced himselfe against the Knight who méeting him in the middest of the way gaue him such a forcible stroke as he was constrained to fall to the earth by means wherof Berolde put foorth himselfe whom the Knight caused to spéede as Gracian had done The Emperour hereat was greatly abashed beholding the shame which his Knight receiued whereupon Dramian went to trie his fortune which in sooth was to aduerse to him as his horse he fell downe both together which he perceiuing said that his enemie ought not refuse to ioust with him once more the strange knight hearing his words gaue a signe to Dramian that he should giue ouer and run no more but he would not be warned by his friendly motion when putting himselfe vpon the second triall he was againe throwne to the earth verie sore and dangerously wounded This moued the Emperour to be much agreeued doubting lest the issue of this enterprise would returne to the dishonour oâ— the Knights of his Court then Don Rosuell séeking to reuenge the iniurie his companions had receiued gaue himselfe forth brauely to méete the strange Knight but his entertainment was such as his fellowes had receiueed before him When the hardy Prince Platir saw the ill hap of the Princes he ranne couragiously against the strange Knight and after they had broken their Lances they met together verie forcibly with their bodies and their horses fought together likewise so cruelly as in the ende Platir and his horse was compelled to fall downe to the ground but the strange Knight sate still very gallan◠〈…〉 was not any thing hurt by the rough encounter The Emperour was ouercome with extreame griefe 〈◊〉 his knights beaten downe so fast by the valour of one Knight so that he knew not well what to say and the Prince Primaleon was as greatly moued as the Emperour his Father because he suspected that the knight vnknowne was the noble and valiant prince Palmerin of England whose prowesse was worthely estéemed in all Princes Courts in Christendome but he neuer remembred or iudged this strange Knight to be the redoubted prince Florian of the Forâ—est because 〈◊〉 were giuen abroade that he remained in the king of 〈◊〉 Court In briefe the famous behauiour of this vnknowne knight made them stand in their dumps so that they knâ—w not well what to thinke neuerthelesse the Knights continued on the Ioust to wit Estrellant Bellizart Francian who were one after another placed among the vanquished so there remained no more knights to Ioust but on a sudden euen as Francian was cast foorth of his saddle Pompides and Blandidon happened to arriue there which the Emperour seeing and knowing them to be such as merited his fauour he afforded them a gratious welcome desiring them that they would do their endeuour to make frée the passage to the end that the Princesse Leonarda might enter into Constantinople We are contented mightie Emperour answered Pompides to make a proofe of our good fortune before you as well to witnesse the regard we haue of your excellency as to trie if we may attaine to purchase that which so many good knightes haue sailed in No sooner had Pompides thus vttred his minde but he gaue the spurs to his horse against the strange Knight who in sooth compelled both him and Blandidon to speed as the other knights had done before Then when he saw that all the Knights of the Emperours Court were vanquished he listed vp his Helmet and came vnto the Emperour before whom he fell on his knées to kisse his Maiesties hand but when the Emperour perceiued that the knight who had so hardly kept the passage was his Nephew the Prince Florian of the Forrest he was then as ioyfull of his happy victory as before hée was agrieued to sée his knights so vanquished yea themselues did thinke it no dishonor to them to be ouercome by the noble Prince Florian who hauing kissed the hands of the Emperour and Primaleon offered to doe the like to the Princesse Leonarda but shée séeing a Prince of such young yeares to be accompanied with such singular prowesse could not so much account theâ—eof as in her eye she did imagine it worthy her great good will which suddainly at this instant she gaue in secrete to the hardy Prince Florian for that his vertuous deseruings in her conceit did well beséeme her fauourable acceptation And for the Prince Florian whereas vntill this present his heart could neuer faithfully make any certaine estimation of loue but euen for the present humour as you haue heard before now the singular courtesie of the Princesse Leonarda as also the sufficency of her equiualent beautie caused such a hot skirmish betweene loue and liberty as he must needes yéeld himselfe subiect to affection being conquered and brought vnder by his extreame charges so that nothing agréed so well with his labouring thoughtes as when he supposed the Princesse to commaund him seruice and he in good will applied his dutifull attendance The Emperour Palmerin séeing such libertie of the passage graunted by him who had now more minde to gaze on the faire Princesse then to remember the happines of his obtained victory came in this maner to the Princesse of Thrace Madame the
of her whereupon he made her this answer Madame if you were as firme and constant as you are both kinde and beautifull which is a thing most necessarie in you I durst awarrant you that your Knights could not be conuicted in this manner beside there is no knight but would willingly ioyne with them in doing you seruice and I assure you that had you not offred to compell me against my will I would willingly haue granted your owne desire so desirous I am to doe faire Ladies seruice remembring alwayes that such as you are ought to be well estéemed and not forgotten And you shall vnderstand that I haue béene both in the Court of England and Spaine which are not a little renowned by the beauty of the faire Ladies that there are nourished Likewise I haue séene Florenda daughter to Arnedes the king of Fraunce whose beautie is honoured of a great many but shée whom your Champion named and those that I haue rehearsed to you my selfe may not compare with the Ladies of the Emperour Palmerins Court. There haue I séene Gridonia Polinarda Leonarda the princesse of Thrace and Sidelia Daughter to the King Tarnaes of Lacedemonia I haue séene also the Princesse Targiana daughter to the great Turke for whose loue Albayzar the Soldane of Babilon hath suffered very dangerous trauailes all these in my iudgement are highly aduanced in beauty beyond you and so it will be granted of any that is not wedded in affection towards you But let it not offend you that I speake more plainely it is your crueltie and pride together that doeth much deface your title of beautie which you cannot deny your selfe making so light account as you doe of sir Dragonalt not remembring that he is a worthy Knight and Sonne to one of the most valiant Princes on the earth And if this triall is not sufficient to cause you loue him faithfully trust me I must needes say that he hath put himselfe in danger for an vnfaithfull person whom neither knightly bountie nor regard of her owne duty hath power to mooue In respect therefore that you made me promise to grant what I requested my desire is that in recompence of his noble deserts you would accept of him as your Lord and Husband so shall you both fulfill your promise to me and accomplish the commandement which the King your Father charged you should fulfill I now respect your answere to see if a man should build any assurance of your word Sir Knight answered Arnalte do me the fauour to tel me first who you are and afterward I will doe my good will to satisfie your request The knowledge of me faire Lady saide the Knight of the Sauage man shall be no hinderance to the matter wherefore I aduertise you that I am called Florian of the Forrest Sonne to Don Edward the English Prince and Flerida the Daughter to the Emperor Palmerin Dâ—agonalt hearing these words spake thus If in the victory you haue obtained Sir Knight I should loose nothing else but the reputation of a good Knight I could not be any iote offended being vanquished at his handes who alwayes returneth from the Combat conquerour but seeing I am frustrate of the hope that should yéeld me content I cannot chuse but complaine on Fortune who hath caused me fall into so great perplexitie Arnalte vnderstanding that the knight of the Sauage man was the Sonne of the noble Prince Don Edward she began to blush remembring what had passed betwéene her and him and very desirous she was to match with him in mariage but seeing she might not doe as she would she contented her selfe with his request declaring her minde in this manner I did not thinke Sir Knight that he which could so nobly vanquish the enterprise of knights would study and practise how to deceiue poore simple women neuerthelesse the behauiour of the Prince Dragonalt enforceth me to obey your desire Vpon this condition that within one yéere you and hee shall bring mee to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin as well for the vnfained reuerence I beare to his Maiestie as also to be acquainted with those gratious Ladies which you haue named God forbid Madame saide the Knight of the Sauage man but I should agrée to this lawfull request and the rather because I knowe your presence will greatly honour the Emperâ—urs Court Then Florian offered to kisse the Princesse Arnaltes hand but she imbraced him very courteously and Dragonalt would haue humbled himselfe at his féete but he would not suffer him to rise from his bed for he made such estimation of him as hee sent for the chiefe gouernours of the Realme who hauing knowledge of the Knight of the Sauage man iudged the mariage of Dragonalt and the Princesse to be according as it ought and to do them the greater honour the Prince Florian caused the marriage to be solemnized presently in the Castle On the next morning he came to take his leaue of the prince Dragonalt and the Quéene Arnalte to whom hauing made promise that he would not faile to accompany them to the Emperours Court he tooke his way on his iourney where we will forsake him a while and speake somewhat of the Prince Albayzar CHAP. XXX How the Prince Albayzar embarqued himselfe to saile into Turkie after that he had presented himselfe to the Princes of Thrace ALbayzar the Soldane of Babylon was desirous to leaue the King of Spaines court thrée dayes after he had tried the Ioust against the noble Prince Florian of the Forrest and taking his farewell of the King the Quéene the Ladies and those knights of the Court who were his friends he set forward on his way accompanied with two Esquires making such spéedy haste as it was not long before he attained to the Cittie of Constantinople Then comming to the Pallace with a very proude and stately iesture he entred the Chamber of Presence where he found the Emperour the Empresse and her Ladies beside the chéefe Princes and Knights of Court he making no reuerence to any stood viewing among the Ladies whom he had séene before which of them he might repute for the Princesse of Thrace At last iudging her to be the Princes that sate next vnto the faire Polinarda he came before her and knéeling down saluted her with these spéeches Madame at the very instant I was about to depart from the King of Spaines court a knight arriued there being accompanied with nine Damosels and he trying the Iousts with the most redoubted Knight of the Court vnhorsed them brauely one after another The sight hereof made me desirous to hazard my fortune but such was my ill hap that he serued me as he had done the other knights and hauing thus conquered me he enforced me to make my faithfull promise that I would come and submit my self before you and declare the message he would command me for the condition was so made on either part when we began the Ioust This Knight charged me to
answered the knight of the Tiger you should haue had my helpe in taking his life from him if you had told me at the first what great wrong he had done you for the very earth will open to swallow those that intend or practise any treason against their Prince yea and the Prince himselfe cannot be frée from such secret conspirators when fauour shall stand in stéede of Iustice to such wicked offendors wherefore if they be sharpely punished the rest will be the better warned by their tranâ—gression And I assure you Madame you haue done as well beséemed a vertuous Princesse in cutting off that branch when fortune made the instrument of your vnhappinesse beside the duetie wherein you are bound to the knight your father did command you should sée so good a déede executed Now therefore let me humbly intreate you that you would kéepe your promise to Sir Pompides who is my Brother the nephew to king Frederick of England and sonne to the prince Don Edward who is father to him and me and friend to you I sée well sayde Armisia that I haue wrought the contentment of the Knight my father and taken vengeance for the death of the Prince Doriel my brother by the prowesse of him whose presence is no small honour to me neuerthelesse I may thinke my selfe little beholding to him in that he hath concealed himselfe so long from me who would haue allowed him more honourable entertainment And I pray you Sir let it not offeÌ„d you that I desire to know whether yon be the prince Palmerin or Florian of the Forrest his Brother not that I am affectioned more to the one then the other but because I would know which of them Fortune hath made me so happy to sée the Prince returned her this answer Florian of the Forrest Madame is so farre off this place as very hardly can one tell where to meete with him wherefore you may perswade your selfe that I am Palmerin whom if you please you may command as your seruant The Princesse Armisia embraced him very gratiously reioycing that she might any way accomplish the meanes to honour him because the king Meliadus her father was brother to the Quéene of England the Prince Don Edwards mother The death of the proude Adraspe was reported the same day in the king of Scots Court which was but foure leagues from this place and the name of the Knight that had slaine him whereupon the king vpon the next meaning tooke his Coatch and being accompanied with many worthy knights he came to sée the Prince Palmerin of England and hauing giuen him many gratious salutations he tooke Pompides by the hand promising to make as good estimation of him as he did of the Prince his sonne while he liued While the aged king sate familiarly talking with Armisia his Daughter the Archbishop of Esbreque arriued there by whom Pompides and Armisia were presently married together and then departing thence they went very strongly to seeke to the Duke of Sizana Father to the proud Adraspe whom the king vowed to put to death or kéepe him prisoner but he reckoned without his Hoste for the Duke being aduertised of his intent fled iâ—to Ireland whereupon his goods and liuing fell into the Kings handes They in England hauing knowledge of Pompides marriage made Triumphs and Bonfires for the good fortune that had happened to Pompides who was very well beloued of euery one as well for being the Sonne of the Prince Don Edward as for his vertuous bounty and knightly courage CHAP. XXXII How the knight of the Tiger tooke his leaue of Meliadus the king of Scots and of the Princesse Armisia his Daughter and what happened vnto him during his voyage WHen the Nuptials of Pompides were solomnized to the great contentment of the King of Scots and his whole Realme the Knight of the Tiger tooke his leaue of the King and the Princesse Armisia accompanied with his brother Pompides to whom before he was embarqued he gaue to vnderstand the charge wherein all Princes were bound that receiued royall dignitie desiring him very earnestly since fortune had brought him to so great felicitie that he would vse himselfe modestly and wisely because Fortune was so vncertaine in her selfe that sometime she put those persons in greatest feare whom she had placed in most assurance whereby she letteth them vnderstand that she can quickly dispossesse them of their happinesse at such time as they little looke for any such alteration But to the end you may enioy your dignitie with most assurance I counsell you to entertaine your subiects with amitie administring Iustice rightly vnto them which let bee done with so good zeale as it be not conuerted in rigour and cruelty whereby you shall cause them to say that their Gouernor is become tyrannous and vnmercifull to them My Lord answered Pompides your wordes sauouring of so good iudgement as they are worthy of most high commendation I cannot but thinke my selfe much bound to you for this your noble and friendly counsell assuring you that I will lodge them faithfully in my heart and accomplish them according to your gracious commaundement for in doing otherwise I shall iudge my selfe vnworthy to be named your Brother After many such like spéeches had past betwéene them they imbraced one another Pompides returning to the Citie and Palmerin entring the Shippe caused the sayles to be hoysed when the winde seruing them so well as after they had spent such time as is méete for so great a iourney the Prince tooke landing in Hungaria When he had past through diuerse places of the Countrey it was his chaunce to arriue in a goodly Forrest where at length he came to a very faire Fountaine which was couered with an Arke of maruellous ingenious workemanship and because the weather was excéeding hot he alighted to refresh himselfe at this Fountaine In the meane while Siluian suffered the horses to grase in the pasture and when the Prince had washed his hands and his face he espyed a little from him downe further in the Forrest a Damosel running very spéedily with her haire hanging about her shoulders and tearing her faire visage with her nailes crying and wéeping out of measure at last she espyed the Knight of the Tiger to whom she came running a great pace and casting her selfe at his féete she remained fearefully looking about her a good while hauing not the power to speake one word The Knight of the Tiger séeing her perplexed case began to pittie her very much and doubted lest he that had feared her would make pursuite after her he called for his Helmet which he had no sooner clasped on his head but he beheld comming the way that the Damosell came a giant very strongly armed carying in his hand a huge Mace who séeing the Damosell had demaunded succour of the Knight of the Tiger spake vnto her in this manner Trust me Damosell you betake your selfe to very simple assurance in that this knight wanteth
Constantinople DVring the the time this great ioy was in the Court of Constantinople for the comming of the prince Palmerin the Emperour had tidings brought him how the Prince Albayzar had leuied a great and mighty Armie to come and besiege the Cittie and assure the Messenger that the Lord who was the Soldane Bellagris was preparing himselfe in a readinesse to come and aide him The Emperour being at this time ouercharged with age found himselfe farre vnable to deale in these affaires the consideration whereof did not a little displease him Neuerthelesse he fayled not to make prouision as wisedome willed to entertaine the enemy whereupon he writ to the Soldane Bellagris sending him heartie thankes for the good forwardnesse hâ— saw in him especially in a time so néedfull and when the messenger to the Soldane was dispatched the Emperour sent presently to informe of these newes Arnedes the King of France his Sonne in law Recinde the king of Spaine Don Edward the Prince of England the Emperour Vernar of Allemaigne Maiortes and many others The Armie of the Turkes was no sooner heard of but the Knights who followed their noble aduentures returned to Constantinople knowing they shuld make better trial of their valour there then in any other places and such was the rumour spread abroad to the Turks intention as in short time the Citie of Constantinople was furnished with many noble and redoubted knights where aduentures was presented to them day by day but the Emperour would not suffer them to pursue after such occasions because they were nothing else but deceite and villany wayting still for the time when he should be assaulted by Albayzar who was now setting forward on the Seas being accompanyed with diuers approoued knights at armes as also a number of cruell and bloody minded Giants intending to make a generall spoyle of all the Emperors Dominions But till we haue better occassion we will leaue them a while and returne to the Prince Palmerin who during the brute of the Turkes Army was aduertised of the death of Satrafort the gouernor of the Perillous Isle being taken by Trofolant the Fearefull who was descended to the giants kindred And as it is rehearsed in the first volume of this History that Trafolant was vanquished in the Tournament by the Prince Florendos and had the like mishap the day following by the prowesse of the Knight of the Sauage man who guarded the shéeld of the Palme Tree in the forrest of the Cleere Fountain which the Damosell from the Sage Aliart brought to the Emperour Palmerin that he might deliuer it to the Knight his Nephew who had woone the honour of the day in the Tournament It was likewise his fortune after when he trauailed to the Castle of the Giant Almaroll to be vanquished there by the Prince Florendos who guarded the shéeld of the faire Miragarda and returning thence he met with the Damoselles Knight when offering to take one of his Ladies from him they fell to the Combate and in the end was likewise vanquished The conceit of his so many and sundry foyles and all by the Knights of the Emperours Court caused him to deuise by what meanes he might worke some iniurie to them that belonged to the Emperour in respect he was so seuerely bent against them as he would take vpon him to reuenge the death of Calfurnien and his brethren But to the ende he might the better execute his treacherous enterprise hée tooke his way to the Profound Isle thinking there to inuent some treason by the aide of Collambra but his intent was there disapointed for it was told him that she was brought to the Emperours Court of Greece Then he determined to goe visit the Perillous Isle being accompanied with two Knights that were his kinsemen with whom he knewe well how to dissemble the treason on his stomacke and Satrafort thinking them to be of the Emperours Court of Constantinople entertained them very louingly into his Castle where when they had soiourned for certaine daies they murthered Satrafort and all his houshold But the pleasure of this victorie was very short to them for Argentao the gouernour of the Profound Isle came by a secret wile suddenly on them with his power and taking Trofolant in the Forrest sent him presently to the Emperours Court where was no little ioy of his comming in that he saued Palmerin a iourney who was taking his leaue of his friendes because he would goe to take the Traitors that had done such villanie Trofolant was condemned by the lawe and publiely executed according as his trecherous dealings deserued and Argentao was honourably recompenced that he might haue the better occasion to be carefull and circumspect in his office So soone as Trofolant was put to death the Sage Aliart arriued at the Court of Constantinople whose presence gaue greater assurance to the Emperour and his Knightes and he gaue them heartie thankes in that they were so ready to goe recouer the Perillous Isle After the Sage Aliart there came to the Court the Prince Floraman Albanis of Frieze Reccamon Leyman of Burgunuy beside many other princes and knights who had euery one forsaken their seuerall countries to assist the Emperour of Constantinople with their aide because they had heard of the Turks preparation The very same day was tydings brought to the Court how Fredericke the king of England was dead which newes caused â—o small griefe among the Princes especially to the Emperour himselfe who being as aged as King Fredericke was iudged himselfe not of long continuance behind him in that this was a speciall president for him to regard King Fredericke being one he made most chiefe and high account of Prince Edward was then crowned King of England to the great ioy of all his subiects he being such a vertuous and magnanimous Prince and the funerals of king Frederick was solemnized in Greece with very great state their Beacons burning and Bonfires made through the whole Empire according as it was the custome in that Countrey CHAP. XXXVI Of an aduenture which happened during the troubles at Constantinople in the Realme of France and after what manner it chanced THe History reporteth that certaine Ladies in the Realme of France enuying the renowned of Polinarda of Greece Miragarda of Spaine and Leonarda of Thrace whose beauties defaced greatly the Ladies in all other Countries began to complaine very much on the French knightes that either by the want of courage or their little regard of loue their beauties remained vnknowne in other Realmes Countries and Prouinces Vpon this occasion they found themselues somewhat agréeued and to the end they would remedie the cause foure Ladies of the king of France his Court thinking to excell all other in beauties enterprised to establish an aduenture to mooue the mindes of many Knights to come endure their triall against such as would maintaine their beauties The first of these Ladies was called Mansia the second Telanfia the third Latrania and tge fourth
refreshed themselues inuyting into their companie the foure Ladyes who were so stately Apparelled this day as their beautie seemed to excell all the Ladyes that were come with the Queene The straunge Knight went foorth of his Tent that he might the better behold this sudden assemblie and sitting downe at the roote of a Trée his Esquyre brought him victuals to breake his fast withall After that the King was risen from the Table these foure Ladyes according to their woont mounted on theyr Stéedes and tooke theyr way to the place where the straunge knight remained who euen then was readie to fall to his daylie exercise they courteously saluting him went with the Quéene to her Tent and by the kings Tents the strange Knight stoode expecting who should first beginne the Iouste And the King himselfe was greatly delighted in beholding the Garlandes which for that they were the fauours of the Ladyes and lost by the Knights that were foyled he began highly to commend the Prowesse of the strange knight who being ieasting with the foure Ladyes he espyed at last to come along the Valley the knight of the Sphere Armed as he was the day before and bearing his Ladies Garland on his Creast which he had good hope to keepe well enough When the King Arnedes had espyed him hee entered into these spéeches I desire greatly to see that Garland of Flowers brought vanquished vnto these other whereby I may bee the better assured whether hee that preuaileth in these Conquests so happily may find his Péere elseâ—where or nâ— The Knight of the Sphere comming into the Kings presence saluted him with humble obeysaunce afterwards taking his Garland from his Helmet he desired him to weare it and if hee defended it not according to the merit of her Beautie he desired it might bee placed among the other vanquished But if the victorie happen on his side he would not seeke any other recompence at her hands but that those other Garlands might bee giuen to bestow on his Friends Of this request Latrania was very glad and desirous to reach so high felicitie where of throughly perswading her selfe and likewise to satisfie the knight of the Spheres will she put the garland on her head then earnestly beholding the strange knight she entred into these spéeches You sée Sir the day when I haue the meane to make known your knightly déedes as also the desire you haue to doe me seruice I will Madame so behaue my selfe aunswered the straunge Knight as you shall be perswaded no other knight can iniurie me so great is my desire to accomplish such seruice as may be agreeable to your gratious nature And if afterward you make such regard of me as you doe of those whom you are woont to thrust into forgetfulnes I must then comfort my selfe with this that I am not alone in misfortune but beare my crosse with others for company The knight of the Sphere hauing vnderstood how Latrania made no more regard of them that did her seruice and séeing the Dice Fortunes hand either to his continuall honour or present disgrace yet ignorant which of them should be his chance ranne couragiously against she straunge Knight they encountering together so worthily as they were both compelled to forsake their stirrops Vpon this gallant beginning they tooke new staues wherewith they met againe together so strongly as the pieces flew whistling in the ayre and passing forward these Knightes met so furiously with their bodies as they were constrained to tumble to the ground At this sight the King was greatly abashed but Latrania contented her selfe very well séeing the noble and valiant behauiour of her Knight who shée thought as good in all points as the stranger These two Knights had no sooner recouered themselues but they drew their swords wherewith they hacked and hewed one another very pittifully The straunge knight being desirous vs to passe this day with as great renowne as he had all the other before followed his intent with singular agillitie and the knight of the Sphere to witnesse his earnest affection to Madame Latrania did behaue himselfe likewise so worthily as each allowed him the name of a good and hardie Knight And such was the difficultie of this Combate promising hope to neither side but very doubtfull on both as the King esteemed it of no lesse danger then that betwéene Don Edward of England his sonne end Dramusiande and his Giants when he was prisoner in the custody of the Enchauntresse Eutropa And the King was extreamely passioned fearing least two such noble champions should die in his presence so fiercely they continued the fight as they were both constrained to withdrawe themselues to breath a while The Knight of the Sphere seeing his arme so mangled began to thinke his estate in some hazard but afterwards remembring the beautie of her for whose sake he thrust himselfe into danger hée coÌ„muned thus priuately with himselfe What greater good can happen to me in all the world then to be allowed in her seruice whose beautie none in all the French Court may match In the meane while these two knights thus paused the Damosell that was woont to come so often into the field addressed her selfe now againe to the strange knight vsing vnto him this language I desire now to sée Syr Knight how you will iustifie the large promises you haue made to me for that I perswade my selfe the Knight of the Sphere will restore these Ladies with the losse of your life and he being earnest the victorie should fall on his side in reuenge of the offence you haue offered vnto them will yeeld your Tree decked with these Garlands of flowers into their handes that best deserue them to which wordes the strange knight thus answered It is tâ—â—e long enough faire Damosell since I perceiued the small good will you bare me but since I now perceiue that my misfortune is so agreeable vnto you I desire you to make knowne vnto the Ladies that I make no account of their fauouring me being well assured that they are woont to vse such recompence towards them who aduenture their liues in their seruice Wherefore that they shall well vnderstand that my force tooke his nature in times past by the gratious regard of one most singular Lady I desire them to keepe their woonted couetousnesse of their beauty And I shall decenâ—â—â—â— that Latrania vse her fauour towards him whom it pleaseth her to make most account off When he had thus said he returned to the Combate which helde betweene them a long while but when they perceiued their Armor defaced their flesh martyred and themselues very greatly feebled they once againe withdrewe themselues to rest a little The King Arnedes was loth two such hardy knights should end their liues in so desperate maner the quarrell being of so small estimation there he would haue had them them parted asunder And the strange Knight thinking on the discourteous entertainement Latrania affoorded him disdainedence to looke on
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
Cittie and that they prepared themselues to take landing and the Emperour caused himselfe to be carryed vp into a high Tower of his Pallace because hée would sée how Fortune disposed of his happinesse King Edward was no sooner arriued where the Enemie was but he placed his Armie on the Sea-shoare to hinder the Enemie from comming on Land but therein he was deceyued for the multitude of the Galleys and Ships were such as it was impossible for him to doe as he would Albayzar who was accompanied with the most renowmed knights of his Armie and two the most ougly and fearefull Giants that euer were seene made offer to take Landing first of all but they of the Emperors Court stepped before them and entertayned them in such sorte as diuers both of Turkes and Christians were very dangerously wounded Albayzar was so offended because he could not haue libertie to get foorth of his Galley as hee commaunded the Gyants to step into the Water to whose commaundement they preâ—ently obeyed and with theyr Maâ—es of Iron they began so to breake thorowe the preâ—sse and they which before hindred Albayzar from comming on shoare began to giue place as it were for his landing Which when Dramusiande perceiued hee stept into the water vp to the nauill and couering himselfe with his shield hee encountered the Giant that aduanced himselfe foremost and king Edward leaped into the Sea to hinder the other Giant from dealing with Dramusiande but while these foure were thus encountring together the other knights of the Emperours Court seeing their Captaine on foote began to follow after so that Albayzar was constrained to come neere the Giants because they thought he would want his ayde Palmerin of England being busie on the other side seeing the Horses round about the field without their masters doubted least some misfortune had fallen to his friends whereupon he gaue his horse the spurs and galloped to the place where he saw the greatest bickering and séeing King Edward his father standing in the sea dealing with such an ougly and monsterous Giant he presently came to him and stepping before him entred into these speeches I desire you my gracious Lord and father to giue ouer this enemy and giue succour to your friend Dramusiande for if any misfortune should happen to you your losse would be gréeued through all Christendome King Edward esteeming light the words of his Sonne would not leaue the Giant so greatly hee desired to remaine victor but the necessity wherein hee perceiued diuers of his friends caused him to step backe and giue place to the Noble Palmerin of England Albayzar behaued himself in such braue manner as diuers were glad to shunne his presence which when Florendos beheld hee aduanced himselfe to him and such knightly prowesse was shewen on eyther side as between them began a cruell and dangerous combate Dramusiande preuailed so well against his enemy the Giant as hee tumbled downe dead before him but himselfe was sore wounded as King Edward commaunded him to be carried into the Citie And Palmerin of England slew the other Giant likewise which his father left him fighting withall but himselfe was so dealt withall as in fiue dayes after he could weare no Armour Albayzar no sooner perceiuing the Giants slaine but he presently retired into his galley and so did diuers of the Turkes beside but when Edward saw the Turkes betake themselues to their Galleys againe hee mounted on horsebacke giuing a signe to his company to withdraw themselues desiring the Soldane Beâ—lagris the King Arnedes the King Recinde and the Prince Belcar who were dealing with another Vessell that sought to take landing to follow him but they gaue him to vnderstand how Florendos Platir Blandidon and the Giant Almaroll were carried into the Citie so sore hurt as they were not able to sustaine themselues The King Recinde Palmerin and Belcar were likewise grieuously wounded which made king Edward desire them to goe into the Citie and in the meane while Primaleon entred the field accompanied with seauen hundred knights desiring earnestly that King Edward and his traine would withdraw themselues that they might come with a fresh assault on the enemy But King Edward would not suffer it should be so therefore they altogether went into the Cittie being very much grieued that the principall knights of their Armie so sore wounded CHAP. LVI Of the griefe and sorrowe made in Constantinople for the dangerous estate wherein the Giant Dramussande was brought And how the Turks placed their Campe before Citie of Constantinople WHen the Emperors Captaines were thus come into the citie with their traines they passed the night in vsiting them that were so sore wounded at whose ill lucke Primaleon greatly grieued for he iudged the want of their helpe to be such as he was out of hope to defend the enemy from entring on land the next day And most of all for that Palmerin of England Florendos the King Recinde Belcar Berold Don Rosuel and Bellizart were in such case as they could not endure to beare Armes againe so soone Vpon this he concluded to let the enemies take landing and to suffer them to bâ—ild their Tents and prouide for the field in the meaâ—e while the wounded persons would be in better disposition and the succour they looked for would be likewise arriued wherewith they had good hope to bid the enemy a braue battaile in the meane time they daily gaue Albayzar and his company sundry assaults King Edward going to visite the wounded persons found the Prince Palmerin talking with the faire Polinarda whose company made him forget the griefe of his hurts for in her alone consisted the onely medicine to restore his health in like manner he found Florandos and Miragarda Platir and Sidelia Polendos and Francelian Berolde and Onistalda of Normandie Gracian and Claritia Don Rosuell and Dramatiana Bellizant and Denâ—sa Francian and Bernarda Guerin and Clariana and diuers others of the Knights with them to whom they bare most affection But Dramusiande was not in like case as these fortunate Louers were for his wounds were so yangerous as he could not enioy the swéete company of his best beloued Arlencea towards whom he remained maruellous affectionate so that I assure you the Emperour and all of his Court were so sorie for his misfortune as if the Citie it selfe had béene brought into extreame danger King Edward whose minde was not on such pleasure as he made any account of rest or quietnesse kept his friend Dramusiande company hauing his wife and Quéene Flerida with him onely to comfort the heauie and pensiue estate of Arlencea whose sad case may be easily iudged by young married louers Florendos and Miragarda visited the Giant Almaroll whose danger almost was in the same estate with Dramusiande yet he was able to walke behaue himselfe more pleasant in company then the other whose case was pittied and lamented of all in generall Soone after arriued there the Sage Aliart by
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
affectionate and he was in good hope to be rewarded with her if they woonne the victorie in his Shield was figured Hope in a gréen vesture like a young beautifull Ladie and vnderneath her was written in letters of golde the name of the Princesse Polinarda The king of Gaspia was in Tawny Armour streaked ouer in diuers places with blacke in signe that he had bene vanquished in the Combate past and in his shielde he bare for his deuise a Beare hauing his clawes al bloody in a field of Sable whereby hee gaue them to vnderstand that he had good hope to bathe his hands in the blood of his Enemies The king of Trebisonde was in red Armour all ouer figured with little siluer Birds hauing their wings spread abroad in manner as they were flying and carryed the picture of god Mars in his Shielde with the Minotaurs-head that he conquered in Creete this deuise was in a golden Field The king of Sparta was in white Armour and in his shield was portrated a Lyon torne in pieces because he had torne a Lion himself when he was in his youthfull time The king of Aetolia was in blacke Armour bearing for his Deuise in his shielde a blacke Bull in a field of Geules The king of Armenia was in Azured Armour wrought all ouer with roses of golde and in his shield was figured a Phoenix in a fielde of Azure whereby his meaning was that his Ladie was the onely Phoenix of beauty in the world to whome no other might equall her selfe The king of Gamba was in guylt Armour with his Bases of siluer and in his Shield was pictured a golden Lion in a siluer fielde The king of Bythinia was in gréen Armour crosse-streaked with bonds of siluer coupling in manner of knots and in his shield he caried a golden Tiger rampant against a Rock of Christal in a field of Sinople The Prince Argelao of Arfasia had his Armour like to the king of Bythinia Many other of the Prince Albayzars knights came into the fielde being very brauely Armed but I will let them passe vnnamed at this time assuring you that Framustant and the other Giants were armed very gallantly behaued themselues with such report in the field as they thought verily to dismay the Christians with their countenance CHAP. LXIII ¶ Of the first Battell betweene the Christians and the Turkes and the successe thereof THe Armye on eyther side being appointed in good and decent maner the Potentates Kings Princes and persons of most Authoritie would néeds goe place themselues in the formost rancke holding this opinion that in such a renowmed Battell wherein the perill of all Christendom consisted they which presented themselues the foremost in Fight should deserue the greatest honor and glory in the Field which consideration made the Captaines leaue theyr charges to their Lieutenants and come and place themselues in the face of the Battell Then the Drummes and Trumpets sounding gallantly on either side the Soldane of Persia marched on with his traine to receiue the first Squadron of the Christians and meeting togither Primaleon encountred the King of Caspâ—a and brake his Launce so brauely on him as himselfe forsooke both his stirrops but the king of Caspia had such a forcible stroake as hee was sent headlong to the Earth very sore wounded Palmerin of England serued the king of Aetolia in the same manner albeit he was reputed amongst the Turkes for an especiall good Knight at Armes Florendos and the king of Armenia fayled in the Ioust but they met so forceably togither with theyr bodyes as both they and their Horses tumbled to the ground the Prince Florendos recouered himselfe againe quickly but the Turke was so amazed with his fall as hee could hardly tell where he was whereupon his two Couzins came vnto him and conducted him betweene them to his Tent. Berolde of Spaine and Floraman of Sardignia addressed themselues to the Prince Argelao and the king of Bithinia and encountred with them so furiously as they were all cast forth of their saddles being not able to mount themselues againe because the number was so great the fight so hâ—te where they were Recinde and Arnedes ranne against the Kings of Gamba and Sparta they being all vnhorsed except the king Recinde who kept his horse valiantly The Soldane Bellagris and the King of Trebisonde mette together and brake their Launces verie brauely not béeing any thing shaken in the encounter The Soldane of Persia who desired to haue himselfe séene in the field had no sooner espied the knight of the Sauadgeman but he gaue his horse the spurres and encountred with him so nobly as the knight of the Sauadgeman lost both his stirrops which he recouered againe presently but the Soldane was so sore shaken as he lay along on the necke of his horse and had tumbled to the ground if one of his traine had not immediatly succoured him Among them that dealt in the first encounter Dramusiande and Framustant was most to be regarded for they fayling at the breaking of their Launces met in such couragious manner together with their bodies as both horses and men were sent to the ground and recouering themselues nimbly againe they beganne a furious and cruell combate and to the example of all other knights charged one another with most puissant stroakes All the Princes of the Emperours Court were at this first encounter except King Edward the Emperour Vernar and the king Polendos who would not depart from their Squadrons fearing least they would disparse themselues out of order and the Giant Almaroll kept them company likewise because he saw no more Giants in the foremost rancke but Framustant with whome Dramusiande fought very gallantly After thyy had thus encountred with their launces and many knights throwne to the earth some slaine outright and other some in little better case they drew their swords on all sides and began the most cruell Battaile that euer was séene and the Captaines returned againe to their seuerall charges because they would not haue them fall out of order Argelao and the King of Bithinia fighting on foote against Floraman of Sardignia and Berolde of Spaine were succoured by the Soldane of Persia who like a noble captaine praunced among the ranckes to animate and encourage the mindes of his friends and assembling them in sundrie companies hee came where these foure continued the fight still fiercely but the Soldane Bellagris with his traine shewed such prowesse on the fresh commers as with in a while both the Soldane of Persia himselfe and the companie he brought with him were enforced to giue them place against their willes leauing Argelao and the king of Bithinia in such danger as had not the king of Trebisonde come vpon them with the second Turkish SquadroÌ„ they had béene slaine by the hands of Floraman and the Prince Berolde The Soldane of Persia was so greatly gréeued séeing his men so vanquished and they that were left so out of heart
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
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
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
in short time was so blazed as it mooued a generall consent of gladnes not so much for the recouery of the Castles as that they were woon by the prowesse of the Prince Florian. The good King Fredericke for ioy of this good happe sent sir Pridos the Duke of Galles in all the spéede that might be to sée if he could méete with his noble Nephew who taking a Galley presently in short time arriued in the Coast of Ireland not very farre from the Hermits Cell Where finding the Prince and declaring the sum of his message the Prince concluded to depart thence notwithstanding his wounds were not thorowly healed so taking leaue of the gentle Hermit and desiring the other Knights to accompany him they committed themselues to the Seas whereon they had not long sayled but they arriued at the Cittie of London thorow which they were honourably conducted to the Kings Pallace When tydings being come to the King that they were arriued in the Court accompanied with his Sonne Don Edward hée came to méete them when casting his armes about the necke of the Prince Florian the teares ran downe his white beard for the inward ioy he conceiued in his presence as for his Father Don Edward he would not hide his earnest affection but welcommed his sonne with very great kindnesse and his mother the Princesse Flerida pittying his hurts but glad of his company shewed her selfe a louing mother vnto him and would not depart day nor night from him till she perceiued him to be thorowly recouered The King of England did very honourably entertaine the Knights which came with his Nephew and for that he would show he made estimation of them he accepted them into offices according to their degrées in his Court for which great bountie they witnessed themselues not vnthankefull but so behaued themselues as they did great credit to the King in his Court. The Prince Florian being in good estate of health newes came vnto the English Court of the imprisonment of the king Polendos and his companie in the Court of the great Turke which vnhappy tidings moooed the king and his whole Court to great gréefe considering withall the state of sorrow wheren the Emperour of Constantinople remained and the more extreame did they take the cause in respect of the small hope was to be had of their liberty againe in that the great Turke had sworne to put them all to death except the Emperour would send him the knight who so boldly carryed away his daughter the Princesse Targiana These newes comming to the eares of the Prince Florian he began to fall into these spéeches Far better it is for me to go render my selfe and suffer the extrame rigour of that cruell Infidell then that for me so many good knights should liue in danger for séeing by my occasion the cause did first arise no better meane to salue it vp againe then my selfe I cannot beléeue sayd the Prince Don Edward that the Turke is so forgetfull of himselfe as to séeke the death of so many for so small a matter by reason Albayzar one of his owne kindred should then stand in hazard of his life but if it be as the report goeth the Emperour ought to be carefull in the kéeping of Albayzer to the end that the safegard of his life might redéeme the other their woonted liberty whereto the Prince Florian thus replied I am perswaded good Father that the Turke will hardly be remooued from his determination which maketh me the greater to misdoubt the safety of those knights the absence of whom I am assure so gréeuously offendeth the good Emperour that I am perfectly resolued to goe and comfort him considering it is a part of dutie on my behalf not to be so farre from him at this time séeing he is depriued of them that should defend him The aged king Fredericke his Father Don Edward nor his mother the Priucesse Flerida could disswade him from his determination but contrary to their wils he departed from the Court taking his iourney toward Constantinople being armed after his accustomed maner and bearing in his Sheeld his vsuall deuise Thus the happy successe which may fall vnto him at this time we intend to leaue him because we will returne to the Prince Florendos who by his time is wel néere the castle of the giant Almarol hauing in his iourney done many noble déeds deseruing commendation but for that they are rehearsed in the English Chronicles it would séeme impertinent to this place to rehearse them neuerthelesse I must needs tell yée that Floraman the Prince of Sardignia in this iourney atchieued very great renowne and so continued till their arriuall at the City of Rioclaro which at this present is called Tamar Florendos séeing himselfe so neare the place where he had spent a great time in languishing afflictions entred into a thousand imaginations with himselfe first considering the beginning of his loue and then the happy continuance thereof enforced him to a number of sad coniectures wherein he passed that night as quietly as he could In the morning they rid on toward the Castle of Almaroll when Albayzar beganne to vse some doubt of his entertainement for that he iudged women were but slenderly acquainted with pittie especially hée looked for small fauour of the Princesse Miragarda who contrariwise was not so cruell towardes strangers as shée was toward her dearest and best beloued friendes Florendos had no sooner discouered the Trées which were planted about the Riuer Thesin and with all the walles of the Castle of Almaroll but his heart was immeasurably touched with suddaine feare remembring how many stormes he had endured and the perilles whereto he must now render himselfe againe afresh a spectacle certainely of woonderfull griefe wherein he somewhat bare the Prince Albayzar company who remembring that he was vanquished knew no other remedie for himselfe but to abide the mercy of Miragarda When they were come to the Castle they found all the gates fast locked wherevpon they went to the Trée where the Shieldes were hanging where well beholding them all Florendos at last espied his owne at the sight whereof he secretly sighed and imagined how he might be thankfull sufficient to his Esquire Armello who had since his departure so well garded it but in sooth he was not so much beholding to his Esquier as he did esteeme himselfe because Armello was fallen amorous of Lardemia the Damosell attendant on the faire Princesse Miragarda and stayed in that place to contemplate the beauty of his beloued Mistresse rather then for any care he had of his Maisters shéeld and Armor for he was gone so farre ouer shoes in loue as he had no other pleasure then the remembrance of the Damosell who tooke great delight to sée him so gréeuously attached for loue Armello shas so set on fire in affection as he could not know his Lord and Maister and some other cause there was to hinder him for that he was so